School Choice: Securing a Better Future for Our Country
by Andrew Campanella
It’s time to take the fight for school choice in America to a new level. To ensure that millions of additional children have access to the best schools possible, we must — must — reach tens of millions of additional Americans and galvanize their support for educational equality.
With one American child dropping out of school every 26 seconds, we cannot wait. Our country faces an education crisis, and it’s up to us to let our friends and neighbors know — en masse — that school choice CAN provide an essential and beneficial solution for families across the country.
To help make this vision a reality, National School Choice Week will host the first-ever nationwide, whistle-stop train tour in support of school choice.
The goal of this tour — along with the record-breaking 3,000 events being independently planned for National School Choice Week 2013 — is to demonstrate overwhelming support, and demand, for school choice…while shining a positive spotlight on the hundreds of organizations, thousands of schools, and millions of Americans working every day to increase access to great schools in our country.
The National School Choice Week Special — a historic railcar — will depart Los Angeles Union Station on January 25, 2013 and arrive in New York on February 2, 2013. Parents, students, community leaders, education organizations and elected officials of both parties will host 14 very special events along the tour’s route.
The Special will link the modern-day fight for educational equality to important movements that have shaped the American way of life — from suffrage to civil rights — all of which used similar whistle-stop tours to generate overwhelming support for causes that changed our history for the better.
With bold strokes, our generation can — and will — make its mark on the tapestry of our national experience. Social change isn’t just something we read about in history books. It’s something we can make a reality, and in the process, secure for ourselves not only a place in history books yet unwritten, but secure for our country a brighter and more prosperous futurewhere no child is denied the opportunity to attend the best schools possible.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 2, 2012, 11:44 PM
BY LESLIE BRODY
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Spend a while at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, one of the first in New Jersey to hand every student a laptop, and you’ll likely hear a teacher tell students to “forty-five it.”
That means closing laptops halfway during a lesson — to a 45-degree angle — so they aren’t tempted to surf the Internet, check email or shop for shoes. It’s one of many techniques savvy teachers are adopting to keep the attention of a generation easily sidetracked by an unprecedented bounty of technology.
As a growing number of schools let iPads, laptops and cellphones enter the classroom, some teachers say they’re shouldering a new role as electronics police. Teachers warn constantly that abused devices will be confiscated. Some continually roam behind the back row to see who is watching what. And in a step that smacks of Big Brother, some have programs that monitor all their students’ screens at the same time, and shut off the computer of anyone goofing off.
Six Bipartisan Entitlement Reforms to Solve the Real Fiscal Crisis: Only Presidential Leadership Is Needed
By J.D. Foster, Ph.D. and Alison Acosta Fraser
November 30, 2012
Abstract: The United States faces a real fiscal crisis, and the impending fiscal cliff of massive tax hikes and spending cuts in January is only the first act. In early 2013, the federal government will exhaust its ability to issue debt legally. Yet as large and as major a concern as federal budget deficits are today, they are of secondary consequence compared with the fiscal quagmire of unaffordable entitlement spending in the next decade. Fortunately, the entitlement problem can be resolved by six simple reforms to improve the fiscal future for Social Security and Medicare. But to implement these reforms, President Barack Obama must lead.
A high-stakes fiscal policy debate of unique size and import has just begun. Absent congressional action to the contrary, a massive slate of tax hikes and spending cuts will take effect on January 1, and that is only the first act. The second act will occur early in 2013 when the federal government will exhaust its ability to issue debt legally. Both acts need prompt solutions.
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R–OH) made the first move. After congratulating President Barack Obama upon his reelection, Boehner promised a willingness to work with him, giving Obama the additional revenues he desired through pro-growth tax reform accompanied by reforms in entitlement programs.[1] President Obama’s counter, while unsurprising, was unhelpful because he focused exclusively on fiscally meaningless and economically harmful tax hikes on upper-income taxpayers. The President repeatedly has argued for a balanced approach, but he has yet to offer a single meaningful proposal on spending reductions.
While the President prepares to start his second term, he should set about negotiating in good faith with Republicans, especially in the House where Republicans were returned to office in the majority with expectations of cutting spending without increasing taxes. The voters, we are told, expect it. This means the President cannot sit back and just harp on revenues. He needs to address spending and in particular entitlements.
Fortunately, the President has occasion and opportunity to lead by proposing some simple yet transformational reforms in two of the prime sources of the nation’s fiscal problems: Social Security and Medicare. Better yet, many such reforms have already been thoroughly considered and enjoy broad bipartisan support, lacking only the moment and the leadership to become a reality. These proposals will not resolve either program’s key structural flaws—they constitute a start of the reform journey, not the conclusion—but they would be a powerful start that would markedly alter the nation’s fiscal trajectory.
At the start of a President’s second term, the political stars are in the best possible alignment for solving big problems. All the President needs to do is seize the moment. This is the moment; President Obama must lead.
Fiscal Cliff: By Design, Not by Chance
Many events arrive by chance, but the present fiscal spectacle is not one of them. The fiscal cliff results from explicit actions by Congress and the President to push difficult fiscal policy issues past the recent election. In this, they succeeded, although it took a series of legislative acts to accomplish it. With regard to taxes:
The payroll tax cut, extended in the spring of 2012, will expire on December 31, 2012.
The extension of the Bush tax cuts, signed into law in December 2010, will expire at the end of the year.
This same law also established a new structure for the death tax with a 35 percent rate and a $5 million exemption per spouse, which will expire at the end of the year.
Various Obamacare tax hikes begin at the start of 2013.[2]
The same pattern holds for the spending cuts. For example, the sequester slated to gouge defense spending while making modest cuts—such as a 2 percent across-the-board cut to Medicare providers—reflects the final leavings of the earlier Budget Control Act, which created the failed “supercommittee.” Early in 2012, Congress also prevented deep and disastrous reductions in Medicare provider payments, but this “doc fix” remedy expires at the end of the year.
In May 2011, the federal government exhausted its legal authority to finance deficit spending by issuing debt. The U.S. Department of the Treasury exercised its typical but limited authorities for temporarily creating more room under the “debt limit,” allowing policymakers to postpone action until early August. A brutal and economically risky political battle ensued, eventually resulting in legislation that raised the debt limit by $2.1 trillion, sufficient to fund the federal government past the November election.
Projections now suggest that the government will reach the debt limit late in 2012, after which the Treasury will again deploy its limited authorities. This will trigger what could be another difficult negotiation for Congress and President Obama—a negotiation that will be heavily influenced by what happens with the fiscal cliff.
No Time for Distractions
President Obama clearly believes in raising taxes on upper-income taxpayers, and he is willing to weaken the economy, slow job growth, and constrain wage growth to do so. It is difficult to fathom his acceptance of this trade-off of economic security for an ideological doctrine of social justice, especially considering that this long-standing debate likely will rage indefinitely. However, these tax hikes are a distant sideshow in the present context, a political distraction that diverts attention from the central fiscal issue of runaway spending, which gives rise to persistent and economically dangerous deficits.
In his own budget, the President proposed to extend the Bush tax cuts except for those making $250,000 or more, raising $836 billion over the next 10 years. His companion proposal to limit the value of deductions for upper-income taxpayers would raise another $574 billion, for a total of $1.4 trillion. In absolute terms, that is a lot of revenue. However, even allowing for all the other budget gimmicks and tax hikes in Obama’s budget, the federal debt would rise by $7.7 trillion over the next 10 years including these tax hikes and by $9.1 trillion without them.
Obama’s tax hikes would reduce the rise in federal debt over the next 10 years by about 15 percent. The President is silent about the remaining 85 percent. The numbers confirm that President Obama’s tax hike demands are at best tangential to attaining a balanced budget.
Fiscal Cliff Today, Entitlement Crisis Tomorrow
As large and as major a concern as federal budget deficits are today, they are nevertheless secondary in consequence to the fiscal quagmire of unaffordable entitlements. Social Security and Medicare in particular share certain vital characteristics. Both programs are extraordinarily complicated, having been built up in complexity over the years one Congress at a time. Similarly, each program badly needs programmatic reforms. For example, the minimum benefit in Social Security is woefully inadequate to protect low-income seniors from poverty, and Medicare still lacks a catastrophic benefit. These are only some of the many shortcomings that must be addressed in fundamental overhauls of each program.
Of most immediate concern, however, is that Social Security and Medicare are unaffordable in their current forms. When this year’s kindergarteners enter college, just 13 years away, spending on these two programs plus Medicaid and interest on the debt will devour all tax revenue. (See Chart 1.)
Social Security will lack the funds to pay full benefits beginning as early as 2033.[3] Medicare’s unfunded promises in current dollars reach into the many tens of trillions of dollars. These facts are not in dispute. Solutions to our fiscal challenges are needed, urgent, and inevitable.
Carpe Diem, Mr. President
The fiscal cliff and the debt limit have set the stage, but there is also the reality of the rhythms in the American political system. There are certain windows in every four-year or eight-year cycle when bold leaders can achieve bold things. The first few months of a reelected President’s second term is one such window, but it closes fast, and lame-duck status arrives quickly.
Thus, the President must adopt the mantle of leadership, rather than brinksmanship, to steer the nation away from the fiscal cliff and all that is set to follow, and he must start with spending. However, the critical silver lining is that simple, commonsense, and thoroughly vetted solutions such as the four listed below constitute a strong start on the journey to more complete programmatic reforms remedying acknowledged flaws in these programs, and they already enjoy broad support across the political spectrum.
Raise the Social Security eligibility age to match increases in longevity. Originally set at 65, the normal eligibility age is rising two months every year until 2022, when it will reach 67. According to the Social Security actuaries, continuing to increase the eligibility age to 69 by the year 2034 and allowing it to rise more slowly thereafter to reflect gains in longevity could go a long way toward reducing Social Security’s funding shortfall.[4] While this would not reduce today’s budget deficit, it would strengthen Social Security’s finances and dissipate far more important long-term budget pressures.
Correct the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The annual COLA benefit adjustment is determined today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, the CPI, an antiquated measure, generally overstates inflation, meaning that benefits are increased a bit too much each year to offset inflation. The effect on benefits in a given year of switching to a more accurate inflation measure is minute, but Social Security spans generations.[5] Again, according to the Social Security actuaries, using a more modern inflation measure would substantially reduce Social Security’s shortfall over time.
Raise the Medicare eligibility age to agree with Social Security. Medicare has an eligibility age problem, but unlike Social Security, the Medicare eligibility age remains stuck at 65. An obvious solution is to wait five years and then slowly raise the eligibility age to align eventually with the Social Security eligibility age. While the short-term budgetary savings would be negligible, the long-term savings in Medicare would be profound.
Reduce the Medicare subsidy for upper-income beneficiaries. In 2012, the average Medicare beneficiary received a subsidy of about $5,000. The subsidy is the per capita amount of Treasury revenue that is used to fill the financial hole arising each year because Medicare’s premiums are inadequate, in conjunction with its other revenue sources, to cover Medicare’s total costs. Subsidizing Medicare benefits for low-income seniors—and perhaps for some middle-income seniors—makes sense, but upper-income seniors do not need and should not receive a $5,000 subsidy to buy Medicare health insurance. The Medicare subsidy was first cut for the wealthiest seniors in legislation signed by President George W. Bush in 2004 by income-relating premiums so that higher-income beneficiaries pay a higher share of their Medicare cost. It was cut further in Obamacare, and President Obama proposed to pare it back still further in his budget proposals of February 2012 with still-higher premiums for upper-income beneficiaries.
Medicare has many programmatic problems that demand attention, and the sooner the better, but the immediate fiscal problem is straightforward: It is the subsidy. The total cost of the Medicare subsidy—about $230 billion in 2012—will soar over time as health care costs rise and the baby boomers retire.[6] Paring back the subsidy for well-to-do retirees is an obvious step toward reducing the budget deficit today and shoring up Medicare for the long run.
Bolder Proposals
The four foregoing proposals for Social Security and Medicare meet the test of simplicity, being relatively easy to communicate to the American people, having been thoroughly vetted, and enjoying widespread support. Together, they would dramatically improve America’s fiscal future for the better. Two additional proposals, one each for Social Security and Medicare, meet the tests of simplicity and effectiveness but have not been considered as intensively. Yet they should also garner bipartisan support and consideration.
Phase out Social Security benefits for upper-income retirees. Everyone who has ever paid into Social Security is entitled to the benefits prescribed by law. However, as a nation, we need to ask whether today’s working families should pay payroll taxes so that upper-income retirees can continue to receive their checks. We need to ask why phasing out the Medicare subsidy to upper-income seniors while continuing to send them their full Social Security check would make sense. In short, Social Security should be social insurance against poverty rather than a government-run pension scheme.
Some might charge that this is redistributionism, but would anyone suggest that millionaires should receive food stamps? Food stamps and other welfare programs are specifically intended to operate as part of the social safety net, yet their existence constitutes a form of redistributionism that most Americans accept. Social Security (and Medicare) should become real insurance against poverty, meaning that only those seniors who need help should receive help. On the other hand, if Social Security remains a universal government-run pension, then it remains a vastly larger program built on an entirely different redistributionist principle: redistribution from workers to retirees, including the wealthy.
Consolidate Medicare’s elements and collect a single higher premium. Medicare is actually three distinct components, referred to generally as Parts A, B, and D, reflecting the fact that Medicare was built up over many years. This antiquated structure is confusing and inefficient. An obvious reform is to consolidate the three distinct parts into a unified Medicare program.
Medicare Parts B and D each require beneficiaries to pay a premium covering 25 percent of the cost of the programs. As the Medicare Parts are consolidated, the premium should be consolidated as well and then raised to 35 percent of the relevant costs.[7]
Conclusion
The nation’s fiscal problems, today and beyond, derive entirely from excess spending, especially entitlement spending, not a dearth of revenue. While current revenues are exceptionally low as a share of the economy, this is due almost entirely to the weak economy. As analysis by the Administration’s budget office and the Congressional Budget Office affirm, revenues will return to a more normal 18.5 percent of the economy as the economy recovers. Given these facts, President Obama’s insistence on an economically harmful tax hike for what is essentially a fiscally meaningless increase in revenues will not help policymakers navigate successfully around the fiscal cliff.
A hopeful sign, however, is that the political timing is propitious, and important policy reforms in Social Security and Medicare are simple, straightforward, and well known. These proposals, while not correcting more fundamental programmatic flaws, would materially correct the spending excesses in these programs. Better yet, these proposals are not partisan in nature, but have been supported on a bipartisan basis in the past.
All that is lacking to avoid the fiscal cliff, profoundly stabilize the nation’s public finances, and shore up these critical entitlement programs is for the President to take the lead. The nation waits.
—J. D. Foster, Ph.D., is Norman B. Ture Senior Fellow in the Economics of Fiscal Policy in and Alison Acosta Fraser is Director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation.
Online sales may bring holiday fear for some U.S. malls
By Ilaina Jonas
NEW YORK | Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:44pm EST
(Reuters) – When it comes to the internet, David Simon’s kids can look but not buy.
“They are not allowed to shop on the Internet or I won’t pay for their room or board,” Chief Executive and Chairman of Simon Property Group Inc, the largest U.S. owner of malls and outlet centers joked at a the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts investor forum in June.
Although his kids and their generation still go to the mall, Simon worries what the habits of his grandchildren will be.
If online sales continue to grow and take away a bigger and bigger slice of the U.S. consumer spending pie, the future doesn’t look good for some malls. Yet in a weird twist, it looks brighter for others.
Last week’s starting gun for holiday shopping speaks volumes.
What parent hasn’t said or thought, “Am I talking to the wall?”
For years we have urged the Village Council to appoint an expert task force to explore creative, minimally invasive, fiscally responsible ways to comply with Americans with Disabilities “Act guidelines to enhance accessibility into Graydon, with the first step a community needs assessment.
Not done. Now the passage of time is being used by Mayor Aronsohn as a driving force for a request for proposals leading to a $95,000-plus contract for a gigantic concrete ramp into the deep end that will destroy Graydon as we know it: the sight lines, the natural appearance, the ever-shrinking swimming area, part of the beach.
Being ignored:
• Graydon patrons have repeatedly stated that a gigantic ramp would co-opt too much swimming area, with seniors refusing to walk 40 to 60 feet to get into the water, yet their fictional enthusiasm for the ramp was the basis of Ridgewood’s successful application for a county block grant;
• The proposed ramp has been sharply criticized by architects, engineers, recreational therapy professionals, and those who would welcome easier entry into the water, including people using wheelchairs;
• Children and most physically challenged adults could/would not use a ramp into the 12-foot area;
• The ramp would block the spillway and be littered with slippery detritus;
• Neither entry to the premises (the No. 1 ADA priority) nor the bathrooms are ADA compliant;
• ADA does not require a ramp and barely mentions sandy-bottom pools, encouraging creative solutions sensitive to the setting – even Darlington County Park has no such ramp;
• Paving exacerbates flooding, a particular danger in the flood hazard area where Graydon and many homes and public buildings are located.
When we raise legitimate concerns about the ramp and propose alternatives, we are accused of disliking the disabled. Yet we have been the only group to thoroughly research the issue, interview experts, and locate appropriate products, such as a hydraulic lift off the T-dock with the “bridge” section widened – a fine use for the “concrete-only” $55,000 grant.
Last spring we supported the candidacy of Albert Pucciarelli, who led us to believe that he loved and understood Graydon. He encouraged the Planning Board to add Graydon to Ridgewood’s list of historic sites. Although we’d shared our concerns about the ramp, and his campaign mailing stated “No more concrete,” he now says he meant only that a concrete pool was unacceptable – a proposition that was already history.
Next Wednesday the mayor and the two council members who often join him as a voting majority are likely to approve building the ramp in the spring. They won’t mind spending at least $40,000 in municipal monies – originally $16,000 – having just floated a $3.8-million-plus bond and facing over $1.2 million in storm cleanup, not all reimbursable by FEMA.
Each council, the steward of natural beauty we have inherited, determines what future generations may enjoy. Meet the Ridgewood Parking Lot. Schedler, you’re next.
As a Realtor, a question I am constantly asked by family, friends and people I meet is “How’s the market?” Many are just curious in general but some ask because they may be interested in buying or selling a home. For them, depending on their position, I have different answers because their personal motivation is a key factor in helping them accomplish their goal.
