N.J. union-work leaves cost taxpayers more than $30 million
New Jersey paid more than $30 million over five years for labor representatives to conduct union business while on leave from government jobs, according to a State Commission of Investigation report.
One teachers union official in Brick received $1,375 in “perfect attendance” bonuses “even though he devotes all of his work time to union business,” the report found. Eleven officers with the state Corrections Department don’t report to prison jobs and still qualify for overtime. (Young, Bloomberg)
Former FBI Agent, Wes Rigler, to join the firm as Director of Investigations
NEW YORK, May 09, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Corporate Resolutions Inc., a global business investigations and consulting firm, today announced it has hired Wes Rigler as Director of Investigations in the firm’s New York headquarters, in a move to expand its premiere investigations team.
As Director of Investigations, Mr. Rigler will rely on his career in local and federal law enforcement to coordinate and oversee corporate investigations and monitoring assignments for Corporate Resolutions. Mr. Rigler spent 28 years with the FBI focusing on organized crime investigations and labor racketeering, and conducted many investigations that ultimately led to the successful prosecution of numerous corrupt labor leaders and contractors.
In 2007, Mr. Rigler was nominated for the FBI Director’s Award for his role in the investigation of corrupt union officials of Local 825 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Before joining the FBI, Mr. Rigler was an officer with the Ridgewood Police Department in New Jersey, and has also served in the United States Army. Mr. Rigler received his Bachelor of Science degree from William Paterson University and attended Pace University School of Law.
“We’re thrilled to bring Wes aboard as Director of Investigations,” said Ken Springer, President of Corporate Resolutions. “His wealth of experience in investigations, stemming from 28 years with the FBI, will help to keep Corporate Resolutions at the forefront of the corporate investigations and fraud prevention industry. We look forward to working with Wes and we’re sure that his skills will prove invaluable to Corporate Resolutions’ client base, both now and in the future.”
With the goal of advancing “legislation that encourages economic growth, job creation, and a less intrusive federal government,” the US Chamber of Commerce recently announced it has endorsed Congressman Scott Garrett for re-election in 2012. Congressman Garrett has a strong record of supporting job creators, most recently shepherding the Jumpstart our Business Startups (“JOBS”) Act to passage in the House of Representatives. This bill was ultimately passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president. It’s no wonder the Chamber of Commerce says that re-electing Scott Garrett will help “get our country back on track.”
Village Council Elections: isn’t finally time to hoist up “liberal enclave” banner
OK, Can we now stop the pretense that Ridgewood is a “right leaning” town?
In the 2008 Democrat primary:
– Ridgewood was one of only 4 towns in Bergen county to vote for Obama over Clinton
In the 2008 Presidential election:
– Ridgewood went for Obama over McCain with a 22% margin
(Bergen county went for Obama over McCain with an 17% margin)
And now:
– Ridgewood elects a self-serving career Democrat politician by a wide margin (in Aronsohn) who was openly backed by the Democrat party (financially and logistically).
I think it is time to take down the “right leaning town” banner under the Ridgewood name and hoist up the “lliberal enclave” banner and welcome the Democrat Party machine and their cronies into town.
Industry groups slam wage-equality bills as duplicative, harmful to economy
While legislators today called on Gov. Chris Christie to support bills that would narrow the wage gap between women and men, employer groups are voicing concerns about the legislation’s duplicative nature and legal repercussions.
The four-bill package, sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Voorhees), chairwoman of the Assembly Women and Children Committee, would require employers to notify workers about their right for gender pay equity; allow employees to share pay information with others without punishment; make public contractors report information about their employees’ pay to the state; and oblige employers to repay employees for discriminatory pay differentials with no statute of limitations, regardless of when the initial biased decision took place. The bills recently passed the Assembly, and companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate. (Eder, NJBIZ)
As budget deadline looms, Gov. Christie pushes to reform teachers’ tenure, lower N.J. taxes
With fewer than two months before the state budget is due, Gov. Chris Christie said this morning he wants the state Legislature to deliver laws changing the tenure system for public school teachers in a way that will result in decreased taxes for New Jersey residents.
“I want to make one thing really clear to the state Legislature: Do not send me watered down B.S. tenure reform,’’ he told a crowd of more than 450 at a town hall meeting in Monmouth County. (Spoto, The Star-Ledger)
High Marks for Transit Hubs
By JILL P. CAPUZZO
Published: March 22, 2012
WANT to know which New Jersey train stations have the most plentiful supply of parking spaces relative to town population? There’s a list for that. Or what about stations in the areas with the greatest number of jobs? There’s a list for that. Or transportation hubs with the densest populations? There’s a list for that as well.
In fact, there are dozens of lists, charts and graphs that analyze land use, infrastructure, populations and living conditions surrounding all 243 transit stations in New Jersey. The extensive inventory is the result of a three-year study by NJ Future looking to stratify census data from neighborhoods near the state’s transit hubs with an eye toward directing potential development in those areas.
