Tag: sanctuary phil

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2% cap on Arbitration Awards set to Expire , Property Taxes set to Zoom

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file photo by Boyd Loving

December 19,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The League, along with a coalition of local government groups have made clear to the Legislature the need to extend the cap on arbitration awards , The league called on local mayors , saying “We know that hundreds of municipalities have publicly called for the extension of the cap, but it is clear we must redouble our efforts to maintain this important protection for property taxpayers”. The law is set to expire in two weeks.

In an analysis of the cap released this fall found it saved taxpayers $530 million on police and firefighter salaries and more broadly found the duo of caps saved taxpayers $2.9 billion.

The expiration date coincides with the expiration of at least 100 public safety municipal contracts, according to the League of Municipalities, and proponents said they would expect unions to quickly file for interest arbitration.

“The conclusions the data supports are undeniable. The arbitration award cap and property tax cap are unseverable and essential policies if we are serious about keeping property tax increases at the historically low rates of the last few years. The data and the report confirm what the laws of mathematics dictated from the start, you can’t have an effective cap on property taxes without an identical cap on arbitration awards. We can’t tell local officials their revenues can only increase by two percent, but that the largest line item in their budgets must increase by three percent or eight percent or any amount higher than the tax cap. And it isn’t just police and firefighter salary costs that are effected, there is a ripple effect throughout all salary expenses.” ,  Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.

The League of Municipalities  says that Trenton needs to hear directly from you on the critical need for the common sense extension of the 2% cap on interest arbitration awards. In 32 calendar days the cap will expire along with over a 100 police and fire contracts. With this deadline looming, local officials’ voices must be heard in Trenton. If the cap is not extended it will be local leaders, not the special interest groups or State elected leaders, facing the dilemma of funding an unelected third party arbitrator’s award under the state mandated 2% levy cap.

In addition, to personally contacting your State representatives on the urgent need for the 2% cap on interest arbitration awards, please contact the following:
Senate President Sweeney at 856-251-9801 or SenSweeney@njleg.org
Senate Republic Leader Kean at 908-232-3673 or SenKean@njleg.org
Assembly Speaker Prieto at 201-770-1303 or AsmPrieto@njleg.org
Assembly Republican Leader Bramnick at 908-232-2073 or AsmBramnick@njleg.org
Assembly Speaker Elect Coughlin at 732-855-7441 or AsmCoughlin@njleg.org
Governor Christie at 609-292-6000
Governor-Elect Murphy (Transition office) 609- 292-4075

 

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Weapons and Uniforms Stolen from a State Troopers Car May Have Been Used in an armed robbery in Middlesex County

NJ state police

December 18,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

North Brunswick NJ, according to State police an unmarked trooper SUV was stolen overnight in Middlesex County.

NJ State Police report the white Chevrolet Tahoe vanished sometime Saturday evening or early Sunday morning in the area of North Brunswick.

The vehicle was found Sunday in North Brunswick, but two uniforms and two weapons that had been inside the car were gone.

Police say the stolen weapons and uniforms may have been used in an armed robbery in Middlesex County Sunday morning.

John Longo a retire police officer said ,” In 26 years on the job, I never left weapons and uniforms in a vehicle overnight….this adds to that whistle blower female trooper’s allegations about unqualified applicants going through their police academy and appointed on the job. This makes me question their integrity and their abilities. People could have been killed during this armed robbery due to someone’s stupidity ”

So the question remains, Why are troopers leaving weapons in an unattended vehicle?

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Sen. Cory Booker Receives Death Threats

cory_booker10_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

December 18,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, Newark police have deployed extra security to protect Sen. Cory Booker in response to a death threat against the former mayor, officials said Saturday.

In a statement, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said police were working with U.S. Capitol Police to protect the New Jersey Democrat.

“The Newark Police Division has been notified by the United States Capitol Police (USCP) regarding a threat on the life of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and his family members,” Baraka said. Members of the police division’s executive protection unit were assigned to provide security.

NJ Senator Cory Booker had slammed the ‘repugnant’ call for killing of Jews by Imam of Jersey City Mosque. In his letter to Ahmed Shedeed — the president of the Islamic Center of Jersey City, Booker excoriated Elkasaby’s remarks as “repugnant,” “dangerous,” and “unconscionable.” Death threats followed, a fatwa in the opinion of some experts .

The media has speculated on everything from the Alabama special election , Net Neutrality to grandstanding .

Representatives for Booker’s office and the U.S. Capitol Police would not comment on the threat.

Officials did not disclose more details on the nature of the threat or say if there were any arrests.

