Return of the American Revolution
Raising the state sales tax last year from six percent to seven percent cost an extra $275 a year for the average family in New Jersey, but the impact of borrowing $3 billion to mail out 'property tax rebate checks' just in time for the election is going to be staggering.
It just continues the same irresponsible budget gimmickery of the McGreevey & Whitman administrations. The cost of this economic voodoo is unnecessary and ill-advised. Whitman's theft of $2.8 billion from the state employee pension funds has snowballed into a $97 billion unfunded liability (that means debt taxpayers will someday be forced to pay).
The guilt goes around to both Democrats and Republicans, so there's no argument that this is a partisan problem. It is a cultural catastrophe because New Jersey has tolerated the culture of corruption too long. It is time to get off this disastrous road and back on track -- and the best way voters can help assure change is by voting against incumbents in the upcoming general election --- preferably electing independents when they appear on the ballot.
In Union County there is a slate of independent candidates challenging Sen. Raymond Lesniak's corrupt party insiders. With 30 years in Trenton, Lesniak has to own up to his record of burying the state in debt and increasing expenses without providing quality service in return. Instead, the lawmaker has enriched himself at taxpayer expense.
Documents released last week show his law firm made $3.3 million from no-bid public contracts last year alone. Money that should have been spent on schools paid for the senator's $2 million shore house. Money that should have been spent on homeland security paid for the senator's his 300-acre villa in the south of France. Money that should have been spent protecting public health paid for the senator's Italian suits and gourmet meals.
If some of our kids lose their chance for a successful future, or your neighbors perish in violence or if people in your community die a slow and painful death, at least Sen. Lesniak will be able to hide these horrors from his eyes.
The American Revolution was a revolt by people who refused to be victimized against the injustice of rich and powerful people who were taking advantage. It is time for another American Revolution, so mark your calendar for Nov. 6 and elect some independent leadership in Union County.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Cryan is a GOP campaign commercial
Way to go, Joe.
The Republicans have seized upon incompetent & corrupt Joe Cryan as the poster boy for Democrats in their campaign to take over control of the state Legislature. Now Cryan is a GOP campaign commercial.
Not that we can blame them, since Cryan provides ample ammunition and such leaders as Gov. Jon Corzine & Sheriff Ralph Froelich have embraced this sleazy pol instead of tossing him under the bus (where he belongs).
The commercial posted on YouTube uses Cryan's triple-dipping politician status to inflict guilt by association on poor, unsuspecting Democrats fighting an up hill battle in the heavily Republican 24th District.
SEE THE VIDEO FOR YOURSELF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUFh_Lqois8
On a national level, Democrats are demanding an end to the culture of corruption. It would be nice to see some progress in that direction here in New Jersey.
The Republicans have seized upon incompetent & corrupt Joe Cryan as the poster boy for Democrats in their campaign to take over control of the state Legislature. Now Cryan is a GOP campaign commercial.
Not that we can blame them, since Cryan provides ample ammunition and such leaders as Gov. Jon Corzine & Sheriff Ralph Froelich have embraced this sleazy pol instead of tossing him under the bus (where he belongs).
The commercial posted on YouTube uses Cryan's triple-dipping politician status to inflict guilt by association on poor, unsuspecting Democrats fighting an up hill battle in the heavily Republican 24th District.
SEE THE VIDEO FOR YOURSELF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUFh_Lqois8
On a national level, Democrats are demanding an end to the culture of corruption. It would be nice to see some progress in that direction here in New Jersey.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tobacco Joe Cryan Taken To Task
Instead of fighting to protect New Jersey residents from the dangers of smoking, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan has been an advocate for the tobacco industry who collects large campaign donations from cigarette makers and dealers.
Cryan accepted donations from at least $3,000 from one local tobacco dealer, Deep Amin of Union. Tobacco giant Philip Morris has repeatedly provided Cryan and committees he controls with campaign cash.
In turn, Cryan strongly opposed the state's indoor smoking ban and worked behind the scenes to cushion the tobacco industry from tax increases.
Critics who say Cryan sold out are among the reform Democrats that formed an independent slate in this year's election.
Marlene Abitano and Lester Dominguez are challenging Cryan and his incumbent running mate, Assemblyman Neil Cohen. No Republicans filed petitions seeking election to the Assembly in the district, which includes Elizabeth, Union, Roselle and Kenilworth.
The tobacco industry is typically aligned with the Republican Party, but New Jersey's culture of corruption makes relationships such as that of Cryan and big tobacco quite common.
More than 325 million packs of cigarettes were sold in New Jersey in 2005, according to tobacco industry figures that also projected a $65 million profit from Garden State residents alone. "
All those involved in the production and marketing of tobacco products are 'terrorists', declared Dr John Seffrin, president of the American Cancer Society, who notes that smokers lose an average of 13 to 15 years of life.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that second-hand smoke causes up to 62,000 deaths among nonsmokers each year in the United States, where 300,000 children develop respiratory infections from exposure to second-hand smoke.
The independent challengers will test whether voters are willing to tolerate a politician like Cryan lining up with tobacco companies in the effort to kill kids.
Cryan accepted donations from at least $3,000 from one local tobacco dealer, Deep Amin of Union. Tobacco giant Philip Morris has repeatedly provided Cryan and committees he controls with campaign cash.
In turn, Cryan strongly opposed the state's indoor smoking ban and worked behind the scenes to cushion the tobacco industry from tax increases.
Critics who say Cryan sold out are among the reform Democrats that formed an independent slate in this year's election.
Marlene Abitano and Lester Dominguez are challenging Cryan and his incumbent running mate, Assemblyman Neil Cohen. No Republicans filed petitions seeking election to the Assembly in the district, which includes Elizabeth, Union, Roselle and Kenilworth.
The tobacco industry is typically aligned with the Republican Party, but New Jersey's culture of corruption makes relationships such as that of Cryan and big tobacco quite common.
More than 325 million packs of cigarettes were sold in New Jersey in 2005, according to tobacco industry figures that also projected a $65 million profit from Garden State residents alone. "
All those involved in the production and marketing of tobacco products are 'terrorists', declared Dr John Seffrin, president of the American Cancer Society, who notes that smokers lose an average of 13 to 15 years of life.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that second-hand smoke causes up to 62,000 deaths among nonsmokers each year in the United States, where 300,000 children develop respiratory infections from exposure to second-hand smoke.
The independent challengers will test whether voters are willing to tolerate a politician like Cryan lining up with tobacco companies in the effort to kill kids.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Racism Only Removed On Purpose
A white student beaten in a schoolyard fight in the predominantly white town of Jena, La., was well enough to attend a school function the same evening, but six black teenagers were arrested, five of whom were charged as adults with attempted murder. There is something wrong in America.
An unqualified politician hired by Sheriff Ralph Froehlich gets paid $7,000 more than an 18-year law enforcement veteran in the same job title who is black. Undersheriff Joseph P. Cryan was hired by Froehlich in 2002, seven months after he lost his job as bartender at his father's Metuchen pub, but Cryan is paid $7,000 more than Undersheriff Gerald Green. There is something wrong in America.
After taking a picture without the knowledge of an elderly black couple in Newark to reflect his concern for minorities in campaign literature, Chris Bollwage -- now the mayor of Elizabeth -- entitled the photograph, "Spooks on a Bench."There is something wrong in America.
We are surrounded by one example after another of just how far America has to go in order to measure up to our self image as a just and morally superior nation.Racism is removed by conscious effort and continuous work, but despite progress made in many areas, we remain pitifully beleaguered by this social epidemic.
Democrats in Union County have largely ignored the black community. African American officials are routinely disgarded like trash when they prove unwilling to follow the orders of party bosses.
Hispanics and women are also victims of the neglect and contempt exercized by political insiders who are predominantly white men. Not one of the Democratic incumbents in the 20th Legislative district are black, female or hispanic.
Three rich white men get to cast votes in Trenton and their record reflects the short road to corporate profits, not the will of the local populace.
The state senator whose district includes more hispanic residents that any other in New Jersey quietly insults that constituency by learning to speak French. ¿Habla Francais?
In addition to his six-figure tax-funded salary in the sheriff's office, Cryan collects $49,000 a year as a state assemblyman.
It's not enough to exclude women and minorities, these gluttons need too flaunt their contempt.
In Cryan's case, he did that by arranging the arrest of his lover instead of just breaking up with her. Turning law enforcement into a tool for personal and poltical retaliation was only one act of injustice.
Tipping his hat to the young black men who virtually fill our state prisons, Cryan's son was sentenced to a stiff term of probation after beating a man with a baseball bat after an episode of road rage.
Women of all races plus men who are black or hispanic already know of too many forms of injustice perpetrated against them every day.
What they don't know is they have the power to change things with their votes.
We cannot blame racist politicians for what we, as a society, can remedy.
An unqualified politician hired by Sheriff Ralph Froehlich gets paid $7,000 more than an 18-year law enforcement veteran in the same job title who is black. Undersheriff Joseph P. Cryan was hired by Froehlich in 2002, seven months after he lost his job as bartender at his father's Metuchen pub, but Cryan is paid $7,000 more than Undersheriff Gerald Green. There is something wrong in America.
After taking a picture without the knowledge of an elderly black couple in Newark to reflect his concern for minorities in campaign literature, Chris Bollwage -- now the mayor of Elizabeth -- entitled the photograph, "Spooks on a Bench."There is something wrong in America.
We are surrounded by one example after another of just how far America has to go in order to measure up to our self image as a just and morally superior nation.Racism is removed by conscious effort and continuous work, but despite progress made in many areas, we remain pitifully beleaguered by this social epidemic.
Democrats in Union County have largely ignored the black community. African American officials are routinely disgarded like trash when they prove unwilling to follow the orders of party bosses.
Hispanics and women are also victims of the neglect and contempt exercized by political insiders who are predominantly white men. Not one of the Democratic incumbents in the 20th Legislative district are black, female or hispanic.
Three rich white men get to cast votes in Trenton and their record reflects the short road to corporate profits, not the will of the local populace.
The state senator whose district includes more hispanic residents that any other in New Jersey quietly insults that constituency by learning to speak French. ¿Habla Francais?
In addition to his six-figure tax-funded salary in the sheriff's office, Cryan collects $49,000 a year as a state assemblyman.
It's not enough to exclude women and minorities, these gluttons need too flaunt their contempt.
In Cryan's case, he did that by arranging the arrest of his lover instead of just breaking up with her. Turning law enforcement into a tool for personal and poltical retaliation was only one act of injustice.
Tipping his hat to the young black men who virtually fill our state prisons, Cryan's son was sentenced to a stiff term of probation after beating a man with a baseball bat after an episode of road rage.
Women of all races plus men who are black or hispanic already know of too many forms of injustice perpetrated against them every day.
What they don't know is they have the power to change things with their votes.
We cannot blame racist politicians for what we, as a society, can remedy.
Corzine appoints lobbyist, disappoints public again
TRENTON – Gov. Jon S. Corzine appointed a lobbyist and a retired Supreme Court justice to the Public Officers Salary Review Commission.
The commission was created in 2000 as a creative way of giving state legislators some cover when it came to granting pay hikes for the Governor, cabinet officials, judges and prosecutors.
That way legislators wouldn't be held accountable to the voters, judges or prosecutors because they could claim they were just following the guidance of the blue ribbon commission.
The most recent pay hike for top government officials was sponsored by Assemblyman Neil Cohen, of Roselle.
Last week, Corzine, who says he wants to be held accountable, made his two appointments: former state Supreme Court Justice James Coleman of Scotch Plains, and lobbyist Hazel Gluck.
This puts Gluck in the position of suggesting pay hikes for people she lobbies -- perhaps giving the appearance that this violates the intent of the bipartisan bill, which says no one should be appointed who "are in positions that would be affected by the commission's recommendations."
The same thing could be said about Senate President Richard Codey's appointee, Michael Critchley, a criminal defense attorney from Essex County who often represents allegedly corrupt public officials in court.
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and Minority Leader Alex DeCroce each named a retired Superior Court Judge (Alan Vogelson and Robert Muir, respectively).That means three of the seven commission members so far are ex-judges.
If retired judges want to give their former colleagues pay raises, few political insiders will view that as shocking news.The final member of the vommission will be named by the newly-appointed state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, who has already advocated judicial pay hikes.
While the governor won't benefit from his appointments -- Corzine only takes a salary of $1-per-year -- the highly ethical Rabner could personally benefit from the vote of the commission member he appoints, unless he decided not to accept his own salary increase.
The commission was created in 2000 as a creative way of giving state legislators some cover when it came to granting pay hikes for the Governor, cabinet officials, judges and prosecutors.
That way legislators wouldn't be held accountable to the voters, judges or prosecutors because they could claim they were just following the guidance of the blue ribbon commission.
The most recent pay hike for top government officials was sponsored by Assemblyman Neil Cohen, of Roselle.
Last week, Corzine, who says he wants to be held accountable, made his two appointments: former state Supreme Court Justice James Coleman of Scotch Plains, and lobbyist Hazel Gluck.
This puts Gluck in the position of suggesting pay hikes for people she lobbies -- perhaps giving the appearance that this violates the intent of the bipartisan bill, which says no one should be appointed who "are in positions that would be affected by the commission's recommendations."
The same thing could be said about Senate President Richard Codey's appointee, Michael Critchley, a criminal defense attorney from Essex County who often represents allegedly corrupt public officials in court.
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and Minority Leader Alex DeCroce each named a retired Superior Court Judge (Alan Vogelson and Robert Muir, respectively).That means three of the seven commission members so far are ex-judges.
If retired judges want to give their former colleagues pay raises, few political insiders will view that as shocking news.The final member of the vommission will be named by the newly-appointed state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, who has already advocated judicial pay hikes.
While the governor won't benefit from his appointments -- Corzine only takes a salary of $1-per-year -- the highly ethical Rabner could personally benefit from the vote of the commission member he appoints, unless he decided not to accept his own salary increase.
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