Monthly Archives: April 2016

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, visited the Rutgers Solar Farm in Piscataway on the 46th Earth Day to address the need for investments in clean energy in New Jersey and throughout the country. Middlesex Freeholder Charlie Kenny, Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler and representatives from the League of Conservation Voters and Clean Water Action also attended the event

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced the awarding of an additional $45,354,517 in Phase 2 funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) to assist financially-stressed New Jersey homeowners with mortgage modifications and refinancing to avert foreclosure and stay in their homes. New Jersey, which had the nation’s highest foreclosure rate in 2015, was awarded $69,231,301 in Phase 1 funding in February, for a total of $114,585,818 during this fifth and final round of allocations.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, today joined several Senate colleagues at a Capitol Hill news conference to unveil comprehensive legislation that addresses the problem of lead-contaminated water and lead-based paint in New Jersey and across the country, and prioritizes upgrades to our nation’s crumbling water infrastructure, while creating thousands of good paying jobs.

Senate Democrats introduced a broad-based new plan today that strengthens the federal government’s role in water infrastructure investment, lead remediation and drinking water protection, and a provision co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to help school districts across the country test their drinking water for potential lead contamination is a key component

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the allocation of more than $45 million through the Hardest Hit Fund to the state of New Jersey to help stabilize the housing market and prevent foreclosures. The Hardest Hit Fund was created in 2010 to provide targeted assistance to 18 states and the District of Columbia deemed hardest hit by the economic and housing market downturn.

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta joined state and local officials and community leaders earlier this week to celebrate the start of redevelopment for Glassworks at Aberdeen, a master planned community in Monmouth County that will include 110 affordable apartments for working families. Six of the apartments will be set aside for special needs individuals.

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined Mayor Wilda Diaz in Perth Amboy to highlight the need for investment in water infrastructure in New Jersey and throughout the country. In February, Pallone introduced, the AQUA Act, which significantly increases water infrastructure funding authorization so local communities can repair and replace their aging water systems to ensure residents have access to clean and safe drinking water. Pallone, the Senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, also advocated for solutions to address lead poisoning in water at a hearing last week.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced The Transparent Environment in School Testing (TEST) for Lead Act, the Senate companion to Rep. Donald Payne’s (D-NJ) legislation that would require states to help schools test for lead if those states receive federal funding for safe water programs

The Housing and Community Development Network New Jersey (the Network) and Princeton Community Housing will unveil employment, housing, and demographic data highlighting the economic impact Mercer County nonprofit community developers have made on New Jersey’s economy. The local data will be presented as a supplement to the Network’s 2014 Stronger Together report, an analysis of the economic impact of New Jersey’s community development sector since 1989, the year the Network was founded.

A real estate developer and landlord of commercial buildings in Palisades Park, New Jersey, today admitted soliciting a $50,000 bribe payment to a Palisades Park borough official, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

On Monday, April 11, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) will lead a press conference to call on Congress to pass the TEST for Lead Act, legislation he recently introduced to test drinking water in schools for lead contamination.

On April 1, the National Flood Insurance Program began implementing additional flood insurance program changes resulting from reform legislation. These changes may significantly affect what your clients pay for their flood insurance. While some property owners may see minimal policy cost increases, others will experience larger premium increases—for example, clients with buildings in high-risk areas built before that community’s first Flood Insurance Rate Map.

Earlier this month the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General released a report entitled, “FEMA Does Not Provide Adequate Oversight of Its National Flood Insurance Write Your Own Program.” This report summarized a yearlong investigation, prompted by a “60 Minutes” interview in March of 2015, which revealed that thousands of superstorm Sandy victims had been wrongfully denied insurance claims due to corrupt and fraudulent practices.

While Congressional Republicans Seek To Undermine The Significant Progress Made To Address Climate Change, A Bipartisan Group Of Current And Former Lawmakers Argue The Clean Power Plan Is A Pragmatic Solution To Address The Largest Source Of Carbon Pollution In America

A pair of bills targeting New Jersey’s property tax crisis, sponsored by Assemblyman Jay Webber, advanced from Assembly committees today. A-312 mandates the publishing of comprehensive property tax data on the Division of Local Government Services website, and A-302 provides direct relief for property taxpayers from energy tax receipts.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee today approved Assemblyman Parker Space’s legislation to lessen the burden on property taxpayers by increasing energy tax receipts to municipalities for property tax relief. Space’s bill (A302) requires towns to subtract the additional aid from its adjusted tax levy, benefiting property taxpayers

First Time it is Taking Such Action in 40 Years TRENTON - (RealEstateRama) -- For the first time in four decades, the New Jersey...

The Housing and Community Development of New Jersey (the Network) has announced TAPinto.net as its newest media sponsor. The sponsorship offers a unique partnership in community engagement for both organizations

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joined 44 current and former Senators and 164 current and former House Members to file an amicus brief in support of the Obama administration’s historic ‘Clean Power Plan’ (CPP). As the Democratic Leader of the committee with jurisdiction over the Clean Power Plan and the Clean Air Act, Pallone led the effort on the brief in the House. The CPP will reduce carbon pollution and address climate change, save consumers $155 billion by 2030, create jobs, and prevent 90,000 childhood asthma attacks through 2030‎.

In its continued effort to meet and assist Sandy-impacted families right in their home communities, the Christie Administration today announced that the 33rd Information Session will be held Wednesday, April 6th, 2016, at Union County College in Cranford, to provide personal assistance for storm-affected homeowners participating in the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program and LMI Homeowners Rebuilding Program.