Herald admits it lied – corrects story that falsely attacks Commissioner Dawn Fantasia

Update to the story below. The New Jersey Herald has issued a correction.

By Sussex Watchdog

There are two reporters from the New Jersey Herald who need to resign immediately. Because they lied. Because they simply made up something to push a political agenda.

The New Jersey Herald is subsidized by the property taxpayers of Sussex County. That subsidy is in the form of public notices, required by law to be published in newspapers like the Herald. Millions of dollars worth each year. That’s millions of property tax dollars in the state with the highest property taxes in America. The taxpayers deserve better. They shouldn’t be forced to subsidize lies.

This is the headline from the story Bruce Scruton and Lori Comstock wrote, published, and distributed in the New Jersey Herald today:

Sussex commissioner cites false facts to push anti-hate resolution to include BLM, antifa

 
These are the first paragraphs from the story Bruce Scruton and Lori Comstock wrote, published, and distributed in the New Jersey Herald today:
 
NEWTON — During a heated discussion about anti-hate resolutions last week, the head of the Sussex County Board of Commissioners brought up two instances of vandalism and a reported shooting near the home of Sheriff Michael Strada last summer.

Board Director Dawn Fantasia cited the incidents before proposing a resolution to condemn antifa and Black Lives Matter on Wednesday night. That came amid a debate with local residents over an earlier proposal to condemn white supremacy, neo-Nazism, white nationalists and the riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capital Jan. 6.

Here is the text of Board Director Dawn Fantasia’s resolution. Please note that this is also part of the official audio and video record of the Board’s proceedings. It is the official record. There is no getting past it in a court of law:
Anti-Hate Resolution

 
Whereas, those acting on “hate” generally do so from a perceived superiority (ethnic, racial, or other) or certainty about a particular ideological or religious point-of-view.  Examples include Pol Pot’s exterminations in Cambodia, the Nazi Holocaust in Europe, the Soviet Holodomor in the Ukraine, and the Ottoman genocide in Armenia; and  
 
Whereas, history informs us that hate-motivated violence has often been made worse by the interventions of governments.  Examples of this include the sectarian “Troubles” in Northern Ireland, the ethnic conflicts in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, the genocide in East Timor, and the on-going genocide of Muslims in Myanmar and China; and
 
Whereas, the word “hate” is a deeply subjective term influenced by any number of cultural, socio-economic, religious, and family influences; and

Whereas, acts of violence against people or property are crimes defined by statute; and

Whereas, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines a “hate crime” as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity”; and

Whereas, not all crimes of violence fall within the FBI’s definition of a “hate crime”. For example, the heinous terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that caused the deaths of 2,977 human beings are not counted as “hate crimes” by the FBI; and

Whereas, it is in the public interest of the citizens of the State of New Jersey and this great nation to condemn, in the strongest terms, any “hate crimes” or any other “crimes of hate” (such as the attacks on September 11, 2001) motivated by a perceived superiority (ethnic, racial, or other) or certainty about a particular ideological or religious point-of-view; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Sussex County, New Jersey:

1. This Board strongly condemns “hate crimes” or any other “crime of hate” (such as terrorists' attacks like the attacks on September 11, 2001) motivated by a perceived superiority (ethnic, racial, or other) or certainty about a particular ideological or religious point-of-view. In addition, this Board strongly recommends to all its constituents to abide by the timeless values expressed in the "Golden Rule" (Matthew 7:12), that we "do unto others as we would have them do unto us”.

2. The Governor and the Attorney General are encouraged to provide State assistance to victims of “hate crimes” and other “crimes of hate” (such as terrorists' attacks like the attacks on September 11, 2001) and to enhance security measures and improve preparedness at locations that could be the targets of such crimes.

3. Copies of this resolution, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the Board to the Governor, the Lt. Governor, the Attorney General, and to the Leadership of both Chambers of the New Jersey Legislature.

Bruce Scruton: Liar.

Now, we would like Sussex County Democrats Kristy Lavin, Zoe Heath, Katie Rotondi and their allies to pay very close attention here:

We are offering a $1,000 REWARD if anyone can find the words “Antifa” or “Black Lives Matter” or “BLM” in the anti-hate resolution read into the record by Commissioner Director Dawn Fantasia at last Wednesday’s Board meeting.

If nobody claims the reward, we expect Kristy Lavin, Zoe Heath, Katie Rotondi to have the integrity to demand that the taxpayer subsidy which supports the publication of the New Jersey Herald be withdrawn and other arrangements made. While entirely protected speech under the First Amendment, this kind of blatant lying should not be subsidized by the property taxes of the people of Sussex County. You can lie on your own dime.

And at every Board meeting and proceeding going forward, Sussex County Democrats Kristy Lavin, Zoe Heath, Katie Rotondi should be asked if they have collected the reward yet and about the subsidy. That and, of course, their thoughts on the historical connections between their organization and actual Hitler-saluting Nazis.

And the beat goes on…

“Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair.”

“Journalists should take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it."

"Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy."

“Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story.”

“Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing.”

“Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.”

“Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.”

“Never deliberately distort facts or context.”

From the
Code of Ethics
Of
The Society of Professional Journalists

N.B. We welcome a conversation on this and all topics raised on this website.  Jersey Conservative is entirely open to your ideas and opinions.  To submit a column for publication, please contact Marianna at Marianna@JerseyConservative.org.

Sussex County Adopts Ordinance Expected to Create $2.3 Million in Savings for County Taxpayers

Jennifer Jean Miller
862-273-5379
jenniferjeanmiller@gmail.com

(Newton, NJ) In a time when many New Jersey residents have felt crushed by the weight of overburdening Murphy Administration taxes, Sussex County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders have provided relief to county taxpayers through Refunding Bonds, expected to garner more than $2.3 million in tax savings. The measure for the Refunding Bonds was unanimously adopted at the Wednesday Freeholder meeting, to replace inherited debt in Lease Revenue Bonds as part of the “Guaranteed Renewable Energy Program,” approved by the 2011 Freeholder Board, none of the present freeholders having served on that board. Those $26,715,000 in Lease Revenue Bonds backed a solar energy program that went belly-up after the company folded, leaving Sussex County residents holding the bag. According to the ordinance, $11,070,000 remains outstanding from the 2011 bonds, which will be refunded and refinanced, “to achieve debt service savings and tax relief.”

After Freeholder Director Sylvia Petillo read the ordinance into the record, Bond Attorney John Cantalupo provided background about the initial bonds; and expected savings through the Refunding Bonds. “This was the original solar program, that I know you are all aware of, is those bonds were originally financed,” Cantalupo said. “And as you know, we are in an historically-low interest rate environment.”

He compared the bond refinancing process as a way to lower payments, much like a home mortgage, further recapping the Freeholders approved a resolution on Oct. 15, directing the Morris County Improvement Authority, the issuer of the bonds – with Sussex County not having its own Improvement Authority – to activate the process. Once underway, it triggered the working groups within the Improvement Authority and county, to start reviewing the underlying documents and refinancing process.

Cantalupo said when analyzed, it was discovered the 2011 ordinance never included a refinancing mechanism. In order to create that component within the original ordinance, Cantalupo said the 2011 document required amending, “to allow the bonds to be refinanced.” “You’re not increasing your debt, you’re going to be lowering your debt,” Cantalupo reiterated. He explained more about this savings opportunity for Sussex County residents, saying that to refinance debt in New Jersey, a 3% debt services savings must already exist. “In this instance, what’s currently on the table based on market from the Monday before when it was looked at [Nov. 30], the savings are over 10%,” Cantalupo said, because the county has already paid a shortfall.

He said that equates to $1.15 million saved, which, “goes directly to the county and the taxpayers, under that program.” However, he said taxpayers will actually save $2,309,000, calling it a “fairly significant opportunity” for Freeholders to approve taxpayer relief and debt services. Freeholder Deputy Director Dawn Fantasia thanked Cantalupo for his presentation and for the consistent communications with his office on the topic, stating, “As you know, the current Freeholder Board came in and inherited some of these decisions, and some of this debt, and all of our residents have had to carry this burden.”

“The fact that we are able to save over $2 million, by amending this, is definitely excellent news for us as a board and us as a county,” Fantasia added. In other business: Each of the Freeholders offered their condolences for those who knew Hamburg Police Patrolman Jason Franco, who died accidently on Tuesday while deer hunting. At the start of the meeting, Petillo led the group in a moment of silence in his memory.

