By Art Gallagher
The Highlands Business Partnership was joined by the Mayor and Council, Senators Joe Kyrillos and Jennifer Beck, Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Amy Handlin, Freeholders John Curly and Amy Mallet and about 200 members of the community to celebrate the completion of the new bridge that spans the Shrewsbury River between Highlands and Sea Bright with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
During the ceremony, the Bayshore Marine Task Force, a cooperative of Bayshore area first responders who provide marine emergency services, provided a water display with their equipment.
The ceremony was followed by a two hour cruise on the river and Sandy Hook Bay hosted by SeaStreak and catered by Highlands restaurants.
Mayor Frank Nolan declared, “Highlands is open for business!” Nolan noted that business in Highlands, home to 22 restaurants within one square mile, was off 40% during the three summer seasons that were impacted by the demolition of the 75 year old drawbridge and the construction of the new 65 foot high fixed-span structure.
Old Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge. Photo Courtesy NJDOT.
Senator Joe Kyrillos read a letter from Governor Chris Christie which said in part, “today’s event effectively kicks off the first summer season at the Jersey Shore that vacationers and day trippers will be able to use it (the new bridge). I join with the legislators and community leaders present today in applauding the New Jersey Department of Transportation for completing this project on-time and under-budget. The bridge has made it easier for people to experience what Sandy Hook has to offer, including all of its small businesses that make vital contributions to our State’s rich economy.”
Jay Cosgrove, Vice President of the Business Partnership and an owner of Bahrs Landing expressed the gratitude of the business owners to their loyal customers who battled difficult traffic conditions to quick the establishments afloat during the bridge construction.
New Highlands Bridge. Photo Credit Jay Cosgrove, Bahrs Landing
Kyrillos said, “This bridge is of incredible importance to the residents of Monmouth County, as well as the many tourists and visitors from which our regional economy benefits,” Senator Kyrillos said. “The old, moveable bridge spanning the Shrewsbury River was in the poorest condition of all moveable bridges in New Jersey. We are fortunate to replace this critical infrastructure. It is a beautiful bridge and more important it is safe and secure and will be of service for generations to come.”
Senator Jennifer Beck said, “We’ve been watching the progress of the construction of the new Highlands Bridge over more than two years,” said Beck, “and it is exciting to see it concluded just in time for the summer beach season, when thousands of people, from New Jersey and beyond, come to visit the shore. Also, as a sponsor of legislation that would name this span in honor of my friend and mentor Captain Joseph Azzolina, which has already passed the State Senate, I have a personal connection to this bridge, and I look forward to seeing the legislation pass the Assembly.”
Beck asked those present to call Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and ask her to post the bill naming the bridge for Azzolina for a vote.
Posted: May 1st, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Frank Nolan, Highlands, Jennifer Beck, John Curley | Tags: Amy Handlin, Frank Nolan. Joe Kyrillos, Highlands, Highlands Business Partnership, Jennifer Beck, John Curley, Mary Pat Angelini | 2 Comments »
WHO:
Congressman and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, (R-VA)
Congressman and 10th Amendment Task Force Chairman, Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Randy Barnett, Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown Law, senior fellow of the CATO Institute
Bill Howell, Speaker of the House of Delegates in Virginia
David Clark, Speaker of the House of Representatives in Utah
Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the House of South Carolina
Mike Haridopolos, President of the Florida Senate
Brian Bosma, Speaker of the House of Indiana
Joe Straus, Speaker of the House of Representatives in Texas
Judson Hill, Senator from the George Senate
Brandon Creighton, State Representative from Texas
Amy Handlin, Deputy Minority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly
Steve Drazkowski, member, Minnesota House of Representatives
Bill Bolling, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and President of the Virginia Senate
Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell
Attorney General of Virginia General, Ken Cuccinelli
WHAT:
State Speakers, Senate Presidents, and other state legislative leaders, in nine states across the country along with members of Congress are coalescing behind a movement to amend the U.S. Constitution to include The Repeal Amendment. The Repeal Amendment text is simple:
“Any provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or provisions of law or regulation to be repealed.”
WHEN:
Press conference with select Speakers, Senate Presidents, members of Congress, and other State legislators will be held November 30th, 2010 at 9 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Washington. McPherson Square Room – ALEC Media Room. 1000 H Street NW Washington, DC 2001. Media advisory to follow.
WHY:
“Washington has grown far too large and has become far too intrusive, reaching into nearly every aspect of our lives. In just the past few years, Washington has assumed more control over our economy and the private sector through excessive regulations and unprecedented mandates. Our liberty and freedom has lessened as the size and scope of the federal government has exploded. Massive expenditures like the stimulus, unconstitutional mandates like the takeover of health care, and intrusions into the private sector like the auto-bailouts have threatened the very core of the American free market. It’s time to return America to the common sense conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual responsibility. The Repeal Amendment would provide a check on the ever-expanding federal government, protect against Congressional overreach, and get the government working for the people again, not the other way around. In order to return America to opportunity, responsibility, and success, we must reverse course and the Repeal Amendment is a step in that direction.”
Congressman and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)
“An overzealous and bloated federal government is one of the greatest threats to individual liberty. Over time, the federal government has accumulated more and more power to feed its insatiable appetite for a bigger and more intrusive role in the lives of all Americans. When the federal government accumulates more power, states and individuals have less. The Repeal Amendment will reverse this trend by empowering states and the people with a powerful check against overreaching federal laws and regulations. This amendment will help restore balance essential to the preservation of all American liberties, which power-hungry Washington bureaucrats often attempt to undermine. I’m proud to sponsor the Repeal Amendment in Congress because it will provide a powerful tool to reduce the concentration of power in Washington and return power, money, and decision-making back to the states and the people respectively.”
Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the Congressional 10th Amendment Task Force
“This amendment reflects confidence in the collective wisdom of the men and women from diverse backgrounds, and elected by diverse constituencies, who comprise the modern legislatures of two-thirds of the states. Put another way, it allows thousands of democratically elected representatives outside the Beltway to check the will of 535 elected representatives in Washington, D.C.”
Randy Barnett, Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, senior fellow of the CATO Institute, and author of “Restoring the Lost Constitution.”
“I am enthusiastically supporting the repeal amendment in order to restore the balance of power between the citizens and the federal government. Over the past several decades, no matter which party is in charge, the federal government has been eroding the authority of the states and the liberty of citizens. The Repeal Amendment will act as an important check against the ever growing power of the federal government.”
Ken Cuccinelli, Attorney General for the State of Virginia
“It is clear that many in Washington, DC have lost sight of the Founding Fathers’ concept of a limited federal government, not to mention their apparent disregard for the 10th Amendment, which reserves for the states those powers not specifically given to the federal government. In recent years they have repeatedly passed legislation that is both harmful to the country and in direct violation of the will of the people. We need to find a way to restore a greater balance of power between states and the federal government, and the Repeal Amendment will do just that. It will give states the ability to overturn misguided, short sighted and overreaching federal policies that are not supported by the American people. I applaud those who have proposed and drafted the Repeal Amendment. I am proud to support it and encourage others to support it as well.”
Bill Bolling, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and President of the Virginia Senate
“The federal government has long ago usurped the power reserved to the states and the people via our Constitution. However, our Founders anticipated a time in our nation where the federal government’s power would become out of balance – and in their wisdom provided a way out via Article V. The Repeal Amendment restores the balance of power between the states and federal government. The time is now for the states to restore that power and that is why I am sponsoring an Article V application for the Repeal Amendment and encourage every state to do the same.”
William J. Howell, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
“What we have seen over the past few years is a consistent, growing power grab from the federal government. The idea behind the Repeal Amendment is federalism at its core – it gives power back to the states as the Founders intended. If we do not stand now and stand firm, we are undermining our Constitution, and the 10th Amendment becomes meaningless. The Repeal Amendment takes that stand and that is why I am happy to support it.”
Mike Haridopolos, President of the Florida Senate
“On every policy issue Washington, D.C. has faced they have had a choice between more freedom or more government. Time after time, on issue after issue, they have chosen the path of more government over more freedom. That is not the approach that made America prosper. The Repeal Amendment may be the only way to push back the federal government’s encroachment on sovereign states rights.”
David Clark, Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives
“I will proudly sponsor the Article V application for the Repeal Amendment in the South Carolina Legislature because our states must declare their independence from an overreaching federal government that has long-encroached upon the powers that the Founding Fathers reserved to the sovereign states. The Repeal Amendment restores that power – and in essence restores the Constitution,”
Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
“The Indiana House Republican team felt so strongly about the issue of federal encroachment on states’ rights that we included a specific “Stand up to D.C.” plank in our 2010 campaign platform. President Ronald Reagan first announced his “New Federalism” policy from the Speaker’s Rostrum in the Indiana House chamber in 1982, and as the current occupant of that same space, I am no less committed to pushing the federal government back to the position intended by the Constitution. The Repeal Amendment provides an effective means of properly limiting the role of the federal government,”
Brian C. Bosma, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives.
“We must push forward an agenda that puts more power back into the hands of states. The Repeal Amendment is the type of check on federal government envisioned by the framers of both our U.S. and Texas Constitutions.”
Joe Straus, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
“The Constitution grants certain powers to the people and limited powers to the national government. The Repeal Amendment only protects and restores the Founding Fathers belief that there should be a fair balance between the powers of Congress and the rights retained by the states.”
Judson Hill, Senator from the Georgia Senate
“At its core, the Repeal Amendment is simply the power of initiative and referendum, writ large. I have advocated initiative and referendum in New Jersey since the day I was elected, and I continue to believe that all citizens deserve a direct say in government at all levels. Under the Repeal Amendment, Americans would gain the power to fight back against bad laws as well as bad lawmakers.”
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, Ph.D., Deputy Minority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly
“Now, more than ever, we are seeing the federal government try to dictate even the most minute details of our lives. It is time to exercise our rights and put the power back into the hands of individuals and the states. That’s why I am proud to serve as the liaison between the Repeal Amendment Project and Texas, a state that prides itself on self-reliance and individuality.”
Brandon Creighton, Texas State Representative
“The federal government continues to squash the sovereignty rights of the states as guaranteed by the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution unrelentingly and at an accelerating pace. From countless unaffordable federal mandates imposed upon Minnesota’s healthcare system, education programs, and even families, the overreach of Congress has gone unchecked. It’s time for the states to restore their Constitutionally-protected autonomy, and that’s why I am going to sponsor the Article V application for the Repeal Amendment.”
Steve Drazkowski, member, Minnesota House of Representatives
Posted: November 19th, 2010 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Press Release | Tags: Amy Handlin, Repeal Amendment | 10 Comments »
