ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Vice President Kamala Harris came to New Jersey on Friday with two things on her mind: child care and coronavirus vaccines.
Just days after endorsing fellow Democratic Party member Gov. Phil Murphy in his bid for re-election, Harris arrived in Essex County to speak about President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion federal spending plan, including its child care provisions. She also visited a local COVID-19 vaccine center to support the administration’s six-point pandemic recovery plan.
Find out what’s happening in Montclair with free, real-time updates from Patch.
Harris’ trip to New Jersey kicked off with a flight from Washington D.C. to Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday morning.
Her first public appearance of the day took place at the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University. During a roundtable discussion, Harris highlighted the Biden Administration’s proposed spending plan, the Build Better Act, which Congressional Democrats are hoping to pass through the reconciliation process to avoid a Republican filibuster.
Find out what’s happening in Montclair with free, real-time updates from Patch.
The plan includes rolling out “universal preschool” for all 3- and 4-year-old children, as well as reducing the cost of child care for low- and middle-income families.
“Our nation is strongest when everyone is able to participate,” Harris said. “This is fundamentally what the issue is about when it comes to working parents.”
“In New Jersey, the average family spends 15 percent of their income on childcare,” Harris continued. “One of the issues that the President and I have been working on with the support of Congress is to say, ‘No one should spend more than 5 to 7 percent of their income on childcare,’ especially when you look at the other obligations that families have, such as putting food on the table and paying rent.”
“Nearly half of New Jersey lives in childcare deserts,” Harris said. “And we are seeing across the country these numbers.”
Sherrill said that as a working mother with four kids, child care is an issue that hits home on a personal level.
“We know the pandemic drove more than a million parents out of the workforce and strained a childcare system that was already unaffordable and unavailable to too many families,” Sherrill said. “We have an opportunity to make those key investments, and I appreciate that Vice President Harris and the White House share this critical priority.”
The struggle to make ends meet is getting worse for families and child care providers alike, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury:
“Currently, the average family with at least one child under age 5 would need to devote about 13 percent of family income to pay for child care, a number that is unaffordable for most families. Less than 20 percent of children eligible for one of the largest federal assistance programs for low-income families, the Child Care and Development Fund, actually receives funding. Notwithstanding the high costs borne by parents, margins for child care providers are low and many struggle to make ends meet. They survive by keeping costs low. Labor, the main input, is overwhelmingly provided by women, many of whom are nonwhite, who earn low wages leading to high turnover. Many child care workers are paid so little that they rely on public services for their own economic needs.”
Here’s what the Biden Administration plans to do about it, treasury officials said:
“The president proposes to increase funding in the sector by offering universal preschool to all 3- and 4-year-old children and providing access to high-quality child care for low- and middle-income children. His child care plan will cut spending in half for most American families so that families do not have to spend more than 7 percent of their income on child care for young children by creating subsidized care and extending the expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. These steps would directly address the revenue shortfalls created by the market failures we identify: liquidity constraints and the positive externalities associated with child care.”
Honored to join
@VP, @RepSherrill, child care workers, and families today for a discussion on the Build Back Better Agenda’s bold investments in child care. By investing in child care, this plan will uplift working families, create jobs, and strengthen our future. pic.twitter.com/ryay4vb0Nm — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 8, 2021
TOURING A VACCINE SITE
On Friday afternoon, Harris continued her North Jersey tour with a visit to a COVID-19 vaccine center in Newark.
Located at Essex County College, the county-run site was one of the first operational vaccine centers in the state when it launched at the pandemic’s onset.
Essex County has been among the hardest-hit areas of New Jersey when it comes to COVID-19. Newark, the state’s most-populated city, has seen 40,539 cumulative cases and 1,054 deaths linked to the disease as of Thursday, according to data from county health officials. Read More:Essex County COVID Update (Case Totals, How To Get Vaccine)
The Biden-Harris Administration’s six-point “COVID-19 Action Plan,” which was released in September, includes:
Vaccinating the unvaccinated
Further protecting the vaccinated
Keeping schools safely open
Increasing testing and requiring masking
Protecting our economic recovery
Improving care for those with COVID-19
Rep. Payne, who accompanied Harris to the vaccination site in Newark, said it was an honor to welcome the vice president to the district.
“Essex County has suffered terribly during this global pandemic,” Payne said. “But I have been proud of how the county has been quick to get this vaccine site operational and provide vaccines for thousands of residents.”
The congressman noted that he recently received a booster shot, as he is over 65 and has a pre-existing medical condition.
“I received the vaccine and a booster shot to prevent COVID-19 infections for me and my family,” Payne said. “I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, so they can keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
Today I got my booster shot. I am amongst those over 65 years and with a pre-existing health condition. I have not had a problem with my first or second shot and now the booster. This is the best way to obtain protection from the virus.
The vice president concluded her visit to New Jersey on Friday evening, departing back to Washington D.C. via a Newark flight.
Harris’ visit to the Garden State came just days after she and Biden endorsed Gov. Murphy’s 2021 gubernatorial bid.
The vice president touted Murphy’s accomplishments during his first term, including raising the minimum wage, and investing in public schools and clean energy jobs.
“He is the partner [that] President Joe Biden and I need in Trenton,” Harris said.
Murphy greeted the vice president in New Jersey, joining Harris on her tour throughout Essex County. Harris was also met by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents the state’s 11th Congressional District, and Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who represents the 10th District.
Many people greeted the news of Harris’ arrival in New Jersey with excitement.
VP Kamala Harris
@VP is expected to visit nearby Montclair, NJ tomorrow and I would love to catch a glimpse. No details as yet as to the location. I definitely believe I would plotz and/or cry joyful tears if I see her. #khive 🐝💛 — Vaneela Olay 🍩⚖️🏳️🌈💜🐝 (@vaneelaolay2) October 7, 2021
Others were less thrilled to hear about the vice president’s visit, with several people referencing the controversial treatment of Haitian refugees at the Texas border and asking why Harris wasn’t spending her time there, instead.
@GovMurphy The last thing NJ needs is Kamala here. She belong at the border as she has nothing to offer except laugh. Or maybe she will do what Biden did to VA. Vote Republican. — Marilyn Fetcishin (@MFetcishin) October 7, 2021
So Kamala Harris is going to Newark, NJ today to brainwash and lie to people there. The Dems realize they are loosing their status as more people see the games they are playing so she is desperately going to try and hold on to those votes. — SS (@2019tweeting)
Meanwhile, a coalition of advocacy groups used Harris’ New Jersey visit to call for a “pathway to citizenship” for millions of undocumented immigrants through the reconciliation package.
“As an essential health care worker during the pandemic, I put my life at risk every day to help keep a health clinic open,” said Mariana Velasquez, a member of Make the Road New Jersey.
“But still, I fear being separated from my children,” Velasquez said. “I call on Vice President Kamala Harris to commit to using her independent authority to ensure essential workers like me who are undocumented, and millions of other undocumented immigrants in New Jersey have a pathway to citizenship through reconciliation.”
Several immigration advocacy groups released a joint statement about their demands on Friday:
“VP Harris’ visit to New Jersey — one of the most immigrant populous states in the nation — comes after the unelected Senate Parliamentarian has issued opinions again and again to exclude citizenship from the budget reconciliation package. As negotiations continue, immigrants point to Vice President Harris’ ability to change the lives of millions by ruling in favor of including citizenship, in her role as presiding officer of the Senate.”
“A pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers and essential workers could impact at least nine million individuals, including more than 300,000 New Jerseyans,” the groups said, also calling for Harris to stop deportations to Haiti and suspend Title 42.
Immigrant women, essential workers, TPS holders from
A teacher arrested earlier this year in connection with the alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl now faces charges related to two additional female students.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said Thursday that a grand jury has indicted the Long Island man for sexual assault of the three students, all of whom were 11 and 12 years old at the time of the alleged incidents.
Apparao Sunkara, 68, was a teacher at the Infinity Institute in Jersey City. He began teaching in the district in 2012.
Sunkara was arrested most recently at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office on Oct. 6 on the upgraded charges. He had previously been arrested in March for the initial allegation.
The prosecutor’s office asks anyone with relevant information about Sunkara to contact their Special Victims Unit at 201-915-1234.
NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts
Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.
In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.
The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.
Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?
Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.
The death of a toddler in East Orange last week remains under investigation after police and EMS found the baby unresponsive on a bed with an empty bag of drugs near its pacifier, police allege in court documents.
Police also found two used doses of Narcan, an opioid antidote, which the mother said she administered to her baby after finding her lifeless early last Tuesday, Sept. 28.
Natalie Mina, 31, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. She was later arrested and remained jailed Thursday in Essex County.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the baby’s cause and manner of death, but declined specific comment on the case, a spokesperson said. An East Orange spokesperson referred comment to the prosecutor’s office.
In a probable cause affidavit supporting the endangering charge, a police officer wrote that officers arrived at the home on North 15th Street at about 12 a.m. for an unresponsive toddler and arrived to find an EMS crew performing CPR on the child.
An ambulance took the child to a hospital in Newark, where doctors tried for about an hour to save her life, to no avail.
At the hospital, Mina told police her daughter had been asleep face down on the bed since about 6 p.m., and when she went to move her to a more comfortable position, she was cold, pale and not breathing, officers wrote. She rushed the baby out of the room, and the baby’s father dialed 911.
At the scene, police found an empty plastic bag with white powdery residue they suspect was cocaine on the bed near a pacifier, and the Narcan sprays. Mina said she received the sprays from a program in which she’s enrolled.
NJ Advance Media could not find a lawyer listed for Mina.
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(NEWARK, N.J.) — Five years after high levels of lead were detected in the water of 30 public schools in Newark, New Jersey, the city faces a new challenge of convincing residents affected by the crisis that the water is now safe to drink.
Newark resident Marcellis Counts said he grew up feeling neglected by the city and that’s caused public distrust to run deeply.
“The water is just a clear example of how things are able to be neglected,” Counts said. “Many people already knew that a lot of our water was bad anyway. So I always grew up not even drinking from water fountains when I went to school and stuff like that. So it was like that distrust.”
After major signs of contaminated water appeared in 2016, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection required Newark to monitor lead levels. The city reported lead levels above the federal action level, which they said were due to corrosion of old lead water pipes throughout the city, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Two years later, Newark reported one of the highest amounts of lead in any major U.S. city by 2018.
“We are now in panic mode in this city because the feds had to come in to tell us to stop drinking the water,” said Newark resident Donna Jackson in 2019.
Newark city leaders responded by providing water filters and water bottles to more than 40,000 households.
Shakima Thomas’ 7-year-old son, Bryce, tested positive for lead in 2018, even though she said the pipes in her home were made of copper.
“We haven’t got another test since that first test because it was such a traumatizing experience for him … So I have no idea what his level is at this point,” Thomas told ABC News.
In 2019, New Jersey officials announced a $120 million loan from the Essex County Improvement Agency, and a city ordinance, to expedite the city’s efforts to replace the lead pipes – at no cost to any resident.
Since then, Newark has replaced more than 22,000 lead service lines.
Yet, in March of 2021, Thomas paid a private lab to test the lead in her water. According to the results, the lead from her kitchen sink far exceeded what the Environmental Protection Agency says is an acceptable level.
“I felt bad, I felt terrible. I think any parent will feel that way. Here we’re supposed to protect our kids, and that’s the situation that was completely out of my control,” Thomas said.
The EPA also states there is no safe limit for lead in drinking water and that low levels of lead exposure in children have been linked to various conditions, including learning disabilities and impaired hearing.
Thomas said she also got a water test from the city of Newark in April, but the city said it had lost her results, according to emails shared with ABC News.
The city of Newark told ABC News that there are resources available to help children who have been affected by lead, but Thomas said those services were denied to her son.
“I took that as, ‘Yeah, [your child] has lead in his system, but he’s not poisoned enough for us to help.’ So that’s how I took it,” Thomas said.
According to a 2018 report by the National Institute of Health, low-income populations are disproportionately affected by lead exposure.
As of 2021, a little more than 27% of Newark’s population lives in poverty, which is more than double the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Just a few weeks ago, 4-year-old Anailah tested positive for lead. Her mother, Crystal McMillian, said that she noticed her daughter was having trouble focusing.
“I received a phone call from the doctor’s office stating that my daughter had lead levels [that are] high,” McMillian said. “It’s hard for her at times to sit down. She acts out at times and it’s just her attention span.”
McMillian said she had an inspector come to her home to test paint, which is another potential source of lead, but she says no one has come to test the water.
“They didn’t even offer to test my water to see if the water is causing the issue … They’re not concerned if the lead is coming from the water or the paint or something else that’s causing this problem,” McMillian said. “I want to know what’s causing my baby to have and her levels to be really high.”
