O’SCANLON ASKS LOCAL RESIDENTS TO DONATE UNNEEDED FURNITURE

Non-profit to collect furniture for those affected by  Sandy

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon today announced that a local  non-profit, Love INC, has been awarded $50,000 in gift cards for furniture  through the Robin Hood Foundation to help in the Bayshore area. Additionally,  Love INC’s used furniture store “Furnished With Love” located in Long Branch will be having a sale of high quality used  furniture on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday March 3 in the Highlands at Our Lady Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church  from 10 AM to 3PM.. The Assemblyman asked that local residents donate any  furniture that is in good shape.

“This is  another step in stabilizing this area that has suffered so much,” said O’Scanlon  (Love INC’s chairman). “Now that families are being stabilized with  reconstruction the next step is making them livable by meeting their very basic  furniture needs. We all recall the masses of debris on the curbside of many  homes with the devastation being particularly immense up and down the Bayshore  area. Love INC has been in existence for 18 years helping families in Monmouth County and continues to make a mark where  it’s needed the most.”

Carolyn Eyerman, the executive director also added “that  in 2012 over $20,000 worth of free furniture was given to qualified and screened  clients in Monmouth County.”

Brand new mattresses and box springs as well as new bunk  beds are also available with free delivery to all Bayshore residents with  purchases made on March 2nd and 3rd. Love INC’s role in the community is not  only to provide furniture, but acts as a community clearinghouse for local area  churches to help with a variety of needs from rent assistance, elder care, used  cars for transportation, free haircuts and haul out services.

“I really hope that our neighbors fortunate enough to  make it through the storm unscathed will reach into their hearts to help out  those who may have lost everything,” O’Scanlon stated. “Let’s be honest, we all  have some extra furniture that’s just taking up space – this way, not only will  it get used, but it will go to a family who really needs it.”

Furniture donations are especially needed right now with  the needs so overwhelming. Free pickup and tax receipts issued from “Furnished  with Love” trucks. Please call 732-222-1923 and find out how you can help. For  those looking to contact Love INC directly, please call 732-542-7012.

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Dog Groomer and Unknown Attorney Will Challenge Handlin and O’Scanlon in LD 13

Matthew Morehead, Dog Groomer and candidate for Assembly. facebook photo

Matthew Morehead, owner of Sudzy Puppy Dog Grooming, Middletown, and Allison Friedman an attorney from Aberdeen(according to the Truth, Justice and American Way all at once blog) will be nominated by the Monmouth Democrats for Assembly in the 13th legislative district this morning in Asbury Park.  Assuming they are unchallenged in the June 4 primary, they will likely face incumbent Republicans Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon in November.

Morehead is a long term Middletown and Monmouth County Democratic activist. He was passed over by the party in his previous bids to run for Assembly.

Friedman is unknown. The State Judicary’s website has no record of an Allison Friedman licensed to practice law in New Jersey.

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Monmouth Dems still looking to fill their dance card

Their nominating convention is on Saturday, but the Monmouth County Democrats are still searching for candidates to run for the legislature and sheriff.  Today’s “soft deadline” for candidates to come forward could be extended beyond the convention.  Chairman Vin Gopal’s quest to be the first county party to officially annoint Senator Barbara Buono with the gubernatorial nomination will end up being a self-inflicted wound if he doesn’t have a full slate to announce on Saturday afternoon.

With the official deadline for candidates to file their petitions not until April 1 and with Buono the only serious candidate for governor (there are two other announced candidates, former Glen Ridge Governor Carl Bergmanson and union carpenter Willie Araujo of Edison), Gopal’s decision to hold his convention a month earlier than normal looks silly.

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O’SCANLON: WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SANDY VICTIMS AS MORE FAMILIES’ HOUSING NEEDS ARE

Fort  Monmouth and  other temporary housing options are being utilized by those hit hard by storms.

Assemblyman  Declan O’Scanlon today said that For Monmouth does or shortly will have 115  units occupied by Sandy affected families. Housing at the closed fort was  made available to those in need of temporary housing in the wake of Superstorm  Sandy.

“We  continue to work with folks in need but still need to hear from those who are  not having their needs met, O’Scanlon explained.  “I have spoken with  Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Constable. The DCA,  Department of Human Services (DHS) and County welfare agencies have been meeting  daily at the Joint Field Office in Lincroft . Every day they’ve reach out to  those remaining in the Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) program to  determine how to best accommodate their needs.”

“If particular  issues – like pets or children with special needs- arise, we have been working  with apartment associations to find those families housing that will suit their  circumstances,” said O’Scanlon. “This process is in high gear and working well,  but folks still in need to reach out to my office.”

“DCA  Commissioner Constable and DHS Commissioner Velez care about the welfare of  these people and they are working as hard as they can to resolve their issues,” O’Scanlon. “My office fields dozens of calls a week from very emotional people  who just want to know that someone is there to help. I’m proud we can provide  that service and working with the Christie Administration and his cabinet has  made the recovery process all that much easier.”

O’Scanlon’s  office can be reached at 732-933-1591 or [email protected].

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CASAGRANDE/O’SCANLON BILL TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY THROUGH REVOLUTIONARY PROPERTY ASSESSMENT PROCESS SIGNED INTO LAW

MONMOUTH COUNTY EXPECTED TO LEAD STATE IN PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Assembly Republicans Caroline Casagrande and Declan O’Scanlon to save property taxpayers money by sharing property assessment resources countywide has been signed into law today by Governor Christie.

            The legislation establishes a pilot program for counties to implement a standard software program for local tax assessors to use, which would streamline the process and give officials a more accurate tax rate while reducing costly appeals for property taxpayers. Casagrande and O’Scanlon represent Monmouth County, which is expected to be among the first counties to participate in the demonstration project.

            “When every town in the county has to assess property, there is no need to reinvent the wheel several times, especially when the current process is often confusing and inaccurate for taxpayers,” Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said. “Having everyone on the same page and adjusting a few deadlines are cost-free common sense solutions that will save property taxpayers money in the long run through efficiencies and a more accurate property tax system. Municipal budgets will be based on real dollars, not guesstimates that don’t always hold up.

            “Monmouth County is eager to demonstrate to New Jersey that working together will save property taxpayers money and thanks to Governor Christie, our county will get that opportunity,” Casagrande added.

            The law, S-1213/A-1591, will allow a standardized process for assessments that would be used by every town in the county for all future revaluations and reassessments. The four-year pilot will be limited to four counties.

            “This will be a revolutionary way to essentially fix our current, expensive, flawed assessment system,” O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said. “It will rework the entire process so that towns are no longer burdened with uncertainty as to the value of their tax base, facilitate remedying unfair and outdated assessments, and will obviate the need for expensive town-wide reassessments and the dramatic valuation shifts that go along with them.

“This pilot program will very likely pave the way to the future for our assessment systems throughout the state,” O’Scanlon added.

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O’Scanlon Calls On Landlords To Ease Lease Term Restrictions

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Displaced residents being evicted from temporary housing for weddings. Sleeping in cars for weekends

O’Scanlon:  Temporary FEMA Housing to be extended for two weeks

Displaced residents should call Assemblyman O’Scanlon’s offfice for help: 732-933-1591

Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long told MMM that the residents of her community that have been sleeping in cars are people who have been put up in hotels by FEMA who are evicted by the hotels on weekends in order to accommodate wedding guests.

“When hotels have weddings or events, people get evicted for the weekend,” Long said via twitter, “I just learned of people sleeping in cars because of this and I’m hopping mad.”

Long said that FEMA’s response has been, “Well, when that happens the people should call us.”  Yet, when people do call FEMA’s 800 #, the FEMA employees who answer the phone are dropping the ball or don’t know what to do.

Long said she trying to reach her displaced residents in this situation to coordinate weekend housing through Sea Bright Rising and other charities. “FEMA knows where my people are, I need their help in locating them.”

Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza told MMM that the same situation is happening to displaced residents of his borough. “The hotels are asking people to leave on Friday and tell them they can come back on Sunday night,” said Cocuzza, “These people are falling through the cracks on weekends.”

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon said that his legislative office has been transformed to a clearing house for temporary housing to match people in need with a roof over their heads. “This should not be happening,” said O’Scanlon, “but too often we’re hearing about it too late. No one should be sleeping in their cars.  Anyone, from my district or not, can call my office and we’ll find them a place to stay.”

O’Scanlon’s office said landlords or anyone willing to put up a displaced resident can also contact them.  O’Scanlon’s phone # is 732-933-1591.

FEMA temporay housing allowances are set to expire on Saturday the 12th.  O’Scanlon told MMM that the program will be extended for two weeks.

Posted: January 9th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Declan O'Scanlon, FEMA, Hurricane Sandy, Sea Bright, Union Beach | Tags: Charlie Cocuzza, Declan O'Scanlon, Dina Long, FEMA, Sea Bright, sleeping in cars, Temporary Housing, Union Beach | 4 Comments »

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American Conservative Union Rates New Jersey Legislators

American Conservative Union, the folks who put on the CPAC conventions and who have since 1971 been rating the conservatism of members of Congress have rated the conservatism of New Jersey’s state legislators.

