TO LIVE AND DIE IN ASBURY PARK … (Part One)

By Ernesto Cullari

Hardly a night goes by where I don’t hear the rumbling and winding of accelerated engines of police cars and their blaring sirens soaring up Cookman Ave, from the oceanfront toward the downtown area. I often wonder what tragic ending waits at the other end, where the fury of lights and sirens finally come to a crescendo. I was recently enjoying a beer and pizza with my brother at Johnny Mac’s one Friday night, when police cars from every direction converged on the West Side. I paused a moment to acknowledge that such a police response likely meant that someone’s son, someone’s grandson, someone’s brother was laying in a pool of his own blood, as a street that he once played on became the street that he would die upon.

The Asbury Park Sun reports that it was 20-year-old Tyrell Howard that was fatally killed that night. My heart, like your heart, breaks for him and his family. Too many kids are killing other kids in Asbury Park and in cities like ours and neither our families nor our communities are equipped with the proper means to slow the tide of death.

Unless we are willing to change what we demand from parents, unless we alter who educates and how we educate our children, unless we change how we police our neighborhoods and until we change who it is that we accept as role models for our children, we might as well accept that a certain percentage of our boys will simply die too young. At a time when many are about to throw their hands up in the air in defeat, I say it is a time to confront the violence within our community head on.

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Syria: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

By BADER GEORGE QARMOUT

As the world contemplates what to do with Syria, I had the opportunity to speak to Shadi (last name withheld) and his mother and I asked them about what life was like in Syria before the Arab Spring, as well as other things. Shadi and his mother now live in a small town in northern New Jersey. Both Shadi and his mother were living in the US and went to visit Syria before the outbreak of the uprising in that country. They wanted to return to the US but could not and thus were stuck in the land of their birth in the midst of a revolution for 2 and ½ years. Finally Shadi and his mother were able to escape from Syria and come back to New Jersey in June of this year to live with relatives. I sat down with Shadi and his mother for over four hours to discuss Syria in detail.

I specifically asked what life was like in Syria before the revolution and how was the relationship between Muslims and Christians who make up 10% of the population? The answers I received were different than what you will hear in the mainstream media.   Shadi and his mother, who are Christians, were insistent that Christians and Muslims got along without any conflict priory to the revolution. Christians though a minority, had equal access to all the rights and privilege of social, academic, political, and financial aspects of Syrian society. I was told of a Syria that was getting better and more modernized under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad (Bashar-the-lion) as compared to his father’s stricter control. Bashar introduced or expanded private banking, private hospitalization, internet, cellphones and modern amenities to Syria. The Syrian government funds itself mostly from oil exports and has no personal income tax.

The catalyst of the Syrian revolution was in Daraa, in the southwest region of Syria near the Jordan border. A handful of teenagers were arrested for vandalism by Bashar-al-Assad’s cousin, Gen. Atef Najeeb.  The teenagers were brutally beaten and tortured by Gen. Najeeb’s men because they spray painted anti Assad and anti-government graffiti. When family members and tribal leaders came to Gen. Najeeb to secure the release of the 15 teenagers, the General refused and disrespected the tribal leaders and sent them home without releasing the teenagers. The Sunni residents of Daraa reacted with protest and demonstrations.  The overreaction by Gen. Najeeb was later apologized for by Bashar-al-Assad, but that was far too late, Syria was already on fire. The majority of the population of Daraa is Sunni as is over 60 percent of Syria, while Bashar-el-Assad is a member of a minority Shia subgroup called Alawites.

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Speaking to parties’ bases, Booker and Lonegan propose unlikely ideas

Speaking to parties’ bases, Booker and Lonegan propose unlikely ideas (via NJ.com)

Democrat Cory Booker wants to reinstate a federal ban on assault rifles, give $400 a year to poor kids for college funds and pass comprehensive climate-change legislation. Republican Steve Lonegan wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, end the Federal…

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Hurricane Sandy insurance complaints lead to N.J. enforcement actions against adjusters

Hurricane Sandy insurance complaints lead to N.J. enforcement actions against adjusters (via NJ.com)

Nearly a year after Hurricane Sandy slammed into New Jersey, the state’s insurance regulator has quietly fined a handful of industry professionals over their work following the Oct. 29 superstorm. So far, the Department of Banking and Insurance hasn…

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Not Funny: NJ Supreme Court Says Judges Can’t Do Stand Up

Not Funny: NJ Supreme Court Says Judges Can’t Do Stand Up (via Techdirt)

Humor: some people have it, other people don’t. For the humoursly challenged, exposing the funny takes several ingredients. First, you need to be in a position to observe everyday occurrences that can be mocked or exposed for ridicule. Then you need…

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Shaftan: Lonegan in Single Digit Range

Long-Time Lonegan Strategist, Pollster Sees Much Tighter U.S. Senate Race Than Public Survey Results Reflect

By Matt Rooney, SaveJersey.com

He’s one of most controversial figures in Garden State politics, Save Jerseyans, but in all candor, I always enjoy talking shop with Rick Shaftan.

For those who don’t know (maybe you’re tuning in for the first time this cycle), Rick Shaftan is a campaign strategist/pollster for Republican candidates across the country (and a couple Dems, including state Sen. Nick Sacco). His most famous client is Steve Lonegan, and their relationship goes back many years; Shaftan’s cameo in Anytown USA – a documentary following one of former Mayor Lonegan’s Bogota reelection campaigns – is well worth the watch.

I had a chance to catch up with Rick on the phone last night when he was in between an event and a campaign conference call (and I had just returned from a cocktail party and was settling down for a tedious evening of busy work and HBO GO viewing).  His message to me concerning the 2013 U.S. Senate special election: don’t believe the public polls. “This is a single digit race,” Shaftan declared. Even his detractors who think Rick is crazy would never make the mistake of believing he’s stupid. I brought up the fact that conservatives (including yours truly) didn’t believe the 2012 public polling only to have those polls largely verified by the final result.

Rick Shaftan’s counter: 2013 isn’t 2012…

In short, Lonegan completely rejects the idea that Mayor Lonegan is trailing by large margins and that the nominee is underperforming with the GOP base; his argument is that the major public polls are failing to adequately screen for who is actually likely to show up at the polls to choose between Cory Booker (D-Twitter) and his candidate.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, September 20-22, 2013

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Sunday, Sept. 22

HIGHLANDS FIRST AID SQUAD FUNDRAISER (Highlands) —MORE INFO

• Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival – MORE INFO

• On Borrowed Time at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

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

• Manasquan Reservoir 5-Mile Run (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Cornbread Contest (Upper Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Autumn Beach Walk (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• The Sleeping Beauty by Coastal Artists (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO

• Women’s Lifestyle Event (Farmingdale) – MORE INFO

• Canterbury Art Show (Rumson) – MORE INFO

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Watchdog group puts Menendez, Andrews on ‘most corrupt’ list

Watchdog group puts Menendez, Andrews on ‘most corrupt’ list (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has joined the list of the nation’s 13 “most corrupt” members of Congress, according to a report issued today by a watchdog organization, making New Jersey home to two lawmakers with ethical clouds hanging over…

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In wake of Seaside fire ruling, officials call for vigilance on electrical inspections

In wake of Seaside fire ruling, officials call for vigilance on electrical inspections (via NJ.com)

By Erin O’Neill and Mark Mueller The danger lurked beneath the boardwalk all along. Decades-old electrical lines snaked under the weathered wooden planks in Seaside Park. Nearly 11 months ago, as Hurricane Sandy battered the shore, those lines were…

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Jersey Shore Events on the Weekend of September 20-22, 2013

As we just passed the middle of September, the “local summer” at the Jersey Shore still continues. Plenty to do around here, with many festivals, car shows and sport events.

Before the weekend events start, Wednesday, September 18 it’s the Jersey Shore Fashion Show Fall 2013 at the Watermark in Asbury Park. Enjoy latest fashions, support Jersey Shore boutiques, watch the most talented local models, and network with business owners.

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