When I speak to someone who is serious about buying or selling now or in the next few months, certain external factors have a strong impact on whether a buyer can afford a home or a seller gets their home sold. Today, I am refering to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
The FHA insures many home mortgages and insured around 16% of all mortgages last year alone. Lingering aftershocks of the housing crisis over the past few years have taken its toll on the FHA forcing the possibility of a taxpayer bailout for the first time in their 78-year history.
To offset the FHA’s losses, a program of premium hikes and rule changes that could affect buyers for years after they buy a home may be enacted. Sellers need to be aware that if these changes take place, some of the buyers who are currently looking in today’s market may have to sit on the sidelines a little longer.
The second external factor is the Federal Reserve’s current fiscal policy known as quantatative easing, round 3 (QE3). Specifically, since September, The Fed has pledged a monthly purchase of $40 billion of mortgage bonds until early Spring 2013. Their belief is that the fragile housing recovery in 2012 will be in a better position next year to stand on its own. At that time, we will likely see 30-year mortgage rates rise above the 4% mark for good.
Is this bad? Not necessarily but it means that some buyers won’t be able to afford more house for the money and may have to settle for less.
Depending on whether you are buyer or seller, these two major factors will play a part in your personal strategy. For buyers, the mortgage will start to rise, as will home prices. Sellers, if you’re waiting for 2006-07 home values to return, the trend is pointing to 2016-18.
So, should you stay or should you go? If you’re serious, don’t ponder too long or you will be leaving money on the table.
Ridgewood Police: Safety tips to protect your mobile device
When purchasing a smartphone, know the features of the device, including the default settings. Turn off features of the device not needed to minimize the attack surface of the device.
Depending on the type of phone, the operating system may have encryption available. This can be used to protect the user’s personal data in the case of loss or theft.
With the growth of the application market for mobile devices, users should look at the reviews of the developer/company who published the application.
Review and understand the permissions you are giving when you download applications.
Passcode protect your mobile device. This is the first layer of physical security to protect the contents of the device. In conjunction with the passcode, enable the screen lock feature after a few minutes of inactivity.
Obtain malware protection for your mobile device. Look for applications that specialize in antivirus or file integrity that helps protect your device from rogue applications and malware.
Be aware of applications that enable geo-location. The application will track the user’s location anywhere. This application can be used for marketing, but can also be used by malicious actors, raising concerns of assisting a possible stalker and/or burglaries.
Jailbreak or rooting is used to remove certain restrictions imposed by the device manufacturer or cell phone carrier. This allows the user nearly unregulated control over what programs can be installed and how the device can be used. However, this procedure often involves exploiting significant security vulnerabilities and increases the attack surface of the device. Anytime an application or service runs in “unrestricted” or “system” level within an operation system, it allows any compromise to take full control of the device.
Do not allow your device to connect to unknown wireless networks. These networks could be rogue access points that capture information passed between your device and a legitimate server.
If you decide to sell your device or trade it in, make sure you wipe the device (reset it to factory default) to avoid leaving personal data on the device.
Smartphones require updates to run applications and firmware. If users neglect this, it increases the risk of having their device hacked or compromised.
Avoid clicking on or otherwise downloading software or links from unknown sources.
Use the same precautions on your mobile phone as you would on your computer when using the Internet.
If you have been a victim of an Internet scam or have received an e-mail that you believe was an attempted scam, please file a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
Ridgewood Mayor’s Corner: Weathering The Storm
by Paul Aronsohn on Nov 2, 2012 • 12:00 am No Comments
Ridgewood News
By Paul Aronsohn
Welcome to the November edition of the Mayor’s Corner – my monthly column in The Ridgewood News used to answer questions, address topical issues and provide information on upcoming events. The purpose of this column is to help make Village government more transparent, more accessible and more responsive.
Storm update: Hurricane Sandy’s impact on Ridgewood was substantial: More than 500 tree/limb /power line events; more than 70 percent of the community left without power; and numerous road closures and days off from school. The damage has been widespread and extensive.
However, Ridgewood‘s response has been just as substantial, just as robust.
Led by Emergency Management Coordinator Jeremy Kleiman, village staff went above and beyond doing what they do best: provide for the safety and well-being of Ridgewood residents.
Early, smart preparations. Strong, rapid actions during and after the storm. Clear, consistent communications throughout. Taken together, village staff delivered.
Similarly, residents – those directly impacted as well as those spared any real hardship – rose to the challenge of the storm and demonstrated the community spirit for which Ridgewood is known.
Neighbors helping neighbors. Neighbors helping staff. The residents’ leadership and cooperation have been exemplary.
Going forward, please remember the following:
* The streets in many locations are still very dangerous. Exercise extreme caution with any downed trees or power lines.
* No branches should be placed in or near the street. They, too, pose a serious public safety risk.
* Many of our friends and neighbors are still without power and experiencing real difficulties. Our prayers and continued support remain essential. For those with heat/power, please open your homes and businesses to family, friends and neighbors.
Council agenda: The council will meet twice this month – Nov. 7 and 28. Among the issues to be discussed and/or decided: the capital budget, Graydon accessibility and downtown parking,
All residents are encouraged to attend our meetings. We not only welcome your input, we depend on it.
Nothing but Tax Increases , no Spending cuts offered McConnell ‘Burst Into Laughter’ as Geithner Outlined Obama’s Plan
6:14 PM, NOV 29, 2012 • BY FRED BARNES
Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, says he “burst into laughter” Thursday when Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner outlined the administration proposal for averting the fiscal cliff. He wasn’t trying to embarrass Geithner, McConnell says, only responding candidly to his one-sided plan, explicit on tax increases, vague on spending cuts.
Geithner’s visit to his office left McConnell discouraged about reaching a “balanced” deal on tax hikes and spending reductions designed to prevent a shock to the economy in January. “Nothing good is happening” in the negotiations, McConnell says, because of Obama’s insistence on tax rate hikes for the wealthy but unwillingness to embrace serious spending cuts.
Geithner suggested $1.6 trillion in tax increases, McConnell says, but showed “minimal or no interest” in spending cuts. When congressional leaders went to the White House three days after the election, Obama talked of possible curbs on the explosive growth of food stamps and Social Security disability payments. But since Geithner didn’t mention them, those reductions appear to be off the table now, McConnell says.
PSE&G Named America’s Most Reliable Electric Utility for the 5th Time in Eight Years
November 29, 2012
Utility also wins regional award for the 11th straight year
(November 29, 2012 – Newark, NJ) – Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) once again has been named America’s most reliable electric utility, as well as the most reliable electric utility in the mid-Atlantic region. New Jersey’s largest electric and gas utility also garnered an award for its response to the two major storms in 2011.
This is good news for the 2.2 million New Jersey homes and businesses that rely on PSE&G for electricity. PSE&G electric customers experience far fewer and shorter interruptions than those who live elsewhere in the country. When there are power outages — often the result of tree and animal contacts or storm damage — customers and community leaders are kept updated on repair and restoration plans.
That was the determination of PA Consulting, the industry benchmarking group that awarded PSE&G its top honor last night– the 2011 National Reliability Excellence Award — for “demonstrating sustained leadership, innovation and achievement in the area of electric reliability.” This is the fifth time in eight years the utility has received this recognition, and 11 straight years that it has garnered the ReliabilityOne Award for the Mid-Atlantic region. PSE&G also won Outstanding Response to a Major Outage Event for its performance during Hurricane Irene and the October snowstorm.
“The people of PSE&G work hard every day to provide safe, highly reliable electric service to our customers,” said PSE&G President and COO Ralph LaRossa. “The key is to never get complacent. We are continually looking for ways to improve and enhance our reliability. One way we are doing that is by investing in our electric transmission and distribution systems. Upgrading our infrastructure, coupled with our highly-skilled workforce, allows us to continually deliver on a blue sky day or during history-making storms such as those we have been experiencing in the past two years.
”Storms such as Hurricane Irene and the more recent superstorm Sandy have challenged our people and systems like never before,” LaRossa added. “While I am proud of our performance during each of them, our customers expect more – and we will continue to work hard to meet that expectation.”
The top reliability award is given to the utility that demonstrates the most improved and sustained performance over time, as well as accuracy in predicting its capabilities and communicating with customers and regulators. Planning, preparation and response to major events are also factors.
Companies Move to Avoid Obama driven tripling of dividend tax rates next year
November 28.2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Taking advantage of super-low interest rates, companies have been issuing debt at a record rate this month planing to use the proceeds to fund special dividends before the year is out.
Fearing a tripling of dividend tax rates next year, companies have found one-time payouts and early payments of quarterly dividends as a way to beat some of the impact of the “Fiscal Cliff.” and perhaps avoid giving the government anymore money than necessary .
Costco ,symbol COST is the latest example and whose founder is an avid Obama supporter announced a $7-a-share payout to stockholders Wednesday and is issuing bonds to pay for the $3 billion dividend.
The dividend tax rate, now 15 percent, and is set to expire Dec. 31, The fear of expiration has led many investors to dump dividend paying stocks, like utilities while eyeing a whole other group that are or could be paying special one-time dividends.
The concern is that the dividend tax rate could revert to 39.6 percent for the highest tax bracket if Bush tax cuts are not extended for the wealthy, as proposed by President Barack Obama.The rate increase would also punish seniors, union pensions and company 401K plans as well as obviously taking money away from business resulting in further job market deterioration.
