Paul Sarlo fears 10,000+ year old technology will fail

by: Thurman Hart

Wed Jun 23, 2010 at 07:12:27 PM EDT

There are some legitimate reasons to move cautiously when it comes to building offshore windfarms. But none of those reasons are on the mind of Paul Sarlo:

"This is an unproven market here in New Jersey," Sarlo said. "We're going to give (builders of the turbines) $100 million and raise rates. ... What if they build these farms and they don't work?"

Yes, Paul Sarlo is worried that a windmill attached to an electrical generator will somehow fail to work. And this guy has an engineering degree? One has to wonder what part of the technology the good Senator believes will be problematical...is it the part where wind makes the wheel turn? Perhaps it is the part where the magnet, whirling inside a coil of wire, produces electricity?  Oooh! I know - he's worried that New Jersey will have a wind shortage!

Democratic leaders reject Christie's "Tool Kit"

by: Hopeful

Mon May 10, 2010 at 04:19:56 PM EDT

This statement, which is from Sweeney, Oliver, Buono, Cryan, Sarlo, and Greenwald, has a lot of digs, though it promises some cooperation if the Governor will meet them partway:

        "We always welcome ideas to try to control government costs and property taxes, but we expect a reasonable, intelligent and in-depth discussion based on facts.

           "Our success in working with the governor earlier this year on pension reforms shows how the best results come from bipartisan teamwork.

           "But the fact is that this so-called tool kit, if enacted today, would do nothing to stop the property tax increases and fee hikes on senior citizens and the middle-class that Gov. Christie has proposed in his budget plan.

           "Our focus right now is on saving senior citizens from Gov. Christie's plan to increase their prescription drug costs while slashing their property tax relief. Protecting senior citizens from these unfair and brutal cuts is our emphasis.

           "We will examine the governor's plan, take what's in it and try to make it better,  and we will do so with a thoughtful and thorough approach. Based on his flawed executive orders, Gov. Christie certainly knows first-hand the problems that occur when policy is rushed, so we are hopeful he is willing to work with us."

You'll note that they are insisting on their plan that Rosi discussed to be addressed first.

Quote of the Day: "The math part is ok"

by: Jason Springer

Fri Apr 09, 2010 at 10:30:00 AM EDT

"We take that $1.5 billion, $447 million, $848 million in rebates, that equals $2.8 billion in property tax relief cuts, is that correct?"

"The math part is okay," says the treasurer.

"I characterize it as property tax relief cuts based on the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services," Sarlo says.

Even More Fun With Redistricting: Paul Sarlo and Ron Rice Jr.

by: Bertin Lefkovic

Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 12:43:50 PM EST

In PolitickerNJ's recent article, "Cryan appoints himself, Sarlo to legislative redistricting commission before stepping down as chairman", we learn that in one of his last acts as NJDSC Chairman, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan appointed himself and anti-marriage equality and anti-progressive State Senator Paul Sarlo to the legislative redistricting commission, ensuring that Sarlo would be in control of his destiny for at least the next ten years.

More about Cryan, Sarlo, and this article below the fold.

Sweeney has bigger Problems than Blue Jersey.

by: Jay Lassiter

Sun Jan 10, 2010 at 03:34:29 PM EST

Courier Post: "No Excuse."
Star Ledger: "Incompetent."
Philly Inquirer: "Cowardly."
My Central Jersey: "No Guts, No Respect."
NJ.com: "Cowardice"
Star Ledger: "Spineless."

So Blue Jersey is not the only one calling out chickensh*t.  We're just doing it the loudest.

June 2011

by: Matthew Jordan

Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 10:41:42 PM EST

Senator Van Drew is honestly the only person on this list who deserves a pass, his district is just overwhelmingly Republican.  

I've never been more disgusted and embarrassed than I was today to be a Democrat.  

Can we make this the official primary candidate suggestion list?  

How a hospital dispute could derail a judgeship

by: Jason Springer

Wed Dec 30, 2009 at 02:45:00 PM EST

State Health Commissioner Heather Howard has denied a request from Hackensack University Medical Center to extend the license for a hospital at the former Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood. That license is due to expire on Monday.

