From the Star Ledger:
State blasts tax boards, may force N.J. towns to reassess properties
Three New Jersey municipalities in Union, Hudson and Middlesex counties are under investigation by the state for stalling property reassessments for decades and could be forced to conduct revaluations.
The investigation of Jersey City, Elizabeth and Dunellen is a shot across the bow to municipalities in the three counties the state says have neglected their legal duty to ensure fair property assessments, key in determining the real estate taxes home and business owners owe.
Tax boards in these three counties have “consistently failed to require towns to uniformly and fairly assess properties,” Treasury Department officials said Wednesday.
Over time, properties’ assessed values grow increasingly out of line with their market values, and some owners wind up paying too much, while others pay too little. Jersey City hasn’t reassessed in 27 years, Elizabeth in 39 years and Dunellen in 33 years, according to the state.
“The Division of Taxation is reluctantly taking this action because the Hudson, Middlesex and Union county tax boards have failed to do what they are supposed to do,” Treasury spokesman Joe Perone said. “The state has been more than patient in trying to convince the county tax boards to meet obligations, but they have been lax in enforcement because revaluations are unpopular.”
In a news release, the state also calls out Westfield, South River, East Newark, Harrison, Roselle and Winfield. They are among 32 municipalities that have not reassessed in at least 25 years, Perone said.
This would be the first time in four decades that the division is invoking its authority to force a municipality to reassess its property “because it’s clear that the county tax boards and the three municipalities have no interest in complying with the law,” he said.
…
“Over the nearly three decades since Jersey City’s last revaluation in 1988, the New Jersey Gold Coast city has seen a substantial redevelopment and increased demand,” he said in a statement. “Despite a booming real estate market that has enriched homeowners, many Jersey City residents continue to pay taxes as if they couldn’t give their homes away. Even worse, the rest of New Jersey has been forced to pick up the tab while city officials have resisted efforts to be held accountable for their own spending.”
…
According to the state Department of Treasury, the true value of Jersey City properties is $15.6 billion higher than its assessed value. In Dunellen, the market value of property exceeds the assessed value by a factor of four.
frist
“In a news release, the state also calls out Westfield, South River, East Newark, Harrison, Roselle and Winfield. They are among 32 municipalities that have not reassessed in at least 25 years”
Looks like I got out of Dodge in time.
Another day closer to death.
from Goodwin:
The leader of the free world urged a broader assault on Islamic State yesterday and called for more nations to join forces to crush the enemy. In response, President Obama said he would think about it.
The upside-down quality of the meeting between Obama and French President François Hollande was painful to watch. The attacks in Paris have energized and emboldened Hollande, but Obama again oozed an air of “this too shall pass.” A week after he shamefully called the Paris slaughter a “setback,” he’s still in a fog of his own making.
He refuses to call the spreading cancer what it plainly is — Islamic terrorism. Instead, he has adopted the Arabic pejorative for Islamic State, Daesh, perhaps believing he can insult the barbarians to death.
What he won’t do is assert American leadership when it is needed most. Without the world’s military and economic superpower leading the charge, there can be no real charge.
Thankfully, Hollande is not giving up. His Washington visit is part of a frenetic shuttle mission to assemble a coalition that he hopes will smash Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and break up its murderous networks across Europe.
He met with Great Britain’s David Cameron Monday, will see Germany’s Angela Merkel Wednesday, Russia’s Vladimir Putin Thursday and then other European leaders.
The point, he said, “is so that we can act.”
At that, Obama stirred himself to take offense at the suggestion that there was no action now. He interjected to say, “We’ve got a coalition,” and insisted 65 countries are united.
His is a coalition on paper only and is having little impact on Islamic State’s caliphate and has not stopped it from carrying out the attacks in Paris and elsewhere. Much of America and Europe are on heightened alert, and Belgium remains in a security lockdown.
It’s not that Obama doesn’t want to do anything. It’s just that he doesn’t want to do much more than he’s already doing, which is clearly inadequate.
Though he’s often wrong, he’s never in doubt, and even adopted a weary attitude of “I told you so” about Turkey shooting down a Russian jet. The incident “points to the ongoing problem with the Russian operations,” he said.
Yet oddly, he never mentioned that Turkey is a member of NATO, a significant element that raises the risk of wider war and could imperil the alliance if it does not support Turkey.
Although he was a portrait of peevish hesitancy for most of the hour, Obama did show real passion when he talked about Syrian refugees. Adopting a scolding tone, he emphasized the need to uphold America’s “ideals” and quoted from the Emma Lazarus poem on the Statue of Liberty.
The moment smacked of a political diversion, and was rich with irony.
Obama’s eagerness to take in refugees that Islamic State vows to infiltrate stands in shocking contrast to the State Department’s worldwide travel alert for all Americans. “US citizens should exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals and events,” the alert said. “Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theaters, open markets and aviation services.”
In a nutshell, that’s Obama World. Appeasement leading to a deadly chaos around the world that requires Americans to hunker down at home, twinned with an accusation that we are frightened bigots unless we open our borders.
By the end of their exercise in role reversals, you had to feel for Hollande. And you certainly couldn’t blame him for rushing out of a country whose commander in chief makes a virtue of leading from behind.
Ben, you are absolutely right. Teachers get no respect. It’s literally the definition of insanity.
You want to know why? People associate property taxes with education. So educators end up taking all the heat for this. Not many professions have to deal with this crap, comes with the territory when everyone feels like they are responsible for paying your salary. Another reason the private sector is so much better, you don’t have to deal with everyone knowing your salary and complaining it’s too much. (In my place of business, no one knows what anyone makes unless you do the books for workers salaries)
Also, in wealthy towns, the parents absolutely look down on teachers with disdain. I’ve seen it many times. I’ve had friend’s parents talk down teachers for giving my friends a grade they didn’t think their child deserved. The put-downs were harsh, and now my friends have taken over the same talking points as their parents. They basically look at teachers as over-payed servants. Pretty sick.
Whoever sets their child up to be a teacher in this day and age in nj, does not care about their child’s future. That says a lot about the profession. Christie and that whole national movement of beating up on education (to steal education dollars with their bs) has done significant harm to the profession. I can’t imagine any good students signing up for teaching (never mind that the pay is terrible for a gifted student to strive for). You can’t have a national movement bashing some of the most important individuals in our society, it’s just terrible policy that does not help anyone. No other country does this to their teachers. In fact, teachers are some of the best paid professionals in other countries. Do the statisticians account for the low teacher pay in this country when they bash American students in their comparison to foreign students test scores? Of course not, they want the best for cheap. Dream on.
“And to be honest, we would still be having this discussion either way. It doesn’t matter how good you are in this industry, it will never been enough for some people to be satisfied. In fact, despite the fact that my previous district was often ranked the top high school, a significant portion of the community viewed us with complete disdain.”
“Listen, this industry is littered with phenomenal people. Working in this field, I’ve met the most amazing people that are truly gifted and fully dedicated. I’m sure your friends are as well. It doesn’t matter. When they become super, there will still be plenty of people in the community that hate them.”
5- Look at these avg pay scales for teachers in our country. Look at the negative percentages in the salary comparison from 2000 to 2013. Some states took a -10% hit in avg salary. On a national level, we are paying teachers 1.3% less than we did 13 years ago. Who the hell in their right mind would sign up for this? Most of the avg salaries for states are just above the poverty line if you had a family to support. Going to get some great teachers with this kind of pay. LMAO …..how do people sit here and bash the teaching profession as highly paid? The highest avg salary in the country is washington dc at 70,906, followed by conn at 69,766. Big money baby! lol
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_211.60.asp
6- Wow!! On a national level, we were paying teachers a higher avg salary in 1989 than in 2013. This is insane.
ChiFi re#4
You and everyone else can post all you want about President Obama’s weakness in regards to the middle east. But the moment President Obama makes a decision about doing what you consider the “right” thing he would be crucify by people like you.
