Democrat Jason J. Varano Seeking a Fourth Term as Mayor
Republican Township Councilman Carmen F. Amato Jr. is challenging Varano for the four-year term.
Jason J. Varano cut his political teeth earlier than most. He was just 26 when he was appointed mayor, following the sudden death of former Democratic Mayor Bill Zimmerman Jr. in 1998.
The young man that some thought would be the easiest of the three replacement candidates to control during Zimmerman's unexpired term went on to win three full terms as mayor.
Varano, now 39, is seeking his fourth full term. He is being challenged by Township Council Vice President Carmen F. Amato Jr., who is in the middle of his second term on the Township Council.
"My number one goal is to keep the community together," Varano said. "We have one town with many different areas."
It's a complex undertaking. Berkeley's 42 square miles include the oceanfront and bayfront in South Seaside Park, Pelican Island, all the waterfront communities in Bayville, Pinewald, 11 senior communities in the western section of the township and Manitou Park.
The township has lost $1.8 million in state aid over the past five years, including $1.3 million in 2010. But Varano says his administration has continued to maintain Berkeley's road infrastructure through a disciplined paving program and added more parks in a number of areas in the township.
Preserving open space, staving off development
Berkeley also has been able to ward off a number of proposed developments during his administration, with the help of the Trust for Public Land, state Green Acres funds and the Ocean County Open Space fund, Varano said.
"I consider myself an environmental-friendly mayor," he said. "Over 3,500 acres of land has been preserved."
Some of the developments that thwarted by the Planning Board and township administration included Lifetime Homes' proposed 1,600 homes across from the H&M Potter School on Veeder Lane; Toll Brothers 150-home development on Eugene Furey Boulevard; and Hovnanian's massive plan back in 2000 to construct thousands of homes west of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and north of Northern Boulevard. Hovananian filed a Mount Laurel lawsuit against the township and the township won.
"That was a big win," Varano said. "It (the proposed development) would have been devastating."
Town Center and Route 9 Redevelopment
The dilapidated Beachwood Shopping Center on Route 9 has long been an eyesore in the township. Critics don't understand the process involved in redeveloping a site with environmental issues and the lengthy wait for state approvals, Varano said.
"One of my eventual goals is the revitalization of Route 9," the mayor said.
Once the state endorses the township's redevelopment plan, developer Donato Donofrio and the current owners can begin to negotiate who will pay for what portion of mitigation costs associated with cleaning up the site. Donofrio has not yet signed a contract until the scope of the cleanup costs and the mitigation responsibility can be determined, Varano said.
Berkeley officials are hopeful that the state Planning Commission will finally endorse the entire Route 9 redevelopment plan at a meeting in two months. Once that happens, the township will be able to attract more business and much-needed ratables, Varano said.
The endorsement of two of the areas - the Beachwood Shopping Center and the ShopRite mall - would allow the owners to develop 70 percent of the space instead of the current 30 percent, both Varano and Roberts have said.
The redevelopment plan includes several areas along the Route 9 corridor in Bayville. The phrase Town Center refers to the Beachwood Shopping Center section of the township's redevelopment plan.
2010 Revaluation
The controversial revaluation resulted in assessments that skyrocketed along the oceanfront and waterfront communities, while assessments in some mainland areas of town and senior communities dropped.
The revaluation was the township's first in 20 years. Varano was hammered by members of the Berkeley Township Taxpayers Coalition at Township Council meetings for months.
"I didn't order the revaluation," Varano said. "The county tax board orders it because your numbers are off."
The majority of the assessments were "right on," the mayor said.
Varano criticized the GOP-controlled Township Council earlier this year for hiring an outside auditor to review the results of the revaluation and hiring a special attorney to determine if the contract with Certified Valuations Inc. had been followed correctly.
Richard J. Carabelli, president of Martin Appraisal Associates, concluded that Certified had done the bulk of the assessments correctly. But his report also recommended that township Tax Assessor Eric Zanetti take a closer look at assessments in some areas of town and development an assessment maintenance plan.
Municipalities throughout the state were prohibited from doing periodic maintenance assessments from 2001 to 2009. State law has since been amended to permit maintenance assessments. Varano urges any homeowner who feels they have an incorrect assessment to file a tax appeal.
Taxes, ratables and spending
Amato and his running mates say that the amount to be raised by taxation in the municipal budget has increased 146 percent during the years Varano has been mayor.
But Varano and township Chief Financial Officer Frederick C. Ebenau say Berkeley's municipal tax rate is one of the lowest in Ocean County.
"The amount to be raised by taxation has not been increased in three years," Varano said. "I think I've done a good job on holding the line on spending."
Berkeley residents still have municipal garbage pickup, unlike other large municipalities like Jackson and Manchester townships, where residents have to pay for private garbage collection, he said.
A number of municipal positions have been eliminated through attrition, although the township recently hired three police officers. Berkeley currently has 66 officers on the force. Several years ago that number stood at 74.
Varano's administration reluctantly cut twice a week garbage pickup in all areas except South Seaside Park. The move saved $200,000, he said.
Bulk pickup was cut from once a month to four times a year
His opponent
Varano says Amato has to abstain on some votes, like the Ocean County Utilities Authority, where he is a commissioner, the Berkeley Board of Education, because his wife is employed there and Ocean County, where he is director of the county's Printing and Graphics department.
"He's conflicted out," the mayor said.
Varano also questions how Amato's wife received a part-time job with the Berkeley Board of Education this year at a time when teachers were being laid off and programs cut.
Although Amato has said his wife's job is a Civil Service position, Varano says the job was "newly-created" for her.
"Shame on you," he said. "It was a newly-created position. She's also being paid at a higher pay scale. We pointed out the facts."
Varano was previously employed as a director of local government services for the state Department of Environmental Protection. He lost that job soon after Republican Gov. Chris Christie took office last year. He said he is currently interviewing for jobs and expects to have one soon. He graduated with honors from Rutgers University with a degree in political science. He lives on Hannah Place with his wife and two young daughters.
Berkeley Patch will profile Republican mayoral candidate Carmen F. Amato Jr. on Friday.
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muchluv
7:40 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Hatred of jewish people is wrong. So what if they are jewish which u have no basis to assume that ...carmen amato must be proud of his racist bloggers... Fine representation For him
OxyPerkhunter
4:36 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
According to New Jersey election commission reports Mayor Jason Varano just donated $10,000.00 cash and carry to his own campaign considering he is on NJ taxpayer funded Unemployment Insurance. Rumor has it CORZINE lent Varano his ATM card less the money he needs for the defense attorney.
OxyPerkhunter
4:50 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
How does an unemployed Mayor running for re-election come up with $10,000.00 all at once for his campaign when he makes half of that as Mayor while being unemployed.
muchluv
7:43 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
I am truly offended of how ignoran your comment was bayville resident..dont sterotype classify or assume something is bad or wrong based on race religion or creed.. This country is way past that but i guess you and your like minded people are not.. Racist fool
Bayville Resident
7:56 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Walter, you clearly are missing the big picture in your very sheltered life. He permitted this single development, and denied the others because they vote for DEMOCRATS nearly 100% of the time. He was looking to secure a voting block that could not be pierced in any manner. You also know ZERO about the crime rates (or crime types) in the towns I mentioned either. I think you sir, have placed YOUR OWN IGNORANCE of this issue on display. And when I confronted the mayor about this IN HIS OFFICE he told me "That is not my problem, I live on the other side of Route 9" Now calm down, and do some research of your own. AND if you are that easily drawn to emotion, you have larger issues in your life that you refuse to confront. Clearly you were never taught how to resolve conflict as a child.
Bayville Resident
8:02 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Oh and Walter...there is a "T" in the word ignoranT. Type more calmy and you will present your case in a more lucid manner...
john
8:51 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
thank god varano is giving credit to the cty tax board for ordering the re-evaluation...
i was over taxed by the asseser s office shortly after moving to berkeley, mr zanetti stood firm on his offices evaluation of my home and property over taxing me by 15 %. 4 meeting s with cty tax board yielded nothing because i was within x % of the assesment and no adjustment would be made.
the re evalution adjusted it to where i m in line with where i shoulda been all along.
mr varano, please stop robo calling my home for your support, i pay extra for a unlisted #, and tired of listening to you blow your own horn of all you ve done for berkeley. you didnt listen to me when i asked for help, now please go away ! !
VOTE TO FREE VARANO OF HIS OFFICE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 TH............
OxyPerkhunter
4:53 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
Varano is a double dipper because his unemployment benefits are financed by the NJ taxpayer along with his salary as Mayor in Berkeley township. He made a total of $700,000.00 as a state NO SHOW employee from the state of NJ. It is funny how knowing CORZINE seems to reflect a pattern?
PBBN
7:53 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
I also asked for his help and he also did not listen to me. My vote tuesday is for Amato. nad if he does bad I will vote against him to in four years.
john
8:52 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
thank god varano is giving credit to the cty tax board for ordering the re-evaluation...
i was over taxed by the asseser s office shortly after moving to berkeley, mr zanetti stood firm on his offices evaluation of my home and property over taxing me by 15 %. 4 meeting s with cty tax board yielded nothing because i was within x % of the assesment and no adjustment would be made.
the re evalution adjusted it to where i m in line with where i shoulda been all along.
mr varano, please stop robo calling my home for your support, i pay extra for a unlisted #, and tired of listening to you blow your own horn of all you ve done for berkeley. you didnt listen to me when i asked for help, now please go away ! !
VOTE TO FREE VARANO OF HIS OFFICE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 TH............
Berkeley Resident! and Proud!
8:53 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Well stated BR. Walter does spew things all over this site.
And as far as this article goes, id love to know where the Mayor is seeking jobs and filling out applications. Walmart in Lacey is hiring. Whats wrong with working there? They would definately hire and ex mayor there. Thats a qualification im sure Walmart would love to have on their staff. Or try the mall. With the Holidays coming up, im sure some stores could use a good SALESMAN whos full of empty promises. Much like his Mayoral campaign. EMPTY PROMISES.
I can not believe that he is still riding the "he got his wife a job" train. I cant wait to hear Mr. Amatos side of this story on Friday.
Id love to know what Varanos opinion is on the police dept having 66 officers. Do they plan to hire more? Are they staying at 66?
John DiStefano
8:58 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Bayville the ignorance is yours and your racism is offensive as stated. Here again you Amato supporters breed fear and thrive on hearsay and lies. The facts are as follows for Hickory Farms: The Planning Board approved this development in public meetings that were announced in ALL local papers. But you knew that right? I can assure you Mr.Amato was NOT there, because I was. The planning Board Does NOT have the power to deny an application that is fully conforming. But you knew that too right? These homes...if they ever are built, what developer wants to dump 160 homes on an already over surplused market, these homes will be available to the open market.
Instead of Making inflammatory statements, why don't you get involved?? And didn't your Momma ever tell you? If you don't know what you are talking about, shut up.
morrissey
10:01 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
let me know when the tour of the varano house is online .....im looking forward to it
Bayville Resident
9:09 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
John. You are truly blind at best. And what makes you so sure I am voting for Amato? Did you read about me mentioning any other candidate or political ideology. As for the homes being built. THEY ARE, and if you knew how to gauge economic forecasting of a market place you don’t START building homes when everything is already booming…it is usually too late then. Back to the homes….there is a workers’ trailer, a paved parking lot, heavy machinery and JCPL and NJNG are there weekly working, planting flags, spray painting, etc...But as you say..."YOU KNEW THAT RIGHT!" I love how you so ineptly jump upon the RACE rather than the VOTE BLOCK. I did not think I would need to be so plain in my writing, but clearly empty minds prevail.
