Full-time, Part-time - just hissy-fit time!?!

True to the on-going, yet tad bit embarrassing, dysfunctional internal Dem Party struggle for power and control in Downtown Edison, up pops newly anointed Council President Bob ‘See No Conflict’ Diehl with the latest and greatest, yet humorously self-serving, power grab. 

This time it’s to change the mayoral position from full-time to a part-time. Seems the Council is concerned that it’s way too much of a restriction on the mayoral candidate pool! So, he wants to now change the law and he says that it will be done by unanimous vote at the next council meeting come January 24, 2013. Hey, I’ll bet it will!

Really? It’s too much of a restriction on the candidate pool? This from a guy who knows full well how the candidate process works in the Local Dem Party and how the pecking order works! Simple truth is no one on the Council can run for mayor under the existing law and that puts a kink in the pecking order of this one-party town. 

Do you really think that if they change this position back to part-time, you can just walk into the local Dem Party headquarters and you’ll be picked to run for mayor? Good luck with that ‘open pool of candidates’ if you think this opens up the process for you.

It’s just silly - they’re all in a hissy-fit because no one on the Council can run for mayor and all that campaign money the EDO has won’t help them very much if you eliminate their position from the pecking order section of the recycle bin.

Now, come on, this is funny. They're going to change the law so any or all of us can run for mayor! Isn't that nice of them? Are you laughing yet?

“It probably does seem self-serving.." so says Bob 'See No Conflict' Diehl. Uh.. you think? In lieu of term limits, this law is the best way to keep anyone on the Council from running and perpetuating the one-party stronghold in Downtown Edison. Hmm..looks like it’s already working – Bob ‘See No Conflict’ Diehl says he’s not running and Rob ‘March on Trenton’ Karabinchak says he's 'Marching on  Trenton' and making a run for the state assembly.

Anyhoo, it's all blah..blah politics, going back to Jun 'RforMe' Choi, and it's all stacked against the residents. This is a one-party town that controls who gets to run and wins. You don’t get to pick anyone – all you get to do is vote (or not-it doesn’t matter) for their choice. 

Wouldn't it be better if the residents decided how they want the town to run and not the EDO?

By reverting back to part-time and 'opening the pool' all you would be doing is making sure the Dems keep their stranglehold control with their hand-chosen few. Don't let them.

So, I would suggest to you that without the Dem Party money and those waiting for anointment in the Local Dem Party, you'd actually give others the chance to run and win. What’s wrong with that if you really want to open up the process? Does everyone capable of being mayor have to be a Dem Party soldier and work his or her way up the pecking order before he or she can run and have a shot at winning?

Don’t be fooled – this is all about the Dems picking the next mayor – not you!

And seriously, anointing Rob 'March on Trenton' Karabinchak to the assembly? Is this the best the Dem Party could come up with in all of the 18th district? Here's a guy that shouldn't even be on the council much less elevated up the pecking order.

But there's good and bad news in that anointment. 

Good news - we get rid of him & his anomaly with the truth, he'll be less of a burden on the taxpayers being 1 of 80 and we won't have to put up with his charming personality.

Bad news - you gotta feel for all the other towns in the 18th district - for they know not what they get!

Finally, and not for nothing, just think how much better off this town would be if those people holding the power spent more time working with each other rather than feverishly conniving ways to stick it to each other! It’s embarrassing!

How to turn Grapes into Raisins!?!

Well, took a family member over to the Farmer's Market over in Clara Barton this past weekend to pick up some fruits and vegetables. Very cool place and worthy of your patronage whenever you can. It was a fun time and they even had a food tasting contest going on when we arrived and two of the judges were Mayor Ricigliano and Councilman Dr. Prasad. It was nice to see both of them and have a chance to say hello.

Also, got the history of the farm market and the whole Clara Barton Revitalization from Ester Nemetz. That was pretty cool too.

But wouldn't you know it, just as grapes have to turn into raisins - my smile dropped to a frown! I couldn't believe it. There it was right in front of the farm market, pointing the way to the Clara Barton Branch of the Public Library - the donated sign. And who donated it?

Someone by name of Karabinchak. Now, if that's your friend and mine - Councilman Rob "March on Trenton" Karabinchak, then Really Rob? Couldn't you find another part of town to be so blatantly self-serving and get your name out?

Anyhoo, if it's not Councilman Karabinchak - then I humbly apologize and will certainly remove this post once advised so.

But, if it is, then there's one thing that needs to go along with the Happy Owl to make the advertising on the sign complete - and it's this:

Seriously, someone please tell me this isn't Councilman Karabinchak's donated sign...so I can salvage the remaining grapes.

The Many Faces of Rob Karabinchak

Just watched Monday's Edison Council Agenda meeting. Really now, how much longer do we have to put up with Council President Rob "March on Trenton" Karabinchak's reactions to any questions from the public? Seems he's got a tad bit of a body temperature issue, which he can't quite control, and it comes out when anyone has the nerve to ask a question he doesn't like or who doesn't particularly like his usual non-responsive answers.

Even worse than his verbal responses, which go up and down like a roller coaster when he gets heated, - his facial expressions. Not good to make faces at those speaking at the podium when the camera is on you. That's just a Mucho Tad Bit Not Nice Way to treat people. 

Seems to me that you can't get mad, pout and take your ball and go home when you can't answer a question or simply don't get your way. We're just residents and taxpayers looking for help and or information from the Council at these meetings.

You know, I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of his facial expressions when he was listening and responding to some of the residents at that meeting - but here's the closest thing I could come up with to show you what I mean:

Seriously, someone on that Council should try and have a chat with Mr. Karabinchak about his leadership role in these meetings. We all like people who can lead, just not people who lead with their face. 

Nothing new but everyone deserves to be treated with respect, whether we agree with them or not - and that's something that this Council leadership needs to understand. 

Anyhoo, for purposes of full disclosure, I don't think this guy should even be on the Council, much less Council President - but hey, that's just my opinion and after all, this is Downtown Edison where anything is possible! 

But please, somebody get this guy some Be-Nice pills!!

Squeeze of Record Tax Appeals!

Just read the piece in today's HNT - Towns feel squeeze of record tax appeals. Tried to get the on-line link but it wasn't up there or it's part of new subscription service. Either way, I'm not able to give it to you.

It's a really good piece and sheds some serious light on the issue and it's fall-out - and you should read it when you can.

But, you know what's really ironic? Guess who was quoted up and down the piece? Senor Council President Rob 'March on Trenton' Karabinchak! You remember him, that bastion of protection for the tax weary residents of Downtown Edison.

Anyhoo, I thought there was something missing from the piece, so I shared my thoughts via email with one of the reporters who did the piece - and here's my thoughts:

Just read the above-mentioned piece in today’s HNT. Thought it was a very informative piece highlighting the issue and it’s fall-out. However, what caught my eye was the reference to and quotes from Edison Council President Rob Karabinchak. No doubt Mr. Karabinchak is well versed in the tax appeal process for both homeowners and businesses and has carried the lobbying torch down to Trenton, as you indicated. He’s certainly a knowledgeable source and a good reference to use in the piece.

But, when you use quotes like ‘The burden of tax appeals falls to the homeowners’, ‘that’s not fair’, ‘constitutionally everybody is allowed to appeal their taxes’ etc. - you know what’s missing from this piece and his quotes?

Disclosure of his own tax appeal!

At the June 13, 2012 Council Meeting, Mr. Karabinchak put forth a resolution (R.355-062012) authorizing a conflict tax assessor and attorney for any appeal before the Middlesex County Board of Taxation. It was approved. The resolution did not reference anywhere that he was the one filing the tax appeal and causing the need for a conflict assessor and attorney. He only offered up that info when he was asked directly at the meeting. I know, I asked him.

So, you can imagine my surprise when he talks in this piece of what’s fair, the taxpayer’s burden, etc. - yet he has no problem joining in on the tax appeal process and conveniently forgetting to let the residents of Downtown Edison know. Is that fair? Guess we all have our own definition of what’s fair.

Clearly, Mr. Karabinchak has the same right as anyone else to file a tax appeal and that goes without question - but it becomes a tad bit hypocritical to be the torch bearer for the tax appeal battered residents when you sponsor a resolution for yourself at the last minute, dump some more costs on the residents for a conflict assessor and attorney and forget to disclose that fact in the resolution -  thereby trying to keep the residents of Edison in the dark that the resolution was for him. Concern isn’t his tax appeal – it’s his trying to hide it.

So, you’ll forgive me if I don’t take Mr. Karabinchak’s concern for the tax appeal battered residents too seriously or jump on his his request that we demand tax appeal reform by contacting our state legislators. Hey, not for nothing, but this is the same guy who last year told the people of Edison that there was a zero municipal tax hike – even after the tax bills went out and we already paid half the year’s 2.9 cent or 2.7% municipal tax hike.

Anyhoo, I thought the piece was very good and helpful to the residents – but it would of been better if there was just that tad bit more disclosure.


But hey, I'd say more but I got to go and contact my state legislators so they can change the law for homeowners so we can pay Karabinchak over 3 years just like the commercials - in case he wins his tax appeal.

Top 10 Reasons

why the Edison Township Council chose their campaign manager's wife as the new Township Clerk:

10. Because they wanted to attract and encourage the best & brightest talent available to come work for our town.

  9. Because they wanted to create a career path for the staff in the Clerk's office.

  8. Because they believe having absolutely no work experience in this field is the best kind of experience needed to head-up a department in Edison.

  7. Because it makes perfect sense to them that Robin, Michelle & the rest of the Clerk's staff should spend all the time needed to train their new boss.

  6. Because they didn't have to agree on a salary with this new hire before they voted on it and that's a money saver.

  5. Because a score of 97 on the first of 5 courses needed for a RMC by this hire was good enough for El Presidente Karabinchak.

  4. Because we expect the Council to do what's in the best interests of the people of Edison and they believe this is their flagship moment for demonstrating that public trust.

  3. Because they're not oblivious to how ridiculous their actions may seem to everyone else - they just know politics always trumps people in Edison.

  2. Because they were going for the Guinness Record for the best Resident & Taxpayer "In Your Face" by a local governing body.

  1. Because the Dem Party internal party power struggle has gotten so out of control that the abnormal & bizarre is now the norm in Downtown Edison's one-party rule.