NJ job market struggling, unemployment rises to 7.2%

From the Record:

NJ lost 1,300 jobs in March; unemployment rate ticks up

The loss of 1,300 jobs in March puts New Jersey down 1,900 jobs for the year, as even traditionally strong sectors such as health and leisure lost ground.

The state lost 600 government jobs and 700 private jobs in March, the second monthly fall in a row for the private sector, according to the monthly employment report released Thursday by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Unemployment, which stood at 7.1 percent in January and February, rose to 7.2 percent in March – above the national rate of 6.7 percent, the department reported.

Adding to the bad news, revised numbers for February showed that employment in the state fell by 1,100 more jobs than first reported, losing 4,800 instead of the previously announced 3,700 jobs.

“I think we sum up the report by saying that New Jersey’s labor market is going nowhere slowly,” said Patrick O’Keefe, director of economic research at the accounting firm CohnReznick. “Nothing stands out as a reason to be optimistic about where we are going.”

The 1,900 jobs so far this year is particularly weak compared to the 18,800 jobs added in the same period in 2013. New Jersey has recovered just 93,000, or 36 percent, of the 258,000 jobs lost in the recession and its aftermath.

In comparison, New York has recovered all of the 330,000 jobs it lost in the period and added about 164,000. Connecticut has regained about half of the 119,100 jobs lost. As of March the U.S. had recovered all the private sector jobs it lost.

The only New Jersey sectors with significant advances in the first quarter were construction, trade, transportation and utilities, and professional and business services.

Manufacturing lost 2,100, and leisure and hospitality, normally one of the state’s strongest sectors, lost 6,500 jobs. All of the losses came in the accommodation and food services sub-sector, which includes, hotels and restaurants.

And while educational and health services, in recent years the state’s strongest sector, added 300 jobs, the health and social assistance sub-sector lost 2,600 jobs.

“It seems like somebody has hit the economic pause button,” said economist James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. “The first three months of the year, have been pretty flat. I don’t think anybody really knows why. I am puzzled by it, because national growth has been okay.” So far this year the U.S. has added about 530,000 jobs.

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67 Responses to NJ job market struggling, unemployment rises to 7.2%

  1. grim says:

    From the Record:

    North Jersey lenders warn of repeat of housing bust

    North Jersey’s commercial real estate market is rebounding, but lenders should remember the hard lessons of the 2006 housing-bubble bust and remain wary about whom they finance, since white-hot sectors such as multifamily residential are likely to cool off, a panel of lenders said Thursday.

    The analysis came during a discussion of “2014: The New World of Financing” held by the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey. The outlook was rosy in many aspects, but the panelists talked about issues looming on the horizon, including the impact of technology and e-commerce on the retail and office segments in North Jersey and potentially less demand for apartment construction.

    “There’s just so much more money out there,” said Wilcox, whose firm is based in Morristown. “There’s financing for any deal.”

    The landscape has grown more competitive for banks and other lenders offering financing, leading some of those players to be less restrictive in terms of whom they lend to, several panelists said. That could lead to some loans going bad in the future, saddling lenders.

    “There’s a lot of pent-up demand,” said Novak, who is based in Wyckoff. “So we are all probably doing things a little less restrictive, but we can’t have the past disappear from our memory. That’s where we all get into trouble.”

    Capital has “loosened up” versus a year ago because of the strengthening of New Jersey’s commercial real estate market, and asset classes such as industrial and multifamily residential doing particularly well, he said. But the fact that there’s been a lot of recent multifamily construction, and that rental rates are starting to plateau, is a sign of concern to Novak.

    “The multifamily market has been very hot, to a point where sometimes you have to say to yourself is it too good to be true. … Down the road there could be potential risks,” he said. “We just need to make sure that we remember what we’ve been through.”

  2. grim says:

    2 acre vacant lot on Stone Tower in Alpine NJ just sold for $5m, setting a new high record for land sales in BC. No house, no mansion, just dirt and trees. $5m.

    Based on similar homes in the area, the buyer will likely be building a home with a cost of $20-25 million dollars.

  3. charlie says:

    25M…Not bad for a struggling job market

  4. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    There’s nothing in the world like Action Park!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHqfhyCbbM

  5. anon (the good one) says:

    @pourmecoffee: Obamacare enrollment is over.
    An armed IRS agent will now visit you to schedule your death panel and confiscate your liberty and freedom.