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New Jersey should get its own house in order

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

RE : New Jersey should get its own house in order

this letter was also published NorthJersey 7:03 a.m. ET Dec. 15, 2017

In regard to the federal tax reform debate, it’s amazing to read the many letters to the editor justifying the deduction of local taxes because New Jersey gets so little back from the U.S. government in comparison to other states. New Jersey’s disgraceful local taxes have nothing to do with the federal government or with the actions of other states and everything to do with the reckless fiscal mismanagement brought about by elected officials of both parties.

We have a pension system that will never be solvent unless it undergoes major reform. We have a public educational system supported by billions of dollars in spending — much of which is siphoned off before it ever gets to the classroom, and thus resulting in a failure of education in our major cities. We have more than 500 municipalities with a duplication of services that’s unique to New Jersey. And we have government workers making salaries and benefits together with retirement packages that are out of control and continue to escalate.

Rather than looking to the federal government for a handout so New Jersey can continue its profligate spending, we should be demanding sound solutions to our fiscal mess from our elected leaders.

Philip Affuso

Ridgewood

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Reader says The iceberg has been spotted, NJ is closing in on it fast and they are running out of other people’s money.

titantic

Doing something “swift and broad” will be far harder in light of the coming mass exodus of big dollar taxpayers caused by the double whammy of Herr Trump’s corporate tax hand outs (paid for by blue state property tax payers) combined with Murph’s soak-the-successful tax plan. The iceberg has been spotted, NJ is closing in on it fast and they are running out of other people’s money.

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SUPREME COURT ALLOWS FULL ENFORCEMENT OF TRUMP’S TRAVEL BAN

Trump_Travel_Ban_PKG_848x480_978892867855[1]

December 5,2017
by Kevin Ryan

Washington DC, The Supreme Court has ruled that the government can fully enforce its travel ban on residents from 6 predominately Muslim nations. The ruling means President Trump’s travel ban can take full effect while legal challenges in the lower courts go forward, and suggests the court is likely to uphold the travel restrictions if lower courts attempt to strike them down.

People from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen will now be banned from entry, even if they have a relationship with a U.S.-based person or institution. Lower courts had said people from those nations with a claim of a “bona fide” relationship with someone in the United States, including grandparents, cousins, and other relatives, could not be kept out of the country.

Only 2 of the 9 justices dissented, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.

SOURCE: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/04/supreme-court-allows-president-trumps-travel-ban-to-go-fully-into-effect.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-04/u-s-supreme-court-lets-trump-travel-ban-take-full-effect-jasp2kia

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After 3 Home Burglaries in as Many Days Paramus Police Issue Crime Alert

Paramus Police is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing person Dennis Meeman

file photo by Boyd Loving

December 5,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, the Paramus Police have issued a CRIME ALERT: Over the past several days there have been 3 home burglaries in Paramus. The first one was in the Arbor Road / Parkway School area. The second one was in the Fairview Ave / Colorado Road area. The third was in the Sycamore St. / Roosevelt Blvd area. Follow these tips on how not to be a burglary victim:

1. Report all suspicious people and cars to police via 911 immediately! Keep an eye on your neighbor’s homes.

2. Make sure you leave lights on in your home. Remember it is dark before most people return from work.

3. Lock your doors and windows.

4. Do not store your valuables in your master bedroom, Hide the around your home.

5. Prune shrubs and trees to keep them from hiding your home from street view.

6. Make your house appear that someone is home. Burglars target unoccupied homes!

If you have any questions on protecting your home call the Paramus Police Community Outreach Unit at 201-262-3400 ext. 5500, or send us a message on Facebook

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New Jersey Makes the Top Ten states with the Highest Expenditures on Public Welfare

Phil Murphy

December 1,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, Congress is trying to make headway on tax reform, President Donald Trump said earlier this month that welfare reform will be one of the next big items on the White House agenda.
New Jersey is already in the top 10 states in total amount of Welfare expenditures .  We can only speculate that Phil Murphy’s “sanctuary state ”  will increase that number dramatically .

Here is the top ten states with the highest expenditures on public welfare. Note the enormous difference between California and New York and the rest of the country.

1. California – $103 Billion

2. New York – $61.4 Billion

3. Texas – $35.4 Billion

4. Florida – $27.2 Billion

5. Pennsylvania – $26.7 Billion

6. Illinois – $21 Billion

7. Ohio – $20 Billion

8. Massachusetts – $18.6 Billion

9. New Jersey – $17.3 Billion

10. Michigan – $16.3 Billion

Note that the top ten states listed above spend more on public welfare ($346.9B) than all of the bottom forty states (plus the District of Columbia) combined ($262.7B). Regardless of how populated any particular state is, you want to pay attention to these numbers because they foreshadow future budget problems. When you consider the fact that many states run operating deficits and have enormous debt problems, you begin to wonder if some of these numbers are sustainable for the long term.

