O’Scanlon: Red Light Camera Industry’s Own Video Challenges Assertions – It’s About the Money, Not Safety

A video disseminated by American Traffic Solutions (“ATS”) depicts a series of crashes and near misses at intersections chosen to participate in New Jerseys five-year red-light camera pilot program. The mission of the five-year pilot program is to determine the effectiveness of the installation and utilization of traffic control signal monitoring systems. Under the program, a traffic control signal monitoring system utilizes cameras and vehicle sensors, which work in conjunction with a traffic control signal to produce images of vehicles disregarding a red signal and running a red light”. Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon thinks the ATS video is proof positive of the resounding failure of the program.

“Red-light cameras are intended to deter drivers from running red lights, or so goes the argument from supporters of the cameras,” explained O’Scanlon (R Monmouth/Mercer). This video showed what I have always believed, red-light cameras do not stop people from running red lights because most drivers do not make a conscience decision to run a red light.

“Drivers who run red lights are distracted by a bad day at work, a sick child, or a bad nights sleep,” O’Scanlon continued. “No camera or fine, regardless of the amount, is going to change this. What really stops people from running red lights is the same thing that has stopped them for as long as cars have been on the road -the fear of serious injury or death!

“If one looks at the video objectively it is easy to see that virtually all of the incidents depict the situation I outline above. These people are not likely reckless scofflaws playing Russian roulette with their lives and those of others. These people simply weren’t aware they were going through a red light. Laws and fines won’t stop these momentary lapses in peoples’ awareness if fear of death hasn’t done so already” said O’Scanlon. “We need to increase safety as much as possible through sound engineering of intersections and proper light timing. This will give us a demonstrable increase in safety. Of course it will mean a lot less revenue for the towns currently participating in the demonstration project, but these are ill-gotten gains to begin with.”

New Jersey‘s red-light camera pilot program began in 2008, since then 25 municipalities have signed on to the program.

For More Information: http://www.app.com/videonetwork/1350739560001/NJ-Crashes-Captured-By-Red-Light-Cameras-12-28-11-

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Port Authority Retirees Suing For Free Tolls And Damages

Thomas Westfield, a Morris County attorney who began practicing law after retiring from the Port Authority Police Department, has filed a class action suit against the Pork Authority seeking to reinstate free tolls and parking for retirees and $2000 per class member for as long as the benefits have been rescinded. There are at least 400 class members, according to a report at New Jersey Law Journal.

Westfield admits that the loss of benefits cost him no particular hardship, just the annonyance of having to pay tolls when going to an occasional Yankee game.  He also said he doesn’t know how often class members use the Hudson River crossings or park at the agency’s three airports.

Westfield, 65, has retired from the full time practice of law.

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Republicans’ map favors minorities

John Farmer, the tie breaking member of the congressional redistricting commission, chose the Republicans’ map because, in his view, it created the possibility of two more minority districts than they Democratic map did, according to a report by Mark Magyar at NJSpotlight.

The new 9th district’s population is 53.1% minority.  Leaders of the minority community were pleased with the map, counting on it becoming a minority represented district once Bill Pascrell, who turns 75 this month, retires.  But Steve Rothman, 59, challenging Pascrell in the Democratic primary makes eventual minority representation less likely, which could lead to a minority challenger entering the 9th district Democratic primary.  That’s the point of Magyar’s piece.

The addition of all of Trenton and Plainfield in Rush Holt’s district, presumably makes the 12th the other potential minority district.

The NJGOP should identify and agressively recruit high quality minority candidates to run in these districts.   A Hispanic in 9 and an African American in 12.  Then the GOP should  raise the money to make those campaigns competive.

The GOP should recruit and fund an Asian American to challenge Frank Pallone in the 6th, while they are at it, unless Diane Gooch decides to run.

If running competively in the 9th, 12th and 6th is considered a pipedream, than it is also a pipedream that Joe Kyrillos can beat Robert Menendez for U.S. Senate or that the GOP presidential nominee can win New Jersey.

If the NJ GOP uses the same old playbook it will get the same old result.

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Hundreds pack candidate events on caucus eve; Romney brushes off Occupy protesters

By Lynn Campbell, IowaPolitics.com

CLIVE — Hundreds of people jam-packed candidate events in hotels, businesses and
restaurants for a final glimpse of the 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls in
the hours leading up to Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.
At least 600 people filled Competitive Edge in Clive, an advertising specialty
manufacturing company that makes signs, for a late-night, caucus-eve rally with
former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune was there, along with Republican Party of Iowa
Chairman Matt Strawn, former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray and several state lawmakers.
Media from Korea, Italy and Spain came to see the spectacle, as did a couple
from Texas and a class of 46 high school students and 10 teachers from North
Bend, Ohio.
“Clive event biggest pre-#iacaucus single candidate ever been to,” Iowa Senate
Republican spokesman Don McDowell said on Twitter. “Had…dare I say it…a
general election feel to it!”
The interest and enthusiasm on caucus eve could bode well for turnout at Tuesday
night’s 1,774 precinct caucuses. Republicans expect turnout to be higher than in
the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses, which set a record with more than 118,000
participants.
Four polls released in the past week showed that Romney, who has only spent
about 16 days in Iowa this caucus cycle, is the front-runner favored to win Iowa
and give him momentum going into the primaries for New Hampshire on Jan. 10,
South Carolina on Jan. 21 and Florida on Jan. 31.
In the final day before the caucuses, Romney stuck to his playbook of focusing
on the economy, saying that he’d get rid of regulations that kill American jobs.

A handful of protesters connected with the Occupy Wall Street movement tried to
disrupt the event by shouting “Mic check!” and calling on Romney to stop the war
on the poor. But supporters drowned them out by chanting, “Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!”
Romney took the disruption in stride. He thanked his supporters and laughed.
“Isn’t it great to live in a country where people can express their views and
dissatisfaction?” Romney asked. “Isn’t it great country? I love it. Make it loud
and clear. And I’ll tell you one thing, when President Obama is here, I hope
we’re in the audience making the same sounds about his policies. Let’s make sure
we hear our voice loud and clear.”

Three people were arrested at Romney’s event Monday night. Twelve others were
arrested earlier in the day at the Democratic National Committee’s “war room,”
according to David Goodner, one of the Occupy organizers in Iowa. He said there
have been 62 arrests in the past seven days as part of the group’s efforts to
“Occupy Iowa Caucuses.” However, the group has said it will not disrupt Tuesday
night’s precinct caucuses.

Close on Romney’s heels to finish in the top three at the Iowa caucuses are
Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, whose
last-minute surge has propelled him from the back of the pack to an anticipated
top-three finish.
At a much smaller venue Monday evening, dozens of people squeezed body-to-body
at the Pizza Ranch restaurant in Altoona to see Santorum, Iowa’s most frequent
visitor who has spent about 100 days campaigning here.
Santorum — who has openly acknowledged that he’s run his campaign on a
shoestring — argued to Iowans that he’s electable. He said he’s won elections in
the swing state of Pennsylvania and has spent lots of time in New Hampshire and
South Carolina, as well as in Iowa.
But Santorum also said the effects of his last-minute surge won’t show up in
campaign finance reports due later this month, which will cover donations made
to his campaign through Dec. 31.
“Money isn’t going to win this election. If that was the case, I’d be below
every other candidate and I wouldn’t even be close,” Santorum said. “When we
report our financial picture, it’s going to be embarrassing except in the last
four, five days, we’ve raised more money than we have in the last three or four
months. We’ve done very, very well and we hope to do a lot better after
(Tuesday) night.”

Until Sunday, Norman and Janet Gustafson, both 71 of Pleasant Hill, were
undecided about whom to support for the Republican nomination for president.
They said they were really impressed by former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain
before he suspended his campaign. They liked former U.S. House Speaker Newt
Gingrich, and even considered Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
“We’ve been everywhere,” Janet Gustafson said.
But on New Year’s Day, the couple decided to vote for Santorum because they said
he’s both a social and fiscal conservative.
“He’s not a man with a lot of money, so he does it kind of the Iowa way,” Norman
Gustafson said. “We’ve had enough money influence in Washington, the way that it
is. So if he can come up this way and not be owned, that’s a positive.”
Paul, who is known for his loyal followers and often has generated large crowds
among youth at Iowa’s college campuses, was scheduled to speak Tuesday morning
at Valley High School in West Des Moines for a “Rock the Caucus” assembly.

The Texas congressman’s “whistle stop” tour across the state Monday attracted
more than 700 people in Des Moines, 350 in Davenport, 300 in both Cedar Rapids
and Cedar Falls and 200 in Mason City, according to his campaign.

See caucus results Tuesday night:
http://www.google.com/elections
http://www.iowagop.org
http://www.iowapolitics.com/

Watch a video of Romney reacting to Occupy protesters at Iowa caucus-eve rally:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsqVRqWEc6A
Watch a video of Santorum saying his campaign’s 2011 finances are embarrassing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL7usJO8jsE
See a slide show of photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowapolitics/sets/72157628690887761/show/
Listen to Romney’s speech:
http://www.iowapolitics.com/1009/120102Romney_speech.mp3
Listen to an interview with Norman and Janet Gustafson:
http://www.iowapolitics.com/1009/120102Norman_and_Janet_Gustafson.mp3

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Holmdel’s Brian McFarland, 51, dies after falling from a ladder

Brian McFarland, twice a Democratic candidate for Holmdel’s township committee, died from head trauma after falling from a ladder at home today, according to a report at the Holmdel Patch.

He is survived by his wife Karen and their 13-year old twins.

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Crony Capitalists: Handlin lets them have it, and gives you the tools to do them same

“If you want to survive in this business, keep your mouth shut.”

Assemlywoman Amy Handlin in no sycophant or hanger-on.  Nor is she a sucker, fool or wimp.

In her hard hitting ebook published by HarperCollins, Handlin tells of her encounters with Monmouth County and New Jersey “Crony Capitalists”, and gives Tea Party members and other citizen activists and blueprint on how to fight corruption at the lowest levels of government.

The essay includes tales of Hanlin’s career as a Middletown committeewoman, Monmouth County Freeholder, Assemblywoman, as well as references to corrupt practices throughout the nation.

Crony Capitalist in Out Backyards: Who they are, What they do, and How to fight back is a must read for every citizen who wants to actually do something, and not just complain, about the wasteful and corrupt practices in government.

It’s only 30 pages and it only costs $1.99.  You can buy it here or here.

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you’ll recognise some of the characters in Handlin’s essay.

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Independence Hall Tea Party PAC Becomes First Tea Party To Endorse Mitt Romney

Philadelphia, PA (January 2, 2012) — The Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, a tri-state (DE, NJ, PA) regional group, announced today that its 27-member Board of Delegates has voted overwhelmingly to endorse Mitt Romney for President.

The Independence Hall Tea Party PAC is the first Tea Party group in the nation to formally endorse Mitt Romney.

“Over the past several weeks, a consensus has been building among our Board of Delegates that Mr. Romney is the most electable Republican candidate,” said PAC President, Don Adams.  “We, as a Tea Party PAC, have set winning the White House as our number one priority in 2012.  We believe Mr. Romney is the one

candidate who can win the Republican nomination and defeat President Barack Obama in November.  

“Mr. Romney is the only Republican candidate who has consistently polled even or ahead of President Obama in national surveys.  He puts a number of 2008 blue states in play, including Michigan and New Hampshire.  He also appeals to large numbers of independent voters.” 

“Mr. Romney, a devoted family man, is an incredibly talented, well-rounded individual with in-depth knowledge and experience in both the private and public sectors of the economy,” said PAC New Jersey Vice President, Bill Green.  “Ultimately, we believe Mr. Romney is a man of principle who, once elected, will lead our nation back to prosperity.”

PAC Delaware Vice President, Kevin Street, said, “His vision of a strong America, one built on the foundations of free enterprise and meritocracy, is most compatible with the principles of the Tea Party movement. 

“Mr. Romney has stated time and again that he believes in a limited role for the Federal government–emphasizing that the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution delineates between the powers of the national government and that of the states.”

