Liberty and Prosperity

This segment of the radio show Talking with Anne, hosted by Anne Baker and featuring frequent guest Brian Fitzherbert, covers three main topics:

Campaign Dynamics and Political Discourse: The discussion opens with a debate over political campaigning, referencing rhetoric from candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and an ad in the Ohio gubernatorial race involving Amy Acton. Fitzherbert argues that politics is inherently aggressive and that voters must independently evaluate allegations, assess candidates' character, and focus on practical issues like the cost of living rather than campaign-ad drama.

Support for Congressman Jeff Van Drew: Turning to local New Jersey politics, both Anne and Brian strongly endorse Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew against challenger Zach Mullock. They highlight Van Drew’s decades in public service, legislative clout, and track record of securing federal funding for South Jersey’s second district—particularly regarding infrastructure, municipal airports, the FAA Tech Center, and the Coast Guard.

The "Arsenal of Freedom" and National Defense Manufacturing: Drawing on Brian’s defense-industry background, they discuss the Trump administration's "Arsenal of Freedom" initiative, led by Pete Hegseth. The initiative pushes prime contractors, sub-tier suppliers, and non-traditional defense businesses to boost manufacturing speed, expand capacity, streamline supply chains, and build recruitment pipelines from schools and universities to replenish weapons stockpiles.

Donald Trump's Rhetoric vs. Foreign Policy Actions: A caller (Steve) voices frustration over Donald Trump's rhetoric, specifically regarding Russia and the war in Ukraine. While the caller and host note public sensitivity around fuel and food costs versus international matters, Brian emphasizes that Trump’s approach relies on transactional negotiation and leverage, urging voters to judge policies and tangible outcomes rather than off-the-cuff remarks.

This segment of Talking with Ann features host Ann Baker, recurring guest Brian Fitzherbert, and several callers discussing the upcoming midterm elections, border policy, and the economy:

Upcoming Midterm Elections and Political Forecast: Brian warns that Democrats could take control of the House and Senate, arguing this would stall Donald Trump's agenda, spark congressional investigations, block conservative judicial appointments, and lead to policy shifts such as expanding the Supreme Court, granting statehood to D.C. and Puerto Rico, and ending the filibuster. He urges listeners to "bank" their votes early rather than waiting until election day.

Caller Debate with Daryl: Caller Daryl pushes back against Brian’s forecast, labeling it a dystopian fantasy and predicting instead that a Democratic Congress would establish necessary checks and balances on the Trump administration. Ann and Brian counter by asserting that Democratic policies harm the country, leading to heated disagreements over Trump's healthcare promises and immigration enforcement.

Immigration, Economy, and Border Enforcement: Brian and Ann argue that illegal immigration burdens public services, drives up healthcare and insurance costs, and strains schools, defending federal deportation efforts regardless of how long undocumented individuals have lived in the United States. Brian also compares economic conditions, praising Trump's actions on inflation and taxes compared to the Biden administration.

Foreign Policy and Inflation Discussion with Steve: Caller Steve expresses concern that economic pressures—specifically high food and gas prices—along with ongoing international conflicts involving Ukraine and Russia, could trigger protest votes against Republicans despite his own support for Trump. Brian acknowledges that voters often react to immediate pocketbook issues and highlights foreign policy challenges involving Iran and Russia.

Discussion on Iran and Subversion with John: Caller John shares anecdotes about Iranian demonstrators supporting regime change and touches on historical KGB ideological subversion tactics, prompting Ann to call for stricter enforcement against immigration fraud.

Community Announcement and Wrap-Up: Ann promotes the upcoming Hero Walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk to advocate for designated drivers, while Brian concludes by reminding listeners that early voting begins on October 24 and urges everyone to vote.

Above Image: Rick Shaftan of Neighborhood Research and Media, Rodanthe, North Carolina @shaftan. Political campaign pollster, consultant, and producer of TV and radio messages. 

SETH GROSSMAN:  In 2018, I was the Republican candidate for Congress here in South Jersey. My opponent was our current Congressman Jeff Van Drew when he was a Democrat. Rick Shaftan was my media consultant. Shaftan gave me the accurate polling I needed. He also produced my TV and radio spots, and got great deals from the radio stations and TV cable companies. He did such a great job that I did better in that "Blue Wave" election of 2018 that most Republican candidates in New Jersey--better than some incumbent Republican Congressmen like Leonard Lance. And I only had $300,000 to spend while Democrats spent more than two million dollars against me.

Rick Shaftan helped me do that. He understands the issues because he looks at the facts, the poll results, the data. He doesn't let his emotions or feelings get in the way of analyzing the facts he gets from his polling.

I talked to Rick a lot last year. We both saw Jack Ciattarelli and the other New Jersey Republicans missing key issues and running losing campaigns for Governor and the Legislature.

Rick Shaftan called me almost every week. He'd say, "Jack is throwing away a winnable race! Can you help me get a chance to talk to him?"  And I tried, but I got nowhere. Anyway, enough of introductions.

Early, in-person voting begins today, Saturday, October 24: One more thing before I bring on Rick:  The second phase of the elections begins today. Last month, anyone who wanted to vote could vote through the county clerk's office with a mail-in or messenger paper. You can still do that right up until the Monday, November 2-- the day before the final election day of November 3.

Click here for link to New Jersey Division of Elections for details: NJ DOS - Division of Elections - In-Person Early Voting

SELECTED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS NEAR ATLANTIC CITY:

Location

ATLANTIC COUNTY

*EVC-Atlantic City

QUAREMBA HALL AT ST MICHAELS, 15 N GEORGIA AVE ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401

*EVC-Buena Vista Township

DR MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMUNITY CENTER, 661 JACKSON RD NEWTONVILLE, NJ 08346

*EVC-Egg Harbor Township

ATLANTIC COUNTY LIBRARY - EHT BRANCH, 1 SWIFT DR EGG HARBOR TWP, NJ 08234

*EVC-Galloway Township

ATLANTIC COUNTY LIBRARY - GALLOWAY BRANCH, 306 E JIMMIE LEEDS RD GALLOWAY, NJ 08205

*EVC-Hamilton Township

ATLANTIC COUNTY LIBRARY - MAYS LANDING BRANCH, 40 FARRAGUT AVE MAYS LANDING, NJ 08330

*EVC-Hammonton Town

HAMMONTON FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER, 310 BELLEVUE AVE HAMMONTON, NJ 08037

*EVC-Northfield City

SHOREVIEW BUILDING, 101 SHORE RD NORTHFIELD, NJ 08225

CAPE MAY COUNTY:

*EVC-Lower Township

EVC LOWER LIBRARY, 2600 BAYSHORE RD VILLAS, NJ 08251

*EVC-Middle Township

EVC MIDDLE LIBRARY, 30 MECHANIC ST CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ 08210

*EVC-Upper Township

EVC UPPER LIBRARY, 2050 ROUTE 631 WOODBINE, NJ 08270

CUMBERLAND COUNTY:

*EVC-Millville City

MILLVILLE WOMEN'S CLUB, 300 E ST MILLVILLE, NJ 08332

*EVC-Vineland City

Vineland Fire Department Headquarters, 400 W Plum St, Vineland NJ 08360

OCEAN COUNTY:

*EVC-Little Egg Harbor Township

LITTLE EGG HARBOR LIBRARY, 290 MATHISTOWN RD LITTLE EGG HARBOR TWP, NJ 08087

*EVC-Manchester Township

MANCHESTER LIBRARY, 21 S COLONIAL DR MANCHESTER, NJ 08759

*EVC-Stafford Township

OCEAN COUNTY SOUTHERN RESOURCE CENTER , 179 S MAIN ST MANAHAWKIN, NJ 08050

SETH GROSSMAN: All right. I've kept Rick Shaftan waiting long enough. Rick, welcome to the program.  There are two reasons I'm calling.  First, early in-person voting begins this morning. Second, the Democrats finally started their attack ads against Jeff Van Drew. 

Many people assumed that Jeff had a pretty - safe seat. - But after hearing those ads linking Jeff Van Drew to President Trump, high gas pricdes and the war in Iran, some people are not so sure.

The basic theme of the Democratic Party attack ads are something like "Jeff Van Drew used - to be a good guy and he was - a Democrat and he did all the right - stuff, But then he followed Donald Trump and - doing all these bad things that are ruining our live. Let's get rid of this bad career politician and vote for the Democrat."

I know Jeff Andrew very well. He is one of the few people in politics who is in it for the right reasons. He has ethics. He has character. Van Drew does things based on principle and helping the people in this District.  What Democrats are saying about Van Drew are total lies. I got to know and respect Van Drew when I ran against him in 2018. I can tell you for sure that Jeff Van Drew is one of the best members of Congress. 

But based on your knowledge and experience, how are most voters looking at this. Do you think Van Drew is in danger of losing? And if you do, what do you think Van Drew and other Republicans should do to overcome this?

RICK SHAFTAN: I mean, the first question - is what has Van Drew been saying? Has he been running ads?  Are those ads describing Republican accomplishments in this Congress that few people seem to know about?

I mean the "Green New Deal" scam got ended. Illegal aliens are getting thrown off all kinds of - government assistance. Medicaid slackers are being taken off the rolls. - Right? I mean, Republicans in Congress did a lot of great things.  NPR defunded, - USAID - defunded. Right? A lot of things that are positive. - I mean, is he talking about any of - that? Is he talking about his record or - what he's done in in other things? Anything - he's done for South Jersey?

I don't know how Jeff Van Drew has been campaigning. However, I've seen a lot of strong Republican incumbents in supposedly safe Republican districts getting sucker punched.  They leave themselves open because they don't talk about what they've done. They instead run these stupid personality ads where they're walking on the beach and pointing at the scenery, or being with their families, their spouses and their kids. When you look at that ad by itself and - you're a candidate, it looks fine. But when you're watching TV and you see six ads that look exactly the same, you just tune them all out. That's exactly what voters are doing with these types of ads. So, I don't really know what Van Drew has up on the air right now, but that is what he should be doing.

Because there's there are two messages. Each side has a message. Now the message for Democrats is not tough to figure out. It's not inflation. It's not gas prices. - It's not diesel fuel. It's not corruption as people say. It's not. It's just one thing. It's Trump. They just hate - Trump. So, they're coming out to get even with Trump. They hate Trump.

SETH GROSSMAN:  And of course, Trump is telling everybody to pretend that he is on the ballot. And the so-called mainstream media is going along, by turning every little thing Trump does anywhere in the country into national headline news.

Click above image or below link for video:  President Trump tells South Carolina Republicans, "Pretend that I'm on the ballot!":

https://youtube.com/shorts/SFD8r7q2sTA?si=kOLIL_Q4mAEu_XcX

**********

RICK SHAFTAN:  On the Republican side, it's not like people love Trump the way they did at one time. I mean, Trump has been around for now ten years, eleven years.  So, there's a certain level of Trump fatigue. Everybody has to kind of redo their act after a while. You need new things.  Trump is not motivating Republican voters right now.

But here's what does motivate Republicans this year. Concern about socialism, communism. The Democratic Party's border policies. The fact that they want to de-fund ICE and immigration enforcement. They are afraid that Democrats will let everybody from Somalia and every other weirdo place into the country. Is Van Drew talking about fighting the Left. Fighting socialism.

Above Image: Issues posted on Jeff Van Drew campaign website.  Click here for link:  The Latest - Jeff Van Drew for Congress

SETH GROSSMAN:  Yes. Jeff Van Drew has been doing that. He has ads doing that. Van Drew has been painting his Democratic opponent as a radical leftist.

RICK SHAFTAN:  Then Van Drew is going to be in a - in a good position. He needs to really step down hard on on this guy's neck. Van Drew needs to say that a vote for whatever this Democrat's name is is a vote for House Democratic leader Hakim Jeffries. It's a vote to undo everything Republicans have done during the last two years.

SETH GROSSMAN:  You're doing lots of polling. And right now, most polls show that roughly 35 to 40% of voters favor Trump - and somewhere between - 60% to 65% oppose him. Now, of course, many Republicans and Trump supporters are saying, "Those polls are fake.  Democrats are putting out these fake polls to discourage Republic voters.  To me, Democrats believe these polls, because they are doing everything they can to tie every Republican candidate to Trump.  I understand that. This also explains why the pro-Democrat national media is making Trump into headline news every day. Trump could be speaking at a high school - in South Dakota, and all the major - networks are covering it as if it's major - news.

Above Image:  Campaign Signs for Five Republican candidates for county and local offices in Somers Point, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. None of them mention Trump--or that they are Republicans!

RICK SHAFTAN: Most Republican candidates are not putting Trump in their ads. Republicans are not putting Trump in their ads because politics is not a loyalty test. Some people think it. President Trump kind of said that this election is not a loyalty test. It's about ideas. It's about the future. Right now, we're going into the last Congress of Donald Trump. However,...

Morning, Brian. How are you? - Good morning, Anne. I'm doing well. Thank you - for having me. No. - You know, there's so much going on right - now in the world. - What most concerns you? - Uh-huh. Oh. Like a topic. Right? Oh my. - I know. How many? Yeah. I mean, look. - At the top of the list, obviously, what - everyone's got at the front of their mind - right now is that in eighteen days, we - have a midterm election. And that is the - difference between, - putting the brakes on what president Trump's administration - has been able to accomplish - in the first, you know, eighteen, twenty months, - give or take, and then whether or not - you wanna go back to the four years - of nightmarish, - type decisions by the Democrats if they get - control of the house and or, - the United States Senate. So that's the number - one thing because, - worst case scenario, right, Democrats - run the table. They get control of the - house. They get control of the United States - Senate. - The house goes and controls the purse. Nothing - gets passed legislatively. They investigate and subpoena - blowing daylights out of the Trump administration, - and then they hold their, you know, their - faux hearings and all that kind of stuff - instead of actually working for the American people. - United States senate, - the Trump administration can't put in more conservative - and constitutional judges - or other personnel decisions as well as foreign - policy and confirming any any appointments that may - come up along the way. Although Trump can - tap into president Obama's mantra of I've got - a a pen and a phone and rule - by executive order for the last two years, - which we... We've seen before. So what do - you wanna do? Do you wanna, - rock the boat, hit the brakes, and go - back to - 9% inflation and Joe Biden type decisions like - the Democrats, or you wanna stay the course - and try to make some improvements on the - catastrophic damage the Democrats did for four years - before Trump came back? - Yeah. Well, that's a that's a a a - pretty important task - that a lot of people... - And you have said it, I I think, - more than anyone else that I've ever listened - to, Brian, - that people are busy in their own lives, - taking care of their families, their children, the - schooling, - education, what's happening in their own communities. - But you and I also know that the - only way - that - we get to make sure that our government - is working for us - and not for the warmth of collectivism, - which removes any - ember - of wanting to do better and, - excel at anything. - Yeah. Or or themselves. - Yeah. Yeah. - And and and look, at the end of - the day, that's... I just keep saying it - because people do get busy. And, you know, - I post something every year to remind people - that, you know, I don't like, early voting. - I don't like vote by mail. I like - voting on Election Day. I usually do it - at six in the morning or seven in - the morning first thing before I go to - work, but we have a different system here - in in The United States, especially in New - Jersey. - So my message to that is bank your - vote because - everyone is so busy. Things can happen. It's - happened to me where all of a sudden - I've got to go on a business trip - either the day or the day of election - day, and I can't get to the polls - or, you know, your children get sick or - you've got sporting events or, you know, the - weather is crap or whatever it may be. - You get stuck in traffic coming home from - work. All these things can play - a part, and that's why you you gotta - bank your vote. It's not a perfect system, - but a system we have. But we can't - change it unless we get, - you know, a sphere of influence by getting - Republicans elected, and it's not perfect. - It really isn't because, - again, there's a lot of people that go - into the mantra of being a Republican that - are not. You can do that with, certain - votes or certain policy reviews. Or now, as - everyone has learned, you can just dump, - meeting minutes or other policy decisions that have - been made into AI, and they can tell - you whether it aligns with Democrat or Republican - policies without actually having to do the research - so people can make their own decisions on - election day. But, again, it all comes down - to the fact that guess what? In eighteen - days, if the Democrats - get - control of United States House corruption, which unfortunately - is - very likely because three things that are working - against the Republicans are history. - History always favors the out of power party, - and in this case, it's the Democrats. - You have the feelings with regards to the - economy and the cost of goods and the - cost of services. Right? And then you've got - a war that has split the country down - the middle. Right? So you've got three things - against the Republicans that are likely to favor - the Democrats just on math alone, and it... - And where Republicans will stay home. And then - the only thing that's on the upside for - the Republicans is their their fundraising capabilities are - really, really good, and the Democrats' candidate quality - is really, really crappy across the country from - a national standpoint. But from a local standpoint, - it is concerning because guess what? This is - New Jersey This is the year after the - Democrats ran the table locally County and statewide - mostly because of Mikey Cheryl and they this - is their first Federal chance to say something - to president Donald Trump. So Democrats are energized - They're gonna come out and I am concerned - up and down, - the table with regard to Republicans locally in - the state of New Jersey now paint this - picture because if the Democrats do get control - of the House and they do get control - of the Senate on the federal level, right, - that is momentum. That will build into 2028. - And the worst case scenario - is is probably the... You know what? I'll - just paint the picture. Let's think about it. - It is October - 2026. - Let's go to 05/01/2029. - Right? A hundred days - into the next president's, - the next president's term. Right? A hundred days - is usually the May 1 time frame. Right? - Let's paint a picture. President Gavin Newsom - has just finished his hundred days in office. - The Democrats have a controlled, - senate, and they have a controlled house of - representatives where they pass - all of his campaign promises. Vice president Gretchen - Whitmer - is never needed for a tie breaker in - the upper chamber because, guess what, the Democrats - have majority. Secretary of state, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, - and secretary of homeland security, Zoran Mamdani, has - dismantled every single MAGA policy we've experienced over - the last twenty months. And you know how - the Democrats are gonna continue? They're gonna eliminate - the filibuster in the senate. This will allow - any legislation to pass regardless of Republican minority - opposition. - What are they gonna do next? Statehood. - Grant Washington DC and Puerto Rico statehood, which - means they add four senators to the Democratic - caucus and likely two more congressmen to the - Democratic caucus. - Then what have they said before? We've heard - Kamala Harris say this. They're gonna expand the - Supreme Court from - nine to 13 - justices creating a seven six liberal majority so - that they can uphold anything they pass without - minority opposition. - They'll nationalize the legalization of abortion. - They'll expand Obamacare - into Medicare for all, outlawing all private health - insurance. They'll create a national registry for gun - owners. They'll expand red flag laws, probably nationalize - them, - and ban every kind of gun you can - imagine. They'll abolish, - defund, and dismantle - ICE. They'll arrest all the officers after prosecuting - them, and then they'll imprison them. They'll grant - amnesty - across the board to all the illegal aliens - that have been here since 1990 - creating mass amnesty. - They'll repeal the tax cuts from 2017 - and the one big beautiful bill in 2025. - They'll create a new tax bracket that targets - millionaires, which will stunt the economy, - and they'll outlaw - charter private and parochial schools. - And even further, they'll gear up for the - twenty third... 30 census, - and they'll have maximum gerrymandering on their power - so that republicans never get elected again. If - you want that future, - stay home. - If you do not want that future, - get you, yourself, everyone around you to vote, - and for god's sakes, vote for a freaking - republican. Holy moly. What a terrible nightmare you - presented, - Brian Fitzherbert. - I I... - I'm here, and I'm I'm starting to sweat - already. - We... - You know, I I keep telling people, - Brian, do your homework. Do your research. Check - out what these people are actually up to, - what socialism and communism is all about. And - if you do that, you will find the - right way to vote, and it is without - a doubt - the Republican way. - Anyway Yeah. Yeah. You you got a break? - Go ahead. We we do. We we have - to take a quick break, but we'll be - right back. Keep that in mind. Whatever you're - gonna say, Brian, I know it's important. This - is Anne Baker with Brian Fitzherbert on Fitzherbert - Friday. And talking with Anne, stay with us. - We'll be back. - With Brian Fitzherbert on Fitzherbert Friday. Brian, what - do you have to say to Daryl? I - mean, there are a lot of people out - there like him that obviously - have not looked at the absolutely phenomenal things - that Donald Trump did during his first administration - and now has done during his second. People - continue to look at the price of gas. - They they are looking at some of the - issues that have arisen - because of the war in Ukraine and with - Russia. - You know, there are a lot of things - that need to be questioned,...

Above Image:  Application for Mail-In (And Messenger) Paper Ballot from County Clerk.

Click this link for more details:  New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections - NJ Voter Information Portal

Early voting and mailing/delivering paper ballots are the keys to winning… and losing

Vote now with paper ballots from your County Clerk (Mail-in or personal delivery).

Early in-person voting at various locations in your county begins next Saturday, October 24.

Final Day to Vote: Tuesday, November 3. (What we used to call Election Day.)

Democrats demanded and got early voting and mail/messenger ballots because it helps them. They usually get the votes of people with little knowledge or interest in voting. They rarely voted in-person when we had one Election Day. Democrats hired “community organizers” and did their best to drag them to the polls on Election Day. However, many still didn’t vote. Now, Democrats get most of them to vote. Democrat “community organizers” now more than 6 weeks to find them and have them fill out the forms.

For the past thirty years, many elections have been decided by paper ballots from low-interest, low information, low motivation voters “harvested” by Democrats.

Republicans can only win by also harvesting votes from these voters. Everyone knows someone who is unlikely to vote. Parents, relatives in nursing homes, assisted living. Kids in college. If you don’t get them to vote, some Democrat “community organizer” will.

Trump made himself the biggest issue in this year's elections. Is he "energizing the Republican base"? Or is he helping Democrats?

Every day, President Trump is doing and saying things to make himself headline news. He promoted himself with government funded commercials on natonal TV networks like ABC, CBS and NBC. All the mainstream TV and radio networks are reporting everything Trump says and does as headline news. Trump said he wants voters to act as if he is on the ballot. Is this helping Republican candidates? Or hurting them?

Above Images: Photos of "No Kings" Demonstration by Democrats in Manahawkin, NJ on Saturday, October 17. There were also "No Kings" demonstrations in Galloway, Atlantic City, Ocean City and Cape May Court House.

Our Congressman, Republican Jeff Van Drew is one of the best members of Congress in the country. I know him well. I ran against him back in 2018 when he was a Democrat.  Van Drew is with us on every issue. He gets things done because he understands how Congress works. Van Drew almost single-handedly stopped the offshore wind turbines. He returns phone calls and quickly responds to problems people have dealing with the government. He is running a perfect campaign. However, Democrats are trying to use anger at Trump to take down Van Drew. Will they succeed?

Will Trump hurt local Republicans here in Atlantic County. Tokyo Joe O’Donoghue is doing an outstanding job as Sheriff. Anyone who has done business with the County Clerk knows that Joe Giralo is doing an outstanding job. I know because I’m a lawyer. I know how much time and money I wasted when when we had a bad County Clerk before Joe Giralo was elected.  I also know that Republican commissioners John Risley and June Byrnes are doing good jobs helping Dennis Levinson run Atlantic County government. But will Trump’s unpopularity cause them to lose?

Young families could afford good homes in the 1950s and 1960s-even with only one parent working. Why are homes so expensive today?

Above Image: Typical suburban split-level house built in 1957.

When my Boomer generation grew up in the 1950s, almost every young family could afford a good house, with good schools, in a safe neighborhood. And only one working parent could support a family. Why was that?

Many affordable houses near Atlantic City were built by Holocaust refugees like Pinchus Kiedjan and Jack Trocki during the late 1950s and early 1960s. They began as chicken farmers in Egg Harbor Township shortly after World War II. Later they began building chicken coops and storage sheds for other farmers.  Then they began building houses. They bought vacant land, divided them into smaller lots, and built modest homes on them. They paid about $3,000 for each lot, spent about $10,000 to build each house, and sold them for about $15,000 each. Young families with one parent working could afford good homes, near good schools in safe neighborhoods. This was the American Dream.  Why can’t we do this today?

Today, zoning laws, building codes, Pinelands rules, wetlands rules and all sorts of state laws no longer allow builders to subdivide land and build houses like that. It is almost illegal to build anything anywhere. of course, things still get built. However, builders today need to spend a fortune on lawyers, politicians, planners, and other experts to get special approvals and exceptions. Many tell me they spend at least $50,000 just on permits and paperwork for every house they build.  So this is the only “affordable housing” we are getting today:

Rio Grande in Middle Township (Cape May County):  The township government is promoting a project with 63-units of  “affordable” housing units for veterans 55 and older. It will be in a single three-story building, apparently on county-owned land. The project will cost  $36 million, or $571,000 per unit

Atlantic City: CRDA approves 180 "affordable" rental units for Jared Kushner's property in Atlantic City Inlet. 30 year tax abatements:

Old timers like me remember when the old trolley bar was there. Then it was a bus garage. This is in the Inlet next to Captain Starns. Later, that building became a discount department store known as Garwood Mills.  I bought my first Beatles album there in 1965 for 99 cents.

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law bought that land 20 years ago.  Last year, he got permits from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to build 180 rental units there. He also got 30 years of tax abatements. The landlord won’t pay full taxes on those apartments for 30 years!

Everything is wrong with this.  Why is a state agency like CRDA giving out approvals instead of officials elected by the people?   Corrupt voters are just as bad as corrupt politicians. What is worse than letting a bunch of voters support politicians who will spend all sorts of money on them, and force somebody else to pay the taxes?

Yesterday, George Tibbetts was on the Harry Hurley program pointing out another big problem.  Many of those rental units will have children, and Atlantic City is spending $27,000 for each child in its public schools. And it will spend more for police a trash pickup.

This problem is everywhere. Egg Harbor Township is putting up all sorts of roadblocks to top new housing for families there. The logic is simple. Each new house will pay about $8,000 in property taxes. If a family living in that house has two kids in public school, each child will cost the taxpayers at least $25,000 each, or $50,000 for the house. The township loses $42,000 a year every time it approves a single house for families with children.  So local governments block affordable housing for families every day, and housing is no longer affordable.  This is not a solution.  The solution is make it easy to get permits again, and to cut the cost of public schools.

Stockton President admits that school never wanted an Atlantic City campus. So why not sell it?

Above Image: New Stockton University building on beach block in Atlantic City, NJ, May 23, 2023.

Why doesn’t Stockton University sell its Atlantic City campus and pay off its debt?  Last week, Stockston’s president, Joseph Bertolino testified to an Assembly Committee. He confirmed everything we’ve been saying about this for years.

 

This year Stockton spent about $25 million more than it took in, and its deficit will increase to $32 million next year. Stockton is burning through years of donations in its endowment to make up the difference. Stockton just gave notice that it will lay off 27 professors and administrators to make up the difference. To me, this seems like a drop in the bucket.

 

Bertolino said much of its budget shortfall is paying back all the money it borrowed for its new Atlantic City campus. Bertolino said that state government should pay that debt because Stockton did the Atlantic City campus to please state politicians.

 

We’ve been saying that all along. Stockton never wanted or needed the Atlantic City campus. It doesn’t need that campus now.  It is nothing but a burden. Hardly anyone is there. Stockton wastes a lot of money and gas to run mostly empty buses back and forth between its Atlantic City and Galloway campuses.

 

There is a very simple solution. Most of the Atlantic City campus is prime, beachfront real estate. There is no reason why Stockton can’t sell that real estate, pay off its debt, and go back to one campus in Galloway.

 

By the way, the State forced the state to build new headquarters in Atlantic City, even though there was absolutely no need for it. I remember talking to a bunch of executives from South Jersey Gas when all this came down.  I went to a few of their yearly shareholder meetings in Mount Laurel, because I owned a few shares of the company.  At that time, South Jersey Gas was trying to get permits to built an 18 mile pipeline to the oil electric power plant at Marmora, to keep in in operation.

 

In my opinion, South Jersey Gas moved its headquarters to Atlantic City because they thought that was what it had to do to get permits from the state.  And I also think we are all paying higher gas bills because of it.  I hardly use any natural gas at my law office during the summer. During the summer, I only pay for the fixed fee.   That fee went up from about $15 per month to about  $42 per month.  I wonder

Above Image: Monthly South Jersey Gas bill shows $39....

FITZHERBERT FRIDAY  - 10-09-26​

Electoral Urgency and Voter Turnout

Brian Fitzherbert argues that voter turnout is the paramount issue, asserting that daily life outcomes stem directly from who holds political office.

He contends that while Republicans are not the solution to every problem, Democrats are the primary cause of them, warning conservative voters against sitting out or splitting tickets.

Grassroots engagement—door knocking, phone calls, texting, and peer-to-peer discussions—is highlighted as essential to driving voter participation.

Energy Policy and the Cost of Living in New Jersey

The hosts criticize long-standing Democratic control in New Jersey for escalating living costs and high gas prices.

They point to state policies, such as the closure of power plants under Governor Phil Murphy—turning New Jersey into a net energy importer—as well as high state gas taxes and full-service gas pumping labor costs.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew is praised for challenging electric companies over escalating utility rates.

Brian argues that heavily subsidized renewables (wind and solar) cannot currently replace fossil fuels in a cost-effective, free-market manner.

Critiques of Socialism and Progressive Governance

A caller (Dan from Egg Harbor Township) and the hosts criticize progressive political candidates, citing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed as well as historical figures like Che Guevara.

Dan references the perspective of Cuban immigrants to argue that socialism leads to economic ruin and that modern progressive policies edge closer to Marxism than social democracy.

Brian notes that "you can vote your way into socialism, but you can't vote your way out," calling socialist policies fundamentally flawed.

Immigration and Border Policy

Brian links illegal immigration directly to rising costs across housing, rents, taxes, education, and healthcare.

He defends deportation efforts and ICE operations as necessary economic and public safety measures to relieve strain on public resources.

The segment concludes with criticism of opposition to the SAVE Act, with the hosts asserting that voting is a civic duty that must be strictly limited to verified U.S. citizens.

NJ's Stockton University is broke and heavily in debt. It is short $25 million just for this year. Without major cuts or new income, Stockton will be short $32 million next year. Stockton quickly burning up the endowment money it got from years of donations and fundraising. We all know why. We have been talking about it for years.

Click here for link to October 11, 2026 post in Press of Atlantic City: Stockton University’s budget crisis is not getting better.

Last May, we proposed this 7-Point Plan to Save Stockton University:

1. Fire the overpaid "woke" professors and administrators who created the mess.

2. Replace them with less paid adjunct professors and administrators with real world business-experience and a diversity of political opinions.

3. Hire all new professors, administrators and staff based on talent, motivation and achievement rather than "diversity, equity and inclusion" and political conformity.

4. Use AI and technology to teach useful skills needed for good-paying jobs in business and industry.

5. Sell all Atlantic City properties and pay down all debt. Cancel all leases for properties outside Galloway campus.

6. End all sports programs.

7. Apply above savings to cut tuition to roughly $6,000 per year-- roughly what a student can earn during one year.

Click here for link to full post: Stockton University Needs What Saved Atlantic City Government - Liberty and Prosperity

Stockton started building boom at its main campus in Galloway Township about 15 years ago. It built a bunch of big, expensive new luxury buildings that it did not need.  It borrowed hundreds of millions of dollars to do it. Stockton now cannot pay that money back.

Then, Stockton built a whole new duplicate campus on prime beachfront land in Atlantic City. Stockton also borrowed hundreds of millions more to build it. That campus is almost empty, and Stockton can't afford to pay that money back either.

Stockton is also spending money and burning fossil fuel to run buses 15 miles back and forth between its Galloway and Atlantic City campuses. So much for caring about climate change and a low carbon footprint!   They're burning all this gasoline for nothing. Most of those buses are empty.

According to the Press of Atlantic City, Stockton reported 8,101 students this fall, down 525 from the previous year. Its first-year retention rate fell from 85% in 2019 to 74% this year, the lowest in seven years. Of 1,486 first-time, full-time students who enrolled last fall, 380 did not return for their third semester

During this time, the cost of room, board, books and tuition at Stockton has exploded.  When Stockton began in 1971. a year of Stockton coast roughly $900.  At that time, most students could earn roughly $1,200 from a summer job.

In 2011, before Stockton began its building boom, the cost of room, board, books and tuition there was roughly $12,000 per year.  At that time, most students could earn roughly $3,000 to $4,000 from a summer job.

Today, the total cost of a Stockton "education" is roughly $33,000 per year for New Jersey residents and $42,000 for out-of-state students.

To deal with this disaster, Joe Bertolino, Stockton's new President is saying he plans to lay off 21 professors and "professional staff" next summer at the end of the school year. This is as helpful as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

https://youtu.be/JUdgG2A7tqo?si=l_t60gNnt3NMmw6N

Above Video:  Roughly 100 Stockton students chant, "1, 2, 3. Palestine will be free! 4, 5 6. Stockton is next!" Others say "F**k Genocide Joe!" (Referring to Stockton University President Joseph Bertolino).

Click below links or above image for video:

https://youtu.be/JUdgG2A7tqo?si=Ux6tOghWVBG-SHmi

https://youtu.be/JUdgG2A7tqo?si=l_t60gNnt3NMmw6N

Even more disturbing is the "education" students are getting at Stockton. Don't take my word for it. Watch the above video.

It was posted by Breaking AC, an online news site done by Lynda Cohen.  She used to be the crime reporter for the Press of Atlantic City.  The video shows about a hundred Stockton students protesting outside the office of Joe Bertolino, the President of Stockton University.

Would you donate money to Stockton to produce this?  Every parent or grandparent of a high school student should watch this video before spending or borrowing a nickel to help your son or daughter or grandson or granddaughter attend that school.

How many of these students are being prepared to hold a productive job? How many are learning to do more than complain and demand? How many would you hire for even an entry level job? How many are learning the responsibilities needed to marry and raise children. How many can speak or write complete sentences?

The video is also posted at Breaking AC News – Powered by Fideri News. We are sharing that video on our Liberty and Prosperity website at VIDEO: Stockton Protest Oct 8, 2026. - Liberty and Prosperity. We also posted it on our Liberty and Prosperity YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/JUdgG2A7tqo?si=R9vO10IBBJPkOSfS

South Jersey Socialism is blocking a good new hotel in Ocean City. It supports bailing out a failed one in Atlantic City.

When America was great, dozens of luxury hotels in Atlantic City were built and opened in less than a year.  It began when the owner of an old wooden hotel at North Carolina Avenue and the Boardwalk wanted to replace it with a new eight story brick and steel "skyscraper" hotel in 1902. He applied for a building permit from the city in July. It was approved two weeks later. 

Right after Labor Day, workers began jacking the old wooden hotel onto rollers. By Halloween, they had moved it to a vacant lot next door. The pilings and foundations for the new hotel were then put in place. Construction of all eight stories of the new brick and steel hotel took place during the next eight months. The new Chalfonte Hotel was finished and open in time for July 4 Weekend of 1903. 

During the next 30 years, dozens of brick and steel hotels were built all over Atlantic City just as quickly. One of them, the Haddon Hall was built along the Boardwalk across the street.  Today, the Haddon Hall is known as Resorts Hotel Casino.

Today, the owner of successful Icona hotels in Wildwood and Avalon cannot get permits to build a new luxury Icona hotel in Ocean City. He has been trying to get them for the past two years. He wants to build it on the site of the old Wonderland Amusement Park that has been closed for the past two years. However, the Ocean City zoning law does not permit any hotels there. It does permit almost every other business that serves tourists. It permits amusement parks, arcades, parking lots, restaurants, shops and fast-food shops.

