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Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:40:47 AM EDT
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Here is an article that came out this week in the South Bergenite about our run for Freeholder seats in Bergen County. Candidate Carol Skiba shares her view on the kind of job Ganz and McPherson are doing as freeholders. Once again, the spokesperson for the BCDO has to speak for the Freeholders because they aren't allowed to speak without running their talking points by Joe Ferriero. Isn't that so sad?
http://www.southbergenite.com/...
Here is Carol's comment on the article
This article provides an excellent example of the slap-happy manner in which the Freeholder Board spends our hard-earned tax dollars.
NJ State Election reveals recently awarded contracts were given to campaign contributors who have consistently contributed to Boss Ferriero's Bergen County Democratic Organization. Donations, in turn, are regularly made by Boss Ferriero's Organization to the freeholder campaigns. This is a concise example of "money wheeling" and gives a strong appearance of being ethically challenged. How do you look the other way and vote on these contracts? How do you sort out the donations?
A Victory 2008 filing (freeholder campaign) indicates at least three recipients of contracts made campaign donations. It is no wonder why Ferriero's Freeholders are unwilling to enact more stringent pay-to-play regulations as allowed by State legislation. Why are we permitting our tax dollars to be pick pocketed in this manner?
There are many problems with supporting this type of Democrat. First, the more contracts awarded to campaign contributors (whether benefits are enjoyed directly or indirectly), the more funding is depleted, the more debt is incurred. Funding that could be put to much better use by way of maintaining existing programs or creating new programs beneficial to the welfare and enrichment of our communities and its taxpaying residents.
Second, this type of Democrat is very far removed from what it means to be a "Democrat". Democrats work diligently for the silent majority and protect the weak, they stand up to do the right thing, and are not empire-builders for the County Boss. It appears very clear these Ferriero Freeholders do not understand the hardships working families face daily trying to survive dire economic times. Presenting an excessive budget with a bloated tax increase and incurring more debt is like giving ice in January to a homeowner who cannot afford to pay for heat. These Freeholders must be held accountable.
Second, it is unbelievable when a Ferriero Freeholder cannot answer for their actions to the press and have to pass off reporters to a public relations person assumedly paid for by the Boss. Hello -- you are the elected official accountable to the voting public for your actions. Silence on the part of Ferriero Freeholders speaks volumes louder than any lame attempt at justification. After all, two of them lost their mayoral races, and that clearly indicates both Rutherford and Fair Lawn had a strong desire for change.
June 3rd, there is a choice for Democrats. There are REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS who want to restore their party integrity and values to those on which it was built; who want to work for the residents of Bergen County; who want transparent and honest government; who want to eliminate irresponsible spending, and who do not want to kowtow to a Party Boss.
Carol J. Skiba
Candidate for Freeholder - REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS May 23, 2008
I trust my running mates to be able to speak on behalf of me as well as the taxpayers of Bergen County. These women I am running with all have brains which are connected to their speaking equipment. You know, so they can talk to the voters, and talk to the press. You know. Think on their feet. Carol is a legal secretary, Aishaah is an attorney and Gail has spent years attending council meetings. She knows firsthand how government should function and , like the rest of us, isn't afraid to open her mouth to make her ideas known.
Boy, am I glad they are all on MY ticket!
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Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:03:50 AM EDT
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The Feds are closing in on Mr. Pay to Play - see yesterday's Record:
http://www.northjersey.com/new...
Dennis Oury is the poster child for pay to play.
And here are the posters:
Do you like my little clipart of Dennis on the second page? (even looks like him) I drew him on the side with Boss Joe, because these two have their hands everywhere and I didn't want to clutter my flow chart up.
For those who need a refresher on The Ubiquitous Mr. Oury here are two of my dairies on him:
http://www.bluejersey.com/show...
http://www.bluejersey.com/show...
A column by Thurman:
http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman...
The time Mr. Oury tried to defend his gravy train and was stopped by the Real Bergen Dems and Senator Weinberg
http://www.theenglewoodreport....
For some more information on the Shadow Governments - which are also being asked to show their records - here is my diary on that from last year when the LD37 legislators unveiled their plan to Clean Up Government here in NJ. It explains all about the BCIA where Oury and Ferriero rake in millions. The very same "authorities" that spend taxpayer money with no oversight. Well they are about to get some oversight. By the FBI no less.
http://www.bluejersey.com/show...
A refresher on how lucrative Pay to Play is for the participants - and how costly for the taxpayers:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.d...
They get $345 in contracts on each DOLLAR invested in Political coffers. That's a 34,500% return on investment, folks! How's your IRA doing??
In Tenafly just recently, our Borough engineer came up with a plan to fix our drainage problems. The cost would be over a million dollars. Instead of just accepting it, I asked for a second opinion and actually got THREE bids just to get another firm to review the engineer's work. For $6,000 we were able to determine that most of the work advised by our Borough engineer, not only would be uneccessary, it would exacerbate the problem, something I already suspected. $6,000 in oversight probably just saved the Borough half a million $$$ and gave us a better, cheaper solution.
It is ALWAYS a good idea to debate ANY capital expenditure and to have oversight. These firms have seen the money made by the Halliburton crowd and they want a cut just as big from the government, no matter how much that government is in debt.
It is time we end the Pay to Play Cycle and break the Corruption machine. Dennis is only one cog, Joe Ferriero is another, but we have guys like these all over the state.
I want NJ to be known for ethics reform, not corruption. Thank you, FBI for a good start.
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Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 12:43:26 PM EDT
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Is it tea time?
No. 4 p.m. is when the current Bergen County Freeholders have their work session meetings to make decisions that affect YOUR tax bill. During the week. You, know, when most folks are still at work and can't come. These are the meetings that aren't televised like the "Public Meetings".
These meetings are the meat of when legislation gets done. I know because as a Councilwoman in Tenafly, our work sessions last for 4 hours - if we are lucky and they don't go for 5. We are Democrats who believe in OPEN government. OPEN public meetings. The public is invited to our work sessions and they are invited to speak about any item they wish.
Folks who don't like doing the public's work in public call what we do squabbling, but as they say, anyone who likes both laws and sausage probably wouldn't like to see either get made. Democracy is loud, it is messy. It is hard. But in the end, the best laws get made when there is debate and dissent along the way, the last draft is always better than the very first. That is how any creative endeavor works. I design in my day job as an engineer. Things always need to go back to the drawing board as they say, for a little tweaking. The final result is the better for it.
In Tenafly, our 6 Dem council often gets teased by folks who don't understand how government should work. They think we should always be united on every issue. But we have had quite a few votes that needed a tie breaking vote by the Mayor. That is how it should be. We each bring a different perspective to the table and that is healthy. Our meetings go long because we care about what we do and won't leave until we have done our due diligence.
We do not rubber stamp items that come to the table and I firmly believe the residents that voted me into office deserve every ounce of respect I can give issues that will directly affect them.
When our Mayor wanted to pass a few ordinances simply to say he got them done before his election last year, I was the speed bump in the way because I actually analyzed what these zoning ordinances would do and prevented a 2 family zone ordinance from being passed that was based on an incorrect map. I analyzed the F.A.R. ordinance the Planning Board wanted to rubber stamp and came up with a solution that worked for everyone all over the Borough in a simpler way. Getting the Mayor to admit he made a mistake has been harder than coming up with a better ordinance, but so be it. I will not pass a bad ordinance simply to say I passed something. I care about getting it right.
The latest articles in the Record about the way the current Bergen County Freeholder Board conducts business has made me even more determined to win this Primary fight. To hold work sessions at 4 in the afternoon shows how badly the current Freeholders misunderstand the concept of the Open Public Meetings act here in NJ.
Sunshine law doesn't mean the sun must be out when you hold your meetings at 4 in the afternoon. It means what you do must be open and transparent to the public you are accountable to. It means you give folks a chance to speak at that meeting and actually address you to your face. It means you show them the respect they deserve. It means you know every decision you are making - you are doing on their behalf and to benefit the community as a whole.
To have our ELECTED Freeholders waste more time on chocolate eating competitions and photo ops than on weighty decisions of budget matters should make every tax paying County resident livid.
We don't need Freeholders who are so in love with the idea of being Freeholders, that they simply kowtow to the Party Bosses to get money for re-election. We don't need Freeholders who are so busy trying to get elected Mayor in their own towns that they neglect the other municipalities in the county. We need Freeholders who are tough, who can think through the difficult decisions we have to make in this economy. The Party Bosses have a stranglehold on our County Government and the Freeholders aid and abet Boss Joe. We cannot afford a County Government that allows the Party Boss to determine who to hire and who to give fat raises to.
