Slouching Away From 9/11

By Matt Rooney, The Save Jersey Blog

I shared a quote with my Facebook friends last night from Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, on the eve of this 12th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks:

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic, and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.”

Pretty soul stirring, right?

Then I started to wonder if it was still true, Save Jerseyans.

Evidence to the contrary: (1) the NSA is intercepting our personal phone records and (2) Americans can’t board an airplane without invasive searches; (3) Government spending is now approaching 40% of the GDP, greater than any time in our history save for World War II; (4) Washington can compel you to buy anything that Congress wants you to consume provided that it’s accomplished under the guise of a “tax” or, in the case of real property, transfer yours to another private individual for the “public good”; (5) Government opposition groups suffer punitive tax audits and (6) major scandals are shamelessly covered up.

Shall I keep going?

Read the rest of this entry>

• Tweet

Booker’s lead “almost insurmountable” in Rutgers-Eagleton poll

photo via facebook

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has an “almost insurmountable” lead over former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan in their race to replace the late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in the October 16 special election, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released this morning.

64% support Booker, 29% Lonegan and 6% are undecided.

56% of likely voters, including 44% of Republicans, don’t know enough about Lonegan to form an opinion.  Voters who are familiar with the Republican are split 22%-22% in their favorable/unfavorable impressions of him.

Booker favorably impresses 63% of likely voters.  19% have an unfavorable impression of the Newark mayor.  17% say they are unfamiliar with him.

Rutgers-Eagleton surveyed 925 New Jersey adults, 814 of whom said they were registered voters.  Of the registered voters, only 462 are likely to vote on the third Wednesday in October.

93% of Democrats, 52% of Independents and 19% of Republicans said they were voting for Booker.  90% of Liberals, 70% of Moderates and 20% of Conservatives said they were voting for Booker.

Polling Director David Redlawsk said Lonegan’s “most recent news highlights attacking Booker’s masculinity have been quite unflattering.”  If Redlawsk asked a question about those recent news highlights, he did not report it or the results in the poll release.

• Tweet

• Tweet

Bayshore Tea Party Group Can’t Make Rent. Gonzalez Blasts “Dishonorable” Members

Most of the Bayshore Tea Party Group’s members are not paying their $12 per month dues and Barbara Gonzalez is angry.

In an email sent to her membership obtained by MMM, Gonzalez, the group’s co-founder, laments the malaise that has fallen over many tea party groups and recounts how she and fellow co-founder Bob Gordon tried to keep members engaged; movie nights and events.

Admitting that she is not likely to be the named the queen of popularity or move members who have stopped paying dues to pony up, Gonzalez said she was “utterly disappointed” in her members who she finds totally dishonorable. 

Gonzalez, Gordon and someone named Kathy will pay the remaining $5000 rent of the group’s Red Bank office out of their own pockets, because so few of the members are paying their $12 monthly dues.

Here’s an excerpt of the email:

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Obama tells senators he wants diplomatic solution to Syria

Obama tells senators he wants diplomatic solution to Syria (via AFP)

President Barack Obama urged US senators Tuesday to help him seek a diplomatic response to Syria’s use of chemical weapons but said he wants Congress to maintain the threat of force. The president spent more than two hours on Capitol Hill in closed…

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Booker’s Headache: Donna Jackson

Donna Jackson might be Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s biggest threat to being elected a U.S. Senator.

Councilwoman Mildred Crump and Teachers Union President Joe Del Grasso, the other stars of the above video from our friends at BookerFail, could be said to have their own political axes to grind with Booker.  But the Mayor himself told the Star Ledger  in 2010 that Jackson does not have a political agenda, she just cares about Newark.

Jackson’s entire remarks excerpted in the video above are devastating.  View them here. (h/t Matt Rooney at SaveJersey).

She says the media and Newark’s government are hiding the city’s problems to give Booker political cover.  She says Newark is worse since Booker became mayor. “Booker’s national profile is killing us,” Jackson said.

Last May, Jackson accurately predicted the coming outbreak in violence in Newark, during an impassioned rant before the city council wherein she also complained that Newark residents, “darkies” she called them, are not being employed at the new construction projects that Booker often touts.   She calls Caucasians “clear people.”

Jackson says Newark’s mismanagement is intentionally designed to drive residents making less than $100,000 out of the city.

Jackson says she’s “anti-government, anti-government and everybody’s got to go.”

• Tweet

Toms River Contractor Indicted By Monmouth Grand Jury

A Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Toms River man by a Monmouth County Grand Jury.

Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni

Shane (aka Shaine) Wood, 48, the principle of Reliable Roofing and Siding, was charged in the four count indictment with providing a fraudulent insurance certificate and working as an unregistered contractor after state authorities revoked his registration, Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced this afternoon.

Wood is charged with fourth degree counts of Forgery, Uttering a Forged Instrument, Failure to Register with the state Division of Consumer Affairs, and Failure to Provide a Written Contract. Fourth degree offenses carry a maximum 18-month prison term, if convicted.

Wood was arrested in July after an investigation by the Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force revealed he sub-contracted with a general contractor to perform roof repair work on a Monmouth Beach property in late-January 2013 as the principal of Reliable Roofing and Siding.

The general contractor required Wood’s Reliable Roofing and Siding to provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance reflecting Wood’s company was covered for New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Wood transmitted a document purporting Reliable Roofing and Siding was covered by the John Hill Insurance Company, but later learned Wood supplied a fraudulent document according to the insurance company.

The general contractor contacted the Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force prompting the criminal investigation.

Wood was released after posting $10,000 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.

• Tweet

36 Mumps Cases Being Investigated, Most Still Tied To D’Jais

The number of cases of mumps being investigated by the Monmouth County Health Department has jumped from 27 to 36.  One case has been confirmed, according to a statement by the department.

“Individuals are continuing to come forward to report mumps-like symptoms,” County public health coordinator Michael Meddis said. “The median age of the individuals under investigation is 26. With the exception of one pre-school aged child, all of the individuals are adults and 39 percent of the cases involve females.”

The cases under investigation include individuals who have or had mumps-like symptoms as early as August 3. As in previous updates, most of the individuals under investigation have either been patrons or employees of D’Jais Bar and Grill in Belmar.

D’Jais voluntarily closed its doors to patrons last week. The Health Department provided cleaning and sanitizing recommendations to D’Jais management.

On Sunday, County Health Department nurses immunized 32 D’Jais employees with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Several D’Jais employees submitted immunization records that were evaluated for age appropriate MMR immunization.

“If you believe that you may have been exposed to someone who has experienced mumps like symptoms, call the Monmouth County Health Department,” said Meddis. “Our public health nurses can answer your questions and evaluate your need for additional follow-up.”

The Monmouth County Health Department continues to ask that anyone who is experiencing swelling of salivary glands along with fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite should seek medical attention and call the Health Department at 732-431-7456.

Of the cases under investigation, individuals in Monmouth County are from Asbury Park, Belmar, Colts Neck, Farmingdale, Howell, Keyport, Long Branch, Matawan, Middletown, Neptune City, Tinton Falls and Wall. Individuals who reported hometowns from outside the county are from the New Jersey towns of Brick, Ogdensburg, Emerson, Fairfield, Jackson, Lawrenceville, Monmouth Junction, Point Pleasant, Saddle Brook, Waldrick, Warren, Whippany and Woodbridge. Individuals who reported out of state hometowns are from New York City, Philadelphia, Straussberg, PA and Port Saint Lucie, FL.

• Tweet

Burry To Lead 100 Horses Down Main Street, Freehold

facebook photo

100 horses will follow Freeholder Lillian Burry down Main Street in Freehold Boro on Saturday morning, September 21.

Burry is the Grand Marshall of the second annual Open Space Pace Parade.

“It is quite an amazing sight to see a parade of more than 100 horses marching down Main Street in Freehold,” said Burry. “I am honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of this tremendous event that opens the Open Space Pace & Festival of Horses. It is a wonderful event for the whole family and I hope everyone will join me in the fun.”

The Open Space Pace and Festival of Horses will continue at Freehold Raceway. The day will include celebrity races, harness racing, pageantry, entertainment, vendors, demonstrations, food trucks, children’s activities and education. Following the last race of the day, at approximately 5 p.m., the Eddie Testa Band will take the stage. Afterward, there will be a live concert by Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, ending with a 27-minute fireworks display.

The inaugural Open Space Pace last September raised $14,000 for equine and agricultural non-profits while educating the public about the important role horses and horse racing play in creating and preserving open space in New Jersey.

• Tweet

Syrian-Americans divided over U.S. military strike

Syrian-Americans divided over U.S. military strike (via NJ.com)

Drew Angerer/Getty Images TEANECK — Archbishop Cyril Aphrem Karim, regional leader of the Syrian Orthodox Church based in Teaneck, looks at his civil war-ravaged nation and sees Iraq. “What happened in Iraq will happen to Syria also,” Karim said…

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet