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Paramus NJ, Governor Phil Murphy and Chief Administrator Sue Fulton of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) today announced plans for a phased reopening of MVC facilities to the public following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening will proceed in a way that safeguards public health and safety, bringing many changes and improved efficiencies to Commission operations.
Mr. Speaker,
This bill represents the culmination of a disappointing chapter in the NJ State Legislature’s history.
While public union workers are about to get a two percent raise in just 26 days, nearly 1.2 million of our constituents, the people who we represent, have lost their jobs. Everything considered in this Assembly has no respect for the taxpayers or their future.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ,Senator Anthony M. Bucco raised serious concerns about Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to borrow as much as $14 billion to fund government spending.
“Given his failure to consider fiscally responsible alternatives to balance the State budget, Governor Murphy’s borrowing scheme is premature, excessive, and almost certainly unconstitutional,” said Bucco (R-25). “When the State is already drowning in debt, New Jersey taxpayers cannot afford to give the Governor the blank check he’s demanding.”
Continue reading Governor Murphy’s Ponzi Scheme Called Premature, Excessive and Unconstitutional
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TRENTON NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 151. The Order extends the Public Health Emergency that was declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103, extended on April 7, 2020 through Executive Order No. 119, and extended again on May 6, 2020 through Executive Order No. 138. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed.
Continue reading Governor Murphy Extends Public Health Emergency in New Jersey
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Paramus NJ,nothing like a photo op , June 4, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) visited the Paramus Veterans Home to deliver face masks donated by Fifth District constituents for frontline health care workers and facility staff. Talk about a day late and a dollar short ,72 people died from COVID19 and Governor Phil Murphy’s egregious policies .
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Ridgewood NJ, In an attempt to safely operate the Graydon Pool recreational swimming facility to the public during this COVID 19 health crisis, many changes must occur. The facility will operate and look differently than it has in the past as we continue to adhere to social distancing safeguards and the CDC direct specifications.
Continue reading Village of Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation Graydon Pool
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Trenton NJ , Senator Joe Pennacchio criticized the passage of A-4175 in the General Assembly. This legislation would allow up to $14 billion in new borrowing to cover operating expenses.
Continue reading Murphy Administration’s Failed COVID Response Leads to Property Tax Increase
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Washington DC, The three authors of the study, led by Mandeep R. Mehra of Harvard Medical School and published in late May , retracted their study from the Lancet because independent peer reviewers could not access the data used for the analysis.
Continue reading Study that Questioned Hydroxychloroquine Effectiveness Against COVID19 Retracted
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Ridgewood NJ, Due to the Governor’s Executive Order 104 citing the CDC’s recommendation for cancellation or postponement of gatherings of fifty or more people, the Regular meeting will be held utilizing videoconferencing.
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Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Village Council agrees to cut $630,000 from the defeated Ridgewood Board of Education budget .Councilwomen Bernie Walsh commented that the curriculum and programs would not be impacted or result in any layoffs . She suggested the BOE put out a list of line items of what was actually cut . Deputy Mayor Knudsen stressed no impact on programs or quality of education and called it a win/win.
Mayor Ramon Hache said state school aid would be cut $447,000 ,and according to Deputy Mayor Knudsen was actually less than anticipated and factored in .
This means overall about $1.1M cut to the school budget. Murphy announced a cut of about $447,000 last week, in state aid. The Council resolution stated last night that as per school administration, this will not affect any programming.
The council approved the cut in a 4 to 1 with Councilmen Voigt as the lone dissenter.
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Trenton NJ, Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Declan O’Scanlon, and Senator Kristin Corrado said a superficial report commissioned by Governor Phil Murphy does not absolve his administration for its clear failures that led to the massive loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities due to COVID-19.
“The Murphy Administration paid a consulting firm $500,000 to rush a report that attempts to shift blame for thousands of nursing home deaths to anyone but the governor,” said Oroho (R-24). “What taxpayers received back is a glossy report that repackages the State’s data in colorful graphs and charts. The report glosses over the fact that the administration forced our LTC facilities to admit COVID-19 patients, which led to thousands of deaths. With that glaring deficiency, the entire report is suspect.”
Continue reading Critics say a $500K Report Does Not Absolve Murphy Admin for Nursing Home Deaths
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Trenton NJ,The Assembly Republican caucus sent a letter (click here for PDF) to state Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio Wednesday requesting a detailed itemization of the new costs incurred fighting the coronavirus pandemic and how much is expected to be reimbursed by Federal Emergency Management Agency.The Murphy administration has not provided detailed information on contracts or expenses related to the pandemic, but senior budget officials estimated the state has spent close to $200 million on coronavirus expenses.
Trenton NJ, according to Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger from Red Bank tagged on to Governor Murphy”s borrowing binge is a surcharge on property tax bills:
In a Facebook post Scharfenberger explained ,”Just when you thought you heard everything, bill A-4175, on schedule for a vote this Thursday, would allow the state to borrow five billion dollars without voter approval that would add a statewide surcharge to everyone’s property tax bill. This, on top of the recent toll hikes, is a double kick in the gut to the New Jersey taxpayer. While the governor keeps business in perpetual lockdown, Trenton is looking for ways to raise money through more egregious taxation. This is outrageous, and shows why it is imperative that we reopen the state now! “
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Ridgewood NJ, Valley Health System reported in a short statement on Facebook , ” We are so happy to share that our #COVID19 patient count has been on a consistent decline and that today we have fewer than a handful of patients being cared for at the hospital!”
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TRENTON NJ, The Assembly Budget Committee passed a bill Monday that would allow at least $14 billion in borrowing to replace revenue lost during the economic shutdown in response to Covid-19.
Republicans on the committee asked that taxpayers get a chance to weigh in, if there was a back-up plan when borrowing for revenue is struck down as unconstitutional, and if the administration would consider an alternative plan that provides much needed revenue while cutting taxes for the middle class.
Continue reading Time for Fiscal Discipline Instead of Massive Borrowing Schemes to Fix Budget
