Community Corner

When #NJPatchChat Returns: We Take on Bullying

Weekly Twitter chat is going on a one-week hiatus.

OK, now we don't want you to get all tweeted out about this, but ... #NJPatchChat is going on a one-week hiatus.

We know what you're thinking: How could you do this to me? What will I do with my time? Is there no justice int he world? What's "#NJPatchChat" again?

Let's take the last question first: #NJPatchChat is a weekly Twitter conversation on big issues with local impacts. It takes place every Thursday at 8 p.m. (well, OK, not EVERY Thursday, since we're skipping this week). Just follow and use hashtag #NJPatchChat to participate. If you're new to Twitter chats, further instructions are at the bottom of this post.

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As to the one-week hiatus: It's a scheduling snafu, one we expect to avoid in the future. But when we come back Thursday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m., we'll be tackling a subject important to virtually all of New Jersey's young people and to their loved ones: bullying.

New Jersey schools all have policies prohibiting bullying, and new legislation is meant to better protect the vulnerable from harassment—yet it continues. The rise of the Internet also created new and often anonymous methods of delivering torment. And in some cases, like that of the deathRutgers student and Ridgewood resident Tyler Clementi, bullying's been linked to suicide.

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But bullying has also always been part of the experience of growing up, and it's not completely clear how much schools, parents and policymakers can do to change that.

We'll be inviting in legislators, advocacy groups, educators, parents and anyone else with something to say on the topic when #NJPatchChat returns Nov. 18. We'd like to explore just how big of a problem bullying is for New Jersey's youth—and what can and should be done to address it.

Also: If you missed it, here's the transcript of our most recent #NJPatchChat, when we asked voters:The election's over, so OK, now what?

BWCouncilman  Good chat with @njpatchchat , @bwaterpatch . Maybe I'll see you next week.

NJPatchChat  Until then, you don't have to tweet at home, but you can't tweet here. (OK, you can, but WE'RE signing off). #NJPatchChat

MillburnPatch  RT @NJPatchChat  OK, we're calling it a night on#NJPatchChat . We'll be back next Thurs @ 8 p.m. Tentative topic: Bullying.

johncpatch#NJPatchChat  is over for the evening. Next Thursday's tentative topic is bullying.

NJPatchChat  OK, we're calling it a night on #NJPatchChat , but thanks for joining in. We'll be back next Thurs @ 8 p.m. Tentative topic: Bullying.

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat  The same message that the nation sent - cut taxes, reduce government and reject the current agenda. #njpatchchat

NJPatchChat@millburnpatch  -- A lot of very sober number crunchers snarl when they encounter home rule hawks.#NJPatchChat

johncpatch@BWCouncilman : What about health depts? Westfield Health Dept. handles 8 towns, Rahway health dept. handles multiple towns. #NJPatchChat

MillburnPatch@johncpatch  But local officials here will point out people go to their local elected officials with issues, not the county. #NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : It may not work for practical reasons, but it certainly warrants discussion that I don't think is taking place. #njpatchchat

NJPatchChat  Winding down, but last #NJPatchChat  ques. - What message should we send our (mostly) returning Congressmen to DC with?

johncpatch@MillburnPatch : There is the other model (VA, MD, etc) abolish towns and let the county handle it. #NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : Healthcare's an interesting one. I haven't heard any discussions about pooling resources to provide health care. #njpatchchatHYPERLINK "http://twitter.com/BWCouncilman/statuses/350348011110400"

MillburnPatch@NJPatchChat  But I come from Connecticut where there is no county government. #NJPatchChat

MillburnPatch@NJPatchChat  I actually wonder if county government makes things more difficult. Has its time gone by?#NJPatchChat

johncpatch  Westfield Health Dept. handles 8 towns in county, Fanwood dispatch is now county done, human services is not county run. #NJPatchChat

MillburnPatch@NJPatchChat  I think that matters on the community, but the budget is going to be super important next year.#NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat#NJPatchChat  -could more towns benefit by moving services to county? dispatch, healthcare, etc? what shared services aren't explored enough?

TeaneckPatch  "@NJPatchChat: OK, open question: What's the 1st thing a newly assembled gov. body should do to make a difference in 2011? #NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : then look at economic development policies to determine whether the town is prompting growth or stifling it. #njpachchat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : I think the first thing they must do is look at staffing levels and salary/benefits for employees. #njpatchchat

johncpatch  Energy has been one of the issues here in Union County. County helping with solar purchases in towns. #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat  OK, open question: What's the 1st thing a newly assembled gov. body should do after its reorg. to make a difference in 2011? #NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : I've also seen programs that look at ways of lowering heath ins. costs through preventative measures, at least in some cities

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : As an example, this year Bridgewater explored energy aggregation arrangements that allowed us lower energy costs. #njpatchchat

johncpatch@NJPatchChat : Westfield officials keep saying the toolkit is needed to survive with Cap 2.0. #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat@BWCouncilman  Got a good example of an efficiency that should be explored? #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat  RT @BWCouncilman : @NJPatchChat : we have to continue to look for ways of increasing efficiency and attracting new rateables and job growth. #njpatchchat

NJPatchChat@mickydel#NJPatchChat  -- Welcome, Mickydel!

NJPatchChat#NJPatchChat . Bigger ?: Will toolkit be enough? Cap's in place, but meeting it could be hard even w/reforms. How can locals take the reins?

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : we have to continue to look for ways of increasing efficiency and attracting new rateables and job growth. #njpatchchat

NJPatchChat@BWCouncilman  - so arbitration reform and such. meantime, where should local officials focus until the toolkit bills move? #NJPatchChat

johncpatch@BWCouncilman : Are there any that would not help you? #NJPatchChat

mickydel#njpatchchat

TeaneckPatch#NJPatchChat  happening now! Join the discussion.

BWCouncilman@johncpatch : those provisions that will help in negotiating with public employees' salaries, both town and school workers #njpatchchat

NJPatchChat@BWCouncilman  -- Of all the toolkit measures, which one's priority No. 1 for you as a councilman? #NJPatchChat

johncpatch  And the WEA negotiated a bigger health care payback in exchange for a 3.9% average annual pay raise for three years.#NJPatchChat

johncpatch  Here in Westfield we've seen the FMBA and Teamsters willing to work with the Town Council on salary freezes this year.#NJPatchChat

johncpatch@BWCouncilman : Which parts of the toolkit would be most helpful to you? #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat  Sideline @BWCouncilman  -- good luck to you & the SH kids tomorrow in moot court. Do NJ proud!

johncpatch@NJPatchChat : Real question is how much are the officials willing to cut? #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat  New council/committee/etc folk going to get their hands dirty cutting road repairs, taking on cops unions, etc to save costs? #NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat : The most important thing to help keep taxes down is for the State to pass the Gov's toolkit measures.#njpatchchat

NJPatchChat  Pretty much everyone was talking tax cap + fisc. prudence in local races. What do you see as plausible to do in the short term? #NJPatchChat

johncpatch@NJPatchChat : Same with Union County freeholder races. This leads to the question, should these be at-large or district races? #NJPatchChat

MillburnPatch#NJPatchChat  tonight is about the election and its aftermath. Jump in by following the hashtag and @NJPatchChat .

johncpatch  At the same time, there were Dem sweep in Cranford & Springfield which were anti-incumbent, but were rooted in local issues. #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat@MorristownPatch  is right, though. In Morris, it would take a LOT of anti-incumbent sentiment to oust GOP from big positions  #NJPatchChat

johncpatch  At the same time, there were Dem sweeps in Cranford and Springfield which were anti-incumbent, but many trended on local issues. NJPatchChat

johncpatch  There were some surprises down here. There was a GOP sweep in Garwood, which was an anti-incumbent trend. #NJPatchChat

MorristownPatch  Independents have apparently swayed one way or the other, and perhaps many of them are not happy with the job he's done. #NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman@NJPatchChat . I coach a team of law students from Seton Hall in a moot court competition. They compete tomorrow.

MorristownPatch#NJPatchChat , here in New Jersey, there was not as much sentiment I think, in part, because of Chris Christie's election in 2009.

johncpatch@MorristownPatch : But was this a year that would draw in people in parts of NJ? Given the way the districts are drawn. #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat@MorristownPatch , the Freeholder primary saw some tumult. But voters who just look for the R might not have noticed.#NJPatchChat

MorristownPatch  It comes again down to what appears to be a lack of interest in politics by most but a very slim minority.#NJPatchChat

johncpatch  In the Lance race, many of the top Dems took a pass, after Stender lost 06 and 08, plus the redistricting. #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat  Welcome to #NJPatchChat, Matt. What's in St. Louis that Bridgewater doesn't have to offer?

MorristownPatch  There seemed some anti-Dem sentiment in the dumping of Morris Twp. councilman Ron Goldberg, a Democrat #NJPatchChat

johncpatch  I think it's more of the way the districts are drawn. Very incumbent friendly Adler was the exception. #NJPatchChat

MorristownPatch  In Morris County, a GOP stronghold, there didn't seem to be much change because the GOP was already in#NJPatchChat

BWCouncilman  Hi. It's Matt. I'm out in St. Louis and just happened to check my Twitter in time to see your post. #njpatchchat

NJPatchChat#NJPatchChat : ... not so much in NJ. We returned most of our congressmen. Some real long-timers. Why? Ours actually doing that much better?

MorristownPatch  Alright, let do it! #NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat#NJPatchChat : Nationally, we saw a lot of anti-incumbency. Incumbents ousted in primaries, then GOP taking over the House. But ...

NJPatchChat  OK, a couple of Patchers on the line. No civilians yet. But we'll plow ahead #NJPatchChat .

MorristownPatch#NJPatchChat  Howdy!

johncpatch  To jump in, how much was the national trend seen in other parts of the state on local level. Not much in Union County.#NJPatchChat

NJPatchChat  Can I get a quick show of virtual hands? Who's out there following #NJPatchChat? Remember, use the hashtag in your answer.

NJPatchChat  As always: We lead the discussion, asking you questions. Follow hashtag #NJPatchChat  to read the chat live. Use it in your post to jump in.

NJPatchChat  Oops! We're 3 minutes late, but it's (just past) time to start this week's #NJPatchChat . The topic: OK, what's next? Elections Aftermath

Using #NJPatchChat:

Head to Twitter.com and search for #njpatchchat. If you're new to Twitter, that's what's called a hashtag—a special keyword you can search for to see what people are saying about a certain topic, even if you don't normally follow those people.

If you do that Thursday, at 8 p.m., you'll see the conversation live, as it takes place—you'll see our questions and the answers or comments provided by anyone in the online community. If you want to jump in with an answer, question or comment, make a tweet [a Twitter post] using the hashtag yourself.


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