U.S. Democratic Primary Congressional Candidate John Flora (NJ-10) Says Media Attacks are Unfair

January 3, 2020,

OPEN LETTER FROM US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JOHN FLORA (NJ-10)

“Dear Reader:

The media has put a spin on my words and has framed me as an anti-Semite. That is simply not true. My name is John Flora. I am a teacher and resident of Jersey City.

I hear what goes on and I see what goes on. I also know about distractions to progress.

This allegation and gas-lighting from a radio “personality” has distracted everyone from my words. I was not speaking against the Jewish community. I was speaking for them. I was also speaking for the Black community. I was speaking for the entire community. Why is that being framed as anti-Semitic?

I am being accused of supporting actions against Jews by someone who obviously doesn’t even know my life path. I already released a statement on the massacre that occurred in my neighborhood, attended interfaith vigils, visited the shooting site, and was on the news discussing the tragic events as a concerned parent. But 101.5 radio personality Judi Franco must have missed all of that.

I never condoned hateful words at an inappropriate time. I also do not agree with the actions taken by the media to twist my press release and say I was holding a vigil for the accused. My message was that we still need to talk as a city, as a nation. The radio station responded by email stating “Our initial reporting mischaracterized what your news release said. We have corrected the body of the article”.

The discovery of this radio host’s op-ed of my alleged racism comes to a surprise to my friends and family who know me. My record of helping my environment and teaching children of all faiths and backgrounds is certainly not reflected in her opinion of me. I have done nothing but celebrate the diversity of Jersey City and will continue that work for NJ-10. I refuse to let a radio personality, especially one suspended from her job for referring to the Attorney General of New Jersey as “Turban Man”, to smear my reputation. She is simply lying to all of you about me.

To be very clear, there is a problem in Jersey City and elsewhere that is causing anti-Semitic feelings. I do not validate these feelings. I just know they still exist and need to be repaired. Everyone involved should be searching for more tolerance, not more division spurred by misleading headlines.

I am running as a progressive Democratic Primary Candidate in New Jersey’s 10

Congressional District. Our campaign is spreading a message of hope, tolerance, and love for all, and I will always demand that for my constituency. But I will not sit back and become someone taken down for sheer lies and mistruths.

In Solidarity,

John Flora

Senator Tom Kean Calls on Governor to End Attacks on Freelance Reporters & The Media

Local Publisher Set to Reduce Community Coverage After Being Fined by State for Using Independent Contractors

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (photo) called on the Murphy Administration to end its attacks on

independent contractors and the media after the Westfield Leader was fined for not classifying freelance reporters and photographers as employees.

“Many people choose to freelance for a variety of reasons, and those self-employed individuals make it possible for small media outlets like the Westfield Leader to offer comprehensive coverage of local government meetings, school sports, and community events,” said Kean. “Unfortunately, the Westfield Leader has been forced to end its freelance program completely after being fined by the Murphy Administration. I’d like for Governor Murphy to explain to the Leader’s many former contributors how his assault on the company that paid them has improved their situation or that of the community they proudly served. This is a clear example of how the Governor’s flawed labor policies will hurt New Jersey families and further erode a media industry that is already struggling to survive.”

According to the Westfield Leader

, it was forced to end its freelance program after the New Jersey Department of Labor fined the paper’s publisher going back to 2015 for not treating freelance reporters and photographers as employees.

Under the Governor’s direction, the State has fined a variety of businesses and services,

including Uber

, that have allowed freelancers and independent contractors the freedom to work when they want and the opportunity to earn extra income at their own pace.

Kean has been a vocal opponent

of efforts by Democrats in the Legislature to codify through

S-4204

the Murphy Administration’s treatment of independent contractors as employees under State law.

“Some people have a full-time job and want the opportunity to freelance to earn extra income to support their families, and others have caregiver responsibilities that prevent them from working traditional 9 to 5 jobs,” added Kean. “In 2020, we shouldn’t limit people’s ability to work based on some outdated 1950s mentality of what a job should be. Governor Murphy should stop denying the overtaxed people of New Jersey any opportunity to work.”

