BPU SCHEDULES HEARINGS ON VERIZON NEW JERSEY’S FIOS SYSTEM
The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) announced the schedule of hearings on how the statewide video license for FIOS by Verizon New Jersey is working. Under the law, BPU was required to hold hearings as a follow-up. The Alliance for Action testified three years ago in support of the license.

The hearing schedule is:
-December 8, 2009 at Room 208, Council Chambers, Cherry Hill Municipal Building, 820 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill.
-December 10, 2009 at the 8th floor Board Hearing Room of the BPU, Two Gateway Center, Newark.
-December 22, 2009 at the Freeholders Meeting Room, Middlesex County Administration Building, John F. Kennedy Square, New Brunswick.

FHA AUTHORIZED ROUTE 22 IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR SOMERSET COUNTY
The Federal Highway Administration authorized work to begin on design and planning for the Route 22 Sustainable Corridor Plan in Somerset County. The action carries a commitment of $14.57 million in federal funds for the project.

The authorization was a victory for a collaboration among the Somerset County Business Partnership, the Somerset County Board of Freeholders and the Regional Center Partnership of Somerset County. The plan is intended to ease traffic congestion, improve road safety and integrate access to mass transit. Requests for proposals by consultants for design and planning will be advertised in early 2010.

COSCIA CALLS FOR AMTRAK UPGRADES
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman Anthony Coscia told the U.S. Senate Transportation Committee that Amtrak must upgrade its management and accounting controls “to gain the trust of the general public and Congress.” Coscia was testifying as a nominee for Amtrak’s Board of Directors.

Coscia said his experience at the Port Authority, which manages airports, bridges, tunnels and a rail system, has convinced him that passenger rail is critical for an effective 21st Century transportation system.

Amtrak received $1.3 billion this year for backlogged projects and $8 billion to develop high-speed rail lines. Coscia declared that Amtrak will have to convince Congress that it is spending the money wisely to benefit the public.

U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez, both New Jersey Democrats, spoke to the committee in support of Coscia’s confirmation.

CHRISTIE NAMES CHAIRS OF TRANSITION ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEES
Governor-elect Chris Christie names the chairs of the 19 issue subcommittees for his transition team. They are:
STATE – Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Guadagno
LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY – Former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice and State Attorney General Peter Verniero
AGRICULTURE – George Gilmore, partner, Gilmore & Monahan
AUTHORITIES – Michael DuHaime, managing partner, Mercury Public Affairs, LLC
BANKING AND INSURANCE – Edward B. Deutsch, managing partner McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS – State Senator Sandra B. Cunningham (31st Dist.)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH – Woodbridge Mayor and former State Treasurer John McCormac and Co-chair Dennis M. Bone, President/CEO, Verizon New Jersey
EDUCATION – Dr. Susan Cole, President, Montclair State University
ENERGY AND UTILITIES – Bob Martin, retired partner, Accenture, LLP
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Former State Senator Marcia Karrow (23rd Dist.)
GAMING, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT – Jon Hanson, Chairman and Co-founder, Hampshire Real Estate Companies, and former Chairman of the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority
HEALTH CARE – David Knowlton, President & CEO, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
HUMAN SERVICES & CHILDREN AND FAMILIES – Morris County Administrator John Bonanni
LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – Debra P. DiLorenzo, President/CEO Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS – retired U.S. Army Colonel Mike Warner
TRANSPORTATION – James Weinstein, Senior Vice President, AECOM, former State Transportation Commissioner
TREASURY – former Congressman Michael A. Ferguson, Chairman/CEO, Ferguson Strategies

AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR FIRST PHASE OF $50 MILLION PLEASANTVILLE PLAN
A master developers agreement for the Pleasantville City Center Redevelopment project was signed by the City of Pleasantville and Red Bank-based River Development LLC. This enables the City and developer to begin the approval process for the project immediately.

The project’s $50 million first phase will feature 300 metal units of workforce housing targeted at casino and other workers in Atlantic City. With an additional 20,000 square feet of retail, the initial phase will be built on a full city block bordered by West Washington and West Milan Avenues and South Second and South Main Streets.

The first phase is expected to finish construction 24 months after approval. Design of the next two phases will take place during construction of the opening phase.

NEW JERSEY EDA APPROVES JOBS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES
A $14.6 million economic redevelopment and growth grant was approved by the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help attract Depository Trust and Clearing Corp, to Jersey City from lower Manhattan. The grant will go to Newport Office Center VI, LLC, which will lease space to Depository Trust.

The EDA Board also approved the Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) recipients and the first round of multiple renewable energy loans.

Among the major BEIP grants were $3.7 million to Atlantic Coast Media Group to create 304 jobs in Jersey City and $1.16 million to Catapult Holdings, Inc., to relocate its headquarters and 80 jobs from Philadelphia to Camden.

The first renewable energy loans under the Clean Energy Solutions Capital Investment Program were approved to:
-Nautilus Solar WPU of Wayne, $5 million for a solar system at William Paterson University.
-Fisherman’s NJ Offshore Windfarm of Atlantic City, $3.97 million for a meteorological tower.
-Major Betty of Elizabeth, $2 million for a solar electric system.
- Merlin Industries, Inc., of Hamilton, $1 million for a solar system.

JONES LANG LASALLE IS SILVER LEED CERTIFIED
Jones Lang LaSalle achieved LEED silver certification for the interior build-out of its Parsippany office --- one of only six in the state to have LEED silver or higher certification for commercial buildings.

The Parsippany office certification was for practices such as low-flow plumbing to reduce water consumption by more than 40 percent, diverting more than 90 percent of construction waste from landfills by recycling, salvaging or donating the materials, and purchasing materials from regional manufacturers to reduce environmental impacts of shipping.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council.

NJ TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL GIVES AWARDS
Pepco Energy Services/Atlantic City Electric was honored by the New Jersey Technology Council as Master Technology Company of the Year. It was among awards announced by the Council at its annual awards gala.

Kathleen Coviello, director of science and technology was the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) received the John J. Martinson Technology Supporter Award.

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