Hurricane Sandy

Local Officials Describe Sandy's Widespread Devastation, 'Human Misery' to Senate Panel

State Senate looking to improve infrastructure, hear from local mayors, police chiefs on Hurricane Sandy specifics

Local officials described in dramatic detail the work of rescue and rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, as state senators listened to how the Jersey Shore is grappling with widespread devastation and how to improve for the future. “This is flooding, devastation, I’d never have imagined in my lifetime,” said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy, one of the first panelists detailing specific anecdotes and financial spending in response to Hurricane Sandy. The panelists were called by the state Senate Budget Committee, held in Toms River Monday. It was the first of several meetings aiming to equip senators with a better understanding as the state figures out how to fund the rebuilding of a collapsed infrastructure and to improve it in …

•  56 Comments
• Photos (9)

PolitickerNJ: District 21 Could Lose GOP Towns

State redistricting to be completed by April.

The 21st state legislative district, which includes Springfield, could lose Republican leaning towns during the once-in-a-decade redistricting process, according to an article in PolitickerNJ. The article quotes a source saying that several Somerset County towns in the district could be moved to the 22nd legislative district to make that district more competitive. The 21st district is represented by Republicans Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. of Westfield, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick of Westfield and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz of Summit. The 22nd district is represented by Democrats Sen. Nick Scutari of Linden, Assemblyman Jerry Green of Plainfield and Assemblywoman Linda Stender of Fanwood. Read more: Marks in wait-and-see mode

• Photos (1)

Education Commissioner Defends Budget Cuts

Bret Schundler discusses surplus freezes, possible reductions in state aid allocations.

Bret Schundler, newly sworn in as New Jersey's Commissioner of Education, defended the cuts in school aid already enacted by the Christie administration and warned educators Monday that more are on the way. Schundler spoke at the Garden State Coalition of Schools meeting at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School Monday night. The topic of conversation was the current financial state of education in New Jersey. Many districts represented received notice recently they would not be getting the remainder of the state aid they were expecting. And most are also expecting state aid cuts for the 2010-2011 budget year. "We all know we're in trouble here–in the state, in the country, in the local districts," said Lynne Strickland, executive director…

• Photos (9)
• Videos (1)

Senate Considers Local Legislators' Bills

Pedestrian safety, electronic cigarette ban and school safety bills are on agenda.

The state Senate will be considering two bills sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) and one sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Summit). Munoz is the Assembly sponsor of one of the Kean bills. Both Kean and Munoz represent Springfield. The joint bill proposes to increase penelties for drivers who hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk and cause "serious bodily injury" to the pedestrian. Under the Kean/Munoz plan,  penalties for drivers would increase from a $100 fine to up to $500. The bill also allows the judge to impose 25-day jail sentences on drivers in addition to driver's license for up to six month. The bill is still pending before the Assembly transportation committee. It is not known if it will be …