Jingle Bells..Jingle Bells - and the Stench Hanging over this town Lingers on!

                      Christmas in Downtown Edison – 2020

Twas’ a month before Christmas and those sly Local Dem-party elves,

 decided to spike Residents’ taxes when a Pandemic is raging on ourselves.

With many out of work and with no income-stream in site,

just made keeping a roof overhead and food on the table a much harder fight!

 

And then there was that Outrageous FY School tax increase that should of struck fear,

since it was 4.5 times higher than the increase in the prior year.

Let’s not forget the Inept Leadership of Jerry ‘Referen-DUMB’ Shi that should of brought tears, 

that $189.5m Referendum would of tripled the school tax increase for the next 30 years.

 

Then there was the ‘Council of the Hole’ looking into the 2017 Racist Flyer,

with 3 years now gone by and they’re still locked in their own muck and mire.

No doubt a disingenuous waste of time and taxpayer money,

and still searching for themselves is no longer funny.   

 

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

switching the School Board elections to November left a Stench in town that all can now 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 trust him 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 hanging on with his usual frown. 

And then there’s the Board of Mythomania giving the New Superintendent an early extension, 

so moving the School Board elections back to April by Senor Diehl needs more than a mention.

 

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

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

And Shi with an undeserved but obviously disturbing attempt to regain a plurality, 

should never again be Board President if a New Board finally accepts 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 Your tired of all their disrespectful and self-serving tricks.

 

With the recent election of Shi, Patel & White across town, 

enjoy voting a Dem-Party ticket in but don’t complain when you continue on this merry go round.

 

And I heard him exclaim ‘With All This Year’s Taxes Picking You Clean’ in hand, 

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

 

Today's NJ Star Ledger Editorial Board - 'Attorney General's office, which is investigating, has to get to the bottom of this.'

 Well, saw this NJ Star-Ledger Editorial here today about the 2017 Racist Flyer here in Edison.

'Right now, the people of Edison have no way to judge if their local Democrats are complete sleezeballs who would deliberately foment racial strife in their own town, just to gin up turnout.'

Sad but true, 3 years later. We still don't know what's true or not true. It's beyond embarrassing now. 

The only way to resolve this is to take it out of hands of the Edison 'Committee of the Hole.' Apparently, after 3 years, they still can't find themselves.

Anyhoo, the people of Edison need to know the truth and it's just not practical or credible to rely on the all-Dem Edison Council to find it for us.

Edison Board of 'Fiscal Malfeasance' 5-Year Contract with the EFMMA passed back in July 2020

Well, finally received the last piece of my OPRA Request for the EFMMA's 5-Year Contract passed by the Board back in July 2020.

Not a very Big Union with only 19 members or Big Dollars involved but still seems to be quite the generous offer during this Pandemic. 

Not surprising though with the Outrageously Bloated 2020-21 School Budget, the Outrageous ETEA Contract Settlement and the Ridiculous 1-year extension of Super Dr. Bernie 'Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' Bragen's contract with only 10 months on the job.

Be that as it may, here's their 'In your face' work on the EFMMA 5-year Contract.

It's a 5-Year Contract with a 16.32% increase over the 5 years. The yearly increases are 3.2%, 3.15%, 3.1%, 3.0% and 2.9%.

As explained to me, there are no increases in longevity and black seal and only an increase in the stipends for year 1 only.

Here's a summary by Year:

Here's the 2019-20 Base Year Dollars:

Here's the actual salaries of the 19 members as of October23, 2020

Finally, here the EFMMA 5-Year Contract

Anyhoo, until you recognize that there's no one on the Board looking out for the taxpayers, this is what you'll get every time. 

What are you doing Councilman Bob Diehl - take all your pompous rhetoric and spare us all!

Well, there's a reason I never placed much stock in the 'Committee of the Whole' and why to me it's nothing more than a Big Black Hole. 

You really believe they were going to investigate themselves in this Dem one-party town?

Made the mistake of going to last night's meeting just to see if they were going to provide anything of substance in their investigation to find themselves.

Silly me - all we got from Councilman Diehl was a lot of pompous rhetoric all the while sinking his own ship.

Consider the idiocrisy of Councilman Bob 'See No Conflict' Diehl:

He gets a report from the Postal inspector and who does he give it to - the local papers before the Council meeting and before it's brought before the Council to review or giving those who have been named in it a chance to respond.

He allows sitting Councilman Patil, on the Committee of the Whole all this time, to come in before the meeting in front of him, Councilman Gomez and the Postal Inspector to verify what was in the Postal Inspector's Report (while claiming no involvement himself) without being sworn in and he praises him for coming forward?

Geez, are you kidding me?

He allows Councilman Patil to speak at the close of the meeting, once again, without being sworn-in to proclaim his innocence while previously implicating the others named in the report.

He ambushes both the other 'Council of the Whole' Council Members and those being implicated.

Now, I'm certainly not a fan of Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi or the Local Democratic Party but what Diehl did here was horrific and just plain stupid, if fairness or the search for the truth counts for anything.

