tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70992459195248838452024-03-14T08:30:28.521-04:00AberdeenerAn arena of ideas for improving our quality of life and reducing our cost of living in Aberdeen Township and the Borough of Matawan in Monmouth County in the State of New Jersey.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-62355424436434447272020-07-15T21:23:00.000-04:002020-08-03T08:04:17.792-04:00Our Kids Are NextThe left is seeking to transform education. Our children
will be targeted. Textbooks will be rewritten. State guidelines will be
revised. The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District will be expected to pay teachers
to write new lesson plans that indoctrinate students in socialism and other
leftist ideals. Grades will be inflated to offset the systemic racism within the
district.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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White kids will be taught racism is in their DNA.
Minorities will be taught they’ve been victimized by their white neighbors. Our
founding fathers will mutate from imperfect heroes to despicable bigots. Rather
than celebrate our nation’s achievements and recognize that we are dwarves on
the shoulders of giants, the schools will teach our children to reject our
history for we are the lowly descendants of monkeys. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Opposing viewpoints will be characterized as violence and
hate speech. Safe spaces will be weaponized. Vandalism and destruction of
property will be excused as social justice. Discipline and law enforcement will
be shackled as thugs are permitted to roam freely. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Parents will not be spared. Matawan Township was renamed
Aberdeen after Aberdeen, Scotland, an area infamous for witch burning and
children trafficking. The word “kidnapped” comes from “kidnabbed”, for which
Aberdeen was particularly notorious, selling hundreds of local children to
slavers in the 1740s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Aberdeen was originally inhabited by the Lenape Indians. After
getting pushed out of Aberdeen, they ended up in Oklahoma where the Supreme
Court recently awarded half the state to Native Americans. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mayor Tagliarini is a closet republican who bends over
backwards to accommodate local corruption. Will he use the bully pulpit and power
over the school budget to protect our children? Has he ever?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-26443935387235459622020-07-06T14:29:00.000-04:002020-07-12T23:08:00.180-04:00Why Does the Left Hate Blacks?Republican Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election after the democrats split their votes between two pro-slavery candidates.<br />
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The democrat-led states then seceded to preserve slavery. After the Civil War, southern democrats continued to persecute black Americans through the Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, and literacy tests.<br />
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In 1912, democrats elected Klansman and notorious segregationist Woodrow Wilson to the presidency. As president, Wilson segregated the federal government (even requiring applicants to include photos with their civil service applications) and appointed fellow Klansmen to high positions, including Justice Hugo Black, author of the notorious Korematsu decision which approved FDR’s internment of American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II.</div>
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When President Johnson passed civil rights legislation in the 1960s, he drew more support from the opposition Republicans than from his own democratic party.</div>
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This is not ancient history. Joe Biden has referred to school busing as “an asinine policy” and a “bankrupt concept.” He has praised fellow democratic senators, Eastland and Byrd. Senator Eastland was known as the “Voice of the White South.” Senator Byrd was both the longest serving U.S. senator in history and founder of the Sophia, West Virginia, branch of the Ku Klux Klan. Byrd claimed “The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia and in every state in the nation." Joe Biden voted for Byrd to be the senate majority leader. </div>
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Forty percent of abortions in American are performed on Blacks. The nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, was founded by Margaret Sanger, a proponent of eugenics and welcomed speaker at a Klu Klux Klan rally. She famously declared, "We don’t want the word to get out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.”<br />
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Joe Biden supports Ralph Northam, governor of Virginia who sported blackface and klan garb in his med school yearbook.</div>
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Blacks are disproportionately poor. The left supports poverty traps in the tax code. When the marginal tax rate is measured as both the increase in taxes and loss of benefits on the next dollar earned, the people with the highest marginal tax rates are the working poor, sometimes losing as much as 70% on the next dollar earned.</div>
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The left supports regressive taxes and regulations that increase the cost of food and energy, which disproportionately impact the poor. The left blocks companies like Walmart from servicing needy communities.</div>
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Blacks are disproportionately the victims of violence. The left supports defunding the police, withdrawing security from minority neighborhoods, and releasing violent criminals.</div>
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Black children are disproportionately trapped in failing schools. The left supports blocking school choice, blocking charter schools, blocking school vouchers, and blocking school reforms.</div>
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Blacks are disproportionately unemployed and underemployed. The left supports the Davis Bacon Act, legislation requiring government contractors to pay “prevailing wages”. The legislation was specifically created to prevent blacks from competing with whites for jobs. The left also supports raising the minimum wage, which depresses youth employment.</div>
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Blacks are disproportionately in jobs that cannot telecommute. The left supports keeping segments of the economy shut down, even as the pandemic’s fatality rate continues to fall.</div>
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Mayor Tagliarini was a lifelong Republican until he joined the democrats to run for mayor. At the time, he told me party affiliation didn’t matter at the local level. If that was ever true, it certainly isn’t now. Time to ask the mayor, why are you still a democrat?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-67682360627129631142020-06-30T19:33:00.000-04:002020-07-01T07:27:51.382-04:00Same Old AberdeenIt’s been 10 years since I’ve lived in Aberdeen. Not much
has changed. Mayor Tagliarini is still wondering how I discovered before he did
that he’d be the democratic nominee for Mayor. Municipal budget is up 50% and Aberdeen
has the highest property tax rate in Monmouth County for towns with an
aggregate property value over $200 million. CME continues to fund the
democratic campaigns for a license to pillage.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Still the same cast of characters on the town council
except for relative newcomer, Abie Hirsch. </div>
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Vincent Vinci is still lining his
pockets at the firehouse after being pushed off the town council. Then again,
he needs the money after getting scorched in property taxes on the land gifted
to him by the township and county. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Greg Cannon is still plotting to become a power broker. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Still using Norman Kauff’s old law firm to represent the
township.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cambridge Club is finally open. (Yay!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Affordable housing has arrived.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crime is down. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ten whole years. Feels like yesterday.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-42239926677271541362020-06-25T17:58:00.000-04:002020-06-25T18:02:07.334-04:00A Series of WhyI am proud to be American.<br />
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I love America. I love my fellow Americans. I cherish
American ideals. I thank G-d every day that I live in a country that is free, generous,
and compassionate.<br />
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We are the nation that promotes and protects freedom, democracy,
and prosperity around the world to billions of people.<br />
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We are the nation that feeds the world through our food
and science.<br />
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We are the nation that powers science, healthcare, finance,
and industry.<br />
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We are the nation of higher education, arts, culture, and
entertainment.<br />
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We are the land of opportunity and home of the brave.<br />
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I am so very proud of our founding fathers and national
leaders who risked all and achieved much. They did it for us so that we and our
children could enjoy freedom and prosperity as no other people throughout
history.<br />
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Today, there’s a movement afoot to tear it all down. Tear
down our heroes, our monuments, our history, and our beliefs. These demagogues have
no plans to build a better future. They simply desire to destroy our present
and past.<br />
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They rewrite history, corrupt scientific study, and
poison our educational system. They seek to divide us by race, wealth,
religion, and beliefs, rather than unite us as Americans of a shared and
glorious future.<br />
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They persuade through propaganda and false promises.
Their solutions always lie in granting themselves more power over our lives.<br />
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They foment hate and rage.<br />
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They shall not triumph.<br />
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As President Reagan advised Americans of all generations, “When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”<br />
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I will be publishing a series of articles to expose the party of hate and asking, “Why?” Our freedoms are not the norm in human history. Our freedoms are not guaranteed. We must remain ever vigilant.<br />
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Aberdeener is back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-57620481526434908862017-11-01T17:03:00.002-04:002017-11-02T08:21:26.297-04:00Aberdeen’s Hapless RepublicansThe Aberdeen Republican Party has a long history of fielding weak candidates without a winning campaign strategy. Continuing the trend, this year’s flag bearer is Michael Canberg, a new resident and community organizer with a troubled financial history.<br />
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Canberg rose to local fame after triumphantly blocking the expansion of a Jewish school in Cliffwood. He successfully cobbled together a coalition of those opposed to development, opposed to burdening the public school district, and opposed to Jews from Lakewood "ruining the neighborhood".<br />
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Having acquired a name for himself, Canberg’s fellow republicans nominated him for mayor without regard for his personal history.<br />
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In May, 2017, a sheriff seized Canberg’s house in Manalapan. According to the <a href="https://www.meetingsdirector.com/aberdeen/Canberg%20Foreclosure.pdf" target="_blank">Deed of Foreclosure</a>, Tropicana Casino and Resort is listed among those parties with a prior interest in the house, which might explain Canberg’s history of personal bankruptcies.<br />
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The county lists either a tax sale or foreclosure lispendens (notice of foreclosure) against Canberg in 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, and 2015. In other words, from the year Canberg became an adult (1997) to the present.<br />
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Yet, the Republican Party doesn’t realize the irony of making Aberdeen’s debt (which is enormous) the centerpiece of its campaign.<br />
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At this point, I’d recommend the Aberdeen Republican Party reorganize as a church since it’s obviously a faith-based organization.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com343tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-25901902168462377342017-10-18T10:14:00.000-04:002017-10-18T10:19:03.672-04:00Mostly True<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s election season in Aberdeen and the Democrats are wagering they can extend their two-decade monopoly on the town council.<br />
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Statements on Facebook purporting to be from the candidates warrant a response.<br />
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<i>“In the case of the Glassworks, 85% of the property is not part of a PILOT and will just pay ordinary taxes from day one.</i>”<br />
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Glassworks is being built in stages. The 85% refers to the entire development but the PILOT only refers to the first stage. Nothing precludes the township from offering additional PILOTs for the later stage developments.<br />
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Furthermore, PILOT is only one of many ways to reduce a developer's cost. For example, the township had a practice of not assessing a property until a certificate of occupancy was issued. Since the developer didn’t request a C of O until the property was under contract, properties were nearly tax free until they were sold. Other likely benefits include scale of development, variances, infrastructure support, and ignoring violations.<br />
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In short, we don’t know what concessions the township is providing to the developer or whether they are appropriate.<br />
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<i>“[P]eople confuse the fact that the the PILOT Payment on the 15% does not get shared with the school district with the notion that they're paying no taxes. And there's nothing that we can do on the local level to change that. The State Redevelopment Law says that it doesn't go to the schools.”</i><br />
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This is only half true. When the Jefferson (Avalon at Aberdeen Station) units were built, the township granted the school district $200,000 annually to cover the expenses from the handful of students residing in the new development. At the time, arguments were made the school district was entitled to its fair share of revenue but at least the township didn’t create a hardship for the schools. The new developments specifically call for family housing. The township did not fully weigh the financial burden or educational impact on the schools nor offer any grants from the PILOT money to offset the costs of the additional students.<br />
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<i>“The town has only two imperfect tools to incentivize a developer to take down an abandoned factory or clean up an environmental mess: PILOTS and Abatements.”</i><br />
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Not true. How ironic to hear the Democratic leadership argue the only way to promote economic activity is through tax cuts to the wealthy.<br />
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As discussed above, there are numerous ways to entice development. Church St. development went from age-restricted housing to age-restricted and familly housing.<br />
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Manhattan has some of the highest taxes, restrictions, and burdens in the country yet there’s development throughout the city because the land is valuable. Aberdeen has a beautiful shoreline, parks, highway access, a train station, and boundless opportunity for improvement. Raise property values and developers will come begging.<br />
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To argue that taxes are the <i>only </i>way to entice development, suggesting it was the <i>only </i>thing negotiated between the developers and the township, says two things:<br />
1) Cover up<br />
2) The town council likes dropping their pants<br />