The Tale of Two Communities: Hackensack and Ridgewood
The Village of Ridgewood and the city of Hackensack both lie in Northern New Jersey, within easy commuting distance of New York City. While both locations started life as rural communities, their paths to their current environment were quite different. Ridgewood today is still a suburban village of predominantly single family homes, whereas Hackensack has become an urban city, hosting the largest hospital in the region as well as some significant government agencies.
The History of Urbanization and Measuring Social Progress
In the nineteenth century it was believed that social progress could only occur if sections of society relinquished something. It was the age of Industrialization; progress was measured and driven by the economic impact of the wealthy industrialists who wanted to exploit
the latest technical advances for profit. Too often it was the built-up inhabited environment that suffered. Urban slums such as Manchester, England were allowed to develop in this manner to support the needs of the cotton industry. Charles Dickens described Manchester as, “A town of red brick, or at least that would have been red, if the smoke and ashes (from coal fires) had allowed it”. It was not until almost 200 years later that significant
money was invested to renew the city.
Hackensack Sets its Course
The nineteenth century view of progress prevailed well into the twentieth, moderated somewhat by legal reforms such as the 1833 Factory Act. To a community like Hackensack in the 1800s, the development of a local hospital was seen as a necessary step towards self-sufficiency, progress and modern living. At the time of the opening of the Hackensack hospital in 1888, Hackensack was a suburban community not unlike Ridgewood. While the hospital had only 12 beds and was housed in a converted Victorian residence, it was the first hospital in Bergen County.
Delta Pulls Ads From ‘Daily Show’ Over ‘Vagina Manger’
(BUZZFEED) Catholic League president Bill Donohue declared an early victory in his campaign against the Daily Show for a joke about a “vagina manger,” after Delta Airlines pulled its advertising from the program.
Donohue also pledged in a press release to continue his campaign. His next target: Kellogg’s, whose executives can expect to receive photographs of the obscene stunt.
Delta spokeswoman Leslie Parker confirmed to BuzzFeed that the airline pulled its advertising last week. Parker said that “We are constantly evaluating our advertising strategy and at this time no longer advertise during The Daily Show,” and denied that the decision had anything to do with “any opinions expressed” by the show.
Donohue outlined his attack strategy against Kellogg’s on the Catholic League website today: “Today, all the top management at Kellogg’s will receive a color photo of a naked woman with her legs spread and a nativity scene ornament in between. Let’s see if that jars them. Over 700 photos have been sent to leaders in Battle Creek, Michigan.”
Urbanization and Valley Hospital Expansion crowd looks to a win Ridgewood municipal election in unofficial results
Tuesday May 8, 2012, 9:31 PM
the staff of Ridgewood blog
( RIDGEWOOD-NJ) In unofficial results Ridgewood residents elected Paul Aronsohn and Albert Pucciarelli to serve on the next Village Council.
Unofficial results give Gwenn Hauck, with 1,727 votes, the third seat and a slight edge over Mayor Killion .However, provisional ballots have not been counted and incumbent Mayor Keith Killion is close behind with 1,711 votes. The Village Clerk’s office is currently estimating that it could take up to five days to count the provisional ballots.
According to the unofficial results, Aronsohn was the top vote-getter with 2,479 votes, while Pucciarelli had 2,078 votes received the second most. Jane Shinozuka and Russell Forenza received 1,484 and 817 votes, giving a victory to “Urbanization” crowd and perhaps signaling the end of the “Village of Ridgewood”.
Former Atlanta Braves Pitcher, John Smoltz, will sign his new book: Starting and Closing. Books available May 8th
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to insure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
COFFEE, ANYONE? COME FOR CASUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE BOE AND SUPERINTENDENT ON MAY 14
The Board of Education and Superintendent Dan Fishbein will host Coffee and Conversation for residents on Monday, May 14. The public is invited to drop in at the Education Center at 49 Cottage Place, floor 3, any time between 7 and 9 p.m. to ask questions, make suggestions and share concerns.
Ridgewood council election: Six candidates vying for three seats
Monday May 7, 2012, 5:07 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
On Tuesday, May 8, Ridgewood’s 16,224 registered voters will be asked to elect three new council members to serve four-year terms.
At a forum last week hosted by the Ridgewood League of Women Voters, the six candidates – Paul Aronsohn, Russell Forenza, Gwenn Hauck, Keith Killion, Albert Pucciarelli and Jane Shinozuka – answered questions posed to them by moderators. Several queries submitted by members of the public were also answered.
Alternative testing? Not under Christie’s change for high school graduation
As the Christie administration launches new high-stakes testing for New Jersey’s high school students, acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said yesterday that he intends to continue an appeals process that last year was the last resort for roughly 1,000 students to graduate.
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