You Get the Type of Leadership You Deserve Here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison - but when is Enough..Enough?

Well, how many more times are you going to get 'Dissed' by these two before you stand up and say Enough is Enough?

You obviously can't rely on Mayor Tom 'Now 21.25% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey's 7 Processing Clerks or Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi's Board of Silence over there on Mythomania Lane to do anything.

Two Sides of the Same Coin - Heads they Win, Tails You Lose!

Anyhoo, you seriously need to stand up and recognize what's going on here and kick both these plans to the curb!

Middlesex County - Candidates by town for the School Board in November

Well, just received the response back from the OPRA Request to Middlesex County, NJ for the Candidates who petitioned to run for the School Board this November.

Edison has 10 Candidates with 'Shannon Peng' the only one of the three incumbents seeking re-election.

Here's the list for all the towns in Middlesex County from the OPRA Request:




Anyhoo, pay attention Edison!

Geez, You think that if you're Gonna Take Action on a $189.5m School Bond Referendum - YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA?!?

Just you don't love the hazy, lazy summer months where everybody is on vacation and not paying attention to what happens over there on Mythomania Lane?

Well, even for the ineffective and inept leadership of Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi - this one is low.

Seems they put out the agenda for tomorrow night's School Board Public Meeting.

Here it is:

Does anybody see anything about action is going to be taken on the $189.5 million Proposed School Bond Referendum? You see it, I don't.

But when you scroll down, way down the agenda - you find this:

Seems they are taking action and if you don't know about it - you can't know to come up and ask questions and get answers as to what they heck they think they're doing.

Here's my thoughts about what they're doing which I just sent to the Board via email:

Board Members,
With al due respect, I just saw the agenda for tomorrow’s night public meeting. I take it that voting on pieces of a humongous $189.5 million Proposed Bond Referendum doesn’t deserve to have it’s on line item on the agenda. 

Geez, you think anyone looking at the agenda would think there’s noting going on with the Bond Referendum so they don’t have to come and hear what you have to say and query what you’re doing? You have to scroll down into the detail to even see it. Take it that’s in line with the lack of transparency this board hopes will keep public scrutiny away from this bloated set of numbers that are actually laughable. 

Shame on you for playing hiding and seek with this ridiculous proposal you’re trying to hide. Not for nothing but these numbers are silly. It’s looks like you picked a number ($189.5m) and backed into the detail by filling it in with %’s. 

Geez, someone on the Board should really take the time and look at the details and see what’s going on here and if that makes sense to you.

As for the resolution itself, I can see you’re accepting the PEC Letters and DoE 130 determinations, picking a December 10, 2019 date for the Bond Referendum and making appointing Bond Counsel and Financial services. You’re also showing the eligible costs under DoE rules for the 6 schools.

Here’s what I don’t see and maybe you should tell the people of Edison at your meeting. How are you going to phase all this work in and what’s the proposed scheduling. And maybe explain whose brilliant idea it was to go this piecemeal route with six schools? 

Also - of the $189.5 million, how much was actually ineligible for state aid and why, how state aid is calculated for new additions (Max $143 per Sq ft at 40%) and renovations (at 40%) and how much of the $189.5 million goes over to the Local Share before financing costs.

Clearly, all of you on the Board were told and know that $158,416,220 of the $189,500,000 is falling on the backs of the taxpayers before financing costs. Maybe you might want to share and disclose that tad bit of information at your meeting.

Anyhoo, on the basis that I believe you went the wrong way to address the overcrowding, the ridiculous costs (cost per sq ft and other allowable costs) and the scheduling you’re clandestinely proposing and planning without any dialogue, how much and when you’re going to bond and without knowing what the financial costs will be to name just a few things - please mark down as someone who takes exception to what you did so far and what you’re planning on doing here.

Seriously, somebody on the Board needs to take a hard look at these numbers and come up with some realistic numbers. 

Ralph Bucci

You can see a compilation of all the ridiculous costs associated with this Proposed Bond Referendum that they're not showing you in this resolution in the July 11th, 2019 post below in this blog.

For you taxpayers out there, pay attention to what this Board just did to you here and how each Votes on this Overpriced attempt to inadequately address the Overcrowding and remember to Vote Out any Board Member who goes along with this  nonsense. These numbers have to drastically come down to be more practical and certainly more realistic to even consider being put up in a Bond Referendum. 

We surely need to address the Overcrowding but this Proposed Bond Referendum the Board is offering up is a dismal failure and you should recognize and treat it as such. And you should also recognize the dire need to have someone on the Board who looks out for the taxpayers and understands and will challenge ridiculous numbers.

Anyhoo, heads-up everyone. If you want to have any say in what they're doing over there in Mythomania Land, you need to show up tomorrow to avoid letting them fly under the radar at what will no doubt be Your Enormous Expense that most likely won't even solve the Overcrowding problem.

Even with our Humongous Ratables here in the 'DemBadLands' of 'Downtown' Edison

..can you imagine what Señor Lankey and his Band of all-Dem 7 Processing Clerks would of meant by Stabilizing Your Local Taxes if we had the Largest Ratables in the state?

Our Ratables are $7,194,825,765, which is up 2% from the time Señor Lankey took over the stewardship there at 100 Oligarchy Blvd.

And here's what he's done to Your taxes since then:

But hey, why buck tradition of tax increase after tax increase after tax increase after tax increase after tax increase after tax increase in this all-Dem Oligarchy town?

His 2019 Muni Budget has a 4.21% Muni tax increase waiting for you and that's despite the fact that they only used a 1.5% Muni tax increase when they sent out the 3rd Qtr. estimated tax bills. That little bit of deceptiveness they're keeping quiet about will show up when you get your 4th Qtr. tax bill. Not for nothing but the year is already half over and you only have to budget for 6 months and you're sooo way off target?

Nothing like understating Your 2019 Property tax increase by some 35% and not telling anyone.

That's just Not Nice!

Be that as it may, here's the 2019 Introduced Muni Budget which comes with $143.5 million in Appropriations and is up by $5.3 million or 3.87% and a MUNI TAX LEVY of $97.9 million which is up $4.6 million or 4.9%. That $97.9 million is $92.1 million for the Local tax rate and $5.8 million for the Library.





Anyhoo, if your looking for the 7 Processing Clerks to do anything about this 4.21% Proposed Muni tax increase at Monday Night's Council meeting before they adopt Lankey's 2019 Muni Budget - good luck to you. What you should be looking for is Your 4th Qtr. tax bill when it shows up in your mail box - then you'll see what they're doing to you.

Just a Reminder: Deadline for running for Edison Board of Mythomania in November is July 29, 2019

Well, saw this piece here in TapIntoEdison  on the filing deadline for those interested in running for the Board of Education this November.

There are three seats up for grabs this November and lets hope there are three people out there that have had enough of the ineffective, opaque and inept leadership of Board President Jerry 'Needs to Step-down' Shi.

From deceptive and misleading School budgets (you can read more about this in the March 24th post) that now top $262.1 million with hoarding of taxpayer relief money used to further increase Out-of-Control $pending, staffing shell games that hide and fail to disclose all the non-budgeted heads they hire to the ridiculously put together plans to handle the Overcrowding - You Really Need to Recognize the Lack of Respect this Board of Mythomania has for the ones that pay all the bills - the Residents/Taxpayers.

You should also remember that the School tax portion of your Property tax bill is over half the property taxes you pay here in 'Downtown' Edison and you're funding some 90% of their ridiculous and Out-of-Control $pending.

And let's not forget that this Board of Mythomania unilaterally took away Your Right to Vote and have a say on these Bloated School Budgets by moving the School Board elections to November and the 7 Processing Clerks over there at 100 Oligarchy Blvd Cowardly canceled a meeting at the very last minute to have an open and frank discussion about moving it back to April. And we all know how moving those elections to November created a Stench over this town that still lingers.

Of all the Stakeholders in our education process, the students, parents, teachers, staff and residents/taxpayers - they continue to be missing a seat at the table for the residents/taxpayers and hence, a voice in the decision-making process looking out for the Stakeholders that pay all the bills.

So, you really need to put an end to things like this:

And, you certainly want to change this exclusionary attitude:

Finally, you really need to put someone on the Board who understands how to read and challenge these Bloated, Pots of Money they call a School Budget:

Anyhoo, let's hope that there are 3 residents out there who want to step-Up to the dysfunctional politics oozing out of the Board of Mythomania and Change to it a Board that represents all the Stakeholders in the decision-making process of millions and millions of dollars.

What's going on over there Charlie?!?