There were no zoning laws at all in New Jersey until 1928.  Until then every landowner could build and do whatever he or she wanted on his or her own land, as long as the building or use did not create a "common law nuisance". That was noise, smoke, vibrations or smells that "unreasonably annoyed or disturbed" people nearby.

That changed in 1928, when New Jersey allowed towns to adopt zoning laws. People who bought homes in residential neighborhoods did not want stores, factories, or gas stations built next to them. People who owned store or restaurants did not want new factories or power plants built next to their businesses.

The first zoning laws did little harm to the economy. Most business and factory owners did not want to build on expensive land where homes were built and people would complain. They preferred cheaper land far away.

However, zoning laws became corrupt and smothering during the 1960s.  People with big fancy houses did not want poor or even middle income people living near them. Owners of successful businesses did not want new businesses competing with them.  They used their influence to make new zoning laws that made almost every proposed new building or business in violation of something. As a result, builders and developers could not build anything new unless they got "variances", "redevelopment approvals" or special changes to zoning laws that nobody else could get. Almost anyone with political influence could block or slow down almost any new project unless they got something out of it. As a result, fewer new houses, businesses, and factories were built. Every new building and business was far more expensive than it was before. Consumers had fewer choices and higher prices.

The refusal of Ocean City to allow a new hotel to replace the closed Wonderland Amusement park is typical of this.  The Boardwalk between 6th and 7th Street was once filled with people every summer. However, it was almost deserted for during the past few summers. Fewer businesses earned money. Fewer people, especially young people were employed. State and local government and the Ocean City public schools raised less in taxes and had to raise taxes on everyone else.

However, people who live nearby would rather live next to a quiet empty lot than any business. Their property is worth more because they have less traffic and more parking spaces.

Above Image: The Beachwatch Condominium in Ocean City. Until 1985, it was the Beachwatch Motel! Last Wednesday, its condominium association president publicly opposed building a new hotel on the site of the closed Wonderland Amusement Park next door. 

Last Wednesday, the president of the Beachwatch Condominium Association wrote. The Beachwatch condominium is a building of 46 mostly one-bedroom units. It was built in the 1970s as the Beachwatch Motel.  However, it was converted from a motel to a condominium in 1985.

This is classic example of how bad zoning laws bring out the worst in people. There was no problem with a 46-room motel on the block at 7th Street and the Boardwalk duri

OCT 2, 2026 Brian Fitzherbert WOND Radio

College Sports and Gambling: The hosts discuss the shifting landscape of college athletics, expressing frustration that student athletes are treated and paid like professionals. They argue that universities participating in these commercialized sports should lose their tax-exempt status, while also criticizing state-promoted gambling, sin taxes, and the societal costs of subsidizing addictive behaviors.

Political Accountability and Universal School Choice: The conversation shifts to politics and legislation, focusing on why policies like universal school choice often stall. They criticize legislative leadership for avoiding floor votes on key bills out of concern for their members' political survival, and they advocate for term limits for politicians, staff, and career bureaucrats.

Civic Engagement and Technology: The speakers urge citizens to leverage AI tools to analyze local meeting minutes, track voting patterns, and see through political rhetoric. They also emphasize the need for elected officials to hold accessible forums—such as town halls and community barbecues—and express concern over low voter turnout in local and midterm elections.

Defense Production and Industry Expansion: In closing, they discuss commercial industries—particularly automotive manufacturers—stepping in to produce defense-related parts and equipment, noting that these non-traditional suppliers are improving supply chain efficiency and reducing lead times compared to traditional aerospace and defense contractors.

FROM SETH GROSSMAN INTERVIEW ON HARRY HURLEY RADIO PROGRAM:

WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM and 1450AM near Atlantic City on September 30, 2026

Harry Hurley:  All right, citizen Seth Grossman is here, because while everybody's thinking that the flooding happens because of the ocean, there are those who believe it's happening at the back bay. So that the bulkheads, not the dunes, are your more rightful protection, if you will.

Seth Grossman:  People who say that sand dunes protected Atlantic City and Margate from more severe flooding during the storm last weekend remind me of my Dad telling me about when he was stationed in Atlantic City for a few weeks during the early days of World War II. He told me he had to guard the boiler room of the St. Charles Hotel at New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk with a wooden rifle. My Dad told me that in 1942, the army did not have enough real rifles to go around. So I said, "Dad, Why did they give you a wooden rifle? What good was it?" My Dad smiled and said, "It worked just fine! The Germans never came near the place!"

I think of my Dad's wooden rifle when people tell me how we needed sand dunes to protect beach towns like Atlantic City and Margate from ocean flooding last weekend.

Let's start by talking about how we those wooden bulkheads and concrete seawalls along the beach and Boardwalk from the Inlet in Atlantic City all the way down to Longport.

Above Image:  Margate, NJ Beach and Elephant Shortly After 1944 Hurricane.

In 1944, we had a devastating hurricane in Atlantic City. It wiped out the old Heinz Pier, the Margate Boardwalk, and it did a lot of damage all over the island.

Harry Hurley: Yep.

Seth Grossman: And in response to that, Atlantic City—with no federal aid, and no state aid other than money from a new local luxury tax--built those wooden bulkheads and concrete seawalls all along the Boardwalk. And of course, it wasn't just that Hurricane of 1944. Before that, the old-timers would talk about the northeaster of 1938, which knocked out the Brigantine Bridge. That is how a guy called Captain Starn made a fortune taking people back and forth from Brigantine. And that's how he got the money to do a lot of his improvements at the Captain Starn's Restaurant that a lot of us Boomers went to growing up.

Above Image: Margate NJ Beach and Elephant Shortly After "Superstorm Sandy" in 2012. There were no sand dunes at the time and little, if any flooding from the ocean.

We grew up with those wooden bulkheads all along the ocean; they were normal. And in some street ends, you actually had concrete seawalls. That wooden bulkhead stopped basically the water from coming up from the ocean in 1962. Almost all the flooding came from the back bay.

