Sen. President Richard Codey (D-Essex) in Newark with Mayor Cory Booker and Council President Mildred Crump.

ORANGE - Politics here invariably comes back to the state’s most popular politician, former governor and Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex), who grew up across the street from the city’s other favorite son, Two Ton Tony Galento.

"With Tony, what you saw was what you got," Codey recalls.

A rotund puncher who trained on spaghetti and beer, what that got Galento was a fourth round technical knockout at the hands of heavyweight champion Joe Louis, and a subsequent supporting role as a heavy in "On the Waterfront."

MEDIA ADVISORY - JOINT ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TO REVIEW DEP SITE REMEDIATION REFORM PLAN

TRENTON – The Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will hold a joint hearing on Tuesday April 15 to review the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) plan to reform the process the State follows for site remediation and cleanup.

NEW STATE LAW BANS HARVEST OF HORSESHOE CRABS
McKeon/Gusciora/Fisher/Cohen/Stender Measure Protects Endangered Red Knot Shorebird

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members John McKeon, Reed Gusciora, Douglas H. Fisher, Neil Cohen and Linda Stender sponsored to ban the harvest of horseshoe crabs and their eggs was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

ASSEMBLY PASSES MEASURE TO BAN HARVEST OF HORSESHOE CRABS
Crab Eggs Vital Food Dest for Endangered Red Knot Shorebird

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members John McKeon, Reed Gusciora, Douglas H. Fisher, Neil Cohen and Linda Stender sponsored to ban the harvest of horseshoe crabs and their eggs to protect the endangered red knot and other shorebirds that rely on the energy-rich eggs for food.

MEASURE TO BAN HARVEST OF HORSESHOE CRABS ADVANCES
Crab Eggs Vital Food Source for Endangered Red Knot Shorebird

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee today released legislation Assembly members John McKeon, Reed Gusciora, Douglas H. Fisher, Neil Cohen and Linda Stender sponsored to ban the harvest of horseshoe crabs and their eggs.

A political insider has become involved in the controversy at Montclair State University, where the student government president -- a guy actually named Ron Chicken – pulled funding for the college newspaper because he allegedly didn’t like their criticism.  The attorney for the newspaper is Sal Anderton, a lobbyist and Democratic activist with close ties to Assemblyman (and West Orange Mayor) John McKeon.  Chicken denies he was trying to silence the newspaper and told reporters he cut their funding because the paper was paying Anderton, rather than using the student association’s own counsel.

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE RELEASES BILL EXEMPTING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FROM PROPERTY TAX

(TRENTON) - Legislation to exempt renewable energy systems - such as solar and wind power - from property taxes was released today by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING ACT CLEARS ASSEMBLY
Measure Would Make New Jersey Fifth State to Create Responsible System
For Collecting, Reusing, Disposing Chemical-Laden Computers, Televisions

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Reed Gusciora, John F. McKeon, Upendra J. Chivukula and Robert M. Gordon sponsored to establish a statewide collection and recycling program for used computers and other electronic products laced with toxic metals and dangerous chemicals

McKEON/GUSCIORA 'RECYCLING ENHANCEMENT ACT'
CLEARS ASSEMBLY
Measure Would Bolster Recycling Efforts in Counties, Municipalities

    (TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen John F. McKeon and Reed Gusciora sponsored to provide additional financial support to municipal and county recycling programs was released today by the Assembly.

Former Assemblyman Eldridge Hawkins, Orange Mayoral candidate Eldridge Hawkins Jr., and Linda Cofer Hawkins on Saturday

Promising good government and economic progress to a city plagued by bloated municipal budgets, gangs, a ghost town economy and charges of political corruption, Eldridge Hawkins Jr., entered the race for mayor of Orange at the Elk’s Lodge on Saturday with the strength of his family name behind him.

Son of his namesake, the former state Assemblyman and respected civil rights attorney who was in attendance, Hawkins reminded a small crowd of supporters that Orange was once a thriving industrial city made up of 34 hat-making factories, including the F. Berg Hat Manufacturing Company Complex.

"Today, these same buildings are nothing more than rundown relics of what once was," said the 28-year old West Orange patrolman and realtor associate. "Such images can no longer exist in our town. For too long we have sat by and watched our city deteriorate and its progress be paralyzed by politicians and citizens that were unable to put their feelings, personal agendas and differences aside for the good of the city."