New Jersey's Radioactive Water Supply Is No Joking Matter

Making jokes about New Jersey comes as naturally to New Yorkers as giving tourists purposefully misleading directions (not that I've done that of course). Radioactive water in Southern New Jersey however, is not humorous at all (save for the fictional Springfield that the Simpsons live in). This is a real problem, and officials are scrambling to ensure that as much drinking water is protected as possible.

From the AP:

LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Radioactive water that leaked from the nation's oldest nuclear power plant has now reached a major underground aquifer that supplies drinking water to much of southern New Jersey, the state's environmental chief said Friday.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station to halt the spread of contaminated water underground, even as it said there was no imminent threat to drinking water supplies.

The department launched a new investigation Friday into the April 2009 spill and said the actions of plant owner Exelon Corp. have not been sufficient to contain water contaminated with tritium.

A friend of mine and I were discussing the safety of nuclear energy last night and I mentioned Indian Point as an example of what can go wrong with nuclear facilities. He's in favor of nuclear power, arguing that newer power plants are much better at containing the harmful effects of radioactive contamination.

Now I grant that the Exelon plant in New Jersey is the country's oldest and that per my friend's assertion, this isn't coming from a newer facility. He also mentioned that even a jet plane could not crack the fifteen foot thick steel-reinforced walls they build for the reactors. However, the fact remains that plenty of older facilities remain open for business and continue to be threats to their surrounding environments. Further, due to the laws of mother nature, eventually these new super structures will decay and become threats. For more information, start at the webpage for the World Nuclear Association.

Another Racist GOP Site Exposed

No one ever said this race was going to be pretty, but that doesn't mean it is sad when you see the racist elements of the GOP pop out from time to time. The buttons in Texas, the t-shirts in Georgia and now a local Republican website in New Jersey is a small sample of what some on the right will throw at Barack Obama.

From ThinkProgress:

After local Democrats “alleged racist campaign tactics,” the Republican Club in Pemberton, NJ removed a banner yesterday from its website that compared Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to O.J. Simpson. “Obama loves America like O.J. loved Nicole,” the banner read. Though the image has now been removed, Blue Jersey saved a screen shot of the offensive banner:

This one was taken down once someone said something, but it certainly will not be the last. Dirty (and unfortunately racist) tricks are what the GOP knows best. They can not win a debate on the issues, so for whatever prejudiced and ignorant reason a local Republican leader in New Jersey decided to do this.

As long as they keep it up, we will continue exposing and shaming them for it.

New Jersey Just Became A Little More Civilized

Three cheers to our neighbor across the Hudson! New Jersey is now the first official state to outlaw the death penalty. The punishment was restored in the U.S. thirty-one years ago, but now there is a small slice of the Eastern Seaboard where it no longer exists. Yes, I know the majority of Americans support capital punishment, but ultimately in my mind that tenets of Gandhi hold to be more persuasive than public opinion. That was one of the reasons that the Garden State passed this landmark bill.

From The Washington Post:

The repeal bill follows the recommendation of a state commission that reported in January that the death penalty "is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency." But equally persuasive to lawmakers was not saving lives but money -- it costs more to keep a prisoner indefinitely on death row than incarcerated for life.

The repeal movement in New Jersey gained ground this year despite solid public support in the state for capital punishment, and over the objections of death penalty supporters who accused lawmakers of rushing the issue through a lame-duck session before a new legislature is installed next year. "It's a rush to judgment" said Robert Blecker, a New York Law School professor and prominent death penalty advocate.

Richard C. Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, hailed the New Jersey vote as "a first" but noted that it "is coming at a time when there is a reexamination of the death penalty going on." Dieter added, "It does give other legislatures the chance to say, 'Is this working in our state?' "

In fact, several states are considering abolishing the death penalty and others have done so by executive order or with an edict by the state's Supreme Court. New Jersey has seen this not only as promoting a civil society, but one that is fiscally prudent as well. If morals aren't enough for a politician, saving money is always something that can persuade as well. In addition, it also clears the courts of many appeals filed by death row inmates. Again, this is practical as well as morally correct.

Congrats to the New Jersey General Assembly and Governor Corzine.

