As if the weather wasn’t a damper enough to the Jersey Shore kickoff that Superstorm Sandy ravished businesses, their employees and shore area municipalities desperately need, the shore’s biggest newspaper, and its most popular columnist/blogger are working against us too.
What is really insulting, is that the APP blatantly show how ignorant they are about the New Jersey economy, our tax structure and the cost allocation of our various governments.
There is another logical reason for making the beaches free: revitalizing the Shore economy. What better extra inducement to get people to come to the Jersey Shore? Free beaches could mean millions of dollars in additional revenues for towns. More money spent in restaurants and bars, on summer rentals and motel stays, on souvenirs, on gasoline. For some families, beach fees are prohibitive. For a family of four, they can run $40 or more. That kind of expense can make the difference between going to the beach or staying home. Or between going once or twice a summer instead of several times during the season.
Doing away with beach badges would be a logical thing to do if it would bring revenues to shore towns. Duh! Why didn’t the mayors think of that!?
Rumors are rampant that grants under the $780 million program for home rebuilding that the Christie Administration announced this morning are being awarded on a first come first served basis. That is not so.
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon says Keep Calm and apply by June 30th.
“I want to be crystal clear on this, these grants and loans are absolutely NOT first come – first serve,” O’Scanlon said in a prepared statement, “I have heard some folks making this claim recently and the huge volume of calls to the call centers confirm this belief, we need everyone to understand that this is just not so. There are a number of criteria considered when determining eligibility: extent and amount of damage, geographic location, areas most affected, and income.”
Regional help centers will open in each county on June 8th, the exact locations are still being determined. Applications can be submitted until June 30th. The best way to apply for the programs (the Homeowner Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program and the Homeowner Resettlement Program) is online at www.renewjerseystronger.org if you have problems with the online process you can call 1-855-SANDYHM. But the online application process is definitely the fastest.”
$780 Million Available for Homeowners Impacted by Superstorm Sandy
Trenton, NJ – Marking a major step forward in the recovery from Superstorm Sandy, the Christie Administration today launched the reNew Jersey Stronger housing assistance initiative to assist homeowners impacted by the storm. Beginning today, eligible homeowners can apply for grant assistance at www.renewjerseystronger.org or by calling 1-855-SANDYHM (1-855-726-3946).
The grants are designed to encourage homeowners to resettle in their primary residences and help them reconstruct, rehabilitate, elevate and mitigate their homes.
“We are working incredibly hard to get money out to Sandy-impacted individuals as quickly as possible, and today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to this mission,” said Governor Chris Christie. “Sandy may have damaged homes in New Jersey, but it did not destroy New Jerseyans’ spirits. With the help of initiatives such as reNew Jersey Stronger housing grants, we will be back, stronger than ever.”
Today’s launch of the housing assistance programs comes less than a month after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved New Jersey’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Action Plan. The Action Plan details how the State will utilize $1,829,520,000 in federal funding to help homeowners, renters, businesses and communities impacted by Superstorm Sandy. The reNew Jersey Stronger housing assistance initiative will utilize $780 million of the allocation.
Yesterday I was interviewed by The Star Ledger and went on the record saying that I would be voting for Joe Kyrillos for State Senate in the 13th Legislative District Republican primary on June 4th. Consistent with my slogan of being fair and biased, it is appropriate that I tell you, my readers and the reason my opinion matters to The Star Ledger, thatMMM is now part of the story and that I have made a decision that can’t help but color my coverage of the rest of the campaign.
MMM is part of the LD 13 story, instead of just covering the story, because we’ve provided the bulk of the media coverage of the primary campaign to date and because Kyrillos’ challenger, Leigh-Ann Bellew, attacked this site in a press release, according to The Star Ledger.
On many important issues, Life and The Right to Bear Arms in particular, I am in more philosophical agreement with Bellew than I am with Kyrillos. Despite my philosophical differences with Kyrillos, the choice between him and Bellew has become a very easy one. Kyrillos is a very good State Senator. Bellew is a deeply flawed candidate. She never should have exposed herself, her family, and friends who care about her deeply to the rigors and vetting of this campaign.
William Nagle of Sea Bright got a certificate of occupancy for his Center Street apartment on December 29th, yet continued to charge FEMA for 68 nights of hotel stays from January 14 through March 23, according to charges filed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Nagle was arrested and charged Wednesday with third degree Theft by Deception for defrauding FEMA of more than $12,000 in Transitional Aid Housing.
“Being a victim does not open the door to defraud the government in times of need. We can all pull together in times of crisis to help one another, but that combined effort to aid and assist comes with the understanding that no one will take advantage of the situation,” Acting Prosecutor Christopher J Gramiccioni said.
You may’ve missed this the other day, Save Jerseyans, but some WNYC reporter asked Chris Christie at his Lavallette presser whether NJ Transit had been under-prepared for climate change ahead of Superstorm Sandy. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently the reporter had never ridden NJ Transit before or she’d know that its problems predate the global warming fad!
Well, first of all, I don’t agree with the premise of your question because I don’t think there’s been any proof thus far that Sandy was caused by climate change,” Christie said, as residents and officials from Lavallette clapped. “But I would absolutely expect that that’s exactly what WNYC would say, because you know liberal public radio always has an agenda. And so since I disagree with the premise of your question I don’t feel like I have to answer the rest of it.” (You can hear the full audio at the bottom of this post.)”
The boardwalk’s reconstruction began on Jan. 9. It required more than a half million screws, Mayor Matt Doherty said.
“I never thought I’d be so happy about a half million screws,” said Menendez, who noted Belmar plays a special role in the lives of the state’s residents. “We have preserved that New Jersey birthright.”
Rumors are rampant that grants under the $780 million program for home rebuilding that the Christie Administration 
By Art Gallagher
William Nagle of Sea Bright got a certificate of occupancy for his Center Street apartment on December 29th, yet continued to charge FEMA for 68 nights of hotel stays from January 14 through March 23, according to charges filed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
