NOW HIRING: LARGE MEN TO PROTECT TROUBLED FORMER MAYOR/INSTALL HOME APPLIANCES. JOB MAY ALSO INCLUDE PROCUREMENT OF ADULT MOVIES AND BODY LOTIONS.
A police bodyguard for former Newark mayor Sharpe James testified yesterday that he was ordered to install an air conditioner in the Jersey City apartment of Tamika Riley while he was on duty.
Adelino Benavente, a Newark police officer for 21 years, was the fourth witness prosecutors put on the stand this week in the corruption trial of James and Riley, his co-defendant.
Prosecutors are trying to prove James rigged city land deals for Riley between 2000 and 2006 because she was his girlfriend and are calling witnesses in an attempt to establish that romantic link. Benavente was one of a handful of officers who worked on James' executive protection detail during that period and is one of several of the former mayor's bodyguards expected to testify.
Under questioning from Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Perry Primavera, the veteran police officer often appeared uncomfortable, speaking in clipped sentences and repeatedly saying his recollections about specific dates and details were hazy. (Whelan and Spoto, Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1204868798179380.xml&coll=1
“THE BATTLING MCGREEVEYS CONTINUE TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE INSTITUTION OF DIVORCE.”
DINA MATOS McGreevey wrote a memoir entitled: "Silent Partner." I bet her estranged husband, former governor and still gay Jim McGreevey, wishes that were true.
The battling McGreeveys continue to make a mockery of the institution of divorce. As had been noted by others, when their little girl's birthday party required court intervention, the likelihood of an amicable divorce was next to none.
If the McGreeveys were either important or even legitimate celebrities, their saga would be on the front page of the tabloids of television and print. But they aren't important. A recent Pew Center report gave New Jersey a C for governance. No surprise, then, that B-level McGreevey made it all the way to the governor's mansion. McGreevey may have envisioned himself a future U.S. president, but that was never in the cards. And while the public's initial sympathies went toward Dina Matos, those too have dissipated as her demands for more cash and prizes seem less proportionate to reality.
The scary part of this story is not the nasty divorce. The hallways of politics are littered with the messy remains of failed marriages. The scary part is that the McGreeveys were once the first family of New Jersey. A majority of New Jerseyans trusted McGreevey enough to make him governor. If that isn't a splash of cold
http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/moreviews/16374476.html
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
A bill to give workers the right to take time off with pay to care for family members appeared to be coasting to swift passage in the Legislature — until yesterday, when it hit a snag that could send it to the drawing board.
Three days after the bill cleared the state Senate, Labor Commissioner David Socolow released a week-old legal opinion from the Attorney General's Office warning the legislation contains a loophole that could leave business owners vulnerable to lawsuits.
A provision in the bill allows a small company — defined as fewer than 50 workers — to replace a person who takes the six-week leave of absence. Lawmakers included the language in recognition that some small business owners won't be able to operate that long without key positions filled.
In a written opinion, Deputy Attorney General John Bender didn't think the bill offered enough protections for business owners.
"There may be circumstances where an employee could have … a cause of action for re-employment," Bender's Feb. 27 letter said. He recommended inserting language that says no employee has a right to sue "for a failure or refusal of that small employer to restore the employee to employment after the family temporary disability leave." (Livio, Star-Ledger)
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Supporters of a proposed paid family leave program did not tell lawmakers about an attorney general's opinion that gave credence to one of the legal concerns the measure could pose for small businesses at the time an Assembly panel, then the full Senate, approved it.
The measure gives workers access to six weeks paid leave — up to two-thirds of their pay, from an employee-funded account in the disability fund — to care for family. It says businesses that employ fewer than 50 people aren't required to keep jobs open for workers who take the leave. Questions about whether small business would be prone to a lawsuit for terminating a leaving employee were dismissed as the measure was released Feb. 28 by the Assembly Labor Committee and approved Monday by the full Senate.
No mention was made of a Feb. 27 opinion from the Attorney General's Office in a letter to Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner David Socolow that validated the lawsuit concern and suggested wording changes that could protect small business from a lawsuit without changing the intent of the bill.
Socolow testified before the Assembly Labor Committee on Feb. 28 without mentioning the opinion.
"We were still digesting the opinion, and we frankly wanted to speak to the sponsors about it," Socolow said Thursday, after the opinion became public. (Volpe, Gannett)
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NEW JERSEY’S ENDLESS ELECTION CYCLE
In an effort to reduce costs and increase voter participation, state lawmakers Thursday discussed moving school board elections from April to the general election in November.
The Senate Education Committee held discussions Thursday with education groups about consolidating election days, as well as eliminate the requirement that voters decide school tax levies, except for separate questions if the growth cap is exceeded.
Extra elections cost citizens money that could be saved to reduce property taxes or better spent on education, said Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, the committee chairwoman and sponsor of a bill that would enact such changes.
"Every time we turn around, we're having another election that is costing people money," said Turner. (Rispoli, Gannett)
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WHITMAN MAKES A DENT, ALBEIT IN THE SMALLEST PORTION OF THE DISTRICT
Shut out in Hunterdon and Union, Kate Whitman has finally found support in Middlesex County as the
battle continues in the 7th congressional district to succeed Republican Rep. Mike Ferguson.
The screening committee for the Middlesex County Republican Committee is so evenly divided between Whitman and Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) as to who should get the GOP organization line that it will be left to members of the county committee to sort it all out when county Republicans meet for their convention in Woodbridge on March 29.
While Whitman's showing with the screening committee marked the first time party leaders appeared to give her candidacy serious consideration, Middlesex is the smallest of the prizes in the four- county battle for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District. Of the 54 towns in the district, only three are in Middlesex County — Edison, South Plainfield and Woodbridge.
Under GOP county committee rules, a candidate must garner the votes of two-thirds of the 17-member screening committee to be recommended for the organization line, a recommendation the full committee nearly always follows, said county GOP Chair Jo seph P. Leo. (Gluck, Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/_shut_out_in_hunterdon.html
IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Carteret Council President Ronald Rios was sworn in last night as a Middlesex County freeholder to replace John Pulomena, who resigned last month.
Rios had been chosen Wednesday night at a special convention of the Middlesex Democratic Organization. He announced his resignation from the borough council yesterday and was sworn in at the freeholder meeting in New Brunswick.
"He and I have been friends for over 20 years," said Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel. "He is very conscientious."
Rios, a retired Conrail train mechanic, "will be a full-time freeholder," Crabiel said. (Epstein and Adarlo, Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/middlesex/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1204868719179380.xml&coll=1
THE ECONOMY SUCKS. PERIOD.
Day after day, Roberta Weiss hopes to get the call that will send her back to work.
Weiss was laid off from a student-loan processing company late last year. She knew times were tough, but with 24 years of experience in information technology, she figured she'd find another job quickly.
So far, no luck.
"In the past, all my jobs have come from people calling me," the South Brunswick resident said. "This is the first time in my life I've actually looked for a job."
The sagging economy is not helping. Every day seems to bring another piece of bad economic news. Home foreclosures and the price of oil are at record highs, and the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index is at a 52-week low. The dollar is weak. A federal employment report coming today could signal whether the economy is headed into a full-fledged recession. (Fitzgerald, Star-Ledger)
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PSST… WORLD WAR II IS OVER
An email containing disparaging remarks about the Japanese has held up the nomination of a Bergen County judicial candidate who fervently denied Thursday that he composed it.
Gov. Jon Corzine announced on Feb. 21 his intent to nominate nine candidates for the bench in Hackensack. His office, however, released the names of eight nominees on Thursday, leaving out Alexander Carver of Old Tappan.
Carver, 62, said he was informed by the governor’s office on Thursday that his name was held back while investigations continue as to the authenticity of an email.
understanding is that because of this allegation, they want to take a look at it and make sure that they have not dismissed it out of hand,” Carver said.
The email, allegedly written in November 2001, refers to a cell tower to be erected on the grounds of the River Vale Country Club, which was owned by a Japanese company. Carver was the township attorney for River Vale at the time. (Markos, Bergen Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/northernnj/Corzine_nominates_as_Bergen_judges.html
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
An Assembly panel unanimously approved a measure Thursday that would limit elected and appointed public office holders to one public health plan, while a pair of lawmakers hopes to take this a step further by eliminating all publicly paid health plans for elected officials who earn less than $50,000.
The measure advanced Monday, with bipartisan support, would end dual health coverage for public office holders with second public positions. One sponsor, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said it's a step he hopes to expand to any family that has access to more than one health plan.
O'Scanlon told the Assembly State Government Committee there is no way to quantify how much would be saved, though it would probably not be much.
"One of the reasons we need this bill is because we can't answer that," O'Scanlon said. "There is no list." (Volpe, Gannett)
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SO WHICH PLEANTVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AREN’T IN TROUBLE?
A Pleasantville Board of Education member pleaded guilty this week in a case in which he allegedly abused his position with the Atlantic City Public Works Department.
At least that's what Atlantic County court records say. The board member has a different take.
"I didn't take a plea (Wednesday)," David Thomas said Thursday. "I have to go back to court in June."
That's true, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. But that June court date is when he will be sentenced.
Thomas was indicted Aug. 7 on one count of official misconduct, stemming from an incident in which Thomas allegedly used Atlantic City equipment to clear debris from the front yard of his former boss David Callaway's home, which was in Pleasantville. Thomas is married to Callaway's niece, Carla Thomas. (Cohen, Press of Atlantic City)
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WHAT ABOUT THE BRIDGE COMMISSION?
The Burlington County Board of Freeholders has begun an immediate hiring freeze to reduce government costs and make its budget more taxpayer-friendly.
Freeholder-Director Aubrey Fenton announced the freeze Thursday. He said all department heads were told at the end of last year of a plan to reduce the county work force.
Fenton said the goal is to trim 100 workers from its 2,070 employees, mainly through retirements and
other attrition.
That figure includes part-time employees and others whose salaries are paid by dedicated property taxes. Examples would be employees who work for the county library and open space program.
The main county budget payroll is at 1,749 employees — 24 fewer than in 2006. (Comegno, Courier-Post)
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CODEY PUSHES ANTI-STEROID BILL. ULTRA-MUSCULAR 12-YEAR-OLDS ACROSS THE STATE PUNCH HOLES IN THEIR WALLS.
The Senate Education Commit tee today voted 4-0 to approve a bill to provide New Jersey with one of the most comprehensive anti- steroid programs in the nation, combining testing, education, instructional training and advertising for students from elementary school through high school.
Sponsored by Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex), the bill (S752) would make permanent the current random drug testing program for student athletes who qualify to compete in championship tournaments, which has been in place since the 2006-07 school year.
"When a kid grows up idolizing a professional athlete and then finds out that person broke this record or that one because he was using steroids his whole career, well what's to stop that kid from want ing to use the drugs too?" Codey said. "We need to get to our kids early and show them that these drugs are not without consequences." (Star-Ledger)
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OK, SO LET’S GO BACK TO TOLL HIKES
A Lockheed-Martin engineer by trade and small-town mayor, Richard Renzulli stood up Thursday morning and confronted state officials with data to prove a point.
Of the 100 municipalities in New Jersey with the lowest spending per person, 72 have fewer than 10,000 residents, said Renzulli, mayor of 7,000-person Eastampton in Burlington County. Why then, he asked, are small towns bearing the brunt of a $190 million cut in municipal aid proposed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine — a cut which may put pressure on property tax increases and is aimed at encouraging town mergers or service sharing.
"I'd like to know where the governor is telling us that small towns are the most inefficient ones in the state?" Renzulli asked.
A 30-second standing ovation followed from hundreds of mayors, council members and administrators who spoke out in often emotional terms Thursday against Corzine's proposed cuts, which are largely aimed at some 320 municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people. (Tamari, Gannett)
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Local mayors facing pressure to consolidate services or merge with nearby towns as a result of drastic cuts proposed to state aid sent a message to the governor Thursday: Bigger isn't always better.
More than 400 mayors and local officials representing small towns where property tax relief aid would be slashed, or altogether eliminated under the proposed state budget, packed the Trenton War Memorial for a meeting with Gov. Jon S. Corzine's administration.
Corzine did not attend, but in a video message to the elected officials said cuts needed to be made across the board, including to municipal government, given the state's financial condition.
"The size of government, and often home rule, is hurting taxpayers and raising their cost of living," Corzine said. (Graber, Gloucester County Times)
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IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY
BRIDGETON — Six Cumberland County freeholders now are on the record opposing a second five-year term for county Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella.
The six — five Democrats and one Republican — jointly signed a four-page letter to Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
The Feb. 28 letter argues Casella has "politicized and personalized" the reappointment process.
"He has refused to meet with the Board of Chosen Freeholders and has now descended into political warfare via newspaper stories and radio shows as a means to keep his job," the letter states. "He has permanently damaged his ability to continue in his position with any credibility."
The letter is backed up with nine pages of exhibits, mostly tables and charts intended to show the money spent on the office has not resulted in improved performance.
Casella, whose term is up in early April, is on vacation this week and did not respond to a message left on his cell phone.
Freeholders signing the letter are Director Louis Magazzu and board members Jeffrey Trout, Douglas Rainear, Bruce Peterson, Joseph Pepitone and Dr. Joseph P. Riley. (Smith, Daily Journal)
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ADOPTION RECORDS
Robert Hafetz spent most of his life wanting to know who his birth parents were.
Hafetz, who was adopted as an infant in New Jersey and now lives in Warrington, Bucks County, started searching four years ago and discovered his birth mother had died in 1977. In the process, the 57-year-old met two half-brothers, who have welcomed him into their family.
He says that having access to original birth certificates would help other adoptees answer the nagging questions of identity that haunt some from the time they are children.
But some parents don't want to be found. Philip Foley of South Jersey and his wife, who asked not to be named, are among those fighting to keep birth records sealed by New Jersey. (Lu, Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20080307_N_J__considers_unsealing_adoption_records.html
JUST GET A STICKER SAYING YOU DONATED MONEY TO THE PBA AND YOU’LL BE ALRIGHT
Is the long arm of the law exempt from the state's new ban on the use of handheld cell phones while driving?
Some motorists are upset police who can now pull them over for driving while talking on their cell phone without a headset don't practice what they preach.
"It's ridiculous. What's the sense of giving a fine to us if they're talking on the phone?" Jose Cordero, 40, of Paterson, told the Herald News of West Paterson for Thursday newspapers.
Since Saturday, driving while using a hand-held cell phone, or text messaging, is a primary offense in New Jersey — meaning police need no other reason to pull a d
river over. Motorists who are stopped face a $100 fine if they are caught in the act.
The new law has generated debate on whether the officers who write those tickets — about 150 after the first weekend — should be using their hand-held cell phones to talk while behind the wheel.
"Police officers should be an example for everyone else," said Pam Fischer, director of the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "There might be a situation where they can't use the radio. But the bottom line is, they shouldn't be driving with handheld cell phones." (AP)
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IN DENVILLE
The campaign signs have been popping up all over Denville's 2nd Ward and, after months of build- up, Jim McCloskey will know next Tuesday night whether he'll be keeping the council seat he's occ pied for 13 years.
McCloskey, facing recall, is fending off a challenge by Gerard "Jerry" LaMonte, a 54-year-old systems engineer for Saint Clare's Hospital.
Both candidates say they have been campaigning vigorously — knocking on every door in the ward, distributing fliers and posting signs in dozens of yards.
Both say their campaign signs — each put out about 100 over the last few weeks — had been torn down and covered up by each oth ers' supporters. (Saha, Star-Ledger)
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DON’T LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR POLITICAL DISPUTE
Despite pleas by community residents for them to work together for the betterment of Hillside, political warring continues unabated between the mayor and township council.
Mayor Karen McCoy Oliver and the council majority currently are fighting over the township attorney post, remediation of contaminants at the former Bristol-Myers headquarters and funding for the Hillside Municipal Alliance.
Oliver contends the fighting is one way, with the council doing all the warring by usurping her authority and undermining her administration.
Council members maintain they have to take action, even if it means exceeding their authority, to keep the township functioning because the mayor does nothing. (Jett, Star-Ledger)
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HE RIPPED THE TOWN OFF, NOT THE UNTALENTED ROCK BAND OF THE SAME NAME
LINCOLN PARK — The borough's former chief financial officer, embroiled in an ongoing criminal investigation, is believed to have stolen more than $20,000 from the town, authorities said Thursday.
Dennis Gerber, 57, of Saddle Brook, was arrested for the second time in a month on Wednesday on charges of misappropriating borough funds, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.
The new charges allege that Gerber deposited a check made payable to the borough into his own bank account and subsequently wrote four checks to himself totaling $10,000 between January and February 2007. (Schneider, Daily Record)
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/COMMUNITIES23/803070322/1203/NEWS01
IN MORRIS COUNTY
A former top official with the Morris County Sheriff's Office was charged on Thursday with posting sexually explicit photographs of women on the Internet without their consent.
John "J.K." Kinnecom, 57, was charged with invasion of privacy and harassment after investigators executed a search warrant at his home on Jaqui Avenue in Morris Plains around 8 a.m. He was released into his own custody, and the charges will be transferred to Superior Court.
An investigation into Kinnecom's alleged improper postings of at least two women known to him began in September by Morris Plains Detective Sgt. Thomas D'Ambola and Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective Dan Haber.
Further investigation led to detectives seeking a warrant from a judge to search Kinnecom's residence, which was conducted on Thursday by members of the borough police department, as well as the prosecutor's and sheriff's offices. (Wright, Daily Record)
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/COMMUNITIES31/803070333/1203/NEWS01
