How Many People Here Are From Jersey?

Governor Piscapo?

You think I'm joking? [via Sluggo Needs A Nap]

Joe Reynolds wrote a very thoughtful piece on the winter blues and the restorative value of a walk in the woods. Yesterday was the perfect day to venture out for a woodsy constitutional as we approached spring-like temperatures - 63 degrees according to NOAA. Today on the other hand... Joe also explains the origins of the name Many Mind Creek.

Ray "I can smell a cop a mile away" O'Grady attended last night's Township Committee meeting as he still refuses to resign his position. Former Middletown committeeman Joseph McGrath addressed O'Grady at the meeting saying, "Your actions are inexcusable, and they have definitely cast a black shadow over the entire form of government in Middletown Township. You have an obligation to step down and allow the Township Committee to replace you and restore that trust."

Does O'Grady really think he's going to get out of this mess? That he was entrapped? That he's, uh, cough, cough, innocent? Yes, I believe in innocent until proven guilty but his position and alleged actions affect an entire town, and the county as he was director of the Monmouth County central money motor pool. He should step down, if even temporarily, and be replaced by someone who will not be a distraction to getting town business done. If he's found innocent then Middletown can throw him a big welcome back ticker tape parade through Downtown. Wait, Middletown doesn't have a downtown because O'Grady couldn't convince his constituents to shell out the money to build it. I wonder if The Duke was bidding on that project? Not only are O'Grady's olfactory senses bad at sniffing out cops but worse at detecting any kind of common sense in this matter.

...And the beat goes on...check out the last item in this Asbury Park Press story re: "Belford developments." It involves O'Grady winning of a "raffle," the purchase of a condo, the suggestion of unethical behavior and the ever present, "no comment."

Acting Governor Codey gave the Senate approved pay-to-play bill a "conditional veto." He's asking lawmakers to revise portions of the bill to protect some $350 million of federal transportation aid, which federal officials withheld last year. Federal highway officials feel the bill "would illegally stifle competition for government contracts."

I know I won't be getting any sleep tonight as I'll be anxiously awaiting Wednesday's Council meeting. The agenda looks exciting!

1. Roll call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of minutes from 2/23
4. Introduction of municipal budget
5. Snickering from the audience
6. Call to order
7. Outrage from the audience
8. Tomato throwing
9. Tomatoes to be tossed back at audience
10. Call to order
11. Passing around of the minibar cocktails
12. More passing around of the minibar cocktails
13. Drunken apologies
14. Group hug
15. Passing of the budget
16. Singing of "Country Roads Take Me Home"
17. Adjourn