N.J. pension funds lost an astounding $23 Billion this year. The pension funds are also severely unfunded because the State has skipped or failed to make full contributions for the last 15 years. Previous to this year's huge losses, the funds were already underfunded by some $35 Billion. Our Governor's assine solution for a dire situation? To continue the chicanery. In typical style, Corzine also fails to address the huge pension losses or the insurmountable shortfall in his You Tube "feel good, put off the inevitable for another day" video.
Another fund which is being ignored, but also severely underfunded, is the NJ health care fund for retirees. According to a July 2007 article published in The NY Times, that fund has a $58 billion shortfall. Between the pension and health care deficits, that article quoted Corzine as saying those issues “truly keep me awake at night". If that was true back in 2007, Corzine should be suffering from an extreme case of insomnia these days, but he looks pretty well rested in his You Tube appearance. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/corzine_releases_video_message.html
In the summer of 2006, Corzine created a Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform. A handful of watered down recommendations were enacted in the Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008, signed into law this past September. The reforms are projected to save the state a paltry $150 million in benefits expenses over the next 14 years. This Act was nothing more than a dog and pony show and the $150 million in so-called savings has already been pissed away by the State in bad investments by Corzine's Wall Street Wizards, $117 million of it in Lehman Brothers stock alone.
Upon passage, Senator Nicholas Scutari, who sponsored the Act, admitted that the pension system was in trouble and could collapse. In two short months since then, the pension system lost $13 billion more. Wonder what Senator Scutari would say today?
Early on, Corzine told residents to "hold him responsible". It's clear that Corzine is anything but responsible, a trait shared by his predecessors as well as many current elected officials. If President-elect Obama had offered Corzine the treasury position (the position currently held by his old nemesis at Goldman Sachs, Hank Paulson), you can bet your last dollar that Corzine would have left the Soprano State lickity split. Obama very wisely selected someone else.
Disturbingly, Corzine is expected to meet with Obama next week to recommend a new U.S. Attorney for NJ. On Corzine's short list, is the do-nothing current State A.G. Anne Milgram. Maybe Corzine can fill Obama in on the sordid details on how Annie is fighting hard to keep his emails with Katz, his ex-squeeze, now known as the Six Million Dollar woman, secret from taxpayers.
Recently, Corzine created yet another useless arm of State government, the office of the Comptroller. Rather than allowing municipalities and counties to take a temporary vacation from making contributions to pension fund, Corzine should be calling on his Comptroller to investigate the pension board and the bad investments it's made. Too bad the head of that department is just another clown from Corzine's circus of friends, but in keeping with Corzine's standing practice of filling positions with unqualifed, and many times, questionable candidates.
Since we lack a responsible Governor, our local and county governments can either act in a fiscally sound manner by continuing to collect tax dollars to meet our pension obligations and set them aside in a special account created for that purpose, or they can follow the advice of the clown, and do what has, to a large extent, gotten the pension funds in the jam in the first place and put it on the already overburdened taxpayers' shoulders another day. Under the clown's scheme, taxpayers will be hit especially hard when asked to make up this deferral to both their municipal and county governments, while at the same time dealing with escalating property taxes, which our local, county and State governments continue to ignore.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
~ Dirtbag Skeeves ~
Ever since a Monmouth County freeloader candidate used those words to describe a certain democratic organization, I've come to the conclusion that no words better describe our many politicians ... too many in fact.
The latest dirtbag skeeve, Wayne Bryant, will be heading to Club Fed next March to join some of his comrades. After the jury found Bryant guilty on 12 counts, including, among other crimes, bribery, working a "low show" job, padding his pension and authorizing time sheets for work he had not performed as an attorney. U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie called Bryant's conduct "the most reprehensible" and "disgusting" he had seen. What did Bryant's attorney, Carl Poplar, have to say for his client? "The guy has a lot of dignity". Don't be surprised if Mr. Poplar becomes our next U.S. Attorney.
Bryant was chairman of the influential Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the very agency which tacks on millions of dollars in last minute grants to the State budget. These grants are a/k/a Christmas tree items, a slush fund and recently we learned the our legislators refer to these grants as their very own ATM, despite being taxpayer funded. Federal prosecutors had to battle our State legislators, in Court, for records pertaining to those grants, including grants Bryant received.
