Pot is legal across the Garden State as of this Thursday, April 21. Although many of us thought that it’s about time that cannabis is taken off the list of criminal offenses, there are some concerns.
My friend Tom Pyle, a Princeton educated, local leader working with people afflicted with mental illness, joined me for an in-depth conversation on my podcast. We discussed the results in Colorado and other states which saw an increase in minority youths being arrested in the immediate aftermath of legalization, a rise in traffic accidents, and property crimes around the dispensaries.
I shared my thoughts after meeting with several large investors in local dispensaries learning that many leaders in the cannabis industry are the ones pushing for pot to remain illegal at the federal level.
It makes sense, of course. No pot across state lines forces local growing licenses, which limit supply and potentially keeps the price artificially high. The unintended consequence of this will likely be a thriving black market. Cheaper products lead to potentially more dangerous behavior.
My friend Heather Darling, who serves as the Morris County surrogate, weighed and shared some of the same concerns. Listen to my full conversation with Heather here:
And with Tom Pyle here:
Hit me up on the free New Jersey 101.5 app and let me know your thoughts about legal pot in the Garden State.
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill’s own. Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015.
LOOK: States With the Most New Small Businesses Per Capita
Every NJ city and town’s municipal tax bill, ranked
A little less than 30 cents of every $1 in property taxes charged in New Jersey support municipal services provided by cities, towns, townships, boroughs and villages. Statewide, the average municipal-only tax bill in 2021 was $2,725, but that varied widely from more than $13,000 in Tavistock to nothing in three townships. In addition to $9.22 billion in municipal purpose taxes, special taxing districts that in some places provide municipal services such as fire protection, garbage collection or economic development levied $323.8 million in 2021.
TRENTON — A New Jersey Catholic diocese has agreed to pay $87.5 million to settle claims involving clergy sex abuse with some 300 alleged victims in one of the largest cash settlements involving the Catholic church in the United States.
The agreement between the Diocese of Camden, which encompasses six counties in southern New Jersey on the outskirts of Philadelphia, and plaintiffs was filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Camden on Tuesday.
New Jersey has five Catholic dioceses. The Diocese of Camden is comprised of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, and Camden counties.
The settlement must still go before a U.S. bankruptcy judge. If approved, the settlement would exceed the nearly $85 million settlement in 2003 in the clergy abuse scandal in Boston, although it’s less than other settlements in California and Oregon.
“I want to express my sincere apology to all those who have been affected by sexual abuse in our Diocese,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan said in a statement. “My prayers go out to all survivors of abuse and I pledge my continuing commitment to ensure that this terrible chapter in the history of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey never happens again.”
Diocese of Camden Bishop Dennis J Sullivan
Diocese of Camden Bishop Dennis J Sullivan (Diocese of Camden)
Details about what allegedly happened to the roughly 300 victims were not included in the proposed settlement, according to an attorney for some 70 of the victims.
“This settlement with the Bishop of Camden is a powerful advance in accountability,” said Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing 74 of the roughly 300 survivors. “The credit goes to the survivors for standing up for themselves and the truth.”
The alleged sexual abuse occurred from the 1950s into the 1990s, Anderson said, but primarily unfolded in the 1960s and 1970s.
The diocese said the deal calls for setting up a trust, which will be funded over four years by the diocese and “related Catholic entities” to compensate survivors of sexual abuse. Part of the deal also requires maintaining or “enhancing” protocols to protect children.
Abuse survivors who filed a claim in the bankruptcy could get $290,000, according to victims’ attorneys Jay Mascolo and Jason Amala.
The agreement comes more than two years after New Jersey expanded the window of its civil statute of limitations to allow for victims of sexual abuse by priests to seek legal compensation. The legislation lets child victims sue up until they turn 55 or within seven years of their first realization that the abuse caused them harm. The previous statute of limitations was age 20 or two years after first realizing the abuse caused harm.
The diocese, like others across the country, had filed for bankruptcy amid a torrent of lawsuits — up to 55, according to court records — stemming from the relaxed statute of limitation.
In 2019, New Jersey’s Catholic dioceses listed more than 180 priests who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors over a span of several decades, joining more than two dozen other states that have named suspected abusers in the wake of a landmark grand jury report in Pennsylvania in 2018.
Many priests on the lists were deceased, and others were removed from ministry.
NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts
Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.
In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.
The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.
Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Questions to ask to see if someone’s REALLY from New Jersey
School aid for all New Jersey districts for 2022-23
The state Department of Education announced district-level school aid figures for the 2022-23 school year on Thursday, March 10, 2022. They’re listed below, alphabetically by county. For additional details from the NJDOE, including specific categories of aid, click here.
It is unlikely that New Jersey police officers will be banned from using recreational cannabis as legal sales begin this week in the Garden State.
New Jersey State Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, called regulating people’s behavior when they are on their own time a “very dangerous slippery slope” and one he was “not willing to go down.” Scutari made his comments during an event held at Rowan University.
That effectively kills any attempt to bar law enforcement from enjoying recreational cannabis when off-duty.
Gov. Phil Murphy indicated he was “open-minded” to talking about such a ban. Murphy said if there were “reasonable steps” to banning cannabis use for police and all first responders, he would “absolutely” consider it.
Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer, R-Gloucester, has already proposed such a prohibition, saying law enforcement need to be held to a higher standard.
“Our men and women in law enforcement have the responsibility to make life-altering decisions on a daily basis, for themselves, their partners, for the public,” Sawyer said. “I want to trust that they are at their best when doing so.”
Democratic Senator Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, also proposed a “zero tolerance” policy for marijuana use for law enforcement.
Without Scutari’s support, however, no ban would ever make it to Murphy’s desk to be signed into law.
Before Murphy made his comments, Attorney General Matthew Platkin had already issued a memo to police agencies across the state.
The memo stated that departments “may not take any adverse action against any officers because they do or do not use cannabis off duty.” That includes if officers test positive for weed use in drug screenings.
However, that does not mean they can come to work high or under the influence of any substance.
Murphy was clear on that when he spoke at an event on Monday, saying anyone who showed up for work impaired “would be dealt with aggressively.”
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The 2002-2003 New Jersey Nets: The last time the NBA Finals came through NJ
In 2012 the Nets made their Brooklyn debut, but before that, New Jersey was the home of the Nets dating back to 1977.
The franchise was born in 1967, under the name the New Jersey Americans. They played their games in Teaneck as part of the American Basketball Association. One year later they moved to Long Island, becoming the New York Nets.
It was there the team won two ABA championships in 1973-74 and 1975-76. The very next year the Nets, along with three other basketball franchises, were absorbed into the NBA as part of a merger deal, abolishing the ABA.
When the Nets first moved to New Jersey, they played their home games at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway. Then in 1981, they moved into the home many of us remember them in the most, the Brendan Byrne Arena in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford (later named the Continental Airlines Arena, then Izod center).
After years of losing, The Nets made it to two straight NBA Finals in 2001-02 and 2002-03. In 2002-03, the final time they sniffed the championship, the team lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
It would be the last time the Nets sniffed the title, but their efforts added them to New Jersey lore forever.
New Jersey’s new legislative districts for the 2020s
Boundaries for the 40 legislative districts for the Senate and Assembly elections of 2023 through 2029, and perhaps 2031, were approved in a bipartisan vote of the Apportionment Commission on Feb. 18, 2022. The map continues to favor Democrats, though Republicans say it gives them a chance to win the majority.
After a day of mask confusion on mass transit in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy hopes to have and “wrinkles” worked out soon.
When New Jersey Transit announced masks would still be required on trains and busses after a federal judge struck down the Biden administrations mass transit mask mandate, Murphy stepped in and said that was not the case.
He also didn’t seem thrilled that PATH trains are still requiring riders to mask-up. “God willing,” Murphy said during an event in Paterson, “We’ll get that sorted out sooner or later.”
PATH trains are run by the bi-state Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, so Murphy does not have the power to unilaterally say riders can take their masks off.
Murphy was asked if he was disappointed in the ruling invalidating the federal mask mandate. While he did not answer that question specifically, he said he believed the Biden administration was “headed that way anyway.”
As for New Jersey, Murphy says, “We almost always take the lead from the feds.”
Murphy’s comments Tuesday, and over the last two months, have been in stark contrast to what we heard over the first two years of the pandemic.
As the COVID pandemic began, Murphy imposed some of the toughest restrictions in the nation. The state was locked down for months, and even as Murphy began to relax some restrictions, he often did so at a slower pace than the neighboring states.
