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.”

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden)

Sources close to Gov. Jon Corzine have said for months now that he won't pick a white male for lieutenant governor.

Not enough balance.

A week ago three names seemed fairly solid in a firmament that nevertheless shifts daily: state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) and Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells.

If the first two were white, they were women, at least. But the fact that they weren't males wasn't the only obvious jump-off-the-page quality they shared.

Both women had reputations as elected officials who wouldn't easily get pushed around. 

Weinberg earned a rep - and endeared herself in the process to Corzine - as an enemy of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, while Buono aggressively sought the budget chairmanship despite efforts by leadership to install somebody more pliant.

Sen. Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester)

Insiders say recurring signs indicate state Sen. Majority Leader Steve Sweeney's (D-West Deptford) ready to challenge state Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) for leadership in November, although Sweeney insists he doesn't know for sure at present.

"Discussions will take place in November," said the South Jersey lawmaker, whose remarks this morning in a 101.5 FM interview that he wants to be senate president "someday" instantly sent reporters' into fullbore Sweeney-seeking mode.

Sources close to Sweeney say there's a strong chance he will challenge the former governor for control of the caucus this year, and political animals add up the following as proof that he's inches away from that battle:  

He threw a bash in Atlantic City at the same time Codey partied with supporters;

He spoke at Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo's fundraiser;

He hauled up to Jersey City for a state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City) fundraiser;

SWEENEY STATEMENT ON APPROVAL OF FY 2010 BUDGET

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate approval of the FY 2010 Budget, by a vote of 22-17:

“On Monday, when the Budget Committee passed the FY 2010 spending plan, I was quoted as saying – in some cases, out of context – that this budget stinks.

“Unfortunately, that’s a side-effect of the politically-charged environment that we live in. Honest admissions and plain talk can sometimes be misconstrued and warped to serve a political point.

SMITH-SWEENEY BILL TO AUTHORIZE OPEN SPACE BONDING APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Senator Bob Smith, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would give voters in November the option to approve up to $400 million in open space borrowing was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 26-7, receiving final legislative approval.

“Open space preservation is at the very core of maintaining our quality of life in the Garden State,” said Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “Well-maintained parks, pristine forests, protected farms and untainted watershed are a necessary alternative to overdevelopment and suburban sprawl. We owe it to future generations of New Jersey residents to protect at-risk open space, and ensure that the garden stays in the Garden State for many years to come.”

SWEENEY BILL TO ESTABLISH PILOT COUNTY-WIDE TAX ASSESSMENT IN GLOUCESTER APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would create a pilot program in Gloucester County to merge municipal property tax assessors into a countywide office was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 25-7, with final legislative approval expected from the Assembly later today.

“Particularly as New Jersey residents are struggling with the effects of a national recession, we have a responsibility in government to achieve whatever savings we can for the hard-hit taxpayers we represent,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “This bill would allow the residents of Gloucester County to receive the services they depend on for a fraction of the cost, and would make Gloucester a model for shared services for the rest of the State. It’s time that we demand the efficient delivery of services from all levels of government, and make sure tax dollars are being used for the public good – not to perpetuate needless bureaucracy.”

SWEENEY-VAN DREW BILL TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INFORM SCHOOL PRINCIPALS OF STUDENTS’ CRIMES RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Jeff Van Drew which would require law enforcement or prosecuting agencies to provide written notice to high school principals of the identity of any student who is 18 years old or older and has been charged with certain serious criminal offenses was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 79-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“School officials have a responsibility to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for their students,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “They need to know when students in their midst have committed violent crimes, in order to protect the rest of the student population. This bill would ensure that principals have the information they need to take whatever precautions are necessary to protect our kids on school grounds.”

SMITH-SWEENEY BILL TO AUTHORIZE OPEN SPACE BONDING APPROVED BY BUDGET PANEL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Senator Bob Smith, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would give voters in November the option to approve up to $400 million in open space borrowing was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 12-2, with one abstention.

“Since the 1960s, in good times and in bad, through Republican and Democratic administrations, New Jersey voters have approved every open space preservation bonding initiative put before them,” said Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “That’s a testament to just how important this cause is to the people of the Garden State. Open space preservation is an issue that transcends party politics and municipal and county boundaries, and I hope everyone can get behind efforts to protect and preserve undeveloped lands in the State.”

SWEENEY BILL TO ESTABLISH PILOT COUNTY-WIDE TAX ASSESSMENT IN GLOUCESTER APPROVED IN BUDGET COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would create a pilot program in Gloucester County to merge municipal property tax assessors into a countywide office was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 14-0, with one abstention.

“Home rule has long been considered the third-rail in New Jersey politics, but if we’re ever going to get local property taxes under control, we need to find better ways to provide services with less cost to the local taxpayer,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “Gloucester County has a record as a Statewide leader in shared services, and all 24 municipalities in the county, on a bipartisan basis, have approved resolutions asking for the ability to merge tax assessment services. It’s time that we spend public dollars smarter, and put our limited public resources to the benefit of the public, not to perpetuate the bureaucracy.”

VITALE-SWEENEY-WEINBERG BILL TO PUBLICIZE HOSPITAL ERRORS RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“The best thing New Jersey can do to improve the safety of health care in our State is to allow free-market principles and business competition to drive patient safety improvements,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Health care consumers deserve to know how safe hospitals and other health care facilities are, and they deserve to be able to compare patient safety records at different facilities. By creating a more informed health care consumer, we’re putting the spotlight on health care facilities that aren’t living up to their patient safety responsibilities, and forcing them to do better in order to remain economically competitive.”