Republicans Split In Atlantic Highlands

Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast. file photo

A simmering feud within the Atlantic Highlands GOP boiled over into the public eye yesterday afternoon during the Borough’s reorganization meeting as three of the five Republican elected officials split with two of their newly reelected colleagues to elect a Democrat up for reelection this year as Council President.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno who was on hand to swear in veteran Councilmen Jack Archibald and Peter Doyle to their new terms was not pleased by the drama. “You’re killing me,” Guadagno said to Mayor Fred Rast, a Republican who supported the unorthodox move, according to a prominent county Republican who was present.

Republican Councilman Lou Fligor nominated Democrat Roy Dellosso to be Council President.   Jacob “Jake” Hoffman, also a Republican, joined Fligor, Dellossa, and Democrat Robert Sutton in electing Dellosso to the largely ceremonial post.  Archibald and Doyle voted no.

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Guadagno travels to Hope for Land of Make Believe Celebration

Photo via Guardlife, The Official Magazine of the NJ National Guard

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno will travel to Hope, NJ tomorrow afternoon for the Land of Make Believe 60th Anniversary Celebration.

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Report: Christie is U.S. Attorney’s target

MMM photo/Art Gallagher

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman is leaning on former Port Authority officials David Samson, Bill Baroni and David Wildstein and Charles McKenna, Governor Chris Christie’s former Chief Counsel, to”filp” on Christie, according to a report published on Esquire today.

Esquire’s two anonymous sources “with intimate knowledge” of Fishman’s investigation into “Bridgegate” said that Samson, Baroni and Wildstein each face “near-certain” indictment.

Esquire says that Baroni and Wildstein have implicated Samson and that “if Sampson doesn’t give Fishman Christie, Sampson is toast.”

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Guadagno Visit to TechLaunch Sparks Small Business Week Enthusiasm

Guadagno Visit to TechLaunch Sparks Small Business Week Enthusiasm (via NJ Tech Weekly)

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno visited the TechLaunch (Clifton) accelerator on May 6, 2014, bringing her own special brand of excitement and marketing know-how to the young companies participating in the 16-week boot camp program. She dropped by TechLaunch…

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Christie’s Internal Bridgegate Report To Be Released Thursday

MMM photo/Art Gallagher

The former prosecutors that the Christie Administration hired to perform an internal investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures and allegations made by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer that Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno told Zimmer that Sandy aid for Hoboken was contingent upon a development approval will release the findings of their investigation on Thursday morning at 11:30.

A New York Times article about the report published on Sunday says it will address what and when Mr. Christie and his aides knew about the lane closings; analyze the structure, practices and culture of the Christie administration that contributed to the scandal; and issue pointed recommendations to prevent such conduct in the future.

Randy Mastro, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and a Deputy to former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani, lead the team of lawyers from Gibson Dunn in conducting the investigation.  Over 70 interviews were conducted and thousands of documents reviewed in the probe that cost New Jersey taxpayers over $1 million.

Three key players in the Bridgegate scandal, Christie former Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelly, Christie’s former political strategist Bill Stepien and David Wildstein, Christie’s former #2 at the Port Authority of NY/NJ, did not submit to interviews with Mastro’s team.

A joint legislative committee lead by Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senator Loretta Weinberg continues to investigate the Bridgegate matters. U. S Attorney Paul Fishman’s office is also investigating.

Christie told NJ 101.5’s Eric Scott during his Ask the Governor radio show on Wednesday evening that if Mastro’s report implicates members of his staff, that punitive measures will be taken.

MMM will livestream Mastro’s press conference on Thursday at 11:30 AM

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Guadagno Denies Zimmer’s Allegations

This morning in Union Beach, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno strongly denied Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegations that Sandy relief funds for the city were contingent upon the approval of a proposed Rockefeller Group development.  Zimmer made her allegations Saturday morning on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki.

Speaking at the Union Beach Firehouse on Poole Ave, at an event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr Day, Guadagno prefaced her remarks by saying she would not be taking  questions at the end of her statement. “As you know, there are ongoing investigations. I’m sure all the fact will come out at the appropriate time.”

Guadagno said:

“Mayor Zimmer’s version of our conversation in May or 2013 is not only false, but is illogical and does not withstand scrutiny when all of the facts are examined.  Any suggestion that Sandy funds were tied to the approval of any project in New Jersey is completely false.

Standing in Union Beach, as we are today, with some of the mayors whose towns were devastated by Sandy, and also, being a Sandy victim myself, makes the mayor’s allegations particularly offensive to me.

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Seastreak Ferry Service to Resume Monday Morning

Limited Service Out Of Highlands Only.  Commuters To Enter Highlands From Linden Ave/Route 36 Only

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno comes through with additional police support

Seastreak LLC will resume ferry service between Highlands and Manhattan on Monday November 5 on a limited schedule.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Mayor Frank Nolan, Police Chief Joseph Blewet, members of the Highlands Borough Council and representatives of Seastreak met this afternoon to resolve the community’s security concerns.  Nolan told MMM that Seastreak has agreed to provide additional security lighting and that Guadagno promised 6 additional law enforcement officers to manage the flow of traffic while protecting the residents and their property.

Downtown Highlands was under 8-10 feet of water during Superstorm Sandy.  Only borough residents and their accompanied guests have been allowed past the police check points at the entrances to the riverside side community since the storm ended.

Seastreak ticket holders must abide by the following restrictions:

• Access to and from the Highlands facility will be limited to Linden Avenue only.
• A checkpoint will be in place which will limit access to ticket holders only, so please have your ticket ready to show at the checkpoint to keep traffic flowing as you arrive into town. 
• Seastreak will have ticketing staff at the checkpoint for customers who need to purchase tickets.
• Seastreak encourages carpooling.
• With the limited access to and from the Highlands facility, please allow ample time to arrive on time for your departure.

“I’m happy to see that even in their darkest hour the residents of Highlands, specifically Mayor Nolan, stepped up to help others,” said Guadagno, “this is what makes New Jersey great.”

Nolan’s home was destroyed in the storm.  He and his family are temporarily living in the shelter in town.

Seastreak announced the following limited schedule:

Departures from Highlands will be:

6:00am, 7:00am, 8:00am and 8:55am

Returns from East 35th St. and Pier 11 will be:

4:15pm E.35th St./4:40pm Pier 11

5:10pm E. 35th St./5:30pm Pier 11

6:30pm E. 35th St./6:45pm Pier 11

7:30pm E. 35th St./7:45pm Pier 11

The ferry service hopes to have their Atlantic Highlands location operating by mid-week

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