ACU tracked the votes on 11 pieces of legislation for Assembly members and 9 votes in the Senate.  Those who voted the way ACU favored 100% of the time were declared “Defenders of Liberty.”  Those who voted with ACU on 80% or more of the bills earned the designation “ACU Conservative.”

Those legsilators who never voted the way ACU favored, most of the Democrats, earned the designation “True Liberals of the Garden State.”

Some of the results in the Monmouth County delegation, Districts 11, 12, 13 and 30, are surprising.  At least they are to me.

If you asked me to predict who among the Monmouth County delegation would have earned a 100% conservative, “Defender of Liberty” designation I would have guessed only 11th District Assemblywoman Caroline Cassagrande.  I would have guessed wrong.  Cassagrande didn’t even make the 80% “ACU Conservative” cut.  She voted the ACU way 8 of 11 times for a 73% rating.   The 3 votes Cassagrande cast that did not meet ACU approval were for 1) for legislation that requires businesses to post notices that employees have the right to be free from gender inequality, 2) for legislation that would ban treating waste water from fracking and 3) a bill that provided tax credits for electric car charging stations.

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O’Scanlon: Displaced residents in need of temporary housing should visit FEMA, even if they’ve been turned down before

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon told MMM that FEMA is bring temporary housing online at that New Jersey residents displaced by Superstorm Sandy and in need of temporary housing should visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, even if they have previously been turned down for assistance by the agency.

In Monmouth County the DRCs are located at:

Belmar Municipal Bldg., 601 Main St., Belmar, N.J. 07719

Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36, Leonardo, N.J. 07737

Long Branch Fire Station #4, 199-205 Union Ave., Long Branch, N.J. 07740

Union Beach Municipal Building, 650 Poole Ave., Union Beach, N.J. 07735

Click here for DRC locations elsewhere in New Jersey.

O’Scanlon said that any resident in need of temporary housing that is not satisfied after visiting a DRC should call his office at 732-933-1591 for assistance.

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Senate Budget Committee Hearing in Highlands

The State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee toured the damaged areas of Union Beach and Highlands today before convening their scheduled hearing at the Henry Hudson Regional High School in Highlands.

State Senator Joe Kyrillos, who represents the Bayshore in Trenton, issued the following statement following the hearing:

Touring the damage today in Union Beach and Highlands gave my colleagues in the Senate a good visual of the destruction this storm wrought on our district and Monmouth County as a whole.  However, the testimony from members of the community who are putting their lives back together best illustrated the anguish and exhaustion our friends and neighbors are going through.  I thank members of the Committee for coming out to the Bayshore today.

They also got to see the best New Jerseyans have to offer: neighbors helping neighbors, residents rebuilding with dedication and courage, and the generosity of charities such as the Robin Hood Foundation that announced today their contribution of hundreds of thousands of dollars to relief efforts in Sea Bright, Highlands, Keansburg, and Union Beach.

As FEMA continues to assess the damage and make plans to compensate victims and help them rebuild, I encourage them to remember words of the residents who came to Highlands to testify.  The perception that the New Jersey shoreline is only for wealthy vacationers who live elsewhere is a false one.  This area is full of hard-working, middle class families whose homes have been in their families for generations and will have a difficult time rebuilding what they’ve lost even with flood insurance.  It is incumbent upon us to work together and ensure they are able to rebuild their homes to the condition in which they existed prior to the storm, or help them find a new home elsewhere if rebuilding in certain areas is too dangerous.  Only then will their lives truly be made whole after this unique event.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon said that the tour and the hearing dispelled any notion that some legislators have heard from their consitituients that FEMA and the State are bailing out exclusively well to do and second home owners on the shore who should have known better than the build near the water.

“This one was different,” said O’Scanlon, “properties were never touched by previous major storms and hurricanes were destroyed this time.  Hard working familes whose homes have been passed down four generations lost everything.  Every town is different and it is appropriate that the Committee came and meet the people of the Bayshore.”

Highlands Mayor Frank L. Nolan gave FEMA a “D” when asked to grade the federal agency by Senator Jeff Van Drew. “Do you say B?” ask Van Drew.  “D, as in not good,” responded Nolan.

Nolan gave the FEMA personnel on the ground an A+, saying his issues are with the agency’s bueracracy and red tape.

Nolan also announced that the Rainbow Foundation has pledged $200,ooo for Highlands recovery.

Councilwoman-elect Tara Ryan asked the committee to keep up the pressure on the National Park Service to open Sandy Hook by this summer, citing the park’s importance to the Northern Monmouth economy.

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