Author: ECCYC

MAYOR BARAKA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR BIDEN-HARRIS LEAD PIPE AND PAINT ACTION PLAN

Proposed federal legislation will support nationwide efforts to remove lead pipes and deliver clean drinking water

Newark, NJ-December 16, 2021-Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced that the City of Newark is supporting the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan legislation being proposed today to remove lead pipes and paint and deliver clean drinking water to communities nationwide.

Under the legislation, 10 federal agencies would be committed to 15 new actions to make rapid progress to replace all lead pipes in American municipalities in the next decade, particularly focusing on homes, schools, child-care centers, and playgrounds. In addition, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development will award grants to remove lead paints and other home health hazards in low-income communities to protect children and families.

“Newark has worked aggressively to remove all dangerous lead lines from our city,” Mayor Baraka said. “Experts said it would take us a minimum of 10 years to do so. Our city set a goal to have it completed under three, proving that with a collective effort and strategy at the local, county, state and federal level this can be accomplished. Today at the national level, President’s Biden’s investment will assuredly protect and safeguard the lives of present and future generations of Americans, especially older communities like Newark, which suffer from a disproportionate amount of lead pipes, lead paint, and the health issues they create. I commend our President and Vice President Harris on their leadership on this issue and urge the Congress to pass this legislation swiftly.”

The funding will build on $350 billion provided in the American Rescue Plan that states, localities, and Tribes are able to utilize for lead pipes and the replacement of faucets and fixtures inside schools and child-care facilities. In addition to activating these investments, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers the central funding to achieve the President’s bold vision as the Administration will accelerate its efforts leveraging new and existing funds, proposing ambitious regulations, removing obstacles to lead line replacements, and creating targeted efforts to remove lead lines from federally assisted housing and schools and child care centers.

“It was a privilege to join with Vice President Harris at this announcement today and witness the Biden Administration’s commitment on this critical issue. Since we began our lead removal program in 2019, Newark has removed more than 22,000 such lines,” said Water and Sewer Utilities Director Kareem Adeem, “at no cost to property owners, and made $190 million in improvements to our system to monitor, maintain, and enhance its quality.”

Reasons why Newark achieved this are as follows:

•           Under the Baraka administration, Newark made $190 million in improvements to its water system, including upgrades in monitoring technology, filtration and environmental systems and delivery infrastructure, all before they saw their first lead exceedances. This created less obstacles for citywide lead service line replacement.

•           The leadership of Director Adeem, who took over after the sudden death of former Director Andrea Hall Adebowale just as Newark was investigating the reasons for our problem. Director Adeem began with the water department as laborer, literally working his way up from the trenches.

•           Since lead service lines are the property of the homeowner, we had to work with our state legislature that allowed us to use public funds on private property for the purpose of replacing lead service lines.

•           Since 74 percent of Newark residents rent, a City ordinance was passed to allow replacement of lead service lines without the homeowner’s permission because tracking down landlords would have slowed the process and left some homes undone.

•           Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo’s willingness to use the county’s AAA bond rating for the City to comfortably secure a $120 million bond, allowing Newark to accelerate the work in a way that sets national precedents.

A link to the White House fact sheet on the proposed legislation can be found here.

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

This past year was another face-off between law firms and the pandemic, and while attorneys may have been uncertain about the outcomes, many law firms in New Jersey and across the…

You’d think that the term “concentration camp” would be a thing of the past after the Allies defeated the Nazis in World War II. For those of us who are students of history, the extend of abuse and genocide practiced by the government does not come as a surprise.

As the saying goes, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Sadly, too many today turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the real suffering of missions around the globe. Human trafficking, slavery, and yes, concentration camps where individuals and families are tortured and killed, are very much a part of “modern society”.

The Chinese communists are some of the worst offenders in history. Thankfully, leaders like Congressman Chris Smith are not afraid to call them out and act. He joined me on the show today to talk about his latest bill which passed the House unanimously and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed by the president.

Of course, in my opinion, and Congressman Smith backed this up, this president is so closely tied to the Chinese communists that he has delayed and tried to avoid calling out the CCP, despite the fact that they torture and kill innocents as a part of their normal course of governing.

The woke corporate culture in the U.S. is so disgustingly hypocritical that they refuse to condemn China for their heinous crimes against humanity but are quick to judge and boycott states which pass laws to protect women and unborn children.

Congressman Smith and I are friends and have been for nearly two decades. We certainly did not see eye-to-eye when he voted for Biden’s infrastructure bill and the funding of the state’s vaccine databases. But our differences aside, he is a courageous man who stands on principle, despite the attacks from both sides of the political aisle.

He has been a champion of those without a voice including the unborn and victims of human trafficking throughout his career. I’m proud to call Chris a friend and stand by his efforts to expose evil in the world.

You can listen to our conversation here:

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.

Porn stars. Families living in motels. Immigrants delivering takeout. Sex workers. Street vendors hawking designer knockoffs.

To society, they are on the margins.

To Sean Baker, they are the shining center of his films.

His latest movie, the dark comedy “Red Rocket,” stars Simon Rex in an energetic, career-jolting performance as Mikey Saber, a has-been Los Angeles porn star who comes crawling back to his Texas hometown, with hilarious and terrible results.

This rip-roaring profile of a particularly brazen hustler is at various points whimsical, outrageous and just plain funny.

Baker’s work is often praised for its realism and humor — the very name “Red Rocket” is a euphemism for a part of a male dog’s anatomy. His films are also known for their striking beauty, heart and compassion — for meeting characters where they live.

The director (”The Florida Project”), who grew up in Essex and Somerset counties, has been writing and directing indie film gems for more than 20 years.

Where did Baker cultivate an eye for life on the fringes?

New Jersey, of course.

“I actually haven’t thought about this in years, but I was a taxi driver in Somerville,” Baker, 50, tells NJ Advance Media.

“That was the best learning experience for somebody like me who’s trying to do character studies and focus on human behavior.”

The director, who was 19 and living with his family in Branchburg, started the job at Sky View Taxi the summer he returned to New Jersey after his first year at college. His experience interacting with hundreds of riders each week — what he calls a daily “sociological” practice — stayed with him.

His acclaimed 2015 film “Tangerine,” an intense, amusing and touching movie filmed on three iPhones, follows two transgender sex workers, Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), on a mission during Christmas Eve in Los Angeles. Karren Karagulian, who is in all of Baker’s films, plays Razmik, an Armenian taxi driver.

“All the taxi stuff from that film essentially comes from my time as a taxi driver in New Jersey,” the director says from Los Angeles, laughing. “Maybe except for the more sexual stuff.”

Though he’s made seven films, Baker, and the humanity in his work, has drawn more appreciation in recent years.

Willem Dafoe was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for the director’s celebrated 2017 film “The Florida Project.” At its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in July, “Red Rocket,” nominated for the Palme d’Or, received a five-minute standing ovation.

“People think I just started with ‘Tangerine’ or maybe even with ‘Florida Project,’” Baker says. “I’ve worked in this independent film realm for forever. So breaking out has taken a while.”

Mikey Saber is an unapologetic scoundrel.

But in Baker’s “Red Rocket” — which opened Dec. 10 in New York and arrives in New Jersey theaters this Christmas — Mikey’s charm offensive is so formidable, he’s able to extract second, third and fourth chances from those he’s mistreated.

Simon Rex’s faded porn actor has no shame, and that is part of his appeal.

Rex, 47, has been accruing Oscar buzz for his performance and is nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best male lead, with good reason — Mikey’s appeal owes much to the actor’s frenetic finesse and spot-on comic timing.

Baker says the starring role was long overdue for Rex, an actor who has been many other things over his own 25-year career.

“What really impressed me was that he just kept coming back, even though the industry never gave him the meaty, dramatic roles I think he deserved, and hopefully that’s majorly changed now,” he says.

A generation of ‘80s babies will remember Rex as an MTV VJ who interviewed the likes of Tupac Shakur in the mid-’90s before moving on to acting roles in TV and film, including the “Scary Movie” film parody franchise.

In the 2000s, Rex offered his own brand of hip-hop by performing in music videos as the rapper Dirt Nasty (name self-explanatory), later forming a comedy rap supergroup called Three Loco with fellow MTV alums Andy Milonakis and Riff Raff.

Baker had followed Rex’s career, keeping tabs on his social media activity (his music videos and other Dirt Nasty-era dispatches have millions of views).

“He always showed me that there was talent there,” he says. “Even if it was a six-second Vine video, the guy made me laugh. He entertained me.”

Then Baker saw Rex play battle rap promoter Donnie Narco in the 2017 Eminem-produced movie “Bodied.”