  6. Xolepa says:

    To those who asked about yesterdays evictions, I have 3 tenants now that I will file small claims judgements against. I will file such that all 3 cases will be heard by the judge in one sitting. The reason I will file is that the Court Officer I spoke with yesterday stated that the methods for applying liens/garnishments/etc. have gotten more sophisticated over the years along with the search methods. How many banks have consolidated over the years? Not as easy to hide your money. And nowadays banks will not open new accounts for customers if they have a bad credit raps.

  7. Anon E. Moose says:

    ONJEP [4];

    This has to go down as a viral/guerilla marketing coup. I almost wrote ‘you can’t buy publicity like this’, but then thought better of it, as much of what passes for ‘water-cooler conversation’ type marketing in the media is nothing but paid placement. Its still been remarkably effective.

  8. anon (the good one) says:

    these days people won’t pay to slumlords. there must be a reason for the high number of tenants in default, but we will NOT hear their side of the story here

  9. Xolepa says:

    (7)The reason is that tenants have been fed all the ‘poor me’ propaganda to such an extent that they have lost all personal responsibilities. That doesn’t bother me as everyone needs a roof over their heads, albeit paid by the government or their hard work. There will always be the haves and have-nots. Spoke with a lady yesterday who has 36 properties in just one west Jersey town. She is constantly looking for more. She realizes that you can win some and lose some but in the end tenants just are passing ships in the night. Each one drops a gold coin into your jar as they pay their dues.
    Social justice works both ways.

  10. grim says:

    8 – Find my story about my friends parents who had tenants who were running an S&M website out of their apartment. They had exclusive access to the attic, which they had turned into a “dungeon”. They were producing videos to be sold on line, selling products, etc. They were months behind on rent and in the process of being evicted, when they moved out on New Years Eve and trashed the apartment. The weirdest part was that the couple had a daughter in high school, and there was absolutely no way that any of this could have been hidden from her. They were stocking inventory in the house and shipping product our of their living room.

    Another great story about a friend who was renting a house to an asian couple. They complained one day about a water leak in the basement. Friend goes over to check it out, was somewhat unannounced, walks into the basement to find it filled with cubicles, there were about 20 people working out of the basement like it was an office building. It was unclear how many of these “employees” were also living out of the house as most every room had been converted into a bedroom, mattresses everywhere.

    WTF do you do in these situations?

  11. Xolepa says:

    OH, yes, Forgot to Retort. I am now considered a racist by Anon because I railed against the underprivileged.

  12. grim says:

    Everyone always looking for high class rental investment properties, when in reality, you can’t beat Section 8. You don’t need to be a slumlord either. On the positive side, at least you’ll know you are helping someone out. Doesn’t hurt that Uncle Sam is paying the rent either, you know you’ll always get the check.

  13. Xolepa says:

    (9) In New Jersey, the easiest way to get rid of a tenant is to charge them with not paying rent. Any other reason is a PITA to deal with, legally. So what you then do is put in clauses in your lease stating that ‘…this activity is prohibited and you will be charged xxx dollars which is deemed Additional Rent’. The ‘Additional Rent’ phrase is critical and can be construed by the Landlord as a reason for eviction, if not paid.
    I put it in my leases for tenants’ pets, but now that I saw that the ‘pet’ charge is fine with the local court I will add in my leases additional rent charges for extra people living in the units.

  14. Xolepa says:

    Section 8 is sometimes not the best idea. The people who get paid by the gov are the ones that know how to game the system the most. They will complain, they will steal, lie, I have had only 1 decent human being in all my Section 8 rentals. It was the only guy I had under that program, too.

  15. grim says:

    I’ve met a number of folks on permanent disability due to accidents that were s8 renters. These aren’t scumbags gaming the system, they aren’t looking for handouts either.

  16. Fast Eddie says:

    “I think we sum up the report by saying that New Jersey’s labor market is going nowhere slowly,” said Patrick O’Keefe, director of economic research at the accounting firm CohnReznick. “Nothing stands out as a reason to be optimistic about where we are going.”

    No jobs means no money, no buyers, sellers underwater… looks like a stalemate to me.

  17. grim says:

    I’d categorize NJ’s major dysfunction as largely being caused by townships fighting over the same small pool of employers. From a statewide macro perspective, an employer moving their headquarters 3 towns over is irrelevant and waste of resources. Largely a distraction that should not be getting any focus at all, especially when there are tax benefits being dangled out. This is worse than zero-sum. Likewise, NY/NJ/PA competing for the same employers is equally as dysfunctional. From a macro perspective, moving jobs from NYC to JC? What’s the point?

    Another reason why NJ’s fractured municipal structure is no longer beneficial (was it ever?) to the public. We’re going to beat ourselves to death infighting over the associated property tax dollars, while our not so near neighbors slowly pick off jobs, laughing all the way, ha ha ha.

  18. Fast Eddie says:

    Another reason why NJ’s fractured municipal structure is no longer beneficial (was it ever?) to the public. We’re going to beat ourselves to death infighting over the associated property tax dollars, while our not so near neighbors slowly pick off jobs, laughing all the way, ha ha ha.

    So, why is the outrageous property taxes justified? Especially now that the economic power that was once here is hemorrhaging? This is why we bash the m0ron that falls for the housing sales pitch and lunges on a spike to feel like they belong.

  19. Essex says:

    Eddie dammit it’s for the children! Slinks away….

  20. Essex says:

    9. Marvel at the state of the world. Perhaps?

  21. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    As Lib and Xolepa surely know, being a landlord is about being a good business person, but there are a few who really think they are LORDS of the Land and it usually costs them. My wife and I were always good tenants before we were married and had nary a problem and always had full deposits returned. When we were looking to buy a place we had lived in the same place for about 3 years, been married about 18 months and my wife was pregnant. Nice 4 unit two story brick apartment building in an otherwise SFH neighborhood. As our third lease was ending in Summer 2001, our Asian landlords (the building was owned by the Wong Family Trust) told us to get out. I understood what they were doing, they only rented to either a.) two girls or b.)an unmarried couple as we were when we first moved in. They didn’t want kids and they didn’t want to deal with lead laws that apply for building 4 units and larger when kids under 6 live there. Not understanding the law, they thought they could just tell us to get out in mid-July and we would have to obey them come lease end on August 31st. I informed them that we would not be leaving and we would be enjoying a month-to-month tenancy beginning Sept 1st. I further offered to sign a 6 month lease (my wife wasn’t due until February) and that would give us time to find and purchase a home. They refused. I offered to pay all 6 months rent up front. They refused. I offered to buy the building from them. They refused. OK, game on. I paid my rent on September 1st by check. They returned my check to me with a note to vacate. I wrote another check on October 1st for two months rent (since they returned the September check). They held (but didn’t deposit) that check and sued for eviction. I counter-sued. I filed for discovery. I wrote a demand letter asserting mishandling of deposit funds which forced them to return my deposit to me immediately even as they were trying to evict. I wrote a demand letter for my neighbor across the hall and he received his deposit back too. By November 1st my wife and I were living in a nice 9th floor furnished 2bR 2bath apartment overlooking a Marina with skyline views paid partially by my landlords. In the end I got free rent for September and October, my rent check returned, and $2000 in moving fees. So they got what they wanted, we were out. But between returning two apartment deposits, two free months of rent, $2000 walk-away money, plus lawyers fees…they had to pay up. BTW, we left that apartment move-in spotless, just like we received it. My wife even scrubbed the baseboard moldings.

  22. Juice Box says:

    Jobs? We don’t need no stinking jobs in NJ.

    What we need is pristine views of the Palisades from the Bronx!

    http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2014/04/video_says_lg_headquarters_will_ruin_the_palisades.html#incart_river

  23. Bystander says:

    Fast,

    Somethin is wrong when the 60 year old secretary next to me is talking about buying a CHC in Trumbull in 900k range. She and her blue collar husband live in ranch on 3 acres in middle of nowhere…but she will sell that land for 500k apparently. It has been a year already but they are not giving it away. If her fantasy comes to fruition then getting the f out of here. Tells me the bubble cycle has returned and this country’s kill shot is coming.

  24. chicagofinance says:

    To BC Lurker from several days ago……the above posts (xolepa, ex-pat, grim) are all you need to consider relative to your decision of whether to GTFO of Dodge….

  25. Xolepa says:

    (20) That landlord was definitely out of line. Something I never would attempt to do. The law is very slanted toward tenants in NJ. So I comply. It’s a no brainer. Just hike the rent when you are able to when you want someone out. In NJ, you cannot kick out a tenant (in most circumstances) just because you want to. You can’t do it. Only time I kicked out a tenant, besides non-payment of rent, was when we re-occupied a two-family back in the late 80’s. We sold our SFH prior and moved to CT for a year and a half consulting gig w/ IBM. Made big money on that one. Moved back to that 2fam after the gig ended and eventually bought land and built the house we now occupy for 22 years.

  26. Xolepa says:

    (23) On that comment of GTFO Dodge, I intend to sec 1031 my income properties to out of state properties, once I leave. This way NJ will take no bite. Can someone tell me I can’t do that?

  27. chicagofinance says:

    I would locate a good tax CPA that has experience in NJ and your destination state. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish on this one…….that said, it isn’t that complicated unless you are attempting to roll the basis into something that is quirky, aggressive from a tax perspective, or else quasi-legal…..

  28. chicagofinance says:

    Just work under the assumption that you will be audited so have your records reconciled to the penny….receipts PLUS proof of payment….

  29. anon (the good one) says:

    in early 90’s, as community organizer, i worked in the south bronx as an advocate for people with aids. many were very ill and unable to bring legal action against their slumlords. section 8 was paying so the issues didn’t result from lack of payment, but the buildings had no heat, no water, etc, etc, etc. it is hard to follow proper procedure and bring complain when you are literally dying.
    it goes without saying that the rapaciousness of the landlords was astonishing. have not been back in many years, but the situation must surely remain the same

  30. chicagofinance says:

    Honestly…..xolepa…you may as well contact nom…..he would certainly not steer you wrong, and he is certainly a pretty diligent and qualified dude…..

  31. Juice Box says:

    re # 28 – Banana Kelly?

  32. FRTR says:

    #8 – Have the same attitude as the woman you spoke to. Also, some incredible tenant stories that…I laugh about, now. Aw right, one:

    Cops call me at 2 a.m. one night. “Are you the owner of (address)?”. Tenant taped all the doors and windows shut, turned on the gas and tried to blow the place up, with him in it. The stove was wrecked and he got burnt a bit, that’s it. Dude never returned (got taken away in an ambulance) and I never heard from him again. Several years later hunters found his remains in the woods. Turned out his business failed, his wife left him and he was deep in debt with some locals. Re-rented the house the next month after cleaning it out (a basement FULL of unsorted garbage – he just threw the bags downstairs…DISGUSTING) then sold it right before peak for 300% over original price.

    Lucky with that one.

  33. Juice Box says:

    My brother father in law rented his upstairs apt in his POS cape in NJ to an unmarried woman who paid her rent diligently for years. Was the best tenant for a long long time. She never complained and never made noise etc. Well father in law never went up to check on the place for many many years. So it comes time as it does and she is out of work for a long time and he finally moves for eviction for nonpayment of rent. Tenant decides to take off and does so without a peep. Well he finally goes up to check out the apartment and he opens the door but could barely get into the apartment. There was a wall of trash blocking the doorway and hallway. She had piled up stacks and stacks of stuff everywhere with a small 1ft wide path to get from bedroom to bathroom to kitchen etc. Bear in mind this was a small 1 BR on top of a cape. Two full 20 yard dumpsters later and allot of back breaking trips up and down stairs to empty out the place. The only saving grace was that there were no animals or people alive or decomposing.

  34. FRTR says:

    # 8 – R: Gold coins. Had a tenant that gave me Krugerrands as a security deposit.

  35. Ben says:

    #20 Expat

    My landlord a few years back thought he was the lord of the land. He buys up properties all over and the only way he posts a profit is to never fix anything. He once told me that he couldn’t replace the AC because he wouldn’t make money on the house then. He literally felt entitled to a profit on his purchase. A few legal threats, and he ended up replacing the AC, himself…without a permit. I joyfully documented the whole affair by email and pictures. He did the same thing with the oil tank.

    Long story short, I vacated that summer because of a serious ant problem. He tried to keep my deposit and charge me a septic pump fee that wasn’t on the lease. Had my college roommate, a lawyer call him up. He told us to sue him. He was really that arrogant thinking I wouldn’t.

