Some League sessions have a great deal of time, and energy put into their formation. Some, not so much.
Former governors sharing their thoughts on Christie. How to get grants for your downtown. Jon Bramnick doing stand up comedy. These are all important sessions that are packed like a New Jersey Devils game during the playoffs or like a town meeting by Governor Christie with mayors from the Jersey Shore on lingering Sandy issues. However, some sessions were not so well attended.
So, these are the sessions that someone thought was a good idea at the time, but somehow did not make it into the League schedule in 2015. Maybe next year.
10- So, You Think You Can Govern?
Panel includes Peter Shapiro, Ray Bateman, Doug Forrester, Brett Schundler and Barbara Buono sharing their advice on what they would have done had they won the keys to Drumthwacket.
9- One on One on One with Steve Adubato
The pseudo-popular NJTV host interviews himself in this sit-down show with tough probing questions, snappy comeback, and amusing <yawn> anecdotes.
8- Last Washington Standing!
Mayors of all the New Jersey towns, townships and boroughs named after the first president compete to see who will be able to keep the name. The winner will go on to compete nationally on the new reality show, “Washington Slept Where??”, starting in 2016 on WeTV.
7- Hey, Abbott!
Christine Costello (daughter of the famous Paterson born comedian) and the Lou Costello Statue from Paterson talk at length about Abbott districts in New Jersey and Bud Abbott.
6- Let’s Spend the Night (and Day) Together: Did merging help your town cut municipal costs?
Panelists include mayors from the newly merged towns of Wayne-Newton; (Wayne & Newton)
Ho-Ho-Ho (Hoboken & Ho-Ho-Kus); Brick-Wall (Brick and Wall) Garth-Brooks (Applegarth & Boundbrook) and Hil-Airy-Clinton (Hillsborough, Mount Airy & Clinton).
5-Iowa: The Hawkeye State
Since Governor Christie will spending a great deal of time in Iowa this fall and winter, Iowa governor
Terry Branstad is a special guest at the League this year. Gov. Branstad will answer questions about how Iowa got their name (native Americans the Ioway people); about the making of the musical The Music Man; how Iowa is the only state whose abbreviation is two vowels. (“A fact we are very proud of, by the way,”). And talks about famous Iowans Herbert Hoover and Mamie Eisenbhower.
4- A Case Study of Towns:
Metuchen, Hardwick, Long Branch, Eatontown, Bay Head, Fort Dix, Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, Mount Olive and Succasunna.
Do sexually suggestive town names help lower your property taxes? Students at the
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy spent the last year researching this very important issue, and report the results. Clothing optional.
3- Reality Bites Back: Is your town ready for its own TV reality show?
From the Jersey Shore to Cake Boss to The Real Housewives of New Jersey to Jerseylicious, The Garden State is becoming an oasis for reality shows. Learn how the unique happenings in your town can be monetized on TV.
2- A Special Session on New Jersey Ethics: Historic Reenactments of NJ Most Corrupt Politicians.
Live Actors play Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague, Newark Mayor Hugh Addonizio, and special guest Boardwalk Empire’s Nucky Johnson in a rollicking and fun Q & A.
1- The Smells of Garden State: From the Delaware River to the Elizabeth River.
New Jersey’s top polluting corporations bring smell samples for audience members to experience. Close your eyes and enjoy the pungent scents near Elizabeth on the NJ Turnpike or the sewage plants on the Delaware River in Camden.
