Red Bank Councilwoman tapped as LD-11 Assembly candidate

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 12:59:17 AM EDT

Horgan joins a ticket with Senate candidate Raymond Santiago and fellow Assembly candidate Vin Gopal. They're running against GOP incumbents Jennifer Beck, Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande.  

My Candidacy for State Assembly in the 11th District

by: vingopal

Sun May 08, 2011 at 08:46:14 PM EDT

When I saw the new 11th District Map, I decided after years of working behind the scenes, I wanted to place my name on the ballot. The new 11th Legislative District has 36,643 registered Democrats, 26,405 registered Republicans and 68,899 registered unaffiliated voters. The district is home to Asbury Park, Long Branch, Neptune, Red Bank, Freehold Borough, Tinton Falls and many other beautiful Monmouth County municipalities. Of the 18 towns in the district, 11 of those towns have 4,000 or more registered voters. Out of those 11 towns, 9 of them have more registered Democrats than Republicans, most of them overwhelmingly. 9 of the 11 big towns in the district have more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Get where I'm going with this? It is a Democratic district. Basically all the strong Democratic towns in Districts 11 and 12 got merged while all the strong Republican towns, including Wall (goodbye Sean Kean!), Rumson, Millstone, Brielle, Avon, Monmouth Beach, Sea Girt, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Little Silver (sorry Declan O'Scanlon), Manalapan, and Oceanport all got thrown into other legislative districts. It really is remarkable what happened here!

Learning By Listening: An Epilogue

by: Congressman Frank Pallone

Tue Sep 01, 2009 at 10:24:40 AM EDT

Cross Posted on Daily Kos

We have all seen the news and read the reports about the disruptions and obstructionism taking place at town hall meetings all across the country. However, this did not deter me from coming home from the legislative session in Washington to brief my constituents and neighbors, just as I have done the last 20 years as a member of the House of Representatives.

The health care debate brings out strong opinions on all sides of the political spectrum.  And these feelings surely were on full display at my recent town hall meetings last Monday and Tuesday.  Both in Piscataway and Red Bank, we had huge crowds, as many people waited several hours to come and discuss the pending health care legislation in Congress, among other issues. Emotions ran high in some instances, because clearly we must fix our broken system to cover 46 million uninsured Americans and usher in new medical technologies to increase efficiency and accessibility.

Overall, I think we had a productive discussion about the reform bill and how it will bring costs down.  However, some town hall attendees showed up with no interest in taking part in civil discourse, but rather to simply shout and heckle the other participants.  While this is a testament to the First Amendment and the democracy we live in, we must not let the loudest and most vocal opponents deter our ultimate goal of passing meaningful health care reform.      

Rush Holt Health Care Town Hall - Middletown

by: Rosi Efthim

Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 06:08:35 PM EDT

Maybe it was the configuration of the room, shallow and wide and not narrow and deep, making no allowance for shouters to use distance from the stage to intimidate like at Frank Pallone's Red Bank Town Hall. Maybe it was the Congressional District, NJ-12 not NJ-6. And this congressman doesn't bear direct responsibility for the public option bill, the way Pallone does, with HR 3200 out of his Health Subcommittee, of House Energy & Commerce.

But the experience of sitting in on Rush Holt's event, while contentious, was different. It lacked the manic surges, and lines of people demanding serial sessions. Questions were collected and read aloud by the congressman. That tended to lead to briefer, substantive audience feedback, rather than the set-up Pallone staggered under in Red Bank, grappling with questions from microphones louder than his own.

I saw Holt slip into a reactive posture only once, when he called some shouters "noisemakers." Minor. Pallone, who I saw through nearly 9 hours on his feet over 2 nights, kept his cool completely. The tamer audience allowed for a better information flow. From both sides. And Holt got the chance to be eloquent.

Asked if public option meant rationed care:

As a matter of fact, health care is rationed right now. Some people don't get it! And I prefer rational health care, which this would be, over rationed.

Why is this legislation moving so fast?

The situation as it is now is not sustainable. And it's not morally or ethically acceptable. Further, the economy will not recover as long as we're saddled with these escalating health care costs. In fact, this should have been done before this time.

To a similar question, about timing:

We've been working toward some of the elements of this for many years. It goes back to Roosevelt - Teddy Roosevelt, as well as FDR.

After the Town Hall, Holt met privately with three reporters. One of us asked where all this vitriol and opposition was coming from:

Well, I can certainly point you toward some websites that are the source of misinformation and upset. But where the anxiety of people is coming from is tougher to say. We are living through tough economic times. A lot of people are on edge. And, in fact, a lot of people are living on the edge.

We're going to try to cover as many of the Congressional Town Halls as we can. Shoot us an email - contact@bluejersey.com - if you know one's coming. If you go, we hope you'll write about it here. Holt's was last Wednesday. But I needed recovery time after the stress of two last week. Two more coming from Holt, both on Saturday, Sept. 12: 9:00am in Somerset & 2:30pm in Tinton Falls.  

The Crucible

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Aug 26, 2009 at 01:15:00 PM EDT

A few people came with intelligently-expressed questions, support, or objections. But last night was owned by the loons. It all spun down to rabble early, and it almost never let up.

In 1953, Arthur Miller wrote a play about the 1692 Salem, Massachusetts witch trials, his allegorical commentary on his own time, when when HUAC and Senator Joe McCarthy manufactured enemies of ordinary Americans. Sitting there last night, I was reminded of The Crucible.

In it, Abigail Williams is the teenager who whips the girls around her into a frenzy, shouting out wild accusations, utterly taken by the passion of the moment, and completely manipulated by a girl acting in her own self-interest, and willing to ruin peoples' lives. When another girl, Mary, is about to prove her a fraud, she whips her friends into a delirious panic, screaming they're freezing, that Mary has bewitched them. Within moments, Abilgail's cries are the girls' cries, and they are all screaming the same word. It's a neat trick.

Last night's Abigail Williams was a man in a light blue tee shirt bearing the date the next Congress is seated. His were the words that rifled around the room, in seconds. And it was all stupid.

To a woman fearful of losing her house to medical bills: Good! Lose your house! Lose your house! House! House! Houuuuuuuse!

When Margaret Mead was mentioned: What part of the jungle did you come from? Kumbaya! Kumbaya! Kumbayaaaaaaa!

When a mother tried to say how her disabled daughter and mentally disabled husband were dropped by their insurance: His fault! He couldn't fill out the form because he's an idiot! idiot! idiot!

Many times, the room just erupted in disconnected, incoherent drivel:

I wish your mother believed in abortion, Frankie!
Drill, baby, drill!
ACORN! ACORN! ACORN!

And this: Is Ted Kennedy dead yet?

Real objections - and support, and questions - about the public option were drowned out by a mob certain they had no power and so determined to flex it, and so sure their rights to "the First Amendment" were being taken, that they made certain no one else could be heard.

Leading By Listening

by: Congressman Frank Pallone

Mon Aug 24, 2009 at 12:28:29 PM EDT

Since I first went to Congress some 20 years ago, I've always made a point of coming home from Capitol Hill to listen to my constituents' concerns and brief them on the work I've been doing on their behalf.  Despite the well-coordinated campaign by those obstructionists intent on derailing progressive change in Washington, this year will be no different.  So in case you haven't heard, I'm hosting town meetings tonight and tomorrow here in my district.

Marriage Equality comes up for a vote tonight in Red Bank

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 11:37:49 AM EDT

A resolution supporting marriage equality, and other legislation supporting the rights of gay people, comes up tonight before the Red Bank Council, and councilman Ed Zipprich would love to see the room filled to capacity with supporters.

Red Bank Council meets tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 1st floor Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank. Public comment usually comes early in the meetings, we're told.

Tonight's resolution was rescheduled from last month, after it became apparent that not all members of council were familiar with the disparity between the rights accorded married people and the rights accorded those in civil unions. Councilman Ed Zipprich, who also serves as Development Director for NJ Stonewall Democrats and Monmouth Democracy for America (DFA) leader, says the fact his borough's council is 100% Democrat doesn't guarantee passage of tonight's resolution. He expects lively discussion, and hopes for active audience participation.

The resolution is based on one that was passed last month by the National Conference of Mayors, and also signifies support for the following pieces of federal legislation; Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), Matthew Shepard Act, Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell, about which congressmen Holt, Andrews and Pallone feel very strongly, and Uniting American Families Act. If this passes, Red Bank becomes the first city in NJ to follow the national mayors' lead on all these proposals, though Maplewood passed - unanimously - a marriage equality resolution last month, too.

Sen. Jennifer Beck lives in Red Bank. If this passes, that means the Senate Judiciary Committee member and featured player on Chris Christie's short-list for LG, will live in one of the gay-friendliest towns in America. And wouldn't that be nice?  

Tonight: Will Red Bank vote on marriage equality?

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 03:19:47 PM EDT

Tonight, the Borough of Red Bank will take up a resolution in support of marriage equality, and the support of a host of federal legislation respecting the rights of gay people.

The resolution follows - word-for-word - one passed June 15 by the National Conference of Mayors at their annual meeting, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Red Bank Council meets 7:30pm tonight at 90 Monmouth St.. Public comments usually come early in the meeting, says Councilman Edward Zipprich, who's also VP of Development for NJ Stonewall Democrats, and leader of the Monmouth Democracy for America group.

Zipprich says he came upon the national mayors' resolution while researching proclamations online for Gay Pride Month. He's not sure who will be introducing tonight's resolution, but expects a lively discussion. The Council is 100% Democrat but Zipprich said that won't guarantee the resolution's passage.  The borough's also in process of upgrading its employment contracts to include language addressing sexual orientation specifically, a measure he says had broad Council support.

Sen. Jennifer Beck lives in Red Bank. If this passes, that will mean the Senate Judiciary Committee member and featured player on Chris Christie's short-list for LG, will live in one of the gay-friendliest towns in America.

Jump with me for the Resolution, the Maplewood thing, and who else this Resolution might be aimed at:

News Round-up and Open Thread for Thursday, May 3

by: Sharon GR

Thu May 03, 2007 at 09:24:09 AM EDT

Open Thread: What do you want to talk about today, Blue Jersey?

Gov. Corzines’s Chance to Save the Internet

by: RedBankTom

Wed Jun 07, 2006 at 05:14:56 PM EDT

I have written the following letter to Governor Corzine and I am trying to make him aware of the issue.  I need help getting the word out; please write to the Governor and tell him that you want him to help Save the Internet.

- Start Letter Text -

Dear Governor Corzine, as a software engineer and avid technologist, I am deeply concerned about Verizon's intentions to restrict internet access for New Jersey residents.  Verizon wishes to be the de facto gatekeeper on the internet, determining which content travels at what speed for the portion of its journey that travels over Verizon's wires.  Verizon's plans violate the tenets of Network Neutrality that have fueled growth and enabled healthy competition on the internet.  I fear that their plans will limit the choices for New Jersey internet users and could put New Jersey businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

Since Verizon also plans to use the internet connections they provide to also offer cable television service, it is appropriate that their plans for both internet access and cable access be considered before passing new statewide cable TV legislation.  I am asking you to ask Verizon clear-cut questions about their business roadmap for offering internet access to their customer base, and whether their plans include limiting internet access based on the type of content delivered, or based on relationships they have with certain content providers.  For the sake of New Jersey's online businesses and consumers alike, please consider how Verizon's actions may negatively impact the obvious advantages of the present free market, before signing new cable TV legislation into law.

Sincerely yours,
Tom L******* ( last name withheld on this post )
tom@redbanktv dot org

- End Letter Text -

Thanks for reading, please help get the word out and feel free to stop by the blog at: Red Bank TV

-- Tom

Verizon Fake Constituent Fax Astroturf Campaign Targets Red Bank Mayor

by: Juan Melli

Sat May 13, 2006 at 02:30:10 PM EDT

Edward McKenna is the mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey.

In a normal week, he receives about 10 faxes from constituents. In three days last November, McKenna says he got more than 200.

EDWARD McKENNA: "Those faxes all purported to come from people who said they were Red Bank residents. In fact, each fax started out by saying, "I am a Red Bank resident and I vote."

These so-called residents all wrote in support of new legislation to increase competition in the cable industry. McKenna noticed the faxes had names, but no signatures.

EDWARD McKENNA: "When I called them, a number of them said they had not authored any such letter. Nor did they authorize anyone to send it on their behalf."

He says the traced the fax number back to an organization funded by the telephone giant Verizon.

Dawn Holian with Common Cause has studied these front groups, also known as "astroturf."