Christie Postpones Port Monmouth Town Hall Due To Weather

DCA’s Sandy Relief Public Hearing Not Cancelled, “But Likely Will Be.”

Governor Chris Christie announced via twitter (h/t PolitickerNJ) that the Town Hall Meeting scheduled for tomorrow at the VFW in Port Monmouth has been postponed until Tuesday, February 18, 11 am, due to the anticipated snowstorm. The mobile cabinet meeting as also been rescheduled to follow the Town Hall.

A spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs said that the public hearing on the second round of Sandy Relief funding scheduled for tomorrow at Brookdale Community College from 4 pm – 7:30 pm has not been rescheduled at this time, but that it is highly likely it will be.  Registered participants in the hearing will get an email from DCA if they hearing is postponed.

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NJ Chamber’s Walk To Washington Postponed

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced this morning that the 77th annual Walk To Washington and Congressional Dinner is being postponed due the forecast of a severe snowstorm in New Jersey and Washington, DC and on the recommendation of Amtrak.

The Walk will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

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Christie led Republican Governors Association sets fundraising record

Christie led Republican Governors Association sets fundraising record (via NJ.com)

The Republican Governors Association raised $6 million in January, despite what many thought could be crippling problems at home for Chairman Chris Christie. The total haul is more than double what the association has raised during the same month anytime…

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Christie in his element: Governor takes a break from bridge scandal at Q&A in Chicago

Christie in his element: Governor takes a break from bridge scandal at Q&A in Chicago (via NJ.com)

CHICAGO — Gov. Chris Christie today got some relief from the George Washington Bridge scandal in a forum that allowed him to burnish his record and show off his grasp of national issues before a friendly audience. At an hour-long question-and-answer…

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A-Rod’s transgressions don’t make The Yankees dirty

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 future Hall of Famer Alex Rodriguez dropped his lawsuits against MLB last week and accepted his 162 game suspension for doping with performance enhancing drugs.

The suspension will cost A-Rod $25 million and very likely his induction to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

No one from the Red Sox Nation, not even a fan, has called for the Yankees to be banned from playoff contention in 2014 due to A-Rod’s transgressions. No sports writer has suggested Derek Jeter is dirty because A-Rod cheated or called for asterisks to be placed next to Mariano Rivera’s records.

Rightly so.

Too often in politics when a member of one team is accused or convicted or wrongdoing, the rivals attempt to paint the entire team as dirty.  Too often journalists hungry for content cooperate with the slander.

Thus is the case in Monmouth County were former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, a Republican, was indicted last week on charges of wire fraud, identity theft, bank fraud and providing false statements to the IRS and FBI.   A private equity manager, Lucas is accused of deploying a complex and fraudulent scheme to come up with the funds to purchase a farm in Manalapan which he then immediately tried to sell the development rights on to New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program.  The Farmland Preservation Program is funded by the state, county and municipal governments.

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McKenna Convicted Of DWI

Ed McKenna, Red Bank Green photo

Monmouth County roads will be a little safer for the next seven months.

Former Red Bank Mayor Ed McKenna, a Democrat, was convicted of driving while intoxicated last week in Tinton Falls Municipal Court.   He received a seven month suspension to his drivers license and a $764 fine.

McKenna was arrested by a New Jersey State Trooper on May 13, 2013 after being involved in a one car accident at mile marker 108 of the Garden State Parkway. He scored nearly three times the legal limit in a breathalyzer test.

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett did not issue a statement accusing all Democrats of being drunks who are unfit for office.  Bennett’s restraint stands in stark contrast to that of his Democratic counterpart, young Vin Gopal.  Gopal, 28, accused “local and County Republican politicians” of being corrupt last week after former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas was indicted for allegedly fraudulent acts to secure the purchase of a farm.

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Lucas Posts Two Properties To Cover His Bail

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 put up liens on two properties this afternoon to cover the $500,000 bond which was a condition of his release from federal custody. Lucas was arrested Friday on 11 federal charges last week, including wire fraud, identity theft and providing false information to the IRS and FBI.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Arpert gave Lucas the weekend to come up with $500,000 in assets to secure is release.

The properties are Lucas’s home at 24 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan and 351 Asbury Road in Howell.  The Howell property is own by Timothy Murphy, according to APP.com’s Data Universe.

In addition to the $500,000 bail, Lucas is subject to home confinement and electronic monitoring. He surrendered his weapons and firearms ID card.  He is prohibited from leaving the state of New Jersey.

A copy of the federal order setting the conditions of Lucas’s release can be viewed here.

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Christie bridge scandal: NY lawmaker says NJ can reform Port Authority

Christie bridge scandal: NY lawmaker says NJ can reform Port Authority (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — With the George Washington Bridge scandal reviving calls to reform the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a longtime New York State lawmaker says New Jersey can make the powerful agency more accountable almost immediately. Richard…

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State reopens appeals period for 2 Sandy relief programs

State reopens appeals period for 2 Sandy relief programs (via NJ.com)

By Richard Khavkine and Erin O’Neill New Jersey officials are reopening the appeals period for residents whose initial applications for two Hurricane Sandy relief programs were denied, according to the state Department of Community Affairs, the agency…

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NJ’s Awash in Federal Sandy Aid, But Funds Just Trickle Out of DCA’s Spigot

NJ’s Awash in Federal Sandy Aid, But Funds Just Trickle Out of DCA’s Spigot (via NJSpotlight)

More than 15 months after Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey has approved awarding little more than a quarter of the money available from the largest housing assistance program it established to help those most affected by the hurricane, and has actually…

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