The Jersey City Independent "

- Menendez Celebrates Social Security in HudCo: U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez joined Hoboken seniors and other advocates yesterday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of social security in the United States and emphasize that it must be preserved in the future.

- ‘Mr. Hudson County’: 94-year-old attorney Lester Miller “is a formidable presence in the Jersey City courtroom,” the Journal‘s Mark Maurer writes. Miller has worked hundreds of cases in Hudson County, and he says he has no interest in retiring.

- New CFO at JCPD: Joseph Iwuala became the Chief Fiscal Officer of the Jersey City Police Department last month. Iwuala, a native of Nigeria, moved to Jersey City in 1982. (More on Iwuala can be found in the JCPD’s August newsletter.)

- Alleged Leader of Meth Ring Sentenced: The man authorities believe was the leader in a Hudson County crystal methamphetamine ring that also involved figure skater Nicole Bobek was sentenced to 16 years in prison Wednesday after he accepted a plea deal.

- Pakistani Flag Raising: Jersey City will celebrate the 63rd Pakistan Independence Day this morning by raising the national flag of Pakistan over City Hall at 10 am.

- JCPD Warns of Internet Identity Theft Scams: The Jersey City Police Department is warning the public to be extra vigilant against internet scams aimed at stealing peoples’ identities.

- High Speed Chase: Jersey City police arrested a man and a woman from Jersey City after a high speed chase ended in a crash on the Lincoln Highway Bridge.

In Statewide News:

- Teacher Raises Lowest in 30 Years: New Jersey teachers who negotiated contracts since January received an average raise of slightly over 2 percent, the lowest rate in more than 30 years, according to the state School Board Association.

- The Pension Challenge: New Jersey’s estimated pension shortfall, which grew from $34.3 billion in 2008 to $45.6 billion in last year’s actuarial reports, is the third-largest in the country, ranking behind only California and Illinois in the Pew Center report. So what is Gov. Christie going to do to close the gap? And what is he allowed by law to do? NJ Spotlight takes a look at the legal and political realities of the situation.

- Dying Fish: State environmental officials believe that low oxygen levels were behind the massive fish die-off along the Delaware Bay in South Jersey.

- NJEA’s Summer Conference: The main focus at the teachers’ union annual conference is on how to fight back politically.

- New Initiatives at NJN: As it faces an uncertain future, NJN “has begun an active period of experimentation, pilot programs, and test projects” to reinforce its role as a public media leader. Yesterday it announced some of the new programming being developed for 2010, including two food shows, a history show, a new radio show and a show exploring “multigenerational, multiethnic New Jersey families.”

- Ethics & Spending Reforms: Two legislators have introduced a bill they describe as a statewide offensive against spending and ethics abuses by enacting sweeping reforms that would apply to all government agencies from the governor’s office and legislature to county and local governments, public colleges, school and fire districts, and independent authorities.

- Barnegat Bay Cleanup: New Jersey lawmakers on a joint environmental panel have approved aimed at dealing with pollution problems plaguing Barnegat Bay, one of the state’s most environmentally sensitive and economically vital watersheds. All four bills now head to the full Senate and Assembly.

- Animal Stem-Cell Transplant: A 2-year-old Great Pyrenees has become the first animal to undergo a one-day animal stem cell transplant procedure in New Jersey history.

- Christie Seen as ‘Stubborn’: A new Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds 42 percent of registered voters say the word “stubborn” describes Christie “very well.” Another 34 percent said it describes him “somewhat well” while only 15 percent said it describes him “not at all well.” Other descriptions of Christie, like “arrogant,” “uncaring,” “strong leader,” “smart,” “independent” and “reformer” tend to break down along party lines.

- Tenants Not Privy to Blight Notifications: The Supreme Court has ruled, in Iron Mountain Information Management Inc. v. The City of Newark, that commercial tenants are not entitled to notice of a proposed blight designation under the provisions of New Jersey’s Local Redevelopment Housing law.

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