N.J. federal prosecutors subpoena records related to Port Authority Chairman David Samson, report says (via NJ.com)
Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed information related to Port Authority Chairman David Samson potentially being involved in conflicts of interests that stem from the agency awarding public contracts to construction companies represented by Samson’…
By Mayor Jonathan Hornik, Marlboro Township
Forgotten among the latest round of finger-pointing and investigations regarding the use of Superstorm Sandy funds are displaced low and moderate-income homeowners and renters who need help. This immediate and pressing need, combined with resources available from communities like Marlboro Township, in the form of affordable housing trust funds, present a unique opportunity for regional cooperation. Now all we need is some action in Trenton.
The funds, collected from developer fees, now totaling at least $180 million state-wide (and which the State has been trying to take for its own budget problems), are to be used to meet the need for affordable housing under the Supreme Court’s Mt. Laurel rulings. Those cases decreed that every town has an obligation to provide for its region’s need for affordable housing. We have long argued that the doctrine should be meaningfully applied – let’s build the housing where the need is the greatest.
Yet to this day the planners in Trenton wrangle over rules to determine how towns must address their affordable housing, going on 15 years now, when it should be painfully obvious that the need for our community (and our region) is staring us in the face. Current state laws prohibit Marlboro from helping those communities who are in desperate need for housing assistance after Sandy. There is no mechanism for Marlboro to spend its trust funds for the benefit of, for example, Union Beach or the Highlands, because there are no rules that allow us to do so. We can’t fulfill a fundamental tenet of Mt. Laurel, and help our neighbors because the authority to do so isn’t there. And why not?
Posted: March 18th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: COAH, Housing, Marlboro, Opinion, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: A-500, COAH, Council On Affordable Housing, Highlands, housing, Jon Hornik, Marlboro, NJ State Legislature, RCA, Regional Contribution Agreements, Union Beach | 3 Comments »
Belmar Mayor Doherty Testifies At Senate Hearing On Superstorm Sandy Recovery (via Manasquan-Belmar Patch)
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty testified Wednesday at the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development hearing “Superstorm Sandy Recovery: Ensuring Strong Coordination among Federal, State and Local Stakeholders.” According…
Schneider, Council Running Mates Kick Off Re-Election Campaign (via Long Branch-Eatontown Patch)
Members of the Long Branch City Council have had their fair share of challenges in their first term as a council, including a superstorm that battered the Shore and a fire that took out an entire block of the West End business district. Mayor Adam Schneider…
New bridge scandal e-mails include Christie chief strategist Mike DuHaime (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — New e-mails released today by the legislative panel investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closings link Gov. Chris Christie’s chief political strategist, Mike DuHaime, to discussions about the scandal and show more intimate involvement…
NJ lawmakers open debate on newest open space proposal (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — Seeking to end a legislative stalemate over open space preservation, state lawmakers today began to debate a new proposal that would divert about $150 million a year in business taxes to protect land and historic sites in New Jersey. With…
US and EU impose sanctions as Crimea turns to Moscow (via AFP)
The United States and the European Union targeted Vladimir Putin’s inner circle with economic sanctions on Monday as Crimea moved to cement Russia’s takeover of the breakaway Ukrainian region. Moscow and Washington have been on a collision course since…
Sweeney’s ‘Sandy Bill of Rights’ tour to continue in Keansburg (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — As Hurricane Sandy victims continue to complain about New Jersey’s recovery efforts, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney will continue this week to push legislation he says is designed to help them. Sweeney (D-Gloucester) plans to make…
By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder
Freeholder Director Tom Arone
We continue to promote small businesses within Monmouth County. The Façade Improvement Program initiative not only took off but was a huge success for many local businesses. As liaison to the department of Economic Development, and on behalf of the entire Board of Chosen Freeholders, I had the pleasure of presenting another façade improvement grant to the owners of the Freehold Borough Subway this week. They used the funds to put gooseneck lighting over their sign on Main Street in Freehold. As of this writing, all funds in the Façade Improvement program have been awarded. We are encouraging businesses to submit applications for our waiting list. If the businesses that have been approved decide not to move forward with the grant, we will take the next business off the waiting list.
The second Grow Monmouth Roundtable took place this past week in Hazlet. We had a large number of businesses attend and the discussion was helpful to the municipality, county and the businesses. I want to thank the governing body of Hazlet for partnering with us on this meeting. Our next roundtable is scheduled to be held in Manalapan on March 19th.
Additionally, on March 31st, as liaison to the Department of Tourism, I will be meeting with the mayors and tourism leaders of our coastal communities who are members of the Monmouth County Tourism Advisory Group. The group will discuss tourism promotion and plans for the upcoming season. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the County Connection in Neptune.
Lastly, after further study and investigation it has recently been determined that Shark River Park is no longer an economically viable option to be a temporary Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) for drying the Shark River’s dredge materials. The New Jersey Department of Transportation conducted a preliminary internal engineering and fiscal opinion of probable costs (OPC) of the potential project. The results of the OPC demonstrate the construction of the CDF at Shark River Park and the dredging and placement of approximately 100,000 cubic yards of material from Shark River far exceeds the State’s monetary allotment for the project. Consequently, the use of Shark River Park as a temporary CDF is not economically feasible. Although this new development is unfortunate, we will continue to work with all interested parties to dredge the Shark River and ensure its survival as a regional source for recreational activity, economic growth and ecological attraction.
Posted: March 17th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, Tom Arnone | Tags: Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Tom Arnone | 1 Comment »
Hurricane Sandy victims make do in trailers as they wait to rebuild (via NJ.com)
Tina Napalo lived in a bungalow-style house on Fourth Street in Union Beach for more than 20 years. “I didn’t have everything,” said the 40-year-old mother of four, but, “it took me a long time to get what I had.” Then Hurricane Sandy hit.…
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