O’Scanlon and Tax Board Announce Assessment Reforms

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and the members of the Monmouth County Tax Boards announced reforms to the controversial Assessment Demonstration Program yesterday. The changes are designed to address the volatility in property valuations that taxpayers have been experiencing during the early years of the pilot program’s implementation.

In addition to making appropriate adjustments to the program, O’Scanlon told MMM that he his hopeful that municipal officials will focus on the program itself, and not the controversy over the allegations of conflicts of interests among assessors, Tax Administrator Matthew Clark, and the vendors working the program, when deciding whether to continue their participation participation in 2017.  The Tax Board announced last month that towns can opt out of the program for 2017 by April 29, 2016.

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Federal Judge: Christie’s Bridgegate Lawyers Hid Investigation Content

The federal judge presiding over the trial of Governor Chris Christie’s former Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelly and former Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni in the George Washington Bridge lane closures ruled yesterday that Christie’s taxpayer funded lawyers used a clever, calculated tactic that had “the same effect” as deleting and shredding documents at the center of the so called independent investigation into the matter which purportedly exonerated Christie.

“The taxpayers of the State of New Jersey paid GDC (Gibson Dunn & Crutcher) to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation. What they got instead was opacity and gamesmanship. They deserve better,” wrote Judge Susan D. Wigenton.

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N.J.’s joint military base getting new protections from Congress

WASHINGTON — Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, saved from reductions in the defense policy bill signed into law last month, will receive additional protection in the $1.1 trillion government spending bill to be enacted by Congress this week. Legislation funding the government through Sept. 30 contains the same provisions as the National Defense Authorization Act, which established defense… Read the rest of this entry »

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Head of Monmouth SPCA quits

EATONTOWN — For the second time this year, the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has had a shakeup of its top brass. Nine months after its well-known police chief resigned under the tarnish of a racism lawsuit, the agency’s president and CEO has resigned. Jerry Rosenthal, who has shepherded the active… Read the rest of this entry »

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 18-20, 2015

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 18

• Darlene Love A “Souled Out” Christmas at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Christmas Lantern Tours at Allaire Village – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• Winter Solstice: A Seasonal Artisan Market (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• 12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Strolling Victorian Carolers at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO
• Library Book Sale (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO
• Ric Flair and Diva Charlotte Meet & Greet (Freehold) – MORE INFO

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O’Scanlon celebrates 1st anniversary of the demise of Red Light Cameras in New Jersey

Even with his grimace, O’Scanlon is celebrating

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon is reminding New Jersey residents that the end of the Red Light Camera program, which occurred last December 16th, is one of the many things to celebrate this time of year.

“December 16 marks the one year anniversary of the termination of New Jersey’s failed experiment with for-profit traffic enforcement.  It is a blessed day for New Jersey drivers who no longer have to fear having their pockets picked by the predatory, corrupt and dishonest companies who operated the systems.

We proved in New Jersey – where the systems showed no safety benefit but cost drivers tens of millions of dollars – that red light cameras are merely a way for camera operators to legally steal from drivers.  If yellow lights are timed fairly there aren’t enough violators to even cover the systems’ costs – never mind generate profits for the municipal officials complicit in the scheme. Properly set yellow lights and properly engineered intersections also lead to genuine safety benefits – unlike completely ineffective red light and speed cameras.

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Microbrewery to open in Tinton Falls next spring

Tinton Falls-Three Monmouth County residents, former Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera, Pete Artherholt, also of Tinton Falls, and Chris Hanigan of Red Bank are on track to open Jughandle Brewing Co. on Asbury Ave in the borough in the spring of 2016.

“We will offer 6 craft beers on tap and plan on expanding to 14,” says Artherholt, a former chemist with over 15 years of brewing experience. Through Artherholt’s wife Darlene, who has a master’s in microbiology, the group has access to knowledge and skills that are usually acquired only when breweries expand and become better established. “Having a strong science background will help drive consistency and quality control in the craft beers that we sell.”

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Monmouth Poll: PUBLIC BALKS AT TRUMP MUSLIM PROPOSAL

But most say the government not doing enough to protect US

West Long Branch, NJ – Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US receives little public support in to the latest national Monmouth University Poll.  In fact, more Americans believe that radicalized US citizens pose a greater threat than terrorists who infiltrate our borders.  At the same time, a majority support sending US ground troops to the Middle East to fight ISIS.

Few Americans (32%) believe the US government is doing enough to prevent a future terrorist attack on American soil, while 59% say it is not doing enough.  The public was more divided in January, when 44% said the government was doing enough and 49% said it was not.  However, they are not persuaded by a number of proposals put forth in recent weeks to stop such attacks.

Donald Trump’s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States generates little support, even among his fellow Republicans.  Just 26% of Americans are in favor of this idea while 67% are opposed.  Majorities of Democrats (83%), independents (64%), and Republicans (52%) oppose such a ban.  In fact, only those voters who specifically support Trump for the GOP nomination favor such a ban (61% to 29% opposed).  Among other Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, nearly 2-in-3 (65%) oppose a ban on Muslims entering the country, with only 26% in favor.

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Raritan Soccer Team RAINEs As Bike Building Champs

Hazlet-The Raritan High School soccer team prevailed over the state champion football team and the wrestling team in a upset last second victory last night in the annual R.A.I.NE Foundation Bike Building competition in the Holy Family School all-purpose room.

The three teams were tied after regulation play with 13 bikes each assembled for RAINE’S annual holiday gift distribution to Bayshore area families, prompting an sudden death overtime.

The wrestling team did not get off the mat during overtime, but football and soccer assemblers were neck and neck to present their 14th bike to the judges and take home the trophy. The soccer players were dejected when Ryan Dickens, the football teams ringer assembler, presented his apparently completed cycle.  But the handle bars collapsed during the judge’s inspection and the soccer players roared in joy as they discovered new life. The football and soccer teams rushed to tighten their bolts and install the reflectors, with soccer prevailing by a nanosecond.

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Long Branch Man Arrested in Sunday Murder

Jennifer Pizzuto. photo via facebook

Jennifer A. Pizzuto, 40, of Long Branch was found dead in a second floor bedroom at 140 Rockwell Ave. on Sunday night after Long Branch police responded to a 10:38 p.m. call reporting the discovery of the unresponsive female.

Investigators of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department arrested Christopher “Chato” Aparicio-Reyes, 21, and charge him with first degree murder for Pizzuto’s death.  The victim’s body was discovered in Apraicio-Reyes’s apartment.

The manner of death was not disclosed in Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni’s announcement.
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