What all the neo-cons and hawks want is “boots on the ground”, but just not any boots. They don’t want a draft, a draft that would take their lillie white kids from Harvard and put them into the middle east desert to fight a bunch of camel f-rs. Neo-cons and hawks want the poor and brown to be the boots on the ground, and they will make sure they cut those military retirement and disability plan benefits just for the fun of it, because their rich friend don’t want to pay for it.
This is like pre WW2. You got to let it build up, like the Axis Power did, to allow the public to then demand a fight. A fight that WILL require TAXES and DRAFT, and accept the fact that it will take Nukes to settle it.
It would be more honest of you to say. President Obama fix this problem, I know its going to take drafting all my kids into the military and me paying 75% income tax.So until then, please stop your little snides and remarks.
Chifi,
When you upset the “not” guy, you’ve hit a lefty nerve.
http://www.usgovernmentrevenue.com/revenue_history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yUsnESf3Ug
#8
And who are the axis powers in your fantasy scenario?
Russia? It looks from my perspective that they are doing the dirty work and the rest of the civilized world a favor by mopping up terrorists. If Turkey wants to confront them over a territorial squabble then it’s not our problem.
#9
I think the Oblamer’s legacy is going to be folks like this Not character. Ignorant to a fault but convinced that everything in the world is driven by race. In other words, a new generation of rac!sts. I see it every day in the news, the nation has taken huge step backwards in terms of any reconciliation that’s occurred in the past 50 or so years.
Obama showed his true colors in 2009 when he threw a hissy fit because the Somali pirates were shot and killed to save Captain Phillips. That was all I needed to know to form an opinion of his potential as US Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
The whole school/teachers debate is dead simple. Exam schools and private schools are just all around better because they can exclude students. And that is a good thing. If we revamped public schools such that the bottom of the funnel dumps the problem kids into a prison preparedness school, most problems would vanish. Dumping money into the schools that in no way will address dysfunction in the home is a wasteful allocation of capital.
“…a shot across the bow to municipalities in the three counties the state says have neglected their legal duty to ensure fair property assessments, key in determining the real estate taxes home and business owners owe.
Tax boards in these three counties have “consistently failed to require towns to uniformly and fairly assess properties,” Treasury Department officials said Wednesday.”
lawsuits forthcoming? any liability?
Dumping money into the schools that in no way will address dysfunction in the home is a wasteful allocation of capital.
I’ve been saying this for years. It’s why private and parochial schools have substantially better results at half the cost. If there’s no discipline, structure and guidance at home, what do you expect a teacher to do?
[5] pumps
I had a follow on but for some reason, it won’t post. Maybe I’m being blocked. It was poetic but I am not recreating it.
Sorry about the ridiculously long URL. Some light reading guaranteed to get anon in a froth (once he figures out all the big words).
http://linkback.morganstanley.com/web/sendlink/webapp/static/research/article/index.html?b=Y2g9YXV0b2ImY3U9TjEwNzg1NTk1JmlkPWE5MjVjZTk2LTgxNTQtMTFlNS1hNmFjLTY3ZDQ0MjQ3ZDlhZg%3D%3D&d=f/pdf9lkhq-3pci-g000-85d6-005056018101%3Fstore%3D0%26d%3DUwBSZXNlYXJjaF9NUwBhOTI1Y2U5Ni04MTU0LTExZTUtYTZhYy02N2Q0NDI0N2Q5YWY%253D%26user%3D4uo6yg6u79o77-264%26__gda__%3D1574527827_dce842e2561d4879b7e8573a1689d36b&s=f/pdf9lkhq-3pci-g001-85d6-005056018101%3Fstore%3D0%26d%3DUwBSZXNlYXJjaF9NU1NXRgBhOTI1Y2U5Ni04MTU0LTExZTUtYTZhYy02N2Q0NDI0N2Q5YWY%253D%26user%3D4uo6yg6u79o77-265%26__gda__%3D1574527827_14aa2ccd00a32c1d7731f71c3a95b4f3#docId:a925ce96-8154-11e5-a6ac-67d44247d9af
Not B CHiFi [8],
The truth hurts, doesn’t it sweetie? Go ahead, tell me how it’s Cheney’s fault. The @ss in the White House has zero leadership qualities. Zero. The progressives and l1berals face a problem by diversion tactics and babble. The would rather write a thesis on the psychological effects of green house emissions on trans-genders facing income inequality.
easy for you and Chifi to talk sh1t as your offspring will never serve the country
Ragnar says:
November 25, 2015 at 8:19 am
Chifi,
When you upset the “not” guy, you’ve hit a lefty nerve.
Anon. You have the mental aptitude of a 2nd grader with severe learning disabilities.
Nom,
That MS report is simply fantastic. It’s pretty much a primer for rich people to figure out how to profit off the eventual rule changes that might (though I’d be shocked if we saw it) inevitably be put in place to stem the growing income disparity from the top to the bottom. I never really thought of the link between a companies ability to handle complexity as an advantage to managing such a change. Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
Now how the hell did you find it in the first place?
re: Boots on the Ground.
Maybe not the US boots this time…..
It’s coming folks. During the Vienna talks and the G20 meeting in Turkey our leaders agreed to some changes in Syria that will require boots, mainly to stem the flow of refugees but also to establish a UN type of presence in Syria. The plan is to create a new “humanitarian safe zone” between Syria’s Jarablus and the Mediterranean coast.
This humanitarian crisis and war is on Europe’s and Turkey’s doorstep not ours. French President Hollande invoked Article 42 of the EU for the first time, seems they might actually mean business. European forces are larger than most people think combined they have over 7,000 tanks and over 2,000 fighter jets and plenty of boots. They really only lack the will to fight and are politically gridlocked, however after all the tough talk after the Paris terrorist attacks we may see action soon. Turkey is in a tough position they currently have really no choice but to act, they cannot be on both sides of the fence anymore, they host over 2 million refugees and have to stem the flow of weapons, fighters, women, money and and even food to ISIS if they are going to remain a member of NATO and keep their close ties to the west. Erdogan has already rejected Putin’s overtures to keep Assad and join him in his new Russian Axis he has been trying to build. Erodogan wants Turkey to remain closer to the west and he now must act.
Timing? Well nobody fights in winter anymore, last winter however was tough on the millions of refugees blizzards covered refugee camps in snow last winter. As long as Turkey still gets it’s gas from Russia nothing will happen until spring.
Craziest thing about the Syrian conflict is even with all this talk of war, and planes getting shot down there are still commercial flights using the airspace over Syria and Iraq etc.
https://flightaware.com/live/
The reassessment story is much to do about nothing. I live in Westfield and can say for sure that we pay more than our fair share of property taxes. Entry level homes in town have $10k/year property taxes– not some grand bargain compared to neighboring towns that reassess more regularly (Clark, Scotch Plains etc).
Even if the assessed values are out of whack and need to be adjusted, the property tax rate will just be rejiggered resulting in the same annual tax. It’s not like people in these towns are enjoying a nice discount.
i wish someone with more knowledge of the subject could comment…
Good points. They should just require a C avg to stay in a public school. Anything lower is just wasting hard working taxpayers money. Plus, a C avg is being generous. God knows how many good teachers have been burnt out being held accountable for these kids that just don’t give a damn. Take it away and maybe they will appreciate it.
The Original NJ ExPat says:
November 25, 2015 at 8:49 am
The whole school/teachers debate is dead simple. Exam schools and private schools are just all around better because they can exclude students. And that is a good thing. If we revamped public schools such that the bottom of the funnel dumps the problem kids into a prison preparedness school, most problems would vanish. Dumping money into the schools that in no way will address dysfunction in the home is a wasteful allocation of capital.
Damn, always enjoy reading your posts.
Comrade Nom Deplume, the anon-tidote says:
November 25, 2015 at 9:21 am
[5] pumps
I had a follow on but for some reason, it won’t post. Maybe I’m being blocked. It was poetic but I am not recreating it.
get the draft going and your kids on the ground in Syria
only then talk to me about leadership
Libturd in Union says:
November 25, 2015 at 9:46 am
Anon.
What a share. Nice job finding this gem!
