SENATOR LESNIAK TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC SURVIVAL OF NEW JERSEY

NEWARK -- Senator Raymond Lesniak will deliver the following remarks at the Smart Growth Coalition’s membership meeting tonight in Newark.

“Proposals currently moving through the legislature represent nothing less than the future of the State of New Jersey. If revisions to the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit, the Revenue Allocation District and Affordable Housing bills do not pass, we will see the words of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘My Hometown’ come true: These jobs are going boys and they ain't comin’ back.

Unlike Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik doesn’t want Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) obligations scrapped.

But like a lot of other mayors who found it hard to generate a party mood at the League of Municipalities conference in the face of a deadline at the end of this month to submit finished plans in concert with the new rules, the mayor does want lawmakers to review COAH – and at the very least make some exceptions.

Specifically, Hornik wants Gov. Jon Corzine and the Legislature to consider amending the new regs so years-long, painstaking work Marlboro officials undertook to transfer some of the Monmouth County town’s affordable housing stock to Trenton won’t be rendered invalid.  

SENATOR LESNIAK COMMENTS ON RAD LEGISLATION

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, the Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, made the following remarks today concerning his legislation to modify the “Revenue Allocation District Financing Act,” to encourage greater private investment in New Jersey’s communities. The legislation was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today by a vote of 4-0, with one abstention:

“The legislation we are considering today represents nothing less than the future of the State of New Jersey. If it does not pass, we will see the words of Bruce Springsteen’s “My Hometown” come true: These jobs are going boys and they ain't commin’ back.

SENATOR LESNIAK ON FIXING NEW JERSEY’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM

UNION – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, and Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statement today on the direction of affordable housing regulations in New Jersey:

“COAH has failed to address the affordable housing needs of New Jersey during a growing economy and booming housing market. Under the current economic downturn, its approach will not only fail to spur low income housing development, it will stifle moderate income housing development and dampen New Jersey's chances for an economic rebound. Our unemployment rate will continue to increase causing more pain for our residents.

State Sen. Barbara Buono wants to stay focused on state budget issues

At least three State Senators want to succeed U.S. Rep.-elect John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) as chairman of the power Judiciary Committee, a decision that will be made by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex). 

Sources say state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair), and Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), want to succeed Adler, while two other senators with legal cred say they’re satisfied with their present chairmanships and don’t want to make a play for judiciary chair.

“It would be an interesting chairmanship,” admitted state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen). “But I can’t imagine a more challenging chairmanship than the budget committee, and right now with the economy what it is, I would like to stay focused.”

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth), who already serves on the judiciary committee, said he’s likewise not budging from his current chairmanship of economic development.

LESNIAK-RUIZ RESOLUTION CELEBRATING HISPANIC AND LATINO HERITAGE MONTH APPROVED IN STATE SENATE

TRENTON – A resolution sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Teresa Ruiz which recognizes September 15 through October 15 of each year as Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month in New Jersey was unanimously approved by the Senate today, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jerseyans of Hispanic and Latino heritage have given our State and the nation at large so much, and have enriched the American tapestry,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “It’s only fitting that we designate a month in which to officially recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in New Jersey. This resolution would ensure that each year, we take the proper time to respect and appreciate the cultural contributions of our State’s large Hispanic- and Latino-American population.”

The struggle of the late political consultant Tom Blakely’s widow to secure payment from the life insurance policy her husband signed just days before he died may lead to legislation in New Jersey. 

Last month, four state Senators wrote a letter to TransAmerica Life Insurance Corp. CEO Patrick S. Baird inviting him or a representative of the company to meet with them over legislation they plan to propose next month that would change the way life insurance companies operate in New Jersey.

TransAmerica has been assailed by prominent New Jersey Republicans ever since it challenged the validity of Blakely’s second policy with the company.  Blakely was a co-founder of Jamestown Associates, a top Republican consulting firm, and died in March after collapsing during a 5K race in Bordentown. 

Sources in Union County say Roselle Councilwoman Cecilia Dallas-Ricks did not muster enough support in Roselle to be a credible Democratic Party candidate and consequently will not be in nomination Tuesday night when the party votes for a successor to District 20 Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Roselle).

That sets up a showdown between Annette Quijano, assistant counsel to Gov. Jon Corzine; and Elizabeth Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste.

With Roselle out of contention, sources say Quijano is likely to summon more power-player support in a district where overall, registered Latino voters have a decided edge over African-Americans.

The governor’s assistant counsel has the backing of Union County Freeholder Director Angel Estrada and real estate agent and Hispanic party activist George Castro, both of whom retreated from their own pursuit of the vacated seat.

Assembly Deputy Speaker Neil Cohen resigned after state officials found child pornography on his office computer
Union County Democrats will meet next Tuesday at a special convention to elect the replacement for former Assemblyman Neil Cohen, who resigned his seat late last month after child pornography was allegedly found on one of his legislative office computers.

The replacement will be selected by the members of the county’s Democratic committee from the four towns that comprise Legislative District 20: Roselle, Elizabeth, Union Township and Kenilworth. But the endorsement by the district’s other two legislators – Assemblyman/Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan and State Sen. Ray Lesniak -- will undoubtedly weigh heavily on the committee’s decision.

Among the local political players said to be interested in the post are Roselle Councilwoman Cecelia Dallis-Ricks; Union County Freeholder Director Angel Estrada; Elizabeth Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste; Elizabeth Councilman Manny Grova; Roselle Councilman and former Cohen Chief-of-Staff Jamel Holley and Roselle Mayor Garrett Smith, who has butted heads with party leaders in the past.

EDISON - Diners anchor what’s left of the train-track and warehouseEdison Mayor Jun Choi: Politicker file photo girded countryside in this sprawling town, fifth biggest in New Jersey, where Mayor Jun Choi drinks his coffee on a summer morning in one of the more recognizable roadside haunts called the Plaza Diner.

The suit and tie and modest demeanor belie a man restlessly at work, for if Choi was an enigmatic upstart when he hit the scene three years ago, he has built himself into a surging political force, three-fourths of the way into his first term.

"And I’m running again," he says with a smile.

The Edison-raised kid who came from the inner sanctum of Bill Bradley’s machine-bucking 2000 presidential campaign, former state Department of Education wonk, Choi remains the Democratic Party outsider in a party that still does not know quite what to do with him.