Blue Jersey - Recent Diaries

Over The Brink of Irrelevance

Winston Smith — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:28:11 GMT

[Note: cross post - but this one doesn't work without the photo's so hit the link below]

In the midst of the Clinton era's "third way" political accommodation, in 1995 award winning journalist Mark Dowie wrote a tragically prescient book "Losing Ground - American Environmentalism at the Close of the Twentieth Century".

It was a devastatingly honest and critical analysis of the ineffectiveness of national environmental groups. It was written as a warning and a clarion wake up call.

For full post, see:
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

Let's Support Governor Christie's

kodemo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:47:27 GMT

Intention to make every failing and barely passing
public school as good as Robert Treat Academy!

Thanks for what?

rachael'sdad — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:33:15 GMT

I know that most of this is going to come off like sour grapes because I was a Florio supporter in 2000 and a Codey supporter in 2005 and on both occasions saw Corzine's money rule the day, because as we all know, in New Jersey politics, money talks and if bullshit is accompanied by enough money, it talks as well, but I need clarification about what exactly we should be thanking soon-to-be former Governor Corzine for?

Is it for buying a Senate seat in 2000?

Is it for turning the balance of power in the state's political dynamic towards the bosses that backed Jim McGreevey, enabling him to run unopposed in 2001 instead of being challenged by former Morris County Prosecutor, Michael Murphy, who earned the attention of a lot of people during the 1997 Democratic gubernatorial primary as a result of his candor, honesty, and solid, third-place showing in that year's gubernatorial primary without the support of a single Democratic machine?
Is it for voting the right way on important issues while in the Senate, but not contributing anything of any legislative significance otherwise?

Is it for losing Senate seats while serving as DSCC Chairman?

Is it for allowing his own Presidential ambitions to justify pushing aside Acting Governor Dick Codey in 2005, whose term as McGreevey's replacement restored some degree of credibility to the office after McGreevey's embarrassing performance?

Is it for buying "the most powerful Governor's office in the country" and reducing its power to that of a superlegislator?

Is it for refusing to spend some of the millions that he was willing to spend to buy himself elected office to either help elect a slate of Democratic State Assemblypersons and State Senators that shared his vision (did he ever really have a vision?) or sufficiently scare the existing Democrats in Trenton into towing his line (did he ever really have a line to tow?)?

Is it for refusing to increase state income taxes on the wealthy sufficiently to balance the budget and provide real property tax relief and reform?

Is it for refusing to put the weight of his office behind passing marriage equality legislation instead of civil unions?

Is it for utilizing the fullest extent of his economic brilliance to come up with a scheme as ridiculously lame as asset monetization?

Is it for putting the lives of New Jersey drivers at risk by having his drivers drive him at unsafe speeds on the state's highly congested roads (Do we really think that the driving style that led to the accident was an isolated incident?)?

Is it for the special legislative session on property tax reform and relief that never provided real property tax reform and relief?

Is it for the constitutional convention on property tax reform and relief that never happened?

Can anybody cite me an example of Jon Corzine using the power of his office to force through a major legislative initiative that the powers that be in the legislature did not want passed?

To the best of my knowledge, the only times that Jon Corzine bucked the powers that be in this state at all to do the right thing, was when he backed Loretta Weinberg in her State Senate battle and selected her to be his running mate, and for both of these acts, I feel quite comfortable in speaking for all of us here and thanking him from the bottom of our hearts.

BUT THAT'S IT!

Five years as Senator and four years as Governor and all that Jon Corzine has to show for it is a good voting record and doing right by Loretta Weinberg and the people who love and support her.

It remains to be seen if he uses what little juice he still has to get marriage equality legislation passed during lame duck this year, but I am not counting on it.

If marriage equality legislation passes during lame duck, it will most likely be because Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality, and the progressive individuals and organizations who support them went so far above and beyond their natural capacity for action that the Democrats in Trenton knew that they had no choice but to do this now or suffer the consequences in 2011.

Jon Corzine will have little to nothing to do with this except when he signs the legislation as it is put before him.

If Jon Corzine wants my thanks (not that I think that he really cares one way or another), he will do one of two things, the easiest and simplest of them being to take his millions, leave the state, and never come back again.

The harder and more meaningful of them being to do what he should have done after being elected Governor in 2005, which was to use all of the resources at his disposal, including but not limited to his vast amounts of wealth, to bring together all of the progressive organizations in the entire state, establish a progressive agenda to address all of the issues of concern for the people of our state, and run a slate of State Assembly, State Senate, County Freeholder, and Municipal Councilperson/Mayoral candidates in the Democratic primaries in 2011 that would empower the progressive majority within the Democratic Party against the party bosses and elected cowards who sustain them for generations to come.

I don't think that this was a lot to expect from Jon Corzine after he was elected Governor and I don't think that it is a lot to ask from him now that he is going to be leaving office after disappointing so many who at the very least hoped for, if not expected, more from him. As angry as I was when he bought his Senate seat in 2000 and the Governor's office in 2005, I always hoped that he would prove me wrong. To date, he hasn't, but I am not giving up hope.

After Governor Howard Dean ended his Presidential campaign in 2004 and before becoming the DNC Chairman that made it possible for Democrats to regain control of the House and Senate and for Barack Obama to be elected President of the United States, he created a national organization, Democracy for America, that would enable his supporters to continue working towards a progressive agenda.

As we all know, DFA has been one of, if not, the most important driving forces behind keeping the healthcare reform effort on track towards some kind of a public option, despite the White House's numerous strategic blunders throughout the process, first and foremost being to start the process with the compromise position of a public option rather than a strong position of a single payer system. Howard Dean's leadership on this issue has kept the public option alive even as many in the House, Senate, and White House would have preferred to leave it for dead.

If Jon Corzine is willing to invest at least as much of himself on behalf of progressive issues here in New Jersey as Howard Dean has at the national level, he can be a factor going forward and play a major role in repairing so much of the damage to the Democratic label in this state that the Democratic administrations and legislatures of the last eight years have done. It is not too late.

The Democrats in Trenton can hold the line against Christie's conservative agenda if we give them a line to hold. And if they don't, many, if not most of them will be running for re-election in 2011 in brand new legislative districts that we can play a role in shaping as well as recruiting truly progressive candidates to run in them. And in 2013, we can support a Democratic gubernatorial candidate who shares our values and Jon Corzine can be a major part of this effort and for doing so, would be truly deserving of our thanks.

Or he won't. Assuming for a moment that Jon Corzine keeps his promise to stick around, he will most likely continue to support the status quo within the Democratic Party as so many of us have as we have fallen in line as we do so well behind whomever the powers that be in the party have chosen to represent us and whatever they choose to stand for.

Jon Corzine cannot be blamed for this. For as long as he has been involved in NJ politics, he has been no better or worse than any of us. The only difference between him and us is that he has had the resources at his disposal to make a difference on a large scale and we don't, or at the very least, we haven't tried. He was brought into this game by some of the worst players in its history, starting with the dirtiest of them all, Bob Torricelli, so maybe it is too much to ask that he turns his back on them and sides with us.

Maybe this means that he doesn't deserve the condemnation and scorn that I have heaped upon him here, but if nothing else, it definitely means that he is not deserving of our thanks. Not yet anyway. Not by a longshot. But maybe there is reason for hope. Only time will tell.

Did Christie Quick Pitch - Or Balk?

Winston Smith — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:02:06 GMT

[Note: cross post - find linked version at
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

This year's superb World Series saw at least 3 episodes of the "quick pitch" (each one perceptively detected by Tim McCarver, a former catcher and the best announcer in baseball).

For those non fans out there, a quick pitch is just like its name implies. The pitcher throws before the batter is ready, disrupting his timing. It is a vey effective tactic. Good hitting - like politics - is all about timing. That's why off speed pitches work - they mess up the batter's timing and prevent the weight shift required for good hitting. But I digress on baseball matters, so I'll get to my point.

Although I had written about the issue during the campaign (see this post), I felt quick pitched by Christie's victory speech. Not expecting any policy statements, he blew a fastball right by me when he emphasized his plans to "turn Trenton upside down" and "cut onerous regulations". Regulatory pitches being my forte, I swung from my heels for the fences, but missed.

So, I stepped out of the batter's box, but was quick pitched again the next day when Christie told the New York Times " that he would move quickly to suspend new regulations on business...". I swung, was late on the pitch, but this time at least I hit a single to right with this post.

Christie's quick pitch revelation in the headline and lede of the New York Times' story was confirmed and reported in my more detail by Politicker: "Christie says first executive order will freeze unfunded mandates and regulations"

The Christie Administration's Ambassador to the Environmental Community, Dave Pringle of NJEF, was next to bat. But Pringle was quick pitched too, because his lame excuse for a swing in defense of Christie clearly was not prepared. Pringle simply spun out of the batter's box and ducked from a high inside hard one.

But amazingly, again within 24 hours, the Christie pitch reported in the press changed dramatically.

What was initially characterized by the New York Times as a plan to "suspend regulations" and echoed by Politiker as a "freeze on regulations", was softened considerably to a "90 day review" of regulations.

For those non governmental types out there, that's a HUGE difference in policy. Sticking with the baseball analogy, it's akin to the difference between a 350 contact hitter and a 50 home run hitter with a 250 average.

Recalling the days of Dan Quayle (does anyone recall Quayle's power on the Bush Council on Competitiveness?), this regulatory review is to be headed up by the Sheriff - ahem - I meant Lieutenant Governor Guadagno (she passed the bar and her NJ driving exams, but can she spell potato?). According to Friday's Star Ledger:

Guadagno, who will be in charge of a committee given the task of taking 90 days to review the state's regulations, joked that she didn't expect to be this far along so quickly after the seemingly tight gubernatorial race.

