Scandals Scandals Everywhere

First, let's start off with a PSA. If you haven't donated anything to the tsunami relief effort Goin' Once can help and you don't even need to reach into your wallet. I'm sure everyone has a few items around the house that could be auctioned on ebay and Goin' Once will donate the net proceeds to one of the charity organizations below. Nice gesture by a new merchant in town. Try to support them.




Apparently, a scandal has been brewing at Borough Hall. Jack Archibald - aka Town Psychic (last item) - is accusing Councilman Carl Nolan of an ethics violation because as the democratic party treasurer "he" accepted a $4,800 campaign contribution from Seastreak. Now that Nolan has been re-appointed to the Harbor Commission Archibald thinks something smells fishy - "Is the Atlantic Highlands Harbor Commission For Sale?" Archibald suggests that Nolan should have resigned himself from the Harbor Commission because Seastreak is the harbor's largest tenant. I think maybe Archibald is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill here. The real scandal at the harbor is that I have to freeze my $%* off walking down the pier in rain, sleet, snow and wind when the folks in Highlands have a nice, cozy, heated pier with a fancy barge to stay warm in when the freaking boat is late.

Perhaps even more scandalous is the email Seastreak sent to riders a couple of weeks ago announcing fare increases. It must have been written by a bean counter and not someone who has to deal with customers on the phone or in person (I deleted my copy, if anyone still has it please forward it to me here). Worst is they didn't even allow people time to purchase a last book before the fares increased and they eliminated the 120-trip book (and savings) altogether. Seastreak has never been known for its customer service but this is a new low. Except the time they threw me overboard for getting drunk and challenging the captain to a duel until death doth take one of us matey. They're very touchy about the pirate thing. But still that was pretty mean. Anyway, Anne Smolenski Boiko sums up the new fare structure, comparing Seastreak and the nearly bankrupt New York Waterway ferry in Belford.
[Related items: New parking lot for Belford ferry first item and NJ Transit to operate Belford ferry? fourth item]

And another scandal! The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shut down the dredging of our harbor due to "numerous violations." Joe Reynolds digs deeper here.

AH Republicans - or at least the Republican council members (and one online newspaper publisher) - are up in arms over the January 1 town appointments.

The nationally ranked number 14 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers beat No. 1 LSU in overtime last night. Rutgers has also beaten Texas and Tennessee, two perennial powerhouses in women's college basketball. Look for Rutgers to move up in the polls and become a Final Four contender in March.

Let's end on a nice note too. [via Atlantic Highlands Herald]