FINALLY, IT'S OVER!

NJMC'S decision to pull the plug on EnCap is a second chance for N. Arlington, Lyndhurst & Rutherford to construct a responsible plan for redevelopment in the Meadowlands 

The political gods sometimes do the right thing.

In the case of EnCap, they finally pulled the plug on the biggest redevelopment debacle in the state of New Jersey.

A plan that never sought public opinion or input, but an "insider's deal" that put a bunch of developers, bureaucrats, state appointees, lawyers, engineers and other special interests in a room to construct something nobody in the host communities ever wanted in the first place!

For the lesson of EnCap is very simple. You can't push two pounds of baloney in a one pound bag! Those who supported this project for too long were obsessed in saving something nobody ever wanted in the first place.

Who wanted thousands of new units of housing except the developer?

Who wanted the construction of low income housing and the application of eminent domain seizure?

Who supported the density or the height of the project as proposed? Who thought the PILOT arrangement was a good idea?

Who was going to pay for the tens of millions of dollars in roads, schools and other infrastructure essential needed to increase the region's population by as much as 30% in the most traveled corridor in the most densely populated state in the nation?

While the fallout from the NJMC's is yet to be determined, it's obvious to those in-the-know that the Corzine Administration wanted the plug pulled on this project.

It was only a few weeks ago that Governor Jon Corzine trekked to Lyndhurst to meet with the mayors, legislators and other officials to discuss the EnCap dilemma. Long known for keeping his political cards close to his chest, Governor Corzine finally came to the conclusion that saving EnCap wasn't worth the political capital.

From a public policy perspective, the project was nothing short of failure.

While it's unclear how this effects North Arlington's current litigation, one must assume without a Phase One, how can EnCap go forward with Phase Two? What developer would sink millions into a project the state has basically abandoned? While EnCap may own the property, the parcels are only truly valuable with a plan that the community will embrace. More importantly, does EnCap have the financial ability to hold on to these parcels given the fact Donald Trump had to make their latest tax payment?

The time for EnCap to seek a graceful exit strategy is now.

While the NJMC voided the deal, it was the long shadow of the state of New Jersey that said enough is enough.

While politics seems to have a say in anything New Jersey, the fact Mr. Corzine will probably seek re-election in 2009 didn't want the stench of a botched project like EnCap hanging over his political scalp!

The properties currently owned by the developer are valuable and will be purchased at the right price by another company who has an economic interest in the region.

By any standard, the redevelopment of these properties after the remediation is complete will only increase  values. EnCap will still walk away with a healthy profit if and when the parcels are transacted. While the promise of PILOT payments is now just a bad memory, EnCap needs to reconsider the options left given the circumstances.

For Donald Trump, no harm and no foul.

The savvy billionaire from midtown Manhattan isn't about to pick-up the pieces of this redevelopment "humpty-dumpty."

Under improved economic conditions and better terms for the communities in question, one would think Trump might just come back at a later date with a better mouse trap.

The issue was never Trump, the issue was the deals in place with EnCap.

One finds it hard for EnCap to do anything but just go away. The state's rejection of them as the developer will dramatically change the redevelopment landscape forever.

For North Arlington, this is vindication both politically as well as from a public policy perspective.

All the political spin in the world won't change the hard reality that Mayor Peter Massa, Council President Steve Tanelli, Councilman Al Granell and Councilman Sal DiBlasi led the fight to stop EnCap. It would be factually incorrect not to include Councilman Jim Ferriero as well as former council members Phil Spanola & Mark Yampaglia who originally endorsed EnCap, had the political courage to switch sides an aid this mayor to do the right thing.

Who on the Republican side can say the same?

Who on the Republican side ever criticized EnCap just once?

Some voters have short memories and others like to re-write history. This web site has covered this story more closely than any local medium in-print or online. This web site applauded the efforts of The Record's Jeff Pillets and others who did the hard work and the kind of investigative reporting reminiscent of the days of Woodward & Bernstein!

But now is no time for self-praise.

The NJMC led by DCA chief Joe Doria and Executive Director Robert Ceberio did the right thing. In the end, it was Doria & Ceberio with the support of Governor Corzine and others that finally came to the only conclusion Pete Massa figured out three years ago.  

This David versus Goliath struggle is now finally behind us. Now is the time to move forward and put taxpayers first. Isn't that the purpose of government?

To put the public interest first?

Congratulations to Mayor Pete Massa and the North Arlington governing body on a well earned victory.

EnCap or garbage, choose your poison!

Keeping landfills open to subsidize the cost of remediation makes sense for North Arlington taxpayers!

The history of the Meadowlands and North Arlington's involvement with landfill operations is really in the eye of the beholder. Politics and legacy play a huge role in what actually happened versus what some would like you to believe.

There are some who have been around the political scene long enough to remember when the construction of the world's largest transfer station began literally in the middle of the night as an all-Republican Mayor & Council justified more garbage versus traditional redevelopment.

While many will remember the late Bill McDowell for his stints as mayor, freeholder, sheriff and Bergen's first county executive, his role in the construction of a garbage baler facility within our borders has been a staple of municipal revenue for generations.

When New Jersey was governed under twenty-one different solid waste authorities, every NJ county was building incinerators, transfer stations and other ways to profit off solid waste. In the case of Carbone, the Supreme Court invalidated the state's solid waste management statutes and deregulation of garbage essentially ended the notion of open land-filling here in New Jersey.

With the Hackensack Meadowlands Commission (now known as the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission) essentially responsible for the governance of these multiple municipalities, the emphasis on redevelopment became the commission's primary objective.

As solid waste revenues continued to decline, North Arlington found itself losing large streams of revenue as the region's primary host community.

While the application and expenditure of host community fees has been hotly debated at the municipal level, it's obvious now that these temporary fees were used as though the revenue would never cease. This issue of squandering these fees was a concern of our former business administrator who made those comments to The Record as far back as the early 1990's.

Enter the concept of turning Brownfield's into Greenfield's and the prospect of EnCap Holdings, the company charged by the NJMC to cap these dormant landfills and begin the transformation of remediate garbage into a landscape for residential and commercial development.

While the most of the parcels in the Meadowlands were within NAMCO jurisdiction, North Arlington's aging industrial parcels known as Porete Avenue were being upgraded through a local redevelopment authority created by the Kaiser Administration. The charge to find more tenants and thus more revenue was noble, but ineffective. After millions were invested in infrastructure, the industrial strip failed to attract any new tenants or increases in the borough's tax rolls.

One of the reasons this strategy failed is the lack of state support and need for another commercial park squeezed between two, already successful commercial zones (Kearny & Lyndhurst who already had easy access to roads and highways).

The failure of DOT or the state of New Jersey to invest in an extension of Routes 3 & 17 left the area doomed for failure. Without direct access to 17, 3 or the NJ Turnpike, what company would relocate to an area overrun with garbage trucks along local surface roads such as Schuyler Avenue and Belleville Turnpike?

Fast forward to the 1990's and the McGreevey Administration made the economic commitment to regionally remediate as well as develop. The NJMC become not only a planning authority, but a redevelopment agency dedicated to a single strategy, a single concept.

The failure of EnCap Holdings was self inflictive at so many levels.

The failure for the developer to even consider the process of building public support for residential housing is baffling. How can any developer believe they can just roll out a plan to double the housing stock of a community with no plan for new roads and schools and think anyone would go along?

Incredibly, they did in the form of the NJMC as well as the now defunct, North Arlington Redevelopment Agency.

For anyone with any limited knowledge of this project to suggest that housing was never part of the equation is fooling themselves and no one else. The NARA for years embraced EnCap and sought support from the Mayor & Council to endorse the housing component as late as 2003 and until the body's disbanding in 2004! The correspondence and official minutes left behind by that agency and those who sat on that body embraced the housing component and no amount of political spin can change that reality!

More importantly, why would local Republicans accept nearly $25,000 in campaign donations from EnCap lawyers unless they supported the project?

Who accepts campaign donations from people they don't support? Who accepts financial support from people they intend to oppose?

What's even more ironic is that after leaving the office of mayor, local Republican icon Len Kaiser became a member of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission appointed by former Governor Jim McGreevey who supported EnCap. Are we to believe that Mr. Kaiser was appointed to oppose the Governor's signature public policy proposal in the Meadowlands?

Why would a Republican accept a state appointment from a Democrat who's primary legislative goal was to support EnCap Holdings?

After gaining membership to the NJMC, Kaiser then lobbied NA Republicans to become a member of the North Arlington Redevelopment Agency (NARA). He resigned after one (1) meeting in a long-winded explanation that EnCap was being politicized. In that time of membership,  he criticized this web site as well as Mayor Russ Pitman for not supporting EnCap (2003). How does one lay criticism at the feet of an individual who defeated him for re-election on the issue of opposing EnCap, but somehow won't admit he's for the project in question?

Now here we are after years public opposition to the EnCap project by North Arlington Democrats that the issue of landfill fees continues to play a critical role in the borough's finances. The hard reality is that continued fees from baler operations are a good thing for North Arlington if the only alternative is the construction of Arlington Valley!

Do people now realize why Mayor Pete Massa seeks a federal inquiry into this whole sordid affair?

No one in North Arlington wants housing. In a recent poll commissioned by local Democrats, just 8% of residents surveyed support a housing component.

Can public opinion against housing be anymore lopsided?

So as North Arlington remains in litigation and Rutherford seems prepared to do the same, who really supports EnCap?

Is the Trump Organization really going to construct a project nobody wants? Would a developer go ahead with absolutely no popular support and just build what people despise?

Is the Trump Organization going to risk damage to their own reputation and brand to save something nobody wants?

Governor Corzine's meeting with local mayors was noble, but not enough. The EnCap debacle is a text book case on how not formulate public policy. Redevelopment policy planned in a vacuum such as EnCap creates a public policy disaster because politics & greed trumped responsible governance and the needs of the region.

Here in North Arlington we have two repackaged Republicans who played key roles in the approval of EnCap.

Jim Bocchino & James Herrmann are poster child's for EnCap and the tax increases they inflicted upon North Arlington. They stay silent when asked about refunding donations from the DeCotiis law firm. They remain silent on the issue of increasing spending or approving raises for employees.

They lack a plan for the Meadowlands because their plan was EnCap!

In Mr. Herrmann, we have a defeated candidate who after losing by nearly a 1,000 votes sought a last minute appointment to a council vacancy. His appointment was arrogant and the process was botched. A Superior Court Judge agreed and he was removed from office - again!

