According to PolitickerNJ, Trenton masterminds Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union Twp.) want the State to scrap contracts with vendors who donated to Reform Jersey Now. Read the lunacy here.
On what legal grounds do Cryan and Buono base their idiotic demands? If Cryan, Buono or any other democrat are serious about nullifying contracts, they should step down immediately because what they are asking the State to do is expose itself to gross mismanagement at great peril to taxpayers. The State would surely be sued if this course of action is followed.
Too bad we can't sue our legislators for buffoonery. We'd all be rich.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Kid Can Buy Home; Can't Afford the Taxes
My kid, who has been looking for her own place for just over a year now, found a place here in Linden. Unfortunately, it looks like she won't be buying it. She has a sizable down payment (25%) and has been pre-approved for a mortgage. The problem? Property taxes @ over $7,200 on this 2-bedroom, 2 bath townhouse. No yard, no balcony, no anything else. Her mortgage principal and interest payments would almost equal her property tax payments.
Linden was always known for modest property taxes. Linden was also a place where one could get one's foot in the door to home ownership, perhaps later moving on to a more desirable town.
I think this particular property is over-assessed, though I'm not certain she would be successful in a tax appeal. It's too bad. She comes without any baggage and wouldn't add a dime to the local, school or county budgets. She'd be a giver, not a taker.
Wall Street and lenders are not only to blame for the housing mess in NJ or the Dems like Barney Frank who pushed lax lending practices. Our elected and non-elected officials have done a bang-up job in creating a most unfriendly property tax environment.
Linden was always known for modest property taxes. Linden was also a place where one could get one's foot in the door to home ownership, perhaps later moving on to a more desirable town.
I think this particular property is over-assessed, though I'm not certain she would be successful in a tax appeal. It's too bad. She comes without any baggage and wouldn't add a dime to the local, school or county budgets. She'd be a giver, not a taker.
Wall Street and lenders are not only to blame for the housing mess in NJ or the Dems like Barney Frank who pushed lax lending practices. Our elected and non-elected officials have done a bang-up job in creating a most unfriendly property tax environment.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Cost of Going "Green"
Conservative New Jersey has an enlightening post on just how badly we are being ripped off by being forced to go green. See here.
Good for the lawyers pushing this crap, not so much for us.
Truly ludicrous.
Good for the lawyers pushing this crap, not so much for us.
Truly ludicrous.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Quick Notes on Last Night's Council Meeting
Not surprisingly, (Councilman?) Gene Davis, showed up. The guy is really shameless. At the end of the meeting, Patty Hero, who had end-of-year personal messages for all members of Council, quoting from Firesign Theater, stated to Davis: "How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all". I'm guessing his next stop is the disability office. After all, isn't that what unhappy or displaced employees do?
There were a few Resolutions which would have secured professional service contracts for next year. Council President Elect Jim Moore, as well as 5th Ward Councilwoman Elect Cosby-Hurling spoke against the current administration passing those Resolutions and rightly urged Council to leave those matters in the hands of the new administration, which will include 3 new Council members, to be seated January 4, 2011.
Council unanimously formally signed off on the UCIA Solar Panel Project. From the Mayor's remarks, it appears the City is under the impression that the City will save 40% on energy costs which is, not only untrue, but impossible. Further, the Mayor thinks that even if the project "falls flat on its face" that there is no consequence to the City, i.e., the taxpayers. This too is untrue as the Bond used to float the project is guaranteed by the taxpayers. At this point, I'm surprised the City has so much faith in the UCIA. Haven't we been hammered by the UCIA enough?
The layoff of 7 firemen was the forefront issue. It appears that the City will have a study conducted to evaluate the fire department as well as Linden Emergency Medical Services (LEMS) . That study will cost up to $42,000. Some took issue that LEMS is contributing some $18,000 towards the cost of the study. It's too bad the City never undertook a professional City-wide study years ago.
The fire department suggested a one year period where it would totally take over LEMS (which currently services half of the City EMS services with the LFD servicing the other half). It's a compromise that, perhaps, should be considered, but that would mean people employed at LEMS would lose their jobs. I've been told that some retired firefighters now work for LEMS.
