NEW JERSEY – A COVID-19 vaccination for some of New Jersey’s residents is as close as ever, with Moderna on Thursday asking the Food and Drug Administration to authorize a low-dose vaccine for kids ages six months to five years.
The agency is expected to make a decision by June. Right now, children under five years old are the only age group that cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S. Those as young as five can receive the Pfizer vaccine, but the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots are only available to those over 18 years old.
Moderna’s child vaccination will be about a quarter of the amount that adults receive, with a two 25-microgram dose regimen to be given four weeks apart.
Vaccinating the nation’s youngest children “has been somewhat of a moving target over the last couple of months,” Dr. Bill Muller of Northwestern University, an investigator in Moderna’s pediatric studies, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “There’s still, I think, a lingering urgency to try to get that done as soon as possible.”
The news comes as the country reports a slight spike in COVID-19 cases following Easter and Passover gatherings earlier this month. In New Jersey, the daily case average is over 2,400, a 28 percent increase over the previous 14 days.
The rate of transmission in the state is 1.1, meaning that every new case is leading to roughly one other new case.
As of Friday, eight New Jersey counties are labeled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “medium” areas for transmission (Bergen, Essex, Morris, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Atlantic and Cape May counties). Per the CDC, “medium” rates of transmission means at-risk individuals are recommended to speak with healthcare providers about whether mask-wearing or other precautions are necessary. The rest of the counties in the state report “low” transmission.
Video: Moderna asks FDA to OK vaccine for kids under 6 (Associated Press)
“The only other side to that [anticipated spike], is good news: the weather is getting warmer, we’re going to be outside … over the next couple of weeks and months,” Murphy told News12 during ‘Ask Gov. Murphy’ on April 11.
“These waves come and go. We’re probably in the soup here for another four to six weeks, but nothing remotely that we’re looking at like what we’ve gone through before,” Murphy added. Read more:Post-Holiday COVID Spike In NJ: What You Need To Know
With a vaccine for some of the state’s youngest residents, experts hope to decrease the risk of hospitalizations for future spikes.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in March shows that during the omicron surge, children under 5 were hospitalized at a rate about five times higher than they were during the delta spike.
Moderna said early data showed that two weeks after getting the two shots, 6,900 children enrolled in its study showed youngsters developed virus-fighting antibody levels as strong as young adults getting its full-strength shots, the company said in a news release.
The only side effects were mild fevers similar to those associated with other common pediatric vaccines, the company said.
In February, Moderna competitor Pfizer paused its application seeking emergency authorization to offer toddler-sized doses to children under 5. The FDA said at the time it wanted more data on the efficacy of a three-dose series of the vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years. A third dose “may provide a higher level of protection in this age group,” the company said in a statement.
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Moderna seeks approval for COVID vaccine for kids under 6
Moderna on Thursday asked U.S. regulators to authorize low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 6, a long-awaited move toward potentially opening shots for millions of tots by summer.
Fauci: US in ‘a different moment’ but pandemic not over
“We are in a different moment of the pandemic,” said Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, in an interview with The Associated Press.
After a brutal winter surge, “we’ve now decelerated and transitioned into more of a controlled phase,” he said. “By no means does that mean the pandemic is over.”
Fauci said the U.S. appears to be out of what he called the “fulminant phase” of the pandemic, huge variant surges that at their worst sparked hundreds of thousands of infections daily, along with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.
COVID-19 cases are at a lower point than they’ve been in months and two-thirds of the U.S. population is vaccinated. Nearly half of those who need a booster dose have gotten the extra shot, and effective treatments are available.
“We are much, much better off than we were a year ago,” Fauci said.
CDC: About 6 in 10 Americans have signs of previous COVID-19 infection
Almost 6 in 10 Americans have signs of previous COVID-19 infection, showing the widespread reach of the virus, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC study shows that the percentage of people testing positive for antibodies — an indication of previous COVID-19 infection — increased from about 34 percent in December to about 58 percent in February.
CDC report: Unvaccinated kids twice as likely to end up in the hospital with COVID
A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is painting a clearer picture of hospitalizations among 5-11-year-olds during the omicron surge at the start of 2022.
The study revealed that unvaccinated 5-11-year-olds were twice as likely to end up in the hospital with COVID-19 as those who were vaccinated.
Justice Department to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate
The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.
The notice came minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision handed down by a federal judge in Florida earlier this week.
Travel in NY, NJ: Do I need to wear a mask?
A decision by a federal judge in Florida to throw out a national mask mandate in public transportation across the U.S. created a patchwork of rules Monday that vary by city and mode of transit.
Federal judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel
A federal judge in Florida on Monday, April 18, voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials in the coronavirus pandemic.
FDA approves first COVID-19 breath test for emergency use
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, April 15, that it had authorized the first test to detect COVID-19 through breath for emergency use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order, which was set to expire on April 18, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S.
Murphy tests positive for COVID
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced on Thursday, March 31. He’s asymptomatic and feeling well, but was set to cancel all events and isolate for five days.
Moderna’s low-dose COVID vaccine works for kids under 6, company says
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the company announced on March 23 — and if regulators agree it could mean a chance to finally start vaccinating the littlest kids by summer.
Moderna asks FDA to authorize 4th dose of COVID shot
Drugmaker Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration on March 17 to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults.
WHO now tracking hybrid COVID-19 variant: ‘deltacron’
Scientists are learning more about a hybrid variant of COVID-19 that has been detected called “deltacron.” Deltacron was first reported early this year, when it was thought to be a co-infection of the omicron and delta coronavirus variants (meaning people were possibly infected with two variants at once). Now, researchers believe it’s a single, hybrid variant that combines genes from both delta and omicron.
TSA extends mask mandate on planes, public transit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate on airplanes, buses and other mass transit, according to a U.S. official, but the existing face-covering requirement will be extended through April 18.
NJ drops school mask mandate but not all districts end requirement
As New Jersey health officials continue to report progress in beating back the latest wave of COVID-19 infections, Gov. Phil Murphy on March 7 allowed schools to drop the mask mandate. However, not all school districts across the state opted to drop masking rules.
Gov. Murphy ends Public Health Emergency 2 years after NJ’s first COVID case
On March 4, 2020, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received word that the state recorded its first case of COVID-19. He recalled the day on Friday, March 4, exactly two years later, during what he said was his last in-person COVID-19 briefing.
What the CDC’s new ‘Community Level’ tool means for your county
Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday, March 4.
Murphy dropping NJ schools mask mandate
While COVID numbers continue to decline in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced an end to the state’s mask mandate for public schools. The governor said students and school staff can go maskless beginning March 7. The statewide mandate has been in effect since the start of the academic year in September.
4th COVID shot: Who will need another booster soon?
As COVID cases caused by the omicron variant finally start to wane in the U.S., is it time to look ahead to the next variant? And will we need another booster shot to protect us from it?
Pfizer asks FDA to allow COVID vaccine for kids under 5
Pfizer on Tuesday, Feb. 1, asked the U.S. to authorize extra-low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5, potentially opening the way for the very youngest Americans to start receiving shots as early as March.
Newark University Hospital gets military aid amid COVID surge
Gov. Murphy: NJ schools could ditch masks before end of academic year
As New Jersey’s COVID numbers start to slowly drop, Gov. Phil Murphy predicted Thursday, Jan. 20 that schools in the Garden State could reach a point before the end of this school year where masks are no longer required.
CDC encourages more Americans to consider N95 masks
U.S. health officials on Friday, Jan. 14, encouraged more Americans to wear the kind of N95 or KN95 masks used by health care workers to slow the spread of COVID-19. Those kinds of masks are considered better at filtering viruses from the air. But they previously were in short supply, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials had said they should be prioritized for health care workers.
Murphy reinstates Public Health Emergency for NJ as COVID spreads rapidly
Gov. Phil Murphy renewed his Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declarations for the Garden State on Tuesday, Jan. 11. The executive order allows state agencies and departments to use resources to assist in the battle against COVID-19, according to a release from the governor’s office.
NJ COVID surge, pandemic recovery top priorities for Gov. Murphy in 2022
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 11, as the Garden State continued to grapple with another wave of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“Our state remains on a war footing against a virus that has now taken on a new form. Omicron is doing its best to stop us in our tracks and push us back. We will not let it,” Murphy said.
FDA shortens Moderna booster wait time to 5 months
The agency announced it amended its emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine to allow adults to get a booster dose a month earlier than previously.
