Top New Jersey Democrat Dick Codey recently moved from West Orange to Roseland where $1 million in extraordinary property tax relief was granted from the DCA (Department of Community Affairs) significantly contributing to fourth-quarter tax bill reductions of $450 per $60,000 of assessed value according to NJ.com.

NJ District 27: Assemblyman John McKeon (D) Left, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D) Right, NJ Senator Richard Codey (D) Bottom

With Roseland’s average 2007 home property assessment of $650,000 that can equate to $4,900 in an area where median family yearly income is over $90,000.

Property Tax Aid Cut 37% Statewide

In August Governor Corzine cut town extraordinary property tax relief by $4 million or 37%. As a result 22 towns lost aid. Yet Roseland not receiving aid in 2008 or 2007, received the largest award of all towns for 2009: $1 million.

Roseland is in the NJ 27th District.  Dick Codey is the Democrat Senator for District 27 and the NJ Senate President. Dick Codey often fills in for Governor for John Corzine as well as previous Governors such as the failed Governor McGreevey.  Also in District 27 are Democrat Assemblyman John McKeon and Democrat Assemblywoman Mila Jasey.

Roseland Awards Codey, McKeon and Jasey for $1 Million

On September 29, 2009 Roseland invited Senator Codey, Assemblyman McKeon and Assemblywoman Jasey to a “resolution” ceremony at the town meeting. Moved to the first item on the agenda, the three were thanked for their effort in procuring the $1 million and spoke about their roles as the same resolution for each was read into the Roseland record.

$1 Million Tied to Reelection of Jasey, McKeon and Codey

Assemblywomen Mila Jasey was the second to receive thanks.  Mila  told the Roseland officials “Its always great when we can bring good news so John [McKeon] and I are both running. We hope that you will go to the polls and think well of us …”

Of course the other New Jersey towns not receiving the same aid such as small rural towns, did get bad news as well as did neighboring District 27 towns such as Livingston and West Orange in Mila’s district. Mila is a resident of South Orange.

.

Codey Does a Biden Speaking of Conflict

Council member John Duthie seated behind Codey appears to stike a bewildered look when Codey spoke to Roseland Mayor John Avarnites publicly.

“You know mayor I obviously can be accused of a conflict getting the million dollars since I live in town.“

Codey may have taken a cue and switched to a comic transition with “But I did see that I’m here a year and the pot holes on my street finally got filled.”..

Codey Does a Second Biden Speaking of West Orange High Taxes

West Orange Mayor John McKeon starting his acceptance speech for the $1 million of aid to Roseland by saying “Number one mayor and town of Roseland, I don’t care how many trophies you give me, I’m not going to forgive you for taking Codey away from West Orange. Codey chimed in by saying

“You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!”

Codey had moved from West Orange about a year ago.

McKeon goes on to claim that the State only recognized “well run” towns for aid.

“I’m sure that you recognize … a lot of towns had fiscal issues problems and difficulties. But the State only recognized those that were well run and it wasn’t like … throwing bad money or good money after bad.”

How Many Poorly Run Towns Lost State Aid?

The “well run” criteria raises a lot of questions. DCA standards are not published and subject of a lot of controversy according to Senator Gerald Cardinale Republican of 39th District. His district had one town receiving aid in 2008 and none in 2009. Cardinale has called on Governor Corzine to appoint a nonpartisan special investigator to review the State’s Extraordinary Aid Program – see full story at Senator Cardinale Calls for Investigation into Extraordinary Aid Program.

Codey Does a Third Biden

There are various reasons Corzine espoused on cutting aid to towns. Most were to cover the failing New Jersey budget revenues such as stiffing small rural towns for urban towns.

Perhaps one of the most revealing reasons is a town’s influence with Senator Codey. He reveals how the District 27 Democrats worked together to influence the Extraordinary Aid from the DCA for Roseland, the town Codey resides.

“When I am calling the Commissioner of DCA its on behalf of all three of us – whatever Mila does or John Does -  its a team effort … “

This inside report from McKeon about “aid based on how well a town is run” is a vague standard. Following that logic, New Jersey is just littered with poorly run towns and that would include West Orange. It appears to be more a mask for the budget failures of the State and McKeon, Jasey and Codey are the elected Democrats responsible.

West Orange Loses $400,000 – A Well Run Town?

West Orange is one of the towns that lost aid from 2008 to the tune of $400,000. John McKeon is also the Mayor of West Orange. Opponent candidate Barry Funt (R) has harsh words for McKeon.

Barry Funt Citizens For Assembly Candidate in District 27

“Perhaps West Orange is not well run enough to qualify for the property tax relief because Mayor/Assemblyman McKeon is too busy trolling around the State for special interest campaign contributions to keep him in his Assembly seat.”

“I don’t think Roseland received the money because it is well run.  My town of Livingston is well run and also received nothing.”

Barry is running as a Citizens for Assembly candidate. He has adopted the Common Sense Pledge which calls for true property tax reform to help towns like Roseland to have more independence over their tax dollars. Barry would like to see a change to the inside dealings with tax dollars:

“I’m happy that the people of Roseland received property tax relief, but I’m tired of politicians who use our tax dollars to reward insiders.  My property tax relief plan would reduce property taxes for everyone in the state, not just special people.”

Roseland $2 Million Shortfall and 19 Layoffs – A Well Run Town?

According to NJ.com in a September 15th 2009 story, the State of New Jersey denied Roseland a bid to raise its property tax.  Roseland had marched directly into a serious $2 million dollar budget shortfall after laying off 19 borough employees. Using a tax appeal reserve fund gimmick along with the $1 million Codey, McKeon and Jasey procured, the problem was reversed to the point that Roseland is one towns actually reducing taxes and one Codey is a resident. It is still not certain if the tax assessment appeals will lose with the continued downward pressure on all property prices. Worse, next year the extraordinary aid game will be played again and Roseland may get cut to zero like dozens of other towns.

Codey has not offered to return all the tax savings he will accrue.

McKeon Suffers from Government Job Conflicts

Why so many hands in property taxes and some with dual roles? Some are the same hands from multiple government roles. McKeon has a conflict of interest common in New Jersey politics. He is a Mayor and also a NJ State Assemblyman. This cuts his interests and loyalties. Focusing efforts on reductions in Roseland residents’ taxes while not defending the town of West Orange during an election year makes more smoke.

Senator Codey fanned this issue when he quipped about leaving, “You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!”.

Getting back money we send to Trenton is an evil process that needs to be repealed. Real tax reductions and more local control is the alternative.

Exactly what all New Jersey and specifically West Orange property tax payers should be saying at the voting box in November “You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!” as they vote out candidates like Codey, Jasey and McKeon who are part of the past and go with new fresh thinking candidates.

I do not know of any small rural town with such great two camera video recording with what appears as live video switching as Roseland has for their town meetings. See for yourself.

Full Roseland Awards To Democrat Senators Procuring $1 Million in Special Aid

]]> http://www.njcommonsense.com/nj/you-wouldnt-keep-the-taxes-down-dick-codey-to-john-mckeon-while-taking-bows-for-1-million-to-roseland/feed/ 2 http://www.njcommonsense.com/national/bertha-lewis-terminates-employees-that-are-too-stupid/ http://www.njcommonsense.com/national/bertha-lewis-terminates-employees-that-are-too-stupid/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:27:53 +0000 Lon http://www.njcommonsense.com/?p=329 By Alonzo Hosford

On Mike Wallace, FOX New Sunday Bertha Lewis passes off responsibility for failures to “stupid employees” in the ACORN outposts. Bertha Lewis explains “… all of our employees if they are too stupid to understand that they are not reaching professional standards, we terminate them...”. Or is this a case of  stupid is as stupid does starting with Congress.

The interview along with Congressman Darrell Issa of California covered issues troubling the ACORN organization.

A Faulty Firewall of Convenience

Wallace conveys the top listener question of how a non profit can engage in political activities.

CEO Lewis struggled to assure watchers that a firewall separates the parent ACORN organization and its hundreds of subsidiary organizations.

A Faulty Tax Record Keeping

Congressman Darrell Issa of California stated that the House Oversight committee cannot get information on salaries and movements of funds between the hundreds of ACORN organization as well as their organization papers.

Bertha Lewis Has Failed As CEO

Bertha explains her role since taking the CEO position was fostering policies and procedures to that would prevent problems. These policies and procedures have failed based on the current record evidence. The “housing for pimps” videos and voter fraud are primary examples of failure. These depict employees lacking direction to perform tasks to properly apply Federal funding as intended. They further reveal incentives to pad spending to the extent of illegal immigration and offering housing to pimping of 13 year old sex slave illegals.

Bertha Lewis and ACORN Board Must Step Down

ACORN is plagued with numerous organizational and leadership problems of ACORN including embezzlement from leadership and employees emboldened to promote illegal activities. Both the CEO and the ACORN board needs to step down.

NJ Democrats Supporting Continued ACORN Funding Failure Must Resign

In NJ 5 Democrat Congressmen, Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone voted to continue funding ACORN despite the latest egregious ACORN failings that hurt minor women. The misappropriation of funds also harms folks by reducing the funds intended to solve problems such as underwater mortgages and potential loss of housing due to the persistent unemployment not solved by the Federal $787 billion stimulus representing $10,500 per New Jersey family. These Congressmen also voted for this stimulus that has billions targeted for ACORN. They are handing out money to an organization injected with corruption  and the money is not properly getting to those needing help.

Congressman Albio Sires, Rush Hold, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone resign for the sake of New Jersey’s reputation already tarnished by corruption.

NJ Democrat Congressmen Voting To Support Federal Funds Offered For Pimping Illegal 13 Year Old Women

ACORN has 15% of its offices across the US exposed for supporting illegal prostitution of 13 year old girls and illegal immigration. ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis yesterday took the too little too late action to start independent investigation of failed leadership, internal audits and controls on money granted for their work directed to alleviate many impacted by the housing crisis.

The US House Of Representatives voted 345-75 September 17th to strike ACORN funding. 5 of the 13 NJ Democrat representatives voted no to keep ACORN funding are now known as the “ACORN Honor Role”. New Jersey represented 6% of the vote to continue funding.

NJ ACORN Honor Roll L-R Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell, Frank Pallone

ACORN receives funding from the Federal Government and is a key benefactor in the $787 billion stimulus package ($10,500 per New Jersey family)  passed by Democrats. This money was borrowed at 6% interest from places such as China. New Jersey bears a large part of this stimulus burden as the number 1 donor State contributing to Federal funding. Lets see the care our representatives show over how it is spent.

ACORN Squanders Funds To Alleviate Those Hurt By Government Caused Sub Prime Mortgage Crisis

A national calamity with Federal quasi Freddy and Fanny mortgaging agencies sub prime loan activities have left millions of Americans with underwater mortgages. Many, now without a job, have succumbed to foreclosures and their lives destroyed by these two agencies. Many are young families starting out with hopes and dreams dashed. ACORN offices prove they have initiative to spend money, directed to them to aid this pain, at any cost including illegal activities harming the lives of young 13 year old women made even more vulnerable as illegals.

ACORN Funds Promote Illegal Immigration of 13 year Old Women Into Federally Sanctioned Slavery

NJ Democrat Representatives Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone
Vote To Continue The Failed Funding

Representatives Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone votes show their insensitivity to destroying the lives of young women rather than stopping it and making a statement to all Federal funding recipients it will not be tolerated.

Their insensitivity is extended with their votes supporting an organization that wastes money intended to help those American lives damaged by the Federally run mortgage programs. Such destruction of lives is less visible than the Government housing project failures from the 1940s. Yet it is accented by the failure of the ACORN funding as a continued pattern of Democrat intentions to provide Government run housing and failing for nearly a century. ACORN misuse of funds and ineptitude highlight Government run housing that destroyed the lives of those living there and now the destruction of the national economy by initiating in 1999 the sub prime mortgage crisis through Fannie Mae as written in NY Times in 1999.

ACORN Funds Promote Voter Registration Fraud

ACORN previously performed an inept harmful role in National elections. The cultivated environment of corruption found in the ACORN housing offices was demonstrated in the ACORN employees engaged in voter registration. Rather than performing their jobs under standards and accountability, they were allowed to fail at their work and pad performance results with illegal actions. These are how Democrat Representatives Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone vote to use American funds.

ACORN Funds Help The Poor Engage in Illegal Election Activities

Much of New Jersey has 16% Unemployment Stupid

With 45,000 New Jersey residents exhausting 79 weeks of extended employment you know we have a problem. When you study New Jersey unemployment data you find that outside of Government employment cities like Trenton, the unemployment rate is 16% and growing. The funds coming from stimulus are not keeping up because New Jersey is a donor State and funds other States. The money coming back is a negative to the money going down to Washington.

Democrat Sentators Lautenberg and Menedez and these ACORN honor role Representatives Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone are the front row pawns of the Democrat liberal agenda. This agenda is harming the citizens of New Jersey. Supporting wasteful use of New Jersey Federal dollars both now and on the interest of the national debt for decades to come are a result of voting for wasteful spending tied to corruption and illegal intentions.

Albio Sires, Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell and Frank Pallone stand up to your own Democrat Party and demand New Jersey contributions not be wasted. Show spine not ignorance.

February 11, 2009, Berkeley, CA – Van Jones, Special Advisor for Green Jobs, the White House Council on Environmental Quality fielding question from a lecture Jones gave at the 2nd Annual Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (BERC) event.

Audience member is disillusioned that Republicans could move more legislation with less a majority in Congress than Democrats can with more.

You could say that the make-up of the Democrats in Congress is not as liberal as this lecture audience and as the White House contingency more voters are now coming to know as far liberal and left.

You could say that winning an election is not the same as being answerable to the constituents that you convinced that may not be fanatic supporters.

Perhaps the audience member assumed you win, you do whatever you want. I recall, Republicans after the 2000 election tried to solve the Social Security issue. It did not happen.

Transition to power in an elected representative republic requires leadership skills that are compelling to follow even by many who may have gone with the other candidate. You have the capital of many who accept the new official and are willing to support them. This is a significant asset to be used out of the gate and not squandered. In this case those not fanatical supporters but got your vote were alienated out of the gate for reasons being debated even today. Wrong direction for leadership.

The disillusionment arises when the transition from campaign slogans to leadership comes up short; sorely exemplified by the deep intellectual reach for an unhelpful answer Van Jones offered: swear word and a good laugh. I am sure there is more to the video where Jones helps answer the question. I suspect any answer is still mired in the hope promulgated during a campaign and ignored the reality of compromises with Democrats that Republicans needed to get things done. Said another way to cause change.

Leadership when the crowd you lead is not the just the fanatic inside followers requires a different approach. It is a lot harder than you think; at least a lot harder than just having a representative majority. It takes some humility and empathy.