Seems most of those implicated have denied it and now we're supposed to believe Councilman Patil who all of a sudden - after all these years sitting on the 'Council of the Whole' saying nothing, starts to own up now with what he knows about it and verifies what's in the Postal Inspector's Report?

Yeah, there's no politics here, just idiocrisy if you place any trust in what this 'Council of the Hole' is trying to do here.

Councilman Diehl should of done his follow-up with the Postal Inspector's Report with all the witnesses providing conflicting statements before jumping the gun and splashing it all over the local papers.

And, oh yeah, the Postal Inspector who was supposed to show up to testify last night was told he couldn't by the Postal Service. You'd think Diehl would of recognized he should of done his homework before jumping the gun anyway last night.

They should just disband this joke of a Committee once and for all. This is what you get when you allow the Local Dem-Party to infiltrate the Board of Education.

If you ever thought this process was a search for the truth, then ask yourself why at their very first Council of the Whole' meeting - they allowed Mayor Lankey, a potential witness, to give an opening speech without being under oath. That should of told you right then and there that this whole process was bogus and going nowhere.

All you got here is a he-said, he-said and then another he-said without any follow-up by the Committee splashed all over the local papers and nothing to back it up at last night's meeting. They called it information but they made sure they didn't take any questions about any of it. Seems Councilman Diehl didn't have any problems commenting to the local paper. I call that taking a cheap-shot.

Now, I don't know who's telling the truth here or who's not but neither do you - so, let's not jump the gun here like Councilman Diehl.  

So, you know what should happen since Councilman Diehl has now derailed any attempt at getting to the truth and lost all credibility with last night's performance - he should resign for his unbelievably poor handling of this 'Committee of the Hole' meeting last night. 

As for Councilman Patil, he should resign just for sitting up there for the last 3 years and not saying anything until last night.

As for Shi and Patel on the Board side of town - Shi should go just on the principal that he's a detriment to the Edison taxpayers on the Board and he can take his 'Edison First' team with him.

Just a Shameful Disgrace of Local Dem-party Rule in Search of themselves:

Here's last night's meeting:

Here's what the local papers reported before the meeting:

Here's the Postal Inspector's Report - they rolled on the screen at last night's meeting:

Anyhoo, Welcome to Edison where the Local Democ-Rats eat each other when they run out of food.

Edison 'Committee of the Hole' in search of themselves to meet tomorrow night

Well, looks like there's another meeting of the 'Committee of the Hole' about the 2017 Racist Flyer. Good timing since the 2020 election was yesterday.

Be that as it may, let's hope they got to the bottom of this and someone is held accountable after 3 years and this isn't just another waste of time by the 7 Processing Clerks.

Anyhoo, but what do I know - I still can't figure out why Edison's all Dem-party rule let the Stench hang over this town for the last 3 years.

Congratulations Edison - You just turned over the BoE to the Local Dems One-party Rule!?!

Well, aren't you glad you moved the BoE elections to November?

Now, the Local Dems have total control over all Your tax dollars here in 'Downtown' Edison and the Big Prize - School Budgets soon to be approaching $300 million.

To add insult to injury, You voted back in Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi, arguably the most inept School Board leader in the history of the Board of Ed, whose greatest accomplishment was to effectively alienate both other Board Members and the Public with his lack of communication skills. 

But thanks to You, he now has the votes to take back control of the School Board and continue his disastrous and ineffective leadership.

Here's the unofficial results from yesterday's BoE election:

Anyhoo, you get what you deserve in this Dem One-party town - enjoy.

Wow, Choke on this ETEA 'Pandemic Relief Package' - courtesy of the Edison Board of 'Fiscal Malfeasance', aka Board of Mythomania!?!

You know, the Board passed this contract way back in July and it took 3 months to get a response to an OPRA Request to see the contract and the related costs that they've committed us to for the next 3-years.

Once you read them and look at the costs and see what the costs were and where they went, it's Not hard to see why they've been trying to keep what they did to the Residents & Taxpayers of Edison on the down-low. 

While you struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over your head during this Pandemic, many without an income stream now and the foreseeable future - this bunch of taxpayer unfriend-lies were busy coming up with their own 'Pandemic Relief Package' - but it wasn't for you.

Now you can see what happens to YOU when there isn't anyone on the School Board who looks out for the Residents & Taxpayers. 

Giving away such an outrageous amount of money at this worst possible time clearly demonstrates this Board's Distain, Disrespect and Lack of Empathy for the only stakeholder they don't care about

                                                YOU, the TAXPAYER!

This 3-year ETEA contract runs from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023. 

For both Certified & Non-Certified combined, they've given away an Outrageous $12.8 million or 10.1% over the 3-Years.

The Certified comes with increases over the 3-Years of $11.3m or 9.8% - and by Year, $3.9m or 3.4% for Year-1, $3.7m or 3.1% for Year-2 and $3.7m or 3% for Year-3.

The Non-Certified comes with increases of $1.5m over the 3-Years or 13.2% - and by Year, $.6m or 4.7% for Year-1, $.4m or 3.7% for Year-2 and $.5m or 4.3% for Year-3.

