Change is coming to the BCDO

hail marys from camden (4.00 / 2)

carol this seems like a positive development...
likability and symbolism and unity are all good, but  i am sure you have good reason to remain cautious.....  

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 14:24:38 PM UTC

Let Us Pray (not prey ;-) (0.00 / 0)

The promised pudding (you know, where the proof is)  is still cooking.   The reforms will have to be real and not just cosmetic to be credible.   Bernie Madoff, by all accounts, was a sweet and charming fellow.  

We're not talking about a few rich folk skimming tha "fat off the land".    Times are tough and getting tougher.   Real people are hungry, jobless, homeless and insecure about their future and the well being of their children.

The systemic legalized corruption that we've come to accept as routine in New Jersey must come to an end.   The stakes grow higher by the day.

I look positively forward to Chairman Kasparian putting all of himself "on the line", changing his pay to play ways and becoming a real reformer.  

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by: Nick Lento @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:20:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Fifth District Town Hall on March 1 (4.00 / 2)

Carol--

Don't know if you saw the link under "upcoming events", but we are doing a Town Hall (I think DFA is helping sponsor) to "Take Back the Fifth", and we would love if you could make it.

I can send you details if you want as well.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 19:28:44 PM UTC

Thanks! I will definitely try to make it. n/t (4.00 / 1)

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 19:54:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Im glad you turned around (0.00 / 0)

I think it is good that you are now willing to take a person for who they are as opposed to judging before someone can actually takes the chairmanship.  I applaud you.  Before the new chairman was elected, you had a very different opinion  of him.  In fact i remember you bashing him on a number of threads before he could do anything.  I think it is good that you wrote this, and i and glad that the BCDO is moving forward to a successful governor campaign this year.

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by: jerseyboy32 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 22:12:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah - DFA is helping sponsor (4.00 / 2)

Yeah, we're in. I hope everybody with an interest in NJ-5 can come Sunday, March 1. Here are the event details.

Progressives in the 5th CD are incredibly lucky that there is this kind of organizing starting this early in the '10 cycle. These three guys doing this - Adam Lambert, Matthew Jordan, and George Hertzberg - are serious dudes, and this kickoff event is the start of something that can put some needed heat on one Scott Garrett.

- Rosi, wearing her DFA hat


It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 01:15:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

thanks, Rosi (4.00 / 3)

and don't forget Mike Simonson (johnconstantine here), without whom this wouldn't even happen.

We've got some good speakers too.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 02:49:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The proof of the pudding (4.00 / 2)

is in the eating.

That's the actual quote, but over time its been changed a bit to the other form, the proof is in the pudding.  

But enough about pudding.   Good developments, good 'noises' one might say, but I'll just stay in trust but verfiy mode for a bit here.  

Anyone with half a political brain would know not to challenge the D37 incumbents.  Good to lose that bugaboo, but I do hope there's more change than just that.

 

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 14:18:32 PM UTC

I almost must say that (0.00 / 0)

That debt load is astonishing, and someone ought to be held accountable for it.  

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 14:20:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Changing the BCDO (4.00 / 1)

there's alot more of the cancer that body that needs to be radiated before it can operate properly.

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by: jediknight @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 16:51:32 PM UTC

Hey Jedi Knight! Let's Use That Light Sabre.... (0.00 / 0)

.....to cut out the cancer!!!

Seriously, even if Kasparian had a radical conversion to the point where he sincerely was wanting to radically change the BCDO.....he's just one man and there would be a lot of friction and resistance from the system he's "Chairing".

So far, there is no indication yet of any actions being taken.  

Obviously, we're all "nice people" and hate to get down and dirty to fight and that pacifist impulse is admirable.   Who knows this may be one of the rare times in human history when power makes a concession to justice without a struggle that forces them to.

At some point in time Mr K will have to follow through on some of the nice words he has spoken to some people.....or it will be clear that he wasn't being honest.

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by: Nick Lento @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 18:25:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I prefer alternative medicine:) (4.00 / 1)

Ruling by fear is what got us into this mess.  I think if we took away the threat of retaliation against county employees for falling afoul of the Party, it would do a lot to heal things.  Folks are afraid to speak up and afraid to change things lest they lose their jobs.
County employees should be free to NOT be associated with a political party.
I think if we fixed that, the cancer would heal on its own.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 19:13:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

county/state employees (0.00 / 0)

Carol:  i don't know much about the inner workings of the human resource department of the County of Bergen, nor do i pretend to.  I can bet it works similar to that of the state and the federal government.  When Corzine got elected he didn't fire all the state employees and replace them with card carrying democrats.  With all the civil service laws and protections, i doubt he could even if he wanted to.  The same would hold true with the Bergen County.  When a new administration comes in, they replace the top tier jobs with people who see similarly with their vision.  This makes sense.  Obama, Corzine, Cory booker etc.  they all do this.  

I bet more then half of the employees of Bergen County, (police, utilities workers, health service professionals, clerk, county counsel, social services, etc etc.)  were put in there during the previous 2 republican administrations.  

Your making it seem like the entire county committee is employed by the county and i highly doubt that is true and it's just irresponsible to say so.

Finally:  how can you not allow county employees to have a political opinion?  So now anyone that works for the government can't donate to a party? or have a sign on their lawn?  or run for council, school board?  Republican or Democrat that seems like it would be unconstitutional.