Comrade Nom Deplume, the anon-tidote says:
November 25, 2015 at 9:22 am
Sorry about the ridiculously long URL. Some light reading guaranteed to get anon in a froth (once he figures out all the big words).
http://linkback.morganstanley.com/web/sendlink/webapp/static/research/article/index.html?b=Y2g9YXV0b2ImY3U9TjEwNzg1NTk1JmlkPWE5MjVjZTk2LTgxNTQtMTFlNS1hNmFjLTY3ZDQ0MjQ3ZDlhZg%3D%3D&d=f/pdf9lkhq-3pci-g000-85d6-005056018101%3Fstore%3D0%26d%3DUwBSZXNlYXJjaF9NUwBhOTI1Y2U5Ni04MTU0LTExZTUtYTZhYy02N2Q0NDI0N2Q5YWY%253D%26user%3D4uo6yg6u79o77-264%26__gda__%3D1574527827_dce842e2561d4879b7e8573a1689d36b&s=f/pdf9lkhq-3pci-g001-85d6-005056018101%3Fstore%3D0%26d%3DUwBSZXNlYXJjaF9NU1NXRgBhOTI1Y2U5Ni04MTU0LTExZTUtYTZhYy02N2Q0NDI0N2Q5YWY%253D%26user%3D4uo6yg6u79o77-265%26__gda__%3D1574527827_14aa2ccd00a32c1d7731f71c3a95b4f3#docId:a925ce96-8154-11e5-a6ac-67d44247d9af
Down here in Monmouth county our assessment changes every year. Last year they raised it by 30k this year 6,600 however taxes are still the same 3 years running so far. They picked my house last year for assessment, and I did not let them in, they don’t need to know anything more than what is filed down at towns office in my opinion. Card was mailed on 11/15 and we have to appeal by Jan 15th. I have no case for appeal yet. I know people on the other side of the tracks who pay the same or higher than I do in less desirable school districts with less improvements than me. When I look at the tax map of just my street less desirable homes pay more as well some as much as 20% more, and they still have interiors designed from the 1970s and 80s.
I gather they will never get taxes right, taxes will never be equitable unless they are flat.
re# 29 – The only reason we should even need a draft is to fight the next superpower in a land battle. That would be China again like in Nam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mTlnrXFAXE
Question for Ben is when should they move to Bayonne? Senior year or before?
Gotta do it Freshman year. The school will screw you over if you transfer in GPA wise. They don’t know how to weigh the courses (this is done by the guidance dept) when you transfer over so they just kinda make it up. My best student ever moved over from China junior year. She was light years ahead of everyone. They converted her advanced classes to regular credit and she didn’t even make the top 50.
But yes, you are better off as the valedictorian of Bayonne over being #10 in Millburn.
As per yesterday. One strategy to game the system might be to have your kid in a district that is “fast tracked” where they take a course like Algebra 1 in 7th grade (of course, you child needs to be ready for this so we are assuming he/she is definitely one of the smartest kids in the grade). Then, you transfer them to a district where nobody is fast tracked. As a result, they are a year ahead of everyone in district and take AP Calc a year earlier. That means, in the end, they are automatically +1 on AP classes relative to the other students in district and if they get all A’s, it looks like he/she is ranked #1 by default.
On second thought, your kid will probably hate you because you moved them away from their friends at age 14.
Pumpkin, most of the time, the low pay is the fault of the unions. Contrary to popular belief, unions suppress salaries in this industry. They force highly specialized labor (high school teachers) to be unionized with non-specialized labor (elementary level). I’m not trying to badmouth what they do at the elementary level, because we rely on them to send us students with a good solid base. At the same time, I have to be an expert in all kinds of crazy Physics. The requirement of content expertise is much higher at the high school level and there is no reason the two should start out at the same level. However, the union mentality insists upon it. So in the end, the union helps the lower grades whereas the high school teachers get brought down. You see this on contract votes as well. If you give the elementary teachers a $50 raise for the year, they’ll vote yes and are happy to. The high school teachers would all unanimously vote no. In the end, we are usually outnumbered by them so every contract goes through, no matter how pathetic the raise.
[23] lib
Bloomberg
Reading from the twitiot reminds me of this movie quote, which I naturally paraphrased:
“The use of unnecessary force or violence in the apprehension of anon . . . is approved”
8. “So until then, please stop your little snides and remarks.”
Ohhh, someone’s panties get all twisted with the very on-point article that the emperor has no clothes?
I’ve been trying to find a favorite photo that encapsulates Obama. He’s President-elect I believe, on a visit to London. He’s standing in front of 10 Downing. Big ears, stupid grin, ill-fitting suit, photo a little askew. All the world like some underclassman on his first day on a semester abroad – “Look ma, I’m in London!!”. One glance at the photo captures everything wrong with this lightweight.
It’s what happens when you send a ‘community organizer’ to do a man’s job.
[26] randy
When I lived in the Brig, I paid between 13-14K. But I heard anecdotally of many paying far less, usually folks who had been in Westfield a long time. Not unusual considering that no one ever seems to leave (hence, Brigadoon).
“The highest avg salary in the country is washington dc at 70,906, followed by conn at 69,766”
Proposal:
Since funds are a limited resource and the job of leaders is to apportion them efficiently….
Let’s flip firemen and teachers here in NJ. Trade it straight up. Teachers get the firemens’ salaries, benefits, pensions, and retirement age. Firemen get the teachers’.
Anyone on board?
This is what they do at my daughter’s school. Boston Latin (7-12 school) puts every 7th grader who scores high enough on a math assessment taken in the Summer right into algebra and everyone else goes into pre-algebra.
As per yesterday. One strategy to game the system might be to have your kid in a district that is “fast tracked” where they take a course like Algebra 1 in 7th grade (of course, you child needs to be ready for this so we are assuming he/she is definitely one of the smartest kids in the grade). Then, you transfer them to a district where nobody is fast tracked. As a result, they are a year ahead of everyone in district
[8] not Chifi
I am sure I speak for everyone here when I say that we don’t post any snides or remarks that we wouldn’t be willing to say to your face.
Grim, we need a GTG so we can invite some of these guys to come out and play.
Boston Latin sends about 25 kids to Harvard every year. I bet there aren’t too many other public schools where half of every class went to private school for K-6.
Isn’t that the new telenovela?
Grim, we need a GTG so we can invite some of these guys to come out and play.
Exactly. You guys on the left gonna show up?
[14] expat
Not that I would ever pass up a chance to take down Obama on his foreign policy chops (or lack thereof), but I found nothing to corroborate that, and even the WaTimes (no fans of Obama) reported glowingly on his handling of it.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/22/obama-okd-2-seal-teams-for-pirates/?page=all
Again, I don’t dispute your view and perhaps all evidence has been scrubbed from the internet but I just don’t remember it nor can I find any evidence of it except for a debunking of emails suggesting he handcuffed the SEALs.
Cannot stand the Empty Suit In Chief but can’t use nonexistent or nonprovable facts either.
[44] Eddie,
I doubt we would see them. Besides Not Chifi would need a chair to stand on in order to get in Chifi’s face. I shrink from no one but in his case, I might make an exception.
In your case, I would as well, but only because of the well-known inverse correlation between the size of the dog in the fight and the size of the fight in the dog.
“That means, in the end, they are automatically +1 on AP classes relative to the other students in district and if they get all A’s, it looks like he/she is ranked #1 by default”
A number of better universities are adjusting everyone to a 4.0 scale on application. Was surprising to me to find out for GPA there are 4.0, 5.0, 6, 7, 10, and 12 point scales (and apparently according to one Ivy a school in Oregon that grades using only gold stars).
Basically, they drop +/- after a grade so everything is just A, B, C, and assign 4, 3, 2 points. The highest GPA for anyone will be 4.0. Then in a separate eval category they look at difficulty of curriculum to differentiate between the 4.0 HomeEc student and the 4.0 four AP class student.
“anon (the good one) says:
November 25, 2015 at 9:26 am
easy for you and Chifi to talk sh1t as your offspring will never serve the country”
Before you bang this drum yet another time in this thread learn some world history.
