newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

As we entered 2010 in New Jersey, it snowed. And snowed. Then it snowed again.

In January, we dug out of the snow long enough to inaugurate former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Chris Christie as new governor. Christie's reputation for toughness gave many residents hope that the state might be on its way to a return to financial stability. The New Jersey Education Association offered a differing opinion.

As the weather finally warmed, we saw the cast of MTV's "Jersey Shore" continue to make a name for themselves, often in America's Most Wanted. And in August, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey arrested flight attendant Steven Slater when he decided to use the airline's emergency chute as an employee exit.

When fall rolled around, we learned that GOP Senate candidate and former New Jersey resident Christine O'Donnell was not actually a witch, and she was just like us.

With that knowledge in hand, let's put our fears aside and take a look back, often in horror, at the year that was 2010 in New Jersey.

In January, Chris Christie was sworn in as New Jersey's 55th governor. His inaugural celebration featured the B Street Band, known as the original Springsteen tribute band. Further budget cuts were soon to follow.

Outgoing Governor Jon Corzine signed legislation making New Jersey the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana before he left office. The Assembly voted in favor of the bill for New Jerseyans who needed it for severe health problems.

Bizarre pop star Lady Gaga appeared at the House of Blues in Atlantic City at a marriage equality benefit, in support of gay and lesbian groups in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

As we reached February, Governor Christie announced the creation of New Jersey's Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission, which was intended to devise a plan which would fix New Jersey's gaming, sports and entertainment industry problems.

Christie also announced $2.203 billion in budget solutions designed to balance the state budget. Declaring a "state of fiscal emergency", he planned to attack waste, overfunded programs, and state government finances.

The winter's approximately 214th major snowstorm dumped one to two feet of snow on New Jersey, causing Governor Christie to close all state government offices and telling non-essential employees not to come to work. Unfortunately, they eventually returned.

Digging a path to March, a report showed that the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund would run out of funds by mid-2011, crippling necessary road repairs and transit services.

President of the NJEA Barbara Keshishian said that Governor Christie's proposed state budget is "a disaster that would begin to dismantle the best public school system in America." Democratic Assembly and Senate leaders charged that the budget is a tax hike on middle and lower income residents.

Christie sent a letter to the NJEA calling on school employees to voluntarily accept a salary freeze for the coming school year, and make a contribution to health care benefits equal to 1.5% of each employee's salary. Keshishian said the governor has cut over $1.3 billion in aid to local districts, and he is responsible for the consequences.

Moving on to April, NJEA president Keshishian apologized to Christie for a memo issued by a Bergen County based regional office of the teachers' union that wished for Christie's death. As a joke. April fool.

In a sign of things to come, an engine cover fell off a JetBlue flight as it was taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport, forcing its landing and closing a runway.

As we taxied into May, legislation was introduced asking New Jersey voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would cap property tax increases at 2.5 percent. This was part of 33 bills Governor Christie wants approved to control school and government spending.

The New Jersey Education Association and Governor Christie decided to put their differences aside long enough to apply for a Phase II Race to the Top grant application, which could give New Jersey up to 440 million in federal funding over the next four years.

An analysis of public and private corruption in the United States found New Jersey ranked as the 21st most corrupt state. Trenton immediately demanded a recount.

In June, Governor Christie had his staff rewrite the Race to the Top application and removed all the language NJEA union officials had accepted.

The FBI arrested ten people for operating a Russian spy ring aiming to send information back to Moscow. Two of them were from Montclair.

Bernie Madoff, of Ponzi scheme infamy, finally gave something back to the community when some of his belongings were auctioned off in Parsippany. Some of those items were gym equipment, a poker table, and a Lord of the Rings pinball machine.

July unfortunately saw thirty-five adults and children dumped into the Delaware River in Camden when the tourist duck boat they were riding collided with a barge.

Governor Christie announced plans to overhaul New Jersey's gaming industry, including a complete takeover of Atlantic City's casino district, and selling or shutting down the Meadowlands Racetrack.