We cannot afford business as usual. We cannot afford sheep in Freeholder clothing. We cannot afford Ganz and McPherson.
Read the attached articles from the Bergen Record and PolitickerNJ and see if you disagree.
http://www.northjersey.com/new...
http://www.northjersey.com/new...
http://www.politickernj.com/ho...
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 05:29:38 PM EDT
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I just don't know how else you can describe explain this vote: We don't know about the booze question, but the discussion evolved into a desire by the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders to expand its travel and meals reimbursement policies for county workers to cover those in autonomous agencies - Schools of Technology, Improvement Authority, etc.
Then that new troublemaker, Freeholder Jose Munoz of West New York, asked whether they, the freeholders, are subject to the same policy - the one that does not allow such reimbursements as alcohol, health spa massages, or stays at five-star hotels.
No, they are not. Who can go on a trip and how much they can spend each day is apparently at the whim of the chairman of the county panel, and this time around it is Jersey City's Jeffrey Dublin.
On Thursday, Munoz motioned to introduce legislation that would make the freeholders follow the same travel and meal rules county workers must obey. O'Dea seconded Munoz's motion.
If you're brave enough, click through and see the asshattery.
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Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 03:39:34 PM EDT
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As many of you know, my good friend Melonie Marano is running for Somerset County Freeholder. Over the past few months her campaign has posted some really great diaries here on Blue Jersey that I encourage you to check out.
With Labor Day just around the corner, Melonie needs our help!
Like many of you, I've been closely following the shenanigans over at the Somerset County Park Commission. It's clear that the all-Republican Freeholder board has turned a blind eye to corruption at the Parks Commission. It's also clear that its time for a change.
I couldn't have summed the situation up any better than the Star-Ledger's editorial board. Here's what they had to say about the issue:
"Freeholders cannot escape their responsibility for the waste of tax and fee money at the parks, through the ridiculously low rents offered to county employees, the unnecessary cars and unlimited gas given to workers and the expensive limo rides for park commissioners, complete with champagne. The buck ultimately stops with the Freeholders."
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Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 03:32:28 PM EDT
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( - promoted by njdem)
Promoted from the diaries by njdemIf Somerset County Freeholders keep this up, I'll have to ask Al Franken to add a new chapter to his book, "Lies and the Lying Liars that Tell Them". I'll explain what I mean.
Only two weeks ago, Freeholders were sure they would abolish the corrupt parks commission. "It might be time for a little less vision and a little more operational excellence," said Freeholder Jack Ciattarelli, adding the commission should be abolished and its employees should report to the freeholders.
The statements came as the freeholders named Hillsborough banker Peter Schoberl to fill the last vacancy on the nine-member commission. Four members stepped down after the freeholders last month released a damaging report on the commission's management and finances, which prompted a subpoena from the state Attorney General's Office for park records.
The Wolff and Samson law firm reported the commission violated public bidding laws, steered contracts to favored vendors, paid for limousines and liquor, and provided perks such as houses, cars and free gas to some employees.
"The park commission has been found wanting," Freeholder Peter Palmer said.
But, let's be fair, these guys were talking out of both sides of their mouth even as they hinted at cleaning up corruption:
"I can't help think about whether or not most elected officials would have the courage to stand up and say yes to projects like the Somerset ballpark, Natirar, Colonial Park, Torpey Field, a new turf football field in Warren, Ne shanic Valley" golf course, Fontana said, ticking off park projects.
Hey, I have an idea - why not let voters decide if they want to continue the current corruption system (Sharpe James is shaking his head in awe somewhere)? The problem never was that civic leaders failed to take care of the parks - the problem was that the Freeholders ran the Parks Commission as a patronage mill.
Make the jump, but take your Malox first.
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Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 12:20:19 AM EDT
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The Board of Chosen Freeholders is the seven member board that governs Morris County. The Freeholders control a budget of approximately 285 Million Dollars, primarily financed by local tax dollars. These taxes have increased approximately 4.6% from 2006 to 2007.
