Newark

NEWARK - School is out for Newark's students, but Mayor Cory Booker's junior-year report card on civil liberties has just been released by the ACLU-NJ. The mayor passed, but not with flying colors. At the end of his third year in office, the Stanford and Yale-educated All-American and Rhodes Scholar earned a "C" average in civil liberties, with his worst grade, a "D," in the area of Police Practices.

"Mayor Booker deserves high marks in public speaking, but he has room to improve on the subject of civil liberties," said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Deborah Jacobs. "The Mayor came to City Hall promising to protect civil liberties, but when it's time to put those principles into practice, he hasn't lived up to his potential."

The good news: Mayor Booker earned a "B" on Immigrant Rights, and a "B" in Open Government.

The bad news: Mayor Booker earned a "C-" for Free Speech, and a "D" in Police Practices - and just barely.

To review the Mayor's report card in full detail, see: http://www.aclu-nj.org/newarkreportcard (230k PDF)

"This report card is more than just handing out a grade -- we're looking at the real lives of people in this city and adding up the costs to their rights," said Jacobs. "The Booker administration still needs to learn that you can't have public safety without public trust, and you can only earn that trust by respecting the rights of the people."

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Andrew Bloschak

(201)-705-2257

Bloschak: Racist Candidate has no place in GOP

Urban Republican Says Lucas Needs to go Immediately

Newark-Andrew Bloschak, Republican candidate in the 28th District in Essex County, is joining with Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce of Parsippany and others in asking for immediate dropping of Lee Lucas from the Republican Assembly ticket in District 3 in South Jersey for his despicable racial remarks that were noted in a 2006 police report.

Urban Republican" Assembly Candidate Bloschak Will Attend GOPAC SessionBelleville Resident Is The "Non-Traditional" Candidate GOP Is Looking To For The Future Belleville-Andrew Bloschak, a lifelong union member and community activist, will attend a GOPAC candidate training session at Bergen County Republican Headquarters on Saturday. Bloschak is particularly excited to go because his candidacy in the heavily urban and ethnically diverse 28th District represents exactly the kind of campaign that GOPAC wants to support as it looks to grow the Republican Party.

 For Immediate Release:
Contact: Andrew Bloschak
(201)-705-2257

Cost Overruns at Jail Site Show Caputo Is Out Of Control With Your Money

NEWARK-In another example of his adherence to big, inefficient government, Assemblyman, Freeholder and Triple-Pensioner Ralph Caputo tried to defend outrageous cost overruns on converting the old Essex County Jail site. According to the Star-Ledger, the project has doubled from $12 million to $24 million, with architectural costs tripling. The County has had to take a $20 million bond to pay for the conversion, and it will take a decade and a half for costs to be paid back.

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Barry Funt, candidate for 27th District Assembly, joined with community activists and leaders in education reform on July 2 on the steps of the Essex Courthouse in Newark to demand parental choice in education. Joining Rev. Reginald Jackson, South Carolina State Senator Robert Ford, Assembly Candidate Herb Glenn and other leaders on the dais, Funt called for an end to the government monopoly on education and a renewed public discussion of allowing parents to choose where to send their children to school.

Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark)

NEWARK - Running for re-election this year in the 29th Legislative District, Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) today dispelled rumors that he wants to run for City Council in 2010, and publicly endorsed East Ward incumbent Augusto Amador despite a burgeoning political challenge by Coutinho's friend, local businessman Peter Pantoliano.

“No disrespect to the City Council, but I believe I can accomplish more where I am now than on the City Council,” said Coutinho. “I have no interest in running for the council. I have zero interest. I’ll be fully supportive of the Booker Team next year.”

Old pal Pantoliano is working hard to secure both Coutinho’s and Mayor Cory Booker’s support.

“Al is very supportive of me,” Pantoliano said. “He has said in the past that the city would suffer if I were not the councilman. As for Cory, I’ve supported him over the years, and we have a great dialogue and friendship. If he can’t support me because of certain political realities, I understand, but I am trying to win his support.”

WATSON COLEMAN URGES NEW JERSEYANS TO CLAIM ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS

(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today urged everyone who is eligible to be sure they file for their economic stimulus payments by the Oct. 15 deadline and vowed to help spread word about the importance of filing for the money.

“This money is as critical as ever with the costs of energy, food and other expenses soaring amid the sagging economy,” said Watson Coleman, (D-Ewing). “These payments represent help to those who need it most and it cannot go unclaimed in this time of need.”

NEWARK - An incident caught on police camera a year and a half ago proved the downfall of Central Ward Councilwoman Dana Rone, as Essex County Judge Patricia Costello on Tuesday morning decided that Rone would have to give up her office as a councilwoman.

"The state's request for a waiver of forfeiture is denied," said Costello, in response to an 11th hour letter sent to the judge by Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow, who reversed an earlier recommendation of forfeiture.

"I find that whether an individual is fit to serve public office is not sufficient reason to waive forfeiture," the judge said to one of the arguments offered by Rone’s lawyer, Raymond Hamlin.

Costello ruled that it is "abundantly clear" that on Dec. 20, 2006, Rone used her office to obstruct justice, and contributed to heightening emotions - not diffusing them - at a Rutgers University police traffic stop of her nephew.

Former Newark Mayor Sharpe JamesStay with PolitickerNJ.com for developing information in the sentencing of former Newark Mayor Sharpe James ...

EARLIER on PolitickerNJ.com ...

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• James gets 27 months
• Martini clashes with prosecutor in James sentencing
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• James and Riley make statements to the court
• James awaits sentencing in Newark

Andrews Captures Support of Majority of Newark Council