From ancient through feudal times up to the present foot soldiers have typically been drawn nearly exclusively from the lower rung of society. It is often a stepping stone – one of the few – for these classes upward.
Why should 2015 be any different than the preceding two millennia?
And before answering remember patriotic nationalism is a relatively new phenomenon historically speaking.
[45] Nom – I looked for corroboration myself this morning to include in my post, but couldn’t find it either. I did read it at the time though and I believe it was a compelling account of the military command making a discretionary call that O didn’t ok and he was pissed. Btw, did you find that inequality report on yahoo finance today? I’m in the car and it was a top story on my yahoo finance app.
Wow, never realized this at all. Good post. My daughter is staying far and away from that field. It’s insane how much teachers with your skill get ripped off. Anytime someone brings up taxes and your job, tell them that you are a gift to the taxpayer, not a ripoff. You deserve so much more.
Ben says:
November 25, 2015 at 11:13 am
Pumpkin, most of the time, the low pay is the fault of the unions. Contrary to popular belief, unions suppress salaries in this industry. They force highly specialized labor (high school teachers) to be unionized with non-specialized labor (elementary level). I’m not trying to badmouth what they do at the elementary level, because we rely on them to send us students with a good solid base. At the same time, I have to be an expert in all kinds of crazy Physics. The requirement of content expertise is much higher at the high school level and there is no reason the two should start out at the same level. However, the union mentality insists upon it. So in the end, the union helps the lower grades whereas the high school teachers get brought down. You see this on contract votes as well. If you give the elementary teachers a $50 raise for the year, they’ll vote yes and are happy to. The high school teachers would all unanimously vote no. In the end, we are usually outnumbered by them so every contract goes through, no matter how pathetic the raise.
The Defense Department twice sought Mr. Obama’s permission to use force to rescue Captain Phillips, most recently on Friday night, senior defense officials said. On Saturday morning, the president agreed, they said, if it appeared that the captain’s life was in imminent danger.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/world/africa/13pirates.html?_r=0
Lefty, I’m on board. Let’s switch the police officer’s salaries with teachers. It would be a win/win for the taxpayer. The teaching profession would attract the candidates that it deserves, and the police would attract the rightful candidates it deserves. Right now, it’s backwards.
leftwing says:
November 25, 2015 at 11:28 am
“The highest avg salary in the country is washington dc at 70,906, followed by conn at 69,766″
Proposal:
Since funds are a limited resource and the job of leaders is to apportion them efficiently….
Let’s flip firemen and teachers here in NJ. Trade it straight up. Teachers get the firemens’ salaries, benefits, pensions, and retirement age. Firemen get the teachers’.
Anyone on board?
34 – That’s some interesting commentary on the matter, I’d never considered that.
Lack of up to date assessments only matters within a given municipality; it wouldn’t affect town A vs town B. As Comrade said, the lack of recent assessments will typically benefit those who have been in town longer vs the newcomers (especially older homes vs new construction).
Randy says:
November 25, 2015 at 10:32 am
The reassessment story is much to do about nothing. I live in Westfield and can say for sure that we pay more than our fair share of property taxes. Entry level homes in town have $10k/year property taxes– not some grand bargain compared to neighboring towns that reassess more regularly (Clark, Scotch Plains etc).
Even if the assessed values are out of whack and need to be adjusted, the property tax rate will just be rejiggered resulting in the same annual tax. It’s not like people in these towns are enjoying a nice discount.
i wish someone with more knowledge of the subject could comment…
8 seconds ago you said we needed to pay police a ton of money to prevent them from being corrupt… it appears the memory portion of your brain works as well as the cognitive
The Great Pumpkin says:
November 25, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Lefty, I’m on board. Let’s switch the police officer’s salaries with teachers. It would be a win/win for the taxpayer. The teaching profession would attract the candidates that it deserves, and the police would attract the rightful candidates it deserves. Right now, it’s backwards.
51
Giving an order to use force if life is in danger = throwing a hissy fit?
I couldn’t find the a account I read in 2009 Joyce. IIRC, O was upset because they shot when they could, not because they were about to cause harm to Phillips.
“get the draft going and your kids on the ground in Syria”
I wouldn’t put any boots on the ground. I would simply drop a nuclear bomb on Damascus. I’m a fair guy though. I’d gladly fly in the plane. To honor Anon and his like, I would name the plane the Enola Gay Marriage.
#34..my wife has now taught Math in HS for 10 years (mid career change-math degree) and what Ben says is fact! Cracks me up that many of the k-4 teachers are making $20k more than my wife! LOL
#59,
Its not just the fact that there is no payment distinction between HS and Elementary, there is none for subject taught as well. The Art teacher gets paid on the same salary scale as the Math or Physics teacher.
[51] expat,
The WaTimes story contained a repudiation of the NY Times description. It was likely self-serving and I can only marvel at the fact that the NYT harshed this president while the WAT carried his water. But I think in both cases, they were reporting what they were told.
____
Source of inequality study was initially bloomberg.
An individual can’t change their position? My opinion has changed, they are already corrupt, so obviously the extra pay is not working. I’m now realizing that most of the police are in their position because “they know someone”. F them.
No way in hell should a physics teacher be making 50% less than a cop. It’s crazy. This world is built on pure bs.
joyce says:
November 25, 2015 at 12:47 pm
8 seconds ago you said we needed to pay police a ton of money to prevent them from being corrupt… it appears the memory portion of your brain works as well as the cognitive
The Great Pumpkin says:
November 25, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Lefty, I’m on board. Let’s switch the police officer’s salaries with teachers. It would be a win/win for the taxpayer. The teaching profession would attract the candidates that it deserves, and the police would attract the rightful candidates it deserves. Right now, it’s backwards.
62- only in America do we pay our cops top dollar and pay our teachers with crumbs. Best part, teachers than get bashed by the public for having too much. Joe public is truly misinformed.
In Camden, the police officer should be paid ten times what the Physics teacher is paid! Though, I doubt any of the students stay in school long enough to make it to Physics there.
I would surprised to learn that two extended family members in the midst of their student teaching both have solid job leads. Both are elementary music ed and, one in a Passaic and the other in an Essex school.
I know those aren’t dream jobs but I thought the teaching fields were saturated.
Lib, those teachers are dealing with the same criminal element as the cops in Camden, except they don’t have a gun or badge to protect themselves. I could only imagine how difficult it is to teach a gangbanger.
Libturd in Union says:
November 25, 2015 at 1:46 pm
In Camden, the police officer should be paid ten times what the Physics teacher is paid! Though, I doubt any of the students stay in school long enough to make it to Physics there.
Ben,
I was in a union for several years. The whole enterprise was aimed at two goals: for the union, protect the jobs and elevate the salaries of the mediocre and worse. For the company, cap the pay of the most talented, high performing employees.
The net effect in my business, where the talented people were able to escape to the non-unionized companies within the industry: the mediocre to below employees stayed for life. Because their market value was less than what they were getting paid. The high performing, most highly skilled employees left within about 3 years. Because their market value was higher than what they would be paid.
This is one reason why school privatization should be great for above average teachers – they would have a bigger market of companies bidding for their services.
66- Nigga, f your detention and f your class! Imagine trying to teach that. Lol
Come on rags, you are smarter than this. They will not recruit the best, they will use privatization to cut the costs. They won’t give a crap about the results, just that they are saving money. People making the big dicisions do not give a crap about teachers. They balk at paying them anything meaningful. Just glorified babysitters in their eyes. Why do you think our country is one of the few places on this planet that does not give an ounce of respect to the teaching profession.
“This is one reason why school privatization should be great for above average teachers – they would have a bigger market of companies bidding for their services.”
Re 63.
Pumpkin you need a reality checkup, My wifes good friend retired retired from being a NJ home ec. teacher @ 55.
Gets a pension of $52,000 per year plus free healthcare for the rest of her life , as does her husband. Her biggest complaint is she is waiting until 66 to collect her SS. Which will give her another $2,500 a month. But not unlike you she has the entitlement issue. After all she worked 25 years for 181 days a year .
She just biked 25 miles , and will outlive her mother who is 92. Figure out how much she actually makes with compensation for 40 plus years. Not just the $85,000 she made being a teacher.
My wife is turning 64 in December, is making less than 45,000 a year, and is happy to have a job. Her teacher friend keeps asking why she does not retire. Can you figure out why Pumpkin. Don’t forget to add her husbands free healthcatre in!
Your BS really gets old sometimes, your tilted views do not fit realities. But I guess every blog needs a TROLL.
Wow…no feedback on the Enola Gay Marriage. Come one folks. You get what you paid for here.
Hey Grim,
I spoke with the guy creating Newark Cider last night. He’s going through the same hell you are, but it’s twice as bad since he has a farm to establish as well as a brewery. Seems like he had to grease some palms to get the power company to hook up his electricity needs. Gotta love NJ.
This guy…http://ediblejersey.com/editorial/fall-2015/the-return-of-newark-cider/
Jim,
Amen, my friend! :)
Lib,
Enola Gay Marriage: brilliant! ;) I like it.
x2. big smile.
Did you even read the data in post 6? No, of course not. You have to write a post seeping in jealousy because your wife makes 45,000 at 65 years old. Pathetic. Sorry to be blunt, but her salary and age tells me all I needed to know. Know your type well, didn’t get the college degree or skills, and are now pissed off with your current situation.
You have to give the example of the home ec. teacher making 85,000 after 40 years. What schools even offer home ec. anymore? She is the equivalent to the art teacher or gym teacher. You have no gripes with math and science teachers with serious degrees totally getting ripped off? No, you spot the anomaly to justify that teachers are overpaid. Lol and then you have fast Eddie agreeing. You guys are lost. Look at the data, the pay sucks. Maybe someone making less than 45,000 at 64 will think it’s good, but no professional will.
Jim says:
November 25, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Re 63.
Pumpkin you need a reality checkup, My wifes good friend retired retired from being a NJ home ec. teacher @ 55.
Gets a pension of $52,000 per year plus free healthcare for the rest of her life , as does her husband. Her biggest complaint is she is waiting until 66 to collect her SS. Which will give her another $2,500 a month. But not unlike you she has the entitlement issue. After all she worked 25 years for 181 days a year .
She just biked 25 miles , and will outlive her mother who is 92. Figure out how much she actually makes with compensation for 40 plus years. Not just the $85,000 she made being a teacher.
My wife is turning 64 in December, is making less than 45,000 a year, and is happy to have a job. Her teacher friend keeps asking why she does not retire. Can you figure out why Pumpkin. Don’t forget to add her husbands free healthcatre in!
Your BS really gets old sometimes, your tilted views do not fit realities. But I guess every blog needs a TROLL.
76- Anyone that is a “professional” is making 6 figures in this area. It’s the old timers that never held a professional job in their life that think 85,000 (plus benefits) is some golden parachute. They have no idea what professionals actually make. They have no idea how professionals are compensated, on top of their salaries, in the private field. You go get the college education and skills needed to be a teacher and then tell me how you feel about hearing all your former classmates brag about how well they are doing in the private sector. Then you will learn why the teaching profession has the highest turnover in the game. I brag to my teacher friends all the time that it’s not too late to switch professions. I look at them as suckers, but some just really love to teach.
Mr. troll re 76
Did you even read the data in post 6? No, of course not. You have to write a post seeping in jealousy because your wife makes 45,000 at 65 years old. Pathetic. Sorry to be blunt, but her salary and age tells me all I needed to know. Know your type well, didn’t get the college degree or skills, and are now pissed off with your current situation.
You have to give the example of the home ec. teacher making 85,000 after 40 years. What schools even offer home ec. anymore? She is the equivalent to the art teacher or gym teacher. You have no gripes with math and science teachers with serious degrees totally getting ripped off? No, you spot the anomaly to justify that teachers are overpaid. Lol and then you have fast Eddie agreeing. You guys are lost. Look at the data, the pay sucks. Maybe someone making less than 45,000 at 64 will think it’s good, but no professional will.
My wife has a 4 year degree, with honor roll credentials, sorry to disapoint you. There are at least 4 schools in Morris county that still offer some level of home economics. She taught at one of these schools.
The pension system is choking NJ because it is so generous. I can site many examples of friends and relatives that are sucking this system dry. You fail to realize the enormity of the entitlement package along with the pay is absolutely unsustanable. But why let facts get in the way, afterall they all earned it.
Sorry to break your heart, but I am not pissed off about my situation, but why not try to put the blame on me. You do that well. Defer when looking like a jerk, works well for trolls. I know YOUR type well!
Boston Latin sends about 25 kids to Harvard every year. I bet there aren’t too many other public schools where half of every class went to private school for K-6.
Don’t know much about Boston Latin, but I would assume it’s a feeder school. I live 3 blocks from Lawrenceville prep, another feeder school. Some ridiculous number like 30% of kids end up going to Princeton. Just sitting at the starbucks across the street, I can tell you, a lot of these kids are no much better than the average honors student. Their parents are paying 50k a year for the privilege of having priority in admissions and it works.
Gets a pension of $52,000 per year plus free healthcare for the rest of her life , as does her husband. Her biggest complaint is she is waiting until 66 to collect her SS. Which will give her another $2,500 a month. But not unlike you she has the entitlement issue. After all she worked 25 years for 181 days a year .
She just biked 25 miles , and will outlive her mother who is 92. Figure out how much she actually makes with compensation for 40 plus years. Not just the $85,000 she made being a teacher.
It sure is nonsense, but be aware, that her pension is truly coming out of my pocket, not yours.
Ben,
I paid almost 70,000 last year in real estate taxes. I am sure more is coming out of my pockets.
God, I’m being trolled. A guy that pays 70,000 in property taxes still has his wife working for 45,000 a year at the age of 64. Not believable. Sorry. Your wife is also a teacher? I’m def being trolled.
You know what’s funny, you defend the 1% by attacking anyone that brings up the state of income inequality as nothing more than jealous lefties. Yet, you attack teachers as being too well compensated. You are sick in the head.
Jim says:
November 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Ben,
I paid almost 70,000 last year in real estate taxes. I am sure more is coming out of my pockets.
You are a good man. I feel for you and the stuff you have to deal with on a daily basis from your fellow citizens. It’s truly sad. You are giving a gift to society, but idiots have to label you as a detriment to society. Nothing but an entitled individual in a job with a golden parachute….lol. Too funny.
Ben, look over post 5 from today, and jim did exactly what I stated these people do. They pay property taxes, therefore, you are their bitc!h and should work for nothing. It will never change. As long as the taxpayer is the source of capital for public schools, you will have to deal with this. You will remain the punching bag for the taxpayers, they need to take out their anger on someone, and unfortunately it’s you.
Ben says:
November 25, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Gets a pension of $52,000 per year plus free healthcare for the rest of her life , as does her husband. Her biggest complaint is she is waiting until 66 to collect her SS. Which will give her another $2,500 a month. But not unlike you she has the entitlement issue. After all she worked 25 years for 181 days a year .
She just biked 25 miles , and will outlive her mother who is 92. Figure out how much she actually makes with compensation for 40 plus years. Not just the $85,000 she made being a teacher.
It sure is nonsense, but be aware, that her pension is truly coming out of my pocket, not yours.
Btw, I pay 30,000 in taxes and I’m only 35. By the time I’m sixty, who knows what I will be paying based on all the properties will own. I won’t be complaining, they will all be income producing properties that piss on social security or pensions as a format of retirement income.
Jim says:
November 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Ben,
I paid almost 70,000 last year in real estate taxes. I am sure more is coming out of my pockets.
Sorry Pumpkin Troll, your way off base. I own small apt. buildings that the state goverment uses for their piggy bank. When I do sell they will even make more $$$$.
Wipe the egg off your face, you are looking like a real jass. You obviously do not know the state of the state. Afterall your the BRAIN , who told us all about wage inflation. Not going to happen… but lets’ leave your BS behind us and do your best to make me look bad. Trolls always defer so keep up the good work…your too predictable.