The Freeholders meet in public sessions twice each month. During the morning session issues are discussed and questions from the public are not allowed. In the evening session, Freeholders review decisions made in the AM and typically vote 7-0 with relatively little discussion. There is commonly substantive homogeneity of opinion, as you would expect from a one party board.
After attending few of these meetings it becomes very clear why most of us know little about this one party group. Because of their mid-week, mid-morning schedule, the meetings are inconvenient for the average citizen to attend and contribute. Further exacerbating this problem is that both morning and evening sessions must be attended in order to raise educated questions. During the AM sessions, Freeholders take reports and discuss issues, and only during the evening sessions is the public allowed to comment! In the evening session the discussion and the voting are so predictable that the most contentious point of these sessions becomes the recognition of achievement of local community groups.
Public participation in discussion is nonexistent. When someone put a pointed question to the Freeholder board, the attitude is: You are not an invited guest in our fiefdom.
The public is not heard, not encouraged to attend, not challenged by creative thinking nor constructive discussion. We pay the taxes and don't even know who spends our money.
Morris County Needs a Second Opinion. We need discussion not just a rubber stamp. We need checks and balances.
Over forty percent of votes were cast for Democratic candidates in the last election, yet there are virtually no Democrats represented on county boards and appointments. These unheard voiced are your neighbors with whom you share common concerns about high property taxes, congested roads, parks and open space, education and healthcare. These voters are essentially excluded from the entire political process in Morris County. Do you really believe that 40% of the voters cannot contribute to making this county a better place to live?
I don't.
I was challenged by the exclusionary tactics of the current freeholders and decided to run and provide the second opinion that keeps Morris County Government clean, creative and inclusive.
Probably the most important task facing us is trying to eliminate the spiral of ever rising property taxes. We believe that some voluntary sharing of services among municipalities is desirable. Advancing this goal requires some common ground and trust among municipalities as well as representation in Trenton for assistance and funding.
We need broad participation of citizens and towns. A one party county does not provide
this broad participation at home or in Trenton.
Help us open the process so that next year you are part of it and you know what freeholders do!
"No one party can fool all of the people all of the time; that's why we have two parties".
Bob Hope
Moshe Cohen PhD Freeholder Candidate
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 08:44:33 AM EDT
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The Freeholders are trying to look like they're being tough on the Parks Commission. But let's not forget why we got in this whole mess to begin with - because the Freeholders have not been doing their job for years.
If you didn't see the Star Ledger's Saturday July 17 editorial, please take a look.
The freeholders appoint the nine park commissioners (there are now two vacancies) and supply more than 40 percent of the commission's budget. Yet the freeholders for years ignored, if not condoned, the cars, the houses, the junkets and other spending.
The freeholders, as well as the park commissioners, failed the public.
At the Freeholder meeting on Tuesday, 7/17, a former Mayor admitted during public session that he informed the Freeholders of these goings on years ago. Freeholder Zaborowski vacations with the Browns, but claims he knew nothing of their housing agreement, and knew that "a few people had cars." As if a little bit of graft would be okay!
Wasn't a "few" enough to question the whole issue? Freeholder Director, as our steward of public funds, when you know that a "few" are doing something, that's your tip off that you should act to investigate! And investigate does not mean sharing a beach blanket.
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Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 10:53:33 PM EDT
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( - promoted by njdem)
I'll keep this brief, because I'm tired and want to go to bed, but I thought this would be of interest.
In Morris County, the GOP had its open primary for Freeholder. An elderly frequent candidate, James "Jim" Murray decided to run, and was initially kicked off the ballot by County GOP boss John Sette. Murray was successful in getting back on the ballot, however. Now, he has his revenge. With 97% of the vote in, he's ousted Freeholder John Inglesino from his seat! Results in the extended entry...
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Wed Aug 02, 2006 at 10:12:43 PM EDT
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Sorry I haven't been round much, but my blogging time is typically work time and the blogofascists at work decided blogging was bayd... mmmmkay?
Anyway, we got a real gem here folks. Scroll down past the tear jerking Habitat for Humanity part and find the part where they start talking about how some heads be explodin' over at Hunterdon County cuz' they gotta pick up dead deer from now on. For some local officials, Trenton’s decision to make local governing bodies pay for removing deer carcasses off roads starting this October is just another example of passing the fiscal buck.
