Ukraine mobilises army as West warns Russia (via AFP)
Ukraine warned Sunday it was on the brink of disaster and called up military reservists after Russia’s threat to invade its Western-leaning neighbour risked sparking the worst crisis since the Cold War. US President Barack Obama and his Western allies…
Chris Christie signs order to speed razing of Sandy-damaged homes (via NJ.com)
Calling Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes that have not yet been torn down an “ongoing emergency,” Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order aimed at speeding up the process of razing unsafe properties. The order puts the New Jersey Department of…
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino of MTV’s Jersey Shore fame, and his family opened a tanning salon in Middletown yesterday.
MMM is not in the habit of giving free advertising to people who drive Lamborghinis, and the company did not respond to our ad pitch, so we did not cover the ribbon cutting.
But NJ.com and USA Today-Monmouth/Ocean edition couldn’t resist the spectacle.
Gerry Scharfenberger is the only member of Middletown’s Township Committee of non-Italian American descent. Gerry did the honors at the ribbon cutting and said the right things.
“The goal is always to fill vacant storefronts, so whenever that happens it is a positive thing,” he said. “And if the star power they have is able to help them and the other businesses here, that’s even better.”
But the expressions on Gerry’s face in the pictures at NJ.com tell another story, which prompted MMM to look further into the situation.
Why wasn’t Mayor Stephanie Murray presiding on the high profile ribbon cutting? She finds the situation offensive.
“While I wish the business success for the sake of the existing businesses in the shopping center, I don’t personally support Mr. Sorrentino as his insensitivity and disrespect toward women (calling women “grenades” for example), is appalling and offensive, Murray said, “Additionally, as an Italian-American who loves and lives at the Jersey shore, the image Mr. Sorrentino projects is equally offensive.”
Committeeman Tony Fiore is also not happy with the situation.
“While Mr. Sorrentino has the right to open a business anywhere he chooses, Mr. Sorrentino has done nothing to help promote a positive image of the Jersey shore or Italians who live or visit the Jersey shore,” Fiore said, “In my view no self respecting Italian who grew up in NJ, lives at or loves the Jersey shore would help promote his business. While I wish him like any other business in Middletown success, he shouldn’t expect Middletown to embrace the circus that he is bringing to the Middletown.”
Posted: March 2nd, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Middletown | Tags: Gerry Scharfenberger, Jersey Shore, Middletown, Mike Sorrentino, Stephanie Murray, Tanning Salon, The Situation, Tony Fiore | 6 Comments »
Port Authority officials: Battle over toll hikes was all for show (via NJ.com)
On Aug. 5, 2011, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey issued a jaw-dropping proposal to immediately raise bridge and tunnel tolls by $4 for E-ZPass subscribers and $7 for cash customers, followed by another increase in 2014. The proposed hikes…
Watson Coleman steps down from bridgegate investigation committee after calling for Gov. Chris Christie to resign (via NJ.com)
Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman today withdrew from the panel investigating the lane diversions at the George Washington Bridge, a day after she called on the governor to resign from his office. Her comments, made during an appearance…
Bridgegate Gets Dirtier: Air-Quality Monitor Was Offline During Traffic Jam (via NJSpotlight)
Amid all the investigations into the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge last fall, yet another inquiry has been launched by a federal agency into what happened and why. But this investigation has nothing to do with who ordered the shutdown…
The race for Senate: Republican assemblyman declines to run (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli said today that he has decided not to run for U.S. Senate, leaving the Republican Party with no elected officials who want to challenge the Democratic incumbent, Cory Booker. Ciattarelli, who briefly considered…
Housing group: NJ won’t release integrity monitor reports on Sandy contracts (via NJ.com)
A housing advocate group today said New Jersey has declined to release integrity oversight monitor reports on Hurricane Sandy contracts that are required by a state law passed last spring but state officials have contended those reports aren’t yet…
2 NJ lawmakers urge corruption probe of Newark watershed agency (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — Two state senators today called on the legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge scandal to turn its attention to Newark, where they said tax dollars have been wasted for years amid malfeasance and incompetence. State…
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has passed over Congressman Frank Pallone and thrown her support to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California in the internal Democratic caucus campaign to select the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to a report at TheHill.com.
Eshoo, who has served two terms in the House less than Pallone, is currently the fifth ranking Democrat on the committee. Pallone is the third ranking Democrat, behind Chairman Henry Waxman and John Dingell. Both Waxman and Dingell are retiring at the end of the 113th Congress.
In a letter to House Democrats, Pelosi said she’d intended to steer clear of making a public endorsement, “but since so many of you have asked, I am writing to let you know why I support Anna.”
“Anna’s leadership is marked by integrity, inclusiveness and bipartisanship, critical qualities in a committee leader,” Pelosi wrote. “She advocates in the committee and in the House for healthcare, consumer protections, the environment and access to technology and issues related to women and children.
“Anna’s leadership, vision, values and progressive commitment to the future gives us the opportunity to newly invigorate the debate,” Pelosi added.
Since being sworn into Congress in 1987, six bills that Pallone has sponsored have become law. One of the bills was to name the post office on Route 35 in Middletown. Does anyone know the name of that post office?
Eshoo has sponsored 234 bills that have become law.
Posted: February 27th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 Congressional Races, Frank Pallone | Tags: Anna Eshoo, Frank Pallone, House Energy and Commerce Committee, Nancy Pelosi | 5 Comments »© Copyright 2026 | MoreMonmouthMusings | All Rights Reserved