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, Holly Schepisi took the oath of office today to become the new Senator for New Jersey’s 39th Legislative District. She is the first Republican female Senator from Bergen County and the first female ever to represent District 39 in the Legislature as a Senator.
Grow Your Own Dope
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Demarest NJ, New Jersey residents could legally grow marijuana for personal (micro farming) use under legislation introduced this week by 86 year old GOP Senator Gerry Cardinale.
Continue reading New Jersey Residents Could Legally Grow Marijuana for Personal use
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Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey is the only state that prohibits the sale of fresh baked goods made in private kitchens, but Senator Kip Bateman has been working to change that for more than 10 years.
Bateman’s legislation that would bring the state more in line with the rest of the country advanced today when the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee passed S-73.
August 8,2018
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Port Newark NJ, In light of Governor Phil Murphy’s designation of the Office of International Trade and Investment, Senator Gerry Cardinale announced his plans to reintroduce legislation he has long-sponsored that would codify this program, by establishing a permanent global trade division within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJ EDA.)
Senator Cardinale noted his bill would improve upon the steps Governor Murphy took last week to create a new Office of International Trade and Investment. Sen. Cardinale’s legislation is essential to ensuring that this new office continues to operate during future gubernatorial administrations as well.
“Small Businesses owners who are looking to expand abroad often do not have the legal resources to navigate foreign trade laws,” Cardinale (R-39) said. “By fostering partnerships between local mom-and-pop stores and international advocates, we can promote ‘Jersey Made’ products around the world. The future of our state’s economy depends on a permanent Office of International Trade, right here in Garden State.”
Currently, there are 1,100 multi-national businesses and 270 foreign headquarters in New Jersey.
Senator Cardinale’s bill would establish an Office of International Trade and Protocol within the NJ EDA. The division would encourage and assist New Jersey businesses entering into the international market.
The bill will officially be introduced in the Senate at the next Senate Quorum. Cardinale’s district mate, Assemblywoman Holly T. Schepisi, has already introduced an identical version of the legislation in the Assembly.
“It is essential that New Jersey businesses are provided with the right tools to remain competitive in today’s global market,” Cardinale said. “The establishment of an international trade office will spur commercial growth and generate career opportunities for our residents. I am glad to see that Governor Murphy is taking positive steps towards diversifying our economy. I hope that my colleagues in the Legislature will take immediate action to advance my bill, so that future generations of local business owners can benefit from this program as well.”
August 2,2018
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Senator Gerry Cardinale and Assemblyman Robert Auth (both R-39) announced that Montvale Borough and Mahwah Township will receive $1.3 million in “Local Bridge, Future Needs” grants from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to undertake bridge reconstruction projects in the two municipalities.
Sen. Gerry Cardinale and Asm. Robert Auth announced that Montvale and Mahwah will receive $1.3 million in grants to undertake bridge reconstruction projects. (Wikimedia Commons)
“New Jersey must continue to make sound investments in our transportation infrastructure,” Sen. Gerry Cardinale said. “Families and commuters rely heavily on well-maintained bridges. Bridges and roads in Mahwah and Montvale, for example, are in desperate need of repairs. I am relieved to see that these communities will receive $1.3 million in grants, so that they can complete construction without burdening taxpayers.”
The Local Bridges, Future Needs grant program (LBFN) is funded through the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), and will provided more than $47 million in funding to New Jersey’s 21 counties for county bridge improvement projects, including reconstruction plans in Montvale Borough and Mahwah Township.
The 2018 LBFN grants were based on a NJDOT formula that took into account the total bridge deck area in each county, as well as the portion of bridge infrastructure within each county that was rated in poor condition.
The projects funded in Legislative District 39, which encompasses parts of Bergen and Passaic Counties, include:
• Repairing the Ramapo Valley Road Culvert: $800,000
• Repairing the Magnolia Avebye Bridge: $500,000
“Investing in our public infrastructure, including our bridges, helps our local economy thrive,” Asm. Robert Auth said. “The $1.3 million in grants for projects in Montvale and Mahwah will keep our local roads safe, well-maintained, accessible for all of the residents, commuters, and hardworking business owners who use this infrastructure every day.”