“Mr. Romney will pursue a policy of energy independence, lower taxes, and less government spending.  He has promised to secure our borders and redirect our foreign policy,” added PAC Pennsylvania Vice President, Sean Carpenter.  “Under his presidency, the United States will no longer prostrate itself before other nations.  We believe in a strong America–an America that is respected for its economic vibrancy, its military strength, and its constitutional values.”

PAC Co-Founder, Teri Adams, said, “We realize that a number of fellow Tea Partiers are not yet where we are in supporting Mitt Romney for President–and we respect their varied positions. 

“However, we felt compelled to make an endorsement in light of a counter-productive effort to stop Mitt Romney among some disparate elements on the right–often based on a religious intolerance of Mr. Romney’s Mormon faith. 

“We also think the notion that the Tea Party will support a 3rd party candidate after Mitt Romney becomes the Republican nominee, a notion most often advanced by the mainstream media, must be discredited,” Ms. Adams said.

“It discounts the good sense of millions of Tea Party folks nationwide who have come to realize, or will eventually realize, that the only way to defeat President Obama, whose policies are an anathema to conservatism and the Tea Party Movement, is to rally around his strongest opponent–Mitt Romney–the man who, we believe, will become the next president of the United States.”

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More News On Our Unsustainable Pension System

NJ Watchdog reporter Mark Largerkvist released a report this morning about 125 “retired” police officers who are double dipping as employees of county prosecutors or the Attorney General.

The average age of the officers when they retired was 49.  On average they receive $79,000 in salary and $69,000 in pension payments annually.

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Irace blasts Trenton over Monmouth Park and Fort Monmouth

Calls on taxpayers from Oceanport and neighboring communites to join the fight

“Atlantic City is now a FAILED business model”

Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace’s remarks at the borough’s reorganization meeting today:

2011 marked a year of challenges and changes to our Borough.  Oceanport’s future well-being hinges upon two very important issues, the continued viability of Monmouth Park and the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth, neither of which is really within our control.  If these two matters aren’t addressed properly, the consequences for Oceanport and our neighboring communities will be devastating..

The more immediate of the two issues is Monmouth Park. 2011 was a year in which uncertainty was the only certainty when it came to Monmouth Park.  Was the State going to remain in control, lease or sell the park to private ownership? The decision was made to lease.  Then came numerous changes, negotiations, finger-pointing, name calling and, ultimately, a muddled picture as to who is actually in charge.  Just last week, the State decided to continue racing in 2012 under the control of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority and rebid the lease in 2012 for the 2013 racing season.  For 2012, the current agreement, as we understand it from reading about it in the newspapers, calls for 141 racing days at an average purse of $150,000 per day.  To put that number in perspective, we were racing at $1,000,000 a day in 2010 and $400,000 a day in 2011.  The projected daily purse of $150,000 is the lowest for any major track in the United States.  In fact, at $150,000 a day in purse money, Monmouth Park, the most beautiful and historic racetrack this side of Saratoga, can no longer be considered a major track. 2012 also calls for no stakes races and, more notably, no Haskell.  The long term ramifications of this are obvious.  Is Trenton determined to undermine and eliminate racing in New Jersey? It sure seems that way. 

Trenton’s stated position is that the State of New Jersey can no longer “subsidize” horse racing in New Jersey. And, you know what? I ABSOLUTELY agree with Trenton on that issue.  Because the fact of the matter is that the horseracing industry doesn’t have to be subsidized. It just has to be allowed to compete on equal footing with horse racing in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland.  But the big thinkers in Trenton have blinders on when it comes to the realities of horse racing and gambling in today’s world.   With the stroke of a pen, our elected officials in Trenton could permit “racinos” in New Jersey, but instead of allowing our state’s horse racing industry to compete with the gaming, racing and casinos that have popped up in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland, our Trenton brain trust has chosen to invest $250,000,000 of taxpayer money in a stalled Atlantic City casino development. 