Shortly after that battle, Linden's own Sentator, Nicholas Scutari, was subpoenaed regarding grants he recieved. Turns out, Scutari’s ex-wife worked for a nonprofit agency in Elizabeth, Community Access Unlimited, which received roughly $75,000 in grants for two years. Too bad the Senator didn't deliver that $150,000 to Linden, the very place he earns a nice taxpayer funded paycheck and benefits as well. We could have used it. It's no wonder our legislators wanted to keep this information secretive and even went to court to try and keep it hidden.
After Bryant reluctantly resigned as chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernard Kenny, was named as chairman. Another dirtbag skeeve served as Vice Chairman at this time. His name? Sentator Sharpe James. James is currently locked up in Club Fed. It wasn't long after Kenny was appointed Chairman to succeed Bryant when he was injured early one morning and told police the source of his injuries came from a fall in a pothole while jogging. Kenny's injuries, which were quite serious, were not consistant with a fall. The story was later modified to reflect Kenney's injuries were maybe from a motor vehicle hit and run accident. The explanation given for the varying stories was that Kenny suffered some kind of amnesia and therefore could not recall. The source of Kenny's injuries remains a mystery today. Kenny did not seek re-election, but his name surfaced during the Bryant trial. Kenny, like Bryant, was given $4 million of taxpayer funded grant money to dole out at his discretion. It's not known whether any of the grant money Kenny controlled ended up in questionable places. What is clear is that those taxpayer funded grants help dirtbag skeeves get re-elected.
Govenor Corzine, resembling a dirtbag skeeve himself more and more every day, pledge to clean up corruption and enact ethics and campaign reforms. That was three years ago. He finally rolled out some reforms this past September, stating: "The public understands all too well the intersection of money and politics is bad for their pocket books."
Corzine should talk. He used alot of money, a record amount, to buy himself a Senator's seat and when being a Senator did not satisfy his insatiable ego, the governorship as well. He spent millions of dollars. Those dollars were, I'd say, his only way of being elected. He had neither experience nor knowledge on how to serve the public, and that remains true today. Hell, he believed so strongly in making campaign contibutions that he even had his dear old mom, who resides in Illinois, send some along to NJ too. Grandma Corzine sent $37,00 to the Bergen County Democratic Organization, which was headed by, until his indictment, Joseph Ferriero. Poor granny.
Another notable recipient of Corzine's donations was Ex-Paterson Mayor Martin Barnes, another dirtbag skeeve also locked up in Club Fed. The original 40-count indictment charged Barnes with soliciting and accepting free trips, home improvements like a backyard swimming pool and waterfall, designer suits and money to pay for ''female companionship.'' Corzine and Barnes had at least one common interest it seems. Expensive women. Corzine's ex-flame, Carla Katz, picked his pocket, it is reported, for a whopping $6 million dollars. Corzine tried to keep that a secret too. Seton Hall Law School threw in a scholarship for the 6 Million Dollar Woman for good measure. Cozine, on behalf of the State, and Katz, as then President of the CWA Local 1034, engaged in contract negotiations. The CWA Local 1034 stripped Katz of her title and locked Katz out of her office. No conflict of interest or ethical violations have been brought against Corzine. At least not yet anyhow.
After Corzine was de-throned from Goldman Sacs, he hooked up with another dirtbag skeeve, disgraced ex-Senator Torricelli, to show him the ropes and introduce him to the rest of the political players, many of them dirtbag skeeves. According to New York Magazine, Corzine's early public appearances before larger groups were so cringe-inducing that Democratic Party leaders were ready to pull the plug on his candidacy. Money took care of that. The cringe-inducing factor remains.
Somewhere along the line, Corzine was getting ready to go into a partnership with another dirtbag skeeve, perhaps the skeeviest and sickest of all, real estate mogel, Charles Kushner. The two were thinking of buying the Nets. Kushner ended up spending time in Club Fed too. Kushner pleaded guilty to making illegal donations in the name of his partners, taking personal expenses as business deductions, and retaliating against his sister who was a witness in the case. How did Kushner retailiate against his own sister? By hooking up his sister's husband with a prostitute, video taping it and mailing it to his sister.
Kushner was also selected to head the Port Authority by Ex-Governor McGreevey's, our most famous dirtbag skeeve yet. Kushner also sponsored our ex-homeland, cough cough, security czar, McGreevey boy toy, Golan Cipel, for a visa.
Bob Ingle may be coming out with a sequel to his best selling book. "The Soprano State and the Dirtbag Skeeves Who Run it" would make a good title.
The latest dirtbag skeeve, Wayne Bryant, will be heading to Club Fed next March to join some of his comrades. After the jury found Bryant guilty on 12 counts, including, among other crimes, bribery, working a "low show" job, padding his pension and authorizing time sheets for work he had not performed as an attorney. U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie called Bryant's conduct "the most reprehensible" and "disgusting" he had seen. What did Bryant's attorney, Carl Poplar, have to say for his client? "The guy has a lot of dignity". Don't be surprised if Mr. Poplar becomes our next U.S. Attorney.
Bryant was chairman of the influential Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the very agency which tacks on millions of dollars in last minute grants to the State budget. These grants are a/k/a Christmas tree items, a slush fund and recently we learned the our legislators refer to these grants as their very own ATM, despite being taxpayer funded. Federal prosecutors had to battle our State legislators, in Court, for records pertaining to those grants, including grants Bryant received.
Shortly after that battle, Linden's own Sentator, Nicholas Scutari, was subpoenaed regarding grants he recieved. Turns out, Scutari’s ex-wife worked for a nonprofit agency in Elizabeth, Community Access Unlimited, which received roughly $75,000 in grants for two years. Too bad the Senator didn't deliver that $150,000 to Linden, the very place he earns a nice taxpayer funded paycheck and benefits as well. We could have used it. It's no wonder our legislators wanted to keep this information secretive and even went to court to try and keep it hidden.
After Bryant reluctantly resigned as chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernard Kenny, was named as chairman. Another dirtbag skeeve served as Vice Chairman at this time. His name? Sentator Sharpe James. James is currently locked up in Club Fed. It wasn't long after Kenny was appointed Chairman to succeed Bryant when he was injured early one morning and told police the source of his injuries came from a fall in a pothole while jogging. Kenny's injuries, which were quite serious, were not consistant with a fall. The story was later modified to reflect Kenney's injuries were maybe from a motor vehicle hit and run accident. The explanation given for the varying stories was that Kenny suffered some kind of amnesia and therefore could not recall. The source of Kenny's injuries remains a mystery today. Kenny did not seek re-election, but his name surfaced during the Bryant trial. Kenny, like Bryant, was given $4 million of taxpayer funded grant money to dole out at his discretion. It's not known whether any of the grant money Kenny controlled ended up in questionable places. What is clear is that those taxpayer funded grants help dirtbag skeeves get re-elected.
Govenor Corzine, resembling a dirtbag skeeve himself more and more every day, pledge to clean up corruption and enact ethics and campaign reforms. That was three years ago. He finally rolled out some reforms this past September, stating: "The public understands all too well the intersection of money and politics is bad for their pocket books."
Corzine should talk. He used alot of money, a record amount, to buy himself a Senator's seat and when being a Senator did not satisfy his insatiable ego, the governorship as well. He spent millions of dollars. Those dollars were, I'd say, his only way of being elected. He had neither experience nor knowledge on how to serve the public, and that remains true today. Hell, he believed so strongly in making campaign contibutions that he even had his dear old mom, who resides in Illinois, send some along to NJ too. Grandma Corzine sent $37,00 to the Bergen County Democratic Organization, which was headed by, until his indictment, Joseph Ferriero. Poor granny.
Another notable recipient of Corzine's donations was Ex-Paterson Mayor Martin Barnes, another dirtbag skeeve also locked up in Club Fed. The original 40-count indictment charged Barnes with soliciting and accepting free trips, home improvements like a backyard swimming pool and waterfall, designer suits and money to pay for ''female companionship.'' Corzine and Barnes had at least one common interest it seems. Expensive women. Corzine's ex-flame, Carla Katz, picked his pocket, it is reported, for a whopping $6 million dollars. Corzine tried to keep that a secret too. Seton Hall Law School threw in a scholarship for the 6 Million Dollar Woman for good measure. Cozine, on behalf of the State, and Katz, as then President of the CWA Local 1034, engaged in contract negotiations. The CWA Local 1034 stripped Katz of her title and locked Katz out of her office. No conflict of interest or ethical violations have been brought against Corzine. At least not yet anyhow.
