OEM, freeholders declare ‘state of emergency’

All Monmouth County residents to follow mandatory water restrictions

Photo credit: Tony Fiore

TINTON FALLS, NJ – The Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, declared a countywide state of emergency following a water main break at the Swimming River Reservoir Friday afternoon. All county residents have been directed to follow water restrictions.

Eighteen towns serviced by New Jersey American Water Co. have been directly affected. Three large water mains broke Friday afternoon, causing a reduction or total loss of water pressure or supply.

All county residents are directed to discontinue nonessential outdoor water use and limit indoor use. New Jersey American Water Company customers are urged to follow a “boil-water advisory.”

“All of Monmouth County is in a state of emergency because New Jersey American Water Co. may have to feed off other utilities throughout the weekend,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said. “We need to pull together during this critical time and help one another by conserving water.”

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that an outdoor water ban will be strictly enforced,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “These restrictions are not just for New Jersey American Water customers, but for everyone in Monmouth County. Cooperation is necessary in order to maintain public safety.”

The mandatory restrictions for all Monmouth County residents include the following:

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Governor Christie Delivers Third Balanced Budget Without Raising Taxes, Protects Key Priorities for New Jerseyans

Amends Budget to Restrict Spending to Lower Levels than FY2008 and FY2009 Budgets, Provides Sound $600 Million Surplus

Press Release

Trenton, NJ – For the third year in a row, Governor Chris Christie today signed into law a constitutionally balanced budget that delivers on key priorities for the people of New Jersey without raising taxes. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget as enacted spends $31.7 billion, which is lower than the Governor’s originally proposed budget as delivered in February 2012 and lower than the budget passed by the Legislature. This year’s budget continues the return to fiscal discipline and controlled spending, while focusing on funding critical priorities that speak to the needs of all New Jerseyans. The Fiscal Year 2013 Budget is smaller than both fiscal years 2008 and 2009, while still increasing aid to schools to the highest level of state spending on K-12 education in the state’s history.   

Governor Christie said, “The budget the Legislature sent me violated two core priorities of this Administration – it denied tax relief to our hard working, middle-class families while proposing an $800 million tax increase and rejected fiscal responsibility by including millions in new spending that threatened to undo the hard won progress of the last two years. I am unwilling to surrender the gains we have made to establish fiscal responsibility in the state budget by raising taxes on our people at a time when they need and deserve tax relief. The budget I am signing today reverses irresponsible funding decisions, establishes funding levels based on realistic and responsible revenue assumptions, and increases our surplus to a healthy level that paves the way for continued economic growth.”

“The revised budget I signed today would continue to fuel the New Jersey Comeback if it included immediate tax cuts for New Jerseyans. After two hard years of shared sacrifice we’re no longer on the brink of fiscal catastrophe. Because of the tough and difficult choices we’ve made, this year’s budget allows us to make an unprecedented commitment to education, make one of the largest pension payments in our state’s history and fund critical programs that protect our most vulnerable,” said Governor Christie.

Governor Christie put Corzine Democrats on their heels by vetoing $361 million in unnecessary or unsupported spending that threatened to reverse the renewed fiscal health, economic growth and investment of the last two years. In addition to piling on new spending in the budget, Corzine Democrats tried to circumvent the tough choices required to meet a balanced budget by passing additional spending bills outside of the process. As Governor Christie has repeatedly said, spending needs to be accounted for as part of a comprehensive budget plan.   

“This spending as usual is just more of the same mentality that plagued the eight years before I became Governor when there was reckless spending and a cycle of raising taxes and fees every 25 days. We cannot go back to the old way of doing things which got us into a fiscal mess in the first place. Corzine Democrats need to realize that they cannot add millions of dollars in spending outside of the budget when every homeowner, student or family faced with financial choices is spending within their budget,” said Governor Christie.

As a result of Governor Christie’s actions, the budget signed into law today maintains a sound, responsible surplus of over $600 million – more than double the Fiscal Year 2013 projected ending fund balance from the Governor’s originally proposed budget and exceeds the levels in the budget as passed by the Legislature. This sound surplus and the fact that the Administration aggressively manages government throughout the year is a signal that the state’s fiscal health is on strong footing.