Jodi Gregorio/Pucillo showed up to read a letter from her dad, former Mayor John T. Gregorio, urging a compromise on the fire department layoff. I'm not convinced JTG actually wrote that letter. I'm told that the mother of one of the newly hired firemen, scheduled for layoff, has been visiting a certain Curtis Street residence. Anyway, Jodi looks great.
It was noted during the meeting the Public Property and Public Works Departments have accepted another zero increase in their salaries, bringing those departments to a third year of zero increases. I'm not sure if that zero increase includes supervisors, who are overpaid. Surely it includes those who can least afford it as the Mayor pointed out.
I took a quick look at the Data Universe site to review 2009 salaries. The City, IMO, is way too top heavy. There are over 60 people making over $100,000/yr. and as many, if not more, making $80,000 to $90,00/yr. Those salaries are mainly in the Fire & Police Departments, as well as Supervisors in the Recreation and Public Works Departments. Some of the salaries are astounding.
The firemen consider their fellow firemen as brothers. I'd take a pay cut to save my brother's job. These guys need to put their money where their mouths are if that what is needed. Do not look to the taxpayers any more.
Gov. Chris Christie was alluded to as being the one at fault for cutting aid to cities. The State is broke. The City is broke. The County is half a billion dollars in debt. How can this all be when we are the most highly taxed State in the Nation and third most highly taxed County in the Nation? There is something seriously wrong with this picture.
It's not the fault of the Governor. As the Governor said on the 60 Minutes segment, which aired this past Sunday, "The Day of Reckoning Is Here". I know our local democrats love to demonize republicans, but the Governor is right. No one can explain how the most highly taxed State in the Nation is practically under water. It makes no sense.
New Jersey is in a crisis and so too is the U.S. IMO. Taxpayers cannot afford these gold-plated salaries and benefits any longer, not to mention the waste, corruption and plain mismanagement of our tax dollars.
I almost forgot. More money to the attorneys "representing" "us" on the Strategic Alliance and Verge Properties (Valvano} litigation cases, which I will, once again, address in a future post. Outrageous and disgusting is all I will say for now.
I feel sorry for the overtaxed taxpayer. We are really getting hammered.
P.S. to the overpaid City Clerk: The least you can do, after a vote, is state whether a Resolution "passed" or :"failed". In other words, just say " Resolution passed" or "Resolution failed" after the vote My god ... there are two of you there ... get your act together. You're paid enough ... do your job.
There were a few Resolutions which would have secured professional service contracts for next year. Council President Elect Jim Moore, as well as 5th Ward Councilwoman Elect Cosby-Hurling spoke against the current administration passing those Resolutions and rightly urged Council to leave those matters in the hands of the new administration, which will include 3 new Council members, to be seated January 4, 2011.
Council unanimously formally signed off on the UCIA Solar Panel Project. From the Mayor's remarks, it appears the City is under the impression that the City will save 40% on energy costs which is, not only untrue, but impossible. Further, the Mayor thinks that even if the project "falls flat on its face" that there is no consequence to the City, i.e., the taxpayers. This too is untrue as the Bond used to float the project is guaranteed by the taxpayers. At this point, I'm surprised the City has so much faith in the UCIA. Haven't we been hammered by the UCIA enough?
The layoff of 7 firemen was the forefront issue. It appears that the City will have a study conducted to evaluate the fire department as well as Linden Emergency Medical Services (LEMS) . That study will cost up to $42,000. Some took issue that LEMS is contributing some $18,000 towards the cost of the study. It's too bad the City never undertook a professional City-wide study years ago.
The fire department suggested a one year period where it would totally take over LEMS (which currently services half of the City EMS services with the LFD servicing the other half). It's a compromise that, perhaps, should be considered, but that would mean people employed at LEMS would lose their jobs. I've been told that some retired firefighters now work for LEMS.
Jodi Gregorio/Pucillo showed up to read a letter from her dad, former Mayor John T. Gregorio, urging a compromise on the fire department layoff. I'm not convinced JTG actually wrote that letter. I'm told that the mother of one of the newly hired firemen, scheduled for layoff, has been visiting a certain Curtis Street residence. Anyway, Jodi looks great.
It was noted during the meeting the Public Property and Public Works Departments have accepted another zero increase in their salaries, bringing those departments to a third year of zero increases. I'm not sure if that zero increase includes supervisors, who are overpaid. Surely it includes those who can least afford it as the Mayor pointed out.
I took a quick look at the Data Universe site to review 2009 salaries. The City, IMO, is way too top heavy. There are over 60 people making over $100,000/yr. and as many, if not more, making $80,000 to $90,00/yr. Those salaries are mainly in the Fire & Police Departments, as well as Supervisors in the Recreation and Public Works Departments. Some of the salaries are astounding.
The firemen consider their fellow firemen as brothers. I'd take a pay cut to save my brother's job. These guys need to put their money where their mouths are if that what is needed. Do not look to the taxpayers any more.
Gov. Chris Christie was alluded to as being the one at fault for cutting aid to cities. The State is broke. The City is broke. The County is half a billion dollars in debt. How can this all be when we are the most highly taxed State in the Nation and third most highly taxed County in the Nation? There is something seriously wrong with this picture.
It's not the fault of the Governor. As the Governor said on the 60 Minutes segment, which aired this past Sunday, "The Day of Reckoning Is Here". I know our local democrats love to demonize republicans, but the Governor is right. No one can explain how the most highly taxed State in the Nation is practically under water. It makes no sense.
New Jersey is in a crisis and so too is the U.S. IMO. Taxpayers cannot afford these gold-plated salaries and benefits any longer, not to mention the waste, corruption and plain mismanagement of our tax dollars.
I almost forgot. More money to the attorneys "representing" "us" on the Strategic Alliance and Verge Properties (Valvano} litigation cases, which I will, once again, address in a future post. Outrageous and disgusting is all I will say for now.
I feel sorry for the overtaxed taxpayer. We are really getting hammered.
P.S. to the overpaid City Clerk: The least you can do, after a vote, is state whether a Resolution "passed" or :"failed". In other words, just say " Resolution passed" or "Resolution failed" after the vote My god ... there are two of you there ... get your act together. You're paid enough ... do your job.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Solar Panel "Evaluation" Report
The Union County Improvement Authority had an evaluation report prepared on the lone successful bidder of the solar panel project. The evaluation report was prepared by an evaluation team, which, according to the report, consisted of the DeCotiis law firm, the engineering firm of Birdsall Services Group, Inc. and NW Financial Group, LLC. All three of these entities are current vendors of the County, with the attorneys and engineering firm already pocketing over a half million on this scheme. Hardly an independent, objective team.
According to the report, Tioga, the successful bidder, will be relying on two sources of revenue to make the lease payments on this 28.6 Million Dollar project: Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). The reports also states that "The PPA provides approximately 20% of the recurring project revenue while the SRECs represent 80% of the Project revenue."
According to an article by Flett Exchange, New Jersey is trending towards an oversupply of solar energy in the next year which could increase the likelihood of SREC prices falling. See Flett Exchange article here.
Flett Exchange also reports that Pennsylvania is facing a potential SREC oversupply because utility companies, who buy SRECs, are developing their own solar projects.
PSE&G is doing just that in NJ.
Too bad the evaluation report prepared for the UCIA, which can be read here, failed to address such scenarios.
Keep your fingers crossed overtaxed taxpayers.
According to the report, Tioga, the successful bidder, will be relying on two sources of revenue to make the lease payments on this 28.6 Million Dollar project: Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). The reports also states that "The PPA provides approximately 20% of the recurring project revenue while the SRECs represent 80% of the Project revenue."
According to an article by Flett Exchange, New Jersey is trending towards an oversupply of solar energy in the next year which could increase the likelihood of SREC prices falling. See Flett Exchange article here.
Flett Exchange also reports that Pennsylvania is facing a potential SREC oversupply because utility companies, who buy SRECs, are developing their own solar projects.
PSE&G is doing just that in NJ.
Too bad the evaluation report prepared for the UCIA, which can be read here, failed to address such scenarios.
Keep your fingers crossed overtaxed taxpayers.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Notice Now How The Feds Are Losing in NJ?
Two acquittals since U.S. Attorney, and now NJ Governor, Chris Christie, stepped down.
Must just be a coincidence or a incompetent new U.S Attorney office.
Must just be a coincidence or a incompetent new U.S Attorney office.
Race in Linden & In Union County
Seeing that councilman Derek Armstead signed on to that "Apologize Now" letter that was carried in the Westfield Leader, which accuses the freeholder Republican challengers of racism, I got to thinking.
