Weekend @ Monmouth
As usual, Greg Kelly @ Monmouth County Life did a great job with the weekend events calender.
For some strange reason Pancakes Pallone on Sunday didn’t make Greg’s list. That event is at the Bayshore Senior Center in Keansburg. I wonder if Joe Hawley will be admitted to the senior center.
If you’re going out to dinner, visit one of our advertisers. If you like the HDTV’s at those advertisers and think one would be great in your home, we have an advertiser that sells those too.
Posted: October 8th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Weekend @ Monmouth | Tags: Weekend @ Monmouth | Comments Off on Weekend @ MonmouthBret Schundler Should Shut Up And Get A Job
Bret Schundler testified before the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee yesterday and joined Senate Democrats in shifting the blame for the failed “Race To The Top” application for $400 million in federal education pork to Governor Christie’s insistence that the Education Department not cave to the NJEA’s opposition to merit pay for teachers and accountability standards, rather than accept responsibility for his own clerical error that was the cause of the failure.
It is sad to witness Schundler’s personal race to the bottom. It wouldn’t surprise me if Schundler switches parties again and runs against Christie in 2013. I would enjoy that race.
Posted: October 8th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Bret Schundler, Chris Christie | Tags: Bret Schundler, Chris Christie, NJEA, Race to the Top | 4 Comments »How Will People Get To The Long Branch Pier?
By Art Gallagher
Long Branch is spending $3.7 million in federal taxpayers’ dollars, courtesy of Porky Pallone, for designs of a possible 900 foot pier to extend into the Atlantic Ocean.
The pier would be a transportation hub with a ferry terminal for commuters going to New York and an entertainment center with restaurants, retail, a theater, etc. The costs are estimated to be anywhere between $46 million and $92 million before overruns which would be financed with federal and state taxpayers dollars and pie in the sky leases on the entertainment center. Let’s call the project Xanadu South.
The Asbury Park Press reported that Long Branch officials have been lobbying adjacent governments and other agencies to support the proposal. Asbury Park officials were enthusiastic and Woolley has made presentations to the Monmouth County freeholders, NJ Transit, the Monmouth County Planning Board and the economic development committee of the Monmouth/Ocean Development Council.
The APP quotes Long Branch administrator as saying “Everybody has said “This is a great idea, we see value in it.”
I can understand why Asbury Park officials would be enthused. I’m not so sure that Deal residents would be enthused by all the new traffic along Ocean Ave between Long Branch and Asbury Park.
I’ll let others debate the merits and financing of the actual project, for the moment. What concerns me is how will people get there? Traffic on Route 36 from Highlands to Eatontown is already a nightmare. NJ DOT is finishing up a $140 million + Route 36 bridge project over the Shrewsbury now. The eight lane bridge connects 4 lanes of Route 36 in Highlands to two lanes of Route 36 in Sea Bright.
When is the Route 36 expansion project going to be announced?
How much land will be taken via eminent domain in Highlands, Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch (both Ocean Ave and Joline Ave), Oceanport and Eatontown? Will the expansion extend along to Bayshore through Atlantic Highlands, Middletown, Union Beach, Keansburg and Keyport to the Garden State Parkway on the north? Will it extend through Tinton Falls to the Garden State Parkway and Route 18 in the south?
Will there also be a Route 18 expansion project to connect Long Branch to New Brunswick and all the towns in between?
Is the Long Branch pier project the next step to turning Monmouth County into Bergen County with beaches?
Posted: October 8th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Long Branch, Long Branch pier, Monmouth County | Tags: Bergen County with beaches, Long Branch pier, Monmouth County | 2 Comments »Christie Sinks ARC
Governor Chris Christie terminated the “Access to the Regions Core” tunnel construction under the Hudson River yesterday after a month long review of the projects finances. The review revealed that New Jersey taxpayers would have been on the hook for $2.3-$5.3 billion in projected cost overruns in excess of the originally approved $8.7 billion budget.
The project would have provided rail service from the ill fated Xanadu monstrosity in the Meadowlands to a new station 150 feet below Macy’s basement. Critics of ARC, which was approved by Governor Corzine, say the rails would better serve the region if the New York side of the rails connected with Penn Station and Grand Central station in New York.
Christie said the decision to terminate the project was based on finances and not the location of the New York terminal.
The project as originally approved was to be finances by New Jersey, the Port Authority of NY/NJ and the federal government. New York was not contributing to the cost of the project.
Posted: October 8th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie | Tags: ARC, Chris Christie | 1 Comment »Pallone is feeling the heat
By Art Gallagher
Declaring, It’s Crunch Time and pleading, “We can’t possibly get across the finish line on November 2nd without your continued support,” Frank Pallone sent an email to both of his supporters, and the thousands of Anna Little supporters on his mailing list, begging them to join his facebook page, twitter page, to call his office and have a house party.
Phoney Palloney also wants to buy everyone pancakes on Sunday in Keansburg, before marching with him in the Long Branch Columbus Day parade.
He said that Anna Little is an out of touch, right wing, tea party approved candidate who wants to bring New Jersey back to the Bush years.
Dear Friend,It’s crunch time. We’re heading into the final weeks until Election Day. Every day my campaign is on the ground in the 6th District – talking to voters, listening to your concerns and communicating our plans for Congress to continue the progress we’re making. However, we’re up against an out-of-touch, right-wing, “tea party approved” opponent who wants to bring New Jersey back to the Bush years – when corporate interests always trumped the interests of our working families. Can I count on you to volunteer just a few hours in these last crucial weeks to spread our positive message? There are a bunch of ways you can help our campaign – even from your laptop, mobile device or home computer. Simple things like suggesting my Facebook page to your friends or following me on Twitter show the depth of our grassroots support.
On Sunday, you can also join us for two exciting events:
Free Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, October 10th, 10:00 am
Bayshore Senior Center
100 Main Street
Keansburg, NJLong Branch Columbus Day Parade
Sunday, October 10th, 12:00 pm
Vantage Point Office Building
Corner of Broadway and Rt. 36
West Long Branch, NJOur accomplishments in Congress over the last two years are moving New Jersey and our nation forward. Together, we’ve fought for the interests of the working families on Main Street, not the fat cats on Wall Street. Whether it’s protecting our beaches and coastline from offshore drilling, investing in renewable energy sources, or protecting American jobs, we’ve always put the best interests of New Jersey’s families first.
We can’t possibly get across the finish line on November 2nd without your continued support. I hope you’ll consider volunteering in our phone banks, canvass your neighborhoods, or host a house party so we can continue moving our grassroots campaign forward. You can always call my Long Branch headquarters at 732-571-4141 anytime during the day to learn how you can pitch in during this stretch run.
Thank you,
Congressman Frank PalloneP.S. Please forward this message to 3 people in your address book with a personal note about the stakes of this election.
Still nary a peep from Pallone about Elder Abuse.
Phoney Palloney is listening all of a sudden? Yeah, right Frank.
Posted: October 7th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Anna Little, Pallone | Tags: Anna Little, Frank Pallone | 2 Comments »She’s Anna Little and She Approves This Message
Posted: October 7th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Anna Little, Pallone | Tags: Anna Little, Frank Pallone | 2 Comments »Stop The Violence, Stop the Silence
By Art Gallagher
Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini has a wonderful column on her facebook page, STOP THE VIOLENCE, STOP THE SILENCE :
October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I encourage everyone to stop the silence and stop the violence. We must fight to end domestic abuse and the best way to do that is to bring it to into the light, whether we want to see it or not.
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior, but it is not just physical abuse. The National Domestic Violence Hotline states that domestic violence can be physical, emotional, sexual, economic or psychological actions that frighten, intimidate, manipulate, hurt, humiliate or injure someone.
According to statistics released by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in four women in the United States will be a victim of domestic violence. Women represent the majority of domestic violence victims, but men can be victims as well.
Read the rest of the piece here.
Has anyone told Frank Pallone that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month? He has yet to comment about his campaign operative slugging a 68 year old woman over campaign sign placement.
Posted: October 7th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Mary Pat Angenlini, Pallone | Tags: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Frank Pallone, Mary Pat Angelini | Comments Off on Stop The Violence, Stop the Silence
“Crazed Sex Poodle” Gore Coming To Rumson For Rush Holt
By Art Gallagher
Former Vice President Al Gore is coming to Rumson next week to stump and raise some cash for CD-12 Congressman Rush Holt.
Gore, who was called a “Crazed Sex Poodle”and a “big lummox” by Portland Oregon massage therapists Molly Hagerty when she accused him of groping her and painfully squeezing her nipples over her clothes during a massage at the Hotel Lucia in 2006, and the congressman who calls himself a Rocket Scientist will be having cocktails with supporters at the opulent mansion of Wall Street tycoon Thomas Unterberg on Sunday October 17, according to an announcement on Holt’s website.
Holt’s campaign has made an issue out of his opponent Scott Sipprelle’s Wall Street career. According to The Daily Princetonian, Holt sent an email to supporters bashing Wall Street and claiming he doesn’t “take big checks from them.”
… Holt’s reelection campaign has emphasized Sipprelle’s career on Wall Street. “It’s not news that a Wall Street multimillionaire would give himself a bonus, but it means that he’ll have the resources to try to distort Rush’s record of getting things done for Central New Jersey,” Holt’s campaign manager Sarah Stewart said in an April 16 e-mail to supporters.
“[Holt is] not working for the lobbyists. He’s not fighting to protect big banks and Wall Street. And he doesn’t get big checks from them. He has a broad base of support from real people with shared values,” she said.
Hmmm, the crazed sex poodle and the rocket scientist are coming to a Wall Street tycoon’s mansion not to take checks?
MoreMonmouthMusings surveyed area massage therapists to check on the likelihood of Gore getting a massage should he seek one while he is in the area.
Nicole Lerario, LMT, of A Kneaded Vacation Therapeutic Massage in Red Bank is a member of the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and the American Massage Therapy Association . Nicole said she does not massage clients after 8PM in order to avoid confrontations like Hagerty had. Lerario, who is licensed to practice massage in New York said she would work on any politician, “so that I can talk to them about having massage therapy covered by health insurance and about the importance of licensing massage therapists.” She said New Jersey does not license massage therapists, but should because, “massage parlors and untrained women advertising body rubs makes life difficult for legitimate therapists.”
Michelle, who advertises in the Asbury Park Press classifieds as “PETITE PLEASURE MASSAGE 24 hrs., In/Out GSP 105”could accommodate the former Vice President after 8PM but “probably wouldn’t,” she told MMM, “When dirty laundry comes out about well known people, it comes out on the other people involved too. Some people might like that, but I prefer to be more discreet and do my little thing.”
Annie of Fair Haven Therapeutic Massage also advertises in the APP. GRAND OPENING ASIAN STAFF, River Road, is how the ad reads. There was something of a language barrier between Annie and I. She wanted to know if Al Gore was the Vice President of Monmouth County, and she wanted to know if I would be coming with him for massagee. I told her I would not be joining Gore and that he was the former Vice President of the United States. “Ooohhh,” she said, “we would be honored.” Gore would have to visit Annie’s office, which is just down the road from the Unterberg estate.
Rosie advertises in the massage section of backpage.com
as ROSIE LATIN MASSAGE. She said “No, I am not interested in doing that,” when asked if she would massage Al Gore.
Lorraine advertises ~*~*~ Holistic Massage & Reiki ~*~*~ by Female ~open 7 days on backpage.com. She told me she would be happy to massage Gore, but that he would have to come to Manalapan and stay fully draped.
From this small sample, I get the distinct feeling that Northern Jersey Shore massage industry is not going to be stimulated by Gore’s visit.
Poor Al. He’ll have to settle for the Wall Street checks that Holt says he doesn’t accept.
Posted: October 7th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Rush Holt | Tags: Al Gore, Crazed Sex Poodle, Massage Therapy, Molly Hagerty, Monmouth County News, Rush Holt | 1 Comment »REMINDER: PALLONE SAID GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE WAS HIS IDEA
(HIGHLANDS, October 7) – Republican congressional challenger Anna Little – responding to release of a national survey indicating that the electorate’s opposition to the government takeover of healthcare enacted earlier this year is growing and hardening as the election approaches – today reminded voters in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District that her opponent, 22-year incumbent Frank Pallone, famously claimed of the legislation, “This is not Obama’s bill. This isn’t Nancy Pelosi’s bill. This is MY bill.”
“Nancy Pelosi and Frank Pallone were wrong to enact legislation mandating a government takeover of our healthcare,” said Little. “The bill they pushed through puts a government bureaucrat between you and your family doctor, reduces patient choice, raises taxes, and cuts Medicare by $500 billion. That’s just wrong.
“What’s worse,” continued Little, “is that Frank Pallone insists it wasn’t Barack Obama’s bill, and it wasn’t Nancy Pelosi’s bill. No, he insists, it was HIS bill all along. You can see video of him claiming it was his bill right here: http://www.stoppallone.com/
“Frankly, Frank, the voters of New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District don’t care whether it was your bill or Nancy Pelosi’s bill – all they care about is that it be repealed as soon as possible,” Little continued. “And that’s exactly what I plan to do when I get to Congress next year.
“We need healthcare reform that actually puts more power in the hands of patients and their doctors, and takes it away from government bureaucrats,” said Little. “We need healthcare reform that strengthens Medicare, rather than cuts it, and we need healthcare reform that increases patient choice, rather than reduces it.
“That’s what we’re going to try to do in the next Congress, and that’s why I cannot wait to get there.
“The good news is, there’s an election in 26 days!”