State Budget approved
Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell said he was among the Democrats in the state Assembly who voted to approve the state’s 2014 fiscal year $33 billion budget this week.
“We worked hard to get this together,” O’Donnell said, noting that the budget avoided some of the new initiatives and tax cuts proposed by Gov. Christopher Christie.
O’Donnell said compromises on a number of issues allowed Democrats to feel more comfortable with the budget, calling it something that will allow the state to move ahead.
State Supreme Court won’t stop special election
A request to challenge Gov. Christopher Christie’s call for a special election in October to fill the seat vacated by the death of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg was denied by the state Supreme Court recently.
Although Democrats complained the loudest about the cost of the election, there were objectors in both parties.
Union County refused to put aside money to fund the election costs because the state has not yet budgeted for the cost of the special election which is estimated at $24 million.
West New York Freeholder Jose Munoz said the cost to Hudson County would be in excess of $1 million, but that the county budgeted for it anyway, saying that ultimately the county must comply with the state orders for the election.
Gov. Christie called for the special election to take place on Oct. 16, even though there will be a regular election in November. The extra Oct. 16 election will add about $12 million.
Man charged in hit and run
Tom Cheatham, of Bayonne, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and hit and run on June 20 after he allegedly hit a pedestrian with his car mirror near Avenue C and 21st Street at about 9:30 a.m.
Police said they traced the ownership of the 2008 Dodge Charger where they arrested Cheatham, who the police said also had operated the vehicle without a valid driver’s license. A warrant check showed that Cheatham had $17,722 in outstanding unpaid fines to Hudson County Superior Court dating back to 2009.
Police said Cheatham told them that sun glare had blinded him and he had not seen the victim. The victim suffered no injury as a result of the accident