After Corzine was de-throned from Goldman Sacs, he hooked up with another dirtbag skeeve, disgraced ex-Senator Torricelli, to show him the ropes and introduce him to the rest of the political players, many of them dirtbag skeeves. According to New York Magazine, Corzine's early public appearances before larger groups were so cringe-inducing that Democratic Party leaders were ready to pull the plug on his candidacy. Money took care of that. The cringe-inducing factor remains.
Somewhere along the line, Corzine was getting ready to go into a partnership with another dirtbag skeeve, perhaps the skeeviest and sickest of all, real estate mogel, Charles Kushner. The two were thinking of buying the Nets. Kushner ended up spending time in Club Fed too. Kushner pleaded guilty to making illegal donations in the name of his partners, taking personal expenses as business deductions, and retaliating against his sister who was a witness in the case. How did Kushner retailiate against his own sister? By hooking up his sister's husband with a prostitute, video taping it and mailing it to his sister.
Kushner was also selected to head the Port Authority by Ex-Governor McGreevey's, our most famous dirtbag skeeve yet. Kushner also sponsored our ex-homeland, cough cough, security czar, McGreevey boy toy, Golan Cipel, for a visa.
Bob Ingle may be coming out with a sequel to his best selling book. "The Soprano State and the Dirtbag Skeeves Who Run it" would make a good title.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
You Can't Go Home Again
There’s nothing like getting older and/or the death of a loved one to make you wax nostalgic. Or sometimes it just takes being around someone who just happens to be living in the past. In any event, I have to admit that sometime I just feel like goofing off, leaving the here and now, to think back to how things used to be.
Like the corner store in the old neighborhood where I grew up. When I was a kid, my dad would sometimes send me there (with a nickel or a dime, I think) to pick up the Elizabeth Daily Journal. He loved that paper. The EDJ went out of business and its demise (in 1992) left a hole in Union County news that has never been filled. I liked that corner store because they sold penny candy and had a counter with stools where you could sit and have a soda, ice cream cone or an ice cream float. Maybe they even sold sandwiches and coffee, but I never noticed. After all, I was a kid and all I saw was the candy and the soda fountain once I picked up dad’s newspaper.
Sometimes I got lucky and would find a penny, nickel or dime on the sidewalk or in the gutter and then I could buy some candy (once or twice the nice lady who worked the register and the counter would tell me to sit down and she’d pour me a coke from the fountain or she‘d give me a piece of penny candy). I made sure I always finished the candy before I got home, but somehow my mom always figured out that I had gotten “lucky“ and had eaten some candy and/or when Mrs. F. slipped me that coke “for the road“.
You’re probably wondering what my little sojourn down memory lane has to do with this Linden forum. Well, I’m getting to that.
That corner store was one of my earliest memories of the businesses that made our town what it was. The physical building is still there but it has morphed into something else. I honestly don’t remember what kind of establishment it is now, but I know that between my candy store and the store adjacent to it, they have been everything from a barber shop, beauty parlor, to a T-shirt shop to a soup and sandwich shop to whatever it is currently (I heard it was even a bookie joint for a while). I only remember my candy store.
I get a little sad when these great childhood comfort places disappear - more so when the building is destroyed in the process because then it gets harder to visualize what it looked like back then.
Like the Leather cleaners on the corner of St. Georges Ave and Wood Avenue. (Now a bank?) Or the store called NS (Newark Slip - thank you for recalling that, NFS!) now Walgreens….and before NS and Walgreens it was a grocery store - I can't recall what grocery chain it was but one source tells me it was a Shop Rite, another says it was a Safeway… Anyone out there remember for sure?
Do you remember Walt’s on St. Georges Avenue (near Stiles) in Linden? (And Jeans [Genes?] Beans -- I think I remember that my dad used to buy great fish dinners from them). I guess it’s now that purple colored beauty supply place and a home improvement business. But Walt’s had great franks and fries. I sure miss it sometimes. (I even miss the golf place where that shopping center is now, even though it wasn't one of my "essential" places). I remember going to Walt's as a kid with mom, dad and my older siblings. It was one of those cool adventure spots in my mind. We would pile in the car with the hot, but “genuine” naugahyde with fabric upholstered seats. (Anyone remember naugahyde? I think it’s now called “pleather”) Anyway, we would take one of our famous family drives to the food store, or to go visit my grandparents in Elizabeth, or to just take a drive to watch the leaves changing colors; along the way we'd stop off there for a bite to eat.
