Christie’s Office: Separation of powers prevents Governor from intervening in Shaneen Allen case

Shaneen Allen and her sons Niare and Sincere

Governor Chris Christie’s office responded to a constituent who had written in support of Shaneen Allen with a phone call stating that the separation of powers prevents the Governor from intervening in the Atlantic County prosecution.

Allen is a 27 year old single mother who is facing a possible 10 years in State Prison for bringing her Pennsylvania licensed handgun into New Jersey.  She is being prosecuted by Atlantic County Prosecutor James McClain, a Christie appointee.  McClain refused to allow Allen to enter the same Pre-Trial Intervention Program for first offenders that former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice was admitted to after he knocked out his then fiancee in an Atlantic City casino elevator last February.

Last week, McClain requested a three week adjournment in the case.  This was seen as a sign by Allen’s supporters that McClain is reconsidering his decision to prosecute due to the public outcry since the video of Rice beating his fiancee became public.

In the call from Christie’s office this afternoon to James Hogan of Howell Township, a young sounding man left a message stating that he was calling from the Governor’s office. Hogan forwarded the message to MMM:

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Horse Parade in Freehold on Saturday

There will be a parade of horses in Freehold on Saturday as the 3rd annual Open Space Pace and Festival of Horses kicks off at 10am.

The free, all day event starts with a parade past the Hall of Records and continuing to Freehold Raceway.  At the racetrack, there will be educational exhibits, amateur horse races, under-saddle races, and many more fun events for all ages. The standard race card will begin at 12:30pm. Between races, we will have live music and family-friendly entertainment. After the races there will be a concert and fireworks.

The Open Space Pace seeks to highlight the relationship between the horse and open space in New Jersey. The Open Space Pace is a non-profit corporation seeking 501 (c)(3) status, formed to create an annual event at Freehold Raceway to celebrate the New Jersey State Animal, the Horse, and all of the people that work with this great animal. This event will raise necessary funds for nonprofits that work with horses and other non-profit organizations involved in the promotion of open space.

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Where Do The Rudest Drivers In America Live? The Answer May Surprise You

Report: Idaho outranks Washington, DC, New York and New Jersey for rude drivers

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Lucas takes the stand

Andrew Lucas, center, then the Republican mayor of Manalapan, with then Freeholder John D’Amico and Amy Mallet, both Democrats, in September of 2010, seven months after Lucas purchased Burke Farm.

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas took the stand in his federal trial on fraud charges yesterday, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.

Lucas acknowledged that he had made “egregious errors” in his loan application for financing to purchase Burke Farm, a 97 acre parcel of which he later sold the development rights to the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program for $1.16 million.  The funding for the farmland preservation deal came from the taxpayers of Manalapan, Monmouth County and the State of New Jersey.

During his full day of testimony, Lucas explained that he made his errors in haste to get the loan funded before the lender, Central Jersey Bank, was acquired by Kearny Federal Saving Bank, not part of a complicated criminal scheme to defraud the lender who did not lose any money on the transaction.

Lucas explained that the discrepancies in his income tax returns for 2007 and 2008 he submitted to the bank were the result of adjustments made to the returns after an IRS audit which was completed two days after he was approved for the loan and to glitches in his tax preparation software.  He said he did not disclose the changes in his tax returns to the bank, as required, because he “did not read the fine print.”

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Inside the Beltway: Brace for the climate change mega-storm

photo via algore.com

One thing is for sure about Al Gore: It never rains on his global warming parade

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New York, New Jersey reviewing security steps

Governors Christie and Cuomo at the NYC 9/11 Ceremony, September 11, 2104. (Governor Christie’s Office/Mykwain Gainey)

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Bellew’s Campaign Manager Arraigned, Released Without Bail

Dwayne Horner. photo via facebook

Dwayne Horner of Little Elm Texas was arraigned in Monmouth County Superior Court on Identity Theft Charges stemming from a 4am robo call purported to be made on behalf of State Senator Joe Kyrillos, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin in the early morning of the primary election in the 13th legislative district on June 4, 2013.

Horner was the campaign manager for Leigh-Anne Bellew, Kyrillos’s challenger in the Republican primary.

Horner, 45, was indicted on the fourth degree charge on August 11.  He plead Not Guilty before Superior Court Judge Ronald Lee Reisner.  Horner was released on his own recognizance.

A recording of the call can be heard here.  Horner’s voice can be heard on the voice mail greeting of the Bellew campaign here.

The indictment charges that Horner impersonated another person or organization for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself or another or for the purpose of injuring or defrauding another.

If convicted, Horner faces 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.  He is represented by Robert Bonney of Lomurro-Davidson.

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Republican Assemblywomen Call for NFL Commissioner’s Resignation

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande

Republican Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande, Nancy F. Muñoz, Mary Pat Angelini, Amy Handlin, Alison McHose, Holly Schepisi, DiAnne Gove, BettyLou DeCroce, Donna Simon and Maria Rodriguez-Gregg today called for the resignation of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell over his handling on domestic violence issues on the part of NFL players.

The legislators jointly issued the following statement:

“When someone sucker punches an innocent woman or takes a switch to his son, something is terribly wrong. The league either delays disciplinary action or issues a slap on the wrist of the offender. The victims are vulnerable to the power of these men. Commissioner Goodell is unsuccessfully trying to appease the fans and advertisers that the league takes these actions seriously. If he were truly serious, he would apologize and submit his resignation over his failure to take immediate steps to prevent these kinds of assaults. The NFL should send a message to society that it will not tolerate these actions, and implement a no-tolerance policy with severe repercussions.”

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Atlantic County Prosecutor Requests Delay In Shaneen Allen Case

NRA News is reporting that Atlantic County Prosecutor James McClain has requested a three week adjournment in the case of Shaneen Allen, a single mother who faces a possible 10 years in prison on gun charges for bringing her Pennsylvania licensed handgun into New Jersey.

NRA News reporter Ginny Simone said that McClain’s letter to the Court requested three weeks to review the case for an appropriate resolution. Allen’s attorney Evan Nappen said that letter is a hopeful sign that McClain is reconsidering his prosecution of Allen.

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Report: 38% of New Jersey Households Are Not Meeting Basic Needs

You can’t have everything you want (or need) in ALICE’S New Jersey

1.2 million New Jersey households, including 890,000 households with employed adults (28% of the states population) are not making ends meet, according to a report released by the United Way of Northern New Jersey.

The working poor are dubbed as Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed (ALICE) by the UWNNJ.  These are families of four earning less than $62,000 and single adults earning less than $28,000…the income levels needed to provide housing, food, child care, health care and transportation in New Jersey according to the report.

The report says that 53% of all jobs in New Jersey pay less than $20 per hour or $40,000 per year.

71% of ALICE households are white.  31% are in the prime wage earning years of 45-64.

85% of New Jersey’s 560 towns have 20% of their population struggling to survive.

The study is based on data through 2012 and does not fully measure the impact that Superstorm Sandy had on New Jersey’s economy.

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