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KILLER OF KATE STEINLE FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER

Kate Steinle

December 1,2017
by Kevin Ryan

San Francisco Ca, Jose Inez Garcia Zarate, the illegal immigrant who shot and killed Kate Steinle in San Francisco in 2015 as she walked on a pier with her father, has been found not guilty of murder. The San Francisco jury only found him guilty of a single gun possession charge.

Garcia Zarate, 45, a felon with 7 prior convictions related to heroin possession and manufacture, had been deported from the U.S. 5 times, yet kept sneaking back in. He was actually released from custody by San Francisco authorities just 2 months before the shooting, despite an order from federal immigration authorities requesting the city keep him in custody so they could pick him up and deport him.

San Francisco is a “sanctuary city” that does not cooperate with federal authorities on locating and deporting illegal immigrants. Garcia Zarate admitted to going to San Francisco to take advantge of its sanctuary city status. The case sparked national outrage and debate over sanctuary cities as well as border security.

He had faced 15 years to life on a second-degree murder charge in the Steinle shooting, though jurors, 3 of which were immigrants themselves, were also allowed to consider first-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. His defense argued that the gun, which he claims to have found in a dumpster, had gone off accidentally. The gun was later found to have been stolen.

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New Jersey Taxes Going through the Roof ,Run For Your Life

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file photo by Boyd Loving

November 29,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to the Bergen Record ,Democratic Gov.-elect Phil Murphy said Tuesday that he is “confident” his proposal to increase taxes on New Jersey’s millionaires will go through, even as Democratic leaders in the Legislature have cooled on the idea in light of GOP tax plans being considered in Congress.

Murphy and his Democratic allies say that the bill would increase taxes on income over $1 million from a top rate of 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent. The Fantasy is that the new tax could generate up to $600 million for the state, which Murphy claims the state will use to increase funding for New Jersey’s public schools.

The are going to need it ,again according to the Bergen Record there will be $1.2 billion less revenue available next fiscal year than the current year. Specifically: $700 million in one-time revenues are in the current budget . The two largest being $300 million in legal settlements principally related to environmental claims and $321 million for sale of public broadcasting assets. And, the continued phase out of the estate tax, a decrease in the sales tax rate and exclusions/deductions in the income tax will result in $520 million less revenue from these sources.

The remaining tax base will yield $1 billion at best and that ‘s not sufficient to cover the lost revenue and address normal program growth. How to address this “squeeze” will be a challenge.

The current year or 2018 looks equally disturbing, the current budget has only a $409 million surplus that’s barely 1 percent of spending. There is no money in the Rainy Day Fund.

An none of this is taking into account greater outmigration according to Jordan Amin, a tax partner at EisnerAmper, “I think where some of these provisions that are affecting New Jersey harder than some other states — like the repeal of the state and local tax deductions — the incoming governor wants to increase the highest income tax rate in the state, currently 9 percent, to 10.75 percent, and I think that that may meet some opposition, now that some of the state taxes are not going to be deductible at the federal level. And we have all read about people supposedly fleeing New Jersey for other low-tax or no-tax jurisdictions, such as Florida. I think that there is some concern (the tax) … could cause a greater migration outward.”

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Murphy’s tax and spending plan will face a fundamental economic reality, government spending does not boost an economy

Murray Sabrin

November 27,2017
Murray Sabrin Professor of Finanace at Ramapo College

I sent the following letter to Tom Moran about his column. https://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/11/njs_millionaires_tax_hike_is_losing_support_moran.html

Your editorial today misses several points. If Murphy wants to spend more, then all New Jerseyans should pay higher taxes. Your support of his tax hike on upper income individuals and families is nothing less than “Willie Sutton” economics. In addition, I have been living in a Fort Lee 171 family co-op for ten years, about 25% of the shareholders leave for FL for half the year. They have been FL residents for many years, from what I gather. A higher top marginal rate will really accelerate the exodus.

Murphy’s tax and spending plan will face a fundamental economic reality, government spending does not boost an economy. Less regulations will make New Jersey more attractive to the business community as will lower marginal tax rates.

New Jersey should have one of the best state economies in the nation based on several factors. Instead, both Republicans and Democrats have implemented policies that in the final analysis have driven businesses out of the state in the 40 years I have been living here. In addition, New Jersey is far down on the list of companies that are looking to expand. The laws of economics and principles of finance cannot be overridden by statist politicians. In short, Murphy should check his premises about how an economy works.

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Murphy Needs You on His Transition Team

Tax and Spend Democrat Phil Murphy for Governor

November 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Murphy transition maintained a pretty low profile during Thanksgiving week, and the governor-elect himself made just one photo op feeding the down and out and less fortunate.