NJ Town Learns About The Role Of Immigrants The Hard Way

Riverside, New Jersey is finally relenting in its push to alienate undocumented immigrants. The town made headlines when it passed a law banning businesses from hiring the immigrants. Now that the town treasury has been drained from legal woes and a local economy that is suffering from lack of immigrants. See, the town leaders were deluded in their misguided hate towards these people that they failed to recognize the vital part our new residents play in society. And it doesn't only apply to Riverside.

From The City Room:

The town of Riverside, N.J., passed a law banning businesses from hiring illegal immigrants. It led, as expected, to an exodus of Brazilian and Mexican immigrants from the town, but somewhat unexpectedly, also severely hurt retail businesses. With the local economy suffering, and the town’s budget drained by fighting a lawsuit that some immigrant advocacy groups brought against the town, Riverside decided to repeal the law. As Ken Belson and Jill P. Capuzzo explain, other towns may follow suit.

Nine day laborers represented by a clinic at Yale Law School are filing a federal suit against the mayor and chief of police in Danbury, Conn., today, challenging the constitutionality of a sting operation that led to their arrest on immigration charges last year. The suit contends that the arrests were part of discriminatory and illegal local attempts to enforce federal immigration law after the mayor lost his effort to have State Police officers deputized as immigration agents. Nina Bernstein examines the legal issues at stake.

Danbury will ultimately have to relent in their quest to expel those who are different from local legislators as Riverside just did. Sometimes, xenophobia masks the importance of immigrants in our country. For close to two hundred years now, America has formed into the powerhouse that it is (or was) from new groups of immigrants that come here to make a better life for themselves. These new Americans take jobs that they can not find in their native country and our "natives" decline to sign up for themselves. This went on with the Irish, the Chinese, Eastern Europeans and many, many other ethnic enclaves.

Refusing to acknowledge this history and embrace what is to come is only delaying the inevitable.

One State's Trash Is Another's Treasure

An old adage states one man's trash is another's treasure. If it works on an individual level, why not on the macro? New York generates enormous amounts of trash and often ships it to other states for a price. This time however, both sides win without one being stunk up by rotting garbage. With all of the new subway cars in Manhattan (btw the new N trains are awesome) the old ones need to go somewhere, and New Jersey wants to take them off of our hands.

From The New York Times:

New Jersey will ask New York for 600 decommissioned subway cars to be sunk off the coast to create artificial reefs to attract fish, lobsters and other marine life, New Jersey environmental officials said yesterday. New Jersey, which has the East Coast’s largest artificial reef complex, stopped accepting subway cars in 2003 after environmentalists raised concerns that the cars might leach high levels of asbestos as they disintegrated. But New Jersey’s environmental protection commissioner, Lisa P. Jackson, wrote in a staff memo yesterday that studies conducted by federal agencies and by other states that have sunk subway cars satisfied her that asbestos did not pose a serious threat. Cindy Zipf, the executive director of Clean Ocean Action, a critic of the subway plan, said yesterday that she hoped New Jersey officials would ask for the subway cars with the least amount of asbestos.

So with only a small amount of asbestos released into the Atlantic (not like we have to breathe it right?), we can clear up our railyards and New Jersey can build on their reef system, helping the marine ecosystem in the process.

NJ's Salty Water, Its Not Just By The Shore

First off, I have to say the Shore rocks. I was at Sandy Hook a couple weeks back and I had a great time. Good sun and a fantastic view of the city, the waves weren't so hot, but that was okay. Now what doesn't "rock" is the drinking water quality closer to New York in Bergen and Hudson counties. It was found that they have much higher levels of salt than normal, not so good for people with high blood pressure. Why would you want that extra mineral in your water?

From ABC-7:

United Water company has been sending notices out to its customers in Bergen and Hudson counties warning that the sodium level in the water supply is higher than it should be.

The company blames the winter task of salting the roads to keep them clear of ice.

The salt and snow melt from the roads spilled into reservoirs, taking the concentration of sodium higher than state guidelines -- and the water processing can't flush it out.

But the company is required to put out the warning for people with high blood pressure or other high sodium sensitive health concerns. It advises them to talk to their doctors.

The problem isn't too bad and nothing really to worry about. On the other hand, if you are lacking sodium in your diet, head over to New Jersey for a few gallons of fresh, New Jersey snow melt.

New Jersey Going Green

New Jersey hosting one of the Live Earth concerts at the Meadowlands today to bring attention to the problem of climate change. The mood must be festive out there already, because Governor Corzine was in an extremely green mood yesterday when he enacted laws to curb greenhouse gas emissions. New Jersey is only the second state in the nation behind California to take such monumental action. Al Gore couldn't have been happier.

From WCBS-TV:

"From now on when I give my slideshow around the world I'm gonna include New Jersey," Gore said. Under the law, the state will have until 2020 to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent, and until 2050 to cut emissions by 80 percent. Power plants will have to become more efficient and cars will have to spew less carbon dioxide into the air. "It is the strongest global warming cap in the country," said Suzanne Leta Liou of Environment New Jersey.

No one has really said how New Jersey will do this exactly, but at least there is groundwork to build on. Perhaps Corzine can take some pointers from New York City's PlaNYC that has dozens of climate-saving ideas. Not only should Jersey being getting pointers, they should be a part of a growing chorus that demands the federal government do something about climate change. Too bad the current resident at the White House isn't bothering to listen.

Live Earth-New York Is In New Jersey

Live Earth is less than two days away and the complaints from New Jersey are already surfacing from the politicians across the Hudson. The concert is being billed as a New York event as it should be, despite the calls to rename it for the exact geographical location. I feel for the Garden State on this one, I really do.

I must say that I am honored to go out to the Meadowlands on Saturday. Somehow I got lucky enough to be a volunteer for the event. I'll have to wake up and get on a 7:14 AM train to Secaucus and then catch a bus to Giants Stadium to work my 9-12 shift. And I will love every minute being out there. Plus I'll blog about it afterwards, so stay tuned on Saturday night or Sunday morning for the details.

Nevertheless New York is the number one media market in the country. When you ask someone that doesn't live in the U.S. if they recognize either New Jersey or New York, they'll go with the latter. That is why it is Live Earth: New York. So please quit complaining.

NYC Overrun By Banks

AM New York had a good article this morning highlighting the burgeoning population of bank branches throughout the city. Just this past month the spot of the famous Second Avenue Deli was overtaken by a Chase Manhattan bank branch. The $33,000 a month rent had something to do with that. Banks can easily afford the ever-increasing prices to do business in the city, but local spots are not. Thanks to the high rents, New York is increasingly becoming more and more corporate.

From AM New York:

All told, 168 new bank branches opened in Manhattan in the years between 2000 and 2006, a 36 percent increase, according to state figures. This equates to four bank branches per 10,000 residents. The Bronx, by contrast, has just one bank branch per 10,000 residents.

"This growth is reflective of a strong economy," said Mike Smith, president of the New York Bankers Association, a trade group. "More branches mean more convenience, and this can only be viewed as a positive development."

But others see a booming bank presence as a threat to the city's character, and the latest signpost along the way to a bland, overly corporate New York.

"There is a difference between economic measures of vitality and social measures of vitality," said Rob Hollander, an East Village resident and activist. "There was a long time when we had few banks but a lot of art. Now there are a lot of banks, but is there a single artistic movement growing here?"

The New York of 2007 looks nothing like that of even ten years ago. Not only are banks sprouting up everywhere, many different corporate chains such as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and now we even have the franchising of the Soup Nazi. When the "soup as art" spot that used to be on 55th and 8th Ave is being duplicated as a clean and hospitable chain all over the city (and now the nation) we don't have much to look forward to in terms of creativity.

The village was the heart of the counter-culture in the 60s, now it is becoming increasingly trendy. Don't get me wrong, I like Max Brenner's down on 2nd Ave in the East Village, but when is enough enough?

Sing A Song For Jersey

A recent civics trip for some New Jersey High School students has turned into a campaign for the Garden State to adopt an official song. Out of all the states in the Northeast, New Jersey is silent. On this side of the Hudson we have "I Love New York," New Jersey has other symbols for bees and even dinosaurs, so the kids want to change that. So what is it, Springsteen or Bon Jovi?

From The New York Times:

Jane Hall, Regina Balsys and Sue Gethard, who are teachers, said that their civics classes have started a campaign to persuade legislators to adopt the Bon Jovi song (“Who Says You Can’t Go Home?'’ ). They invited State Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf to the school, who explained to them how a bill gets adopted, and told them that if they wanted to see the song chosen as the state song, it would help to gather more support.

The students decided to take up the cause. Why didn’t they consider a Bruce Springsteen song? He is the native son who comes to mind, probably more than the fellow New Jerseyan Mr. Bon Jovi, when it comes to songs about the state.

While Ms. Hall calls herself “a diehard Springsteen fan,’’ she deemed his “My Hometown” too sad and said “Born to Run,'’ which has been considered a contender to represent the state, is a bit inappropriate. She said: “He talks about leaving home. He says, ‘it’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap.’ That’s not exactly a state song.’’

I would personally choose Springsteen as would my Jerseygirl mom who grew up there in the 60s. Bon Jovi represents a younger crowd overall (even though Springsteen has fans of all ages) so this isn't too surprising. No matter what song actually makes it into law, at least there will be something to sing about in the Garden State.

Taking Alternative Energy Too Far

I never thought I would say this but there are limits to fighting climate change. A Jersey shore man has erected a giant windmill to help power his home. Neighbors want it gone and the Long Beach Township might just enact an ordinance to take it down.

From WNBC:

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- One man's source of electric power is causing an ill wind to blow in Long Beach Township. Two of Michael Mercurio's neighbors have filed a lawsuit to stop him from using a windmill in his backyard that helps to heat and light his house. The suit contends the windmill is too noisy, creates shadows on their property and spoils their sleep.

Michael Mercurio's efforts are great for the environment, but a nuisance to the neighbors.

In response, the township's board of commissioners discussed proposing an ordinance that would ban the building of windmills higher than 12 feet, except for decorative purposes.

There's nothing wrong with solar panels on a house (which powers 75% of the property) but the turbine does create a disturbance with shadows and noise. Wind turbines are a great source of energy and I believe we should install thousands or millions more, just not in the middle of a neighborhood.

New Jersey For "Dr. No"?

From PoliticsNJ

I'm not quite sure what the "EVOL" means exactly in the "revolution" banners these Ron Paul supporters so proudly display, I wonder if it even makes sense to them. The most obvious answer to me is for his anti-war stance, but who knows with Republicans. Despite his fame as a libertarian trying to stand out in a sea of neo-cons running for the Republican nod, they might want to know there is another side to Dr. No, including pertinent issues that could anger quite a few voters.

Firebombing New Jersey

Usually our military wreaks havoc on other countries, but this week we did damage to our own. The "Shock and Awe" campaign on South Jersey unleashed an enormous forest fire, a result of flares dropped by F-16s onto a gunnery range. The fire has consumed 22 square miles of between Ocean and Burlington Counties. Some towns and developments have had to evacuate as firefighters struggled to get a handle on the blaze. Thankfully the rain from last night helped to turn the tide, creating hopes for the fire to be contained by today.

Attytood notes that there is something similar about all of this and what we do in other countries that we bomb.

From Attytood:

The kicker, which isn't in the article but I just heard reported by Alan Chernoff on CNN, is that the Air Force is now knocking on doors in the endangered neighborhood, giving people money. In fact, he reported, they'll likely pay to replace people's homes if and when any are destroyed. Does that sounds familiar? Yup -- it's the exact same thing that we now do in Iraq and Afghanistan when we accidentially target civilians.

Over there, we've paid out $32 million for bombings and raids that in many cases unintentionally killed civilians; here, we could pay a lot more, even though hopefully there won't be any loss of life. I guess for South Jersey, it is a small and highly regrettable taste of what life is like in a war zone.

It would be hypocritical of me to criticize the Air Force for training in New Jersey -- not after writing articles questioning the laggard response to 9/11. But there's got to be a better way than testing flares over a parched forest, isn't there? Maybe one of my military readers can make sense of this.

South Jersey may not be a warzone, but this is certainly a taste of life thrown out of whack by our military jets. Apparently there are some nasty terrorists hiding out in the dry woods of the Garden State. I thought Bush said we would be fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here. Oh well!