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<i>“We made a deal with RPM Development whereby they would clean it up on their dime, help us clean up the adjacent lot, and in return, they got the property (which had negative value) for $1 and a PILOT agreement for the same term as the repayment of the money RPM borrowed to clean up the property.”</i><br />
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If true, that means RPM got the land for free plus a virtual tax credit equal to the cost of the cleanup. In other words, they got the land at no cost. Somebody made lots of money on that deal.<br />
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<i>“[T]he PILOT payment goes directly into the municipal general budget and directly, dollar-for-dollar, lowers the residents' property tax levy - just like any other miscellaneous revenue. Now, you can say this is unfair to the schools, but it literally makes no monetary difference to a resident. Their four quarterly payments are going to be reduced by the PILOT revenue - the only difference is whether their municipal taxes are lower or their school taxes are lower. It's a zero-sum game regardless.”</i><br />
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Pure propaganda.<br />
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The notion that the township gets to pocket the revenue while the school district bears the cost “makes no difference” is shameful. It means the township does not recognize nor cares about the burden it places on the school district. And it assumes Aberdeen is a town of idiots.<br />
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Of course it matters whether money goes to the township or the school district. The township has far fewer restraints on increasing spending and far greater incentives to encourage development than the school district. This PILOT money will go towards municipal spending, not tax relief. The school district will get another influx of students without sufficient funding for them. The township will debate how to spend more money while parents and students fight over scarce resources.<br />
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And the school district is called Matawan-Aberdeen for a reason. A third of the school won’t be benefiting from the township’s munificence. Cardinal rule of getting along – Don’t piss upstream from your neighbors.<br />
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<i>“Finally, people ask: why everything at the same time?”</i><br />
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Not exactly. People are asking why so much over development at the same time.<br />
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We know the answer to that question. With all due deference to Jessie J (Price Tag), it is all about the money, money, money. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com83tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-2732020706007173372017-03-28T11:33:00.000-04:002017-03-28T11:33:05.030-04:00Borrow Now, Borrow LaterIt's local election season again and time for another Republican drumming. Should the Republicans choose to win an election rather than just run for the heck of it, here's a place they might try looking.<div>
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<a href="http://www.mcelweequinn.com/system/files/job-pdfs/11/2017_aberdeentownship_pos.pdf" target="_blank">Aberdeen's Financial Statement</a> to refinance its debt obligations.</div>
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<li>From 2012 to 2016, the municipal tax rate increased 17% (Page A-6)</li>
<li>From 2012 to 2016, municipal spending increased 20% (Page A-7)</li>
<li>Municipal debt is $26.9 million, 144% of the annual budget (Page A-9)</li>
<li>From 2012 to 2016, municipal debt service increased 63% to $2.175 million per year and now accounts for 11.6% of the total budget (Page A-7)</li>
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Those numbers will worsen as interest rates increase. Now, you know why the township is so gung-ho on development. The money is already spent. </div>
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Below is a letter I received that I'm re-printing with the author's permission.</div>
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N.J. "Oath of Office" or is it the "Oath of
Abuse of Office"? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
the Constitution of the United States and the State of New Jersey; that I will
bear true faith and allegiance to the Governments established in the United
States and in this State, under the Authority of the people; and that I will
faithfully, impartially and justly perform al the duties of the office of ___ according
to the best of my ability, and that I will not use my office to grant
preferential treatment, nor to seek personal gain, favor, or advantage not
available to the general public. (so help me God* opt). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Keywords: I swear, support, defend, Constitution of the
United States, true faith, allegiance, faithfully, impartially, justly, best of
my ability, not use my office to grant preferential treatment, not seek
personal gain or advantage not available to the general public. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Are any of these "keywords" the truth of the
decisions, votes, and spending of our taxpayer dollars to not have truly
brought community wide beneficial actions by our elected Democrat only
officials "Oath of Office" in Aberdeen? Many in Aberdeen say
"absolutely not" from simply looking around our town you can see that
the "Oath of Office" sworn to by our Democrat only leadership was
more truthfully an "Oath of Abuse of Office" that betrayed the entire
Aberdeen community.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many stores in Aberdeen have been closing up operations (despite
an Aberdeen Economic Business Council supposedly formed to help all of the
towns businesses equally). Our neglected beach areas promised to be improved
that campaigns labeled "The Jewel of Aberdeen". More truthfully our
"Jewel" of a beachfront areas have been ignored (despite 2017 campaign
year "promise of a new Water Park). Over 15 years of photo ops and failed
political promises.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More proof of the past two decades of Democrat only “promises”
to bring our town senior housing and "lower taxes through "smart
development" with constant campaign promises that "this next building
development will finally bring a Main Street to Aberdeen". That Main
Street "promise'' of course never happened for decades. The current
building surge no doubt will also be used in Democrat campaign 2017 literature
as "progress" but it will be very costly "progress" under
the equally questionable and manipulated PILOT Program that strips our Schools
of much needed tax monies from such politically controlled and approved
building projects. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In Aberdeen was the "Oath of Office" so often
taken by our leaders been a citizen betraying "Oath of Abuse of Office?
