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JerseySmarts.com

Monmouth University Can Build New Dorm, Tennis Courts

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The local news media are reporting that the West Long Branch Zoning Board vote of 5 to 1 in favor of expanding the Monmouth University campus has been upheld by a State Appellate Panel. Some of the folks living around the university took it upon themselves to fight against this approval, citing petty collusion between the university and township officials. Someone even blasted a local Committeeman because his daughter received an academic scholarship from the university. What a disgraceful charge to levy at the Committeeman…

That’s the problem with local politics in America today – anyone with a voice feels that they are entitled to their day in court and this holds up the progress of the greater good. An article in today’s Asbury Park Press cites that 36 families have been fighting against the expansion of the university…but you do NOT see it listed anywhere that well over 200 families in the town have supported the university and many more families just don’t care either way. I live down the street from the university and while I do not publicly support Monmouth’s desire to expand, I can certainly agree with the vast silent majority in West Long Branch that we don’t mind the expansion.

Now, some people will claim, “Well I live across the street from the university and quality of life is low and blah blah blah.” Sorry, but if you live next a community swimming pool, do you complain that people are swimming there? If you live next to a gym, do you complain that people are coming and going all day to work out? If you live next to a university do you complain that college students are being college students?

No.

And this is obvious – none of these thoughts are new in the debate. The small minority who feel that their opinion outweighs the majority in West Long Branch oftentimes comes back with the statement that they were in town before the “university” was. In this argument, the word “university” is key. In 1994, Monmouth College became Monmouth University. So many of the locals take 1994 as the starting point of the “university” not mentioning that the college was started in 1933.

Yes – this “We were here first” argument HAS been used to defend the minority’s right to blast the university. I’ve even had it used against me in informal discussions about the university with other people in town. It’s mind-boggling, really.

Anyway, congratulations to Monmouth University for winning the right to expand their campus. Best of luck.

No More Dual Office Holding in New Jersey

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Finally, the state legislature passed a bill that will ban dual office holders in New Jersey. Though the bill won’t be in effect until February of next year, it is one of the best pieces of legislation that this crazy state has been able to come up with in the last few years.

One of the major fiscal problems in New Jersey revolves around paying salaries to our elected officials. Some of these folks are double and triple dipping into the state’s pocketbook! Enough is enough. Sure, I understand that a few public servants around the state are going to be forced to give up positions where they really are helping people, but it really is for the greater good.

And what’s better is that the newly opened positions will allow other people to become a part of the elective form of government. When you have consolidation of power, it’s a bad thing for everyone.

Arrogant Abuse of the Summer #1 & #2

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You know when summer hits Deal, New Jersey when the New Yorkers are keeping you up at all hours of the night. Tonight, we had the first gathering of 10 – 15 year olds outside of our window. The cops were called and the kids dispersed a little after midnight. Completely ridiculous that kids this age are allowed to prowl around town without any supervision.

And even more ridiculous that the Ocean Township Police Department told them to just “go home” when – if they were college students – they would have called in the paddy wagon (don’t laugh, I’ve seen it happen before).

Now, at about 2:30am, there’s no way you can sleep because three and a half blocks away a bunch of the older New Yorkers are having a dance club party such that the bass on their music can be heard blocks away. We just drove by and there were probably 50 people standing OUTSIDE of the house.

Again, I’ve seen college parties in this area get broken up with less than half of that amount of people and the party completely contained to a living room or a basement. This party is taking place outside of a house, on a main road, with music that you can hear more than 3 blocks away…

No paddy wagon, no police, nothing.

Anyone who doesn’t think that there is a preconceived dictate in this town to “go after” college students and “leave the New Yorkers alone” is out of their mind.

And here we go again, with another “fantastic” summer in Deal… Ugh…

NJ Tax Dollars Getting Plowed Away in “Storm”

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Once again, our idiot lawmakers in New Jersey (both locally and at the state-level) have overreacted to the “storm” that is pummeling the Garden State. Sure, there are some major snow issues going on right now in north and northwest New Jersey, but there is nothing going on besides some rain and some light, small hail in the central part of the state.

But that didn’t stop the politicians from calling out the plow trucks. I get to drive one glorious hour to Trenton every morning and another exhausted hour back home to Deal each afternoon. On my way into the office today I saw no less than 20 plow and salt trucks standing at bay on Route 195.

Now some jerk out there is going to say, “Hey asshole! We need those trucks out there for when it starts to snow like a mother this afternoon and tonight.” And I would agree with that jerk – that we need these trucks out there this afternoon and tonight! There is ABSOLUTELY no reason for 20+ trucks to standing idle (that means engines on) on 195 right now. Nor was there a reason for this at six o’clock this morning, which was undoubtedly the time that they were called to get out there and get ready. Oh, and why were the engines on in the trucks? Well, to keep the guy inside the truck warm – you know, the guy who is getting paid time and a half right now.

So we have gas being guzzled up by these diesel engines, resources (salt) being wasted, and at least 20+ guys that I saw this morning (and who knows how many more in other parts of the state where it’s not snowing) getting paid time and a half from 6am until who knows when. And what is this all for? No, it’s not the usual craze that takes over the average New Jerseyan when they hear about a winter storm coming.

It’s bloated local and state governments that are so afraid of losing funding for next year’s winter that they spend all that they can this winter to at least match next year’s expense. Remember this when your local taxes go up next year. Remember that we had an EXTREMELY mild winter with a one-day ice storm on St. Valentine’s Day and an occasional snow storm. Remember that there was NO reason to spend the amount of money that was spent this year on winter storms.

Oh, and just for an extra kick in the ass, remember that the tax money you’re paying is going to the guy getting time and a half while sitting in the snow plow on Route 195 with his engine on from 6am to 2pm…when it’s raining out.

But hey, keep voting for Democrats in this state, I’m sure things will change eventually, right?

The Law Prevails in NJ! Sopranos to Shoot in Bloomfield

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Unbelievably, it looks like the law will be followed in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Township Administrator Louise Palagano explained that as long as Sopranos Production Inc. meets the requirements in Bloomfield’s code for filming crews, the township has no authority to deny the permit.

Holy shit!? You mean someone actually sat down and read Bloomfield’s code? And then followed that code!?? Incredible!

For those of you not from New Jersey, we have a major problem with little fiefdoms in this ridiculously liberal state. Everyone feels like no one should be offended no matter how stupid the charge. To that end, everyone also feels like if they don’t get their way, they can manipulate the local town council to overturn common sense law (like meeting requirements) in order to get what they want.

I’m not sure if that happened in this particular case, but chances are when you hear about a problem or an issue in New Jersey – liberal local activists are the root of that problem and the root of their activism is making sure that everyone is not offended.

Sometimes this state is like a South Park episode.