Panel: No mega-mergers
TRENTON A little-known state panel charged with whittling down New Jersey's local government units has completed a year of work, but is far from recommending the merging of municipalities, according to a report submitted to the governor Tuesday. (Graber, Gloucester County Times)
http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1238568039285630.xml&coll=8
Schundler endorses Christie for Governor
Bret Schundler, who became the darling of national conservatives during his nine years as Mayor of Jersey City and won the Republican nomination for Governor in 2001, today endorsed Christopher Christie for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. "I know we need a strong conservative leader who will stand up for middleclass taxpayers, and I believe that Chris Christie will be that kind of leader," said Schundler. "Chris will be the tough, fiscal conservative we need to cut income and business taxes, provide property tax relief and get our state's economy back on track." (PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/editor/28643/schundler-endorses-christie-governor
Cassidy rebuffed again in Jersey City ballot battle
Opponents of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy must take him on at the ballot box. Agreeing with a Hudson County Superior Court judge's ruling on Monday, an appellate panel sitting in Hackensack yesterday denied a motion by at-large City Council candidate Joseph Cassidy to keep Healy off the May 12 ballot. (Thorbourne, NJ.com)
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/03/cassidy_rebuffed_again_in_jers.html
Councilman faces student press
DEPTFORD TWP. Third-grade students at Good Intent School put their interview skills to work Tuesday, asking Councilman Joe Scott about everything from open space preservation to new township construction. (Driscoll, Gloucester County Times)
http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1238568025285630.xml&coll=8
Growing number of N.J. workers face unpaid furloughs
First Gov. Jon Corzine proposed that state workers take two unpaid furlough days before the end of June and another 12 in the fiscal year that begins in July. Today Newark Mayor Cory Booker joined in, proposing that city employees take six unpaid furlough days this year and 12 next year. And more and more private businesses have been asking employees to accept similar unpaid days off. (Larini, Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/growing_number_of_nj_workers_f.html
Former governor may sue Corzine for slashed arts funding
Former Republican Gov. Tom Kean, who usually avoids criticizing his successors, says he is so angry about Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to slash arts funding that he is considering filing a lawsuit against Corzine himself. (Margolin and McGlone, Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/former_governor_may_sue_corzin.html
N.J. radio station holds 'Funeral for the Middle Class' to protest state budget
Radio station 101.5 FM held a mock "funeral for the middle class" today in Trenton, delivering two caskets filled with hundreds of empty wallets to the steps of the Statehouse. (Megerian, Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/radio_station_1015_fm_protests.html
Jersey City mayoral hopefuls to debate three times this week
On Wednesday, April 1, at 1 p.m. mayoral candidates (not including Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy) will participate in a debate at the Loew's Theatre in Journal Square. The debate, which is free and open to the public, will be moderated by local TV host Pat O'Melia, the Jersey Journal's Agustin Torres and Earl Morgan and writer Ricardo Kaulessar of the Jersey City Reporter. (Clark, Jersey Journal)
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/03/jersey_city_mayoral_hopefuls_t.html
EPA to monitor air quality outside Paulsboro High School
Federal authorities will monitor the air quality outside Paulsboro High School, which sits in the shadow of several oil refineries in Gloucester County, under an initiative announced yesterday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Hefler, Inquirer)
In N.J. race, corps of Democrats fields GOP lobs at Corzine
Gov. Corzine's surrogates are working overtime tossing criticism at the opposition in his re-election campaign, while the incumbent presides over the government in Trenton or travels the state promoting his budget. (Burton, Inquirer) http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20090401_In_N_J__race__corps_of_Democrats_fields_GOP_lobs_at_Corzine.html
Former R.I. superintendent in line for Paterson post
PATERSON — Donnie W. Evans, who won both praise and criticism as former superintendent of schools in Providence, R.I., is Governor Corzine's choice to become Paterson's new schools superintendent. (Mandell, Herald News)
Coniglio defense shifts focus to Codey
The spotlight shifted to Senate President Richard Codey on Tuesday as the defense in the federal corruption trial of Joseph Coniglio sought to show that the former acting governor was more of a sugar daddy to Hackensack University Medical Center than the man prosecutors portray as the hospital’s bought-and-paid-for legislator. (Sampson, Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/bergen/lateconigtrial31.html
Getting together?
FREEHOLD — Consolidating school districts into K-12 districts would improve programs and be more cost-effective, Monmouth County Superintendent of Schools Carole Knopp Morris said Tuesday during a panel discussion. Another panelist, Bruce D. Baker of Rutgers University, said consolidation would be most effective in smaller districts, particularly kindergarten-through-eighth-grade districts with fewer than 300 students, or K-12 ones with fewer than 800. (Bradshaw, APP)
http://app.com/article/20090401/NEWS/904010367
County hopes stimulus funds will flow into Cox Hall Creek
LOWER TOWNSHIP – Cape May County is asking for $2 million in federal stimulus money to help restore Cox Hall Creek in Lower Township. The watershed, which covers 1,940 acres, is clogged by phragmites marsh reeds that hinder the creek's ability to drain and pose fire hazards when the stalks are dry. Poor
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/287/story/445007.html
Highway pedestrian deaths spur state to warn drivers
WOODBRIDGE — Carlos Grijalva Florian drank a bottle of Johnnie Walker and three beers before his cousin picked him up. He acted belligerent in the car, and when his cousin pulled over on the New Jersey Turnpike to make him cool off, Carlos got out and started walking on the highway. Soon after, he was hit by a bus and a tractor trailer, leaving blood and body parts strewn across the roadway, and chunks of flesh in the undercarriage of the truck. (Segall, AP)
http://mycentraljersey.com/article/20090401/STATE/90401014
Mock funeral for middle class resembles a campaign rally
A crowd of protesters, stoked by New Jersey 101.5 FM radio talk show hosts, held a mock funeral for the middle class on the State House steps Tuesday to oppose Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget. (Symons, Gannett)
http://courierpostonline.com/article/20090401/NEWS01/904010346
Kasparian style differs from Ferriero, though team remains the same
Since taking over one of the most powerful county political parties in the state just ten weeks ago, Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian has brought a leadership style to the job that's drastically different from his predecessor, Joe Ferriero. (Friedman, PolitickerNJ)
