With council candidate Michele Siek and Councilwoman Jo-Ann Pituch

It’s always a pleasure to visit Bloomingdale, one of the five new towns that was added to District 39 as a result of the recent legislative re-districting.  Last night, I attended a “Meet the Candidates” dinner, hosted by Chairman Richard DuHaime and the Bloomingdale Republican Club.  I had the opportunity to speak with Councilwoman Jo-Ann Pituch and her running mate, Michele Siek, about various issues and concerns that are important to the residents of Bloomingdale, and how they are dedicated to finding solutions to these problems.  Jo-Ann has done a great job during her tenure on the Council, and I know that Michele will be a great addition to the local government there.   Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen also stopped in to show his support; I enjoyed hearing an update from him on all of the hard work he is doing in Washington D.C. on behalf of his Congressional District 11 constituents.

Thank you to the Bloomingdale Republican Club for inviting me to another wonderful dinner at Lina’s restaurant, and best of luck to Jo-Ann and Michele!

Please allow the Postal Service several days to deliver the application.  Homeowners who filled out the application online last year, and requested to continue with that method, will receive an email notification.

For more information, call the Division of Taxation (609) 292-6400.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit with a terrific group of 4th graders at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Park Ridge to talk about the legislature, and how bills become law. We also discussed legislative initiatives that have arisen as a direct result of input from local residents, such as Dusty’s Law, and how each one of us can help make a difference if we take the time to get involved and speak up about issues that concern us and our community.

The students were inquisitive and genuinely engaged in learning about how government works, and I enjoyed answering their questions. One of the most important lessons I try to convey to students such as these is that even though they are still young, and can’t vote quite yet, they can still be a part of the democratic process of government by reaching out to me anytime to share their thoughts and ideas.  I am always available to listen to my constituents and address their concerns.

At the Pascack Art Show with Dorchester Elementary art teacher Whitney Stanek and 4th grade artist Joanne.

My Spring 2012 newsletter is now available!  This edition features photos from the Pascack Art Show, a spotlight on the work I’ve been doing with Crime Victims’ Rights, and a list of fun Spring activities and attractions that can be found right here in District 39.  There’s also a legislative update, dates for upcoming voting sessions, and a list of towns in our district that were recently awarded municipal aid for road improvement projects. Click here to read the newsletter and see if your town is on the list.

If you would like to receive copies of my newsletter automatically via email, write to me at AsmSchroeder@njleg.org and you’ll be added to my subscriber list.  Copies are also located at your Town Halls, Libraries and Senior Centers throughout District 39.

On Wednesday, Tony Montelaro and his son, Paul, testified before the NJ Parole Board, relaying their Victim Impact Statement.”I can’t tell you how hard and debilitating this process is on me and my family,” Kim’s father told them. “The nightmare of reliving the events of her death is beyond my ability to express in mere words.” Tony and Paul also expressed their gratitude for all of the New Jersey residents who supported them by signing the KeepNJSafe petition to keep Righetti from receiving parole. Everyone’s participation in this effort was deeply appreciated.

The mission to fight Righetti’s early release, including the petition, has been the subject of local and national media coverage:

ARTICLE FROM NJ.COM: The latest update, published Wednesday, which includes an interview with Tony Montelaro.

LOCAL FLORIDA NEWS: Two broadcast TV segments from WINK News in Florida, which contain video interviews with Tony and Paul Montelaro from Wednesday night and from an earlier broadcast.

Click here to see NATIONAL COVERAGE FROM FOXNEWS.COM.

The NJ Parole Board is expected to reach a decision regarding Righetti’s parole request no later than June 21, 2012.  KeepNJSafe will send an email update to our list of contacts* as soon as we have more information regarding the outcome of the Board’s deliberations.

Again, THANK YOU to the thousands of residents who joined me in this fight to stand up for crime victims and their families.

*KeepNJSafe does not share our address list with anyone, for any purpose, and email communications are kept to a minimum. If you would like to be added to the KeepNJSafe email update list, contact info@keepnjsafe.org.

Joan’s Law was passed after the 1973 killing of Joan D’Alessandro, a 7-year-old from Hillsdale, New Jersey who had been selling Girl Scout cookies when her neighbor raped and murdered her. For the past two years, I have been working with Joan’s mother, Rosemarie, to enact stronger penalties against sexual predators. My proposed legislation (A-259) would amend Joan’s Law so that it would apply if the victim is less than 18 years old.

Christopher Righetti

Last week, the NJ Parole Board announced that Kim Montelaro’s rapist/murderer, Christopher Righetti, would be granted another parole hearing, less than three years after his last denial. Due to an unfortunate legal loophole, the Montelaro family is once again being forced to relive the nightmare of their daughter’s brutal death at the hands of Righetti. Even though Righetti was sentenced to Life in prison for his crimes, this will be his fifth time appearing before the Parole Board in 20 years.

As I did in 2009, I am supporting the Montelaros in their quest to keep their daughter’s killer behind bars, to serve out his full sentence. For the safety and well-being of our community, I believe that he must be denied parole, and that his next hearing date be set for no sooner than 35 years. To that end, I’ve set up an online petition to gather signatures for submission to the Parole Board before their April 5th deadline.  Please visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keep-nj-safe-deny-righettis-parole/ to sign this petition.

Delivering over 1200 letters of support to the Montelaros at the 2009 Parole hearing

I also reached out to several people in our community for their help in this effort, including Chief Randy Ciocco, the Chief of Police in Township of Washington, where Kim’s body was found. Chief Ciocco was a rookie officer during the original murder investigation, and is still haunted by the horrific brutality of the crime scene. Chief Ciocco traveled with me to the 2009 Parole hearing in support of the Montelaros, and today, he will be addressing his colleagues at the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association to ask for their support.  He also lobbied the Mayor & Council of Township of Washington to pass a resolution supporting our efforts. The resolution was passed unanimously this week, and we hope to see many other towns in Bergen County follow suit.

Earlier this week, I wrote to Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, asking for her support. Her response was swift: her letter to the Parole Board, urging them to deny Christopher Righetti’s parole, can be read HERE.

I also sent a letter to the Parole Board on Monday, urging them to heed the Montelaro Family’s request that Righetti be denied parole.  I’ve pasted a copy of that letter below. If you would like to write your own letter in support of the Montelaros, please keep in mind that it must be received by them no later than April 5, 2012 in order to be considered as they weigh their decision. 

March 12, 2012

NJ State Parole Board

c/o Tanya Milton, Victim Services Coordinator

PO Box 862

Trenton, NJ 08625

To the NJ State Parole Board,

In regard to the upcoming consideration of parole for Christopher Righetti, Prisoner #59431, I am writing to state my strong opposition to his early release.  Kim Montelaro’s murderer received a Life sentence for his heinous crime, and justice demands that the full sentence must be served without parole. 

Kim Montelaro

In 2009, the last time Righetti was up for parole, I led a countywide effort to urge the NJ State Parole Board to deny his request. Many towns across Bergen County passed resolutions in support of this effort, and I personally delivered over 1,200 constituent letters to the Parole Board, urging your members to deny Righetti’s request for early release. Righetti’s parole was denied, and he was given a future parole eligibility date of 12 years. This brought some measure of relief to the Montelaro family, who must relive the horrific details of Kim’s death each and every time Righetti is given a hearing.

Unfortunately, a legal technicality led to a new parole hearing for Righetti in June, 2012—less than three years after his last denial, even though the Parole Board indicated that a future eligibility date of 12 years was in order. Once again, the Montelaro Family is being forced to dredge up the memories of what happened to Kim. It’s clear that strong, clear action must be taken now, in order to ensure the safety of the community and the well-being of its residents.

On behalf of the Montelaro family and my constituents in District 39, I urge you to set a future parole eligibility date of no less than 35 years, and send a message to all that the Parole Board’s decisions should be honored. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

 Best regards,

Assemblyman Robert Schroeder

This morning, we laid to rest our friend and colleague, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce. I was privileged to attend his funeral mass and hear the beautiful eulogies given by his longtime pastor, Rev. Tony MacNaughton, Alex’s son PJ Johannesen, his friend and fellow crime victims rights advocate Richard Pompelio, Alex’s neighbor and good friend Justin Carifi, and the Honorable Governor Chris Christie.

Reverend MacNaughton spoke of Alex’s lifelong commitment to public service, and his devotion to his family. His son PJ spoke with love and admiration for all of the lessons he learned from his father. Rich Pompelio recounted Alex’s steadfast determination to supporting crime victims and securing their rights, while young Justin spoke with emotional honesty about the simple joys of friendship that he and Alex shared.  Governor Christie summed it all up when he referred to Alex DeCroce as “the poster boy for a life well lived.”

I am grateful to have known and worked with Alex DeCroce during my time in the Assembly. He was a colleague, a mentor and a friend, and he will be greatly missed.

In Sept. 2009, I attended a rally in support of re-opening PVH, along with then-candidates Chris Christie & Kim Guadagno, Senator Cardinale, and many others from Bergen County.

On Tuesday, November 29 at 9:30am, the State Health Planning Board will review the Certificate of Need application to open a full-service hospital at HUMC-North at Pascack Valley Hospital. The hearing will be held at The National Conference Center at the Holiday Inn in East Windsor (339 Monmouth Street). The SHPB will also make their recommendation to the Department of Health and Senior Services.

I have spoken out on this issue for several years, and strongly support the re-opening of full-service hospital at Pascack Valley.  Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearing and let their opinions be heard.  I will be publicly voicing my support once again at this important hearing, and I hope you will join me.

There will be buses leaving from the Front Parking Lot of HUMC-North/Pascack Valley for those in our area who wish to attend the hearing.  Please call  (201) 996-3766 to reserve a seat on the bus. If you would like to speak at the hearing, please visit HackensackUMCpv.org for more information.

Family Promise is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that provides a variety of helpful resources for families in need.  They offer shelter, food, and support services for the homeless, the hungry, and families in need in Bergen County.  According to the latest figures from the New Jersey Corporation for Supportive Housing, nearly 13,000 people are homeless in New Jersey, and Bergen County ranks 2nd amongst the counties in our state for homelessness.  With current economic conditions and the high rate of unemployment in our country, organizations like Family Promise are needed now more than ever.

The new Day Center in Ridgewood, New Jersey is a safe, central meeting place where families can gather during the day. There are telephones and computers available to help those who are job-hunting, as well as shower and laundry facilities for the families. Care managers are also available to offer advice, support and encouragement.

Family Promise relies on donations and volunteers to keep them going, and has partnered with 21 host congregations across Bergen County. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.bergenfamilypromise.org.   I would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Executive Director Kate Duggan and her staff, for all of the wonderful, selfless work they do on behalf of Bergen County residents in need.