My endorsement by Trenton City Council President George Muschal was one of the highlights of a very, very good week for Team Sipprelle. George said I impressed him with “my heart.” My commitment to bring a new sense of empowerment to our nation’s most economically distressed citizens is a central plank of my campaign. It is time to introduce democracy to a city which has been ignored by Republicans and taken for granted by Democrats.
Tammy’s Rule
At a recent meeting, an undecided voter was listening to me intently, but saying nothing. At the end of my Q&A, I asked her what she thought. She reflected for a moment, and then repeated a comment I have heard literally hundreds of times, “It sounds really good, you sound committed, but I am afraid that once you get there you will become just like all the others, detached from our issues and focused on your re-election.” So, I coined Tammy’s Rule, so named for my questioner: Be courageous, be independent, and do not ever forget the people who sent you there. My personal term limits pledge will do wonders, as well, to keep me focused and give me a sense of urgency. You won’t ever see Scott Sipprelle wheeled in and out of the Capitol building!
I Reject Mr. Holt’s Politics of Division
This will likely become a recurring entry in my weekly updates. My opponent has added a new weapon of cynical political deception to his arsenal. Volunteers at his campaign office are now being asked to copy and sign staff-authored talking points onto campaign postcards, which are then mailed to voters. The new “Falsehood of the Week” is that Scott Sipprelle favors denying healthcare to people with pre-existing conditions. What can you say about someone who will say or do anything to cling to political office? We are better than that.
Our Weapons Are Stronger
Last week I met a woman with a powerful gaze emanating from her deep brown eyes. She took me by the hand and said, “You have to win this election. You have to win it for our young people.” I replied quickly and politely, “Yes, that is what we intend to do,” and proceeded to move on, before realizing that the woman had not released her grip. She pulled my face back to hers and repeated with passion in her voice, “No, I mean you really have to do this.” I have been so moved by the notes and personal letters from people who tell me that they have never before staked out a lawn sign or mailed in a political donation. I will not let these people-or you–down.
Events
We have a wonderful series of events planned for the weeks ahead; I hope you can attend one of these gatherings:
September 24:
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will join me at a cocktail reception fundraiser in Rumson to support our campaign. RSVP by emailing:
Silicon Valley entrepreneur, former CA Congressman, and current Princeton University professor Ed Zschau will join me for a breakfast fundraiser at my home in Princeton to discuss entrepreneurship, capitalism, and the proper role of government ($250). RSVP to [email protected] and mail in this form: Reply/RSVP Card
October 3:
The Republican Jewish Coalition will host, “A Night of Policy and Politics,” with Jennifer Rubin of Commentary Magazine and yours truly. More details here: Republican Jewish Coalition Event
Like Levy’s Rye Bread used to say:
“You don’t have to be Jewish” (to attend).
Thank you for your continued demonstration of passion and purpose in our campaign for America’s future.
An international crime syndicate with ties to the Ukraine hacked into Middletown Township’s computer system early this month and withdrew over $370,000 from the township’s bank accounts, according to confidential sources within the township. All but $13,000 of the stolen funds have been recovered.
“Who told you?” was Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore’s confirmation that the cyber attack occurred, when asked about it by MoreMonmouthMusings.
The theft was discovered by finance department personnel on September 9. The Middletown Township Police Department was able to get all but the $13,000 that had already been withdrawn from the thieves accounts frozen and returned to the township.
Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger confirmed that the majority of funds had been recovered and said there were ongoing efforts to recover the missing $13,000. Scharfenberger also said that he was told that the federal government was already investigating similar incidents at other municipalities.
Fiore said that the method of the attack was new and blocks for such attacks had not yet been developed. He said that social networking sites were being restricted from the township’s computers are a precaution against future attacks.
Special Agent Bryan L. Travers of the FBI declined to comment on a ongoing investigation or to divulge what other municipalities or businesses have be victimised.
Travers said the these types of cyber attacks usually occur on holiday weekends and advised that finance managers should conduct pending business before a holiday and shut their systems down until returning to work.
Democrats Push it Aside In Favor Of A Tax On The Good Guys
By Jim Granelli
At the September 13th Township Committee meeting, when presented with an idea that could bring a large revenue stream to Neptune Township, the 5 & 0 Democrat Monopoly seemed dismissive of a potentially good idea to bring in revenue for Neptune, while rushing head long into a Hotel Tax that would only hurt tourism.