It's not a secret that Armstead, a current Linden councilman, and Ralph Strano, a former Linden councilman, were rewarded with jobs at the County for their strong democrat allegiances. I think Strano had a background in auto mechanics. However, he now heads mosquito control or some such thing.
Armstead,who is black, according to New Jersey By the Numbers, became employed by the County some 16 years ago. According to that same website, he makes $55,056.
Strano, who is white, according to New Jersey By the Numbers, became employed by the County some 14 years ago. According to that same website, he make $76,580.
The white guy makes $21,000 annually more than the black guy who has been employed longer than the white guy.
Just saying...
It's not a secret that Armstead, a current Linden councilman, and Ralph Strano, a former Linden councilman, were rewarded with jobs at the County for their strong democrat allegiances. I think Strano had a background in auto mechanics. However, he now heads mosquito control or some such thing.
Armstead,who is black, according to New Jersey By the Numbers, became employed by the County some 16 years ago. According to that same website, he makes $55,056.
Strano, who is white, according to New Jersey By the Numbers, became employed by the County some 14 years ago. According to that same website, he make $76,580.
The white guy makes $21,000 annually more than the black guy who has been employed longer than the white guy.
Just saying...
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Hudak Appointed to Freeholder Board
You really have to laugh. Hudak says nothing about the number one issue on everyone's minds ... out-of-control taxes. Wonderful.
See story here: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20101214/NEWS/101214026/1017/NEWS04
See story here: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20101214/NEWS/101214026/1017/NEWS04
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Is Rivera-Soto Right?
Rutgers Professor Earl M. Maltz seems to think so. From Judicial Crisis Network citing Maltz:
The Senate should get its act together before irreparable harm occurs. It's unconscionable that a confirmation hearing hasn't taken place.
Read the full article here."When a sitting justice is temporarily unavailable for any reason, the New Jersey constitution does not vest either the governor or the state legislature with the power to replace him. Thus, if one takes the view that the assignment of a replacement is “necessary,” the chief justice would be the only person with the authority to make the necessary appointment. But when a justice leaves the court permanently, the constitution clearly vests the power to name a replacement not with the chief justice, but rather with the Governor and the state senate.
Of course, a political deadlock between the Governor and the state senate might in theory leave the court short-handed for an extended period of time, but even if this concern is considered to be of constitutional magnitude, the power to deal with the problem is not vested in the chief justice. Instead, the state constitution provides the Governor with the authority to deal with the problem."
The Senate should get its act together before irreparable harm occurs. It's unconscionable that a confirmation hearing hasn't taken place.
UC Dems Still Manufacturing Racism
John Bury has posted a video from Thursday's Freeholder meeting where the Freeholders passed a Resolution supporting a petition sponsored by The Union County Democratic Committee, a most politically motivated organization. See Bury's blog here.
The County Watchers did a breakdown on County Department heads by race, which can be read here. It's not very diverse. Actions do speak louder than words.
I've added another site to my blog list. I've been reading The Black Sphere for quite a while now. It's seem appropriate to share it now for a black man's perspective on race and politics.
The County Watchers did a breakdown on County Department heads by race, which can be read here. It's not very diverse. Actions do speak louder than words.
I've added another site to my blog list. I've been reading The Black Sphere for quite a while now. It's seem appropriate to share it now for a black man's perspective on race and politics.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Judge Found Redevelopment Counsel's Advice "Misleading"
Flicking through the channels last night, I happened on a broadcast of the November 10th Roselle Council meeting. Roselle Council meetings are curious to me for a number of reasons, but it's good to know what's going on in neighboring communities. Neighboring communities should do likewise.
From watching the meeting, it appears Roselle is getting ready to enter into the redevelopment business. A resolution was passed to hire McManimon & Scotland as redevelopment counsel at a cost not to exceed $70,000.
McManimon & Scotland was the Special Redevelopment Counsel in Union a few years back. Daniel McCarthy, who's on Linden's payroll, was the Planning Board attorney. Union was seeking to take private properties by eminent domain. Some property owners fought back and won.
Besides citing conflicts of interest during Planning Board hearings, some of the other findings by the Judge:
Apparently Roselle is comfortable hiring this law firm despite these scathing findings by the Judge. Where do they find these law firms, or rather, who recommends them?
From watching the meeting, it appears Roselle is getting ready to enter into the redevelopment business. A resolution was passed to hire McManimon & Scotland as redevelopment counsel at a cost not to exceed $70,000.
McManimon & Scotland was the Special Redevelopment Counsel in Union a few years back. Daniel McCarthy, who's on Linden's payroll, was the Planning Board attorney. Union was seeking to take private properties by eminent domain. Some property owners fought back and won.
Besides citing conflicts of interest during Planning Board hearings, some of the other findings by the Judge:
- "The advice offered by the Special Redevelopment Council, in any event, I find was misleading."
- "The standard in the report relied on by the Board in making their determination, as well as the advice given to the Board by its own Counsel and Township's redevelopment Counsel were inconsistent with the requirements of the LRHL, the holding in Gallenthin
- "... taken together the with reliance by the Board members on the improper advice of Counsel as to the statutory and constitutional requirements of LRHL."
- "... I find the neutrality, impartiality and validity of the Board hearing are seriously in question."
Apparently Roselle is comfortable hiring this law firm despite these scathing findings by the Judge. Where do they find these law firms, or rather, who recommends them?
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Fees to Lawyers, Engineers on Solar Panel Project
According to the Union County Improvement Authority's website, fees paid to date:
DeCotiis Fitzpatrick: $283,137.53
PMK/BSG: $225,500.00
Union County Alliance: $13,650.00
Total: $522,287.53
I hope this works out ... for the taxpayers that is.
DeCotiis Fitzpatrick: $283,137.53
PMK/BSG: $225,500.00
Union County Alliance: $13,650.00
Total: $522,287.53
I hope this works out ... for the taxpayers that is.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Greener By Greed
As some of us read in the SL Auditor, Greener By Design took on two politicians as investors, namely, Senator Ray Lesniak (D) and Senator Tom Kean, Jr.(R) (INO). It's striking that they are allowed to pass renewable energy mandates and then invest in companies who make money off that crap.
Who else passed renewable energy mandates? Dopey Los Angeles. Look what it is doing to their electricity bills. See here.
Woodbridge's Mayor is John McCormac (D), the ex-treasurer to ex-Governor James "I am a gay American" McGreevey. Woodbridge recruited, Greener By Design, to do some work on their solar panel program, whose investors include those two sitting Senators. Yeah ... okay ... nothing going on there. No reports as to what that cost taxpayers with those commie China reps coming to Woodbridge, if anything. However, the commies mentioned wanted to be a "sister city" to Woodbridge. Go figure.
Has the Woodbridge B.O.E., which is considering bonding millions of dollars for solar panels, also hired Greener by Design? The Woodbridge B.O.E. was awarded millions of dollars in roof repair grants. Coincidence? I don't think so.
If it were not for the tax credits, which BTW, you need to balance with a debit, i.e., the taxpayers, and the SRECs, which, BTW, are funded by ratepayers as energy consumers, this program would not be sustainable. Why do we do it?
Who makes money off this? Those that pass these idiotic laws and then jump on the bandwagon. Politically connected lawyers, engineers, consultants and RINOS. That's who.
Unfortunately, all this is to the detriment of hardworking, overtaxed taxpayers.
Who else passed renewable energy mandates? Dopey Los Angeles. Look what it is doing to their electricity bills. See here.
Woodbridge's Mayor is John McCormac (D), the ex-treasurer to ex-Governor James "I am a gay American" McGreevey. Woodbridge recruited, Greener By Design, to do some work on their solar panel program, whose investors include those two sitting Senators. Yeah ... okay ... nothing going on there. No reports as to what that cost taxpayers with those commie China reps coming to Woodbridge, if anything. However, the commies mentioned wanted to be a "sister city" to Woodbridge. Go figure.
Has the Woodbridge B.O.E., which is considering bonding millions of dollars for solar panels, also hired Greener by Design? The Woodbridge B.O.E. was awarded millions of dollars in roof repair grants. Coincidence? I don't think so.
If it were not for the tax credits, which BTW, you need to balance with a debit, i.e., the taxpayers, and the SRECs, which, BTW, are funded by ratepayers as energy consumers, this program would not be sustainable. Why do we do it?
Who makes money off this? Those that pass these idiotic laws and then jump on the bandwagon. Politically connected lawyers, engineers, consultants and RINOS. That's who.
Unfortunately, all this is to the detriment of hardworking, overtaxed taxpayers.
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