Reverend McGreevey???

Governor Jim McGreevey is looking for a new career after resigning as the top dog in New Jersey almost three years ago. With a lifetime of politics under his belt, what could Jim possibly do? Well he could become a minister of course. McGreevey has been reported to enter the seminary this week to become an Episcopal priest.

From WNBC:

Friends of the former governor told NewsChannel 4 that McGreevey has wanted to enter the priesthood since his days in high school, college, and even law school. Now, the friends said, McGreevey has the freedom to do it.

The governor's friends added that once McGreevey finishes the four-year ordination process, he hopes to find a parish -- perhaps in an inner-city neighborhood, where he can help children or the poor.

McGreevey has commented that being a religious leader will not only allow him to help others, but will be good for his soul as well, friends of the former governor said.

McGreevey has already made a big change in his life, so perhaps this is a logical step for the disgraced politician to go from Catholicism to the Episcopalians. He has certainly gone through a lot in the last two years since revealing his big secret to press, the New Jersey state government and of course, his wife.

The McGreevey's were just in the news the other day when his ex-wife, Dina Matos claimed that she had no idea what his true sexual orientation was, even though he said she did. I thought this story was over in 2004, but it seems that the saga continues. Look out for Reverend McGreevey in a parish near you.

In Case You Forgot, The Meadowlands Are In New Jersey

I maybe a New Yorker, but since I grew up in L.A. I have always supported my old local teams. So when I came here and even before, it always amused me that the Giants and Jets were referred to as New York teams even though they played in New Jersey. It was a little factoid I teased Jets and Giants fans with, but never thought any more of it than that. Well now something may be done so that the team name fits the location.

From WNBC:

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Normally it is Jersey fans who gripe that they don't get any respect from pro sports teams that play at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford but have "New York" in their names.

But three New York assemblymen recently sponsored a bill to stop football's Giants and Jets and soccer's Red Bulls from using the Empire State's name or abbreviation because they don't play their home games in New York.

"At the very least, the location of the place where a team plays should be accurate, and reflect where they actually play their home games," Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, of Queens, writes in the bill, as reported by The Record of Bergen County in Saturday newspapers.

Team officials vow they won't change their names, but legislation might propel them to do otherwise. Jersey sports officials agree with the bill, claiming that since it is New Jersey that gives teams government money, they should have the Garden State name attached. It is amusing that two New York legislators are the authors of the bill. It is the first time I've heard of a native complaining that these teams have an identity crisis. Of course, legislators come up with a lot of bullshit laws all the time, so we'll have to see how far this one goes.

Student Joins Forces To Fight ProselytizingTeacher

Matthew LeClair was just a normal teenage kid going to school in New Jersey until he saw that one of his teachers was proselytizing Christianity to his class. Matthew recorded some of the teacher's statements and a giant storm was unleashed. After complaining to school board got him in hot water with other students and the school him and his parents took further action. He might have left it alone, though death threats can spur some to make a change in how the system works.

Mr. LeClair has some big names behind him now to fight back against the school board, including People for The American Way and possibly the ACLU. Matthew's lawyers have already begun to take action.

From The NY Times:

The LaClairs filed a torts claim notice on Feb. 13 against the school board, Mr. Paszkiewicz and other school officials. Such a claim is required before a lawsuit can be filed in New Jersey. “The school created a climate in which the students in the school community held resentment for Matthew,” said Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the A.C.L.U. in New Jersey. She said Kearny High School had “violated the spirit and the letter of freedom of religion and the First Amendment.”

Ms. Jacobs added that the A.C.L.U. would support the LaClairs if they sue the school board and might join the action.

Richard Mancino, a partner with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which is representing the family, said he did not understand why school officials would not “stand up for this student, who had the guts to raise this constitutional issue.” Instead, Mr. Mancino said, they appear “to have adopted a shoot-the-messenger policy.”

The school claims that the matter has been resolved and they looked into the matter by themselves with the help of a former director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Edwin Stier. Meanwhile, the teacher, Mr. Paszkiewicz continues to teach at Newark's Kearny High School. If the school will not work with Matthew, it seems that larger forces might make headway on his behalf.