Now after staying in political hibernation, Mr. Herrmann wants to reinvent his tax and spend, pro-EnCap record. The voters know better.

In Mr. Bocchino we have that party's chief fundraisers. A party regular and retired patronage employee of the BCUA, he served as one of Kaiser's most trusted lieutenants. A candidate who placed fourth in a field of five in 2006, Mr. Bocchino brings nothing but support for a project that has gone completely astray!

Last year Republicans celebrated with glee election night as their former leader jumped on a table to proclaim local Democrats were dead and that this year would mean a return to GOP rule! Is this what North Arlington wants? The very people responsible for the mess we're in? The very people who created the EnCap debacle in the first place?

The hatred for the Democrats who tossed local Republicans out of office is old and tired. In the end, the people tossed them out of office because they raised taxes and supported policies that the people could not.

Isn't it really that simple?

Mayor Pete Massa needs a council that's cooperative, not combative. The addition of Bocchino and Herrmann would create a new, pro-EnCap majority. That's just the truth. It's something they just want to keep buried and away from public consumption.

North Arlington and the NJMC needs to be working in concert to do what's best for taxpayers. What's best for taxpayers is keeping the baler facility operational and sustaining revenue for North Arlington until the next piece of the redevelopment puzzle is solved.

That's what Democrats want and support.

When will the Republicans tell us what they intend to do?

THE TIME TO REPUDIATE WRIGHT IS NOW!

Retired pastor's outrageous grandstanding and political rhetoric is destroying Senator Obama's bid for the presidency!

Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign is grinding to a halt because of the outrageous and irresponsible political rhetoric of Jeremiah Wright, the retired pastor of Obama's Chicago based church and place of worship.

Mr. Wright appeared before the National Press Club to further demonstrate why Senator Obama needs to cut off any ties to this disturbing individual who's making a mockery of the principles of religion, race and politics here in America.

By any standard, Mr. Wright's insensitive comments and failure to apologize for previous sermons laced with hatred against the values of most Americans can no longer be ignored as the ranting of some obscure minister. Mr. Wright's sermons and style of preaching is being met with mass outrage by both Republicans and Democrats as well as most church going Americans.

It is a political tragedy that Senator Obama, who for the most part has run a high brow, issues oriented contest with Senator Hillary Clinton is becoming a political casualty not of Clinton's negative attacks, but the continued public statements by a person who claims to be a supporter of Mr. Obama.

One could only squirm watching Mr. Wright's ridiculous and pathetic performance as a guest of the National Press Club, long a venue for national celebrity and public officials to get their points across to the general public.

Senator Obama's national campaign is deteriorating at the seams because of a man intent on staying in the pubic spotlight by continuing to poke his finger through the values of most Americans while refusing to explain the need to trash America at the expense of most Americans!

Last week the Pope visited the United States to the delight of most people regardless of religious persuasion.

The Pope went out of his way to meet with the leadership of many denominations including Jews & Moslems. He acknowledged the molestation scandal and met with members of the families afflicted by that moral outrage. The Pope's visit was positive, inclusive and good for all religions and people.

When one compares the actions and goals of the Pope and the continued rhetoric of a man claims to be "religious" like Mr. Wright, one cannot help but wonder how Senator Barack Obama could ever spend one sermon before this man much less rely on him as a source of faith and Christianity.

Senator Obama is now a political cripple who's candidacy will further implode until the Wright dilemma is addressed.

The only choice for Senator Obama is to repudiate this man once and for all. This is no longer a question of politics, but simple right and wrong. It is wrong for a presidential hopeful to associate with someone many people consider an extremist who supports policies that outrage the sensibilities of most Americans regardless of politics.

It's simply a shame that an individual of Senator Barack Obama's talent and possibilities could be torpedoed by such an embarrassing dilemma. One would hope that African-Americans of national stature will join Senator Obama in repudiating this man once and for all before Mr. Obama's once hopeful presidential crusade will be reduced to shreds thanks to the hateful words of a minister clearly out-of-control.

North Arlington: STAY THE COURSE!

Stopping EnCap, cutting spending, controlling property taxes and taking a tough stand against employee raises is the only way North Arlington can finally fix the problems inherited by the local GOP!

The Democratic Party here in North Arlington did the impossible this year by presenting homeowners with a zero tax increase after being socked with a huge tax hike (33%) just a year ago!

Councilman Al Granell, who serves as the borough's Finance Chairman worked exclusively alone in the construction of this year's budget. He and CFO Judith Tutela did most of the heavy lifting with Administrator Terrence Wall. The two Republicans, Joe Bianchi & Rich Hughes failed to offer a single budget reduction or suggestion that resulted in this year's zero tax increase!

Ironically, Bianchi & Hughes were elected on the heels of last year's 33% tax hike, a tax increase caused by decades of GOP incompetence and the EnCap debacle they supported. Nevertheless, Mr. Bianchi along with Mr. Hughes affirmed Democratic control of North Arlington by voting with the Democrats on this stabilization of municipal spending.

But Republicans want to have it both ways.

Councilman Hughes seems to support any effort to increase spending by seeking more raises for borough employees. It doesn't seem to matter if North Arlington's fiscal future would be adversely effected by such irresponsible action, Mr. Hughes is more interested in cozying up to municipal employees than protecting homeowners!

The hypocrisy of Mr. Hughes is little too much to stomach. Especailly when he can't find the dollars to pay for these increases without raising taxes!

