>Gov. Christie pushes five-year performance review for teachers
Gov. Chris Christie, who wants to scrap teacher tenure, today said he would like a system that reviews teacher performance every five years.
Christie suggested placing teachers on five-year contracts. When a contract expires, the teacher’s performance would be reviewed and decision would be made whether to renew for another five years, he said today at a town hall meeting in Paramus. (Gibson, The Star-Ledger)
>Christie proposes health care cost increase for public workers
Gov. Chris Christie proposed significantly higher health insurance premiums for hundreds of thousands of public workers in New Jersey on Thursday, saying overly generous benefits are threatening to bankrupt the system. (Delli Santi for The Associated Press)
All are invited to participate in this inspirational event!
29th ANNUAL RIDGEWOOD & GLEN ROCK DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. OBSERVANCE Monday, January 17, 2011 at United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, New Jersey. “Working FOR THE COMMON GOOD” – 10:00 A.M. Interfaith Service Reverend Dr. George W. Maize,III Pastor, Metropolitan AME Zion Church – Outdoor Rally and luncheon. – 1:00 P.M. Fellowship Program will feature Yvonne Smith Segars, who has served as New Jersey’s Public Defender since 2002.
>Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., said he’s waiting to see the SEC’s study on the need for a SRO’s for advisers
House subcommittee chairman sees merits of SROs, fiduciary standard
But Garrett waiting to read SEC’s reports on both before taking a position Mark Schoeff Jr. January 11, 2011
The new chairman of a House subcommittee with jurisdiction over investment adviser issues is holding his fire on two crucial questions effecting the industry — until he reads upcoming reports addressing the topics.
Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., said he’s waiting to see the Securities and Exchange Commission’s study on the need for a self-regulatory organization for advisers — as well as the commission’s report on the efficacy of a universal fiduciary duty for retail investment advice — before taking a firm position on either.
Despite holding off until getting the reports, which are both due this month, Mr. Garrett indicated that SROs have a track record of success.
“I do see them as positive forces … having worked effectively in other areas,” Mr. Garrett, chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, said in an interview with InvestmentNews on Jan. 6. “They hold merit.”
If the SEC recommends an adviser SRO, it will have to be authorized by Congress. The SRO report must be delivered to the appropriate House and Senate committees by Jan. 17.
The fiduciary-duty study, which will assess the differences in oversight of investment advisers and broker-dealers, and any gaps in regulation, is due Jan. 21. The SEC can then write a rule establishing a universal standard of care for retail investment advice.
>Former Judge to AZ Sheriff: ‘Shut Up Before You Do Any More Damage to the Prosecution’s Case’
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 By Nicholas Ballasy Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Louis Gohmert (R.-Texas), a former prosecutor and judge and a current member of the House Judiciary Committee, is offering some advice to Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, who has gained national attention since Saturday for his suggestions that radio and television talk shows were somehow responsible for the shooting attack in Tucson that took the lives of 6 people and wounded 14 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Says Rep. Gohmert to the sheriff: “Shut up before you do any more damage to the prosecution’s case.”
>The Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) is pleased to announce that Pete McKenna has been elected as the new President
Paul Gould Moves to Texas in Career Relocation
Ridgewood, NJ – January 11, 2011. The Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) is pleased to announce that Pete McKenna has been elected as the new President of CRR, a grassroots non-profit organization committed to maintaining the residential character and the quality of life of the village of Ridgewood, and announces that Paul Gould, president to date of the organization, will be moving to Texas in a career re-location. Mr. McKenna is well qualified to take on this role as an 18-year village resident who has worked closely with Mr. Gould and other CRR members to keep Ridgewood a resident-friendly community since Valley Hospital announced its “Renewal” initiative to double its size at its Ridgewood campus.
In accepting his position as elected by the CRR Steering Committee, Mr. McKenna said, “We are thankful for Paul’s commitment, passion and tenacity in supporting the community and protecting the residential character of our village. While the face of our effort has changed, most of the Steering Committee members and key roles remain filled by the people that have actively supported Paul behind the scenes.”
Mr. McKenna expressed confidence in CRR’s membership and committees in carrying out the many aspects of CRR’s current work, including: a court case to overturn the Master Plan Amendment that was passed last June to allow the proposed expansion; opposition to any future ordinance by Village Council that would be required for the expansion to take place; research and fact-finding to support these efforts; attendance at public meetings; continuing communications among residents; and fundraising.
Mr. McKenna will emphasize a continuing push to raise funds within the community to support legal and other professional support needed for this effort, and said he and the Steering Committee are actively seeking support via the “stopvalley.com” website, including through its new PayPal option for donations.
Offering a historical perspective, he said, “While I appreciate that times change, much of what we value in Ridgewood is the result of the hard work and dedication that our predecessors put into the Master Plan and supporting ordinances that focus on keeping Ridgewood primarily zoned for single family residential homes,” Mr. McKenna said.
“I am not anti-Valley, but I think we need to look both at the past and the future to see what is right for Ridgewood relative to Valley’s ambitions. Valley is no longer the community hospital that provided services to an under-served suburb in the 1950’s. It is a major medical delivery company that has a Ridgewood address and some deep present day and historical ties to the community. It’s a shame that the decades of goodwill that were built have been so badly damaged by this process,“ he said.
Mr.McKenna also shared the following about the Master Plan Amendment process culminating last June: “The Planning Board’s process for evaluating the Master Plan Amendment was lengthy without being thorough. The process failed to consider some very important precedents, and not enough critical thinking and challenge of Valley’s assertions were evident from the Planning Board and the experts it hired.”
“I think the Village Council has learned from the Planning Board’s errors and will conduct the ordinance process with a genuine interest in the residents’ concerns,” Mr. McKenna added.
HONG KONG (AFP) – – Hong Kong remained the world’s freest place to do business for the 17th year in a row in an annual US league table published Wednesday.
The United States lost ground and mainland China came 135th in the table compiled by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington-based think tank, and The Wall Street Journal.
Hong Kong, a former British colony which was returned to China in 1997, edged out regional rival Singapore to claim top spot in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom.
After Hong Kong and Singapore, Australia and New Zealand took third and fourth spots respectively
National School Choice Week (NSCW) — January 23-29
This is going to be huge. Events all over the country!
Please support or consider sponsoring a National School Choice Week (NSCW) event in your area. You can find complete information at the National School Choice Week website. Also don’t forget to “Like” the NSCW Facebook page.
Last week, it looked like the Christie administration had pulled a fast one on the Democrats by introducing a plan to bail out the Transportation Trust Fund with revenues that would have gone to the canceled ARC tunnel project.
This week: Not so fast.
That’s what John Wisniewski is saying. And he’s getting backing from Steve Lonegan. (Mulshine, The Star-Ledger)
>Governor thrusts New Jersey to fore of an education fight
Gov. Chris Christie’s tough-on-schools approach in a state that has zealously protected its public schools — and its teachers — has already put him at loggerheads with legislative leaders, unions and some parents in New Jersey. (Hu, The New York Times)
New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto shocked the state’s political and legal worlds Wednesday – by voting on a case.
Such an action would hardly be surprising coming from any other justice. But only last month Rivera-Soto had pledged to abstain from all cases in protest over the presence of a temporary justice on the court. (Megerian, The Star-Ledger)
>Star school reformer’s quick NJ stop leaves people talking
Was Michelle Rhee’s high-profile visit to Trenton this week a powerful statement that puts New Jersey in the national forefront of school change? Or was it a political prop for the governor to distract his critics, as one Democratic leader claimed? (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Thanks to tenure, many believe that teachers’ jobs are basically guaranteed, no matter how students do.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wants to change that: He is seeking to end tenure and on Wednesday said he would support switching to a system that gives individual teachers five-year contracts, which districts could renew based on merit. He said he believes that if the worst 5% of teachers were churned, there would be a “quantum effect” on performance. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
>Daily Permit Parking offered by Clearview Cinemas
Ridgewood’s Warner Clearview Cinema is offering: Daily Permit Parking at 199 Dayton Street at $75 per month. For more information contact: Keira Gomez – 908-918-2017 [email protected]