Officials, including Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, cited the highly transmissible omicron variant as reasoning for the update.
The booster wait times for those who received the Johnson & Johnson (two months)or the Moderna vaccines (six months), have not changed.
Additionally, the CDC also recommended that moderately or severely immunocompromised children 5 to 11 years old receive an additional, third dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
NJ COVID hospitalizations soar
COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Jersey have blown passed the peak number reported during last winter’s surge, state Health Department data showed on Monday, Jan. 3. There were 4,715 people hospitalized on Sunday, Jan. 2. By comparison, the peak daily number of hospitalizations during last winter’s surge was 3,873.
NJ first lady positive for COVID; Gov. Murphy tests negative
New Jersey’s first lady Tammy Murphy tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test, a spokesperson said on Sunday, Jan. 2. Gov. Phil Murphy and the rest of his family tested negative, but will continue to test regularly in the coming days, the spokesperson said.
NJ cities tighten COVID restrictions with mask, vaccine mandates
As COVID cases continue to surge across New Jersey, the cities of Hoboken and Paterson enacted new indoor mask mandates. Meanwhile, Newark geared up for a new vaccine mandate for indoor dining and entertainment venues.
Paterson schools go remote after winter break amid COVID surge
As New Jersey continues to see a startling spike in COVID-19 cases statewide, the Paterson school district announced on Wednesday, Dec. 22, that students will start 2022 remotely. They were initially expected to return to classrooms on Jan. 4, however given the spike in COVID cases, they will learn remotely from Jan. 4 through Jan. 17. School buildings will reopen on Jan. 18.
NJ, NY CityMD locations temporarily close while demand for testing grows
Newark issues indoor mask mandate in public spaces to curb COVID uptick
Folks in Newark will need to mask up before they enter indoor public spaces under an executive order signed on Monday, Dec. 19, by Mayor Ras Baraka. The indoor mask mandate was issued as the state and city continue to see a concerning spike in COVID-19 cases, spurred by the omicron and delta variants.
Biden pledges 500M free COVID-19 tests to counter omicron
According to the company, the currently authorized booster dose increased omicron-neutralizing antibodies approximately 37-fold, compared to pre-boost levels.
Breakthrough COVID infections may create ‘super immunity’
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000 on Dec. 14, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available last spring.
Additionally, the TSA will extend the requirement to wear a mask on planes, trains, subways and other public transportation hubs including airports and bus terminals through the winter.
Scientists call omicron variant ‘most mutated’ version of virus
There’s one thing we keep hearing from the scientists who’ve gotten a close look at the omicron version of the virus: It’s really mutated. More mutations don’t necessarily make a virus more dangerous, but viruses evolve over time to increase their chance of survival, which can be bad for humans.
First omicron variant case confirmed in NJ, Murphy says
Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said New Jersey’s first omicron case was confirmed on Friday, Dec. 3, in a fully vaccinated woman who visited New Jersey from Georgia.
Omicron COVID variant identified in California; 1st known US case
The first known case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified in California, the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29.
US panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill from Merck
The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.
How to pronounce the new COVID-19 variant
Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant of concern designated by the World Health Organization, gets its name from a letter in the Greek alphabet. But unlike the alpha or delta variants before it, omicron might not roll off the tongue so naturally to English speakers.
Rising concerns over omicron variant
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said he expects COVID cases to rise until at least the new year, and he’s asking people to remain vigilant over the holiday season as both New Jersey and New York closely monitor for the first cases of the omicron variant.
Omicron variant prompts new US travel ban on South Africa, other nations
5 things to know about omicron, the new COVID ‘variant of concern’
The announcement of a COVID-19 variant called omicron by scientists in South Africa, where it was first detected, has sent governments and financial markets around the world reeling. Click here to learn more about what experts know about the new “variant of concern.”
What is this new omicron COVID variant in South Africa?
South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.
CDC approves expanding COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults
The U.S. on Friday, Nov. 19, opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.
Pfizer agrees to let other companies make its COVID-19 pill
Pfizer said it would grant a license for the antiviral pill to the Geneva-based Medicines Patent Pool, which would let generic drug companies produce the pill for use in 95 countries, making up about 53% of the world’s population.
Getting a COVID vaccine before the holidays? Here are some key dates to know
Time is running out if you plan to be fully vaccinated against COVID by the holidays. Click here for the deadlines to be fully vaccinated before each holiday.
US lifts nearly 20-month international travel ban
More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status.
Bans on travel from specific countries ended on Nov. 8. The U.S. will allow in international travelers, but they must be vaccinated — with a few exceptions.
The U.S. also reopened the land borders with Canada and Mexico for vaccinated people. Most trips from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. are by land rather than air.
US gives final clearance to COVID vaccine for kids 5 to 11
U.S. health officials on Nov. 2 gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.
The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.
Vaccinated just as likely to spread delta variant within household as unvaccinated: study
People who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are able to spread the delta variant within their household just as easily as unvaccinated individuals, a new study published on Oct. 29, shows.
Child tax credit 2022: What we know so far
As inner-party conflict continues to shave off elements of President Joe Biden’s sweeping domestic policy package, there may be good news for parents. While it’s unclear what the ultimate bill will include, Democrats arrived at a framework Thursday, Oct. 28, that included a one-year extension of the expanded child tax credit.
Moderna says its low-dose COVID shot safe, effective for kids 6 to 11
FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids
Federal health regulators said late Oct. 22, that kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections in elementary school children and caused no unexpected safety issues, as the U.S. weighs beginning vaccinations in youngsters.
NJ among top vaccinated states in U.S.
New Jersey is among the top 10 states in the country with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates at 74%. Helping to lead the charge is Paterson, which has a 90% vaccination rate.
COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, teachers begins
Many state employees returned to in-person work on Oct. 18, the same day Gov. Phil Murphy’s requirement for them to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular virus testing went into effect. The vaccine or test mandate also applies to teachers in New Jersey.
New COVID safety guidance for the holidays released by the CDC
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released updated COVID-19 safety guidance for the holiday season on Friday, Oct. 15, including getting vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors if you’re not vaccinated and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
Rutgers team tries to understand ‘brain fog’ COVID connection
Dr. William Hu, the Chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is leading a team trying to figure out what brain fog is and how it’s connected to COVID-19.
FDA endorsement essentially calls for Johnson & Johnson to be 2-shot vaccine
An FDA panel unanimously recommended a Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine on Friday, Oct. 15. The terms of the endorsement essentially call for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to be a two-dose shot, rather than the one-dose shot for which it’s been known since it first got emergency use authorization last spring.
The panel called for a second shot to be available to people 18 and older, at least two months after the first shot.
FDA panel recommends Moderna booster shot, but the process isn’t over
A panel of medical experts affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration endorsed a COVID vaccine booster from Moderna on Thursday, Oct. 14. The panel recommended a half dose as a booster.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits NJ day care, vaccination site
Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in New Jersey on Friday, Oct. 8, to discuss the state’s latest vaccination efforts. She visited a day care center to highlight child care provisions in the president’s spending proposal as well as a vaccination site at Essex Community College.
Children will feel impact of pandemic on mental health for years: UNICEF report
UNICEF released a critical report on Friday, Oct. 8, which found that children and young people could feel the impact of the pandemic on their mental health for many years to come.
COVID vaccine for kids: Doctor answers your questions
The Pfizer vaccine for kids could be on the market in about a month after the drug maker filed for FDA authorization Thursday, Oct. 7, for their shot for kids ages 5 to 11.
However, many parents still have questions about the children’s COVID vaccine. Dr. Sallie Permar, the head of pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, joined the PIX11 Morning News on Friday, Oct. 8, to share more information and answer some of the biggest questions.
Pfizer’s request to OK shots for kids a relief for parents
Parents tired of worrying about classroom outbreaks and sick of telling their elementary school-age children no to sleepovers and family gatherings felt a wave of relief Thursday, Oct. 7, when Pfizer asked the U.S. government to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11.
NJ leaders take on ‘Mayors Vaccine Challenge’
Two New Jersey mayors are going head-to-head in an effort to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s all part of the ongoing vaccination campaign in the Garden State that has already propelled it as one of the nation’s leaders in the fight against COVID-19. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is squaring off with Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora in what the state is calling the “Mayors Vaccine Challenge.”
New Jersey surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases
As of Tuesday, Sept. 28, more than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in New Jersey since the pandemic reached the state in 2020.
Pfizer submits vaccine data on kids to FDA
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced they have submitted initial data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the Phase 2/3 trial of their COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11.
In the trial, which included 2,268 participants 5 to 11 years of age, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile and elicited robust neutralizing antibody responses using a two-dose regimen of 10 μg doses.
NJ offers $500 ‘return to work bonus’ to unemployed residents
Unemployed New Jersey residents could earn a $500 bonus to return to the workforce as part of a new program announced by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, Sept. 27. The “Return and Earn” initiative will offer the one-time bonus to folks who secure a job through the program, including positions that require on-the-job training.
CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs
The panel had voted against saying that people ages 18 to 64 can get a booster if they are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.
FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for 65 and older, high-risk Americans
The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger people with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high-risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
J&J booster shot 94% effective 2 months after 1st dose
Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said new data shows a second dose — or a booster shot — of their one-shot COVID vaccine was found to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 when given two months after the initial dose.
Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11
Pfizer said Monday, Sept. 20, its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.
Vaccine mandate for child care facilities
Gov. Phil Murphy said all child care workers and facility employees need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 or face regular weekly testing. As of Sept. 24, all employees, students and children in a facility’s care ages two and up will need to wear masks indoors, with limited exceptions.
Moderna vaccine is most effective against hospitalization from COVID-19: study
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared how effective each of the three COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalization from the virus. The CDC reported that effectiveness was higher for the Moderna vaccine (93%) than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (88%) and the J&J vaccine (71%).
New Jersey surpassed as state with highest rate of COVID deaths
Mississippi has surpassed New Jersey as the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., with roughly 1 of every 320 Mississippians having succumbed to the coronavirus.
COVID-19 is ‘getting better’ at becoming airborne virus
Recent COVID-19 variants are much more adept at airborne transmission than the original version of the coronavirus, according to a new study. University of Maryland researchers analyzed the Alpha variant first identified in the United Kingdom and discovered that carriers breathe out 43 to 100 times more infectious viral aerosols than those infected with the original strain.
COVID-19 variants significantly reduce protection of vaccines, prior infection: study
A new study confirms that vaccinations and even prior COVID-19 infection provide significantly less protection against newer variants. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University say in order to protect against the Alpha, Beta, and now Delta variants, these findings stress the importance of doubling down on both vaccinations and public health measures during the pandemic.
Mask debate moves from school boards to courtrooms
The rancorous debate over whether returning students should wear masks in the classroom has moved from school boards to courtrooms. In at least 14 states, lawsuits have been filed either for or against masks in schools. In some cases, normally rule-enforcing school administrators are finding themselves fighting state leaders in the name of keeping kids safe.
Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey’s statewide rent moratorium expires at the end of the year.
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‘It’s up to us’: Fauci says pandemic could possibly end by spring 2022
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Comirnaty: What’s the story behind the new Pfizer vaccine name?
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Is an earache a new COVID-19 symptom?
Doctors say they’re seeing a new COVID-19 symptom in some patients. According to experts, an earache has been reported more frequently by those testing positive for COVID. Earaches can cause pain, a feeling of blockage and sometimes muffled hearing.
Johnson & Johnson: Vaccine booster provides ‘rapid, robust’ response
Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday, Aug. 25, announced new data the company said supports the use of its COVID vaccine as a booster shot for people previously vaccinated with their single-shot vaccine.
J&J said the new data showed that a booster shot of their vaccine generated a “rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination.”
NJ to require teachers, state workers be fully vaccinated
All school personnel and state workers in New Jersey will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, Aug. 23.
Will COVID booster shot have the same side effects as the first two shots?
The Biden administration said Wednesday, Aug. 18, that COVID booster shots will soon be available, but how will the Sept. 20 rollout work, and what side effects should Americans expect?
Lambda and B.1.621: New COVID variants could be the worst yet, doctor warns
At least two new COVID-19 variants have hit the United States and they could be worse than the delta variant in their infectiousness and ability to stand up to vaccines, according to a top medical authority.
U.S. health officials call for booster shots for all to battle COVID-19
U.S. health officials recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. The announcement was made on Aug. 18.
Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards
COVID claims more young victims as deaths climb yet again
The COVID-19 death toll has started soaring again as the delta variant tears through the nation’s unvaccinated population and fills up hospitals with patients, many of whom are younger than during earlier phases of the pandemic.
Concerts, outdoor events still risky as delta variant surges, experts say
Concerts and outdoor events are returning, and many are requiring proof of vaccination as part of new safety protocols designed to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. But while experts say being outdoors is less risky in general, they continue to recommend additional precautions for those visiting crowded outdoor venues.
Biden weighs stiffer vaccine rules as delta variant spreads rapidly across U.S.
When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new COVID infections soar, he’s testing a tougher approach.
Who doesn’t need the COVID-19 vaccine?
It has been eight months since the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers nationwide. Since then, the vaccine has become available to anyone ages 5 and older. Experts explain the few instances in which a person would not qualify for, or should delay getting vaccinated.
Extra COVID shot OK’d for immunocompromised individuals
With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards.
What to do if you lose your COVID-19 vaccine card
Don’t worry if you’ve lost your COVID-19 vaccine card, there are several ways you can get it replaced. No matter where you got your shots, getting a replacement card is possible.
Will NJ reinstate a travel advisory?
Gov. Murphy said on Aug. 9, a new travel advisory is not off the table, but for now he encouraged mask wearing, which is mandatory in all airports and on flights, and other COVID safety protocols. “You gotta use your head,” he added.
Will NJ mandate masks indoors?
Despite CDC data showing New Jersey falls under its guidance to wear masks indoors, Gov. Murphy said he will not yet mandate face coverings but added, “we leave all options on the table.”
COVID transmission levels call for indoor masking under CDC guidelines
Indoor masking is advised in areas with COVID transmission rates considered “substantial” or “high” under recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 8, all of New Jersey falls under those categories.
How do you know if you have the delta variant of COVID-19?
So you’ve tested positive for COVID – but which COVID exactly? Is there a way to tell if you have the highly transmissible delta variant? There is a way to tell, but there’s not really a way for you to tell.
COVID breakthrough cases: Is one vaccine better than others?
Are kids more vulnerable to the delta variant of COVID-19?
Hospitals around the United States, especially in the South, are starting to fill back up again as the delta variant tears though the country. With previous waves of infection, we’ve been most worried about the elderly being vulnerable. Now, it’s younger people – even children – starting to show up in hospital beds.
NJ schools mask mandate: Teachers’ union backs, Republicans slam Murphy decision
New Jersey Republicans have largely trashed Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on Aug 6 that masks will be required in all schools in the upcoming academic year.
NJ health care workers must be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19
Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Aug. 6 mandating that all workers in state and private health care facilities either be vaccinated for COVID-19 or tested for it twice a week.
50% of U.S. population is fully vaccinated, White House says
The United States reached a vaccination milestone on Aug. 6: 50% of the population, all ages, were fully vaccinated, the White House COVID-19 data director confirmed.
CDC says people who’ve had COVID should get shot or risk reinfection
Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected.
The latest surge in COVID-19 infections is fueled by the highly contagious delta variant first identified in India late last year. Now, a variation of that variant is beginning to generate headlines. Here’s what we know about the COVID sub-strain being called delta plus.
Vaccine mandate for state colleges?
Currently, some state colleges in New Jersey are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff and some have made it optional. Murphy said a universal mandate “is certainly an option,” but for now individual universities can make their own call.
More ‘pain and suffering’ ahead as COVID cases rise, Fauci says
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned on Aug. 1 that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.
Walmart requiring COVID vaccination, masks for many employees
Walmart associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, needed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. Walmart also required associates, including those fully vaccinated, to wear masks in its stores.
Iconic NJ restaurant The Fireplace closes after 65 years
The Fireplace, like many other restaurants across the country, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily shuttered its doors before reopening in May, when they implemented drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup followed by indoor dining in October.
New delta variant research makes strong case for vaccination
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the delta variant is more dangerous and fast-spreading than first thought. The findings also made clear why efforts to get more people vaccinated are vital.
CDC data shows delta variant spreads as easily as chickenpox
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information on July 30, saying the coronavirus delta variant can spread as easily as chickenpox.
Pfizer: COVID vaccine protective for at least 6 months
The effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released on July 28.
Disney World requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status
Beginning July 30, Disney World required all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a face covering while indoors as well as in Disney buses, the monorail and the Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.
CDC mask guidance: Vaccinated people should wear face coverings in public indoor settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.
U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Fauci says
Is asking about someone’s COVID vaccine status a HIPAA violation?
HIPAA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 during a time when medical records were being computerized. It was created to simplify the administration of health insurance and to prevent unauthorized access to peoples’ medical histories.
In fact, HIPAA doesn’t block anyone from asking another person about their health status, according to Alan Meisel, law professor and bioethics expert at the University of Pittsburgh.
Child tax credit checks: Will they become permanent?
The parents of an estimated 60 million American children began receiving child tax credit payments from the IRS in mid-July in a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?
‘Pandemic of the unvaccinated’
President Joe Biden was forced to confront the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for a summer backslide.
Common cholesterol drugs may significantly reduce risk of death from COVID-19: study
Statins, a common medication for lowering cholesterol, may be saving lives among patients with COVID-19. A study revealed hospitalized coronavirus patients who took statins were much less likely to die from the illness.
WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak
The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged on July 15, 2021, that it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak.
Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says
A study released in July 2021 suggested that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate
The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million on July 7, 2021, as the crisis increasingly became a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.
Unvaccinated made up 99% of US COVID deaths in July 2021
There’s more to the worker shortage than pandemic unemployment, experts say
The workforce shortage is a combination of several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift in the economy, and changes in the workforce demographics, experts say.
Latest official indicators
As of Thursday, there have been 1,943,471 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 30,389 lab-confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to the state Health Department.
A massive sculpture called “XO World,” installed last fall in front of lower Manhattan’s Freedom Tower, marked a turning point for the World Trade Center site. The huge blue globe (the ‘O’), next to two giant crossed arms (the ‘X’), is one of the first pieces of public art on the site since the attack on the Twin Towers 20 years ago.
The 12-by-24-foot artwork, along with a companion piece inside the Oculus depicting four multi-racial children playing a game of jacks, titled XO Play, has inspired countless Instagram selfies of tourists crossing their arms across their chests in front of the sculptures, sign language for ‘love.’ (#xoworldproject)
The giant artwork also marked a turning point for Montclair artist Daniel Anderson, who, until XO World, was known among private collectors for his oil paintings with a sculptural, or 3-D component. He hadn’t done anything on this scale before.
Anderson, 42, who grew up on Packanack Lake in Wayne and moved to Montclair in 2016, got the idea for XO World in September 2020, while the pandemic raged. “There was COVID, and so much racial and political tension across the country and globe,” he said. “I wanted people to experience a message of positivity and peace, and rally behind it.”
He set the lofty goal of having the sculptures installed a year later — near the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and on the 40th anniversary of World Peace Day — and began campaigning for his vision.
He started with the Durst Organization, the real estate firm that developed the World Trade Center site after the Twin Towers fell, and Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and former State Senator for the 40th district. Both were supportive and helped get the ball rolling.
But that was just the beginning of a processthat Anderson said tested even him, an artist accustomed to rejection.
Because the land is co-owned by the Port Authority and New York State, he said, “You have to go through a lot of levels. There’s so much paperwork, permits and insurance. It was exhausting; so many long phone calls and presentations.”
Ultimately, though, his persistence paid off. The sculptures were installed on World Peace Day, Sept. 21, 2021, an impossibly short timeline from Durst’s approval eight months earlier.
The sculptures, which were commissioned by the Durst Organization, are scheduled to remain at the World Trade Center for two years from installation.
Meanwhile, Anderson is looking to create and install XO World sculptures in “signature cities around the globe,” beginning with Chicago and Miami.
“I’m very grateful that this piece, with its message of equality, unity, peace and love, has been unanimously loved and embraced, and is bringing everyone together at this landmark site at the epicenter of the globe,” he said.
“The chances it would be completed were so slim, but Ifelt a higher purpose guiding me on sleepless nights.
“I swam up the Nile and never got bitten by alligators.”
Julia Martin is the 2021 recipient of the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists’ David Carr award for her coverage of Montclair for NorthJersey.com.
For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
A massive sculpture called “XO World,” installed last fall in front of lower Manhattan’s Freedom Tower, marked a turning point for the World Trade Center site. The huge blue globe (the ‘O’), next to two giant crossed arms (the ‘X’), is the first piece of public art on the site since the attack on the Twin Towers 20 years ago.
The 12-by-24-foot artwork, along with a companion piece inside the Oculus depicting four multi-racial children playing a game of jacks, titled XO Play, has inspired countless Instagram selfies of tourists crossing their arms across their chests in front of the sculptures, sign language for ‘love.’ (#xoworldproject)
The giant artwork also marked a turning point for Montclair artist Daniel Anderson, who, until XO World, was known among private collectors for his standard-size oil paintings with a sculptural, or 3-D component. He had never done sculpture, public artwork, or anything large-scale.
Anderson, 42, who grew up on Packanack Lake in Wayne and moved to Montclair in 2016, got the idea for XO World in September 2020, while the pandemic raged. “There was COVID, and so much racial and political tension across the country and globe,” he said. “I wanted people to experience a message of positivity and peace, and rally behind it.”
He set the lofty goal of having the sculptures installed a year later — near the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and on the 40th anniversary of World Peace Day — and began “cold-calling.”
He started with the Durst Organization, the real estate firm that developed the World Trade Center site after the Twin Towers fell. Their response? “How can we help you get this here as soon a possible?” he said. He also wrote a letter to Kevin O’Toole, chairman of Board of Commissioners for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and former State Senator for the 40th district, who helped get the ball rolling.
But that was just the beginning of a processthat Anderson said tested even him, an artist accustomed to rejection.
Because the land is co-owned by the Port Authority and New York State, he said, “You have to go through a lot of bureaucratic levels. There’s so much paperwork, permits and insurance. It was exhausting; so many long phone calls and presentations and tears.”
Ultimately, though, the sweat and tears paid off. The sculptures were installed on World Peace Day, Sept. 21, 2021, an impossibly short timeline from Durst’s approval eight months earlier.
How long they will remain at the World Trade Center is “still being worked out,” Anderson said. Both are being leased to Durst and the Port Authority by the private investors who own them.
Meanwhile, Anderson is looking to create and install XO World sculptures in “signature cities around the globe,” beginning with Chicago and Miami. His girlfriend, Colleen Brennan, is working out details as head of the new XO World Project Foundation.
“I’m very grateful that this piece, with its message of equality, unity, peace and love, has been unanimously loved and embraced, and is bringing everyone together at this landmark site at the epicenter of the globe,” he said.
“The chances it would be completed were so slim, but Ifelt a higher purpose guiding me on sleepless nights.
“I swam up the Nile and never got bitten by alligators.”
Julia Martin is the 2021 recipient of the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists’ David Carr award for her coverage of Montclair for NorthJersey.com.
For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
A massive sculpture called “XO World,” installed last fall in front of lower Manhattan’s Freedom Tower, marked a turning point for the World Trade Center site. The huge blue globe (the “O”), next to two giant crossed arms (the “X”), is one of the first pieces of public art on the site since the attack on the twin towers 20 years ago.
The 12-by-24-foot artwork, along with a companion piece inside the Oculus depicting four multi-racial children playing a game of jacks, titled “XO Play,” has inspired countless Instagram selfies of tourists crossing their arms on their chests in front of the sculptures, sign language for “love” (#xoworldproject).
The giant artwork also marked a turning point for Montclair artist Daniel Anderson, who, until “XO World,” was known among private collectors for his oil paintings with a sculptural, or 3D, component. He hadn’t done anything on this scale before.
Anderson, 42, who grew up on Packanack Lake in Wayne and moved to Montclair in 2016, got the idea for “XO World” in September 2020, while the pandemic raged. “There was COVID, and so much racial and political tension across the country and globe,” he said. “I wanted people to experience a message of positivity and peace, and rally behind it.”
He set the lofty goal of having the sculptures installed a year later — near the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and on the 40th anniversary of World Peace Day — and began campaigning for his vision.
He started with The Durst Organization, the real estate firm that developed the World Trade Center site after the twin towers fell, and Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the board of commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a former state senator for the 40th District. Both were supportive and helped get the ball rolling.
But that was just the beginning of a processthat Anderson said tested even him, an artist accustomed to rejection.
