New Mayor/Council Elected
New Mayor/Council Elected
Honest Service Sought
11/4/18:
On May 8, 2018 the citizens of Long Branch finally had enough, there were other viable candidates, and so they removed the dirty Schneider Administration. Adam Schneider had been mayor 28 years. Councilman John Pallone, brother of Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, and who barely won his first term as councilman, was elected along with his slate of 5 council candidates including senior incumbent running mate councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, Ed D.
The Pallone grew up around the corner from ground zero Community Place and have been supported by Ed Bruno of E&L Paving and owner Ray Greico of Atlantic Paving who also grew up in Long Branch and who have been defendants in the long-standing conspiracy to evade zoning laws and are under “pressure” of the municipal court to obtain valid zoning approvals.(See Judiciary/Unabated Violations – Municipal Court Complicit) Perhaps not surprisingly, under Pallone, Mr. Bruno’s numerous violations for illegally expanding the use was dismissed in the municipal court though Mr. Bruno provided false information on the dirty zoning permit application and is benefitting from income from the illegal occupants. The conflicts judge has become complicit and bought into the conspiracy by continuing to allow defendants to operate in violation as long as they submit plans for zoning approval whereas ordinance requires all zoning violations terminated within 30 days and they should be fined into submission until the lots are cleared pending proper approvals. This requires a trial but its obvious this judge Timothy F. McGoughran, the regular Ocean Twp. Judge would drag that out too. Municipal courts don’t otherwise provide injunctive relief – that’s up to a city attorney acting in good faith to enforce the ordinances or plaintiff.
To its credit, however, the first acts of the administration was to hold town hall meetings and bid out & replace the conflict-ridden (see, ie, “Arson and Corruption Covered Up..”City Attorney /Conflicts of Interest and “New Corruption Uncovered”) City Attorney James Aaron who built the Ansell Grimm Aaron firm’s real estate department on the backs of Long Branch and other residents thru ill-advised easily avoidable/expensive lawsuits, including eminent domain. Then on Oct. 1, 2018 it removed Kevin Hayes as business administrator and replaced him with Eatontown’s former police chief and administrator, George Jackson (salary $182,500) See “New Corruption Uncovered” update for the editor’s dealings thus far with him. Mr. Hayes still retains his jobs as Code Enforcement and Fire Bureau Chiefs though he has failed to perform required fire inspections and enforce mercantile license requirements at neighboring facilities. The new administration has been made aware of this (See “New Corruption Uncovered” update).
By the end of 2018 it should become apparent whether or not honest service will be provided by the new administration.
10/21/19:
It appears that honest service will not be forthcoming from this administration in this matter. Must be something in the air here in Long Branch,
5/25/2021:
After allowing time for the new administration to re-organize and to deal with Covid, on May 11, 2021 in preparation for the city council meeting the next day, a dear John letter was sent to Mayor John Pallone, with cc to the entire council, administrator and city attorney laying out the history of corruption, the ongoing lack of zoning permits despite rejection of the use by the zoning board 7/10/17 and on appeal 6/19/18, the indefinite adjournment 7/16/19 by the planning board of the current application, and the fact zoning violations are to be terminated within 30 days by ordinance, not be allowed to go on for years. The letter also pointed out the potential official misconduct of the mayor and councilwoman Celli as their ol buddy Ed Bruno/E&L Paving holds the mortgage for the illegal occupants and continues to gain benefit while the neighborhood and editor suffer and are deprived of honest service. (See “Its Official” on homepage for definition of official misconduct) A link was also provided in the letter (see below – Ongoing Crimes/Conspiracy) documenting evidence of the ongoing conspiracy including crimes by the neighbors to force editor to give in or leave. Council was advised “If further harm and damage occur considering all this, I will be filing notice of continuing tort due to the palpably unreasonable lack of abatement. Public entities must act in good faith and lose immunity if palpably unreasonable. This principal of continuing tort was affirmed by a state judge in a prior matter.” (See “case(s)”/Case 6/Bauman Summary Judgment 9.28.12 Hearing & Decision)
The city attorney indicated he would refer it to Mr. Graviano (who left since) who oversees building dept./planning &.zoning AND WHO DOES NOT FILE INJUNCTIONS – THAT’S THE CITY ATTORNEY’S JOB (UNLESS DIRECTED NOT TO DO SO BY THE ADMINISTRATION/COUNCIL). Based on this it looks like it could be more of the same – a charade of notice of violations and summonses while it drags out in a kangaroo municipal court thru elections seeking filing of a renewed application which is identical to one already rejected. (4/20/23 update: no summones issue now so no court, lol) Editor will not let that occur and would seek the injunction and holding Long Branch responsible for the costs due to their palpably unreasonable lack of abatement. Also, as code enforcement was asked 5/10/21 to abate the neighbor’s placement of garbage on/in front of editor’s property per ordinance, which still occurs as well as the offsite parking due to no site plan approval which restrict access from editor’s property, this does not bode well. Editor will follow up at the next council meeting on 5/26/21.