The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare includes a new 3.8 percent tax on dividends and other investment income for wealthy taxpayers, and that would take the dividend tax rate up to 43.4 percent. At the same time, capital gains taxes, now 15 percent, could rise to their former rate of 20 percent.
All these factors make special payouts common sense.for investors.
Rudin Center for Transportation : New Jersey Commuter times Jump by 20 minutes post Sandy
November 27, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
According to the Rudin Center for Transportation at NYU New Yorkers managed to reach their places of work in impressively large numbers following Super storm Hurricane Sandy, not only as a result of transportation providers’ major efforts, but also through residents’ own adaptability and ingenuity.(https://wagner.nyu.edu/faculty/publications/publications.php?pub_id=2292 )
In the absence of subways, which typically transport 5.3 million people daily, commuters fanned out to buses, taxis, bicycles, and telecommuting. In the NYU Rudin Center’s survey of 315 commuters, where approximately half had typically taken subways to work, patterns shifted significantly to allow for a diversity of modes: buses, walking, bicycling and telecommuting, as shown in the charts below:
These figures represent the remarkable multi-modal transportation supply and user adaptability seen in few cities outside of New York. In many U.S. cities, which are limited to cars, buses or other singular transportation modes, the disruption caused by Hurricane Sandy would have, at least temporarily, crippled the economy.(https://wagner.nyu.edu/faculty/publications/publications.php?pub_id=2292)
Even further, the November 1-2 commutes often took twice or three times as long, and frustration levels were self-reported at an average of 3.35 out of 10, but the return to work was palpable on November 1-2, the days immediately following the Hurricane. It should be noted that the frustration levels were highest in Staten Island (7) and New Jersey (5.7), the surveyed areas most geographically separated from the operating offices of midtown Manhattan. The travel times and frustration index for those reporting to a workplace (not telecommuting) on November 1-2 is shown below: 50
Location Pre-Sandy Commute Time (minutes) Commute Time Nov. 1-2 (minutes) Average Frustration Level
Brooklyn 42 86 3.93
Manhattan 29 52 2.97
Queens 45 47 3.00
Bronx 41 63 2.14
Staten Island 84 240 7.00
New Jersey 52 69 5.67
Northern Suburbs 73 61 2.40
Long Island 85 85 2.00
Drop Your Home Heating Bills With Our Six Energy-Saving Tips;
Each winter we tell ourselves the same thing. This year will be different, this year the house will be ready, this year we will make the investment in time, energy, and money needed to make our home more comfortable, lower our heating bills, and reduce the carbon footprint of
our family. After all, our home is our largest single investment, and we want it to perform that way.
Efficiency involves peak performance with minimal waste. The following weatherization tips are based on proven building science and can have a significant impact on the overall comfort of your home this winter:
1) Seal penetrations in the ceilings of your upper floors: One of the most effective steps to reducing overall energy consumption is to seal penetrations in the ceilings leading to your attic. Examples of this include the recessed lights penetrating the ceilings of your home. These penetrations provide a convenient escape route for warm air to escape from your home. Recessed lights can be sealed by purchasing covers designed for this purpose.
Also, many homes have pull-down attic stairs or an attic hatch providing access to the attic above. Adding weatherstripping and insulation to these areas can dramatically reduce the amount of warm air escaping through these areas.
2) Seal basement penetrations: As warm air escapes through the upper regions of your home, it pulls outside air into your home through the basement. Sealing penetrations in your foundation with spray-foam insulation will prevent outside air from being pulled into your home. Many basements have older doors. Consider using caulk, foam, and weatherstripping to create a tight seal around these areas.
3) Examine the exterior of your home: Most of us subscribe to a variety of services which get piped into our home. These services include cable, phone, electricity, internet, gas, water, oil, and security services. Each of these services was installed by a technician who was probably not thinking about the overall energy-efficiency of your home and left behind dozens of penetrations that can be easily sealed with caulk or foam. Sealing these penetrations will prevent moisture, insects, critters, and unconditioned air from entering your home.
4) Evaluate your windows and doors: Replacing your windows is not always necessary to improve their energy efficiency. For instance, if you have original single-pane windows, adding a thermal window insert, such as Indow Windows, to prevent heat-loss can make energy savings comparable to much more expensive replacement windows while preserving the architectural heritage of your home. Thermal inserts are reusable year after year, can be used in front of double-pane windows as well and offer an attractive alternative to disposable plastic film barriers. The addition of a simple door-sweep and weatherstripping can dramatically increase the efficiency of older doors.
5) Examine your mechanical equipment: Older furnaces and water heaters consume excessive amounts of fossil fuel in comparison to many of the energy-efficient versions
available today. New Jersey has one of the best incentive programs in the country to help replace these units with more efficient versions. If replacing these units is out of the question, make sure you change your filters regularly and have a “clean & tune” performed on your unit to ensure it is running properly and efficiently.
6) Have a home energy assessment performed: A professional home energy assessment will provide you with specific information about how your home looses or wastes energy. During a home energy assessment, a professional uses sophisticated equipment and software to diagnose specific issues that are often difficult for a homeowner to uncover on their own. At the conclusion of your assessment, you should receive a report outlining issues uncovered during the assessment, measures recommended to increase the efficiency of your home, and rebates and incentives available to help you pay for these measures. Select a Building Performance Institute Accredited Contractor to ensure they have the qualifications and standards necessary
to provide you with a high-quality assessment.
Scott Fischer is a Home Performance Consultant with Ciel Power LLC. Ciel Power LLC is a One-Source Solution providing New Jersey Residents with Home Energy Assessments, Air-Sealing, Insulation, HVAC Services, Energy Efficient Lighting, & Technology. Contact Ciel
Power LLC at www.cielpower.com or 201-632-3463 for additional information.
Left to Right Eileen Colyer, Adult Services Supervisor Ridgewood Library, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Nancy Greene, Ridgewood Library Director, Annabel Greene, and Jacque Weiss, Neighbors helping Neighbors Ridgewood facilitator
Ridgewood Library honored by Neighbors-helping-Neighbors
November 27,2012
Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday October 25, 2012, the Ridgewood Public Library was honored and recognized for their support of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors, USA with the presentation of a Founders Plaque.Jacque Weiss, facilitator for the group in Ridgewood, awarded the plaque with the support of Mayor Paul Aronsohn of the Village, to Nancy Greene, Library Director, and Eileen Colyer, Adult Services Supervisor.
Neighbors-helping-Neighbors (NhN), is a volunteer led organization offering free weekly support and networking meetings in multiple libraries in New Jersey and beyond, for people actively seeking employment. The group, founded by John Fugazzie, in January of 2011 has
grown dramatically from its 4 original members in the River Edge library. NhN celebrated its first anniversary in Ridgewood on September 8, 2012. There are now more than 1,000 members and 200 success stories. All NhN groups foster an environment in which members assist each
other in job search techniques and suggestions based on personal experience plus personal and professional networking. Neighbors-helping-Neighbors is dedicated to a “pay it forward” model.
Resources are available at host libraries to assist with job searches on the library computers. NJ’s library system is dedicated to helping residents with the job search, so it is a great venue for meetings. In Ridgewood the group is directly supported by Eileen Colyer under the leadership
of Nancy Greene. While there is a regular meeting format, occasional meetings can include guest speakers, career coaches and HR professionals, who give timely advice and resume critiques. There are a variety of volunteers who offer their services to the membership free of charge.
On January 27, 2012 the first organization-wide NhN anniversary event was hosted in the Ridgewood Library auditorium. The Bergen County Freeholders presented John Fugazzie with a Certificate of Commendation for the group at this celebration. The Ridgewood Library has
been immensely supportive of NhN, hosting other events including a presentation by Mary Ellen Clark, Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Development, NJ State Department of Labor as well as career coach and author, Abby Kohut, otherwise known as “Absolutely Abby”.
Mayor Aronsohn has been particularly supportive of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors. After attending the one year anniversary celebration for Ridgewood, held on September 27, the Mayor invited Jacque Weiss to make a presentation about the group to the Village Council on
October 24. The focus of this presentation was not only to make the Council aware of the NhN’s activities to help residents in career transition secure employment, but also to encourage area businesses to invest in the community by hiring locally.
While thanking the group for the plaque on behalf of the Library, Nancy Greene spoke about the desire of Ridgewood’s Library staff to do whatever they can to support the members of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors. The Library has provided training classes for members in
areas of desktop technology, LinkedIn use, resume preparation and other career supportive offerings. Special discounts have been given to NhN members for many of these services. Nancy specifically solicited input from NhN Ridgewood members regarding additional subject
areas for future training classes as well as information about specific professional development of members that may be supported. It is a great example of community in action, with everyone offering the best they have for the benefit of all involved.
Ridgewood’s Downtown for the Holidays will start on Friday, November 30th with the Tree Lighting.
E. Ridgewood Avenue, from Maple to Broad, will be closed to traffic at 4:30PM.
All are invited to shop, dine and enjoy the entertainment, featuring a special “Rock around the Christmas Tree” theme. Performances by: From the Top Music Studio, Porch Light Productions, Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Art of Motion.
Entertainment and Tree Lighting from 7 to 8PM.
Come to Ridgewood to start the season’s celebration…
