PBA Prez Colligan to Camden-touring Obama: ‘You are being misled’
In a letter today to the Camden-touring President of the United States, the State Policemen’s Benevolent Association told Barack Obama that he has been misled to believe “PR spin” that the Camden County Metro Police Department is a success in battling violent crime that besets the waterfront south state city. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Obama in Camden: ‘If it worked here, it can work anywhere’
CAMDEN — President Barack Obama told a roomful of residents and state officials this afternoon that if the project of community policing and urban revitalization can work here, in this 80,000 resident city in South Jersey, it can “work anywhere” in the country. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
In South Orange, Collum, first female village president, takes charge
SOUTH ORANGE – Sheena Collum was all smiles as she banged the gavel for the first time as South Orange’s village president on Monday night. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
Kean dings Obama on Opportunity Scholarship program after Camden visit
Read more at CAMDEN — State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean was not present in Camden this afternoon to greet President Barack Obama on his visit to the city for an address about community policsing and reform — but that didn’t keep him for using the occasion to ding the Democrat on another issue. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
The Obama NJ Timeline: Five highlights from his political history here
In some ways, one can use New Jersey as a barometer of President Barack Obama’s political career. Due in Camden later today, he’s made many appearances here over the last number of years: from a very early campaign trail stop for Bob Menendez in 2006, to a fundraising swing through the living room of Jon Bon Jovi in 2009, to a 2011 tour of Irene-ravaged Paterson, and speech at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst just last year. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Cesaro team hits back, citing Scapicchio’s presence at Dems’ fundraiser
Democrats and their general turpitude appear to be the main issue right now in the Morris County Republican Freeholder Primary, where one team boosted by an influx of Democratic Party cash shot back today by citing the presence of one of their Republican opponents… at a fundraiser for a Democratic Party mayor. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Norcross lauds Obama’s visit to Camden, but insists ‘nobody is declaring victory’ yet
CAMDEN — Awaiting President Barack Obama’s appearance here in the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross lauded the leader’s decision to highlight the progress the county’s police force has made over the past several years — but cautioned that “nobody’s declaring victory” in lawmakers’ efforts to shore up a city fallen on hard times. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Reported firing of Seton Hall priest for pro-LGBT statement leads to protests from legislators, students
SOUTH ORANGE – The reported firing of a Roman Catholic priest assigned to Seton Hall University for posting a photo on his Facebook page in support of an anti-discrimination and anti-bullying campaign rooted in the LGBT community has stirred a wave of protests among both New Jersey state legislators and the student community. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
Why New Jersey Doesn’t Let You Pump Your Own Gas
Lawmakers in New Jersey and Oregon are considering bills that would finally give drivers in those states the option to pump their own gas. But why was that practice banned in the first place?
Let’s start with the case in New Jersey. The Garden State’s ban on self-service gas stations, which are allowed in 48 states, began in 1949 when the New Jersey Legislature passed the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act. That law, enacted over concerns about the safety of consumers pumping petroleum themselves, was later followed by many other states. However, almost every state has since overturned their self-serve bans. (Kell/TIME)
http://time.com/3882801/new-jersey-gas/
Obama Puts Focus on Police Success in Struggling City in New Jersey
CAMDEN, N.J. — President Obama came here on Monday to celebrate the progress a revamped police force has made in building trust between law enforcement and the people of Camden, a rare bright spot in what he has acknowledged is an otherwise troubled relationship between the police and black communities. (Davis and Shear/The New York Times)
President Obama Visits Camden
President Obama came here this afternoon to herald what he sees as the Camden turnaround.
“I’ve come here to Camden to do something that might have been unthinkable a few years ago — and that’s to hold you up as a symbol of promise for the nation,” Obama said. (Aron/NJTV)
http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/president-obama-visits-camden/
Proposed Legislation Aims to Keep State Aid Separate from PARCC Participation
Parents and kids brought plenty of passion — pro and con — to this morning’s debate over PARCC legislation.
“Never once did they come home and say, ‘Mommy, it was so hard! Mommy, I didn’t get it!’ They said, ‘Mommy, I rocked that!’ They were so proud of themselves,” said North Star Academy parent Florisha Johnson. (Flanagan/NJTV)
Students Work for Legislation to Protect Turtles
Tilapia’s on today’s menu at the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science. These students are feeding the nearly 20 diamondback terrapins they’re caring for.
“There is something really special about these terrapins that connect with people,” Alexa Ornstein said.
Over the past seven years, hundreds of MATES students have volunteered countless hours to Project Terrapin in an effort to protect the turtles. Diamondback terrapins are native to New Jersey. The reptiles live in a mixture of salt and fresh water. Earlier this month many of these students testified in front of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. (Wanko/NJTV)
http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/students-work-for-legislation-to-protect-turtles/
Baroni going to Ireland to work on marriage equality referendum
Bill Baroni received approval from a federal judge to travel to Dublin, Ireland today through next Tuesday to help pass a marriage equality referendum.
The Bergen Record has the story on the indicted former deputy director for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey here. (PolitickerNJ Staff)
Camden County comes out in force for Obama visit
With President Barack Obama set to appear here this afternoon, Camden County’s political family has descended on the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, where the nation’s top Democrat will address the crowd about the success of this city’s police force. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Camden County comes out in force for Obama visit | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis
Franklin Mayor booted from police organization
When Franklin Mayor Paul Crowley sought to renew his ceremonial “associate membership” with the local police union, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 57 mailed back his $40 check and booted him from the organization.
Crowley is facing a contested June 2 primary:
For the story by rob Jennings of the New Jersey Herald, go here. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Franklin Mayor booted from police organization | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis
FDU Poll: Majority support remains for death penalty
With the Boston bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev being sentenced to death, and a number of botched executions attracting the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court, the death penalty has been in the headlines recently. The most recent survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind finds support for the death penalty virtually unchanged from when the same question was asked in 2006. Fifty-seven percent of respondents say they favor the death penalty for certain crimes with 36 percent opposed. In 2006, support measured 54 percent with 31 percent opposed. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Congratulations to PolitickerNJ’s own Liz Swain
PolitickerNJ extends congratulations to our very own Liz Swain, veteran intrepid compiler of each morning’s wakeup call and reporter.
On Friday, Swain walked across a graduation stage at Rider University, having officially completed her Bachelor of the Arts in both Political Science and Global Studies with a minor in Chinese. She will be attending Rutgers University in the fall to begin her Masters in Public Administration.
Congratulations to our great colleague and best of luck at Rutgers and in all future endeavors. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Congratulations to PolitickerNJ’s own Liz Swain | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis
