EMILY STAYED W/ RAPPER FABOLOUS FOR MONEY, FAME & LIFESTYLE PERKS

EMILY STAYED WITH RAPPER FABOLOUS FOR MONEY, FAME & FABULOUS LIFESTYLE:

EMILY IS NOT A POOR, LOW INCOME SINGLE MOTHER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM.

MEDIA & TMZ ARE TRYING TO INJECT RACE (BLACK MAN vs LATINO WOMAN).

FABOLOUS HAS GIVEN EMILY MUCH MONEY OVER THE YEARS SO SHE COULD HAVE LEFT IF SHE TRULY FEARED FOR HER LIFE.

EMILY ONLY WENT PUBLIC BECAUSE FAB WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE HER BUT HE WAS STILL GOING TO PAY HER BIG $$$.

EMILY WAS MOST LIKELY LEGALLY ADVISED TO GO PUBLIC NOW AGAINST FAB TO GAIN PUBLIC EMPATHY BY USING THE “#METOO” MOVEMENT TO HER ADVANTAGE.

NOT EVEN PREVIOUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COULD MAKE EMILY LEAVE BECAUSE SHE WAS GETTING BIG MONEY & LIFESTYLE PERKS FROM FAB.

FABOLOUS DID NOT THREATEN EMILY ABOUT LEAVING, SHE STAYED SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO.

EMILY’S FAMILY WAS PROBABLY BENEFITING FROM FAB’S MONEY & LIFESTYLE PERKS TOO.

BOTH EMILY & FAB ARE WRONG.

THEIR CHILDREN ARE THE REAL VICTIMS IN THIS DRAMA.


Sources: VIBE, Hollywood Life, TMZ, Love & Hip Hop, VH-1, Wordpress, Youtube


***** EMILY) THE WOMAN BEHIND FABOLOUS


I recently read an article on Vibe.comabout rapper Fabolous girlfriend of 8 years. It was an interesting read and I thought I would share it with you. His girlfriend Emily was interviewed by Swizz Beats ex-wife that put Alicia Keys on blast for being a “home wrecker” and the mother of his son singer Mashonda.

Here is the interview in her new weekly column called Pandora’s Box on Vibe.com:

In 2002, Emily Bustamente met rapper John “Fabolous” Jackson. Her life would never be the same. Like most hip-hop relationships, it has been bittersweet; Emily has stood by her man when he was shot, arrested, and surrounded by countless groupies on tour. She is Fab’s lady, friend, stylist, and the mother of his child. I had a chance to catch up with Emily for some real talk, after a recent tapings for her upcoming reality show on VH1.

Stunning, even without any make up on, and casually dressed, the 29 year old, Puerto Rican/Dominican welcomed me in her home. She showed me all of the renovations that her and Fabolous were making to their beautiful, 4-story townhouse. Johan, the couple’s two-year-old son was joyfully running in front of us. Finally, we choose a spot in her bedroom where we could get relaxed. After 20 minutes of non-stop laughter, toddler tips, and summer adventure stories, there was an awkward silence between Emily and myself. I didn’t hear a sound, but Emily insisted that Fabolous was home.

“Yo” Em says.

“Yo” the person replies.

In my mind I’m thinking, “There’s no way she felt him in the house before I could even hear him.” Emily looked at the amazement that came over my face.

“Yeah, I can always feel his presence,” she says.

Johan immediately screamed “Papa” and ran down to meet him. As we lay on their California King size bed, I instantly thought, ”Maybe I should get off?”, but Emily insisted I stay. He greeted Johan, “Heyyyy”. And as his footsteps got closer to the master bedroom, Emily stayed relaxed but glowing. As he got closer, I can tell he was trying to figure out who was in his room.

Mashonda: How did you meet Fabolous?

Emily: I met him in 2002 at an event. He sent his brother over to me to get my attention. I told his brother, “If he wants to talk to me, tell him to come here”. He was there promoting his album. When he finally walked over to me, I asked him why did he send his brother. Why couldn’t he talk to me himself? His response was: “I’m shy”. Those words, and his soft-spoken tone, won me over instantly.

That’s sweet. What happened next?

He asked where I was from, and said that I should visit him next time I’m in New York. I gave him my number and watched him store it in his sidekick as “Emily VA”. I felt like, Wow, he’s only going to know me for my state. I never asked for his number, I felt if it was meant to be, he would call me. We stayed in touch on the phone and when he finally came back to VA to do a show, he called and invited me. We spoke everyday from then on and saw each other often.

How did you finally get to New York?

After seeing each other off and on for 3 years, and spending our summers together, he finally asked me to move to NY to be with him. We built a friendship and we used it to develop our future. It took some time before we got physical; we talked a lot and had a lot of the same passions. I remember the first time he told me he loved me. I couldn’t believe that he said the words. It was a lot for him as well. I knew he was serious when he asked me to move in with him. He said “I have an extra room for your daughter, and bring your Yorkie too.”

I look up and catch Fabolous peeping through the side of the chestnut wood and frosted glass door. “Stop peeping” I said. He smiled and came in the room to greet us. The energy that filled the beautifully decorated room was phenomenal. There you had it—John the man, being fabulous with out being Fabulous. I was completely taken and impressed by his non-celebrity. He sat on the floor and played with Johan as Emily and myself went through some photos on her laptop. Nonchalantly, Emily said, “Your food is in the microwave.” His reply was simple, soft-spoken but so sincere “Thank you.”

Experts say women develop their taste in men at a young age. Did you know you wanted to date someone musically inclined? What kind of values do you look for in a man?

I was always into hip-hop and music, but never cared about dating an entertainer. I look for family values, the way they treat their mother, is a good sign of the way they will treat me.

Do you recommend dating a rapper?

I don’t recommend women to go seeking after a rapper. Make sure you like the person underneath the title. Rappers need love too, they are just men at the end of the day. When they are 60 they wont be rappers anymore. It bothers me when people say “Oh you date a rapper.” No, I date a very intelligent man that has a career and a future. I recommend any woman to find love. It doesn’t matter what form. Just make sure he’s single and responsible.

I know you struggle with Fabolous “the rapper.” Why do you think entertainers let their jobs come between their morals?

These guys struggle with image. Its about bottle popping, women and money. Sometimes I feel like I don’t fit into the Fabolous life, but, I’m a major part of his world. I dress him, but I’m not a part of his brand. I can tell the difference. Having a family is not a topic a rapper can rap about. I respect it, but I fall back, play my position as his life partner. I have no choice because he had that career before he met me. I love his music, I support him, but when he walks through the house door, I prefer to be greeted by John, not Fab. I know the man, not the rapper. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good rapper, but he’s a great man.

What makes women stand by their men through all the pain? Why do we torture ourselves?

Love is so powerful. We put faith in our men. When in a relationship, we have hope that things will be better tomorrow. We base our lives on this hope. I never wanted to change my man. I want him to change for himself. I would never force him to marry me; I want him to want to marry me. I don’t recommend marriage in the twenties. This is what works for me; my relationship is designed for me. Some days are harder than others, but I know what counts and I know the grass may not be greener on the other side.

What’s big in Emily B’s world?

I’m working on a reality show with VH1. It’s so outside of my character to do this and people are shocked that I’m doing it. I can’t give to much info, but I’ll just say it’s along side a few other women whose lives are similar to mine. I’m also styling a few artists and getting ready to launch an online consignment store. My biggest job is being a mother. I get the most fulfillment from that.

After the interview, I decided to return the peep through the small crack in the door. Johan was sitting on his daddy’s lap, and Fab was reading to him aloud. What a classic moment. I looked over at Emily, she smiled. I then understood more than ever why she believes in her man. Even through all the pain, the sleepless studio nights and the millions of groupies, she continues to fight for her family. It was clear. You just never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Mashonda’s Last Words…

The element of love is somewhat the same as the element of freedom—both are worth fighting for. I look at Emily, a mother of two fantastic children, and see a strong woman with an amazing story. However, there is a struggle that exists. When in love with a person that practically lives in a false world, there might always be a battle. It is genuinely easy to give love to others, but sadly, sometimes it’s easier to forget how to love oneself. Know your limits, know what you will and won’t accept. I’ve watched Emily come into her own and grow from her experiences. My belief is this: If no one is being hurt by your decisions and you believe it is worth the fight, then fight for what your heart desires, but always know when to graciously wave the white flag.

TRUMP CHOOSES CHRISTIE AS VP PICK, NO MORE POLITICAL GIMMICKS

TRUMP CHOOSES CHRISTIE AS VP PICK, NO MORE POLITICAL GIMMICKS

I HAVE NO PROBLEM VOTING FOR TWO WHITE MEN.

I'M TIRED OF RACE & GENDER BEING USED TO ATTRACT BLACK VOTERS.

Sources: The Hill, Fox News, Youtube

The best choice Donald J Trump could make for his VP pick would be none other than no nonsense  New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

Since Christie has already endorsed Trump, this would be a great fit.

I'm tired of Political parties using Race and Gender as Voting Gimmicks to attract Black voters.

Yes I would cast my ballot for the Trump-Christie ticket.

****** Trump: Christie could have ‘a place’ on my ticket (Circa Nov 2015)

Donald Trump said Wednesday that would have room for Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) in his presidential administration.

“[He is] a very good guy,” Trump said when asked about the fellow presidential candidate, according to NBC News.

There could certainly be a place for him,” he added when a questioner floated Christie as Trump’s potential running mate in 2016.

Trump was appearing in Manchester, N.H.. for one of the Granite State’s Politics & Eggs events. NBC News said Wednesday that the business mogul addressed a wide range of policy issues.

Among the topics he discussed were education, immigration and even the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA).

“Nothing [is] more important than higher education and education in general,” Trump said. "It’s so important to our economy.

“It’s great,” he said of NASA. “You know, in the old days, it was great.

“Right now we have bigger problems,” the real estate tycoon added. "We’ve got to fix our potholes.”

Christie and Trump both spent Tuesday night in Milwaukee for the fourth GOP presidential debate.

The two men were separated into different portions of the contest, however. Christie appeared in the undercard event because he did not meet Fox Business Network’s minimum polling threshold for the main stage.

The New Jersey governor made the most of his spot by fiercely criticizing Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton.

“I saw the most disgraceful thing of the campaign a few weeks ago,” Christie said. "Hillary Clinton was asked the enemy she was most proud of and she said, ‘Republicans.’

“In the world where we have al Qaeda and [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], the mullahs in Iran and [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, the woman who asks to run and represent all of the United States says her greatest enemies are people like you in this audience and us here,” he added, citing Clinton’s remarks during the first Democratic presidential debate on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.

Trump, meanwhile, took center stage during the Republican contest’s main card in Milwaukee. He earned approximately 24 percent of the event’s Twitter traffic, edging out the seven other competitors on stage.

CHRISTIE ENDORSES TRUMP; GOP ESTABLISHMENT LEADERS SHOULD STEP UP

CHRISTIE GIVES TRUMP HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL (ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT):

THIS ENDORSEMENT MEANS TRUMP WILL WIN THE EAST COAST TOO.

ESTABLISHMENT LEADERS SHOULD ASK TRUMP TO CHOOSE RUBIO OR CHRISTIE AS VP PICK.

IF NOT HILLARY WILL WIN.

Sources:  Bloomberg, CNN, Fox News, YouTube

**** Chris Christie Delivers Major Blow to Party Elites Resisting Trump

Trump gained a powerful surrogate responsible for the lowest moment in the campaign of one of his last Republican adversaries: Marco Rubio.

The united Republican establishment front against Donald Trump started to crumble in a potentially profound way on Friday when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie backed the New York billionaire for president with an enthusiastic endorsement.

The move, combined with the endorsement of Maine Governor Paul LePage later Friday, adds the establishment bona fides of two sitting U.S. governors to a devoutly outsider campaign. It also comes just days after Trump’s first two congressional endorsements in Representatives Chris Collins of New York and Duncan Hunter of California. 