Increases in Year-1 range from 1.5% to 9.0%, from 1.2% to 5.7% in Year-2 and from 1.0% to 6.7% in Year-3.

Here's the Certified Agreement:

Here's the Non-Certified Agreement:

Anyhoo, you really need to Wake-up and Recognize that you can't have a School Board that treats the Stakeholder that pays all the bills like Crapola - and doesn't care.

Edison Board of Education Salary File, October 2020 - 2,099 Employees for Total of $153,907,482

Well, just received the response to my OPRA Request for the School District's Current Salary file by employee, by location, department and title. 

This data file has a listing of 2,099 employees for a total of $153,907,482.

Here's summary of this data file by Salary Range:

I summarized this data file using tables in Excel so you can sort the data anyway you want to see it (by title, department, location etc.).

Here's a table sort listing of the Top 25 Salaries in the School District (looks like Super Dr. Bernie 'Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' Bragen already got his first 'max' annual 2% raise with only 10 months on the job):

Here's a pivot table of the same data file:

Anyhoo, this blog format doesn't accommodate the upload of Excel tables so anyone who lives in town and wants this Excel file can just ask for it by hitting the 'Email Me' button (below the Header of this blog) and you're welcome to it. Please make sure you identify yourself and provide a contact number in your email so I can confirm the request.

2020 Edison Board of Ed's 'Fiscal Malfeasance' Award - goes to Super Dr. Bernie Bragen

Well, let's pretend you don't know where Mythomania Lane is over there at the junction of Dysfunction and Ridiculous Streets, and...

-that Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferen-DUMB-er' Bragen didn't endorse that idiotic, ill-conceived, opaque, piecemeal and overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond referendum - that according to their own numbers would of tripled what your school tax increase was for the next 30 years - before he was even hired. 

-that Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferen-DUMB-er' Bragen didn't become the face of the 2nd Bite of the Poison Apple above, aka School Bond Referendum - because he was trying to force on you something his buddy Jerry Shi couldn't sell.

-that Super Dr. Bernie 'Bloated 20-21 School Budget' Bragen didn't put together a Fiscal Year School Budget that produced a School tax increase that was 4.5 times higher than the previous Fiscal Year - during a Pandemic when many in town were without an income stream. 

-that Super Dr. Bernie '@edisonsupt Twitter Blocker' Bragen didn't block opposing or dissenting views on his Twitter comments about the School District.

-that Super Dr. 'EBoE's 2020 Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' didn't look to feather his own nest during a Pandemic that has left many in town without an increase stream now and for the foreseeable future. Granted a 1-year extension by a School Board that was more interested in fighting their internal political battles than worrying about committing the Residents and Taxpayers to another $250k or so - for something that was totally unjustified and unnecessary now for someone who's only been on the job for 10 months of a 3 1/2 year contract.

So, Congratulation to Super Dr. Bernie 'Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' Bragen on your forward thinking for first doing something to protect and benefit yourself. 

And a Big Congratulations to the Edison Board of Mythomania demonstrating they're willing to commit away your tax money for no logical or rational reason at all just to protect someone who hasn't been around long enough to even be subject to a fair and proper performance review.

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that we hired a New Super who decided not to honor his 3-1/2 year contract he signed less than a year ago.

Super Dr. Bernie '@edisonsupt Twitter Blocker' is Home Grown all right - a Home Grown Glutton!

Well, looks like the Super Bragen's 5-year contract the Board of Mythomania had County Super approval for last night failed. 

The 2-year extension he sought failed by a 4 to 4 vote. 

Errico, Moroney, Bodofsky and Prasad-Madukar were in favor and Shi, Chen, Peng and Patel were opposed. Conway had to abstain but annoyingly, couldn't respect the rules enough to control herself.

But, like anything else with this Politically dysfunctional Board, they made an amended proposal to split the baby and give Mr. Glutton a 1-year extension. That vote was an 8-0-1 victory for Fiscal Malfeasance. Geez, really - he deserves another year because of Covid-19? Does that mean that all other Supers in the State deserve another year too? With all due respect, Mr. Glutton didn't care to honor his 3 1/2 year contract during this Pandemic when People of Edison are struggling to put food on the table and pay the rent.

Whether you like Mr. Glutton or not should of had no bearing on giving him an extension now. It's not a popularity contest. So, while I can respect everyone's opinion about his popularity - it's simply too early in his tenure to make such a decision and that should of been unanimously seen if there was a responsible Board over there on Mythomania Lane, but there isn't one. 

Sorry, but Mr. Glutton was all about himself with this request and anybody who voted to give him any extension at this time with only 10 months on the job doesn't respect the taxpayers at all. 

His job protection shouldn't come before the students, parents, staff and those who have to pay for this idiotic decision, the residents and taxpayers of Edison. Mr. Glutton has now joined the ranks of playing politics to reap benefits he hasn't as yet earned and doesn't deserve so early in his tenure.

But, in all fairness to Mr. Glutton, he only asked for it - it's the Board that went along with it, unjustifiably so.