Because the land is co-owned by the Port Authority and New York state, he said, “You have to go through a lot of levels. There’s so much paperwork, permits and insurance. It was exhausting; so many long phone calls and presentations.”
Ultimately, though, his persistence paid off. The sculptures were installed on World Peace Day, Sept. 21, 2021, an impossibly short timeline from Durst’s approval eight months earlier.
The two artworks, which were commissioned by The Durst Organization, are scheduled to remain at the World Trade Center for two years from installation.
Meanwhile, Anderson is looking to create and install “XO World” sculptures in “signature cities around the globe” through his new XO World Project Foundation, beginning with Chicago and Miami.
“I’m very grateful that this piece, with its message of equality, unity, peace and love, has been unanimously loved and embraced, and is bringing everyone together at this landmark site at the epicenter of the globe,” he said.
“The chances it would be completed were so slim, but Ifelt a higher purpose guiding me on sleepless nights,” Anderson said. “I swam up the Nile and never got bitten by alligators.”
Julia Martin is the 2021 recipient of the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists’ David Carr award for her coverage of Montclair for NorthJersey.com.
For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
The world is filled with humor, inspiration and beauty. Here are seven stories to make you smile from Essex County, NJ.
Essex County native Wheeler Antabanez and WeirdNJTV recently released a video that chronicles the tale of a giant, Christmas-hat-wearing feline. (Photo courtesy of Wheeler Antabanez)
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The world can be a scary place. But it’s also filled with humor, inspiration and beauty. Let’s focus on that second part. Take a look at some recent good news stories in Essex County below. (Click the headlines to read).
Find out what’s happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Find out what’s happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The number speaks for itself: 162. That’s how many years of combined Girl Scout experience three family members in Essex County have … and they aren’t done yet.
The trio – a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter – are lifetime members of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ), with ties to Nutley, Livingston and Essex County. And they all have a common link: they credit their successes and leadership skills to lessons they gained in the Girl Scouts.
Jeanne Van Steen, who has lived in Nutley for the past 65 years, has been a lifetime member of Girl Scouts for 82 years. She grew up in St. Louis and became a Brownie in 1939, when she was in second grade. She continued Girl Scouts through her senior year of high school when she became a Mariner, a natural development as she lived on the Mississippi River and “being a Mariner was just a way of life.”
While in high school, Van Steen was part of an advisory board and her counselor, the late Margaret Price, who later became president of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), was her mentor.
“Mrs. Price was an amazing and influential person,” Van Steen said. “She was one of the reasons I became so involved with Girl Scouts.”
From there, Van Steen was a troop leader in college and continued her involvement until the last of her three daughters finished Girl Scouts.
“I was a leader for 30 years, and even had first and second generations of girls throughout the years,” she said.
Van Steen has held several other positions within the Council, including Service Unit Manager in Nutley, and Vice President of Council for Greater Essex County. From 1986 to 1992, she was president of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex County.
But Van Steen isn’t the only member of her family with deep ties to Scouting. Her daughter, Coralyn Vossler, who lives in Livingston, has been a lifetime member for 57 years.
Vossler joined Girl Scouts as a Brownie in 1965. Her mother was her troop leader and continued until she was a Cadette. Like her mother, Vossler became a troop leader while in college and later became a leader for girls with disabilities and hearing challenges.
“My mother was truly an inspirational woman,” she said. “I wanted to follow in her footsteps and be a positive influence on young women.”
When her daughter, Sara, joined Girl Scouts, Vossler was her Daisy leader and remained the troop leader until the girls earned their Gold Award in 2012.
After being a troop leader, Vossler was a Service Unit Manager of Greater Essex and Hudson County for 14 years and now serves on the Girl Scout Council Gold Award Committee as Chairperson of the East Committee.
“I love being on this committee, I get to meet so many interesting young women and listen to the final Gold Award proposals,” she said. “These young women are our future. Seeing girls with diverse backgrounds come together and become leaders through the skillsets they have developed from being a Girl Scout makes me proud to be part of this amazing organization.”
Her daughter, Sara, earned her Gold Award in 2012, and currently is a lifetime member. Those skills have enabled her to become a teacher in Malaysia.
For Van Steen, the one who first launched the daisy chain of volunteerism, it’s inspiring to look back on what her family has accomplished.
“Being the first of three generations, the one thing that has not changed over the years is the core values and leadership skills that Girl Scouts instill to help build confident, self-assured and independent women,” Van Steen said.
BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville Mayor Michael Melham presented his second “state of the township address” on Wednesday at Nanina’s In the Park.
Read Melham’s speech as prepared below.
What do you think of the “state of the township?” Leave a comment below, or learn more about posting op-eds, announcements or events to your local Patch site.
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MICHAEL MELHAM
Good evening. Distinguished guests, my beloved family… represented this evening by my mother, my sister, my two beautiful nieces, as well as a host of cousins, they are by far my biggest supporters… to… BetterBelleville, friends, neighboring colleagues and, of course, my fellow Belleville residents.
Find out what’s happening in Belleville-Nutleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
I am honored to come before you this evening to deliver my second ever State of the Township address. My first was delivered in May of 2019, exactly one year after our historic election. At that time, I presented a platform that was a continuation of the promises my two running mates and I put forth while on the campaign trail. Since then, Deputy Mayor Naomy DePena, Councilman Tommy Graziano and I have worked tirelessly, often along with Councilman Vinny Cozzarelli and engaged civic organizations to bring fourth a vision for a #BetterBelleville.
However, at that time, three years ago, as the luster wore off our inauguration, none of us could have predicted just how vastly and immediately the world would change due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Understand, there was no playbook. May we never forget the 149 Belleville souls lost during those trying times and to the loved ones they left behind.
You see, 2020 and 2021 tested our fortitude, but I’m here to say that Belleville not only stood strong, but we rose! Even as PPE shortages plagued us, our first responders didn’t miss a beat.
Tonight, I want to personally thank the fine men and women of our Fire and Police Departments, including their respective chiefs, Chief Minichini and Chief Oliveri (who are in the room this evening), I thank you and your respective departments for keeping us safe during Covid.
During that time, there were many, uneasy, or shall I say ‘heated’ Office of Emergency Management (OEM) conversations. At times, there were daily OEM calls which included the highest levels of Belleville’s government. Early on, we scenarioed options such as what happens when, because of sickness or quarantines, we run out of police and fire personnel.
In the end, our highly trained personnel did what they do. They got it done for Belleville! And for that, I want to personally thank and acknowledge our OEM Coordinator, Deputy Chief Corbo and his deputy coordinators, for their collective efforts in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the end, despite fears and the unknown, our municipal employees, kept those doors open at Town Hall. We never closed, not even for a day! And for that, I thank every single Department Director, many who are in the room tonight, and their employees for continuing to serve our residents, even during the most trying times.
Meanwhile, our school district fed our seniors, and our residents constantly encouraged and supported one another. That is the true meaning of community.
Speaking of community, I’m here tonight to boldly say, the State of our Township is looking Belleville Strong!
Looking back, Covid-19 wasn’t the only surprise my then, young administration faced. Within months of taking office, we were informed that we had a $1.5 million outstanding water bill that was due to the City of Newark. Worse, we were five years out of contract, and for that reason, the new contract would include a substantial and immediate increase. Worse than that, we uncovered that our water utility was running an annual deficit of about $2 million per year. That deficit was being made up by your property taxes, year after year. All this because the prior administration kept kicking the can down the road. Well, that can came to a stop on my watch. And if you think it couldn’t get much worse than all that, at the same time, we also faced a lead water crisis.
Today, the water treatment is working. There’s no more lead water crisis. We are chipping away at the balance owed to Newark. And our water utility is now fiscally solvent.
And there may be even better news coming. The next quarter or so, may very well contain a surplus in our water utility. And if that’s true, you have my promise, that I will fight for that surplus to be returned in the form of a water bill rebate! Next, you have my word to immediately propose legislation to reduce the water rate, yet again. After all, it’s not our goal to turn a profit on water, we just need to keep the water utility solvent.
So… we faced major Covid-19 and water issues in 2020 into 2021. Then came September 2021. And Belleville’s response to Superstorm Ida, was unparalleled. For days and even weeks, it seemed as though Belleville was ground zero.
That night, I was out early, with police and DPW, I then decided it was best, to have all personnel dedicated to the response, so, I spent the rest of the night sitting on my office basement floor, manning a sump pump, while listening to my police radio.
All night long, I heard police struggling over the radio, shouting at people to stay in their cars, or at times, provide instructions to people standing on the roof of their cars. Then, the frantic call for boats, to rescue residents who were clinging to trees on Mill Street, these sounds, like the calls I heard during 911, will forever be seared into my memory.
While police and fire rightfully deserve our thanks, the unsung heroes that night were the men of our Department of Public Works. These men, who are not trained rescue personnel, drove backhoes into flood waters to rescue both police and stranded residents. And, their jobs certainly didn’t end that night. In the immediate aftermath, Belleville supplied dumpster after dumpster to effected families, and DPW was there morning, noon and night, filling, removing and replacing dumpsters. No other municipality had this response, and for that, I sincerely thank DPW for their valent efforts!
So, let’s put the past 3.5 years into perspective. My administration has faced a global pandemic; a fiscally insolvent water utility, a lead water crisis and a Superstorm. But together, we persevered… Belleville Strong. And as mayor, I couldn’t be prouder!
Whether it’s Covid, the water rate, or explaining the complex details of a developer PILOT agreements, I’ve never shied away from explaining what’s going on to the residents of Belleville. And that’s precisely why, I believe the silent majority in Belleville is awaking, and becoming more vocal. In the past, residents only spoke out, when they had a complaint. Now, our residents see the change, they feel the change, they are talking about the change. For Belleville is no longer the butt of jokes, rather we are the topic of conversation.
For the first time in decades, we now have people from Nutley , Montclair, Caldwell and yes, even Cedar Grove, moving back to Belleville. They are being joined by New Yorkers from all five boroughs. They seem to like our value, our sense community and our diversity.
And no, they aren’t pushing out our existing residents, rather they are filling and occupying, in record time, modern mixed-use buildings with luxury amenities; like rooftop gardens, dog washing stations, pools, lounges and co-working space. We aren’t becoming something else, for this is Belleville! This is Our Belleville!
Our newest residents are mostly young professionals with disposable income to spend locally. These well-planned buildings have replaced vacant and often environmentally contaminated land which yielded little tax revenue to the township. Today, those environmentally contaminated properties have now been cleaned and remediated to NJ DEP residential standards and will produce a windfall of new revenue to the township!
These are the new revenues that have been needed for decades to stabilize our taxes. Think about it, before 2018 the last major development Belleville had was the Essex Park Townhouse project on Franklin Avenue, and that was built nearly 20 years ago! That’s the last time, those who sat in those seats before us, found any new revenue. And, thanks to our development community, that’s all changing!
Speaking of the development community… While they are sometimes vilified by just a small, ignorant few, allow me to explain the true value they’ve brought to Belleville.
First. Finding new revenue to offset annual budgetary increases is critical to stabilizing taxes. After all, every single year the government’s fixed operational costs go up. Without new revenue to offset these operating costs, the municipal taxpayers will continue to foot the bill, year after year. This is precisely the disservice councils and administrations before us burdened the taxpayers with.
I’ve spoken at length and exhaustively about PILOTs, breaking down the funding in a variety of videos that are available to the public.
PILOTs are NOT a tax break. PILOTS are NOT a tax abatement for-wealthy, greedy developers to make even more money, these assertions couldn’t be further from the truth.
Look at this this way, for decades, Belleville’s landscape was littered with contaminated and environmentally polluted land all over the place. And, seemingly no one cared. I don’t recall any advocate showing up at a council meeting complaining about contaminated land.
As that land laid vacant, it produced next to nothing in the realm of municipal revenue, it blighted our neighborhoods and the contamination often leached into neighboring properties. Why couldn’t it be cleaned and developed without a PILOT? Well, when you factor in the huge cost to remediate the land to NJ DEP residential standards, the project often becomes unviable. Therefore, the land and contamination remain.
To solve this problem, state law permits the township, enter into a revenue share agreement with the owner. We remove the traditional tax payment; in return the township receives between 12-16% of revenue from the development. This “Payment in lieu of taxes” is the revenue share and precisely what the PILOT acronym stands for. And furthermore, of that 12-16% revenue share, the municipality receives 95% of it, for up to 30 years! Which is why it defies logic, for someone representing the municipality to be ‘against PILOTs.’
Take the property on the corner of Washington and Williams. You see the building standing up. Well, for decades, that empty property, which blighted the entranceway from Newark into Belleville, yielded only $30,000 year in taxes, of which, the township received about a third, $10,000.
Well, after the first year, that project, with a PILOT attached, will yield new revenue of $880,000, of which the municipality keeps 95% of the revenue. That’s a huge win for Belleville taxpayers!
Kids? Well, if a recent, brand new 58-unit building, leased out in record time, is any indicator, of those 58 apartments, not a single child will impact our school district. These stats are Belleville facts! After all, most PILOTs are all commercial or mixed use properties specifically planned to have mostly 1brs, studios and even micro-apartments.
These complex agreements are the new revenue we desperately need. It’s simple. Without them, nobody is incentivized to clean up polluted property, and we would yield little revenue on the vacant land. As a result, the empty lots would continue to blight our neighborhoods. The development community shouldn’t be vilified, they should be thanked!
But there’s more. PILOTs aren’t only used to provide new revenue to the municipality, but these ‘areas in need of rehabilitation’ and ‘areas in need of redevelopment’ designations, also come with amazing community benefits.
Did you know that these developers pay 2% of their construction costs, into a fund to assist low-income Belleville homeowners in fixing up their homes? Recently a certain councilman took credit for this program, saying it was around prior to me taking office in 2018. This is true. It was around. And at the end of 2017, the account had just $10,000 dollars in it! Today, as all these new projects stand up, I’m proud to say, the account has $1.6 million dollars (of developer money) in it. Those funds aren’t taxpayer funds, and they go directly to homeowners in the realm of $22,000 forgivable grants. Thank you, developers!
As if that’s not enough. These agreements also allow us to gain community givebacks. One developer will be paying for the complete resurfacing of an often-unused parking lot in Silver Lake. In the end, residents in that area will finally have a commuter parking lot near the light rail. Or, how about the brand new municipal recreational facility that’s proposed next to number 9 school? Yes! Developers will fund the entire $1.6 million project which in the end, will yield another new field turfed, new basketball courts, a new playground, Pickle ball courts and yes, yet another dog park.
I want to tell you a story. I was recently at a Meet and Greet in the second floor lounge at the new Belmont project. I welcomed some of Belleville’s newest residents. You would be shocked to learn where they come from. Many are from the mid-west, Arkansas, and Kansas. While we are certainly attracting young professionals with disposable income to spend locally, not everyone moving into Belleville is a young professional. I met an older couple, early 70’s, from the Florida panhandle. I asked them what drew them to Belleville? They retorted, ‘the value and proximity to NYC’s museums’ They specifically chose to live there because they can walk and utilize the Silver Lake light rail. And they do it nearly every single day.
None of the successes, accomplishments and hurdles we have overcome would have been possible without the steadfast support of my two greatest allies, Deputy Mayor Naomy DePena and Councilman Tommy Graziano. Over the past three and half years, they have been rock solid. To be successful in this job, you need thick skin and a unique ability to ignore the noise and negativity. While we all stand side by side, Naomy’s ninja abilities somehow have us all watching each other’s back.
They have no doubt protected me when I was most vulnerable and taken their fair share of lumps. But, today, after seeing all the progress, after facing all the storms, trials and tribulations, I’m here to say the team is even more energized and motivated than in 2018!
Before I continue, I want to take the opportunity to thank the #BetterBelleville Civic Association for hosting tonight’s State of the Township Address.
It’s certainly unique to not to have this be a government-sponsored speech. But then again, nobody ever accused me of following the norm. That’s just not me; that’s just not us.
The #BBCA has been instrumental in fueling so much of the positivity and regained sense of community. They are a contagious resource and a vehicle for like-minded individuals to connect with one another, to volunteer and donate their time, all while supporting this township. And today, Belleville is a better place because of local organizations like BB, who take the time to work on behalf of the community. And for that, I sincerely thank them!
For the second time, our high school achievers and Mock Trial Team have joined us as my distinguished guests. Let me tell you something, if this is what Belleville’s turning out, our future is definitely bright. I recently spent time with these scholars for National Library week and I could NOT have been more impressed.!
After all, with Board President Muniz, Vice President Bennett-Meany and Trustee Tunis, at the helm, there are great things happening in the Belleville School District. The three of them, continue to raise the bar!