Caution: video contains profanity

“I said to myself, ‘Oh, that’s it, he’s proven himself,’” he says. “’I can see as a director that this guy has range.’”

Baker texted his producer one of Rex’s Vine videos (the short-form video app shut down in 2017).

“If we ever move ahead with ‘Red Rocket,’” he said, “We’re going to use this guy.’”

But after “Florida Project,” that movie took a backseat while Baker worked on a Vancouver-set film about activism around the opioid crisis. (”I know how hard it’s hit New Jersey,” Baker says. “I have family members who have been personally affected by the current epidemic. So hopefully this film is something that sheds light on how the U.S. could better handle this.”)

“COVID brought that to a screeching halt, and then we pivoted to ‘Red Rocket.’ And that’s when Simon’s name came back into the conversation,” Baker says.

After working with a larger crew on “The Florida Project,” Baker relished the “Red Rocket” crew of 10, which was more reminiscent of his time on “Tangerine.” The smaller scale allowed him to return to a “totally guerilla-style way of filmmaking,” which he calls “very liberating and very freeing.”

Rex had almost no time to prepare for the film, which Baker shot in less than a month and under COVID-19 protocols in the fall of 2020 in Texas City (Mikey’s hometown in the story) and Galveston, Texas, a landscape distinguished by oil refineries and the Galveston Bay.

“I think I was like the last person cast,” Rex says. “They had a few people in mind for the lead role, some bigger names than me.”

But Baker could see the actor was ready for his moment. He got Rex’s number through a mutual friend and asked him to audition on his phone.

“I asked him for a self-tape for one scene, one of the early scenes in the film when he comes to the house and tries to work his way back into his ex’s life,” the director says. “Within 20 minutes he sent us back a tape. I said, ‘See, he got it. He understands the character enough.’”

He told the actor that was exactly the energy he needed for Mikey.

“It just happened,” Rex says. “I still don’t understand.”

Baker told him they were renting him a car. He’d need to be in Texas in three days.

The actor arrived with many of Mikey’s monologues already committed to memory. He started rehearsing with Bree Elrod, who plays his long-suffering wife and former porn scene partner, Lexi.

“I knew from that day that I was going to have no problem,” Baker says. “Their instincts were dead on.”

Like Mikey, Rex was in something of a career low. He leaned into it a few years ago by moving out to the desert (Joshua Tree, California). When Baker called, Rex didn’t know what to expect of the director, whose name had become synonymous with a certain prestige in indie films.

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, you know, Sean Baker, he’s a big deal,’” Rex says. “And then as soon as I hung out with him, I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s just one of the boys. He doesn’t carry himself like the serious auteur that I envisioned him like. He’s a lot more personable.’”

In Baker, Rex found something of a kindred spirit.

“We spent a few days before we started shooting kind of driving around, and I just got that he was kind of like me in a good way, sort of curious,” he says.

Rex and Elrod, his co-star, had hours, not days, to manufacture a credibly unstable relationship between Mikey and Lexi. While Elrod says he’s “not Mikey at all,” they were able to tap into Rex’s natural charisma and their shared silliness when fleshing out the frayed relationship between the characters.

Rex braced for how people would receive him in the role. For much of his career, he was accustomed to being an “easy target,” he says, someone who knew that being panned was a necessary job hazard.

But after the world premiere of the film last summer at the Cannes Film Festival, there was a wave of positive feedback from critics, bloggers and other actors.

“I was getting all this love and support, and not only just good reviews, but people saying they’re rooting for me,” Rex says. “That feels good because I’m kind of used to it being the other way around.”

Baker’s first film, “Four Letter Words” (2000), had a small release and screened at the South By Southwest Film Festival. He’s excited about its restoration for a “proper” release next year.

The director considers the movie, about a group of 20-something men hanging out with their red plastic cups in the tri-state area, to be a semi-autobiographical story.

“If I could say there was one film that was a New Jersey suburban film, it’s that,” Baker says, though he filmed it on Long Island. “And once I did it, I sort of got that out of my system and said, ‘I’m ready to explore other things.’

“I am 50 now, so I’ve had life experience and I’ve traveled and I’ve had relationships. So there’s a lot more to say now. But when I was 23 years old making my first film, all I knew was the New Jersey suburbs, and that was what my story was at that time.”

Baker was born in Summit and spent the first part of his childhood in Essex County, in Short Hills. His mother worked as an early education teacher and his father as a trademark lawyer.

As a child, Baker would make films and “remake” movies with his sister, the mononymous “Red Rocket” production designer Stephonik, who has worked on several of his films.

“I think our first film together, I was maybe 4 and he was 8,” she says. “He had a Super 8 camera, and I was the production designer. I made a ship, and we remade ‘Gilligan’s Island.’ I was Mary Ann as well. We were always making things.”

When Baker was a tween, the family moved to Branchburg in Somerset County (where his parents still live), where he took advantage of the added space and greenery, using the woods as a haven for his projects.

“He would get the neighborhood kids involved,” Stephonik says.

Baker’s first paid gig in the movie business arrived when he was 17 and still in high school. He became manager of a one-screen (now defunct) movie theater in Manville, which was part of the former Roberts independent theater chain (which owned the Wellmont in Montclair, among others).

“That theater had art films, and at the same time, I was able to get my hands on real film because I was a projectionist,” Baker says. “It was long before the days of digital. I was actually splicing together 35 mm film in order to project it, so that obviously had a big impact.”

Baker nurtured his love for another part of the film industry in Jersey. He began collecting movie posters at a flea market in Chester.

“I would flip through them for hours, boring my parents,” he says. “They wanted to go home.”

Baker would also buy posters at a comic book shop in downtown Somerville that rented movies that weren’t typically available elsewhere.

“It exposed me to stuff I couldn’t get at the local Blockbuster,” he says.

The writer-director still collects and restores vintage film posters in various languages, including ‘60s sci-fi and scream queen horror fests, some signed by the directors. At the beginning of the pandemic, he started sharing finds from his collection on Instagram. Baker launched the account with one of his top gets — a poster for François Truffaut’s 1962 French New Wave film “Jules and Jim,” starring Jeanne Moreau and measuring more than 46 by 62 inches. He began posing next to the posters with his dogs, Bunsen and Boonee.

It went without saying that the movie poster for “Red Rocket” couldn’t be a run-of-the-mill design. In the playful illustration, a giant pink doughnut with sprinkles strategically covers a naked Simon Rex in what Baker calls a throwback to ‘80s sex comedies and Italian genre films.

The evolution of Mikey Saber, Rex’s ne’er-do-well hustler, can be seen in Baker’s previous work.

His 2012 Los Angeles-set movie “Starlet” features James Ransone (”Tangerine,” “The Wire,” “It Chapter Two”) as a character named Mikey, a kind of precursor to Rex’s Mikey.

In “Starlet,” which won an Independent Spirit Award, young porn actor Jane (Dree Hemingway, daughter of actor Mariel and great-granddaughter of author Ernest) befriends an elderly woman named Sadie (Besedka Johnson). Baker’s Chihuahua Boonee plays the titular dog Starlet, and Ransone’s Mikey is a slimy porn operative in a supporting role. Some of the adult film industry people Rex’s Mikey name-drops in Texas are characters who appear in the previous film.

“We always thought there was so much more to explore with that character,” says Chris Bergoch, the writer-producer from Jersey who co-wrote “Starlet” and “Red Rocket” with Baker, as well as “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project.” This year, the writers were nominated for best screenplay at the Gotham Awards.

Mikey was born from Baker and Bergoch’s research of the porn industry ahead of “Starlet.”

“There was a handful of gentlemen that we met that were like Mikey Saber,” Baker says. “They don’t represent all men in the adult film world … but there is a certain type of guy that even has a slang term applied to them — ‘suitcase pimp.’ We use that in the movie. It’s male talent who live off of female talent in the industry. They’re abusers. They’re hustlers. They’re exploiters. We knew back then, even when making ‘Starlet,’ there was a whole other film here.”

Bergoch (“Ber-gosh”) remembers what it was like to be in the presence of the Mikeys.

“They’re making us laugh. They’re telling us these crazy stories. And then on a dime, they took a left turn and they’re telling us this really dark, dark stuff,” he says. “We weren’t sure if we should be laughing or if that’s unsettling. We’re driving home, we’re like, ‘You know, that would be cool to make an audience feel like we felt driving off with these interviews.’”

Bergoch says Rex is effective in making Mikey “likably unlikable.”

“The frequency that you want to hit and Simon can tap into is, how do you make a guy like this fun to watch?” he says.

