Unemployment Tumbling in New Jersey as Many Leave Labor Force
The unemployment rate in parts of southern New Jersey dropped the sharpest in the country over the course of 2013, though it was likely because more people dropped out of the workforce rather than found new work.
Unemployment in the three metropolitan statistical areas around Atlantic City, Ocean City and Vineland remained above 10%, according to a Labor Departmentreport released Wednesday. A slowdown in the casino industry in Atlantic City could be one reason for higher unemployment there. Newer gambling spots outside Atlantic City, including in neighboring Pennsylvania, have taken business from New Jersey.
But even though the rates are high, they were down by four percentage points or more in each area in December 2013 from a year earlier. Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged much of the Jersey shoreline in October 2012, could be partly to blame for the areas’ particularly elevated unemployment rate in 2012, said Patrick O’Keefe, director of economic research at CohnReznick, an accounting and advisory firm.
The overall decline also is likely because so many people in New Jersey have dropped out of the labor force. Some 63.9% of people in the state were working or looking for work in December 2013, down from 66.4% at the start of the year. That 2.5 percentage point drop in what is called the labor force participation rate compares to just a 0.8 point drop in the national rate. (Portlock/Wall Street Journal)
As the Bridgegate investigation continues, South Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews has announced he’s stepping down while a House Ethics Committee investigates his campaign spending, and Trenton Mayor Tony Mack awaits the verdict in his federal corruption trial.
For many Garden State residents, it seems like business as usual.
With such a long and rich history of wrongdoing by public officials, ”New Jersey might be nicknamed the Corruption State, or at least the Strong-Arm State,” at least in the opinion of Fairleigh Dickinson political science professor Peter Woolley.
“There’s something about being in public service, generally, that offers you temptations to do things you probably shouldn’t do,” Woolley said. “Wherever there is a lot of local control and a lot of money flowing through the system, there’s going to be a lot of temptation and a lot of people wandering into grey areas and then into illegal areas. It’s as if many of our public figures are really in real estate development rather than public service.”
Woolley said it’s true that states like Illinois, Louisiana and even Massachusetts also have ethically-challenged politicians at every level, but New Jersey is right up there at the top of the list.
According to the professor, New Jersey residents have become so used to wrongdoing by public officials that sometimes, if someone is accused of something, “the facts matter less than the perception — and so that works for some politicians and it works against some politicians,” Woolley said. “Even if you haven’t done something wrong, or gravely wrong, your reputation can be damaged.” (Matthau/NJ101.5)
file photo Boyd Loving Information from Ridgewood OEM -Power Outage – Useful Tips
PSE&G Contact Number 1-800-436-7734
BEFORE A BLACKOUT
To prepare for a blackout you should do the following:
• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.
• Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer if there’s room. Leave about an inch of space inside each one, because water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary power outage, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration.
• Be aware that most medication that requires refrigeration can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
• Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
• Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.
• Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open.
DURING A BLACKOUT
• Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage. •Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics in use when the power went out. Power may return with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can damage computers as well as motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer or furnace.
• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.
• Do not connect a generator to a home’s electrical system. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to run directly to the outlets on the generator.
• Listen to local radio and to a battery- or generator-powered television for updated information.
• Leave on one light so that you’ll know when your power returns.
• Use a standard telephone handset, cellular phone, radio or pager if your phone requires electricity to work, as do cordless phones and answering machines. Use the phone for emergencies only. Listen to a portable radio for the latest information.
• Do not call 9-1-1 for information—call only to report a life-threatening emergency. Use the phone for life-threatening emergencies only.
• Take steps to remain cool if it is hot outside. In intense heat when the power may be off for a long time, consider going to a movie theater, shopping mall or “cooling shelter” that may be open in your community. If you remain at home, move to the lowest level of your home, since cool air falls. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm.
• Provide plenty of fresh, cool water for your pets.
• Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic signals will stop working during an outage, creating traffic congestion.
• Remember that equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators may not work during a power outage.
AFTER A BLACKOUT
Throw out unsafe food:
• Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!
• Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine its safety. Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been at room temperature too long, bacteria causing food-borne illnesses can start growing quickly. Some types of bacteria produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking.
• If food in the freezer is colder than 40° F and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it.
• If you are not sure food is cold enough, take its temperature with the food thermometer. Throw out any foods (meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) that have been exposed to temperatures higher than 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture, or feels warm to touch.
Is Twitter making you STUPID? Social networking sites are making it hard for people to think for themselves
Twitter and Facebook could be lowering your ability to think analytically Research from Dr Iyad Rahwan suggests prolonged use of social networks erodes our common sense The University of Edinburgh and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology researcher asked people a series of trick questions The study concluded that our addiction to social networks leaves us little time to work things out on our own
By Fiona Macrae
PUBLISHED: 21:56 EST, 4 February 2014 | UPDATED: 04:15 EST, 5 February 2014
They have become a quick and easy way of learning about everything from world affairs to the affairs of friends.
But Twitter and Facebook may be eroding our ability to think.
Researchers believe speed, volume and ease with which information is shared through social networking sites may be making it more difficult for us to think analytically.
Email: IRS’s Lerner, Treasury Department secretly drafted new rules to restrict nonprofits
The Obama administration’s Treasury Department and former IRS official Lois Lerner conspired to draft new 501(c)(4) regulations to restrict the activity of conservative groups in a way that would not be disclosed publicly, according to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
The Treasury Department and Lerner started devising the new rules “off-plan,” meaning that their plans would not be published on the public schedule. They planned the new rules in 2012, while the IRS targeting of conservative groups was in full swing, and not after the scandal broke in order to clarify regulations as the administration has suggested.
The rules place would place much more stringent controls on what would be considered political activity by the IRS, effectively limiting the standard practices of a wide array of non-profit groups.
Ridgewood Concert Band Concert Saxophone Spectacular!
Soloists Lois Hickes-Wozniak & Kenneth Tse will perform with the Ridgewood Concert Band on Friday, February 7th at 8PM Westside Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Strreet, Ridgewood.
Prelude at 7:30PM – Paramus HS Wind Ensemble. Program highlights – George Gershwin, Morton Gould and Giuseppe Verdi. Tickets: $20 Adults; $15 Seniors; $7 Students. www.ridgewooband.org
file photo County Executive Donovan hosted a conference call with officials from around the county preparing for snow
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan Responds to Democrats attempt to tie lane closures on the George Washington Bridge to her administration
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan Together, we have always put public service and the interests of taxpayers, families, seniors, and young adults before politics. Sadly Democrats, who now control the Bergen County Board of Freeholders, do not.
Instead, Democrats on the freeholder board choose to put politics before common sense. Recently, these same Democrats have tried and failed to somehow tie my administration to what now appears from recent news reports to be politically motivated lane closures on the George Washington Bridge. These lane closures are truly troublesome. I have always contended these attacks against me and my administration are totally inappropriate, a waste of time, and little more than political grandstanding.
Now the Record editorial on this topic agrees with us. Their calm, thoughtful narrative supports our position. Here are several excerpts from that editorial: “Now the board’s attempt to get top officials of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to come to Bergen County to discuss the scandal clearly has more to do with politics than anything else.” It is also worth noting that I, as Bergen County Executive, have no jurisdiction over the Port Authority.
The Record editorial also states: “The freeholders have no jurisdiction over the Port Authority. Additionally, there now are ongoing investigations into the matter by a joint legislative committee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Port Authority inspector general.”
As your County Executive, I will not let politically motivated attacks distract me from my dedication to serving you, the citizens of Bergen County.
Thank you for your time, support, and well wishes. You can find the full Record editorial here.
Willard School Physical Education Teacher Craig Mahler has received the 2014 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award
Ridgewood NJ, The district has received word that Willard School Physical Education Teacher Craig Mahler has received the 2014 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award from the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD).
Craig was nominated for the award by his colleagues, who validated his professionalism in several areas, including his commitment to his students and to quality physical education. Craig will be honored at an NJAHPERD banqueton February 23.
Readers Question Effectiveness of Mayor’s Robocall
Just got the robocall from Village Hall. Could Aronsohn have sounded any less optimisitc? What a doom and gloom message.
No praise for our great police, fire, EMS, and Emergency Services groups and how they are there to help.