Former Jersey City Official Charged with Stealing JCETP Funds

NEWARK, N.J. – The former acting executive director of the Jersey City Employment and Training Program (JCETP) has been charged with embezzling JCETP funds, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Sudhan M. Thomas, 44, (photo) of Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with embezzling funds from an organization receiving federal funds. Thomas is expected to make his initial appearance on Jan. 9, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court.

According to the complaint:

Thomas served as JCETP’s acting executive director from January 2019 until his resignation in July 2019. JCETP is a nonprofit organization that operated to assist Jersey City residents to prepare for and enter the work force. JCETP received substantial amounts of its funding from federal grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Using his access to JCETP funds and control of JCETP’s bank accounts, from March 2019 through July 2019, Thomas embezzled more than $45,000 from JCETP. Thomas caused checks to be drawn from JCETP accounts that were made payable to others, but ultimately received by Thomas. He also embezzled JCETP funds by issuing JCETP checks made out to cash that Thomas either cashed himself or used to obtain bank checks that Thomas made payable to his entity, Next Glocal, which were deposited into a Next Glocal bank account that Thomas controlled. Thomas used the JCETP funds deposited to Next Glocal’s bank account to pay for his personal expenses, including payments to Thomas’s landlord in Jersey City and airfare and hotel expenses for a trip to Hawaii, and to fund transfers to Thomas’ family trust account.

The count of theft from an organization receiving federal funds carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge Michael Mikulka; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tazneen Shahabuddin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee M. Cortes Jr., Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

20-003

Defense counsel: Christopher D. Adams Esq., Roseland, New Jersey

American Life League Calls for Catholic Response to Murphy\’s $9.5M Bailout of Planned Parenthood

\”Planned Parenthood is a vicious, racist institution whose actions are diametrically opposed to Catholic moral and social teaching\”~

American Life League president Judie Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. (03 January 2020) —

American Life League president Judie Brown

issued the following statement calling on Bishop James F. Checchio of the Catholic Diocese of Metuchen to impose canonical sanctions against New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy:

Planned Parenthood is a vicious, racist institution whose actions are diametrically opposed to Catholic moral and social teaching. For Murphy to shovel $9.5 million of New Jersey’s taxpayer dollars into the maw of the nation’s #1 abortion machine is abhorrent.

Such actions taken by Catholic public figures do more than just scandalize the faithful. They present to Catholics the idea that they too can create their own private version of truth. Such a condition not only coarsens society, but further erodes the authority of the Catholic bishops in the United States who continue to allow pro-abortion public figures, such as Governor Murphy, to profane the Holy Eucharist.

On behalf of the millions of pro-life Catholics whom we represent and the over 70,000 families who support our work, American Life League calls on Bishop James Checchio to take the sad but necessary step of enforcing Canon 915 and formally instructing Governor Murphy that he is not to present himself to Holy Communion.

Catholics need to be bold enough to realize the link between abortion and the Real Presence of Christ. It should be no small wonder that only 1 in 6 Catholics actually believe in the Real Presence when we do so little to defend Christ’s image in the womb.

Bishop Checchio, millions of Catholics across America are looking to you to see whether or not the Real Presence is more than what the world sees. Murphy’s mockery should not be met with silence, but correction. What would St. Thomas Becket do?

American Life League is the nation’s oldest grassroots, Catholic, pro-life organization. Its president, Judie Brown, has led the organization since its 1979 beginning. She has served three terms on the Pontifical Academy for Life—appointed twice by Pope John Paul II and again by Pope Benedict XVI.

Pittsburg/Scranton Market Lucrative for House Flipping

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

Homebuyers snapping up residential properties and subsequently selling them in short order were able to more than double what they initially paid in two areas of Pennsylvania, according to a recent report.

