O’Scanlon forces Assembly vote on property tax cap effectiveness

Democrats punt on property tax reform

Trenton, NJ- Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, Jr. invoked a parliamentary rule on the floor of the Assembly on Thursday to force a vote on his bill that would remove the sunset provision on the arbitration cap of police and fireman salaries.

The arbitration cap was institution as part of the 2010 landmark property tax reform legislation that capped New Jersey property tax growth at 2% per year. The initial cap expired in 2014 and was renewed in 2014 with a sunset provision for the end of this year.  O’Scanlon’s bill, A-2123,would make the 2% arbitration cap permanent.

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Monmouth County To Auction Surplus Equipment Online

Monmouth County will hold an online auction to sell equipment from the County’s Fleet Services, Sheriff’s Office, Buildings and Grounds, Reclamation Center, Park System and seized and surplus property from the Prosecutor’s Office starting Saturday June 10 through Tuesday June, 13, according to an announcement from the Freeholder Board.

A total of 225 items are now listed for sale at USGovBid.com, including cars, trucks, heavy equipment, office equipment, jewelry and cell phones.

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Dangerous clinging jellyfish found in Shrewsbury River

The jellyfish with a dangerous sting that caused a scare on the Jersey Shore last summer, prompting the cancellation of several events, have reappeared in a Monmouth County river, researchers say. Clinging jellyfish – whose sting can cause “excruciating pain”, muscle weakness and serious medical problems, including kidney failure – were observed and recorded in New… Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Smith’s bill to protect minorities fleeing ISIS passes House

WASHINGTON — Legislation sponsored by a New Jersey GOP congressman to protect minorities in the Middle East from attacks by the Islamic State passed the U.S. House by voice vote Tuesday. The Iraq and Syria Relief and Accountability Act was sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) in response to mass killings of minorities, including Christians… Read the rest of this entry »

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Golden’s Touch: The magic power of “the line” is a myth

Photo by Marielanina LaRosa

Many pundits are explaining away Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno’s victory in the NJ GOP gubernatorial primary to the power of “the line” — the party organization’s column on the ballot, particularly in Monmouth and Ocean Counties where Guadagno earned 20,106 of her 37,712 vote margin of victory.

InsiderNJ pointed out this morning that Guadagno had the line in counties accounting for 46.4% of the average GOP vote share.  She won 46.8% of the vote.  Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli had the line in counties with 31.2% of the vote.  He earned 31.1% of the vote.

The implication is that a candidate is endorsed by a county political party is a shoe-in. Primary voters will magically show up on election day and vote down the line.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, June 9-11, 2017

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, June 9

• Train: Play That Song Tour at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) – MORE INFO
• Romeo and Juliet by Stone Church Players (Navesink) – MORE INFO
• The Ballad of Little Jo at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• ‘17 NHRA Summernationals at Raceway Park (Englishtown) – MORE INFO
• Bluegrass Mini Golf Course at MP (Oceanport) – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Tours (Holmdel) – MORE INFO
• Live Harness Racing (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Simulcast Racing at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO

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Vote for Burry and Impreveduto Today

Most of the attention has been on the gubernatorial race in today’s Primary election.  But there is a race for the GOP nominations for Monmouth County Freeholder that could impact the quality of life for local residents more than the governor’s race.

Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and Holmdel Deputy Mayor Pat Impreveduto are being challenged by a couple of Ciattarelli sycophants that we haven’t heard from since MMM reported their petition fraud to get on the ballot.

No one expects Lillian and Pat to have a problem securing the nomination.  That’s the danger.  In an expected low turnout election, shocking surprises have been know to happen.   In Highlands, our popular Mayor Rick O’Neil once lost primary to a complete unknown because too many of Rick’s supporters figured he had it in the bag and didn’t bother voting.

Vote today.  If you’re a Republican or Unaffiliated voter in Monmouth County, vote for Lillian G. Burry and Patrick Impreveduto for Freeholder.

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Michael A. Katz seeks Dem nomination for Middletown Township Committee

Michael A. Katz

Michael A. Katz, a 45 year old live long resident of Middletown, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Democratic nomination for Middletown Township Committee.

The Middletown Democrats only submitted one candidate for the two seats up this year.  The candidate who gets the most write-in votes in the primary tomorrow will likely join William E. Hutton on the Democratic slate against Republicans Deputy Mayor Stephanie Murray and Committeeman Tony Fiore.

Katz launched his campaign last week after MMM reported the vacancy and suggested that Democrats write-in Michael Morris.  Katz said he thinks he has as many as 50 write-in votes so far.  26 is the minimum required to get on the general election ballot.  If no candidate gets 26 write-in votes, only Hutton will appear on the ballot for the Democrats in November.

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Marlboro country club co-owner admits diverting $3.8M, income tax evasion

TRENTON — The co-owner and principal operator of a private country club in Marlboro admitted Friday to siphoning off more than $3.8 million from the club for his personal use and not reporting it as income. Gary Beshara, 66, of Staten Island, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton to one count of… Read the rest of this entry »

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Phil Murphy’s rival accused him of profiting from slave labor at Goldman Sachs

TRENTON — For more than a year, Phil Murphy has campaigned to become New Jersey’s next governor, spending more than $16 million of a vast personal fortune made from over 21 years at Wall Street juggernaut Goldman Sachs. Along the way, he carefully has maneuvered around two potential Goldman thorns: Comparisons to former Gov. Jon Corzine,… Read the rest of this entry »

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