MEDFORD, Ore.—A Medford Podiatrist pleaded guilty today for using fraud and deception to obtain controlled substances which he used to feed his personal addiction, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.
Patrick T. Code, 60, pleaded guilty today to a one count information charging Obtaining Possession of a Controlled Substance through Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception and Subterfuge.
“Substance addiction is a public safety and health crisis for this community, and no one is immune from the ravages of addiction including professionals in health care. However, the defendant’s conduct in illegally obtaining and using powerful drugs while acting as a trusted health care provider is particularly alarming”, said United States Attorney Williams. “This case was brought in order to protect the community from the ongoing risk to patients posed by the defendant’s actions.”
2020 has been a tumultuous year for medical services, and disability services have, in particular, suffered as a result. Research reported by New Jersey 101.5 found that service shortages had particularly impacted children living with disability, and there was a severe risk of these shortages causing long-term problems for those diagnosed with a long-term condition. As New Jersey moves towards a new normal, addressing this gap will be crucial.
An emergency plan
Rectifying emergency needs is a critical milestone in a wider plan. A reduction in even some treatment can be incredibly damaging. Take, for example, cerebral palsy therapy, which can have a serious impact on the development of children if restricted for even a small period of time – a lack of physical therapy can have serious impacts on physical health. This immediate need for service is something being addressed; congressman Dan Benson has tabled a piece of legislation that will help to secure emergency funding for the most crucial of care requirements.
Expanding the net
Although the most crucial care can be addressed in the short-term, the needs of those less pressing conditions must be met too. In the long-term, people diagnosed with these conditions can still undergo significant decline if not receiving the requisite level of care. As a result, legislators and healthcare professionals must look to define the most at-risk conditions and address them with as much urgency as possible once the most vital areas have been covered.
A long term solution
This reshuffling of healthcare priorities gives administrators the opportunity to look at wide-scale and systemic lack of access to care. NJ Spotlight note that those living with disability have had a difficult time obtaining the right care for a long time, with third party services providing care to over 5,000 families in the state who were unable to secure healthcare at the first point of contact. A new look at how healthcare functions in the state is a chance to redo the entire the system to the point that everyone has access.
Ultimately, those who are least fortunate will have less access to healthcare. When it comes to living with disability, this often means less of a chance at a good quality of life in general. Making sure this accessibility is extended across difficult times is crucial to making sure the care gap is met and that everyone enjoys the best quality of life they can.
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards totaling more than $92 million to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders returning to their communities after confinement.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded grants to jurisdictions, research institutions and other organizations in support of proven science-based approaches to reintegrate offenders into communities.
President Trump is a staunch supporter of providing a second chance to incarcerated individuals reentering our communities. In 2018, he signed into law the First Step Act, including reauthorization of the Second Chance Act, the biggest piece of criminal justice reform legislation to be enacted in more than a decade. He also directed the establishment of the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry and tapped Pastor Tony Lowden to be its executive director. President Trump has declared April as Second Chance Month for the past four years, and these awards represent his Administration’s commitment to assisting people in America’s prisons and detention facilities who have earned the opportunity to take their places back in society.
“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help offenders get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation. I saw these programs work first hand in my time as a judge and am so grateful for the hard-working people who are helping our reentering population.”
Fiscal Year 2020 reentry and recidivism reduction grants awarded include the following:
- More than $71.4 million under BJA’s grant programs designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism.
- More than $11.2 million under OJJDP’s Second Chance Act suite of grant programs to support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18.
- More than $9.3 million under NIJ’s reentry research and evaluation programs, which support rigorous research to advance understanding about reoffending and the success of reentry strategies, programs and practices. This includes evaluating innovative reentry initiatives that specifically focus on juveniles, young adults and adults with a moderate-to-high risk of reoffending.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded, and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/reentryfactsheet.pdf.
Additional information about FY 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data Webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The mail-in ballot woes continue, this time in Brooklyn where the New York City elections board confirmed today that a printing error led to 100,000 voters receiving the wrong ballot return envelopes this week. The envelope, in New York City is called an “Oath Envelope” that includes the voter’s name, address and voter identification number. If the ballot name doesn’t match the oath envelope name, the ballot would be invalid.
On Tuesday, Valerie Vazquez-Diaz, a spokesperson for the NYC election board said the wrong envelopes were mailed to 99,477 voters in the borough. A third party vendor, Phoenix Graphics has been blamed for the mixup.
“brooklyn absentee voters! I received my absentee ballot today with the wrong name/address/voter ID on the ballot envelope. brooklyn BOE says this mess up affected at least 500 voters but up to 123k. please *check your envelopes* and call your BOE if you find anything amiss!!” said one Brooklyn voter on Twitter.
The Brooklyn GOP Organization wasted no time raising an issue with mail-in ballot voting.
“This is why we are urging everyone to vote safely in-person. We just learned of a ballot harvesting scheme, and every day NYers are reading story after disastrous story. If you vote in person, your vote is secure and it can’t be stolen on a technicality,” the organization said.
Brooklyn Assemblyman Robert Carroll said for the Board of Elections to lay all the blame on the vendor was wrong.
“The buck should stop with NYC Board of elections,” Carrol said. “It’s cheap to blame an outside vendor. But thanks for finally giving guidance.”
The Brooklyn BOE is now asking residents who received a wrong envelope with their ballot to call 1-866-VOTE-NYC.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A memo released today, signed by the Director of the National Intelligence Committee, John Ratcliffe claims the Russian collusion hoax against President Donald J. Trump was fabricated by his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Today, Ratcliffe declassified portions of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
The FBI investigation found that in late July 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies obtained insight into Russian intelligence analysis alleging that U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Cli
nton had approved a campaign plan to stir up a scandal against U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump by tying him to Putin and the Russians’ hacking of the Democratic National Committee. The IC does not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication.
The FBI also said that then-President Barack Obama was briefed by former CIA Director John Brennan about Clinton’s proposal to vilify Trump.
“According to his handwritten notes, former Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan subsequently briefed President Obama and other senior national security officials on the intelligence, including the “alleged approval by Hillary Clinton on July 26, 2016 of a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisors to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by Russian security services,” the FBI investigation found.
On September 7, 2016, U.S. intelligence officials forwarded an investigative referral to FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok regarding, “U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s approval of a plan concerning U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private mail server.”
Ratcliffe said the release of the information will not impact or interfere with any ongoing Department of Justice investigations in a letter addressed today Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
As referenced in his 24 September 2020 letter to your Committee, Attorney General Barr has advised that the disclosure of this information will not interfere with the ongoing Department of Justice investigations. Additional declassification and public disclosure of related intelligence remain under consideration; however, the IC welcomes the opportunity to provide a classified briefing with further detail at your convenience.
Jackson Township Just Hired the Lawyer Who Lost to the DOJ to Defend Against Federal RLUIPPA Lawsuit
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Attorney Howard Mankoff, once touted by Mayor Michael Reina as the superstar land-use lawyer who will defend the township against a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Agudath Israel of America is out. Mankoff came highly recommended by Reina when he was hired to replace nationally renowned RLIUPPA attorney Marci Hamilton. Hamilton walked off the job according to sources inside the township after the township rejected a negotiated settlement in 2019.
In 2020, Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina fired township attorney Jean Cipriani and hired pay to play attorney Gregory P. McGuckin. Howard Mankoff replaced Cipriani on the case, but according to court filings, has been “terminated” and replaced with Brent Robert Pohlman of Methfessel & Werbel, based in Edison.
Pohlman will represent the Township of Jackson, Robert Nixon, Michael Reina, William Campbell, Helene Schlegel, and Kenneth Pieslak.
Mr. Pohlman was the trial lawyer who represented the Borough of Woodcliff Lake against Valley Chabad. Pohlman, in August, presented a settlement to the borough which the borough voted to adopt.
“Settlement avoids negative findings or illegal judgement against Woodcliff Lake,” the town attorney told the townspeople on August 20th. “It saves money and it potentially resolves the matter once and for all at relatively an early stage of the case. The settlement doesn’t permit a vindication of the Town’s position. It doesn’t allow any vindication of the Valley Chabad’s position and it doesn’t allow vindication through the Department of Justice’s position.”
Pohlman urged Woodcliff Lake to settle with the Department of Justice.
“Things happen that nobody anticipates especially during a deposition. It also involves adverse publicity. Litigation also involves a tremendous cost. In a case of this magnitude, Woodcliff Lake is going to attorney fees to its own attorneys and should it lose, in any way, shape or form, the private action, it will pay the attorney fees of Valley Cha bad as well. Then there will be the cost of expert fees and there could be a judgement against the town. This will result in the town having to de-prioritize other things,” the town attorney said. “These are fiscally challenging times and elected members of this body and taxpayers are going to have to decide what do you want to spend your money on. Remember, if you settle, you compromise.”
The borough, through Pohlman’s negotiated settlement will now have to pay the Valley Chabad $1.5 million in attorney’s fees.
As part of the consent decree approved by Pohlman, the borough will permit Valley Chabad to construct a new Chabad house on its property,” the Department of Justice said about the settlement. “The resolution would also enjoin the borough from acting in a manner that violates RLUIPA and require the borough to establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, train its employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, and submit regular reports to the United States and the court on its compliance. In the separate agreement that resolves the related private action, the borough agreed to pay Valley Chabad $1.5 million to resolve its claims for damages and attorney’s fees that arose from the borough’s conduct.”\
“The statues under which these claims are made provide for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. It is important to note that in the State of New Jersey there is no insurance coverages for punitive damages,” Pohlman said at the meeting. “To obtain a large verdict, a Plaintiff does not need to prevail on all or even most of their claims. In fact, under RLUPIA a Plaintiff does not even have to prove discriminatory intent. There is a theory of liability, one that is being put forth in this case, that allows a Plaintiff to prevail even if it can demonstrate that an Ordinance, rule or regulation of practice presented a substantial burden to the free practice of religion. These cases are extremely fact sensitive and involves thousands of pages of documents, many depositions and multiple experts. There is typically a significant amount of motion practice before the court and lengthy trials. The attorney fees on both sides are very high. In the cost of defense, potential damages are always a factor in determining your litigation strategy.”
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – Trick or treat is on in Manchester Township according to Mayor Ken Palmer. Palmer said today his office has been receiving inquiries about Halloween trick or treating from residents and said as long as Governor Phil Murphy doesn’t cancel the holiday at the state level, the show will go on in his town.
“We have been getting a number of inquiries about Halloween and Trick or Treating. We WILL permit Trick or Treating unless the State proscribes otherwise. Enjoy and stay safe,” Palmer said today.
Palmer’s decision comes days after Brick Township Mayor announced trick or treat and trunk or treat are on for the township this year despite COVID-19 and gave residents suggestions on how to safely participate in both. On Halloween, Ducey encouraged residents to use their porch lights as a signifier to let trick or treaters know if you want people knocking on your door or not. Ducey said homes that will be giving out candy should turn their lights on at around 2pm and those homes that do not wish to have visitors should turn their porch lights off for the night.
“People might not want anyone knocking in this time we live in, for covid-19 or whatever,” Ducey said. Trunk or Treat this year will take place on October 23rd. The township will soon be releasing more information on the event.
Check back here for the latest town by town Trick or Treat announcements at the Jersey Shore. If your town has an announcement, please email us [email protected].
TRENTON, NJ – An effort to recall New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in 2019 fell short of getting the required number of signatures and failed to accomplish its goal, but a new filing this year has been flat out rejected by the state’s division of elections. New Jersey resident Alexander Spielman filed with the state to recall the governor but received a letter this week notifying him of the state’s rejection.
“The Division of Elections received your notice of intention to recall Governor Philip Dunton Murphy on September 21, 2020. Pursuant to NJSA 19:27 A-6, the notice of intention requires a statement as to whether the recall election shall be held at the next general election…or at a special election,” the letter read. “Your notice of intention failed to include a statement with a legal date for the recall election. For this reason, your notice of intention has been rejected.”