Researchers with ATTOM Data Solutions, a company specializing in property and real estate records, stated home flippers in the metropolitan statistical areas within Pittsburgh and Scranton were able to sell homes at greater price points in the third quarter of 2019.

The information is included in ATTOM’s

recently released report

on home flipping trends across the U.S.

Home flippers historically have bought and quickly resold homes for a profit, typically after making a series of repairs or improvements to raise the property’s value.

Between July and September, homebuyers who flipped homes and condos in the Pittsburgh area saw overall margins of 132.6 percent, while homebuyers in the Scranton area experienced overall margins of 122.5 percent.

The high flipping yields in the Pittsburgh and Scranton areas bucked a national trend, according to ATTOM researchers, where profit margins in most areas of the country were on the downswing.

The two Pennsylvania metropolitan areas were among eight across the U.S. where home flippers experienced returns on investment of 100 percent or more during the same statistical period. Pittsburgh and Scranton also topped the list.

Other areas of the country with high yields, close behind the two Pennsylvania areas, included Flint, Mich., at 111.2 percent; Cleveland, at 109.8 percent; and Hickory-Lenoir-Morgantown, N.C., at 109.7 percent.

a separate report

from the same statistical period, ATTOM researchers also revealed the Pittsburgh area had some of the largest amounts of all-cash purchases for home flipping.

In metro areas with populations of 1 million or more, Pittsburgh ranked third for all-cash purchases, according to the report, clocking in at 77.2 percent.

The metropolitan area with the greatest preponderance of all-cash purchases was Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio, at 79.2 percent, followed by the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA, at 78.9 percent.

On the whole, 56,566 single-family homes and condos were flipped across the U.S. in the third quarter of 2019, according to ATTOM’s analysis. The figure represented a 12.9 percent decrease from the previous quarter and a 6.8 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2018.

In a statement, Todd Teta, chief product officer at ATTOM Data Solutions, said the home flipping declines point to narrowing profits across many areas of the country.

“The retreat back to more normal levels of sales comes amid broader market forces that are making it harder and harder for investors to complete the kinds of deals they were getting as recently as last year,” Teta said.

In the ATTOM report, Maksim Stavinsky, co-founder and chief operating officer of Roc Capital, said homebuyers in a number of areas of the country have opted to hang on to renovated properties and rent them, rather than sell them at a loss in the current marketplace.

“We have been seeing a decline in projected and realized profits for borrowers on projects, despite the fact that borrower financing costs have been meaningfully coming down,” Stavinsky said in the report.

published here with permission of The Center Square

Devitt powers TCNJ women over Rutgers-Camden

EWING, N.J. (Jan. 4, 2020) – Junior forward Shannon Devitt scored a game-high 27 points and sophomore guard/forward Rachel Gazzola added 18 to lead The College of New Jersey women’s

basketball team over Rutgers University-Camden, 66-53, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.

The victory snapped the Lions’ two-game losing streak and lifted TCNJ to 7-5 overall and 4-1 in the conference. The Scarlet Raptors fell to 5-5 overall and 0-5 in the NJAC with their fourth straight loss.

TCNJ has won its last five games against Rutgers-Camden and leads the all-time series, 59-12.

The Scarlet Raptors had a quick start, jumping out to a 13-6 lead before TCNJ closed the gap to 15-10 after one quarter. Rutgers-Camden led by as many as five points in the second quarter (23-18) and held a 25-21 advantage before the Lions scored the last five points of the half to take a 26-25 lead into the break. They took the lead for good with 10 seconds remaining in the first half on a jumper by senior forward Jen Byrne.

TCNJ led by as many as 15 points, 66-51, late in the game.

Devitt notched 18 of her game-high 27 points in the second half to power the Lions. In addition to Gazzola, Byrne also finished in double figures, scoring 11 points. Devitt added a game-high four steals and seven rebounds, while Byrnes had a game-high five assists and six boards.

Morgan Heller paced the Lions with nine rebounds, tying for game-high honors with the Scarlet Raptors’ senior guard

Fatimah Williams.