In Christie, Trump also gained a powerful surrogate responsible for the lowest moment in the campaign of one of his last Republican adversaries: Marco Rubio.  

The New Jersey governor also opened a door for other Republican Party elites, who spent recent days rushing to boost Rubio, and invited them to walk through. If beating Hillary Clinton outweighed all other factors, as the New Jersey governor argued, then other objections to Trump's campaign—such as his bombastic and nativist rhetoric—should take a back seat. 

As a twice-elected governor of a blue state and former chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie could serve as Trump’s ambassador to establishment donors, lawmakers and behind-the-scenes operators across the nation.

'Rewriting the playbook'

Wasting no time in showing what he brings to the campaign, Christie seized his new role as Trump standard bearer with zeal, undermining Rubio's core pitch for his nomination—his electability—and belittling him as a performer delivering "one act after the other."

"The single most important thing for the Republican Party is to nominate the person who gives us the best chance to defeat Hillary Clinton," Christie said at a Fort Worth news conference with Trump. "I can guarantee you that the one person Hillary and Bill Clinton do not want to see on that stage come next September is Donald Trump. They know how to run the standard political playbook against junior senators and run them around the block. They do not know the playbook with Donald Trump, because he is rewriting the playbook."

The Christie endorsement comes four days before a burst of nomination contests take place on March 1, known as "Super Tuesday." After winning three of the first four states by large margins, a string of victories next Tuesday could make Trump all but unstoppable, which is why rivals Rubio and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas aggressively attacked him in a televised debate Thursday night.

Within hours of Christie's endorsement, Trump landed the backing of LePage, who praised the real estate mogul's business acumen on the Howie Carr Show, a syndicated radio program.

The final frontier of resistance

Trump has shown broad appeal within the party, as he himself explained on Friday. "I won in a landslide," he said, referring to the South Carolina primary. "I won evangelicals. I won military. I won the vets. I won everything. I won men. I won women. I won Hispanics. I won every single category."

But the one group of Republicans who have continued to overwhelmingly oppose him are lawmakers and influential consultants. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who helped lead the charge in 1994 elections that handed the party its first House majority in four decades, said it's time to re-think that.

"This Chris Christie endorsement of Trump is real signal to GOP establishment that they had better begin thinking about Trump as the future," Gingrich said on Twitter, adding in another posting, "this is a huge step for Trump" that will have a big impact on Super Tuesday.

The establishment pushes back

Meanwhile, two former aides to Jeb Bush, an ex-rival who waged bitter fights with Trump and Christie during the primary, fiercely criticized the governor. "Like Trump, Chris Christie is a pathetic, corrupt man with a tiny ego. I'm sure they bonded discussing their insecurities over a big meal," Tim Miller, Bush's former communications director, wrote on Twitter.

David Kochel, the former Jeb Bush strategist, seemed to evoke Christie's weight.

For Christie, throwing his support behind Trump could be seen as payback against Rubio after a bitter primary fight. As Christie climbed in New Hampshire, the state where he put all his chips, the pro-Rubio super PAC Conservative Solutions spent large amounts of money on TV ads in the Granite State attacking the governor.

They left a mark, and Christie never quite recovered despite landing a devastating blow against Rubio in his final debate of the Republican race. 

Speaking to reporters while campaigning Friday, Rubio characterized the endorsement as an act of desperation by Trump after the debate.

"Chris is an articulate guy. You know, Donald probably needs a life-line after last night, so he called in Chris Christie. I respect that," Rubio said. "I have more than my fair share of endorsements."

CHRIS CHRISTIE: More Than 907 Docs Released By The NJ Gen Assembly (It's All About 2016!)

#BRIDGEGATE

BREAKING NEWS!........"BRIDGEGATE" DOCS HAVE BEEN RELEASED!!

More than 907 "BRIDGEGATE" Documents have just been released to the Media by the NJ General Assembly...

Every Major News Organization is now perusing the Docs, looking for any evidence linking Gov CHRISTIE to this so-called Political Scandal.

I don't believe any State, nor Federal Laws were broken.

This is all related to 2016 Politics & everyone knows it.




ARTICLE: "Thousands Of Pages Of Chris Christie Bridge Scandal Documents Released"

The New Jersey Legislature today released thousands of pages of subpoenaed documents provided to a state Assembly committee investigating the George Washington Bridge scandal.

Many of the documents were given to the panel by an attorney for David Wildstein, a former top official of the Port of New Jersey and New Jersey, and include the e-mails that emerged on Wednesday revealing a top aide to Gov. Chris Christie was directly tied to the traffic-clogging closure of local access lanes leading to the bridge in Fort Lee.

Democrats have sought for months to link the lane closures to the refusal of Fort Lee’s mayor, a Democrat, to endorse Christie’s reelection campaign.

The e-mails obtained by The Star-Ledger and other media outlets on Wednesday show Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s deputy chief of staff, knew about the closures months in advance and sent an e-mail to Wildstein saying, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”

Christie has vehemently denied any involvement and fired Kelly on Thursday. He also apologized for the incident at a news conference Thursday.

Wildstein, who recently resigned as director of interstate capital projects at the Port Authority amid the controversy, refused to testify Thursday before the Assembly Transportation committee, which had subpoenaed him. He said he was exercising his right against self incrimination, but the committee voted to hold him in contempt.

Numerous documents that Wildstein’s attorney provided in response to the subpoena — many of them heavily redacted — flashed on a projection screen in the meeting room at the Statehouse in Trenton.

But Wildstein refused to answer a single question about the documents, declining even to confirm that he had worked at the Port Authority, or to clarify whether one document was an e-mail or not.


Sources: AP, CNN, NY Daily News, NJ.com, NorthJersey.com

AMIRI BARAKA Is Dead At The Age Of 79....R.I.P. (Former Poet Laureate Of NEW JERSEY)

#BARAKA


AMIRI BARAKA, (Leroi Jones) former NEW JERSEY Poet Laureate & Father of NEWARK's next Mayor RAS BARAKA, has died at the age of 79.

After a long illness, he was admitted to BETH ISRAEL Hospital Monday night & passed away Thursday.

AMIRI BARAKA was a U.S. Military Veteran, whose Gift of Poetry & Love for Literature will be missed.

Thank GOD for books. He has written many.

R.I.P.




ARTICLE: "Amiri Baraka, Former N.J. Poet Laureate & Prolific Author, Dead At 79"


Amiri Baraka, the longtime activist and former poet laureate of New Jersey died today, officials confirmed. He was 79 years old.

Baraka was placed in intensive care at Beth Israel Medical Center last month for an unknown reason, but a spokesman for his son's mayoral campaign said his condition was improving late in December.

Newark Mayor Luis Quintana said Baraka will be sorely missed.

"I went to visit him at the hospital about two weeks ago," Quintana said by phone. "He was more than poet he was a leader in his own right. He's going to be missed and our condolences go out to his family today."

Quintana recalled Baraka's role in the 1969 Black and Puerto Rican convention, a landmark political meeting that resulted in the election of Ken Gibson, Newark's first black mayor.

"We're going to remember him always for his contributions to Newark, New Jersey and America," Quintana said. "In this time of pain, the citizens of Newark and I are with him."

Baraka had long struggled with diabetes, but it was not immediately clear what the cause of death was.

A Newark native and resident formerly known as Leroi Jones, Amiri Baraka has published dozens of poems, essays and works of non-fiction.

In 1963 Amiri Baraka wrote "Blues People," an in-depth history of music from the time of slavery throughout the various incarnations of blues and jazz, with integrated social commentary. The book's 50th anniversary was recently celebrated during an event at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

In 1964, Baraka published the book of poetry, "Dead Lecturer" that marked a significant transition in his career. Also written under the name Leroi Jones, the book featured more traditional poems but also laid the groundwork for the more radical, experimental work that would come to define his later career.

"He was able to put music into the work, even reading the work," said Maria Maziotti Gillan, a poet and the director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College. "Mostly he was able to capture an audience when he spoke. He was a able to capture an audience through his poetry but also through what he had to say."

Kenneth Gibson, Newwark's first African American mayor said Baraka was the spiritual leader that helped enfranchise Newark's black and Hispanic community in the city's

"He was really a man ahead of his time in many ways," Gibson said by phone. "He was a spiritual leader of the group that we put together to develop the black and Puerto Rican convention."

Gibson and Baraka were close allies when Gibson was elected mayor in 1970 but Gibson said governance was not something Baraka took to easily.

"He was much more artistic than political and that was his nature," Gibson said. "But I never lost respect for him and he never lost respect for me."

Gibson said despite his outspoken nature, Baraka "kept a lot of things internal," but added, "He was a visionary. A visionary is sometimes misunderstood and sometimes they are understood, but he was in a class by himself."

Baraka was the state's second poet laureate for a short time in 2002 and 2003.

In 2002, Gov. James E. McGreevey called for Baraka’s resignation as New Jersey’s Poet Laureate after a Jewish group condemned “Somebody Blew Up America.” The poem, written shortly after 9/11, included a passage claiming thousands of Israelis knew there was going to be an attack and stayed home from work — an Internet rumor not based in fact.

In typical fashion, Baraka defended his free speech and wrote an essay entitled, “I will not apologize, I will not resign.”

Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, a longtime friend of the Baraka family, said the world lost one of its pre-eminent literary figures today.

“Not only has New Jersey, but the United States of America, has lost a great human being. He was a legend in his own lifetime," Crump said. "It is such a loss, such a great loss."

Crump said Baraka's condition had been improving, and he was breathing on his own when she last visited him on Sunday. The Baraka family has been lining Beth Israel Medical Center for weeks, according to Crump.

“He fought a good fight. I was there the first night he went into the hospital," Crump said. "I was there when he was breathing on his own, I was there Sunday."

Crump said her first association with Baraka came in the 1970s, when he led the charge to build Kawaida Towers, a planned 100-acre housing project that was meant to embody the Black Power movement that Amiri had long been a champion of.

"That's when he became my hero," Crump said.



Sources: AP, NJ.com, Youtube

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Woman Says Her Mother's Death Was Not Caused By "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal (Florence Genova)

#CHRISTIE

VILMA OLERI says "BRIDGEGATE" did Not cause the Death of her Mother Florence Genova, 91 as CNN Hosts proclaimed.

OLERI'S Mother was a Fort Lee, NJ resident & a CHRISTIE Supporter.


ARTICLE: "Woman Says Lane Closings Were Not To Blame For Her Mother’s Death"

The daughter of a 91-year-old woman from Fort Lee, N.J., who died on the day of a major traffic jam precipitated by top aides to Gov. Chris Christie said on Thursday that she did not believe the inability of an ambulance to reach her mother’s house was a factor in her death.

“I honestly believe it was just her time,” said Vilma Oleri, whose mother, Florence Genova, died on the morning of Sept. 9, the first day that the closing of local lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge set off the snarls.

A Fort Lee emergency official has said that the traffic jam prevented an ambulance from Englewood Hospital from reaching Ms. Genova’s home.

Ms. Oleri spoke inside her home in Closter, N.J. She said she had gone that morning to check on her mother, who lived alone in a two-story, red brick house on Harvard Place in the southern part of Fort Lee. Ms. Oleri said she called 911 after her mother went into the bathroom before breakfast and did not come out.
Related Coverage

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey greeted residents after leaving City Hall in Fort Lee on Thursday.
Christie Fires Aide in Bridge Scandal as U.S. Opens InquiryJAN. 9, 2014

Paul E. Favia, the emergency medical services coordinator in Fort Lee, complained in a letter to the mayor on Sept. 10 that the traffic problems caused “unnecessary delays for emergency services.”

Just before the call about Ms. Genova, Mr. Favia wrote that it took him seven minutes instead of the usual four minutes to arrive at the scene of a car crash where four people needed to be taken to the hospital.

