Red Light Camera Requiem

New Jersey’s State Government and 23 of its municipal governments will recover a morsel of integrity at midnight tonight when state sanctioned theft in the form of red light cameras cease to operate at 73 intersections.  New Jersey’s Red Light Camera Program, authorized as a five year pilot during the lame duck session of the 2006-2008 legislature and signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine, expires tonight.

The fact that the Red Light Camera Program has not been renewed is due in large measure to the efforts of Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and his staff.  Their efforts have been heroic.

O’Scanlon and Co. have been relentless in monitoring the Red Light Camera Program and telling the truth about it. They have hired independent experts to investigate complaints and document fraud within the program.  They have sorted through data that has regularly been obfuscated by the red light camera companies (and bureaucrats friendly to them) to reflect improved safety conditions at RCL intersections where in fact conditions had often worsened.   They have worked hard in getting the word out about the program’s failure and corruption. They have countered expensive advertising campaigns by the red light camera companies and countered expensive lobbyists working the halls of the Statehouse, without the benefit of the profits the red light camera companies stole from the motoring public to fund their efforts.

In thwarting the Red Light Camera Program’s renewal, O’Scanlon has proved himself to be “the real deal”….a leader who fights for the right thing because it is the right thing. He is an example of what a “public servant” should be.

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Intermittent lane closures near West Front St. Bridge

Motorist should expect delays between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Detours will be posted 

photo via visitmonmouth.com

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Beginning today, there will be intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Hubbard Avenue and other roads on the Middletown side of the West Front Street Bridge.

The work being is done by the County in preparation of the Jan. 2 closure of the West Front Street Bridge.

“This work needs to be done in advance of the closure so that the local roads can adequately handle the detours that will be put into place during the prolonged closure,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering.

On Jan. 2, work will begin to connect the new bridge to the Middletown and Red Bank shorelines. This work will take approximately four months to complete.

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Buyer’s remorse: Loans impacting grant money for Sandy victims

NEW YORK (AP) — When Superstorm Sandy left Denise Erickson’s home with a collapsed foundation, a loan from the Small Business Administration looked like the best deal in town. She got more than $150,000 from the SBA to help fix her family’s Bellmore home, but the loan has left her with a $651 monthly payment and… Read the rest of this entry »

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The holidays are around the corner

Happy Holidays

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Crazy Christmas Light Show returns to Jersey Shore neighborhood this weekend

Crazy Christmas Light Show 2013 Portions of the over-the-top annual Christmas Light Show that attracts thousands of visitors to a quiet Wall Township neighborhood each year. WALL TOWNSHIP – An over-the-top holiday tradition, complete with rocking music, strobe lighting and 20-foot-high flames, is scheduled to begin its 2014 show schedule this weekend. The annual Christmas Light… Read the rest of this entry »

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Study finds dramatic jump in heart attacks after Superstorm Sandy struck

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Monmouth County Police Academy graduate proposes to girlfriend at ceremony

NEPTUNE – A newly-minted Keyport police officer proposed to his girlfriend at the police academy graduation Thursday as 58 other cadets looked on, authorities said. After dating for more than six years, Keyport Police Officer Christopher Degroat proposed to Melissa Fleming, of Hazlet. Days before the graduation ceremony, Fleming said Degroat pretended one of the other… Read the rest of this entry »

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Part of Newman Springs Road in Lincroft Closed till 4pm Today

Expect overnight delays next week between Monday night and Thursday morning

Newman Springs Road (County Road 520) between Harvey Ave and Jumping Brook Road, which is west of Garden State Parkway Exit 109 in Lincroft, is closed today until 4pm today due to construction by a private company installing a sanitary sewer system for a housing development.

The project will continue on Monday, December 15 at night between the hours of 9pm and 5am.  It is scheduled to be completed by 5am on Thursday December 18.  Only the eastbound lane of the road will be closed at that time, according to a statement from the Monmouth County Department of Public Information and Tourism.

“The County understands the inconvenience of this closure and has instructed the contractor that they cannot completely close this County road, after today, during business hours,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering. “For the safety of those working on the project and the motoring public, the road must be closed today, but it will be open by 4 p.m. This change will provide some relief to the traveling public and the local business community.”

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Uber car services facing stricter rules from N.J. lawmakers

TRENTON — New Jersey lawmakers today took the first step toward regulating new and growing “ridesharing” services like Uber and Lyft that have drawn the ire of traditional taxi and limo companies as well as the auto insurance industry. The Assembly Transportation Committee wrapped seven bills that have been introduced over the last six months —… Read the rest of this entry »

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Bill Would Speed Up Sales, Leases of Water, Sewage Facilities to Private Buyers

“Water Infrastructure Protection Act”, sponsored by Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblyman Sean Kean, would allow municipalities or their utility authorities to sell or lease water and sewer systems to private entities without a referendum in cases of defined emergencies.

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