But in a recent letter, DOT Deputy Commissioner Stephen Dilts advised mayors that because of a $715,000 budget cut, the department would, as of Oct. 1, no longer pay for pickups on county- or town-owned roads. The state, however, will continue to pay for those collected on its own roads, like Routes 202 and 206.
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The decision to impose the cost of clean-up on local governing bodies so incensed the Hunterdon County Board of Freeholders that they filed suit against the DOT last week, arguing that deer are, by tradition, the state’s responsibility.
While Somerset Hills officials might not lean toward litigation, some nevertheless expressed exasperation that the DOT forced the decision upon them.
“It’s obviously a pain we would prefer not to have,” said Somerset County Freeholder Peter Palmer, a resident and former mayor of Bernardsville, on Friday, July 28.
OK. So it's a real pain in the ass picking up a dead carcass from the side of the road and throwing it in the garbage truck, or giving it to the rabid dogs, or whatever the hell they do with dead deer. I understand that... I don't pick up dead deer off the road (despite the waste of all the yummy venison - which by the way, is divine ala tartar drizzled with truffle oil).
However, we must keep the objective in mind here folks... It is to save us all (including Hunterdon County residents) from paying even higher taxes, or cutting other services. So they decide to file a costly lawsuit to try and get the burden off their back.
As if that wasn't enough government waste... According to County Engineer Michael Amorosa, the freeholders could, at that time, award a deer removal contract to one of three vendors who bid for the job last month. Amorosoa said the county issued the bid notice anticipating the DOT cuts.
UPDATE: Fixed link NJ newspapers haven't gotten the whole permalink thing down yet, so sometimes articles on their webpages get interlaced with other articles. Thanks Dennis for pointing it out.
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Wed Jul 12, 2006 at 01:25:26 PM EDT
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The public hearing yesterday held by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the NJ State Police was intended to solicit public comments on the Radiological Emergency Response Plan – that is, evacuation in the event of a disaster at Oyster Creek. But the process is fundamentally flawed.
There are several issues. First, comments and questions are directed toward the architects of the plan, not to independent parties. The creators of the plan are not the proper forum because of their investment in the project. We need someone who can listen objectively to public dissent and concede that there may be flaws.
Second, various aspects of the Oyster Creek operation are regulated by different agencies. As a result, responsibilities are fragmented. Several questions posed at the hearing were directed toward DEP, but fall under NRC jurisdiction. If there is a process to forward questions to the right party, it isn’t obvious to the public.
Finally, unanswered questions need to be addressed. The Board of Chosen Freeholders is not addressing these issues with the appropriate authorities. Some of the issues were raised at last year’s hearing, and the one before that, but are still on the table without resolution.
In sum, residents, employees, businesses and visitors deserve a workable evacuation plan that properly accounts for our existing infrastructure, for human behavior, and for the many variables that are impossible to predict. Tens of thousand of lives are counting on it.
It's time for a change in Ocean County. With your support, we will win in November!
VoteSherer
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Thu Mar 09, 2006 at 09:08:05 AM EST
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Last night, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Morris County voted 6-1 to condemn a mock war crimes trial of the President held in Parsippany High School as "highly inappropriate and inimical to our national interest."
While they have the right to make such a statement, I wonder whether it's appropriate to use their status to make borderline traitorous comments. These freeholders seem to forget that Sept 11, 2001 changed everything. We were attacked by vicious killers intent on changing our way of life. The Commander in Chief responded by sending our brave men and women to fight the terrorists and spread freedom around the world. While our troops die by the thousands, the Freeholders of Morris County sit in their comfy chairs in their air-conditioned room and condemn the expression of the very freedom our troops are commanded to spread and defend.
There are more appropriate and respectful avenues for addressing concerns over the freedom of speech than by codemning it in a public meeting of the freeholder board during a time of war.
The actions of these freeholders are harmful to our national interest for the following reasons.
- Their statement undermines the office of the Presidency at the very moment our nation is at war.
- Their statement undermines the legitimacy of our troops, who currently service in harm's way at the command of the President of the United States.
- Their statement is disrespectful to the young men and women who have paid the ultimate price in this war on terrorism because it suggests they gave their lives for liberties that we reject at home, rather than to defend and spread the freedoms we hold dear.
Despite their best attempts, the freedom of speech remains. Hopefully our troops won't hear about what they've done. Let the freeholders know how you feel: jgarifo@co.morris.nj.us.