It was always the whole family - dad, mom and us kids. Mom never drove (actually never got her license), always had on her sundress and her wing tip eye glasses with the Polaroid clip ons. Us kids wore our dungarees, striped polo shirts, white socks and our high top keds, sporting our latest brush cuts (courtesy of mom and her home barber kit). Of course, in that 10 minute ride over, my siblings and I had a hundred skirmishes because “she touched me” or “he’s on MY side”…and mom would threaten us by saying dad was going to “pull over and give it to us” if we didn’t behave.
When us kids got a little older I remember one of my older siblings taking accordion lessons at Ted Pulaski’s (sp?) Music School over there on Wood Avenue. (between St. George and Gibbons St.) It was a HUGE white house -- and I think it is now (one of the many!) attorney offices. The Pulaski’s were nice people as I recall them.
When I was a teenager, I got a job at a store on Wood Avenue working in the back stock room. It was before I could drive - or had a car - so I used to have to take the bus from home to work and I hated it! Especially some of the “regulars” I encountered on the bus. (One was this foreign lady who never shaved her legs and who wore stockings over the smashed down hair. It was one of those disturbing things that horrify you to see, but for some reason you cannot look away, either...).
I remember several stores on Wood Avenue then, like a place called Serendipity (across the street from Sweets and BZ)…I bought a hand crafted “hippie inspired” coffee mug there and used it for years (I think now that it was probably ladened with lead or other toxic materials and I probably suffer from depleted mental faculties now because of having used it all these years). I also remember the Singer (Sewing Machine) store because my mother had them repair her sewing machine and I had to pick it up. Let’s see, there was also a jewelry store (was it called Goldblatts?). Well, whatever the name, I bought a watch there once.
There was also a kids store - was that Raiffes? I think another clothing store was called Linwood? And was there a drug store called Shorrs? (Or am I thinking of another little town?) A Woolworths with a lunch area. (I used to eat there, too, sometimes). Father and Sons. And I remember going to Big Stash’s and eating til I felt like exploding. I’ve heard it’s not the same as it used to be…but then I can’t say.
One of the places that I remember from that time period was that greasy spoon called Gus’. It was a small diner and near the movie theater. (Gus was always sitting on the stool in the front. I imagine it was so he could leer or paw at the pretty young girls who worked at BZ when they came in on their breaks. Meanwhile, his poor wife would just shoot everyone those “kill me now” looks). Sometimes I used to wonder how Gus and Mrs. Gus ever got together in the first place since they didn’t seem to like each other much to me. Of course, at that time I couldn’t understand how my parents ever got together either… I ate at Gus’ at lot back then because it was fairly cheap and I didn‘t make that much money. (I loved those greasy cheeseburger platters with the fries). Later, after I grew up, married and moved, I heard that Gus passed away and the business was closed - then I heard it became a McDonalds for a while.
As I said, I got married and moved away, but then we moved back. Around that time period I remember visiting Sweets - I used to get art supplies there while the little woman shopped (and spent) my money at BZ. I remember Roz, George, Estelle and Mr. B. They were nice -- but then, I was paying them good money for them to be nice to me… Oh, and Palmers Men’s Shop was a great place to shop at - nice clothes and nice people employed there.
I remember that we saw the Isle of Dr. Moreau (starring Marlon Brando) in the Wood Avenue theater…oh - and Babe (the pig movie). Gosh, if those weren’t the most god-awful movies…
BZ, Sweets, Singer, the movie theater, the jewelry store - all of those establishments gone. So, anyway, now that area is Bauer’s Plaza. Nice building, but it doesn’t hold any memories or importance to me like the places it replaced. I hope it does for others.
All my memories of Wood Avenue are fading away. Instead they are being replaced by 99 cent stores, the ABC Store, nail salons, and whatever else… I miss the old Wood Avenue, the old Linden -- with Woolworths, Sweets, BZ and Father & Sons. The establishments that were worth going into. Hardly any good or interesting establishments are left anymore. The worst part is, I can’t remember most of what was there years ago - or what is operating there now! I ride up and down Wood Avenue a few times a week and, other than stopping at just about every light, there is nothing that makes me want to park my car and walk up and down the street and window shop - let alone actually go into any store.
Does anyone else remember the great establishments that used to be in Linden? The great sidewalk sale in the summer? The great ambiance as you walked up and down the Avenue during the holiday season? I’d love to hear your stories of businesses and fun places that used to be in Linden.