A former municipal employee himself,  Mr. Hughes seems to be an advocate for raises without exception. Wasn't Mr. Hughes' wife a former municipal employee too? Doesn't he have a relative on the municipal payroll? How can someone with these credentials be taken seriously when it comes to the crucial issues of taxes and collective bargaining?

How can Mr. Hughes be objective?

Who does he represent? The homeowner or the municipal employee?

Because North Arlington finally has it's fiscal house in order for one budget doesn't mean that you bust next year's with a series of raises & spending increases the borough cannot afford!

With landfill host fees all but depleted, how is North Arlington going to make-up what will be at least a $2 million dollar deficit in revenues? More importantly, if landfill host fees end completely, that means North Arlington will be forced to assume tipping fees for solid waste. That translates to new expenditure that could be as high as $1M dollars annually! Does Mr. Hughes have a solution on how to find and additional $3 million dollars before he decides to cast a "yes" vote for more raises on top of the fact municipal employees already receive free health benefits and lifetime pensions?

Instead of campaigning from both sides of his mouth, maybe Mr. Hughes can explain to voters how he opposed last year's 33% tax hike, yet has no problem calling for raises while questioning the viability of this year's zero tax increase budget?

Add to the equation Councilman Hughes reconstruction of the facts as it pertains to EnCap where he absolves his political mentor Len Kaiser from responsibility for this redevelopment nightmare, one wonders how any homeowner can take him seriously on issues crucial to the borough's bottom-line!

There is a connection between one fiscal cycle and the next.

Dollars not expended this year can be used to offset potential tax hikes in 2009. The process of arbitrarily raising salaries of well paid municipal employees needs to cease. It was the reason why voters changed horses and voted for Democrats to run North Arlington after 22 years of uninterrupted political control by the Kaiser political organization.

The voters want and expect fiscal responsibility now!

To add salt to the wound, the local GOP has nominated two Kaiser "retreads" in the hope of gaining a new tax & spend majority!

Former Councilman James Herrmann was booted from office in landslide fashion (2003)because he raised municipal taxes by record proportions. In 2004 he was ousted again by a court order and removed from office due to a botched appointment process run amok. A tax & spend EnCap Republican, Mr. Herrmann is joining forces with James Bocchino, a retired BCUA patronage employee and ex-commissioner of the now defunct, North Arlington Redevelopment Agency (NARA), the very government body that gave EnCap the green light for Arlington Valley!

Not only did Bocchino & Herrmann support EnCap and Arlington Valley, but Republicans accepted thousands in campaign contributions from EnCap lawyers like the DeCotiis law firm! In fact Republicans accepted more than $25,000 in contributions from the DeCotiis law firm between 1999 and 2003!

The hard fact is that Mr. Herrmann & Mr. Bocchino have supported EnCap and high taxes for decades! Neither of them represent change, but a step back to the days of the Kaiser Administration of squandered host fees and a culture of arrogance and fiscal irresponsibility!

For North Arlington to truly stabilize taxes, a culture of savings and responsibility must take place.

That means saying "no" to raises it cannot afford. It means building a meaningful surplus to offset unanticipated expenditures like the baler closure and a legitimate plan to develop the Meadowlands in a way that's increasing revenues, not municipal spending!

While the Massa Administration deserves credit for fighting EnCap, the real question is what to do with the properties in a post EnCap environment. The fact the Trump Organization has done nothing to withdraw the current litigation only confirms the threat of Arlington Valley as being real. The people of North Arlington want these parcels cleaned up. They don't want housing and could care less who's name appears on the project!

Tigers rarely changed their stripes.

Bureaucrats like Rich Hughes can't wait to vote yes for more employees, more salaries and higher wages as we enter a crippling economic recession. It's all done under the guise of good government while he sticks you the homeowner with the bill!

What happened to controlling spending and offering fiscal accountability?

That's something Mr. Hughes doesn't want to discuss. What happened to the "businessman" who was going to treat NA like a business? Instead he plays the role of employee advocate instead of representative of the taxpayer!

The rhetoric of a GOP political victory hasn't translated to responsible public policy here in North Arlington.

For what they want is a "throw back" to a time and place that no longer exists. "Easy governance" that came with never ending host revenues is a thing of the past. Those dollars are forever gone and "tough love" is what's needed in local government.

Too bad Mr. Hughes has failed miserably in listening to that call of the weary North Arlington homeowner.

---

Doesn't the majority rule? Not in North Arlington!

Uniform proposal squashed by two school employees despite an approval to go forward with 67% of the district's parents!

Stringham & Marano display zero leadership as the "angry mob" mentality is pacified!

Last week the school budget was leading by a mere sixteen votes on the machines.

When all the votes were counted, board officials had proclaimed a tie vote and the budget would have been defeated.

A recount of the votes tabulated then ensured the budget's passage by three.

With a $19 million dollar hanging in the balance, a majority of one is needed to pass the annual school budget.

Why would school officials determine that 26% of parents could prevent the implementation of a uniform dress code?

Could you imagine if state law was changed to reflect that all bond referendums and school budgets needed a 65% vote for passage?

What kind of "democracy" is Dr. Oliver Stringham practicing in North Arlington?

Show us in the US Constitution or in state law where anything less than a majority can stop the enactment of school policy?

Why would the North Arlington Board of Education turn this issue over to parents? The Board of Education was elected by all of the voters to represent all the people. It is the Board of Education's primary responsibility to enact sensible policy for students. With 67% of all parents endorsing the concept of school uniforms, why is the BOE not moving forward?

How does anyone explain away the fact the minority now has more power than a majority of parents and students?

So what really happened?

Two bitter school employees with way too much to say rallied a small band of parents against the policy without knowing any of the facts. When the original surveys were tabulated and completed, that should have repudiated the ranting and outright lies of this vocal minority.

For whatever reason, a second vote was demanded because they lost the first one!

Huh?

What if homeowners decide to circulate a petition to the Mayor & Council to overturn the school budget because it only "won" by three votes?

What would be the difference?

In other words, the "squeaky wheel of school employees" has more to say than the very parents who want this change?

When is 65% percent of anything not enough to move forward on any kind of policy change? Had the budget received 65% of the vote, it would be considered a landslide victory!

In what bizarre world does 33% of those opposed to uniforms somehow claim victory?

The Board of Education has been embarrassed by a school leadership that doesn't lead.

This BOE needs to display some semblance of independence from the likes of Stringham & Marano and pass a uniform policy now. You will never receive overwhelming support on any issue. But to cave-in to a bitter minority that is downright belligerent to the majority's wishes is ridiculous. The message to these professional whiners is that if you scream loud enough, you'll get what you want because Dr. Stringham lacks the backbone to defend a policy that actually makes sense!

All Stringham & Marano have done is appease a distinct minority at the expense of the overwhelming majority.

In real life, the person or the issue with the most votes wins. That's called the democratic process. In North Arlington, that's been turned upside down and the members of the Board of Education have been severely undermined in character and governance.

President George McDermott has no ally in Mr. Stringham. It's another example in a long line of maneuvers that strips the BOE of the very policy making functions it was elected to consider. When 67% of parents are ignored to stay in political favor with a couple of partisan school employees with an axe to grind, the very democratic process has been eroded by the hysterical and ignorant.

The North Arlington Board of Education can implement a school uniform policy with a majority of three trustees.

When those parents who want to see change implemented are denied by politics and the status quo, it only confirms the voters worst fears about the embedded incompetence that exists in the basement offices of 222 Ridge Road.

---

"MAKING IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG?"

GOP Councilman "cuts & pastes" a "new truth" in rationalizing his party's support of EnCap, eminent domain seizure and low income housing!

Democrats say, "follow the money"

The truth sometimes is in the eye of the beholder.

In the case of Councilman Richard Hughes, he seems to be playing amateur historian in trying to redefine the image of local Republicans who have enabled their friends at Encap for nearly a decade!

The first-term Republican has taken up the unenviable task of rationalizing his party's cozy relationship with EnCap, the embattled developer on the brink of fiscal insolvency in a letter last week to The Leader Newspapers.

It seems as though Mr. Hughes is playing "political catch-up" with the rest of North Arlington as he tries without much success to tell the grand story of redevelopment here in North Arlington.

He tries to make the failed case that because Republicans created a political patronage mill called the North Arlington Redevelopment Agency, that it was his party that started redevelopment in the borough and that Republicans never had an interest in housing as it pertained to these parcels.

Too bad the Inspector General doesn't agree.

We'll get back to that point in a few!

While it's true that under all-Republican rule in the late 80's and all of the 1990's they created a duplicative agency in the NARA, what did they actually accomplish? How much in new ratables did this bureaucratic agency secure? With the exception of the now departed A&M Cosmetics, how many new tenants did the NARA secure on Porete Avenue?

There answer is none.

After millions were invested in infrastructure improvements that the rest of North Arlington could actually benefit, the Porete Avenue redevelopment plan was nothing but a white elephant that cost far more that was ever attracted in new revenues.

A point Councilman Hughes failed to find in his crystal ball!

In fact, why doesn't Councilman Hughes release the amount of money that was invested in Porete Avenue during the tenure of the NARA? Why doesn't he point to any real accomplishments by the agency stacked with GOP operatives and insiders? Why doesn't Councilman Hughes provide a single report or recommendation by the NARA as to their solution to the day when landfill host fees were depleting once and for all?

More importantly, why did the all-Republican council abdicate itself form the most important policy discussion in the history of North Arlington and leave that discussion to GOP operatives who lacked the credentials or the ability to provide a single solution during the life of this embattled & controversial agency?

Keep in mind that Republicans completely dominated the membership of the Mayor & Council as well as the NARA. Only two non-Republican members ever served on this board: former school trustee and community activist Kerry Gennace and the late Stephen Dale, a Truman Road homeowner who also was a school trustee appointed by then Governor James Florio.

This inference or "opinion" that local Republicans knew host fees were depleting is hardly a revelation. Democrats had been making the case for a "rainy day" fund as far back as the 1990 mayoral campaign while Republicans began an unprecedented spending spree that the borough is still paying for today in the form of a $20M plus long-term debt!

The hard reality is that Republican management of redevelopment along Porete Avenue before or after EnCap was an unmitigated failure!

The reason why housing became an alternative option is because Porete Avenue revenues did not increase after millions in infrastructure investment by the governing body in conjunction with the NARA.

But more importantly, if the all-Republican Mayor & Council opposed the housing component, why did the all-Republican, "lame duck" council as late as December of 2002 authorize direct negotiations between the NARA & EnCap Golf Holdings?

