NJ Turnpike Authority 
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Thu May 24, 2007 at 08:54:16 AM EDT
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Splashed across the front of most of this morning's newspapers is the new American Idol. For those of us who just don't care, here's some actual news:
- A NJ Policy Perspective report shows that the state has lost money by limiting enrollment in the FamilyCare insurance plan, designed for low-income families. According to the study, increasing enrollment and fully funding the program would reduce charity care & emergency room visits and increase federal funds available, which would all lower costs while providing better care.
- Think no one would want to lease- sorry, monetize- Our Fair State's toll roads? Would higher tolls sweeten the deal?
- Speaking of toll roads, the Turnpike Authority is claiming copyright violations in the Internet distribution of a fatal crash video and is suing YouTube and others to stop showing the clip. GS Parkway officials are limiting access to the video surveillance system, which Kris Kolluri insisted is solely for"operational, law-enforcement reasons, not for entertainment value.?
- The State Supreme Court has been under increased protection since some whackjob radio host made their home addresses public last fall. The ranter, who has said "violence solves everything," has yet to be charged.
- NJ has subpoenaed MySpace's records for information on convicted sex offenders. Info on unconvicted sex offenders, unregistered offenders or those using the site anonymously will not be obtained.
- The Oyster Creek nuclear plant will continue to operate despite several low-level safety violations, and has been warned of increased scrutiny this year by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A decision on renewing the plant's operations licence for another 20 years is expected around January 2008.
- Joe Cryan and Tom Wilson are having a shouting match over financial issues and private email between the Gov and Carla Katz, with Wilson threatening to sue to release the correspondence and Cryan criticizing Wilson's tirade: "Mr Wilson is doing nothing better than engaging in political voyeurism." Sorry- maybe I should have put this in the same category with American Idol that I dismissed earlier; let's call it "Gossipy non-news."
- One more casualty of global warming: our State Flower, the blue meadow violet, may disappear by the end of the century. Many wild flowers will be endangered; 17 other state flowers are threatened, according to a report by the National Wildlife Federation.
Open Thread: What say you, Blue Jersey?
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Sat May 19, 2007 at 03:54:33 PM EDT
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On May 10, there was a fatal car crash on the Garden State Parkway when a car slammed into the Egg Harbor Toll Plaza and burst into Flames. Footage of the crash was somehow released and made its way onto the internet on sites like Youtube and Liveleak.com, aired on the local news and was on the Atlantic City Press Website.
The NJ Turnpike Authority is investigating how the footage was released, but they had asked the sites to take down the video and LiveLeak.com co-founder Hayden Hewitt said that the website would not take down the video... "It's a newsworthy video, and it's definitely worth discussing," said Hewitt."If they can give us a legal takedown order, we will obviously have to take this down," Hewitt said. The Turnpike Authority spokesman wasn't very pleased by that response..."Do these people have families? It is just wrong to have this posted," Orlando said.The Turnpike Authority planned to examine legal options in the coming week, Orlando said. Meanwhile, an investigation continued into how surveillance footage ended up on the Internet.
"The video shouldn't have been released to begin with. We would like to know how that happened," Orlando said. Youtube has not responded to the request, the tv station says they got no complaints and the AC Press voluntarily pulled the video down from their site. So what do you think, is it newsworthy and worth discussing? It it flaunting tragedy to get attention? I'll put the link below the fold and you can decide for yourself, but i must admit i was conflicted as to whether to post it because if it was someone close to me, i would not want to have to see it.
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Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 09:02:43 AM EDT
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- The state could see $653 million less than expected in taxes this & next year, creating real problems for the proposed budget- instead of a surplus, we'd be $53 million in the red. The prediction is based on "unexpectedly weak" income tax payments for January. Treasurer Bradley Abelow told lawmakers that the state is nowhere near solving its budget problems, blaming in particular the $2.7 billion/year spent on debt service.
- More fun with finances: municipal governments have to increase their contribution to public employee pensions next spring, to the tune of $383 million. Expect to see that reflected in property taxes. State aid to municipalities is increasing by only $32.6 million.
- Middlesex County Assemblyman Peter Barnes Jr. was cleared by the Senate Judiciary committee to become the new State Parole Board Chairman. The nomination now goes to the full senate on Thursday; Barnes is expected to resign his Assembly seat today.
- The Assembly State Government committee approved A3403, a bill which prohibits investment of State pension and annuity funds in foreign companies doing business in Iran. The bill is now in the Appropriations committee.
- There's a rumor out there that Atlantic City Republican Assemblyman Frank Blee will be switching political parties and has met with Gov. Corzine to discuss it.
- The NJ Turnpike Authority adopted the state ethics code yesterday for its officers and employees, restricting the employees from accepting gifts related to their jobs. Chairman Joseph Simunovich settled ethics charges in January, after being accused of accepting plane trips in exchange for endorsing contractors for projects.
- PoliticsNJ posted a good overview of the Senate race in the 12th district, Karcher v. Beck, called The Battle of Monmouth.
- Some doctors will be receiving a dividend on their notoriously-expensive malpractice insurance this year. NJ PURE, insurer of 900 doctors, announced a dividend for a third of their policyholders after a year of paying out less than expected on claims.
- The deputy superintendent of elections for Mercer County, Republican Steve Cook, has resigned after a year of not speaking with the Democratic Superintendent Bettye Monroe. Former county clerk Catherine DiConstanzo, also a Republican, has been nominated to replace Cook.
- The NJ winner of last week's Mega Millions lottery hasn't come forward yet. The ticket was sold in a Woodbine liquor store.
Your Turn: What's on your minds today, Blue Jersey?
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Thu Feb 09, 2006 at 01:52:01 PM EST
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I wonder why this story isn't getting more play.
It details how the head of the NJ Turpike Authority is in cohoots a'la Abramoff with the guy who builds most of the Turpike. Gov. Jon Corzine has asked the state ethics board to investigate the relationship between the New Jersey Turnpike Authority chairman and one of the authority's largest contractors.
Even with the investigation request, Corzine hasn't brought any disciplinary action against Joseph Simunovich, who has acknowledged receiving three flights to and from Florida on a private jet owned by road builder Joseph Sanzari.
A joint venture in which Sanzari is involved has been awarded $52 million in turnpike contracts since 2004.
Nice eh. Corzine may not have given him any disciplinary action yet, but with the TPA being one of the beneficiaries of the foul Transportation Trust Fund, you gotta be happy that at least this guy is under investigation.
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