Well, saw this piece here in TapintoPiscataway and looks like the Middlesex County Freeholders tried to take a short-cut to hire 18th District Senator Patrick Diegnan's former Chief of Staff.

Apparently, they tried to usurp the powers delegated to the County Board of Elections to hire and fire employees.

Well, let's give a Big round of applause to that all-Dem Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders for wasting some more money.

A Special Thank You to Your Friend and Mine - that bastion of fiscal responsibility who never met a tax increase he didn't like, Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro aka Deputy Dog for letting this one slip by.

Makes You Proud to be Democrat, doesn't it?

But hey, the County has been slamming us with tax increase after tax increase for years.

Here, take a peek:

Anyhoo, note to Mayor Tom 'Now 21,25% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey - please don't try and use the same 'Dem-Party' Love if Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro ever comes a-knocking on your door for some Dem-Party Hugs & Kisses!

Edison's July 29th Public Meeting on Senor Lankey's 2019 Muni-Budget - Up 5.5-cents or 4.21%!

Well, not for nothing but if history is any indication, don't expect the 7 Processing Clerks to be making any cuts to Señor Lankey's 2019 Introduced Muni-Budget sitting with a 4.21% tax increase (as opposed to the 1.8% used in Your 3rd Qtr Estimated tax bill) - when this budget comes up for adoption.

Their Do Nothing Amendments are notorious for doing just that - Nothing!



Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that Checks & Balances don't get in the way of Senor Lankey's pursuit of more tax dollars.

Special Edison Council Meeting Excerpt - July 10, 2019 - it was 'Special' all right!

Well, this excerpt kind of highlights the depravity we've reached in our local twisted Dem-Party politics.

Makes you Proud to be Democrat here in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison, doesn't it?!?

Sadly, this isn't about what's in the best interests of the People of Edison, it's about a Local Party that makes a mockery of our Democratic Republic and has longed overstayed their Welcome.

Of course, even in this cesspool of twisted politics, you have to find the humor of it all. Have to admit since I find it hard to take Sam 'big-Boy Pants' Joshi, aka 'The Weathervane Millennial' seriously - every time he opens his mouth - I just chuckle and wonder who let him try and play with the big boys.

Like the tie though:

You can see the full Council meeting here.

Here's the excerpt:



So, here's how I see the performance of the 7 Processing Clerks at this meeting:

Anyhoo, all 7 of them should be ashamed of themselves and the remaining 5 should be elected out of office as soon as they're up for reelection. Crapola is Crapola no matter if you read it from a pre-written speech or you try and wing it.

Edison Sewer tax increase - 4.9% across the board!

Well, according to the June 26, 2019 Council agenda, Proposed Ordinance 0.2044-2019 up for vote by the 7 Processing Clerks on July 29, 2019 takes the Sewer tax rate up 4.9% for both Residential and Non-Residential users.

Anyhoo, just some more taxes to add to that hidden 4.15% increase in the 2019 Muni tax.

Compilation of the Board of Mythomania's Outrageously High $189.5m Proposed School Bond Referendum!?!

Well, here's the compilation of the Preliminary Eligible Cost (PEC) Letters and the NJ 130's, which was based on information the School District sent down to Trenton.

This is where the Costs stand as of now for the six schools and let's hope that someone looks at these numbers (after they Stop laughing) and revisits.

Among many things to question here - You Gotta Love the Cost per Sq. Ft. and Other Allowable Costs.

Here's the details:



Anyhoo, don't know what they're doing with this stuff but surely it doesn't look like there's a rational, cohesive, cost effective or well thought out solution to deal with the overcrowding here. Sure seems like someone just picked a number and made up the detail.

PS: Just a reminder. The filing deadline for School Board applicants in the November election is July 29, 2019:

Let's Hear it for Bob 'See No Conflict' Diehl - 2019 Suez Man of the Year!

Well, not for nothing but you'd had to of been out of town for the last six months not to know it was Lankey's 'Real Democrats' of Lombardi, Sendelsky and Gomez against the 'Fake Democrats' of Patel and Coyle on the Suez Petition vote.

The deciding 4th vote was always going to be none other than Bob 'See No Conflict' Diehl.

Did anyone out there think that he wouldn't side with Senor Lankey and the 'Real Democrats' on this one? And forget about Sam 'big-Boy Pants' Joshi's vote, it was never important and it never really mattered which way he voted.

So looks like Senor Bob Diehl had to decide if it was going to be People or Politics and he went with Politics!

At least to me, there was nothing surprising here since there was never any doubt which way he would go. He went with Senor Lankey and the Dem-Party.

Of course, this just reminds me that maybe being on the Dem-Party Controlled Council for 15-16 years now is just too long and highlights the need for term-limits.

For sure, in my mind, he just elevated himself to being labeled the Poster-Child for Term Limits. Too bad, I kinda like Bob Diehl.

2019 Suez Man of the Year:

Anyhoo, in this Wonderful World of dysfunctional Dem-Party Politics here in 'Downtown' Edison, You Get What You Deserve and You Just Got Some More of it!

Just a heads-up - Muni tax increase included in Edison's 3rd Qtr. Estimated Property tax bill - Understated by 3.5-cents and your Total Property tax increase by some 35%!

Well, when they sent out the 2019 3rd Qtr. Property tax bills it was based on a Total Property Tax Rate of $5.593 (per $100) for an increase of 10.1-cents or 1.8% over last year's rate of $5.492 (per $100).

That brought a 2019 Total Property Tax increase on the average home assessed at 178,300 of $180.08. You can see what your tax increase was in the June 19, 2019 post on the 3rd Qtr. estimated tax bill.

Seems based upon the Administration's Introduced 2019 Muni Budget up for public discussion on July 29, 2019 - they have increased the rate to $5.628 Per $100. That additional 3.5-cents is from the Muni budget raising the rate to $1.281 from the $1.246 they used in the estimate.

This preliminary Muni Budget now has 5.1-cent or 4.15% tax increase for 2019.

The 2019 Total Property tax rate is now $5.628, which is a 13.6-cent or 2.48% increase.

So, if this Muni Budget is approved as it by the Council, then this additional 3.5-cents will fall into Your 4th Qtr. tax bill installment.

You can see how much that will be for you below:



Here's what the Breakdown of the 2019 Property taxes look like now:

Unlucky 4 U:

Anyhoo, look at it this way, if this Muni Budget stands, that will make Mayor Tom 'Now 17.1% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey - Mayor Tom 'Now 21.25% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey.

Top 10 Thingies of interest in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison - in no particular order!

10. There's a South Edison Water Main Break today, so No Water for Us! Bet you're wondering how many of the 7 Processing Clerks are affected and effected by Having No Water today?

9. There's still No Farmer's Market over there in Councilman Coyle's beloved Clara Barton Section of town. Bummer!

8. The Estimated (of course) Property tax bills came out and wouldn't you know - the total property taxes (Muni, County & School) went up 10.1-Cents or 1.8%. On the mythical average home assessed at $178,300 (that only Señor Lankey claims to live in) that will raise your taxes by another $180. Yippee - another tax increase!!

7. The Bloated Pot of Money, aka Edison School Budget came with a 6.3-Cent or another tax increase of 2.1%. Add another $112 to the School tax portion of your property tax bill this year. Talk about where the bulk of your tax dollars go and continously sticking it to the taxpayers without proper scrutiny, year after year, after year, after year.

6. The arguably bogus 'Committee of the Whole' continues their pursuit of themselves on Monday July 8, 2019 over there at 100 Oligarchy Boulevard.

5. The 7 Processing Clerks will vote on the petitioned Sewer Ordinance on Wednesday July 10, 2019. The vote will either accept or reject the petition and a rejection will trigger a non-binding referendum - which, most likely, will trigger litigation against ourselves again.

4. Senor Lankey Breaks ranks with the Local Dem-Party by backing the 'Real Democrats' Sendelsky and Lombardi (along with Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro) in the primary but jumps back on board the party line backing the 'Fake Democrats' for the General election - and the 'Fake Democrats let him!

3. The seriously lacking leadership over there on Mythomania Lane managed to waste another year in the search for a Permanent Superintendent. They just gave the Interim Super another year extension on his contract! So much for getting this thing done as promised!

2. There's a Public Meeting scheduled for July 29, 2019 on the Muni and Solid Waste Budgets over there at 100 Oligarchy Boulevard and bet you can't wait to see how much higher Mayor Tom 'Now 17.1% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey and his Band of 7 Processing Clerks take that 17.1% in tax increases they've accumulated so far!

1. Wake-up Edison - haven't you seen and been treated badly enough yet?