“Patrolman Franco was sworn into the Hamburg Police Department on April 16, 2018,” Petillo stated before their moment of silence. “He also served as a volunteer firefighter in Montague. The passing of Patrolman Jason Franco is a terrible tragedy for his family and our entire county. Tonight, our thoughts and our prayers are with his family.” “I want to echo the statements made at the beginning of the meeting and offer my prayers and deepest sympathy to the family of Patrolman Jason Franco,” said Freeholder Anthony Fasano.

“That is just an incredibly sad situation and my heart goes out to his family and to his friends, during this difficult time.” Page 4 December 11, 2020 Freeholder Joshua Hertzberg offered similar sentiments about Franco, saying, “When I first heard what had happened yesterday evening, I couldn’t help but feel that sense of just a terrible feeling what his family must be going through right now. I just want to extend my thoughts and prayers to them and his colleagues. I know he’ll be greatly missed - I’ve heard nothing but good things about him.”

“My heart goes out to Jason Franco’s family,” said Freeholder Herbert Yardley. “It’s a tragedy and there’s not much you can say other than God bless him and his family; and my heart goes out to them.” “In speaking to the tragic loss of Jason Franco, not only was he a police officer, but he was a firefighter,” Fantasia said. “He’s a true gentleman that exemplified public service here in the county and he was loved by so many. Our prayers go to him and his family.” Fantasia recapped figures in the county’s battle against COVID-19, reporting from Dec. 9, 66,415 of the 140,000 residents “have received and reported a test for COVID-19.” Fantasia broke that down, explaining over 47% of the county’s residents have been tested, with only 3,618 or 5.45% positive. Of those cases, 2,481 or 68.6% “recovered.” She defined “recovered” as one “not currently hospitalized with COVID, nor have they passed from COVID.”

She clarified the recovery rate is in process, due to the number of cases still under investigation; and is anticipated to be much higher. There were 937 or close to 26% still under investigation, she added. With the 200 or 5.5% death rate overall – one in October and two in November - the majority occurred at nursing homes, with 115 of the 200 county’s total, or 57.5%. Hospitalizations, updated each Friday on the county’s website, tallied 14 in October, 19 in November and seven to date in December – with all of December’s at Newton Medical Center.

During COVID’s first wave, Fantasia explained, it mainly impacted older adults and those with underlying health conditions, as well as long term care facilities ill-prepared for the pandemic, while mandated by the Murphy Administration to admit and readmit COVID positive to those facilities. The second wave, she said, is considered “community-wide,” with 70% sourced to young and asymptomatic individuals, typically contracting it at congregate activities based events; and passing it to household members between the ages of 19 and 49.

The state is presently not recommending non-essential travel out-of-state, she added, with those visiting from neighboring states asked to quarantine for 14 days. Fasano reminded they can request free tests from the county’s website through LabCorp at: www.sussex.nj.us. Fantasia said residents ordering kits should not enter credit card information, but insurance information; and those whose insurance does not cover it, should check off they do not have insurance, to receive it at no cost.

The county has been working with New Jersey’s Department of Health to develop a COVID-19 vaccine program, Fasano said, and will provide information in the near future about the public health clinics, similar to county flu clinics, for “fair access for all who live, work or are educated in Sussex County.” He called it a “big step in defeating this virus and getting back to normal,” with more information forthcoming on the county’s website. Yardley reminded county veterans in need of food, clothing, household items or toiletries, as well as help with temporary housing and heating bills, can find assistance in Franklin at the veterans’ center, through Catholic Charities; and via the county’s Senior Services. Page 6 December 11, 2020 Petillo thanked the Mohawk House for meal donations to Hopatcong seniors, with the establishment making a similar offer for Franklin seniors, Fantasia said. Hertzberg, who will be leaving the Freeholder Board for the Sparta Township Council in January, complimented the efforts of county employees including Administrator Greg Poff and CFO Elke Yetter, for their debt reduction efforts, as well as Tom Drabic, for public transportation planning programs.

He called it an “unbelievable honor,” to have served the county and to have worked with the other Freeholders, during his tenure. For the full meeting audio, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrEzzrlAiaY.