For those Voting the Local Dem-party Line on June 10th

 Well, just a thought for those who will be Voting the Local Dem-party line in the June 10th Edison Primary.

For those Voting in the June 10th Dem-Primary here in Edison and have no issues with the Dem-party long-time stranglehold on this town and continue to Vote the Dem-Party line - Please Do Not Vote for Joshi for Your sake and for His. He could never survive in the big-boy political world outside his protective bubble. Even fellow JPS graduate Fulop (who swore him in and plays in the big-boy political world) won’t endorse him.

As much of a Malleable Marionette he may be for the ‘Powers that be,’ he has clearly turned Edison and it’s Local Governance into a National Embarrassment while living in a protective bubble that shuts-down the Residents by disenfranchising the Residents with the antics of his ‘Pocket Council,’ and impeding or blocking OPRA Requests questioning his wasteful spending by implementing a Gatekeeper.

Because he is so unqualified, inexperienced and immature for the position he holds, he may be a good ‘tool’ for the ‘Powers that be’ to mis-spend your money, but he is more interested in a political career by doing what the ‘Powers the be’ want than what You want.

This guy is far and away the Most unqualified person (and worst decision for Mayor the ‘Powers that be’ have ever inflicted on this town) to ever hold the office in this politically-corrupt town. This guy was never ready for prime time.

Anyhoo, Please Don't Vote for Him - Vote for Yourself and Our Good Town.

Apparently, 'Bubble-boy' has a Condition that will Prevent him from Presenting his $175.5m Muni-budget tonight

 Well, take it that Rigging his Budget Presentation last year to avoid it being Vetted (by those Council members who were doing their job for us) wasn't enough to avoid him looking like an incompetent buffoon - so this year he just won't show up at all to explain and answer questions about his policies, plans, spending and future of the town in this budget. 

Guess he thinks those things are best explained by the BA and Finance Guy. That's a Big DUH and just Silly! How could they possibly describe the rationale why decisions by the Mayor to go one way versus another. Only the Mayor could answer those type of queries by the Council.

Just shows the lengths this guy will go to when you have a 'Pocket Council' that does His bidding and Not the Vetting of the Budget, which is Your bidding. 

To my friend, Councilman Joe 'the Florist' Coyle, aka Mayor of Clara Barton, Joe 180 and Poster-Child for Wards - it's Not the Council's budget - it's the Mayor's Budget that You, as part of the Checks & Balances (and I use that term sarcastically) that is Responsible for Vetting what he has introduced, before deciding to Adopt it as is or change the Mayor's budget.

So, when you hear his 'Pocket Council' describe how great his budget is, remember most of them probably don't even know how to read the budget much less understand what's in it - and if they want to give 'Bubble-boy' credit for something; here's his 2 Greatest Accomplishments, (1) he Turned Edison into a National Embarrassment and, (2) Edison is Now the Permanent Home of the 2017 Racist Flyer.

Anyhoo, the 'Bubble-boys' an Embarrassment and a Stain on the town. Too immature, incompetent and lacks any trustworthiness and has a disconcerting child-ish anomoly with the truth for the position he holds - and it shows with things like this childish-move.

Welcome to the Dem-party Machine Club Rob 'Boo-hoo' Kentos

 Well, so much for Rob 'Boo-hoo' Kentos phony complaining about 'Bubble-boy' and his administration at Council Meetings. Just another in a long-line of sell-outs just to get what he wants and Not what's needed in this politically-corrupt town.

Anyhoo, on June 10th - you should treat Kentos the same way you should treat this inept 'Bubble-boy' and that's to Just Say No. You'll surely regret it if you don't.

Bubble-boy Refusing to Show-up and Present his own $175.5 million Budget for 2025 - he's afraid he'll be seen for what he is - Unqualified.

Childishly Refusing to show-up and answer Council questions about his Ridiculous $175.5 million 2025 Muni-Budget proves ‘Bubble-boys’ puppet-masters know one thing; it’s better to not let him try and answer questions about the budget and let people just think he’s an incompetent buffoon than to let him try and answer questions and prove it.

You see, it's his budget, his policies, his plans and his spending - Not the Council's budget. It's their job to vet it to make sure it best serves the People of Edison. 

The Mayor is the only one who can answer Council questions about his policies, plans and spending when taking one direction versus another in his budget. That's how you vet a budget to make sure it makes sense - and since this Mayor has an anomoly with the truth, it makes more sense that he show up and explain his budget.

But hey, who better to answer questions about the Mayor’s policies, plans, spending and the town’s future than those assigned to show-up - the BA and Finance guy.

DUH!

This is just an excuse by 'Bubble-boy' to avoid having to answer any questions about his inept stewardship that comes with no substance and a lot of lies. This guy's Kryptonite is the Truth and his puppet-masters will never allow him to be in front of an audience who will challenge his competence and inept stewardship.

And if you haven't been out of town for the last 3+ years, his two Greatest accomplishments of his inept stewardship are (1) turning Edison into a National Embarrassment and, (2) Leaving Edison as the Permanent Home of the 2017 Racist Flyer.

Anyhoo, if he doesn't show up to Present his Ridiculous $175.5 million Budget, then you need to kick him to the curb on June 10th - you can't have a Mayor that works so hard to disenfranchise his own citizens from querying and scrutinizing his dismal record just for his own fairytale thoughts at a political career.

Five demonstrable facts about Edison Local Governance

 Five demonstrable facts about Local Governance under the Last Four Years of the Joshi Administration:

• Residents have been impeded and or blocked from any Public Inquiry and Scrutiny of the Administration both at Council meetings, with the inexcusable antics of his 'Pocket Council' and by blocking Official Council Communications from being entered into the record as well as adding a Gatekeeper to impede or delay OPRA Requests.
• The People of Edison had to Sit by and Watch their Good Town being Turned into a National Embarrassment.
• An inept and embarrassing Mayoral performance which arguably lacks maturity, experience, honesty, integrity, principals, credibility, truthfulness, political acumen and transparency.
• Turned the town into a massive amount of Ridiculous & Wasteful Spending, warehouse expansion, and uncontrolled approvals of undersized lots and oversized houses, impossible truck traffic, adding to the school overcrowding and without properly addressing major infrastructure problems - and he did all this and Still Raised the Muni taxes by Some 7.4%, more than Doubled the Township Debt Yet only Raised the Ratables by a Ridiculously Low 2.6%. 

• Clearly, he has no idea what he is doing but, to his credit, he is very good at it.

Anyhoo, this guy needs to be Voted into Forced Retirement on June 10th - enough is enough of this Stench Hanging over the Town.

Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi Won't be Presenting his Ridiculous $175.5 million Muni Budget for 2025 before the Council

Well, looks like 'Bubble-boy's' bailing out on his own 2025 Muni-Budget and Not Making a Presentation before the Council when it comes up for adoption. 

He apparently doesn't have the nerve to answer Council questions about what's in his own budget and why and will leave it up to others to answer questions.

I get this is an election year but you'd think if his budget is so good then he should be able to convince the Council and Public by sitting there and answering questions.

He only plans to put out a Silly video where he can say whatever he wants and you don't get to comment on all the nonsense he spews.

This is even a new low for this guy. If you remember last year's budget presentation, even though he had the 'Pocket-Council' votes for the budget to pass, he still Rigged the Budget Presentation to limit exposure of his incompetence. 

They moved the Budget Presentation to one hour before a Council Work Session (from a date which was solely for his presentation), didn't give Council Members the budget books to properly vet this budget until the day of the meeting and then only gave Council Members 5-minutes each to ask questions.

His video is already on the website and you can see it there.

Never have I seen someone so disrespectful to the People of Edison but, then again, never have I seen such an incompetent Mayor as he.

Anyhoo, if this doesn't tell you to vote this immature, incompetent buffoon out of office on June 10th, then you'll believe anything that comes out of his disingenuous mouth and you'll continue to make a mockery of this town.

Edison Board of Mythomania's $378.2M FY 26 School Budget Passes - that's a 'Big Duh!'

Well, looks like Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man got one of his 4 P's in a Pod to show up last night to get the 5 votes needed to Pass this Bloated, Out-of-Control $pending School Budget, which is just another in a long line of pissing away money and failing to properly address the Biggest Problem facing the School District. We Need a New School.

The Vote was Yes 5, No 3, Absent 1.

Yes - Shi, Peng, Errico, A.Patel, R. Patel

No - Lugo, Romano White

Absent - V. Patel

 

Unfortunately, most of these Board Members obviously don't even understand how these School budgets are put together, what's in and not in these School Budgets and as soon as the state aid money runs out (and it will), they will be faced with an unpleasant reality for their lack of understanding, foresight and failures that will be forced onto the backs of the Residents & Taxpayers.

Here's the May 6, 2025 School Board Meeting:

Anyhoo, there are two undeniable facts in this politically-corrupt town - the town has been taken over by the County and We Need a New School. Neither of which will change, and it will cost you dearly, until you do something about the inept Oversight on both sides of town.

School Board President Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi proves, once again, he should of never been allowed back on the Board - Much Less be Board President

 Well, saw something yesterday on 'Edison Township Forum' FaceBook Group page that was quite disconcerting.

Seems Mr. Shi took his disagreement with the 'No' Votes of Board Members Lugo & Romano on the recently failed FY 26 School Budget to a FaceBook Group page. Take it he was writing for himself as Jerry Shi and not as President of the School Board, although there was no disclosure statement to that effect.

But who he was writing as isn't my concern here. Seems to me that any disagreement between Board Members should have been dealt with at the April 29th Board Meeting or in closed session of that meeting.

Who takes their disagreement with fellow Board Members on a Board Vote to a FaceBook Group page?

Chastising two sitting Board Members on a public FaceBook page for Not Voting 'Yes' on the School Budget isn't the correct or fair way of dealing with this disagreement.

What kind of message does that send to other Board members who don't agree with Mr. Shi at Board Meetings?

Are you going to be called out on some public platform by Mr. Shi because you dare to have a different opinion on a Board matter and don't vote the way he thinks you should vote?

As elected officials, the Board Members Represent the People of Edison and are expected to vote for what they believe is best, Not for what Mr. Shi wants or thinks is best.

Seems to me that the Board Members should consider if this is the type of Leadership they want to be Representing the Edison Board of Education going forward. Clearly, I don't think it's the type of School Board Leadership that should be out front Representing the School District.

Not for nothing but the Board members should consider changing the Board Leadership by having Mr. Shi step-aside as Board President and allow some other Board Member to take control of the Board.

Clearly, with this kind of inept and dictatorial Leadership, it's only going to get worse if the School Board does nothing about Mr. Shi.

Be that as it may, Mr. Shi at least owes an apology to Board members Lugo & Romano.

Here's his unfortunate post:

Anyhoo, you get what you vote for, and in this case, it's deja vu all over again with Mr. Shi's inept and dictatorial Leadership.

Th Look on Your Face when You don't have all your P's in a Pod - and the $378.2m Bloated, Out-of-Control $pending FY 26 School Budget Fails

                                   Priceless

Vote - 4 Yes, 2 No, 1 Abstain, 2 Absent. Apparently, you need a majority of the Board (5) whether present or not.

Yes - Mr. Priceless, R. Patel, V. Patel, R. Errico

No - J. Romano, C. Lugo

Abstain - V. White

Absent - S. Peng, A. Patel

Anyhoo, off to a good start over there on Mythomania Lane under the inept & dictatorial leadership of Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man.

Another Bloated School Budget, Another Year of Mis-$pending Keeping the School District from Moving Forward

 Well, just a Reminder that the FY 26 School Budget is up for Board Approval on Tuesday. 

Not that anyone's thoughts or concerns are important or matter under the unfortunate inept leadership of Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man, they already have the County Super's Approval before you even get a chance to see it - which is all they need to pass it. 

In summary again, this Preliminary Budget has appropriations of $378.2 million, which is up $10.9 million (offset by $10.9 million in other revenue) - leaving the School Tax levy the same as last year at $235.0 million.

The School tax rate built into this School Budget is 3.139. Unfortunately, this reduction in the School tax rate of 2.7-cents (over last year's 3.166) is solely due to the increase in the Ratables of $62.9 million - they kept the School tax levy the same as last year.

No $pending Reductions that affect Your School tax rate. So, when they tell you they kept the School tax Rate Flat again, you now know how - and is wasn't due to any reductions they made in their Ridiculous $pending. School Budgets that fail to show you or at least disclose to you what changed for 7 months of last year's Budget including staffing & benefits, which represents over half the total appropriations. 

When you look at the changes from the FY 25 'Revised Budget' in the Proposed FY 26 Budget, they're not comparing it to last year's Original FY 25 Budget. That's because they update last year's budget to actuals on Feb 1st. That should concern you since those 7 months (July 1 to Jan 31) becomes the breeding ground for the 'Staffing Shell Game' where they can hire non-budgeted positions and never disclose it to you while asking for new positions in the current budget.

Just another Bloated, Out-of-Control $pending Budget that continues to piss away all that State Aid money ($342.9 million over the last 5 years) with these piecemeal projects, some of which get around voter approval needed for capital additions and come with no state aid with these Lease-purchase agreements and that won't solve the Biggest Problem facing the School District.

We Need a New School.

Anyhoo, this is just another in a long-line of Bloated, Out-of-Control $pending School Budgets which is where the bulk of your property tax dollars go to get wasted -  and, you should be concerned what's going to happen when all that State Aid Money Stops coming in - and it will.

Edison School Districts $378.2 million Preliminary School Budget 2025-26

 Well, just received this County Super Approved $378.2 million Fiscal Year School Budget for 2025-26.

This Preliminary Budget has appropriations of $378.2 million, which is up $10.9 million (offset by $10.9 million in other revenue) - leaving the School Tax levy the same as last year at $235.0 million.

The School tax rate built into this School Budget is 3.139. Unfortunately, this reduction in the School tax rate of 2.7-cents (over last year's 3.166) is solely due to the increase in the Ratables of $62.9 million - they kept the School tax levy the same as last year.

No $pending Reductions that affect Your School tax rate. So, when they tell you they kept the School tax Rate Flat again, you now know how - and is wasn't due to any reductions they made in their Ridiculous $pending.

Just another Bloated, Out-of-Control $pending Budget that continues to piss away all that State Aid money ($342.9 million over the last 5 years) with these piecemeal projects that won't solve the Biggest Problem facing the School District - we need a New School.

You can see what this School Budget does to Your School taxes in the March 19, 2025 post.

Just some things you need to understand about School Budgets:

• They are prepared on a Fiscal Year Basis (July 1 to June 30)
• They are prepared by the Administration, Reviewed by their Finance Committee and Voted on by the Board to send down to the County Super for approval. You can't see the budget until after it's approved by the County Super and even when the Board puts the Budget up for a vote, it really doesn't matter what the Public thinks, all they need is the County Super's approval.
• They are required to update their Original Budgets on February 1st for actuals. So, when they're comparing the 2025-26 Budget to the 'Revised 2024-25 Budget, they're not comparing it to the Original 2024-25 Budget. By updating to February 1st, you don't get to see what happened or any of the activity that occurred between July 1 and January 31st in these budgets. All that activity is not disclosed to you and any non-budgeted new employees hired, you never see.
• Property taxes are prepared on a Calendar Year Basis so all they do to convert their Fiscal School tax levy is to take half of last years fiscal year school tax levy and half of this years fiscal school tax levy.
• These School Budgets have Salary & Benefits that far exceed half the appropriations yet they fail to show any headcount schedule by position. Last salary file I saw in January 2025, there were some 2,400 employees. Impossible to understand how they can fail to show the employees by position that go along with and whether it supports the salary dollars they're budgeting.
• This School Budget is up for Board approval on April 29, 2025. Once they approve it, they will post the 'User Friendly Budget' (which is not so user-friendly) up on their website. That posting is just a small amount of the full budget and detail they send down to the County Super for approval.

Here's what they sent down for County Super approval - it shows Revenue & Appropriations, Recap of Balances, Capital Projects, Cap Bank calculations, and Employee List and Benefits for the Contracted Employees among other things:

Anyhoo, this is just another in a long-line of Bloated, Out-of-Control $pending School Budgets and you should be concerned what's going to happen when all that State Aid Money Stops coming in - and it will.

Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi's Campaign Kryptonite - the Truth about his Record

Well, there are many words you can use to describe this character's dismal, inept and embarrassing Mayoral performance and one is that he lacks Character but there are others he lacks - maturity, experience, honesty, integrity, principles, credibility, trustworthiness, political leadership/acumen and transparency to name a few.

Just to update your calendar during this 2025 Campaign season - his next scheduled campaign flyer, photo-op, speech etc. where he'll actually tell the truth is on the 1st of Neveruary. 

Not for nothing but his Day-care provider (the guy who promised he wouldn't rest until he got to the bottom of that 2017 Racist Flyer and who is now his Chief of Staff) would of have at least taught him how to tone down his Outright Lies by telling Half-truths or better yet being Truthful but Misleading.

Seriously, haven’t you seen enough of the ridiculous spending, lack of transparency and his 'Pocket Council' which have made a mockery and embarrassment of this town? 

This town needs a Mayor who represents the People of Edison, Not a hand-picked and unqualified political neophyte who sold out the People of Edison for a chance to climb up the politically corrupt Dem-party ladder.

For the benefit of the People of this town, Recognize and Correct a Big Mistake on June 10th.

Anyhoo, recognize the Real Kryptonite to his 2025 Campaign for another 4 years isn't his Dem-party 'Gutter-politics' Campaign but the Truth about his Record of last 3 years of an Inept and Incompetent Stewardship.

When they Can't Defend 'Bubble-boys' Dismal & Embarrassing Mayoral Record of Performance, they switch to the only mode they have - the 'Gutter Politics' Mode

Well, if your Inept Stewardship has turned this town into the mockery and embarrassment it has become, then you really can't run on your record. 

Hence, typical Dem-party campaign strategy - blame onto others for the problems you caused, in spite of the truth.

Clearly, this guy is too inexperienced, too immature and too untrustworthy to be in the position he holds, no matter how hard they try and hide him in a protective bubble.

This guy sold out the People of Edison for a chance to climb-up the politically corrupt Dem-party ladder and you should recognize that after 3-years of unbelievable incompetence, disruption and chaos, it's time for him to be voted out of office.

Pretty funny though when Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi accuses someone else of lying.

Anyhoo, don't be fooled by garbage campaigning, recognize those who should be scared about their record are running scared and it's not about doing what's best for you they're worried about.

Looks like Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi has a slight adjustment to the Muni-tax increase in his $175.5m Introduced Budget for 2025

You gotta like election year budgets gamesmanship. First you Introduce the Budget with one tax rate increase, then you wait until the last minute to increase it further by Raising the Cap Limits. 

On tonight's agenda is Ordinance O.2247-2025 - an Ordinance to Exceed the Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits and to Establish a Cap Bank.

This Ordinance is asking that the 2.5% cap limit be increased to 3.5%, which increases it by $1,493,624 to $5,227,684 for CY 2025.

The already Introduced $175.5m Muni-budget came in within the 2.5% Cap with a tax rate of 1.491, which was up 1.4-cents over last years 1.477 or .95%.

Looks like the Ridiculous Overspending is catching up with them and time for You to Pay for it.

Don't know how much of this $1,493,624 is going to be added to the 2025 Budget Appropriations or how much will be carried over for the next two years but if this extra $1,493,624 is all added into the 2025 CY Muni-budget, it will add another 2.1-cents to the 1.4-cents in the Introduced Budget for a total of 3.5-cents and increase the Muni tax-rate to 1.512, which increases the Muni tax increase to 2.37% over last years 1.477.

Who knows what they're planning to do but you'll know when the 2025 Muni-Budget comes up before his 'Pocket-Council' for Adoption.

Anyhoo, what do you call it when you're told your tax increase will be one thing but you end up getting another?

Edison Property tax rates & changes by taxing entity - Last 4 Years under Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi

Well, pending the Council's adoption of the 2025 $175.5 million Muni-budget, here's the Property tax rates and changes by taxing entity over the last 4 years:

• Total Municipal Related taxes up 13.1-cents or 7.8%
• Total County taxes up 1.4-cents or 1.4%
• School taxes down (8.9-cents) or (2.8%)

 

Here's the 2025 Change in Property tax rates by taxing entity (pending Council adoption of the 2025 Muni-budget):

Here's the 12-Year History of Property taxes and changes by taxing entity:

Anyhoo, just so you know where your Property taxes are coming from and Who to thank when you get your tax bills.

NJ School Performance Report

 Just saw this Summary of the Edison School District on the NJ Doe site. Please check the website for more details.

Anyhoo, good information. 

Top 10 Primary Election Bumper Stickers for Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi, aka Mr. Shrink-flation, Big-boy Pants, the Weathervane Millennial, the Malleable Marionette, the Event Planner, Sam the Flim-flam Man, the Emperor has No Clothes, the Debt-a-Nator, Mr. Swiper, Bubble-boy and One-termer

Wow..that's a Big Heading for a Top 10 List but, hey, it's a dozen reasons questioning why you would want 4 more years of this nonsense.

10. Vote 4 Sam - EdiSPAM I am, that's all I got. #OneAndDone.

9. Vote 4 Sam - Inexperience & Immaturity has brought us the National Embarrassment we enjoy today.

8. Vote 4 Sam - he reminded Rob 'Boo-hoo' Kentos, just like he did with Coyle, of the Dem-party Mantra - You gotta Go Along to Get Along.

7. Vote 4 Sam - Sold out the People of Edison so he could climb-up Politically-corrupt Dem-party Ladder.

6. Vote 4 Sam - Hey, Diegnan & Karabinchak previously endorsed him, after they first endorsed Bhagia.

5. Vote 4 Sam - Got a Raise to $150k but still needs More money to buy his Big-boy pants.

4. Vote 4 Sam - He'll make it easy for You by Kicking Everyone Else Off the Ballot.

3. Vote 4 Sam - He's done much but there's More to Do to Embarrass the Town.

2. Vote 4 Sam - He needs more time to learn how to upgrade his Outright Lies to Half-truths or Truthful but Misleading. #LiesMadeLiesKept

1. Run Brescher Run - on Brescher's Rear Bumper, on Bubble-boy's Front Bumper.

What are you doing Rob 'Boo-hoo' Kentos?!?

 Well, here's something that should make you question what the heck is going on in this politically corrupt town.

Seems Rob 'Boo-hoo' Kentos is now on Mayor Sam 'Bubble-boy' Joshi's ticket, endorsing and campaigning with him for the Primary on June 10th.

Now, think about this for a second. 

Kentos, who I much respected for taking on the MCDO (after winning the EDO Screening but being removed from the ticket by the County Chair and Joshi in the last election) now is teaming up with Joshi.

Not for nothing but this guy was so offended by Joshi and his 'Pocket Council' that he went up to Council Meetings complaining about Joshi's administration and his 'Pocket Council.' 

How is it he's now running with 'Bubble-boy?' Makes you wonder what he had to agree with to stay on the ticket after winning this year's EDO's Screening.

What does that say about him and why would he expect anyone to now vote for him? Given, we live in a town where there are no political friends, no political enemies - just political opportunities but I would never vote for such a Chameleon.

What's it all about with "Boo-hoo?' Who is he really endorsing in this Campaign for Mayor - 'Bubble-boy' or Brescher? Can't see how either of them would trust him now.

Sadly, it sure looks like the only person he's endorsing is himself, just to get on the Council.

Anyhoo, you get what you vote for in this town - and we don't need 4 more years of 'Bubble-boy' or his latest replacement to his 'Pocket' Council.'

Where's the Democracy in the Democratic Party?

 Well, seems to be the Dem-party's modus operandi in this election cycle - eliminate the competition at all levels and protect the status quo.

Simply disgraceful but at least there are others out there who won't stay silent.

Way to Go Rob!

Anyhoo, when are you going to learn that their definition of 'Democracy' is Two Wolves and a Sheep taking a Majority Vote on What's for Dinner - Don't be a Sheep.

Board of Mythomania Action Meeting March 25, 2025 - back to the future with the inept & dictatorial leadership of Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi

 Well, just noticed the above-mentioned meeting of the Board of Mythomania, Board of Hoarders, Board of Dysfunction, Board of Ed-Dems, Board of Muck & Mire and now Board of Shi-bots.

Seems it didn't take long for us to return to the dictatorial inept leadership of Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man.

You can't say you weren't warned about letting this guy back on the Board - much less let him be President of the Board. He'll just keep the School District from moving forward - like he did with the previous 12-13 years he was there.

Here, watch this meeting and Reap What You Sow:

Anyhoo, you're never going to solve the Biggest Problem this School District has until you wake up and recognize - you need a new school and, Mr. Shi-shed and his Shi-bots aren't the team to properly address it.

Edison's Introduced $175.5 million 2025 Muni-budget - Total Muni tax rate of 1.586, up 1.8-cents over last year's 1.568

 Well, here's a summary of the 2025 Muni-budget introduced at the last Council meeting;

Here's a summary of the changes over last year's adopted Muni-budget (modified for transfers):

The Municipal tax levy is up $2,316,193 (3.12-cents) over last year offset by an increase in the Ratables (1.34-cents) of $62,899,400.

This brings the Local tax increases under Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi's 4 year reign of political disaster to 10.3-cents or 7.4%.

Anyhoo, what can you say other than it's an election year.

Edison School Board's Preliminary 2025-26 School Budget up for vote tomorrow night - to send to the County Super

Well, just saw the agenda for tomorrow night's meeting and the information they provided for approval by the Board to send the 2025-26 School Budget down to the County Super for approval (see below).

Unfortunately, we can't see the school budget until after it's approved by the County Super.

But with their notice and a copy of Last year's Budget and this year's Ratables we can tell some top level things about the School Budget for 2025-26 and the change from Last year.

This Preliminary Budget has appropriations of $378,167,002, which is up $10,863,586 (offset by $10,853,586 in other revenue) - leaving the School Tax Levy the same as last year at $235,013,168.

The School tax Rate built into this School Budget is 3.139. Unfortunately, this reduction in the School Tax Rate of 2.7-cents (over last year's 3.166) is solely due to the increase in the Ratables of $62,899,400 - they kept the $pending the same as last year. 

No $pending Reductions - Not good signs. 

If you live in that imaginary home assessed at $183,400, Your 2025 School taxes will be $5,757 and you'll see a whooping reduction in your School taxes of $49.

If you don't live in that imaginary home assessed at $183,400, just take your home's assessed value and divide it by 100. Then, take that number and multiply it by 3.139 and .027 to get your total School taxes for 2025 and School tax Reduction from Last year, respectively.

Here's their notice:

Here's the numbers:

Anyhoo, can't really see what's going on here until they release the School Budget once the County Super approves it but it sure looks like they'll be a lot of questions and have a lot of explaining to do with these numbers.

School Budgets are less than transparent as is but it's worse without effective Oversight

 Well, in case you didn't know, School Budgets are different. The way it works is the Administration puts together a preliminary budget and is reviewed by the School Board's Finance & Facility Committee who then brings it to the full Board for a vote. That is scheduled for March 20, 2025

But it's not a vote for You to see the proposed School Budget or have a say. It's a vote to send it down to the County Super for approval. Once approved by the County Super, it's then scheduled for a Public Meeting, which is scheduled for April 29, 2025. 

But that's just a formality since once approved by the County Super, it rarely matters what the Public thinks or has to say. There's more oddities and opaque structure of these School Budgets that will be made apparent again when they put out their 2025-26 School Budget.

So, it becomes critically important that we have Oversight with School Budgets now approaching some $400 million.

Unfortunately, we have Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man again in charge.

Anyhoo, you need to pay attention to what goes on over there on Pierson Ave., at the junction of Dysfunctional & Political Cesspool Streets. It's Your money and all that state aid money they're mis-spending and pissing away with their Bloated and Out-of-Control $pending Budgets, without properly addressing and solving the Overcrowding problem.

Transcript of Remarks from Edison Resident Joel Bassoff at the February 27, 2025 EDO screening session

 A Big Shout-out to Joel for telling it like it is.

Transcript of remarks to the Edison Democratic Organization screening session:

I’m Joel Bassoff, and I’m here because I’m angry and I need to vent.

· I’m angry that Sam Joshi is spending almost $12 million on the Sports Complex in Papaianni Park – a rectangle of artificial turf and a prefab steel building that was supposed to cost $5 million. Our full-time Mayor let the cost balloon to $12 million!

· I’m angry about the Silver Lake lawsuit. Sam Joshi spent almost $13 million for land that the next door property owner has a legal claim to. Our full-time Mayor testified under oath that reading the documents would have been, quote, “a complete waste of my time.” A waste of his time to find out what he was buying for $13 million of our money?!

· I’m angry that Sam Joshi brought an entourage of four police officers on a trip Chicago – at taxpayer expense!

· I’m angry that Sam Joshi gave a million dollar no-bid contract to an engineering firm – after the firm hired the Business Administrator’s husband.

· I’m angry about the water main breaks in South Edison. Our full-time Mayor had no plan to replace crumbling water infrastructure? Running water is about as basic as it gets.

· I’m angry that the Mayor held a campaign fundraiser at the Ray Catena dealership – while Ray Catena has a case in the Zoning Board to expand their parking lot into a residential neighborhood. How would you like it if a car dealer put a parking lot next to your house?

· I’m angry that Sam Joshi let Edison miss a crucial deadline for affordable housing. He’s opening up Edison to builders remedy lawsuits, which means that outside developers decide where to build their apartment complexes regardless of what’s best for the residents.

· I’m angry that Sam Joshi tried to take the library away from the Clara Barton neighborhood, and that he fired the Library trustees who stood up to him.

· I’m angry that Sam Joshi evicted the Arts Society from the Municipal Building so that he could turn the space into a shrine to himself.

· See this refrigerator magnet that says “Mayor Samip Joshi” in big letters? I’m angry that Sam Joshi uses taxpayer money to mail his campaign materials. I’m angry that we have to pay for campaign brochures like The Illuminator.  I say: Pay for your own campaign flyers with the money you got from Ray Catena.

· I’m angry that Edison is an international laughing-stock because Sam Joshi’s yes-man tossed a resident out of a Council meeting – for holding up an American flag!

You can cross my name off the ballot. I’m not running for anything. I just needed to vent.

I just want Edison Democrats to nominate candidates that we can be proud of.

Thank you for listening. Good night.

Anyhoo, we need more Joel's and less Joshi's in this politically-corrupt town. 

FY 2026 - NJ State School Aid K-12

 Well, just saw this on the NJDOE Website. Looks like Edison Received State Aid of $91,542,019, which is a reduction of $2,831,196 or 3% from LY's $94,373,215.

However, from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 this brings the total State Aid received by Edison to a Whopping $342,858,061 over the last 5 years - and they Still Haven't Solved the Overcrowding Problem.

FY 2026 State Aid by District:

FY 2026 State Aid Middlesex County:

Anyhoo, let's see how they use this money in this year's FY 2025-26 School Budget.

NJ DOE School Budget Calendar for 2025

 Well, the FY School Budget is due down to the County Super for approval by March 19, 2025 (although the Edison School District Calendar has their Preliminary Budget Approval scheduled for March 20, 2025).  The Edison School District Calendar has the Public Meeting on the School Budget scheduled for April 29, 2025.

It's interesting and tad bit disconcerting to note that Board President Jerry ' ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man has stacked the Finance & Facility Committee with his 'Shi-bots' - Vishal Patel (Chair), Ralph Errico (former Boe Member), Ronak Patel (newbie) and of course, himself. You'd be hard-pressed to find a voice of reason in this committee.

With School Budgets now approaching some $400 million, staffing being the significant portion of the budget, lease-purchase agreements that come without state aid and bypass voter approval for capital additions and piecemeal capital projects pissing all that state-aid money away (some $251 million over the last 4 years, which will surely dry up soon) while not properly addressing the Overcrowding problem, there's not much to say about Oversight from this 'Shi-bot' Finance Committee other than you better pay attention to what the dictatorial Mr. Shi-shed does or doesn't do with his minions.

Here's the above mentioned NJ DOE School Budget Calendar:

Here's the School District School Calendar:

Anyhoo,  just a heads-up to Start paying attention since the School Tax (3.166 Per 100 in 2024) represents over 53% of your total property tax bill and it's where the bulk of your tax money goes to be mis-spent and wasted.

Back to the Future in 2025 with the inept and ineffective & dictatorial Leadership of Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed, Mr. Pac-Man

 Well, you get what you deserve in this politically-corrupt town. This guy should never have been voted back on the Board and never allowed anywhere near the Board President position again. With School Budgets approaching some $400 million, piece-meal capital projects wasting time and money (while not solving the Overcrowding problem) you can believe this mistake will continue keeping the School District from moving forward.

Here's the Edison Board of Mythomania, Board of Ed-Dems, Board of Hoarders, Board of Dysfunction and now Board of Muck & Mire Meeting - January 16, 2025:

Anyhoo, pay attention to what goes on over there on Mythomania Lane - it's where the bulk of your tax dollars go to be mis-spent and wasted.

Edison Principals & Supervisors Contract (July 2021 to June 2025) Recently Renegotiated and not yet settled or Approved by the School Board

 Well, it's my understanding that the current Principals & Supervisors Contract has been Renegotiated and not yet settled or approved by the School Board.

A soon as possible when they settle and release it will get the financial cost of this new contract along with the new contract and all the non-financial changes.

Here's a summary of the number employees, salary amounts and salary breakdown in the latest salary file:

Here's the existing Principals & Supervisors Contract:

Anyhoo, hopefully this will come up for a School Board vote soon and they can tell us what this new contract will cost for public query and comments before the School Board votes.