Why did Republicans (and only Republicans) accept nearly $25,000 in campaign contributions from EnCap, EnCap's lawyers (The DeCotiis law firm) to the NA Republican Club as well as to Republican campaigns for mayor & council in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002? 

Councilman Hughes would be better off doing his own research than trying to preserve the legacy of a failed administration run amok. These attempts to "re-invent" the truth to somehow rehabilitate the records of former elected officials make little sense.

People are tired of this debate.

They know what happened.

But it's just ridiculous to oppose a federal inquiry into the biggest redevelopment failure in the history of redevelopment here in New Jersey. How does anyone make the case that EnCap's outright incompetence after months of investigative reporting by The Record of Hackensack doesn't warrant an independent inquiry? It's one thing to carry the party's water. It's quite another to attempt a one-man facelift of one of the great public policy tragedies of the region!

Councilman Hughes seems to be a reasonable individual with something to contribute. He does himself a huge disservice by playing partisan politics on an issue that few have the time or stomach to re-examine. That's why a federal probe is what's needed. That's why fighting EnCap through the courts and staying on top of the developer to pay their taxes like Councilman Al Grannel is what North Arlington really needs.

If Councilman Hughes want to restore his party's credibility on the issue of EnCap, they can start by returning the $25,000 they accepted and making a pledge not to take a penny from the Trump Organization. If they do so, we'll be the first to heap praise on the local GOP. Until that happens, one-man's version of a "new truth" is a waste of everyone's time and energy.

The time to move forward is now Mr. Hughes.

This is an argument you cannot win because the truth isn't on your side.

---

The time for a federal probe of EnCap is now!

Phony hearings, whitewashed reports and political stonewalling must cease! The homeowners of North Arlington, Lyndhurst & Rutherford demand to know the truth!

Massa, Tanelli & Granell stand tall for taxpayers!

After years of taking political refuge behind some of the state's most influential officials, EnCap was exposed for the scheme that it is this week.

Unbelievably, the report lacked any recommendations or call to action!

The report failed or refused to connect the dots between political contributions to legislators, it refused to lay blame at anyone's doorstep. Instead it passed the buck and called for another state agency (Attorney General) to now review the whole sad saga for criminal wrongdoing!

How do you investigate a matter and formulate no public opinion when that was very objective of the investigation?

Incredibly, despite the obvious incompetence of the developer to get anything right, there are still people who somehow believe that because The Trump Organization is involved, this is still a good project!

When will these enablers of EnCap get their collective heads out of the sand?

As in the beginning and as it stands now, there is no viable public support for EnCap in North Arlington, Lyndhurst or Rutherford.

All this project has done is reek havoc in the form of tax increases for North Arlington as well as Rutherford with a plan for housing the people oppose. Specifically, not a shred of support for EnCap exists in North Arlington and the Massa Administration is to be commended for refusing to "cow tow" to these EnCap apologists!

The 277-page report tells us how EnCap lawyers, not state legislators who wrote bills to move this scheme along and the public be damned!

How can anyone think that letting the developer author sensitive redevelopment legislation is somehow a good idea?

A good idea for who?

EnCap?

You see, North Arlington has few allies in state government.

They all looked the other way and turned their backs on North Arlington.

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the state legislature, the NJ Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) all turned a blind eye to North Arlington and simply ignored this community's call for help!

Incredibly, they still ignore North Arlington today.

The reason taxes increased 33% last year is because of the EnCap scheme!

That is a fact few will deny.

Ironically, the local Republican Party enabled this project as far back as 1999 and it was the all-Republican Redevelopment Agency that was more than eager to put Encap on a fast track to redevelopment despite the overwhelming opposition by voters here in the borough!

It was the Republicans who accepted nearly $25,000 in campaign contributions from EnCap lawyers!

In fact, rumor has it that the two Republican candidates for council this year will be ex-members of that ill-fated redevelopment board! Maybe they can explain their support of a project that caused the very tax increase that ironically elected Republicans Joe Bianchi & Rich Hughes last November?

The issue of EnCap has come full circle.

Those here in North Arlington like Mayor Peter Massa, Council President Steve Tanelli and Councilman Al Granell have stood in complete opposition to the project for last three years. Despite all the political pressure from within the Democratic Party to "go along," they stood tall and put North Arlington first!

Unlike the GOP, they have enabled the project since day one, they refuse to accept any blame nor responsibility for this economic disaster. But the voters know better. They have tossed from office every mayor that has turned their back on taxpayers for an ill-fated project the public-at-large does not want!

Rutherford Mayor Bernadette McPherson. Lyndhurst Mayor James Guida. North Arlington Mayors Len Kaiser and Russ Pitman. They all sung the praises of EnCap. They all were easily defeated for re-election. For McPherson, the most lopsided loss in Rutherford political history. For James Guida his first true defeat at the polls since serving as a township commissioner since 1977! For Len Kaiser, the end of a twenty-year run as the longest serving mayor in the history of North Arlington. For Russ Pitman the dubious distinction of being rejected by his own party in a primary by nearly a 2-1 advantage!

Now some in the legislature are suggesting "hearings" on this whole sad affair. Where was the oversight between 1999 and 2008? Where was the state legislature during this development debacle? Isn't this a classic case a closing the barn door after the horses has left the stable?

Who does this "protect" or help?

