Bayshore Tea Party Group Submits The People’s Map
By Art Gallagher
The Bayshore Tea Party Group Redistricting Committe, Middletown, submitted what they are calling “the only truly Constitutional Map released thus far in New Jersey’s decennial foray into map making” to Dr Alan Rosenthal, PhD, the 11th and tie breaking member of the State Redistricting Commission.
In his cover letter to Rosenthal, BTPG Redistricting Committee Chairman Sean Spinello, Esq., said that the group “set out to produce a non-gerrymandered map that protects the all-inclusive and singular most important community of interest – the franchised voters of the State of New Jersey.”
Without consideration for partisanship, incumbency or socio-economics, the group’s map was constructed based upon the Constitution requirements of population equality, contiguity, compactness, and keeping districts wholly within individual counties where possible and where not possible, splitting districts into as few counties as possible.
In a statement posted on the BTPG website, Patrick Murray of Monmouth University Polling Institute said,
“Except for what appears to be an inadvertent split of Egg Harbor Township between Districts 1 and 2 (which will requiring some re-tooling) the map’s parameters are solid. It also maintains and perhaps enhances minority representation (basically as well as the map proposed by the minority coalition!) and provides for real competition for control of the next legislature. Of course, it is unkind to incumbents, and thus contrary to what Rosenthal has laid out as his priorities. On the whole, a map worth adding to the discussion.
The map is unkind to incumbents. In Monmouth County, Senators Joe Kyrillos (Middletown) and Jennifer Beck (Red Bank) are both in a new 13th district comprised of Bayshore and Two River towns. Old Bridge is moved, along with incumbent Assemblyman Sam Thompson, from the current 13th to an all Middlesex County 19th. Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (Little Silver) would join Assemblywoman Amy Handlin as incumbents in the lower house.
The current 11th district would remain largely intact, adding Manasquan and Oceanport, and be renamed the 12th. Incumbents, Senator Sean Kean and Assembly members Dave Rible and Mary Pat Angelini would be unaffected.
The new 11th district would be comprised on Colts Neck, Farmingdale, Howell and Tinton Falls of Monmouth County and the Ocean County towns of Jackson and Lakewood. Senator Robert Singer (Lakewood) would be the incumbent with Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (Colts Neck). There would be a vacant Assembly seat in this district.
The town by town key of the BTPG “People’s Map” can be found here.
The Redistricting Commission is required to release the new map on April 3.
More from my site
Bayshore Tea Party Group, 38 Registered Voters, File Suit To Overturn New Legislative Map
Bayshore Tea Party Group Releases Revised Legislative District Map
Incumbent battles are plentiful under BTPG’s “The People’s Map”
The Methodology Of Constructing “The People’s Map”
Census Data Due Today
Marathon Demonstration For “The People’s Map”- WISNIEWSKI:NEW LEGISLATIVE MAP WILL WITHSTAND TEA PARTY COURT CHALLENGE
James O’Keefe: “I wish the Tea Party Hadn’t Told The Press That I Didn’t Want The Event Videoed”
Freeholder Challenger Claims “real republican” Mantle
A Statement From Tea Party Groups of New Jersey
It’s nice how the Star Liar only points out Steve Sweeney and a few other Democrat districts but fails to mention when Republicans will lose a senate seat (example Kyrillos and Beck).
All in all a fair map that should be implemented. I doubt you’ll see this on Mouthpiece Mike’s website and Rick will come on here to complain that it’s too fair for taxpayers and unfair for Democrats.
Losing Sam Thompson would be such a blessing.
Though I fear this will never see the light of day, it’s very interesting, and an honest effort.
Would love to see what they come up with for the Congressional map.
l would take Beck over Kryllos in a heartbeat
Losing publicity hound Jennifer Beck would be a blessing. I guess I now same myself money by not re-printing the below letter in the Asbury Park Press…but, then again it didn’t happen yet.
On March 22, 2011, I attended a Q&A session held at the County Library (Manalapan) with State Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Casagrande, and Assemblymen Declan O’Scanlon.
Senator Jennifer Beck was speaking about her proposed bill (S-2716) prohibiting “double-dipping,” whereby New Jersey government employees retire and receive a pension from one government job only to receive a salary at another government job. I applaud her efforts in this endeavor, since the pension systems of New Jersey government workers are in an extreme precarious financial situation, and may no longer be there for current and future retirees. A troubling “double-dipping” pension situation was brought to my attention, and I wanted to discuss this matter with Senator Beck, involving a high-ranking Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department employee, with compelling proof that the scheme has been enabled by a series of manipulations and fraud, by County employees. Seeing me in attendance, and knowing I would broach the subject–she refused to acknowledge my presence and refused to discuss the matter.
This was reported in NewJersey.Watchdog.org—Ms. Beck inexplicably never answers my e-mails; never returns my phone calls; and has banned me from posting this information on her Facebook site. The scam has bilked the pension system of approximately a quarter million dollars!! Where is the outrage on the part of Senator Beck??
The information contained on this site, contains overwhelming and compelling evidence that her friend– former Monmouth County Sheriff and current Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno– being implicated in this fraud.
If Sen. Beck can’t acknowledge this particular incident as unethical and immoral, she will have great credibility issues proposing this bill in the state senate. She must be willing and able to clean the fraud in her own backyard, and call it for what it truly is: WRONG! It is time the senator request a special prosecutor to probe these serious accusations.
On another note, a view of her election contributions indicate that 94% of her special interest contributions come from outside the 12 Legislative District. Among her contributors include the NJEA, PBA, and Solomon Dwek. I think Ms. Beck needs to be reminded that the special interests in her district– are her constituents.
Jim Sage, Marlboro, Proud Republican
[email protected]
Mr. sage,
I am going to stick up for Jen Beck on this one. She is a State Legislature. It is not her job to comment on a County issue. If you asked a Freeholder and they wouldn’t answer you have a beef.
In my opinion one of the problems we have in government is politicians getting involved in areas not their responsibility.
If as you allege there is fraud in the Sheriffs department then let the County government and State or Federal prosecutors handle it.
Further since your posts indicate you have an agenda and are trying to “get her” If I were her I would not respond to you either.
Mr. Laffey,
You have always supported her–I would expect no less. I too supported her in the past. I used to put her signs up all over in the rain and mud when she was running for Assembly. When constituents have problems in government they go to their respective officials. At least hear your constituents. Don’t ignore me! Do I have an agenda–HELL YEAH!! To rid Monmouth County of the bullcrap corruption that has been pervasive for quite some time!
She wants to sponsor legislation prohibiting “double dipping” and doesn’t want to address this huge issue in her district?? This has got to stop!!
When I discovered the fraudulent doctorate degrees in the Freehold Regional HS district back in 2008–she turned her back on me!! I asked to her attend one meeting. Is that unreasonable?? She didn’t have to speak–just attend and fact-find!!
That is not good effective government.
This Mr. Laffey IS or should I say SHOULD be a politician getting involved in an area of responsibility that is her domain.
Remember: She is our representative in Trenton–if she is not effectively doing that–it’s time to go. I will now be sure she gets that push out the door.
I’m sorry Mr. Laffey–I HOLD my reps accountable and responsible. I hold their feet to the fire.
Having said that: Hope is all well; hope to see you at the next Bayshore Tea party Meeting.
—Jim Sage
I have had my disagreements with Jen. When that happens I let her know it.
However when I feel she is being unfairly tarred I will also say that. I respectfully disagree with you Mr. Sage regarding the role of an elected legislator.
lf you bring your complaints to “every elected official” and nothing is done, maybe that speaks volumes for the merits of the complaints. Just sayin.
It seems to me that a story as big as the Breyer St. Affair was in the Freehold Regional High School District, which dragged on for 3 years and brought negative national attention to the district, should have suggested to Ms Beck that she should make some appropriate comments about the issue. At some time during that period, as a concerned county representative, she should have at least attended a meeting or two to see for herself what was going on in her district…BTW, the same goes for the candidate from Marlboro running for the FRHSD board against Mr. Hochberg. If you want to represent a district or a county, you have to show an interest in it and learn the facts first hand.
I attended the same meeting as Jim Sage and found it appalling that Senator Beck ignored Mr. Sage throughout the Q&A session even though Mr. Sage kept raising his hand. There was even someone else in the audience who asked her why she was ignoring Mr. Sage. She wanted to speak to him privately rather than in the open. Why does she not want to answer this?
As for MLaffey saying this is a freeholder issue – I disagree. This is a state issue, which just happens to have a Monmouth County basis. Senator Beck should not be ignoring the issue.
I am going to swim against the stream here and say the FHRHS debacle was not an issue the legislators should have gotten involved in either.
That was a School Board Issue. School Board members are elected officials. The voters took them to task for their screw up.
When politicians get involved in issues that are outside their jurisdiction then they are just grandstanding. If they want to offer up legislation that stops what they see as a systematic abuse of the system then I think that is great. We do not need them showing up at local meetings and putting on a show or commenting on something that may be subject to an investigation.
Government works best when elected officials stick to what they were elected for.
In the case of a legislator their job is to help constituents with State issues and to legislate. Thats it.
Mr. Laffey,
Caroline Casagrande attended a Board meeting and called it wrong. She did not want her children to attend phony baloney Breyer State University–an online diploma mill.
Was that grandstanding? The people of the 12th Legislative District wanted her to attend as they wanted Jennifer Beck to attend. John Curley attended as well–not on his own–but at the request of (again) his future constituents. This sad event affected ALL state taxpayers since this was a systemic problem throughout the state. Senator Sean Kean, Asemmblywoman Angelini and Asm. Dave Rible along with Bill Codey in Essex County were the original primary sponsors of a bill that would prohibit such practices.
Jennifer Beck was embarrassed into being one of the primary sponsors since it emanated out of her district.
I am somewhat intimate with the “behind-the scenes” events regarding the bill that was signed in May 2010, by Chris Christie.
The story as you know was the Asbury Park Press’ story of 2008. It gave the Freehold Regional HS district and its employees and graduates a black eye. This will never happen again.
And Jennifer was no assistance to the taxpayer and her constituents in this matter, nor the fraud taking place in the sheriffs department. I did contact the freeholders about it and I must also add its a state problem as well, since the state funds the various state pension plans.
Thats why I am surprised Jennifer who wants to end “double-dipping” with her proposed legislation, does not call out Kim Guadagno for the fraud that has taken place–but then again I am not surprised.
As for investigations: Lets say this is not over. I will leave it at that. The appropriate investigative agencies are aware of the situation.
Perhaps when the good senator meets with her constituents, she prefers to hear what they ALL have to say and doesn’t want to get involved in one person’s vendetta—there are many issues that concern people, not just your crusade
Like I said earlier: Had she choose to attend just one (1) Freehold Regional HS District Board meeting–as her constituents requested–she would have heard what they had to say loud and clear!
Are you saying I have an agenda?? A crusade?? YES I DO!! Rid the taxpayers of fraud, waste, and abuse.
I e-mailed Jennifer Beck on her “STOP” fraud, waste and abuse web page back in late December regarding the Sheriff’s Department. SHE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME! I guess she never thought I would follow up on that.
It is time for Jennifer Beck to go
I have my view of how levels of government should interact and you have yours.
Lets just leave it at that.
Ditto
Getting back to the map.
Very interesting effort.
It is probably a good map because it makes nobody happy.
I for instamce don’t like the looks of District 11. Colts neck and Jackson together?
Will anyone take it seriously. I hope it has an impact on the process but I am going to predict it will be ignored.
If there is litigation will it have an impact on that? Maybe but remember underneath the veener Judges are basically political animals. They are only human. No one can completly subsume their bias developed over a lifetime of experiences.
Since this map gores so many ox’s (and rightfully so) I would guess it will in the end not accomplish much.
I wish I could be more optimistic about it.
[…] Musings a week or so again. It represents an honest effort by the Tea Party to create a “People’s Map.” Now, we have serious disagreements with how the Tea Party runs it’s efforts. However, […]
[…] Republicans were affected along with incumbent Democrats) and unquestionably constitutional redistricting map, the Bayshore Tea Party’s effort met with a stone wall otherwise known as the Apportionment […]