New Jersey’s Bonded Debt Soars to Nosebleed Heights: $46.1 Billion

The results of New Jersey’s latest big-picture fiscal checkup are in, and they reveal a state that continues to be saddled with a staggering amount debt – despite recent efforts to wind down Trenton’s time-worn borrowing habit. Click to expand/close For starters, New Jersey’s bonded debt grew by nearly $3.2 billion during the past fiscal year,… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Marletta’s First Parole Eligibility Denied

Toni Marletta, the 52 year old Leonardo woman who struck and killed Marissa Procopio, 15, of Atlantic Highlands in a hit and run incident on July 7, 2015 will remain in state prison until at least May 8, 2019, according to the NJ Department of Corrections website.  She had been eligible for parole this coming May, the victim’s mother, Danielle Procopio told MMM.

Danielle told MMM that Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle informed her this morning that Marletta’s May 2018 parole was denied. Danielle had been waiting for a date with the Parole Board to make a statement and present a petition with over 1500 signatures opposing Marletta’s release when she got the news from Doyle.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Your dogs are going to love this place

By Art Gallagher

I was surprised on Saturday morning as I headed south on Rt 35 in Ocean Township for the grand opening of Green Leaf Pet Resort and Hotel.  There was a line of cars several blocks long down 35 to get into the place!  The surprises kept coming when I pulled in. It was packed outside. Two radio stations were broadcasting from the front parking lot along side the bbq pit. The valets were directing traffic instead of parking cars for tips and there were hundreds of happy people and dogs coming and going.

This was no ordinary kennel opening.  When did kennels start having grand openings? When are crowds of people happy and not competing for some imaginary prize at a highway location in New Jersey? Where did all of these well behaved dogs and people come from?  I only heard one dog bark loudly during my visit and that was in the back parking lot.  Who serves hamburgers at a kennel opening and why aren’t the dogs begging for the people food? Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Judge Thompson is admitted to PTI

Richard B. Thompson (News12 photo)

Former Municipal Court Judge Richard B. Thompson was admitted to the pre-trial intervention programs by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office–meaning he will not serve any prison time and the charges he pleaded guilty to will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for one year, according to a report at app.com. 

Thompson will be eligible to have his criminal record expunged six months after successfully completing the program.

Thompson, 62, of Middletown, pleaded guilty last month to one count of fourth degree Falsifying Records. Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Pallone voted against Gateway project funding

Congressman Frank Pallone

Congressman Frank Pallone broke from the bipartisan majority of the New Jersey delegation to vote against the federal omnibus spending bill which includes $540 million in funding for the Gateway project–the proposed new tunnel under the Hudson River–that has been touted as a critical infrastructure project for both the regional and national economy.

But you wouldn’t know that Phony Pallone voted against the bill if you visited his congressional website.  There he touts as accomplishments pet projects of his that were included in the bill– a whole $1.5 million in brownfields funding to assist small communities, tribes, and rural or disadvantaged areas and special recognition for a Woodbridge site to become a park with 7000 feet of trails and a 800 foot boardwalk.  Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

If Murphy Holds Municipal Aid Flat, Can Property Taxes Go Anywhere But Up?

New Jersey’s municipalities are being left out in the cold again by a state budget that seeks to freeze aid to towns at 2010 levels, leaving municipal officials with little choice but to increase property taxes to avoid cutting services. Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed budget recommends no increase in aid to communities, keeping the level of… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Employers still have time to sign up for Monmouth County’s job fair

Spring Job Fair at Brookdale Community College, April 2014. file photo by Art Gallagher

New Jersey area employers looking to fill positions still have time to recruit highly skilled Monmouth residents at the County’s Spring Job Fair to be held on April 13, 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. at Brookdale Community College’s Collins Arena.

“The County’s Spring Job Fair is an excellent opportunity for employers to connect with job seekers with all levels of skill and experience,” said Freeholder Patrick Impreveduto, liaison to the Monmouth County Division of Workforce Development. “We are seeking employers of all sizes that represent a variety of industries, and welcome those who have not participated in prior years.” Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Gopal endorses his tenant for Congress in CD-4

Josh Welle and Senator Vin Gopal

State Senator Vin Gopal has endorsed Josh Welle, address unknown, for the Democratic nomination to lose to Congressman Chris Smith.

Welle, who has already violated the Ethics in Government Act with late and inaccurate Financial Disclosure Reports, rented office space from Tic Tac Toe Development, LLC last fall, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Tic Tac Toe is Gopal’s company that paid $900K in cash last year for an office building in Tinton Falls.  The Tinton Falls property still has no mortgages or liens filed on it with the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.

• Tweet

Greg’s List: Things to Do in Monmouth County This Weekend, March 23-25, 2018

By Greg Kelly

Like this?

Friday, March 23

• Jay Leno at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Garden State Film Festival (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Spring Soiree (West Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• 125th Anniversary Dinner/Dance Celebration (Bradley Beach) – MORE INFO
• “Cheers to our Heroes” Tasting (Middletown) – MORE INFO
• “All Day Drop In” at Parker Homestead (Little Silver) – MORE INFO
• Ragtime: The Musical at Axelrod PAC (Deal) – MORE INFO
• “Into the Woods” by RBR Theatre Company (Little Silver) – MORE INFO
• 50th Anniversary of the Tet Offensive at NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth Beach Man Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

Navesink branch of Investors Bank

Martin N. Racioppi, 52, of Monmouth Beach, pleaded guilty  in federal court in Trenton today to robbing the Navesink branch of Investor Saving Bank, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Racioppi entered the Navesink Investors branch on July 20, 2017 and demanded money from a teller.  He fled with approximately $1,600.  The FBI arrested him the following day in Eatontown.

This is Racioppi’s third bank robbery conviction.  He was released from federal prison on March 26, 2014 for his 2007 conviction in the robbery of a Red Bank Sovereign Bank branch, according the the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  He was on parole for a previous bank robbery conviction at the time of the Red Bank robbery, according to RedBankGreen. Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet