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Garden State Times

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News from April 2024

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Commissioners Present Expanded Summer Concert Series

By Garden State Times | Apr 11, 2024

The Camden County Board of Commissioners has unveiled the exciting lineup for the Summer Parks Concert Series in 2024. Commissioner Jeff Nash expressed the county's enthusiasm for the upcoming events, stating, "We always look forward to our summer concerts because it provides our residents with some fun, free entertainment right in their communities."This year's concert series promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with an expanded roster of acts and special themed nights planned. Commissioner Nash highlighted the collaboration with local groups to host public...

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Polistina Reacts to Recent Knife Attack on Galloway Police

By Garden State Times | Apr 10, 2024

Senator Vince Polistina (R-02) has made a statement in response to the recent knife attack involving two Galloway Township police officers. Polistina expressed his appreciation for the bravery and quick thinking of Officers Erik Tarnow and Hunter Thomas during the violent encounter.In his statement, Senator Polistina commended the officers for their courage in the face of danger, stating, “Each and every day our police officers put their lives on the line when responding to potentially deadly situations with minimum details." He highlighted the rapid escalation of the...

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Senator Bucco Criticizes NJT's Rate Fare Increase as Unaffordable

By Garden State Times | Apr 10, 2024

Senator Bucco has criticized the recent approval of a 15% public transit rate fare hike by the Murphy administration, calling it "an affront to every New Jerseyan struggling to make ends meet." The Senator expressed disappointment in the discrepancy between Governor Murphy's rhetoric on affordability and the actions taken by his administration, stating, "While Governor Murphy preaches affordability, unfortunately his actions don’t match his words."Senator Bucco further emphasized the importance of addressing the affordability crisis in New Jersey, highlighting the need...

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Schepisi Introduces Bill to Shield Ratepayers from Offshore Wind Project Costs

By Garden State Times | Apr 9, 2024

Senator Holly Schepisi (R-39) has unveiled a new legislative proposal on Tuesday, aimed at safeguarding utility customers in New Jersey from bearing the financial burdens linked to subsidies for forthcoming offshore wind projects.The initiative comes in response to recent developments involving offshore wind projects in the state. Last July, Governor Murphy signed a bill granting a tax break to Ørsted, a Danish offshore wind developer, for two energy projects along the New Jersey coastline. The move redirected up to $1 billion that would have otherwise been allocated for...

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Town Hall Meeting Honors Local Veteran

By Garden State Times | Apr 9, 2024

The Board of Commissioners met in Cherry Hill for the next event in a series of town hall meetings across Camden County. Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. emphasized the significance of these gatherings, stating, “Hosting town halls are very important as it allows us to communicate with our residents about what’s happening in our county, state and country.”During the town hall meeting, Navy Veteran Art Schneider was honored for his service. Schneider, who served from 1990 to 1999 as a nuclear machinist mate, was involved in Operation Desert Storm and received...

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Commissioners and Mayor Celebrate Completion of $10 Million Reconstruction Project of 27th Street

By Garden State Times | Apr 9, 2024

Commissioner Al Dyer expressed gratitude to the community partners for their patience and collaboration during the $10 million reconstruction project on 27th Street, stating, “This was a huge undertaking but a necessary one.”Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “It is a celebration of real tangible progress for the East Camden community.”Assemblyman Bill Moen praised the project as a vital improvement for the City of Camden and its residents, emphasizing the safety enhancements for vehicles and pedestrians.New Jersey...

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Corrado Introduces Bill That Would Ban Prop Bets to Protect Student-Athletes

By Garden State Times | Apr 8, 2024

Senator Kristin Corrado has put forward a new bill aiming to safeguard student-athletes by prohibiting certain types of sports betting. The legislation, introduced by Corrado (R-40), targets player-specific proposition bets on collegiate sports, with the goal of protecting the integrity of college athletics.The proposed bill, known as S-3080, specifically defines proposition bets as side wagers on aspects of a sporting event unrelated to its final outcome. This includes bets on individual player statistics and predictions about which player will score first. By banning...

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Simonsen Backs School Funding Plan Amid S2 Storm

By Garden State Times | Apr 8, 2024

Assemblyman Erik Simonsen expressed his support for new school funding initiatives during a panel meeting in Trenton. Simonsen, a member of the Assembly Education Committee, emphasized the need for immediate action to assist districts facing state aid cuts.Regarding the current school funding formula, Simonsen stated, “A new funding formula that fairly supports our schools, teachers and students is what I want going forward, but at this point we have to survive and help these school districts hit hard weather the S2 storm a little longer.”Simonsen highlighted the...

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Commissioners Celebrate 100th Birthday of World War II Veteran

By Garden State Times | Apr 8, 2024

Commissioner Melinda Kane recently commemorated the 100th birthday of World War II Veteran Anthony P. Simone. Simone, born in West Berlin in 1924, bravely served in the Army, notably participating in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the most significant battles of the war."Anthony is a remarkable person who displayed served his country during one of the most uncertain times in our nation’s history," expressed Commissioner Kane, who serves as the liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs. She further added, "After his service, he has gone on to live a rich, fulfilling...

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Amato, Rumpf & Myhre Introduce Bill to Assist School Districts Targeted for Aid Cuts

By Garden State Times | Apr 8, 2024

Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Greg Myhre have put forward a legislative proposal to address the concerns of school districts facing significant aid cuts under the state's school funding formula. The bill aims to limit the reduction of State school aid to a district to no more than one percent of the prior year's amount of aid.The initiative comes in response to mounting worries expressed by education professionals and parents regarding the impact of severe aid cuts on students' education. The legislators emphasized the need for a...

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Bucco, Polistina Introduce Bill to Stop Phantom Candidates, Strengthen Campaign Finance Laws

By Garden State Times | Apr 8, 2024

Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco and Senator Vince Polistina have put forth a new bill aimed at curbing the influence of 'phantom candidates' in New Jersey elections and enhancing transparency in campaign finance reporting. In a statement, Sen. Bucco expressed his commitment to fair elections, stating, "The people of New Jersey deserve transparent and honest elections...Attempts to deceive, mislead, or outright trick voters to win an election is something I will not stand for." He emphasized the importance of preventing bad-faith actors from interfering with the...

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New Jersey sees less individual income tax revenue in Q3 2023

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

The third quarter of 2023 brought in $3.1 billion in individual income tax revenue for New Jersey, a 51.5% decrease from the second quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

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Congressman Norcross Hosts Roundtable with Commissioners on Improving Access to Methadone

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

Congressman Donald Norcross, along with a panel of stakeholders, convened in Camden to address the pressing issue of combating the opioid epidemic and discuss the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (MOTAA).During the roundtable discussion, Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “This piece of legislation is removing barriers for people to access the treatment they need." He highlighted the significant impact that medically assisted treatment can have on individuals struggling with substance use disorder....

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Roadwork Projects in Camden County Cause Temporary Road Closures and Lane Shifts

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

PSE&G Electric will be undertaking various roadwork projects in Camden County, causing temporary road closures and lane shifts. The utility company will be replacing utility poles on Burnt Mill Road in Cherry Hill, Market Street in Camden, and Hutchinson Avenue in Barrington from Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12.According to Commissioner Al Dyer, liaison to the Department of Public Works, motorists are advised to plan ahead and take alternate routes during this period. Dyer emphasized the importance of being cautious while driving through construction areas, urging...

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Senators Bucco & O'Scanlon Introduce Bill to Restore School Aid Cut by Murphy Administration

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco and Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O'Scanlon have announced their plan to introduce a bill aimed at restoring over $200 million in school aid cuts proposed by Governor Murphy's administration. Sen. Bucco expressed his concerns about the impact of these cuts, stating, "Schools that find themselves on the losing end of New Jersey's broken school funding formula are struggling to make ends meet. Restoring these cuts are a necessary step towards ensuring that educators have the resources to combat learning loss and provide...

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McGuckin and Kanitra Oppose Far-Left Activist Appointment to New Jersey State Board of Education

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

TRENTON, N.J. – Activists who approve the normalization of extremist views in classrooms to New Jersey’s 1.4 million schoolchildren must be kept off the state Board of Education, Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Paul Kanitra say. The Assemblymen are opposing Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to appoint far-left activists to the state Board of Education, fearing they will shape the educational agenda for years to come.Grassroots efforts by parents successfully prevented a Senate vote on Skillman, N.J. resident Serena Rice in March. McGuckin and Kanitra are now urging to keep her...

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Commissioners Announces Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Camden County

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. expressed, “Right now, homelessness is a major issue we are facing here in South Jersey as well as nationwide. We know what contributes to homelessness and we have enlisted the help of experts to come up with a plan to begin reducing these numbers and get people into stable, supportive housing. By getting someone off the streets or out of tent into supportive housing can have a significant benefit to the community and allow the individual to be in a stable environment and get their feet back underneath them.”Robert Jakubowski,...

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Camden County Updates on NJ Earthquake

By Garden State Times | Apr 5, 2024

Camden County officials have provided updates on the recent earthquake that hit the region. According to an unnamed official from Camden County, "At this time we have had no reported significant building damage through the office of emergency management or our 911 communications center." The department of public safety is actively monitoring the situation in collaboration with OEM partners and local authorities. The official stated, "The department of public safety is closely monitoring the situation in tandem with our OEM partners and will continue to engage our local...

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Lawmakers announce state grants to speed up transportation projects in Bergen and Essex counties

By Garden State Times | Apr 4, 2024

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblymen Christopher DePhillips and Al Barlas revealed on Thursday the allocation of over $1 million in grants to Franklin Lakes Borough, Cedar Grove, and Ridgewood for transportation projects.Assemblyman DePhillips emphasized the importance of the grants in advancing projects that enhance commuter safety, particularly for schoolchildren. He stated, “Projects that support the safety of commuters, and especially our schoolchildren, have always been a priority for local officials and residents, but now they are getting the state assistance they...

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Dunn Visits Local Pediatrician to Highlight Benefits of Reading to Infants and Young Children

By Garden State Times | Apr 4, 2024

Assemblywoman Aura Dunn recently visited a local pediatrician, Dr. Rosario Zambrano, to learn about the Reach Out and Read program, which promotes strong family bonds and healthy child brain development. The program, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, encourages parents and caregivers to read to children during routine checkups for ages birth to 5, especially for those on Medicaid or uninsured.Dunn expressed her support for the program, stating, “Research consistently shows that children who are read to by a loving caregiver have better language skills and...