Was the "Oath just empty words for decades with politicized photo-ops and
political lies and tricks to maintain corrupt political control? We in Aberdeen<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-22900147056259948802016-10-11T09:14:00.003-04:002016-10-11T09:22:12.085-04:00Government For The People<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"[T]hat we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."</i> – Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are we still resolved to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are we resolved to have a government of the people or single issue interest groups who sell their votes and support to the highest bidder? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are we resolved to have a government by the people or professional politicians and lifelong bureaucrats who shield themselves from the consequences of their decisions?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are we resolved to have a government for the people?</i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are rising taxes about investing in our future or bloat, incompetence, and greed?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are our schools’ priority education for our children or job security and benefits for the staff? </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are traffic and parking tickets primarily used for law enforcement and public safety or revenue?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Is the Veterans Administration hospital system dedicated to providing the best care for our most deserving or a corrupt organization cooking the books?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are we a nation of laws or are some people more equal than others?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Does our government promote hard work and savings or dependency?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Do our public officials prefer the unpredictability of the free marketplace or the power to pick winners and losers?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Do we have a government that has earned our trust?</i></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This election will test our resolve. This election is not about our two imperfect candidates, it’s about us. What kind of nation do we want? What kind of government do we want? And who will get us there? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Are we resolved to vote for freedom, safety, and prosperity? Are we resolved to vote for competence and dedication to the public good? Are we resolved to vote that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth?</i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1168tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-26406628574093081672016-08-21T09:04:00.003-04:002016-08-21T09:04:32.916-04:00Questions for HillaryElection Day approaches and Hillary is the strong favorite in Aberdeen. She's been stumbling on the campaign trail so let's help her with some easy questions.<br />
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<ol>
<li>How would you protect female
interns from Bill Clinton and Anthony Weiner?</li>
<li>How much would you charge for the
Lincoln Bedroom and should checks be made to cash or the Clinton Foundation?</li>
<li>Which bathroom would you use to
store your personal email server and will it be open to transgenders?</li>
<li>On radio, you bragged of using a
technicality to get a child rapist a reduced sentence and you accused the
12-year old victim of being the aggressor. Why brag?</li>
<li>In Whitewater, you designed the
sales agreements to strip the buyer of all home equity if he missed a single
payment for any reason. The contract was legal in Arkansas but illegal in most
other states. As president, would you seek to make it legal nationwide?</li>
<li>You wish to increase the number of
Syrian refugees coming to our country by 500%. Do you believe that will make us
safer?</li>
<li>Simon & Schuster paid you $14
million for a book that only sold 200,000 copies. Ebay paid you $315,000 for a
20-minute speech. Cisco paid you $325,000 just to sit on a stage with the CEO. Do
you think these companies got their money’s worth?</li>
<li>Can you name a bill you sponsored
as senator?</li>
<li>You have promised to create
millions of jobs through infrastructure projects? In today’s age of technology,
do you see road builder as a job of the future?</li>
<li>The last 8 years has seen the most
anemic economic growth in American history. What would you have done differently?</li>
<li>What was your greatest
accomplishment as Secretary of State?</li>
<li>How is your health?</li>
</ol>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com408tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-12504452784257112772016-05-30T11:48:00.004-04:002016-05-30T11:48:39.892-04:00Remembering Memorial Day"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember . </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">. .</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">
And we owe them something, those boys. We owe them first a promise: That just as they did not forget their missing comrades, neither, ever, will we. And there are other promises. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance. We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying strong."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">
<a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=37350&st=Memorial+Day" target="_blank">Ronald Reagan, Memorial Day, 1986</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com786tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-23862602139269819652016-01-11T11:36:00.003-05:002016-01-11T14:17:38.299-05:00More Say It Ain't So<a href="http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2013/04/four_face_marijuana_charges_in.html" target="_blank"><strong>As reported on NJ.com</strong></a><br />
<br />
Four New Jersey men were charged with possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on April 27, said a State Police spokesman.<br />
<br />
At about 10:15 a.m., State Police stopped a BMW that was speeding on Route 78 in the area of milepost 6.6, said Sgt. Adam Grossman.<br />
<br />
State Police approached the vehicle and could smell marijuana, Grossman said. Marijuana was found in the vehicle and the occupants were arrested and taken to the Perryville station, where they were charged with possession of marijuana.<br />
<br />
James DeMatto, 30, of Freehold; William Mcguinn, 29, of Matawan; Gregory Cannon, 29, of Aberdeen; and Justin Deleo, 31, of Secaucus were all charged.<br />
<br />
<strong>James DeMatteo</strong><br />
<a href="http://patch.com/new-jersey/matawan-aberdeen/aberdeen-planning-board-holds-reorganization-meeting" target="_blank">Aberdeen Planning Board Holds Reorganization Meeting</a><br />
James DeMatteo and Vincent Vinci were named the first and second alternates<br />
<br />
<strong>William Mcguinn</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.hoaglandlongo.com/news-events/William_McGuinn_Appointed_as_the_Municipal_Court_Prosecutor_in_Aberdeen_Township/" target="_blank">William McGuinn Appointed as the Municipal Court Prosecutor in Aberdeen Townshi</a>p<br />
William McGuinn was sworn in as the Aberdeen Township Municipal Prosecutor on January 6, 2015<br />
<br />
<strong>Gregory Cannon</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.app.com/story/news/local/monmouth-county-bayshore/aberdeen/2015/11/03/aberdeen-nj-election-results/75108672/" target="_blank">Democrats sweep in Aberdeen</a><br />
Gregory Cannon (1,313 votes), Arthur Hirsch (1,283), Robert Swindle (1,277) and Concetta Kelley (1,294)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com714tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-57433007935130673852015-11-02T14:33:00.001-05:002015-11-02T16:50:23.513-05:00The Democratic Slate<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah, it’s that time of year again when Aberdeen Township gets
to renew its fealty to the democratic party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Harvey Brenner</b> – Nice guy who’s reputed to have already
accepted a job offer in upstate New York and has no intention of serving on the
town council.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gregory Cannon</b> – Remembered for <a href="http://www.aberdeener.com/2015/03/bully-pulpit.html">brow-beating a constituent</a>
whose home was likely flooded by a township project but refused to accept the
town’s meager settlement offer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Concetta Kelly</b> – She operates a state funded school charity
and regularly pockets a quarter of the proceeds. To date, she’s <a href="http://meetingsdirector.com/aberdeen/concettakelly" target="_blank">paid herself over $300,000</a> for her charity work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Robert Swindle</b> – He’s the guy who sat quietly as his attorney <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=743KFxPdlG8" target="_blank">threatened to imprison locals</a>
demanding the right to speak at a township meeting on COAH housing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the people Aberdeen will elect tomorrow. How
exciting!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com316tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-89669247679437955612015-08-03T16:54:00.002-04:002015-08-05T08:15:14.593-04:00Guilty by Association<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“I didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic
Party left me.” – Ronald Reagan</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I remember when Fred Tagliarini left the Republican Party
to run for Mayor of Aberdeen. At the time, he explained party affiliation
at the local level was irrelevant; I presume Mayor Tagliarini still tilts right
at the state and national level. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If party affiliation was ever irrelevant at the local
level, that is no longer true. The Democratic Party has become hell bent on
transforming America at any cost. Any person running on the Democratic ticket
is promoting a party that believes: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A democratic Israel is more dangerous to world
peace than a nuclear and terror-sponsoring Iran<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Illegal aliens are more law abiding than the
average American AND are less likely to report crime <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Hillary Clinton did not violate any laws or
policies when storing and then destroying confidential government email on a private
server, did not user her office for personal gain, and does not user her “charity”
as a tax-free slush fund<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> “Progressive”
policies trump religious liberty<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> “Progressive”
policies trump constitutional safeguards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Al Sharpton is a statesman, having been invited to
the White House dozens of times and given a talk show on MSNBC (whose parent
company booted Donald Trump)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Teacher union interests take precedence over
children’s interests <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Checking criminal histories of job applicants is racist
and illegal but Asian quotas at top universities are appropriate to promote
diversity<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Man-made global warming is beyond scientific debate despite
rampant manipulation of data and the failure of every climate model predicting
future warming<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->10)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->More government, more regulations, and more
taxes are more often the answer than not<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->11)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The government will never go bankrupt because we
can always print more money<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am confident Mayor Tagliarini does not believe in any
of the above. Sadly, I can’t say the same of his colleagues running for town
council. This is the political party they’ve chosen and support. Will Aberdeen do
the same?<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com586tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-19980508072334942272015-03-05T10:52:00.001-05:002015-03-05T10:52:15.820-05:00Bully Pulpit<div class="MsoNormal">
At an <a href="http://aberdeennj.org/filestorage/151/380/619/389/395/121614reg.pdf" target="_blank">open town meeting on December 16, 2014</a>, the town
council told Mr. Rizkalla<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The township’s million dollar water project did
not cause flooding in his house</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Had two experts visit his house who “cannot tell
us anything the Township did is causing water in your basement”</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Will not release the reports of those “two
experts”</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Offered Mr. Rizkalla $19,000 to go away</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">That he’s welcome to get a lawyer and sue</span></li>
</ol>
Does that sound like the town is being honest?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">Here’s another piece to consider.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">The township is blocking disclosure of the engineer reports based
upon the reports are protected “work product” prepared in anticipation of legal
action. Fair enough. The reports probably are “work product.” However, in our
country, the government works for us. Governmental institutions don’t enjoy the
same rights to privacy as individuals. Freedom of Information Laws and the Open
Public Records Act codify the public’s right to government records with certain
exceptions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">Work product is a limited exception. As the town attorney surely
knows, on July 21, 2014, in <a href="http://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/supreme-court/2014/a-16-12.html" target="_blank">Martin E. O’Boyle v. Borough of Longport</a>, the
Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the public’s “common law right of access”.
The court further held as follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">The attorney-client privilege shields the disclosure of
documents otherwise accessible under OPRA . . . In order to determine whether
the common law right of access applies to a particular set of records, a court
must first determine whether the documents in question are public records. Second,
the party seeking disclosure must show that he has an interest in the public
record. If the record is privileged, the requestor must articulate a
particularized need. Finally, once an interest is established, </span>
<i style="text-indent: -24px;">the burden shifts to the public entity</i><span style="text-indent: -24px;">
to establish that its need for non-disclosure outweighs the plaintiff s need
for disclosure. [Emphasis added]</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">The engineer’s reports are plainly public documents. Mr.
Rizkalla has a “particularized need” in knowing if the township turned his home
into a fish tank before he spends $100,000 to remediate the basement. Mr.
Cannon, an attorney and town council member speaking on behalf of the town
council, stated emphatically that the engineering reports do not show the
township has any liability.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">If so, how can the public’s need for non-disclosure outweigh
Mr. Rizkalla’s need to know?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">And that’s the crux of the matter. Mr. Rizkalla has the law
on his side but the township has taxpayer money. The council can spend hundreds
of thousands of taxpayer dollars on legal fees and stretch the court battle
over years. Mr. Rizkalla cannot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">Mr. Rizkalla is not a rich man. Mr. Rizkalla’s home is
flooded and likely has mold issues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">So the town council, acting on behalf of the public’s welfare,
offers Mr. Rizkalla some money and tells him to take it or sue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">Welcome to the bully pulpit.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-28333879090143756452014-11-13T09:54:00.001-05:002014-11-13T09:55:07.885-05:00Aberdeen PaydayPerusing Aberdeen’s <a href="http://www.aberdeennj.org/filestorage/204/211/238/2014ADOPTBUDGET_20140523091716-2.pdf" target="_blank">2014 Municipal Budget</a>, I noticed the following:<br />
Sheet 12 –<br />
Administrative Salaries increased 37% in one year to $168,979<br />
Financial Salaries increased 6% this year and 56% since 2007 to $164,242<br />
<br />
Sheet 13 –<br />
Tax Collection Salaries increased 7% this year to $111,927<br />
Tax Assessment Salaries increased 14% this year to $71,500<br />
<br />
Sheet 14 –<br />
Employee Group Health Insurance increased 113% since 2007 and is now $1.72 million<br />
<br />
It’s wonderful to know that public service can be so rewarding.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com478tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-86266043293903164002014-05-04T12:58:00.000-04:002014-05-04T12:58:26.100-04:00Living in NeverlandOn March 4th, the residents of Freneau <a href="http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/aberdeennj/pages/357/attachments/original/1395417625/030414regmins.pdf?1395417625" target="_blank">submitted a petition to the Aberdeen Town Council</a> requesting sewers. Both Deputy Mayor Montone and Councilman Cannon assured the residents the town was working “very hard”. Councilman Cannon added, “We realize it is not fair that you are paying taxes and everyone gets their streets and sidewalks done and you get nothing.”<br />
<br />
Deputy Montone twice assured the residents the council was making “progress”. How did she define “progress”? The council has made lots of plans.<br />
<br />
Welcome to Neverland where the future is always bright and there’s a plan to solve every problem. Taxes too high? There’s a plan for a transit village and another plan for the redevelopment of Anchor Glass. Cost of housing too high? There’s a plan for a senior residence and low-income housing. Concerned about pay-to-play? The town council has a plan for that as well. Whatever problem you may have, rest assured the town council has a plan. Lots of plans. Wonderful plans. And if those plans don’t work, the town council will make new plans. Better plans. Plans that will amaze and astound.<br />
<br />
Such is the beauty of living in Neverland where a majority of voters never grows up.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-68670739381747833532013-12-31T09:50:00.003-05:002013-12-31T09:50:52.163-05:00New Year’s Resolution<br />
<ol>
<li>I will no longer believe politicians who promise me
something for nothing</li>
<li>I will no longer trust politicians to fix all my problems</li>
<li>I will no longer trust politicians to care for me and my
family</li>
<li>I will no longer believe politicians who promise to protect
me by stripping me of my rights</li>
<li>I will no longer believe politicians can fix a problem by
simply writing a law or taking a vote</li>
<li>I will no longer believe nice and caring implies
effective and competent</li>
<li>I will no longer trust politicians who promise to fix
problems after their terms of office</li>
<li>I will no longer trust politicians who promise to fix
broken promises</li>
<li>I will no longer trust politicians who think I’m stupid
for believing they mean what they say</li>
<li>I will no longer trust politicians who are more giving
with other people’s monies than their own</li>
<li>I will no longer support politicians who think I work for
them</li>
<li>I will no longer support politicians who take all the
credit and none of the blame</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
May this be the year government works for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com766tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-16507403551058196862013-10-09T09:49:00.000-04:002013-10-09T09:49:18.814-04:00What’s the School Plan?Why are teachers using online courses to attain higher
degrees but the students are not? Rather than expand and experiment with new
teaching technologies, the Information Technology budget has been slashed by
over 30% in two years to $163,000. That’s roughly $4 per student. Add the total
district library budget, and you’re just over $20 a kid. <br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Meanwhile, during that same period, per pupil
expenditures (ignoring overhead) is up 13% to $13,430 per student. $5,000,000 was added to capital expenditures.
Teacher benefits are galloping along at annual increases of 10%.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The simple reality is that public school is too expensive
and the education is woefully below student needs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The school district should pursue a blended approach of
technology, individualized instruction, and teacher/student interaction. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a first step, the district must approach parents for permission
to instruct their children in math and science via online courses. The students
could work at their own pace in a supervised school environment. Those who need
more time and help, will get it. Those who can fly will be allowed to do so.
Parents can withdraw their children from the program at any time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s either this, charter schools, or implosion. By
staying the course, the district will have chosen implosion.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com421tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-45185865367105040802013-08-26T18:38:00.000-04:002013-08-27T09:38:02.169-04:00Aberdeen’s Death SpiralIf you’ve been living in Aberdeen a while, have you noticed a change?<br />
<br />
Have you noticed that big projects never seem to get done anymore? Transit station, swim club, Glass Anchor, senior housing, everything seems to be in limbo.<br />
<br />
Have you noticed the money problems getting worse? That Aberdeen no longer maintains a rainy day fund, that its credit rating has been cut, or that it might, on occasion, need to raid the public library’s coffers?<br />
<br />
Have you noticed retirees increasingly leaving Aberdeen to escape the high property taxes?<br />
<br />
Have you noticed more vacant properties in the area? (Ten more sheriff sales scheduled for September.)<br />
<br />
Have you noticed certain programs getting cut and the money never seems to be restored?<br />
<br />