I am not going to debate you endlessly about this all day. We will see who is right and who is wrong in the months/years to come. TRUST ME!
Jim Fulcomer
9:34 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Republican controlled Council led by then Council President Carmen Amato rejected Varano's proposed tax increase of over 3 million dollars last year. Varano in 2010 called for the the highest tax increase in the history of Berkeley Township, but Carmen Amato came to the rescue of the taxpayers by getting the Council to adopt Carmen's budgetary amendments that totally eliminated Varano's proposed gigantic tax increase. The municipal tax increases stopped during the past two years because of Carmen Amato, NOT Varano. Shame on Varano for trying to take credit for Carmen Amato's success
in stopping township wide tax increases.
John DiStefano
9:51 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Bayville racist....er...resident. Let's say for argument sake that what you say is true regarding Hickory Farms. Isn't that in Amato's ward?? It's a big conspiracy right?
Your ignorance is blinding
morrissey
10:03 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
be quiet and go video some houses that were foreclosed on, thanks to varaNO
morrissey
10:06 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Anyone who votes for the UNEMPLOYED mayor, whose best friend is jon corzine, deserves all the abuse and corruption that varaNO gives them................
In another rough blow for former New Jersey governor Jon Corzine, the FBI is set to join an investigation of MF Global, the bankrupt brokerage firm he took over one year ago.
The move marks an early step in what could become a larger criminal probe, The Wall Street Journal said.
The Feds are joining an investigation by regulators into MF Global’s failure to protect its customers’ money by keeping it separate. The missing funds could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
MF Global filed for bankruptcy on Monday in one of the biggest filings in U.S. history.
It has admitted to federal regulators that money was missing from its customer accounts, according to reports
morrissey
10:08 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
he plans on getting a job soon.........yeah i guess varaNO 99 weeks are just about up.......what a lowlife leech.......send him slithering back to Hudson
George
10:13 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Please come up with something new your posts are getting old.
morrissey
10:17 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
everyone needs to vote against varaNO.......how is that ?
John DiStefano
10:28 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Morrisey. Can't you use big boy sentences and arguments ? What doyou do for a living?
Sweetie
10:31 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Its time for a change and it will come soon enough! As far as I am concerned the family bashing is enough to make me not vote for a person. It is unexceptable! If Mrs. Amato passed a civil service test and got the job, good for her! I am sure that Varano would do the same for his wife, if this is what she chose to do. People just need to stick to the real facts and what we need is a change!!!!!
Amazed
12:01 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
I too will not vote for someone who is suppose to be an upstanding citizen but yet lowers himself to family bashing. It's time for Varano to go.
PBBN
7:59 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
It is amazing the guy spoke ill of Amato's wife again. Don't he have anything else??? Really Varano Must go...
Berkeley Resident! and Proud!
10:31 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Distefano...I dont see how thats any of your buisness. any job is a good job, unlike our unemployed sickening Mayor.
Jim Fulcomer
10:55 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Mayor Varano says one of his eventual goals is the revitalization of Route 9 highlighted by the dilapidated Beachwood Shopping Center. In 13 years in office the Beachwood Shopping Center has gotten worse under Varano. In 13 years there has been NO Route 9 revitalization. Maybe Carmen Amato as mayor can do in four years what Mayor Jason Varano has failed to do in thirteen years. Let's give Carmen Amato a chance to do the job that Mayor Varano has failed to do. Vote for the Carmen Amato team on Tuesday!@
morrissey
10:57 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Jon Corzine apparently has no problem taking peoples money that doesnt belong to him , does Jason varaNO also believe the same like his best friend in politics ????
vote for the EMPLOYED candidate, the UNEMPLOYED candidate may be tempted to do something not in our best interests, in these tough economic times.......
how long has varaNO been unemployed ???.....must be coming up on 99 weeks
OxyPerkhunter
4:46 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
Rumor has it CORZINE got hooked up with the human ATM machines cash account.
Arnold
11:00 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
My favorite statement of the whole article is the last paragraph where Mr. Varano says he is currently interviewing for jobs and expects to have one soon. Mr. Varano does this fall under one of your eventual goals?
John DiStefano
11:27 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
It is absolutely relevant as he is making harassing statements and false statements regarding my company. Pay attention to yourself bayville racist,that is probably a full time job in it self.
morrissey
11:33 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
what false statements ????.......boy, you want the free advertising you get by posting your business in your photo (patch should see right thru you and charge you), but you dont want any criticism.....very thin skinned.....just another reason not to use your service
morrissey
11:37 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
in this economy, how can anyone who is unemployed "expect" to have a job soon....
unless of course its a political crony job that you know is waiting for you when your 99 weeks is up and you lose the election......sounds like the fix is in for varaNO
i still do not see how varaNO has been allowed to collect unemployment, while he has a job as mayor and is on record that he turned down available jobs that were offered to him......someone should look into if he should have to pay back that unemployment money he has received
muchluv
11:45 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Figure mr fulcomer would chime in . What have you done for the schools? Have u lowered taxes? Have u consolodated like u said u would? Youll screw this town up worse than u did Union County . You got chased right out. You and your bloggers make amato look worse with your negative comments. Forgot to mention the racist anti-semetic comments some people left on the post. I see it was removed.. That was shamefull and ignorant with a capital T. My family is jewish and i assure you we are not demons or devils. We been through that crap before and it need not be put out like u did. Apologize immedtley to the hasidic community.
Bayville Resident
11:53 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Walter, you are clearly in over your head. And like I said....STOP ALL THE EMOTIONAL TYPING; you are embarrassing yourself...You left the apostrophe out of the word "You'll."
Take a step back and try to have a decent conversation, layout your thoughts succinctly and await a reply. Oh, and don’t sling arrows because your points are empty.
OxyPerkhunter
4:48 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
The unemployed Mayor should has 10K cash to drop into his last minute 48 hour report to hide his side money from unemployment.
muchluv
12:12 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
So it appears you feel the need to correct spelling that is written on a mobile phone. But even this apparently illeterate guy, me, still knows that you fail to explain your racist jewish comment. It is emotional you BAFOON! . 6m plus people of the jewish faith were murdered for the same sterotype your using! Hitler blamed them for the worlds problems and linked them all to trouble. The same thing u did by saying the mayor approved a hasidic development! You ignorant popous fool! Your right i am in over my head. I thought hatred bigotry and anti semitism was on the steep decline in this country. Guess i was wrong. So ill go back to being a dumb simp. Ill leave stupid to you....
Arnold
3:34 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
If it wasn't for political appointing Mr. Varano would never have been Mayor or director of local government services for the state Department of Environmental Protection. We voted out his political boss Corzine and Mr. Varano is next. The mayor has been on unemployment ever since and it seems to me he cannot get a job without it being appointed. Mr. Amato who is in his second term Councilman( Elected twice) has been involved and solved many issues and has done so on his own accord. It does not appear to me that he is answering to anyone other than the people. We the people are the boss!!
BayvilleDad
4:50 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
How can anyone criticise Varano for having a political appointed job and defend Amato for the same thing? Glass houses. Ocean County is nothing but one GOP scratching another's back. Just look at what's going on between Toms River and Brick. And Amato and his 'team' are part of that system. It is quite a coincidence that while Amato's teammates cut or greatly reduced programs in our schools, lowering the quality of my child's education and losing several great teachers, a new position is created that Amato's wife just happens to be hired for. Let's keep the facts straight. Property taxes in Berkeley are one of the the lowest in the county. A 146% increase over 12 years is comes out to about 3.25% a year. Very close to the historical rate of inflation, and much lower than surrounding towns. Something we should be proud of.
