The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Bellmawr NJ, Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti appeared before a judge on Monday and the judge ruled that they can continue to keep their doors open.
The owners of a Bellmawr gym who were in violation of Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order to remain closed had first closed in March under a statewide emergency order, the gym opened without permission on May 18 and then padlocked by the state on May 22 under a court order.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick and Senate President Steve Sweeney, to reimburse restaurants that had spent money on supplies in preparation for indoor dining’s return will be officially introduced in the Assembly and Senate Thursday.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that restaurants could not reopen on Thursday, July 2, and instead declared that indoor dining is prohibited indefinitely. Assemblyman Brian Bergen is calling out Murphy for being inconsiderate of the costs of running a business.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Concerned with a possible “silent scythe” of mental health issues adding to the terrible toll of the coronavirus pandemic, Assemblyman Kevin Rooney called on Gov. Phil Murphy to conduct a state-wide tabulation of those with existing mental health preconditions who have lost their lives or suffered setbacks due to the nearly four-month long state shutdown.
the staff of Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Goldman Chief Economist Jan Hatzius and his team found that the link between face masks and COVID-19 health and economic outcomes is significant. According to a Goldman Sachs note a national mandate to wear face masks could save the U.S. economy from additional lockdowns that would knock 5% off of GDP. ( https://seekingalpha.com/news/3587302-national-mask-mandate-save-gdp-from-5-cut-goldman-says )
CDC recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
Cloth face coverings may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others.
Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.
Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Continue reading CDC: Considerations for Wearing Cloth Face Coverings
“Classic bureaucratic strategy. Pick services to shut down that have maximum impact and cause maximum distress to the public. Same strategy was used during government “shutdowns” when they closed parks to inflict as much pain as possible.
When this clown proposes a meaningful plan for coping with the revenue shortfall, then maybe start to pay attention.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Bellmawr NJ, according to the Bellmawr Police on Monday morning, May 18, 2020 shortly after 8:00 AM, Frank Trumbetti and Ian Smith, the co-owners of Atilis Gym reopened their business in violation of Executive Order 107, issued by New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy on March 21, 2020. This order currently remain in effect.
Continue reading Arrest Made As Gym Defies Governor Murphy’s stay-at-home Order
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, The fifteen members of the Senate Republican caucus sent the following letter (click here for PDF) to Senate President Steve Sweeney calling for the formation of a Senate Select Committee on the Executive Branch’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Continue reading State Senators Call to Investigate Governors Response COVID-19 Pandemic
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, As part of New Jersey’s Road Back, Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 142, permitting the resumption of non-essential construction, curbside pickup at non-essential retail businesses, and car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events. The construction and non-essential retail provisions will take effect at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, while the car gatherings provision will take effect immediately.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON NJ, Assemblyman Ron Dancer is supporting his Republican colleague Brian Bergen’s legislation to put a layer of checks and balances on the governor’s ability to enact emergency executive orders.
“The governor’s ability to unilaterally impose restrictions on the freedoms of our citizens cannot go unchecked,” said Bergen (R-Morris). “One person with near absolute power is dangerous. Governor Murphy doesn’t even have a problem admitting that he doesn’t consider the Bill of Rights. My legislation will ensure that the governor has the ability to take emergency action, but that action must be reviewed and approved by the legislature within 14 days or it will expire.”
Continue reading More Calls to Check Unbridled Power of Governor Murphy
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Assemblyman Brian Bergen is calling on Gov. Phil Murphy to begin the first phase of reopening the economy by allowing non-essential businesses to get back to work with curbside pickup.
“There is no reason to delay the opening of retail business to do curbside pickup,” said Bergen (R-Morris). “They should be allowed to do that today. We are in a state of paralysis through analysis.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, The New Jersey Turnpike is set to increase tolls by 36 percent, and drivers can expect to pay 27 percent more on the Garden State Parkway.
The toll hikes are moving forward despite the lack of required public hearings due to the coronavirus crisis, and Senator Declan O’Scanlon called the maneuver “an outrageous slap in the face to the spirit of public hearing laws.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, 100,000 New Jersey public workers could be partially furloughed under plan proposed by state Senate .New Jersey would cut the hours and pay of 100,000 public workers under a plan unveiled Monday by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney. But public employees would be able to collect payments that would exceed their regular wages because of the recent expansion in unemployment benefits, he said.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Gov. Phil Murphy painted a dire outlook for New Jersey public worker jobs on Saturday afternoon, pleading for more financial aid to lift a state economy that has been cratered by the coronavirus. Gov. Phil Murphy said, “We will have layoffs that will be historic”
Continue reading Governor Murphy Contemplates New Jersey Public Worker Layoffs
