Cocuzza: ‘McCain will take this year’s election’

Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza is out in the streets of the borough making the case for the Republican ticket this year.

“I’m trying to get people out there to vote,” Cocuzza said. “I think John McCain has made a good case over the past several weeks where it regards the direction he wants to take the country.”

Cocuzza said McCain has found a strong voice to make it clear than his administration will be America’s best bet for the future.

“The only poll that matters is the one that is taken after the election,” Cocuzza said. “There are all kinds of polls out there and they cannot be trusted. Today, this poll by the voters is the one that counts.”

Cocuzza confirmed that voter turnout in Union Beach is high. There are approximately 3,600 registered voters in the Bayshore town. According to Cocuzza, he expects a records turn out in Union Beach.

By way of predictions, the long-time Bayshore Republican said he expects McCain to win today, and for the county to vote Republican for the freeholder ticket this year.

Cocuzza is trying to drum up support for Pallone's legislation

The FEMA moratorium legislation being sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, needs support in Washington, D.C. and at home. The FEMA maps constitute a real danger to homeowners where it involves unnecessarily paying for flood insurance, in some cases, or paying far too much in flood insurance, in other cases.

The legislation being proposed by Rep. Pallone is absolutely necessary for the Bayshore. Letting FEMA know that this area will not put up with being arbitrarily picked out for this unnecessary form of federal abuse is important. I think calling U.S. senators Bob Menendez (202-224-4744) and Frank Lautenber (202-224-3224) and making it clear this area supports Rep. Pallone's bill and efforts is also important.

The reason that elected officials are supported politically, in the first place, is for them to address issues like this FEMA thing. No public official, regardless of party, that is not a part of the solution for this issue, in my opinion, deserves public support come election time in the Bayshore.

I know there is an effort under way, starting with Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza, to get Bayshore communities to send resolutions supporting Rep. Pallone's measure to our U.S. senators and various other agencies.

I give Councilman Cocuzza a lot of credit for working in a bipartisan manner to try and beat the clock in the FEMA issue. The Bayshore is a highly political place. However, when it floods it will get wet in Republican households just like it will Democratic ones. This is a time to be focused on getting something done, and Councilman Cocuzza is doing just that.

To go to Sen. Menendez's Web site, click on the headline.

Cocuzzas are doing something to help residents with FEMA

CAPTION: Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza (above) is requesting information from FEMA for free that homeowners would otherwise have to purtchase from the agency.

Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza and his father, Keansburg Councilman Jimmy Cocuzza, are each going to be doing something to help homeowners deal with FEMA in their respective communities.

According to Charlie, Keansburg resident Jason Needham discovered that towns where the flood map status is being impacted can request informational kits that explicate how to address various concerns with FEMA at no charge. However, this is the same information that homeowners would have to spend hundreds of dollars on to obtain from the federal agency.

Consequently, Charlie said that Union Beach and Keansburg are going to be requesting this information from FEMA, and make it accessible to homeowners from those communities at no cost.

Charlie said the information kit will contain guidelines about how to appeal zoning, surveys and other information necessary in dealing with FEMA.

He also noted that FEMA admitted that its estimates of the Bayshore were conducted from a helicopter -- not on the ground. So there could very well be mistakes about what house is in what kind of flood zone, and this will make a difference in the amount of flood insurance a homeowner may have to pay.

Congrats to Mr. Needham on being studious, and for the Cocuzzas for doing what they can to help residents. It might not be a bad idea if other concerned communities did the same thing. According to Charlie, if the information was requested by a homeowner to FEMA it would cost at least $150 and perhaps as much as $400.

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