DeFazio tapped for possible judgeship
Hudson County Prosecutor Ed DeFazio, 59, was nominated last week for a seat as a state Superior Court judge by Gov. Christopher Christie, who apparently wants to replace DeFazio with a Republican prosecutor in Hudson County.
DeFazio previously served as a Superior Court judge in 2001 prior to his taking over as prosecutor. His second five-year term will end next month.
“A little premature; there hasn’t been a formal nomination,” DeFazio said, when asked for a comment on Tuesday.
The nomination would then have to be approved by the state Senate Judiciary Committee – on which State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack is a member. Stack has close ties to Christie. If approved, then the full state Senate would have to vote on the appointment.
“I’m here and I love this office,” DeFazio said, speaking about his role as prosecutor.
The timing, however, is short and a formal nomination and vote might not transpire before the legislature suspends activity for the summer.
The Senate Judiciary Committee would also have to approve the next prosecutor for Hudson County.
“If it doesn’t happen next week, it won’t happen until the fall,” DeFazio said.
The last Republican Prosecutor was Fred Theemling, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Christie Whitman in 1996.
Pool, mini-golf to be open through Labor Day
The Bayonne Recreation Division announced that the DiDomenico Municipal Pool at 16th Street will be open daily through Labor Day now that the school year is over. Pool hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weather permitting.
The Recreation Division also announced that the Bayonne Mini-Golf facility on West 23rd Street will be open daily through Labor Day, too. Mini-golf hours are noon to 9 p.m., weather permitting. The facility is located at West 23rd Street and Del Monte Drive, between Avenue C and Broadway.
When school resumes in September, mini-golf will be open weekends only through the end of September.
The Bayonne resident ID card is valid for entrance to the DiDomenico Municipal Pool at 16th Street, which is located between Avenue A and Newark Bay. Bayonne resident ID cards are issued now at the Recreation Division office in Room 13 at City Hall, located at 630 Avenue C. The ID card costs $5.
For information on ID cards and pool charges, call the Recreation Division at (201) 858-6129.
ID cards are not required for Bayonne Mini-Golf. The cost to go around the 9-hole course is $3 per player. Children must be accompanied by adults.
Mini-golf party permit applications are available at the Recreation Division in City Hall, the mini-golf course, and online at www.bayonnerec.com.
The party price is $5 per person with a maximum of 35 people. The price includes nine free holes of mini-golf and use of the picnic area. Party permits are available for two-hour time slots. Call the Recreation Division at (201) 858-6129 for more information. Only residents with valid identification are eligible to receive party permits.
Hernandez to replace Dobkin on Board of Ed
Abett Hernandez, a longtime activist in the Bayonne Latino community, has an appointment to Board of Education, which is expected to be confirmed by the Bayonne City Council at its June 20 meeting. Hernandez, who was appointed by Mayor Mark Smith, would fill the unexpired term of Nina Dobkin until May 15, 2014.
Open Space Advisory Board members reappointed
Massiel Ferrara, who replaced Stephen Marks as the director of Division of Planning for Hudson County, was among six people appointed or reappointed to the county’s Open Space Advisory Board in a vote taken by the Hudson County Board of Freeholders in late May.
This group is the body responsible for reviewing annually those projects for possible funding out of the county’s Open Space Trust fund.
Earlier this year, County Executive Tom DeGise asked the Hudson County Freeholders to restore the Open Space Trust Levy that had been cut in half two years ago to provide short-term tax relief. Taxpayers pay into the levy, which generates funds for purchases or upgrade of parks and other facilities, as well as historic preservation.
DeGise said that its historic preservation component aided in restoring and supporting heritage sites such as the Apple Tree House and the Bayonne Museum.
The other members approved to the board include Joseph Liccardo of Secaucus; Henry Sanchez of Bayonne; Kernal Thomas of Jersey City; Thomas McCann, the director of the county Division of Parks; and William La Rose, director of the county Office of Cultural Affairs.
Internet gaming bill released by Assembly panel
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John Burzichelli, Vincent Prieto and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. to authorize Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos to enable New Jerseyans to wager on casino games via the Internet was released Monday by an Assembly panel.
The bill (A-2578) allows all games that may be played at a casino to be offered through Internet wagering. People would be allowed to be from out-of-state, as long as it’s consistent with federal law.
The bill was released 6-0-3 by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, clearing it for full Assembly consideration.
Burzichelli, Prieto and Ramos said the Internet wagering bill would especially help New Jersey’s gaming industry amid increased competition from other states.
“We must position New Jersey’s gaming industry to thrive in the 21st century, and that involves authorizing a legally sound Internet gaming law,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), who chairs the appropriations panel. “This is another key piece of our effort to boost New Jersey’s gaming industry by expanding and modernizing our wagering options. This will rejuvenate our tourist industry while increasing employment, capital investment and much needed urban redevelopment.”
“Most everything else has migrated to the Internet and taken advantage of the consumer and revenue options it offers, and New Jersey’s gaming industry should be no different,” said Prieto. “This is a carefully crafted bill designed to ensure Internet gaming on casino games is offered the right way. It’s a much-needed competitive step forward for our casinos that could also raise more revenue to benefit senior and disabled citizens.”
“The Internet has long been a reality, and Internet gaming in New Jersey should now be reality too,” said Ramos. “We have to move aggressively and thoughtfully to position our gaming industry to succeed, and this is another step toward that goal. It will mean economic growth and job creation for our state.”
Ramos is chairman of the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee that initially released the bill.