And we went through this with Hurricane Sandy in 2012. When you look at the photographs, you'll see right by the Margate elephant, that same wooden bulkhead that was built in Atlantic City by the Boardwalk was also built through Ventnor, Margate, and Longport. And that bulkhead, during Hurricane Sandy 2012, stopped the flooding.

Host: We went away from what worked, and we put something in that doesn't work.

Seth Grossman: Yes. And you don't have to be an expert in engineering to watch how waves break on the beach during ocean storms. When you had a wide, flat beach, you would see that the waves would break 50 yards away from where the bulkhead was, and just the water would come up, and the bulkhead would stop the water. If you look at the photographs of the Margate elephant, you'll see that the wooden bulkheads stopped the water, and the only flooding that took place during Sandy down in this area was from the back bay.

So why did we get in with this nonsense with the sand dunes? I was on City Council in Atlantic City during the 1980s when the nonsense started. Later, as a private lawyer, I represented the owner of one of the piers in Atlantic City. At that time, officials from Federal Emergency Management and the State Department of Environmental Protection were trying to get the owners of oceanfront properties into giving them easements. They wanted these beach front property owners to basically turn their rights to the beach over to the Army Corps of Engineers.  This was insanity. Who would want the government to block their view of the ocean and pleasant sea breezes with ugly piles of sand!

And then I realized what the whole dune thing was about. It was like a marriage of convenience between some very crazy people and some very corrupt people. First, you had these woke environmentalists who didn't want humans, especially wealthy, successful humans to enjoy ocean views and sea breezes, and luxury lifestyles. They wanted nobody on the beach but nature.  If they had their way, the only creatures on the beach would be seagulls, piping plovers, greenheads, mosquitos and other natural wildlife. Of course, these woke environmentalists were also hypocrites.   They also wanted so-called "public access" so that homeless bums could go through beachfront private property any time they wanted.and the wildlife. They wanted to make the beaches unattractive and uninhabitable. They didn't want people enjoying ocean views.

So these woke environmentalists teamed up with the corrupt sand lobby.  The sand lobby was the Army Corps of Engineers and a bunch of big contractors who cared only about making millions of dollars pumping sand from one place to another.

And sea breezes and ocean views were never just for rich people. The whole Boardwalk was built in the first place so that people could walk on a boardwalk and enjoy a view of the ocean without tracking sand onto the trains that would take them back to Philadelphia. That's why Mr. Boardman invented the Boardwalk. And now you're walking on a boardwalk in Atlantic City, you can't even see the ocean, you can no longer feel the breezes.

And I remember screaming about all this when I saw this coming 30 years ago on City Council and as an attorney. This sand dune lobby was a combination of the Army Corps of Engineers—which I found out was a bunch of very political people, a bunch of big contractors and their unions, together with these woke environmentalists.

The Army Corps of Engineers never said that sand dunes were a more efficient or effective way to protect beachfront towns than wooden bulkheads or concrete seawalls.

They simply said, "If you woke politicians will give us all the funding we want if we build sand dunes instead of bulkheads and seawalls, we will build what you want and spend the money you way you want--as long as you give us all the money we want.

That's where this nonsense started. And one of the pure, insane things they did—so basically, as I see it, the whole thing is hokey, it's a racket, and we local people need to stand up and push back. We need to say, what we Atlantic City local people came up with after the hurricane of 1944 worked perfectly for more than 80 years, and that's all we need!

Host: Where we're visiting with citizen Seth Grossman, was it the Army Corps of Engineers—

Seth Grossman: No, it wasn't their idea. They just went along with it to get the funding.

Harry Hurley: Whose idea was it?

Seth Grossman: The idea was the woke environmental people who just hate cars—the same people who came up with the so-called "road diet," where you take a good road with two lanes in each direction, and then you say if you want to get federal money you have to turn it into one lane in each direction so you have a constant traffic jam, because those people hate cars.  They are the same people who said that if we built a natural gas pipeline under Route 49 to keep the electric power plant in Marmora going, we would destroy the Pinelands and no longer have drinking water. They want us all to go back to riding bicycles, freezing in the winter and dying of heat in the summer.

Yes, we had sand dunes when Atlantic City was created. And then in 1854, Jonathan Pitney and Sam Richards built their famous "railroad to nowhere" to an empty sand island, and they build a hotel there, and they say, "We're going to create a brand-new resort, and we're going to call it Atlantic City."

That first summer was a disaster for two reasons. Number one, of course, the people, as soon as they get off the train, they wanted to see the ocean, they walked on the beach, they tracked the sand into the fancy hotel, into the railroad cars. They were ruining the upholstery of the fancy furniture, ruining the carpeting.  Jonathan Pitney and Sam Richards said, "We got to do something about it."

That was when a small hotel owner named Jacob Keim and a railroad conductor named Alexander Boardman came up with the idea of building a wooden walkway over the sand.  That became the Boardwalk. It was built so people could enjoy ocean views and ocean breezes without tracking sand into the trains and the hotels.

Harry Hurley: Right.

Seth Grossman: The second problem were the greenheads. The greenheads and the bugs and the mosquitoes were so awful, it threatened to destroy the entire project. There were greenheads because there were natural sand dunes all over the island at the time. Those natural sand dunes stopped rain and tide water from draining.  There were puddles all over the island that were breeding grounds for greenheads and mosquitos.

So that winter, they completely leveled the dunes. And the following summer: no greenheads, no mosquitoes, no bugs, and Atlantic City thrived from that point on.

Above Image:  1882 Railroad Schedule Pamphlet Showing Atlantic City Beach Without Dunes.

Above Image:  1945 Railroad Poster Showing Atlantic City Beach Without Dunes.

So after that, every single resort that was built by the ocean, the first thing they did was level the dunes. And you could look at the photographs of Atlantic City from 1870, 1890, 1910, 1920, 1950, 1980: flat sand, everybody enjoying themselves, bulkheads protecting the hotels and the streets and the re

Brian Fitzherbert edited segment - WOND - 9-25-26