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Attorney General Wants Underage Drinkers to Come Up Empty in Booze Quest at the Jersey Shore

30 Shore Law Enforcement Agencies Will Participate in “Cops in Shops” Stings

BELMAR – Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa gathered in Belmar today with state and local officials, as well as members of the liquor and prevention industry to outline his plans to stop underage drinking on the Jersey Shore.

“We all look forward to soaking up the fun of the Jersey Shore this summer, but we’re focused today on a serious mission: keeping the good times safe for our teens and young people,” Chiesa said. “Simply put, I consider underage drinking a threat to the health and well-being of our youth in New Jersey.”

The keystone of the Shore efforts is the “Cops in Shops” program, which is run by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

“Cops in Shops” is a program designed by the Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers. Under the program, local police officers work undercover in participating retail locations. Law enforcement officials either pose as store employees or are positioned outside the establishment to apprehend adults who attempt to purchase alcohol for underage drinkers. The New Jersey Cops in Shops program is recognized nationally as a successful program.

“One Shore teenager told us that it was common for her and her friends to wait outside a liquor store for a sympathetic adult to buy them alcohol.  She called this ‘Going Fishing,’” Chiesa said.  “My message for those teens and adults of a similar mind is this: Simply don’t do it.”

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Monmouth County Courthouse to remain closed Wednesday

Further testing to be conducted for cause of illness

 FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Courthouse will remain closed tomorrow for additional testing of allergens – substances derived from plants, animals or items that can be found on people’s desks. Once the testing is complete, the courthouse will be cleaned again.

“All the tests so far have ruled out the most probable causes for the symptoms that were reported by employees and other individuals with business at the courthouse,” said William K. Heine, director of Public Information for the county. “We have ruled out possible causes that could be related to housekeeping, construction and general building maintenance.”

Tuesday night, the courthouse was tested for the presence of dust, pollen and mold on carpeting, chair fabric, desk surfaces and underneath desks. Nothing out of the ordinary was found. Levels of dust, mold and pollen were lower inside the building than outside the building.

To date, the county has checked the construction area of the courthouse’s East Wing and found nothing that would contribute to the symptoms of illness reported by the employees. Likewise, the heating and ventilation systems have been checked for leaks and none were found. The air filters in entire building were changed over the weekend and again on Tuesday. The county has also determined that there has been no change in the regular cleaning of the building.

“The county continues to work with the state Judiciary to resolve this issue,” Heine said.

On Monday, more than 60 courthouse employees reported symptoms of illness that included shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, rash and dizziness. A triage and treatment area was established outside of the courthouse where all individuals with symptoms were properly evaluated by emergency medical professionals. Thirty people were taken to area hospitals with symptoms that included rash or hives, elevated blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

After the courthouse was closed at 1 p.m. on Monday, the State Police Hazardous Materials Unit tested the building’s interior for 25,000 different compounds and found nothing that would have contributed to the reported symptoms of illness.  

The situation developed on Friday when 17 courthouse employees reported the same general symptoms of illness. Several individuals were confirmed to be diagnosed with allergic reactions. The affected area of the courthouse was thoroughly cleaned last weekend.

 “If a courthouse employee or anyone having business at the courthouse is experiencing any of the symptoms, we encourage them to go to the emergency room or their private physician,” Heine said. “We also ask that they contact the county health department at 732-431-7456 to report any symptoms.”

It is believed that there is no danger of person-to-person transmission. Anyone who was inside the courthouse since Friday should launder the clothes that they wore separately from other items. Individuals should also shower with soap and water as well.

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Beck & Sweeney Bill to Crack Down on “Fake Farmers” Cleared for Full Senate Consideration

Trenton— Legislation long-championed by Senator Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth) and Senate President Steve Sweeney (D- Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem) to prevent abuse of the state’s farmland assessment law has cleared the final hurdle to passage by the full Senate. The Legislation, S-589, was approved the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“The current threshold of $500 in agricultural sales set forth in New Jersey’s farmland assessment law has not been increased since its inception and is easily abused,” said Beck. “This bill modernizes the law to better ensure that only those who actively work the land receive the 98% property tax break on their property.”

“Clearly this program is being taken advantage of and it’s the taxpayers who ultimately lose the most. It’s long past time we update the farmland assessment law. This protects both real farmers and the taxpayers of New Jersey, ” said Sweeney.