Williams also had 13 points, three assists and three steals.

Sophomore guard/forward

Tamara Johnson

paced the Scarlet Raptors with 14 points, while adding eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Freshman center

Kayla Newton

notched 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, tying Devitt for game-high honors in blocks.

Freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

also added eight rebounds for the Raptors, while collecting eight points.

Rutgers-Camden held a 48-40 advantage off the boards, but also made 20 turnovers to the Lions’ 15. The Scarlet Raptors shot 22-for-64 (34.4 percent) from the floor and 5-for-15 (33.3) from the foul line. TCNJ went 24-for-64 (37.5) from the floor and 10-for-16 (62.5) from the line.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Monday night with a 6 p.m. non-conference game at Penn State-Abington.

Gloucester Township Police Use PepperBalls to Arrest Armed Man

SICKLERVILLE, NJ –On Thursday January 2, 2020 the Gloucester Township Police Department responded to a home on the 30 block of Santalina Drive in Sicklerville, NJ 08081 to attempt a warrant service on a Mehal Rockefeller. Mr. Rockefeller was observed in the back yard of the property when officers

began to approach he fled into the home.

At this time a command post was established and phone contact was attempted with Mr. Rockefeller by members of our Investigations Bureau and Crisis Negotiation Team. There were numerous phone conversations with Mr. Rockefeller by phone who refused to come outside. In between the phone conversations Mr. Rockefeller had contacted a local police department and threatened to kill officers if they came into the house. Mr. Rockefeller told officers he was armed with a knife and would exit the home. Mr. Rockefeller then repeatedly exited and entered the home holding a knife in his hand while ignoring officers. He was given commands to drop the knife but Mr. Rockefeller refused to comply. An officer with a less lethal Pepperball Launching System was able to deploy several pepperball projectiles causing Mr. Rockefeller to immediately drop the knife allowing officers to approach and safely take him into custody.

There were no injuries to the suspect or any police officer.

Mehal Rockefeller was charged with Hindering Apprehension (DP Offense), Resisting Arrest (4th Degree), Possession of a Weapon (4th Degree), Possession of a Weapon For Unlawful Purpose (3rd Degree), Terroristic Threats (3rd Degree). He was remanded to the Camden County Corrections Facility pending a Central First Appearance in accordance with the New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act.

Arrested: Mehal Rockefeller 37 year old male. 30 Block Santalina Drive Sicklerville, NJ 08081

Rev. James Dabrowsk, Pastor of Many South Jersey Catholic Parishes Dies; Services Thursday & Friday

Rev. James Dabrowsk

Rev. James Dabrowski, died on January 1, 2020. He was 63. Rev. Dabrowski was born on November 14, 1956 in Philadelphia, PA and prepared for the Priesthood at the University of Scranton and St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD. He was ordained for the Priesthood on May 26, 1984 at St. Cecilia’s RC Church in Pennsauken. He served as Parochial Vicar at Saint John of God, North Cape May; St, Joseph, Somers Point; Sacred Heart, Mount Ephraim; and St. Thomas, Brigantine. He then went on to serve as Pastor at Annunciation BVM, Bellmawr, St. Simon Stock, Berlin, and St. Thomas More, Cherry Hill.

Beloved son of the late Benjamin L. and Kathleen M. (nee McCrossan) Dabrowski. Devoted brother of Lawrence J. Dabrowski and late Kathleen (nee Dabrowski) Yanzuk. He is also survived by 8 nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

Reception of the Body will take place at 4:00 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Saint Simon Stock Parish, 178 West White Horse Pike, Berlin. The viewing will follow until 8:00 PM. The viewing will continue on Friday, January 10 at 9:00 AM until 9:45 AM. Reverend Robert E. Hughes will celebrate the Mass of the Christian Burial immediately following the viewing at 10:00 AM. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 (

www.foodforthepoor.org

) or to the Missionaries of the Poor, P.O Box 8525, Kingston, Jamaica, WI (

www.missionariesofthepoor.org

Tips to Keep Your Outdoor Power Equipment Operating

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Winter weather is unpredictable. Home and business owners rely on outdoor power equipment to keep the power on, clear obstructions from yards and driveways, and keep their families and businesses safe. Do you know how to correctly fuel and maintain equipment so it runs well all season?