Allow me to use an excerpt from my 2019 State of the Township Address. Back then, I stated, “The Township is working extremely hard, in conjunction with Senator Teresa Ruiz and our School District to deliver a game changer for Belleville.”
In 2019, I went on: “We are closing in on the ability to offer free PreK to Belleville students! If it goes our way, we will receive a grant from the State to pay for 6 PreK classrooms with the ability to service 90 children, and their families. Because working class families benefit not only from beginning the education process of their children earlier, but also from not having to make the difficult decision to either stay at home with the child or pay for PreK. At that time, I concluded by saying, ‘Thank you Senator Ruiz.'”
To put it in perspective, when I got elected, Belleville was at 12% free pre k. In 2019, as you just heard, we were hoping for grant money to cover 90 children.
Well, I’m here tonight to tell you that in just 3.5 years, we have gone from 12% free Pre K to nearly, 90% free preK. This is a game changer!
Do you know what that means to a child? A working family?
We are setting our children up for success and I am proud to have pushed for and to have supported these initiatives.
The working relationship between the Board of Education and the township has never been better.
Sadly, because of redistricting, we are losing Senator Teresa and her team, she will surely be missed, as she’s always been an advocate for Belleville and our children. Also because of redistricting, Belleville will get a new Congressperson. Congresswomen Mikie Sherril has already reached out and we will soon be taking a tour of Belleville, ending with diner at the Legendary Belmont Tavern. I look forward to working closely with all our new legislators.
We are also focused on quality-of-life issues. For while I believe success is contagious, unfortunately, blight and disrepair spread just as quickly.
For decades, Belleville had vacant storefronts, few retail operators. Ugly graffiti covered newsstands littered Washington Avenue, we had no-name, supermarkets and low-end fast-food operators in our business districts.
Fast forward to today. Belleville is certainly rising. For we have created an economic environment in Belleville that now attracts international brands like German based Lidl, and someone said there’s a national ‘Coffee’ company coming to Belleville. I’m here tonight to say that, not only is Belleville getting a Starbucks but ours will have a drive-thru!
The list of our accomplishments is quite astounding. There’s a multi-facetted renaissance happening in Belleville. It is clear for everyone to see that every aspect of our lives in Belleville is changing for the better. There’s no doubt that the overwhelming majority of Belleville residents are happier today than they were just four years ago.
And there’s plenty to be happy about.
In the past few years, Belleville’s real estate values have skyrocketed! And features in Business View Magazine and the New York Times perpetuate this notion. We are continuing to break record after record for our housing values. That means, for most of us, including me, the largest asset you will ever own, is worth substantially more today than just 12 or 24 months ago!
And our newest residents aren’t pushing out our older residents, as a matter of fact, there hasn’t been one neighborhood that has gentrified. These professionals will create a local boom in our business economy. And, especially after Covid, I’m looking forward to supporting Belleville small businesses.
In the past few years, we have not only found new sources of revenue, but we have worked hard to curb costs.
Most talk about cutting costs, but few actually make the tough decisions.
Municipal salaries, compensation and insurance costs comprise most of our municipal budget. Just one way we’ve been able to stabilize our budget is the fact that there are fewer township employees today than when I took office four years ago. I don’t believe there’s another mayor in the history of Belleville who can make this claim.
We accomplished this, in part, by not replacing retiring employees who tend to be at the highest level of the pay scale. One department alone is down five employees and, in my opinion, operating just fine. Speaking of high salary employees at the top of the pay scale, we found that several of those positions… just weren’t necessary. Therefore, the council took the steps to delete the position totally, ensuring it could never get filled in the future.
With regard to new employees, the starting salaries for both clerk and DPW positions have been reduced by 25%.
The end result of finding new revenue and curbing costs is stabilized taxes. Homeowners know, that their property tax bill is comprised of all three taxes, municipal, county and school. Well. Last year’s ‘municipal tax’ increase was only $38 for the average assessed house.
We are clearly doing more with less.
In years past, residents received huge tax increases, with little or nothing new to show for it. With last year’s $38 increase behind us, look at all that’s been accomplished.
When my team, Tommy Graziano, Naomy DePena and I, originally ran for office we never promised to drastically reduce your taxes, we’re realists, what we did do, was promise to deliver quality services, facilities and events that proportionally match the taxes you pay.
And we’ve delivered on that promise!
Speaking of the budget, I’m here tonight to say this year’s 2022 budget is looking as good as last year’s. Residents can once again expect the most minimal increase. Meanwhile, we keep pouring gasoline on all the increased services, new events and upgraded facilities.
Speaking of new events and services, Belleville now has events that match, if not, outdo other municipalities. We created the first ever Food Truck Festival that’s heading into its fourth year.
Being that 48% of our township is Hispanic, for years it was a huge disservice, that prior administrations seemingly did nothing to support this substantial portion of the community. There were no bilingual speakers in town hall, and our ESL programs were no existent. Today, nearly every single front facing office in Town Hall has a Spanish speaking employee and our great Belleville Public Library has fantastic ESL programs.
We have one of the best ‘Three Kings Day’ events in the area, surpassing even Newark’s event. We continually celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and raise the flags of many different Central, South American and Caribbean Countries Spanish speaking countries.
Our community police bike ride, one of my favorite new events, demonstrates our police department’s commitment to community policing. And it’s paying off! We have also drastically upgraded our Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Pumpkin Patch events, which now draw thousands of residents. There’s nothing more satisfying then seeing the face of a young child enjoying these quality events.
For adults in the holiday spirit, we now have various home decorating contests that are widely promoted and participated in. Events such as these, absolutely work to regain that sense of Belleville Pride and Community that was nearly gone just a few years ago.
Speaking of community pride, have you seen the planter boxes on the corners? DPW walking Washington Avenue? Police Bike Patrol? How about the mural? Well, that, plus various other art installations have been made possible through the dedication and volunteerism of Belleville’s official artist, the great Athena Zhe.
Speaking of events, let me tell you something, I was sick and tired of my mother and her friends heading over to Lyndhurst every Wednesday night in the summer for their annual summer concert series. Why couldn’t Belleville do this? Well, that’s exactly what we did! Thanks to Manager Iacono, our summer lineup was an impressive list of eclectic groups and bands. We ran the gamut; from oldies, to Latin, rock and even soul. I’m proud to say, our summer concert series will be back this summer. We have certainly started a new annual tradition in Belleville!
Not only do we support our veterans, but we are constantly acknowledging them and thanking them for their service. We used to have just a Veteran’s Day Parade. But now, it’s a Veterans Day Weekend, consisting of a 5K race, whereby proceeds directly benefit our four great veterans organizations and fund a scholarship.
My commitment to our valued vets is steadfast. Some of our vets are here tonight as my honored guests. Let’s once again thank them for their service.
Unfortunately, there are those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. And for those, Belleville NJ became the first Purple Heart Community in Essex County. And a new monument at the Veterans Memorial commemorates this designation.
Modern Belleville is also a healthy Belleville. Belleville is engaging in many sustainable initiatives. In 2020, we received recognition and became a certified a Bronze sustainable community. Since then, under the direction of Green Team leader, Mrs. Gabby Bennett-Meany, Belleville has been awarded two more sustainable Jersey grants.
Our Municipal Green Team, which Councilman Cozzarelli, a trusted and valued colleague, is part of, recently announced that the township has received the coveted, ‘Healthy Towns to Watch’ designation,” one of only seven towns in NJ to receive.
We accomplished this by constantly engaging the community and encouraging healthy activities. We host ‘Walk at Work,’ events and if you have ever joined us for either ‘Yoga in the Park,’ on the fourth of July, or our extremely popular, ‘Street Yoga Under the Cherry Blossoms,’ pop up event on Lovely Mertz Avenue, you would see just how much the community is enjoying these healthy new activities.
Speaking of healthy activities, we are also focused on active adults. To that end, I’m pleased to announce that pickleball, the fastest growing sport in America, will be part of our recreational facility renaissance. We are planning not one, but two sets of courts, at two different locations.
And while I’m at it, why is it that only humans can enjoy all these new recreational facilities? Did you know that your dog, whether large or small, can now get in on the action? It’s true, we just finished Belleville’s first ever dog park and residents and dogs alike, are thrilled with it. And we aren’t finished yet, there’s a second, even larger, dog park coming soon to the municipal park at #9 school. It’ll be included in a $1.6 million improvement and best of all, it’s not costing the taxpayers one cent! It’s all being funded by a developer’s community contributions.
Speaking of new, outdoor recreational facilities that promote a healthy lifestyle. A once-in-a-generation opportunity exists to create nearly nine miles of linear park running directly through Belleville. This new Greenway, spanning Essex and Hudson Counties, will improve access to nature and create new recreational and transportation opportunities for our residents.
The Essex-Hudson Greenway will offer residents easy access to nature for a range of activities including walking, biking and running.
There’s no doubt about it. This is a gamechanger for our community.
Part of this new, modern Belleville renaissance are greatly improved, new recreational spaces. When my team and I got elected in 2018, Belleville had just one turf field and it was years past its life expectancy. For a town of our population, with our geographical size, we deserved better. And I think we’ve delivered on that!
When you add in the amazing public works projects the School District has embarked upon, collectively, we have quintupled the amount of field turf in Belleville is just 3.5 years.
Our new municipal stadium complex, along with the addition of an eight-lane competitive track, will be one of the only tracks in north jersey to host state track meets! Once complete, Our Stadium will be one of the best recreation facilities in the state. I told you Belleville was on the rise!
As I mentioned, the school district is certainly doing its part. In the past year or so, they completed the amazing work at Number 7 School and Number 8 school. These two new sport complexes, join the brand-new playgrounds located at nearly every single elementary school.
But that’s not all we’ve accomplished. We created Belleville’s first community garden located at Fairway Park, and we also installed brand new basketball courts at that location.
While I previously mentioned the $1.6 million improvement that’s coming to the municipal park down at #9 school, it’s worthy to note that the facility has already received an upgrade. We are quickly becoming a soccer community. Therefore, we currently have Belleville’s first, Futsal Court which again, came at zero taxpayer expense. We have also secured professional instruction and clinics by the NY/NJ Redbulls.
And since I believe progress is contagious, we are absolutely pleased to announce that Essex County is also making a substantial improvements into Belleville. Not only did they recently spent nearly $6 million upgrading Hendrick’s Golf course, one of only three in the county, but they have brought the nationally recognized First Tee program to Belleville. This means that 500 local kids will be exposed to golf at a young age. And if you know anything about golf, it’s all about learning the correct fundamentals at a young age. Not only will our children receive pro instruction, but they will have access to the best equipment and the ability to practice on an actual golf course.
But please don’t think our accomplishments are only for our children and active adults, for we have invested heavily into our most ‘seasoned citizens.’ For years, they had been underserviced and that ended nearly immediately upon our taking office.
I made a campaign promise to ride their senior bus during my first week in office. I did, and I dragged along Naomy… and while we had a great time with them, we saw firsthand their issues, concerns and struggles. The bus had a bad exhaust which filled the bus with dangerous carbon monoxide, and there wasn’t adequate room for their groceries. Well, let’s just say our seniors have a brand-new and well-deserved new senior shuttle.
Again, when I came into office and toured the senior center, it was in a state of disrepair. So not only did I promise a new bingo board, which has since been delivered, but while we closed down the center during covid, we worked to have a local developer provide a $40,000 upgrade to the facility; from new floors, to LED lighting and a new coat of paint, today’s senior center is much better than it was just last year.
Also, I promised them better programs. To that end, not only do I host an annual Senior BBQ, but we now have weekly Tai Chi Yoga and Zumba classes to keep our seniors moving.
And since everything can’t be fun and games, let’s talk about Belleville’s infrastructure.
Let’s start with the biggest improvements…. Next year, the state of NJ will transform Washington Avenue with a $13 million investment. The road will be unrecognizable when complete, this is a project that’s been a long time coming…
You may have noticed that PSEG ripped up a lot of streets. Well, in the past, they would just walk away and never addressed the damage. No more! We passed an ordinance that forces them to repave what they ripped up. Therefore, all the streets that just received new high pressure gas lines. Well…. Get ready… for your new street!
In the past few years, the township’s annual road improvement program has paved or is scheduled to pave 36 streets. I’m assuming that’s a record. And we aren’t just covering over old pipes. For the most part, we are replacing broken water mains and for the first time in history replacing residential lead service lines. To date, nearly 400 lines have been replaced, and all of the 17 streets we just bid out, will have their lead services lines replaced as well.
Our library is also in on the action under the direction of President Peralta, board trustees and our interim director. Over the past two years, they renovated all the children’s rooms and updated technology services by purchasing all new laptops. More recently, their brand new ESL programs now include citizenship courses.
Wow! All of that in under 4 years!
Property values are up. Crime is down. Our streets are cleaner, our local economy is booming, we are attracting International brands… we have new parks… new fields… a dog park, a community garden, murals, a new municipal stadium complex. We finally have a THAT track. We are closing in on nearly 90% free Pre-K. We have positive and global press… increased local pride, and Starbucks is coming!
If someone told you this was all possible, in just four short years, you would have called them a liar. But, I’m here to say, oh no! This is Belleville!
Belleville’s future is a bright …and we are only getting started!
Belleville is back! We are here to stay. Join with me and staying the course, as we continue to work toward an even better Belleville.
The world is filled with humor, inspiration and beauty. Here are seven stories to make you smile from Essex County, NJ.
Essex County native Wheeler Antabanez and WeirdNJTV recently released a video that chronicles the tale of a giant, Christmas-hat-wearing feline. (Photo courtesy of Wheeler Antabanez)
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The world can be a scary place. But it’s also filled with humor, inspiration and beauty. Let’s focus on that second part. Take a look at some recent good news stories in Essex County below. (Click the headlines to read).
Find out what’s happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Find out what’s happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Hundreds of “essential and excluded” immigrant workers plan to take the streets of downtown Newark this weekend to demand citizenship, COVID relief and job protections.
According to a statement from organizers, the march will begin with speeches at noon on Sunday, May 1 at Military Park, 51 Park Plaza. Participants will then walk along Broad Street towards the Rodino Federal Building, where Department of Homeland Security/ICE offices are located at 970 Broad Street. Several marchers plan to share their testimonies, and a small activity will take place. The marchers will then head towards Lincoln Park, located at 7 Lincoln Park, for a small gathering.
Members of several advocacy groups will be present, including Make the Road New Jersey, American Friends Service Committee, Latina Civic, NJCU Dreamers, New Jersey Working Families Party, North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, SEIU 32BJ, and UndocuRutgers.
The march is being held in solidarity with International Workers Day, also known as May Day. There will be several other events that take place in New Jersey that day, organizers said.
Organizers released the following statement about the march:
“In New Jersey, there are nearly a half million undocumented immigrants. More than half likely worked as essential workers throughout the pandemic but have been excluded from nearly every form of relief and still fear deportation. While the Excluded New Jerseyan Fund has supported some families to receive relief, the majority continue to be excluded from aid. Immigrants are an essential part of our country; they’re our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and community members. Most of us can agree that to live a good life, we should be able to provide for our families, put food on the table, see a doctor to stay healthy, and go to work without fear of being separated from our families. For undocumented immigrants, that vision of life is still not a reality. That is why on May Day, on International Workers Day, we honor the millions of immigrant essential workers that contribute to this country each day.”
Their demands include:
Economic Relief for All: We urge the New Jersey state legislature to allocate $1 billion dollars for the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund – no one should be left behind from aid. Two years into a pandemic, hundreds of thousands of immigrants and excluded New Jerseyans continue to be left behind and haven’t received a penny in aid. This pandemic taught us that no one is safe if we leave hundreds of thousands behind from aid. That is why we urge the legislature to create a permanent inclusion for excluded New Jerseyans – including immigrants, workers in the cash economy, and others that have not been able to access the safety net.
A pathway to citizenship: We urge Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship undocumented people who call this country home. Immigrant workers have worked essential jobs and have saved lives throughout the pandemic. We cannot wait any longer.
A stop to all deportations and detentions: We urge the Biden administration and Congress to end funding for ICE and CBP, to stop detentions and deportations and Title 42 immediately. Our communities deserve to live without fear
Jobs with dignity: Over 127,000 “temp” workers are working without basic protections and for the lowest wages. We demand justice and an immediate halt against temp agency exploitation of workers. It is time legislators pass the The Temp Workers Bill of Rights (S511.A1474) to guarantee fair wages, including equal pay for equal work for “temp” workers in NJ.
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com