The bill would boost the threshold of sales derived from farming activity to $1000 per year from the current $500, and provide for a review of the sales threshold every three years. This number was selected based on a 2007 study by Rutgers which calculated how many farms would be disqualified at minimum revenue qualifications of $1000, $2500 and $10, 000. A $10, 000 was estimated to take 398, 093 of New Jersey`s approximately 982, 000 acres of farmland off the preservation rolls.

The legislation also would require program applicants to submit evidence of agricultural sales and/or income to the Department of Agriculture, and require tax assessors to undergo training in farmland assessment as a condition of licensure. Most importantly, the State Division of Taxation and State Board of Agriculture would issue guidelines to tax assessors to aid them in defining legitimate farming activity.

Abusers of the program would face a $5000 fine, in addition to restitution of all taxes inappropriately avoided on property fraudulently claimed under the assessment exemption and other penalties.

“There is something wrong when an individual can sell three cords of firewood to himself and claim the same tax break as farmers producing legitimate agricultural output,” Beck continued. “The abuse of this program is well documented in the press and by the State Auditor and needs to end.”

Press Release

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ABC Teams with State Police and Cape May Prosecutor to Nab Underage Drinkers and Drunk Drivers on Memorial Day Weekend

TRENTON– The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) partnered in a multi-agency crackdown on underage drinkers in Cape May County during the Memorial Day Weekend that resulted in 11 arrests, including two for driving while intoxicated (DWI).

On May 25, ABC and State Police detectives conducted an underage drinking enforcement detail at Gleeson’s Liquors in Dennis Township. The two agencies monitored the liquor store from the parking lot and watched as six individuals between the ages of 18-20 walked into Gleeson’s and purchased or stole alcohol. The detectives arrested and charged Matthew Napoli, 19, of Voorhees; Ryan Arthur, 18, ofMedford; Joseph Barton, 19, of Drexel Hill,Pa.; Robert Ertel, of Drexel Hill,Pa.; Liam Parker-Correia, of Malvern,Pa.for purchasing alcohol underage. They also arrested and charged Robert Goggin, 20, of Newton Square,Pa.for shoplifting $102 of alcoholic beverages.

During this detail, the State Police arrested Edward Przybyszewski, 23, for DWI after the Williamstown man drove erratically into Gleeson’s parking lot and parked his vehicle in a handicapped spot. Andrew Bertman, 18, of Mt.Holly, was arrested and charged for the same offense.

The following day, the ABC teamed up with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office to work undercover at various establishments in North Wildwood that netted three arrests for consuming alcohol underage. Stacy Pundock, 20, of Thorofare, was arrested at Flip Flopz and Jillian Furey, 20, of Oakford,Pa.and Lauren Haviland, 20, of Warminster,Pa.were both nabbed at Coconut Cove. Furey was also issued a summons for presenting a false identification.

“Working in conjunction with other agencies is ideal because they add local and institutional intelligence that go a long way towards effective enforcement,” said Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Michael Halfacre.

Underage drinking and purchasing alcohol underage are disorderly persons offenses, carrying potential fines of at least $500 and a six-month driver’s license suspension. The liquor licenses of establishments involved in last week’s enforcement efforts will be reviewed by ABC for possible administrative charges. Those charges could result in the suspension of the bar’s alcoholic beverage license.

“Cracking down on underage drinking is without a doubt one of our top priorities at the ABC,” said Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Michael Halfacre. “Our enforcement efforts in Cape May County on the busy Memorial Day Weekend period and our previous arrests in Atlantic and Bergen prove our focus on enforcement is there. We plan to make ourselves a visible presence on the shore this summer. ”

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HANDLIN: COMPTROLLER’S REPORT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERKS FOR PRESIDENTS A GOOD START

Assembly Deputy Republican Leader Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth, was pleased to learn of today’s report issued by State Comptroller Matthew Boxer, which evaluated salaries and other forms of compensation given to New Jersey’s 19 county college presidents.

            Handlin had expressed her concerns in a letter to Boxer dated April 25, 2011, after the resignations of two county college presidents amid accusations of fiscal impropriety that triggered criminal investigations.

            “Today’s report indicates that last year’s accounts of fiscal impropriety and the exorbitant perks some county college presidents receive warranted a closer look at what taxpayers and students are paying for,” said Handlin. “Establishing more transparency for the public to know the perks and level of compensation that is awarded should be helpful in ensuring there are not wide discrepancies between colleges, unless there is some justification. The public has an absolute right to know how much a president is being paid for housing, bonuses, pension contributions that exceed the minimum requirement and reimbursement for personal expenses.

            “The cost of tuition at all colleges is high, regardless if it’s at the public or private university level or at community colleges,” said Handlin. “I support the recommendation for establishing guidelines by the State’s Secretary of Higher Education that will serve as a template and basis of comparison for negotiating a fair compensation package. Transparency will serve the dual purpose of giving college boards useful information as they negotiate with prospective candidates as well as keeping the public informed on how their tax dollars are being spent.”

            Boxer’s report, “Compensation Provided to New Jersey Community College Presidents,” indicates that it was based on the “questionable and excessive” compensation paid to someNew Jersey community college presidents. It states that the increased public concern regarding the expenditures made to the presidents of Brookdale and Gloucester County Colleges prompted the review of how taxpayer dollars were being spent in this area of higher education.

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Correction from Tea Party Groups of New Jersey

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Bait and Switch: “Meet and Greet” turns into “Debate”

Asbury Park, NJ – When Jersey Shore Tea Party president, Mark Falzon, invited conservative Republican congressional candidate Ernesto Cullari to speak to his organization on Wednesday, May 23, Falzon said the event would be a “meeting with his members”.   

Now Anna Little, Cullari’s opponent in the June 5th primary, and the Bayshore Tea Party Group, which is supporting Little, have created a Facebook invite that hypes the event a little differently:  “Debate!  Anna Little vs. Ernesto Cullari!”  

“I’m happy to go anywhere to meet people, but this is the wrong venue for a debate,” said Cullari, who is seeking the nomination in New Jersey’s 6th congressional district, now held by liberal Democrat Frank Pallone.  “Mark Falzon is one of Bayshore founder Barbara Gonzalez’ closest allies.  I look forward to a debate, but on neutral territory.”

“We have a lot of questions we want to put to Anna Little,” said Cullari manager Kelly Hart, “Like why Little is running on the Bayshore ticket with Bader Qarmout.”  Little, an immigration attorney, is on the Bayshore Tea Party Group “ticket” with U.S. Senate candidate Bader Qarmout.  Qarmout is the author of a controversial amnesty plan for illegal immigrants.  For a nominal fee of $19.25 a week, Qarmout’s plan would allow an illegal immigrant to remain in the United States, work here, open a bank account, and obtain a driver’s license.

“The Qarmout-Little team would let illegals stay in the United States for $2.75 a day – less than the price of a Big Mac,” said Hart.  “It is the most liberal amnesty plan being pushed by a Republican candidate anywhere in America.”

Hart noted that conservative columnist and Ron Paul enthusiast Paul Mulshine published a column today that links to a story on this:  http://conservativenewjersey.com/tpath-joins-effeort-to-give-drivers-licenses-to-illegals

Hart said:  “Let’s have a debate, but let’s have one on the level, with a neutral moderator and a neutral venue.”

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A Statement From Tea Party Groups of New Jersey

Monmouth County Tea Party Coalition

Ocean County Citizens For Freedom

Bayshore Tea Party Group

Tea Party of Middlesex County

No longer will we be forced by both political parties and the media to choose between the lesser of two evils. We say, not on our watch will we ever give in to this sort of tyranny again. This game ends right here, right now! Endorsing Mitt Romney and his record of left-leaning policies would be a complete hypocrisy that collides with everything the Tea Party Movement stands for.

So, it is with great pleasure and honor that We of the above mentioned Tea Party Groups of New Jersey, announce our full endorsement of Dr. Ron Paul for President of The United States of America 2012. Dr. Paul’s 20+ year voting record as an ardent constitutional conservative speaks profoundly of his integrity both as a representative of the people and as a human being. Dr. Paul’s message of Limited Constitutional Government and Individual Liberty is what motivated the Tea Parties into action to begin with and this message will continue to resonate within our movement until America is restored to her former glory and is once again a beacon of freedom.

We choose to stand by our principles rather than to sell our souls to the game of politics because this is what Ron Paul has done consistently his entire political life and we expect nothing less of ourselves.

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