Explainer: How Redistricting Can Shape Elections — and What Happens When It Does (via NJSpotlight)
What’s responsible for the extreme divide between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, and to a lesser extent, in Trenton? Some political observers believe part of the problem is the way we draw legislative and congressional districts. These days…
By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone
At the December 10, 2013 meeting of The Board of Chosen Freeholders, a resolution was passed regarding Assembly Bill 4481 which provides school districts with the option of educating students about the history of traditional winter celebrations and allows students, faculty and other staff to offer traditional greetings regarding the celebrations. Some examples of the traditional greetings would be Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays.
Furthermore, Assembly Bill 4481 also provides the option to allow a school district to display on school property scenes or symbols associated with traditional winter celebrations, including a Menorah or a Christmas image such as a nativity scene or a Christmas tree; however the scene must display a scene or symbol of more than one religion, or one religion and at least one secular scene or symbol.
In addition to holiday displays, the legislation provides that a school district may include musical selections with religious themes at winter or holiday programs if the winter or holiday program includes musical selections of more than one religion or one religion and music secular in nature.
I felt that this piece of legislation was something that was very important to bring back into our schools because it encourages the support of understanding the importance of individuals and families keeping with tradition. Not only was I a strong supporter of this piece of legislation but I received the full support of The Board in particular my fellow board member, Freeholder John Curley.
Assembly Bill 4481 which allows school districts to teach about traditional winter celebrations, display holiday symbols on school property, and include musical selections with religious themes is legislation that I will continue to support in hopes of seeing those old family values and traditions restored to what they once were.
Governor Christie: I wouldn’t characterize myself as angry Matt. It just you know, I don’t like when mistakes are made, because of the question you asked me, right? Like, are you ultimately responsible? Yeah. I mean it’s OK when I make the mistakes, you know, that I’m responsible. When others make the mistakes I’m you know, it bothers me. But I think anger would probably be a little bit too strong a word. Bothered probably would be the better word, you know? I was bothered by it but, you know, folks around here – when I’m angry you tend to be able to see it. I don’t hide it all that well. I’m not angry but I’m bothered when people make mistakes that wind up reflecting poorly on their performance, because their performance is the performance of this Administration, and so I’d rather have us all doing things well, and so I’m bothered whenever that happens. But, you know, as I said before, I commend Senator Baroni for his service, for his four years there. I know how hard that job is and he worked very hard at it. So did Mr. Wildstein at the job he had and, you know, it’s unfortunate for them that a mistake got made near the end of their tenure but, you know, that’s just the way life works sometimes and no, I wouldn’t call myself angry, but bothered, yeah. I mean, I’d rather not be doing this, but, you know, this is the job. So, you know, when you lead this is what you’ve got to deal with sometimes, but other times, you know, I’m standing behind here when the folks that work for me have done extraordinary things, herculean things, that I get to smile and stand here and put my arms around them and take credit for it. So if you’re going to do that you got to be prepared to do this too, and that’s OK. I’m a big boy. I can handle it.
Posted: December 13th, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Christie, Port Authority | Tags: Bill Baroni, David Wildstein, Governor Chris Christie, Hercules, Port Authority | 9 Comments »
Governor Christie: I am sending to the Port Authority somebody who has been one of my most trusted friends and advisors for the last ten years, and my instruction to her is the instruction that I have given to her in every task I’ve asked her to undertake for me, to use her best judgment, to put integrity first, and to make sure that she makes the tough decisions that need to be made in order to make sure that the taxpayers of this state and in the case of the Port Authority, the toll payers of the region are protected and respected. I want to thank Senator Baroni for his four years of service to the people of the state and of the region, and I look forward to changes that will result from Deb’s leadership along with Chairman Samson and the other Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. So I’m going to introduce Deb to make some remarks and then I’ll come back to take your questions. Thanks Deb.
Deborah Gramiccioni: I would just like to thank the Governor for his continued faith in me. It has been an honor to work for the Governor the past ten years, first as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, then as director of the Authorities Unit and now as Deputy Chief of Staff. I also want to thank my policy team. I’m going to miss all of you, and I’m ready to get to work.