As for the revitalization, it takes a very long time to get though the process. Just look at Asbury Park. And it now looks like, no matter who get elected, that actual construction will begin within the next few years. It would be hysterical if Amato gets elected and takes credit in a few years when building begins.
George
4:54 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
More election junk mail today. I did this, I will do that.
I would hope that whoever wins this thing will show
some guts and vow that next time they would agree to
and demand that the process include face to face debates.
As I said in prior post without debates those seeking office are
just in an "American Idol" contest or like this years election
"Dancing With The Stars" competition. Without facing their foe
toe to toe, man to man or woman to woman they are showing
to be weak on their ability.
PBBN
8:03 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
George where have you been? Amato challenged Varano to a debate at Central regional like 10 times. Varano did not even aknowledge it. Hum... pretty much the same way he governs......
morrissey
5:34 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
surely varaNO can get a job at MF from jon corzine.......oh wait, no he cant, MF is bankrupt and corzine is being investigated for missing $600 million of depositor money
WhatstheRealProblem
5:46 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Finally, a person who users their head in a part and doesn't spew personal feelings. Good post BayvilleDad and JAC. Newsflash everyone, John Corzine has been out as Governor for a little while now and this town still runs fine. If you people thought Haliburton was bad, watch and see what happens with the GOP running Berkeley Township. Just look at all the duplication of services, self creation of jobs and overall wasteful spending at the hands of the Ocean County GOP. WHO OWES WHO WHAT HERE?? I know this, lok at the bottom of Amato's literature and tell me what it says? It's coming right out of Trenton....The GOP is trying to buy their way into Berkeley Township. Be careful what you wish for people. On the bright side, if the GOP needs to count on their bloggers support to win, the five of you that there are, then the Dems are in good shape!!!
morrissey
5:56 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
no republican here buddy.......i hate crony politics, so of course i hate the republicans in ocean county......however i see the slime that is varaNO and i am posting it so everyone is aware......sorry i dont fit into your propaganda playbook
John DiStefano
6:14 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
creating a school admin job for a councilman's wife at the HIGHEST pay grade while laying off teachers and professionals is cronyism at its worst. having 3 town and county jobs and looking for 4th wreaks of the same
morrissey
8:25 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
no , getting a job from corzine and then collecting unemployment when christie cans him, is croynism at its worst.......always having his hand in the taxpayers pocket no matter where he goes.....
.you want to make a wager , where varaNO winds up next when his 99 weeks of unemployment checks end.......private or public sector ????......of course, it will be public (he couldnt last a week in private sector)
BayvilleDad
8:54 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Collecting unemployment is croynism? I guess 9% of Americans are croynies. Always has hand in taxpayer's pockets? You talking about Amato?
JerseyVet
9:37 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Question, how much will the taxes go up, next year with that new bond money (long term debt)?
WhatstheRealProblem
11:46 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Morrisey, really? You're gonna question his unemployment? Thats a little over the top, no? I think collecting unemployment, to which he contributed to his entire working career, is far less harsh then the multiple dipping carried on by almost every GOP politician in this County.
Arnold
8:25 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
Lets’ fully understand why unemployment was created. It was created to help people who were working but then were laid off at no fault of their own. But then it is up to the person who is on unemployment to hit the pavement hard and find a new job as quickly as they can. It was not set up for those who got laid off a government appointed position. I work multiple jobs every day to put food on my table and clothes on my families back and I would work 10 jobs to do that rather than collect. The point is to be working and contribute to society rather that live off of society. How anyone could defend the Mayor for collecting unemployment is a mystery to me. The fact that the Mayor collects a salary, has a pension and benefits for being Mayor and then collects unemployment checks from the government is the biggest abuse of the system and triple dipping at its very worst. I can’t and won’t vote for a person like this. You can put a spin on it any way you want but the fact is Carmen Amato has been working in the public sector for over 30 years. Working multiple jobs is commendable and I have said this before, NOBODY wanted these positions when the economy was good because they did not pay enough. Now people lost the private sector jobs making a lot more than public workers now they cry foul. “It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.”Benjamin Franklin.
Berkeley Resident! and Proud!
8:31 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
Arnold.... Very well said sir. That was a terrific display of the garbage that we have as our mayor. Total discrace. How does he sleep at night? Actually, I'm sure he sleeps great! Big comfy bed in that big comfy house. It was expensive no doubt, but who's paying for all of it? Unemployment? Love how he is always playing the triple dipper card. GLASS HOUSE Mayor!
John DiStefano
9:12 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
Arnold...again.... you know not what you speak of. Do you know the Mayor's Salary? it's about $8000. hardly a salary. Pension? The mayor gets 8 grand a year and a pension too? Maybe he gets a pension for time accrued at the state. do you need to know the definition of accrued? you are delusional, uninformed and outright wrong.
morrissey
10:03 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
how does varano pay his property taxes , that he has increased since becoming mayor, on $8000 salary....
how does the mayor collect unemployment when he has a salary of $8000......
GRIP THE UNEMPLOYED MAYOR
Arnold
11:45 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
John Distefano ...again... Another thought less comment. Do you know how much the salary for Mr. Amato serving on the OCUA and being a councilman? It is less than $8000 combined. It appears the Mayor makes more. Yet in your last post you condemn him for all the money he makes. You are really lacking in the intelligence department. Thanks again for making me laugh!!
George
11:59 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
Hey morrissey this is not the 1920's his wife is able to go out into the world and earn a living. It has been noted his wife is a Reg. Nurse they make a decent buck.
Maybe he saved for a rainy day? GRIP I see you are a fan of 101.5 catchy phrase.
If he was doing anything illegal in these times I am sure his foes would have dropped a dime on him by now.
morrissey
12:49 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
saved for a rainy day........LOL !!!!!!!.....sorry, THAT IS NOT IN HIS DNA
John DiStefano
12:06 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
"Arnold" He's the Mayor, he SHOULD make more...and it should be more than $8K.
I could care less how much Amato makes. It's more about him and his wife given jobs that others WITHOUT any job could certainly use. AND with all these town and county positions he has so many conflicts how can he be impartial on issues??
The voice
12:26 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
Collecting unemployment with a salary of roughly 8000.00 is collecting a supplement. However it's bound to run out and I'm looking forward to his denial for unemployment. As for the homes on hickory, does anyone know how lakewoods community developed? I am def not racist but our town needs to know what path we are headed. If the sources are true and Hasidic's are developing and moving in then be prepared to have a synogogue built, their own first aid and fire rescue squads. There is also another large piece of property owned by their community on bay blvd. They started clearing it 2 years ago and left it alone for now. Berkeley should know what they are getting into before it's too late. By no means is this a racist comment. The Jewish community has a high demanding set of beliefs that will affect any town they start developing in.
morrissey
12:48 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
as it looks to me, he should NOT be able to collect ANY unemployment
1. the job he got was a BS job handed to him by the possibly soon to be indicted for theft Corzine
2. he is collecting $8000 salary which i believe DQs unemployment eligiblity
3. he admitted he turn down job offers , also a DQ of unemployment
His property taxes are $7000 and his salary is $8000 BEFORE taxes......i do not see any way his wife could afford to take care of his $200,000 ++ mortgage, all the monthly bills, car payments, gas and food on a nurses salary and still have the time for parental guidance of those young girls i see in his propaganda picture .........plus, what kind of man would allow his wife to carry him on her back and put all the pressure on her ??????
Bayville Resident
2:46 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
Thank you very much “The Voice” for pointing out what I was TRYING to make Arnold and John understand yesterday.
However, you went one more step than I would. You stated you are def not a racist. That is what they want you to say, because they DEFLECT the argument (which has merit) to something that does not, because they are unable to counter on any other level. NO ONE SHOULD EVER DEFEND SOMETHING THEY DID NOT DO. Arnold and John were unable to follow the logic of voting blocks in Lakewood, Clifton, and Passaic Park (areas I lived in before Bayville) they are not able (or not capable) of understanding the stress and strain on services, schools, police, fire, town utilities etc. If they were not so overcome with emotion and THOUGHT for a moment, they would understand that 160+ homes of a single demographic presents a shift in representation on all civic issues. They instead decided to go off half cocked on a “perceived statement” because it was easier for them to fight that, than the point I was making. In the towns I mention, after a few years their homes are “zoned” as schools, or places of worship resulting in a dramatic decrease in property taxes on the residence. This in turn strains the budget of the town causing a double-digit decrease in revenue.....WITH NO DECREASE IN SERVICES….
Lets home your statements penetrate the dimwittedness of Arnold and John.
John DiStefano
12:52 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
Geez Morrisey, So in your twisted world women should not work? just stay home and cook and clean your dirty underwear? It's the 21st century...Did you know women are allowed to vote now?
The voice
1:03 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
Should be DQ, however the phone system is automated and it is very easy for one to select no for the question of offered jobs. With his salary being so low it is considered a partial employment that still falls below poverty level. He is then provided a supplement through unemployment... Not looking to defend his actions if anyone is against him it is myself. Hopefully his name will be brought out in investigations with his buddies. The truth comes out in due time....
morrissey
1:55 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
he is on record , here at the patch (have to find article link later) that he has turned down available job offered to him.......that is a DQ of unemployment benefits
the bigger issue is simply, THE MATH DOESNT ADD UP
he is making $8000 .....the property taxes that he so flippantly just slammed people on the water with and expected them to make up the difference with no gradual time frame to make up for the large increase.......has put alot of older and long time homeowners by the water in a very awful financial position.......this is why i am coming after you jason varaNO.......you did not care about these good people or their families , i surely do not care about you ....so as they struggle to pay these property taxes now, the question is.......HOW DOES AN UNEMPLOYED MAYOR PAY HIS PROPERTY TAXES, MORTGAGE, HOUSEHOLD BILLS, CAR PAYMENTS, ETC...
IT DOES NOT ADD UP !!!!!.......
Arnold
1:20 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
I have said this before; NOBODY wanted these positions when the economy was good because they did not pay enough. Since people lost the private sector jobs making a lot more than public worker now everyone wants these positions. Take the civil service exam and pass with a high score and then fill out an application. Politics does not play in this.
George
6:14 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
Hey morrissey are his father-in-law???????????????
If not how they live as a family is of no concern to you.
Maybe your just nosey. Maybe deep down inside you
care deeply for they guy but are trying to hide it.
Mac
8:50 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
George, I liked the post you took down to replace with this one better. My answer was Francis the Mule.
George
10:42 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
I guess you are talking about "Grumpy Old Men" ????????????????
morrissey
6:07 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
$10,000 cash from an unemployed mayor who makes $8000 a year and receives what looks to be inelligible unemployment benefits
IT DOESNT ADD UP !!!!!!!!!!!
George
6:14 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
More junk mail today happy it will stop come tuesday.
The next problem would be getting these guys signs
taken down. If what they are putting out there about all
they have cut were half true by now Berkeley Twsp. would
be sending us money every quarter,
Berkeley Resident! and Proud!
3:26 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
So I wake up this morning and all of my Amato signs alOng with 4 of my neighbors Amato signs were stolen off of MY property this morning! Could Varano's people be that scared as to trespass in the middle of the night? Are you kidding? Another dirty democrat trick. Are you seriously going to try and keep this loser in office? Get a job Varano!