Murphy was among the last governors in the nation to lift the mask mandate in schools.
After two years of often speaking in dire terms, Murphy now appears almost cavalier about COVID.
His tone changed in January when, in an appearance on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,‘ Murphy said “We’re not going to manage this to zero. We have to learn how to live with this.” At the time, New Jersey was seeing record numbers of new COVID cases and hospitalization were near 6,000.
He has repeated that sentiment multiple times when talking about COVID, even as infections continue rising in New Jersey.
Despite the increased metrics, Murphy continues to insist he sees no need to impose new restrictions, saying “These waves come and go.”
Health officials reported 1,357 new COVID cases on Tuesday and another 11 deaths. Hospitalizations have increased to just below 400. That is still way off January’s peak, but in the past would have triggered warnings from Murphy.
“We’re probably in the soup for four to six weeks,” Murphy said, “but nothing remotely like we’ve gone through before.”
We’re coming up on another summer at the Jersey Shore! Before you get lost in the excitement of sunny days on the sand, we’re running down how much seasonal/weekly/daily beach tags will cost you, and the pre-season deals you can still take advantage of!
NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022
UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.
(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)
Every NJ city and town’s municipal tax bill, ranked
A little less than 30 cents of every $1 in property taxes charged in New Jersey support municipal services provided by cities, towns, townships, boroughs and villages. Statewide, the average municipal-only tax bill in 2021 was $2,725, but that varied widely from more than $13,000 in Tavistock to nothing in three townships. In addition to $9.22 billion in municipal purpose taxes, special taxing districts that in some places provide municipal services such as fire protection, garbage collection or economic development levied $323.8 million in 2021.
NEW JERSEY — The most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.
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.
These foods are extra hard to find right now because of shortages, supply chain issues
Notice your grocery store shelves looking a little bare lately? You’re definitely not the only one. Supply chain issues have created shortages of highly specific ingredients.
‘It’s up to us’: Fauci says pandemic could possibly end by spring 2022
The nation’s top infectious disease expert believes the pandemic’s end is near as long as the U.S. follows the right protocols to contain COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s only open if the country’s 80 million to 90 million unvaccinated people are convinced to get the shot.
Comirnaty: What’s the story behind the new Pfizer vaccine name?
Comirnaty, who? It’s the same exact mRNA vaccine Pfizer has been producing through the emergency use authorization, but now it’s being marketed under a new name.
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 Tuesday, there have been 1,925,710 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 30,331 lab-confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to the state Health Department.
Living in a Brooklyn apartment with two young children in the middle of the pandemic, Megan Melamed, 41, and Alex Abell, 39, started their search for a suburban home in Maplewood, N.J. But the couple, both social workers, soon realized it was out of their price range, so they turned to the nearby Essex County township of West Orange, where they eventually bought a 1915 house with four bedrooms in October 2020, for $457,500.
The couple’s story is typical of how many buyers find West Orange — after searching in better known but more expensive communities, like Maplewood and Montclair.
But Ms. Melamed and Mr. Abell have come to appreciate more than just West Orange’s reasonably priced housing: There’s the manageable commute, the diverse community and the abundant green spaces, including large sections of two Essex County parks.
“It doesn’t take much to be in nature here,” Ms. Melamed said.
But as in other suburban areas, the pandemic has heightened the demand for homes in the township. “Covid brought in a lot of people from the city,” said Amy McCampbell, a West Orange resident and an agent with Village Square Realtors in Montclair.
Jessica Frasz, 40, a graphic artist, and Andrew Frasz, 39, a photographer, moved to West Orange from Brooklyn with their two young children in the fall of 2019, paying $477,000 for a 1930s colonial. When the pandemic began a few months later, the family found that hiking in South Mountain Reservation, an Essex County park, “was something for us to do without coming into contact with people,” Ms. Frasz said.
It was the green space that drew Vanessa July, 30, and Garrett Banks, 33, to West Orange, after riding out the early months of the pandemic in Jersey City, N.J. Ms. July said she longed to be able to “step outside into nature, versus concrete.” The couple bought a four-bedroom house built in 1946 in March 2021, paying $475,000.
The couple, who are African American and work in technology, were also drawn to the multicultural mix: Of the township’s 49,000 residents, 41 percent identify as white, 27 percent as Black, 22 percent as Hispanic and 7 percent as Asian. “We care about having diversity in the neighborhood,” Ms. July said.
The township is also the site of several notable redevelopment projects. An older office park on Executive Drive is being turned into a mix of offices and apartments with a new public library. The old library, near the municipal building, is to be replaced by affordable senior housing.
A vacant property near the Thomas Edison National Historical Park is also slated for redevelopment. The township has named the MBS Group, a California-based company that operates film studios, as interim developer and is in talks about a possible studio complex on the site, said Robert D. Parisi, the township’s mayor.
What You’ll Find
About 18 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, West Orange covers 12 square miles on the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains, with views of the New York City skyline. The township is bounded by Livingston, Roseland and Essex Fells to the west; Verona to the north; Montclair to the northeast; Orange to the east; and South Orange and Millburn to the south.
“There’s a ton of variety in the housing stock,” Ms. McCampbell said, with picturesque prewar homes in some neighborhoods and postwar split-levels and Cape Cods in others.
West Orange also has more townhouse communities than some surrounding areas, said Stan Rubin, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in Livingston.
What You’ll Pay
According to the Garden State Multiple Listing Service, in the 12 months ending March 25, 727 single-family homes sold for a median price of $498,000, compared with 754 home sales at a median price of $425,000 in the previous 12 months — a decrease in sales volume, Ms. McCampbell said, caused by a lack of inventory.
A recent check of the multiple listing service turned up 64 homes on the market, from a two-bedroom condominium listed for $175,000 to a six-bedroom house on an acre listed for $1.75 million.
The Vibe
West Orange lacks the lively, restaurant-dense downtown of some neighboring communities. Stores, restaurants and other businesses can be found along three miles of Main Street, in two strip shopping centers and in small clusters around the township. Popular eating and drinking establishments include Harper’s Cafe, a Thai restaurant called Fa La La, Nicholas Anthony’s Family Kitchen, Mama Dag’s Seafood & Pizza House and McLoone’s Boathouse.
The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center, an outdoor amphitheater owned by the township, offers music and theater, as does Luna Stage, a professional theater founded in Montclair.
The township is home to five golf courses and parts of two sprawling Essex County parks: Eagle Rock Reservation and South Mountain Reservation. Popular attractions at South Mountain Reservation include hiking trails, Turtle Back Zoo, the Richard J. Codey Arena for ice skating and the paddle boats at the Orange Reservoir. Another favorite summer hangout is Ginny Duenkel Pool, owned by the township and named for a local swimmer who competed in the 1964 Olympics.
The Schools
The West Orange public schools serve about 6,600 students in 12 schools: one preschool, seven elementary schools, one sixth-grade school, two middle schools serving seventh and eighth grades, and West Orange High School. The student body is about 36 percent Black, 34 percent Hispanic, 19 percent white and 5 percent Asian, according to the New Jersey Department of Education.
The average SAT scores in 2020-21 were 570 in reading and writing, compared with a statewide average of 557, and 557 in math, compared with a statewide average of 560. About 85 percent of West Orange High School’s graduates continue to college, compared with 74 percent statewide.
Private schools in West Orange include Seton Hall Preparatory School, a Catholic high school for boys, and Golda Och Academy, a Jewish preparatory school for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.
The Commute
West Orange doesn’t have a train station, but free jitney buses sponsored by the township take commuters to and from New Jersey Transit stations in neighboring towns. The train ride from South Orange to Penn Station in Manhattan takes 35 to 45 minutes; the fare is $7.25 one way or $210 monthly.
The DeCamp Bus Lines trip to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan takes about an hour; the fare is $8.15 one way or $267 for a 40-trip package. The Community Coach bus trip to Manhattan takes about 45 minutes, with a fare of $9.15 one way or $293 for a 40-trip package.
Some commuters prefer to drive about six miles to Newark or Harrison, and take the PATH train into New York. The trip from Harrison to the World Trade Center takes 20 minutes, and costs $2.75 one way or $104 for 40 trips.
For commuters who drive, Interstate 280 cuts through West Orange, offering connections to the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The drive to Midtown Manhattan takes about 30 minutes with no traffic, but can be much longer during peak travel times.
