REDD-STACK BILL TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO CREATE TRUST FUND TO AID HOMELESS APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Dana L. Redd and Brian P. Stack which would permit county governments to adopt homelessness housing plans to address the housing needs of the homeless within their municipalities has been approved by the Senate today by a vote of 30-6.

“As the global economic crisis continues to have a major impact on the communities and neighborhoods of New Jersey, unfortunately more State residents are unable to make ends meet,” said Senator Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester. “With unemployment and homelessness rates on the rise, we have to do something to make sure that the most vulnerable people within our communities get the food and shelter they need to survive. We cannot turn our backs on the plight of the homeless, and must do everything we can to make sure they get the basic services they need to get by.”

QUIGLEY/MANZO/STACK BILL LIMITING HANDGUN PURCHASES TO ONE A MONTH CLEARS ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members Joan M. Quigley, Louis M. Manzo, and Brian P. Stack sponsored that would make it illegal for people to purchase more than one handgun a month in New Jersey - a restriction that would help curtail gun access by criminal street gangs. 

Stack wins, Cunningham wins, Booker’s slate wins five out of six, Hudson County Civil War will continue, Webber wins, O’Toole wins

As of mid-afternoon no physical fights had broken out in Union City or West New York. But that’s not to say the scene here is calm by any other county's standard.

In West New York, a stranger visiting town could conceivably not notice that there’s a campaign going on. Sal Vega signs are plentiful, and there are even a few for Stack. But if the number of signs each candidate has on his turf was any indication of who’s going to win the 33rd district State Senate race, then Brian Stack and his Column B team would win this one by what must be a 10:1 margin.

Sal Vega might be the most optimistic guy in Hudson County.

In a primary where his opponent for 33rd district State Senate is almost universally considered the easy victor, Vega still thinks he can pull it off. 

Stack gets personal loans, architectural firm gets returns for political contributions, Casha and Webber compete to be more conservative, LoBiondo’s Coast Guard failure, State Government will create new agency to fight obesity.

Congressman Albio Sires endorsed Brian Stack for Senate in the 33rd district today, characterizing the campaign tactics of Silverio “Sal” Vega, his own Commissioner when he was Mayor of West New York, as deplorable.

“In all my years of politics, I haven’t seen tactics -- smear, dirty tactics like this -- in a long, long time,” said Sires. “My former commissioner, Sal Vega, is responsible for that type of campaign.”

ASSEMBLY PANEL RELEASES MEASURE TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR NOT USING CHILD SAFETY SEATS

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Jerry Green, Upendra Chivukula and Brian P. Stack sponsored to increase the penalties for drivers who fail to secure small children in safety or booster seats.

Hudson County political insiders say that charges of driving under the influence of alcohol could impact Hoboken Councilman Christopher Campos' chances of going to the State Assembly next year. The 30-year-old Campos was charged with exeeding the legal limit around 3:00 AM Saturday morning in Manhattan, according to published reports.

Campos, who is also the municipal prosecutor in West New York, has been at the top of short lists for an open Assembly seat in the 33rd district, if incumbent Brian Stack continues his bid for State Senator against Majority Leader Bernard Kenny. Kenny is a Hoboken resident, and the conventional wisdom in Hudson is that Hoboken would maintain one of the three seats in the legislative delegation.

BILL REQUIRING PROMPT VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY NEW STATE RESIDENTS CLEARS COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee today released legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher, Brian P. Stack, Nelson T. Albano, Jeff Van Drew, and John J. Burzichelli that would require all new New Jersey residents to register their motor vehicles with the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) within 60 days of becoming a resident of the state.