    Filed suit, went to court, had about 300 pictures before and after. Judge laughed asking if we were preparing for a murder trial. After a full day of court, the judge basically sent in the clerk to convince him to settle for full deposit plus court/attorney fees. Wasn’t even an unreasonable request. Probably could have squeezed 5k out of him had I wanted to drag it out.

    Funny part was, on his way out, he was convinced I had just stolen from him and he had a few choice words. I was going to let it go…but he really lit a fire in me after that. I figured I’d teach him another lesson. I had the borough inspector informed the whole time with all his permit violations documented. He was literally advising me on how to set him up the whole year. So I promptly sent all the evidence over their way and they cleaned his clock for $6k in fines.

    A tenant that knows the laws can be a nightmare, but I’m pretty sure that if you are a good landlord, you have nothing to worry about from a decent tenant. The sad thing is, this guy had some sick twisted need to steal people’s security deposits rather than just charge an extra $50 for rent each month. I guess he got off on it.

  36. Comrade Nom DePlume says:

    [34] Ben,

    I rented in Pennsylvania before buying my current house. The landlord kept part of the security deposit for things like mulch. Not kidding. Naturally, we documented everything during the tenancy and had plenty of ammunition. I sent him a tersely worded letter indicating that he had five days to return it or I would sue. He returned it.

    Too bad, I had a nine count complaint prepared that was 20 pages long.

  37. NJ Toast says:

    Quick question – in NJ, I understand that if you live in a building that is going to be converted to condo / townhome and the occupancy deed is filed After the tenant has signed the lease and occupied the property, then the best the building owner/landlord can do is give tenant a 3 year notice to quit and tenant can remain a renter in the unit for 3 years.

    Is the above true and do NJ courts uphold it?

    Thanks,

  38. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    [35] Nom – mulch? Did he think you absconded with some or did he expect you to provide some?

  39. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    [22] Bystander – If current prices hold I’m almost tempted to sell myself. The problem for me and our family of 4 is A.) We’re obligated to stay in Boston to keep our kids on their very favorable education arc, and B.) Rents are very high. From a cash-flow perspective, there’s nothing cheaper than staying put (mortgage is only $100K and getting paid down very quickly, taxes are ridiculously low). OTOH, $350K of tax-free liquidity is very tempting. But to rent long term in Boston I would go through all that money in 5 years of renting and lose a perhaps valuable inflation hedge by not holding any RE. If someone can just guarantee me a crash within 1-2 years, then I could make a move now.

    If her fantasy comes to fruition then getting the f out of here. Tells me the bubble cycle has returned and this country’s kill shot is coming.

  40. joyce says:

    38
    Expat,

    I know nothing about renting in Boston, but is it really almost $6,000/month to rent something similar to your current condo?

  41. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    [39] Joyce – No, it would be about half that, closer to $3K/month …now, but the 3 women in my life yearn for 2 bathrooms but I’m sure they don’t want to give up high ceilings and a fireplace in a pre-war building, so now we’re at $3.5K-$4K/month or more. Also the $350K number is also too large because at current prices I might get $385K, but I still have a $100K mortgage and then there’s all the other costs, so it’s more like $250K in my pocket right now if I sell which over 5 years would work out to 71 months of assuming no rent increases at $3500/month. I guess the bottom line is it’s just too much risk versus staying put and knowing our costs will stay low, even if we don’t know the future value of the property.

  42. Ben says:

    #37, maybe he was going to argue that there was “wear and tear” on the mulch

  43. Comrade Nom DePlume says:

    [41] Ben,

    Basically, he argued that he was entitled yo have the place looking as it did when I moved in (no allowance for reasonable wear and tear). Of course, he was doing landscaping and such because he was trying to sell.

    He also charged for cleaning even tho it was left cleaner than we found it, and he charged for his own labor.

    Worst part? He is also a realtor. So I threatened to complain to the licensing board as well. And in my demand letter, I included a proviso that if he contacted me with anything other than an acceptance, the settlement offer was withdrawn and I would sue immediately. He did try to call then hung up. Then I got my check.

  44. anon (the good one) says:

    speaking of bad landlords, today’s paper cover page of NY Post is about Clots’ eviction

  45. Comrade Nom DePlume says:

    [42] redux,

    Even better, early on I got him to refer me to his lawyer to handle something menial for me. That makes me a client so his lawyer was conflicted out. If that got missed and he answered through that lawyer, I would have moved for the lawyer’s removal. So many ways I could have jerked his chain.