So, it looks like we'll have a 90 day Committee.

That sure is a long way from from the Governor imposing a freeze.

So, do we have a balk by Christie (i.e. did he misspeak to the NY Times? Or Did he back off a moratorium in favor of the 90 day review?)

Or do we have an error by the press?

Memo to Christie media team and press: you can do better than that.

Murray's Margin of Error

joeynovick — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:58:42 GMT

Cross posted at PolitickerNJ

Patrick Murray is the founding director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. According to their website, "The Monmouth University Polling Institute has become a premier independent survey research center known for its in-depth tracking of public policy and quality of life issues."

Murray is a frequent media commentator on politics and public opinion---in fact, one of the folks that PolitickerNJ.com asked the opinion of each week to see which gubernatorial candidate "Won The Week". PolitickerNJ.com named him one of 14 People to Watch in New Jersey Politics in 2009. He's got a fancy looking website, with all sorts of numbers and names, graphs and graphics, statistics and such. Polling Institute director Patrick Murray appears regularly on One-on-One with Steve Adubato, and is a frequent guest on all the shows that cover NJ political scene.
Furthermore, according to their website, "The Monmouth University Poll's standard methodology utilizes a random digit dial (RDD) 'probability' sampling design to select survey participants. All telephone exchanges (i.e., area code and first three digits of the phone number) that reach a household are programmed into a computer...after interviewing is complete, the sample is 'weighted' to correct for the fact that some respondents are harder to reach than others.... The Monmouth University Poll either tracks or adjusts for geography, gender, race, age, and education to comport with current U.S. census figures of the adult population. This weighting ensures that findings from a sample can be generalized to the full target population."

One would think that Mr. Murray could predict anything with extreme accuracy, given all the fancy degrees, computers, and statistics training.

But wait, there is this catch-all disclaimer on all the surveys: "All surveys are subject to 'sampling error' "----you know, that "plus or minus" number at the end of the poll that tells you just how much they could be off by. "This poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%" or so is what you'll hear.

Now, my background---I am just an old, bald, overweight comedian from Brooklyn, with no fancy statistics degree. I don't have an extravagant office at Monmouth University. I am not on NJN or 'One on One with Steve Adubato' each week. I was not named one of PolitickerNJ's 'most important' anything last year or this year. And the same will most likely be the case for next year.

My methods for predicting the results of a contest between two (or more) does not require me to spend hours and hours bothering people of all ages by phone at dinner time, and then weighting the results 'cause I could not get enough of one type of folk or another.

I just go by my instincts. That's right-from the gut. My keen insight. My unique sixth sense. And that insight told me the Yanks in Six.

With all his fancy training, stats, and phone calls-what was Murray's prediction?

That the Phillies repeat.

I guess that would be a margin of error of ---"plus or minus 100%" percent.

"I was looking at the World Series through (Phillies)red-colored glasses," opined Mr. Murray, paying off on our bet. The result: one hundred dollars from his pocket to the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang Camps for kids with cancer. And he will be sending on a jar of honey to me, too. How sweet it is.

So, the lesson: If you want accurate predictions of who will win political races in NJ, stick with Murray. (I predicted Jon Corzine by 3 points).

However, if you wish to predict the winner of any World Series where the Yankees play the Phillies, call me.

If anyone else want to donate to the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang Camps for kids with cancer, go to Jump for Joey and follow the links.

Selfish Codey and GOP State Senate

firstamend07 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:50:13 GMT

Dick Codey cannot get 21 votes to be Senate President. He knows it ,everyone knows it. But he can make Tom Kean Senate President. He ,Turner and Rice can create a scenario that would deadlock the vote for Senate President.

This selfish, attention starved,politician just can't come to grips that his chance to be Governor has come and gone. He also can't understand that his reign as Senate President is over. He is in denial.

In the coming week State Senator Weinberg can prevent this potential diaster. She is the one person who can breakup the Codey attempt to have Tom Kean as Senate President. If she publicly supports Sweeney that will enable the "old guard" Senator friends of Codey ( Smith,Sacco,Girgenti,Gordon) to talk some sense into him( a Nixon moment). It will also free Cunningham to do what she probably wants to do anyway.

Imagine a Governor Christie with a Senate President Tom Kean who controls the Committee Chairmanships.

Weinberg lost with Corzine but she can do a great service by calling on Codey to stop jeopardizing the State Senate with his selfishness.

All Citizens Speak English, according to Latina New Bruns Councilwoman/Mdlsx Freeholder

kwilkinson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:13:33 GMT

Dual officeholder Blanquita Valenti, New Brunswick Councilwoman and Middlesex County Freeholder responded at yesterday's NB council meeting, when asked why campaign lit wasn't in Spanish and English (after some sotto voce comments from others - council, counsel, administrators or whoever else on the panel - about "them' not being citizens):

If they don't speak English, they can't become citizens.

Um, some people gain citizenship, like I did, by being born here. Truly astounding from the woman who purports to represent the hispanic community in New Brunswick and the county, and who also represents a county with monolingual Korean, Chinese, Hindi, (probably Urdu and Gujarati for all I know) speakers who are citizens, in substantial numbers.

Kudos to the Rutgers student who responded at the meeting, though she missed his point on the education system, resting on whatever laurels she has from back in the day for setting up bilingual education.

Makes me worry about the upcoming nat'l immigration debate.

New Brunswick City Council Meeting Nov 4th: Valenti Says Only Those Who Speak English Can Vote from Daniel Dalonzo on Vimeo.

The Free James Titus Movement Has Begun

Kire — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:18:44 GMT

How do you free someone who has been dead for 57 years?

Write to Governor Corzine and tell him about James Titus (b. 1857 - d. 1952).

Titus served almost nineteen years doing hard labor in the New Jersey State Prison because he was a little guy prone to panic attacks and the newspapers in New York, Trenton and Philadelphia wanted somebody to be caught for the rape and murder of Tillie Smith in Hackettstown, NJ on April 8, 1886.

You can do everything you can to spread the word that James Titus needs a Presidential Pardon.

The Free James Titus Movement Has Begun
http://freejamestitus.blogspot...
http://www.myspace.com/freejam...
http://twitter.com/freejamestitus
Search for "Free James Titus" on Facebook.
Listen to WRNJ-AM Radio in the next couple of days for an interview with local Hackettstown resident Erik B. Anderson, one of the few who actually read
Stay tuned for more developments.

This man is gone. His family is wiped out.

The Hackettstown Historical Society still sells T-shirts that say "Got Ghosts?" and talk about "Tillie's Ghost" and "The Legend of Tillie Smith." They get real quiet when you try to bring up the subject of James Titus' innocence. Tillie and James aren't legends. They were real people.

The real killer will never been found, but James Titus doesn't have to be dragging his chains around in the afterlife anymore

Write to President Obama and demand a Presidential Pardon for this poor man.

Remember Tillie Smith! Remember James Titus!

Warm Regards,

Erik B. Anderson
Independence Township, New Jersey
Established 1782

Christie Proposes Moratorium on Regulations - Signals Major Threat To Environment

Winston Smith — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:53:57 GMT

[Note - cross post - for linked version, go to:
http://wolfenotes.com/2009/11/...

I knew we were in for a battle over environmental regulations, but this is ridiculous. (see: "Cutting Onerous Regulations")

Just hours after the polls closed, Governor elect Chris Christie told the New York Times that he would impose a moratorium on new regulations:

"Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie of New Jersey, basking in praise from Republicans who hailed him as the party's new star, said Wednesday that he would move quickly to suspend new regulations on business..."
Christie Pledges Fight on Taxes and Business Rules

The controversial move takes a play out of the Bush I and II Administrations' anti-regulatory playbook, and would impact several major environmental rules recently proposed by DEP and now in the pipeline pending adoption.

In addition, a moratorium would hamper protections overseen by the Highlands Council, the Pinelands Commission, and the NJ Meadowlands Commission.

A moratorium would block critically important rules required to implement the green house gas emission reduction goals of the Global Warming Response Act, the Energy Master Plan, and rules to promote energy conservation and renewable wind and solar power development.

Many of these DEP state rules are mandated by federal laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) which manages hazardous waste. Therefore, any Christie move to impose such a moratorium sets up a certain showdown with the Obama EPA, led by former NJ DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson. During the campaign, Christie vowed to fight Obama federal EPA oversight and enforcement efforts in NJ.

DEP environmental protection proposals now in the pipeline that could be derailed by a Christie moratorium include:

Proposed New Jersey's Sulfur in Fuels Rule Amendment (N.J.A.C. 7:27-9) and Proposed Revisions Tt New Jersey's State Implementation Plan Addressing Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Regional Haze

Coastal Permit Program rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7; Coastal Zone Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7E; and Flood Hazards Area Control Act rules, N.J.A.C. 7:13; Wind and solar energy

Water Pollution Control Act - N.J.A.C. 7:14-2 and 8 - readoption

Division of Fish and Wildlife Rules - Proposed Amendments to 2010-2011 Fish Code N.J.A.C. 7:25-6

Processing of Damage Claims Pursuant to the Sanitary Landfill Facility Closure and Contingency Fund Act

Solid Waste Rules, Proposed Readoption without amendments: N.J.A.C. 7:26

Oysters - Proposed Amendments and New Rules to N.J.A.C. 7:25A, Proposed Repeals: N.J.A.C. 7:25A-1.2, 1.9, 1.10, 4.1 - 4.6

Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance

Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7A -

Proposed Amendments, Surface Water Quality Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:9B -

Proposed Readoption with Amendments, New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, N.J.A.C. 7:14A - Proposed Amendments

