BURZICHELLI & RILEY: NJDOT OFFICIALS TO REVIEW ROUTE 49 SAFETY; OFFER IMPROVEMENT PLAN BY MONTH’S END

(BRIDGETON) – Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley today announced state transportation officials will review the curve on Route 49 at Cohansey Road in Hopewell Township and offer recommendations for improvements by month’s end.

Republican State Assembly candidate Lee Lucas told neighbors "if you want to act like niggers, go back to Paulsboro," according to a 2006 Greenwich Township police report detailing a neighbor dispute.

"Yeah, I said that," a police officer says Lucas told him.  "It's my freedom of speech. I can say what I want while I'm on my property."

Newly-elected Gloucester County GOP Chairman Bill Fey and Assembly Majority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) have called on Lucas to drop out of the race amidst other allegations of racially insensitive remarks.  Don't expect Lucas to leave the race anytime soon. 

Sources say that Lucas was not invited to attend an event in Gloucester County on Monday that will feature GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie and Republican National Chairman Michael Steele.  Steele, who is African American, will likely be asked if he supports Lucas, the winner of the June 2 Republican primary.

Police were called when Lucas was shouting at three neighbors he accused of cutting down a tree at his Gibbstown home. 

SWEENEY, BURZICHELLI & RILEY WELCOME COMPLETION OF BOSTWICK LAKE DAM RESTORATION

(THIRD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT) – Third District legislators Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney, Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley today welcomed completion of the Bostwick Lake dam restoration, deeming it a crucial step toward improved public safety and a stronger economy for the region.

SWEENEY, BURZICHELLI AND RILEY ANNOUNCE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION GRANT FOR SALEM CITY

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley announced today that the Stand Up For Salem campaign has been approved for a $25,000 State grant to provide funding for planning and revitalization efforts in the city of Salem.

“As the county seat of Salem County, the city of Salem stands as a visible reminder that we have to support our South Jersey communities which are struggling with the effects of a national and global economic downturn,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Thorofare. “Through this grant, we can support efforts to revitalize Salem’s bustling downtown and encourage new business opportunities and economic rebirth in struggling neighborhoods. These funds will be put to good use, expanding on the progress already made to help revive Salem City’s economy and clean up the streetscape.”

BURZICHELLI / RILEY BILL TO ESTABLISH PILOT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Bill Seeks to Address Property Tax Inequities

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley sponsored to establish a countywide property tax assessment pilot program in Gloucester County to study whether it could address property tax inequities and save money received final legislative approval today.

It was approved 25-7 by the Senate and 55-23-1 by the Assembly. It now goes to the governor.

“Under our current system, each municipality assesses property at a different percentage of market value and each municipality has its own assessor.” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “This is an inefficient, antiquated system that causes some property taxpayers to subsidize others. We can do better.”

BURZICHELLI / RILEY BILL TO ESTABLISH PILOT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY ADVANCED BY ASSEMBLY PANEL

Bill Seeks to Address Property Tax Inequities

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley sponsored to establish a countywide property tax assessment pilot program in Gloucester County to study whether it could address property tax inequities and save money was advanced today by an Assembly committee.

“Under our current system, each municipality assesses property at a different percentage of market value and each municipality has its own assessor.” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “This is an inefficient, antiquated system that causes some property taxpayers to subsidize others. We can do better.”

BURZICHELLI & RILEY BILLS TO PRESERVE FARMLAND, OPEN SPACE & HISTORIC SITES CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley to preserve farmland, open space and historic sites throughout the 3rd Legislative District has been approved by an Assembly panel.

“This is our heritage, and preserving farmland, open space and historic sites will benefit our families and children for decades to come,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). “Farming, parks, recreation and historic sites and the jobs and tourism they produce are the foundation for a strong economy and a way of life.”

With the upset victory of Robert Villare and possibly his running mate, Lee Lucas, in the 3rd Legislative District's Republican primary for state Assembly, state Republicans have largely given up hope of competing there.

As of election night, the only clear victor was Robert Villare, a surgeon from West Deptford.  For the other Assembly seat, Lee Lucas, a commercial oven repairman who has run for freeholder and Greenwich council before, led Arthur Marchand, a former Cumberland County Prosecutor, Surrogate and Freeholder, by 66 votes.  Greenwich Township Mayor George Shivery trailed slightly behind.  So far, nobody has requested a recount, although candidates have 15 days to do so.  

"At this point, it is not likely we will commit any monetary resources," said Assembly Republican Victory Executive Director Mark Duffy.

The political arm of the Assembly Republicans recruited Marchand into the race.  He agreed, but only after extracting a promise that they would put a significant amount of money into the district.  But those same Republicans think that Villare and Lucas have liabilities that will weigh them down in a race against incumbent Democrats Celeste Riley (R-Bridgeton) and John Burzichelli (R-Paulsboro).

QUIJANO & RILEY BILL TARGETING LANDLINE TELEPHONE RENTALS CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Annette Quijano and Celeste Riley requiring phone companies to get each residential customer who rents or leases landline telephones to annually affirm their willingness to continue doing so was released today by an Assembly committee.

PANEL CLEARS GUSCIORA / CRUZ-PEREZ / MORIARTY / RILEY BILL TARGETING SIMULATED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Reed Gusciora, Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Paul Moriarty and Celeste Riley sponsored to make it illegal for businesses to advertise using a simulated government document was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill (A-3931) would make using such documents – whether through the mail or the Internet – a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act.

“Marketing companies that use these simulated forms are preying on the vulnerability of the average citizen during a global recession,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer).