Geez, almost forgot - Please Remember to Vote For Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro on Nov. 7th!?!

He's really, really really counting on You!



So he can do it to You again for another 4-Years!

Anyhoo, how would he know that the County promised Less than 1% tax hike this year turned out to be 4.1% - he's just the 'Deputy Dog?!?'

County Tax increases from Edison Property Tax Bills - 2006 to 2017:

Education Township Education Association endorses Keith Hahn

Hear why the ETEA is Endorsing Keith Hahn for Mayor of Edison Township.

 

Keith Hahn's Town Hall Meeting

Well done Mr. Hahn.

What ever happened to the Mr. Fix-it Program here in 'Downtown Edison?"

Just wondering what ever happened to the Mr. Fix-It Program here in ‘Downtown Edison.’ As I remember, back in 1995 former Mayor George Spadoro was able to secure a $50,000 annual grant to fund a Mr. Fix-It program. 

As I understood it, this program enabled senior citizens to continue to live in their homes for longer periods of times - often years.  This grant paid for the Mr. Fix-it van, all tools and materials and the salary of the designated Mr. Fix-it.

Mr. Fix-it handled, free of charge for eligible seniors and later for the disabled, all small repairs to their home and property.  The eligible homeowner had only to call the Senior Citizen Center on Woodbridge Avenue to schedule an appointment. 

The office staff determined eligibility and within a day or two, but sometimes within hours, Mr. Fix-it was at their door ready to install grab bars in bathrooms; fix leaky faucets; secure shaky banisters; replace broken window panes and screens;  change light bulbs; replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; check to make sure electric outlets were not overloaded with extension cords; put air conditioners in windows in spring/summer and take them out for storage in autumn/winter; check for objects in the home that could endanger the homeowner; and sometimes, just spend a few extra minutes speaking to a senior who didn’t have many visitors, letting them know that they are valued residents of our community.  

Since I know the only Mr. Fix-it in Edison retired, it seems the program retired also.  There has been no one that I can see that is employed in this capacity to fill this very important position. 

Many seniors depended on this service for personal and financial survival.  That, of course, is the primary concern but there is another matter that has not been discussed – What happened to that $50,000 grant? 

Has it been absorbed into the general fund, is it being used for another purpose or has Edison Township just lost this source of revenue?

  

Seems like someone over there at 100 Oligarchy Blvd. should be able to explain what happened to the Mr. Fix-It program. 

So, Señor Lankey - while I recognize that you're busy now campaigning and all, but can you enlighten us all on the status of the Mr. Fix-It Program?

Anyhoo, as a senior myself, it's hard to understand why they would take this help away from those who really need this kind of help the most.

Where's the Mayoral Debate in the 'DemBadLands' Downtown Edison?!?

Been trying hard to find out if and when there's going to be a mayoral debate between Messrs. Lankey and Hahn before the November 7th election. Seems there's not going to be one unless somebody out there knows and can let me know.

Now, I don't know and maybe it's me but you'd think that the 5th largest town in the state with a population of over 100,000 with some 55,000 or so registers voters - their might be an interest in what each has to say about the future of 'Downtown Edison.'

Geez, I don't know - with Muni-$pending Budgets now in the $134 million range, which is up some $16 million or 13.6% along with a Muni-tax increase of 15.4% over the last 4-years - and that's with a $100 million increase in the Ratables, which is now at $7.1 Billion. Yup, that's a B as in Billion!

Throw in some $103 million in debt and you'd think they'd have something to talk about. Or maybe even have a chit-chat about attracting new business to town, the infrastructure, public safety, or my favorite, 'stabilizing taxes'-but not the old-fashioned way, and maybe helping with the overcrowding in the schools. There's more they could talk about but you get the gist of it.

Señor Lankey, seriously now, I seem to remember that as one of the challengers back in 2013, you were given an opportunity to debate then Mayor Ricigliano - so why don't you, as Mayor, Step-Up and give Mr. Hahn the same opportunity? Granted, you won that election with some 39% of the mayoral vote but hardly by a landslide with total votes of 8,000 or so (in a town of 100,000) making you mayor.