A crass, R-rated brand of “fun to watch” was kind of Rex’s thing, on display in Dirt Nasty videos on YouTube, starting with his 2007 comedy-suffused debut rap album (“I shine like Morrissey on Hennessy on Christmas Eve,” he says in the throwback tribute “1980,” as Alf does cocaine).

When Rex became an MTV star in the ’90s, nude photos leaked of the VJ. He had posed for the pictures when he was 19 and briefly did solo porn scenes to pay rent and cover costs for his girlfriend at the time, who had a child.

“Sean and I knew that it was definitely a little meta to have him play a role like this,” Bergoch says. “If there are similarities that people find humorous, that’s just a bonus. Like sprinkles on top of the doughnut.”

Like Baker, Bergoch grew up in Jersey, in Glen Rock. As a kid, he saw movies every Friday at the Cineplex Odeon Tenplex on Route 4 in Paramus (which closed in 2007 as an AMC Loews theater) and worked on scripts at The Fireplace restaurant on Route 17, which recently closed after 65 years. (”I am devastated,” Bergosh says. “I’m so happy I went one last time last Christmas and I got a T-shirt, so now it’s one my most prized possessions.”)

Bergoch met his future writing partner when they were students at New York University — Baker studied non-linear editing at The New School and film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. There was always a demand for the school’s film equipment — “He’d be like, ‘When are you wrapping? I need the camera!’”

Following “Four Letter Words,” Baker made two small-budget New York-set films, “Take Out” (2004), co-directed with “Red Rocket” producer Shih-Ching Tsou, about a Chinese immigrant who works as a takeout deliveryman and has a day to pay a smuggling debt (the film saw limited release in 2008); and “Prince of Broadway” (2008), about a street vendor from Ghana who sells knockoff designer merchandise. Both films were nominated for Independent Spirit Awards the same year.

Caution: video contains profanity

After “Starlet,” Bergoch collaborated with Baker on the script for “Tangerine.” While much was made of Baker filming that movie on iPhones, “The Florida Project,” which won him the New York Film Critics Circle award for best director, marked the biggest change, given its larger budget and crew. Baker’s wife, Samantha Quan, served as an acting coach and producer on the film — led by Willem Dafoe, child actor Brooklynn Prince and Bria Vinaite — and returned as a producer for “Red Rocket,” his second film with distributor A24.

“I’m happy that people are responding to this film the way they are, because it did feel like a risk to follow up ‘Florida Project’ with this kind of a story,” Bergoch says. “Obviously, it’s not a movie for everyone. I don’t want my mom to see it.”

One resounding characteristic of Baker’s films is that they are distinctly of a place.

“The Florida Project” — a movie about people living on the periphery, but also about childhood — is based in and around the Magic Castle, a motel the color of Easter candy set in the shadow of Disney World.

“Los Angeles is a beautifully wrapped lie,” says one character in “Tangerine,” an often hectic journey fueled by friendship and infidelity that unfolds on the streets of Hollywood and in a doughnut shop on Santa Monica Boulevard.

“The first couple of films, I wasn’t totally aware of place,” says Baker, who edits all of his movies. “And then maybe with my third and fourth film, I started understanding that location should be a character. I mean, I feel it should be, at least for my films. It adds so much. It says so much about your human characters, the real characters in the film. It gives them so much more, because everybody is connected to their environment.”

It undoubtedly helps when that environment is “visually stunning,” he says.

“‘Florida (Project),’ obviously, that film had to take place there, that’s where the issue is based, the issue of hidden homelessness and children living in the shadow of a place that we consider paradise to children,” Baker says. “That area just happened to also be an incredibly colorful place with lots of light, a very Floridian light.”

In “Red Rocket,” Texas oil refineries billow in the background as Rex’s Mikey excitedly pedals his bicycle to see a teen conquest. Donald Trump looms on the TV in his mother-in-law’s living room.

“It’s more about themes and politics and division,” Baker says of the film. “Using the backdrop of the oil and gas industry was important contextually, so that led to us shooting against refineries, which are instantaneously visual and actually have moving parts to them, elements like steam and flare stacks — it’s eye candy in many ways.”

“Red Rocket” cinematographer Drew Daniels prominently features the structures set against painted skies.

“They represent greed to me … we talked about that sort of juxtaposition,” says Stephonik, who is also a photographer. “Every frame in (Baker’s) film, my goal is to make it look like a beautiful photograph. So I’m really with him looking at the monitor and looking at color.”

“One of my favorite films is ‘Wizard of Oz,’” she says. “When I was creating one of the outside spaces in Galveston, the refineries to me looked like Oz, glowing and beautiful even though it’s not nature, so it’s odd.”

A local resident helped her build a backyard set. Growing up, he told her, that’s exactly what they called the refineries — “Oz.”

Baker and his team of producers are known for finding talent in everyday places.

In what seems like the stuff of dreamy Hollywood cliche, he met Suzanna Son in Los Angeles four years ago outside the Arclight, a (now shuttered) movie theater. She was holding a friend’s cigarette while they took a phone call. Baker told Son, then an aspiring actor, that maybe they could work together someday.

“I don’t know, maybe smoke traveled and caught his attention,” says Son, 26.

In “Red Rocket,” that opportunity finally arrived. Son, who is nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best supporting female, is ebullient as Strawberry, the 17-year-old doughnut shop employee who becomes Mikey’s obsession. Her presence in the film, underscored by bright hues like yellow and orange, illuminates a whole realm of fantasy within his drab reality.

Son got to show off her musical talent on the “Red Rocket” soundtrack by singing an impassioned cover of the movie’s resounding anthem — ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” another MTV mainstay, only from the 2000s. She says working with Baker has proved every bit a Hollywood fairytale.

“He’s really an actor’s director,” she says. “It feels weird to even call him director — I don’t know, collaborator? He’s similar to Simon in that way, in that he wants to hear what you have to say, and he’s willing to listen to you. You know, ‘What ideas do you have? Do it. It’s OK if it doesn’t work. Let’s just try it.’”

A good portion of “Red Rocket” came together — including the cast — after Baker arrived in Texas. The director is also known for minting first-time actors. He made “Starlet” actor Besedka Johnson a name when she was 86, after producer Shih-Ching Tsou spotted her at a YMCA. With “Red Rocket,” the director and his producers filled roles during pre-production, while they were location-scouting.

“In this case, everybody but my lead characters were first-timers,” Baker says.

Brenda Deiss, who plays Lexi’s mother Lil, was cast after being spotted in Texas. So were fellow acting newcomers Brittney Rodriguez (June, daughter of Texas City weed dealer Leondria) and Ethan Darbone (Lonnie, the lone neighbor happy about Mikey’s return).

Darbone was working as a chef at a restaurant where “Red Rocket” filming was underway.

“He just happened to really make an impression on me in a couple of seconds,” Baker says. “And when somebody makes an impression on me in a couple of seconds, I want to know more about them. Then we started talking, and he talked about how much he was into film. And actually he had seen my first film, ‘Four Letter Words.’ So I was blown away by that. Then he said he had a tattoo of a Chucky doll on his back, and I’m like, ‘OK, we’re speaking the same language.’”

Judy Hill, another first-time actor, plays Leondria, a maternal figure who gives Mikey a break — against her better judgment. Baker first saw Hill, who hails from New Orleans, in the 2018 Roberto Minervini documentary “What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire?”

“I’ve been so blessed because I realized that a lot of the people that I street-cast also are incredibly skilled and are so natural,” he says. “They could parlay this into an acting career if they really wanted to, I think, and if the industry embraces them. They really delivered and I can’t wait for people to see these fresh faces because it’s quite an eclectic and dynamic cast.”

Those actors brought Baker other helpful skills — like realistic dialogue.

“He was excited when the people of the area who he cast would say, ‘Oh, we don’t say it like that, we say this,’” Elrod says.

Even Sophie, the pit bull who appears opposite Rex in “Red Rocket,” was found living in Galveston. When Baker met her, she had heartworm and needed hip surgery. Before long, she was a nominee for the Palm Dog Award, an honor bestowed by critics at Cannes. Now she’s healthy and lives with her adoptive family in Los Angeles.

“She’s, like, rolling around with a German shepherd all day,” Baker says. “They’re best friends.”

“Those things happen when you have these little indies where you’re taking from real life,” he says. “There’s a lot of hybrid filmmaking going on here, half a narrative fiction film and half a documentary, in a way.”

Baker made a lot of decisions on the fly, but one thing he didn’t want was for “Red Rocket,” set in 2016, to feel like a “COVID-produced movie.”

No Zooms, no shooting in only one room.

