Getting at the 2016 Edison Property Tax Increase Built into the 3rd Qtr. Estimated Tax Bill

Mayor Tom 'Now 13.7%' ChoiLankey's $128.1 million Muni-Budget for 2016 to be Adopted - As Introduced!?!

Well, Mayor Tom 'Now 13.7%' ChoiLankey's $128.1 million Muni-budget will be up for adoption tomorrow night by the Edison Council - As Introduced.

No Council AmendNotMent to this budget that takes the Muni-tax rate to $1.269, which is up 3.4-Cents or 2.74% over last year.

No surprise here since under Señor Lankey's stewardship over the last three years here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison, the Council has done a whole lot of Nothing to cut his tax increases.

Here, take a look at what a whole lot of Nothing looks like:

Over the last three years - Señor Lankey raised the Muni-tax rate by 15.3-Cents or 13.7% and the Council drove right down Oligarchy Boulevard with him.

Be that is it may, it brings the Total Property Tax Rate for 2016 up to 5.270, which is 19.6-Cents or 3.9% over last year's 5.074 - here's the breakdown:

Just a reminder, the 3rd Qtr. Estimated Property Tax Bill that just went out was based on a Total Property Tax Rate of 5.280, which is 1-Cent higher than the actual 5.270 above. This was due to an over estimation of the Muni-tax and you should see a credit for that in the 4th Qtr bill.

So, take your assessed value divided by 100 ant then multiply that number by .01 (1-Cent) and subtract that amount from what you paid with your 3rd Qtr Estimated Bill - and that should be what you pay in the 4th Qtr.

Anyhoo, you can understand that with a 2016 Muni-Tax Levy of only $89.7 million, it's hard to come up with a few cuts for the People of Downtown Edison - right?!?!

Edison Zoning Board Approves Verizon Cell Tower

The comments from stopcelltower.org here about Verizon getting Zoning Board approval for the Cell Tower off of Knapp Ave.:

The Cell Tower Is Going Up
Verizon Wins
They Always Do…Eventually
Here’s Why

Last night, July 19 2016, the Edison Township Zoning Board approved the Verizon Wireless application for a cell tower in Festival Plaza, a retail space surrounded by residential neighborhoods. It’s not the fault of the Edison Zoning Board. The Board did their best having previously denied the Verizon application a number of times in a process that started in 2013. Unfortunately, the Edison Zoning Board as well as the local homeowners and residents were up against the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This Act was a terrible law championed and signed by President Bill Clinton and supported by almost all members of Congress. In fact, in 1996 only 5 senators and 16 representatives voted against it, including then Congressman Bernie Sanders.

In 1996 President Clinton called this new law a “truly revolutionary legislation that really embodies what we ought to be as a country.” Well unfortunately this legislation is a perfect example of what we have become as a country. We are, now more than ever, a country where the lobbyists write the laws that benefit huge corporations at the expense of the citizens…and often the consequences of these bills are disasterous for the overwhelming majority of people. 

There are many negative aspects of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, not the least of which is media consolidation…a recognized threat to the concept of democracy. But the most localized negative consequences of this law is that the Act essentially gives the wireless telecoms, such as Verizon, power over the local zoning boards to determine the location of cell towers. In fact, the wireless telecoms almost always get the locations they want because they have this very undemocratic law on their side. The fact is that the decisions of local zoning boards to deny cell tower applications can be, and usually are, overriden by State Courts due to provisions in the Telecommunication Act of 1996. This happens time and time again across the country. This is what happened with the Verizon application for Festival Plaza in Edison. This is happening across the United States in every state and in every locality.

The Edison Zoning Board should be commended for repeatedly denying the Verizon application, but eventually NJ Court overrode the Edison Zoning Board. There was no other possible outcome based on this bad law… the Telecommunications Act of 1996. So, again we see a glaring example of our leaders selling-out ordinary citizens in order to accomodate big business and their lobbyists… those interests that financially support most of our politicians and leaders. It’s shameful. 

President Clinton championed and signed the Telecommunication Act of 1996. The act, signed into law on February 8, 1996, was described by FAIR (Fairness In Accuracy And Reporting) as “essentially bought and paid for by corporate media lobbies…”. So, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ranks up there with NAFTA in terms of the damage these bills have done and continue to do.