The

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)

offers tips to help users protect their equipment and get the most from it when it’s needed during the winter.

“By its very nature, winter weather is unpredictable. Trees can fall due to ice, snow, or wind and cause power outages. You need your generator to keep the lights and heat on, and your chainsaw and snow thrower to help you clear the way,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. When deciding on a portable generator to buy, consider the

advantages of an inverter

generator, with less noise being a great feature.

“Whether you’re using battery, gasoline, propane, diesel or hybrid powered equipment, there is a product to meet your needs. But you have to know how to fuel it correctly,” said Kiser.

If using gasoline-powered equipment, OPEI reminds everyone to protect their power and choose the right fuel for the equipment they are using. Most outdoor power equipment is warranted to run on gasoline containing E10 (10 percent ethanol) or less. But many higher ethanol fuel blends, such as E15, E30 and E85, are available in the marketplace.

“As government policies continue to bring uncertainty into the gasoline retail marketplace, especially regarding ethanol content levels in gasoline, the consumer has to make sure the right fuel is chosen for the right product. Protect your power with proper fueling,” says Kiser.

He adds, “Avoid mis-fueling. Use ten percent ethanol (E10) fuel blends or less in your chain saw, portable generator, snow thrower, trimmer, blower and other outdoor power equipment.”

Here are safety tips to help home and business owners:

Tip #1: Consult the equipment’s owner’s manual and follow all fueling guidelines for your outdoor power equipment.

Familiarize yourself with the controls. If you have lost your manual, look it up online.

Tip #2: Inspect equipment.

Check for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service representative.

Tip #3: Clean equipment.

Remove any dirt or debris. A clean machine will run more efficiently and last longer.

Tip #4: Drain old fuel.

Fuel sitting in the tank for more than 30 days (without a fuel stabilizer) can deteriorate, which may cause starting or running problems and, in some cases, damage to the fuel system.

Tip #5: Only use E10 or less fuel.

Some gas stations may offer 15 percent ethanol (E15) gas or higher ethanol fuel blends, but fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol can damage–and is illegal to use — in small engine equipment not designed for it.

Tip #6: Label your fuel can with the date of purchase and ethanol content of the fuel.

Never put “old” gas in your outdoor power equipment. If you don’t know the date of purchase, safely dispose of fuel and buy fresh gas.

Tip #7: Safely store your fuel in an approved container and away from flames or heat sources.

Keep fuel out of the reach of children and pets.

Tip #8: Never add fuel to a hot engine.

Wait for it to cool before fueling.

Visit

www.opei.org

for more tips and go to

www.LookBeforeYouPump.com

for safe fueling information.

About OPEI

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program,

TurfMutt.com

. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces. For more information, visit

www.OPEI.org

Pick Six Increases to $5.7 Million for Jan. 6

TRENTON (Jan. 3, 2020) – The Pick-6 drawing on January 2 produced seven winners of $3,776 for matching five out of six white balls drawn. One of those tickets was purchased with XTRA, multiplying the prize to $15,104. The $5.7 million drawing will be held Monday, January 6, 2020.

The winning numbers for the Thursday, January 2, drawing were: 08, 14, 16, 22, 38 and 44. The XTRA Multiplier was: 04. By adding XTRA for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 528,697 tickets purchased for the drawing and of those sold, thousands were prizewinners! For correctly matching four numbers, 438 ticketholders won $59 each and 52 others won $236 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three numbers 7,820 ticketholders won $3.00 each and 1,252 others won $12 each with the addition of XTRA. 9,074 ticketholders each won $2.00 for correctly matching two numbers with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.