Your as credible as my grandaughter, when she doesn’t get her way and she lets the tears go…. but she is five. I would hope you would show more signs of maturity.
Guess that won’t happen.
You have absolutely no idea how much money I make, or the amount of hours I work. But please continue with your way off base scenarios AND mocking my wife.
This shows your real nature.
TROLL
November 25, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Btw, I pay 30,000 in taxes and I’m only 35. By the time I’m sixty, who knows what I will be paying based on all the properties will own. I won’t be complaining, they will all be income producing properties that piss on social security or pensions as a format of retirement income.
Boy do you have a lot to learn, maybe you will remeber this staement when you retire. Good Luck!
Absolutely agreed, and in towns such as Hoboken and JC, these disparities are (were) excessive, certainly unconscionable, and possible illegal.
joyce says:
November 25, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Lack of up to date assessments only matters within a given municipality; it wouldn’t affect town A vs town B. As Comrade said, the lack of recent assessments will typically benefit those who have been in town longer vs the newcomers (especially older homes vs new construction).
Randy says:
November 25, 2015 at 10:32 am
The reassessment story is much to do about nothing. I live in Westfield and can say for sure that we pay more than our fair share of property taxes. Entry level homes in town have $10k/year property taxes– not some grand bargain compared to neighboring towns that reassess more regularly (Clark, Scotch Plains etc).
Even if the assessed values are out of whack and need to be adjusted, the property tax rate will just be rejiggered resulting in the same annual tax. It’s not like people in these towns are enjoying a nice discount.
i wish someone with more knowledge of the subject could comment…
why would you say this? they are free to do what they want……
anon (the good one) says:
November 25, 2015 at 9:26 am
easy for you and Chifi to talk sh1t as your offspring will never serve the country
Ragnar says:
November 25, 2015 at 8:19 am
Chifi,
When you upset the “not” guy, you’ve hit a lefty nerve.
“It sure is nonsense, but be aware, that her pension is truly coming out of my pocket, not yours.”
For now it is. But that will last only so long. Either the pensions are reduced or the taxpayer will make up the difference. That’s the elephant in the room. Knowing how blue Jersey and Illinois are (the first two pension funds likely to go poof), you can figure out who will be making up the shortfall once it’s necessary.
There has been wage inflation taking place the past two years in the high skilled area of the economy. The rest of the economy has had wage inflation, but at levels that are barely readable. My prediction was for 2017-2018, give it some time. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong, but I’m pretty damn sure that I’m right. If you don’t have wage inflation, then we will be seeing deflation, you can count on that. People can’t keep paying higher prices if they are not getting the wage increase to pay for it. So the economy will go into a deflationary death spiral, which no one wants. Trust me, wage inflation will come, deflation is not an option. Ask the fed.
As for every comment you state about your personal life, you are trolling me. You are making up nonsense. Did you see how quick I called you out with those numbers, that’s the proof you need to know I actually do pay 30,000 in taxes to the state of nj. I’m not some idiot, hence why I am in the position to pay that much in taxes at my age. Remember, i’m a shi!!y millennial, a lot of my peers are still living at home. They are only starting to buy a home now. They are looking at starter homes, I was looking at 700,000 dollar homes at 31 years old back in 2011. Unlike you, I’m actually telling the truth. I have no reason to lie. You on the other hand, are completely trolling me. Get a life.
Jim says:
November 25, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Sorry Pumpkin Troll, your way off base. I own small apt. buildings that the state goverment uses for their piggy bank. When I do sell they will even make more $$$$.
Wipe the egg off your face, you are looking like a real jass. You obviously do not know the state of the state. Afterall your the BRAIN , who told us all about wage inflation. Not going to happen… but lets’ leave your BS behind us and do your best to make me look bad. Trolls always defer so keep up the good work…your too predictable.
Your as credible as my grandaughter, when she doesn’t get her way and she lets the tears go…. but she is five. I would hope you would show more signs of maturity.
Guess that won’t happen.
You have absolutely no idea how much money I make, or the amount of hours I work. But please continue with your way off base scenarios AND mocking my wife.
This shows your real nature.
How do you know what I think and what I would say? I have voted the Democrat for President in every election I was eligible except 2012, when I was displaced out of NJ in the aftermath of Sandy….that said, I would have wholeheartedly voted for Romney. Obama is an abject failure…..I don’t even think it can be argued anymore….he’s worse than Carter….which is as unfathomable as it is stunning…..
Not B CHiFi says:
November 25, 2015 at 8:13 am
ChiFi re#4
You and everyone else can post all you want about President Obama’s weakness in regards to the middle east. But the moment President Obama makes a decision about doing what you consider the “right” thing he would be crucify by people like you.
What all the neo-cons and hawks want is “boots on the ground”, but just not any boots. They don’t want a draft, a draft that would take their lillie white kids from Harvard and put them into the middle east desert to fight a bunch of camel f-rs. Neo-cons and hawks want the poor and brown to be the boots on the ground, and they will make sure they cut those military retirement and disability plan benefits just for the fun of it, because their rich friend don’t want to pay for it.
This is like pre WW2. You got to let it build up, like the Axis Power did, to allow the public to then demand a fight. A fight that WILL require TAXES and DRAFT, and accept the fact that it will take Nukes to settle it.
It would be more honest of you to say. President Obama fix this problem, I know its going to take drafting all my kids into the military and me paying 75% income tax.So until then, please stop your little snides and remarks.
Pumpkin TROLL quote
Unlike you, I’m actually telling the truth. I have no reason to lie. You on the other hand, are completely trolling me. Get a life.
I have a life, I am not trolling here like you do EVERY SINGLE DAY. You are a complete waste of a life with constant BS. Too much time on your hands. I have never witnessed anyone who is so thickheaded, that they cannot see what others know.
You are the perfect example of not seeing the forest because of the trees. Stop wasting others time by trying to prove your self worth, all meaningless to us and really shows you ignorance.. Get a life PUMPKIN or better yet maybe ignorance is bliss.
A lot to learn? I learned a long time ago to put money into assets that produce income. I don’t know what you are talking about, I am setting myself up to not rely on social security. Do not want to be in the position of relying on social security if I make it to retirement. Would much rather be collecting rent from my investment properties. If I get sick of being a landlord, I’ll sell, dump the money into a couple of index funds, and live off that.
“Btw, I pay 30,000 in taxes and I’m only 35. By the time I’m sixty, who knows what I will be paying based on all the properties will own. I won’t be complaining, they will all be income producing properties that piss on social security or pensions as a format of retirement income.
Boy do you have a lot to learn, maybe you will remeber this staement when you retire. Good Luck!”
You might hate me, but there are people that enjoy reading my posts. Not everyone thinks just like you. Sometimes they enjoy someone like me that brings a lot of different views to the table. I’m responsible for a lot of good debates on this blog, sorry that you find it to be a waste of time. There’s a lot of value that comes from intellectual debates, but I could see why that flies right over your head. You want to believe that I waste my time, so be it, just remember, it’s my time and if I find value in something, who are you to judge?
Jim says:
November 25, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Pumpkin TROLL quote
Unlike you, I’m actually telling the truth. I have no reason to lie. You on the other hand, are completely trolling me. Get a life.
I have a life, I am not trolling here like you do EVERY SINGLE DAY. You are a complete waste of a life with constant BS. Too much time on your hands. I have never witnessed anyone who is so thickheaded, that they cannot see what others know.
You are the perfect example of not seeing the forest because of the trees. Stop wasting others time by trying to prove your self worth, all meaningless to us and really shows you ignorance.. Get a life PUMPKIN or better yet maybe ignorance is bliss.
93- If everything goes according to plan and I am able to hit my goal of 10 income producing properties, I expect to be making anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000(today’s money) a year on my real estate positions. I’m not even including 401ks and my personal investments in the stock market. After all that, what the hell do I care about social security for (not in an obnoxious way, but making a point)?
Ben (34)-
The highest paid 3-4 teachers in my gigantic district are all PE teachers.
“Andre Esteves, the brash banker who once joked his firm’s name, Grupo BTG Pactual, stood for ‘better than Goldman,’ became the latest high-profile executive dragged into Brazil’s widening corruption scandal.
The 47-year-old billionaire was arrested Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, along with Senator Delcidio Amaral, police said. Esteves allegedly sought an agreement with Amaral to interfere with testimony from a jailed former executive of oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA, according to a court document.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-25/how-brazil-s-banking-golden-boy-arrested-in-rio-built-empire
TROLL Quote
“A lot to learn? I learned a long time ago to put money into assets that produce income.”
You do have a lot to learn. When you sell your properties you will be lucky to clear 60% of gross sale. Capital gains, state and federal fees and normal closing charges will take at least 40% of your profit.
Ever evict a tenant? When you do, and you will! The learning curve will hit you hard… make sure all your buildings are properly registered in each county and with the state. many towns now impose an additional charge for all rentals… because real estate taxes are not enough, and will only get worse.
You do know real estate income is not counted towards SS, don’t you? Educate your self while you sit in your mom’s basement apt. Don’t bring any children into this world , because we already have enough entitled cry babies.
“You might hate me” TROLL quote.
Sorry not even close, I just get annoyed by people who can only see one side of the story. In fact I actually enjoy some of your statements, especially the one you started about wage inflation. Actually the FED wants the same thing… but odds are so far against it that it is not funny.
So enjoy your fairy tale life, and I will continue to get a kick out of it.
I enjoyed your attack, it showed your true nature. All because I told the truth about my wifes friend the teacher who retired @ 55. That is REALITY…live with it.
Interesting. And it isn’t just these trades. I really do hope it’s a sign of better times.
“For growing companies, good help can be hard to find. That’s according to the Indeed Small Business Index, a monthly analysis of hiring data from small and mid-sized businesses which has revealed that growing businesses are struggling to fill roles that require certain specialized skills.
The five most difficult roles for businesses to fill are electronic equipment installers, followed closely by chiropractors, painters, brickmasons and machine tool operators. The percentage of each of these job types still open after 90 days ranged from 33% to 27% and much of the demand seems connected to rising housing starts.”
/snip
[91] Chi fi
“.I don’t even think it can be argued anymore….he’s worse than Carter….which is as unfathomable as it is stunning…..”
No, I think it quite plausible and I’ve felt that way a long time. Carter was a moderate who, while out of his depth, had political talent. He listened and learned. IMHO, he had only three failures: Volcker at the Fed, tin ear handling of OPEC and oil price spike, and bad luck over Desert One. On so many levels, he was more adroit politically and more effective internationally than the current occupant of 1600 Penn. In the end, he was done in by factors beyond his control. Obama doesn’t have that excuse; rather he is running the Bill Clinton playbook of nudging hard and when that fails, running out the clock while just trying to hold onto the ball
Looks like I missed another great dust up. But I have to ask, pumps, who pays you to argue with us all day?
First off, you are the cry baby. You are crying about paying capital gains tax on an asset that went up in value. You didn’t do anything to earn that profit, so why would I cry about paying taxes if my assets went up in value? I’m a happy camper, I made money two folds, both on the rental income and on the asset going up in value. You just don’t get it. You are too greedy to realize how lucrative being a landlord is.
Yes, being a landlord can go terribly wrong, but that’s only if you are an idiot. You don’t deserve to be a landlord if you are not making money. You don’t know how to purchase, you don’t know how to rent to good targets, and you have no understanding in how to fix something.
I’ve had two drunken losers that totally screwed my 3rd floor apt up. It was the third year of being a landlord and I certainly learned my lesson on who I rent to. Those years were tough, finding tenants was tough, it was the real estate bubble snatching away all the good tenants. So I learned in the worst of conditions. I survived and am ready to kick some a$$ as a landlord.
Btw, my brother has his own licensed plumbing business. He is running it old school right now, does not want to get big, just works with another guy that worked at the same place where he learned. This guy has his own plumbing business too, so they just get jobs and work together. They just blew out my sprinklers today for free. So it pays to know someone if you are going to be a landlord. I also have a sister(yes she is also a teacher in Paterson, this is part-time….lol she is also a unique dealer for make-up…go getter like myself) and mother that are licensed agents at coldwell banker. So that helps a lot when it comes to being a landlord. They really look out for my best interests.
So jim, trust me, I know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve been a landlord since 99, and I’m only 35. Actions speak louder than words. My actions back me up.
Jim says:
November 25, 2015 at 5:32 pm
TROLL Quote
“A lot to learn? I learned a long time ago to put money into assets that produce income.”
You do have a lot to learn. When you sell your properties you will be lucky to clear 60% of gross sale. Capital gains, state and federal fees and normal closing charges will take at least 40% of your profit.
Ever evict a tenant? When you do, and you will! The learning curve will hit you hard… make sure all your buildings are properly registered in each county and with the state. many towns now impose an additional charge for all rentals… because real estate taxes are not enough, and will only get worse.
You do know real estate income is not counted towards SS, don’t you? Educate your self while you sit in your mom’s basement apt. Don’t bring any children into this world , because we already have enough entitled cry babies.
Don’t think the odds are so far against it. The fed will do everything possible before they let a deflationary spiral go. You really understand that a deflationary spiral means the Fed has totally lost control. So trust me, they will come up with some scheme to keep it going. Survival can lead to amazing things.
“Sorry not even close, I just get annoyed by people who can only see one side of the story. In fact I actually enjoy some of your statements, especially the one you started about wage inflation. Actually the FED wants the same thing… but odds are so far against it that it is not funny.
So enjoy your fairy tale life, and I will continue to get a kick out of it.”
lol…if I told you, I would have to kill you. Seriously though, I signed an agreement with my place of employment that I will not mention the company’s name anywhere on the internet. I’m not about to risk my job if their name comes up in a search. Then I will be a dead man walking, esp when they see how efficient I am at my job. They will see all my posts on here, and do their damn best to find out who it is. Then I will be fired, or worse, I will be blackmailed into taking on a higher caseload for the same pay, just to keep my job. NO WAY. lol
Comrade Nom Deplume, hoping NJ Transit doesn’t crater says:
November 25, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Looks like I missed another great dust up. But I have to ask, pumps, who pays you to argue with us all day?
Pumpkin quote “You just don’t get it.”
Actually you are a fool, you do not know what I have done to my buildings. I was in construction , and for a simple example that even a simpleton like yourself may be able to understand. In one building alone in the last twenty five years I have installed 6 new kitchens and 7 newbathrooms. Working seven days a week for months at a time. My capital improvements have been increased due to sweat equity. Again you have no knowledge on how I obtained my assets.
I love hearing how easy it is to make money frompeople like you..it is not reality, you may even figure that out one day.
Next Pumpkin quote”deflationary spiral means the Fed has totally lost ”
What would you call Qe1,2 ,3, plus zero interest rates? The Fed has NO idea what to do, but they know they need inflation to pay the bills. Raising rates will not cause inflation, yet the Fed is losing more taxes because older people who were savers pay nothing in taxes, because they get no income to speak of. A catch 22.
These are the facts of today’s economy, and a war will not fix it.
COM, I read the whole MS report. The basic point I took out of it was in the second part investments in tech wont be as regulated or cant be then healthcare. And basically Europe will be shitty next year. What did you get out of it as far as investing?
Sounds like someone needs to go see Nom re: 1031 Exchange.
[104] pumpkin,
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
Reminds me of the day I met Shore Guy in Kenilworth. He was cryptic about what he did and I quipped “Lemme guess, if you tell me, you’ll have to kill me?”
He said “No, I won’t kill you. Someone else will but not me”
Classic line. I use it still
[106] Marilyn
Haven’t read it all yet. Too busy. Maybe tonight.
“relo says:
November 25, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Sounds like someone needs to go see Nom re: 1031 Exchange.”
He can’t afford me.
Ben,
I apologize for not being able to respond to your prior post in more detail, but between work and the holidays my time is limited.
To counter your point about poor teachers leaving the industry, I’ve seen low caliber individuals enter the public teaching profession. I won’t extrapolate that to say it’s a majority or even a substantial number, but it’s all relative.
I would put forward though that the issues are being discussed now because the the union has done a terrible job on the PR front exposing the problems the educator are facing in a way the tax payers can relate to and digest. While it may not be representative It’s all people see and that became the narrative.
The math behind the pension system though… I’ve yet to see anything justify it so that’s a whole other problem that came to light when the music stopped. Perhaps why the NJEA talking points only beat around the issue.
I can’t speak much to other specifics you mention, so I won’t try to debate those.
Happy thanksgiving though! (Assuming you celebrate)
One of the best descriptions of a true free market that I have ever read. Too bad it’s only a dream, there will always be some type of politician trying to grab power and justify their existence.
“”he has an underlying belief, that free markets are the gold standard of society.”
Weird how the belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness forms the “gold standard of society”. Free markets are nothing more than people freely trading amongst themselves, without having to first get permission from a politician to see if the sale and purchase are politically approved.”
Yes, this is why I haven’t produced a report. The numbers don’t add up. I do say that if you take away the pension, you must pay significant raises for teachers. The salaries are way too low without a pension to justify someone investing in college to join this profession. For cops and firefighters, let’s face it, they have it made. That’s why most of them receive their job through nepotism. If they keep their pensions, lower their salaries, or take away the pension and let them keep their salaries. Either way it’s a gift for what they do,esp guys directing traffic for that kind of money.
“The math behind the pension system though… I’ve yet to see anything justify it so that’s a whole other problem that came to light when the music stopped. Perhaps why the NJEA talking points only beat around the issue.”
“Fascism is capitalism plus murder.”
-Upton Sinclair
[61] Nom – This is very interesting. I did a close reading of the WaTimes article and a couple thoughts came to mind:
1. Where there is smoke there is fire.
2. Retired USMC talking head with relevant experience as the source.
3. “sought to dispel Internet reports that the military was delayed from taking action by indecision inside the White House.”….and these internet reports seem to no longer exist? I thought I would easily find them this morning, but they do appear to be “scrubbed” from the internet.
4. The entire article seemed to be very long-winded for something appearing so soon after the events. I smell a bought off or complicit “journalist”.
[51] expat,
The WaTimes story contained a repudiation of the NY Times description. It was likely self-serving and I can only marvel at the fact that the NYT harshed this president while the WAT carried his water. But I think in both cases, they were reporting what they were told.
The math behind the pension system though… I’ve yet to see anything justify it so that’s a whole other problem that came to light when the music stopped. Perhaps why the NJEA talking points only beat around the issue.
The pension system is dead in the water and the only victims are going to be me and the teachers of similar age or younger. A few years back, when Christie first took office and was putting forth all this anti-teacher legislation, the only provision the union fought and won on was that there was going to be an “opt out” option in the pension. You don’t participate, you don’t pay in, you get nothing. At that point, I knew the pension was purely entering ponzi mode. Christie only added the state contribution so it would stay afloat into his run for presidency. IMO, I can’t see how it has more than 5 or 6 years left before payments must be dropped but I could be wrong.
To counter your point about poor teachers leaving the industry, I’ve seen low caliber individuals enter the public teaching profession. I won’t extrapolate that to say it’s a majority or even a substantial number, but it’s all relative.
I don’t doubt it. But this is primarily a function of mediocre pay. Any teacher that starts out at 21 is going to be making 40k a year and used to see increases of about 1k a year. However, those increases in salary have been offset by Christie’s barrage of contribution requirements. I went my first 6 years without ever realizing a dollar increase in my paycheck, despite the fact that my base salary was going up about 1k per year. That’s why I had to leave district. I don’t know a single sane person that would sign up for a job to make 40k with no prospect of raises. And anyone worth their wait in water would be wise to pursue a different industry. I’m kinda an anomaly in that I stuck it out and forced my way up the ladder by jumping districts.
When you get an additional degree, your salary goes up anywhere from 4 to 8k depending on district. Given the cost of tuition, that’s not an option either.
Splat brought up that the highest 4 highest paid teachers in his district were all PE teachers. Very annoying to say the least. But just think about this…just think about all the 30 year olds who have been in 15 years and are only making 55k. Don’t you think it pisses them off that there is someone in school making 45k more than them?
btw Happy Thanksgiving
At this juncture my wife is pulling in 18K as an instructional assistant……on her 3 year anniversary we will be able to get full family coverage for 4.5% of her salary, which as an almost $24K outlay now for substantially inferior benefits…….. so it will be a bargain…..at some later juncture when my kids are in college, she can switch over to a job that is more commensurate with her background and experience….hopefully she can log in 20 years total, and her last 5 years will be at today’s equivalent of $115K-$120K or so…..she can collect a pension and medical benefits off of that…whatever the hell of it is left for the masses…..
Ben says:
November 26, 2015 at 11:12 am
I don’t know a single sane person that would sign up for a job to make 40k with no prospect of raises.
Happy Thanksgiving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AKJMGxwpE
#108 [CMND]
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Reminds me of the day I met Shore Guy in Kenilworth. He was cryptic about what he did and I quipped “Lemme guess, if you tell me, you’ll have to kill me?”
He said “No, I won’t kill you. Someone else will but not me””.
Buddy a mine got a job with DoD a few years ago. I asked him what he was doing. He said “Let’s stay friends” (known him 25 years and set him up with his wife).
I have become a complete liberal on all issues in NJ. I want everybody to get everything. You see I can be open minded and change my mind.
Pumpkin you should be so proud of me, you see some people listen to you. They love your thinking. I do now especially on State issues. HAHA!! Happy Thanksgiving Pumpkin!!
[118] chifi – 5 years ago I was paying $21K out of pocket for inferior health benefits with a family of 4 with no health issues, no prescriptions, just a check 70% higher than my mortgage paid out for nothing every month. That and double FICA, no paid vacation, no 7% 401K match, no dental insurance, no cheap group life and disability insurance, is what made me duck back under the corporate umbrella in 2010. Next September both our kids will be in Boston Latin and we’re searching for a position that will pay my wife maybe $50K and benefits while I go out again and hunt down big consulting income (perhaps at the same company that I’ve worked at for the last 8 years, last 5 as an employee). I’m planning on putting in two more full years of pedal-to-the-metal bread-winning and then we’ll fall back to my wife’s income for two years leading up to college applications while I work on some long term projects that will likely only see losses until both kids are nearly done with college. Hopefully my MIL will stay alive another 8 years and not dump any inheritance on our plans.
At this juncture my wife is pulling in 18K as an instructional assistant……on her 3 year anniversary we will be able to get full family coverage for 4.5% of her salary, which as an almost $24K outlay now for substantially inferior benefits
[118] chifi – 5 years ago I was paying $21K out of pocket for inferior health benefits with a family of 4 with no health issues, no prescr1ptions, just a check 70% higher than my mortgage paid out for nothing every month. That and double FICA, no paid vacation, no 7% 401K match, no dental insurance, no cheap group life and disability insurance, is what made me duck back under the corporate umbrella in 2010. Next September both our kids will be in Boston Latin and we’re searching for a position that will pay my wife maybe $50K and benefits while I go out again and hunt down big consulting income (perhaps at the same company that I’ve worked at for the last 8 years, last 5 as an employee). I’m planning on putting in two more full years of pedal-to-the-metal bread-winning and then we’ll fall back to my wife’s income for two years leading up to college applications while I work on some long term projects that will likely only see losses until both kids are nearly done with college. Hopefully my MIL will stay alive another 8 years and not dump any inheritance on our plans.
At this juncture my wife is pulling in 18K as an instructional assistant……on her 3 year anniversary we will be able to get full family coverage for 4.5% of her salary, which as an almost $24K outlay now for substantially inferior benefits
LOL – Besides c@sino and soci@lism, make sure you don’t mention prescr1ptions either. I went into mod and scanned by previous post for “bad” words. I guessed right on the first one.