Protest Corporate Welfare!

Protest Governor Christie’s payoffs for layoffs to ed giant Pearson!

Governor Christie gave Pearson Education, Inc. an $80 million tax break to move offices from Bergen County to Hoboken, even though Pearson is making a killing off its high stakes testing contracts with states like New Jersey and New York.

And what did Pearson do? They turned around and moved 650 jobs to New York!

Pearson is one of the private companies that has profited most off of the corporate education reform movement. They don’t need tax breaks to move offices, especially when those tax breaks are paid for with continued cuts to public schools.

On May 14^th, join us at the Hoboken Ferry as we protest the high-stakes testing giant’s bad behavior and the governor who bankrolls it.

Demand Corporations Pay their Fair Share

Thursday, May 23rd, 12:00 PM

Hoboken River Ferry 1401 Frank Sinatra Drive, Hoboken NJ  

Tell Governor Christie:

Quit the corporate welfare and fund our public schools!

For more info:  
Call NJ Working Families Alliance 973-273-3363 or 
email rob@njworkingfamilies.org

The Last days of The Englewood Trolley Service

Have you ever ridden the Englewood Trolley? I have been putting it off for a long time. Now we have until June 30, 2013, it seems to enjoy this ride. There has been much talk about how this quaint reminder of days gone by is not used by anyone. I am beginning to think that some of us are invisible. The 2nd Ward Councilman said that he has never seen anyone on the Trolley. Well, the only time that I have seen it empty is when parked in the garage. Perhaps Mr. Cohen should come down off the hill sometimes. I am getting the strange feeling that  some folks would just like to control the very air we breathe. So I guess the people on this Trolley are plain old invisible. Very Ralph Ellison.

If the folks on the East Hill don't use it, why not stop the one that is wasting time and gas going up there. Sounds like a viable plan to me. Seems like the real problem is the people on the Trolley trying to get something for their tax dollars.

Perhaps those of you who ride the Trolley should speak up. You are allowed. Someone might tell you that you make a big deal of everything and threaten to get nasty, but I have found that life goes on after evil people get nasty.

Take a Trolley Ride Englewood. June 30th is not that far away. 

Get yourselves a free Trolley Ride. Make a few phone calls. There is little reason to suffer in silence. There is a lot of NASTY in the world.

First a Tsunami, then a surplus, go figure.

Artificial Light, Sleep Deprivation and Breast Cancer

A friend who lives on Howell Road in the 3rd Ward just sent me these photos. I was flabbergasted. I would never sleep if this situation existed outside my bedroom window. Experts say that this much artificial light affects more than just a person's sleep patterns. It has been linked to cancer. Studies have shown that females who work the night shift are more likely to develop breast cancer. Is Howell Road now a high risk area for breast cancer in women/men? Yes, men may also suffer from breast cancer. After thanking my lucky stars that this situation is not in my front yard, I decided to write this. Why are the lights on at Herring Field when there is no game in progress? Those blaring lights are wasting energy, causing night blindness in plants and possible breast cancer in humans. Why?

You would think that the person or persons responsible for keeping the Parks would make sure that these lights do not come on when there is no game in progress. What would happen if these lights illuminated the 1st or 2nd Ward homes at night? Residents in this area must begin to protest such wasteful and dangerous health practices in our City. These lights are focused almost directly into the windows of Glenbrook Parkway apartments and the homes on Howell Road. The glare is evident all the way down the block to Glenbrook Parkway.

There are lots of children in this area. We do not want them to be put at risk for breast cancer.  They also need uninterrupted sleep in order to be fresh for the learning required in school. Sleep deprivation has been known to affect the learning process. They are already working against the odds. We must eliminate all obstacles to success.

I am encouraging the residents of this area to make the call to the City Manager and ask that these artificial and very bright flood lights be regulated to shine on nights and at times when games are in progress. Someone must know when that is. I am sure that there is someone already on the payroll that might have this added to the duties they perform. It does seem a tiny responsibility that will mean so very much to the residents in this area.

Further reading on the issue...

A very interesting study done on the elimination of artificial light

http://jdmoyer.com/2010/03/04/sleep-experiment-a-month-with-no-artificial-light/

Environmental Factor: Artificial Light Stimulates Breast Cancer

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/january/science-artificial.cfm

RCEP Consultation on Artificial Light in the Environment
Martin Morgan-Taylor∗
http://www.darksky.org/

New Research Shows Artificial Light at Night Stimulates Breast Cancer Growth in Laboratory Mice
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/releases/2005/december19/index.cfm


                                         "... And how are the children?"

Line 2 is An Empty Ballot Position

Attention Englewood Voters: 

This is a reminder that Debra Richardson-Zarate (Line 2) is not running for the School Board. Her name is on the ballot but she is NOT running. 

Skip down to #'s 3 - 4 -5

She is supporting Devry Pazant Jeff Carter Carol Feinstein. Lines 3 - 4 - 5.

Get out and vote. All is not well in Public Education in Englewood.

All is not well when all 9 members of our school board belong to a secret organization that does not answer to or include the entire community. 

All is NOT well. Bottom line, the good old boy's private club is not good for our children. Test scores are among the lowest in the County. 

Both the Middle School and the High School have had 7 principals in the last 9 nine years. Math and Literacy scores are among the lowest in the county.

You be the judge. Is that a great 9 year track record or just plain old blind trust on our part?