Industrial Site Recovery Act rule readoption without amendments

Division of Fish and Wildlife Rules - Proposed Amendments to 2009-2012 Game Code N.J.A.C. 7:25-5

Freshwater Wetland rules: Amendments to codify LOI reliance determinations

Proposed Maximum Contaminant Level for Perchlorate

Proposed new rules: Global Warming Solutions Fund Rules, 7:27D, Main topic of rulemaking: Establishment of priority ranking system for allocation of funds

Coastal Zone Management Rules: Amendments to N.J.A.C. 7:7E-3.21, 3.23, 3.49, and 8.14

Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Reporting Program, N.J.A.C. 7:1G-3.1, 3.2 and 5.3; N.J.A.C. 7:27-21.1 through 21.3, 21.5, and 21.11 through 21.13

N.J.A.C. 7:27-31 NOx Budget Program

New Brunswick Wards may be decided late Friday

kwilkinson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:48:45 GMT

The Home News is reporting that the Board of Elections may have all the provisional ballots counted by 6 or 7pm on Friday.

I'm looking to the follow up reporting on how much was spent on the NB ward campaign, since the slick mailers from the 'NO' side were rife.

I wonder if I'd be wrong if I conjectured that the ward campaign was outspent 10 to 1? And out of 4,000+ votes, it's down to probably close to or less than 100 votes. Remarkable.

How long before Loneganistas get mad at Christie?

ken bank — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:11:57 GMT

The peabag bloggers over at Clowns With Agita have been claiming credit for Christie's victory because of the so-called "Lonegan Surge". Despite bashing Chrisite since they lost last June, the unreconstructed Loneganistas now say that Lonegan's appearance with Christie at a rally in Flemington on Saturday propelled 100,000 Lonegan voters to the polls to vote for Christie and provide the margin of victory.

Evidently these bloggers think that their fellow Loneganistas are so mindless that they wouldn't know who to vote for until they received their marching orders from "Der Fuehrer"

Is Bill Baroni in trouble in 2011?

Dvd Avins — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:58:14 GMT

Baroni's base is Hamilton Township, the largest town in the 14th district and famous for its large number of state employees. With Democratic governors, the state senator has managed to avoid greatly antagonizing those workers by going along with the Democrats on occasion.

That just got much harder. We can expect Christie to take positions that are overwhelmingly hostile to civil servants. And to expect a certain degree of loyalty from Republican legislators. There may not be enough wiggle room for Baroni to stay on the good side of the state Republican party and also to get reelected in a Hamilton-based district.

Given the civil service factor and the Norcross/Sweeney machine's involvement with public employee unions, it would be a major disappointment, a dereliction of partisan duty, even, if the new Senate President fails to recurit a strong candidate to run against Baroni.

A complicating factor is that we don't know what towns will be in the Hamilton district after the 2010 census. Given the growth in the area, I doubt that we'll have a district that stretches all the way from Hamilton to South Brunswick (or beyond) as we have the past three decades. That makes it harder for those contemplating campaigns to get moving early. But the party bosses on both sides will have inside information during the bargaining process that will result in the new districts. That makes it all the more crucial for Sweeney to assist in at least letting potential candidates know that they may have an opportunity.

I'm not a fan of backroom dealing, even without the old-fashioned cigar smoke. But everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. The probability that the State Senate will become a beacon of openness in the next two years is approximately zero. So the 14th district seat gives Sweeney a chance to do what he does best and to show the merits of his style of politics.

Some Good News: Open Space Bond Passes

princetonblue — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:38:03 GMT

One highlight of the night was that the open space question passed. Governors come and go, but the preserved land will be there forever. Interestingly, it appears that only 75% of the people who voted for Governor voted on this question. Do people not read the bottom of the ballot? Or did they not care?

Corzine would have won if he had listened to me

DBK — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:17:55 GMT

Jon Corzine would have won last night if he had listened to me. Four years ago, when the world was young and Jon Corzine was running for office I wrote an open letter to his web log in which I urged him to announce his intention of, upon becoming governor, initiating an Energy Race in the state of New Jersey along the lines of John Kennedy's Space Race.
In that letter, I listed the many ways in which an Energy Race would benefit the state, among them in terms of jobs as well as cost-savings on energy. In addition, I wrote of how it would display leadership and vision. Instead, we got an executive whose boldest vision was to sell the Turnpike to private industry. Four years ago I was an enthusiastic Corzine supporter. Today I live in a different state, and from my bedroom office out here on the prairie, I am sanguine about the results from last night's election. Yes, we have another Republican governor, this one looking to be about as bad as most of them have been, but I can't say I am surprised. Corzine's gubernatorial tenure was lackluster. Ultimately, though, his re-election chances were dimmed by something outside his control, namely the horrible national economy. However, he passed on the best hope he had to revive New Jersey's economy ahead of and aside from the national economy: an Energy Race.

What yesterday meant

12mileseastofTrenton — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:38:42 GMT

It had nothing to do with Barack Obama or events in Washington. It had everything to do with the economy, corruption and Jon Corzine.

That the Democrats only lost one seat in the Assembly is testament to the fact that it was not a general anti-Democratic election. Corzine was never overwhelmingly popular in the state. He beat Franks for the senate seat by only 3%, while Gore was winning the state by 17%. He won the governor's race in 2005 by a comfortable, although not overwhelming margin. Things he did in office, such as the Turnpike proposal, the Carla Katz business, and his alienation of state workers, only made things worse for him.

As I've said many times, the party would have been better off with Dick Codey in '05, and again this year. Corzine was a better senator than governor.

The economy was certainly a factor, and cannot be blamed on Corzine. But he was governor when it hit. That's politics.

The corruption in New Jersey, particularly in the state senate, and particularly involving several Democrats, did not help. The state senate needs to be reformed. And the bossism in places like Camden and Essex counties did not help.

All this, I believe contributed to a low turnout. Corzine was killed in Ocean and Monmouth counties, and that was where turnout was heaviest. He actually held his own in Bergen, but apparently lost Middlesex, which says alot.

We need to move on, and prepare for what could be a challenging legislative election in 2011, after redistricting. Democrats might actually benefit from not having one of their own in the governor's office. And we need to start considering candidates to run against Christie in 2013. Codey's age, and the fact that he may be deposed by the bosses, might count him out. But that's a discussion for another day.

New Brunswick Ward Question Undecided, are all the votes being counted?

kwilkinson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:10:27 GMT

The Star Ledger is reporting the following numbers on the New Brunswick Ward ballot question

2,368 against and 2,255 in favor, according to unofficial election results. Just 113 votes separate the "yes" from the "no" vote, and the vote total does not include 185 provisional ballots plus an undetermined number of military ballots that will be counted on Wednesday, city and county officials said. Additionally, the results do not include vote totals from one district -- Ward One, District 2, home to 694 registered voters, said Daniel Torrisi, city clerk. The district sent an electronic copy of results that can be counted Wednesday but no hard copy for preliminary tallies, Torrisi said.

The Coalition for Democracy issued a press release claiming:

widespread accounts of voter suppression, fraud and irregularities that are being brought forward by election monitors and community leaders...Among numerous concerns raised are legitimate voters being turned away at the polls, residents casting double ballots and poll clerks telling voters the way they should vote on the municipal question.
"Voters from all over the City are demanding a voice,"... said Martha Guarnrei, President of Empower Our Neighborhoods.
...Martin Perez, Chair Person for the Coalition for Democracy, "We will work to make sure the voice of the people of New Brunswick is heard"

I'll be watching for the results of this one tomorrow and future election protection monitors' reports on voting irregularities.

Christie: "Cutting Onerous Regulations"

Winston Smith — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:27:27 GMT

[Note: cross post - for version with links, go to:
http://wolfenotes.com/

I just listened to Governor Elect Chris Christie's victory speech, where he pledged to "turn Trenton upside down" and, among other things, focus on "cutting onerous regulations".

As I wrote previously, I believe that these are traditional conservative republican code words for slashing DEP employees and rolling back environmental regulations opposed by corporate business interests.

So, my pledge to you Mr. Christie, is that we will be very closely monitoring what you do at DEP and to the body of environmental and public health protection regulations.

As you move into transition planning (hopefully a transparent and balanced process we volunteer to participate in, but doubt your interest in appointing our expertise), we remind you of some basic facts:

1) taxpayers pay less than 2 tenths of 1% of the State budget to fund the operating budget of DEP. This implements the polluter pays policy. There is no taxpayer savings to be had by further slashing DEP budgets. ONLY 24.7% of DEP's FY 2009 $230 million operating budget, just $56.81 million, is paid by taxpayers from the state general fund. (read DEP budget here);

2) numerous studies show that the benefits of environmental and health regulation far exceed the costs;

3) numerous studies show that pollution imposes massive public health and ecological costs of NJ residents and the economy;

4) DEP and enforcement of environmental regulations have had no impact on the current economic recession, which is driven by collapse of the financial system, not "onerous regulations";

5) almost all DEP programs are federally funded, federally enforceable, and/or federally delegated. NJ is currently not in compliance with many federal clean air, clean water, safe drinking water, and toxic site cleanup requirements

6) the people of NJ strongly support enforcement of environmental and public health protections, on a bipartisan basis.

(and the two south jersey republican who called for elimination of DEP lost)

Last, I hope the NJ Environmental Federation was listening closely tonight - and wonder how well they will sleep.

"Purple" Salem County splits the ticket again

Hopeful — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:13 GMT

We don't have columns in Salem County, and there enough people that vote the person not the party that results are mixed. This page has the unofficial Salem County 2009 election results. 1,411 people voted by mail and 19,318 voted in person, for 47.07% turnout. The county reported all its results at the end of the night so remained blank as people anxiously followed the election night count.

Chris Christie wins the county and 47.23-40.74 goes on to win the state. Daggett got 9.88%.

The county is part of District 3. Democrat John Burzichelli lead with 11,110 votes and although Democrat Celeste Riley had 52 fewer votes here than Republican Robert Villare, Cumberland County apparently carried her to victory.

Republican Glenda Gill won re-election as County Clerk. The Sheriff was unopposed.

Democrats maintain control of the Freehold Board -- barely. Freeholder Democrat Beth Timberman was re-elected with 9,464 votes, but Democrat Jeff Hogan lost to Ben Laury. Laury had narrowly missed getting the Republican nomination last year (by less than 10 votes, I believe) but he can put aside any regrets as he gets in this year with the most votes.

Open Space took 58% as you'd expect.

Last Updated: November 3, 2009 11:11 PM
Registration & Turnout
44,037 Voters
Vote Count Percent
Election Day Turnout 19,318 43.87%
Mail-In Ballot Turnout 1,411 3.20%
Provisional Turnout 0 0.00%
Emergency Turnout 0 0.00%
Total 20,729 47.07%

GOVERNOR & LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
45/45 100.00%
Under Votes 150
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - CHRISTIE & GUADAGNO 9,575 47.23%
DEM - CORZINE & WEINBERG 8,260 40.74%
- LEINSDORF & FIGLIOLA 51 0.25%
- PASON & ROZZO 27 0.13%
- DAGGETT & ESPOSITO 2,003 9.88%
- STEELE & NEVINS 34 0.17%
- PETRIS & DAVIES 46 0.23%
- STEIN & STEIN 45 0.22%
- KAPLAN & PAFF 103 0.51%
- CULLEN & LEUSTEK 35 0.17%
- MEISWINKLE & MUSICARO 34 0.17%
- LINDSAY JR. & HARLEY 35 0.17%
WRITE-IN 27 0.13%
Total 20,275 100.00%

N.J. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
45/45 100.00%
Under Votes 2433
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - ROBERT VILLARE 9,427 24.58%
REP - LEE LUCAS 8,398 21.90%
DEM - JOHN J. BURZICHELLI 11,110 28.97%
DEM - CELESTE M. RILEY 9,365 24.42%
WRITE-IN 54 0.14%
Total 38,354 100.00%

SHERIFF
45/45 100.00%
Under Votes 2558
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - CHARLES M. MILLER 17,392 98.15%
DEM - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
WRITE-IN 328 1.85%
Total 17,720 100.00%

COUNTY CLERK
45/45 100.00%
Under Votes 828
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - GILDA T. GILL 10,591 54.04%
DEM - DIANE Y. WOOD 8,984 45.84%
WRITE-IN 23 0.12%
Total 19,598 100.00%

COUNTY FREEHOLDER
45/45 100.00%
Under Votes 1601
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - BENJAMIN H. LAURY 10,603 27.06%
REP - STACY P. JENNINGS 8,806 22.48%
DEM - JEFFREY J. HOGAN 8,142 20.78%
DEM - BETH TIMBERMAN 9,464 24.16%
- ED SPINELLI SR. 1,056 2.70%
- KEN JAMES 1,055 2.69%
WRITE-IN 51 0.13%
Total 39,177 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR ALLOWAY
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 31
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - JOSEPH G. FEDORA 736 63.89%
DEM - CHERYL A. LOWE 398 34.55%
WRITE-IN 18 1.56%
Total 1,152 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR CARNEYS POINT
5/5 100.00%
Under Votes 62
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - ROBERT L. HAYES 1,136 53.81%
DEM - TONY RULLO 972 46.04%
WRITE-IN 3 0.14%
Total 2,111 100.00%

BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR ELMER
1/1 100.00%
Under Votes 142
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - JAMES W. ZEE III 346 48.53%
REP - LEW SCHNEIDER JR. 342 47.97%
DEM - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
WRITE-IN 25 3.51%
Total 713 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR ELSINBORO
1/1 100.00%
Under Votes 10
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - SEAN ELWELL 443 86.52%
DEM - IRENE R. WANNER 63 12.30%
WRITE-IN 6 1.17%
Total 512 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 159
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - ELLEN B. POMPPER 485 34.25%
REP - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - SHERMAN G. WOOD, JR. 506 35.73%
DEM - DOROTHY H. STETSER 389 27.47%
WRITE-IN 36 2.54%
Total 1,416 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR MANNINGTON
1/1 100.00%
Under Votes 6
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - ERNEST F. TARK JR. 279 49.38%
DEM - JOHN R. EMEL 153 27.08%
- BILL HANCOCK III 133 23.54%
WRITE-IN 0 0.00%
Total 565 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTE MANNINGTON- 1 YR UNEXPIRED
1/1 100.00%
Under Votes 59
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - JOANNE M. WRIGHT 495 97.63%
DEM - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
WRITE-IN 12 2.37%
Total 507 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR OLDMANS
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 13
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - WILLIAM MILLER 386 60.22%
DEM - CHARLES TISA 253 39.47%
WRITE-IN 2 0.31%
Total 641 100.00%

BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR PENNS GROVE
3/3 100.00%
Under Votes 149
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - JANET BERCUTE 246 17.25%
REP - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - ERIC J. MYERS 626 43.90%
DEM - MARK S. OLIVER 542 38.01%
WRITE-IN 12 0.84%
Total 1,426 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR PENNSVILLE
9/9 100.00%
Under Votes 91
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - MARC S. CHASTAIN 1,814 44.65%
DEM - RICHIE RAINE 2,238 55.08%
WRITE-IN 11 0.27%
Total 4,063 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR PILESGROVE
3/3 100.00%
Under Votes 52
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - KEVIN EACHUS 949 56.89%
DEM - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
- PHYLLIS G. SAULER 715 42.87%
WRITE-IN 4 0.24%
Total 1,668 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR PITTSGROVE
6/6 100.00%
Under Votes 92
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - STANLEY WOJCULEWSKI 1,528 54.09%
DEM - DAVID L. HAYMAN 1,286 45.52%
WRITE-IN 11 0.39%
Total 2,825 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR QUINTON
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 28
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - JOSEPH J. HANNAGAN JR. 439 49.55%
DEM - CARL E. SCHRIER 444 50.11%
WRITE-IN 3 0.34%
Total 886 100.00%

MAYOR FOR CITY OF SALEM
4/4 100.00%
Under Votes 130
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - ROBERT L. DAVIS 844 93.67%
WRITE-IN 57 6.33%
Total 901 100.00%

CITY COUNCIL FOR SALEM EAST
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 75
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - CHARLES WASHINGTON JR. 423 87.04%
WRITE-IN 63 12.96%
Total 486 100.00%

CITY COUNCIL FOR SALEM WEST
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 58
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - KAREN L. TUTHILL 392 94.92%
WRITE-IN 21 5.08%
Total 413 100.00%

CITY COUNCIL SALEM WEST - I YR UNEXPIRED
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 48
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - NO NOMINATION MADE 0 0.00%
DEM - SHARON K. KELLUM 374 89.05%
WRITE-IN 46 10.95%
Total 420 100.00%

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR UPPER PITTSGROVE
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 67
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - BRUCE W. BISHOP 765 28.54%
REP - JACK R. CIMPRICH 836 31.19%
DEM - ROBERT FERBER 408 15.22%
DEM - MICHAEL J. SEERY SR. 670 25.00%
WRITE-IN 1 0.04%
Total 2,680 100.00%

BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR WOODSTOWN
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 83
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
REP - DON DIETRICH 624 28.31%
REP - FREDERICK ZOBACK 517 23.46%
DEM - DEBBIE PETTIT 520 23.59%
DEM - JOHN HALL 541 24.55%
WRITE-IN 2 0.09%
Total 2,204 100.00%

GREEN ACRES PUBLIC QUESTION
45/45 100.00%
Under Votes 338
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- YES 11,594 57.81%
- NO 8,460 42.19%
Total 20,054 100.00%

CARNEYS POINT QUESTION
5/5 100.00%
Under Votes 40
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- YES 1,049 49.11%
- NO 1,087 50.89%
Total 2,136 100.00%

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK QUESTION
2/2 100.00%
Under Votes 6
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- YES 316 39.25%
- NO 489 60.75%
Total 805 100.00%

Where to get up-to-date local election info

Rosi Efthim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:26:18 GMT

ATLANTIC: http://www.aclink.org/elections/

BURLINGTON: http://www.co.burlington.nj.us...

CAPE MAY: http://www.capemaycountygov.ne...

ESSEX: http://www.essexclerk.com/elec...

GLOUCESTER: http://www.co.gloucester.nj.us...

HUDSON: http://www.hudsoncountyclerk.o...

HUNTERDON: http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/...

MERCER: http://151.204.177.52/

MIDDLESEX: http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/...

MONMOUTH: http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/E...

MORRIS: http://www.morriscountyclerk.o...

OCEAN: http://www.oceancountyclerk.co...

SOMERSET: http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/c...

My favorite election day story - I LOVE THIS!

Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:13:56 GMT

The town of Lakewood, which has a large very religious Jewish community, has a Vaad HaRabonim - a rabbinical council. The Vaad ordered the community to vote for Jon Corzine and Loretta Weinberg.

Yes, that really happens - a Vaad in a religious Jewish community issues a decree as to whom to vote for, and everyone follows.

Well, some rabbis got upset because Jon and Loretta support marriage equality. So nu, the Vaad got a special decree from rabbis IN ISRAEL ordering everyone in Lakewood to vote for Jon and Loretta.

If you all could see the smile on my face.