Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Organizer denies political action committee sought to hide contributions
A political action committee financed largely by contractors doing business in Bergen County paid for an event celebrating the county Democratic party's election night victory last November in Hasbrouck Heights, the Star-Ledger reported Wednesday. The PAC that covered the $10,033.54 event, the New Leadership Council of New Jersey, was created by Daniel Ortega, a former Democratic party official under ex-chairman Joe Ferriero. The former party chair was indicted on mail fraud charges, but his conviction was later overturned. Ortega said the PAC was not seeking to hide contributions, according to the report. The celebration was not an official Democratic party event, he said. "The purpose of this PAC is to support current and new …
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Speakers at the rally in Ridgewood pressed the crowd to lobby the state senate in support of 12 proposed gun control bills.
With the failure of proposed gun control measures to pass the Senate this week, gun control proponents turned their focus to the state level in a rally on Sunday. “Stand Up for Gun Sanity,” sponsored by the Bergen County Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and held at Ridgewood’s Christ Episcopal Church, featured Congressman Bill Pascrell, State Senators Loretta Weinberg and Robert Gordon, as well as several speakers from around the county. “We support the second amendment rights of law abiding Americans,” Pascrell said. “We support citizens’ right to possess firearms for hunting, shooting sports, defense—lawful and legitimate purposes. But we insist on reinstating and strengthening the prospective federal ban on assault weapons.” Pascrell, …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Town Hall meeting partnered parents with emergency services, elected officials and members of the Board of Ed to discuss school safety.
Nearly 100 residents and parents filled the second floor meeting room at the Fort Lee Community Center during Wednesday's Town Hall meeting to discuss the safety and security of Fort Lee schools. The meeting, a response to the tragic events that happened in Newtown, Connecticut, was a collaborative effort between the Mayor and Council, emergency services and the Board of Education. The panel included: Mayor Mark Sokolich was the evening's moderator. Bendul opened the evening by assuring the audience that he, and every member of his department, is committed to the safety of Fort Lee's children and is in the process of reviewing security plans within each school with the intent of putting new measures into place. "Some of these operations we…
Friday, December 7, 2012
Power companies have not done enough to coordinate outreach with local officials, state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg says.
- BUSINESS
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Friday, December 7, 2012
By Joe Tyrrell, NJSpotlight.com Utility companies acknowledged communications problems during and after Hurricane Sandy, but defended their overall performance before a state Senate committee studying responses to the superstorm. That did not sit well with Stefanie Brand, director of the Division of Rate Counsel, who also took issue with the idea that the utilities wanted to spend some $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion to deploy smart meters. Brand argued that the BPU and Legislature must scrutinize utility spending and revenues before funneling more customer or taxpayer funds to them. But not all cost estimates brought a similar response. The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, whose Newark treatment facility inadvertently dumped 775 million …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
But marriage-equality supporters here prefer action by state Legislature
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
by Hank Kalet, NJSpotlight.com The success of marriage-equality ballot initiatives in three states Tuesday demonstrates that voters are growing more accepting, but should not be used as models for legalization in New Jersey, supporters of same-sex marriage believe. Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington approved referendum questions Tuesday that made it legal for same-sex couples to marry in those states. They were the first such referendum questions to be approved in the nation, after 30 previous ballot initiatives around the country either banned same-sex marriage or reinforced existing bans. Supporters of marriage equality in New Jersey, including Garden State Equality and the sponsors of bills that would legalize same-sex marriage in…
Monday, November 5, 2012
With as many as 5,000 customers still without power in Fort Lee, Mayor Mark Sokolich delivered a list of all the areas in town needing to be restored. He also said the pedestrian curfew is now 8 p.m. so people can vote.
Editor's Note: This article was updated at 7:15 p.m. Monday. Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich met with the president of PSE&G Monday afternoon—a meeting he said was arranged by State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37), who will also be present—to give him a list of all the areas in Fort Lee that remain without power. Sokolich said earlier in the day that the meeting with PSE&G president and CEO Ralph LaRossa was “not going to be a pleasant one.” “I don’t know how productive it was for Fort Lee, per se, but I’m appreciative of anyone that faces the music, so to speak,” Sokolich said after the meeting, adding that he confirmed that work orders are in for what he called “critical buildings” and circuit breakers that need to be fixed. Although Sokolich …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Bill would require financial review before agencies contract for more than $250,000 with a private vendor.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
By Joe Tyrrell, NJSpotlight.com State Senate Democrats are attempting to put together legislation that would ensure that privatizing public services translates into actual savings for taxpayers. But they're getting some pushback from across the aisle, with Republicans complaining there are too many strings attached, as well as from the business community. It was expected that the bill would go before the Senate today, but it's not on the agenda. Among other things, the legislation would require public agencies get a fiscal analysis before they contract for more than $250,000 with a private vendor to take over services. Subsequent performance would be subject to a state audit, which could lead to penalties or even loss of the contract for …
Monday, September 24, 2012
Stricter controls over religious exemptions proposed
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, September 24, 2012
Parents’ ability to prevent their children from getting state-mandated vaccinations would face new restrictions if a bill headed to a senate vote becomes law. Exemptions from vaccines required at the elementary, secondary and college levels would be restricted to specific medical and religious reasons. The legislation’s sponsors, State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Joseph F. Vitale, said the bill is about protecting public health. “Unfortunately, the issue of student immunizations is an emotionally-charged topic, with scientifically unfounded and discredited information standing in as fact,” Weinberg said in a statement. “While we need to be mindful of legitimate medical and religious reasons for students abstaining …
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Senator won’t commit yet to backing gubernatorial candidate.
State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg will for run for re-election, politickernj.com reported Wednesday. Weinberg, once a candidate for lieutenant governor, told the website she would decide on a gubernatorial candidate to back once the candidates emerge. Once a Teaneck Township Council member, Weinberg was elected to the General Assembly in 1992. She was elected to the state senate in 2005. Weinberg has emerged as one of Gov. Chris Christie’s most vocal opponents. Some of the senator’s supporters have floated her as a candidate for governor, the report said.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Senator calls bipartisan meeting to explore future of New Bridge Landing.
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg has called a gathering of local and state officials set for Wednesday to tour Steuben House at Historic New Bridge Landing and discuss the site's future. In a letter to officials, Weinberg said the historic site could be an area attraction. "I think we all agree that Historic New Bridge Landing has the potential to be a star tourist attraction and economic engine in our County – but as of yet, it has not reached that full potential," Weinberg said in the letter to officials. "At this meeting we will tour the site and discuss the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s role as it pertains to the future of Historic New Bridge Landing," the letter said. Mayors from Teaneck, New Milford and River…
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6:41 pm on Sunday, April 28, 2013
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