Be that as it may, there were some interesting things about last night's meeting that deserve special notice. 

Board Member Moroney - always passionate in her beliefs but clearly an angry person in her one-sided monologues. She always was a Monday Morning Board Member who always went along with everything Jerry Shi wanted and did during his Leadership and then would complain about it after the fact - when it was too late. She did say though that she was always for the students and staff. No doubt that she was but never a friend of the taxpayers. She's not seeking reelection, so I say, good-bye, good-riddance.

Board President Errico - proud to say my friend. We sometimes agree and sometimes disagree but no matter what, we're still friends. However, his handling of this contract was less than I would of expected from him. Further, of all the Board Members, as Board President, he should of stated his opinion before the vote. Silence is accepting the unacceptable and giving Mr. Glutton any extension at this time is unacceptable. As Board President, he should of stood up and taken a stand - one way or the other. You can't be a fence sitter and a Leader at the same time.

Board Member Shi - what can you say about this guy? His inept Leadership has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars, wasted 2 years and failed to properly address and fix the Overcrowding. He only succeeded in failing to effectively communicate with the Public and other Board Members. He's seeking reelection and anything he has to say has to be looked at with that in mind. Not for nothing, but the only Vote 4 Jerry Shi should be For Forced Retirement.

Board Member Conway - don't know what her major malfunction is but if the rules say you can't participate in a vote, then you should honor the rules. Her opposition to the rules and speaking up anyway shows she's not capable of being on the Board and ended up showing her position anyway. That's not being an opinionated and outspoken Board Member, that's being a child who wants her way. Board President Errico should of shut her down but he didn't.

Here's the meeting - watch it and see how they just attacked your pocketbook during this Pandemic:

Anyhoo, the Board of Mythomania made a major mistake last night, unnecessarily at your expense, and you should remember that the next time any of them come up for reelection. As for Mr. Glutton, cry me a river - you got something you should of never asked for and you didn't deserve and that says more about you than your being Home Grown.

Approving a Contract extension now for Edison Super Dr. Bragen would be nothing less than fiscal malfeasance.

 Well,  if the Edison Board of Mythomania votes to extend Super Dr. Bernie '@edisonsupt Twitter Blocker' Bragen's 3 1/2 year contract to 5 years after only 10 months on the job, then you should consider it nothing short of Fiscal Malfeasance. 

Committing the People of Edison to another $370k or so now (on his $245k salary) after only 10 months on the job is ridiculous - when there is no need to. 

There's absolutely no requirement to do so, and no logical reason to do so now especially in the middle of a Pandemic, when everyone is struggling without an income stream.

He agreed to a 3 1/2 year contract when he signed on and he should honor it. He hasn't even had his first annual review yet.

If he wants a 5 year contract, then he should build a proven record of performance and in the last year of his current contract, he can negotiate for a 5 year renewal. I would have no problem supporting it under those circumstances.

Any action by the Board to approve this contract extension would be purely political and not in the best interests of the Residents and Taxpayers of Edison.

I expressed my objection to this contract extension to the Board and also requested Dr. Bragen to withdraw his request for an extension, which he declined.

Here's all the communications with the Board and Dr. Bragen:

Anyhoo, never thought it was our responsibility to use our tax dollars to protect a Super from the Big Bad politics here in 'Downtown' Edison.

Final 2020 Edison Property tax bills are out - barf!

Well, the Edison 2020 Final/2021 Preliminary Property Tax Bills are out. The total property tax rate is $5.849 (Per 100), which is up 22.1-cents or 3.93% over last years $5.628.

County taxes are $1.032 (per 100), which is up 9.2-cents or 9.79% over last years $.940.

School tax is $3.166 (Per 100), which is up 5.8-cents or 1.87% over last years $3.108.

Muni taxes are $1.431 (Per 100) including the Library tax, which is up 7.1-cents or 5.22% over last years $1.360.

Just so you are aware, the 3rd Qtr estimate they put out had a rate of $5.847. Lankey's Introduced Budget came with a rate of $5.876 or an increase over the 3rd Qtr estimate of 2.9-cents. However, the Council's Amended Budget came with a rate of $5.849 which reduced the 2.9-cents by 2.7-cents so the increase over the 3rd Qtr is only .002.

So, if you live in that imaginary home assessed at $180,400, then you 2020 Property tax increase is $398.68 and your 2020 Property taxes are $10,551.60.

If you don't live in that imaginary home, then take your home's assessed value divided by 100 and multiply that number by .221 and you'll get your 2020 Property tax increase.                                                                                                                 

Similarly, take your home's assessed value divided by 100 and multiply it by $5.849 and that will give you your 2020 Property taxes.

Anyhoo, welcome to the 2020 Pandemic tax increases here in 'Downtown' Edison.

Super Dr. Bernie '@edisonsupt' Twitter Blocker's Contract up for extension tonight - can you smell the stink?

As implausible as it may be for the Edison Board of Mythomania to consider extending Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferenDUMB-er' Bragen's contract to 5 years after only 10 months into a 3 1/2 year contract tonight, there's something even more disconcerting going on over there on Mythomania Lane.

Seems they're turning a blind eye to the open and free exchange of ideas when this Super chooses to comment on the school district with his @edisonsupt Twitter account but blocks differing or opposing views. 

I know because he blocked me:

Now, whether he thinks he can do this or not, what does it say about a School Board that allows him to use his Super title, make comments about the school district and then prevents the public from offering a differing or opposing opinion or now even seeing what he's saying about the school district?

I'll tell you - it says their claim of School Board transparency with this Super is a myth.

Regardless of what they do with Bragen's contract tonight, you should be more concerned with what they're doing to You and Your Right to have a say in the functioning of the Edison School District.

Anyhoo, what do I know? I still can't figure out how free speech became so anti-democratic over there on Mythomania Lane.

Almost forgot - Remember to Vote for Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro for Freeloader Again - oops, Freeholder!

Well, guess who is up fo re-election for the 'gazillionth' time - Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro, who never met a tax increase he didn't like or let get in the way of his political baggage.

The guy who enjoys continued political existence due to the Dem-Party Goupies blindly voting the Dem-party line. If anyone ever looked at his record, he'd be long gone and rightly so.

Be that as it may, you remember where he comes from - the Original Poster-child for Everything that's wrong with the EDO.

Before you go and vote for Charlie again during this Pandemic, remember what he did to you this year with a 9.69% County tax increase and a 9.59% tax increase for the County Open space tax for a total County tax increase of 9.7%

Anyhoo, keep doing what you doing to yourself with Charlie and continue to make this guys day.

Top 10 Reasons You Gotta Like Extending Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferenDUMB-er' Bragen's 3 1/2 year Contract to 5 years

10. Because you like Rewarding someone making $245k with only 10 months on the job and hasn't even had an annual performance review yet.

9. Because you like 5 year contracts and the history of the Board of Ed's, arguably, misguided handling of Super Contracts - as evidenced by the previous Boards' handling of the Toth and O'Malley contracts.

8. Because you like Bragen's endorsement of that idiotic $189.5 million School Bond Referendum that would of tripled your current year's school tax increase for the next 30 years - before he was hired.

7. Because you like his transparency with his use of his @edisonsupt Twitter account where he can comment on the school district but blocks any opposing or differing views.

6. Because you like rushing this through before an election in less than a month where there will be at least 2 new Board Members and possibly 3.

5. Because you like rewarding employees before enough time has elapsed to be fairly assessed by the Board and it's Stakeholders.

4. Because you like how local politics has no impact on raising something up to importance which should be of little importance at this time.

3. Because you like there's no logical or persuasive argument the Board can make for taking such an action so early into a 3 1/2 contract.

2. Because you like how appreciative he is to get an opportunity of a lifetime but still wants more, or what, he's gonna leave.

1. Because you're not offended at all for the Board to suggest throwing another $370k or so the Super's way now when the Residents are suffering with this horrible Pandemic - many without any income stream now and for the foreseeable future.

ETEA's Virtual BoE Candidates' Night

 Well, the ETEA is sponsoring their annual Candidates' Night at 6:00PM tonight. This year it's virtual via Zoom.

As I understand the format for tonight's meeting:

• There will be 10 of the 12 candidates participating.
• Each candidate will be invited into the zoom meeting at their scheduled time.
• They will give opening statements and then will answer questions from the 3 moderators. They will be given an opportunity for concluding statements before leaving the meeting.
• It's expected to last about 2 hours.
• No questions will be taken from the audience during the event.

This event is hosted by Jeff Bowden and the Moderators are Jerry Campione, Bill Donner and Dawn Penny.

Here's the bios submitted by the 10 candidates participating in tonight's meeting:

Anyhoo, Kudos to the ETEA for making this annual event happen in spite of these difficult times. 

Just a heads-up for those who may be interested

 I sometimes post or comment on local politics on 3 of the Edison Social Networking FaceBook pages; Edison Citizens, 08817-The South End.. and the Edison Republicans. 

Since I'm somewhat of a fan of free speech and the open and free exchange of ideas, as you can see from the Super Bragen posts below, I have withdrawn from the Edison Citizens a while ago and recently 08817-The South End.. pages and will no longer make anymore posts or comments on those pages.

It seems either the administrators or the posters on those pages have deleted some of my comments, which is their prerogative - but it's just not a forum that I will participate in any longer.

Of more importance, whichever way you decide to Vote in the November 3rd election, just make sure You Vote. 

Elections always have consequences. Not Voting Silences Your Voice, it's Your Money they're Spending and, most of all, it's an Imperative for Change if You Don't Like What's Going On.

As Ralph Nader said 'Turn into politics or politics will Turn on You.'

Anyhoo, remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, they're just not entitled to tell you what yours must be.

Thanks to Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi's inept Leadership, it's Still a New Year's Resolution - three years later

Yeah, you really want to give this guy a 3rd Bite of the $189.5 million Poison Apple - a plan so bad that it was twice rejected by the People of Edison. 

