The Russians Gave America A Monument As A Memorial To The Victims Of September 11 And It’s In New Jersey (Copy)

The attacks of September 11, 2001 brought the world together. Even Russia and the United States.

I know this to be true because one of the many times I came back to New Jersey from another state put me right in the middle of getting the gift of a monument to the victims of September 11 to New Jersey from Russia.

Shortly after the untimely death of the late state Senator and Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham I ended up in Jersey City working with then Councilman Steve Lipski. Lipski was one of several candidates running in the special election to fill the unexpired mayoral term of Cunningham. I came back and set up shop with my still friend and former partner in the old Kush and Associates, James Barracato.

At some point during the campaign Lipski informed me that I needed to meet someone because Cunningham had been working to have a monument from the Russians placed in Jersey City but since his passing they were now getting a lot of push back. Lipski set up a meeting with Emily Madoff, who was the American lawyer to the Russians at the time.

Long story short. In the middle of a special election campaign, James and I agreed to work on bringing this monument to Jersey City. We didn’t realize the significance of the monument at the time, it was more of a, “how dare they dishonor Glenn” kind of thing.

We worked our butts off getting support for this monument. Unfortunately, for some reason there was a very vocal group fighting it. We set out educating the public on the significance of this gift and collected tens of thousands of petition signatures in support, the powers that were didn’t want to hear from us.

Barracato and I went to Madoff and informed her we needed to step up the pressure. She asked what we suggested. The answer, “Let’s run a tasteful commercial on cable.” She agreed.

Great, in the middle of a mayoral campaign, now we have to find the time to produce a commercial, no way that was happening. I enlisted the help of the late Tom Blakely, Tom was awesome, early in my career he always encouraged me, I still miss him. Anyway, Tom put us to work with Al Riberio, then a part of the Jamestown Associates team, and still one of the nicest guys in the world.

Together, Riberio, Barracato and I put together a nice 30 second spot.

Apparently, that spot caught the attention of then Bayonne Mayor Joe Doria. And that’s where the monument stands today. If you get the chance stop and see it. It’s a beautiful monument.

And, that’s my 9/11 story. Oh, yeah, there was a brief argument with the Secret Service because we arrived at the dedication incredibly early, maybe the only time Barracato was ever early for anything, and we parked in the spot that was reserved for former President Bill Clinton’s motorcade. It might go down in history as the only time I ever backed down from an argument.

This post first appeared in the blog on September 11, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: Durr, McCarthy-Patrick and Sawyer call on Sweeney team to pull deceptive ad

Republican candidates in the 3rd legislative district, Ed Durr for Senate, Bethanne McCarthy-Patrick and Beth Sawyer for Assembly are pushing back on “a deceptive ad on cable television” launched by Senator Steve Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro. The LDe candidates’ press release on the issue follows:

Third legislative district Republican candidates for state Senate, Ed Durr, and Assembly Bethanne McCarthy-Patrick and Beth Sawyer have called on Senator Steve Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro to stop running a deceptive ad on cable television.

The ad in question makes false claims about the Republican candidates’ stance on issues, job performance and bill payment history.

“While we all expected the Democrats to be aggressive, we did not expect them to resort to outright lies,” Republican state Senate candidate Ed Durr said. “The ad says I am against workers being paid overtime, I’m a non-union truck driver who relies on overtime pay to support my family. Why would I ever say such a thing? It’s made up, a lie that needs to stop immediately.”

GOP Assembly candidate Bethanne McCarthy-Patrick added, “Their ad claims I had a no-show government job. I was shocked to learn my 21 years as a union firefighter/EMT counts as a no-show job! While my co-workers and I were saving lives and property these guys were casting votes to raise our taxes. Apparently, lying is the best way for them to attack a first responder.”

“Sweeney, Burzichelli and Taliaferro do their best to stretch the truth, making things appear as something they aren’t. As a mom I always taught my kids that is lying. Sweeney, Burzichelli and Taliaferro should all know better.” Republican Assembly candidate Beth Sawyer continued, “The trio goes so far as to bring up a medial bill after the birth of my son nearly 26 years ago that my ex-husband was responsible for. Then, to add insult to injury they claim I failed to pay taxes on a property I sold and did not own, which was very easy for them to fact check.”

“While we all understand politics can be rough, lying is completely unacceptable. Sweeney, Burzichelli and Taliaferro should immediately pull their deceptive ad. The voters of our district deserve better than a bunch of lies,’ Sawyer said.

Gloucester County Commissioner Makes Sure Those Who Suffered Storm Damage Know Who Is Up For ReElection

The Gloucester County Board of Commissioners Director Bob Damminger has been kind enough to provide those cleaning up after Hurricane Ida with dumpsters.

It appears the dumpsters have come from the Gloucester County Solid Waste Complex. If that is indeed the case, the “provided” dumpsters are paid for with tax dollars – so, really those cleaning up provided themselves with dumpsters.

Not only did those cleaning up after Ida likely pay for the free dumpsters themselves, they also likely paid for the giant stickers on the dumpsters. And, of course, those giant stickers just happen to have the name of the County Commissioner who is up for reelection plastered on them. A nice taxpayer funded campaign ad for Damminger!

While Damminger seems to like having his name plastered on dumpsters I have not seen any evidence of him pitching in to help with any of the storm cleanup.

In contrast to Damminger’s effort in helping with storm cleanup, Gloucester County Republicans have been pitching in to help their neighbors.

Sean Sepsey, who is running for Assembly in LD5, has been out with his coworkers from Clearview Regional School District collecting donations and moving downed trees:

Other Republicans have enlisted members of their families to help.

Courtney Milward, who is running for Council in Pitman with Vince Kelly, has been very active helping with cleanup efforts, always with a warm smile on her face. Milward got assistance from her father’s construction company providing trucks to help move debris.

Candidate for Gloucester County Commissioner, Chris Konawel who is running with Nick DeSilvio, spent time with his dad helping cleanup efforts at Wellacrest Farms, even helping move a calf born the day after the storm.

 The difference here is that while Democrats were quick to use Ida as a campaign tool, quickly making it about climate change, Republicans have been out there helping their neighbors without using their efforts as part of their campaigns.

Note: At last check the cow pictured above is alive and well.