The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Cresskill NJ, Senator Gerald Cardinale expressed support for allowing New Jerseyans to pump their own gas during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Continue reading NJ Senator Gerald Cardinale Supports Allowing Self-Serve Gas During COVID-19 Crisis
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Demarest NJ, An effort by Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-39) to address the incivility at all levels of American politics was ruled “out of order” by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee today.
After ruling an effort by Sen. Gerry Cardinale to increase civility in politics “out of order,” Democrats on the Judiciary Committee adopted a partisan attack on the President of the United States. (SenateNJ.com)
Continue reading New Jersey Democrats condemn racist and discriminatory comments unless it serves a partisan political purpose
| the staff of the Ridgewood blog Trenton NJ, Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-39), the ranking Republican on the State Senate Judiciary Committee, sent the following letter to Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Coughlin highlighting concerns regarding social justice and pending legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational use. |
Dear Sirs,
As a follow up to Senator Rice’s letter on April 3, 2019, please allow me to associate myself with his remarks, but I would like to add a few thoughts. Social justice is frequently cited in support of legalizing recreational marijuana in Washington and California. Legalization has, if anything, led to a greater proportion of minority incarcerations.
Continue reading Senator Gerald Cardinale Still Says NO to Dope Deal
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Trenton NJ, Senator Gerald Cardinale, (R-39) the ranking Republican on the State Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following response to two pro-marijuana editorials published this week on NJ.com and NorthJersey.com:
“It is incredibly disappointing that two of the most-widely read news sources in our state are spouting misinformation, and going out of their way to hide data that clearly illustrates the grave consequences of legalizing marijuana for recreational use,” Senator Gerald Cardinale said.
“A March 20 editorial on NorthJersey.com notes that the experience of legalization has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’ in other states. We know this is not true.
Continue reading Recent Pro-Marijuana Editorials are Rife with Inaccuracies
February 13,2018
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Ridgewood NJ, Senator Gerald Cardinale (R- Bergen and Passaic) said that the arrest of three sexual assault suspects in Bergen County shows the need for cooperation among local and federal law enforcement agencies.
“A woman was gang-raped by three men Bergen County, while ‘incapacitated and physically helpless.’ This makes me physically ill,” said Cardinale, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We need to do everything we can to protect and ensure justice for this helpless victim.”
On February 5th, an adult female victim reported she was gang-raped in Bergen County. An investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the East Rutherford Police Department, leading to the arrest of three suspects.The three accused have been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have placed detainers on the three men who are believed to be in the country illegally.
According to ICE, detainers are placed on people who have been arrested on local criminal charges and for whom ICE possesses probable cause to believe that they are removable from the United States so that ICE can take custody of the person when he or she is released from local custody.
“It’s clear that the suspects in this horrific sexual assault should not be set free, even if local authorities choose not to keep them in detention until trial. I’m glad that ICE is stepping up to keep these accused rapists off the streets. This horrible tragedy provides a clear example of why we need local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to work together to ensure public safety.”
Governor Murphy has proposed making New Jersey a “sanctuary state,” preventing local law enforcement agencies from coordinating in this fashion.
“Survivors of sexual assault need to know that their perpetrators will be held accountable, and communities need to know that criminals won’t escape justice and end up back on the streets,” added Cardinale. “The Governor’s sanctuary state plan is contrary to those needs. In this case, he’d protect the accused rapists by preventing the coordination need to keep them in custody of law enforcement. That’s not good for the victim, and it’s not good for public safety in New Jersey. While defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, I hope and pray this victim receives the justice she deserves.”
June 18,2017
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Paramus NJ, Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi hosted a meeting on June 15th at Bergen Community College to talk about OVERDEVELOPMENT, affordable housing and the biggest issues affecting Bergen County local communities.
The event was packed with legislators, mayors, engineers, planners, environmental experts, school superintendents, non-profit housing groups and others who joined Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi at the Thursday night legislative hearing to address New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis.
The hearing will provided the first significant legislative discussion addressing New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis in 5 years.
The meeting was very well attended given how little publicity from New Jersey main stream press .Senator Gerald Cardinale, Assemblymen Robert Auth and Kevin J. Rooney and the several hundred people took time to talk about overdevelopment and affordable housing.
The Speakers included Mayors and former Mayors from Closter, Haworth, Demarest, Dumont, Upper Saddle River and Montvale. Council members from Park Ridge, Ramsey and Dumont. Elected officials and representatives were also present from communities including Westwood, Mahwah, New Milford, Old Tappan, Emerson, Paramus, Allendale, Mountain Lakes, Montville, Hillsdale and Woodcliff Lake. Tom Toronto and Lynn Bartlett, the heads of non-profit affordable housing agencies United Way and the Bergen County Housing Authority, along with Bruce Young, the President of the Bergen County School Boards all provided great testimony.
Captain Bill Sheehan from Hackensack Riverkeepers for discussing environmental concerns. I was disappointed that none of our other Bergen County legislators chose to attend. This is an issue that every municipality is struggling with regardless of political party lines. We must work together to assist the communities we represent.
Joanne Minichetti, mayor of Upper Saddle River, told Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi and other state officials that the analysis leading to the obligations was “ridiculous” and “stupid.” The obligations were created by the Cherry Hill-based Fair Share Housing Center.
Derek Michalski also from Upper Saddle River recounted to the Ridgewood blog ,” in the case of USR two developers father and son “forced” rezoning Apple Ridge property on USR mayor and Council and after obtaining the “rezoning signature” re-sold the same property to Toll Brothers for $20-30milion quick gain. if the town did this deal for its own benefit(residents) we wouldn’t have to raise taxes for decades to come. Thus such chaos is creating enormous benefit to developers and leaving communities in fear.”
Schepisi has recently introduced two bills to freeze municipal affordable housing obligations through the end of the year, and establish a commission to study the issue and determine each town’s obligations. Over fifty municipalities throughout the state of New Jersey have passed a resolution urging action on Schepisi’s bills.
However NJ Housing and Development Chairman Jerry Green (D) is not going to release those two bill to the floor for vote (IMHO). They will die waiting…..in the meantime the town in fear of loosing this issue in court are marketing (horrible deals with developers). For instance in the case of USR two developers father and son “forced” rezoning Apple Ridge property on USR mayor and Council and after obtaining the “rezoning signature” re-sold the same property to Toll Brothers for $20-30milion quick gain. if the town did this deal for its own benefit(residents) we wouldn’t have to raise taxes for decades to come. Thus such chaos is creating enormous benefit to developers and leaving communities in fear.
And you guessed it Green is a major fund raiser for Murphy (he told me that himself in his office) so this issue is almoeast a dead issue.
By Alyana Alfaro | 03/11/16 3:55pm
Though the senate and assembly races in Republican-leaning LD40 won’t be held until 2017, a number of moving parts have made the district one to watch. When Senator Kevin O’Toole announced that he would not be pursuing reelection when his term ends, it opened the door for speculation on what would happen when his retirement came. Now, some are wondering who will eventually become the Republican nominee for his seat and what will happen to the assembly positions in the district.
O’Toole’s decision brings into question the fate of his district mates, Assemblyman Scott Rumana and Assemblyman David Russo. Some wonder if O’Toole’s decision to depart will entice either of the sitting assemblyman to pursue the LD40 senate seat. That move would open at least one spot in the assembly.
The mayor of Wyckoff is no longer pursuing the BCRO chairmanship.
Despite considerable speculation that Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney dropped from the race for Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman in order to pursue an LD40 assembly seat, the mayor said he is not planning on making the move at this time.
“I am happy where I am,” Rooney told PolitickerNJ. “We have two assemblymen who just got elected so why would I even try that?”
On Tuesday, Rooney announced that he would be exiting the BCRO race for chairman and would be endorsing current chairman Bob Yudin. According to his remarks, Rooney’s decision stems from a desire for Bergen County’s Republicans to move forward as a unified front to the November elections.
“If we are going to win this November and in the future we must unite and stop the interparty fighting,” Rooney said. “I know some of you will be disappointed by my decision, but now is not the time for a ugly divisive chairman’s race, this will only lead to a democrat victory.”
On Wednesday, Assemblyman Scott Rumana held a successful fundraiser in Little Falls. Over 130 guests were present and the event drew the likes of Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, Congressman Scott Garrett, Senator Gerald Cardinale, Conference Leader Dave Rible, Passaic County Chairman John Traier, Ocean County Chairman George Gilmore, and NJ Federation of Republican Women President Vanessa LaFranco.
According to one source, any speculation on what impact O’Toole’s departure might have is nothing more than conjecture. Because the LD40 races are not until 2017, the source said it is hard to know how the process will play out until after this year’s elections are no longer a main priority.
“Rumana is out there fundraising and, as far as I know, David Russo has not said that he is retiring,” the source said. “It is a rumor. Everybody is always looking for the curve behind the curve and, sometimes, there really isn’t just anything there. I think you are going to see a lot of candidates running for a lot of things depending on what happens in the next year.”
Even so, some insiders are saying that Rumana may be positioning himself to run for the Senate seat to be vacated by O’Toole in 2017. Others are saying that he might accept a judgeship.
https://politickernj.com/2016/03/amid-ld40-speculation-rumana-says-he-is-keeping-options-open/
FORT LEE – State Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-39) remembers then-Bergen County Democratic Organization Chairman Joe Ferriero jabbing a finger at him and telling him, “The reason network television costs so much, Gerry, is because it works!” (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/