As reported by nj.com, dozens of unions and public workers filed suit against the newly enacted pension and health benefit overhaul in federal court yesterday. The 58-page, 17-count suit charges the state violated the state and federal constitutions by suspending cost of living adjustments for at least 30 years, failing to make full payments
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Union City Police Chief Earns About $36K Per Year As Part-Time School Security Worker
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, although he has a full-time, $248,000 per year job as Union City’s police chief, Charles Everett has been raking in thousands of dollars for off-duty work for keeping tabs on the city’s pool and athletic field. According to records obtained by The Jersey Journal through the state’s Open Public Records …
NJ Has Lowest Number of Public Workers In Eight Years
By Donald C. Barbati on
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As reported by nj.com, with a flood of retirements, the sluggish economy, and a governor intent on shrinking the size of government, the number of public workers in New Jersey has dropped to its lowest level in eight years, a Star-Ledger analysis shows. New Jersey shed about 29,100 state and local government jobs …
As Hurricane Irene Approaches, State Prisons Prepare To Move Inmates
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, New Jersey’s Department of Corrections is preparing for the possibility of having to relocate hundreds of state prison inmates as Hurricane Irene approaches. The department issued a statement saying emergency evacuation plans are being dusted off at all 13 state prisons.
A primary concern is the Southern State Correctional …
Changes To Way Police Eyewitness Identifications Are Used In Court
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, New Jersey’s standards for eyewitness testimony in the courtroom is unreliable and can encourage police misconduct, the New Jersey Supreme Court said in ordering a revision of investigative and court practices. The unanimous ruling follows a recent report recommending tighter restrictions on eyewitness testimony and is likely to have far-reaching …
Christie Wants to Eliminate Division of Fire Safety
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, a Democratic state senator said that Governor Chris Christie is looking into eliminating the Division of Fire Safety, which is responsible for enforcing the state fire code, education programs, and firefighter training. In a news release criticizing the plan, Senator Jim Whelan said the administration wants to divide the …
NJ Union Leader Elected National VP of Fraternal Order of Police
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Ed Brannigan, the leader of the state’s second-largest police union, was elected national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police last Thursday. Brannigan knocked out the incumbent, David Hiller, of Michigan, by a vote of 1,577 to 1,365 at the union’s national conference in Salt Lake City. He will remain …
Camden Moves Closer To Forming Countywide Police Force
By Donald C. Barbati on
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As reported by nj.com, Camden officials are now working on plans to have the Camden County government take over the city’s police force. Camden County’s Board of Freeholders approved the concept last week. City officials had already signed on.
The parties have until September 30 to submit a detailed plan for review by the state’s …
NJ State PBA Agrees to Return Group’s Events to AC Following Re-Hiring Of Cops
By Donald C. Barbati on
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As reported by nj.com, one of New Jersey’s largest police unions is returning to Atlantic City after nearly a year of protest. The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association pulled events in January after the city laid off 60 police officers.
The New Jersey State PBA moved its main convention last March to the …
Credit Rating Agency Fitch Downgrades NJ, Citing Unfunded Pension, Benefit Liabilities
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the credit rating agency Fitch has lowered New Jersey’s general bonds, citing unfunded pension and employee benefit liabilities. The agency wrote that making an increased pension payment, which Governor Chris Christie has said he will do, will “conflict with other long term challenges, such as property tax relief, school funding, …