Posted: December 13th, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Christie, Port Authority | Tags: Deborah Gramiccioni, Governor Chris Christie, Port Authority | 1 Comment »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Left-behind” parents came from across the country to watch as Members of the House of Representatives voted to unanimously pass a bill to help
Bindu Phillips of Plainsboro, N.J. addresses media at a Capitol Hill press conference. From left in rear are other “left-behind” parents Barton Hermer of Texas, Paul Toland of Maryland, Rep. Chris Smith, David Goldman of N.J., Dennis Burns of Colorado, and Arvind Chawdra of N.J.
bring home American children abducted to overseas destinations, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the author of the legislation and chairman of the House congressional panel which oversees human rights.
“The bill gives us continued hope that our elected officials grasp the enormity and the severity of this ongoing injustice and pail inflicted upon these victim families torn apart because their American children have been ripped from their loving arms,” said David Goldman, of Monmouth County, N.J., who waged a five-year battle to get his son back from Brazil. He is one of the lucky parents. H.R. 3212, the “Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013,” passed 398-0 late Thursday.
Smith has held several hearings on the heartbreaking cases of left-behind parents of American children abducted to India, Japan, Egypt, India, Brazil, Russia, England and other countries where far too few of the thousands of U.S. kids held wrongfully overseas are returned. Not all countries have signed The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the standing international treaty to try to address parental abductions via a civil framework that provides for the quick return of abducted children, and access rights to both parents. Sadly, even Hague signatories, like Brazil, often don’t enforce its provisions.
Posted: December 13th, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Smith, Congress, Press Release | Tags: Arvind Chawdra, Barton Hermer, Bindu Phipips, Cheryl Shirley, Chris Smit, Congresshman Chris Smith, David Goldman, HR 3212, Left behind parenets, Paul Toland, Press Release, Sean Goldman | 1 Comment »
The 5 worst political campaigns of 2013 (via NJ.com)
Wednesday we gave you the top five best campaigns of the year, so today we’re bringing you the worst. With dozens of races to choose from we crunched the numbers and chose five (and two runners up) that were notably bad. Some are on for their execution…
Chris Christie, Hillary Clinton neck-andneck in mock 2016 race, new polls show (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — A pair of new nationwide polls show Gov. Chris Christie and Hillary Clinton neck-and-neck in a hypothetical 2016 presidential matchup. Fresh off a landslide re-election victory, the Republican governor leads the former Secretary of State…
By Greg Kelly
Saturday, December 14
• InfoAge Holiday Spectacular & Train Display (Wall Twp) – MORE INFO
• The Street Heat Sole & Style Expo (Manalapan) – MORE INFO
• Scrooge The Musical at Premier Theatre (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• A Christmas Carol (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Jungle Bell 5k Run/Walk (Lake Como) – MORE INFO
• The Nutcracker at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Santa Train (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Festive Flutes (Neptune) – MORE INFO
• Candlelight House Tour (Keyport) – MORE INFO
• CODA’s The Nutcracker at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Christmas Lantern Tours at Allaire Village – MORE INFO
• McDermott’s Handy: A Celtic Christmas (Wall Twp) – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• A Shop Around The Corner at First Ave. Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• Open Shoot Archery (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
Posted: December 12th, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: Greg Kelly, Greg's List, Seastreak Ferry, Things to do in Monmouth County | Tags: Greg Kelly, Greg's List, Seastreak, Seastreak Ferry, Things to do in Monmouth County, Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend | 1 Comment »
The five best political campaigns of 2013 (via NJ.com)
If you’re a political junkie or even someone with just a passing affinity for the sport, this year was a goldmine. It featured several terrific campaigns at every level of government and included some truly virtuoso performances. Whittling to our…
Democratic N.J. congressman unloads on Obama for Castro handshake (via NJ.com)
NEWARK — Sometimes a handshake isn’t just a handshake. U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.), who immigrated to the United States from Cuba as a child, today slammed President Obama for shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela…
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