Have you noticed few seem to care and nobody does anything about it?<br />
<br />
This is what a death spiral looks like. It starts slow and nobody cares. It speeds up and everyone pretends someone else will fix the problem. And then . . . collapse.<br />
<br />
Need more evidence?<br />
2006 Pension Contributions:<br />
Police and Firemen - $238,883<br />
Public Employees - $51,558<br />
<br />
2013 Pension Contributions:<br />
Police and Firemen - $945,052<br />
Public Employees - $248,170<br />
<br />
Percent Increase over 7 Years:<br />
Police and Firemen - 396%<br />
Public Employees – 481%<br />
<br />
2007 Employee Group Health - $810,000 (2006 numbers unavailable)<br />
2013 Employee Group Health - $1,640,804<br />
% Increase over 6 Years – 203%<br />
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com329tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-74644473084371136622013-07-09T12:53:00.001-04:002013-07-09T12:59:50.623-04:00Aberdeen's Budget Gnomes at WorkBudget is policy.<br />
<br />
Budget is spin.<br />
<br />
Budget is sleight of hand.<br />
<br />
In Aberdeen, budget is all of the above.<br />
<br />
Although the final budget was adopted a month ago, the final numbers have not been posted and we’re reduced to relying upon “press releases” from the town council. Still, we do have the initially proposed budget and the final numbers are likely similar. The initial budget also provides a great window into the township’s budget approach.<br />
<br />
Sheet 3B of the initial budget states the following:<br />
Maximum Allowable Amount to be Raised by Taxation 10,690,838<br />
Amount to be Raised by Taxation for Municipal Purposes 10,690,314<br />
<br />
The township started the budgeting process from the maximum amount it could tax residents and then worked backwards, looking to make small cuts here and there.<br />
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In the township’s “press release,” they crowed over reducing the tax increase to just 3.67%, nearly double the supposed 2% cap, over twice the school district’s 1.5% tax hike, but only half the originally proposed 6.3% hike. Hence the repeated messaging that Aberdeen’s residents should be thankful they’re not being taxed even more.<br />
<br />
Then there are those pesky details like the vanishing surplus.<br />
<br />
In 2006, the surplus fund was $1.5 million. Now it’s down to just $230,000. The purpose of the surplus fund is to prevent “rainy day” tax hikes that never disappear but simply get added to the following year’s baseline. Last year, they blamed the tax hikes on tax appeals. This year it was Hurricane Sandy. Next year, it will be something else. Last year’s tax hike is never enough to cover this year’s problem.<br />
<br />
But even this is yesterday’s news. According to the budget (Sheet 39), the surplus fund will be drawn down to zero by the end of this year.<br />
<br />
Last year, Moody’s downgraded Aberdeen’s $15 million in outstanding debt stating, “The downgrade to A1 reflects the borough's weakened financial position following fund balance draws in each of the last seven years.” (The $15 million debt only reflects general obligation bonds and not sewer utility bonds.)<br />
<br />
Remarkably, debt payments have remained stable around $1.5 million per year. The township achieved that feat by finally cutting its road program to affordable levels, just $1.1 million per year, down from $3 million per year in 2007. Expect more programs to get crowded out as costs continue to spiral.<br />
<br />
Another money scheme is the PILOT program – Payment in Lieu Of Taxes. The school district gets two-thirds of the property taxes but the township keeps over half the PILOT money. That effectively transfers about $100,000 a year from the school budget to the township budget.<br />
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Police department salaries and expenses is only up 2% this year but that’s mainly because virtually every officer has reached the top of the pay scale and is earning over $100,000 a year plus benefits. Annual contributions to the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System are up a whopping 9% and will top a million dollars next year. (As an aside, my personal experiences with the ATPD were always outstanding and I’ve come to appreciate the ATPD far more since my move to NYC. I recently installed a dashboard camera to protect myself from the NYPD whose actions I’ve witnessed to range from awesome to criminal.)<br />
<br />
Electric is down $20,000 due to the solar panels. Or, in Aberdeen terms, the savings is about 1.5% of what gets paid annually to CME.<br />
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Library funding is back to 2007 levels, the one area the township has “succeeded” in controlling costs.<br />
<br />
What can be done to reduce taxes? Implement a 2% cap with no exceptions, open engineering services to competitive bidding, and develop commercial areas.<br />
<br />
Since those suggestions will never be implemented, the only other option for people looking for lower taxes is to move.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com245tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-81865290957020214672013-04-29T15:18:00.000-04:002013-04-30T11:31:23.840-04:00More Taxes for Everyone<i>"Those are just some
of the things that the town provides to the residents for essentially $121 a
month," Councilman Gregory Cannon said. "That's less than my cable
bill."</i> – Matawan-Aberdeen Patch, March 25, 2013
<br />
<br />
Give Councilman Cannon
credit for saying what everyone on the council was thinking. “Don’t worry. You
can afford another tax increase. Taxes too high? It’s not our fault. We spend
so little. We really are doing a great job spending your money.”
<br />
<br />
I wonder if there’s a
single homeowner whose cable bill is higher than his property taxes.
<br />
<br />
Oh, you say, I make an
unfair comparison. After all, the municipality only controls municipal taxes.
It’s not the council’s fault that you’re also taxed for school, county, fire,
sanitation, and sewage.
<br />
<br />
I think the comparison is
quite fair.
<br />
<br />
First, the “average”
homeowner pays far more than $121 a month once you exclude apartments and
condos from the mix. (No offense to Councilman Cannon.)
<br />
<br />
Second, the council budget
is $16.3 million, $5.6 million above the tax levy. Where does Councilman Cannon
think that money comes from if not the taxpayer? And even that number doesn’t
include the two fire districts, over another million dollars a year. Nor does
the budget include the full cost of the road program, millions a year paid with
IOUs. Debt payments have skyrocketed 15% in one year and now account for nearly
a tenth of the budget.
<br />
<br />
And what happened to the
reserves? In 2006, the township had $7.6 million in reserves. Now, it’s half
that.
<br />
<br />
As for the school
district, the fact that it costs an average $15,000 to educate one child hasn’t
discouraged the township one whit from residential housing. But all the
non-residential development, those projects that would actually reduce property
taxes, have been in “development” for a decade. Then again, what can you expect
when the town engineer is bankrolling every election.
<br />
<br />
Of course, council members
can shield themselves from tax increases by voting salary increases for
themselves, which they do.
<br />
<br />
Total municipal spending
including all the township’s branches of government, is over $50 million a year
or, using Councilman Cannon’s “average homeowner”, about $600 a month. That’s awfully close to the "average" property tax bill not to mention a
lot of cable.
<br />
<br />
Here’s a different comparison
for Councilman Cannon – How many councilmen have municipal salaries higher than
their property taxes? Maybe they should learn to pay their own property taxes like
everybody else
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com439tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-55631493807095114482013-03-07T13:19:00.003-05:002013-03-07T13:19:28.586-05:00Serving the PublicImagine how the township would look if it was designed to
serve the public?<br />
<span id="goog_629416587"></span><span id="goog_629416588"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In town hall, instead of an “Information Desk”, there would
be a customer service desk manned by two people who could handle nearly every
need. Want to file an OPRA request, pay your taxes or sewer bill, submit a
variance request, or get a building permit, you could do it all at one place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Have questions, not only could an Information Desk answer
most questions, they already have printed guides. Want to challenge your
property assessment but don’t know how? Common hurdles in getting building
permits and sample submissions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Imagine a town hall designed with a focus of serving the
people. On the website would be links to proposed ordinances and regulations. A
link to <a href="https://secure.njappealonline.com/prodappeals/login.aspx" target="_blank">Monmouth County’s online tax appeal</a>. Guidelines to hiring contractors
and when variances or permits are required. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadly, you will have to imagine because it’s probably not in
your future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The township doesn’t post its budgets or much other useful
information online and, if you want to do anything in town hall, you will
likely need to go to multiple desks more than once. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As for the school district, spending is once again on a
tear. In the three years I’ll have been gone, <a href="http://matawan-aberdeen.patch.com/articles/matawan-aberdeen-board-of-education-to-vote-on-tentative-budget-monday" target="_blank">school spending will have gone up$9 million</a>, increasing over 5% a year. At that rate, the district will crack
the $100 million level in 8 years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there are all the broken promises from Anchor Glass to
senior housing to Aberdeen Forge to the transit village to the swim club. No
doubt all the unwanted residential development is on schedule.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And when will the school district begin teaching computer
programming? <o:p></o:p></div>
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So much potential. So much lost opportunity. This is how a
town is punished for giving so much and asking for so little. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com384tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-19414267202022897062013-01-16T11:23:00.002-05:002013-01-16T11:23:33.987-05:00Aberdeen’s Tax ChampionsCongratulations to Aberdeen for placing third in Monmouth
County for the highest tax increases of 2012. As reported by the <a href="http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/nj_property_taxes_rise_slightl.html" target="_blank">Star Ledger</a>
(hat tip to the <a href="http://matawan-aberdeen.patch.com/articles/report-aberdeen-property-taxes-increased-by-48-in-2012" target="_blank">MatAb Patch</a>), Aberdeen scored a 4.8% property tax increase,
nearly triple the state average of 1.7%. (Matawan only raised their taxes 0.6%,
damn Republicans.)<br />
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No doubt a majority of Aberdeen homeowners will be
thrilled by the increases, an average of $300 on top of all the prior years’
increases. After all, that’s why the townsfolk keep reelecting the people who
raise their taxes. It’s a quality of life issue. Vincent Vinci Park costs
money.</div>
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As for those who don’t like the high taxes, they’re
invited to leave. Sure the high taxes have already ravaged an already weakened
housing market but if leaving ain’t worth a short sale and maybe killing your
credit history then stop complaining. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To all you taxpayers, thank you for your money and be
assured that every penny is being spent. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com390tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-24837683747765909692013-01-08T11:06:00.001-05:002013-01-12T20:50:46.726-05:00Another Election YearIn Aberdeen, every year is an election year and, if history
continues to repeat, we all know what the good people of Aberdeen can expect.<br />
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Taxes will go up. The earners have already seen their
payroll taxes go up and many of you may be wondering how the limit in
deductions will impact you. And then there are the tolls. And don’t forget
property taxes are now on autopilot, rising ever higher. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course, there are lots of ways to build a larger revenue
base without simply raising taxes but have you ever noticed that the only major
developments to actually happen in Aberdeen are residential developments? Still
waiting for the train station, senior housing, Anchor Glass, pool club,
Aberdeen Forge, etc.? Joe Ciaglia’s appointment to the Zoning Board should be
interesting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As for the elections, we can expect another Democrat sweep,
funded by the town council’s unabashed pay-to-play. After all, a township that
can name a park after an egregious self-serving politician certainly knows no
shame. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Nor will people care about the town’s response to Superstorm
Sandy. If Hurricane Irene didn’t prepare the town for Sandy, it’s hard to
believe Aberdeen will be any better prepared for the next storm. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Republicans will run on a campaign of ideas but, as
President Obama so artfully demonstrated, ideas don’t win campaigns. Votes win
campaigns. And votes require strategy and lots of hard work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there’s the school board. Once again, the town
demonstrated breathtaking apathy about the education of our children and
property taxes by simply voting for the top slots on the ballot regardless of
which candidates occupied those top slots. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It doesn’t have to be this way. All it takes is leadership
and lots of hard work to turn around Aberdeen. Till then, expect more of the
same because that’s what the voters of Aberdeen want. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099245919524883845.post-23282555407334608682012-12-17T14:30:00.004-05:002012-12-17T14:30:43.903-05:00Happy HolidaysOnce again, everyone is asking “What is this world coming
to?” We are all victims of Newtown. We didn’t lose as much as those who lost
their lives or the victims’ family and friends. Nor did we suffer the trauma of
the survivors or their family, friends, and neighbors. But we all felt the
pain, imagined the horror, and wondered “Is there no end?”<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Terrible news abounds. Politics. Economics. Violence.
War. And yet, these are the best of times. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank God we are horrified by the thought of someone
killing children. A friend of mine, an Aberdeen resident until his recent
passing, was a Holocaust survivor. He once saw a mother trying to stop her baby’s
crying. A Nazi officer ripped the baby from the mother’s arms, grabbed him by
the feet, and smashed his skull against a wall. Just like that. Didn’t think
twice. At the same time, America blocked Jewish refugees from entering this
country. Nobody cared. Today, we’re concerned
about medical treatment for terrorists and prisoners on death row. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The country’s racing towards bankruptcy. Why? Because we’re
more generous than we can afford to be. Same story for Europe. At what time in
the history of mankind have governments been on the verge of collapse for being
too generous? <o:p></o:p></div>
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We worry about our children’s future. Will they be better
off than us? Heck, yeah. From Roman civilization to the 18<sup>th</sup>
century, what were the greatest inventions? The printing press. That’s it. Today,
even poor people have cell phones, televisions, air conditioning, etc. My son
gets games on his iPod for a dollar. I worry he gets too much too easy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As for Islamic terrorism, that’s not nearly as scary
nuclear Armageddon with the Soviet Union. And look at the rise of democracy and
human rights around the globe. This is a sharp departure from human history. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s a balance in the world. As the capacity for good
grows, so does the capacity for evil. Yet, let’s not forget the riches we can bequeath
to our children or the lessons learned. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy holidays and a blessed new year. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com112