It's easy to say you want to Keep Edison Moving Forward and how you plan to do it in front of the Dem Party Groupies over there on 100 Oligarchy Blvd. but quite another to do so and support it in the presence of a challenge.

Avoiding direct challenges on the Issues Facing Edison is Not a Good Thing Señor Lankey.

So, if you choose not to debate - then I say, Hang Down Your Head Tom Lankey - surely, you deserve to lose.

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that we have a mayor who pretends he's running unopposed and won't come out and play.

Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4%' ChoiLankey - watch out for that 'revealed preference' going on here!

Well, I recognize that this is the silly season here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison and we get bombarded with all those candidate statements, ads and glossy campaign flyers with all the reasons why we should vote for this candidate or that candidate.

To that point, just saw this piece here in TapintoEdison - 'Mayor Tom Lankey Keeps Edison Moving Forward' and it's worthy of repeating his words here:

Statement: I am seeking a second term as Mayor of Edison to continue my efforts – with the Township Council’s help – to make Edison the best community in New Jersey for people to live, raise a family and work; and to be an enjoyable, safe and affordable place for our senior citizens.

I am a lifelong Edison resident whose family’s roots are proudly and deeply intertwined in the fabric of my community. This fuels my commitment to Edison’s well-being; to its economic health and financial stability; and to sensible future growth. I wish to continue helping Edison to make progress.

Sustained forward momentum involves a herculean menu of tasks, considering our large and growing population, our broad ethnic and cultural diversity, and the variety of services that Town Hall provides to over 102,000 residents.

My Administration will continue investing in our infrastructure, resurfacing more neighborhood streets, revitalizing our parks and upgrading our sewer system. We will continue improving our Police and Fire Departments, and devote more resources to our Public Works Department so each can better provide effective services.

These investments are an integral part of my Administration’s economic development strategy which, since 2014, have made Edison an attractive destination for larger corporate and commercial investors, and have encouraged new small businesses and professional offices to open here.

Our strategies have, so far, created over 3,500 new, higher-paying job opportunities. We have lowered Edison’s unemployment rate to 2.8-percent, from a high of 6.7-percent four years ago. Property values have risen to a total of $7.1 billion – up by $110 million since 2014.

New large and small businesses now contribute $17.2 million more in annual property taxes to Edison, helping to fund municipal services and provide relief to residential taxpayers. Edison is Middlesex County’s largest municipality, but our average total tax bill is sixth lowest among its county’s 25 towns. I hope to build upon my Administration’s proud record of accomplishment.

Now, I'm all for politicians putting the facts in a light most favorable to themselves but geez, Señor Lankey spins stuff so much - he makes himself dizzy. You know, there's something economists call revealed preference. They believe what people do more than what they say; that people's actions are the best indication of what they actually want, not their words.

And remember, campaigns are about winning but elections are about governing.

So, you decide if Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4% ChoiLankey's words are more important than his actions. Just a little history - here's what he had to say in his first campaign for mayor back in 2013:

Anyhoo, what do I know? I still can't figure out where they got their definition of $tabilized taxes!?! Gotta get me a copy of that dictionary so I can learn to speak in blah..blah..blah-eze!

Edison's election for Board of Education, aka Board of Mythomania, Board of EDems, Board of Hoarders, Board of Sneaky..Sneaky..Sneaky & Board of Silence!?!

Well, on Tuesday November 7th we get the chance to decide which of the 11 candidates get to fill the 4 spots and have an impact on the School District's future.

I say 'decide' because those who vote are the decision-makers - so, regardless of who you support, if you don't want someone else deciding for you here in the 'Downtown Edison', then it's important that you take the time to vote.

Make Your Voice Heard! Show once again that The People of Edison are Better than its Politics!

As with any election, You should vote for the candidates(s) that you believe will best serve Your interests and not be bound by partisan party lines or affiliations or be listening to anyone else telling You How You Should Vote.

Now, before I go any further, let me recognize Dr. Frank, the Board President who isn't seeking reelection. While I may have disagreed more often than not with him, that doesn't diminish the fact that I always believed he is a Good Man and that these volunteer positions take a lot of time and effort and for that - he deserves a Big Thank You for his service on the Board and to the Edison Community.

Moving on, - clearly, if you ever read this blog and its many posts about what this Board does and doesn't do, what they say and don't say, etc. - then you'll understand why I'm not a fan of this Board (and why I refer to them as I do in the title of this post), its ineffective Leadership, its Lack of Oversight over Super Dr. Richard 'Looking for the Exit Ramp' O'Malley, its Misdirected and Out-of-Control $pending, its Bloated Buckets of Money they call School Budgets, its Lack of Transparency and General all round Disrespect for the Stakeholder that Pays 90% of their Bills - the Resident and Taxpayers here in 'Downtown Edison.'

The Board has been and still is in dire need of Change and these elections are an opportunity for me to see if any of the candidates who wish to fill the spots recognize any of this and wish to open up the closed club for the selected few who want to keep the status quo over there on Mythomania Lane.

So, with that in mind, I looked at all the candidates websites and links to their FaceBook pages, read all their material I could find including their letters and endorsements and listened to them at the ETEA Candidates Night. I also acknowledge, understand and respect the ETEA's choice of candidates for this election cycle.

Just to summarize the candidates - there are 11 candidates running for 4 spots. Nine of the candidates are running for the the three 3-Year seats and two candidates are running for the one 1-Year seat.

Here are the candidates as they appeared at the ETEA's Candidates Night on October 5th - Messrs. Distefano (I) and Vuppula were no-shows:

And here are the candidates by the tickets they formed and ballot position:

While I'm sure they're all well-meaning people and each brings something of value to the Board - after reading and reviewing all their printed material, listening to them at Candidates Night and for all the reasons written in previous posts, I'll just share my thoughts with you about this election.

First and foremost, I won't be voting for Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4%' ChoiLankey's 'You Got To Be Kidding Me' Team of incumbents for all the reasons written about in this blog - they are part of the problem with this Board and Not part of solution to the myriad of issues the School District is facing going forward. Now, as an aside, this presents a slight dilemma for me, which I'll explain later on.

Second, I won't be voting for Araujo's 'Be the Change 4 Edison BOE' ticket simply because there's No way I could possibly vote for Araujo - even with his endorsement from the ETEA and this being his third bite at the apple.

Third, I won't be voting for Wise since she's an EDO committewoman and that's a game-ender for me.

Fourth, I won't be voting for Vuppula - don't know him or anything about him other than his bio given out at Candidates Night but since he was a no-show that night, can't really form any opinion or have enough information to decide.

Finally, I will be voting for Bodofsky & Conway - 'The 2 to Vote 4!' Team. If there were ever candidates who have earned an opportunity to be on this Board through years of knowledge and relentless dedication of time and effort to the work of the Board of Education and diligent attendance at Board meetings, it's these two. Whether you agree with them or not - they're always there asking probing, substantive and important questions and pursuing the overall betterment of the School District for all the stakeholders - and that includes the often forgotten one, the taxpayers.

Since I will only be voting for 2 of the 9 candidates for the three 3-year seats, I will just do a write in for the third. I leave it up to you good people to decide the third.

Now, as to my dilemma referred to above. There are only two candidates running for the 1-year seat - the incumbent Distefano and Araujo. Now, I can't vote for Distefano - he's just a seat-filler for the O'Malley groupies on the Board but I also can't vote for Araujo. Here's a guy that I believe has a persona and style that will do more harm than good in pursuing what's important to me if seated on the Board.

So, I will go with a write-in for this one 1-year seat. I leave it up to you good people again to decide which way you want to go.

Anyhoo, as I said before, you shouldn't care who I or anyone else votes for - You should Vote for Who You Believe Will Best Serve Your Interests - but while you're doing that, you should care if things go on for another year the way they've been going on over there on Mythomania Lane, which it certainly looks like it will if you don't make a Change - so please take the time and become informed before you Vote.

Top 10 Reasons why you Gotta like Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4%' ChoiLankey's 'You Got to Be Kidding Me' Team for the Edison Board of Mythomania!?!

10. Because you like the politicization of the Edison Board of Education and it's simpler for you to just call it the Board of EDems anyway.

9. Because you like that they are 'The Only Independent Team Not Funded by Any Special Interest Group' and you don't care if they take another picture with Señor Lankey, he'll have to independently adopt them.

8. Because you like their claim of 'Rebuilding James Monroe School at Zero Cost to Taxpayers' and you don't care that it was really because of some odd new thing we have over there on Mythomania Lane - called insurance.

7. Because you like that they 'Gave the Taxpayers Back $1.46 million in additional state aid and you don't care that they Hoarded the previous $2.0 million, raised your taxes by 10.1% over the last 4-years and have been known to tap into the Cap Bank when they want money back from you.

6. Because you like how they tried to Sneak in an Early Extension of Super Dr. Richard 'Looking for the Exit Ramp' O'Malley's employment contract one-year early and before the election where 4-seats are up for Grabs and you don't care if they provided no rationale, justification or support other than ..they like him - they really, really like him.

5. Because you like when they tell you about 'Zero Cost Turf Fields' and you don't care that they just committed us to some $370 million with the ETEA over the next 3-years and they somehow didn't think it was important enough to tell you about it or that extra $10.8 million that comes along with it.

4. Because you like how they've been following Señor O'Malley from ..Soo Far Behind for ..Soo Long and you don't care that they've Long-Lost Sight of him.

3. Because you like when they come up with Sophomoric Board Goals and Merit Performance Criteria, some with no academic achievement criteria, and you don't care how much money they're paying out in bonuses to Señor O'Malley.

2. Because you like how they've failed to come up with a long-overdue cogent, cohesive, practical and cost-conscious plan to deal with the overcrowding in all the schools and you don't care if they're just wasting time and money by temporarily plugging holes using these Lease-Purchase agreements that do nothing more than create debt and bypass Voter Approval.

1. Because you like a Good Paradox Wrapped in an Enigma and you don't care if Incumbents Shi, Moroney and Distefano Really, Really Need to Be Shown the Exit this November 7th, even if it's through their own 'Zero Cost Turf Fields.'

PS: Postage Savings Suggestion - just a thought but it might be a good idea to take me off your mailing list. Somehow - don't think I'll quite be voting for your team.

The Cost of the ETEA Settlement $10,760,565 (9.27%) over 3-Years - that the Board of Mythomania didn't tell You at Monday Night's Meeting!

Well, here's what I just received from the Edison BoE about the settlement approved at Monday Night's Meeting with the ETEA - for Certified and Non-Certified Staff.

The total increase for both is up $10,760,565 or 9.27% over the 3-Years with annual increases over the 3-Years of 3.141%, 2.902% and 2.955%.

The Certified goes up by $10,024,209 or 9.4% over the 3-Years with annual increases over the 3-Years of 3.2%, 2,9% and 3.0%.

Non-Certified goes up by $736,356 or 7.7% over the 3-Years with annual increases over the 3-Years of 2.1%, 2.5% and 2.8%.

Something how it works over there, isn't it? Something with numbers as humongous as this to their budget and Your Tax Bill, they approve without saying a word about how much the settlement was and why. They had a responsibility to tell the People of Edison what they did - and they didn't. But hey, if no one asks a question at their meeting, then they don't have to tell you, Right!?!

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that they can $pend Your Money anyway they want - and Don't Have to Tell YOU!

Wow! Edison Board of Mythomania Approves Settlement with the ETEA Last Night with one Caveat!?!

This duct-tape transparency over there on Mythomania Lane just never ceases to amaze me. Think about it. The Board of Mythomania approves the settlement of the 3-year Contract with the Certified and Non-Certified Staff last night and neglects to do one thing.

They didn't bother to tell you how much the settlement was for over the next 3-years!

Geez, really. Staffing is only the single largest expenditure that they have in their $234 million Bloated 'Pots of Money' they call a school budget and they don't think it's important enough to tell you what they've obligated you for and what it's gonna cost you?!?

Not one Board Member said a thing about the contract.

The last contract settlement for the above staff resulted in an increase of some $9.6 million or 8.6% in salaries over the 3-years.

Would be Nice to know what it is under this contract - since the school tax was 55.4% of your total property tax bill this year, was some 46% of this year's total property tax increase and let's not forget with all their Whining about not getting our fair share of state aid under SFRA, we still pay some 90% of the total school bill.

Yup, that Stinks!

Anyhoo, just put in an OPRA Request to get the numbers.

The Local Dem-Party Machine isn't Broken - it just Doesn't Work for You!

Geez, how much more are you willing to take from these people? As a democrat who remembers a Party that used to be the Party of the People - you just can't associate that attachment with this collection of Wanna-be oligarchs here in 'Downtown Edison.'

Don't be Mislead. They're not going to change. You fall for their propaganda again and guess what you'll get - more of same! More of everything that has made Edison what it is today - a town where the few benefit at the expense of the many - and they don't really care what you have to say. Unless, of course, when it's election time and they're out pandering for your vote again.

Unfortunately, the Dem-Party Machine is working just fine here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison - it's just Not Working for You!

Seems it's about time you recognized it.

They Need to Go on November 7th if you want any hope of taking away all that Power they enjoy in the Hands of the Chosen Few and putting it back to where it belongs - in the Hands of the People of Edison!

It's up to you to do what's in your Best interests this time around - and not be fooled into doing what's in their Best interest.

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that even Señor Lankey looks a little uncomfortable in the presence of these two escapees from the EDO - the Party that has Made Edison Safe for Hypocrisy.

The Politicization of the Edison Board of Mythomania!?!

Well, it's good to know Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4%' ChoiLankey and the EDO Chair are out there with their 'You Got To Be Kidding Me' Team for the Edison Board of Education, aka Board of Mythomania, Board of EDems and Board of Sneaky..Sneaky..Sneaky come November 7th.

And you thought it was a good idea to move the school board elections to November!

Anyhoo, what do I know? I still can't figure out why Señor Lankey thinks this kind of stuff is helpful to these BoE Incumbents (who need to be Voted into Forced Retirement on November 7th) or himself!?! Sneaky likes Sneaky, I guess!

Letter to Dr. Frank - Re: Super O'Malley's Contract at October 11, 2017 Meeting

Update - just been told that there's a Notice here on the EBoE's website that there will Not be a Public Hearing or Vote on the Superintendent's Contract at Wednesday's Caucus Meeting. It's been pulled from the agenda.

Well, I've written a lot about what the Board of Mythomania is planning to do on October 11, 2017 with Super Dr. Richard 'Looking for the Exit Ramp' O'Malley's contract is so Wrong!

However, I would be remiss if I didn't make one last effort to share my thoughts and to make Dr. Frank recognize why it's so wrong for him to be doing this at this time and to pull it from the agenda at Wednesday's meeting.

So, towards that end, I sent him this letter below via email and copied the Board Members as well as Super O'Malley and Dan Michaud.    



If you have any of these concerns or others about what is going on here with this contract, please take the time to reach out to Dr. Frank and any of the Board Members and make your voice heard.

Anyhoo, this thingie is kind of important and has long-lasting impact to the People of Edison - so, you might wanna make sure you have your say now before it's too late.

Wow! So che le tasse sono troppo elevate in Edison ma il cibo italiano troppo?!?

Geez, who would of thought some Italian food would cost so much?!?

Anyhoo, that's a tad bit out of my price range! Here's one Italian in town that has to take a pass. Oh wait, I forgot, they're willing to take donations as little as $25.00 from you if you can't afford to go to the dinner! That's Nice of them.

..and you thought moving the school board election to November was a good idea - part duex!?!

Geez, you really can't make this stuff up. A seminar series for Back to School Night in Edison sponsored by a Woodbridge based association in an Edison School featuring the 3 Incumbent candidates up for reelection, and let's not forget the keynote speaker - Super Dr. Richard 'Looking for the Exit Ramp' O'Malley.

But wait, it gets even better - who better to moderate this non-partisan Q & A than our very own Democratic Councilman Ajay Patil. You remember him, he's part of the Democratic Oligarchy over there on 100 Oligarchy Blvd.

You know, for a moment there, I almost thought this was kind of partisan - but I must be wrong. Surely, Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4%' ChoiLankey doesn't really have a 'You Got To Be Kidding Me' ticket for the Board of Education. Does he?

Be that as it may, seems it's a Q & A from Board members who are Mute most of the time in Board meetings, and most likely, at least three of them pictured here are ardent supporters of prematurely extending the Super's contract on October 11th against any degree of common sense and rationality or consideration of public displeasure.

But hey, it's an opportunity to get their campaign propaganda out, I guess.

Anyhoo, what do I know? I still can't figure out why Señor Lankey would want to inject himself into an Edison BoE election and picking these incumbents to back to boot. Take it he doesn't pay much attention to what goes on over there on Mythomania Lane.

Edison Township Education Association Candidates Night

Here are the candidates in attendance for the Edison Board of Education in the November election. Candidates Paul Distefano (I) and Sunil Robert Vuppula were absent.

Special thanks to Jeff Bowden, President of the ETEA for the invitation. Much appreciated.

Dr. Seuss on the loose in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison!?!?

You know, I just get a kick out of it when I see (what I consider to be the EDO's Greatest failure) - Rob 'Mr. Temper-a-Ment' Karabinchak stick his head up in Downtown Edison. Along with Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro, the Poster-Child for everything that's Wrong with the EDO - they make a truly dynamic representation of the EDO.

As I often ponder why the EDO turned these two out into the state and county, I remind myself that this is 'Downtown Edison,' of course. The land where the perils of one-party government are no longer perils but an unfortunate reality.

But I digress, so let's move on. So, since I would vote for Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro before I would ever vote for Señor Karabinchak (and that's saying a Tad Bit of a Lot if you know me) let's go with his theme:

Anyhoo, don't forget to thank Charlie when you see him around campaigning in your neighborhood for keeping the 'Less than 1% County tax hike' this year to only 4.1% and for that Whopping 19.3% County tax hike over the last 4 years.

Just So You Know How Much to Be Thankful For Over the Last 4 Years!?!

Just  so you know how much Mayor Tom 'Now 15.4%' ChoiLankey (Muni 15.4% & Garbage 10%), Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro, aka 'Deputy Dog' of The Board of 'Less than 1% Tax Increase' Chosen Freeholders (19.3%) and Dr. Frank from the Board of Mythomania, aka Board of EDems, Board of Sneaky..Sneaky..Sneaky (10.1%) have contributed to the Increase in YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS over the last 4 years.

It's been a Great 4 Years here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison?!?

Well, it wouldn't be right to let the last 4 years go by without thanking all of those elected officials over there on Oligarchy Boulevard, Mythomania Lane and 'Deputy Dog' over there in New Brunswick for all the tax increases, year after year - after year - after year - after year!

And let's not forget how Lankey $tabilizing taxes ended up being a 15.4% tax hike, an unbelievable 19.3% tax hike from our own Poster-Child for Everything that's wrong with the EDO and now 'Deputy Dog' of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro.

Last, and by no means least, that 10.1% from the Out-of-Control $pending continium of the Board of Mythomania.

It's been a Great 4 Years:

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that Lankey and Tomaro want another term to do it to You again and Dr. Frank wants to leave us with a Parting Gift that will last for 5 years after he's gone!?!