Council on Affordable Housing Targeted by all Branches of Government

Lakewood Affordable Housing In Question With New Court Decision is an article appearing at the Lakewood 24/6 website. The article notes that on Thursday a state appellate court nullified a set of guidelines put forth by the Council on Affordable Housing. Rewritten guidelines are required.

The affordable housing issue has produced a protracted struggle involving all three branches of New Jersey's government. Governor Chris Christie would like to scrap the Council on Affordable Housing. Democratic State Senator Raymond Lesniak agrees with that approach and is pushing for legislation aimed at resolving the problem. Lesniak is interested in replacing the Council on Affordable Housing with a system wherein the legislature would determine housing obligations.

Governor Christie has already vetoed a legislative initiative but Lesniak is determined to try again and has set a June 30 goal for passage.

Yankees Acquire Prior Blue Claws Pitcher

A Blue Claws Blog entry reports that the New York Yankees claimed on waivers Brian Schlitter who pitched for the Blue Claws in 2007. Although the Blue Claws are an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, Schlitter was with the Chicago Cubs organization when claimed by the Yankees. He had been traded by the Phillies for Scott Eyre.

The blog piece refers to a scouting report as disclosed by Chad Jennings at the Journal News:

Schlitter is built around a fastball that sits around 92 mph and reaches 94-95 with good sink. He also has a changeup and a slider’s that’s “OK” but could get better with a little work. He’s a good makeup guy, “a good kid.”

Financial Assistance

These are tough economic times. There is an online fact sheet containing helpful information for those with financial difficulties. New Jersey has a web page about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This appears at the site:

New Jersey is one of only a few states that also provides cash benefits and support services to individuals and couples with no dependent children, through our General Assistance (GA) program.

Another web page of NJ Helps has links to an assortment of different programs intended to address different problems.

A Rising Tea Party and Smug Opposition to it

In the Tea Party debate, who’s really acting crazy? is the title of an article written by Sean Collins. The subtitle, Liberal activists’ dismissal of the Tea Party as ‘insane’ only shows how cut-off they are from the American masses, is accurate but we can go further with the inferences. The sane and insane schtick was the theme of this weekend's rally. Jon Stewart and I rarely agree on politics but he can be funny. Humor though often has a base caricature which serves as the target of humorous barbs. The insane caricature while passed off as humor, made plausible by two leading comedians, has a serious undertone.

That the Tea Party served as the target says more than it may appear to. As Collins noted in his article, comedians are expected to engage in mockery but their liberal fans "want to fall behind them, as they believe mockery is the only effective response to Tea Party ‘lunacy’." There is a calculated effort behind the seemingly haphazard humor and blatant mockery. It's the response deemed appropriate by the left. What is left unsaid is what is less appropriate namely, an open exchange of views marked by substantive points and an effort to form common ground. That is probably due to a perception on the left that there is little if any common ground to be had between them and their Tea Party counterparts. I suspect they may be right about that but if they are it bodes ill for the future of this nation.

Tea Party followers have deeply held convictions. They are many in number. If there is no common ground there also is no inclusion for one of the factions. When a large group of people in any society feels disenfranchised democratic institutions are at risk. We witnessed that earlier in our history. The exclusion then was based on racial grounds and a consensus that a wrong needed to be righted averted a proliferation of inner city riots which marked the latter half of the sixties. They have become part of history and are fading from memory. But the lessons are serious. Violence and unrest are outlets when input is nil.

Neither the Tea Party nor the left can be said to have little influence at the present time. To the contrary, both movements have millions of followers and much influence. But a take no prisoners course by either faction based on the perception of no common ground could give rise to another more dangerous feeling of disenfranchisement. History can be cyclical. Exclusionary patterns are fraught with too much danger to trifle with.

Carl Palmer Band at the Strand

On Sunday, October 17th at 7 PM, the Carl Palmer Band will perform at the Strand, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood NJ 08701. Tickets sell for $26.00. The phone number of the Strand is: 732-367-7789.

Online Source for Public Notices

Do you know how to find your online source for public notices in New Jersey? You will if you follow this link. As the home page states:

Here, in one place, you now have access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to statewide notices about hearings, advertisements for bids, financial reports, adoption of ordinances, and other government activities legally requiring public notice. Find local sheriff sales, foreclosures, RFP, bid requests for school districts, town board meetings, variances applied for and variances granted, plus many other types of public legal notices.

NJSBDC Links

The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers website features a useful web page. Its heading is Financing Assistance. There are many links at the page. One of them provides NJ residents with information about how to get free copies of their consumer/personal credit reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus.

Also free consulting services can be accessed online at another page.