Sweeney and Prieto Agree On A Transportation Trust Fund Deal

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto have a compromise deal on the Transportation Trust Fund, according to an announcement on the NJ Senate Democrats website.

“We have an agreement on a plan that is needed to address the state’s critical transportation needs at the same time it provides targeted tax savings for retirees, the working poor and middle class families,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Salem/Cumberland/Gloucester). “This is a bipartisan plan that supports a $2 billion a year Transportation Trust Fund and provides affordable tax cuts that will allow us to meet the state’s pension obligations without creating a fiscal crisis. This is an investment plan that will create jobs and support immediate and long-term economic growth.”

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Poké Pallone wants to regulate your Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff and Pallone

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr is hard at work for the people of Monmouth and Middlesex counties.

The 28 year incumbent and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee along with two other Democrat members of the committee wrote to the president of Niantic, Inc, the developer of the Pokémon Go app, earlier this week inquiring into what the company is doing to ensure that users of the game do not wander outside their home wireless network and incur unexpected data charges on their cell phone bills.

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Gopal Declares War On Monmouth County Legislators

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal, speaking at his “Chairman’s Ball” fundraiser in Neptune last night, declared that he is targeting every Monmouth County Republican seat in the legislature in the 2017 election, according to a report on PolitickerNJ.

Gopal singled out Senator Joe Kyrillos, Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblymen Declan O’Scanlon and Dave Rible in his remarks.

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The Arnone Report: Show us the 9-1-1 money!

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Summer is in full swing and the weather is extraordinary! I’ve been all over the place the past few weeks with my fellow Freeholders, visiting towns, festivals and businesses throughout our beautiful Monmouth County, and nothing makes me happier than to see businesses thriving and residents and tourists enjoying all that we have to offer here. Speaking of festivals, many of these summer events would not be possible without the support of our law enforcement officers, first responders and volunteers.  I’d like to take a moment to thank all of our first responders, especially our law enforcement officers during this sad and tragic time in our country. Thank you all for serving and protecting us every day and making our communities a safe place to live. The officers here in Monmouth County are among the best in the country and I pray you stay safe each and every day.

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Christie Selected, Pallone Snubbed by National Bobblehead Hall of Fame

Breaking news out of Cleveland is that Governor Chris Christie has been admitted to the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.  The Hall and Museum are actually in Milwaukee, WI, but their representatives are in Cleveland this week selling their wares to RNC delegates and protesters. Presumably they will be in Philadephia next week for the Democratic Convention.

By glaring omission, New Jersey’s 6th District (Monmouth and Middlesex counties) Congressman Frank Pallone has not yet been admitted to the Bobblehead Hall of Fame.

Clearly, Pallone merits the honor more than any politician, athlete or movie star.

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Do you know this man? The Ocean Township Police wants to hear from you

Wanted by the Ocean Township PD

The Ocean Township Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying the man in the attached photo.  Detective Michael Melody said that more details may be released upon the man’s identification and arrest, but it is safe to say that he was not in Target to answer the help wanted sign posted on May 11.

Melody also said that the man and another guy were operating this old blue two door Chevy Blazer.

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Court Orders Belmar To Hold A Referendum On “Matt’s Law”

Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty had a bad couple of days in Court last week.

After hearings on Thursday and Friday, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Katie A. Gummer  Ordered that a referendum on Matt’s Law,   the Pay to Play ordinance that Doherty and the  Belmar Council passed earlier this year that would allow the mayor to hide the identity of donors to his campaign for Monmouth County Freeholder, be held in the Borough on September 27, 2016.

Judge Gummer reiterated her earlier ruling that Belmar’s current Pay to Play ordinance which requires the disclosure of all donations and requires Belmar officials who accept donations from borough venders, developers and liquor licensees to recuse themselves from decisions involving those donors’ applications and business with the town is “the law of the land.”

Matt’s Law “is suspended and has never been in effect,” Judge Gummer said from the bench on Thursday.

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Several Baton Rouge officers shot dead

In a grim repeat of last week deadly attacks on law enforcement, two police officers are reported dead following a shooting in Baton Rouge. Officials have confirmed two law enforcement officers have died and at least five others were injured during an early morning shooting on Airline Highway near Old Hammond Highway in Baton Rouge. “The… Read the rest of this entry »

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Search continues for teen reported missing in N.J. inlet

AVON-BY-THE-SEA — The search continues Sunday for a 17-year-old boy reported missing in the Shark River Inlet, officials said. The Coast Guard searched the inlet throughout the evening and deployed a small boat and helicopter Sunday morning, Petty Officer Seth Johnson, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, said. Coast Guard divers will continue the search Sunday… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie Conditionally Vetos Smoking Ban At Public Parks And Beaches

Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty and Governor Chris Christie walk the Belmar boardwalk in August 2011. Photo Credit: Tim Larson, Governor’s Office

Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed (CV) legislation that would have banned smoking at all public parks and beaches.  Instead, he recommended that the legislature amend the bill to prohibit smoking at State parks and beaches, but not those governed by local governments.

The bill, which was Co-Sponsored by rookie Democrat Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling of Monmouth County’s 11th legislative district, passed in the Senate 25-6 with 9 Senators not voting and in the Assembly by 52-6 with 19 Assembly Members not voting.

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