Like the corner store in the old neighborhood where I grew up. When I was a kid, my dad would sometimes send me there (with a nickel or a dime, I think) to pick up the Elizabeth Daily Journal. He loved that paper. The EDJ went out of business and its demise (in 1992) left a hole in Union County news that has never been filled. I liked that corner store because they sold penny candy and had a counter with stools where you could sit and have a soda, ice cream cone or an ice cream float. Maybe they even sold sandwiches and coffee, but I never noticed. After all, I was a kid and all I saw was the candy and the soda fountain once I picked up dad’s newspaper.
Sometimes I got lucky and would find a penny, nickel or dime on the sidewalk or in the gutter and then I could buy some candy (once or twice the nice lady who worked the register and the counter would tell me to sit down and she’d pour me a coke from the fountain or she‘d give me a piece of penny candy). I made sure I always finished the candy before I got home, but somehow my mom always figured out that I had gotten “lucky“ and had eaten some candy and/or when Mrs. F. slipped me that coke “for the road“.
You’re probably wondering what my little sojourn down memory lane has to do with this Linden forum. Well, I’m getting to that.
That corner store was one of my earliest memories of the businesses that made our town what it was. The physical building is still there but it has morphed into something else. I honestly don’t remember what kind of establishment it is now, but I know that between my candy store and the store adjacent to it, they have been everything from a barber shop, beauty parlor, to a T-shirt shop to a soup and sandwich shop to whatever it is currently (I heard it was even a bookie joint for a while). I only remember my candy store.
I get a little sad when these great childhood comfort places disappear - more so when the building is destroyed in the process because then it gets harder to visualize what it looked like back then.
Like the Leather cleaners on the corner of St. Georges Ave and Wood Avenue. (Now a bank?) Or the store called NS (Newark Slip - thank you for recalling that, NFS!) now Walgreens….and before NS and Walgreens it was a grocery store - I can't recall what grocery chain it was but one source tells me it was a Shop Rite, another says it was a Safeway… Anyone out there remember for sure?
Do you remember Walt’s on St. Georges Avenue (near Stiles) in Linden? (And Jeans [Genes?] Beans -- I think I remember that my dad used to buy great fish dinners from them). I guess it’s now that purple colored beauty supply place and a home improvement business. But Walt’s had great franks and fries. I sure miss it sometimes. (I even miss the golf place where that shopping center is now, even though it wasn't one of my "essential" places). I remember going to Walt's as a kid with mom, dad and my older siblings. It was one of those cool adventure spots in my mind. We would pile in the car with the hot, but “genuine” naugahyde with fabric upholstered seats. (Anyone remember naugahyde? I think it’s now called “pleather”) Anyway, we would take one of our famous family drives to the food store, or to go visit my grandparents in Elizabeth, or to just take a drive to watch the leaves changing colors; along the way we'd stop off there for a bite to eat.
It was always the whole family - dad, mom and us kids. Mom never drove (actually never got her license), always had on her sundress and her wing tip eye glasses with the Polaroid clip ons. Us kids wore our dungarees, striped polo shirts, white socks and our high top keds, sporting our latest brush cuts (courtesy of mom and her home barber kit). Of course, in that 10 minute ride over, my siblings and I had a hundred skirmishes because “she touched me” or “he’s on MY side”…and mom would threaten us by saying dad was going to “pull over and give it to us” if we didn’t behave.
When us kids got a little older I remember one of my older siblings taking accordion lessons at Ted Pulaski’s (sp?) Music School over there on Wood Avenue. (between St. George and Gibbons St.) It was a HUGE white house -- and I think it is now (one of the many!) attorney offices. The Pulaski’s were nice people as I recall them.
When I was a teenager, I got a job at a store on Wood Avenue working in the back stock room. It was before I could drive - or had a car - so I used to have to take the bus from home to work and I hated it! Especially some of the “regulars” I encountered on the bus. (One was this foreign lady who never shaved her legs and who wore stockings over the smashed down hair. It was one of those disturbing things that horrify you to see, but for some reason you cannot look away, either...).
I remember several stores on Wood Avenue then, like a place called Serendipity (across the street from Sweets and BZ)…I bought a hand crafted “hippie inspired” coffee mug there and used it for years (I think now that it was probably ladened with lead or other toxic materials and I probably suffer from depleted mental faculties now because of having used it all these years). I also remember the Singer (Sewing Machine) store because my mother had them repair her sewing machine and I had to pick it up. Let’s see, there was also a jewelry store (was it called Goldblatts?). Well, whatever the name, I bought a watch there once.
There was also a kids store - was that Raiffes? I think another clothing store was called Linwood? And was there a drug store called Shorrs? (Or am I thinking of another little town?) A Woolworths with a lunch area. (I used to eat there, too, sometimes). Father and Sons. And I remember going to Big Stash’s and eating til I felt like exploding. I’ve heard it’s not the same as it used to be…but then I can’t say.
One of the places that I remember from that time period was that greasy spoon called Gus’. It was a small diner and near the movie theater. (Gus was always sitting on the stool in the front. I imagine it was so he could leer or paw at the pretty young girls who worked at BZ when they came in on their breaks. Meanwhile, his poor wife would just shoot everyone those “kill me now” looks). Sometimes I used to wonder how Gus and Mrs. Gus ever got together in the first place since they didn’t seem to like each other much to me. Of course, at that time I couldn’t understand how my parents ever got together either… I ate at Gus’ at lot back then because it was fairly cheap and I didn‘t make that much money. (I loved those greasy cheeseburger platters with the fries). Later, after I grew up, married and moved, I heard that Gus passed away and the business was closed - then I heard it became a McDonalds for a while.
As I said, I got married and moved away, but then we moved back. Around that time period I remember visiting Sweets - I used to get art supplies there while the little woman shopped (and spent) my money at BZ. I remember Roz, George, Estelle and Mr. B. They were nice -- but then, I was paying them good money for them to be nice to me… Oh, and Palmers Men’s Shop was a great place to shop at - nice clothes and nice people employed there.
I remember that we saw the Isle of Dr. Moreau (starring Marlon Brando) in the Wood Avenue theater…oh - and Babe (the pig movie). Gosh, if those weren’t the most god-awful movies…
BZ, Sweets, Singer, the movie theater, the jewelry store - all of those establishments gone. So, anyway, now that area is Bauer’s Plaza. Nice building, but it doesn’t hold any memories or importance to me like the places it replaced. I hope it does for others.
All my memories of Wood Avenue are fading away. Instead they are being replaced by 99 cent stores, the ABC Store, nail salons, and whatever else… I miss the old Wood Avenue, the old Linden -- with Woolworths, Sweets, BZ and Father & Sons. The establishments that were worth going into. Hardly any good or interesting establishments are left anymore. The worst part is, I can’t remember most of what was there years ago - or what is operating there now! I ride up and down Wood Avenue a few times a week and, other than stopping at just about every light, there is nothing that makes me want to park my car and walk up and down the street and window shop - let alone actually go into any store.
Does anyone else remember the great establishments that used to be in Linden? The great sidewalk sale in the summer? The great ambiance as you walked up and down the Avenue during the holiday season? I’d love to hear your stories of businesses and fun places that used to be in Linden.
~ One Step Forward ... Two Steps Back? ~
Anyone not on the democrat ticket this year faced an even harder challenge as Obama mania took over. Congratulations to the three democrats who won the City council seats. Unfortunately, the voters sent back the same freeloading hacks for another three years. Our County taxes continue to climb at alarming rates and by re-electing those three, you sent a message that it's ok by you. I won't even get into everything else that is wrong on the County level. Hopefully, we'll be reading about some of it in the newspapers soon enough.
By some of the remarks on the commie site, it’s pretty revealing that some residents have an "us vs. them" party mentality, especially city employees. As an overburdened taxpayer, I view the necessary evil of politics as government vs. the taxpayers.
The Linden democrats haven't been too kind on the taxpayers' wallets, unless, of course, you have earned your City or County job through your democrat loyalty, many of whom are overpaid. There is no way anyone can justify glorified secretaries, or as they call them today, "clerks" earning over $90,000. The salaries of the Sheehy, Crane and Bunk families are prime examples of what has gone wrong when you allow one party total control. The County payroll is even more representative of the outlandish rewards foisted on political hacks.
In all my years of living in Linden, I can’t ever recall having received a campaign piece by a Ward Club. This year, the 10th Ward Democrat Club chose to use the employment of Bruce Howe’s wife as confidential aid to the Mayor as the basis of its objection to Mr. Howe’s candidacy. There has been much debate back and forth over the last year about what I think is really a non-issue. It’s the Mayor’s choice to select a person for this position that he feels he can trust with confidential matters and it just so happened to be the wife of his good friend. If it wasn’t Mrs. Howe, I’m certain it would have been another trusted friend or ally. IMO, the Mayor’s choice was not nepotism, but a reasonable choice.