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by: jerseyboy32 @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 00:24:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

county/state employees (0.00 / 0)

Carol:  i don't know much about the inner workings of the human resource department of the County of Bergen, nor do i pretend to.  I can bet it works similar to that of the state and the federal government.  When Corzine got elected he didn't fire all the state employees and replace them with card carrying democrats.  With all the civil service laws and protections, i doubt he could even if he wanted to.  The same would hold true with the Bergen County.  When a new administration comes in, they replace the top tier jobs with people who see similarly with their vision.  This makes sense.  Obama, Corzine, Cory booker etc.  they all do this.  

I bet more then half of the employees of Bergen County, (police, utilities workers, health service professionals, clerk, county counsel, social services, etc etc.)  were put in there during the previous 2 republican administrations.  

Your making it seem like the entire county committee is employed by the county and i highly doubt that is true and it's just irresponsible to say so.

Finally:  how can you not allow county employees to have a political opinion?  So now anyone that works for the government can't donate to a party? or have a sign on their lawn?  or run for council, school board?  Republican or Democrat that seems like it would be unconstitutional.

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by: jerseyboy32 @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 00:24:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Currently (0.00 / 0)

Quite a few Municipal Chairs have high paying jobs they were appointed to after showing loyalty to Boss Joe. However, it is the fear of losing said jobs that keeps them from speaking their minds after that.  The number of Municipal Chairs with Bergen County jobs and appointments is a lot higher than folks realize.

Municipal Chair and Pay-to-Play fan Lynne Hurwitz - head cheerleader for Joe Ferriero is also Deputy Chief of Staff for The County of Bergen.

Coincidence? You decide....

If you blinked you missed Joe Ferriero summarily firing Paul Kaufman for being disloyal.  Joe never tolerated dissent or disloyalty. You were gone in a heartbeat.  Paul's treatment was no fluke..

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 16:42:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Hatch Act (4.00 / 1)

would be a precedent here for the Party Democracy Act or some kind of state legislation.

 While the New Deal was a great program there was  a problem with the new federal jobs becoming patronage, thus the Hatch act.  So Federal employees cannot run for Partisan office....if i'm not mistaken standing for a county committee of a party would be a no-no.  The same should apply to county employees.  Counties are job hubs.   With county employees as cc members, you have people picking their bosses.

I imagine some of the thinking is the other way too.  If you allow Federal employees to be involved in partisan activity, there will be pressure on them to do so.  Forbid it and take the pressure away.  

However, they can vote, they probably can register.  They can write letters to the editor, probably even attend meetings...I think they could have a lawn sign, certainly the Feds won't arrest them if they do.  Some register as 'I'.  

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 14:54:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wat about the state then??? (0.00 / 0)

Carol:  wat about weinberg, huttle, johnson, sarlo?  They all have members of the County Committee on their staff.    why no outrage over them?

And would you have all the members of the county committee that senator weinberg, Sarlo, or assem huttle and johnson has appointed to State Boards and agencies over the years be taken off?  Are these people "cancerous"?

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by: jerseyboy32 @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 22:28:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A staff member (0.00 / 0)

for a particular Senator or Assemblyperson is not the same as say - a $60,000 a year job as an ASSISTANT in the BC Engineering Department - like Elaine Rabbit was.

Rabbit earned more taxpayer money than many REAL ENGINEERs get in the private sector.  

A high paying county job for a person without qualifications just because they are a good flunkie and will forge signatures is not the same as a plain old member of the CC who works for very little money as a staff member to a legislator.

The folks who get the jobs at the County are typically Municipal Chairs on the County Committee - not your average every day Committee member who, if you've been reading my posts, have had absolutely no voice in the Party.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 00:07:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

it's hypocritical (0.00 / 0)

If you object to people on the county committee  having government jobs or appointments, then you have to object to EVERYONE.  The people on county committee who have been appointed to big State boards, and work in the legislative offices of District 37, or 36 or whatever, are in the same boat.  They are appointed for loyalty to Loretta, valerie, gordon johnson, Sarlo, or whoever.

You are only pointing out people who were loyal to Joe.  It works both ways and you know it.

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by: jerseyboy32 @ Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 01:41:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Who EXACTLY are you speaking about? (0.00 / 0)

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 04:10:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Your Pro Ferriero Pro Pay to Play Bias Is.... (0.00 / 0)

painfully obvious.    No one in public life (aside from some anonymous people like you) has the nerve to imply that there's any kind of moral/ethical equivalence between Ferriero and Weinberg just because some people they may or may not be associated with are on the CC.

The bottom line is the money.   People who give money get jobs and get fat contracts, that's called pay to play.  I say it's legalized bribery and we can no longer even afford the illusion that we can afford to do government this way,  It's killing us.

Ferriero was a crook (albeit a legal one) and even if he "beats the rap" for the comparatively minor offenses he's being charged with; he remains a legalized criminal in that he fostered an inherently corrupt and maleficent system of governance that pollutes Bergen County and NJ to this day.

Even Kasparian is attempting to make nice and retreat from the hard pay to play line.....let's hope he's for real.  We shall see.  But for you to crawl out of the dark hole of anonymity and to implicitly question the integrity of Weinberg and company is prure unadulterated balderdash (and that's saying it politely).

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by: Nick Lento @ Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 04:55:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]