Fix inheritance tax
I looked at Jack Ciattarelli’s website, and it was very informative and he promised a lot.
He said, “Jack will do this…” and he listed a tremendous amount of specific things he would address, such as affordable housing and windmills. It was very complete, and I hope if he wins he can fulfill his promises.
But candidate Ciattarelli said absolutely nothing about reducing, eliminating or changing the New Jersey inheritance tax, which seems to be a dirty little secret.
In New Jersey, no “inheritance tax” is due if assets are left to spouses, children and parents. However, if brothers and sisters or children’s spouses inherit assets, an “inheritance tax” of 11% to 16% is due after a mere $25,000 exemption.
Everyone else — an aunt or a friend — who inherits anything in New Jersey would pay an “inheritance tax” of 15% to 16% after an exemption of only $500.
Can you believe that? If you lived in a retirement community and left your residence to a friend, 15% of the value of the home would need to be paid to New Jersey as “inheritance tax.” What if the deceased lived with that friend?
If you owned a retirement home worth $300,000, there may be due to the state of New Jersey as “inheritance tax” 15% of $300,000, or $45,000, and it must be paid within nine months and after that interest accrues to the state at a high rate. Who knew?
Title could not be passed until the tax was paid and written “waivers” obtained from the state. Often, the house must be sold to pay the interest.
This tax must be changed, or eliminated, but at a minimum, the requirement to pay a high rate of interest that accrues after nine months must be changed, and be paid before a waiver allowing title to pass is issued.
Please consider adding these changes to this list of “What Jack will do” on your website, Mr. Ciattarelli.
David F. Lipton
Toms River
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Get over your beef
Beef! It ain’t what’s for dinner anymore. That’s the popular response to the tripling of beef prices in the past 15 years. The underlying reasons have been severe droughts in the cattle-producing states of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, aggravated by the 50% tariff imposed by Trump on imports of Brazilian beef. Ironically, the droughts are connected to global warming caused in part by methane emissions from cattle. The rising price is expected to reduce consumption of beef, as well as the associated disastrous impacts on our personal health and the health of our planet.
But there is still hope for folks who just have to have their steak. A number of start-up companies are developing healthy, eco-friendly, convenient, tasty and reasonably priced steaks from animal cells and plants. They should appear on our supermarket shelves within a couple of years. And here is the best part for those of us who care where our food comes from: These steaks will be processed through sanitary health-inspected vats, rather than through the digestive tracts of cows.
Paul Marshall
Pleasantville
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Get your plant-based hot dog here
As a huge sports fan, I’ve noticed an exciting shift in stadiums across the country: more vegan food. Nationals Park offers vegan hot dogs; Yankee Stadium serves veggie sliders, sushi and more; Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena has vegan chocolate cake; and NBA arenas like Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center have vegan pizza and chick’n tenders. My favorite is the Birdland Fresh cart at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. Their all-vegan options make me feel right at home — and they prove that vegan food can be every bit as fun and satisfying as traditional stadium fare.
This isn’t just about taste. Every veggie choice helps cut greenhouse gases, promote healthier communities and spare animals. Sports are about bringing people together, and plant-based options make sure no one is left out.
That’s why I hope more stadiums keep expanding these menus. When fans can cheer their team and enjoy compassionate, climate-friendly food at the same time, everybody wins.
Pete Torrell
Pleasantville