An idiotic plan that would of tripled your Current Year's School tax increase for the next 30 years.

Too Much of a Financial Burden for Too Little a Solution.

Just makes dealing with this Pandemic all the Worse, doesn't it?

Anyhoo, Remember to Vote 4 Jerry Shi for Forced Retirement on November 3rd.

Just an Update: Dr. Bragen removes his '@edisonsupt' Twitter account from the District Website

 Just received an answer from Dr. Bragen about the use of his '@edisonsupt' Twitter account:

Dr. Bragen,

Thank you for removing it from the website and, if I may in the same vain, please change your Twitter handle ‘@edisonsupt' below your signature on your correspondence.

Bucco

On Sep 29, 2020, at 8:19 AM, Bernard F. Bragen, Jr. Ed.D. <bernard.bragen@edison.k12.nj.us> wrote:

Dear Mr. Bucco,

That twitter account should not have been featured on the website and has since been removed.  My official district twitter account is @edisonpublicsc1.  I would love to have you as a follower on that account.  Be well and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Bernard F. Bragen, Jr.

Bernard F. Bragen, Jr. Ed.D.

Superintendent of School

Edison Public Schools

312 Pierson Avenue

Edison, NJ 08837

732-452-4900

(f) 732-452-4994

Twitter:@edisonsupt

Anyhoo, let's hope the Board addresses the use of social networking for the School District.

 

Edison Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferenDUMB-er' Bragen Still Blocking Opposing Views on his @edisonsuper twitter account?!?

Well, thought this thing was resolved earlier in the year (see Post dated February 24, 2020 for description of the issue with Bragen's use of his @edisonsupt twitter handle).

In summary, he's using his official title (@edisonsupt) makes comments about the district and links his @edisonsupt account to the school district's website but blocks any opposing or differing opinions

Apparently, I was wrong. When I went to check out the school district's in-school plan on their website, I found another tweet from @edisonsupt. And when I clicked on it, a screen came up indicating I was blocked from his @edisonsupt account.

So, I sent an email to the Board President asking what the Board's position was (once and for all) on Bragen's use of his @edisonsupt twitter account.

Seems there should be some policy on district employees, as well as board members use of social networking websites. If there is one, somebody please tell me where it is.

Just a tad bit unfair and it's certainly not a good idea for the school district or its leadership to Block any comments from the People of Edison just because they may not agree with or offer a different opinion about the school district or its leadership than what Bragen is putting out in the public.

Not exactly what you call school district transparency and you have to wonder why the school board would want any differing or opposing views from the public about the school district or it's leadership from being heard.

So, let's hope we can resolve this once and for all.

Anyhoo, but hey - what do I know? I still can't figure out why free speech isn't important anymore. 

Wow - Shi team wants your children to reach new heights in education - tough to do when you don't even have enough classrooms!?!

 Well, this is interesting from Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi's Edison First ticket for the Education Board of Education on November 3rd. 

Just as an aside, kind of found it humorous that Shi thinks being tucked behind Ginny White on their Local Dem-party ticket 'White, Shi and Patel' will help him hide from his dubious record. Everybody loves Ginny White and so do I but it can't hide his dubious performance and inept leadership of the board.

But I digress, so let's move on. 

So, I saw this campaign ad put up by Ginny on one of the local social networking pages:

I'm glad to see they support the STEM Program and they want your children to reach new heights in education.

But Seriously?

Not for nothing but it's hard to reach new heights in education with this team when under Shi's inept leadership they wasted two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars and we don't even have enough classrooms for them now.

Good luck with that fairytale while ignoring the elephant in the room.

Here's my STEM acronym:

STEM

Shi

Team

Enormous

Mistake

Anyhoo, remember to bypass this Local Dem-party ticket when you vote (whether you recognize it or not, just like Shi's Ridiculous $189.5m twice-failed Bond Referendum) this team will result in 

                           Too Much of Financial Burden for Too Little a Solution.

Good to see Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi is committed to a Resident-Friendly School District in this election cycle!?!

Well, it is campaign time for the November 3rd BoE elections and after you Stop Laughing about him being Resident-friendly, guess he's entitled to his own opinion.

But just for the heck of it, here's another opinion on that subject from one of the residents from the June 18, 2018 Board of Ed meeting:

You should check out that meeting in it's entirety and you'll get a good feel about what resident-friendly means to Señor Shi.

Oh yeah, let's not forget about being open and honest. Do you think they were trying to give the impression that the Edison School District was endorsing their ticket over all others in the race when they used the School District Logo on one of their campaign flyers? 

That's a Tad Bit Not Nice.

Remember that as you start to vote early.

Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that wasting two years and failing to address and fix the Overcrowding problem hasn't hurt us with this Pandemic.

