Expecting someone? White tents were visible on Bon Jovi’s riverfront property yesterday.
Sen. Barack Obama arrives in the Red Bank area Friday evening in the hunt for campaign cash.
He’s sure to find a boatload. A cocktail party at one Middletown location followed by a 7p dinner at the home of popstar Bon Jovi will cost Obama supporters up to $30,800 a head.
Meanwhile, the township is expected to rack up some $14,000 in police overtime to provide security to the Democratic presidential nominee and his backers as they move from the Blossom Cove Road home of Democratic national finance chairman Phil Murphy to chez Bovi two miles east on Navesink River Road, today’s Asbury Park Press reports.
So far, the campaign hasn’t offered to pay those costs, the Press says.
Middletown Police Chief Robert Oches said he estimates the township will spend about $14,000 in police overtime costs to help provide security for Obama. So far, no one from Obama’s camp has offered to pick up the tab, the chief said.
“We’re going to have to shift a considerable amount of personnel,” said Oches, who believes the visit’s security is complicated by the fact that Obama will be in two locations.
One of several custom-made pro-McCain signs erected on Navesink River Road between the sites of two Obama fundraisers scheduled for this evening.
Once the bill is tallied, township officials expect to contact the Obama campaign to see if they are willing to pay, Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said.
“They’re going to be raising a lot of money,” said Scharfenberger, a Republican. “It’s only fair to not have the taxpayers bear the cost of this.”
Andrew Poag, communications director for Obama’s New Jersey campaign, said he could not comment on whether Middletown would be reimbursed.
As for the impact on traffic:
While Oches does not anticipate that he will shut down Navesink River Road, he expects police will prevent motorists on cross streets from entering the path of Obama’s motorcade in the moments before it passes.
Press reporter Kevin Penton notes that Bojo’s manse has become an obligatory stop — kind of like an ATM? — for Democratic presidential candidates. Al Gore was there in 2000, and John Kerry stopped by in 2004, Penton says.
Meanwhile. the Republicans have scheduled a a rally in support of GOP nominee Sen. John McCain at Middletown’s Lincroft Inn tonight at 7p, the Press says.
You could save a few bucks by asking OBAMA to have his people walk from Murphy's to BonJon's. It's a short trip walking on water.
I have to believe that the Secret Service protection that Senator Obama now receives is more than adequate for the task at hand. The taxpayers of Middletown should not have to shell out an extra $14k in police overtime costs simply because the Middletown Police Chief feels the need to treat wealthy people better than he treats those that aren't wealthy.
Really? $14,000 in overtime? Isn't the story here the inefficiencies of the police department? They're job is to protect and this event will be one aspect of their job.
Do some research. Is this something a campaign normally pays for? You have choosen to attack Obama and claim that the Obama campaign should pay for the police overtime, but does McSame pay for police overtime in the places he visits? Come on RedBankGreen, your obvious Republican leanings are showing. So much for journalistic integrity. How much did it cost when Cindy McSame came to visit?
here is a dumb question…how much OT are the guys doing and how much are they paid????
Here is some fun math
10 officers x 6 hours for $14K = $233 per hour!
ok so maybe they are doing 12 hours or 20 officers?? does $116 an hour sound right? Maybe they will have the cars running burning gas too…I guess I should have went into public service…
Now,now Parisan nonsense, RedBank Green is just repeating what the Asbury Park Press reported, and we all now what a left wing rag that is. So, you do some research!
I think this is a misstep for Senator Obama. Given the fact that he is running on the fact that hes running on the notion that he is for the average american and his campaign has largely been financed through small donations, plus the fact that his detractors focus on him as a celebrity, going to Bon Jovi's house is not a good move.
He'd be better off holding an event in Asbury Park, a place that has stuggled over the years and in need of restoration. He is out of place on the banks of the Navesink where waspy old money enjoys business as usual.
I think this is a misstep for Senator Obama. Given the fact that he is running on the fact that hes running on the notion that he is for the average american and his campaign has largely been financed through small donations, plus the fact that his detractors focus on him as a celebrity, going to Bon Jovi's house is not a good move.
He'd be better off holding an event in Asbury Park, a place that has stuggled over the years and in need of restoration. He is out of place on the banks of the Navesink where waspy old money enjoys business as usual.
The fact that the Obama campaign is not planning on reimbursing Middletown for the security that they mandate is absurd. Where's good old tax and spend Pat Walsh on this? My bet is that she'll probably be in attendance on a complimentary ticket. Let's have a press conference this week blasting Middletown's spending but allow the Democrats to use $14k to raise money for her campaign. The Democrats in Middletown are a complete joke.
Maybe Obama could ask Jon to pay his fair share of taxes there on Navesink River Rd. Having a bee tender stop by to check on the bees to get a farm assessment may be within the letter of the loophole law, but it is certainly not the spirit of equal taxation or democratic society. Farm Assessments should be reserved for those who earn all of their money from farming! "Let them eat cake!"
judy's signage on navesink rr is an eyesore!
If Jon Bon Jovi is so keen to host a political fundraiser for Obama, Jon "Pony up" the $15k to keep Obama safe and secure.
Else, let Obama pay for private security out of pocket.
Oh yes. I just remembered. I live in Red Bank.
Too bad for you, Middletown.
I sure hope Senator Obama keeps up with these visits to celebrities and rock stars etc. This shows the people what an elitist he really is.
Sarah Palin knows how much a gallon of gas/milk costs!
A rock star and a Goldman Sachs hedge fund operator both hosting a $30,800 a person event for Obama -Oh, yeah he's for the common man. Get a life!!!!
Just a thought - is there a mumbling old prospector up on top of the Molly Pitcher ready to herald his arrival?
Don't worry. We will pay the $14k in overtime through our sale of B Jovi Honey at B Jovi Farms. It is the most expensive honey on the planet and we will only need to sell about 2 cases of it to pay the overtime and meet our farm evading requirement to eliminate Mr B's property taxes. We read the Soprano State which helps explain this great tax loop hole for rich people. Good Luck!
I am so confused. Isn't Bon Jovi a Manhattanite now? Since he claims that heloves to spend so much time in "his favorite" city (not Philly?), it is a wonder why he didn't pitch that political circus tent in Central Park for Osama and invite the common folks??? Shocker!!! Oh yeah, that's right today he loves Jersey, tomorrow Philly, what next??? Be real….please!
what a beautiful night it was in red bank last night down by the waterfront. looking out towards the river all one could see was a stream of state and marine police boats cruising up and down the river from blossom cove to the bonjovi house, engines running, what was the bill for that?. at one point you could hear music from the party. i think it was a song called "livin on a prayer"
As the Press said " Murphy and Bon Jon backed loser's in 2000 and 2004. This year will be no different. Their all LOSERS.
$14000 in over time, lets see, how well could that feed Obamas brother and the rest of his family that live in squalor.
Hey Obama,
stay out of the river t'nite, you never know when one of them man eaters will swallow ya whole. Look what happend to Spitzer.
quint
BLAH BLAH BLAH
It's my understanding that the DNC pays for the Police Security Bill and not the town or taxpayers - Further = "palin no the cost of a gallon or gas and a gallon of milk" who are you kidding - she send he house keeper and drivers to take care of that stuff - If she took care of household items her 17 year old daughter wouldn't have gotten knocked up - and ELITEST look at McSame's wife miss mega-buck's (not the fist one he divorced the second one) talk about high and might - you all need to go the factcheck.org and get the truth and a dose of reality
"REMEMBER THE KEATING 5"
I support Obama. And I have contributed to his campaign. I live Red Bank, but I would wonder 4 those that did contribute to this event and attended that live in Middletown, would they receive a tax refund since they contributed more (being they paid to attend event plus they paying taxes 4 the addtional police……by paying 4 said cops, which I appreciate the work they did to protect our Presidential candidate)would said Middletown supporters receive a refund or rebate….being they are gonna get charged the taxes regardless?
And now that said issue has been raised. Would I receive a refund if I was a McCain supporter when McCain's wife came to Red Bank a few weeks ago (if I was an McCain supporter?)
Politics is most vicious when there is the least at stake.
Presidential Campaigns including the fundraisers that fuel them roll through a different town nearly every day this time of year. Do people really think that Middletown is so special that the citizens should get some special treatment when it hits their town? Suck it up.
Really "JAY" do u think so???