Botched Process Denied Thousands of NJ Residents Millions in Sandy Relief

Botched Process Denied Thousands of NJ Residents Millions in Sandy Relief (via NJSpotlight)

Three-quarters of all those who appealed denial of federal Sandy aid from two popular housing assistance programs administered by the state of New Jersey wound up winning their appeals, raising new questions about the distribution of the funds. As a…

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Joint Super Bowl Operation Targeting Commercial Child Sex Trafficking Rescue 25 Minors, Apprehends 45 Suspects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of U.S. and New Jersey law enforcement agencies who took part in a Joint Super Bowl Operation deserve tremendous credit for rescuing 25 children ages 13-17 from lives of misery and sexual abuse, and for arresting 45 suspects who allegedly exploited the children for commercial sex, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global human rights, and author of the landmark law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-386).

According to the FBI, which announced the arrests yesterday, some suspects claimed to have traveled to New Jersey from other states specifically for the purpose of prostituting women and children at the Super Bowl. High-profile special events, which draw large crowds, have become lucrative opportunities for child prostitution criminal enterprises, the FBI said.

“This unprecedented effort by federal agencies in collaboration with local law enforcement from New Jersey aggressively focused on combating commercial child sex trafficking,” said Smith. “The joint efforts and the extraordinary leadership shown by Governor Christie and the New Jersey Human Trafficking Task force is to be applauded for working effectively to help save lives. 

“Young victims now have a chance for a new start thanks to these arrests and rescues. Those who took advantage of young runaways and women forced or mislead into a life of sex trafficking and abuse must now face justice. Hopefully this effective effort will become a prototype and have a chilling effect on perpetrators across the nation and around the globe.”

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Opinion: NJ Republicans and U.S. Senate — The Five-Decade Losing Streak

Opinion: NJ Republicans and U.S. Senate — The Five-Decade Losing Streak (via NJSpotlight)

In any field of human endeavor, a half century of futility, of reaching for a goal, coming tantalizingly close but ultimately falling short, is understandable cause for frustration, discouragement, and a temptation to throw up one’s hands, surrender…

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, Feb 7-9, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, February 7

• National Wear Red Day – MORE INFO

• The Stone Pony 40th Anniversary Celebration (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Explore Celestial Wonders (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Ms. Lauryn Hill at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• CBA Fine Art & Antiques Show/Sale (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Admit One at NJ Repertory Theater (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Pajama Tops at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• College Women’s Basketball: Monmouth U vs. Quinnipiac (WLB) – MORE INFO

Wear Red Pajama Tops

• Baby the Musical at Center Playhouse (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Shakespeare’s As You Like It at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound by Monmouth Players (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Aberdeen) – MORE INFO

• Special Needs Night Out: Dinner & a Movie (Colts Neck departure) – MORE INFO

• Health Info on the Internet (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Daughters by South Street Players (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO

• Yoga for Adults (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Healthy Eating Habits (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Four Legal Documents Everyone Should Have (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO

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Analysis: U.S. Attorney’s Trail Shows Hoboken Charges More Serious

Analysis: U.S. Attorney’s Trail Shows Hoboken Charges More Serious (via NJSpotlight)

With subpoenaed documents trickling in to investigators and a third Christie appointee taking the Fifth Amendment, legal experts are debating which charges Christie appointees are likely to face, how evidence of a coverup could bolster a corruption…

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9/11 truther: How I sneaked into Super Bowl XLVIII — and hijacked the postgame show

9/11 truther: How I sneaked into Super Bowl XLVIII — and hijacked the postgame show (via NJ.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Brooklyn man arrested after he interrupted Super Bowl XVIII MVP Malcolm Smith’s postgame news conference didn’t start Sunday looking to make it onto national TV and, ultimately, into handcuffs. Matthew Mills, an 30-year-old independent…

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Chris Christie to speak at CPAC a year after snub

Chris Christie to speak at CPAC a year after snub (via NJ.com)

NEWARK — A year after being denied a speaking spot at one of the largest annual gatherings of conservatives, Gov. Chris Christie will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference next month, according to a report on Yahoo News. The gathering…

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GWB letter raises credibility questions for Chris Christie, Port Authority official, politicians say

GWB letter raises credibility questions for Chris Christie, Port Authority official, politicians say (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — If true, the claims in former Port Authority official David Wildstein’s letter are explosive and potentially deadly to Gov. Chris Christie’s political future, New Jersey politicians agreed today. But they also conceded the letter raised…

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Menendez discloses another flight from donor, racks up $360k in legal bills

Menendez discloses another flight from donor, racks up $360k in legal bills (via NJ.com)

NEWARK — Sen. Robert Menendez accepted a third flight on the private plane of a wealthy campaign donor now under federal investigation that he did not disclose until several years later, something the senator’s office called an “oversight.” The powerful…

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Super Bowl More Than a Game to Highlands, New Jersey Kids

The Robert D. Wilson Memorial Community Center and the Snug Harbor Park will be having repairs to damage from Hurricane Sandy thanks to

NY/NJ Snowflake Youth Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Highlands Mayor Frank Nolan, Jets owner Woody Johnson, and Douglas Eagles, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County at November 2, 2013 announcement of NY/NJ Snowflake Foundation Grant for Highlands

Highlands, NJ (January 30) – Long after this year’s Super Bowl Most Valuable Player is named, the game will continue to have an impact on youngsters throughout the State of New Jersey. The NY/NJ Snowflake Youth Foundation (SYF), the charitable arm of the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee, is refurbishing run-down or damaged youth-serving organizations throughout the Garden State. Today, the Borough of Highlands announced that it is one of at least 23 sites benefiting from a $1.5 million grant for repairs and renovations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to SYF through the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

Although some of these sites were in need of repairs and upgrades long before Hurricane Sandy came along, the superstorm had a huge impact. Many facilities were forced to shut their doors entirely, and more than a year after Sandy made landfall, the repair work continues. The funds provided will assist with the Community Center main room flooring replacement, installation of a new playground and renovations to the basketball and tennis courts that were undermined during the storm.

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