But there is plenty to be done behind the scenes: speeches to write, interviews to conduct, names to vet for jobs and Phil Murphy needs you to help out.

Phil Murphy rolled out his transition website, complete with a “Help Wanted ” sign and many job opportunities. Much like the official governor’s website, the transition site contains news and biography information for Murphy and his leadership team. But it was announced on Tuesday with a focus on finding people to fill out the functions of his administration.

“New Jersey’s greatest asset is its people,” Murphy said in a statement. “I call for all those interested in serving our administration to visit the Transition2018 website and submit their résumé for consideration. We will put an administration together that reflects New Jersey’s rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to making those opportunities open to all.”

The website address is transition2018.nj.gov.

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Reader says pro-development crowd uses calls of “racism” to get its way

lunatic progressives losing debate use race card

those of us opposed to overdevelopment are a mixed lot. You would know this if you have been at the Village meetings and part of the debate. The charge of racism is completely off base. It was something generated by the pro-development crowd last time and it simply had no basis in fact. And, as more than one person asked in response to these false arguments, are “you people” in favor of overdevelopment saying that diversity is only achieved through sub-standard housing?

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Aronsohn and Simincini Make the Murphy Transition team

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November 22,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, both former Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Ron Simincini were selected for the Murphy transition team.
Aronsohn in Human and Children Services and Simincini in Housing .

Well Ridgewood you now know what you voted for . Murphy has made it abundantly clear that he intends to raise your taxes ,yes you . He is also aiming to pursue his social justice utopia with more forced over development .
Aronsohn may have rejuvenated his political career by failing upwards .
https://www.roi-nj.com/2017/11/20/politics/murphy-releases-full-transition-team-membership/
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Federal Tax Reform Might Push New Jersey to Reform Tax System

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

November 20, 2017
Joseph Bishop-Henchman

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey has long been the punching bag of state tax scholars. The state has the worst state business tax climate of the 50 states and the third highest overall state and local tax burden (behind only Connecticut and New York). Any New Jersey resident knows they pay the highest property taxes in the country, but other taxes are also high: income taxes (5th highest top rate), corporate taxes (6th highest in collections), sales taxes (16th highest in collections), cigarette taxes (10th highest), and gas taxes (8th highest) are all high, and New Jersey is currently one of two states with both an estate and an inheritance tax (the estate tax half is scheduled to be repealed in 2019, but we’ll see if the new Governor changes this). The state has more outbound net migration than any other. One bright spot: you can drink away your sorrows, with a mere 12-cent per gallon beer tax, lower than 40 other states.

The state and local tax deduction considerably reduces the sting of New Jersey’s tax bill, and it’s no coincidence that four of thirteen Republican nay votes on the House tax bill came from New Jersey representatives. New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and newly elected Governor Phil Murphy, both Democrats, had pledged to make a higher income tax on millionaires a key early priority in 2018.

Now, however (Politico):

“We’re going to have to re-evaluate everything” if a federal bill repealing the state and local tax deduction becomes law, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said Wednesday in Atlantic City. Just days before, Sweeney had said he would make passage of a millionaires tax his chief priority in the new administration. “I’m just saying that what’s happening in Washington is concerning the hell out of me,” he added.

The changes to SALT are likely driving the reassessment. As ITEP, a group that promotes millionaires’ taxes, has explained, the state and local tax deduction “makes state income tax hikes a good deal,” since “income and property taxes are effectively less costly to state residents than are sales and excise taxes.” Take it away and New Jersey residents must pay full freight for their state and local governments. That may explain the seemingly contradictory rhetoric that millionaires taxes won’t affect the economy but eliminating the SALT deduction will be terrible.

If federal tax reform prompts New Jersey to overhaul its tax code, it’s long overdue. There are 244 townships, 265 boroughs, 49 cities, 15 towns, 3 villages, and 677 school districts. The three-member board running Tavistock, NJ, is a majority of the borough’s 5 inhabitants. A 1912 article recounted the history of New Jersey tax administration, which is a seemingly unending tale of bloated local government, corruption, and inequitable assessment. In the 1960s, railroad scholar George Hilton noted that the state’s practice of loading its property tax burden onto interstate commerce had ruined the viability of every railroad crossing the state. A 2003 state report dryly observed that state revenues had grown 1,700 percent since 1970, compared to population growth of 19 percent and inflation growth of 483 percent. The state adopted a sales tax in 1966 and an income tax in 1976, both with promises that they would be used to reduce crushing property tax burdens. Today New Jersey still has the nation’s highest property taxes, but with high income and sales taxes as well. It’s probably time for a rethink.