Corrado Organizing Thanksgiving Food Drive to Feed Hungry Families in Legislative District
Senator Kristin Corrado is volunteering her legislative district office as a collection point for donated food as the holiday season approaches.
Sen. Kristin Corrado’s Thanksgiving Food Drive will be accepting donations at her district office in Totowa through Nov. 21. The food will help local food banks feed needy families in the area.
“Hunger is an ongoing concern for thousands of our friends and neighbors. The demand on food pantries reaches its peak at this time of year as temperatures plummet and the winter holidays approach,” said Corrado (R-40). “Thanksgiving grew from a seasonal celebration of the bountiful harvest, so this is an ideal time to collect canned goods and other food staples to stock the shelves of local food banks.”
10th District Legislators Urge State to Buy Surf Club in Toms River
10th District Legislators Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe are requesting the state utilize the Blue Acres Program to purchase the Joey Harrison’s Surf Club, a former nightclub in Toms River that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The beachfront club suffered irreparable damage from the 2012 hurricane and has not been purchased by a developer. The legislators believe Toms River should have the opportunity to purchase the land through the Blue Acres, a program the 10th District introduced 20 years ago to dedicate funds to conserve flood-prone land.
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe are asking the state to utilize the Blue Acres Program to purchase the a former nightclub in Toms River that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. (SenateNJ.com)
“The structure was completely demolished in Superstorm Sandy and now the state has the unique opportunity to purchase this property and utilize the open space for the public,” stated Holzapfel. “As an original sponsor of this landmark legislation, it is programs such as this that not only benefit the community but preserve the beauty of our coastline.”
O’Scanlon: Aberdeen Officials Need to Atone for False, Political Mailing Sent on Taxpayer Dime, Threats to County Officials
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) today sharply criticized Aberdeen Township’s taxpayer-funded distribution of flagrantly misleading information regarding the municipal record on taxes.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon sharply criticized Aberdeen Township’s taxpayer-funded distribution of flagrantly misleading information regarding the municipal record on taxes. (SenateNJ.com)
In July, Aberdeen’s governing body sent out a mailing to residents blatantly, and falsely, claiming that there was no increase in municipal taxes. The mailing blamed tax increases on schools, Monmouth County, and assessment methodologies.
“I’ve worked well and in good faith with Aberdeen during all my years in the legislature. Our good relationship makes my having to make this statement all the more difficult. But the Aberdeen administration failed its constituents on so many levels revolving around this demonstrably misleading, blatantly political, taxpayer-funded communication that I simply cannot let it stand,” said O’Scanlon
Pennacchio Urges NJDEP to Release Lake Closure Documents
Letter to Commissioner Follows Denial of OPRA Request for Information Related to HAB Advisories for Lake Hopatcong & Greenwood Lake
Senator Joe Pennacchio sent a letter to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) today urging the release of documents related to harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories that closed Lake Hopatcong and other New Jersey waterways to recreation for much of the summer.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio sent a letter to the NJDEP urging the release of documents related to harmful algal bloom advisories that closed Lake Hopatcong and other New Jersey waterways to recreation for much of the summer. (SenateNJ.com)
In the letter to NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe, Pennacchio called for the release of documents that he sought through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request in August. The NJDEP denied the requested records, asserting they contain “deliberative material.”
“All of the impacted communities deserve to know the truth. They deserve to know if their lives and livelihoods were disrupted as a result of a legitimate public health concern or for politics,” Pennacchio said in the letter. “Put simply, the NJDEP’s ‘deliberations’ on this matter are precisely what the people of our lakeside communities deserve to know.”
Bateman Praises Restoration of RVL One-Seat Ride to Manhattan
Calls for Establishment of One-Seat Service During Peak Hours
Senator Kip Bateman praised the decision by NJ Transit to restore the Raritan Valley Line’s (RVL) one-seat ride during off-peak hours to New York Penn Station.