NAFTA is, of course, the bill that destroyed the manufacturing base in the United States and did more to destroy what’s left of the middle class than any legislation in our history. All this done under the banner of so-called “free-trade” which was falsely touted as a benefit to everyone, because of the many “service sector” jobs that would be created that would make up for the lost manufacturing jobs. The politicians did not happen to mention that those ‘service sector’ jobs would be burger-flipping at McDonalds and cashier work at Walmart. Both of these terrible bills were championed by Bill Clinton and Al Gore, a presidential ticket that this writer supported in 1992 and again in 1996. Both bills provided huge monetary benefits to multi-billion dollar multi-national corporations at a huge cost to ordinary working class and middle class citizens.

The takeaway here is there are many unhappy people about this cell tower approval, as there are in similar cell tower battles across the country. This purpose of this post is to help people understand where the blame properly belongs. It is with Washington politicians not with the local zoning boards.

Who to Thank for Your 19.6-Cent Edison 2016 Preliminary Property Tax Increase!?!

Well, the $5.060 preliminary 2016 Edison Property tax rate used in the 3rd qtr. estimate is up 19.6-Cents over last year's $4.864 (excludes garbage tax). The 19.6-Cent increase consists of a 4.4-Cent increase in Muni tax rates, a 4.0-Cent increase in the County taxes and an 11.2-Cent increase in the School tax.

Anyhoo, with a significant 4-Cent increase in the County taxes - at least Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro is continuing to do a tax-up job for the People of Downtown Edison.

Edison's 3rd Qtr. 2016 'Estimated' Property Tax Bills are out - for Your No information Pleasure!

Well, just a tad bit disappointed that they had to send out estimated tax bills for the 3rd qtr. This thing only includes a single number to pay. No info on what's in it, how they came up with it or what increase is built into it for 2016 - just pay it.

I'm sure everyone knows that whatever the increase in the tax rate is for 2016 is added equally into the 3rd and 4th qtrs. So, this estimate includes one half of the tax increase for 2016 but no one is telling you what it is in this estimated tax bill.

From looking at my estimated tax bill with the garbage tax, it seems that this estimate comes with a total property tax rate of $5.280 (Per 100), which is up 20.6-Cents or 4.1% over last year's $5.074.

Of course, the Edison Council has yet to adopt Mayor Tom 'Now 13.8%' ChoiLankey's 2016 Muni-budget so depending on what they do this coming Monday night - these numbers may change.

Anyhoo, at least you now have an idea of what it's gonna cost you this year to live in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison.

Verizon Cell tower off of Knapp Ave - Up again before Zoning Board on July 19th

Please check out the site here for this posting below and important information about the status of this project and help your fellow neighbors out by making your voice heard at the Zoning Board meeting on July 19th.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: July 2016

On JULY 19 2016 at 7:00 PM
Verizon Wireless Will AGAIN Seek Approval
For A HUGE CELL TOWER NEAR HOMES 

PLEASE ATTEND JULY 19 2016 TO OPPOSE THIS CELL TOWER

The 106 Foot Cell Tower Would Be
Near the Homes on Knapp Ave Just Off Route 27
In the Festival Plaza, formerly the Tops Appliance Shopping Center

PLEASE ATTEND JULY 19 2016 TO OPPOSE THIS CELL TOWER

PLEASE ATTEND JULY 19, 2016 at 7:00 PM

PLEASE ATTEND JULY 19 2016 TO OPPOSE THIS CELL TOWER

July 25, 2016 - Filing deadline for Candidates for Board of Mythomania!

Just a reminder that July 25, 2016 is the deadline for filing Candidate Petitions for the Edison Board of Education for the November 8, 2016 election.

As I understand it, there are three (3) seats up and, of the three incumbents, two won't be seeking reelection and the third hasn't decided yet. As for the two incumbents not seeking reelection, one will truly be a loss to the cause and the other, just a lost cause.

As I see it, we are in dire need of candidates who understand the concepts of oversight, leadership, direction and who will always remember that the interests and concerns of all the stakeholders need to be factored into all Board decisions.

Now, you know with 2 or possibly 3 incumbents not running, there will be a flurry to fill those seats and everyone will look to get their people in those spots. I'm sure the Board will find people to run, the ETEA will eventually come out for candidates that they believe will support their cause and let's not forget the EDO - you gotta believe they'll get some committee people to run.

So, it's simple for me. I'll be looking for candidates that demonstrate those critical characteristics above and truly believe that the taxpayers are the orphan stakeholder and just used as a cash cow source under this current Board - and Want to Stand-up and Out to make sure that all stakeholders are treated fairly.

Here's what it looks like for way too long over there on Mythomania Lane:

Anyhoo, let's hope there are people out there who truly believe in the importance of education and those who pay for it and want to help do the very best we can for all our kids within our means.