“That was actually a mandate,” Baker says. “We were like, ‘If in any way, this movie comes across having been shot during COVID, we fail.’”

The small crew was Baker’s preferred working style, but also helpful for managing safety precautions. COVID-19 compliance rules from the Directors Guild of America (the director is a member) required three tests per person each week, so the task was easier to scale than larger productions. People in the film’s intimate COVID “pod” had their temperatures taken and kept distance when they could.

“It all worked out wonderfully,” Baker says — everyone was safe.

Wonderfully except for some especially worrying snags. And the director was not immune.

“Sean tested positive and had to go back to LA and then it was a false positive,” Rex recalls. “There was just a bunch of chaos right before we shot.”

“That was the major monkey wrench,” Baker says. “Realizing that not only every state tackles COVID in a different way, but every lab literally has different sensitivity thresholds and you might be picking up a coronavirus in your system that has nothing to do with COVID. You know, stuff like that is a little crazy.”

Still, they had to err on the side of caution when they were shooting on the Galveston Pier.

“We did have to digitally remove some masks,” Baker says. “That’s a little Easter egg you got there.”

About those Easter eggs — Stephonik says Baker relishes in planning little details — “hiding certain fun messages” — for observant viewers and fans.

One obvious detail that might seem like an intentionally planted Easter egg is how “Red Rocket” producer and longtime Baker collaborator Shih-Ching Tsou, who he met at The New School early in his film career, is back onscreen as a purveyor of doughnuts. She filled the same role at Hollywood’s Donut Time in “Tangerine.” This time she manages the Donut Hole, where Strawberry works.

“That was a COVID choice,” Baker says. “I was like, ‘Shih-Ching, I’m so sorry, but it looks like you’re gonna have to reprise your role as the donut shop owner because we can’t go through that whole process of finding somebody for this role and getting them tested daily and blah, blah, blah.’ So she was perfect.”

Bergoch initially resisted featuring another doughnut business, but Baker loved the space (which is a real shop, enhanced by Stephonik’s wizardry).

“Who knows?” Bergoch says. “Maybe it’ll lead to a doughnut trilogy now.”

Why doughnuts?

“I see our doughnuts as like the new American pie,” Baker says. “I see it as our new comfort food.”

The director, who was used to the domination of Dunkin’ back in Jersey, had long been exposed to independently owned doughnut shops in California.

“I didn’t realize that doughnuts were just as popular, if not more popular, in Texas,” he says. “We just found Donut Hole, which was was perfect on so many levels — right against the refinery, it had the colors we wanted for Strawberry’s story. And then of course there’s the whole sexual connotation.”

With both “Tangerine” and “Red Rocket,” the crews agreed that they wouldn’t partake of any sweet treats during filming. But on the last day, they went to town.

“We’re all pounding doughnuts and pounding bear claws,” Baker says. ”I always go with the classic glazed.”

Doughnuts or not, the director’s work over the next year will depend on how the pandemic plays out.

“I could make another film that’s about the size of ‘Red Rocket’ before tackling my my Vancouver film. And that may happen, actually,” he says. “To tell you the truth, I’m pretty psyched about that.”

“Red Rocket,” rated R, is now playing in New York and will expand to more theaters in the coming weeks.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.

By TALIA WIENER
wiener@montclairlocal.news

For the 2021-2022 school year, Montclair public schools have implemented a series of COVID-19 mitigation measures, intended to keep students and staff safe as full-time classes continue.

But some parents — and even some Board of Education members — say they’re frustrated or disturbed by certain policies or their implementation.

Some parents who’ve offered their own expertise in areas of air quality or public health say they feel ignored. 

But district leaders say they do indeed listen — stressing that point repeatedly to frustrated parents at Board of Education meetings. They have to weigh concerns and other expert advice, and can’t always give parents the exact answers they want, officials say.

Open windows policy

Justin Klabin is both a parent and a consultant on green building and health issues through his company, Klabin Eco Development. He’s been arguing for months the district needs to fully open windows to better ventilate its aging buildings. The current policy is for partial opening, but this fall, board members and parents alike said it didn’t always seem to be followed. 

School board members have proposed a major overhaul of district infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on multimillion-dollar ventilation projects. They’d hoped to get a bond measure approved by the Township Council before this fall’s referendum changed Montclair’s style of school district, but now any bond will have to go before voters, and school officials say that’s not likely until November of 2022.  

With the most extensive ventilation upgrades on hold, open windows are essential to keeping students and staff safe, Klabin told Montclair Local. 

On Sept. 11, he sent a letter to schools Superintendent Jonathan Ponds and to Montclair Board of Education members, asking for every window in every room in every Montclair school to be opened as much as possible. He also asked for more air filters to be installed in classrooms.

“You said in an interview you are up at night worrying about the schools — the current window situation is so ridiculous that you should skip sleeping altogether and go open windows,” he said in the letter to Ponds, also published on Montclair Local’s website. Klabin was among several parents who previously advocated against bipolar ionization devices installed in classrooms during the 2020-2021 school year. Those have since been turned off. 

At a Sept. 20 school board meeting, Ponds said all windows were to be opened 6 inches, a directive that had gone out to buildings and grounds staff from business administrator Nicholas Cipriano. Ponds said the district had worked with Parette Somjen Architects on the plan. 

But the district did not consult an air quality expert during its policy development, Klabin said. Parette Somjen Architects consulted mechanical engineers with HVAC expertise while advising the district, a representative of the company told Montclair Local.

“We do investigate these things,” Ponds said at the Sept. 20 meeting. “I just want to make sure that’s clear.”

Klabin met with the board’s finance and facilities committee, and he recommended going further — opening all first-floor windows and all upper sashes of second-floor windows; the bottoms of second-floor windows are kept closed to avoid fall hazards. If the upper sashes couldn’t be opened, he suggested putting a fall protection device in each classroom, at a cost of about $500 per school. The group was receptive to his plan, Klabin said, but that version of the plan never went into effect.

Board of Education President Latifah Jannah, Vice President Priscilla Church and board member and finance and facilities Chair Eric Scherzer referred questions about mitigation measures to Ponds. The superintendent, though, has not responded to multiple interview requests and questions regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures sent to his district address beginning Oct. 31. 

Scherzer said at an Oct. 6 meeting that the committee spends “a tremendous amount of time” talking about “what seems like an incredibly simple topic” — opening windows — but that it’s actually more involved than people outside the discussions might understand. Opening the windows partially, he said, “is a concrete thing that we can do,” he said.

Still, at multiple board meetings this fall, Klabin, other parents and board members said they’d seen windows remaining shut, despite the district policy. Church said at the Oct. 6 meeting that she was “paralyzed” by photos of closed windows sent in by parents.

“Particularly this time of the year, when the weather is mild, we should just be in solidarity that these windows have to be open, even if we have to send a notice home to the parents that the kids bring a sweater or a little sweatshirt in your backpack,” she said.

But Montclair High School physical education and health teacher Tracy Aytch said at the meeting some windows just won’t budge; custodians had told her work orders were in to get them repaired.

Ponds urged any staffer who sees a closed window to open it, though Church and Scherzer spoke again at an Oct. 18 meeting about some windows being closed. 

At a Dec. 1 board meeting, Ponds said the district was still working to develop winter plans. Windows were to remain open, but he and Cipriano said aging boilers couldn’t be turned up further to keep up with the cold. 

That was already an issue for some students and staff in the fall. At the Oct. 18 board meeting, Montclair Education Association President Cathy Kondreck said she had received “complaint after complaint after complaint” about open windows making classrooms cold. Then and again at a Nov. 10 board meeting, Kondreck asked for a winter plan. The only answer she received is “that the heat would compensate for cold weather,” she said at the time.

Cold temperatures are an issue in every building, “except perhaps Bullock,” the district’s newest building, Kondreck said at the Nov. 10 meeting.

“We need a solution, and we can no longer wait for it,” she said. 

Kondreck has not responded to questions sent to her union email regarding windows since Nov. 17.

COVID-19 testing

Parent Magda Schaler-Haynes, an expert in public health law and adjunct professor of health policy and management at Columbia University School of Public Health, argues the testing plans in Montclair public schools don’t do enough to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The district is currently administering voluntary pooled tests for students and staff, with testing taking place outdoors, under tents. Participating students and staff members self-administer nasal swabs, and all swabs from a given pool are placed in a combined container. If a positive test is found in a pool, the students in the pool are given rapid antigen tests and parents are notified.

Elementary and middle school students are tested each week on Mondays and Tuesdays, with antigen tests administered on Wednesdays and Thursdays if a positive test is found. Testing at Montclair High School occurs less frequently, students have told Montclair Local. 

