Hurricane Sandy victims were permitted to vote by email and fax and it is being alleged that the voting was not properly handled and caused “chaos for local election officials.”

It’s so hard to criticize decisions made in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, especially when so many people were displaced. Trying to get back to “normal” means very difficult decisions needed to have been made.

Read the entire article to see how the voting issues effected the New Jersey elections.

The results of the latest C-Suite Survey were reported in an online article on May 22, 2012. The C-Suite Survey solicits input from private companies in New Jersey on matters relating to the state’s economy. The survey is organized and administered by a group consisting of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, the commercial realty company Cushman and Wakefield, and Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. The forum for the publication of the survey results was the Rutgers Economic Policy Summit held on May 22, 2012.

In his comments to summit participants, Jim Hughes, dean of the Bloustein School, said that New Jersey was positioned to add 42,000 jobs to its economy during 2012. He further observed that even with this projected job growth, there is still a serious deficiency in the number of jobs New Jersey needs to significantly lower its unemployment rate. This situation exists even though some say the Great Recession ended nearly three years ago in June 2009.

Of the 274 New Jersey employers who responded to the survey, 42% believe that they will bring new employees on board during the course of the next year. In addition, 35% foresee an augmentation in capital outlays over the next year, and 59% are of the opinion that New Jersey’s economic climate will get better in the coming months. Finally, 25% of the employers believe that New Jersey is the kind of state in which they can successfully operate and grow their businesses.

As part of a panel discussion during the Summit, Madeleine Robinson, CEO of LPS Industries, spoke about the way prevailing economic conditions in New Jersey have affected her company. LPS Industries is a manufacturer of packaging materials. Robinson believes that the economic climate has made it difficult for manufacturing firms like hers to anticipate what will happen in the future. Her company, she said, did well last year, but she is very apprehensive about the year ahead.

On May 22, 2012, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was accused by the chairmen of state Democratic Party of not paying enough attention to his duties as a Governor. Governor Christie was fundraising for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in New York City. Christie has also been at many other fundraising opportunities for the Republican party that have forced him to be out of the state of New Jersey while he visited 14 other states. Some of the campaigns Governor Christie went on include one for Senator Eric Cantor of New Mexico, who is a hopeful for House Majority Leader, and Christie has also addressed the Kentucky GOP. 

Due to Governor Christie winning a leadership role in the national association of Republican governors, he has been out of state for 54 days in the last eight months. This is something that Assemblyman John Wisniewski finds unacceptable. Wisniewski accused Governor Christie of being more concerned about the presidential race then he is about the State of New Jersey. Accusations were also made by Wisniewski that Governor Christie has a lack of leadership in his state, and he was taking the unemployment rate and spinning it into something that was not factual. Wisniewski stated that Governor Christie has done nothing to help with property taxes either, and accused Christie of cutting back on homestead rebates. In addition to these accusations, Wisniewski stated that the proposed income tax cut of 10 percent across the board would not help the middle class citizens in New Jersey as much as the Democrats proposal of a 20 percent property tax credit on income tax returns.

These accusations did not go unanswered by Governor Christie’s camp. Kevin Roberts, Governor Christie’s spokesperson, stated that the Governor is cleaning up the mess that Wisniewski and the Democratic party left in New Jersey. Roberts claimed that the Democratic party left a hole in New Jersey and that the Governor is using his leadership skills to help restore New Jersey to where it was before the Democrats took over. Roberts also pointed out that since Governor Christie took office in 2010, 71,000 jobs have been created in the private sector by the state. Roberts final words about the accusations against Governor Christie were to tell Democratic Chairman Wisniewski that he and his party would serve their constituents better if they tried to be a part of the solution and not held on so tightly to their Democratic beliefs. 

Former governors of New Jersey have also been known to leave the state for other duties. Some of those governors and the number of days they were gone include Governor Jon Corzine, when in 2008, he left the state for 105 days, while the previous two years he had left the state for 85 days. Governor Christie Whitman left the state for 100 days back in 1997. Although there have been other governors who have not left the state for that many days, and they include former Governors Richard Codey and Jim McGreevey.

New Jersey congressional candidate Donald Payne Jr. received a major endorsement recently from U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Donald Payne is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the 10th New Jersey Congressional District seat against several other contenders. 

Payne is the son of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Sr. who died in March. Rep. Pelosi was a friend and political ally of the late congressman, so her endorsement of his son to fill his father’s seat did not strike most observers as a surprise. In backing the younger Payne, Pelosi stressed that he would bring to Washington the job-creating skills he acquired during his years serving as the City Council President of the city of Newark. She also praised Payne as someone who would fight the conservative agenda being promoted by the conservative Republicans in congress who are commonly called “The Tea Party.” Pelosi went on to suggest that Payne would pay special attention to the concerns of seniors as well as supporters of women’s rights.

However one of Payne’s major opponents in the primary, fellow Newark City Councilor Ron Rice, complained that Rep. Pelosi should not have taken sides in the race, suggesting that the national leadership of the Democratic Party should have remained neutral. Rice pointed out that he too has the endorsement of prominent liberal and Democrat Party groups, such as former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean’s national grassroots organization Democracy for America. Rice’s campaign advisor, Mike Makarski, released a statement in which he praised Rice as “a champion of liberal values” and went on to list major labor unions such as the SEIU that have endorsed Rice. Recently Rice also won the endorsement of the Communications Workers of America, which with 70,000 members is New Jersey’s largest union. 

Donald Payne Jr. has also received the endorsement of major unions including the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 108 that represents over 5,000 retail workers. In addition Payne has the endorsement of U.S. Senator, Robert Menendez. However Makarski noted that several of Donald Payne’s colleagues on the Newark City Council have endorsed Rice over Payne and dismissed Pelosi’s actions on Payne’s behalf as political interference. “We would have expected better from national Democratic leadership.” Makarski said regarding Pelosi’s endorsement.

In Trenton, New Jersey, an Assembly panel made up of five Democrats and two Republicans, approved a bill that would fine those found with marijuana, rather than send them to jail.

If the bill is passed, anyone found with 15 grams or less of marijuana, which is about 1/2 an ounce or close to 30 joints, would face fines instead of jail time. The first offense would result in a fine of $150, the second offense would see a fine of $200, and the third and any subsequent fines would be $500 per offense.

A major contributor to the legislation, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) says the change reflects the publics opinion that marijuana possession should not be treated as a criminal act. People feel that the current penalties for possession of marijuana are too severe. “Some acts harm society, and they warrant the intervention of police, prosecutors and perhaps even incarceration,” Carroll said. “Other acts warrant at best, a spanking, and these seems to be one of these situations.”

The bill still must pass both legislative chambers, and be approved by the Governor, Chris Christie, before it could go into effect. Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Governor Christie, said the Governor would not comment on pending legislation.

Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Peter Barnes III (D-Middlesex), is hopeful the bill will pass. He feels it lines up with Governor Christie’s views on nonviolent drug offenders, where he proposes mandatory drug treatment, instead of jail time. Since the bill has bipartisan support, Barnes believes it stands a good chance of being passed. “This is a bill that once the governor and his staff take a look at it, is right in line with a lot of things he is trying to do,” Barnes said.

There are proponents and opponents of this bill. Those that are for the bill state that it will prevent people, who are otherwise good citizens, from losing their jobs, having a hard time finding a place to live, and will make finding employment easier. Opponents of this bill feel that it will be sending the wrong message to our young people, and may encourage them to use marijuana, as they would feel it is a safe drug. A Ritgers-Eagleton poll, taken last year, showed that 60% of registered voters felt that marijuana possession laws should be relaxed. 

Rachel Cortino, an attorney for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws’ New Jersey chapter, would like to see adjustments to marijuana possession laws so that the punishment fits the crime. She feels that people should not be prosecuted because instead of drinking a beer to relax, they smoke a joint to relax. 

Should the bill pass, New Jersey will be the 15th state to reduce the marijuana possession charge to a civil offense and not a criminal one.

New Jersey was inhabited by Native Americans over 2,000 years before the establishment of the Europeans. The Dutch were the first to form colonies there. New Jersey was originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Indians at the time the Europeans arrived. The Lenni Lenape tribe was an organized group that spread throughout northern America and parts of Canada. They were skilled hunters and proficient in agriculture. Their largest crop was corn. The Lenni Lenape tribe was divided into three groups that were identified with animal signs - Wolf, Turtle, and Turkey. 

Although the original settlers in New Jersey were the Dutch, most of the history starts with the colonies of England. New Jersey was a grant from King Charles II, which was given to his only brother James Stewart. Soon after that James donated some land to his two close friends, Lord Berkeley and George Carteret, which then became the land known as New Jersey. Quakers quickly purchased both pieces of land and created West and East New Jersey, which became one territory during the ruling of the Empire of England in 1702.

After the Boston Tea Party, the Revolutionary War began. New Jersey was one of the thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British. During the war, armies from both sides crossed into the territory multiple times, resulting in bloodshed. This is when New Jersey acquired its nickname, “The Crossroads of the Revolution.” Morristown was the headquarters of the army during the war. In 1783, the Continental Congress conducted a meeting at the University of Princeton, making it the nation’s capital. After the war, New Jersey became the third state of the United States of America.

Today, New jersey has the largest number of shopping malls, densest system of railroads and highways and is considered the dining capital of the world. New Jersey ranks 11th for the amount of people and is also the most densely populated state in America according to the census.

New Jersey election officials presented independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett a special blue ribbon for taking part in the governor’s race and a coupon for a free 20-ounce soda with purchase of a 6-inch sub at Subway.

“While there will be winners and losers in the upcoming election, let’s not focus on such pejorative terms that categorize someone as one or the other,” said Robert Giles, director of the state Division of Elections. “Everyone involved, including Chris Daggett, participated and that’s nearly as important as winning one of the most powerful governorships in the nation.”

Although the actual election still is two months away, officials said they wanted to recognize Daggett now so he could proudly wear the participation ribbon on his wide array of polo shirts during campaign stops. The ribbon says, “Participant. NJ gubernatorial race, 2009.”

