Gov. Christie in West Milford for town hall meeting - NorthJersey.com [dayinformations.blogspot.com]
Let's Play Minecraft - Part 01 - Beginning StepsWelcome to Part 01 for my first Minecraft LP Season! This part entails chopping a few trees down and exploring the newly created world, while building living quarters :) Apologies for the strong brightness of the video, I had recorded the video with low brightness and YouTube made it slightly brighter for me. Didn't do too well on it really. -.-. All fixed for the next recording session :) I also apologise for the bad sound balancing. Annoyingly, Minecraft's sound is very loud even when the volume's turned down quite low. This persists up to about Part 6 or so. Please note that while there are some mods installed on my Minecraft, I will try not to use them as much as possible. I will obviously not use the TMI mod as that's plain cheating. If you liked this episode, then please click on the Like button and subscribe to find out about new Minecraft episodes! Pre-Season Information: ----------------------------------- Here are the mods I've i nstalled (Only using Flying from Zombe's Modpack): Too Many Items - www.minecraftforum.net (Not using this) Zombe's Modpack - www.minecraftforum.net Modloader - www.minecraftforum.net Patches: HD Patcher - www.minecraftforum.net Texture Pack used: LushCraft - www.minecraftforum.net
Governor Christie’s touting of middle-class tax relief ran smack into West Milford’s revenue-starved reality Tuesday as one of his town hall tours veered unexpectedly toward the stresses felt by the watershed town’s taxpayers.
CHRIS PEDOTA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Governor Chris Christie at a town hall meeting in West Milford.
At one point, Christie found himself scolding a businesswoman who used rough language to call for a water tax on local Newark watershed lands, and promising a state review of West Milford taxes.
The woman, Judy Ziegler, is a restaurant owner in West Milford. She said her taxes â€" which jumped $ 16,000 this year after a revaluation â€" are essentially a subsidy for Newark and other cities that receive water from state-protected Highlands watersheds, with only trace financial compensation provided to host communities.
When she referred to Newark residents derogatorily while arguing they should be able to pay a dollar or two more for water, the governor interrupted, concluding “We do not win in this state by pitting New Jerseyans against New Jerseyans.â€
Even so, after hearing complaints of Ziegler and others, Christie said he would send a Department of Community Affairs staffer to review the tax situation.
Christie’s town hall appearances are usually tightly scripted events, focusing on his state-level agenda. During his 97th such event, held in West Milford’s Police Athletic League building, Christie drew applause from an audience of some 700 people as he outlined proposals to reform compensation to public employees. But the complex financial issues facing the township became a thread of the conversation.
Revenue stresses mount
West Milford is in a state-designated Preservation Area covering about half the 800,000-acre Highlands, which provide about 379 million gallons of water daily to more than 5 million state residents. The zone severely curbs major new development, which local officials rely on for tax revenue.
Watershed communities took an added hit in the collapse of housing values. As a result, a property revaluation in West Milford last year shifted more of the tax burden onto the community’s few commercial properties, which had held their values better than the township’s 9,900 homes.
Local officials, anxiously seeking more revenues to support public services, recently revived a drive for a water tax on Newark’s watersheds and have hired a lobbyist to bring the matter to Trenton.
After the event, Ziegler said she had been raising an issue she summed up as “Why are we getting penalized for Newark?â€
She had taken the microphone after Christie explained his position on the 2004 Highlands Act, which safeguards the waterlands and includes a still-incompletely functioning program to compensate landowners for loss of development potential. Christie said the Act has been poorly implemented.
 “The Highlands bill, if it had actually been implemented the way it was supposed to be, may not have the worst idea in the world â€" close,†he said. But “the way it was implemented, it was clearly one of the worst ideas†by state lawmakers.
He accused Democratic lawmakers of refusing to work with him to change the law. Instead, he said, he is using his appointments to the Highlands Council â€" which oversees implementation of the Highlands Act â€" to try to “loosen the rules a bit.â€
More Gov. Christie in West Milford for town hall meeting - NorthJersey.com Topics FRANCE 24 The Interview - 09/22/2012 THE INTERVIEWAn interview with a French or international personality from the world of economics, politics, culture or diplomacy. An interview with a French or international personality from the world of economics, politics, culture or diplomacy. All shows: www.france24.com FRANCE 24 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 24/7 www.france24.com
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