Talk of Christie’s impeachment is ridiculous

The media buzz about the possibility of Governor Chris Christie being impeached is nothing more than click bait.  It’s not going to happen. The people writing that it could or should happen either know it won’t happen, don’t know what they are talking about or are trying to ensure that Christie has no political future.

The buzz got started when both the prosecution and the defense attorneys in the Bridgegate trial claimed that Christie knew that the George Washington Bridge lane closures in September of 2013 were political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich while the lanes were closed and not a part of a traffic study.  Christie has already been convicted of that in the court of public opinion.

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The Fight to End Domestic Violence Against Women

By Congressman Chris Smith

Congressman Chris Smith meets with members of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Nicole Morella, Cristina Williams and Catherine Hernesh  . photo via facebook

For 22 years, the Violence Against Women Act has been one of our nation’s most impactful laws. Aided by $6 billion in federal VAWA funding, millions of women have received emergency assistance during a crisis and support that has helped break the cycle of violence.

As the first comprehensive legislative package to address the epidemic of domestic violence, VAWA changed the attention to and conversation surrounding how we as a nation can better support victims of abuse and help families in need of a safe space. The law, which I supported at the outset and consistently since, invested significant resources to help prevent domestic abuse, assist the women and children who fall victim to it, and improve the judicial system’s response.

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Monmouth County Reliability Project Sheds Light on the State’s Continued Skim on Taxpayers

By Tony Fiore, Middletown Deputy Mayor

The recent filing of the proposed JCP&L Monmouth County Reliability Project should serve as a wake-up call to all taxpayers in the state of New Jersey.   The proposed 10 mile project with upwards of 200 foot monopoles to be installed on New Jersey Transit right-of way, will have a negative impact on the property values of all adjoining properties and potentially, properties within the line of site.  The impact alone in Middletown could be upwards of $1.5 million in lost value. However, don’t despair taxpayers of Middletown, Holmdel, Hazlet, Aberdeen and Red Bank, according to their BPU filing, JCP&L will be making a $9.8 million payment towards the local municipalities through Energy Receipts taxes.

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Curley: Control of Fort Monmouth should transfer to County, Towns along with the deed

By Monmouth County Freeholder John P. Curley

Freeholder John P. Curley

In 2010, Governor Chris Christie signed into law the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority Act therefore, evolving into the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority, FMERA. As stated in their annual report, FMERA is to “provide investment continuity and economic growth to the communities impacted by the federal government’s decision to close Fort Monmouth”. The original plan addressed the 1126 acres in Eatontown, Oceanport, and Tinton Falls.

The Monmouth County Improvement Authority will be sanctioned by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders to bond 33 million dollars for the Phase II redevelopment effort at Fort Monmouth. This bonding will provide for a direct purchase (transfer) of the remaining 560 acres in the Borough of Oceanport and the Borough of Eatontown, from the Department of the Army to a state created entity, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, FMERA.

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Observations from a Former Soothsayer

By Peter Grandich

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Christie defends his school funding “Fairness Formula”

By Chris Christie For 61/2 years, I have been able to effectively ignore the liberal, fact-twisting rantings of The Star-Ledger editorial board. But the stakes of this debate on property taxes and urban education are too great to ignore the newspaper’s latest emotional screed against my Fairness Formula. On property taxes, our residents pay the highest… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie’s off to Wall with education fairness plan

photo via Governor’s office

By Art Gallagher

Governor Chris Christie is back on the Town Hall circuit…now he is calling them forums…as he meets New Jersey voters on Tuesday in Wall Township to promote the school funding formula that he announced last week.

The “Fairness Formula Forum” will take place in the Wall branch of the Monmouth County Library, 2700 Allaire Rd., Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.  The doors open at 2:15 p.m and seating his first come first served.  RSVPs are encouraged for planning purposes to  [email protected].

Christie is saying that he wants a referendum in 2017 to amend the State Constitution so that State education funding is distributed equally to all school age children throughout the New Jersey.  He says that the State would contribute $6,500 per student.  Currently roughly 75% of State funding goes to 31 school districts, formerly referred to Abbott districts for the landmark Abbott vs Burke NJ Supreme Court decision that mandated that the State subsidize poor and urban districts.

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No Proof $1+ Billion Gas Tax Increase Is Necessary

By Senator Mike Doherty (R-23)

With a $1.3 billion gas tax increase proposed by some in the Legislature, it’s more important than ever to understand New Jersey’s transportation spending.

More than a year ago, I called for the state to create a “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force” to conduct a methodical analysis of the factors that contribute to New Jersey’s road costs, compare our costs to those of other states, and provide recommendations to complete projects more cost-effectively.

While many would consider this legislation to be a matter of common sense, it has failed to advance in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

I initially introduced S-1888 in response to a study by the Reason Foundation that found Garden State roads to be the nation’s most expensive to build, operate and maintain.

According to that report, New Jersey’s state-administered highways cost taxpayers $2 million per mile, which the Reason Foundation claims to be 12 times the national average, three times the cost in the next highest state and four times the cost in New York.

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Opinion: Democrat primary voters should nominate Ashford and Fulton for Freeholder

By Art Gallagher

The Republican presidential nomination has been decided.  On the Democrat side, Bernie Sanders and the FBI are still nipping at Hillary Clinton’s heels.  A a national level, like most presidential years, the New Jersey primary will make little difference. However, this year Democrat voters have an important choice to make locally.

In addition to their presidential choice, voters in the Democrat primary next Tuesday, June 7, will choose two nominees for Monmouth County Freeholder.

Running on Hillary Clinton’s ticket with the support of Monmouth County Chairman Vin Gopal are Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty and Brenda Sue Fulton of Asbury Park.

Running on Bernie Sanders’ ticket are Laury Wills of Little Silver and Angelica Ashford of Manalapan.

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Memorial Day Reflections

By Steve McEnery

Memorial Day has become the traditional beginning of summer. Originally,
and more importantly (Decoration Day) was established to commemorate the
Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th
century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died
while in military service. Unfortunately, it’s not taught in school the
way it once was.

Today, the flag is burned, stepped and danced on and spit upon, totally
disrespecting it; and the men and  woman who have died defending this
Country, our Flag and the rights of those that defile and disrespect
this great symbol of freedom.

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