CNBNews January 2025 Cheers & Jeers
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
JEER-Our Democracy is based on a system of "Checks and Balances". Citizens benefit when local government has elected officials who debate and present their different view points on subjects that pertain to the citizens and tax payers of the community. Unfortunately, Gloucester City has not chosen to operate under a two-party system for the last 42 years! This has created an environment of complacency within our local government. It's like playing a football game when only one team shows up and the other team forfeits the game because they don't have enough players to put on the field! There's no way you can have a championship team without competition. BOB BEVAN
JEER--Public Service Gas and Electric has yet to address the broken utility pole situated at the intersection of Broadway and George Street, a situation that many residents of Gloucester City find deeply frustrating. This hazardous pole has been a prominent eyesore for over a year, and we shared a photo highlighting its precarious condition in December 2024.
Adding to the community’s concerns, another utility pole directly across the street at Broadway and Center Street is barely standing—it's being held together by nothing more than a length of rope. Residents have expressed their distress, noting that this particular pole has been neglected for an even longer time, posing a serious risk to safety.
With such visible signs of neglect from the utility company, it's no surprise that many residents in Gloucester City feel a diminishing sense of community pride.
JEER--Two blocks south from those broken utility poles is another situation of neglect and lack of community pride is exemplified by a property on St. John Street. Despite our efforts to raise awareness, the officials in charge seem indifferent to the poor condition of this property, even though it poses a safety risk to the neighborhood. During our visit two weeks ago, we noticed individuals who appeared to be homeless walking around the exterior of the building. It would take just a careless match to ignite a fire, which could easily spread to engulf other properties on the street. Such a fire would also threaten the nearby businesses along Broadway. No signs are warning against trespassing, nor are there barriers to keep vagrants out. Additionally, there is a real risk that a child could wander onto the grounds and suffer serious injury.
JEER-Shuffling some papers around on my desk the latest tax bill fell on the floor. Just missed my trash can, darn. County taxes, $1239, School taxes $1803, City taxes $4071. Why is the local tax rate so high? Ride through the west side of the city, and you will see that every block has at least one vacant lot, houses bordered up, abandoned vehicles, unkept properties, and trash blowing about. On stop at St. John Street and take a peek at the house above in person. You will find it hard to believe that you are driving through Gloucester City.
JEER-What is wrong with this real estate deal? In 2024, Collingswood officials purchased the vacant Sun/Ocean First Bank property for $1.55 million. A few months later, they sold the same property for $1,325,000, which is $225,000 less. Do you need more reasons why the government shouldn't be involved in buying or selling real estate? In 2006, Gloucester City purchased the Harshaw/Amspec property in South Port for $5 million. That property has remained vacant for the past 19 years, and it doesn't look like it will be sold anytime soon. One of Gloucester City's mayor and council's biggest mistakes was the purchase of the Chatham Square Apartments in 2007 for $4.5 million. They bought it because of the crime problem at that site. The total amount invested in that property by local taxpayers, including renovations, was $7 million. In 2017, it was sold to the current developer for $1.5 million. Here’s another tidbit: the last time we checked, the taxpayers of Gloucester City owned 172 rental properties.
Lastly, the Gloucester City Mayor and Council used your money last year to purchase the vacant PNC Bank building at Monmouth and Atlantic Streets. The public was never informed why the City bought the bank. Remember that the government has no money of its own; they are spending your money, which explains why they are so careless and extravagant. At a February 2024 closed-door caucus meeting, Acting City Administrator Brian Morrell suggested to the governing body that the City could apply for a 40-year loan at 3 percent interest. The council purchased the vacant building in April 2024 after passing a 20-year bond note for $550,000.
RELATED:
IT HAS COST GLOUCESTER CITY TAXPAYERS $7.1 MILLION PLUS
JEER--Thirty years ago, in 1995, Broadway, a major highway in Gloucester City, was resurfaced from north to south, starting at Linden Street under the Walt Whitman Bridge and ending at Koehler Street. For some reason, the stretch of highway between Koehler Street and Stinsman Avenue to the south wasn’t completed. Driving on this section of Broadway feels like riding a roller coaster due to all the bumps and ruts. Residents in this area have said that their houses shake when a truck hits one of those bumps. The Camden County Commissioners Board is responsible for Broadway as it is a county road and should be ashamed for allowing this condition to persist for so long. This highway condition wouldn’t be tolerated in Haddonfield; why is Gloucester City treated so different?
JEER-Media members now admit they should have asked tougher questions regarding President Joe Biden’s mental and physical acuity. Example: there were times he couldn’t find his way off the stage, he rambled about things that had no connection to the question that was asked, he had unfactual answers to questions that were lies, he was unable at times to climb stairs and to ride a bike. For four years they ignored the obvious; shame on them.
JEER – Some pedestrians walk in front of your car expecting you to stop automatically just because of NJ traffic laws that give pedestrians the right away when crossing a street inside a designated pedestrian crossing lane. They don’t even look up and down. As such, drivers are forced to jam on their brakes and take the chance of getting hit in the rear by the car following them. Or keep driving and hope the person walking realizes they made a mistake. Someone is going to get killed. Technically speaking the law requires a pedestrian to walk inside a designated walkway.
