By Hunter Walker 11/02/12 12:28pm

Garden State

Cory Booker hanging out with his hurricane house guests. (Photo: Alice Bell/Twitter)

Inside Cory Booker’s Hurricane Sandy Slumber Party

Newark Mayor Cory Booker opened his home yesterday to over a dozen of his neighbors who were left without power by Hurricane Sandy. Alice Bell, who took refuge after the storm at the mayor’s house, talked to Politicker this morning and described the slumber party-like scene inside Mr. Booker’s home and what it meant to the people who stayed there.

“It meant–I can’t even explain,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I mean, we were–I’m still overwhelmed that he would reach out to us like that, you know, that we meant that much that he actually invited the whole block.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 11/01/12 2:27pm

Garden State

cory booker tom brokaw

Cory Booker Lets Sandy Victims Hang Out at His House

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has earned the nickname “supermayor” for rushing into a burning building to save a woman from a fire last April and regularly using Twitter to personally solve the problems of his constituents. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Booker is living up to this reputation by allowing at least one person affected from the storm to take refuge in his home and enjoy his power outlets and “working DVD player.” Read More

10/30/12 7:59am

hurricane sandy

(Photo: Getty)

President Obama Signs New York Disaster Declaration

Earlier this morning, President Barack Obama signed official directives naming the states of New York and New Jersey disaster zones, allowing for additional federal aid to assist recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction. In New York, Mr. Obama’s order only stands for the five boroughs and Long Island for now.

It’s still difficult to evaluate the exact costs of the storm. At least seven people have died in the state, millions are without electricity, and major transportation networks are flooded. Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/22/12 12:48pm

Garden State

A gas station sign displaying the reduced-price $1.84 gallon gas at the AFP event in Ohio earlier this month. (Photo: Facebook)

Koch-Funded Group Selling Cheap, Anti-Obama Gas in Jersey

Americans for Prosperity, the activist group founded by the billionaire Koch Brothers, is taking its “Obama’s Failing Agenda” bus tour to New Jersey this week where it will help purchase gas for motorists at the Holland Tunnel to “draw attention to President Obama’s failing energy policies.” On Thursday, AFP will set up shop at an Exxon Station near the entrance to the tunnel where it will be reducing gas prices to $1.84 a gallon, which a press release for the event said is “the cost of gas four years ago right around the time President Obama took office.”

“Our event will help New Jerseyans get around this week and remind them of the need for sound energy policies that create jobs and lower our energy prices,” AFP New Jersey Director Steve Lonegan said in a press release announcing the promotion. “We will educate Americans on the most harmful aspects of President Obama’s big-government agenda, and help put grassroots pressure on politicians to turn away from these destructive policies.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/18/12 2:41pm

ruh roh

Hector Lopez's home, allegedly part of one of his kickback schemes. (Photo: NYdailynews.com)

Former NYC Labor Leader Arrested on 15 Counts

Another day in New York yields another federal indictment. Today it was Hector Lopez, the former president of the Metal Polishers Union (Local 8A-28A) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Local 8A-28A welfare fund. Mr. Lopez is accused of using his union’s welfare fund as his “personal piggy bank,” charges that might not be surprising considering past reports on his free-spending ways. Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/08/12 6:33pm

Garden State

Mitt Romney (Photo: Getty)

Romney Motorcade Mobbed by Orthodox Jewish Wedding Guests

Mitt Romney’s motorcade ran into an interesting obstacle before a fundraiser this evening in Lakewood, N.J. Lake Terrace, the venue for Mr. Romney’s event, was also being used by an Orthodox Jewish wedding party and, according to a pool report filed by Yahoo’s Holly Bailey, the guests at the nuptials became rather excited when Mr. Romney’s motorcade arrived.

“As we turned into Lake Terrace, the motorcade drove past an Orthodox Jewish wedding party that had been posing for pictures outside. Immediately, the family abandoned the bride and groom and began chasing Romney’s car in the parking lot, waving cameras,” Ms. Bailey wrote. Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/29/12 11:37am

Garden State

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (Photo: YouTube)

Rabbi Shmuley Donates $250 To His Opponent In The Hopes Of Securing a ‘Dinner Date’

Author, spiritual guru to the stars and New Jersey Republican congressional candidate Shmuley Boteach gave a $250 donation to his Democratic opponent, Congressman Bill Pascrell, because he wants them to have a Shabbat “dinner date.” together. In a statement announcing his donation to his rival, Mr. Boteach explained he made the contribution to get Mr. Pascrell’s attention after several unsuccessful attempts to arrange a meal together.

“I’m beginning to feel like the woman who is promised an engagement ring but can never get a wedding date. The Congressman is a very busy man. So I have elected to send a $250 donation to his campaign in the hope that it might attract his attention and we can finally confirm our dinner date,” Mr. Boteach said.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/01/12 7:40pm

Beef

clintonfeatured

Bill Clinton, Media Critic

PATERSON, NJ — At a re-election rally for Congressman Bill Pascrell this afternoon, Bill Clinton blamed the current media landscape for controversy over comments he made on Piers Morgan Tonight yesterday defending Mitt Romney’s business background. In his appearance on the show, Mr. Clinton called Mr. Romney’s work with Bain Capital, which has been the subject of several attacks from the Obama campaign, “a good business career.” Mr. Clinton said his statements were inaccurately reported “as if I had virtually endorsed him.”

“I just want to say one thing before we get into the meat of the coconut here,” Mr. Clinton said. “One of the real problems that we have in modern politics today is that, instead of the news being reported, everyone is looking to create a story.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/01/12 11:43am

Garden State

President Obama and Steve Rothman (Photo: RothmanForNewJersey.com)

Clinton And Obama Face Off In Jersey Congressional Race

Former president Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama are taking opposite sides in a heated New Jersey congressional race between two incumbent Democratic congressmen–Steve Rothman and Bill Pascrell. President Clinton is traveling to Paterson tonight to appear at a rally for Mr. Pascrell and, this morning, President Obama invited Mr. Rothman to a private meeting in the Oval Office where he expressed support for his campaign.

“President Obama asked me to come to the Oval Office today so that everyone will know that he supports me and wants me to help him with his agenda in his second term, as I have in his first,” Mr. Rothman said in a statement. “I sincerely appreciate President Obama’s support at this crucial time. It means the world to me to have him take the time out to speak with me this morning.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/30/12 5:59pm

Garden State

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (Photo: YouTube)

Rabbi Shmuley Offers To Mediate Dispute Between His Potential Opponents [Video]

Author, spiritual guru to the stars and Republican congressional candidate Shmuley Boteach says he wants to help his potential Democratic opponents who are currently embroiled in a nasty attack ad-filled primary battle. Mr. Boteach released a YouTube video today that appears to have been filmed in his living room in which he offered to help make peace between Steve Rothman and Bill Pascrell.

Messrs. Rothman and Pascrell are both current congressman and former friends who are running against each other after the redistricting process left Mr. Rothman with an unfavorable district. Mr. Boteach thinks he can help them “reduce the tensions that have totally overtaken their congressional race.”

“I hosted a TV show on TLC called Shalom In The Home where I actually mediated families across the country creating greater harmony,” Mr. Boteach says in his video. “I want to offer my services to congressmen Rothman and Pascrell to try to bring a more civil tone to their campaign.” Read More