For now, McMillian said she goes to the Newark Water Coalition Distribution site twice a week and fills jugs of water so that she can have drinking water at her home.
The Newark Water Coalition told ABC News there has not been a drop in demand for people coming to get water, despite the city replacing nearly all lead service lines.
Kareem Adeem is the Director of the Newark Department of Water and Utilities. He said that he understands that trust doesn’t come easily, but residents need to work with the city.
“Yes, we’ll be able to get someone to our house to test the water. We’re testing thousands, thousands of water samples… and one may get lost or mixed up, but we’re here to help you,” Adeem told ABC News. “Don’t get frustrated. Work with us. We’ll get it done.”
Thomas said that she’s all but done working with the city after several unsuccessful attempts to have city officials test her water.
“I don’t think I can trust my elected officials because they’ve shown that they’re unreliable consistently,” Thomas said. “The only thing I can do is buy bottled water and bank on the fact that that’s safe, but I’d rather drink that than knowing I’m drinking lead.”
Rutgers is removing the name of a former U.S. Supreme Court justice from a Newark Campus building due to what they say was his racist past.
Joseph P. Bradley graduated from Rutgers in 1836 and went on to sit on the nation’s highest court. However, history has judged it was Justice Bradley that opened the doors to legalized racism and discrimination.
It was Bradley who overturned the Civil Right Act of 1875, which critics say ushered in an era of discrimination against women and minorities. In his decision to overturn, Bradley argued women had no right to practice law.
Prior to a thorough review of Bradley’s law career and judicial record, a committee determined the narrative that Bradley as actually a champion of civil rights was false.
The committee’s report to the Rutgers Board of Governors claimed, “Contrary to the contemporary record, Justice Bradley played a role in perpetuating systemic racism and ushering in legalized discrimination in the period after the Civil War.”
A committee of faculty, staff, and students appointed by Chancellor Nancy Cantor to research and study this issue intensively has determined that contrary to the contemporary record, Justice Bradley played a role in perpetuating systemic racism and ushering in legalized discrimination in the period after the Civil War. – Proposed resolution/Rutgers Board of Governors
Rutgers has been evaluating buildings and monuments on its campus as part of what they say is “a strategic plan that centers on strengthening the inclusivity of our campus.”
The removal of Bradley’s name could be considered extreme. In many cases, even under pressure from members of the student body, Rutgers has opted not to remove individual names on buildings, but instead install markers to explain the individuals ties to slavery, for example.
There was also some questions about the lack of public comment. New Brunswick community activist Charlie Kratovil noted although the Board was meeting in person, the public was not allowed to speak, possibly in violation of New Jersey’s Open Public Meeting Act. The possible violation was noted by State Senator Loretta Weinberg, who was commenting on another matter involving equal pay of faculty.
Twitter/@Charlie4Change
The proposed resolution doing away with Bradley Hall on the Newark campus was the last item on the board’s agenda.
Census 2020: The 20 biggest places in New Jersey
A countdown of the 20 most populous municipalities in New Jersey, as measured by the 2020 Census.
NJ towns and their nicknames
NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts
Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.
In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.
The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.
Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
US 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 data 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 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.
Walensky disagreed and put that recommendation back in, noting that such a move aligns with an FDA booster authorization decision earlier this week.
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.
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.
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
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
With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards.
COVID vaccines would be required for military under new plan
Members of the U.S. military would be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Sept. 15, under a plan announced by the Pentagon on Aug. 9 and endorsed by President Joe Biden.
What to do if you lose your COVID-19 vaccine card
Don’t worry if you’ve lost your COVID-19 vaccine card, there are several ways you can get it replaced. No matter where you got your shots, getting a replacement card is possible.
Will NJ reinstate a travel advisory?
Gov. Murphy said on Aug. 9, a new travel advisory is not off the table, but for now he encouraged mask wearing, which is mandatory in all airports and on flights, and other COVID safety protocols. “You gotta use your head,” he added.
Will NJ mandate masks indoors?
Despite CDC data showing New Jersey falls under its guidance to wear masks indoors, Gov. Murphy said he will not yet mandate face coverings but added, “we leave all options on the table.”
COVID transmission levels call for indoor masking under CDC guidelines
Indoor masking is advised in areas with COVID transmission rates considered “substantial” or “high” under recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 8, all of New Jersey falls under those categories.
How do you know if you have the delta variant of COVID-19?
So you’ve tested positive for COVID – but which COVID exactly? Is there a way to tell if you have the highly transmissible delta variant? There is a way to tell, but there’s not really a way for you to tell.
COVID breakthrough cases: Is one vaccine better than others?
Are kids more vulnerable to the delta variant of COVID-19?
Hospitals around the United States, especially in the South, are starting to fill back up again as the delta variant tears though the country. With previous waves of infection, we’ve been most worried about the elderly being vulnerable. Now, it’s younger people – even children – starting to show up in hospital beds.
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.
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
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.
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
The Fireplace, like many other restaurants across the country, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily shuttered its doors before reopening in May, when they implemented drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup followed by indoor dining in October.
New delta variant research makes strong case for vaccination
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the delta variant is more dangerous and fast-spreading than first thought. The findings also made clear why efforts to get more people vaccinated are vital.
CDC data shows delta variant spreads as easily as chickenpox
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information on July 30, saying the coronavirus delta variant can spread as easily as chickenpox.
Pfizer: COVID vaccine protective for at least 6 months
The effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released on July 28.
Disney World requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status
Beginning July 30, Disney World required all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a face covering while indoors as well as in Disney buses, the monorail and the Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.
CDC mask guidance: Vaccinated people should wear face coverings in public indoor settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.
U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Fauci says
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
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
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.
As of Wednesday, there have been 1,011,758 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 24,745 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.
It wasn’t technically a campaign event for Murphy, a Democrat who’s up for re-election next month. But it might as well have been.
And it was sandwiched between two other visits from heavy hitters in the Democratic Party: former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who attended at a gun-control rally with Murphy on Thursday, and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who’s scheduled to appear alongside him Sunday.
The high-profile appearances are on top of a gubernatorial schedule often peppered with events in which Murphy signs feel-good bills into law.
And then there are Murphy’s regular briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, which began as must-watch events as the state dealt with one of the worst outbreaks in the country.
All of this highlights something Murphy’s Republican challenger, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, is forced to compete with as the Nov. 2 election approaches: the power of incumbency.
It’s nothing new. Murphy didn’t invent it. But he’s clearly not wasting opportunities to use the visibility and other benefits that come with occupying the governor’s office — especially in the Garden State.
“No other state imbues its chief executive with as much power as we do in New Jersey,” said Ben Dworkin, director of Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship. “Being an incumbent here matters, even more than other places. It would be silly for an incumbent not to take advantage.”
And not only are incumbents usually favored to win elections, the fact New Jersey is still dealing with the pandemic gives Murphy an added dose of attention, political experts say.
Many were glued to the TVs at the start of the crisis last year to get updates from their governors. It helped propel former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to national fame before his resignation over sexual assault allegations. It also made Murphy a known quantity to New Jerseyans.
While governors from Pennsylvania and Connecticut have mostly dropped regular updates, Murphy is still at it twice a week. (New York Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to hold one weekly.)
Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University, likened it to how the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy raised then-Gov. Chris Christie’s profile — and popularity — heading into re-election.
“He has a very prominent platform, not only statewide but nationwide,” Koning said of Murphy.
Added Dworkin: “We care about what the governor is doing right now because it affects so many people, very directly.”
Murphy’s job approval rating got an immediate boost from it, rising to 77% in a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll from June 2020, which topped Christie’s post-Sandy numbers just before his landslide re-election.
Murphy’s numbers have since dipped, but they’re still better than a similar poll from 2019, which found nearly 1 in 5 New Jerseyans had no opinion of him and only 43% had a favorable view.
And while Ciattarelli and other Republicans have strongly criticized Murphy for the way he has handled the pandemic, polls have shown a majority of voters in blue-leaning New Jersey give him positive marks in that area.
And of course, there are those visits from big-name Democrats, which Dworkin said are “critical.” Registered Democrats now outnumber registered Republicans by more than one million, “but it disappears if Democrats don’t show up” at the polls, the Rowan professor said.
“You have to motivate them,” Dworkin said.
Ciattarelli holds a different set of cards.
Of course, in the last 30 years, both Christie and another former Republican governor, Christie Whitman, defeated Democratic incumbents. But Christie was a high-profile federal prosecutor and Whitman had just lost a close U.S. Senate race, Dworkin said.
Ciattarelli was a member of the state Assembly for six years and ran for governor before, finishing second in the 2017 GOP primary. But the Somerset County Republican currently has no government platform to introduce legislation or convene a hearing in the Statehouse on Murphy’s pandemic response — something he has called for.
Murphy has so far led Ciattarelli in all public-opinion polls, though his lead has narrowed of late. The most recent poll, from Stockton University, found the governor up by 9 percentage points.
Ciattarelli has waged his uphill battle by holding town halls, appearing at countless local events, and flooding your TVs and radios with campaign ads attacking Murphy.
As for high-profile endorsements? Experts say those are tricky for Ciattarelli, too. The biggest name to lend support so far was former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Then there’s former President Donald Trump. Though the ex-Atlantic City casino mogul remains popular in the GOP, he’s extremely unpopular among suburban voters Ciattarelli needs to attract to run numbers up against Murphy. Linking Ciattarelli to Trump has been at the center of Murphy’s campaign.
Christie, the last Republican to win two statewide races in New Jersey, would also be an issue because he left office as one of the state‘s least popular governors.
“Maybe they’re not toxic among the party base,” Koning said of Trump and Christie. “But they’re certainly toxic with the other voters. This is a numbers game. Ciattarelli absolutely has to pull disenchanted Democrats or independents. He’s not going to pull them by bringing in Trump or Christie.”
The power of incumbency — and the free media coverage that comes with it — could also help explain why there’s a spending imbalance in the race.
Without a bully pulpit and needing to introduce himself to voters, Ciattarelli has spent $8.9 million on the general election so far, mostly on broadcast commercials.
Murphy, by contrast, has spent $5.6 million. That has left CiattareIli with only $1.1 million remaining in his coffers, compared to the $7.3 million Murphy still has in the bank, for the campaign’s home stretch.
Media ads in this region are expensive. Dworkin notes that 75% of the population in New Jersey watches New York television, while 25% watches Philadelphia. Both are among the priciest media markets in the country.
“It’s upwards of $1 million a week to really penetrate the market from Mahwah to Cape May,” the Rowan professor said. “You have to be out there continually pushing your message.”
“It’s very difficult to become known as a statewide politician in New Jersey because it’s so expensive to be on media across the state,” Dworkin added.
But if you’re already governor …
“That’s why the election has been pretty much his to lose,” Koning said of Murphy. “Because he does have this extensive platform.”
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It wasn’t technically a campaign event for Murphy, a Democrat who’s up for re-election next month. But it might as well have been.
And it was sandwiched between two other visits from heavy hitters in the Democratic Party: former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who attended at a gun-control rally with Murphy on Thursday, and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who’s scheduled to appear alongside him Sunday.
The high-profile appearances are on top of a gubernatorial schedule often peppered with events in which Murphy signs feel-good bills into law.
And then there are Murphy’s regular briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, which began as must-watch events as the state dealt with one of the worst outbreaks in the country.
All of this highlights something Murphy’s Republican challenger, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, is forced to compete with as the Nov. 2 election approaches: the power of incumbency.
It’s nothing new. Murphy didn’t invent it. But he’s clearly not wasting opportunities to use the visibility and other benefits that come with occupying the governor’s office — especially in the Garden State.
“No other state imbues its chief executive with as much power as we do in New Jersey,” said Ben Dworkin, director of Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship. “Being an incumbent here matters, even more than other places. It would be silly for an incumbent not to take advantage.”
And not only are incumbents usually favored to win elections, the fact New Jersey is still dealing with the pandemic gives Murphy an added dose of attention, political experts say.
Many were glued to the TVs at the start of the crisis last year to get updates from their governors. It helped propel former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to national fame before his resignation over sexual assault allegations. It also made Murphy a known quantity to New Jerseyans.
While governors from Pennsylvania and Connecticut have mostly dropped regular updates, Murphy is still at it twice a week. (New York Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to hold one weekly.)
Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University, likened it to how the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy raised then-Gov. Chris Christie’s profile — and popularity — heading into re-election.
“He has a very prominent platform, not only statewide but nationwide,” Koning said of Murphy.
Added Dworkin: “We care about what the governor is doing right now because it affects so many people, very directly.”
Murphy’s job approval rating got an immediate boost from it, rising to 77% in a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll from June 2020, which topped Christie’s post-Sandy numbers just before his landslide re-election.
Murphy’s numbers have since dipped, but they’re still better than a similar poll from 2019, which found nearly 1 in 5 New Jerseyans had no opinion of him and only 43% had a favorable view.
And while Ciattarelli and other Republicans have strongly criticized Murphy for the way he has handled the pandemic, polls have shown a majority of voters in blue-leaning New Jersey give him positive marks in that area.
And of course, there are those visits from big-name Democrats, which Dworkin said are “critical.” Registered Democrats now outnumber registered Republicans by more than one million, “but it disappears if Democrats don’t show up” at the polls, the Rowan professor said.
“You have to motivate them,” Dworkin said.
Ciattarelli holds a different set of cards.
Of course, in the last 30 years, both Christie and another former Republican governor, Christie Whitman, defeated Democratic incumbents. But Christie was a high-profile federal prosecutor and Whitman had just lost a close U.S. Senate race, Dworkin said.
Ciattarelli was a member of the state Assembly for six years and ran for governor before, finishing second in the 2017 GOP primary. But the Somerset County Republican currently has no government platform to introduce legislation or convene a hearing in the Statehouse on Murphy’s pandemic response — something he has called for.
Murphy has so far led Ciattarelli in all public-opinion polls, though his lead has narrowed of late. The most recent poll, from Stockton University, found the governor up by 9 percentage points.
Ciattarelli has waged his uphill battle by holding town halls, appearing at countless local events, and flooding your TVs and radios with campaign ads attacking Murphy.
As for high-profile endorsements? Experts say those are tricky for Ciattarelli, too. The biggest name to lend support so far was former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Then there’s former President Donald Trump. Though the ex-Atlantic City casino mogul remains popular in the GOP, he’s extremely unpopular among suburban voters Ciattarelli needs to attract to run numbers up against Murphy. Linking Ciattarelli to Trump has been at the center of Murphy’s campaign.
Christie, the last Republican to win two statewide races in New Jersey, would also be an issue because he left office as one of the state‘s least popular governors.
“Maybe they’re not toxic among the party base,” Koning said of Trump and Christie. “But they’re certainly toxic with the other voters. This is a numbers game. Ciattarelli absolutely has to pull disenchanted Democrats or independents. He’s not going to pull them by bringing in Trump or Christie.”
The power of incumbency — and the free media coverage that comes with it — could also help explain why there’s a spending imbalance in the race.
Without a bully pulpit and needing to introduce himself to voters, Ciattarelli has spent $8.9 million on the general election so far, mostly on broadcast commercials.
Murphy, by contrast, has spent $5.6 million. That has left CiattareIli with only $1.1 million remaining in his coffers, compared to the $7.3 million Murphy still has in the bank, for the campaign’s home stretch.
Media ads in this region are expensive. Dworkin notes that 75% of the population in New Jersey watches New York television, while 25% watches Philadelphia. Both are among the priciest media markets in the country.
“It’s upwards of $1 million a week to really penetrate the market from Mahwah to Cape May,” the Rowan professor said. “You have to be out there continually pushing your message.”
“It’s very difficult to become known as a statewide politician in New Jersey because it’s so expensive to be on media across the state,” Dworkin added.
But if you’re already governor …
“That’s why the election has been pretty much his to lose,” Koning said of Murphy. “Because he does have this extensive platform.”
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A 19th-century Victorian home in Newark’s Fairmount neighborhood that has been repurposed through a partnership between the city and community partners is now planned to bring technology training and education resources to underserved residents right in their backyard.
The newly renovated home, dubbed “The Tech House,” is aimed to help disadvantaged residents attain technology industry skills to compete and succeed in a modern global economy, positioning itself to become a model for future equitable development projects in Newark. The initiative for the facility, located at 152 Littleton Ave., was headed by the Urban League of Essex County in partnership with the city’s Economic Development Corporation. The Tech House and all the training that will occur in it was conceived by the Urban League.
“We are giving access to low-income residents and working-class citizens so they themselves have the opportunity to do STEAM research and also gain computer literacy in the comfort of their own neighborhoods,” said Bernel Hall, CEO and president of Invest Newark, a nonprofit that works to create economic opportunities for area residents and businesses.
Residents will be offered a number of tech services at the facility such as computer literacy training. The facility will also serve as a professional development center for teachers interested in enhancing their knowledge in STEAM and other forms of digital technology.
In order to offer these robust tech services to residents, the home first needed to be equipped with reliable internet access. Invest Newark did so by expanding its Newark Fiber program with partner, GigXero, to equip the Tech House with high-speed connectivity.
Hall explained that Invest Newark has a lease with the city for 26 strands of fiber where officials oversee its maintenance and distribution to bring reliable internet access to the city’s five wards.
Additionally, it will provide college students pursuing tech education with hands-on experience teaching STEAM skills to middle and high school students to prepare them for entry into college and the high-tech workforce.
In a city where many of its residents were disproportionately affected by the digital divide that was highlighted during the pandemic, Hall explained that the Tech House may be able to help close this gap.
“We are actually building a bridge over the digital divide,” he said.
A room full of laptops at the restored Newark Tech House | Tom Wiedmann (TAPinto Newark)
In 2020, the divide cut across racial and economic lines when students and many parents were forced to work in a single home. As parents and children made the shift to working and learning from home, many residents, particularly those economically disadvantaged, found themselves lacking necessary devices and internet connectivity.
At the height of the divide, state Department of Education officials reported that about 230,000 students were in need of devices and connectivity, which would cost roughly $115 million to close this gap.
By implementing a high-tech facility that is accessible to residents in the heart of one of Newark’s more underserved neighborhoods, Urban League of Essex County President and CEO Vivian Cox Fraser called the Tech House an investment into the community.
“I like to think of technology as a great equalizer,” said Cox Fraser. “Young people, older people – if you want to learn something, we want you to come to the Tech House and learn it. It’s about expanding economic opportunity.”
Before the Littleton Avenue home strives to become a hub for residents to attain industry-leading tech skills and resources, Cox Fraser explained that the home was previously owned by an elderly couple faced with an impending foreclosure.
When the Urban League’s housing staff tried to step in and help the couple, Cox Fraser said that it was too late. The dilapidated home was beyond repair of what the owners could afford.
The Urban League then assisted the family to move out and stepped in to eventually take over the home with the help of state funding and investment, totaling about $500,000.
“We wanted this house because we wanted to show that this type of property exists in Newark, and it deserves to be restored,” she said.
By investing in the community and development projects like the Tech House, the initiative falls in line with the League’s efforts to serve disadvantaged residents in Newark and countywide.
Darrin Sharif, a former director of operations for the Urban League of Essex County who will now serve as the Tech House Project Director, said that in 2015, the league sponsored a coding program for underserved Newark youth designed to introduce them to programming and other digital technologies.
As the program grew, so did the students’ interests in other fields of the digital industry. Sharif said that the program expanded to multiple high schools and middle schools while partnering with higher education institutions like New Jersey Institute of Technology and Bloomfield College to provide additional services.
A recording station at the Newark Tech House | Tom Wiedmann (TAPinto Newark)
By offering high-quality resources and facilities to youth in Newark, the Tech House can help build upon the Urban League’s mission to lead a new generation of children to become leaders in the tech field.
“We’re all fluent in English, but students need to be fluent in technology,” Sharif told TAPinto Newark. “We have to get students better technology and teach them how to leverage it so that they can become marketable and competitive in today’s industry.”
Bringing tech hubs to communities like Fairmount will also complement the city’s plans to invest in its residents as Newark recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this year, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka laid out his objectives for a two-year economic recovery plan aimed to revitalize many of the city’s small businesses and residents that were severely impacted by the pandemic.
Part of the mayor’s objective is for the city to use federal monies it received from the 2021 American Rescue Plan to enhance what he called a “tech cluster.” The goal, he said, is to create permanently affordable commercial space, offer low-cost broadband access to small businesses through Newark Fiber, and expedite development approvals.
“We’re using ARP dollars to begin to extend fiber directly into our community to provide broadband at no costs for some residents and at a low cost for others,” Baraka told TAPinto Newark. “Fairmount is one of the first neighborhoods that we’re doing that in. We are going to do that in all of the housing projects in the city of Newark, to all of Newark Public Schools system, and we’re working on that as we speak.”
This article was reposted with the permission of TAPintoNewark.net.The original article, with additional photos, can be found here.
