CORRECTING ALLEGATIONS MADE BY RABBI SCHNALL

There is a video going around in which Rabbi Avi Schnall calls out Republican Assemblyman Ned Thomson for "not getting meaningful bills passed into law." When told that Thomson has always been a friend to the community, Rabbi Schnall responded by reiterating, "the job of legislators is to get bills passed into law, not just to be friends to the community."

Firstly, it is wholly inaccurate to assert that Ned Thomson has not gotten meaningful bills passed into law.

However, before even correcting this inaccuracy, let's think constructively about this statement - that the job of legislators is to get bills passed into law.

Lakewood's Township Committee are the legislators at the Township level. They used to meet twice per month, however, apparently they became allergic to exposure to the public so they cut back to once per month.

Anyways, they held their monthly meeting last Thursday night.

So... what great legislation did our Committee accomplish at this big meeting?

They gave tax cuts to 3 commercial buildings, and they approved $700,000 in buying toys for the police department.

To the dismay of residents, they ignored an opportunity to fix the loopholes that permit developers to keep cramming in more families with no playgrounds.

This is what our legislators "accomplished" at their grand meeting.

I would rather that they had stayed home instead of "accomplishing" all of this.

Yes, it is the job of legislators to pass bills. Yet, at the same time, we would rather they stay home instead of voting on certain "accomplishments." The plastic bag ban pushed through by Trenton Democrats is one example that comes to mind. Ditto for much of the LGBTQ / democrat agenda.

And now to correct the record regarding Rabbi Schnall's allegation that Ned Thomson is not getting meaningful bills passed into law.

Back in July 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed four bills to continue the fight to combat auto theft in New Jersey. The series of bills strengthen the criminal penalties associated with auto theft, with a particular focus on persistent, repeat offenders and large-scale automobile trafficking networks.

“Every person should be able to feel safe and secure in the communities they call home. These bills will crack down on the troubling rise in auto thefts,” said Governor Murphy.

“More than 1 million vehicles are stolen across the U.S. every year. In New Jersey, we are focused on reducing those numbers and this incredibly comprehensive package of bills will give law enforcement the means to do just that,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Thank you to Gov. Murphy and the Legislature for recognizing the need to give our law enforcement officers and agencies these additional tools. Working with our partners at the local, state and federal level, we are in a greater position to cut the number of vehicle thefts and better protect our residents.”

A5189/S3777 eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with certain motor vehicle theft offenses if the defendant was arrested or convicted of a prior motor vehicle theft offense within the 90-day-period preceding the charge. Under the bill, the presumption of pretrial release would not apply to an eligible defendant charged with theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle or receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle if on one or more prior and separate occasions during the 90-day-period preceding the charge, the defendant was arrested for or convicted of theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle; receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle; or a crime under any statute of the United States, this State, or any other state that is substantially equivalent to any of the crimes listed above.

Assemblyman Ned Thomson was a primary sponsor of A5189.

Auto theft measures taken in the last year have proven to be successful, resulting in a 10 percent decrease in auto thefts from January through May of this year compared to that same period last year, and a 10 percent decrease in auto thefts for the last four months of 2022 compared to those same months in 2021.

In the recently signed Fiscal Year 2024 budget, $2 million more was allocated to increase the investment in statewide pretrial services, which will expand social service offerings and on-ramps to programming support for people awaiting trial.

“Empowering the courts to close the door on repeat car thieves will help put an end to the crime cycle in New Jersey,” said Assemblyman Thomson. “In order to provide residents the peace of mind they deserve and protect them from falling victim to career criminals, New Jersey must take a tougher approach. The signing of this law demonstrates how both sides of the aisle can come together to prioritize public safety and ensure the justice system holds these offenders accountable.” 

The New Jersey State PBA as well as mayors all across the state lauded the passage of the bills.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Let's get the record straight!

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