Now that the FEMA money is rolling in, our Governor has started to distribute recovery funds to towns for cleanup costs. It seems that the towns first to get money are the ones that used, you guessed it, Christie's good buddies, Ashbritt. 
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From nj.com

Gov. Chris Christie’s administration announced on Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved nearly $10 million in federal funding for several public assistance projects for post-Hurricane Sandy cleanup costs in Belmar and Marlboro, as well as for personnel and equipment costs incurred by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Chris Christie has proudly exclaimed that New Jersey is now one of the least corrupt states in the country. It seems he doesn't consider the old Jersey boys way of doing business corrupt.
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From nj.com

A Florida-based company that has been criticized for charging towns top rates to dig out from Hurricane Sandy was awarded a second contract by the Christie administration, largely for future work, despite prices that are significantly steeper than its competitors.

Not a day goes by that Lakewood doesn't get media attention for something negative. Accidents, shootings, homelessness , slumlords and now kindergartners and gun violence. 

A Spruce street school kindergarten student threatened that he would return the next day with a gun. The incident was reported to school superintendent Laura Winters. Police were called and the boy was suspended for two days. 

They are everywhere. In articles in Jewish publications, on websites, even on social media. Our Senators and Assemblymen are busy making laws. Most of the time you only see them at ribbon cutting ceremonies and dinners, smiling for the cameras. Now all of a sudden the press releases are buzzing with new legislation being proposed by our concerned politicians.

It seems that it is open season now for the two New Jersey senate seats. Soon to be nonagenarian Frank Lautenberg will have Cory Booker to contend with in the Democratic primary, and Bob Menendez is now embroiled in a scandal which may not end well for him. Our Democratic Senators are very vulnerable, and no Republicans have stood up to challenge them. But that may all change very soon. 

We Orhodox Jews are very careful about every aspect of our lives. We only eat food that is kosher. Our meat is slaughtered according to Jewish Laws. Our clothing must be modest and free of shatnez. Our speech, our eyes and ears are guided by laws that prevent us from doing wrong. But when it comes to buying furniture are all bets off? Should we look the other way and buy a couch or bedroom set from someone that does not conduct business in a way a good Jew should? 

Recently it was revealed that the new Living Quarters store, owned by the Friedman family of Brooklyn bought Dina's Dinettes and proceeded to threaten their suppliers not to sell to our local furniture stores. 

These stores that are owned by Lakewood residents are now suffering because of the owner of Living Quarters' unscrupulous conduct. 


If The Friedman family wants to be known as the fine Jews they like to make themselves out to be, they will call all the companies that they threatened and tell them to please sell to all the other Lakewood furniture stores. If they can't do that then perhaps the families of Lakewood should not shop at their stores.

For every rule there is an exception. I am not sure who, if anyone, ever said that, but most of us in Lakewood know it as fact. Whether it is the police department, zoning, planning, inspections or even the tax assessor. Each department has someone that tells them what and how to do things above and beyond the law and rules.

We live in a town where a Mayor's son( not the current one)doesn't have to worry about getting a ticket because his father can have it taken care of. Where an officer might lose a promotion because he had the misfortune of having to give an original askan's wife a summons. Where our police chief is busy going to every ribbon cutting and political dinner, instead of making sure there is a police presence in high crime areas.

Senator Robert Singer (R- Ocean) issued the following statement following Governor Christie’s formal signing into law of interest arbitration reform.
Seemingly worried about how much taxpayers spend on public employees, Singer writes:

“Today, reform that many in New Jersey thought impossible has become law: a reasonable cap on interest arbitration awards. State government has taken a momentous step in stabilizing out of control property taxes and restoring faith with a public angered by the imposition of public employee contracts more generous than those enjoyed by the average taxpayer. I am extremely proud that New Jersey finally has a Governor who possesses the courage and vision to tackle the difficult issues that have made New Jersey unaffordable and driven too many people out of our state. However, there is more to do for the taxpayers, and I look forward to continuing to stand by Governor Christie in the upcoming legislative session to move his reform agenda forward.”