Received via snail mail…..May 7, 2008

Bill,

At the last couple of (Gloucester City) council meetings I’ve heard Councilman Brophy and other councilpersons tell the public that one of the budget problems the city is having is a $600,000 increase in police pensions. I am a police officer and it infuriates me when I see our political leaders intentionally misleading the public like this.\”

There has been no increase in police pensions; the City is simply repaying a debt. They are in essence blaming the police officer for THEIR fiscal mismanagement when nothing could be farther from the truth.

Our current political leaders are not to blame for the problem but they sure as hell are to blame for the way they are handling it. They are turning the public against the police officers and using that to their advantage in current contract negotiations.

Other towns are laying off officers because of this.

The article attached explains everything and you can find it on the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association (PBA) website. www.njspba.com. There are also contacts on that website you could reach out to for further verification if you wished.

I would like to know what Gloucester City did with all the money they did not contribute to the pension system for all those years. At least I would like to see our City leaders step up and accept responsibility for the fact that it was the City’s mismanagement of funds that led to this problem and not any increase in police officer’s pensions.

I know this isn’t a big deal to most people but it is to me and all other police officers in this state. I can’t get any answers but I thought maybe you could make it public.

You obviously have the juice to get answers and I like your style. You do a great job with your site and, as a city resident; I enjoy being informed so quickly.

I know it not a big story but whatever you can do, I sincerely appreciate.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Cop………………………….

NOTE FROM BILL: I forwarded a copy of this letter to each member of council asking if they would like to respond. Stay tune; I will update the story as more information is received.

Related: Blue Line 

FROM THE DESK OF ROB NIXON

 

PFRS Pension Holidays and Local Governments – \”They Saved, We Suffer\”

 

From 1998 to 2007, local governments were given an unprecedented and lucrative opportunity to skip or reduce their required payments into the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). At the height of the Pension Holiday from 2001 to 2004, local governments contributed only 12% of their required PFRS pension and ERI contributions. This lack of funding not only crippled the health of the PFRS today but also has placed local governments in the situation of having to make up for this reckless practice now, much like the person who overspends on a credit card and who regrets it only when the bill arrives.   click here for the full report

Did you ever wonder what it was like to be a runner before the \”running boom\”?
How about 50 years before the running boom? South Jersey native John Glazer was a runner from 1922 until the late 1960’s and kept detailed scrapbooks of all his races during those years. The scrapbooks are a time capsule giving a detailed, up close look into what it was like to live and run in Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia during this period. The scrapbooks also chronicle John Glazer’s feat of running in the biggest and best race in South Jersey at the time– the Camden YMCA 4.7 mile street run 43 years in a row.
read more

source http://ramscrosscountry.blogspot.com/ 

Tom Tedesco, right, caught a 60 .lb Wahoo earlier this week while fishing off of Big Pine Key, Florida. The man with Tom is Don \”Big Tuna\” Proffit. He is from Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. He and his wife Robbin are good friends of Tom and fish with him often. That day they were on Don and Robbin\’s boat the \”Caribbean Soul\”.

 

Tom\’s son Tim speared a fish about the same size yesterday but a barracuda took it before he could pull it in. The one he is pictured with is a \”Hog Snapper\”.

 

According to Tim, \”We were out off Big Pine Key just inside Hawk\’s Channel and Pops pushed the fish to me and I hit it. That is what he said anyway. I think I was in the right spot and just got it with skill. But I learned it all from him. This capped off a day and a half of missing and losing fish. I also saw a nice Hawk\’s Bill Turtle just sitting on the floor waiting for something to swim by. What a day!

 

The Tedesco\’s are from Gloucester City NJ. Related: Hunting and Fishing

Re: They Saved, We Suffer

Bill,

This year it was $500,000 and I\’ve never heard anyone say $600,000. Also it was explained to the public exactly how this came about by me at a public meeting and in no way is anyone holding the police responsible.

Its cause is simple fiscal mismanagement, on the part of ex-governor Christie Whitman and unless our city fathers used this money for previous year’s property tax relief then they would also be responsible for the debt that now exists.

I had read the article the officer is referring to and it was the article used for reference in the explanation given to the public.

Mayor Bill James