Legislative hearings are just more "window dressing" and false hope that the state can, or wants to hold someone accountable.

Quite frankly, it is the state and not the municipalities in question that created this mess in first place. Hearings are a day late and a dollar short. Moreover, North Arlington has called for a federal inquiry nearly two years ago when then Councilman Pete Massa urged the US Attorney to review the matter. This week Councilmen Tanelli & Granelli brought a copy of the IG's report to Newark and personally met with federal investigators to get this matter heard once and for all!

While opposition to EnCap has been championed by North Arlington Democrats, the issue has bipartisan support for a federal inquiry.

This week Rutherford Mayor John Hipp, the maverick challenger who defeated Mrs. McPherson last fall joined Mayor Massa in his call for a federal probe. Not only did Mayor Hipp support this course of action, but North Arlington Councilman Joe Bianchi also joined the press conference in supporting Massa's call for a viable review of the project!

While we have been highly critical of Councilman Joe Bianchi in the past, his mere presence at this press conference proves that both Democrats & Republicans are working together to end the EnCap madness. Councilman Bianchi is to be congratulated for putting people before politics and simply doing what's right for the taxpayers of North Arlington!

On this issue of EnCap, North Arlington is united and not divided. It's important to note this because EnCap is the most important public policy issue ever to face this community. Any individual who claims to care about this community cannot support EnCap.

The two do not go hand-in-hand!

This week EnCap took center stage for all to see and the IG's report confirmed the obvious. Now the time has come for a serious federal probe in the most embarrassing redevelopment project in the state's history. Should Mr. Christie decide to investigate this controversy, at least the people of North Arlington will in effect have it's day in court!

The Massa Administration in cooperation with Mr. Bianchi are proving to be a united front against EnCap and that's good for taxpayers.

The borough owes Mayor Massa and his team a debt of gratitude for standing tall and not collapsing under the weight of the political pressure of EnCap's political apologists.

---

Say it ain't so, Joe!

Despite his campaign rhetoric, Councilman Bianchi has no plan to cut taxes and he owes voters an apology!

Campaigning and governing are two very different things.

Ask Councilman Joe Bianchi

Two years ago he was so convinced he couldn't lose he ran around town calling himself "Councilman-elect" even though he supported EnCap, eminent domain seizure and the construction of low income housing.

The voters thought otherwise.

Last year, Mr. Bianchi ran against the 33% property tax increase imposed on voters after decades of fiscal gimmicks and GOP mismanagement of temporary host fees. Coupled with the EnCap fiasco that Mr. Bianchi then supported, there were no alternatives and taxes had to rise.

Enter Joe Bianchi.

Bianchi, a barber by trade and longtime yes man of the Kaiser political machine served on the planning board for nearly twenty-five years. Appointed by Kaiser and re-appointed by Pitman, he has been a reliable operative for the GOP for nearly four decades!

Last year, Bianchi not only ran against the tax increase, he deemed it unnecessary and said he would work to provide homeowners with a tax rebate after being elected last November in an interview with the South Bergenite.

Where's the beef?

Now a councilman for two months, Mr. Bianchi has spent a good deal of his adult life in local government. A retired volunteer firefighter, planning board member and lifetime Republican, one would think he's had some time to offer some semblance of ideas that Democrats are more than willing to accommodate and incorporate into this fiscal!

Not a single suggestion or budget reduction has been offered by Mr. Bianchi or Mr. Hughes.

In fact some say Mr. Bianchi supports promotions in the Police Department in the face of binding arbitration hearings and the fact that the average police officer now makes in excess of $100,000 when you factor in pensions, longevity, vacation pay and health benefits! 

Despite no way to pay for these pay hikes, Bianchi is itching to increase spending while voters wait for his plan to lower the same!

Mr. Bianchi ran as a local businessman, a lifetime resident who would solve our problems. He ran on a specific platform opposing last year's tax increase. But he has failed to offer a single solitary budget cut. Mr. Bianchi in fact has voted with the Democratic majority 100% of the time. He has yet to find anything to disagree with Democrats on the way they are managing the community. Not a single appointment, payment of claim or resolution has been questioned or opposed.

Former Democrats Mark Yampaglia & Phil Spanola found more to disagree with fellow Democrats than the Republicans!

But as a member of the borough's finance committee, it his job to participate in the construction of a municipal budget. It his job to evaluate current spending and the responsibilities of the borough's workforce to see if spending can be reduced.

What is he waiting for?

Phony promises and fake rhetoric like the kind Bianchi likes to spew is irritating to most voters. Since he barely said anything at all in the last campaign, the only thing he did say is that he opposed higher taxes. But he lacks a plan to lower the very taxes he says he opposes.

Can someone say enough is enough?

Asking elected officials to do what they say they want to do is little to ask. What makes this all the more ironic is that the Democrats have given Mr. Bianchi a virtual blank check to make suggestions to reduce spending and expenditures.

How is it that he can't cut a nickel in spending after 60 days on the job?

If this were the private sector, Mr. Bianchi would be brought to HR and placed on probation for a sheer lack of effort. But in government, Mr. Bianchi has a three-year term to get something done. If these first 60 days are indicative of his inability to seriously engage the budget process, maybe voters made a serious mistake last November under the guise of responsible, two-party government.

The hard reality is that Mr. Bianchi seems to lack any real ability to govern. His real objective is to sit back and hope Democrats raise taxes in 2008 so that two more Republicans can be elected come November.

