I do.
A few things have been bothering me about the Too Thin Skinned for Prime Time story I wrote this weekend about Frank Pallone doing opposition research into Mickey and Diane Gooch, and their newspaper, the Two Rivers Times, making a big deal about the OPRA requests that Pallone's opposition researcher made in Rumson for "any and all records of police calls to the Gooch estate on the Navesink River."
In his piece in the triCityNews, Dan Jacobson speculated that Gooch neighbor General Pete Dawkins might have called the police over Diane sunbathing nude or throwing a gold ingot at Mickey's head. I'd link you to Jacobson's piece, but he doesn't publish on the Internet. Such speculation is just Dan being Dan. I enjoy quoting Dan because he says such outrageous things that I can press the envelope and still come off Republican.
You would think such a fine journalistic institution as the Two River Times would have published the OPRA findings. Wouldn't you? I mean, why not tell the whole story? Maybe they did, but I'd think Jacobson would have covered the facts rather than speculate, and I don't want to spend the $22.95 to subscribe to the TRT archives to read the TRT story to find out.
So I did the next best thing and drove over to the 12th congressional district to make my own OPRA requests in Rumson. The new Rumson Borough Hall is gorgeous. The people who work there are the nicest friendliest government workers I've ever encountered. Even the police officer, dispatcher and administrator working in the police department were smiling and friendly. There was none of that tough intimidating police speak that is so prevalent in most police departments I've visited.
I OPRA'd "any and all records of police calls to the Gooch residence" and for good measure, "any and all OPRA requests, and the answers to such requests, concerning Michael Gooch, Diane Gooch and their property." I didn't want to leave anything out, and it would be great to know the name, address and phone number of Pallone's opposition researcher.
The other thing bothering me about this story is, how did Mickey and Diane find out about Pallone's OPRA request? One of the nice people in Rumson Borough Hall must have tipped them off. That is why I'm writing about my OPRA requests now, rather than wait until I get the answers back. I'd like them to hear it from me, rather than get another tip from Borough Hall. Mickey, or someone from his firm, GFI in New York visits this blog several times per day, according to my statcounter, and rumour has it that some campaign staffers check in too.
Maybe Mickey will write a "Besides the Point" column about me or this blog. Lots of other newspapers and websites have mentioned MoreMonmouthMusings over the years, but never the Two River Times, according to their search page.
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6 comments:
you don't go from small-town, "maritime lawyer", to a millionnaire with 22 yrs. DC entrenchment for nothin'.. honestly, ANYone who runs against the guy needs to be afraid.. it is an almost cloak and dagger scenario, especially with these wealthy folks,living above all reality, once best philosophical buds, now one running against the other..yes, dying to know what Frank has, and is smart enough to hold onto, til, oh say, Oct.25th or so... help!
eOK so you pulled the police reports. Care to enlighten us?
eOK so you pulled the police reports. Care to enlighten us?
nothing to tell yet. the OPRA requests have not been answered.
nice or not,they've got just 7 days, by law, to answer when you can get them..many towns get criticized for dragging their feet like they're hiding something: it's dumb, but it happens all over... many times, since everything IS political, it's a dodge-ball match, to try and wear a citizen out..am guessing the copier in town hall's broken, the person in charge of those files is out for a month, etc..suggest you go right back, and ask to just wait,sit, and "view" what you want to see, they can rustle up the copies for ya,at their leisure, after June 8!..
Take no crap said...
nice or not,they've got just 7 days, by law, to answer when you can get them..many towns get criticized for dragging their feet like they're hiding something: it's dumb, but it happens all over... many times, since everything IS political, it's a dodge-ball match, to try and wear a citizen out..am guessing the copier in town hall's broken, the person in charge of those files is out for a month, etc..suggest you go right back, and ask to just wait,sit, and "view" what you want to see, they can rustle up the copies for ya,at their leisure, after June 8!..
There is no question they are dragging their feet at this point. I've called every day since making the request. That's one of the reasons I OPRA'd Pallone's requests and the answers...I want to see how long it took for Pallone to get the info.
Whether I get it today or next Tuesday, will be time enough.
realize you are a busy small business owner, and this is a valuable and fun outlet, we know, but, wouldn't it be fun to see how long they let you sit in their lovely new town hall,politely waiting, before you get rustled out, for "loitering"?..do they have an anti-loitering- in-town-hall ordinance, on the books??).. maybe take a day, a nice ride down by the water, and just sit there, til they lead you to a table and chair to take a gander at what they're having trouble getting together for you?..shameful, if not totally predictable!
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