  46. Anon E. Moose says:

    JJ, you see this?

    How business is done when you do business with the gubmn’t: “Please eat this paper after you read it.”

  47. anon (the good one) says:

    did you also have pics of him w a hooker that could had been sent to his wife?
    all this BS could be an episode of Law & Order, everything fits just so neatly

    Comrade Nom DePlume says:
    April 18, 2014 at 4:00 pm
    [42] redux,

    Even better, early on I got him to refer me to his lawyer to handle something menial for me. That makes me a client so his lawyer was conflicted out. If that got missed and he answered through that lawyer, I would have moved for the lawyer’s removal. So many ways I could have jerked his chain.

  48. JJ says:

    My neighbor down the block who is like 80 years old but a large Jewish Man, maybe 6 foot three from Brooklyn back in his day had like 60 rental places, all little tiny bungalows and capes and two families. At one point in Island Park NY he owned the most houses of anyone in town.

    He never fixed anything, he curses, he yells he screams even at 80 I would be scared of him.

    Anyhow he told me the whole scheme fell apart in his early 60s. I asked what happened. He said come the laste 70s and 80s there became a lot of tenant friendly laws, then the town of Island Park focused on him the largest slumlord and he started racking up finds and penalites.

    Then he said he always rented to poorer folk but never had problem collecting. First he went down there and he is a large man screaming and yelling so that was than, after a few times they paid. Then he knew a guy who was actually a nice guy he said, but he was a very large Italian Man who looked like a gangsta. Pretty scary looking. He would pay him to go to house holding a hammer and demand the rent. Every time it work. Then come the mid 80s one tenant goes FU I am calling 911 and picks up the phone and starts dialing. He in a panic took his hammer smashed the phone took off down the block and never again did it. Then he said I am now a 60 year old men people are not fearing me like they used to, I dont have the Italian guy. I got fines piling up and I really cant hit the people it was all an illusion.

    Over next decade he sold them all. Remember, buying little dumpy places in so so towns and renting them to lower income folks and dont maintaining them requires a lot of luck, pay-offs to town and tenants fearing you.

  49. JJ says:

    BTW I am a landlord my tenants are very nice and I left the place spotless and in perfect working order. Tenant pays me early and gave a big deposit. Which of course I am giving back.

    I honestly would only buy a second propety if it was some super amazing deal in the building I own in. In fact I got a chance to buy a place cheaper than my unit and turned it down a few months later. I am talking like 100K under market cheap.

    Not complaining. Only cuase even though I am not making big bucks. I would have made more in a plain old muni bond but the unit is nice, my tenant is nice and it will make a good first place for kids or me to use in retirement if I move down south.

    Honestly condos and coops are so secret and nuts I dont think I would buy another. My building I now know the craziness. But I am on the board. Which is a pain

  50. Bystander says:

    Juice,

    That story is surprising since she was obvious hoarder. Usually they place so much value to their stuff that they will do anything to keep it all, including living in conditions you mentioned until they are pulled from it dead. Walking away from her junk must have been incredibly difficult. There was that show Hoarders on A&E which is perhaps the most disgusting and saddest show you will ever see. Psychiatrists, social workers and lifestyle change experts would try to help with the disorder. Crazy stuff and very common..

  51. Juice Box says:

    re # 49 – I once met a woman in a bar during my single days who was in the beginning stages of hoarding, place was about 1/3 full of junk. Not quite covering every sq ft of floor space but pretty close. As soon as I waked into her place the smell of cats, spoiled food and junk everywhere hit me like a ton of bricks even though I was pretty hazy from a hard night of drinking and playing pool till 4 am. I high tailed it out the door quicker than you could say outta here. You really have to be brave to hit it and quit it with a hoarder.

  52. Fast Eddie says:

    As soon as I waked into her place the smell of cats, spoiled food and junk everywhere hit me like a ton of bricks…

    It sounds like the 487 piece of sh1t houses I’ve been through with a 600K plus price tag.

  53. Comrade Nom DePlume says:

    [46] anon,

    BS? I so would love to call you out with a large bet but I know you wouldn’t show up or pay up.

    A troll and a pus-sy.

  54. joyce says:

    Peoria Mayor Sends Police to Track Down Twitter Parodist
    http://reason.com/blog/2014/04/18/peoria-mayor-calls-out-police-to-track-d

    Jim Ardis, mayor of Peoria, Illinois, ordered police to track down whoever was responsible for a parody Twitter account mocking him. As a result, police raided a West Bluff home, seized property, and detained three people for questioning.

