New Jersey legislators are debating whether to apologize for slavery. Funny thing about an apology, the longer it takes to give, the harder it is to give. New Jersey had one of the most severe slave codes in the north and it sanctioned the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which allowed for the capture and return of slaves to owners. Now there is a resolution to acknowledge that New Jersey’s complicity in the slave trade was something for which it is sorry, even though none today were directly involved. Is an apology appropriate? One look at the price have some paid answers that question with a definite ”Yes”.
That these events happened so long ago is not disputed, until the lack of a formal apology is considered. The executive orders commonly known as the Emancipation Proclamation were signed in September 1862 and January 1863. That it should take more 145 years after the signing of these documents to even begin talking about an apology tells a sad story.
Whether the apology will ever become a reality is still up in the air. The legislature must pass the resolution and then Governor Corzine must sign it. It is a symbolic gesture but one that is probably needed. Rather than debate this no-brainer, the legislature should vote it and send it on to the Governor. Afterwards they can get back to problems of skyrocketing property taxes and insurance costs.
Well it is official as of 10am this morning Governor Jon Corzine was to sign the Bill that passed the Assembly ending the death penalty in New Jersey. New Jersey is the first state in 42 years to end the death penalty and instead require life imprisonment without the possibililty of parole.
It seems ironic that the Governor is signing the bill that will when just this past weekend two prisoners escaped from the Union County Jail. The desperate pair removed two cinder blocks from the jail wall and then jumped. Jose Espinosa, 20, pleaded guilty to the aggravated manslaughter and was awaiting sentencing. Otis Blunt, 32, was awaiting trial for robbery and weapones offenses. The pair proves that life in prison without the chance of parole has a few problems that need ironing out. If prisoners can escape … well you get the picture just fill in the blank.
Three Mercer County school districts will recieve a 20 percent increase in state funding next school year. Governor Jon Cozine announced yesterday the new formula for school aid next year after revising the school funding formula. Under the new formula three Mercer County school districts: Ewing, Hamilton, and Washington Township, will all receive a 20 percent increase which is the maximum that any district may receive.
The plan calls for increases to most districts with the poorest and the richest districts getting the least. Lower and middle income districts, as well those with increasing enrollment will receive the bulk of the aid. The state aid will require some districts to offer property tax relief to its residents.
The legislation setting the the 2008-2009 state aid could be passed before the Jan. 7 end to the legislative session.
Want to read the article? Click here
President Bush unveiled his plan to help homeowners with subprime mortagages. The plan will help
lessen the strain on rental markets in the future because generally homeowners who end up in foreclosure, enter the rental housing market.
Mr. Bush’s plan will help about 600,000 homeowners by either freezing the mortgage at a level the homeowner can manage — ususally the introductory level of the mortgage before it started ratcheting up, or credit counseling and walking the homeowner through the refinance process. Homeowners who scored less that 660 on there credit report may be eligble for the program.
For reference to participating lenders contact: freddie@freddiemoorer.com
Read the articles: Battle Lines Form over Mortgage Plan;
Fading American Dream of Homeowership Fuels Rentals
New Jersey has been first in quite a few things lately. New Jersey residents can say we have the highest car insurance, highest in taxes, highest population density per square mile in the country. Now those firsts are old news. What has taken top honors you might ask? New Jersey is set to be the first state to abolish the death penalty.
While killing people is not something any state should do, especially since they don’t seem to get the correct criminal all the time, life without parole at best allows a convicted criminal who is innocent the chance to be freed should future technology prove the decision in error. It brings to mind the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, where Abraham asked if the city would be spared for the sake of ten righteous men. For the sake of that one innocent man, the death penalty should not be enforced.
Read the article here.
Read the story of Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah
With the coming of the new year, let’s take a look at the November election results and see who’s in the political driver’s seat in Mercer County.
Mercer County:
County Executive: Brian Hughes (D)
Freeholder: Anthony Carabelli (D)
Freeholder: Keith Hamilton (D)
Municipality Results:
East Windsor:
Mayor: Janice Mironov
Deputy Mayor: Walter Daniels
Councilwoman: Marsha Weinstein
Councilman: Marc Lippman
Ewing:
No positions were up for election this year.
Hamilton:
Mayor: John Bencivengo
Councilwomman: Kelly Yaede
Councilman: Kevin Meara
Hightstown:
Only two council seats were up for grabs.
Councilman: Walter Sikorski (D)
Councilman: M. Jeffery Bond (D)
Hopewell Borough:
Mayor: Paul Anzano (D)
Councilman: David Mackie (D)
Councilman: Timothy Sean Jackson (D)
Hopewell Township:
Commiteeman: Michael Markulec (R)
Committeeman: James Burd (R)
Lawrence:
Mayor: Robert Bostock (R)
Councilwoman: Pamela Mount (D)
Councilman: Michael Powers (D)
Pennington:
Mayor: Anthony Persichilli (D)
Councilman: Robert DiFalco (D)
Councilman: Thomas Ogren (D)
Councilman: Catherine Chandler (D)
Princeton Borough:
Mayor: Mildred Trotman
Councilman: Roger Martindell (D)
Councilman: Andrew Koontz (D)
Princeton Township:
Mayor: Phyllis Marchand (D)
Committeeman: Arden “Lance” Liverman (D)
Trenton:
No positions were up for election this year.
Washington Township:
No positions were up for election this year, but the township officially changed its name to Robbinsville effective January 1, 2008.
West Windsor:
No positions were up for election this year.