Stan Writes: Hi Neil, as the Public Advocate how come you rarely write anything? Just curious!!!

Hey Stan, yes I have been more quiet lately, but that doesn't mean I have stopped caring about the website or it's mission. There are a number of things in the works right now that have taken up a lot of my attention.

As I mentioned last week I am due to be deposed tomorrow by the Port Authority lawyers. Part of my subpoena was to gather documents related to my case, which I have been doing.

In addition to that, my job has been busier than usual. What most people are unaware of is that when I started this website I was between jobs, which meant I had much more time to devote. Since then I have taken on a new consulting opportunity that has been more demanding than I first expected.

Another reason is that I have been looking to improve the format of this website for a while in order to facilitate an easier exchange of ideas. I know that many like how easy it is to use nj.com despite its deletions & censorship. I originally had one redesign idea in mind, but I have sine been in discussions with the owner of http://www.thejcboard.com, who happens to be a friend of mine. He created that website around the same time I created this one. We think that we might be able create a partnership, and I am thinking of utilizing the software that he is using on his website. This would give us more of a discussion board feel, and it would also link up with other area boards. What is taking me time is that I do not want the front page to look the way his does, I want to try and maintain a simple style similar to what I have. Also obviously I want to make sure all the content gets migrated over. Feel free to take a look at his site & play around with it! The discussion forum is here.<

Also, I am still committed to bring an interview with each potential mayor candidate to this website answering public questions. If I can manage it, I may also try to organize a debate, however I need to see what other people would be interested in being involved & helping out.

Finally, I truly appreciate the comments & opinions that everyone brings to this site. It is why I set it up. I think that when I started it was with the intent of being way more opinionated than I have been. However, if I have slowed down in opinion it is only because I realize that I need to listen to everyone else's thoughts more before speaking out.

HappyPolski

Shortly after the council meeting started one member of the RAT pack informed me that someone who could be Mr. David was sitting in the back. I got up and asked if this stranger was Mr. David. IT WAS! Since the budget meeting was still in progress I just introduced myself and we chatted for about a minute. While I would have liked to speak with him after the meeting I was focused on a couple of questions that I forgot to ask during the meeting. Hopefully we’ll see more of Mr. David.

HappyPolski

<font color="#000000">Hi Folks:</font><font color="#000000">The office has been busy lately so my focus has been on getting projects off my desk and unto someone else's! I planned on sending this out Sunday but, as usual, my connection to the office workstation got clobbered. And since these files are on my C drive at the office I had no alternative but to wait until this now.</font>

<font color="#000000">There are two meetings this week. The regularly scheduled Council Meeting on Wednesday at 7:30PM and a special meeting on the budget on Thursday at 5:30PM.</font>

<font color="#000000">From my perspective although the Administration is working to reduce the size of the City government, a majority of the reduction stems from BLRA monies. And although the cry is NO BOND SWAPS, in my reality the City usurped the BLRA cash-on-hand and is forcing them to issue bonds to cover their debt. So, someone is still generating more debt.</font>

<font color="#000000">However, I do want to commend the Malloy Administration for making the effort to regain control over the budget. I sense that it will be a slow and painful process.</font>

<font color="#000000">Hope to see you at either or both meetings! Be there or be square!!</font>

<font color="#000000">Warmest Regards,</font>

<font color="#000000">Stan</font>

<font color="#0000ff">municipalcouncilspecialagenda_20080514.pdf</font>

<font color="#0000ff">municipalcouncilcaucusagenda_20080514.pdf </font>

HappyPolski

The meeting started at 7PM and ended just around 11. I suspected that it would be a long meeting, but not for the reasons that made it long!I'm sure that by now you're all aware of the resolution that was tabled until the next meeting - the Bayonne International Commerce Center. Although the item was brought up at the council caucus on the 23rd, it seems that the obligatory documentation didn't reach the council members until the day of the meeting. Several members wanted to read the data before forming their opinion as to whether or not the resolution should pass. There were about 30 Tax Court appeals brought to the council's attention. Most of the appeals were brought forward by corporate entities.Additionally there were 5 tax appeals settled. Fortunately they amounted to only about $22,000 in adjustments. I'm concerned about the aforementioned items because any significant changes will affect our budget. municipalcouncilspecialagenda_20080430.pdf

HappyPolski

The meeting lasted about 2 hours. There were a couple of presentations.

Remember, the information shown here is, in a sense, a prelude to the actual meeting this coming Wednesday, April 30th. If you see something you find interesting and would like to know more about it, stop by and ask questions.

municipalcouncilcaucusagenda_20080423.pdf

HappyPolski