Sen. Kip Bateman praised the decision by NJ Transit to restore the RVL one-seat ride during off-peak hours to NY Penn Station. (SenateNJ.com)
“This off-peak, one-seat ride on NJ Transit is a great first step to help the thousands of New Jerseyans who commute on the RVL each day,” said Bateman (R-16). “While this will make for a shorter and smoother commute for some, we must do more to alleviate the stress and frustration for commuters at all times of the day. I continue to stand with the Raritan Valley Line Mayor’s Alliance and the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition in calling for the establishment of a one-seat ride to Midtown on the RVL during peak hours.”
Kean: Our Fight for One-Seat Ride on Raritan Valley Line Has Yielded Results
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said years of work across multiple administrations has resulted in today’s announcement by Governor Murphy of weekday off-peak, one-seat-ride train service to Manhattan on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line.
Sen. Tom Kean said years of work across multiple administrations has resulted in the announcement of off-peak, one-seat-ride service to Manhattan on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line. (SenateNJ.com)
Following the announcement at the Westfield NJ Transit Station, Kean issued the following statement:
“Westfield and other municipalities along the Raritan Valley Line are commuter towns. Having safe, reliable rail service directly impacts the quality of life of of our residents. Convenience matters too. That’s why I have long fought for a one-seat ride to Manhattan that doesn’t require commuters to waste time switching trains as they travel to and from work each day. The hours saved by not having to switch trains is time that can be spent having breakfast with family in the morning. It can make it possible to get home in time for a child’s game in the evening.
“I’ve worked for years alongside the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition and our mayors to make a one-seat ride a reality. It’s often seemed like an uphill battle, but we never gave up. We fought to ensure that Governor Murphy and his predecessor understood that this initiative is of the greatest important to our towns along the line. Today’s announcement is a direct result of those efforts.
Bateman Applauds NJ DEP’s Rejection of PennEast Pipeline
Senator Kip Bateman commended the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s decision to deny permits for the proposed PennEast pipeline.
Sen. Bateman commended the NJ DEP’s decision to deny permits for the proposed PennEast pipeline. (PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC)
“I am pleased that the state Department of Environmental Protection rejected PennEast’s pipeline permits,” said Bateman (R-16). We do not want and do not need this environmentally damaging, property-value dropping nuisance in our backyards. Hey PennEast – stay off our land!”
Bateman Resolution Promoting Clean, Efficient Fuel Cells Signed
Senator Kip Bateman’s resolution designating October 8 as Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day in New Jersey was signed Tuesday. The date is significant, chosen for hydrogen’s atomic weight, 1.008.
Sen. Kip Bateman’s resolution designating October 8 as Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day in New Jersey was signed into law Tuesday. (©iStock)
“The annual observance will help promote these clean, safe and virtually limitless sources of energy,” said Bateman, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Environment and Energy committee. “It’s an opportunity for stakeholders from science, industry, government and academia to espouse the benefits of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. These advances are ready and available now for applications ranging from powering vehicles to delivering electricity to residences and businesses.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Support Establishment of Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel
9th District Delegation Requested in July that Governor Establish Safety Panel
9th District legislators Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove expressed support for the Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel that the Murphy Administration recently announced has been established through an Administrative Order.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove expressed support for the Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel that the Murphy Administration recently announced. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District delegation made the following remarks:
“In July, we wrote to the Governor requesting that the Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel be reconstituted. This request was made following a meeting with the Concerned Citizens of Lacey Coalition that our delegation has been working closely with on the Oyster Creek decommissioning issue.
O’Scanlon: Murphy Shows Disdain for Taxpayers with Flip Comment About High Tax Rates
Senator Declan O’Scanlon said the governor showed his true colors when he suggested to business leaders at Rowan College that New Jersey may not be their state if they are concerned about tax rates.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said the governor showed his true colors when he told business leaders that New Jersey may not be their state if they are concerned about tax rates. (©iStock)
“It’s outrageous that Gov. Murphy is telling families and employers they can ‘take it or leave it’ if they have a problem with New Jersey’s high taxes,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “He should be working with the Republican caucus to make New Jersey more affordable. He should be listening to everyone who is telling him they can’t pay more and the many analysts and independent ratings agencies sounding the alarm that New Jersey is headed for disaster if we don’t get our fiscal house in order. Suggesting our highest earning – and the top-taxpaying – residents might be better off leaving is exactly the wrong message.”