He won't do anything expcept probably vote no on a budget he was supposed to help construct!

This kind of politcal cynicism is hard to stomach.

At least Mr. Hughes seems willing to suggest ideas to the majority in the area of hybrid vehicles and other areas of government operation that makes sense. In short, Mr. Hughes seems not only willing to cooperate, but he comes to meetings prepared and willing to work.

It's time Mr. Bianchi start earning his pay.

He can start by learning to do his job and participating in a meaningful way as it comes to the borough's finances.

---

The demise of the "talking head!"

GOP voters reject the rhetoric of talk radio and other extremists who for too long have had a debilitating effect on politics in America!

The Republican Party for too long has been held hostage by the so-called political influence of talk radio, the medium of preference for most right-of-center voters.

Since the 1988 presidential cycle, conservative talk radio took credit for the election of George W Bush led by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, a nomadic disc jockey who found his voice in the power of this persuasive format. For Limbaugh took the format to a new level of political influence and talk radio became a cottage industry for conservatives like Rush to earn millions in speaking fees, book sales, newsletters and an unparallel sense of influence never seen before in American politics.

Talkers like Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mark Levin, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager and others have become a "message delivery system" for the Republican Party to get it's point-of-view to the party's base. While that system has energized the base, those delivering the message have reformulated the Republican Party into the Conservative Party.

Instead of Republican elected officials constructing the platform and values of the party, talk radio has decided they will determine who's a Republican and who isn't. More importantly, they have decided unilaterally who is conservative enough to receive the blessings of these personalities who dominate AM radio, and now cable television.

It is the view of talk radio that John McCain is not a Republican, much less a conservative. To some, McCain is a liberal to the left of Hillary Clinton as witnessed by the severe criticisms of talking head Ann Coulter, who's cashed in financially on the business of conservative politics for more than a decade.

Her books have become "must reading" for any serious conservative, according to Coulter. She seems to spend most of her time traveling from one cable station to another judging the political credibility of a man like McCain who spent five years of his life in a POW concentration camp. When she's not bashing the likes of McCain, she's hawking her books which seem like an endless stream of the same rhetoric with just a different cover and title.

Because of the passion that does exist on the right, many of these people have earned incredible incomes in a post 9/11 world where waving the flag and pronouncing some strain of jingoism seems to sell more of what these talkers are selling.

But should the power of political celebrity dictate the direction of a political party? Is Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh qualified to steer the direction of the Republican Party?

Quite frankly, who anointed them as the conscience of the GOP?

As Senator McCain was piling up delegates to the outrage of talk radio, was the last minute approval of Mitt Romney authentic, or just a stop McCain effort at all costs?

This is the same Mitt Romney who served as a moderate in the most liberal state in the nation, the son of a Rockefeller Republican. A country club Republican if there ever was one!

Born in Bloomfield Hills with a silver spoon in his mouth, how did these talking heads decide Mr. Romney is the heir to the Reagan throne?

How does a man who left the Republican Party and voted for liberal Paul Tsongas somehow qualify as the true conservative?

If Rudy Giuliani was too liberal, what are the differences between Mr. Romney and New York City's most beloved mayor? Is this for Mark Levin or Dennis Prager to decide?

So who is qualified to determine who is the true conservative?

How about Republicans who vote in primaries?

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, with virtually no money was branded "the spoiler" of the race who could not win. But Mike Huckabee won several southern states and proved he is indeed a force to be reckon with come the convention. In fact, Huckabee's plain speaking ways demonstrated his likeability that is now resonating with Republican voters.

Speaking of true conservatism, how does anyone not agree Rep. Ron Paul of Texas isn't the most conservative candidate in the race? Paul's unique fundraising ability coupled with his anti-war rhetoric has infuriated talk radio and they continue to dismiss a man who's never voted for a tax increase!

Again, talk radio has decided if you oppose the Bush Doctrine as it applies to Iraq, you must be disqualified from serious contention. Yet Rudy Giuliani can support abortion on demand as well as the re-election of Mario Cuomo and somehow be defined by talk radio as a "born again" conservative!

So who really controls the Republican Party and when will someone, anyone stand up to the nonsense of talk radio?

This band of egomaniacs have overstepped their sense of power and are now spilling their poison on the party they pretend to support. But none of them have the courage to run for office or take a real stand in the political arena. No, they would rather profit off the cause that has made many of them millionaires as they prostitute the legacy of Reagan into the shape of a very conservative party that turns off most independents and conservative Democrats.

For the party they seek is one of political purity. For if you don't agree 100% of the time with what they believe is the party's values, there is no room in the inn.

Until real Republicans begin to standup to the bullying tactics of those earning millions at the expense of the base, the national appeal of the Republican Party will cease to exist.

Maybe things need to get worse before they get better and that's not good for responsible two-party government.

---

EDITORIAL:

THE CASE FOR BARACK OBAMA.

Democrats can make history by choosing new leadership with the presidential character to change America now!

For the first time, New Jersey Democrats will play a critical role in selecting our party's nominee for president of the United States of America.

Twenty-two states will hold primaries and caucuses choosing over 2,000 delegates to determine who will be the candidate come the party's nominating convention in Denver, Colorado come August 25th thru August 28th.

The race for the nomination is the most contentious since 1968 when the Vietnam War fueled the candidacies of Senator Eugene McCa