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Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 11:04:15 PM EST
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(Loyalty oaths to attend events, "free-speech" zones, pre-screened questions, friendly audiences, smearing critics (or exposing their wive's covert status), banning anonymous speech, and now condeming a debate. Anything to prevent an honest discussion of facts. Par for the course for the GOP. - promoted by jmelli)
Our biggest town in Morris County is the subject of a national right-wing campaign to censor liberal minded professors. In this case, an Advanced Placement history professor from Parsippany who is running a mock "War crimes trial" in his classroom, charging Bush with abuse of Prisoners and killing civilian populations. Now the GOP Freeholder board in Morris is entering the fray, deciding to try to pass a resolution to encourage the Parsippany schools to discipline the teacher for holding such a trial. Regardless of how you feel about Bush, it should send shivers down anyone's spine when there are such great attempts to silence speech. The Republican freeholder board in Morris has benefited for years from being percieved as being "above the fray" They are making a big mistake getting involved with this
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Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 08:11:02 PM EST
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Nearly half of New Jersey's 21 counties now offer domestic partner benefits. Tonight, Morris County - the most populous traditionally Republican county in the state - became the 10th county to grant domestic partner benefits. Morris County will now offer both health and pension benefits to domestic partners of county employees. The other counties offering domestic partner benefits are Bergen, Hudson, Mercer, Union, Monmouth, Camden, Passaic, Ocean and Essex. The ten counties are in the top 12 of the most populous counties and together they constitute over 2/3rds (67.8%) of the state's population.
In an email to supporters, Steve Goldstein of Garden State Equality commented: Most impressively, the Morris County freeholders took this step with minimal pressure from the LGBTI community, truly doing the right thing on their own. Morris' action will no doubt accelerate the pace of the rest of New Jersey's 21 counties to do the same. We're seeing an unbelievable phenomenon in New Jersey now where counties in New Jersey, including Republican counties, are jumping all over each other to expand the rights of the LGBTI community. Congratulations to the Morris County freeholders for doing the right thing. Which county will be next?
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Wed Feb 15, 2006 at 04:43:45 PM EST
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Okay, "up for grabs" may be a bit hyperbolic. But still, the announcement that two Republican Freeholders will not be seeking reelection in November is pretty good news. Republican Freeholders Frank Druetzler and Cecilia Laureys may be joined by their colleague John Murphy, who failed to win the GOP nomination for Governor last year. While he's not committed one way or the other, he's said that he "believes that one can stay too long in a government job, that you can hang around too long" and that "maybe it's time" for him to step down.
I don't have to tell you how Republican Morris County is. But as Blue Jersey readers, I also probably don't have to tell you that the Democrats have at least one really solid candidate in the county who is well positioned to take one of these two or three seats. I don't know what she's thinking about doing, but Dana Wefer has a real shot at making the board a bit more blue.
From The Daily Record:
Democratic chairman Lew Candura said the announcements are "a wonderful opportunity." In last year's freeholder race unknown law student Dana Wefer captured 40 percent of the vote against incumbent Republican Margaret Nordstrom, now the board's director.
A virtual clown car full of Republicans is expected to enter the primaries to replace Druetzler and Laureys. There were reportedly 14 candidates in the GOP primary the last time there was an open seat, and this year will not likely be any different. If the Republican base is depressed enough by their party's national scandals, there could be a local pickup opportunity here, which would be a great boost for Democrats in the county.
Now if only we could find someone to challenge Frelinghuysen...
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Wed Jan 25, 2006 at 09:26:49 AM EST
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Atlantic County freeholders last night voted 6-2 to table a proposal to grant domestic partner benefits to county employees. Speaking in opposition to the measure was a representative from the American Family Association - a radical hate group that opposes civil rights, free speech, and anyone who doesn't subscribe to their exact notion of Christianity. They are working furiously behind the scenes to prevent the passage of domestic partner bills in New Jersey. The AFA has called AIDS the "gay plague", has strong ties to holocaust revisionist Scott Liveley ("homosexuals are the true inventors of Nazism"), has linked Judaism to criminality, has accused Muslims of "tak[ing] over" cities, and has promoted confirmed hate groups (and the list goes on and on). Another resident casting stones was - Bob Murray of Cologne - who spoke in opposition saying “it's not the person, it's the sin.� Murray assured us that he will voluntarily return all government benefits he has ever received as soon as he commits his first sin.
