Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . .
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010I’m a “classic rock” kind of a guy, but The Who sounded really old the other night at the Super Bowl. I recall listening and recording their “final” show 28 years ago. “Hope I die before I get old” . . . Congratulations to the Saints! It was an entertaining game. The first quarter sure had signs of a blowout against a green team. That they came back as soundly as they did is truly a credit . . . Here’s the obligatory comment about the commercials: I didn’t watch them. I think I am immune to these things. I watched Gary Vaynerchuk’s comments about the commercials, but not the commercials themselves. So much for those advertising dollars . . . I posted road conditions the other day for Millville. How would they have been better seen? Perhaps I will run my Twitter stream through the blog again . . . Millville Public Library didn’t answer telephones Monday morning. Left a message that has yet to be returned. Called the Vineland branch and got service immediately . . . Made some red beans and rice. This place has smelled great all day . . . We followed it up with a tasty heart-shaped cheesecake. It’s Gert’s grandmother’s recipe. Wonderfully delicious! . . . Time for a change . . . Signed up for pip.io today. I don’t understand the buzz. Help me out if you do . . . If you need to believe in miracles, a man was found alive in the wreckage in Haiti, four weeks after the earthquake . . . According to Millville’s superintendent, one-third of all Millville High School students are suspended each year. Yikes! . . . And at VPS, 46% are suspended . . . Gov. Christie finally declared a state of emergency for southern NJ three days after the blizzard hit. The timing probably doesn’t matter, but I am not encouraged by all the photo-ops last weekend. As I noted on Sunday, Christie should not be using snow plows as props . . . Christie stated he worked with the BUP to restore power to those without it. The BUP only doles out money and ensures Nick Asselta has a cushy job. It’s Atlantic City Electric that can actually do something to restore power . . . My classroom recently participated with Art Goes to School. I love this program. It’s one of those programs I look forward to yearly. Excellent job. This year we analyzed Velazquez’s Las Meninas, Picasso’s Las Meninas, and Dali’s Portrait of Juan de Pareja Fixing a String of His Mandolin and how they are all related. Very kewl! . . .
Controlling NJ’s Authorities and Agencies
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Governor Christie is hitting stride as he vetoed the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s (DRBA) budget. Locally, the DRBA runs Millville’s airport. In vetoing the budget, the governor stated:
With the fiscal situation New Jersey finds itself in, we cannot afford blanket spending orders; nor can we allow boards and authorities to vote for ever-expanding budgets.
DRBA proposed a budget that was 3.04% larger than last year’s budget. In addition, Christie noted the more than $25,000 in unexplained expenditures to 98 vendors.
Sure, all this is a drop in the budget of New Jersey’s ills. Yet, it is refreshing to hear someone with some clout say No. When was the last time a politician stopped spending? I hope this is a sign of bigger spending cuts ahead.
Freeholder Magazzu should take notice; he will not be unwatched to manipulate the agencies under his control. Matt Dunn reported that Magazzu’s buddy Don Rainear can rake in as much as $130,000 to act as a consultant to the dump. While I am just a simple man, a dump doesn’t seem all that complicated. This salary is extraordinary. I would love to see Governor Christie veto this contract. 
Encouraging
Saturday, January 30th, 2010Earlier this week, New Jersey Governor Christie vetoed a change order for Burlington High School. The project was put out to bid and came in at $28 million. The school board decided to change the project and approved $46 million worth of spending. Enter Gov. Christie.
We will be placing far greater scrutiny than ever previously imposed on contracts and expenditures like these.
Bravo!
Sure, this is just a crumb of the out-of-control spending in this state, but it is emblematic of how government has no limits with the public’s money. A change order of 66% is outrageous! Christie seems to be holding that in check. We shall see . . .
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009I love Election Day! That I was off from work today made it just that more festive. I voted alone around 10:00 a.m. Gert went in with the children later in the evening.
Watching the returns this evening has been interesting. It sure looks as though Chris Christie is going to pull out the upset here in Blue Jersey: a Republican winning a statewide campaign.
The ballot question to borrow $400 million to fund park cleanups, football fields, and other pet projects is going to squeak through.
It looks like 1st district voters are happy to send two men who have done little for them back to the Assembly. One thinks so little of his record he talks about his son who died four years prior to his running for office. The other parks in handicapped spaces, calls it a BS ticket, and then squanders local tax dollars by going to court rather than just paying the fee.
Even worse, Cumberland County voters are more than happy to send Lou Magazzu back to the freeholder board. It looks as though Tom Shepard will join him, so the 7-0 board will now be 6-1. Nelson Thompson looks to be in as the third freeholder.
Gloria Noto has enough of a lead to hold off Van Embden.
It’s been a mixed evening. I did not subscribe that New Jersey’s gubernatorial election was a referendum on President Obama’s presidency . . . until President Obama said it was. Since he battled so hard for a man who has been disastrous for the Garden State, he can take the loss on his record. So, Obama looks to be the big loser tonight. Well, so was Corzine. Not only did he lose his job, he spent millions to do so.
I am not certain we are poised for a conservative revolution. The GOP is still a mess. Christie did well in a time when things were as stacked against Democrats as they have ever been in this state. Now it is time for him to govern. Governor-elect Christie, you have a massive budget hole for next year’s budget. How are you going to close that? You’re now on the clock.