“I, myself, was stuck in traffic on Fletcher Avenue and had to jump the curb and cut up West Street in order to avoid the standstill traffic,” he wrote.

It took a Fort Lee E.M.S. crew seven minutes to reach Ms. Genova, after they were detoured away from the traffic accident.

“The response time was only shortened by the fact that they were heading to the accident scene to assist when dispatched” to Ms. Genova, the letter says. Ms. Genova had gone into “cardiac arrest,” according to Mr. Favia’s letter.

Ms. Oleri said that Fort Lee emergency responders tried to revive her mother at her home, but that her mother showed no signs of life.

A neighbor said she watched the paramedics rush Ms. Genova onto a stretcher inside their waiting ambulance.

Mr. Favia wrote in his letter that after an ambulance with paramedics from Englewood Hospital could not get to Ms. Genova’s house, it met the Fort Lee ambulance on a street. The hospital paramedics tried again, but failed, to revive Ms. Genova. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

“We believe she died in her home, but they couldn’t pronounce her until she got to the hospital,” said Ms. Oleri’s husband, Frank Oleri. “The traffic didn’t make any difference.”

Ms. Oleri said she had no idea until Wednesday that her mother’s death had become a source of controversy.

“We want to stay out of it,” Ms. Oleri said. “It’s not political.”

She said her mother married an immigrant from Italy and had lived in the same Fort Lee house for more than 50 years. Though her eyesight kept her from driving a car for most of the last half of her life, she insisted on keeping a car in her garage even after her husband died, because she believed it would deter burglars by signaling that a man lived there.

“She was a pip,” Mr. Oleri said.

Ms. Genova was so secretive about her age — it was one of the few details that became public when the traffic scandal gave her posthumous notoriety — that she never told her family. A decade ago, she fell and broke her hip. Ms. Oleri said her mother yanked an emergency responder’s ear to her lips and whispered her age.

“She never told me; she was like that,” Ms. Oleri said. “I sneaked a look on the paramedic’s clipboard.”

Neighbors said Ms. Genova liked to sit in her dining room with the window shade open. Occasionally, a home health aide would visit, and sit her in the sunshine on her front stoop.

“That’s how we knew she was O.K.; the blind would be up,” said Connie Ciongoli, Ms. Genova’s neighbor for more than 50 years. “We would check on her.”

Ms. Genova and her husband were married more than 50 years. She loved her son and daughter and three grandchildren, Ms. Oleri said, though in recent years her memory had began to fail her.

Because of that, she did not vote in the last election of a governor. But she did in the one before.

“She voted for Christie,” Ms. Oleri said.


Sources: AP, LinkedIn, NY Times

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Top CHRISTIE Aide DAVID WILDSTEIN Pleads 5th During "BRIDGEGATE" Hearings

#DAVIDWILDSTEIN5TH


Long time CHRISTIE ally DAVID WILDSTEIN plead the 5th this afternoon during an official Hearing on the "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal.




ARTICLE: "Ex-Christie Appointee Wildstein Accused Of Contempt In Assembly Hearing"


The Assembly committee investigating the George Washing Bridge lane closures unanimously referred the actions of David Wildstein to authorities to be considered for a contempt charge.

Wildstein, the former Port Authority executive at the center of the lane closing controversy, refused to testify saying the Constitution protected him from self incrimination Thursday after a Superior Court judge refused to block the Legislature’s subpoena.

The statement came after Governor Christie gave a lengthy press conference apologizing for the lane closures and the part senior members of his staff played in the closure.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski, head of the transportation committee, asked questions during the hearing with Wildstein, who gave the order to close two of three entrance lanes from Fort Lee to the George Washington Bridge, repeatedly asserting that he is using his right to remain silent.

Wildstein’s statements came at the advice of counsel.

During an earlier news conference on Thursday, Christie disavowed Wildstein as a friend and a close colleague. Numerous media reports have said that Christie and Wildstein are high school friends.

“That conveys and emotional closeness that doesn’t exist,” Christie said.

Christie said that he met Wildstein for the first time in 1977 as a volunteer for Gov. Tom Kean’s campaign. But they did not remain friends.

“I was class president and an athlete in high school,” Christie said. “I don’t know what he was doing.”

Furthermore, he said that he could not remember any instance when he had a personal meeting with Wildstein.

Christie said that he did not want to speak to Wildstein, former Port Authority Executive Director Bill Baroni and others expected to be called to testify at the Assembly hearings because he wanted to avoid accusations of witness tampering.

On Thursday, when Wildstein informed the committee he would not answer their questions, the audience groaned.

After Wildstein asserted his right to remain silent, Wisniewski continued to ask questions about specific emails that landed in the Record yesterday connecting members of Christie’s senior staff to the decision to close lanes leading up to the bridge.

As Wisniewski continued to question Wildstein, two screens displayed their content on each side of the room near the witness table.

This morning, Wildstein’s attonery, Alan Zegas, tried to quash the subpoena in Superior Court and failed.

Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled Thursday morning the Assembly Transportation committee has the power to compel former Port Authority executive Wildstein to testify.

Wildstein went to court to try to quash a subpoena compelling him to testify before the Assembly’s transportation committee at noon today.

The lawsuit was filed yesterday after emails and text messages linked the decision to close the lanes to Christie’s staff and indicated it was done in retaliation, presumably for Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich’s decision not to endorse the governor for reelection.

The judge said the subpoena powers provided to Middlesex Democrat John Wisniewski’s committee were broad enough to withstand any objections by Wildstein’s lawyer.

The judge said she had the power to rule on one of the three problems cited in Zegas’s lawsuit – the jurisdiction of the subpoena, which was first issued to investigate the Port Authority’s decision to raise tolls.

“[The subpoena] certainly seems to fall within this very broad charge,” said Jacobson.

Zegas afterward said he disagreed with the judge’s ruling but would not comment about whether he would file a further appeal or whether or not Wildstein would appear at noon today.

Zegas said before a determination could be made, he would need to speak with his client.

