Gary Schaer

PANEL OK'S SCHAER/MILAM BILL TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM BOGUS FINANCIAL ADVISOR 'ENDORSEMENTS'

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Gary Schaer and Matt Milam sponsored to prohibit financial advisors from using misleading information to make it appear they have special certifications for advising senior citizens and retirees was released yesterday by the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

SCHAER/GUSCIORA BILL TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY BANKS
CLEARS COMMITTEE HURDLE

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Gary Schaer and Reed Gusciora sponsored to allow the state to invest some of its cash and pension funds with federally insured New Jersey-based banks and credit unions to enhance the liquidity of state-chartered financial institutions was released today by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SCALERA, SCHAER DRAFTING LAW TO SHINE LIGHT ON SHADY TICKET SALE PRACTICES
Measure Would Prohibit Brokers from Offering Tickets Prior to Public Sale;
Require Promoters to Disclose Ticket Distribution Schemes

(36th Legislative District) - Assemblymen Fred Scalera and Gary Schaer today announced they are drafting legislation that would prohibit ticket brokers from selling seats for any event that have not yet been made available to the general public.

Twelve members of the State Assembly had more than $100,000 cash on hand as of the most recent reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission:

SCHAER / LAMPITT / COUTINHO BILL TO TEACH KIDS FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CONTINUES ADVANCING

Legislation Would Create Pilot Program To Educate High Schoolers

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Gary S. Schaer, Pamela R. Lampitt, and Albert Coutinho sponsored to initiate a pilot program to educate high school students on personal finance management so they can avoid irresponsible spending habits that lead to excessive personal debt and bankruptcy was released Thursday by a Senate committee.

“Too many young people have taken an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude to their personal finances, setting themselves up for financial hardship before they even get their college degree,” said Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen/Essex), a professional financial advisor. “We must do a better job of preparing students to be financially responsible adults.”

Mayor Alex Blanco, right, and Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic).

PASSAIC – Mayor Alex Blanco’s victory over city supervisor Vincent Capuana last night concretized the alliance between Blanco and Assemblyman/Council President Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), as Blanco secured a full, four-year term.

After prevailing in a special election last November, Blanco beat Capuana last night, 4,988 (53.1%) to 4,409 (46.1%). Once again, the Dominican-American medical doctor depended heavily on the Orthodox Jewish community and on Schaer’s speed dial, which landed backing from Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie, financial contributions from the likes of Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden), Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Paterson) and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and the vociferous backing and infrastructural support of Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan.

Among the post-election revelers at Blanco’s party at the Fiesta were state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), West New York Mayor Sal Vega, and state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City), an early and steady backer of Blanco’s last year. Gov. Jon Corzine and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) also enthusiastically backed Blanco at separate, heavily attended events.

Mayor Alex Blanco, right, and Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic).

PASSAIC – With backing from Gov. Jon Corzine and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Hoboken), the re-election campaign of Mayor Alex Blanco showed every early sign of moonwalking to victory today.

That was until operative Kevin Collins, who recently left the gubernatorial campaign of Steve Lonegan, surfaced as an opposition researcher for Blanco nemesis Vincent Capuana, and a week and a half ago muddied the incumbent mayor with mailers describing his financial woes, which at the very least seized the attention of Team Blanco.

The favorite immediately retaliated, issuing counterpunch lit. detailing Capuana’s salary climb to over $100,000 during the years of disgraced and jailed former Mayor Sammy Rivera, and highlighting Capuana’s receipt of a loan from the same mortgage company owned by a developer with whom Capuana had school board dealings.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken), right, endorses Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco

PASSAIC – The city stood at City Hall, or so it seemed, as a large crowd gathered to give its blessing to Mayor Alex Blanco, who tonight announced his intentions to run for mayor again, with the backing of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken), State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan and Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie all present to augment the voices of the people.

Trumpeted as a long time coming crumbling of wink and nod politics in Passaic, the mayor’s “Honesty in Action” campaign kick-off flew in the face of a ragtag assortment of Vincent Capuana allies, who heckled the speakers from their campaign HQ on the other side of Passaic Avenue, but were mostly drowned out by the merengue-salsa-soul rhythm spectacle of Blanco and his base.  

“Let no one, not even an opponent we defeated in November, stop our forward progress,” cried Blanco. “When people ask you, ‘Why are you so confident you can make change?’ You tell them, ‘The doctor is in!’”

Running on the heels of a mayor indicted - and later jailed - on corruption charges by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, podiatrist Blanco defeated city super/School Board President Capuana last year, 3,859 to 3,656, after he secured the powerful 3rd Ward backing of Assemblyman/Council President Gary Schaer (D-Passaic).

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez will attend a rally in Passaic tonight to endorse Mayor Alex Blanco for re-election.  Blanco won a special election last year to replace Gary Schaer, who became Acting Mayor after Sammy Rivera’s criminal conviction.