JACKSON-The Jackson Township clerk has announced the rescheduling of Tuesday night’s cancelled council meeting where the council was expected to vote on a controversial ordinance to ban dormitories within the township. The meeting will now be held Thursday night at 7:30pm at town hall. The meeting is open to the public. The ordinance is scheduled for a second and final reading and a public comment session will be afforded to the public.
Pursuant to the “Open Public Meetings Act”, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq., the Jackson Township Council hereby gives notice of a change in date of a previously scheduled Township Council meeting. The Jackson Township Council previously noticed a regular public meeting for Tuesday, March 14, 2017 commencing at 7:30 p.m. Due to inclement weather, the meeting is hereby canceled and is rescheduled for Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Jackson Township Municipal Building, 95 West Veterans Highway, Jackson, New Jersey. Formal action will be taken. No change in items listed on the 3/14/17 agenda. There will be no executive session.
JACKSON-The Jackson Township council is preparing for a showdown with the Orthodox community this week as it considers a dormitory ban within its borders. Many in town are left wondering, is the battle over before it even starts after revelations came to light connected the Jackson Township council to powerful professional firms already operating in Lakewood.
Some in town however, are more concerned about the deep political and patronage ties between the city of Lakewood and the rural township of Jackson, left asking themselves how can the people who created Lakewood now be tasked with saving Jackson?
The two towns are not similar in any way to the observing visitor.
Lakewood is a bustling, congested city, literally breaking at the seams. Jackson is a rural community of over 100 square miles, much of the land is environmentally protected and sensitive headwaters.
When you drive from Jackson to Lakewood vice versa, you know exactly where Jackson ends and Lakewood begins. Sleepy tree lined roads turn into high density residential neighborhoods bustling with activity and traffic. High density commercial districts make way for sparse strip malls.
On paper, it’s nearly impossible to tell where Lakewood begins and Jackson ends. The two towns share much more commonality than one would think. That’s because the same power base that has been appointed to run Lakewood’s municipal government, planning board, zoning board and MUA are is nearly identical to the one that runs Jackson.
All of the things that make Lakewood and Jackson similar lead to one common denominator, campaign funding by politically powerful professionals that operate in both towns. In total, between 2012 and 2016, the campaign of Jackson’s township councilmen Ken Bressi, Barry Calogero and Rob Nixon took in over $26,000 in campaign funds from politically appointed professionals that also run Lakewood’s boards even though they had no opponents in their November election.
Why did they take accept nearly $50,000 in total campaign contributions in 2016 in an election where they had no opponents?
The township council in Jackson generously acepted $26,000 in donations from Lakewood’s appointed professionals between 2012 and 2015. During that time, they awarded those same professionals over $6,000,000 dollars in public service contracts.
In an Open Public Records request to the township in 2016, the township provided JTOWN Magazine with the payouts to those professionals. Since our October report on those payouts between 2012 and 2015, the township has since refused to release the 2016 payouts.
Since running our initial report last year on the Jackson council’s campaign pay to play scheme, the township has since stripped JTOWN Magazine of its municipal advertising, delisted it as an official paper of the township, publicly ridiculed the magazine and have been engaged in an underhanded backroom attempt to kill JTOWN Magazine, going as far as fabricating statements released to other newspapers. The council struck back at our meddling in their affairs, enacting fierce and harsh political retribution against our publication.
So what is it that the Jackson Township council doesn’t want the residents of Jackson to know?
They don’t want the residents to know that they originate from the same power and financial base as neighboring Lakewood Township. Ken Bressi, Barry Calogero and Rob Nixon got the bulk of their 2016 campaign funding from the same sources that Lakewood Township’s elected officials got theirs from.
In return, like Lakewood, Jackson appointed those donors with very lucrative municipal public contracts.
For instance, the planning firm that represents Lakewood’s zoning board, council, municipal utilities authority and planning board, Remington and Vernick also represents Jackson’s zoning board, planning board and council as engineer and planner.
Jackson Township now tells the people of the town it is ready to enter battle with the same professionals that have been representing Lakewood for years…really?
The same powers that represents the rampant overgrowth in Lakewood is now tasked with controlling the growth in Jackson, simply because they put money into the campaign coffers of our council.
Many of the same professionals who donated large sums of money to the campaign team of Bressi, Nixon and Calogero were given extremely large payouts over the past four years in Jackson. They also receive large public payouts for their work in Lakewood.
Across the board, when you look at the hired professionals in Lakewood, most of them have also been hired in Jackson. While that in itself could be defended as a coincidence, chance is thrown out of the window when those names are cross referenced with campaign financing paid to the Jackson Township Council, where all of them are listed, according to election filings on record with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
While nothing done in either town is illegal under New Jersey law, residents are left to question what exactly is going on here?
2012 and 2016 financial donors to the campaign of bressi, nixon and calogero in jackson compared to the total contract payout by jackson township to those campaign donors. Note: this is a partial listing.
A pay to play scheme is apparent in Jackson, with stark similarities to Lakewood. Many of those same professionals also funded political campaigns in Lakewood Township in 2016.
In a recent news story about JTOWN Magazine, councilman Barry Calogero balked at a 2016 election satire piece mocking his campaign pay to play scheme, but in January of 2016, Calogero voted yes to hire the Lakewood professionals who donated large sums of money to his campaign.
The same money being thrown around Lakewood for political access is now being thrown around in Jackson Township for similar political access and the township council is throwing a fit because they didn’t want the township’s residents to know.
While Lakewood and Jackson are two completely different towns, on paper, there are very few differences when it comes to who controls both towns, according to NJELEC, records obtained from Jackson Township and meeting minutes from the Jackson and Lakewood 2017 reorganization meetings for both towns’ council, zoning, planning and MUA boards.
Political pay to play is alive and well in Jackson and Lakewood and the ones paying the price will be the residents of both towns.
Partial list of politically appointed professionals in jackson township and lakewood township.
JACKSON-When New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment that would give judges the ability to hold violent criminals behind bars until their trials without bail, nobody would have imagined the end result of that vote would lead to more violent criminals and sexual offenders released from jail before their trials.
Not even those Trenton politicians who supported and voted to keep New Jersey’s bail reform and speedy trial act alive and well were prepared for what came next.
Sexual offenders, domestic violence suspects, drug dealers and more are being released without bail just hours after police arrest them. They’re being released by judges against all logical advice from arresting agencies and prosecutors to keep these offenders behind bars.
One of those Trenton politicians who recently supported a $9.3 million refueling bill to further fund the flawed bail reform act was Assemblyman Ron Dancer, who represents Jackson Township here in Ocean County.
Dancer recently proposed a bill that is aimed at curbing the flow child sex offenders being set free by judges around the state, an unfortunate byproduct of the bail reform act he voted to expand funding for just weeks prior.
“Suspects of sex crimes against children will be kept in jail while waiting for trial under a bill introduced by Assemblyman Ron Dancer. The bill (A4637) amends the new bail reform law, allowing courts to order the pretrial release of some defendants,” Dancer said. “The decision to hold a suspect should be based on the danger to the public and the possibility that more children may be victimized,In the case of sexual attacks on children, it is imperative that we exercise extreme caution. For the sake of potential victims, it makes sense to keep attackers off the streets until the case is decided by the courts.
If approved, Dancer’s measure increases the likelihood a charged suspect would remain held by authorities, and creates an option under the bail reform law for prosecutors to argue for pretrial detention. Keywords here are “likelihood”, “could” and “argue”. In the end, the same judges letting out sex offenders today, would be the same ones looking at a computerized score, letting them out tomorrow.
Sexual offenders aren’t the only ones being sent back into the communities they prey upon. This week, in Manchester Township, a drug dealer caught with over $1 million in heroin was set free hours after he was arrested in a multijurisdictional law enforcement operation.
While criminals across New Jersey are being released by judges under New Jersey’s new bail reform and speedy trial process, the very legislators who facilitated the new system are now scrambling.
They’re scrambling to save face and plug up the holes before a violent criminal, sexual offender, rapist or drug dealer in their own voting district makes headlines prior to this November’s election.
Want to contact your local shore legislators to tell them how you feel about bail reform? Click here for a full list.
A federal criminal investigation is being opened into the public release of documents said to detail alleged CIA hacking tools. The FBI and CIA are believed to be co-ordinating the inquiry after WikiLeaks published thousands of files. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the Trump administration will be getting tough: “Make no mistake about it, I…
OCEAN — Republican U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur promised a packed and mostly civil town hall meeting that he would review his party’s Affordable Care Act repeal-and-replacement plan but said that he had not seen the legislation. Monday’s town hall meeting came as word was breaking that House leaders were introducing their plan and about a week…
JACKSON-The Jackson Township planning board on Thursday reviewed and approved two ordinances that would prohibit the construction of dormitory facilities township wide on Tuesday.
Ordinance 03-17 would prohibit school dormitories in R2, R3 and R5 residential zones.
Ordinance 04-17 prohibits school dormitories in any zone within the township.
Under section B of the ordinance, “The following shall be prohibited as principal or accessory uses or structures in all zoning districts within the Township of Jackson: (1) Dormitories.”
The planning board voted unanimously on both ordinances. The township council is expected to vote on both ordinances at the Tuesday, March 14th township council meeting.
Video and a discussion about this hearing is taking place now on the Jackson, NJ Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/jtownmag/videos/1284445068318521/
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Monday, barring travelers from six countries to the United States for three months, and all refugees for four months, after federal appeals judges blocked a similar order from implementation last month. In an attempt to ensure a smoother rollout of the travel ban and protect it from…
LAKE SARNAC, NY-One of two muslim athletes from India who were rejected entry into the United States during the brief Trump administration extreme vetting process in January is back in the news this week after sexually assaulting a child shortly after he was granted access to enter.
Tanveer Hussain Parra and Abid Kahn were both refused entry into the United States, but after Senators Chuck “crybaby” Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand contacted the U.S. State Department, the two were allowed to enter.
In January, Schumer was shedding tears over Trump’s refusal to let men like Kahn and Hussein into America.
Schumer applauded the athletes’ arrival in New York,”Still a country that welcome athletes from across the globe to compete in our stadiums, our snow-covered fields and everywhere in between.”
Today, the parents of a young girl in Lake Sarnac are shedding tears after Hussein sexually assaulted their daughter.
According to a report published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Hussain was charged with felony first degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor.
The incident happened on Monday in the town of St. Armand in a swimming pool. Hussein’s partner Khan said the girl followed the athletes during their stay and said she was “a nut case”.
Hussein and Kahn claim the young girl made up the story, but local police said other witnesses and social media evidence supports the charges against Hussain.
“He is not aware that she is minor in first place,” Kahn said. “We told him later that she is a minor. He doesn’t understand proper English, so he doesn’t know.”
The survey results are in, government officials from every major superpower in the world now agree that CNN is fake news. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova told a pesky CNN reporter that his network’s story of a Russian ambassador is recruiting spies in America was absolutely absurd and false.
“Come on, stop spreading lies and fake news. This is a good advice for CNN. Thank you,” Zakharova told the reporter. “Please, stop spreading lies and false news.”
CNN used the moment to claim a victory in their struggling campaign to regain integrity.
First Lady Melania Trump celebrated National Read Across America Day and the birthday of Dr. Seuss by visiting the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Mrs. Trump met with doctors, families, and patients at the hospital and shared the joy of reading with the children.
Mrs. Trump brought a package of Dr. Seuss’s children books, including her and her son’s favorite book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!. She gathered with children in the pediatrics playroom and read to them. Afterward she spoke with them and said, “Loving to read early in life has the power to make each one of you a lifelong learner.”
“Dr. Seuss has brought so much joy, laughter and enchantment into children’s lives all around the globe for generations,” the First Lady said.“Through his captivating rhymes, Dr. Seuss has delighted and inspired children while teaching them to read, to dream, and to care.”
The First Lady emphasized that as a Nation, we must instill in young readers a lifelong love of learning.
“Education is a great equalizer and nothing can be more critical to achieving empowerment than reading and literacy,” said Mrs. Trump.
“A Grand Slam… The Best Speech of His Life” … “Home Run of a Speech” … “The Most Impressive Speech of His Fledgling Political Career” … “Remarkable”
Media outlets this week praised President Donald Trump’s speech to the joint session of Congress. Despite the left’s opting out of the speech in protest, including an ovation for fallen U.S. Navy Seal William “Ryan” Owens and most liberal news media continued to find fault, several respectable sources applauded the President.
New York Post: “President Trump Hit a Grand Slam… The Best Speech of His Life and the Most Remarkable Speech in Decades by a Chief Executive to a Joint Session of Congress.” “President Trump hit a grand slam Tuesday night, with the best speech of his life and the most remarkable speech in decades by a chief executive to a joint session of Congress.” (Editorial, “Trump Delivered a Grand Slam of a Speech to the Nation,” New York Post, 3/1/17)
Arizona Republic: “Trump’s Best Day in the White House… This Man Looked Presidential…” “This was Trump’s best day in the White House, because for the first time he expressed a desire to unify the country without baiting his speech with insults for his opponents. … This man looked presidential.” (Editorial, “The Night Trump Became Our President,” Arizona Republic, 3/1/17)
Springfield (MA) Republican: “[Trump] Turned Presidential… Frequently Hopeful, Envisioning a Brighter Future for America and Americans…” “Donald Trump became president on Jan. 20. Forty days later, he turned presidential. … He still talked of building a wall on our nation’s border with Mexico, and spoke of the ravages of crime and drugs across the land, but he was also frequently hopeful, envisioning a brighter future for America and Americans.” (Editorial, “Trump Hits Reset Button With Address to Congress,” Springfield Republican, 3/1/17)
Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Struck an Inspiring, Even Bipartisan Tone…” “What Americans will take away from Tuesday’s address is a president who at last struck an inspiring, even bipartisan tone, who asked Americans to be unafraid to dream of ‘American footprints on distant worlds,’ and of a country where having ‘millions lifted from welfare to work, mothers safe from fear, schools where children learn in peace’ is ‘not too much to ask.’” (Editorial, “Does Trump’s New Tone Signal a Real Shift?,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/28/17)
Deseret News: “President Donald Trump’s Speech Struck a Tone of Unity and Optimism…” “President Donald Trump’s speech struck a tone of unity and optimism while advocating for the unique mixture of political positions that fueled Trump’s rise to the White House.” (Editorial, “Pres. Trump’s Otherwise Laudatory Speech Missed an Opportunity to Address Entitlement Reform,” Deseret News, 3/1/17)
Albuquerque Journal: “President Donald Trump Delivered an Optimistic Message to the Nation…” “In a welcome departure from his previous public speeches, President Donald Trump delivered an optimistic message to the nation Tuesday, promising a new era of prosperity, a new approach to immigration, rebuilding of America’s infrastructure, a strengthening of the military, an overhaul of the nation’s health care system and tax code and, most notably, ‘a new chapter of American greatness.’” (Editorial, “Poised, Disciplined Trump a Welcome Change Of Pace,” Albuquerque Journal, 3/2/17)
Omaha World-Herald: “[Trump] Stood Up for His Beliefs, But Did So While Striking a Presidential Tone.” (Editorial, “Trump Shows Presidential Side,” Omaha World-Herald, 3/2/17)
Tulsa World: “We Congratulate the President On a Good Speech…” “We congratulate the president on a good speech and urge him to use it in his own best interest and that of the nation.” (Editorial, “Trump’s Speech Offers an Opportunity for a New Start,” Tulsa World, 3/2/17)
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail: “Home Run of a Speech…” “Members of the D.C. punditocracy gave President Donald Trump his due following his home run of a speech before both houses of Congress Tuesday night.” (Editorial, “What a Difference a Speech Makes,” Charleston Daily Mail, 3/2/17)
Lakeland (FL) Ledger: “President Donald Trump Delivered the Most Impressive Speech of His Fledgling Political Career…” “President Donald Trump delivered the most impressive speech of his fledgling political career Tuesday night — one that blended familiar policy themes with some new ideas, offered a descriptive assessment of the ‘earthquake’ that propelled him to victory last November, extended an olive branch to naysayers and recounted a long list of what he sees as his achievements after just 40 days in office.” (Editorial, “Trump’s Theme Evident Without Being Spoken,” Lakeland Ledger, 3/2/17)
Toledo Blade: “[Trump’s] Style Is Direct and Not Eloquent. But It Is Sincere and Powerful.” (Editorial, “Something Beats Contempt,” Toledo Blade, 3/2/17)
Providence Journal: “Trump Exceeded Expectations with a Well-Written Speech…” “But even by that standard, Mr. Trump exceeded expectations with a well-written speech that re-introduced, in a less harsh manner, the same themes he has been pounding for more than a year.” (Editorial, “President Trump’s Speech to Congress,” Providence Journal, 3/1/17)
Washington Times: “Remarkable Speech…” “Donald Trump’s remarkable speech to Congress was notable for its tone, the public reaction it engendered and the way it left so may critical listeners speechless.” (Editorial, “Trump’s Second Chance,” Washington Times, 3/1/17)
BERKELEY-Berkeley Township New Jersey is a town that in many ways is still recovering from Superstorm Sandy nearly five years ago, but the new costs associated with the Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act are already taking its toll on the municipal budget.
Mayor Carmen Amato said this week that bail reform in New Jersey is an unfunded state mandate and is requesting the state to pay their fair share of helping his municipality comply with the new regulations imposed on his town.
Bail hearings under the Bail Reform Act are now required for disorderly persons and petty disorderly offenses are held in Superior Court, but the municipalities are now on the hook financially to pay for public defenders and sending those public defenders to appear in Superior Court in Toms River, instead of municipal court, pre-bail reform.
“The foregoing necessitates municipal public defenders being required to appear in Superior Court at a considerable inconvenience and expense to local municipalities,” Amato said today in a statement.
Amato has the backing of the Ocean County Mayor’s Association which drafted a resolution to be delivered to the the New Jersey legislation, Ocean County Freeholders and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
The resolution, supported by Mayor Amato requests legislation that would require the state to provide the public defender. Currently, municipal public defenders to travel to Toms River to represent defendants, under the request proposed by Amato, the state would represent those defendants, not his township.
The following is a brief recap of the February 28, 2017 Jackson Township council meeting. A full story will follow later today.
JACKSON-When Jackson Township Council President Ken Bressi proposed a township wide ban on dormitories in his town, it was clear to everyone what the goal of that ordinance was and who the targets were.
In nearby Lakewood Township, home to Beth Medrash Govoha, one of the world’s largest Orthodox Jewish Yeshivas, most Jewish students live in dormitories, but some, in makeshift dormitories, sometimes in homes located in residential areas of the township. Even though Jackson Township’s border is nearly 5 miles from the BMG campus, out of the required walking distance of the university, the township proposed the ban on dormitories.
These dormitories became a local spotlight in January when a fire at a makeshift Lakewood dormitory displaced 50 students.
Many in Jackson’s Orthodox community felt the ban on dormitories was a moot point since none currently exist and the likelihood of Yeshiva dormitories in the town is very low. They felt the proposed law was simply another ordinance targeting members of their faith unfairly.
In the past, members of Jackson’s Orthodox community had approached the township council to offer advice and feedback, to work together to craft sensible ordinances that would help maintain the quality of life in town in a manner that would not be seen as a continued crackdown against members of their faith. Those community leaders said their offer to support the council’s effort to maintain quality of life standards were flatly rejected.
On Tuesday night, as the township council was poised to pass the ordinance, an obvious effort to curb the growth and migration of the growing Orthodox Jewish population, they were met with with an audience of nearly two hundred Orthodox Jewish men who came to protest the action.
Upon seeing the large gathered crowd, the council quickly suspended their regular public business meeting and entered a private executive session, a rare action for the 5 member all-Republican board.
After a few minutes, the council returned to the public meeting and announced it would not be voting on the ordinance and it needed further legal and planning board review, admitting flaws in the manner in which the ordinance was proposed, reviewed and introduced.
The basic rundown…
A lawyer representing the Jewish community in town told the council it was one of the most anti-Semitic ordinances he has ever seen.
Orthodox Jewish Jackson resident called the Jackson Township council anti-semitic and alt-right fascists.
Orthodox Jews in Jackson are upset that the Jackson council has passed numerous ordinance aimed at curbing their growing population in town.
Previously, a no-knock ordinance, realtor realtor canvassing laws, a prohibition on trailers and a landlord registration law have all been aimed at slowing down the growth of the Orthodox population in the town.
At the first reading of the ordinance, the Jackson council was asked if the ban on dormitories also covered drug recovery homes, nursing homes, halfway houses or the dormitory facilities in the Cassville section of town. The council said it does not.
Jackson’s anti-dormitory law was the first such law that could be found anywhere in the United States, raising concerns about constitutionality.
The lawyer representing the Orthodox community declared the law an unconstitutional law that is meant to unfairly target the Orthodox Jewish community.
The lawyer representing the Orthodox community has already successfully tried and won cases targeting the Orthodox communities in Howell, Toms River and Ocean Township.
Many township residents were upset that the township council pulled the ordinance in the face of opposition.
Opposition to Jewish growth in town has been mounting over the years through groups such as Jackson Strong who have expressed vocally their dislikes for the rapid growth in town.
Despite the setback, the township council will reintroduce a the ordinance on March 14th.
Orthodox residents told the Jackson council at the meeting that they wish to maintain the quality of life in Jackson and commended the Jackson zoning board for being strong and said the town should have more faith in the zoning board’s ability to govern development.
The fundamental problem with the ordinance is that no such ordinance has ever been proposed anywhere in the United States.
This story is being published under Creative Commons and may be reproduced and republished without permission or consent of the author. Attribution/No additional restrictions.
This pair of images shows effects of one Martian day of wind blowing sand underneath NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover on a non-driving day for the rover. Each image was taken just after sundown by the rover’s downward-looking Mars Descent Imager (MARDI). The area of ground shown in the images spans about 3 feet (about 1 meter) left-to-right.
The first image was taken on Jan. 23, 2017, during the 1,587th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity’s work on Mars. Figure A is this image with a scale bar in centimeters. The second was taken on Jan. 24, 2017 (Sol 1588). The day-apart images by MARDI were taken as a part of investigation of wind’s effects during Martian summer, the windiest time of year in Gale Crater.
When Curiosity landed inside Gale Crater in August 2012, MARDI recorded the descent from the rover’s point of view. Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, built and operates MARDI. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Science Laboratory Project for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington, and built the project’s Curiosity rover.
NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.
The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water – key to life as we know it – under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.
“This discovery could be a significant piece in the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.”’
At about 40 light-years (235 trillion miles) from Earth, the system of planets is relatively close to us, in the constellation Aquarius. Because they are located outside of our solar system, these planets are scientifically known as exoplanets.
This exoplanet system is called TRAPPIST-1, named for The Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST) in Chile. In May 2016, researchers using TRAPPIST announced they had discovered three planets in the system. Assisted by several ground-based telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, Spitzer confirmed the existence of two of these planets and discovered five additional ones, increasing the number of known planets in the system to seven.
The new results were published Wednesday in the journal Nature, and announced at a news briefing at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Using Spitzer data, the team precisely measured the sizes of the seven planets and developed first estimates of the masses of six of them, allowing their density to be estimated.
Based on their densities, all of the TRAPPIST-1 planets are likely to be rocky. Further observations will not only help determine whether they are rich in water, but also possibly reveal whether any could have liquid water on their surfaces. The mass of the seventh and farthest exoplanet has not yet been estimated – scientists believe it could be an icy, “snowball-like” world, but further observations are needed.
“The seven wonders of TRAPPIST-1 are the first Earth-size planets that have been found orbiting this kind of star,” said Michael Gillon, lead author of the paper and the principal investigator of the TRAPPIST exoplanet survey at the University of Liege, Belgium. “It is also the best target yet for studying the atmospheres of potentially habitable, Earth-size worlds.”
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie on Friday ratcheted-up his fight to repeal a law requiring legal notices to be printed in newspapers, pointing out the New Jersey Press Association is a month late in releasing an analysis of how much the ads cost taxpayers last year. In a blistering statement against the newspaper industry, the Republican…
JACKSON-Jackson Township is a rural suburb nestled at the edge of the New Jersey Pinelands. It’s New Jersey’s third largest town by size in area, with over one hundred square miles. It’s a bedroom community of 54,000 and crime is very low here, but the mayor of the town tonight said even his low crime community will not be able to keep up with New Jersey’s Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act and he fully supports a resolution being presented to the township council next week.
Jackson Township Michael Reina (R) might be the first mayor in the State of New Jersey to openly express criticism of the state’s new Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act since it has been enacted when he said tonight that he fully supports a resolution that will be voted on by the township council Tuesday night.
The Jackson Township council is expected to vote on the resolution against the new law which has essentially created a revolving door for criminals. It has made New Jersey’s streets less safe for residents and police officers alike. The Toms River PBA last week called bail reform a very serious problem for their town. The resolution to be voted on was circulated by the New Jersey League of Municipalities this week.
“The Criminal Justice Reform Act imposes upon municipal governments an undue financial hardship to implement as each municipality in some capacity must hire new personnel, invest in new equipment and information technology, and make capital and other necessary improvements to jail, court and ancillary court facilities,” the resolution reads. “Under this terribly flawed law, judges now assign a score to determine whether a defendant should be detained or freed. Serious offenders are being let go over prosecutor and law enforcement objection only to go and commit more crimes as soon as they hit the street.”
It states the new reform, which is unfunded by the state, is not only dangerous, and the town will not be able to afford to properly maintain the necessary staffing to comply with the requirements dictated by the state to enforce it locally.
“It is also a massive financial burden to our police department, municipal courts, municipal public defenders and the County Prosecutor’s Office. Detention hearings are expedited and our officers are forced to spend hours on even simple offenses due to demands for our officers to file paperwork and complete cases, some demanding complex analysis, are simply unrealistic and the costs are only going to expand without any financial relief from the state,” it continued “The Criminal Justice Reform Act law has put our residents at risk and threatens the fiscal health of the town and county. ”
The council is expected to vote on the resolution Tuesday evening and certified copies will be sent to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, Chris Christie, the President of the New Jersey State Senate, Steve Sweeney, the Speaker of the General Assembly, Vincent Prieto, the New Jersey Association of Counties, the Office of County Counsel and all Ocean County municipalities.
“Yes, I support this resolution,” Reina said when asked his position. “You’re asking me if I support a resolution opposing a state law that helps put criminals back out on our streets, of course I do.”
TOMS RIVER-In a surprise move by Congressman Tom MacArthur on Thursday, he met with alt-left protesters assembled outside the WOBM radio station in Downtown Toms River.
The alt-left across America have stepped up their protests against all Republicans of late. This week was the first time the protests reached Ocean County after the local Ocean County Democrat Club has been hosting courses at branches of the Ocean County Library designed to teach residents how to protest and disrupt at the local level.
MacArthur showed the upset and angry left once again that his brand of Republican and conservative diplomacy and governing is about inclusion, not division, so he spoke to the mob of about 40 protesters.
“Tonight, during my regular ‘Ask the Congressman’ radio program, a sizable group of my constituents peacefully demonstrated outside the WOBM studios,” MacArthur posted on his Facebook page. “I respect each of them – those who disagree with me as much as those who agree with me – for exercising our most precious, God-given right of free expression.”
While most of the protesters were protesting President Donald Trump, some challenged MacArthur his lack of town hall events, something not required by his position and a forum frequently used by liberals with post election stress disorder (PESD) to vent their frustrations about losing the presidential election last November.
“After the radio program, I went out to the group and promised I would honestly answer their questions and asked in return that they let me speak without drowning out my answers,” MacArthur added. “And that began some genuine, open, respectful conversation that touched on a range of issues including healthcare, gun control, the environment, and of course President Trump.”
MacArthur told the protesters he understands their anxiety, being brought up in a bi-political household as a child.
“As I shared with my constituents tonight, I grew up with a Mom who was a progressive democrat and a Dad who was a conservative republican,” he added. “They loved each other and I love and respect both of them. Talking with this crowd tonight was like dinner back at home. I’m grateful for those who took the time to make me a better representative and I always welcome the opportunity to have productive conversations with my constituents.”
This was the second time this week MacArthur, a Republican surprised Democrats, once again bringing them into his circle of inclusion.
On Wednesday, he was hosting a meeting in the same building where the Evesham Democrat Club held their monthly meeting. He stopped by to talk to them about their concerns.
“So, I walked in. Yes, a Republican Congressman dropping in to a meeting of local Democrats to talk with them about some very serious concerns they had. We didn’t yell or point fingers. We talked honestly and respectfully. We certainly disagreed in some areas, but we did it respectfully,” he said. “I genuinely cherish moments like these and I’m certain our country would be the better for it, if members of both parties – Republicans and Democrats alike – would commit ourselves to working together to make America the best it can be.”
But for the angry left, MacArthur’s kindness and openness wasn’t enough, as it never is. Instead of thanks, he was further assaulted on Facebook today.
“Too bad you couldn’t show up for the 500 at Demasi. You don’t get to pat yourself on the back because you got cornered,” wrote Rachel Patore.
“God given? It wasn’t given, it was created by people who were forward thinking and other people who marched for that right,” ranted Meredith Alison.
“Surprise visits for a photo op don’t get you points.” wrote a frustrated Andrea Gurney. “Meet with your constituents in a town hall like a normal, rational, reasonable, paid MoC instead of someone fleeing questions.”
Some were more constructive.
“Thank you for meeting the small group of us that still remained in the parking lot after your WOBM call in show had ended,” wrote Stacey Kalb. “I hope you took away from our meeting, the urgency to have real town halls with real back and forth dialogue.”
“I am proud to have you as our Representative. You have always shown yourself to be a person who truly cares and always reaching across the aisle,” wrote Mark LeMire.
But, for most, it wasn’t.
“So we need to wait outside of your closed door events for the chance to talk,” griped Kelly McKelvey.
The protest was organized by the Ocean County Democrat Club and paid political consultants who are managing a new alt-left campaign of protest and disruption in Ocean County.
The group plans on protesting MacArthur’s March 31st event at Ocean County College, but some conservative groups are already planning to show up to support the Congressman and President Donald Trump in the face of growing alt-left uprising here in Ocean County.
Lead photo by Tom MacArthury. Photos from YouTube video posted by WOBM and 94.3 the Point.
The Howell Police Department obtained an MRAP through a federal program that allows local law enforcement to accept equipment that has been declared military surplus, but Chief Kudrick details how other lesser equipment is helping his department save money on much needed equipment.
TOMS RIVER-Like many disappointed liberals in New Jersey, Phil Murphy, a Democrat running for Governor is suffering from post-election stress syndrome in the wake of Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory against Hillary Clinton in November.
In a shocking video at a campaign event, front-running Democrat candidate Murphy attempted to invoke fear by comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.
“I have lived in Germany twice – once as a private citizen and once as the United States ambassador, and I’m a modest student of Germany history,” Murphy said. “And I know what was being said about somebody else in the 1920s. And you could unfortunately drop in names from today into those observations from the 1920’s, and the moves that have been made early on only aide and abet that argument.”
On Tuesday, at a Republican governor’s candidate forum in Ocean County, home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish population centers in the world outside of Israel, Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore expressed disappointment with the words Murphy chose to describe President Trump. Murphy invoked both Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust to make his political statement against Trump.
“Mr. Murphy set the tone for the 2017 gubernatorial campaign,” Gilmore said. “It’s unfortunate that he chose those words to compare our President to a man who killed 6 million innocent Jewish people during the Holocaust and millions more.”
Murphy made the statement to rally his alt-left liberal supporters in the blue state of New Jersey. Gilmore said it was a sign that Democrats in New Jersey are scared and out of touch.
“People say that a Republican can’t win New Jersey in 2017,” Gilmore added. “Those are the exact same people who also said Trump couldn’t win the Presidency in 2016.”
“Ocean County brought Donald Trump the largest victory in New Jersey and we carried Chris Christie twice,” said Republican candidate Joe Rullo. “Communist Phil Murphy calling our president Adolf Hitler is one of the worst things on earth.”
“Murphy made his first Hillary Clinton mistake,” Rullo said. “Trust me, if Phil Murphy is elected, you will absolutely miss Chris Christie.”
Rullo sharply criticized Murphy for running a campaign that is promising tax increases across the board in the top taxed state in the United States.
“Murphy already spent $20 million in campaign money and nobody is even talking about him,” Rullo added.
Another Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli also took a swipe at Murphy’s alt-left focused liberal agenda and open support for sanctuary cities in New Jersey. Murphy has stated on numerous occasions he would staunchly defend sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants in New Jersey, a stance many residents outside of the inner cities oppose.
“When Trump cuts funding to New Jersey’s sanctuaries, who will [Phil Murphy] get to foot that bill?” Ciattarelli asked. “Not New Jersey, if I’m Governor.”
“Phil Murphy’s comparison of the President of the United States to Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler is repulsive and inexcusable,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “His stunning lack of judgement and sensitivity is insulting to those whose families suffered, died or fought during World War II. It diminishes the slaughter of six million Jews and he should apologize to the people of New Jersey immediately.”
It wasn’t just Republicans in Ocean County who took notice, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said Murphy owes an apology to Trump and the Jewish population he offended with his remarks.
The Republican Governors Association released the following statement regarding New Jersey Democrat gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy’s remarks comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.
“Phil Murphy’s comparison of our president to an authoritarian tyrant responsible for the deaths of millions is shameful,” said RGA Chairman Governor Scott Walker. “Murphy’s absurd statement raises serious questions about his judgment and ability to lead, and proves that he is too extreme to represent the people of New Jersey. Murphy should immediately apologize for this offensive and despicable remark.”
“So, I walked in. Yes, a Republican Congressman dropping in to a meeting of local Democrats to talk with
But, for most, it wasn’t.