JEER--When the Gloucester City Cold Springs school opened in 1996, a pine tree was planted in memory of Crossing Guard Vera Hummel. That tree died, and the School Board /District never replaced it. Vera was the sister of well known sports store owner and coach Billy Flynn. And, like her brother, she was a community activist. We hope those in charge will replace the tree now that it has been brought to their attention.
CHEER- Earlier this month, Feedspot Reader released its list of the top 90 blogs and websites in New Jersey, highlighting the exceptional contributions of digital media in the state. The best New Jersey RSS feed list is curated from thousands of RSS feeds on the web and ranked by relevance, authority, social media followers, and freshness. Among these, CNBNews
proudly secured the 11th spot. This dynamic 24/7 news platform, launched in 2006, was envisioned by William E. Cleary Sr., a seasoned journalist from Gloucester City, NJ. With an extensive 57-year career in journalism, Cleary brings a wealth of experience to his role as the publisher and editor of CNBNews. He is the former editor and publisher of two respected local print publications, the Gloucester City News and the Camden County Record, both of which served as vital sources of news and information in their communities during his tenure. William followed in his father's footsteps, George F. Cleary Sr., who published and edited those two weekly newspapers from 1950 until 1984. William's blog was listed in the top 10 for many years after it was first established. In 2008, bloggers were invited to help Brown's ShopRite Market raise awareness of the struggles faced by many homeless individuals who went hungry every day. In return, the photos of the blog owners would be featured on the back of Cheerios cereal boxes. William was one of the many bloggers whose photo was published.
CHEER-President Elect Donald J. Trump's inauguration is this Monday, January 20th. He will make America Strong Again, America Safe Again, and America Great Again. Americans are looking forward to the next four years of Trump. Gary Devine-🇺🇸
CHEER-Philadelphia Eagles won their first 2025 playoff game against Green Bay. Two more playoff wins and they are back in the Super Bowl for the third time in eight years.🏆
CHEER—Collingswood Commissioners have found a buyer for the vacant Sun/lOcean Bank at the corner of Haddon Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue. The new owner, Design Pro Development LLC, plans to develop the first floor for commercial use and the second floor into nine condominiums for low-income residents.
CHEER -The Audubon and Haddon Heights communities signed a three-year shared services agreement (SSA). This deal will have Audubon provide public works services to Haddon Heights in exchange for monetary compensation, as it has done for the past five years. In 2024 Haddon Heights paid Audubon $1 million dollars.
CHEER-We appreciate the hard work of all the highway department employees in the South Jersey area for keeping the streets clean of snow and ice.
CHEER to those who use their signals in the Brooklawn circles and at other roundabouts throughout the state of New Jersey. When a driver is waiting for traffic to approach a the circle it's so nice to know where someone is going, instead of having to wait to figure out what direction they are going to take. It was also taught in Driver's Education to use your signals in a circle. A Jeer to those who don't use them!
CHEER-Patrick Driscoll, Audubon High School Alumnus Class of 2019 caught a football in the stands with one hand during the Eagles/Dallas game in December at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. His seat was in section 110. Eagles receiver A.G. Brown threw the ball into the stands in celebration of scoring a TD after he caught the ball from QB Tanner McKee. It was McKee first NFL touchdown pass and he wanted that ball for his trophy room. Driscoll understood and handed that ball to security. McKee in appreciation gave Driscoll his jersey and autographed it. According to The Retrospect, Driscoll was a star football player at Audubon High, ending his career in his senior year with 78 receptions for 111 yards.
CHEER- Thank you to family doctors, nurses and medical staff for caring for the patients who have been sickened by this nasty stomach virus over the past month. For those new to Gloucester City, there was a time decades ago when Gloucester City actually had nine physicians to choose from who would make house calls to those homes where their patients lived. They included Dr. Charles Brennan Sr., Dr. Charles Brennan Jr., Dr. James Connell, Dr. Karl Faldon, Dr Arthur Hirshorn Dr. Frank Kelly, Dr. Irv Klein, Dr. Spevak, and Dr. Carl Vitola. Each doctor had an office, some of which were part of their residences.
CHEER--The GAF property at Charles and Water Streets has been cleared of the weeds and trees that had previously covered it. We asked Gloucester City officials if they were aware of any planned construction on the property, but they either didn't have information or chose not to share it with us. Decades ago, GAF employed hundreds of local residents who worked tirelessly to manufacture roofing and siding materials. In 2006, plans were announced to build condominiums, a marina, and numerous shops and restaurants on this site, called Gloucester Vista. Unfortunately, the public later learned that Gloucester Vista was merely a broken campaign promise that was never going to be fulfilled due to the dangerous chemical buried in the ground.
EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a Cheer or Jeer about Gloucester City, Brooklawn, Bellmawr, Westville, Runnemede, Mt. Ephraim, or Philadelphia forward it to [email protected]