Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer has recently proposed expanding and extending New Jersey’s online purchasing program that has become a successful revenue tool for local governments and property taxpayers. According to the Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services: Merchantville received $7,500 for an old fire pumper truck sold on E-Bay after a traditional auction received a bid of just $1,200 – below the trade-in value. The increased revenue helped reduce the property tax rate. http://bit.ly/TJeSB2
Nor'easter headed this way
A coastal storm, known as a nor'easter, is poised to bring yet more high winds, rain, coastal flooding, even snow to parts of the Northeast. On Wednesday the storm spreads northward from Delaware and northern Maryland to southern and northern New England and the Hudson Valley. Occasional gusts 35-50 mph Wednesday and Wednesday night, diminishing Thursday.
At least three killed as storm pounds N.J.
A curfew between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. is now in effect in all municipalities in Atlantic County, with the exception of Atlantic City, according to the Ventnor police department. At a news conference Saturday night, Vincent Maione, president of Atlantic City Electric, said he hoped that a "majority" of 160,000 customers without power would have it restored by Wednesday evening but "quite a few" won't have power until the end of the week. http://bit.ly/ML5mcG
Christie nominates two county residents
Two Camden County residents have been asked by Gov. Christie to serve as judges. Linda M. Kassekert, a Pennsauken resident who has chaired the Casino Control Commission for a decade, received the governor's nod to be an administrative law judge. Steven J. Polansky, a Cherry Hill resident and lawyer at a township law firm, was nominated Thursday to serve as a Superior Court judge in Camden County. http://bit.ly/Mfs5IU
Christie's temper flares again on the boardwalk
Gov. Christie got into a verbal smackdown on Thursday with a man who reportedly made snide remarks about his education policies. A video posted on the TMZ website shows Christie gripping a vanilla ice cream cone as he strides down the Seaside Heights boardwalk while joining a battle of words. "You're a real big shot! You're a real big shot shooting your mouth off!" Christie yells at the man. "Just take care of the teachers," the man responds. He might as well have kicked sand in the governor's face. http://bit.ly/LaQGUG
Interactive Map: NJ Per-Pupil Spending
The typical NJ school spent $16,600 in 2010-2011. Most districts spent less per pupil in 2010-11 than in 2009-10, in part because of tough state-imposed spending caps and aid, according to data from the 2010-11 New Jersey School Report Card issued earlier this month by the state Department of Education. The map ranks K-12 or K-8 districts by total overall spending. By clicking on a municipality, the data for its primary school district is available. Interactive Map
Rutgers boards won't cede control
Rutgers' two boards declared Wednesday that the university's governing structure would remain intact, signaling to Gov. Christie and legislative leaders that their plans to remake the state's public universities could face significant hurdles ahead. A set of "principles" approved by the boards of trustees and governors expressed