Long Branch

Assemblyman Sean Kean, the organization candidate for State Senate in the eleventh district, will face Rev. Kevin Brown, a conservative evangelical preacher from Long Branch, in the Juine 2007 GOP primary. Brown ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Long Branch last May.

At least two candidates are actively seeking support for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the eleventh district, where an open seat is likely. Former Wall Township PBA President David Rible and Neptune Township Mayor Thomas Catley both want to run if incumbents Sean Kean and/or Steve Corodemus run for the State Senate, where Joseph Palaia is not seeking re-election to a seventh term.

Other possible candidates include Long Branch Councilman Anthony Giordano (who lost a 2002 Special Election Convention to Kean for the late Thomas Smith's Assembly seat), former Monmouth County Freeholder Edward Stominski, Spring Lake Council President Walter Kimm, and West Long Branch Mayor Janet Tucci. Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo, and Belmar Councilman-elect Matt Moran are possible candidates on the Democratic side.

BELLEW FOR CONGRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.BellewforCongress.com

EMINENT DOMAIN IS A REAL THREAT TO N.J. HOMEOWNERS

Leigh-Ann Bellew
info@bellewforcongress.com
Phone: 732-670-9839

New Jersey residents, particularly those in the shore area, don’t have to look to New London, CT to study eminent domain abuse in all its glory. They can take a walk down Marine Terrace in Long Branch where older, but well kept homes on that street have been taken by town officials to be replaced with the state’s largest coastal development project.

Long Branch officials justified their action by declaring these homes blighted, which under NJ law, has been redefined from meaning run down eyesores to homes that are “underutilized.�

“Underutilized is a cagy word that’s hard to define,� says Leigh-Ann Bellew. “It is scary to think that if a home doesn’t have three bedrooms or two baths it can be considered underutilized and snatched from the homeowner for a higher tax ratable.�

“There is a difference between eminent domain and eminent domain abuse in the latter the government is taking from the poor to give to rich developers.� says Bellew.
“I think this is not only an abuse of the law, it’s an abuse of power,�

Congressman Frank Pallone does not seem to share that belief. He seems to believe in the redistribution of property, a socialist ideal. Although he voted in favor of the Private Property Protection Act, the legislation he introduced on the issue is more telling of where he stands. His bill, called the “Protect Our Homes Act� states that a governmental entity may not use the power of eminent domain to take private property for economic development purposes “unless…..� then goes on to set parameters for exceptions. Mr. Pallone also voted against giving land owners greater leeway in challenging the federal government over seizures of private property, against an amendment to allow local government to challenge the taking of land by the federal government under the Land and Water Conservation Fund, against an amendment restricting the federal government from owning more than 50% of the land, and against the Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006, which allows private property owners expedited access to the federal courts to protect property.

“One look at Pallone’s FEC reports and we can see why, because Developers and Builders are some of his largest contributors,� claims Bellew.

Leigh-Ann Bellew believes that our founding fathers recognized that to be truly free government must protect their citizens’ person and property in order to protect their liberty. Redistribution of property, just as the redistribution of wealth, robs citizens of their right to liberty. When private property is forcibly redistributed the very foundation of a government begins to decline because their role as protector no longer exists.

As a Congresswoman, I pledge to work hard to bring America back to the basic doctrine that citizens have unalienable rights, one of which is the right to own property. The importance of private property rights far exceeds a concern that the town may not be able to pay its bills or attract new home buyers, or whatever reason they use. Eminent domain abuse adds to the already overburdened and overtaxed citizen a fear of their government. American citizens have lost the trust that they should have in the people they elect to represent them. We need to repair the damage big government has done to that trust and the best place to start is to reassure our citizens they are safe in their homes.

Freeholders, surrogate candidates come out against eminent domain abuse

FREEHOLD (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Homeowner land rights are the corner-stone upon which democracy was founded.

Today, there are serious concerns in Monmouth County that government is over-stepping its powers and adversely impacting individual rights by exercising eminent domain in a way that is inconsistent with the intended use of such laws.

EMINENT DOMAIN ABUSE IS A CONCERN FOR GIBADLO

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Democrat for Monmouth County Freeholder J. Gregory Gibadlo is concerned about the potential for eminent domain abuse in Monmouth County.

GIBADLO RESPONDS TO GOP CRITICS

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Democrat for Freeholder J. Gregory Gibadlo, who was elected by the Democratic County Committee on Thursday, August 31, is responding to a few Republican detractors who have made statements about his residency. Mr. Gibadlo has resided in Monmouth for the past three decades, since 1976.

PALLONE HOSTS FORUM FOR COASTAL MAYORS TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON SHORELINE

Long Branch, New Jersey – At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Schneider and the City Council introduced a budget that will lower municipal property taxes for the first time in over 20 years.

The $38 million budget will result in a one-cent decrease in the municipal tax levy, from 94.3 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value to 93.3 cents per hundred dollars. This achievement is all the more remarkable given the tax increases most municipal governments are facing this year. Through a combination of prudent financial decision-making and an increase in $100 million worth of tax-ratable properties, the Mayor and City Council were able to build on the success of last year’s budget, which kept municipal property taxes flat, and were able to actually lower the property tax burden on the city’s residents.

“I am proud to announce that we are finally able to lower municipal property taxes here in Long Branch,� Mayor Adam Schneider stated. “City taxpayers are in need of property tax relief, and this budget proves that we are doing our part to provide that relief.�

Council President Anthony Giordano shared the Mayor’s sentiment, stating, “It’s really rewarding to know that all of the hard work we have put in to balance the budget and to revitalize the city’s economy is succeeding.�

Analysis of the city’s budget shows that this tax decrease was made possible mostly by the revitalization of the city’s beachfront. The added $1 million in tax revenue from an expanded tax base comes largely from the newly revitalized areas. “This tax cut is a powerful demonstration of the success of our vision for a rejuvenated Long Branch,� Council Vice President Mike DeStefano stated. “The revitalization of the beachfront has made this tax cut possible for homeowners across the city.�

The Mayor and the Council were able to achieve this tax cut through sound fiscal planning and the realization of their vision for a revitalized Long Branch. Further evidence of this is the city’s first-ever triple-A bond rating, which allows the city to borrow money for capital projects at the lowest possible rate�again, keeping the tax burden on the city’s residents to a minimum.

Councilman David Brown agreed, stressing the importance of stable taxes to keeping Long Branch an affordable place to live: “This is great news for all residents of Long Branch. Homeowners will directly pay less in taxes, while the city’s renters will see relief in the form of lower rent. Everyone who lives in the city benefits from this tax cut.�

Councilwoman Dr. Mary Jane Celli echoed Councilman Brown’s statement: “This tax cut is tangible evidence that the city government delivers results to the city’s residents. Long Branch residents will see benefits not only from lower property tax bills or lower rent, but also in the boost this will give to the local economy.� Councilman John Zambrano concurred by stating, “Lower property taxes means more business in Long Branch, which means more jobs for Long Branch residents. This budget is something everyone in Long Branch should be proud of.�

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A Picture of Progress
The Schneider Team proudly displays proof of Long Branch’s progress

Long Branch, New Jersey – Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, along with his running mates Councilwoman Dr. Mary Jane Celli and Councilmen David Brown, Michael DeStefano, Anthony Giordano and John Zambrano presented residents with proof of the city’s progress, launching an online photo gallery yesterday, revealing before and after shots of various locations throughout Long Branch.

CORZINE FILES DIRECT APPOINTMENTS

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today made the following direct appointments.