Category: Trenton

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New Jersey Transgender Birth Certificate Law Takes Effect Today

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

ASBURY PARK NJ, Beginning today, the “Babs Siperstein Law” will go into effect, allowing transgender and non-binary New Jerseyans to update their birth certificate to match their gender identity without invasive, outdated, or burdensome “proof of surgery” restrictions.

“The Babs Siperstein law is a historic, life-changing moment for transgender New Jerseyans,” said Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino. “New Jersey has always been a leader for LGBTQ equality, and this law moves us one step further in bringing dignity, respect, and affirmation to every transgender person in our state. I’m grateful to Governor Murphy and our lawmakers—both Republicans and Democrats—for ensuring that equality reaches everyone in New Jersey.”

The Babs Siperstein Law, named for New Jersey transgender activist Barbra “Babs” Siperstein and advocated for by Garden State Equality, was signed into law by Governor Philip Murphy on July 3, 2018.

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Reader Compare Minimum Wage Increase to Lottery Tickets

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There’s a reason why the vast majority of lottery ticket purchasers are from the lower educated sector of society. They simply don’t understand the economics of the terrible odds. The exact same thing happens with minimum wage laws. They vote for it in the belief that it will somehow make them better off. It actually makes them worse off, just like that stupid lottery ticket.

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Reader says “Legalized weed is just another way for the government to 1) get tax $$ and 2) keep the populace stupid”

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Legalized weed is just another way for the government to 1) get tax $$ and 2) keep the populace stupid. If it were truly for medicinal purposes, you’d be able to get your medical provider to write a prescription and it would be paid for by insurance. Anyone see that happening anytime soon? I didn’t think so. Let’s wait and see how many DUIs, where the “I” is cannabis, start racking up before the dumbed-down citizens start complaining.

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Trenton Lawmakers Continue to Chase Small Business and Jobs Out of New Jersey

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Expanding New Jersey’s paid family leave law to apply to more small businesses and dramatically increasing benefits is simply too much for companies to absorb, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) said today.

The bill, which is scheduled for a vote today in both houses, would apply the law to companies with 30 or more employees instead of 50. It would also double the amount of paid leave from six weeks to 12 and increase the amount employees can be paid when taking leave.

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Sweeney Calls Murphy’s Veto of Emergency Assistance Bill for the Homeless: “A Cold Act On The Coldest Day Of The Year”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Senate President Steve Sweeney today sharply criticized the Governor’s veto of his legislation extending lifetime emergency assistance benefits for the homeless.

“This is a cold act on the coldest day of the year,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “Days like this should be a reminder that there are homeless veterans suffering from PTSD, abused mothers with young children, recovering drug addicts and alcoholics who find themselves out on the street and need our help.

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$15 minimum wage = Layoffs, reduced hours, benefit cuts and automation

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the staff of the Ridewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, “The democrats (and RINO Republicans) in the New Jersey state legislature have done everything they could to hurt the economy and businesses of New Jersey.

With uncompetitive business taxes and regulations, they now are adding to the dilemma with a $15 minimum wage,” NJ C-GOP president Paul Danielczyk stated.“Businesses are fleeing New Jersey to business-friendly states, and this legislation will add to that exodus, especially hurting small mom and pop businesses who cannot absorb this increase,” Danielczyk said.             

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Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith to join Union County Young Republicans at Event on Stopping Court-Mandated Overdevelopment

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Scotch Plains NJ, Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith, a leading advocate for reforming the current court-driven affordable housing process, will speak at the February 20, 2019 Union County Young Republicans Meeting at 7:00pm at the Stage House Tavern in Scotch Plains.

Since 2015, Court-mandated affordable housing obligations have imposed high density developments on many towns in Union County causing overdevelopment and creating challenges in the areas of infrastructure, public transportation, schools, traffic, open space, and services that are not adequately addressed in the current process.

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Governor Phil Murphy and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Warn of Big Freeze

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and Director of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, have authorized an early dismissal for all state offices due to today’s winter weather.

The Governor has initiated a staggered closing for state offices beginning at 1:30 PM this afternoon. The early dismissal does not include essential employees, who shall remain until the normal close of business. Private companies and business should dismiss their employees at their own discretion. No state of emergency has been declared at this point.

“Winter weather and a dramatic drop in temperatures are expected today and into this evening and throughout the night,” said Governor Murphy. “When you are on the roads, please use extreme caution and allow road crews plenty of room to keep the roads clear. Once you get home, the best thing to do is to stay in. Our overarching goal is for everyone to get home safe.”

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New Jersey Ranks Third in Taxes Paid Per Person

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog


Ridgewood NJ, the Tax Foundation has issued a state tax report that shows state and local tax collections per capita in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. D.C.’s tax collections per capita ($10,841) are higher than in any state. The five states with the highest tax collections per capita are New York ($8,957), Connecticut ($7,220), New Jersey ($6,709), North Dakota ($6,630), and Massachusetts ($6,469). The five states with the lowest tax collections per capita are Alabama ($3,206), Tennessee ($3,322), South Carolina ($3,435), Oklahoma ($3,458), and Florida ($3,478).

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Senate President, Assembly Majority Leader focus on pension overhaul, benefits reform and property tax relief at Rowan event

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, while Murphy Administration called on liberal activists, to push back against state Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s big plan to fix New Jersey’s long-term fiscal problems , Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald tonight warned that New Jersey won’t be able to make critical investments in education, transportation, higher education and social services unless it enacts major structural reforms to address the looming budget crisis fueled by runaway pension and benefit costs.

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NJ Division of Child Protection Worker Sentenced to Prison for Pressuring Women Into Sex Acts

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON NJ,  Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a former state assistant family services worker was sentenced to prison today for using his position to pressure two women he was responsible for supervising in court-ordered child visits into having sexual relations with him.

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New Jersey State Police Issues Commercial Vehicle Travel Restriction

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

West Trenton NJ, Colonel Patrick J. Callahan has announced a commercial vehicle travel restriction due to the anticipated severity of the impending winter storm.

Effective tomorrow, Saturday, January 19, at 12:00 p.m., there will be a commercial vehicle travel restriction for the following roadways:

• I-195 (entire length)
• I-78 (entire length)
• I-80 (entire length)
• I-280 (entire length)
• I-287 (entire length)
• I-295 (including and between exits 60-76)
The commercial vehicle travel restriction does NOT apply to the following roadways:

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Assemblyman Auth : “It’s time to give the taxpayers an opportunity to catch their collective breath”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Cresskill NJ, Assemblyman Auth’s Response to Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address :

I am extremely disappointed with Governor Murphy’s lack of a plan for the future of New Jersey. While the State is choking on excessive regulation, unparalleled taxes, and profligate spending; Governor Murphy has decided to double down.

In his speech he listed programs on ad infinitum without a plan to pay for his utopian dream. Eventually, we all know who will bare the brunt of that future bill.

Instead of finger pointing at the President and our former Governor, our new Governor, needs to remember that many of the successes that he took credit for today were the direct result of the past administration. If he truly wants to help the citizenry of our State, he needs to re-think his agenda and work closely with legislators who want to emphasize property tax relief and a reduction in extravagant spending. It’s time to give the taxpayers an opportunity to catch their collective breath.

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NJ Attorney General Investigates Fatal Police-Involved Shooting In Logan Township

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

LOGAN TOWNSHIP NJ, The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of a fatal police-involved shooting of a man today in Logan Township, N.J.

The shooting occurred outside a UPS facility on Birch Creek Road in Logan Township. Law enforcement officers, including members of the Gloucester County SWAT Team, responded to the facility at approximately 8:45 a.m. on reports that a man with a gun had taken two women hostage inside the facility. According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting occurred after the gunman and hostages had exited the building. Multiple members of law enforcement fired at the man, who was armed with a handgun. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased man has been identified as William Owens, 39, of Sicklerville, N.J. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

In New Jersey, all investigations of police deadly force incidents are governed by the Attorney General’s Independent Prosecutor Directive, issued in 2006 and strengthened in 2015, which establishes strict procedures for conducting such investigations. It requires the Attorney General to review all deadly force investigations, and in some cases conduct them as well. In this case, the investigation is being conducted directly by the Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team. The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team is investigating in this case because of the involvement of the Gloucester County SWAT Team. The directive further provides that unless the undisputed facts indicate the use of force was justified under the law, the circumstances of the incident must ultimately be presented to a grand jury, composed of 23 civilians, for its independent review.

The Independent Prosecutor Directive is posted on the Attorney General’s website at the following link: www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/agguide/directives/2006-5_SRT_OIS.pdf

Further information about how officer-involved shootings are investigated in New Jersey under the directive is found at this link:
www.nj.gov/oag/independent-prosecutor