Some of the freeholders said they "need legal advice and more time to review the proposal before casting a final vote." The two homophobes interviewed by the paper were hopeful because "the delay gives them time to bring more people out in opposition to the proposal." Contact Altantic County's freeholders today and let them know how you feel (Click the link to send them all an email). You can also call them at (609) 645-5900.
Be polite. They have not yet voted against the proposal - just tabled it.
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Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 10:00:26 AM EST
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(Welcome AMERICABlog readers! Click here to read more about Laurel Hester.)
"This is one of the happiest days of my life...I feel like David conquering Goliath," said Laurel Hester on Saturday morning.
After nearly a year of refusing to grant Lt Laurel Hester the right to pass her pension benefits on to her partner, Ocean County's freeholders will finally grant Hester her dying wish when they vote on Wednesday.
Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality: "Truth be told, we did lose hope for a reversal in the last couple of weeks. We had applied all the pressure in the world, embarrassing the freeholders and few public servants had ever been embarrassed before in the state of New Jersey or in this country, and they would not budge. Finally they did. Hallelujah! There is a God....Now that the Ocean County freeholders have done the right thing, we thank them with all our hearts and welcome them to the New Jersey of the 21st Century, where compassion and common-sense prevails over hatred and outmoded homophobia."
The change of heart came after the freeholders had a political meeting with other Republican leaders in the county.
Freeholder James Lacey: "I think we're doing the right thing now. I feel comfortable."
But there's more:
In addition, state Sen. Andrew Ciesla, R-Ocean, has asked the state Office of Legislative Services to prepare a bill he will sponsor that will eliminate the difference in the pension inheritance rights of members of the police and fire retirement system and other state public employee retirement systems.
I want to thank the freeholders for deciding to do the right thing before Laurel dies. Today is a monumental victory for civil rights. Justice prevailed over bigotry, and a Laurel Hester can die in peace knowing she left the world better than she found it.
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Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 10:25:48 AM EST
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(Forgot to publish directly. Please recommend at Daily Kos http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/20/102752/337 - promoted by Xpatriated Texan)
Most of us that work participate in some type of benefits program. Generally, that includes retirement benefits, health insurance, life insurance, and the like. But, whose benefits are they? Yours? Or the organization for which you work?
How about the American dream? To whom does it belong? Does the process of working hard to get ahead, enjoying the benefits of your efforts, and leaving your loved ones a bit better off, emotionally and financially, when you die belong to only one group of people? Does the government have the right or the power to cut some groups of people off from that dream?
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Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 04:09:50 PM EST
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When Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein stood up to address Ocean County's freeholder's last night, he sarcastically thanked them for doing so much to advance the gay rights movement:"Not since police raided a bar called Stonewall in Greenwich Village in the 1960s have any five people advanced the cause of gay rights as much as you have." As one speaker last night noted, Ocean County has become the "poster child for the homophobia in New Jersey." Disgusted by their heartless inaction and wanting to avoid a similar fate, other counties have since acted to pass domestic partner benefits to county employees. They include Bergen, Hudson, Mercer, and Union. Recently, Monmouth County - a Republican controlled county neighboring Ocean, passed domestic partner benefits. Last night, while Ocean County's freeholders filibustered for hours, the Passaic County freeholders unanimously voted 7-0 to do likewise.
Tonight, Camden County will become the first county in South Jersey - and the seventh in the state - to grant domestic partner benefits to government employees. According to Steven Goldtein, "This demonstrates the unified disgust of all New Jersey -- North, Central and South -- with the grotesque hatred the Ocean County Freeholders have for Lieutenant Laurel Hester."
(And if there's any doubt that Ocean County has become the poster child of homophobia, take a look at all the press they've generated just today: NY Times, Star Ledger, Asbury Park Press, Press of Atlantic City, Advocate, 365Gay.com)
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Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 08:48:30 AM EST
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( - promoted by jmelli)
The Ocean County Freeholders continue to refuse to support officer Laurel Hester's right to grant her pension benefits to her life partner. Not really news, if you've been following the case at all... the OC Freeholders have seemed pretty "dug in" on this issue throughout. Even in the face of a heartrending video appeal.
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