Taking part in a pilot program by the N.J. State Police in order to increase traffic safety, the Boro of Glassboro, N.J.; along with other towns initiated the use of a traffic cameras to ticket vehicles running red lights or not stopping on red when making a right turn.
Glassboro realized a gross revenue of $35,000 in the first month, increasing to $110,000 in the most recently reported month of August with the first four months brought a net revenue $230,000 to Glassboro’s coffers. Extrapolating that on a year round basis, that could mean close to a million dollars in new revenue for Neptune Township.
According to Charles Callari, New Jersey regional business development director at American Traffic Solutions, “there’s no out-of-pocket expenses for the municipality or no up-front costs.”
When compared to the Neptune Democrat’s vague estimates of only $200,000 to $500,000 in revenue from a hotel tax that would impact tourism & Township business owners, Neptune’s Republicans feel that the brakes should be put on a hotel tax while this other potential revenue stream is investigated and possibly initiated in Neptune.
Warren Lapp, the Neptune Township Republican Township Committee Candidate commented, that “while the idea needs to be fully explored and questions answered; before we rush headlong into a Hotel Tax, maybe we should be checking out a revenue producer like this. Routes 33, 35 & 66 pass thru Neptune Township, along with thousands of vehicles. Instead of taxing those good people who want to spend money, maybe we should raise money from those that break our laws.
After all, it’s both a safety and revenue issue. We’ve also found out that many more towns in N.J. that are considering the use of red light cameras.
So, since the Democrats always seem to be in favor of what other towns have, like when Mayor Jahn talks about 280 or so towns having a hotel tax, here’s something other towns have, something that doesn’t punish tourists for spending money and hurt businesses that need increased income during a recession. Quite honestly, I don’t know why Randy Bishop & Eric Hougtaling, the Democrat Candidates don’t see this.
Why do we always have to tax our way out of a problem?” Lapp commented.
After all, this was a group of business people, why would Flippy’s team know business people?
I did feel for them a bit when I saw their handouts on the tables. Word on the grapevine is that they’ve been having a hard time raising money for their campaign. It must be true, because their handouts are embarrassing.
The handout was printed on flimsy office paper that you could see through and the disclosure reads “Printed in House, Labor donated.” Hey, I’m all for volunteer efforts in a campaign, but how are those union printing houses going to feel about the Democrats cutting them out? Didn’t they get the memo from Pallone and Rush? Democratic volunteers get paid $10 per hour.
I stopped feeling sorry for them when I read the content of their piece.
Their priorities.
* Cut waste. Eric, John and Janice will slash inflated county government department budgets.
This is why he’s called Flippy.
Freeholder D’Amico came into office advocating the building of a new court house. He blocked the closure of the Youth Detention Center in the year the Democrats had the majority and he voted against the closure this year when the Republicans closed it, saving taxpayers $2.5 million per year. Cut government?! Please these are Democrats. In the one year Flippy and the Democrats had power, they tried to increase the size of county government by creating an new level of bureaucracy, an Inspector General, and former State Democratic Chairman Joe Cryan was recruiting Democrats from Union County to come and take six figure jobs in Monmouth. Now they say they are going to govern like Chris Christie?
Well, not quite. Check out their next priority:
Spur job creation: Utilizing federal stimulus funds, our team will promote economic development by addressing critical road, bridge and mass transit needs.
How are Freeholders and a Sheriff going to allocate federal stimulus funds?! What if there isn’t federal stimulus funds next year? If there is another federal stimulus package next year it means the economy is still in the tank and Phoney Palloney and Rush and still in congress. Heaven forbid! It also means that Chinese will become the second language of choice taught in our schools.
I think this priority translates as a message to the trade unions: “Please give us money to fund our campaign. We’ll get you all the prevailing wage jobs that we can, really, we will.”
Environmental protection. Brophy, D’Amico and Venables oppose off-shore drilling and will reduce congestion and pollution through infrastructure investment.
Huh? What authority does a Sheriff or a Freeholder have over off-shore drilling? New infrastructure will increase congestion. Been to Middlesex, Union or Bergen Counties lately? How is building new roads going to reduce pollution?
Open, honest government. Our team will appoint an all-volunteer ethics board of citizens to ensure integrity in government and to make it transparent.
Does that mean we can’t trust you if we elect you? If you’re trustworthy, what do we need an ethics board for?
How are volunteers going to make paid staffers be transparent? I see costs for attorneys creeping into this all volunteer witch hunt.
That’s just one side of the embarrassing piece. Later in the week I’ll ridicule the other side.
