Is the NJ Herald shilling for the solar scam?
Sussex County WatchdogThe corporate privateers who ripped-off Sussex County for $28 million and caused the county lose its "rainy-day" proceeds from the sale of the Homestead nursing home, are starting to feel the heat from multiple investigations into the project and its subsequent bailout. Vendors connected to the solar scam and their representatives have been trying to influence public opinion and corrupt the election process in Sussex County.
One vendor even attempted to bribe -- let's say that word again, bribe -- someone they believed to be connected to this website. That's how desperate they are. That is how bad this has become.
Now it is beginning to look like they got to the New Jersey Herald. A politician and former elected official who is well-connected to the Freeholders who supported the solar bailout has been permitted by the Herald to use its webpage to post false and defamatory comments in an on-going disinformation campaign aimed at damaging the reputations of those who oppose the solar bailout.
What is making us question the motives of the Herald is this: They have pulled down any comments that have set the record straight on behalf of those who oppose the solar bailout. What is left on the NJ Herald website are ONLY the comments of those who oppose the Freeholders who have fought the corporate solar scammers on behalf of the taxpayers. This one-sided exposition creates the false and deceitful illusion that the citizens of Sussex County enjoy being ripped-off by crony corporations in bed with politicians (mainly from Morris County).
We sincerely hope that the New Jersey Herald has not been compromised and we believe that this branch of the corporate media can show us so by allowing BOTH sides to be heard on its website, without editorial interference. Spiking commentary to give a false impression of public opinion is wrong and unethical.
Reader Comments (8)
Just who is the phantom poster of the Herald, "Ariana Westfield" and the other aliases? Ariana appears, then disappears. Slinging mud while dodgingly avoiding the Herald's rules of disclosure.
The new Freeholders, whose platform was transparency, should bring Sunlight General and the MCIA to a public meeting to discuss the soon to be disclosed new solar losses. Graham, Vohden and Crabb have always avoided doing so. Under Freeholder Director Graham, nothing is really changing. Still huge losses. Still phantom companies. More overhead. An "investigation" does not replace, or inhibit, good governing practices. Bring Sunlight General and the MCIA to a public meeting.
How is it that the Sussex County taxpayer paid huge sums, AND CONTINUES TO DO SO, when we won all the lawsuits up through the NJ Supreme Court? And we were protected by a bulletproof bid process that resulted in a contract that stated: << "Notwithstanding any dispute between the Lessor [Morris County Improvement Authority] and the Lessee [Sunlight General Sussex Solar], or between or among any party hereto and any one or more of any Renewable Energy Program Interested Party or any other person, in any case concerning any provision of any Program Document, the Lessee shall make all Lease Payments in full and when due, and the Lessee shall not withhold any Lease Payment pending final resolution of such dispute, nor shall the Lessee assert against the Lessor, the Trustee, any Renewable Energy Program Interested Party or any other person any right of set-off, recoupment or counterclaim against its obligation to make such Lease Payments, regardless of whether or not the Projects are completed, available for use, or used by the Lessee or any other Renewable Energy Program Interested Party, as applicable.">>
In America, the only rules we operate under are the Bill of Rights. the Herald has is protected by the First Amendment and has to abide by the First Amendment. Anonymous, free speech is a cornerstone of our Republic and has been so since our Revolution. Unlike the Herald we promote open discussion and all views. To that end, we are once again offering you the opportunity to post your views here. Thank you for commenting.
Sussex Watchdog, you have been noticeably absent this year in calling for more open and involved governing of the solar program. At least last year, the Vohden/Crabb/Mudrick/Eskilson governing axis released solar financial forecasts. This year's Graham/Rose/Lazarro/Gruchacz governing axis hides these from the public. Won't release them! This jives well with the continuation of the backroom policy to not have Sunlight General and the MCIA, our contracted solar parties, present in public. No transparency on solar is the practice. You endorse this with your silence - stand up for government transparency, don't hide behind "investigations" and "first amendment".
What the fuck Harvey, they offered to let you write it yourself so fucking write it. Don't blame people for not writing what you want if you are unwilling to write it yourself.
Nobody is endorsing shit with their "silence" except you by not stepping up and writing it. Do these people work for you? Are you their fucking editor? The only person hiding shit is you by not writing it and then crying about it. if you have something to say, fucking say it and stop the crybaby shit.
The First Amendment is pretty much the foundation of our freedom. It was so important that our founders placed it FIRST in our Bill of Rights.
We won't always agree and we don't have to. You fight for what is important to you. We'll fight for what is important to us. We wish you well and you have an open invitation from us to participate on this website.
First Amendment Rights are important, but then you get those like "Piss Brain" who dilute a discussion on transparent government. One can't write if the facts are hidden in the backroom. The present ruling axis should not hide the purchased solar financial forecast. The Morris County Improvement Authority used to release it when Sussex County was not in control. Sussex County did last year. But this year, stonewalling. Why is Sussex County turning "investigation" into a political tactic by disregarding transparent governing?
"One can't write if the facts are hidden in the backroom."
That is an excuse. Demand that government take the facts out of the backroom. Use this forum! If you believe that this blog is important enough to lecture, then use it because they have given you the opportunity to make it your bully pulpit. If you don't you have only yourself to blame.
Belch