N.J. Must Ask More of Our Leaders in Trenton

Governor Christie and the New Jersey Legislature are about to increase the gas tax by 23¢ per gallon taking effect for Thursday morning and overnight becoming the seventh highest gas tax in the country. Unfortunately, hiking the gas tax treats only a symptom of the broken Transportation Trust Fund. We commend legislative leadership for the serious… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sen Beck: Public Massively Opposes New Gas Tax

Senator Jennifer Beck renewed her opposition to a $.23 per gallon hike on the New Jersey gas tax and said that the deal struck between Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto is a recycled version of previous legislation that thousands of New Jersey drivers rallied against.

“Residents, drivers and commuters rallied against this $2 billion gas tax plan the first time it was proposed in June,” said Beck. “Offering a recycled plan that tinkers around the edges doesn’t change the fact that the public massively opposes a 23 cent per gallon gas tax hike. I will continue to stand up and fight for the vast majority of the people of New Jersey who oppose this tax increase.”

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Christie makes Gas Tax increase deal with Sweeney and Prieto

file photo

Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Prieto announced a deal to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund with a $.23 per gallon gas tax increase this afternoon in Trenton.

In a press release from his office, Christie touted off setting tax decreases in the deal–“tax fairness”– which he said will more than compensate for the gas tax increase.

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Sheriff Golden Announces New Storm Evacuation Program: KNOW YOUR ZONE

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden announced the KNOW YOUR ZONE program today in Avon-by-the Sea.

A tiered coastal evacuation plan, KNOW YOUR ZONE, identifies specific coastal evacuation zones  (A, B, C and D) which helps emergency management officials target evacuation orders to those areas that are at the most risk, based upon threat, strength, direction and forecasted storm surge. The public outreach and educational program, Know Your Zone, is designed to educate residents, businesses and visitors on the coastal evacuation zone in which they live, work or vacation.

Not to be confused with flood zones, which are insurance designations and building codes determined by the National Flood Insurance Plan, the tiered system creates 4 distinct evacuations zones A, B, C, & D and will allow for a clearer and more decisive messaging, when evacuations are needed.

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Arnone: Casino referendum is bad for Monmouth County

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone today announced his opposition to the public question that would amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow casino gambling in Northern New Jersey.

“My first responsibility as a Freeholder is to make sure Monmouth County’s interests are my top priority,” Arnone said in an announcement released by ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ the group that has been campaigning against the constitutional amendment, “Unfortunately, the ballot question on casino expansion is misguided, shortchanges our horse racing industry, and favors a small group of out-of-state, special interests.”

“In no way does this legislation help Monmouth County,” Arnone concluded.

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Sonnek-Schmelz challenges Pallone to two debates

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz, the Republican candidate for congress in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District (parts of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties) publicly challenged Congressman Frank Pallone to two debates today after not hearing back from the 28 year incumbent after extending a private invitation.

“Congressman Pallone should live up to his own words and debate me.  The people of the Sixth District deserve to hear him defend his failed policies and tell us why after 28 years in Congress, the loss of Fort Monmouth and the government corruption following Sandy, he deserves reelection,” said Sonnek-Schmelz.  “Pallone was chomping at the bit for debates when it would have benefited him politically during his failed U.S. Senate campaign. Failure by Mr. Pallone to agree to these debates would reveal him to not only be a hypocrite, but a brazen one at that.  I am hoping he exceeds my expectations and agrees to stand on a stage with me and contrast our competing visions for the country and our district face-to-face.”

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Talk of Christie’s impeachment is ridiculous

The media buzz about the possibility of Governor Chris Christie being impeached is nothing more than click bait.  It’s not going to happen. The people writing that it could or should happen either know it won’t happen, don’t know what they are talking about or are trying to ensure that Christie has no political future.

The buzz got started when both the prosecution and the defense attorneys in the Bridgegate trial claimed that Christie knew that the George Washington Bridge lane closures in September of 2013 were political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich while the lanes were closed and not a part of a traffic study.  Christie has already been convicted of that in the court of public opinion.

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Monmouth Democrats were invited to campaign at Middletown High School North during school hours

Second Middletown Teacher caught engaging in Democrat partisan activity during school hours this year

A photo of Monmouth County Democrat candidates for Surrogate and Freeholder speaking to a seminar of Middletown High School North freshmen and sophomore participants in the school’s honors Government, Law and Public Policy Program (GLP3) Pathway was posted on the campaign facebook page of Surrogate candidate Vincent Solomeno last Tuesday with the caption “Thrilled to join Matt Doherty and Sue Fulton for Monmouth County Freeholder 2016 and speak to students about county government at Middletown High School North.  Get involved!”

None of the three candidates have any experience in county government.

The seminar was supervised by Patti May, a teacher who is a Democrat candidate for Borough Council in Eatontown.  Monmouth County Democrat Chairman Vin Gopal held a fundraiser for the teacher at the Jumping Brook Country Club in June.

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Freeholders Launch “Grown in Monmouth” Marketing Campaign

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Freeholder Lillian Burry announced a boost to the Agribusiness sector of Monmouth County’s economy last week with the launch of a marketing campaign for farm products grown in the county.

Monmouth County farms and related business can sign up to use the new “Grown in Monmouth” logo which is the first part of county wide marketing strategy funded under a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant the county received last year to evaluate current trends and future opportunities to expand the local farming industry, and to develop a marketing strategy to promote and market agricultural products.

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Authorities ID officers injured apprehending bomb suspect

LINDEN — Officials have identified the Linden police officers who were injured while apprehending Ahmad Khan Rahami, the Elizabeth man who was wanted in connection with weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey. When the two officers approached Rahami at about 11:30 a.m. Monday on the steps of an East Elizabeth Street bar, Rahami allegedly… Read the rest of this entry »

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