New Jersey is clearly moving to join the many states that have legalized recreational marijuana – eight in just the last five years.
We could do this in two ways: either by making pot a legal substance and taxing it, or by permitting people to possess a small amount, instead of arresting them.
So now that a renewed effort is underway to reform our failed marijuana policy, time to revive that critical debate: legalization, or decriminalization?
Company head continues to sound drumbeat for nuclear subsidies, even though plants will remain profitable through 2019
Oyster Creek nuclear plant
The closing of nuclear power plants serving New Jersey could lead to higher electricity prices for consumers, according to Ralph Izzo, chairman, CEO, and president of Public Service Enterprise Group, the owner of the units.
Izzo, speaking Friday on a quarterly earnings call for the Newark energy company, continued the drumbeat of lobbying for incentives to subsidize the operation of the three units run by the company’s subsidiary, PSEG Power, in South Jersey.
“You cannot remove 40 percent of the supply without having an increase in prices in New Jersey,’’ Izzo said, in response to a question from a Wall Street analyst. “And that’s something New Jersey consumers should not like.’’
In an editorial a year ago, NJBIZ noted that Sports Authority was hitting the showers and closing its stores. Sports Authority stores? No offense intended, but who remembers them now?
Since then, the drop in brick-and-mortar retail sales and the closing of stores throughout New Jersey has become what we feared just 12 months ago — the new normal.
Reports of store closings come almost daily now. J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Payless, HHGregg, Rue21, Bebe — they all have closed stores in New Jersey and elsewhere in recent weeks. And the pace is accelerating. Credit Suisse has said that more than 8,600 stores will close in 2017 — a deluge worse than the record 6,163 stores that closed in the recession year of 2008. That would translate into 147 million square feet of retail space, the brokerage firm said in a research report. Sears, which owns Kmart — Sears! — has said it has “substantial doubt” that it can survive.
It all reminds us of Ernest Hemingway’s famous line in “The Sun Also Rises” about how a character went bankrupt: “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” Online commerce, of course, is the culprit. Approximately two-thirds of American consumers prefer to shop online, according to surveys.
The bad news about retail stores in New Jersey has been somewhat mitigated by the opening of seven Amazon warehouses in the state in recent years and plans to open three more. The largest so-called Amazon “fulfillment center” opened in Carteret less than two weeks ago, with more than 2,000 employees working in a 1-million-square-foot facility.
The lives of more than 80 wildlife species in New Jersey are either in immediate danger or close to it.
Bobcats, bald eagles and multiple species of snake, sea turtles and birds should have a healthy presence in the Garden State, but they’re struggling to survive, according to the latest endangered and threatened list from the state Division of Fish & Wildlife.
The database describes endangered species as those whose prospects for survival in New Jersey are bleak “because of a loss or change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, disease, disturbance or contamination.” Threatened species may become endangered if conditions around them begin to or continue to worsen.
Several species on New Jersey’s list are endangered federally as well.
The piping plover, a small shorebird on both the state and national list, is considered “one of New Jersey’s most endangered species,” according to the division. “Without intense protection and management, it is unlikely that the piping plover would survive in New Jersey,” the species description states.
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Parks Department initiated a master planning process for the Bergen County Park system. The goal is to identify the characteristics of the Bergen County recreation and open space system, accommodate the needs of current residents, and respond to projected future growth of the County.
WHO: All Bergen County residents interested in parks YOU’RE INVITED!
WHY: Topics for discussion include: • balance of nature conservation and active recreation • environmental & historical stewardship • enhancement of existing park facilities • multi-modal transportation • potential green connections • events and concessions management …and more!
This is your opportunity to voice any ideas, concerns and desires for the future of County parks. Please join us for some more great conversations!
At this second series of Community Meetings, we will discuss conceptual ideas for the parks using what we learned from 8 Public Information Sessions in Jan/Feb and more than 2100 survey responses. To help create a Master Plan for parks & recreation in the future.
5/9 HACKENSACK Two Bergen County Plaza (next to the Bergen County Court House) 7-10 PM
5/10 WYCKOFF James A. McFaul Environmental Center 150 Crescent Avenue 7-10pm
5/11 LYNDHURST Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands 1280 Wall Street West, (5th Floor) 7-10pm
Republican gubernatorial candidate Hirsh Singh today said he filed a formal request with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) to allow him to participate in the 2017 Republican primary gubernatorial interactive debates.
Singh argued that although he has not accepted public funds for his campaign he nonetheless “has over $900,000 in campaign contributions on hand.”
“As I’ve said all along, our campaign has the resources we need to compete with the other candidates in the race, to get our message out, and to defeat Phil Murphy in November,” said Singh, who cited N.J.A.C. 19:25-1.4 as the basis for his legal argument demanding entry to the debate forum.
Washington Township NJ ,The resultant force of a two (2) vehicle crash sent one (1) vehicle up onto the lawn of a home at 575 Washington Avenue, Washington Township on Friday morning, 04/28. Washington Township PD and EMS responded to the incident. One (1) driver, an adult male, complained of minor injuries and was evaluated on the scene by EMTs, but refused ambulance transport to a hospital. The other driver, also an adult male, was not injured. Both wrecked vehicles were removed by flatbed tow trucks. No word as to whether any summonses were issued in connection with the incident.
What this article omits is that the cost of this boondoggle is $1.3 billion and climbing. So for $130,000,000 a mile, we will get what the proponents project to be 24,000 trips. At $2.25 per trip ( current light rail ticket price) assuming the projected number of rides are taken every single day of the year (a heroic assumption), it will take 65 years to pay this off, not counting interest.
The money for this comes from the newly hiked gas tax which will apparently be diverted from fixing roads and bridges to pleasing a few of Loretta’s constituents.
Dr. Salomon Melgen, a key figure in the bribery and corruption case against Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, was convicted on Friday of improperly billing the federal government for more than $100 million in medical insurance payments.
After three days of deliberations, a jury in West Palm Beach, Fla. delivered 67 guilty verdicts against Melgen on charges that he submitted claims to Medicare for eye procedures and tests that were either unnecessary or never performed.
Ridgewood NJ, NJT reminder , delays Estimated at 30 Minutes in/out of New York due to Amtrak Track Maintenance, Track Inspection & Speed Restrictions this Weekend – April 29-30, 2017
Resulting in Possible Delays for Raritan Valley Customers during this Weekend’s Busing Service between Cranford and Union Stations
For Amtrak service delays, click HERE.
For Raritan Valley weekend busing service info, click HERE.
THIS WEEKEND (Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30), NJ TRANSIT rail service in/out of New York should anticipate estimated delays of 30 minute due to Amtrak track maintenance, track inspection and speed restrictions.
As a result, Raritan Valley Line customers may experience delays this weekend during the planned outage due to NJ TRANSIT and Conrail’s track and switch maintenance work between Cranford and Roselle Park stations.
During this time, buses will replace trains between Cranford and Union stations. Conrail work is scheduled to be completed at 7:30 Sunday, April 30.
PLEASE NOTE: This weekend, Raritan Valley customers can expect train delays in and out of New York due to Amtrak track maintenance, track inspection and speed restrictions. Customers should anticipate estimated 30 minute delays as some tracks may become out of service from time to time. Please allow for extra travel time.
PLEASE NOTE – SYSTEMWIDE CROSS-HONORING: This Weekend ONLY, NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes will be cross-honored on NJ TRANSIT Bus, Light Rail, Private Carriers and with PATH at Newark Penn Station, New York-33rd Street and Hoboken.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
For further information, please call NJ TRANSIT Customer Service at (973) 275-5555 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and5 p.m. daily.
Northern Branch expansion will bring light rail into Bergen County
April 24, 2017
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
ENGLEWOOD, NJ — NJ TRANSIT today continued to advance the expansion of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system into Bergen County by holding two public hearings as part of the environmental review process.
The hearings, held at the Englewood Crowne Plaza, are part of a 60-day public comment period on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS). The Northern Branch SDEIS documents the social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with the construction of the proposed action.
This comment period began on March 24, 2017, when the SDEIS was published, and runs through May 23, 2017. During this time, members of the public are invited to review the SDEIS document and submit their comments in writing or by attending one of the public hearings. Today’s public hearings included a formal presentation, an open house with information and displays as well as the ability for members of the public to submit oral or written comments.
At the conclusion of the public comment period, NJ TRANSIT will collect and review all of the comments. Provided that the SDEIS comments do not present compelling arguments for substantial revision, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be prepared for review by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The culmination of the process is that the FTA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) approving the project to advance to engineering. Once the ROD is issued and funding is identified, the project could then advance to final engineering, as well as the negotiation of an agreement with the freight railroads (CSX and NYS&W), and into construction.
About Northern Branch project
The Northern Branch project will extend the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system by 10 miles and include seven new station stops in five municipalities. The electric light rail service would operate on West Side Avenue in North Bergen, and then on existing railroad right-of-way owned by CSX Transportation (CSX) between 91st Street in North Bergen and the northern border of Englewood and would introduce new station stops in North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, and Englewood.
The extension is projected to add 12,370 customers to the system making 24,740 trips on an average weekday. The existing Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system transports approximately 26-thousand customers making 52-thousand trips on an average weekday (FY16).
Local Resident to Serve as a Resource for Parents Seeking Alternative Childcare Options
April 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Midland Park NJ, Responding to the increasing demand for quality live-in childcare, Cultural Care Au Pair has recently added Jeneca Parker to its growing number of local resources for the Bergen County area. As a Cultural Care Au Pair local childcare consultant (LCC), Parker will provide service and support to host families and their au pairs throughout the program year.
Parker is part of a nationwide network of more than 600 Cultural Care Au Pair local childcare consultants dedicated to promoting global understanding through intercultural exchange. Parker will advise area au pairs and their host families on educational opportunities, as well as organize fun activities for the entire extended Cultural Care Au Pair family to enjoy.
“Our hands-on local childcare consultants are a key part of the success of Cultural Care Au Pair, and one of many reasons why families come back to us year after year for flexible and affordable live-in childcare,” said Susan Robinson, Vice President of Communication for Cultural Care Au Pair. “Jeneca is a terrific and knowledgeable source for anyone in Bergen County who is interested in getting more information on hosting an au pair.”
Originally from Orlando, Fl, Jeneca Parker currently resides in Midland Park, NJ with her husband, Robbyn, son Harrison, and au pair, Tamara from Brazil. In addition to being a LCC, she works as an Assistant Principal of a high school in the south Bronx. She loves all things international and has a deeply rooted interest in cultural exchange and education. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Furman University in International Development Studies and studied abroad in over a dozen countries throughout Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. She earned her first Master’s degree in Special Education, and her second Master’s in School Leadership from Bank Street College. Her background includes a variety of experiences that have uniquely prepared her for working with Cultural Care’s au pairs and host families.
Parker is currently interviewing families who are interested in hosting an au pair. As a community resource on alternative childcare and intercultural exchange, she can be reached at [email protected] to answer any questions. Interested families may also visit Cultural Care Au Pair online at www.jparker.aupairnews.com.
About Cultural Care Au Pair
Cultural Care Au Pair has provided au pair childcare to American families for over 25 years, and in that time has placed more than 100,000 au pairs in American homes. A division of EF Education and a U.S. Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an extensive network of recruitment, screening and orientation offices worldwide. For more information about hosting an au pair, visit www.culturalcare.com or call 800-333-6056.
By Spencer Kent | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM, updated April 27, 2017 at 11:04 AM
New Jersey could become the last state in the nation to ban the sale of homemade baked goods.
A judge in Wisconsin — the only other state to have such a ban — will soon hear from attorneys on behalf of three women seeking to overturn Wisconsin’s law, according to the Journal Sentinel.
Both states currently ban the sale of home-baked cookies, muffins and other treats to the public citing health concerns and unfair competition against established businesses.
In New Jersey, home bakers need to either rent a commercial kitchen or install one in their homes, costing about $12,000. They are also subject to inspection by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
Many home bakers in New Jersey have been lobbying to overturn the state’s ban for years. A few years ago, a measure passed New Jersey’s lower house, but state Sen. Joe Vitale ultimately refused to bring it up for a vote.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Prosecutors are arguing that a prominent Florida eye doctor’s practice was actually a well-organized scam that stole millions from Medicare.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Chase told a federal jury Tuesday during closing arguments that Dr. Salomon Melgen performed unnecessary tests and treatments on his mostly elderly patients to “line his pockets with millions.”
Ridgewood NJ, A three (3) vehicle, personnel. The crash involved two (2) moving passenger vehicles and a parked commercial truck. All victims evaluated by Fair Lawn EMS members declined ambulance transport to a hospital Rescue Squad personnel attended to a crash related fluid spill. Two (2) vehicles were removed from the scene by separate flatbed tow trucks. Banta Place was closed to vehicular traffic between Watkins Avenue and Raphael Street until the scene was cleared of wreckage.