Michele Yamakaitis won in a landslide. She apparently has a good relationship with her constituents. I understand she has stopped double-dipping insurance benefits. It’s long overdue that the Suliga tradition of part-time council members receiving taxpayer funded benefits comes to an end. Not only is it extremely difficult to find such handsome benefits being provided to full-time workers in non-governmental jobs, it’s unheard of for part-time positions. It's time to put an end to it.
Charlie Crane’s choice for Robert Sadowski to retain the seat Crane vacated was successful. I’m sure Mr. Sadowski will serve his Ward a lot better than his predecessor so in reality, Crane did his Ward a favor no matter what the outcome of the race.
Mr. Puschel put a sizeable amount of effort into securing his council seat. It took three campaigns to achieve it. I hope he serves the City with the same tenaciousness. The residents of the 10th Ward, as well as the 9th Ward, were pretty progressive by bucking the rest of the City’s long-standing practice of supporting democrat candidates. This year, the residents, after many years of independent representation, have selected a democrat. It’s been said Mr. Puschel is not a "Machine" democrat. Good luck to Mr. Puschel to remain an "independent" democrat. It's what most taxpayers want.
Taxpayers also want council to represent their interests, not the interests of any one party. While the independent candidates didn't win any seats, I hope it's not taken as a signal to engage in the previous free-for-all patronizing party that has, to some extent, gotten the City to the financial crisis it is now in. Besides, it's just plain wrong.
By some of the remarks on the commie site, it’s pretty revealing that some residents have an "us vs. them" party mentality, especially city employees. As an overburdened taxpayer, I view the necessary evil of politics as government vs. the taxpayers.
The Linden democrats haven't been too kind on the taxpayers' wallets, unless, of course, you have earned your City or County job through your democrat loyalty, many of whom are overpaid. There is no way anyone can justify glorified secretaries, or as they call them today, "clerks" earning over $90,000. The salaries of the Sheehy, Crane and Bunk families are prime examples of what has gone wrong when you allow one party total control. The County payroll is even more representative of the outlandish rewards foisted on political hacks.
In all my years of living in Linden, I can’t ever recall having received a campaign piece by a Ward Club. This year, the 10th Ward Democrat Club chose to use the employment of Bruce Howe’s wife as confidential aid to the Mayor as the basis of its objection to Mr. Howe’s candidacy. There has been much debate back and forth over the last year about what I think is really a non-issue. It’s the Mayor’s choice to select a person for this position that he feels he can trust with confidential matters and it just so happened to be the wife of his good friend. If it wasn’t Mrs. Howe, I’m certain it would have been another trusted friend or ally. IMO, the Mayor’s choice was not nepotism, but a reasonable choice.
Michele Yamakaitis won in a landslide. She apparently has a good relationship with her constituents. I understand she has stopped double-dipping insurance benefits. It’s long overdue that the Suliga tradition of part-time council members receiving taxpayer funded benefits comes to an end. Not only is it extremely difficult to find such handsome benefits being provided to full-time workers in non-governmental jobs, it’s unheard of for part-time positions. It's time to put an end to it.
Charlie Crane’s choice for Robert Sadowski to retain the seat Crane vacated was successful. I’m sure Mr. Sadowski will serve his Ward a lot better than his predecessor so in reality, Crane did his Ward a favor no matter what the outcome of the race.
Mr. Puschel put a sizeable amount of effort into securing his council seat. It took three campaigns to achieve it. I hope he serves the City with the same tenaciousness. The residents of the 10th Ward, as well as the 9th Ward, were pretty progressive by bucking the rest of the City’s long-standing practice of supporting democrat candidates. This year, the residents, after many years of independent representation, have selected a democrat. It’s been said Mr. Puschel is not a "Machine" democrat. Good luck to Mr. Puschel to remain an "independent" democrat. It's what most taxpayers want.
Taxpayers also want council to represent their interests, not the interests of any one party. While the independent candidates didn't win any seats, I hope it's not taken as a signal to engage in the previous free-for-all patronizing party that has, to some extent, gotten the City to the financial crisis it is now in. Besides, it's just plain wrong.
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