Top 10 Bumper Stickers for Shi's Re-election Campaign - Paid for by 'Vote 4 Me for Forced Retirement'

10. Vote 4 Me I'm Jerry Shi - that's all I got!

9. Vote 4 Shi - he put the 'DUMB' in Referendum!

8. Vote 4 Shi - his School District Logo underwear is waiting approval!

7. Vote 4 Shi - he will continue to ignore you!

6. Vote 4 Shi - he's working on his Shi-shed 3.0!

5. Vote 4 Shi - he'll continue to Save you Millions - even if you can't see it!

4. Vote 4 Shi - he'll let the Local Dem-party pick your teachers!

3. Vote 4 Shi - he'll respect any opinion as long as it's his!

2. Vote 4 Shi - he will always put the 'i' in Team!

1. Run Shi Run! (on Shi's rear bumper, on Moroney's front bumper)

Bet you're glad there's no Campaigning at the Board of Ed Meetings

If you watched last night's Board of Ed Meeting, you just had to get a kick out of Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi's last minute amateur political performance. Can this guy be anymore desperate in his attempt to garner support for his 'Vote 4 Me for Forced Retirement' ticket?

Apparently, he now wants to take some $6 million out of the Capital Reserve earmarked for Lincoln School and give it back to the taxpayers if it can't be used by June 30th.

Wow..what a Guy - a guy who never gave anything back to the taxpayers under his inept leadership, tried to triple your current year's school tax increase for the next 30 years with that idiotic twice rejected school bond referendum a few months ago - and let's not forget what a dismal failure he was wasting two years mishandling the Overcrowding - further complicating the ability for the school district to deal with the Pandemic.

Yeah, he wants to give back to the poor Edison Residents. Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it.

But wait, it gets better. Seems Mr. Shi-shed got called out by one of the resident parents (also a current BoE candidate) for trying to take money away from Lincoln School when the place is a disaster in waiting and has been for a long time. 

Clearly, she nailed it and called him out on his audacity - a purely amateur and futile attempt by Mr. Shi to try and pander to the Edison Residents with a short time left before the election. 

Acknowledging that you're not supposed to campaign in the Board Meeting, Mr. Shi said that since it was brought up, he could respond. 

And his response, he reiterated his 0% tax increase pledge and said he has the team to do it and he'll fix Lincoln School first.

Well, ok - here's his Dem-party ticket team making the same promise that the Local Dems did on the Muni-side of town - and you can see how that worked out:

And let's not forget his "Edison First' team:

Yeah, he's gonna fix things he didn't fix when he had the chance to but he promises to fix them next time. That's a Hoot!

Anyhoo, kudos to Maria Wise for stepping up to the plate and hitting a home run.

Yeah, what you want to hear from any Edison School Board Member - much less the Board President!?!

Well, seems Jerry 'ReferenDUMB' Shi is using snippets from old past Board Meetings in his campaign literature seeking re-election in the November School Board elections. 

Saw this one from the June 18, 2018 School Board Action Meeting. It's a snippet of one of his responses, in this case, on his plan to hire a permanent superintendent.

I encourage you to watch that meeting in it's entirety to see how Mr. Shi deals with other Board Members and the Public at that meeting.

Anyhoo, it's good to see how Mr. Shi deals with differing opinions on a 9-Member Board.

Really, with the Stench Still Hanging over this town - they want to pretend Nothing Happened?!?!

After 3 years and the 'Committee of the Hole' still in search of themselves with the 2017 Racist Flyer, they must think you forgot - since they got this 'Edison First Team' for the Edison BoE. 

A team led by, none other than, Jerry 'Referen-DUMB' Shi whose Inept Leadership of the Board (that wasted two years and failed miserably to address and correct the Overcrowding) makes him a perfect tool for the Local Dem-Party's attempt to control the Board.

Don't be fooled again. They're counting on you to forget what happened last time. 

You know, the Means justify the End - and they're hoping you forgot the Means.

And you thought moving the School Board elections to November and giving up your right to vote on Bloated and Out-of-Control School $pending Budgets was a good thing.

Anyhoo, Remember on November 3rd to Vote Shi and his Dem-Party buddies into Forced Retirement.

Edison First Team's Jerry 'ShiReferen-DUMB' Shi and his futile attempt at self aggrandizing!?!

Well, Watched this Edison First Team video on their website here video.mp4. 

It's a clip that comes from a Board of Ed Action Meeting on March 19, 2018. Seems it's a snippet of Jerry Shi talking about vendors and special interests. 

That's nice but, but like anything else, context is important. Here's the March 19, 2018 Action Meeting starting from 1:39:35. 

See if the context makes his snippet of himself a tad bit self-serving and a little too one-sided.

Of course, you should watch that whole meeting since you'll get a better feel about Mr. Shi's ability to work with the public and other Board Members. 

And to think he's concerned with special interests:

If his stated purpose was to save taxpayers money - don't forget to check and see where all that savings he claims went to - it certainly didn't show up as a reduction in your school tax bill, which is the only way you would of had a savings.

Anyhoo, make sure you Vote 4 Jerry Shi for Forced Retirement on November 3rd.

Christo Makropoulos - Edison Board of Education Candidate - November 2020

In response to the 3 simple questions I asked of the Edison Board of Ed Candidates (who wish to respond) - here's Christo Makropoulos: 

You're Kidding me, Right? Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferen-DUMB-er' Bragen wants a Contract Extension?!?

