The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Trenton NJ, following a disappointing performance in the Democratic Primary convention season, New Jersey’s First Lady Tammy Murphy announced today via the social media platform X that she is withdrawing her candidacy for the United States Senate.
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Roseland NJ, this afternoon, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his budget proposal for New Jersey’s 2025 fiscal year which begins July 1. After months of reassuring the state’s business community that he would let the 2.5% Corporation Business Tax (CBT) surcharge expire, he has proposed reinstating it and returning New Jersey to its status as an extreme outlier for business taxes.
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East Rutherford NJ, “The Meadowlands has been hosting the world’s most notable events for more than 50 years. That tradition continues with FIFA’s announcement that MetLife Stadium will be host to the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final! Under Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey proved its commitment by assembling a talented team to secure this huge win and we are so proud to have been selected,” said Jim Kirkos, Meadowlands Chamber & Meadowlands Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO. “I am certain that FIFA has great confidence in the FIFA World Cup 26™ NYNJ Host Committee.
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Ridgewood NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today signed A1181/S2054 to make the completion of a financial aid application form a prerequisite to graduation for public high school and charter school students in New Jersey. Beginning with the 2023-2024 11th grade class, and for two school years thereafter, students and their guardians will be required to complete and submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application, as guided by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in order to receive their high school diploma. The information on a student’s financial aid application is used to notify them of any financial aid they are eligible to receive if they pursue a postsecondary education.
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Ridgewood NJ, with around 20% of new businesses failing within one year and inflation making entrepreneurship even more difficult, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s Best & Worst States to Start a Business to showcase the most fertile grounds for planting and growing new ventures.
Continue reading WalletHub Study: New Jersey Is 2024’s 7th Most Difficult State to Start a Business
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9 in anticipation of severe storms causing hazardous weather conditions including heavy rain, high winds, and flash flooding. Executive Order No. 350 declares a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing resources to be deployed throughout the state during the duration of the storm.
Continue reading NJ Governor Murphy Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Storm
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Secaucus NJ, at least 13 buses have transported illegal immigrants to New Jersey, where they subsequently board buses and trains bound for New York City.
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy is seeking to replace six existing members of the State Board of Education, potentially as early as Monday, despite the absence of scheduled meetings for the Senate Judiciary Committee, responsible for approving these nominations.
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today announced the filing of the Advanced Clean Cars II rule for adoption on December 18, setting the state on the road toward better air quality and cleaner choices for new car buyers while combatting the worsening climate crisis. New Jersey joins a growing number of states that are requiring vehicle manufacturers to make zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) an increasing percentage of their new light-duty vehicle sales beginning in model year 2027, ramping up to 100% ZEVs by 2035.
Continue reading Murphy Administration to require all new car sales to be electric by 2035
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Ocean City NJ, Government-hired conservationists work on behalf of the offshore wind industry and we should be surprised they find no connection between their work and whale deaths? Another reason not to believe Governor Phil Murphy. Check out the new documentary.
Continue reading Government-hired Conservationists Work on Behalf of the Offshore Wind Industry
file photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, the following is a full statement issued this evening by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in response to calls by party leaders (including Governor Phil Murphy) for resignation:
“Those who believe in justice believe in innocence until proven guilty. I intend to continue to fight for the people of New Jersey with the same success I’ve had for the past five decades. This is the same record of success these very same leaders have lauded all along. It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere.”
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today signed the ‘Uniform Public Expression Protection Act’ to protect people from meritless lawsuits intended to intimidate them for exercising their free speech rights. Powerful entities and individuals often use lawsuits and litigation threats to punish and silence those who might speak unfavorably about them. The bipartisan legislation will enable defendants to seek the expedited dismissal of such lawsuits, commonly referred to as ‘Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation’ (SLAPP), which have historically been used against journalists, academics, advocates, and whistleblowers – among others.
Continue reading New Bipartisan Bill Protecting Against Lawsuits Designed to Suppress Free Speech
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Somerville Nj, Governor Phil Murphy today signed S3206 to promote Central Jersey tourism. The bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism, within the Department of State, to re-draw the State tourism map to create a “Central Jersey” region and to incorporate it in all regional marketing campaigns, including publications and on VisitNJ.org. The “Central Jersey” region will be comprised of, at minimum, the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset. The Division of Travel and Tourism will also be required to promote overnight stays.
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Fort Lee NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today announced the filing of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to block the ill-conceived ( NJ does not get any of the money) congestion pricing plan put forward by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City and State agencies. In the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the State of New Jersey argues that the USDOT and the FHWA violated the National Environmental Protection Act, which requires a full environmental impact review for projects of this projected impact and scope, as well as the Clean Air Act.
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Newark NJ, following what NJ Transit called a competitive procurement process, the unanimous approval of its Board of Directors and authorization to proceed by the Office of the State Comptroller, NJ TRANSIT has renewed its commitment to the City of Newark and its customers statewide, signing a 25-year lease to establish efficient, modern offices in Two Gateway Center, with a direct pedestrian connection to Newark Penn Station, the state’s busiest intermodal transit hub.