The appeal began a whirlwind day of hearings, press conferences and media attention to what role Christie played, if any, in the closing of the George Washington Bridge in September.

Zegas questioned the validity of Assemblyman John Wisniewski's signature on the subpoena but Judge Jacobson said she could not rule on that matter.


Sources: AP, NorthJersey.com

CHRIS CHRISTIE: "How To Handle Political Scandals 101" (John Boehner Approves)

#CHRISTIE

HOW TO CORRECTLY HANDLE POLITICAL SCANDALS 101:

Today NJ Gov CHRIS CHRISTIE taught every Elected & Appointed Official in America how to CORRECTLY handle POLITICAL SCANDALS.

In fact his Press Conference was so polished & so Sincere, that House Speaker JOHN BOEHNER still views CHRISTIE as a "Viable GOP Presidential Contender for 2016".

WOW!










Sources: AP, Gov Christie's office, NJ.com, Roll Call, Youtube

CHRIS CHRISTIE PRESSER: He Apologizes, Takes Responsibility, Fires Key Staffer Bridget Kelley (GREAT DAMAGE CONTROL!)

#BRIDGEGATE


HOW TO CORRECTLY HANDLE POLITICAL SCANDALS 101:

GREAT DAMAGE CONTROL GOV CHRISTIE!

Today I was extremely Impressed with the way Gov CHRIS CHRISTIE handled his "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal during his Press Conference.

All eyes were on him as America listened intensely to his comments.

I have to be Fair & award KUDOS to CHRISTIE for how well he handled himself this morning on the National Stage.

He publicly APOLOGIZED.

He accepted Full RESPONSIBLITY.

He took Swift ACTION.

He is working to quickly regain the TRUST of his CONSTITUENTS.

He was Polite to REPORTERS & JOURNALISTS.

and......

He did NOT Protect His CLOSE FRIENDS!

These attributes demonstrate a great level of INTEGRITY & LEADERSHIP.

The OBAMA Administration should have done the same when faced with the IRS Targeting Scheme.

I'm just saying.








Sources: Gov Christie's office, NJ.com, Roll Call, Youtube

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Is "BRIDGEGATE" Christie's 2016 Waterloo?? (Not With Great Damage Control!)

#BRIDGEGATE


Is the GW "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal Gov CHRISTIE'S 2016 Waterloo??

Not if he uses great DAMAGE CONTROL & comes down really hard on the people Responsible.

Even if those people are his CLOSE Friends.

By the way does CHRIS CHRISTIE have any BLACK & LATINO People working in his Administration??

I'm NOT referring to the Office Cleaning Staff, I'm referring to Key Administration Personnel.

And......

Where was the Mainstream Media when the IRS was Targeting Innocent American Citizens for POLITICS??

I'm just saying.





ARTICLE: "It’s The Worst Example Of A Petty Political Vendetta’: Fort Lee, NJ, Mayor Sokolich On Retaliatory George Washington Bridge closings"

Emails exchanged between a Chris Christie staffer and appointee shows bridge lanes were shut as punishment for Sokolich not supporting the governor. ‘How low can you go … congratulations, you’ve just made New Jersey the brunt of every political joke for the next 25 years,’ the Fort Lee mayor added.

Bully-boy Gov. Chris Christie’s White House hopes hit a massive roadblock after emails implicated a top aide in a punitive George Washington Bridge traffic nightmare.

“Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” read the damning Aug. 13 email made public Wednesday — the political payback to the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., for his refusal to endorse the GOP incumbent last year.

“Got it,” shot back the Garden State governor’s high school buddy, David Wildstein, to the message from Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s deputy chief of staff for legislative and intergovernmental affairs.

Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, told the Daily News on Wednesday he was appalled by the orchestrated gridlock in September.

“How low can you go?” he asked. “This is insane. It’s the worst example of a petty political vendetta . . . I’m embarrassed. And congratulations, you’ve just made New Jersey the brunt of every political joke for the next 25 years — again.”

Comedian Jon Stewart was among the first to fulfill the prophecy. “Clearly, somebody is getting thrown under the bus here,” the Jersey-born funnyman said on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.” “Fortunately for them, the bus isn’t moving. It’s stuck in terrible traffic.”

“Shame on you,” Sokolich said of the political plotters on CNN. He added he fears retribution and wants a criminal probe.

The mayor also had choice words for Wildstein, who had called him a “little Serbian” in an email. “Wildstein deserves an ass-kicking, okay? Sorry. There, I said it,” Sokolich (who is Croatian) said on MSNBC.

First responders were delayed in getting to emergencies, including a call about an unconscious 91-year-old woman who later died at a local hospital.

Asked if he had heard from Christie, Sokolich told The News the governor needs to address the people his staff put in danger during four days of madness. “Don’t explain it to me, explain it to the families that were waiting two, three times longer than they had to for first responders to arrive when their loved ones were clutching their chests because they were having either heart attacks or tremendous heart pain,” he said.

“Explain it to the family who was missing a child that the police had to respond to, or explain it to the thousands of families who couldn’t get their kids to school on time on the first day and the ensuing days thereafter,” Sokolich railed.

Christie, who denied months ago that his staff was involved in creating the chaos, said he first learned of the emails on Wednesday.

“What I’ve seen today for the first time is unacceptable,” he said in a written statement. “I am outraged and deeply saddened that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge.”

The governor said “people will be held responsible for their actions.”

He canceled his only scheduled appearance on Wednesday but he will hold a press conference at 11am on Thursday at his office.

A cache of newly released messages portrayed Wildstein, a $150,000-a-year Christie appointee at the Port Authority, as an eager participant with Kelly in the vehicular vengeance. The governor’s hand-picked choice as PA chairman — David Samson — was also tarred by the burgeoning “Bridgegate.”

“Shame on you,” Sokolich told CNN on Wednesday evening, adding he feared retribution. The Fort Lee mayor also has called for a criminal probe.

Christie critics were quick to unload on a governor more used to throwing political punches than taking them.

“The governor has denied from day one that he knew anything about this,” said New Jersey state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. “Either the governor’s staff lied to him, or the governor was less than truthful with the people of New Jersey.”

State Sen. Barbara Buono, the Democrat who suffered a one-sided November defeat against Christie in the governor’s race, called for the immediate firing of anyone involved and a federal probe of the four-day lane closings on the world’s busiest bridge.

“It’s not at all surprising,” said Buono of the nasty behavior. “I know Chris Christie. Nothing happens in his administration without him knowing.”

New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak plans to request that federal prosecutors in New York and New Jersey investigate the scandal, according to WABC.

A request will also to be made to the Manhattan District Attorney for an inquiry into the scandal.

The emails reinforced Christie’s persona as a mean-spirited politician with a scorched-earth approach toward critics.

Matthew Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall, told Reuters that Christie’s 2016 White House aspirations have taken a big hit.

“The smoking gun is not quite in the governor’s hand, but these emails show that it is awfully close to it,” Hale said.

“Gov. Christie has spent an enormous amount of effort trying to get away from the narrative that he is a bully,” he said. “These emails destroy all of that effort in a single day.”

It was Sokolich’s decision to support fellow Democrat Buono that apparently set the bizarre lane-closing plans in motion.

A text message exchange between Christie appointees showed the callous chatters taking great delight in the gridlock — timed to coincide with the first day of school.

“Is it wrong that I’m smiling?” texted an unidentified underling.

“No,” Wildstein wrote in response.

“I feel badly about the kids. I guess,” read another text.

“They are the children of Buono voters,” Wildstein coldly replied.

In an email to Kelly, Wildstein stressed that complaints from Sokolich would fall on deaf ears. The mayor said his dozens of complaint calls were ignored.

Eventually, Sokolich was told a traffic study was the reason for the closings. A Sept. 13 email said PA Chairman David Samson played a role in the bogus “traffic study.”

“The New York side gave Fort Lee back all three lanes this morning,” read the Wildstein email. “We are appropriately going nuts. Samson helping us to retaliate.”

The chairman released his own statement insisting he was unaware of the vindictive lane closings.

“I am extremely upset and distressed over today’s disclosures,” said Samson. “To be clear, neither I nor anyone on the board had any knowledge of these lane closures” until a Sept. 13 email from PA Executive Director Patrick Foye. The Port Authority is conducting its own probe.

The agency placed cones blocking two of the three toll plazas from Fort Lee, resulting in hours-long delays that stretched into adjoining towns. The jam-packed streets wreaked havoc on local first responders — even delaying the search for a missing 4-year-old girl.

The emergency response time of Fort Lee’s three ambulances was tripled, and the gridlock forced the entire police department to direct traffic, said Borough Council member Jan Goldberg.

On Sept. 9, the first day of the traffic jam, an ambulance responded to a call for the unconscious elderly woman, Goldberg said. The typical two- to three-minute response time turned into seven minutes, and she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. No one could say if the delay played any role in the woman’s death.

John Currie, chairman of the New Jersey state Democrats, said it was time for the Republican governor to stand up and come clean.

“I suggest the governor try a new approach when answering questions: honesty,” Currie said.

Wildstein resigned his position in December, as did Christie PA appointee Bill Baroni, as the scandal began to mushroom. Baroni, once a Jersey state senator, earned a $289,667 annual salary.


Source: NY Daily News, Youtube

CHRIS CHRISTIE: To Hold "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal Press Conference Today (Damage Control)

#BRIDGEGATE

NJ Gov CHRIS CHRISTIE will hold a Press Conference on the troubling George Washington "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal today at 11:00am.

Is the GW "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal Gov CHRISTIE'S 2016 Waterloo??

Not with a dose of Great DAMAGE CONTROL & hold those directly accountable & related to this Scandal responsible.



Source: NY Daily News, Youtube

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Can He Recover From His "BRIDGEGATE" Scandal Before 2016??

#BRIDGEGATE


CHRISTIE'S "BRIDGEGATE" SCANDAL:

Can CHRIS CHRISTIE recover from his GW Bridge Scandal??

Or has his chances for a U.S. Pres bid in 2016 been completely ruined??

Gov CHRISTIE claims he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing regarding this "BRIDGEGATE" situation just as Pres OBAMA claims he wasn't aware of the IRS Targeting Innocent Citizens.






ARTICLE: "Chris Christie Bridge Scandal Is 'Nixonian,' Hard To See How He Recovers: Opinion"

The Fort Lee traffic scandal, once dismissed by the governor as an exaggerated kerfuffle, has captivated the national blogosphere today.

Political pundits warn of two outcomes: First, the hardening of Gov. Chris Christie's reputation as a bully into indelible fact. And second, his presidential prospects in 2016, washed away in mere days.

Much of this depends on how Christie handles the fallout. After ducking the limelight today, he released a statement this evening saying he is "outraged" to learn that he was misled by a member of his staff, and that the culprits will be held responsible.

Is the governor being honest about his ignorance?

The real test will be whether he comes clean with all the evidence, without trying to invoke executive privilege to hide anything from the public.

In the meantime, the revelation that Christie's top officials paralyzed traffic in Fort Lee because its mayor failed to endorse him has breathed new life into what critics have long charged -- that Christie retaliates ruthlessly against those who dare to cross him.

At Slate, John Dickerson wonders, "Will Christie apologize?" Ultimately, that's what will determine the fate of his presidential campaign, he argues.

Ezra Klein at Wonkblog believes "Chris Christie's problem is that he's really, truly a bully" -- and a bully with power is a dangerous combination.

"It's hard to see how Christie recovers from this," says Jamelle Bouie, a columnist at the Daily Beast.

"Nixonian," a headline at Talking Points Memo cries.

Rachel Maddow told the Star-Ledger's Stephen Stirling that state reporters were right to keep the heat on Christie: "The national press owes the New Jersey papers a huge debt of gratitude."

And New York Magazine's Jonathan Chait seems to think it's all over for the golden governor, titling his piece, "Chris Christie 2016: A Bridge to Nowhere."

What do you think? Can Christie bounce back from Bridgegate?


Sources: AP, CBS News, CNN, NJ.com, Rawstory, Youtube

CHRIS CHRISTIE: E-mails Surface Linking Him To GW Bridge Closings For POLITICS (Decision 2016)

#CHRISTIE

DEMOCRATS SEE CHRISTIE AS A SERIOUS THREAT IN 2016

DEMOCRATS & The TEA PARTY are trying to take down CHRIS CHRISTIE before 2016.

Now DEMOCRATS claim to have E-mails directly linking him to recent POLITICAL Bridge Closings.

DEMOCRATS want HILLARY CLINTON to Win in 2016.

The TEA PARTY wants RAND PAUL.







ARTICLE: "E-mails Among Christie Appointees Suggest Political Vendetta"

E-mails emerged on Wednesday purportedly from top aides to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie bolstering the case that George Washington Bridge lane closures last year that tied up traffic were borne from a political vendetta and not bureaucratic incompetence as his administration claimed.

Christie's office could not be reached for comment, but he has previously said he knew nothing about allegations of political retribution against the Mayor of Fort Lee, where the traffic lanes feed into the nation's busiest bridge across the Hudson River, for not endorsing him in his re-election bid.

Those cited in the series of e-mails and text messages subpoenaed by Democratic legislators and obtained by CNN and other news outlets did not respond to requests for comment or to verify the communications.

The politically charged controversy comes with Christie considered a likely candidate for President in 2016 and leading national polls for the Republican nomination.

The e-mails, if accurate, are the most damaging information to surface supporting Democratic suspicions of political retaliation in this case involving the Christie administration, which has put the blame on a mishandled traffic study.

The exchanges began three weeks before the closures in September, which caused heavy traffic backups, and cite a senior Christie staffer and political appointees at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the bridge.

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's deputy chief of staff for legislative and intergovernmental affairs, said in an e-mail to David Wildstein, then the highest-level appointee representing the state at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

"Got it," Wildstein replied.

Democrats allege the lane closures were to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie in his re-election effort.

Christie acknowledged that mistakes were made but forcefully denied the lane closures were politically motivated.

He said at a news conference last month that he could only repeat what another appointee, Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni, had said publicly blaming the lane closures and resulting congestion on the transportation analysis.

"Which is, they believed the traffic study was necessary and that they ordered it, but the way they did it was mistaken and they didn't follow protocols," Christie said.

Christie said at the time that Baroni would leave his job, which he has. Wildstein also has resigned since the controversy broke.

In response to a phone message from Sokolich regarding an "urgent matter of public safety in Fort Lee" on the first day of the lane closures, Kelly asked Wildstein in an e-mail if the Mayor's call had been returned.

Wildstein wrote to Kelly: "Radio silence. His name comes right after mayor Fulop."

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democrat who also didn't endorse Christie, raised his own suspicions.

He claimed this week that his decision to not endorse the Governor was met with news that New Jersey Cabinet and other high ranking officials were canceling meetings with him and that a pension reform bill he had worked on was scuttled by a Democrat who had backed Christie.

On the second morning of the closures, Sokolich apparently sent a text to Baroni: "Presently we have four very busy traffic lanes merging into only one toll booth. ... The bigger problem is getting kids to school. Help please. It's maddening."

Seeing that text, a person whose name has been redacted from the e-mails and text messages writes to Wildstein: "Is it wrong that I am smiling?"

"No," Wildstein responds.

"I feel badly about the kids," the unknown person writes.

"They are the children of Buono voters," responds Wildstein.

Barbara Buono was Christie's Democratic opponent in the election last November.

On September 13, Wildstein wrote to Kelly that New York authorities gave "Fort Lee back all three lanes this morning. We are appropriately going nuts. Samson helping us to retaliate."

David Samson chairs the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners and is a close Christie ally.

Sokolich reached out to Wildstein on September 17 seeking an explanation.

"We should talk. Someone needs to tell me that the recent traffic debacle was not punitive in nature. The last four reporters that contacted me suggest that the people they are speaking with absolutely believe it to be punishment. Try as I may to dispel these rumors I am having a tough time. A private face-to-face would be important to me. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to the errors of my ways. Let me know if you'll give me 10 minutes. Regards,"

Mark," Sokolich wrote.

Wildstein sent the texts to Baroni.

"Have not heard back from Bridget," Wildstein noted.

"F**k," Baroni wrote back.

On September 18, Wildstein e-mailed Bill Stepien, Christie's campaign manager, and forwarded him a story from the Wall Street Journal titled "Bridge Jam's Cause a Mystery."

"I have empty boxes ready to take to work today, just in case," Wildstein wrote, an apparent reference to being fired. "It will be a tough November for this little Serbian," an apparent reference to Mayor Sokolich.

On October 3, Baroni asks Wildstein what the "Trenton feedback" is. Trenton is the capital of New Jersey and where Christie's headquarters are.

"Good," Wildstein wrote.

"Just good?" Baroni wrote. "S**t."

"No I have only texted brudget (sic) and Nicole they were VERY happy," Wildstein responded. "Both said you are doing great. Charlie said you did GREAT."

The Port Authority, which is run jointly by New Jersey and New York, oversees the tunnels, bridges and seaports between the two states, as well as the metropolitan area's airports.

Christie, who's now criss-crossing the country, campaigning for fellow GOP governors as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, is seen as prime political target for national Democrats, who rarely attacked Christie during his re-election campaign but are now becoming more aggressive with the bridge controversy unfolding.

"These revelations are troubling for any public official, but they also indicate what we've come to expect from Governor Christie - when people oppose him, he exacts retribution. When people question him, he belittles and snidely jokes. And when anyone dares to look into his administration, he bullies and attacks,"

said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee chair, in a statement.

A source close to Christie said "there will probably be some sacrificial firing and that'll be it."


Sources: Associated Press, CGI America, CNN, NJTV, NJ Assembly Democrats, Wikipedia, Youtube