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News Roundup and Open Thread

by: Hopeful

Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 03:15:39 PM EST

Assembly bill A1 on property taxes has been introduced. Republicans complain that the scheduled Monday vote does not leave them enough time to review it. After all, our legislators are only paid to work part time! You can review the bill yourself in HTML or PDF.

My LD3 Assemblymen Burzichelli and Fisher, along with LD1 Jeff Van Drew and LD37 Valerie Vainieri Huttle, have sponsored a bill to help fund county Offices of Disabilities. Huttle of course is being threatened in the LD37 conflict with boss Joe Ferriero.

A good article details the reactions to the affordable housing ruling in Mercer County. Town officials are worried by the uncertainty, yet more delays in the process, and possible higher obligations. Housing advocates are pleased since they say the previous plan was unconstitutional and:

"It's really about trying to not allow kids in the town because then they have to pay for schools," Gordon said. "The courts said they can't do that. That's the foundational part of the doctrine that's been around for 30 years.
"We're really hoping that Gov. Corzine sets up a process where we can meet together and work things out," Gordon said. "We don't want another round of litigation. We're hoping that in that six-month period we can come up with something we can all agree with."

Rep. Frank Pallone and Rutgers Provost Steven Diner testified in favor of merging Rutgers, NJIT, and UMDNJ into a single super research university. It's known that there would substantial upfront costs to the state.

Due to another tragic traffic accident, New Jersey schools are thinking of stopping seniors from driving to school. There's no question that young drivers face a lot of risk, but as a stereotypical Gen-Xer, I see this is yet another example of how baby boomers are trying to take away the rights they fought for in their youth.

The state is considering requiring flu and pneumonia vaccines for more kids. Naturally, groups that think vaccinations are responsible for autism, hyperactivity, and other ills are opposed.

Since misery loves company, I recommend this New York Times article on how New York Governor Spitzer and Assembly Speaker Silver are already feuding. They're both Democrats, of course.

Today is the last day to purchase discounted tickets to Garden State Equality's Legends 2007 dinner.

Ringwood residents have been warned not to eat too much squirrel. Thanks to a toxic waste dump, the squirrels are containated with lead.

This is an open thread, so discuss whatever you like.

Hopeful :: News Roundup and Open Thread

Tags: News Roundup, LD37, LD3, property tax reform, (All Tags)

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News Roundup and Open Thread | 9 comments

football stadium (0.00 / 0)

Costs increase for new Meadowlands stadium. According to the article, costs have increased by $600 million up to $1.4 billion! That's an amazing cost overrun. Based on the article, it doesn't appear the state is on the hook for it, but I might be wrong.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 21:39:35 PM UTC

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more on stadium (0.00 / 0)

Looks like you're correct. A bunch of money ought to come from an NFL loan and from stadium naming rights. From today's NY Times:

"It's just the cost of building and estimates go up as you get closer to building," Ms. McGillion said, noting that the 82,000-seat stadium was being privately financed...
In December, the National Football League said it would lend $300 million to the Giants and the Jets to finance the construction of the stadium in the Sports Complex in East Rutherford, N.J. The teams will use money from the sale of club seats to repay the 15-year loan...
The teams have said they would pay $35 million to upgrade the roads and other infrastructure around the stadium in return for being able to sell the naming rights, which could be very valuable, and keep the proceeds. Last week, the British bank Barclays agreed to pay nearly $400 million over 20 years to have its name on a new basketball arena in Brooklyn planned for the New Jersey Nets, who would be leaving the Meadowlands.

by: jfc521 @ Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 22:29:39 PM UTC

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Rocky & Bullwinkle stew (4.00 / 1)

Not to make light of the contamination problem in Ringwood, but that squirrel consumption advisory seems quite similar to recommendations on eating high-on-the-food-chain fish such as tuna (re: mercury). The fish issue is a nationwide one, and there is mercury on the supermarket shelves.

by: jfc521 @ Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 22:11:50 PM UTC

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glass half full/empty for squirrels (0.00 / 0)

They are less apt to be hunted, but are probably dying from lead poisoning.

I am sure that we can find some way to blame Scott Garrett for this or at the very least, send him a batch of squirrel stew with extra lead.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sun Jan 28, 2007 at 21:15:22 PM UTC

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Squirrel stew (0.00 / 0)

I'll settle for lead stew. Tandalayo, where are you when we need you? I will personally present some to Ernie and to Ford Motor.

Seriously, I have a particular fondness for the Ramapough Mountain People, who live in the next town over. They have been kicked around by history and in real time. While the squirrel bit may be amusing to some (I don't mean you, r's d), it is yet another insult to a group who, despite the odds, struggle on.

Further topics: Who got to DC? What were your perceptions? How did the lobbying go? I know, that's for Tuesday.

Mount Laurel and COAH. Racism is alive and well in NJ. (What is this liberal state of which you speak?) But, many towns are struggling with just how to deal with coah obligations. I would welcome a discussion that explores the issue, minus the print media soundbites.

Typos and misspellings. I am so happy that those of you who are so passionate about your views forget to preview. Preview, schmeview, we need a spellcheck/grammarcheck on this site. As far as I know, no one else has one. As usual, we could be at the forefront. OK, I'm a computer idiot, and no not of what I speak. (How's that for not ending with a preposition?)

by: SmartyJones @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 03:03:58 AM UTC

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spell check on firefox 2.0 (0.00 / 0)

There's no need to add a spell checker to a site; the new browsers like Firefox 2.0 underline spelling errors in red in the typing window. Still doesn't help with grammar though.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 03:32:06 AM UTC

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OK (0.00 / 0)

I believe you. And I will go hide under my rock until I figure out this intertubes thing.

by: SmartyJones @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 05:22:09 AM UTC

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do the RMP vote? (0.00 / 0)

If so, do they vote Democratic or Republican? If they don't vote or vote Republican, then I don't have a lot of sympathy for them or the rural poor throughout this country that vote against their best interests election cycle after election cycle after election cycle?

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 03:45:23 AM UTC

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Re: (0.00 / 0)

I don't know how the RMP vote, if they vote at all.

Unlike us Fancy pants, elitist, latte drinking, libruls, they are just struggling to survive.

I am proud of them for that.

by: SmartyJones @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 05:26:48 AM UTC

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