“I am grateful to have received this wonderful honor that I should note is not handed out to just anyone on the street,” Daggett said to himself at an empty news conference. “You have to be a participant in the governor’s race. That’s me. I participated.”

Gov. Jon Corzine paid $475,000 for his participation ribbon, while GOP challenger Chris Christie refused a ribbon, saying the American flag badge he wears proves he’s the only true patriot among the candidates.

Later, during a conference call, Daggett was asked how he was spending the public funding he qualified for. “Well, Old Navy had a sale on polos and you can never have too many of those,” he said.

Daggett also said he was busy preparing for the upcoming candidate debates, studying his key issues such as education, ethics, the environment and other things that begin with “e.” However, a leaked copy of questions that will be asked at the debate indicates the most probing query on tap for Daggett is, “What did you have for breakfast?”

Republican lawmakers and conservative activists in New Jersey are pushing for an amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-topping sandwiches.

The groups said they will begin a push to have the issue placed on the ballot next year and let Garden State residents – not legislators – decide whether it should be legal for someone to make a peanut butter and peanut butter sandwich.

“This is not about discrimination. This is about what is moral, what is right,” state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) told reporters. “Peanut butter and jelly were meant to go together. You know, PB&J just sounds right. PB&PB or J&J? That’s sick.”

“We’re not trying to legislate what you do in the kitchen,” Cardinale continued between bites of an American cheese sandwich. “But this state of ours is headed down a path I don’t think any of us wants to go and it all comes back to the sandwich.”

Gregory Quinlan, director of government affairs for New Jersey Sandwich First, said putting only peanut butter or jelly on both slices of bread tears at the fabric of society.

“And don’t even get me started on the depravity of a peanut butter and banana sandwich,” Quinlan said. “It’s an affront to nature. Besides, what kind of message are we sending to our children?”

Gov. Jon Corzine has long advocated for tolerance on the question of same-topping sandwiches and reiterated his desire for the legislature to pass a bill allowing such combinations.

“The governor’s on the record supporting fairness and equality for all sandwiches,” spokesman Sean Darcy said. “In fact, he just ate a peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff sandwich today for lunch.”

Doctors at University Hospital in Newark were scrambling to treat Conan O’Brien after the Tonight Show host was stabbed, shot and beaten, but were unsure whether a bus ticket to Topeka would be enough to save him.

“Medicine has come a long way…in other cities,” emergency room physician Max Rapapport said at a news conference. “Unfortunately for Mr. O’Brien, our options are limited here. We thought about giving him a bus ticket to Pittsburgh, but in the end, it was clear a trip to Topeka was warranted.”

O’Brien ran into problems after cracking a joke about the city to a group of residents on Irvine Turner Boulevard. They promptly attacked him.

“Is that all you’ve got?” O’Brien quipped after someone in the crowd on the street knifed him in the back. “My 3-year-old son gives me worse when I try to put him down for a nap.”

Witnesses said a 3-year-old boy then pulled out a Glock .40mm and shot O’Brien several times. Stray bullets also killed two bystanders.

“Okay, that stung a little, but still,” the comedian countered. “And who nicknames a place Brick City? Oooh, I’d like to live in aluminum siding city!”

“That’s when someone threw a brick that hit Conan upside the head,” one resident said. “After he went down on the sidewalk, everyone lined up single-file to kick him in the ribs. It was very orderly.”

Through an NBC spokesman in Hollywood, Tonight Show sidekick Andy Richter said, “Newark is a great city. Don’t forget to watch tomorrow night as I host what will be a great show! my show. Finally!”

Municipal employees in hundreds of towns across New Jersey are threatening to walk off the job if perks such as free kidneys and livers, and a Cambodian house boy upon retirement are taken from them.

The workers, reacting to a state investigation that revealed close to $40 million in excessive benefits to local government employees, said there’s no reason to change.

“Those idiots in Trenton need to learn the expression, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’” said Charles Vanderbale, a Rockaway Township public works employee with 34 years on the job who noted he’s already factored the Cambodian house boy into his retirement planning. “Do you realize how expensive it would be for me to go out somewhere and pay retail for daily foot massages? People just don’t understand my $125,000 annual pension and full medical will only go so far.”

The scathing report by the State Commission of Investigation found places such as Bernardsville, Harrison and Summit routinely offer its workers their choice of organ transplants and master keys that unlock every home in their particular township.

“It’s one of those things that was just given to everyone over the years,” retired Harrison police Chief Stan Sullivan said. “I’m pretty sure I would have had to stop drinking if I hadn’t been able to get that six-pack of livers over the years. But that didn’t just benefit me. The town got an extra three or four years out of me on the job, even if that last year I didn’t actually have to show up because of accrued sick time.”

Local municipal workers stressed they gave up more promising opportunities in the private sector, opportunities that they could easily take advantage of if New Jersey politicians started toying with their hard-earned benefits.

“Here’s the thing. I have a GED and 27 years of experience putting papers in manila folders,” Victory Gardens filing clerk Maria Andersen said defiantly. “If the state of New Jersey thinks it can just up and replace someone with those kind of qualifications, then be my guest.”