The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Deputy Attorneys General to be On Duty in All 21 Counties
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced today that more than 125 Deputy Attorneys General (DAsG) will be assigned throughout the state on Election Day, November 5, to help ensure a fair and smooth-running election, and to assist county election officials in resolving any emergent voting-related legal matters.
Continue reading Attorney General Grewal Announces Election Safeguards
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Clark NJ, In March of 2018 the NJ Attorney General released the “Immigrant Trust Directive” which became effective in March of 2019. Designed to strengthen the trust between law enforcement officers and the state’s immigrant community by ensuring that crime victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes. The Directive limits the types of voluntary assistance that law enforcement officers of all types in NJ can give to federal immigration officers.” Having read the directive myself” commented Dist. 22 GOP candidate Patricia Quattrocchi. ” I can say that it amounts to making NJ a Sanctuary State by protecting illegal immigrants from capture by Federal ICE officers who are doing their job by enforcing the law.”
Continue reading Another Assembly Candidate says Governor and AG are Guilty of Violating Oaths of Office
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) bipartisan bill, HR 3289, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, was unanimously passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee today sending a unified message to the governments of China and Hong Kong that the peaceful protesters of that long-autonomous city have the full support and backing of American lawmakers. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) along with more than three dozen other cosponsors joined Smith on the bill.
Continue reading NJ Rep. Chris Smith Sponsors Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey has full-time problems that require the undivided attention of a full-time Governor. Phil Murphy should take heed.
New Jersey taxpayers have no appetite whatsoever for a Governor of either party spending his/her time flying around the country engaged in partisan activities raising money, campaigning and strategizing for their political party. For New Jersey’s sake, this is not the time for Phil Murphy to become Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA).
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Earlier this year, Governor Phil Murphy’s administration ordered local law enforcement officials to stop cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents when detaining criminals who are also illegal immigrants.
Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more than 50 illegal immigrants and issued wanted posters for several more who were intentionally released from prisons under the Governor’s Administration’s directive. Among those released were two men charged with domestic violence and a man arrested for alleged sexual assault on a minor child.
Continue reading The NJGOP is Actively Encouraging every Municipality and County to Pass a resolution to put Public Safety First
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Jersey City NJ, New Jersey GOP State Committeeman from Hudson County, Joshua Sotomayor Einstein spoke at the Katyn Massacre Memorial Service in Jersey City on Saturday at 3pm. The memorial service was held at the Katyn Massacre Memorial Statue in Exchange Place and was well attended by over 200 people. The memorial service, an annual commemoration, was organized by the Katyn Forest Massacre Memorial Committee.
Continue reading Katyn Massacre Remembered
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON, NJ, The Select Senate Committee on Economic Growth Strategies held a hearing yesterday with a panel of national experts who were largely critical of the Economic Development Authority’s controversial tax incentive program. Assemblyman John DiMaio, the Republican budget officer, echoed the experts’ sentiments that there are better strategies to accomplish the same goals.
Continue reading Call For Tax Cuts, not Incentives
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
PARAMUS NJ, As the fall campaign season gets underway, the Assembly campaign of Rochelle Park Mayor Mike Kazimir and Paramus Councilman Chris Di Piazza for New Jersey’s 38th District announce the hiring of Michael Casey as Field Director. Amid strong fundraising and positive polling numbers, the campaign is expanding for the final stretch.
Continue reading Kazimir & Di Piazza Announce the Hiring of Michael Casey as Field Director
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. – Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso commended police following the discovery of explosives near the South Plainfield Labor Day parade route. Out of an abundance of caution and potential threat to the community, the authorities canceled yesterday’s parade.
“I’m proud of the actions taken by New Jersey’s law enforcement yesterday. We are so very fortunate to have the best of the best protecting our communities,” said DiMaso (R-Monmouth). “They dedicate their lives to keeping us safe and their service deserves the highest praise.”
DiMaso also reminded New Jerseyans of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness’ See Something, Say Something campaign, which encourages reporting suspicious activity to authorities by calling 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Educations Association’s 125-member political action committee (NJEA PAC) voted to endorse 59 candidates for election to the New Jersey General Assembly in the upcoming November election.
“NJEA members have seen the profound impact that political decisions have on their lives and on the lives of their students,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan. “NJEA members have always been active participants in the political process, because we care about our profession and our students. As the burden of Ch. 78 and the lack of job justice for educational support professionals (ESP) make clear, it is more important than ever that we elect candidates who share our priorities and values.”
Continue reading NJEA PAC Endorses 59 Candidates in Legislative Contests Including Some Republicans
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Middletown NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (both R-Monmouth) issued a statement following Middletown’s decision to withdraw from affordable housing negotiations:
“We stand behind Middletown’s decision to pull out of COAH discussions,” said O’Scanlon. “They’re tired of trying to play by the rules for years and years only to be told the hundreds of units they’ve built are never enough, and I completely understand their frustrations. For people to claim Middletown doesn’t want working-class families in their town is completely misguided.”
Continue reading More Calls For Realistic Affordable Housing Reform
staff of the Ridgewood Blog
East Brunswick NJ, Following the recent announcement that 8 top NJ Transit officials were offered substantial pay increases, while on-time performance remains poor and commuters are going through their third straight “summer of hell”, Assembly candidate Jeffrey Brown called for NJ Transit executive compensation to be tied to the on time percentage of NJ Transit trains.
Specifically, all non-union NJ Transit salaried employees’ base salaries will remain the same, but they will only receive the percentage of their base salary corresponding to the on-time performance (within 6 minutes of scheduled time) of NJ Transit trains. Based on numbers from June 2019, this would equate to 90% of their salary.
Continue reading Assembly Candidate Calls for NJ Transit Executive Compensation to be Tied to On-time Performance
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON NJ, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation to require long-term care facilities to develop contagious disease outbreak response plans. Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi has been the driving force in the Legislature calling for reforms following the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation that killed 11 children and sickened 36 last fall. She was the first lawmaker to sponsor legislation after daily discussions with the health commissioner during the outbreak.
“I’ve been in front of this issue since day one and it’s one that hits close to home,” said Schepisi (R-Bergen) who represents Wanaque as a legislator in District 39. “We need to be thorough and meticulous to ensure the right measures are taken to protect our most vulnerable — sick children and the elderly. I believe this bill will help save future lives and I’m relieved it is now law.”
Continue reading Long-term care facilities must now submit outbreak response plans thanks to Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi efforts
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Montvale NJ, New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District appears to many national political observers to be a Democrat lock at this point, given the massive war chest maintained by two-term incumbent Josh Gottheimer, who presents an image of being a moderate. Not far in the past, however, the district was a long-time Republican stronghold, with the seat being held by a very conservative congressman, Scott Garrett, for 14 years until he lost it in 2016 to Gottheimer.
In 2018, Gottheimer retained his seat, defeating his Republican challenger by getting 56% of the vote. Although the vote differential was somewhat sizable, the gap isn’t such that can’t be filled by a Republican with the right message and background. A fresh face with conservative bonafides and considerable, current political experience is the GOP’s best chance to take back this congressional seat, which covers all of Sussex and Warren counties, as well as a substantial portion of Bergen County and a part of Passaic county.
Continue reading MIKE GHASSALI, AN AMERICAN DREAM STORY POISED TO BECOME A CONGRESSMAN
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Any public employee or elected official who is convicted of committing a sex offense while on the job will be required to forfeit their state pension, under a newly enacted law that was sponsored by Senator Kristin Corrado.
“Anyone who has the audacity to use their taxpayer-funded position of power to assault a coworker doesn’t deserve a state pension,” Corrado (R-40) said. “Public service is about helping people and making the state you work for a better, safer place for all. Anyone who commits a crime that is contrary to that mission, whether it’s an ethics violation or a sex offense, shouldn’t be paid by the state for life. We need to confront this crisis head-on and ensure that people know there are real consequences for committing crimes in the workplace.”
Continue reading Public Employees Convicted of Sex Offenses to Forfeit Pensions