The testing plan was developed with provider Ginkgo Bioworks, the district physician and principals, Ponds said at an Aug. 16 Board of Education meeting. 

Schaler-Haynes reached out to school officials around the beginning of the school year to ask questions, to make her own policy recommendations and to offer to help connect the district with other Montclair parents in the fields of medicine and epidemiology. She met in person with Ponds in September.

“There have been times where the district seemed open to [parents’] recommendations, but ultimately, they’ve taken almost none of them,” she said.

Schaler-Haynes was pushing for mandatory testing, a practice that has been implemented in private schools in Montclair and in public school districts in New Jersey, including Hoboken. But Ponds implemented an opt-in testing program for the district, despite
opposition from some board members and parents. 

The superintendent cited the New Jersey Patient Bill of Rights as one basis for his decision during an October board meeting; it includes language about obtaining a patient’s consent prior to the start of treatment. But the Patient Bill of Rights, which addresses care of hospitalized patients, does not apply in this situation, Schaler-Haynes said.

“No one has the right to go to school with COVID,” she said.

At the Sept. 20 board meeting, Ginkgo presented the testing plan for the district. But  Schaler-Haynes argues too much has been left unclear in the district’s communications. At that point, for instance, she says many questions still weren’t answered about how and when testing would take place, or how contact tracing would be handled.

She also criticizes the district for not opting to use a state-contracted vendor to help devise and implement its 2021-2022 testing plan, instead choosing to have the state Department of Health reimburse it for funds to support the testing program it was already working to put into place. She argues the option of the state vendor would have been better, putting less burden on the district’s nursing and maintenance staff. Statewide, 81% of districts chose that option, state Department of Health communications manager Nancy Kearney told Montclair Local.

But at the Sept. 20 board meeting, Ponds said the district didn’t understand the state’s timetable for use of its vendors, and the district was already familiar with Ginkgo, which had conducted COVID-19 testing during the 2020-2021 school year. Montclair Public Schools began pooled testing Oct. 25.

The district’s website leads off with information on its coronavirus plans — with links on its homepage to its pooled testing policy, its travel guidance and other resources. A “Frequently Asked Questions” page on the district site addresses some questions about pooled testing — for instance, whether students in a pool where coronavirus is found can return to school once individual tests are done, and whether and when siblings of students who test positive can come to school.

When a positive case is identified during pooled testing, the principal emails a letter to the entire school community. The school district then coordinates with the Essex County Health Department and uses contact tracing guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the New Jersey Department of Education to determine close contacts, according to the district’s Safe Return to School Plan. Additional messages are then sent to the families of students identified as in close contact, according to a Sept. 24 community message from Ponds. 

The state Department of Education definition for close contact excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. 

But parents have asked for more information about how close contacts are determined. For instance, one parent asked at a Dec. 8 school board meeting, if students eat lunch indoors during the colder months and are surrounded by unmasked peers, who will be considered a close contact? Ponds, at the meeting, said the district continues to look at its monitoring practices, but didn’t specifically address that question.

According to the district’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard, as of Dec. 14 there had been 22 known cases of coronavirus among staff this school year. There had also been 71 known student cases. The dashboard doesn’t address how many of those cases were discovered through pooled testing.

Desk shields

For months, the district faced criticism from parents who say another mitigation strategy — the use of desk shields — was unnecessary and interfering with learning. They’re now optional, but were required at the start of the school year.

In any classroom or cafeteria where CDC guidelines for physical distancing indoors cannot be met with all students present, desk shields were to be used, Montclair’s Safe Return to School Plan said. But during the summer, parents began voicing their concern about the efficacy of the shields. 

A March study found that plexiglass dividers with side walls impeded airflow in a school in a Massachusetts school district. CDC research from May showed that while masking and ventilation greatly affected transmission rates in Georgia schools, barriers did not. Articles and columns published within the past year in The New York Times, New York magazine and Bloomberg also argued there isn’t much evidence the barriers are effective. 

Many districts, including New York City public schools, have stopped using barriers in their classrooms this year, but some schools continue to use them, including nearby Clifton and East Orange.

In a Sept. 17 community message, Ponds said the district had heard community input on the use of shields, evaluated the research and would continue to use them. In elementary and middle schools, students used shields in classrooms and the cafeteria. At Montclair High School, shields have only been used in the cafeteria or during group work, according to MHS students. 

Parent Jordan Goldberg, at a Sept. 20 board meeting, said the shields are “fuzzy and opaque,” keeping students from seeing clearly. Still, Ponds at the time affirmed the district’s use of the shields for virus mitigation when 3 feet of distance between students could not be achieved. He said they’d stay in use until vaccinations for more students were available.

But the superintendent also said Kalisha Morgan, the district’s assistant superintendent for equity, curriculum and instruction, would look into any instructional problems the shields might have caused. Ponds has not yet responded to a question about the outcome of Morgan’s investigation sent to his district email Dec. 2.

On Sept. 24, Goldberg sent a letter signed by 250 parents to school officials, asking that the shields be immediately removed. The letter described a kindergartner who almost missed lunch because her teacher could not see her hand raised, a fourth grader who stood during class to see his teacher over the shields and a seventh grader with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who got easily distracted not being able to see instruction.

The letter also noted that the CDC removed plexiglass shields from its list of recommended mitigation techniques in March, and then in June said the shields can either help or hinder airflow, and testing should occur before they are used. 

Ponds wrote back to Goldberg, thanking her for the letter, but then she did not hear anything else back, she told Montclair Local. At the Oct. 6 board meeting, several other parents asked that the shields be removed from classrooms. 

On Oct. 15, NBC New York published a story titled “Why Some NJ Schools Still Use Sneeze Guards – Despite No Evidence They Prevent COVID,” with a reference to Goldberg’s letter and a quote from a Montclair parent. 

At the Oct. 18 board meeting, Ponds announced the district had spoken to its attorneys and the state Department of Health about the shields and was waiting on information from a county epidemiologist. The shields were put up as a mitigating factor with no mal intent, he said.

“Just know we do listen,” the superintendent said at the Oct. 18 meeting. “We do do our homework. We do it for the kids.”

Ponds then told families in an Oct. 21 community message that starting in early November, desk shields would be used on a voluntary basis in classrooms, on an opt-out basis.

“I would have preferred based on the science for them to simply have been removed from the classrooms, because I don’t think that there’s any indication that they are mitigating the spread of COVID, and I think that’s been fairly well established at this point,” Goldberg said. “But I’m very, very grateful that I can, as a parent, decide to remove this burden from my two children.” 

Good Thursday morning!

Few things get suburbanites more worked up than leaf blowers. Several New Jersey towns — the ones I know of are all wealthy and mostly liberal bastions like Montclair and Princeton — have curtailed their use. They have their passionate defenders as well.

Now there are two bills to address how New Jersey blows. The more radical proposal, by Senate Environment and Energy Chair Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), would ban sales of gas-powered leaf blowers within a year of his bill’s enactment and bar use within four years, punishable by fines of up to $1,000. Another bill, by Assemblymember Lisa Swain (D-Bergen), who’s from — get this — Fair Lawn, would direct the BPU to provide subsidies for people to purchase electric leaf blowers. The bills were introduced this month, just days apart.

I know that some people want to have pristine lawns and some are big enough to make raking difficult, though probably not many in the most densely populated state. But it is important to take note that this contraption creates an eye-popping amount of pollution, especially considering its purpose. And then there’s the noise pollution angle. I tweeted about this yesterday and the debate has been passionate.

I talked to Smith about it, who said he doesn’t plan to try to move his proposal in lame duck, but to try over the next two-year session. Considering how hard it was to enact the single-use plastic bag ban, it could take a while, if it happens at all.

WHERE’S MURPHY? “Ask Governor Murphy” on News 12 at 5:30 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There are people who feed the homeless who don’t have good intentions. People don’t see it from that perspective. There are homeless people that get sick, people that have given homeless fentanyl.” — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. I emailed the city for documented cases of people giving fentanyl to homeless people under the guise of feeding them but did not hear back.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Gordon Johnson, HCDO Chair Amy DeGise, former Booker COS Matt Klapper, former Mahwah Councilmember Rob Hermansen, attorney Brian Bartlett

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at [email protected]

CAN’TABIS — “Black businesses feel shafted as N.J. gets set to choose who can grow and sell weed legally,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jelani Gibson: “The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission had touted on Oct. 15 how diverse the businesses being awarded vertically integrated and medical cannabis licenses are. Except most, if not all, of those minority license winners were white women. In the following days, applicants of color would go on to claim that they had not received accurate points for being ‘minority’ applicants in the scoring and award process … When asked directly on the number of Black and Hispanic owned-businesses, the commission has not provided those numbers and instead opted for saying that there have been three businesses out of 15 certified as a ‘minority and/or woman owned business or enterprise,’ a category in which people of color would normally qualify, during a Dec. 7 meeting. The commission has not said which of those M/WBEs, if any, were Black or Hispanic.”

