Another False Alarm for Moving School Board Elections Back to April!?! Edison Council does it to You again!

Just saw this piece here in TapIntoEdison. Looks like Bob 'See No Conflict' Diehl, aka Poster-child for Term Limits and 'Suez Man of the Year' has pulled the Reso to Move the School Board elections back to April.

This is now the second time the 7 Processing Cluck..clucks have wasted your time calling a meeting and then backing away with their twisted and corrupted politics. At least this time they had a meeting and not cancel it at the last minute like last time.

Not for nothing but No surprises here. Local Dem-party politics will always Prevail over the People of this Town and this once again proves it.

Anyway, here's the communication I sent to them on this subject.

Council President Gomez,
I see that the Edison Council (Council) will be, once again, considering bringing forth a resolution to move the school Board Elections back to April. I say once again since I recall this coming up once before and the Council canceling the meeting at the last minute. 

So, I don’t know if this is serious this time or not and since I don’t place much confidence it what this Council does or doesn’t do - let me just say this to you. It wasn’t hard to see what would happen to this town when the School Board opted to move the elections to November. A move that was solely driven by the School Board’s desire to take away the Residents Right to Vote on School Budgets.

We now live in a town where the Stench of the 2017 Election Still Lingers over us as well as the disconcerting events of this past November election adding to it. 

Injecting and infesting the School Board elections with Local Dem-party politics in the November elections has proven to be and continues to be a blight on this town. That alone should make you realize ti was a mistake to make such a move.

Now, I don’t think there’s much substance in the arguments being put forth for Not moving the election back to April  - such as we save money by not holding a separate election, that we get a larger turn-out of voters and less likelihood that the Board will be dominated by any particular group and any Council cuts made when School Budgets are defeated are hurting the School District, etc.

First of all, the Board of Ed Never Saves anything - they Repurpose and Hoard Taxpayer money but they Never Save anything. If they’re so worried about paying for an additional election, then you should ask them why they budgeted some $225,000 this year for 3 attempts for this Ridiculous, I’ll conceived, Opaque, Piecemeal and Overpriced $189.5m School Bond Referendum scheduled for December 10th.

Next, we certainly get larger turnout in November than April but look at what has happened to this town once we opened the door too November elections - devious and deceptive political campaigns that still has the Council of the Whole looking for the source of that Racist Flyer two years later and the Local Dem-party sharing campaign literature with certain School Board candidates and disconcerting and underhanded attacks on certain candidates in this past November election. 

So, doesn’t really seem to me that certain groups will not try and stack the School Board no matter if the School Board election is in April or November.

Finally, we seem to be under the impression that the Council makes 'draconian cuts' when the School Budgets are Voted down by the Residents. That’s simply Not true. First of all, if the Residents Vote down these School Budgets, they are saying they want the School Budgets Cut by the Council. 

As for the usual example brought up that the Council cut $6.5m from the 2010 School Budget after the State cut some $14m in State aid - it’s just Not true. The Council only out around $1.2m from that School Budget. It was the State that caused the so-called problem by cutting the $14m, Not the Council only cutting $1.2m.

As far as I’m concerned, the Council over the years has made only disappointingly small cuts to Failed School Budgets when they came before it. Certainly, not the kind of justified cuts that the Residents were looking for after their review.

So, that’s an argument that doesn’t hold any water and certainly not a reason to keep he School Board elections in November.

Really now, it’s up to the Board of Education to put forth substantive, meaningful, cost-efficient and reasonable School Budgets that the Residents can live with and not these Bloated and Out-of-Control Spending Budgets they’re use to dumping on the Residents/taxpayers every year. Allowing them to increase these School Budgets by 2% every year just lets the Bloat and Out-of Control Spending that goes on over there to increase exponentially. Not for nothing but they already have enough ways to go around the Residents/taxpayers by using such techniques as the infamous Lease-purchase agreements.

While I may have a low confidence level that the Council will do (and as such don’t care what you do) what’s right for the People of Edison and let them have a say over these Bloated School Budgets once again, which are well over half our Total Property Tax bill - leaving them in November will just solidify that this Council always lets Dem-party Politics prevail over the People of this town even when such divisive consequences to our town are staring right at you. A theme that hangs over your heads right now.

Ralph Bucci
Edison Resident

Anyhoo, you get the type of government you deserve here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison. Too Bad You don't Recognize You Deserve Better Representation than what You're Getting - on Both Sides of Town. I truly Hope You Get it Some Day.

Don't be a Shi ReferenDumb-ER - Vote No on December 10th

With all this stuff going on over the last two years with this Local Dem-infested Board of Mythomania - do you seriously want to give Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi and his band of architects a Blank Check for his 'Shi-Shed' that will make your school taxes skyrocket for the next 30-years?

Say No to this Ridiculous, I'll Conceived, Opaque, Piecemeal and Overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka the 'Shi-Shed!'

Anyhoo, it'll be an investment where the only return you'll see will be Huge School Tax Bills for the next 30-years.

Please..please..please - I Want my Shi-Shed!?!

Well, you have to admit it's funny if you're Not foolish enough to sign-up for Huge School Tax Bills for the next 30-years for this Ridiculous, I'll conceived, Opaque, Piecemeal, and Overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond Referendum.

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that it's an 'Investment' in the Kids where the only Return on your 'Investment' will be Huge School Tax Bills for the next 30-years.

And here's what New Jersey 101.5 has to say about the Shi-Shed!

Why the Council cutting $6.5m from the 2010 School Budget is a False argument for Not moving the School Board elections back to April!

Well, seems with the Edison Council again maybe or maybe not looking to move the School Board elections back to April - there's a falsehood going around that the Council back then cut $6.5m from the 2010 School Budget - they didn't.

If you were around back then when school budgets were voted on and were paying attention to that Board of Mythomania's Bloated and Out-of-Control $214.2m $pending School Budget rejected by the voters, then you would of realized it was just a numbers game.

Seems the myth is that after the State cut state aid by $14,353,189, the Council cut the School Budget by another $6,500,000.

Simply Not true. If it was, then you would of seen a big drop in the Fiscal-year School tax levy and Calendar-year School tax rate from the preliminary School Budget to the Certified School tax levy after the council cut.

There wasn't any - the School tax rate went from $2.498 to $2.490.

With that reduction of $14,353,189 in State aid, it was the State that forced the Big reduction in $pending to the 2010 Budget, not the Council. In fact, the Council only ended up cutting $1,181,779 after the State aid cuts. Far be it from me to stand up for the All-Dem Council but in this case they're being treated a Tad Bit unfairly.

Here's how you can see it quickly from the numbers below:

2010 $pending Budget   $214,172,758
Cut in State aid               -  14,353,189
Revised $pending            199,819,559
 Less: State aid                 -13,556,749
Fiscal-year Tax Levy       186,262,810
Council Certified School
  Tax Levy                        185,081,031

 Council Cut                      $1,181,779

And only half the $1,181,779 fell into the 2010-11 School year, which is why the School tax rate only went from $2.498 to $2.490.

So, as you can see from the numbers below, of the $14,353,189 cut in State aid, they only cut the $pending by $9,334,968in the Final 2010-11 column, which let the difference go into the Fiscal-Year School tax levy - which is what went before the Council where they thought they were cutting the $6.5m from.

Anyhoo, if any of my Council friends are watching - whether the Council back then knew this or they were snookered really doesn't matter - what matters is the Council Never Cut $6.5m and is Not a valid argument for Not moving the School Board elections back to April.

Christmas in Edison - 2019 Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells!

Christmas in Downtown Edison – 2019

Twas’ a month before Christmas and those sly little elves,

 Edison’s Mayor Lankey & BoE Prez Shi again labored to benefit themselves. 

One with Sewer & Water Privatization and the other an Overcrowding Fix of Poor Vision,

both Too Much of a Financial Burden for Too Little of a Solution!

One with Muni-tax hikes of 21.95% including a hidden 5.1-cent Muni tax rise,

and the other claims he Saved Millions but under a pretentious and false disguise,

Not remotely caring a tad bit what the People might think, 

they again place Politics before People in spite of the lingering and now prolonged stink.

One has a Council that Never met one of his Tax Increases they didn’t gladly adopt,

and the other doesn’t see his Inept Leadership makes the Board’s functioning a Huge Flop.

If Mayor Tom ‘Now 21.95%’ ChoiLankey cares so much about this town,

then why is that 2017 Racist Flyer Stench Still Lingering over us Bringing Edison down?   

And putting their thumbs to the tip of his noses while laughing at You and Me, 

Lankey and his 7 Processing Clerks leave a Hanging Stench over the town for all to see.

And Shi with his Now Local Dem-party infested and corrupted Edison Board of EDems way, 

doesn’t get that the People don’t like what he does with millions of our tax dollars in play.

They’re not concerned about disrespecting the People of Edison on any given day, 

dubious transparency, misinformation, misdirection and cross-contamination is their ruling way. 

Lankey should of Never helped the ineffective Shi in the first place to stay in play,

so Shi continues with Local Dem-party help to continue on his predictably misguided way.

So, while we all scratch our heads and say What’s Going on in this town,

Lankey keeps doing it to you again and Shi is left blindly leading with his usual frown. 

And then there’s the Board of Mythomania giving the New Superintendent a generous deal, 

and now threats again of Moving the BoE elections back to April by Councilman Diehl.

In this season of giving, Lankey & Shi are again playing to take, 

Lankey continuing without any Checks & Balances always remains a big mistake.

And Shi with a feeble but obviously disturbing attempt to hold on to his plurality, 

needs to be Voted Out as Board President with a New Board finally accepting reality.

If in this feeling I’m not alone, 

then take up your pen or pick up the phone. 

Let Lankey & Shi know that it's People Not Politics, 

and You're tired of all their disrespectful and self-serving tricks.

With the recent election of the ‘7,000+ Moron Squad’ and Peng across town, 

enjoy voting them all back in but don’t complain when you continue on this merry go round.

And I heard them exclaim with all 'You Let Them Do to You in 2019' in hand, 

Merry Christmas to Edison, and let all the People be scammed!?!

Edison's New Superintendent of Schools - Bernard F. Bragen Jr., ED.D

Well, just received the New Edison Super's Contract from an OPRA Request of his Contract and Resume - here it is, as promised. Still waiting on his Resume which is being reviewed for distribution by the Board of Education and should have it shortly. When I receive it, I will post it.

As usual, Not my thing to rain on anyone's parade or to kick anybody when they're down for that matter, so let me just say to Dr. Bragen - Welcome, Congratulations on your appointment and Wish you the Best of Luck.

It's in all our Best interests that you Succeed.

In summary, the Contract is for 3 1/2 years (tentatively starting on December 9, 2019 and running through the end of business on June 30, 2023) with a salary of $245,000 with minimum 2% annual salary increases plus the usual perks.

There are no Performance or Merit Bonuses in this Contract.




Anyhoo, let's hope things start to turn in a positive direction over there on Pierson Ave, at the intersection of Mythomania Lane and Dysfunction Junction.

Just received the resume from an OPRA Request.

Nah! there's no Politics involved with the Local Dem-infested Edison Board of EDems!?!

Well, just heard that last night that the Edison Council is again throwing out the possibility of moving the School Board of Elections back to April.

If I understand correctly, they will put it up on their December 11th agenda.

Now, I say again because they threatened to do this once before and then cancelled the meeting at the last moment.

Just like anything else in life there are pros and cons with everything we do and whether you're for moving it or not, everyone needs to be heard but only if this is serious this time and just not another in a long line of their usual political minutia moments.

So, I don't know if the Council is serious about this or if everybody is just trying to stick it to one another as they play musical chairs between both sides of town or out the door but I will say this - while there are persuasive arguments that can be made on both sides of this, the greatest con facing those who support not moving the election back to April is this inept leadership nightmare entrusted with hundreds of millions of your tax dollars:

    Poster-Child for Moving School Board Elections back to April:

Good luck trying to defend not being able to vote on $260+m School Budgets from what we've seen with this guy in charge.

And finally, why this vote will probably most likely not happen, there's this:

So, I say this to my friends on the Edison Council and the Edison Board of Education, you created this mess we're in but don't make it any worse by tossing useless self-serving hyperbole at each other just to get everybody riled up - but hey, if you decide to do it, let me know but don't schedule a meeting and then cancel it at the last minute if you chicken out again.

Anyhoo, you shouldn't take any of this stuff seriously since the Stench that Still Lingers over both sides of this town isn't going away anytime soon.

When Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi goes Live with that Idiotic, I'll-conceived, Opaque, Piecemeal and Overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond Referendum

Then, there's only 1 question that you really need to ask him:

But hey, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that there are 8 other members on the Board of Mythomania who stuck their heads in the sand and let this inept leadership go forward with this egregious attack on the pocketbooks of the People of Edison without objection.

Anyhoo, kick this nonsense to the curb on December 10th  and let's make the new leadership in January come up with a more reasonable, practical and affordable solution to deal with the Overcrowding. This certainly isn't it and you seriously don't want Shi and his band of architects determining what you'll be paying over the next 30-years.

Really, Future Superintendent speaks out - guess we don't need to wait for the Board of Mythomania's Vote on Monday!?!

Well, this is interesting. We have to wait until the Board of Mythomania votes Monday to see Dr. Bragen's resume and what's in his 3 1/2 year contract but, apparently, he doesn't have to wait for a contract before we have to see him act 'unofficially' official.

Seriously, nothing like jumping the gun here. After reading this piece, you gotta get a warm feeling all over about the future of the school district.

Geez, call me skeptical but based upon his public resume here - sure looks like a Super Dr. Richard 'Looking for the Exit Ramp' O'Malley resume and we all know how that turned out. You'd think we would of learned our lesson with a small school, small budget resume with lots of movement to get up the ladder to Super - but apparently not.

Now it's a Hazlet Super for 6 years with less than 3,000 students and a $60 million budget.

Not exactly someone with experience to handle a school district our size, diversity, complexities and needs or with the amounts of money involved here. Just don't see how his experience, accomplishments and academic achievements fit the challenging needs the Edison School District deserves.

But hey, at least he has this to say about the Bond Referendum:

'Dr. Bragen commented on the much debated bond referendum, which will be on the ballot on December 10. “As, hopefully, the future superintendent, when I become official, I would endorse that endeavor, obviously, because I think it addresses a need that has to be met, as far as finding appropriate classroom space for growing student enrollment,” he said citing increasing enrollment affecting building capacity.'

Really, 'as, hopefully, the future superintendent, when I become official...

But hey - good to know that when he starts on December 9th, he'll be up to speed by December 10th to justify and support his comments about this Ridiculous, Idiotic, I'll-Conceived, Opaque, Piecemeal and Overpriced $189.5m Big Money Grab, aka School Bond Referendum.

Then again, that's what happens when you don't have anyone looking out for the residents/taxpayers sitting at the decision-making table over there on Pierson Ave, at the intersection of Mythomania Lane and Dysfunction Junction.

Not for nothing but hard to understand for the estimated $250k salary plus the usual perks involved here why we couldn't find someone with such comparable experience and a proven record of performance at this level.


Anyhoo, good luck with this guy since I take it he can count to 5 or he wouldn't be out there doing this kind of nonsensical self-promotion before the fact.

Just a heads-up - County Super has approved Bernard F. Bragen, Jr. Contract - and should be on Board of Mythomania's Caucus Agenda for tomorrow night

Well, looks like the action they took sending the contract to the County Super, although they posted they were taking no action, has lead to an approval by the County Super.

Now, the Board still has to vote on it at next Monday's Public Meeting, but it would only seem fair, since the County Super has approved it, that they release the contract to the Public before the Public meeting when they will actually vote on it - and not just put it up for a vote on Monday and hope nobody asks any questions.

Not for nothing but it would be nice to see what's in it and be able to generate and ask questions about it before they actually vote on it - and not have to wait to see it until after they vote when it's too late to ask anything.

Seems there's some reasonable queries to be made about his background, experience and compatability with a School District our size, complexity, diversity and needs based upon his public resume here.

As I understand it, the 3 1/2 year contract comes with a hefty salary and probably some built-in salary increases plus all the other usual perks. Not sure if there will be any Performance Bonuses in the contract - but geez, let's hope not!

I have OPRA Requests in for this contract and Mr. Bragen's Resume as well as a Request for the County Supers' approval along with the approved contract.

So far, I got Nothing.

Don't know when I'll get it as yet but let's hope it's before Monday Night's Meeting. When I get it, I'll post here for you to see.

Really doesn't do any good if you can't see it until after they vote on it - how would you know what they're giving away?

You certainly can't trust them or rely on any kind of transparancy.

If they still haven't given it out at Monday's Meeting, they still have an obligation to tell you what's in it before they vote.

So, to those who will be in attendance - make sure you ask them to publicly explain what's in the contract such as term, renewals, compensation etc.

Anyhoo, pay attention to these mistakes they're making by rushing in a new Super before the end of the year over there on Pierson Ave, at the intersection of Mythomania Lane and Dysfunction Junction.

Official Mail-in Ballot is Out for the December 10th Board of Mythomania's $189.5m Money Grab - Remember to Vote NO!

Well, looks like the Mail-in Ballots are out for the December 10, 2019 Board of Mythomania $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond Referendum.

It doesn't matter whether You're a Democrat, Republican, Green, any Other Party or Non-Affiliated in the town - this is not an election you want to sit out on. You can't sit by idly and be apathetic and let such a Ridiculous and Overpriced long-term decision be forced on You by Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi and his dysfunctional and Local Dem-Party infested and politically corrupt Board.

Here's the official Mail-in Ballot for what Jerry 'Needs to Step-Down' Shi and his band of architects want You to Ridiculously do (with acknowledged credit to Jerry Shine) :

Just a quick explanation of the numbers on this Mail-in Ballot:

1. They want to $pend and issue bonds in the amount of $189,500,000 for 326,150 sq. ft. of New Construction and 94,950 sq. ft. of Rehabilitations..

2. The State has agreed to provide debt-service aid in the amount of 40% of the final eligibility costs of the projects. Only $77,709,450 of the $189,500,000 are final eligibility costs. The local shares of the projects may be transferred between the projects.

3. State Aid for New Construction is limited to 40% up to $143.00 per sq. ft. Since the New Construction for 326,150 sq. ft is $158,429,999 or $485.76 per sq. ft, the State only pays for those 326,150 sq. ft at $143.00 per sq. ft or  $46,639,450 at 40% or $18,655,780.

4. State Aid for Rehabilitations is 40% of the Rehabilitations of $31,070,000 or $12,428,001.

5. So, only 77,709,451 ($46,639,450 + $31,070,001) at 40% is eligible for State Aid or $31,083,781. That represents only 16.4% of the $189,500,000 - and the difference 83.6% or $158,416,220 falls on You to pay.

6. Now you have to throw on the financing costs for the $189,500,000. According to their own numbers, financing this thingie over 30 years will generate $123,272,719 in interest bringing the total cost up to $312,772,719. After state aid, the net cost to You is $269,164,093 and the net average annual cost of $8,972,136 to You will add an Annual Average Tax Impact/$100 of 12.47-Cents.

You can see all these numbers below and how it will impact YOU by just entering Your Assessed Value. This idiotic, ill-conceived, opaque, piecemeal and overpriced $189.5m Money Grab needs to Voted Down post haste. On average, it will triple what Your Current Year's School tax increase was for the next 30 Years.



You can go to the July 11, 2019 post and see all the costs for each of the six schools that they sent down to Trenton without you knowing. Finally, you can go to the September 19 and 20, 2019 posts and see all the costs, including financing costs, - and what this ambush Will Cost You.

Anyhoo, just Vote NO to this Ridiculous plan that will most likely not solve the Overcrowding problem while tripling what Your paying now in School tax increases for the next 30 years and have them sit down next year and put together something more practical, meaningful and affordable.

Geez, can Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi and his dysfunctional School Board put more of a taint on their new 'Super Secret' Super Hire?!?

Well, looks like the Board of Mythomania has rushed to hire a new Super before the end of the year. Given everything that's gone on recently with this Local Dem-infested and politically corrupt School Board, you'd think whoever they pick will most likely carry a taint.

That being what it is, it gets worse. Apparently, they called a special meeting on Veterans day to discuss the Super position but publicly stated that NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN at that meeting on both their website and in the local papers.

But guess what - they did take action. They sent a contract for Bernard F. Bragen, Jr. down to the County Super for approval.

That's a Tad Bit Not Nice thing to do.

Now, that being somewhat disconcerting and giving the appearance that they were trying to railroad in the person of their inept choice without any chance for public comment in such an underhanded way, I thought I'd ask them to explain what they did.

Of course, when and if I get an answer, I'll let you know. But I'm not holding my breath waiting.

Further, since they made it public without any County Super and Board approval, albeit it a shady way, I further made an OPRA Request for Mr. Bragen's 3 1/2 year contract and Resume. Would be nice to see what they're giving him over 3 1/2 years and if his background, experience and performance supports what I understand is a very large amount of money.

Anyhoo, by their own actions for their own reasons, they're putting a taint over this guys head before he even walks into the door over there on Pierson Ave, at the intersection of Mythomania Lane and Dysfunction Junction.

Another ambush Edison Board of Mythomania Meeting - Monday, November 11th!

Well, looks like that ineptly-led, dysfunctional and Local Dem-party politically corrupt and infested Edison Board of Edison will not be waiting until January to appoint a Permanent Super. They're having meeting on Monday to discuss, which means it will be up for a vote at their next meeting.

Hard to believe that such an important and long-term decision will be forced in now by Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi and his dysfunctional and politically corrupt Board with two members voting who didn't even run for reelection.

Given the current circumstances, this is a huge mistake and will most likely taint whoever they appoint.

Pay attention to the vote when it does come up at a future meeting:

And Hold Your Nose at Monday's Meeting:

Anyhoo, the Stench over on Pierson Ave, at the intersection of Mythomania Lane and Dysfunction Junction, will Stink as much as the Permanent one Still Lingering over there at 100 Oligarchy Blvd.

Edison Unofficial Election Results - Local Dems Sweep, Unofficially - You'd be Morons!

Well, Edison corrupt politics continues - no doubt, you'll continue to be treated as idiots by the Edison Dem Party and get what you deserve. See November 4th and 1st posts.

Normally, I would congratulate the winners but given the state of the Democratic Party Politics in this town, the best I can do is refer to Brescher, Coyle, Patil & Ship-Freeman as the newly elected '7,000+ Moron Squad.'

Anyhoo, on a brighter side - good to see Carol Bodofsky and Shivi Prasad-Madhukar on the Edison Board of Education.

When the Edison Dems join forces with the 'Shi Team' to influence the BoE Elections and Stand by Silently as one of the Candidates is viciously attacked unimpeded - it Should Make all Democrats in this town Puke

You know, being a life-long Democrat and Resident of Edison which now has become a conglomerate of corrupt Edison Dem-Party politics, you really have to ask yourself what the hell is going on in this town.

Do they think that we're so Stupid that we don't see how they're representing their political alliances to keep power more than they Bogusly claim to Represent You?

Since when is it the role of the Edison Dems to pick the winners of the Board of Ed election - Geez, I thought that was Your Right to choose.

Since when is it that any decent, fair-minded Dem-Elected Official or Candidate in this town would sit by quietly while one of our own Residents gets Unfairly and Viciously attacked just because he chose to run for the Board of Ed and he's not their choice.

And I'm specifically talking about Anthony De Amorin's Candidacy. While I'm not a supporter of his Candidacy, I won't sit quietly by and watch this crapola go on. He has every right to run as anyone else does in this town, whether you support him or not - and to do so without the constant, underhanded and ofter anonymous attacks on his character. The People of Edison will decide about Mr. De Amorin's Candidacy.

Since when is it that we as Residents allow these Local Democratic Politicians and it's Democratic Party - let this heinous game to influence elections to go unchecked?

Since when is it that you have to be Embarrassed to live in this town anymore?

And Yes, I'm talking about the Edison Dem-Party and all Local Democratic Officials - Elected and Running Now for Council:

Shariq Ahmad
Mayor Lankey
All the current sitting Dem Council people
All the Dem Candidates running for Council

Since when is it that this town has gone down an even Bigger Sewer than Suez while the Edison Dems just idly sit by watching it happen?

Since when is it that we're coming up on the second election post the 2017 Racist Flyer and the Edison Dems 'Committee of the Whole' is still in search of themselves with no end is sight?

Since when is it that we have to get Robo calls from Edison Dem Council Candidates saying we should Vote for them because of all the wonderful things they bogusly claim to have done and will do yet don't say all the terrible things they have done and let happen (and I'm specifically talking about your Robo call Councilman Coyle - you gotta be kidding me with that nonsense you were spewing, and unfortunately, I know it. Please don't Robo call me again.)

Since when is it we allowed Decency and Fair-play to be trumped by Greed and Political-ambition of a few at the expense of the many?

You know it's true what they say, When People Tell You Who They Are - You Should Believe them.

And the Democratic Political Class in this town are telling You Who they Are by their lack of voice here, along with their deeds and actions. A Bunch of self-serving, politically-driven, group thinking puppets that will serve the Democratic-party's cause even if it's at the expense of decency and fair-play to any opposition in the process.

So, as a Life-long Democrat and Resident of this town - I would suggest to You that if you Vote tomorrow for any Local Democratic Candidate and/or the Edison Dem-backed 'Shi Team' Candidates for the Edison Board of Ed, then saying without any hesitation or reservation on a reality check basis - You'd be a Moron.

And don't waste your time trying to say that those running for Dem-Council or Dem-backed Board of Ed now are for change - everybody running for office says that - until they get elected.

Here's the twisted political game going on - don't fall for it:

And since I asked for clarification, I'll let you know if I get a response:

Anyhoo, only You can put an end to all this crapola tomorrow that has left our town with a Stench hanging over it that just won't go away as long as you keep letting the Local Dems let it Linger.

Just because I'm an, albeit very-old, EHS athlete who believes in the Spirit of Fair Play

Here's the Fair Play You Need to Deliver to Jerry 'Needs to Step-Down' Shi and his Edison Dem Party backed 'Shi Team' in the Contaminated School Board Elections on Tuesday, November 5th:

Anything less would be condoning the continuation of the Stench Still Lingering Over this town.

And let's Not Forget to Give a Big Shout-out to the Edison Dem Party and their 'Committee of the Whole,' which is still searching for themselves - for endorsing candidates before they finish their 'investigation.'

Looks like Jerry 'Needs to Step-Down' Shi and the 'Shi Team' sure appreciate it:

Bet You didn't know they STOPPED Suez and not Hahn, De Amorin & Shine! Duh!

Anyhoo, the only time you should remember I Just Laughed is when you pass over them in the Voting booth.            

Come on Now, I know this is the Silly Season and all but

Jerry 'Needs to Step-Down' Shi's team has just taken away the Biggest Pinocchio spot from Mayor Tom 'Now 24.1% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey from when he first ran for Mayor and said he would Stabilize taxes - and then immediately raised them 9% after he won!

Congratulations to Jerry Shi - You Earned it!

Anyhoo, Welcome to Edison where the truth is an anomaly and decency has long faded away.

Welcome to the Edison Dem Party contaminated School Board Elections - and you thought moving it to November was a Good idea!

Well, let's take a look at what's going on over there on Pierson Avenue, located at the intersection of Mythomania Lane and Dysfunction Junction, in this election cycle.

First and foremost, let me say that the damage to the two most important issues facing the School District has already been done by Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi and this sitting Dysfunctional Board.

Of course I'm referring to (1) that idiotic, ill-conceived, opaque, piecemeal and overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond Referendum - that according to their own numbers will triple what your school tax increase was this year for the next 30 years and, (2) the now rush to hire a new Super before the end of the year.

Now, recognize it doesn't matter who wins this election since these two problems can only be fixed by the People of Edison by Voting down the December 10th Bond Referendum and forcing this Dysfunctional School Board to postpone the hiring of a new Super until the New Year when a new Board is seated.

Seems if they purposely delayed the hiring of a permanent Super until after Shi and his band of architects' could put together this Ridiculous Bond Referendum, then there's no rush to do this by year-end - other than a political one. Doing so now under these circumstances will most likely taint who ever they hire.

Also, seems to me that with up to a third of Board possibly changing and Brescher's Edison Dem Party Council ticket campaigning with Jerry Shi's team for the Board of Ed - Brescher and Ward should pass anyway on voting for a new Super on their way out the door. Doesn't make sense that they should have a say on one of the most important decisions this Board will make when they won't be around to be accountable for it.

Be that as it may, we all still have to vote on November 5th. So, let's take a look at the choices and what you'll likely get if you vote for them.

There are 10 candidates seeking the 3 open spots with Board Members Brescher (now running on the Edison Dem Party ticket for Council) and Ward not seeking reelection.

We have the following Candidates (which you can see at Candidates Night on the ETEA's webpage):

'Better Schools, Better Edison' Team - better known as the Jerry Shi & Edison Dem Party Team:
(1J) Shannon Peng (I)
(1L) Neville Arestani
(1I) Tahira Masood

The 'ACT 'Team:
(1M) Anthony De Amorin
(2M) Shivi Prasad-Madhukar
(1E)  Sparshil Patel

(1H) Carol Bodofsky

(1G) Christo Makropoulos

(1F) Samuel Marshall

(1K) Kenneth Nelson

First, the 'Better Schools, Better Edison' Team - a vote for this team will assure the continuation of the inept and dictatorial leadership of Jerry Shi and the continued infestation of Edison Dem Party politics in the School Board Elections.

Next, the ACT Team - a strange ticket with a combination of politics, narcissism and actual school board knowledge and experience. This is a ticket you need pick from and avoid voting the entire ticket.

Carol Bodofsky - far and away the most talented and qualified candidate. She has more knowledge about the School District and the workings of the Board of Ed than anyone I know. After all her years of service to the School District as a Special Ed teacher and attending all Board of Ed meetings, I would actually say that she not only deserves a seat on the Board but actually has Earned it.

Christo Makropoulos - clearly, an energetic and outspoken candidate with his own way of doing things. Certainly not timid about challenging people and their positions.

The two '20 Somethings' - Samuel Marshall and Kenneth Nelson - very intelligent young men and I kind of like the fact they stepped forward. We could use some young people on the Board - they would bring fresh ideas and a way of thinking that is valuable.

So, since I have to vote just like everyone else, here's where I come down for this election. I won't support the Shi Team for obvious reasons you can read about in this blog and I can't, in good conscience, support Anthony 'Narcissist a La Smart Phone' De Amorin. While I give him credit for his work on Suez, it's a much different thing to be on the Board of Ed. Given his self-involved and pandering style and temperament when dealing with differing opinions, he would make an already dysfunctional School Board even more so.


Here's how it comes down:

Anyhoo, be Smart in how you Vote on November 5th - you'll have to live with the consequences.

Top 10 Reasons why You Gotta Like the Edison Dems on November 5th

10. Because you like how the 'Council of the Whole' is Still searching for themselves after two years and yet another election cycle.

9. Because you like how the Edison Dems consistently interfere and try to influence the Edison School Board Elections every year.

8. Because you like how they don't let Checks & Balances interfere with Mayor Tom 'Now 24.1% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey's Muni-tax increases year-after-year-after-year after-year.

7. Because you like that 4th Qtr ambush to your Property tax bill because they understated the Muni-tax by 3.5-cents in the 3rd Qtr Estimated Property tax bills to hide a 5.1% Muni-tax increase in this election year.

6. Because you like how they tried to sandbag you with an $851m Suez deal and defiantly forced you to do their job and represent yourself.

5. Because you like how the Edison Dems support Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi's team for the Edison Board of Education while Shi and Peng are part of the Committee of the Whole investigation still going on now.

4. Because you like the Suez $851m 30-year deal so much, it inspired the Edison Board of Mythomania to come up with their own 30 year $189.5m Money Grab.

And listen to Board Member Moroney demonstrate the dysfunctionality of the School Board when talking about the $189.5m Money Grab - after she voted Yes for it, of course.



3. Because you Get the type of Leadership you Deserve and you like it.

2. Because you like how the Edison Dem candidates for Council responded to why they're supporting Shi's team for the Edison Board of Ed.

1. Because you like voting for the Local Dems over and and over again here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison and expect something different to happen.

Do yourself a favor and go to the Board of Mythomania's New PR website designed for the 'Captive audience' - and then, have a good laugh!?!

Well, I've just been told that the Board of Mythomania have finally put out information here they've been sitting on since July on that Idiotic, ill-conceived, Opaque, Piecemeal and Overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond Referendum.

You know I get that they have to put the facts in a light most favorable to themselves but they Spin this thingie so much - they make themselves dizzy.

This thing leaves out a whole bunch of things about how expensive this thingie really is, what it costs with the financing costs and the ridiculous cost per sq ft for all the elements of all the schools - and let's not even talk about the 'other allowable costs' - to name a few things.

But hey, it's only $18.67 a month they say - yeah, but they don't finish the calculation, that's $224.04 a year (12.47-Cents) on top of your normal school budget tax increase - basically tripling whatever your school tax increase was this year for the next 30 years. And that's if you live in that imaginary home assessed at $179,600.

Since they provided no calculator for You to see what it will cost You who don't live in that imaginary home - take your home's assessed value divided by 100 and multiply it by .1247. If you drop me a note I will forward you the calculator below so You can see how all their numbers will impact You.

Who in their right mind would agree to something like this for something so inept for such a long period of time?

You know what they say, you can put Lipstick on a Pig but a Pig is Still a Pig.

Take the time to got through this fairytale they want you to see but come back to this blog when your done and see all their numbers you need to know that they're not showing you.

Moral of this story - Vote this Ridiculous thing down on December 10th and force them to postpone the hiring of a New Super until next year and have the New Super be involved in coming up with a more reasonable and practical plan.

It's not reasonable to ask the People of Edison to go along with something that will triple what their school tax increase was this year for the next 30 years.

It's also not reasonable to let Jerry 'Needs to Step-Down' Shi and his band of architects to determine what's needed to fix the overcrowding and purposely doing so without a full time Super.

It's also not reasonable for them to come out now and ask for questions from you at the 12th hour for something you never had a say in from the beginning and can't change no matter what your questions may be. Your input now doesn't matter , it's on the ballot - it's just a dog & pony show for them. So don't waste your time. Just Vote it down and force them back to redo something reasonable and practical that makes more sense and doesn't require tripling you current year's school tax increase for the next 30 years.

It's also not reasonable to believe they won't $pend all the Money once they have their hands on it for this thing - so don't buy into that bunch of boloney that they'll return it. They're Hoarders, $penders and Repurposers.

Anyhoo, think of it this way - they're throwing stuff up against the wall to see if it sticks - remember, they budgeted for 3 attempts to see what sticks.

Why is the Edison Democ-Rat Party Secretly backing Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi's BoE ticket - and What are the Edison Democratic Council Candidates Saying about it?

Well, a Tad Bit Wrong and a Very Big Tad Bit Unfair to all the other Candidates for the Edison Board of Ed on November 5th.

Anyhoo, guess these four don't want to risk losing Local Democ-Rat Party support and have no problem throwing all the other Edison Board of Ed Candidates under the bus - as long as they win.

BARF! BARF! BARF! BARF!

Geez, hasn't this town been disgraced enough - have we totally lost all sense of decency in Edison?!?

You know, if you live in this town and you see how bad the twisted politics have placed and left a lingering Stench Hanging over it and you see the vicious anonymous personal attacks on people simply because they decided to run for public office - then you have to ask yourself, where has the decency gone in Edison?

It happens all the time in this one-party town and since the Board of Ed elections were moved to November, it has now permeated those elections too.

After two years since the racist flyer, we're still in search of ourselves and how can that be? How can it be that even before we get any answers to that paradox wrapped in an enigma, the Edison Democrats decided to create some more havoc by endorsing Board President Shi's team for the Board of Ed on their website and then mysteriously taking it down when it was spotted?

Now, I'm specifically speaking of the anonymous attacks on Board of Ed candidate Anthony De Amorin - at both the ETEA Candidates Night and the recent Meet & Greet at Woodbrook.

Whether you support Mr. De Amorin's candidacy or not, he deserves to be treated with the same respect any other candidate enjoys and not be singled out for character assisination without being able to confront and engage those who wish to oppose his candidacy.

Seems if someone has a problem with his candidacy, then they should look him in the eye and say to his face why they don't support him and give him a chance to respond and not do it as an unknown coward behind his back.

That's what decent, honest and fair people would do and which are the majority here in Edison.

This is just disgusting and I would suggest to Mr. De Amorin to ignore those cowardly few who can only attack you in absentia and not to your face.

There are enough good people in this town who see through this nonsense and will not support these type of attacks on one of our fellow citizens and will defend your right to run for a seat on the Board of Ed - even if you're not the candidate of their choice.

Well, the Edison 2019 Final/2020 Preliminary Tax Bills are out - look at your 4th Qtr Increase

Just a reminder to pay attention to the 4th Qtr of your Property tax Bill.

It's there where you will see the Muni 3.5-cent understatement when they sent out the 3rd Qtr Estimated Property Tax Bills. It hits in the 4th Qtr.

Just subtract the 4th Qtr from the 3rd Qtr on your Property Tax Bill and the difference is what it cost You for their disingenuous attempt to hide a huge Muni-tax increase in an election year. Or you can simply take your home's assessed value divided by 100 and multiply it by .035.

You can also go to the October 17th post and get You increase there - if you don't have your property tax bill or calculator handy.

Don't forget to thank Mayor Tom 'Now 24.1% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey and his 7 processing clerks for trying to hide a 5.1-cent or 4.15% Muni tax increase before the November 5th election.

And to my friends over there on Mythomania Lane - take notice that they rounded up one-tenth of a cent to the School tax (to 3.108) and used it to reduce the Muni-tax (to 1.280).

Remember that on November 5th when you go to Vote for some more of the Democ-Rats:

Anyhoo, nice to be ambushed on both sides of town, isn't it?

What Happens When You ask Joe Coyle a Question?!?

Well, looks like Democratic Councilman and Candidate on November 5th is all for free speech and responding to queries from the Public.

I asked him why the following endorsement for the Shi Team for the BoE was on his Edison Democrats website:

And he did this:

Guess he forgot when he deleted my query - that my name still shows up. Oops!

And, oh by the way, he's now blocked all comments to his page. Nice!

Can't say I'm too surprised - here's a guy who shows up at a Vote 'Yes' Suez Rally and says he's neutral!?!

Anyhoo, keep voting for Joe Coyle - and keep your comments to yourself.