8/17/22 Update:
Editor participated in two other zoom council meetings on May 26, 2021 and June 23, 2021 trying to get Long Branch to issue an injunction but the city attorney, after lying that he met previously with Editor, tells Council its nothing new and the zoning and code issues will not be enforced , referring to judge Perri ‘s dismissal in Case 6. (See Case(s) for Elections& Reforms) Plaintiff emailed a letter dated May 28, 2021 to mayor, council and administrator and city attorney disputing these assertions and explaining how these are new continuing violations and raised this at the June 23, 2021 meeting mentioning how his rights may be violated considering the public entity’s enforcement of zoning and parking ordinances elsewhere in town and beautification and quality of life efforts city wide, but received no further response. Official misconduct is confirmed as Bruno discharges his mortgage with the neighbors the exact day Mayor Pallone and Councilwoman Celli and entire council receive Editor’s letter indicating his intent to participate in upcoming council meetings on the subject. Public records show no notice of violations are even written in contrast to the previous administration, perhaps because once written, if not correct or enforced, it can be addressed by prerogative writ in the superior court which can order it be corrected and enforced.
10/4/24 Update:
A new complaint and order to show cause seeking restraints against the neighbors and termination of the illegal use by the sheriff was filed on 12/28/21 in Chancery (See Case 7: Case(s) for Reform” Docket Mon. C-209 21. Current Docket Number is Mon L 1422-22.)
The matter was transferred to judge Gregory Acquaviva in law div., a former lobbyist of Trenton politicians and former counsel of Gov. Christie who nominated him to the bench where he served prior in family court. Judges in NJ get 7 years “probation” after appointment after which they need to be renominated by the governor and confirmed by the senate after hearing by the senate judiciary committee. A local state senator can block a judge for any reason using senatorial courtesy. Sen. Vin Gopal is the local senator and he is friends with the Pallones (Frank is congressman, John is mayor) and also resides in Long Branch. The judge’s parole ended in July 2024 and he needed to be renominated prior.
Due to the need for renomination and editor’s observance of signs of political influence being exerted, (real signs were used, lol – see below),the editor had real concerns as to whether the judge, a lover of politicians, could be impartial. The concerns proved to be real and validated. (See “Case(s), case #7 at bottom of that page)
The city attorney’s firm has as its partner the speaker of the NJ assembly and has influence with the governor who gets nominated. After the complaint was filed Rosario told the editor it wouldn’t be taken seriously and initially defaulted. At a zoom contempt hearing he and Grieco, the other owner of the property flashed Pallone yard signs to send the message they’ve’ got their backs, prior to the judge coming on. A check of NJ Elect website reveals Rosario contributed $500 to Mayor John Pallone on 3/31/22 and $500 to the Pallone Team on 5/25/22 and notes his employer as Rosario Contracting Corp. During pendency of the first summary judgment to obtain an injunction, Sen. Gopal and 2 aides were seen walking on the street in front of the editor’s property. There are much nicer places in town to walk. .Finally, the court’s contrived and corrupt decisions to deny injunctive relief and legalize a use never before legal and other acts appears designed to save face for the city attorney despite the judge having been reconfirmed July 2024 and no longer needing to please politicians. There can be no other explanation but that political influence has been exerted or favors paid and the area will suffer.
In 2010 an appeal court refused to take action to correct and enforce a notice of violation which would have provided injunctive relief as to all the businesses except the paving company. The court used the excuse it didn’t know if a re inspection was made Feb 26, 2010 though the point was in the appeal for adjudication and the court certainly could have asked, lol. See Case(s) case 5.
Also, a NJ attorney general elected thru non partisan elections would have ended the matter years ago by prosecuting for official misconduct. The Governor is buddies with the Pallones and came to the mayor’s swearing in. Don’t expect the NJ AG to do anything especially after judge Acquaviva, on his own, “legalizes” the construction yard.
Plaintiff ships interstate, and the judge has joined defendants and Long Branch in a conspiracy to legalize a use which was rejected and restricts access, takes some of his property and constitutional rights to equal protection and uses other means to coerce plaintiff into accepting the illegal use.
The courts have been apprised of the apparent conspiracy, recusal is being sought and reconsideration before an impartial judge. Hearing scheduled for October 15 and a nuisance trial for December 2, 2024. .