  55. joyce says:

    Comrade:

    Attorney-Client privilege is a long-standing legal concept which ensures that communication between an attorney and his/her client is completely private.

    In Upjohn vs. the United States, the Supreme Court itself upheld attorney-client privilege as necessary “to encourage full and frank communication between attorneys and their clients and thereby promote broader public interests in the observance of law. . .”

    It doesn’t matter what you’re accused of– theft. treason. triple homicide. With very limited exceptions, an attorney cannot be compelled to testify against a client, nor can their communications be subpoenaed for evidence.

    Yet in a United States Tax Court decision announced on Wednesday, the court dismissed attorney client privilege, stating that:

    “When a person puts into issue his subjective intent in deciding how to comply with the law, he may forfeit the privilege afforded attorney-client communications.”

    In other words, if a person works with legal counsel within the confines of the tax code to legitimately minimize the amount of taxes owed, that communication is no longer protected by attorney-client privilege.

    Furthermore, the ruling states that if the individuals do not submit attorney-client documentation as required, then the court would prohibit them from introducing any evidence to demonstrate their innocence.

    Unbelievable.

    While it’s true that attorney-client privilege has long been assailed in numerous court cases (especially with regards to tax matters), this decision sets the most dangerous precedent yet.

    With this ruling, government now has carte blanche to set aside long-standing legal protections and even deny a human being even the chance to defend himself.

    Naturally, you won’t hear a word about this in the mainstream media.

    But it certainly begs the question, what’s the point of even having a trial? Or a constitution?

    When every right and protection you have can be disregarded in their sole discretion, one really has to wonder how anyone can call it a ‘free country’ any more.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-19/next-shoe-just-dropped-court-denies-attorney-client-privelege

  56. Comrade Nom DePlume says:

    [54] Joyce,

    Not relevant to my situation vis a vis the landlord but very interesting nonetheless. Thanks for the heads up.

  57. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    Boston Boots on the Ground Report – Thursday and Friday we had numerous low level helicopter passes over our area (mile 24 on the marathon route) but completely quiet today. Also – numerous surveillance cameras added over the last couple weeks, quite obvious grafts onto most arching streetlights. To me it seems like a big revenue grab. Last years idiots were just that. A couple of idiots. Only danger I can perceive is copy cats, but my inclination is that we won’t see anything here tomorrow.

  58. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    or the next day.

  59. Ben says:

    rofl…ran into the old landlord that I took to court today in Princeton. He must have been walking to church. He tried to say hi to me while I’m holding my kid. I just ignored him and he said “happy holidays”.

  60. Comrade Nom Deplume, Guardian of the Realm says:

    Buona Pasqua, all.

  61. The Original NJ ExPat, cusp of doom says:

    Wesołych Świąt

  62. Comrade Nom Deplume, Guardian of the Realm says:

    Vigoda>The Hurricane

  63. Essex says:

    The million dollar meth lab: Police raid high tech drug production base in luxury lakefront mansion that was stacked with guns

    Police discovered equipment and chemicals for making methamphetamine in a million-dollar Ohio home
    Madhu Dutta, 51, was arrested for possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs
    The paraphernalia was for a ‘thionyl/chloride method’ lab, a sophisticated method of producing meth
    It was the only lab of its kind to have been discovered in the state
    Also found in the home were 14 guns and ammunition
    Dutta bought the home for $1,125,000 last year
    He has pleaded not guilty

  64. Comrade Nom Deplume, Guardian of the Realm says:

    Too good not to share on Easter, this video of Senator-I-Know-What-Is-Best-For-You at work.

    http://pix11.com/2014/04/19/train-nearly-hits-senator-during-commuter-safety-presser/#axzz2zSK9aD19

    Guess Amtrak can’t rely on his help for its budget.

  65. chicagofinance says:

    FYI – driving east back from in-laws on route 78 in PA…..just past exit 54 where 22 & 78 split apart before Allentown I passed a 4 trooper speed trap that had been sprung……4 cars pulled over……about 3PM……never seen that one……

  66. Comrade Nom DePlume says:

    [65] chifi

    Saw the same setup on Route 1 Friday morning.

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