The Permit Extension Act of 2008, intended to help developers whose projects were stalled by the recession, does not apply in the case of the Pascack Valley Hospital license, Howard wrote in a letter to the medical center's attorney.

Hackensack had asked for another year, under the act, to have its application to open a 128-bed community hospital in Westwood heard by the State Health Planning Board. An extension would have allowed the issue to be decided by the next health commissioner, one who will be appointed by Governor-elect Chris Christie. Christie made a campaign promise to support the reopening.

But Wally Edge says that while many have expressed their displeasure with the decision, Senator Sarlo may hold a grudge and take it out on the Governor's nominee for a judgeship:

The state Health Department, reportedly with McBride's approval, yesterday refused to give Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) more time to re-open Pascack Valley Hospital.  That decision angered some key Bergen County political leaders, including State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge). Sources say that McBride, nominated to a Superior Court judgeship earlier this month, could be collateral damage from the ruling.  Sarlo issued a strongly worded press release slamming the Department of Health and outgoing Commissioner Heather Howard, and he might express his outrage by not posting McBride's judicial nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee - which he will chair until the end of the current legislative session on January 12.

Sarlo sponsored the Permit Extension Act and is an executive with a construction firm owned by Joseph M Sanzari, the first vice-chairman of Hackensack's board of governors.

Sarlo Shills for Banks and Builders (again)

by: Winston Smith

Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 10:10:03 AM EST

But, instead of protecting homeowners, Senator Sarlo again shills for the banks and builders.

He is sponsoring S3137 which would extend the expiration date of certain permits pursuant to "Permit Extension Act of 2008."

The lame duck bill is an attack on the environment and local land use planning. It is up today in the Senate Economic Growth Committee at 1 pm

STATEMENT

Under this bill, the "extension period," as defined
in the "Permit Extension Act of 2008," P.L.2008, c.78
(C.40:55D-136.1 et seq.), would be extended until December
31, 2012, rather than July 1, 2010 as provided in current
law.

Thus, under this bill, government approvals, as defined
and extended by the "Permit Extension Act of 2008,"
would continue to be valid until December 31, 2012.  In
accordance with the tolling provision provided in the
"Permit Extension Act of 2008," no approval would be
extended beyond six months after the conclusion of the
extension period, or until June 30, 2013 under this bill.

Why did Sarlo put this bill up and why was it posted for hearing?

by: Winston Smith

Wed Dec 09, 2009 at 05:22:49 PM EST

I just got the Senate Environment Committee Agenda for December 14.

Sarlo sponsored S3004, a bill designed to REDUCE the public notification requirements polluters must provide to property owners and residents near toxic contaminated sites.

1. Who is Sarlo trying to protect?
2. Why would Chairman Bob Smith post the bill?

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2...

This bill changes the scope of the public notification required of any person responsible for conducting the remediation of a site that has been contaminated with any hazardous substance, hazardous waste or pollutant.  Currently, any such person is required to provide written notification, which includes a summary of the site conditions and information about actions being taken to remediate the site, to any local property owners and tenants who reside within 200 feet of the contaminated site.  This bill changes this provision to require that written notification be made only to local property owners and tenants who reside within 200 feet of any "area of concern" within the contaminated site.  Under the law, "area of concern" is defined as any location where contaminants are or were known or suspected to have been discharged, generated, manufactured, refined, transported, stored, handled, treated, or disposed, or where contaminants have or may have migrated.

Catholics and Marriage equality

by: ken bank

Wed Dec 09, 2009 at 12:25:24 AM EST

If ME does not pass it may take several years to revisit the issue.  The question is what to do in the meantime.  If ME passes it's all academic, but if it doesn't maybe instead of a political strategy one has to consider a religious one in confronting the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the Bishops and Archbishops who influence the politicians on how they vote on ME.  Prominent Catholic supporters of ME, including sympathetic catholic clergy, may need to openly challenge their catholic leadership to support ME, or else take a neutral position, or risk losing a substantial percentage of their church members as well as their financial support.  In these tough economic times the Church cannot be so cavalier in losing significant financial support.  

Senate Judiciary undercard features fight over patronage and pension padding

by: Scott Weingart

Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 11:42:59 AM EST

Apparently unwilling to let the Democratic process get in the way of his friend's pension-padding, the stubborn Senator has put Fargo's nomination on the agenda for today's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. While it certainly isn't the biggest item on the agenda, it will no doubt be the subject of a heated debate, and perhaps it will attract more widespread scrutiny from the media as well. Thus far, PolitickerNJ's Wally Edge and Charles Stile of The Record have each covered the story extensively, but few others have taken notice. Today, that may change. Members of the press from all corners of the state will be watching the Judiciary hearing this afternoon for the debate on marriage equality. The Judiciary Committee usually considers nominations first, so Sarlo will have to do his dirty laundry before a large audience. We can only hope that the increased media attention will convince the senators, who with the decline of the statehouse press in recent years have become used to being ignored, to take another stand against pension-padding and political patronage.

Keep your eyes peeled on Blue Jersey for live coverage of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing starting at 1:00 PM today.

Sarlo proves himself a worthy object of ridicule

by: Scott Weingart

Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 03:56:59 PM EST

If there was any doubt before that Sarlo lacks the tact and intelligence to run the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee effectively, there surely isn't any now.

A Note on Marriage Equality

by: Michael Tracey

Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 03:09:23 AM EST

I'm not quite sure how this media narrative first materialized -- but it's being widely propagated. And it needs to be stopped in its tracks, lest public opinion be damned.

Let's look at the facts:

Sen. Steve Sweeney, who was today elected senate president, made comments last week that were interpreted by one PolitickerNJ reporter to suggest that the senator wasn't in favor of bringing the marriage equality bill to a vote. But in the original PolitickerNJ article, Sweeney was never directly quoted as saying this, and quickly issued a statement affirming that same-sex marriage is "an important social issue" and would be on the lame-duck legislative agenda.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg intervened, calling on Sweeney to reaffirm his commitment to the bill's passage. After the initial dust had settled, though, it all seemed like much adieu about nothing. Again, from PolitickerNJ:

Update, 9:42pm -- Citing a miscommunication with Sweeney, Weinberg offered this revised statement:

"I think there has been a miscommunication between Steve Sweeney and myself.  I look forward to talking to him personally.  It really is up to Senate President Dick Codey to make a decision about pushing this bill forward, and the Judiciary Committee Chair [state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) has informed me that he will post the bill."

This, along with just about every other development related to the prospects of winning marriage equality in New Jersey, is excellent news. The result of today's lobbying in Trenton was invigorating; we vastly outnumbered the opposition, who were out in full force. I was personally able to hand-deliver a letter from the TCNJ College Democrats in support of the bill to Sen. Sarlo. TV, radio, and internet ads are now going on the air. Public opinion polls show a plurality of support for same-sex marriage. Garden State Equality has spent an unbelievable amount of time and energy organizing the LGBT community and its allies for this very moment. Democratic legislators are aware that by reneging on their commitments, they will be upsetting a very large proportion of their progressive base.

Further, college students (including myself) have organized a large rally in Trenton, scheduled for Saturday, December 5.

Please come, and invite your friends and colleagues. Let me know if you'd like to become an admin on Facebook (so you can invite people). This rally will likely closely coincide with the time around when the bill will have hopefully been brought to a vote, so a visible presence at the State House is vitally important! The opposition is sure to be out in full-force again. By outnumbering them, we are achieving a valuable psychological victory. And remember, changing trends in public sentiment are often much more consequential than the timing of arcane procedural votes. Legislators, especially state legislators, are very sensitive to the demands of their constituents.

These are the facts, despite the alleged doom-and-gloom reported by certain media outlets. Things, I can say with confidence, are looking up. No doubt, we have to keep vigorously applying pressure to our legislators, many of whom are endlessly frustrating with their ambiguously tenuous statements of support -- if only there were more Loretta Weinbergs. But think of how far we've come, and how close to achieving our goal we now are.

Let's kick it into high gear.

Crossposted at The Perspective.  

Musical Chairs continue for Dems in the Senate

by: Jason Springer

Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 02:00:00 PM EST

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) will become the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a position that will take on increased clout for a Democratic-controlled Senate confirming appointments made by a Republican governor.  Scutari was no pushover for Gov. Jon Corzine's appointees - he takes his advise and consent responsibilities seriously, and does not view Judiciary as a rubber stamp.  That's something Gov.-elect Christopher Christie's front office will need to take into consideration  And Scutari is intellectually superior to the current chairman, State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge).

Sarlo is expected to become Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee when State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) becomes Majority Leader.

And in the Senate, it looks like Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), a protégé of Newark political leader Stephen Adubato, might replace Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) as chairman of the Education Committee.  A fair assumption is that Ruiz will share Adubato's fervent support for charter schools.

Turner could wind up a casualty of the contest for Senate President; she backed incumbent Richard Codey (D-Roseland), while Ruiz supported the likely winner, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford).

All eyes on Sarlo

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 10:14:19 PM EST

The best news of the day, of course, came via Zach Fink at NJN, who reported today that Paul Sarlo appears to have backpedaled off a statement just Friday that he wasn't going to bring marriage equality up in the Judiciary Committee unless there were enough committee votes to pass it on to the full Senate. And on Friday, he was saying those votes weren't there.

But today, a very different story. A Sarlo staffer acknowledges his boss has his own feelings on the matter but will "not allow his personal views to interfere with the will of the caucus and its leadership."

Yes, there are a lot of people in New Jersey that didn't talk about anything else all weekend. And yeah, they're not all gay. Sarlo should feel the weight of that, and if any spike of pressure led to a change in his position, then hell, I'm glad. And if it's true that Sarlo intends now to bring marriage equality forward despite his own struggle with the issue, then I think he deserves everyone's thanks. And he has mine.

Here's who's on the Senate Judiciary Committee. It isn't just Democrats who are willing to move on equality. Four Republicans - Senators Bill Baroni, Jen Beck, Kip Bateman and Sean Kean - are with us. Although the opposition disputes even that; they claim it's only two, that from tonight's NJN news broadcast (we expect to be able to post that video tomorrow).

Zach's post alludes to an internal struggle inside a party still staggering from loss. Damn right. It's been a crappy month. But I'm not going to accept the loss of the governor's race as a reason why New Jersey should not move forward to do what's right. And you shouldn't have to, either.  

Sarlo and the Senate Presidency

by: Jason Springer

Tue Sep 22, 2009 at 02:15:00 PM EDT

The Wood-Ridge Democrat refused to say last week whether he would support Codey or Stephen Sweeney, the current Senate majority leader from South Jersey who is likely to challenge Codey this fall and after the governor's race.

"I'm not answering," Sarlo said while milling through the Bergen County Senior Citizens Picnic in Paramus last Tuesday. "It's an internal family conflict that should be worked out by the family behind closed doors."

Sarlo's non-answer actually spoke volumes. Translated, the family feud is a time of opportunity for Sarlo. While Codey and Sweeney duke it out over the Senate president's perch, Sarlo sits in the catbird seat.

Sarlo could very well emerge as a key, North Jersey swing vote, which puts him in the position to leverage his next move up the political food chain in the state Senate. For example, Sarlo could cut a deal with Sweeney, agreeing to support him for Senate president in exchange for the Senate majority seat, a role that Sarlo failed to win in a bitter caucus contest against Sweeney last year. (Imagine the irony of that scenario: Despite the clamor for political reform that led to the state's first ban on dual elected office holding, the Senate would continue to be led by two power brokers exempted from the ban.)

The threat of a Sarlo defection to the Sweeney-Norcross camp could force Codey to compete for Sarlo's support, with possibly more pork, appointments, or just about anything else that can legally be steered to Sarlo's south Bergen-based 36th Legislative District.

Last year, Codey showered Sarlo with several high-profile consolation prizes since Sarlo's failed bid for the majority leader. He was named chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, the first non-lawyer to hold that role in more than three decades. He was also named vice chairman of the Senate budget panel and was enlisted in Codey's leadership circle as a deputy majority leader.

A family affair

by: Jason Springer

Tue May 05, 2009 at 04:00:00 PM EDT

Now apparently their brother, Charles Sarlo is running for Mayor of Washington Township. After 27 years in office, the Republican Mayor resigned following rumors he didn't even live in the town anymore.

They could have a family slogan: The Sarlo's - running North Jersey one town at a time. Each Sarlo covers a different legislative district too. Now that's what I call covering all your bases. We'll have to see whether the Bergen Record pays the same amount of attention to Charles Sarlo as the do Paul.  

This bill is not to benefit the people who benefit from it...

by: Thurman Hart

Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 12:02:23 PM EST

A bipartisan bill sponsored by state Sens. Paul Sarlo of Wood-Ridge and Joseph Pennacchio of Morris Plains would exempt Xanadu and the Giants and Jets from paying a total of $90 million in fees designed to help towns provide affordable housing.

The bill, which was introduced Monday, would result in a savings of $50 million to Xanadu developers - and $40 million in combined savings for the football teams. Xanadu, a $2 billion entertainment and shopping complex, and the $1.6 billion Meadowlands football stadium would not be subject to a law passed in June that imposed a 2.5 percent fee on most non-residential construction projects.

But dont' worry - the bill is really aimed at keeping East Rutherford from having to pay for new affordable housing.  Whew.  There for a minute, I thought someone was going to screw the poor or something.

Bergen gains Judiciary member with Weinberg appointment

by: Jason Springer

Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 10:20:38 PM EST

"Loretta Weinberg is an ideal choice for the Senate Judiciary Committee," said Senator Codey in a statement. "Few members rival her passion and commitment to justice and equality. She brings with her an independent spirit and nuanced approach to government that will help ensure a thorough vetting of all gubernatorial nominees, particularly judicial candidates."

More signs of a BCDO new order: Sen. Paul Sarlo and Sen. Loretta Weinberg patched up their differences and ended a stalemate over Bergen County appointments.

"There is definitely a lot of party people out there talking,'' said state Sen. Paul Sarlo, a longtime Ferriero ally, who said he has had "limited conversations" with Ferriero on the subject of stepping down. He also said he's had talks with Rep. Steve Rothman and state Sen. Loretta Weinberg about forging a consensus around a new chairman, if Ferriero steps down in January.

BCDO Mutiny Widens

by: carolh

Sun Nov 30, 2008 at 02:57:24 PM EST

http://www.northjersey.com/new...

I hate to gloat, but well here goes.....

On November 17, 16 top leaders of the BCDO including Paul Sarlo, Mike Dressler, Dennis McNerny, Leo McGuire got together at an undisclosed location to conspire to oust Ferriero.  AFTER trying their damndest to get the guy re-elected.  Go Figure.  I wonder if the meeting sounded like the ones the Real Bergen Dems have been holding for the past two years.  About how Joe doesn't permit dissent.  About how he doesn't let anyone else see the books.  About how vindictive he is.  And about how Dems in Bergen County actually win DESPITE the man, rather than because of him.  

After losing the Freeholder Primary in June, we didn't pull a Lieberman and go out campaigning for the Republicans.  We focused on an Obama win.  But Joe Ferriero still had a dampening effect on the Freeholders win.  They got 20 percent LESS VOTES than Obama did.  Clearly the Ferriero brand name has lost its luster.  

In Atlantic City last week, folks were even surprised when Ferriero showed his face at one of the biggest parties.  In a delicious irony, it was at a party given by a company that performs municipal audits.  Folks were startled to nearly bump into Joe at that one.  Like a skunk at party, Joe didn't even realize how odiferous he has become - even to his former friends at the BCDO.  

The latest mutiny meeting on Nov 17 happened BEFORE the League of Municipalities Convention where he had the audacity to party with the auditors....

I feel a rhyme coming on......

Poor Joe,  
the last to know,
time to go...