The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Ridgewood NJ, Senator Anthony M. Bucco warned that restaurants across New Jersey that have suffered steep economic losses since March will soon go out of business permanently if they are not allowed to reopen their dining rooms or provided direct financial support from the State’s share of billions in unspent CARES Act funding.
Continue reading Restaurants Will Close Permanently Without Some Reopening of Indoor Dining
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Ridgewood NJ, As the US school year rapidly approaches, federal, state, and local government officials are working to develop and implement plans to resume classes. Proposals range from full-time, in-person classes to online/remote classes only, including a myriad of hybrid options in between. Much of the uncertainty and debate revolves around the direct risk to children and the role they play in community transmission. It is generally understood that children are at lower risk for severe COVID-19 disease and death than adults—although, certainly not zero risk—but it is much less clear how easily children transmit the infection to others, including adults or other high-risk individuals at home or in the community.
Continue reading Parents Weigh Return to In Person Classes , Remote Learning and Home Schooling
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Ridgewood NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 165, which lifts 50 percent capacity limits on NJ TRANSIT and private-carrier buses, trains, light rail vehicles and Access Link vehicles, and now requires that NJ TRANSIT and private-carriers limit vehicles to the maximum seated capacity, effective at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15.
Statement by Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), CGMA, CEO and Executive Director
New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants
ROSELAND NJ, We are deeply concerned that the proposed $9.9 billion borrowing plan announced by Governor Murphy and currently moving through the Legislature will have far-reaching consequences, affecting New Jersey’s ability to grow and attract business.
There is no doubt that New Jersey will require additional resources during this COVID-19 crisis. To address this, we need a comprehensive fiscal strategy that includes all tools at our disposal. Absent that, any plan for borrowing now is premature.
Continue reading New Jersey Can’t Borrow Its Way Off This Fiscal Cliff
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Trenton NJ, In response to recent news that Governor Murphy has decided to close many Wildlife Management Areas due to budgetary constraints, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) and the 10th District Legislators agree that this plan doesn’t make sense. Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano are calling on the Governor to reconsider these closures and reopen the areas that are funded through profits made from the users of the parks and license fees.
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Trenton NJ, Senator Michael Doherty released the following statement in response to the blatant failures of the Murphy administration as it neglected to adequately prepare for the reopening of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) that had been shut down since March due the COVID-19 lockdown:
Continue reading Thank Governor Murphy For Your Long Wait at New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
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Trenton NJ, Long lines, three-hour wait times, traffic blocking roads and highways. That’s the scene many New Jersey drivers are finding at Motor Vehicle Commission agencies across the state. Senator Bucco warned NJMVC about severe backlogs and the need for a re-opening plan two months ago, but it was ignored and the result is playing out in extremely long lines and slow service today.
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (A4132) which would modify the State’s shared work program and change eligibility for the State’s unemployment insurance program. Earlier this week the bill was returned to the Legislature with recommended changes necessary to facilitate furloughs in lieu of layoffs. The Legislature today concurred with the Governor’s conditional veto.
Continue reading Governor Murphy Preps For Major NJ State Worker Furloughs
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Ridgewood NJ, “This is no longer about safety. This is Governor Murphy forcing businesses to die; businesses that just spent months investing and preparing to open at a time he gave his word to them on. The restaurants placed food orders, bought PPE, hired staff back, and started advertising.
Ridgewood NJ, Governor Murphy once again , “Do as I say, not as I do” behavior is not leadership. The constant hypocrisy adds to the public confusion and lack of trust. Clearly we are not “all in this together” .
Thursday was supposed to be the reopen date for indoor dining but according to Governor Phil Murphy It won’t happen. On Tuesday the Governor reversed his decision from June 26th .
Continue reading Governor Murphy Reneges on Indoor Dining after He Dines Indoors
June 26, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
In a news conference this afternoon, Governor Murphy announced that the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is releasing its guidance regarding the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year. At this time, schools will be able to open in some capacity for in-person instruction; however, each district will develop plans to best meet its needs with the priority being the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.
Continue reading Superintendent Plots Reopening of Ridgewood Schools
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Ridgewood NJ, Governor Murphy continues to promote the idea he is making decisions on reopening the state of New Jersey based on “science” ? According to “Murphy’s Science” School graduations are dangerous yet mass protests are not ? Maybe the real problem is just that , the focus on government sanctioned protests and not education. Worse yet Murphy joined the protests with the intent of protesting himself ? I mean he is the governor after all .
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Trenton NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today released guidance addressing prosecutions of COVID-19 related offenses, which is designed to ensure that there is accuracy, uniformity and consistency by municipal prosecutors and in municipal courts throughout the state.
“While the vast majority of New Jersey residents followed the Governor’s Executive Orders and helped us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, and continue to do so, some did not,” said Attorney General Grewal. “We have a duty as law enforcement officers to bring violators to justice, and to do so in a way that ensures uniformity. We also have a responsibility to exercise discretion in the interests of justice, including to use diversion programs and community court if available. My guidance today advises municipal prosecutors on the best ways to achieve those important goals of uniformity and consistency, deterrence, and responsible discretion.”
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Trenton NJ, Governor Murphy saved Home Depot, Target and other Wall Street sponsored companies and he destroyed businesses earning 60K per year. The economists and historians will be writing about this for next hundred years to come.
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Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood YMCA summer camp is is ON! Now more than ever, kids need camp! Under the guidance from Governor Murphy, camps have been given the green light to run this summer providing all social distance measures are taken to ensure the safety of children and staff. We are following the CDC guidelines and working closely with state and local health departments, the American Camping Association and the Y USA to implement new procedures to address COVID-19 in our summer camps for this year. We are meticulously planning our procedures and policies to address the following areas:
