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Public advocate's report offers guide to state beaches

By DEREK HARPER Statehouse Bureau, 609-292-4935

Published: Jul 04, 2008

TRENTON - The cost of hot beach action is going up and up, state Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen said Thursday in his third annual New Jersey Beach Guide.

The guide, released on the eve of the Fourth of July holiday, found that 10 of the 48 towns that charge beach fees increased the cost this year, while all residential beach discounts were eliminated.

State courts have long held that every person has a right to access and use the state's beaches, a right protected by the common law public trust doctrine that predates the country's founding. Towns have been able to charge fees to recoup maintenance costs, but must be responsible.

Local residents have a small reason to rejoice: of the state's seven free beaches, southern New Jersey has the only four on the Atlantic Ocean: Atlantic City, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and the Strathmere section of Upper Township. More

Jun 29, 2008

• Recent plane crashes don't deter pilots

Despite the spate of recent crashes in the area involving small planes, pilots continue to take to the sky, saying the sport is safe - even safer than traveling in your car.

Jun 27, 2008

• Delaware Riverkeepers to fight for N.J.'s right to have say in dredging

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network will fight the deepening of the Delaware River shipping channel if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does it without New Jersey approval.

Jun 25, 2008

• N.J. upgrades 511 phone system for motorists

State transportation officials Tuesday unveiled an improved 511 telephone information system to help motorists do everything from save fuel to avoid accident scenes.

Jun 24, 2008

• Pension bill goes to governor's desk

TRENTON - Legislation to reform state pensions easily cleared the state Senate. But in the General Assembly, legislators seeking more stringent measures bogged down the bill and Speaker Joseph Roberts kept the board open for three hours and 45 minutes before he got the votes.

Jun 24, 2008

• State to borrow $3.9 billion for school construction

The state Legislature on Monday approved borrowing $3.9 billion for school construction, with both supporters and detractors saying they voted with the children in mind.

Jun 24, 2008

• Delaware River channel-deepening moves ahead despite objections in New Jersey

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement with a Pennsylvania agency Monday to dredge and deepen the Delaware River shipping channel.

Jun 24, 2008

• Legislative action for June 24, 2008

Unanimous vote

Jun 24, 2008

• Rite Aid agrees to pay New Jersey over expired baby food

NEWARK - Rite Aid Corp. has agreed to pay New Jersey up to $650,000 to settle a lawsuit charging that dozens of its stores in the state, including stores in Vineland and Lacey Township, sold expired infant formula, baby food and over-the-counter medications.

Jun 20, 2008

• Budget committees OK bill to divert shore funds

After making slight alterations to the bill, budget committees in both the state Senate and Assembly approved legislation Thursday that diverts money from the Shore Protection Fund to park operations in New Jersey.

Jun 20, 2008

• Senate panel approves nominations

TRENTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee approved several area residents for posts Thursday morning, including former legislator Frank Blee's appointment to the state Local Finance Board, which will likely approve any sale of Bader Field in Atlantic City.

Jun 19, 2008

• Election law panel proposes some changes for debate rules

TRENTON - In anticipation of next year's gubernatorial election, the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission proposed Wed-nesday several changes to its regulations on how debates are run through publicly financed campaigns.

Jun 19, 2008

• Health care concerns dominate Assembly budget hearing

TRENTON - A procession of New Jersey health care workers asked the Assembly Budget Committee to provide additional money Wednesday. But with substantial, general agreement on the $32.8 billion spending document, the pleas will likely have little effect.

Jun 17, 2008

• Public document copy plan postponed, would hike rates

TRENTON - A state Senate committee postponed a bill until fall that open-government advocates said they feared would undercut the state's Open Public Records Act.

Jun 13, 2008

• N.J. Senate panel approves legislation to vote by mail

TRENTON - New Jersey residents may be able to vote for their candidates by dropping their ballots in the mail.

Jun 13, 2008

• Panel passes bills to reform state pensions

TRENTON - A state Senate committee approved a package of bills designed to reform public pensions and benefits over strong opposition from public employee unions, whose raucous protests could be heard in the Statehouse committee room.

Jun 13, 2008

• Driving privileges at stake for ATV, off-road operators

TRENTON - People who drive ATVs and other off-road vehicles where they shouldn't in New Jersey could see their rights to drive on-road suspended.

Jun 13, 2008

• UNITE-HERE rallies to avoid casino shutdown

TRENTON - Jean Stewart sacrificed a day's pay as a casino housekeeper Thursday in the hope of keeping that steady paycheck after the end of the month.

Jun 12, 2008

• Juvenile detentions down 25% in N.J.

The average number of juveniles in detention facilities throughout New Jersey has dropped by 25 percent since 2002, but the state also has one of the worst racial disparity rates in juvenile detention in the nation, according to a national study.

Jun 12, 2008

• N.J. charges workers with gas theft

New Jersey will audit vehicle and gasoline use by thousands of state Department of Children and Families workers after prosecutors charged a dozen people Wednesday with stealing gas from government fueling stations.

Jun 12, 2008

• Van Drew wants to limit assisted-living evictions

TRENTON - State Sen. Jeff Van Drew said Wednesday that he wants to get legislation passed before the summer recess that would make it harder for assisted-living facilities to displace long-term residents.

Jun 10, 2008

• Local earmark spending by LoBiondo, Saxton detailed by taxpayer group

4:30 p.m. Update - The attached spreadsheet details earmark spending by area congressmen, as tracked by a national watchdog group.

Jun 10, 2008

• Lawmakers consider bill to expand liquor sales at grocery stores

A bill that would make it easier for grocery stores to sell beer and wine is making another round in Trenton.

Jun 10, 2008

• Senate bill advances to reduce horseshoe-crabbing fines

From Press staff reports
TRENTON - The state may lower penalties for people caught catching horseshoe crabs.

Jun 10, 2008

• N.J. Senate panel votes to suspend marina access rules

TRENTON - Lawmakers may temporarily suspend and study controversial six-month-old rules that require marina owners seeking new permits to grant the public unfettered, round-the-clock waterway access.

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