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LEASING GASOLINE STATIONS: AVOIDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRAP Part One in a Two Part Series By Alan Ashkinaze Leasing a gasoline station in the current economy is fraught with many challenges; and one of the most important (yet overlooked) challenges is avoiding the environmental traps caused by the actions or inactions of your tenant. Lessors of gasoline service stations live in constant fear […]

Boutiques Find Strength in Unity By Kris W, Scibiorski In a world of ever growing legal behemoths, a small band of highly skilled outsiders is trying to hang on to their hard won niche practices.Admittedly, the efforts of the New Jersey chapter of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms (INBLF) are unlikely to make much of a blockbuster action […]

Ashkinaze mentioned in Charles Stile’s February 21, 2010 column in the Bergen Record Here is Charlie Stile’s article: Conservative surge   Christie’s election represents the high water mark of an informal group of conservative activists who began meeting regularly at the Empire Diner in Parsippany eight years ago. The Tuesday Group began its lunch sessions in 2002, which could be considered the nadir of the conservative movement in […]

Farm’s Neighbors File State Ethics Complaint By Walter Dawkins Staff Writer OLD TAPPAN — Neighbors involved in a pesticide complaint against a farm owned by a borough councilman have filed an ethics complaint against him with the state’s Local Finance Board. The complaint, dated Feb. 1, alleges that Ronald Binaghi Jr. used his influence as a borough councilman to obtain approval […]

Schundler nominated for Education Commissioner When Bret Schundler was  Mayor of Jersey City, I had the honor of working side by side with him as  an Assistant Corporation Counsel and Mayor’s aide (1993-2001.)  I know that Bret’s experience, intelligence, and “can do” attitude wills serve him well in this position.  Good luck, Bret.

Bob Martin nominated to be next NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin  to be nominated Commissioner of NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bob Martin, a Hopewell Township business executive, will be nominated by Chris Christie to serve as commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.  Martin is a retired partner with Accenture and worked with the Christie campaign and transition team on energy and environmental policies during his race for […]

Ashkinaze named as one of 12 “transition counsel” to Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s Transition Committee. I am very honored to be one of 12 attorneys who will be serving as counsel to  Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s Transition Committee.  During the transition, I will provide legal advice (when requested) to the Committee  (and/or the various sub-committees) on  environmental, public utility, and administrative law issues.

Are you ready for the new New Jersey Site Remediation Reform Act? Are you ready for SRRA? Find out what’s new  in SRRA and how this new law will change site cleanups in New Jersey. On May 7, 2009, Governor Jon Corzine signed the Site Remediation Reform Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10C-1 et seq. (“SRRA”) into law. The Governor also signed Executive Order #140, implementing the new law. SRRA […]

Gov-Elect Christie launches a Transition website Gov.-Elect Chris Christie has launched  a Transition website. For information regarding the Transition, visit: /www.nj.gov/transition2010

Greenhouse plans further irk neighbors By Walter Dawkins Staff Writer OLD TAPPAN – Residents involved in a pesticide complaint against a farm owned by a borough councilman are angry at his plans to build another greenhouse on the site. James and Wilda Lagrosa have complained that greenhouse ventilating fans from Stokes Farm, owned by Councilman Ronald Binaghi Jr., blow contaminants […]

State to handle farm complaint Bergen transfers case to avoid conflict of interest By Walter Dawkins The Record Staff writer Old Tappan- Pesticide complaints against a farm owned by a borough councilman must be heard by the state’s Office of Administrative Law to avoid a conflict of interest, Bergen County’s Agriculture Development Board ruled Tuesday. The owner of Stokes Farm, Borough Councilman Ronald Binaghi Jr. had requested that […]

Couple complain of ill wind Say pesticide fumes come from farm that official owns By Walter Dawkins The Record Staff writer Old Tappan- When James Lagrosa and his wife moved to DeWolf Raod more than 25 years ago, the Stokes Farm next door had two greenhouses. Since then, they say, the number had grown to at least 16. “When they apply pesticides in the greenhouses, all of that pesticide […]