The Atlantic City business model is outdated.  New Jersey no longer has the monopoly on gambling that it had in the 1970s. Indeed, by any reasonable financial analysis, Atlantic City is now a FAILED business model.  But our elected officials in Trenton refuse to acknowledge this fact and, instead, have chosen to pour $250,000,000 of taxpayer money into a venture — that private firms won’t touch — in return for a 20% interest in the business.  What is 20% of nothing? We need our elected State officials to stop investing in THEIR past and start investing in OUR future.  

Monmouth Park is the Borough of Oceanport’s largest tax ratable and one of the jewels of the Jersey Shore.  Monmouth Park’s continued viability should be this governing body’s NUMBER ONE priority in the year 2012.  Oceanport’s citizens and the citizens of ALL of the Jersey Shore communities should make their voices heard on this issue.  We aren’t asking for a handout from the State! We just want New Jersey to be able to compete on equal footing with New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland.   We’ve got the infrastructure, we’ve got the people, we’ve got the horses. We just need the tools. The State of New Jersey needs to adopt the Racino business model NOW!

As far as the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth is concerned, this issue will present huge challenges as we head into 2012 and well beyond.  Decisions made today will have an impact – one way or another — on Oceanport for the next 25 years and beyond.  When we unsuccessfully battled for local control of the 419 acres that are located in Oceanport, we were concerned over what the State would do to our small, family oriented, residential community.  Today, rumors abound that our 2nd largest employer, CommVault, which ranks only behind only the embattled Monmouth Park as a source of employment, has been lured to the Tinton Falls section of the Fort Monmouth site. It is believed that this move is premised upon large tax breaks and tax credits being given to CommVault by the people who are charged with the duty of redeveloping the fort while creating jobs.  This isn’t job creation, however, it is job poaching.  And the Borough of Oceanport loses a business to Tinton Falls under the guise of “job development” at the fort.  How can this be a good idea? 

I am cynical, at best, about the State of New Jersey’s ability to create jobs at the fort, especially in view of the State’s past record in this area.  That is to say, the State of New Jersey doesn’t have a history of creating jobs— other than government jobs.  Stated simply, government does not have the ability to create private sector jobs and the historic and profound lack of accountability at the State level is all the more reason why the Oceanport Municipal Council fought long and hard for local control over the fort’s redevelopment.  Sadly, we lost that battle. Now it is this governing body’s duty — and the duty of all members who follow us —- to make sure that we don’t lose the war.  We must remain vigilant and continue to demand that we have a voice in the redevelopment process, not just a seat at the table.  We cannot stand idly by as the bureaucrats and politicians try to fit square pegs into round holes in the name of “job creation”  The only thing worse than doing nothing about the redevelopment of the fort is doing something badly, and that’s where I am afraid we are heading.  And this isn’t just an Oceanport issue any more.  A bungled fort redevelopment will have a devastating financial and social impact on Monmouth Beach, Long Branch, Little Silver, Fair Haven, Rumson and Sea Bright, too.  The citizens of those towns should be just as concerned as we are that the fort gets redeveloped properly and organically.   If we expect to be heard, then we all have to involve ourselves in the process.

Bureaucrats and politicians have come to expect — and, indeed, thrive on — an apathetic electorate and they have no incentive to do the will of the taxpayer if they have no fear of the taxpayer’s wrath.  We, as a governing body, have a duty to educate the people who elected us about what is actually happening at the fort and involve them in the process as much as possible. Those who elected us, however, have to be willing to stand up and be counted by attending and, more importantly, PARTICIPATING in meetings of the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Authority and the Oceanport Borough Council so that we can fight the good fight for our community.

In closing, we have a lot of work cut out for us.  We must continue our fight to protect the Oceanport that we all know and love.  All of us who live here and raise our families here know that we have a lot to lose, and we have only ourselves to blame if we let others dictate our destiny.  You’ve got a governing body that has proven that it is willing to fight for our right to control our own destiny.  None of us have any political aspirations beyond that of serving the people of Oceanport. Help us take the fight to the powers that be.  Stand up for yourselves.  Get vocal. Stay vocal. Get involved.  Stay involved. We need you. We need each other. Let’s work together for a better Oceanport in 2012

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Happy New Year!

May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping.
~Irish Blessing

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