Geez, I always thought the Board of Mythomania, over there on Mythomania Lane at the junction of Delusional & Dysfunctional Streets was out of control but now this? A contract extension now for someone who has only been there less than 10 months?

They called a Public Meeting on October 15, 2020. They want to extend Bragen's contract from 3 1/2 year's to 5 years when the guy hasn't been there long enough to find all the bathrooms.

His contract (you can see it in the November 26, 2019 post in this blog) runs from December 9, 2019 to June 30, 2023. It includes a salary of $245,000 plus minimum 2% annual salary increases and the other usual perks.

Seriously, haven't we learned our lessons with their inept handling of Superintendents' contracts with O'Malley & Toth (see September 4, 2017 post or just search O'Malley Contracts)?

And, what's the rush to do this. They guy's been there less than 10 months and it is yet to determined if he isn't just another mistake by the Board. 

Further, with an election in a couple of months, shouldn't we wait for the new Board (with possibly 3 new members) to have a say in any such change. It's not like he's at the end of his 3 1/2 years and is looking for an extension. It seems more like Shi trying to protect his ShiReferenDUMB-er buddy in case he's goes the way of Forced Retirement on November 3rd.

Good to see though that they have the time for this nonsense of committing us further for a yet to be proven Superintendent but still haven't put out the Contracts for the ETEA & EFMMA and the numbers which show what they already committed us to for the next 3 and 5 years, respectively.

Anyhoo, Barf!! Wake-up people, that place is totally out of control.

It's the 'Silly Season' here in 'Downtown Edison' and what better way to start off than with Something Silly?!?

Well, it's that time of year again - otherwise known as the Silly Season. You know, where all the campaign flyers and literature start showing up with all their grandiose statements of accomplishments and promises for more of the same, if re-elected.

Of particular note today, the 'Edison First Team' for the BoE this November lead by none other than Jerry 'Referen-DUMB' Shi. You remember him - the guy who couldn't be bothered engaging in dialogue about what he's doing with people who don't agree with him.

Well, let's start with his claim of $aving the Edison Taxpayers Millions:

Apparently, he doesn't understand how a Taxpayer Savings is calculated or more likely, hoping you don't understand. 

But hey, he doesn't understand a lot of things.

But wait it gets funnier. Next up will be their promise of '0% School tax increase', if elected. Something he never did under his inept leadership but hey, he promises to do it next time.

Now, not to be skeptical but do you really think he voted No for the last Bloated & Out-of-Control $pending School Budget (approaching $300 million) because he was concerned about the high tax increase on the poor Edison taxpayers during a Pandemic? Just look at what he tried to do with your taxes with the $189.5 million Shi-Shed a few months ago.

Better guess, he voted No because he was up for re-election and it didn't matter anyway. They had the votes to pass it.

Anyhoo, Silence is accepting the unacceptable - and another term for Mr. Shi on the Edison BoE is unacceptable.

Shi's 'Edison First Team's' 0% tax increase v. EDO's 0% tax increase - See what's going on here?

Wow..what a coincidence. The Local Dems want a 0% tax increase and so does Jerry 'Referen-DUMB-er' Shi. Gee, i wonder where he's taking advice from these days?!?

Sure looks like it's deja vu all over again!

Seriously, I'm only showing the EDO's ticket for the School Board in November here since Shi's team put their 0% Campaign flyer above on one of the town's social networking pages.

I guess they didn't like the comparison  made above or the other citizen's comments, and wouldn't you know it, their 0% Campaign flyer mysteriously disappeared from that page.

Guess they'll only be a 0% tax increase as long as no one challenges what they're saying or points out the obvious elephant in the room.

Something how that works, isn't it? I guess it's the Shi way.

Anyhoo, this guy was a dismal failure on the Board and Wasted 2 years with his Inept Leadership and now we're all dealing with his inability to properly address and fix the Overcrowding. 

The only Vote you should give this guy on November 3rd is a Vote into FORCED RETIREMENT.

Well, Edison Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferen-DUMB-er' Bragen finally got around to Shi's use of the District Logo

Seems 'the flyer in question has been altered to not include the Edison School District Logo. Consequently, the question is moot.'

Seriously, the question is moot?!?

This guy's unreal but at least as far as he knows it was taken off.

Here, read all the correspondence on this including his sophomoric response. You wonder why I think this guy was a $245k Mistake?

Anyhoo, it's important that everyone pay attention to what goes on over there on Mythomania Lane - because somebody needs to.

Geez, is it really such a difficult question?

While I await a response from the Edison School District Administration about Jerry Shi and his 'Edison First Teams' use of the School District Logo in a campaign flyer, ask yourself this question; 

Should the Edison School District allow the appearance that it supports one candidate or team over another candidate or team in the upcoming BoE election on November 3rd? 

I don't think so but would be nice to know where the School District stands on this.

Anyhoo, let's hope we find out where they stand, one way or the other, before the November 3rd BoE election.