Database Provides Information on 31,000 Flood and Salvage-Titled Vehicles

The state urges customers to consult the database before buying a car

The State Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) are urging all customers to consult their database of flood and salvage-titled vehicles before purchasing a car. That database now provides information on 31,000 such vehicles, the State MVC announced on Wednesday. It isn't illegal to sell vehicles with flood or salvaged titles. However, there are specific requirements that ensure potential purchasers are aware of the status of such vehicles, according to the MVC. “Damage sustained by vehicles must be disclosed to prospective buyers,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “We will hold car dealers accountable for violating our Consumer Fraud Act if they fail to make such disclosures.” The database was …

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5 Billion Gallons of Sewage Overflowed to N.J. Post-Sandy, Report Says

18 of 20 largest sewage spills in the northeast were reported in New Jersey and New York.

New Jersey saw approximately 5.1 billion gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage flow into waterways in the weeks and months following Superstorm Sandy, according to new data released by Climate Central. In total, the eight states hardest-hit by the storm had 11 billion gallons flow into canals, rivers and bays. "To put that in perspective, 11 billion gallons is equal to New York’s Central Park stacked 41 feet high with sewage, or more than 50 times the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The vast majority of that sewage flowed into the waters of New York City and northern New Jersey in the days and weeks during and after the storm," the Climate Central report said. Data included in the report was compiled from state agencies and …

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Limits on Adjusters' Fees Would Save Homeowners in a Disaster

Bipartisan Muñoz -Brammick legislation would limit public adjusters' fees during a Hurricane Sandy-type catastrophe

Public adjusters’ fees related to a catastrophic loss would be limited to 10 percent of an insurance claim settlement under bipartisan legislation approved today by the General Assembly. The bill, A-3519, is sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick, both R-Union, Morris and Somerset. “Homeowners and business owners deserve appropriate settlements after a catastrophe,” Muñoz said. “We can protect victims who have suffered a horrific loss and preserve fair compensation for the public adjusters who represent them.” New Jersey has no cap in place and by some accounts adjusters charged as much as 50 percent after Superstorm Sandy. “A cap shields policyholders from unscrupulous adjusters,” Bramnick …

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Days After Predicting Changes, Christie Administration Supports FEMA Standards

The action comes nearly a week after the governor predicted FEMA will scale back tough new flood maps it issued last December

The Christie administration has taken another step toward supporting new statewide elevation standards based on Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps. On Monday, the administration filed with the Office of Administrative Law an adoption package supporting the standards. The action comes nearly a week after Christie predicted FEMA will scale back tough new flood maps it issued last December. Those maps place a large amount of properties in flood zones, and require many structures to be elevated if their owners don't want to see flood insurance rates spike. The initial FEMA flood maps, which could create thousands more in insurance premiums and have residents raising their houses feet off the ground, are "too aggressive," said Gov. …

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Data Shows 211 Cranford Residents Sought Housing Assistance Following Sandy

State data also shows average cost of damage was $1,365 and six homes suffered major damage from the storm, while 1,235 businesses were impacted by the storm.

Superstorm Sandy inflicted major damage on six homes and one rental unit in Cranford and impacted 1,235 businesses in the area, according to an analysis of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs data by NJSpotlight.com.  The state data shows that although numerous homeowners spent days clearing away large tree branches and waiting for power to be restored, only six homes and one rental unit sustained "major" damage in the wake of the historic superstorm. "Major" damage, according to the analysis, is defined as any damage costing between $8,000 and $28,000. In the days following the storm, Cranford officials met to discuss Sandy's impact on the township. According to initial estimates by Police Chief Eric Mason, Hurricane Sandy — which …

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Pubs Pouring 'FU Sandy' Draft for Hurricane Victims

All proceeds from merchandise and beer sales benefit storm charities.

Pub dwellers can raise a pint and raise money for superstorm Sandy victims with the debut of FU Sandy draft. The hybrid white ale (the FU stands for Forever Unloved, of course) is a special brew created by New Jersey's own Flying Fish Brewing Co. All proceeds are dedicated to Sandy-related charities, and Flying Fish hopes to raise at least $50,000 from beer and merchandise sales. Flying Fish founder Gene Muller said the brewery "knew immediately that we wanted to do something to help" after Sandy struck, the Huffington Post reports. "Every single aspect of this beer, from the man-hours spent brewing it to the hops used to season it to the kegs that will contain it, has been donated so every cent brought in goes to superstorm Sandy victims…

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County Manager Announces $120 Annual Tax Hike For Average Homeowners in 2013

Despite decreased revenue in Union County's $506 million spending plan, officials managed to close a $28 million budget gap, according to a letter to the freeholder board by County Manager Alfred Faella.

The following is a letter written by Union County Manager Alfred J. Faella to members of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, regarding the 2013 Executive Budget. Dear Freeholders: We are now at the beginning of a second year of what is a multi-year budgetary turnaround, as we have closed an approximate $28 million budget gap.  Overall, the County appears to have stemmed the tide of eroding revenue collections in line with the national recovery, while taking long term steps to create new revenue streams, and implement proactive measures controlling our costs for future budgets. This year, we have turned our attention to the completion of several areas identified in last year’s executive budget for reform: Runnells Specialized …

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Nota Whistleblower

8:22 pm on Sunday, April 14, 2013

hear, hear!!!! And, they should stop playing games with the Unemployment numbers..... It's 9.5 % in NJ and has been lowering Nationwide???? It's only because people ran out of their unemployment benefits and cannot find a job!   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

NJ's Hurricane Sandy Assistance Reaches Nearly $800M

New Jersey residents affected by Sandy have until March 1 to register for disaster assistance.

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from FEMA While New Jersey survivors of Hurricane Sandy have until March 1 to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance, more than $780 million in disaster assistance has been approved to speed recovery. FEMA has approved more than $300 million in housing assistance for more than 52,000 people. Housing assistance includes temporary rental assistance and grants to repair and replace storm-damaged primary residences. More than $42 million has been approved to help survivors replace hurricane-damaged personal property and to help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, …

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Storm Victim Frustrated With Red Tape

Shore resident is upset about FEMA, confusing mandates, insurance delays

  An open letter to: President Obama, All the members of Congress, Governor Christie and members of New Jersey Senate and Assembly and to local mayors and council members MY DESCENT INTO MADNESS BY WAY OF THE RABBIT HOLE Super Storm Sandy has displaced seven people in my family. We all lived in Seaside Park, New Jersey. We are no different from the thousands of people who are facing what seems like insurmountable obstacles towards rebuilding our homes, our lives and our communities. During the height of the storm our local rescue workers, emergency personal and police were heroic in their efforts to save lives and mitigate damages. The weeks following the storm were also filled with countless stories of families, neighbors, friends and …

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