Just a very down message about the high chance of losing power and no salt for the roads. I think the Devil himself would have been able to come up with a more upbeat message. Next time let Jeremy or Brian give us the news Mr. Mayor. We’re all tired of hearing your voice anyway.
02/11/14 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Regular Public Meeting 02/18/14 7:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting 02/19/14 8:00PM Village Council Public Meeting 02/25/14 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Regular Public Meeting 02/26/14 7:30PM Village Council Public Work Session 03/04/14 7:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting 03/05/14 7:30PM Village Council Public Work Session
BOE MEETING RESCHEDULED TO NEXT MONDAY, FEB. 10
Due to Monday’s inclement weather, the Board of Education will hold their Regular Public Meeting, originally scheduled on Monday, February 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m., on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Board of Education meetings are held on the third floor of the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ. The public is welcome to attend, or to watch live via the district website’s “Link in Live” tab. Live streaming is also available on FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77.
Reader Questions BOE judgement on delayed opening ,school closed flip
Why would the BOE call for a delayed opening when the Village OEM has made the following statement of the Village facebook page :
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for our area from midnight tonight through 6 pm Wednesday.
We are expecting 4-8 inches of heavy, wet snow, and up to 1/3 inch of ice. Heavy snow and ice creates a significant risk of downed trees and power lines, and potential power outages. Prepare now for possible loss of power.
Due to a severe state-wide shortage of road salt, we cannot guarantee enough salt to treat secondary roads. Our priorities are the major arteries, and those roads leading to Valley Hospital. Therefore, we anticipate extremely hazardous driving conditions on most village streets.
The Office of Emergency Management urges all residents to stay off the roads tomorrow for your own safety. If possible, do not drive, stay indoors, and stay away from downed trees and power lines.
Whatever happened to the plain old winter snowstorm? If you grew up, say, in the 1960s, there was a simple drill when it snowed: Your parents listened to the radio to see if your school was closed. If it was, you proceeded accordingly — and with so little event that, as an adult, you probably don’t remember any individual snow day of your youth.
Today, television treats every advancing storm as if it’s the “snowmageddon” (or “snowpocalypse” or “snowzilla”). Meteorologists deliver forecasts — referencing American and European models as if it’s a competition — with the kind of gravity news operations once reserved for, say, the Cuban Missile Crisis.
With multiday forecasts, TV weather people start banging the drums days in advance of an approaching storm. Last winter, The Weather Channel even started naming major winter storms — mainly for hashtag purposes.
All this can seem excessive, especially in cases like the storm that hit us Tuesday going into Wednesday, which turned out to be far less severe than predicted with a range of 4.5 inches in Paramus to 7 inches in Ringwood, according to Bob Ziff, spokesman for North Jersey Weather Observers.
Garrett: CBO Report Highlights Need to Tackle Our Spending Problem Now
Feb 4, 2014
Washington, DC – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), senior member of the House Budget Committee and Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement regarding the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Budget and Economic Outlook for 2014-2024:
“Today’s CBO report again highlights America’s very serious financial problems. Despite President Obama’s big talk about tackling our deficit last week, CBO estimates that our deficit will once again top $1 trillion within eight years. Over the next ten years, interest costs alone will be $5.8 trillion—the third largest expense in the federal budget. And, by 2021, ObamaCare will cause a ‘reduction in full-time-equivalent employment of about 2.3 million.’
“Though we are racing against time, if Washington takes swift action to cut spending, reform our entitlement programs, and overhaul our broken tax code, we can save our children from a future rife with debt and devoid of opportunity. With a healthy dose of courage from elected leaders, we can get America moving on the right track again.”
Village Sanitation Update Due to Weather – February 5, 6, 7
Due to the impending snow and ice storm predicted to begin late this evening and into Wednesday, Bulk Pick Up for February 5th on the West side is cancelled. In order to ensure the safety of our employees, please place your refuse containers at the end of your driveway before 6:00AM on Thursday, February 6th and Friday, February 7th. Sanitation for West Side and East Side February 6th and 7th will only be collected at the end of your driveway.
For further information, please continue to visit our website www.ridgewoodnj.net and share this information with your neighbors.
Thank you for your continued cooperation as we all deal with continued winter weather events.