The History
In 1887, the inventor Thomas Alva Edison opened a laboratory in West Orange, where he worked on motion pictures, storage batteries for electric cars and the phonograph, among many other innovations. The property held the world’s first motion picture studio, the Black Maria, as well as a research library and machine shops. The laboratory closed soon after Edison’s death in 1931, and became the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in 2009.
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Starting Thursday, April 21 (no, not 4/20), adult recreational marijuana users 21 and older will be able to purchase recreational cannabis and cannabis products at 13 dispensaries across the state — without a medical card.
The Apothecarium in Maplewood is one of the medical dispensaries that will be selling recreational marijuana Thursday.
If you feel like taking a drive, see the list below of all New Jersey locations where you can expect to buy recreational marijuana. The closest ones in Essex County are RISE/GTI in Bloomfield and The Apothecarium in Maplewood. Montclair’s Ascend dispensary (formerly Greenleaf Compassion, which was the first medica dispensary in New Jersey) is not on the list because Montclair has yet to give the local approval needed for the expansion into recreational sales.
Recreational cannabis customers will be able to buy up to 1 ounce of dried flower or up to 5 grams of concentrates, resins, or oils, or 10 100mg packages of ingestible items in a single transaction.
“We expect 13 locations for the entire state will make for extremely busy stores,” said Jeff Brown, executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. “The dispensaries have assured us that they are ready to meet the demand without disrupting patient access, and with minimal impact on the surrounding communities, but patience will be key to a good opening day.”
Dispensaries are required to put patient access policies in place so that registrants in New Jersey’s Medicinal Cannabis Program do not have to wait on long lines or risk not getting their medicine. Facilities are expected to implement special lines or hours, online ordering, curbside pick-up, or home delivery to ensure patient access is uninterrupted.
“We encourage everyone to be safe – buy only from licensed dispensaries and start low and go slow. Remember that the laws against impaired driving apply to being high,” cautioned Brown. “Our guests from neighboring states should remember it is illegal to transport cannabis across state lines.”
New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission asks that you prepare for long lines and offers these tips to partake safely:
Start low and go slow – follow product instructions and remember ingestible products can take longer to take effect than smoking or vaping. Call NJ Poison Center at 800-222-1222 if you are concerned you may have ingested or used too much.
Store your legal cannabis products securely, out of the reach of kids. Legal cannabis products are in child safe packaging, but always keep them secure and out of the reach of anyone under the age of 21.
Don’t drive while high. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and dangerous.
Dispensary locations in North Jersey:
Apothecarium, 1865 Springfield, Avenue, Maplewood Apothecarium, 55 South Main Street, Phillipsburg Ascend Wellness, 174 Route 17 North, Rochelle Park RISE, 26-48 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield RISE, 196 3rd Avenue, #3C, Paterson
Dispensary locations in Central Jersey: Zen Leaf, 117 Sprint Street, Elizabeth Zen Leaf, 3256 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township
Dispensary locations in South Jersey: The Botanist, 100 Century Drive, Egg Harbor Township The Botanist, 2090 N Blackhorse Pike, Williamstown The Cannabist/Columbia Care, 1692 Clements Bridge Road, Deptford – 5 PM Open for recreational The Cannabist/Columbia Care, 1062 North Delsea Drive, Vineland – 5 PM Open for recreational Curaleaf, 640 Creek Road, Bellmawr Curaleaf, 4237 US-130 South, Edgewater Park
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ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Violent incidents including an inmate death, a sexual assault and a pair of fires have recently taken place within the Essex County prison system, despite an ongoing review of the local jail, a police union says.
In December, authorities announced that an independent review of the Essex County Correctional Facility was being launched in the wake of a vicious beating and the stabbing death of an inmate. The violence caused officials to take yet another hard look at the prison, which has seen staunch criticism for alleged health and safety risks over the years.
With advocates, family members and staff demanding changes, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said the county was launching an “independent review” of the facility, which is located in Newark and is paid to house inmates from Union County. Read More:Essex County Promises New Review Of Prison As Pressure Mounts
Find out what’s happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But according to Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 106 — which represents sergeants, lieutenants, captains and investigators within the Essex County Department of Corrections — violent acts have continued to take place involving inmates in the county’s custody.
Recent incidents include:
Find out what’s happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Feb. 22 – Garrison Bryant died while in custody. He was an inmate at Delaney Hall, a facility adjacent to the jail run by the GEO Group, which contracts with the Essex County Correctional Facility.
March 10 – A fire started by an inmate prompted the temporary evacuation of more than 60 prisoners from a housing unit. Two sergeants were sent to the hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation and released later that night.
March 11 – Two separate “one on one” fights between inmates took place. One fight was between inmates from Essex County and Union County. The other was between two inmates in a quarantine unit. No weapons were used, and no inmate was hospitalized.
March 12 – An Essex County inmate was sent to University Hospital at approximately 1:30 a.m. with a laceration to his back. An internal investigation determined there was no evidence of inmate-on-inmate violence.
March 13 – A county prisoner allegedly threatened suicide if he wasn’t released as part of the state’s COVID-19 credit program. He was released from custody the same day.
March 13 – An inmate at the Essex County Correctional Facility allegedly attempted to hang himself.
March 15 or 16 – An inmate started a small fire in a housing unit. It was put out immediately; nobody was injured or taken to the hospital. The inmate was transferred to another facility.
In addition to the above incidents, an inmate-on-inmate sexual assault was reported “sometime during the period,” the union said.
It isn’t only inmates who are at risk, union spokespeople say.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 106 previously told Patch that during the first six months of 2021, at least 21 officers were assaulted by inmates at the prison, sending 14 of them to a hospital emergency room.
Over the same period, 81 staff members were reported being exposed or assaulted with a prisoner’s bodily fluids. The latest such incident took place on March 13, when an officer assigned to a detention unit was assaulted with a yellow liquid, possibly urine. The inmate was “charged accordingly,” officials said; the officer declined medical attention.
As prison staff become more worried about their own safety amid the violence, administrators have been warned — but haven’t acted, the union alleged in December.
“We have been alerting everyone from Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., to the Essex County Board of Commissioners, and beyond for at least a year that there were serious issues with the current jail administration,” union spokespeople told Patch in a joint statement.
“These ranged from conflicts of interest to what we knew were — and are — imminent threats to the physical safety of prisoners and staff,” they continued. “All of our warnings went unheeded.”
‘KEEPING THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN’
When reached for comment about the recent incidents at the prison, Essex County Chief of Staff Phil Alagia said the county appreciates the hard work that correctional police officers do every day at a difficult job.
“Keeping the lines of communication open with our officers and staff is important to continue the effective operation of our facility,” Alagia told Patch.
Alagia said the county has made several investments during the last two years to improve safety at the prison, including:
“Purchasing Chemical Detection Machines that can find traces of illegal substances in mail. This cost about $150,000 and has helped keep illegal substances, such as narcotics, out of the jail.”
“Purchasing eight Cell Sense Machines at a cost of about $160,000 to help prevent hidden objects from being smuggled into the jail.”
“Investing in purchasing and fitting new protection vests for corrections officers after the suggestion was made during a town hall meeting.”
“Installing several new security cameras to enhance the safety of officers and inmates.”
“Investing over $2 million in new technology this year to expand video courts and online communications for inmates, all with the goal of keeping the facility safe.”
“Overstaffing the facility to ensure manpower is not an issue. We currently are operating over our budgeted staffing levels and anticipate bringing on another 50 new officers by the end of May.”
“The Essex County administration and leadership at the Essex County Correctional Facility take seriously our responsibility to provide a safe and secure atmosphere for the employees and the inmates at the ECCF,” Alagia said. “This is displayed by the fact that the ECCF has been accredited by the American Correctional Association since 2013.”
“It should be noted that this high standard of operation is only earned to a select few facilities in the world,” Alagia said. “Our ACA auditor estimated that just 12 percent of correctional facilities in the world have this designation.”
Alagia continued:
“In addition to the periodic inspections by the ACA, and other accrediting agencies, Essex County has taken the initiative to conduct a self-evaluation. During the pandemic, the county executive created the first-ever Civilian Task Force in the state of New Jersey to address systemic issues affecting the ECCF. This independent body has held numerous public and private meetings, and conducted both scheduled and unannounced visits to tour the facility. After a recent homicide at the jail, we realized a comprehensive review of policies and operational standards was necessary and retained the highly respected Ambrose Group to conduct a thorough review. We look forward to all recommendations by the Civilian Task Force and the Ambrose Group to make or facility even better.”
Alagia said the coronavirus pandemic may also be contributing to the ongoing violence at the prison. He said:
“COVID-19 created many unforeseen challenges in all aspects of our daily lives, which includes operations at our correctional facility. While we did exemplary work to minimize the impact of the virus on the population in our facility, we have seen other consequences created by the pandemic. One byproduct has been an increase in the number of violent incidents; this is happening across the country and not just at the ECCF. To prevent the spread of the virus, we instituted a number of social distancing initiatives which resulted in the suspension of visitation, recreation, in-person religious services and programs; this also resulted in meetings between inmates and their attorneys more difficult. In addition, the suspension of court operations meant legal cases stalled and inmates were being held for longer periods of time, thereby causing frustration among the inmates. We believe this is one of the major reasons for the increase in violence across the country during the last two years.”
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A coalition of Essex County faith leaders plan to gather outside two banks in Newark on Thursday to demand that Chase and Wells Fargo “end their investments in fossil fuels” and reinvest the money in clean energy and green jobs.
According to a news release from organizers, the “Freedom from Fossil Fuels Multi-faith Action” will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 550 Broad Street.
Organizers released the following statement about Thursday’s actions, which are being done in solidarity with others nationwide:
“During Earth Week, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith leaders from greater Newark will be leading a public action to demand that Chase Bank and Wells Fargo end their investments in fossil fuels and invest in clean energy and green jobs. As our communities celebrate Passover, Ramadan and Easter, we will act in partnership with over twenty similar efforts around the country supported by Greenfaith and Dayenu. This event, co-sponsored by the Newark Green Team, brings people of faith together with local climate justice advocates who are calling for an end to polluting facilities in Newark and investment in local climate solutions that generate green jobs, especially for Black, Brown and low-income communities.”
Organizers continued:
“Faith leaders from Bnai Keshet, Masjid Muhammad Social Services, Bethany Baptist Church and local advocates will assemble in front of the Chase and Wells Fargo branches at 550 Broad Street in downtown Newark. Participants will enter branches to sing, pray, deliver letters to the CEOs, and share personal testimony about the impact of the climate crisis. These representatives of our various communities, too often kept apart by segregation and economic inequality, are collectively demanding that Chase and Wells Fargo take responsibility, end their polluting investments, and scale up investment in a just, livable future for all.”
“Here in Newark and Essex County, we know it is unacceptable that banks make money in our communities while investing in ways that endanger our children with worsening heatwaves, floods, storms, and air pollution,” said Elliott Tepperman, senior rabbi at Bnai Keshet in Montclair.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A coalition of Essex County faith leaders plan to gather outside two banks in Newark on Thursday to demand that Chase and Wells Fargo “end their investments in fossil fuels” and reinvest the money in clean energy and green jobs.
According to a news release from organizers, the “Freedom from Fossil Fuels Multi-faith Action” will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 550 Broad Street.
Organizers released the following statement about Thursday’s actions, which are being done in solidarity with others nationwide:
“During Earth Week, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith leaders from greater Newark will be leading a public action to demand that Chase Bank and Wells Fargo end their investments in fossil fuels and invest in clean energy and green jobs. As our communities celebrate Passover, Ramadan and Easter, we will act in partnership with over twenty similar efforts around the country supported by Greenfaith and Dayenu. This event, co-sponsored by the Newark Green Team, brings people of faith together with local climate justice advocates who are calling for an end to polluting facilities in Newark and investment in local climate solutions that generate green jobs, especially for Black, Brown and low-income communities.”
Organizers continued:
“Faith leaders from Bnai Keshet, Masjid Muhammad Social Services, Bethany Baptist Church and local advocates will assemble in front of the Chase and Wells Fargo branches at 550 Broad Street in downtown Newark. Participants will enter branches to sing, pray, deliver letters to the CEOs, and share personal testimony about the impact of the climate crisis. These representatives of our various communities, too often kept apart by segregation and economic inequality, are collectively demanding that Chase and Wells Fargo take responsibility, end their polluting investments, and scale up investment in a just, livable future for all.”
“Here in Newark and Essex County, we know it is unacceptable that banks make money in our communities while investing in ways that endanger our children with worsening heatwaves, floods, storms, and air pollution,” said Elliott Tepperman, senior rabbi at Bnai Keshet in Montclair.
