Kyrillos and Handlin Appeal For Monmouth County Relief
Governor Chris Christie requested that President Obama declare all of New Jersey eligible for federal disaster relief as a result of Hurricane Irene. Obama responded by declaring a “major” disaster in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties.
Individuals affected by Hurricane Irene in those counties are eligible for grants and loans to cover temporary housing, home repairs, and other programs for individuals and businesses.
Governments and non-profits in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties can apply for cost sharing funding to repair or replace facilities damages by Irene.
Federal funding is available for hazard mitigation throughout the state.
FEMA said that damage assessments would continue throughout New Jersey and that other counties could become eligible for federal relief as the surveys are completed.
Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin both dispatched letters to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate urging that Monmouth County be added to the list of New Jersey counties eligble for federal funding.
“Last weekend’s storm wreaked havoc on the entire state, including Monmouth County, causing power outages, sever flooding and extensive property damage,” Kyrillos stated. “Public infrastructure such as roads and bridges were closed for days, families and businesses were without power and the extensive damage to trees, buildings and power lines will be a huge cost to the public. We need the same federal assistance that other New Jersey counties are receiving.
Published reports indicated that Monmouth Countysheltered 2,200 people in the Colts Neck, Holmdel and Wall high schools, and provided 4,500 meals. Governor Christie has also called on the President to declare that a major disaster area exists statewide in order to provide federal financial assistance to governments, residents and businesses.
“I urge in the strongest possible terms that the Administrator of FEMA add Monmouth County to the list of New Jersey’s disaster areas,” Kyrillos continued. “This is an accurate designation given what residents, business owners and municipalities endured during this devastating storm.”
“Hurricane Irene’s damage was not limited to five counties in New Jersey,” Handlin, R-Monmouth, said. “Communities in Monmouth County suffered extensive damage to their roads and infrastructure. And, it has been quite costly to area residents and businesses who have gone several days without power.”
County roads also sustained major damage, including a sinkhole on Hubbard Avenue in Middletown that took out a portion of the southbound lane near the Shadow Lake dam.
Governor Christie requested a federal disaster declaration for the entire state on Tuesday and on Wednesday President Obama approved the declaration, and relief, for Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties.
“Governor Christie has shown tremendous leadership throughout this catastrophe and the federal government has been willing to work with New Jersey as we recover,” Handlin said. “Federal officials have indicated they could include more counties in the disaster declaration and I urge them to add Monmouth County because our local communities cannot fix the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene on their own.”
The Federal Government has set up a website that allows people to apply online for assistance: http://www.disasterassistance.gov
This website consolidates the application process across several Federal agencies, including FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The website also reduces the number of forms you will ultimately have to fill out, shortens the time it takes to apply and allows you to check the progress of your applications online.
If you want to apply by phone rather than the Internet, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362).
Posted: September 2nd, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Amy Handlin, FEMA, Hurricane Irene, Joe Kyrillos | Tags: Amy Handlin, FEMA, Hurricane Irene, Joe Kyrillos | 3 Comments »
We had two outstanding guests of the LaRossa and Gallagher: Real Jersey Guys On the Radio Show this week. If you missed it or want to listen again, here's a recording of the show:
During the first half hour Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13)discussed the good work she is doing to bring good government to New Jersey. Handlin shared her anti-corruption legislation, her new legislation to prevent fraud and abuse in the unemployment insurance system, and the Right to Work legislation she is co-sponsoring with Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon.
We ran out of time before Handlin could get into detail about the devastating impact ObamaCare will have on New Jersey residents. Handlin is one of the few people who has actually read the entire ObamaCare bill and understands the intrusive nature of the legislation we will experience if it is not repealed. We will have Handlinback to get into ObamaCare.
I have heard many Republicans gripe about Patrick Murray's work over the last year or so. Governor Christie once said on NJ 101.5's Ask the Governor that Murray "should go back to polling school" over a poll in which Murray reported the opinions of New Jersey residents rather than just registered voters.
Yet increasingly over the last several months Murray, the Director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, is the go to guy for local and national media outlets looking for expert commentary about New Jersey.
Murray characterises himself as "an independent observer reading the tea leaves" of the New Jersey electorate.
New Jersey Republicans are going to like what Murray sees in the tea(not necessarily tea party)leaves.
Regarding President Obama, when asked if Obama is becoming another Jimmy Carter, Murray said, "that's exactly what it looks like. The guy takes and backseat and doesn't inject himself as a leader." "He doesn't understand that the presidency is about the symbolic leadership of the country. The public doesn't get that impression of President Obama."
Murray said that Senator Robert Menendez's reelection chances are tied to Obama's coat tails. While recent polls show Obama OK in New Jersey, none have been taken since the recent debt/deficit deal in Washington and that it is a real possibility that Obama could lose New Jersey next year. "There is potential for a whole new ball game" in New Jersey. "Obama is not winning people over."
Murray said that Frank Pallone and Rush Holt vote in Congress "however they want to" without regard to the ideological preferences of their constituents because they have been completely protected by the way their districts are drawn. That may change with redistricting.
Murray had good things to say about Governor Christie too.
Listen to the show.
Posted: August 4th, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Amy Handlin, Monmouth University Poll, Patrick Murray | Tags: Amy Handlin, LaRossa and Gallagher: The Real Jersey Guys, Patrick Murray | 7 Comments »
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13) will be the first guest tomorrow at 5PM on the LaRossa And Gallagher: Real Jersey Guys On The Radio Show on WIFIAM1460 on your radio dial and here on the Internet.
The show is sponsored by Repatriot Radio.
Handlin and her 13th district Assembly running mate Declan O’Scanlon are sponsors of the New Jersey “Right to Work Act” which prohibits payroll deductions for union dues and makes union membership voluntary.
In a May 31 OpEd piece, Handlin wrote, in part:
Imagine getting your dream job that pays well, offers generous benefits and is located a few miles from your home.
But there’s a condition: You must pay Harold Camping $75 every month to help spread the word about his next Doomsday prediction.
That’s probably not a problem for those who believed Judgment Day was May 21 and are now convinced it’s coming Oct. 21, but most would object to an employer telling us what we should believe and how we should spend our money.
In America, people are free to believe whatever they want and support their beliefs however they choose.
In New Jersey, and many other states, however, workers are forced to join unions and fund their political priorities, regardless of their wishes.
I support workers’ right to organize, but that should be a personal choice. Those who agree withtheir union representatives have every right to join, but others should have the freedom to work without subsidizing and endorsing a group they disagree with.
Just last week Handlin announced that she is drafting legislation to prohibit voluntary retirees who are collecting a pension from simultaneously collecting unemployment benefits.
Tune in for what promises to be an informative half hour. Those who have questioned Handlin’s conservative ethos should especially call in and learn something.
Call in with questions and comments to 609-447-0237.
Patrick Murray, the founding director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute will be our guest for the second half hour of the show. Murray’s media profile has risen in recent months as increasingly he has become a “go to” expert for both local and national new outlets for commentary on New Jersey government and politics. We are pleased to have him on the show.
When Murray asked what I want to talk about I said, “whatever is current. We can talk about how the debt ceiling dealings in Washington will impact New Jersey politics, we can talk about Congressional Redistricting, and the upcoming legislative races.” We’re not limited to those topics, and as always, your calls are welcome and encouraged.
Listen live between 5PM and 6PM here and call in to 609-447-0237.
If you miss the show, a recording will be posted here on MMM, hopefully by 9PM.
Posted: August 1st, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Amy Handlin, LaRossa and Gallagher, Monmouth University Poll, Patrick Murray | Tags: Amy Handlin, LaRossa and Gallagher: The Real Jersey Guys, Patrick Murray | 7 Comments »
By Art Gallagher
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13) announced this morning that she is proposing legislation that would prohibit public employees who voluntarily retire and collect a pension from receiving unemployment benefits.
Handlin made the announcement on her facebook page.
MMM reported this abuse last Friday and encouraged our readers in the legislature, administration and media to do something about it. Handlin is to be commended for taking up the challenge.
Send her a thank you by “liking” her page and leaving a comment.
Posted: July 27th, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Amy Handlin | Tags: Amy Handlin, Unemployment Compensation Abuse | 13 Comments »
Concerned that recent scandals at county colleges in Monmouth and Gloucester counties could be representative of a larger problem, Assemblywoman Amy H. Handlin today asked State Comptroller Matt Boxer to look into the contractual perks and spending habits of county college presidents throughout New Jersey.
The presidents of Brookdale Community and Gloucester County colleges have recently resigned amid accusations of fiscal impropriety that have triggered criminal investigations.
In the letter, Handlin wrote:
Dear Comptroller Boxer:
Two presidents of New Jersey’s county colleges have recently resigned amid accusations of fiscal impropriety that have triggered criminal investigations.
While I hope these are isolated examples, I cannot have faith that these issues are unique to Monmouth and Gloucester counties given the propensity for waste and abuse in New Jersey’s public agencies and institutions.
New Jersey’s county colleges are an important asset for the future of our state. Students and taxpayers deserve assurance that their tuition and tax dollars are handled responsibly, effectively and ethically at these public institutions, especially during trying economic times when personal finances and state revenues are so severely strained.
Your office has produced tremendous results for the public exposing wasteful and abusive spending in New Jersey. Therefore, I respectfully request that you review the contracts, perks and spending policies of county college presidents so the public knows whether the scandals at Brookdale Community and Gloucester County colleges are mere coincidence or representative of a statewide epidemic.
I hope my concerns are misplaced and that your office finds efficiently-run county colleges. If I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach me at my office: (732) 787-1170.
Posted: April 26th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Amy Handlin | Tags: Amy Handlin | 7 Comments »