On Friday, Congressman Frank Pallone issued a press release stating that the committee that he chairs, the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee, will hold hearings to do a thorough review of why health insurance premiums are increasing by double digits. 25%-35% in some cases.
Pallone better check in with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius before he issues any subpoenas to health insurance company executives. Sebelius issued an stern warning to insurers on September 9th, threatening them with being cut off from the new government-run health insurances exchanges that are scheduled to begin under Obama Pallone Care in 2014, and preventing citizens from being able to use government subsidies to buy insurance from companies who are telling their customers that the increases are do in part to Obama PalloneCare.
If Pallone puts health insurance company executives under oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, will he also grant them immunity from Sebelius’ threats if they tell the truth about how Obama PalloneCare is contributing to the increase in health insurance costs?
Imagine my surprise this morning as I’m returning home from my Sunday drive into downtown Highlands for breakfast and the newspapers when I notice the sign pictured on the left posted on MY PROPERTY!
Who’s ending road work? I thought that was how Obama, Pelosi and Reid were going to save the economy?!
How long has that sign been on my property? I’ve been keeping odd hours lately, but how did I miss it? Surely government workers were working overtime on Saturday to post that sign on MY PROPERTY.
Who do I call? Mayor Little? Hmmm, I live on a county road, is it too early to call Director Burry?
How much rent should I charge? I think I’ll charge $15,000. That would cover the property taxes I pay in Highlands for a year. But this is a county road, prime real estate. Thousands of commuters, including Oceanport Council President Joe Irace drive past my house everyday on their way to the SeaStreak ferry to NY. We’re coming into the prime sign season as politicians are usually very nice to me around now so that I’ll let them put their signs on MY PROPERTY.
I’ll have to think this through and consult an attorney. How long will the road work be going on? Maybe I can charge enough rent to cover property taxes for two years! Maybe I can get the 5 acre requirement for farm designation waived so that my property can be declared a fish farm and I’ll get a property tax break forever!
Here’s what I’ll do. I won’t file trespassing charges and I won’t charge rent. Why would I want to gouge my neighbors and friends anyway? I’ll let the sign stay there for free so long as the union workers who do the road work earn market rate wages instead of “prevailing wage.” If I’m not going to gouge my neighbors, why should they?
That sounds like a fair deal to me. Draw up the papers Lillian, I’ll be calling.
Now that the legislature is back in session, all eyes are focused on Trenton as the debate over Governor Christie’s “Mayor’s Toolbox” begins in earnest. The 33 bills contained within the “toolbox” are critical to give local governments the ability to cut spending that they are legally unable to do now. It is imperative that the legislature act quickly to implement these essential reforms. Unfortunately, it appears that resistance is growing to many of the bills from special interest groups that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, regardless of how damaging it is to those who pay local property taxes. These special interests appear oblivious to the current economic crisis the country is facing.
The only hope that residents of New Jersey have to cut the state’s highest in the nation property taxes is to allow their local officials to cut their budgets, get reasonable concessions from the unions, have significant pension and benefit reform and remove education funding from the backs of local property owners. The people of New Jersey simply cannot afford to subsidize a system that has grown way too big and way too expensive. Many residents, if they are lucky enough to still have a job, have often had to accept a pay cut or a pay freeze, contribute 30% or more to their health care, and fund their own retirement through a 401k or similar plan. It is time for government to be brought in line with the private sector and Governor Christie’s reforms will allow local officials to do just that.
Congressman Frank Pallone said he “feels vindicated” by the Gulf oil spill, because for years he has been arguing that the technology doesn’t exists for save drilling. In his next breath he said there are already plans for new drilling rigs in even “twice as deep” that those of the incident in the Gulf of Mexico on the Deep Water Horizon.
Far from feeling vindicated, Pallone should be hanging his head in shame for his failure as a senior member of the congressional committee with over sight of the Minerals Management Services, whose corruption and failure to properly inspect the Deep Water Horizon and other rigs lead to the disaster in the Gulf.
Phoney Palloney has NOT consistently opposed deep water off-shore drilling. He voted for the Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995, which authorized deep water drilling,twice before he voted against it and before President Clinton signed the bill into law.
In this final installment of my interview with Barbara Gonzales, the founder of the Bayshore Tea Party, we discuss the motivations of the groups members and leadership, the diversity of the members and the truth about who the Tea Party is vs the perception the media is attempting to create about them.
By Art Gallagher
