DEDICATED GAS TAX REFERENDUM GOES TO VOTERS
Assembly members voted 80-0 to seek voter approval for a Constitutional amendment to dedicate all of the 10.5-cent per-gallon state tax on gasoline to the Transportation Trust Fund, which is projected to add $78 million per year to the fund. Currently, nine cents of the 10.5-cent per-gallon tax is steered into the Trust Fund. The bill (SCR-78), which previously passed the Senate, would ask voters in November to approve dedicating the additional 1.5 cents in tax revenues to the fund.

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS REPORTED IN NEW JERSEY HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION
Hundreds of millions of dollars in hospital and health facilities construction --- either underway or planned --- were reported at a special conference in Trenton sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action. An audience of nearly 200 heard healthcare and construction executives stress financial challenges faced by hospitals in moving ahead on needed expansion and renovation projects.

Alliance for Action President Philip K. Beachem said the conference “demonstrates the importance of healthcare construction to the overall economy of New Jersey.”

The stage was set by the conference chairman Robert M. Gerard, Principal, PMK Group, who noted that in 2005 some $1.9 trillion was spent nationally for healthcare.

Michael R. D’Agnes, Chairman of the New Jersey Hospital Association and President and CEO of Raritan Bay Medical Center, asserted that New Jersey’s 82 acute care hospitals face critical financial challenges such as the costs of charity care and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. D’Agnes predicted that over the next ten years, New Jersey will have fewer but bigger hospitals, with additional ambulatory and same-day services.

GOVERNOR CORZINE NOMINATES FORT MONMOUTH PLANNING AUTHORITY
Governor Corzine has nominated the following to the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority: Joseph A. Colfer, Robert Lucky, Ph.D., Rosemarie D. Estephan, and Laurie Cannon.

The Monmouth County Alliance for Action will feature a presentation by Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantola on the revitalization plans for Fort Monmouth. See the article below for more information and a link to register.

RAYMOND JAMES IS CITED FOR STOCK PICKS
The nationally known publication, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, has named Raymond James as the second best performing firm in the country in terms of its buy and sell recommendations on stocks over the past two years. Kiplinger’s said the selection was based on research available to investors of normal means, not institutional investors and the super wealthy. Lawrence Bashe, a member of the Alliance for Action Board of Directors, is the Director of the Public Finance Department with Raymond James & Associates.

BP NATURAL GAS PROJECT RECEIVES FEDERAL AGENCY APPROVAL
British Petroleum (BP) has received federal approval to build a $800 million liquefied natural gas terminal on the Delaware River in Logan Township. The New Jersey project was one of three terminals approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The BP project could deliver enough natural gas to heat approximately 5 million homes in the mid-Atlantic region. Despite the approval, the project is tied up in a jurisdictional dispute between New Jersey and Delaware, a case which is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. A decision is not expected for 12 to 18 months.

MAJOR QUAKER BRIDGE MALL EXPANSION IS PROPOSED
Plans for redevelopment of the Quaker Bridge mall through a 600,000 square-foot expansion have been proposed. In an informal presentation to the Lawrence Township Planning Board, Carl Dieterle, Executive Vice President of Simon Property Group, Inc., said the plans would transform Quaker Bridge into one of the top 10 or 15 malls in the country in quality and performance.

Simon wants to add upscale retail giants Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, plus as many as 100 new stores and restaurants to the existing mix at the 30-year-old mall on Route 1. Some free-standing retail or restaurant sites also would be part of the expansion.

The Simon Property spokesman said the expansion is a multi-million-dollar enterprise that would be completed by the spring of 2010. To allow the project, Lawrence Township would have to amend its master plan.

HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE REPORTS JOBS GAIN
The HealthCare Institute of New Jersey reports an increase in employment and a sharp rise in research spending by New Jersey’s pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

A survey of the Institute’s 25 member companies showed an increase of 300 jobs in the industry, the first time in three years. The Institute said the increase reversed recent downward trends, especially the thousands of job loses the industry suffered in 2003 and 2004.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
David J. Socolow has been named by Governor Corzine as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development after serving in an acting capacity.
Nelson Ferreira of Ferreira Construction was elected president of the New Jersey Utility and Transportation Contractors Association. Edward Nyland was elected Senior Vice President.
Norman Y. Mineta has resigned as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, a position in which he served for five years in the Bush administration.
Barry J. Seymour has been promoted to Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Donald Shanis was promoted to Deputy Executive Director.
Richard Dressel has been nominated by Governor Corzine to the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
Fort Monmouth Reuse on Agenda for Monmouth Alliance
How to best reuse the soon-to-be closed Fort Monmouth will be the featured topic at a meeting of the Monmouth County Alliance for Action on Friday, July 7. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Exit 116, Garden State Parkway, following registration at 8:15 a.m.

Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantola will lead the discussion on Fort Monmouth’s future. A report on New Jersey’s beach replenishment program will be given by David. B. Rosenblatt, Administrator, Office of Engineering & Construction, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NJ Alliance for Action President Philip K. Beachem will present a mid-year review.
To reserve your seat, go Here.

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