—“N.J. just began accepting applications to grow recreational marijuana. Hundreds started the process.”

SOURCE: ‘THIS HOTEL SUCKS’ — Congressional redistricting commission begins negotiations on new map, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Congressional redistricting [started] in earnest Wednesday as the 12 Democratic and Republican commissioners head to a Cherry Hill hotel where they will begin negotiating a new district map that could have a major impact on next year’s midterm elections. The commission, which must select a new map by Jan. 18 to reflect shifts in the state’s population, has held nine public hearings since October. Now, at the Crown Plaza hotel, the six Democratic and six Republican commissioners will tweak the maps they’ve privately drawn as they shuttle in and out of negotiations with the tie-breaking commissioner, John Wallace Jr., a former state Supreme Court justice and registered Democrat.

EDUCATION — “Senate’s education leader steps up and moves on,” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Mooney: “Ruiz (D-Essex) will gavel her committee to order Thursday in what in all likelihood will be her last meeting before taking the new leadership role in the Senate — a promotion that by anyone’s measure will heighten her profile. But the move at the same time will take her from her familiar place at the head of the dais in a first-floor committee room of the State House, where the panel meets and Ruiz has presided over virtually every big education debate of the last decade in this state, from teacher tenure to testing and standards.”

HOSPITALIZATIONS — “A year into NJ’s COVID vaccine rollout, waning immunity is contributing to hospitalization rise,” by The Record’s Scott Fallon: “New Jersey is on pace to see 3,500 COVID hospitalizations by mid-January — almost the same number seen at the height of last winter’s surge, when only a very small percentage of New Jerseyans had received even one vaccine shot, Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Monday. … The number of COVID patients needing hospitalization has more than doubled in a month and stood at 1,730 on Tuesday, the highest since late April. …[I]n the last week of November [the fully vaccinated] made up 21% of all positive cases. The bulk of COVID patients being treated in New Jersey hospitals still remain unvaccinated. But 20% to 25% of hospitalizations now involve partially or fully vaccinated people, Persichilli said — an increase from the summer, when nearly all severe COVID cases were among the unvaccinated.”

— “Booster push on as models predict boom in COVID-19 cases”

LET’S NOT GET CRAZY NOW — Sweeney bill gives warehouse workers rest breaks, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: A new bill sponsored by outgoing Senate President Steve Sweeney would require employers in New Jersey to give warehouse workers rest breaks. The legislation, NJ S4265 (20R), would give warehouse workers paid meal breaks of at least 30 minutes if they work for more than five hours continuously. Workers also would be entitled to a paid rest period of “at least 15 minutes” if they work for more than four hours straight. In all, 21 states require meal breaks for warehouse workers; six of those states also have rest break requirements.

IF ONLY THE STATE MOVED AT THE SPEED WITH WHICH IT GETS POLITICIANS BACK INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM — “‘Effectively ignored’: NJ slow in protecting Section 8 tenants from discrimination,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Kayla Canne: “When Tonya Wood filed a discrimination complaint with the state Division on Civil Rights in August, she thought it would be a quick and clear-cut case. She had recorded a Woodbridge landlord rejecting her apartment application because Wood receives federal rental assistance, commonly called a Section 8 voucher. But August passed, and then September, October, November, and now December is rolling by, with a series of promised response deadlines from state investigators coming and going. ‘They’re slow-rolling,’ Wood [said]. … Out of 31 total income discrimination cases in 2019, 10 remain unresolved, according to state data from September. Nineteen out of 28 cases filed in 2021 are still under investigation. And, in one case, a discrimination complaint from 2010 remained unresolved for 10 years.”

EDNA MAHAN — “High-ranking prison official now charged in brutal attack at N.J. women’s prison,” by NJ Advance Media’s Joe Atmonavage: “The top-ranking official at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women on the night a group of officers violently extracted a handful of women from their cells has now been criminally charged for his role in the brutal assault. Sean St. Paul, the former associate administrator of the prison, was the highest-ranking New Jersey Department of Corrections official at Edna Mahan on Jan. 12 when he ordered the cell extractions that led to multiple injured prisoners.”

— “Marking 1 year since first COVID vaccine in N.J., Murphy says booster shots are crucial”

— “Atlantic City casino PILOT bills up for Assembly vote Monday”

— “Applications to grow, sell weed in N.J. open [Wednesday]. Will new operators include Black businesses?”

— “Bills advancing in lame duck could bring more costs to N.J. businesses”

— Oroho: “Phil Murphy’s energy master plan for New Jersey is costly foolishness”

— Bucco: “New Jersey’s stealth tax increase must be stopped”

— Lassiter: “Norcross’ glass jaw and Murphy’s Pinelands mulligan”

— Opinion: “New Jersey’s pension fund is crossing the tipping point”

— “New bill would crack down on NJ’s ‘Wild west’ temp industry”

— “Democratic governors press U.S. Senate to act on voting rights legislation”

— “Healey names Monmouth GOP star as campaign manager”

— “As NJ overdose deaths climb higher, rethinking access to methadone”

DAMAGE CONTROL — “Mayor Baraka: Feed the hungry? Absolutely, but safely,” by Ras Baraka for The Star-Ledger: “Our required permit for food distribution in public places is designed to protect the consumers, whether they be at a street fair, a Heritage Day, or at Peter Francisco Park across from Penn Station where the homeless congregate. For health reasons, we need to be able to trace the source of food should people get sick so we can take appropriate measures.”

ERNIE HIDES FACE IN SHAME — “Proud Boys group shows up at Woodbridge Town Council meeting,” by News 12: “The Facebook Live video posted by Kason Little advocating for Black Lives Matter shows that it all started on the front stairs of the Woodbridge Municipal Building. The topic of critical race theory being taught in schools was the root of the dispute. Both sides spoke at the meeting. ‘We as Proud Boys have a duty to protect our communities from oppressive government, violence against the innocent, and the pollution of our children’s minds,’ said a member of the group who identified himself as Burt.”

INFLUX OF NEW JERSEYANS LEADS FLORIDA TO RENAME CITY ‘PARM BEACH’ — “New video shows Bergen County executive’s son name-dropping father during Florida arrest,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “When James Tedesco IV was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 95 in Florida last month, he told a police officer he was heading to a fire in Miami. He also said he was an active member of the New York Fire Department and that he had worked there during the Sept. 11 attacks. None of it was true. It was only after a sheriff’s deputy had him in handcuffs that Tedesco mentioned something that did check out: He told the officer his father, James Tedesco, is a former mayor of Paramus and now serves as Bergen County executive.”

WALL — “Amid hazing probe, Wall appoints same interim AD used after Sayreville scandal,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “Nicholas Pizzulli, a veteran coach and athletic official who helped Sayreville get past its 2014 high school football hazing scandal, has been hired to provide the same guidance for Wall Township.”

LIVE, WORK AND PAY — “Monmouth Mall tax breaks could be on the table with new redevelopment designation,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “A move to designate Monmouth Mall an area in need of redevelopment has drawn the ire of residents long critical of how the mall’s redesign is being handled. Town officials defended the move, saying it gives them more control over future changes at the struggling mall and could help spur its redevelopment. Most concerning to those opposed to the move is that it leaves the window open for a 30-year tax abatement, also called a PILOT — payment in lieu of taxes — and several residents questioned the mayor and council at a public meeting last week about why the designation is even necessary. … The designation comes five years after mall owner Kushner Cos. promised to overhaul the mall and the borough re-zoned the property to create the Mixed-Use Regional Center zone, or MURC. The zone allows for a host of several new uses including apartments, which were part of Kushner’s design of a ‘live, work and play,’ concept at the mall. However, the only addition to the mall so far has been one medical building under construction now, with another planned.”

WEIRD AL TO OPEN PARODY RESTAURANT NEXTDOOR — “Paterson grants licenses for Councilman Michael Jackson’s restaurant to reopen,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Michael Jackson received business license approvals from his colleagues on the Paterson City Council Tuesday night that will allow his restaurant and bar to reopen this weekend. Jackson — a constant critic of Mayor Andre Sayegh — did not participate in the vote or the public discussion about the licenses for Jacksonville … Some members of the council suggested that the mayor’s staff was trying to block the approvals for Jackson’s license as political retribution, and mentioned that the councilman may run against Sayegh in next year’s election.”

A SPEZIALE FRIEND — “Troy Oswald, former Paterson police chief, will make a bid for Passaic County sheriff,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Troy Oswald, who retired as Paterson’s police chief at the beginning of 2020, is looking to run for the Passaic County sheriff’s job. Oswald, 53, told Paterson Press on Wednesday morning that he would seek the Republican Party’s nomination for sheriff. ‘I have 32 years of service,’ said Oswald, who headed the Paterson Police Department’s narcotics division and internal affairs bureau before becoming chief in February 2018 … Oswald, who is making his first bid for elected office, was popular among rank-and-file police officers, City Council members and community leaders in Paterson. He retired in early 2020 after a prolonged feud with Mayor Andre Sayegh, a battle that started with a salary dispute. … Paterson Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale, who was sheriff in Passaic County more than 10 years ago, could not be reached for comment regarding Oswald’s candidacy.”

HOBROKEN —“Hoboken Board of Education hears opposition to $241M school referendum for the first time,” by Hudson County View’s Daniel Ulloa: “The Hoboken Board of Education heard public comment on the proposed $241 million school referendum for the first time at last night’s meeting, with the majority of public speakers coming out against the project. BOE President Sharyn Angley said it is part of an overall need to address overcrowding, noting that the city’s population is up 180 percent since 1990 and that trend is expected to continue … Joshua Sotomayor Einstein said the meeting was rushed and called it an ‘abuse of democracy’ to applause from the crowd, later calling the process ‘underhanded, rushed and as opaque as possible.’”

MIDDLETOWN —“Murphy’s hometown school board scales back COVID-19 student quarantines,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rob Jennings: “A policy unanimously adopted by the Middletown school board Monday night stipulates that in-school close contacts of anyone who has tested positive ‘shall not be excluded from school work, but may voluntarily be excused for self-quarantine.’ Middletown school board vice president Frank Capone described it as ‘a rational data-driven policy that continues to put the necessary safety and security of our students as the top priority while allowing them to continue not to lose countless days for unnecessary quarantines.’ … However, the new policy — which took effect on Tuesday — runs counter to state school health guidelines.”

— “Officials approve 10-year deal for Passaic County to house inmates at Bergen jail”

— “N.J. schools grapple with spike in threats of violence, shootings on social media”

— “Howell police officers vote ‘no confidence’ in Chief Andrew Kudrick“

— “Wayne schools maintain in-person approach, despite ‘dramatic’ spike in COVID-19 cases”

— “Hundreds pack meeting to oppose proposal for medical cannabis facility in rural [Alexandria Township]”

— “Oakland ordinance would allow for marijuana growing businesses but not retail sales”

— “[Lambertville] mayor ‘strongly disagrees’ with city council considering delaying redevelopment plans”

— “Authorities investigating accusation off-duty [Passaic] sheriff’s deputy broke into car outside N.J. restaurant”

HE WAS GIVING BOO-TOX INJECTIONS — “Rutgers brings in ex-N.J. comptroller to probe allegations of ‘ghost surgeries’ tied to top neurosurgeon,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “Rutgers University has retained the law firm of former state comptroller Matthew Boxer to investigate allegations of ‘ghost surgeries’ involving the head of its neuroscience program. Dr. Anil Nanda has been on administrative leave since claims surfaced that he may have not been ‘fully present’ in the operating room at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick during portions of procedures he had scheduled, according to a letter sent last month to the hospital’s board of trustees.”

— “Like Vanguard, Prudential Financial to freeze some medical benefits; workers feel ‘shocked and betrayed’”

R.I.P — “Viking Yachts co-founder Robert Healey Sr. dies at 92”

— “Teaneck chef fights abuse lawsuits as #MeToo movement roils Orthodox Judaism”

— “State health department hearing on Bayonne Medical Center sale largely draws CarePoint Health supporters”

You better not pout, you better not cry — you better not drink and drive, there’s a few reasons why.

It should seem obvious why including everyone’s health and safety but if for some reason, that’s not enough, here are a few things police are paying attention to over the next few weeks as Christmas and other holiday parties and New Year’s celebrations take place as well as ways you can avoid getting in trouble or worse.

1. What are the signs of drunk driving?

When planning out your night ahead going to and from a Christmas or other holiday party, it’s important to put together a plan of what sober individual will be doing the driving.

For those who clearly shouldn’t be driving, there are certain behaviors that drunk drivers exhibit and may not even know if — but police see it — and for your safety and everyone else’s, they need to pull you over.

“If you were to categorize it in a more general perspective, (police) look for the erratic driver, they look for the unsafe operation. To get more specific and break it down, you’re (police) are looking for individuals, believe it or not, that are either driving too fast so speeding or too slow for the speed limit, you’re also looking for individuals that have the inability to maintain the lane,” Marlboro Township Police Chief Peter Pezzullo tells Townsqure Media News. “They (the driver) may not be swerving as drastically as you might think, most people assume that when they see commercials or TV show that involve that type of depiction, they’re looking at someone whose really drastically swerving from curb to curb. Police officers are looking for subtle operation and it could just be swerving toward the middle line a couple of times and driving at a speed that’s too slow or too fast.”

Chief Pezzullo adds that police also look out for things like a driver not having their lights on, using directionals (turn signals) or stopping/paying attention to road signs.

“It could be a stop sign or a yield sign or even a stop light for that matter — if these individuals are failing to observe those things, that would typify that maybe they might be under the influence,” Pezzullo said.

2. How Police will handle a potential drunk driving motor vehicle stop.

If you are pulled over for exhibiting any of the signs above or something else and know that you’ve been drinking, there’s a few ways police can confirm that which includes the odor on a drivers breath.

“A great deal goes into it, we don’t just immediately stop a vehicle, ask someone to step out of their vehicle and then perform psychophysicals — whether it be walking a straight line or touching their finger to their nose, things of that nature,” Pezzullo said. “Before we get to that point, we obviously need operation, we need someone to alert the officer that they may be under the influence and then from that stage we do make a motor vehicle stop, we approach the driver, we would ask the driver some basic questions just to get an idea of where they’re going, where they’ve come from, if they did happen to leave a party or a dinner (or) an establishment that serves alcohol — we would ask how many alcoholic beverages they did consume throughout the evening, did they eat.”

Police will then take into account what they can see and smell including the whiff of alcohol and listening to how the driver speaks and answers.

“They might have a hard time digesting the questions that we’re asking or responding to those questions. They might be fumbling, they have the inability or dexterity to handle their license — even how they might have stopped the vehicle,” Pezzullo said. “If we go to pull somebody over and they just stop right smack dab in the middle of the road, that might typify somebody who doesn’t have their whits about them.”

From there, if the situation warrants it, the officer will ask the driver to step out of the vehicle and ask them to perform certain tests/psychophysicals.

3. Find a Designated Driver:

“When we look at family parties or get togethers and things of the nature for the holidays, first and foremost, everybody discusses designated drivers and that’s usually the route we recommend people utilize finding someone in the family or amongst your friend groups and someone that you trust that’s going to be safe and not drink and that individual would drive, obviously to and from the party,” Pezzullo said.

Now in the advent of ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, Chief Pezzullo also recommends utilizing one of those services as well.

“There’s nothing wrong with spending a little bit of extra cash to make sure that you get home safely during the holiday season,” Pezzullo said.

By making the decision not to drive while under the influence of alcohol and leaving that up to a sober family member, friend or ride share driver, you’re also helping yourself with regards to making less critical decisions when you shouldn’t be making them.

“It’s something that I think more and more people should be thinking of those things prior to going out, prior to saying ‘I’m going to drive from Point A to Point B and have to restrain myself’,” Pezzullo said. “This way you can go, enjoy your friends, enjoy your family and know that you have a ride coming to get you.”

However, many people taking advantage of the ride sharing opportunities in this day and age are the younger crowds.

“We’re seeing a trend where a lot of our younger — the 21-22 year old individuals — they’re the ones who seem to be more apt to utilizing the Uber and the Lyft because it’s what they know and I applaud them because they understand the value behind staying safe and not doing something to harm themselves or someone else on the road,” Pezzullo said.

4. For the Sober Driver, there are things you can do to help.

If you are sober and happen to be driving on a given road day or night and see someone not driving properly for any number of the reasons listed above in this story, you should, when safe to do so, call police and report it.

“We don’t want these drivers to be unsafe when contacting the police department or calling 911 but we would ask that they call 911 using bluetooth and hands-free type stuff letting us know the description of the vehicle, if they were able to see the license place — the license plate, the direction of travel…so that way, we could respond to the area and see if we can perform a motor vehicle stop,” Pezzullo said.

You may have all the information and eyewitness testimony to report an unsafe driver, but police still have to check things out to verify what’s going on.

“We wouldn’t just drive out there and stop the vehicle, we have to drive out there and the officer, once again, would have to observe operation and confirm that this individual is driving in such a nature that would leave us to believe that they’re driving under the influence,” Pezzullo said.

Police also ask that you don’t take matters into your own hands if you see such a driver.

“We don’t want them to be the police, we don’t want them to pursue somebody at a close range where it would be unsafe for them because if the individual is intoxicated and they did something illegal or unsafe, it can cause those traveling behind them to get into an accident,” Pezzullo said. “We’d rather them get the information they need, increase that following distance, so slow down a bit, maybe change lanes, get away from that individual and then make the call to the police department.”

Ten times drunk driving changed New Jersey Lives Forever

12 Times Being High Cost NJ Residents & Towns

The most heinous New Jersey murders that shook our communities

NEW JERSEY — Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.

A year after 1st COVID vaccinations in NJ, governor pushes booster shots

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccinations in the state on Wednesday by promoting booster shots.

US COVID-19 death toll hits 800,000

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.

New US travel restrictions go into effect

Beginning Monday, Dec. 6, travelers heading to the U.S. will be required to show evidence of a negative COVID test within one day of boarding their flight instead of three days prior, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status. See what you need to know here.

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

The United States’ ban on non-citizen travel from South Africa and seven additional African nations began on Monday, Nov. 29, due to omicron, a new COVID-19 variant of concern, White House officials said.

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.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 8, bans on travel from specific countries ended. 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 Tuesday, 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 Friday, 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

Moderna said on Oct. 25 that a low dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds, as the manufacturer moves toward expanding shots to children.

FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids

Federal health regulators said late Friday, 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 Monday, 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.

IRS sending October installment of child tax credit after delay in September

Families across the country are starting to receive their October child tax credit. The IRS says the program’s fourth monthly payment is already hitting Americans’ bank accounts after a technical issue last month caused delays for some recipients. 

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.  

Need to be vaccinated by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas? Here are the deadlines

People who want to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas are running out of time. Two of the three vaccines available in the U.S. require two doses spread weeks apart and a waiting period once the shots have been administered.

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.

U.S. hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall

The United States reached its latest heartbreaking pandemic milestone Friday, Oct. 1, eclipsing 700,000 deaths from COVID-19 just as the surge from the delta variant is starting to slow down and give overwhelmed hospitals some relief.

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.

Is it safe to trick-or-treat this Halloween? CDC weighs in

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Face the Nation that kids can trick-or-treat safely this year, adding, “If you’re able to be outdoors, absolutely.”

CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, Sept. 23, endorsed booster shots for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendations from a panel of advisers, but then overnight added one more the panel had rejected.

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.

U.S. panel backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters only for 65 and over, high-risk

An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to most Americans, but it endorsed the extra shots for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.

COVID outbreaks in NJ schools

As of Wednesday, Sept. 15, there were six outbreaks in New Jersey schools, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. An outbreak is defined as at least three cases that are epidemiologically connected and not from the same household.

The cases are a mix of students and staff, Persichilli said. More information will be released on the state Health Department website in the coming days.

EU removes US from safe travel list

The European Union recommended that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there.

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.

NJ COVID hospitalizations top 1,000 for the first time since May: Gov. Murphy

For the first time since May, more than 1,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Jersey on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Gov. Phil Murphy said. There were 1,012 people hospitalized with COVID, 92 of whom were on ventilators, according to state Health Department data. The last time the state had more than 1,000 COVID hospitalizations was over three months ago on May 11, Murphy said.

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.

August child tax credit payments issued: Here’s why yours might be delayed

The second installment of expanded child tax credits was issued on Aug. 13 to millions of eligible families, but some payments will likely be delayed due to a technical glitch, the U.S. Department of Treasury said.

Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards

The Senate’s top Democrat says federal law enforcement officials need to crack down on fake COVID-19 vaccination cards being sold online.

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.

NJ county opens COVID booster shot appointments

Health care officials in a northern New Jersey county began offering COVID-19 booster shots to qualified residents on Aug. 14. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said appointments for a third shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine were open at vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark.

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 over the age of 12. 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

The FDA has approved an extra, third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems.

Fake COVID vaccine cards worry college officials

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?

COVID-19 breakthrough cases are rising, and now people want to know which vaccine offers the best protection from the coronavirus.

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.

U.S. averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day as delta surges

The United States is now averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day, returning to a milestone last seen during the winter surge in yet another bleak reminder of how quickly the delta variant has spread through the country. The U.S. was averaging about 11,000 cases a day in late June. Now the number is 107,143.

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.

Gov. Murphy mandates masks in schools

In a reversal of plans, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Aug. 6 a mandate for masks in schools for 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.

‘You have lost your minds’: Murphy lashes out at anti-vax protesters

Gov. Phil Murphy ran out of patience for protesters against the COVID-19 vaccine at a bill signing in Union City on Aug. 4.

Warning of more delta mutations, Fauci urges vaccinations

The White House COVID-19 response team said the delta variant continues to surge across the country. During a briefing on Aug. 5, Dr. Anthony Fauci called on Americans to take precautions to stop the virus from mutating. “The ultimate end game of all this is vaccination,” he said.

Moderna says vaccine 93% effective after 6 months

Moderna said its COVID vaccine has 93% efficacy six months after the second shot, according to a report released on Aug. 5.

Can I get ‘long COVID’ if I’m infected after getting vaccinated?

It’s unclear, but researchers are studying the chances of long-term symptoms developing in anyone who might get infected after vaccination.

What is the delta plus variant of COVID?

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

In a memo, Walmart announced that associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, will need 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

A popular restaurant in New Jersey closed its doors after 65 years of service.

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.

NJ mask guidance

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli strongly recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks in indoor settings when there is increased risk.

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

The United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said on July 25.

Doctors warn about slightly different symptoms with delta variant of COVID

As concern grows regarding the COVID-19 delta variant, health leaders are warning about somewhat different symptoms that come with it.

Most unvaccinated Americans unlikely to get COVID-19 shots, new AP poll finds

A new poll shows that most Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots. About 16% say they probably will get the vaccine.

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.

Gov. Murphy holds off on reinstating mask mandate

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September. Murphy says he “is comfortable where we are” on mask mandates but is also closely monitoring developments.

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 a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?

Biden grapples with ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’

President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.

Child tax credit: When to expect payments, how it may impact tax returns

Payments for the highly anticipated expanded child tax credits were being sent to families in the tri-state area, and the rest of the nation, for the first time in mid-July. While the additional money may be very helpful for some families across the economic spectrum, the overall tax credit situation is complicated.

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 new study reveals hospitalized coronavirus patients who take statins are 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 it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus.

Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says

A new study suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

What can I do if I didn’t get my child tax credit payment?

The official disbursement date for the first child tax credit payments from the Internal Revenue Service was July 15, but parents may not see the cash right away.

Delta now dominant COVID variant in New Jersey

The highly transmissible delta variant is now the dominant strain in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said on July 12. The governor urged New Jersey residents to get vaccinated against COVID if they haven’t already done so.

Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate

The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million in July as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.

99 percent of U.S. COVID deaths are unvaccinated people: Fauci

America’s top infectious disease expert says about 99.2% of recent COVID-19 deaths in the United States involved unvaccinated people. And Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it’s really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable.”

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.

Free health insurance included in stimulus benefits for unemployment recipients

Along with $1,400 stimulus checks and monthly child tax credit payments, the American Rescue Plan has another important benefit available to people who qualified for unemployment assistance this year: free health care.

Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?

Yes, but not nearly as much as if you had both doses. Experts recommend getting fully vaccinated, especially with the emergence of worrisome coronavirus mutations such as the delta variant first identified in India.

Workers enjoy the upper hand as companies scramble to hire

With the economy growing rapidly as it reopens from the pandemic, many employers are increasingly desperate to hire. Yet evidence suggests that as a group, the unemployed aren’t feeling the same urgency to take jobs.

Vaccine freebies

New York, New Jersey and several companies nationwide are offering incentives for those who get vaccinated, including free food and drinks.

Latest official indicators

As of Wednesday, there have been 1,138,494 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 25,808 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.

COVID-19 timeline: How novel coronavirus spread

Tips to protect yourself and others amid coronavirus outbreaks