Electronic Ballots a Quick Fix, But Do They Count?

NJ needs to adopt rules to ensure everyone can vote more easily if another disaster hits.

All the ballots have finally been counted in New Jersey. Once they are certified by the state canvassers on Friday, New Jersey can finally close the book on this difficult election. Or can it? The constitutional litigation clinic of Rutgers Newark Law School is poking into the votes, asking for information about the processing of special balloting New Jersey Secretary of State Kim Guadagno ordered to help those displaced by Superstorm Sandy. Remember, thousands were homeless, either literally because their houses were destroyed or left uninhabitable, or by choice because they had left cold, dark buildings to stay with family or friends or at a hotel. Even some polling places were without power and so had to be moved. Guadagno ordered the …

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Sandy Lessons Should Steer Rebuilding Effort

Politicians have to make tough—perhaps expensive—decisions and need to start taking action.

It’s been three weeks since Superstorm Sandy blew through New Jersey, and past time to begin figuring out how to minimize losses the next time. Some solutions involve building; some, doing the opposite. Just as the attacks of Sept. 11 brought talk of rebuilding, there have been vows to restore the shore back to Oct. 28, 2012, as if nothing had happened. That would be a huge and costly mistake. It is not politically correct to say that at least some of what was destroyed should not be rebuilt. But it’s the truth. Barrier islands are aptly named. They are supposed to serve as barriers for the shoreline. When a major storm like Sandy or Irene hits, they will take the brunt of it and provide some measure of protection for the mainland. They …

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Letters to the Editor

Former BOE Member Thanks Community for Support

Cindy Cullen did not get re-elected for a new term.

To the Editor: Congratulations to Patrick Breslin, Jacqueline Barlow and Aaron Kurdyla on winning seats on the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District (BRRSD) Board of Education (BOE). Additionally, I would like to thank the community of Bridgewater for giving me the opportunity to serve for 10 years on the BRRSD BOE. While there is always room for improvement, the board has accomplished much in the last several years. A few examples include: Thank you to everyone who supported me over the years. I consider it a highlight of my life to have had the opportunity to serve the community via the BOE.  If you have an interest in public service, consider BRRSD and the BOE. There are opportunities to be involved at the schools, on district …

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Letters to the Editor

Resident Encourages Voting for BOE Candidates With Experience

He endorses Pat Breslin, Cindy Cullen and Jackie Barlow.

To the Editor: On Nov. 6, voters in Bridgewater will choose three members of the board of education. This year, the best candidates are incumbent board members Patrick Breslin and Cindy Cullen, and long-time active citizen Jackie Barlow. Breslin is seeking his second term on the board and currently serves as the board’s vice president and chair of the facilities committee. He has a background in business and management, as well as a degree in education, which give him the perspective to deal with the challenges facing the school district. Cullen has served on the board for nine years and has held the positions of president and vice president of the board. Currently she chairs the board’s personnel committee. Cullen’s background in …

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In Sandy's Wake, Take Election Day By Storm

Be sure to cast your vote as an unprecedented NJ election unfolds following historic storm.

There is an election on Tuesday. Who cares? Everyone should care. It's the big presidential balloting, comes around only once every four years. There's one U.S. Senate and all House seats up. Two statewide ballot questions. Three state Assembly seats, including one in District 26 that covers Parsippany and other parts of Morris County. County freeholders. mayors and council members. And, for the first time in a November, school board members—the majority of districts throughout the state pushed their school elections to November to eliminate the public vote on the budget. All of this is central to our democracy. And everyone should get out and vote. But it's the last thing on the minds of many people, and who can blame them. They're still …

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Is It Too Soon for Christmas Shopping?

It's not even Halloween yet and some stores are already putting up Christmas decorations. Is it too soon to deck the halls or are you ready for the 2012 Holiday Season to begin?

It's an annual question for merchants and shoppers: How soon is too soon to deck the malls and shopping centers for the Christmas holiday season? Some stores have already begun the process. Christmas music, decorations and layaway ads can already been seen in the shopping aisle at local stores. Halloween decorations still dominate, but signs of Christmas are already creeping in. So what do you think? When is too early for the Christmas shopping season to begin? Do the decorations and Christmas ads entice you to buy early or make you grit your teeth and wish for more time before the holiday rush begins? 

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Do Not Call List Enforcement Receives No Answer

Complaints skyrocket and agency charged with enforcing the law looks to public for a solution.

There are just two weeks until Election Day. Recent polls would indicate New Jersey has no real contests, which could save residents from those oh-so-annoying robocalls hawking this candidate or that one. But don't count on it.  It seems like the political robocalls come no matter what. Just like the telemarketers. The difference is that political calls are permitted—of course, politicians passed the law—but traditional telemarketing isn't, at least not from companies with which a person has no business relationship. And commercial robocalls are altogether illegal unless a person has given permission to receive them. The most recent data from the Federal Trade Commission, charged with enforcing the law, show complaints ballooning—there …

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Education Measures Are More Than Just Test Scores

Data on bullying and breakfasts show schools still have a lot to do to help students.

Two separate groups released last week seemingly unrelated reports, both with wide-ranging implications for education and students. One, put out by the Advocates for Children of New Jersey, examined participation rates in school breakfast programs in New Jersey. The other, from the Department of Education, provided the first district counts of incidents of harassment and intimidation since the state's anti-bullying law took effect. The 2011-12 bullying statistics were included as part of the state's annual violence and vandalism report, and boosted the total number of reported incidents (weapons and drug and alcohol incidents are included as well) by more than 50 percent over 2010-11. Some of the results were surprising, and disturbing. …

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Letters to the Editor

More Crossing Guards Needed for School, Parent Says

Local parent sends a letter to local officials about adding crossing guards to prevent other students from getting hit by cars in the future.

To the Editor: How sad that one of our students was struck by a car this morning right in front of the high school and many students.  I am writing to please ask that you place a Bridgewater PD officer or crossing guard at the high school to direct and control the traffic each morning between 6:35 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. on Garretson Road.  I am a mother of a junior at the high school. I drive my daughter to school each morning, arriving between 6:45 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. I can tell you that I am not surprised at all that a child was hit by a car this morning. The amount of traffic and the speed that some cars are driving at is frightening. The addition of the arriving school buses also contributes to limited visibility in the area.   Many many …

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Did JCP&L Spend More Time Saving Face Than Serving Customers?

Recently-released state Board of Public Utilities report charges FirstEnergy affiliate with being more concerned with image during Irene.

JCP&L, since Hurricane Irene in August 2011, has said it has committed a lot of money and resources toward improving not only how the utility communicates with its customers, but also how it runs its business. The state Board of Public Utilities, however, handed down a verdict in a recent report that states the FirstEnergy affiliate first spent more energy trying to save face, according to a NJBIZ.com article. The article notes the BPU report cites JCP&L's initial two Irene press releases from Aug. 28 and Aug. 25, 2011, the latter three days before the storm actually hit New Jersey. JCP&L "gave no indication that restoration could take several days or longer. Advice to customers appeared to have secondary importance," according to the BPU …

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