New Jersey Task Force Heads to Florida for Hurricane Operations

By New Jersey State Police

Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, announced the deployment of 80 members of New Jersey Task Force 1 to assist with search and rescue operations as Hurricane Matthew moves closer into Florida. The highly trained team comprised of police, fire, and emergency medical personnel arrived at Joint… Read the rest of this entry »

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That day that Freeholder John Curley called Governor Christie a mother f’er, and other Bridgegate news

Freeholder John Curley

NEWARK– The governor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs was supposed to be an outreach office–a one-stop shop for mayors, local officials and civic leaders seeking assistance from the state. But as Gov. Chris Christie’s 2013 re-election campaign ramped up, the agency took on another role. It became a virtual arm of the campaign, using public resources to… Read the rest of this entry »

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Votes by N.J. lawmakers on 23-cent gas tax hike deal stalled until Friday

TRENTON — Planned votes on measures to raise the gasoline tax 23 cents a gallon to raise money for road improvements and cut $1.4 billion in taxes were put off two days after proponents ran into a procedural hurdle in the state Senate on Wednesday. Senators said Wednesday the upper chamber was short the 30 votes… Read the rest of this entry »

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Despite TTF Deal, It’s Still Unclear When Roadwork Will Resume in New Jersey

With the political impasse over transportation funding that has gripped Trenton for the past three months now settled, New Jersey lawmakers are scheduled to vote tomorrow on the legislation that will hike the state’s gas tax by 23 cents. The proposed increase already has Gov. Chris Christie’s endorsement and is expected to pass with bipartisan support.… Read the rest of this entry »

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Republican Assembly Members Should Vote Against Gas Tax Hike

By Art Gallagher

This column is for my Republican friends in the Assembly, especially those from Monmouth County.

Dave Rible, Rob Clifton, Sean Kean, Monmouth Republican Assembly Members who voted for gas tax in June, and Declan O’Scanlon who didn’t vote, should join Amy Handlin and Ronald Dancer, Republicans who represent parts of Monmouth and voted NO in June, in voting NO on Wednesday or whenever the bill that Governor Christie, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto agreed to on Friday comes up for a vote.

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N.J. Must Ask More of Our Leaders in Trenton

Governor Christie and the New Jersey Legislature are about to increase the gas tax by 23¢ per gallon taking effect for Thursday morning and overnight becoming the seventh highest gas tax in the country. Unfortunately, hiking the gas tax treats only a symptom of the broken Transportation Trust Fund. We commend legislative leadership for the serious… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sen Beck: Public Massively Opposes New Gas Tax

Senator Jennifer Beck renewed her opposition to a $.23 per gallon hike on the New Jersey gas tax and said that the deal struck between Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto is a recycled version of previous legislation that thousands of New Jersey drivers rallied against.

“Residents, drivers and commuters rallied against this $2 billion gas tax plan the first time it was proposed in June,” said Beck. “Offering a recycled plan that tinkers around the edges doesn’t change the fact that the public massively opposes a 23 cent per gallon gas tax hike. I will continue to stand up and fight for the vast majority of the people of New Jersey who oppose this tax increase.”

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Christie makes Gas Tax increase deal with Sweeney and Prieto

file photo

Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Prieto announced a deal to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund with a $.23 per gallon gas tax increase this afternoon in Trenton.

In a press release from his office, Christie touted off setting tax decreases in the deal–“tax fairness”– which he said will more than compensate for the gas tax increase.

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Sheriff Golden Announces New Storm Evacuation Program: KNOW YOUR ZONE

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden announced the KNOW YOUR ZONE program today in Avon-by-the Sea.

A tiered coastal evacuation plan, KNOW YOUR ZONE, identifies specific coastal evacuation zones  (A, B, C and D) which helps emergency management officials target evacuation orders to those areas that are at the most risk, based upon threat, strength, direction and forecasted storm surge. The public outreach and educational program, Know Your Zone, is designed to educate residents, businesses and visitors on the coastal evacuation zone in which they live, work or vacation.

Not to be confused with flood zones, which are insurance designations and building codes determined by the National Flood Insurance Plan, the tiered system creates 4 distinct evacuations zones A, B, C, & D and will allow for a clearer and more decisive messaging, when evacuations are needed.

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Arnone: Casino referendum is bad for Monmouth County

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone today announced his opposition to the public question that would amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow casino gambling in Northern New Jersey.

“My first responsibility as a Freeholder is to make sure Monmouth County’s interests are my top priority,” Arnone said in an announcement released by ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ the group that has been campaigning against the constitutional amendment, “Unfortunately, the ballot question on casino expansion is misguided, shortchanges our horse racing industry, and favors a small group of out-of-state, special interests.”

“In no way does this legislation help Monmouth County,” Arnone concluded.

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