Progress, Finally, Hopefully

Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore called at 7:22 AM to report that JCP&L Government Affairs Representative Roberta Sheridan had just called.

JCP&L is moving “all available men,” into the Bayshore of Monmouth County.  That’s about 300 workers, per Fiore. Work will finally get started on the Belford substation which powers most of the Bayshore.

Multiple sources have told MMM that the Belford station was a problem.  JCPL (not Sheridan) has been saying that the substation was underwater (it wasn’t) that its old (it is) and that they didn’t know when they would get to it.

Yesterday afternoon they hadn’t gotten to it. It wasn’t wet, but it was rusty….on the top, not the bottom.  It’s elevated and the ground was dry all around it.  This was not one of the underwater substations.

In an ironic and infuriating twist, while I was inspecting the Belford substation yesterday, Comcast workers, who now use the former JCP&L building adjacent to the substation were taking delivery of small generators.  Well one or two of them were taking delivery while 9 or 10 watched.

The Stone Church substation off Sears Ave in Atlantic Highlands is the other problem for Northeast Monmouth residents and businesses.  The misinformation being spread to  area elected officials by JCPL about this substation is disgusting.  One story was that trees fell on it and destroyed it.  Another story was trees fell on it and it “burnt up.” ” Burnt up” could mean a fire or it could mean a blown transformer.  Neither was the case.  No members of the Highlands, Atlantic Highlands or Navesink Fire Companies knew of any calls to the substation in the last week.  MMM went to the substation.  No signs of a recent fire or the lingering smell of a blown transformer. The substation was not underwater.  There were sounds of electricity though!

Stone Church Substation, August 30, 2011

Fiore said that Sheridan told him that the real problem with the Stone Church substation is topography with the lines going to and from the station.  Trees on the lines and downed lines will cause further delays to electric customers being serviced by this station.

Fiore has been a bulldog of an advocate for Middletown residents and the entire Bayshore during the aftermath of Irene.   During the Real Jersey Guys Radio Show yesterday afternoon, Fiore couldn’t get through on the call in lines so he sent a text informing us that he had gotten through to the Governor’s office about the Bayshore situation and asked that the Belford and Stone Church substations be made a priority.  The head office said they would do so.   Within an hour lights started coming on in Belford and Atlantic Highlands.  Then Sheridan called first thing this morning.

Here’s a recording of the radio show, in case you didn’t have power and are listening to it next week sometime. 

The show featured Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre and stories of his multi-year battle with JCP&L and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande reporting on the great works of Monmouth volunteers, law enforcement and genuinely finding the silver lining in the mutliple Irene clouds.

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LaRossa and Gallagher Radio Show, 5PM-6PM Tuesdays, WIFI AM 1460

Former Senator Richard LaRossa and I have two terrific guests lined up for our weekly radio hour this week.

John Andrews is the Director of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University and Chairman of the Backbone America Citizens Alliance.

Andrews served in the Colorado State Senate from 1998 through 2005.  He was the minority leader and led the GOP back to majority control.  As Senate President, he helped pass bills establishing education vouchers, expanding charter schools, extending tort reform, cutting the capital gains tax, reducing union control of state employees, requiring parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion, and restoring the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms.

Andrews will be with us for the first half hour of the show, 5-5:30.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon will be joining us for the second half hour.  O’Scanlon has represented the 12th legislative district since 2008.  His hometown of Little Silver is part of the new 13th district which he will represent if reelected in November.

O’Scanlon is Republican Budget Officer and Policy Co-Chair.   He will be giving us extremely timely insights into the State budget and the pension and benefits reform bill.

You are invited and encouraged to call into the show with your questions and comments.  The call in number is 609-447-0236.

The show can be heard on WIFI AM 1460 or here on your computer or smart phone.

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LaRossa And Gallagher Expose Tony Fiore As A Republican

~ thanks to James Hogan for the headline.

For those of you who missed it, the first LaRossa and Gallagher Radio Show featuring former Senator Richard LaRossa and your favorite blogger was broadcast on Tuesday afternoon at 5PM on WIFI 1460 AM and on the Internet at WIFIAM1460.com

Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore was our first guest.  As my friend James said after the show, we exposed Fiore as a Republican as he discussed the challenges and accomplishments of the Middletown Township Committee in putting together their first budget in the era of the 2% cap.

At the 48:28 mark of the show we had an exclusive guest call in, Congressman Anthony Weiner.  Keep in mind the show was on Tuesday.  Weiner was still in denial of his fate.

Here’s a recording of the show:

I hope you enjoy it and that you join us live and call in next Tuesday.

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Tune In, Call In, To The First LaRossa And Gallagher Radio Show

Former State Senator Dick LaRossa and your favorite blogger will have our first radio show Tuesday from 5PM till 6PM on WIFI AM 1460 and here on your computer.

Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore will be our guest.  Fiore will address the recent round of labor negotiations in Middletown as well as the pension and benefit reforms currently being proposed in Trenton.

You are invited to call into the live show at 609-447-0236.

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