Spielman said the state notified him that if he chose to hold a special election ahead of the 2021 election, he would have to incur the costs of that special election.
The letter continued, please be advised that the recall election cannot be included on the November 2020 ballot as ballots have already been printed. Additionally, no election to recall an official shall be held after the date occurring six months prior to the general election or regular election for that office, as appropriate, in the final year of the official’s term.
Due to the timing of this year’s election and next year’s election, the state says the next available window to recall the governor, should he win in 2021 would be after January 2023, after having served more than one year of his new term.
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged 15 Cincinnati men and one Chicago man with crimes related to Cincinnati gun violence in separate indictments unsealed here today. Six defendants were arrested late last week, and 10 were already in state custody.
U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers, ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil announced the cases as part of a 2020 Summer Gun Violence Initiative.
The aim of the initiative is to identify repeat and dangerous offenders for federal prosecution.
The cases include multiple incidents of shots fired, defendants who allegedly threatened children with firearms at a school and an apartment complex, and a handful of individuals fighting in the street with weapons.
Each defendant is a convicted felon charged with illegally possessing a firearm, which is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Those charged include:
| Name | Age |
| Daniel Ambrose | 25 |
| Ricardo Boyd | 32 |
| Kenneth Davis | 22 |
| Traevon Edwards | 27 |
| Willie Goldsmith | 27 |
| Darryl Johnson | 28 |
| Greg McIntosh | 27 |
| Richard Williams-Moore | 23 |
| Jeff Napier | 34 |
| Rashan Robinson | 31 |
| Jerome Rucker | 22 |
| Recardo Sims | 26 |
| Andreqio Stevens | 41 |
| Darren Thomas | 32 |
| Demetrius Williams | 24 |
| Terrance White, of Chicago, | 26 |
Ambrose, Boyd, Goldsmith, Johnson, McIntosh and Sims were arrested on Friday.
The Cincinnati Police Gang Squad has been investigating Daniel Ambrose for his alleged responsibility in several shooting incidents in the Avondale neighborhood this August. Ambrose was arrested early Friday morning by ATF SWAT.
In February 2020, Ricardo Boyd was arrested on local domestic violence charges after assaulting a woman and a child. It is alleged that Boyd illegally possessed a firearm in his pants pocket at the time of the assault.
It is alleged that in September 2020, Recardo Sims and multiple other individuals were fighting on Bowling Green Court in Cincinnati. 911 calls indicate that at least four firearms were seen.
In the case pending against Andreqio Stevens, at least six people called 911 on May 12, 2020, to report that Stevens was allegedly standing in the parking lot of Eatondale Apartment Complex waving a gun and threatening to “kill everybody.” In some 911 calls, you can hear individuals screaming and warning others to “get in the house.” Callers describe being terrified, running away from Stevens and having children with them.
In January 2020, Daryl Johnson reportedly waved a gun at students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in downtown Cincinnati.
U.S. Attorney DeVillers said federal investigations into Cincinnati gun violence will continue, and he anticipates more charges to come.
Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon, OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy, Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato, Kenneth L. Parker, Timothy D. Oakley, Jennifer Weinhold, Anthony Springer, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Zach Kessler and Jackie Stachowiak are representing the United States in these cases.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey trails far behind the rest of America when it comes to reopening businesses, including restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, barbers, nail salons and hair salons, but it leads the nation when it comes to rate of infection, rate of death and deaths per capita. Those dueling facts fuel the fire for opponents of Governor Phil Murphy who claim his prolonged closures didn’t help save lives but helped to kill the state’s economy. Hundreds, if not thousands of businesses have shut their doors in New Jersey for good. Many once-thriving businesses are now struggling and state legislators want to know what the criteria to allow those businesses to reopen at full capacity are.
Murphy is keeping his formula a secret as if it was the secret formula for Coca Cola or KFC.
Monmouth County Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso wants answers, but she’s not getting them. She asked about the Governor’s new reopening criteria at a budget committee hearing, but received no answers from the Murphy administration.
Initially, the state’s pandemic shutdown was sold to New Jersey as a two-week closure to “soften the curve” to ensure the state’s medical care system wasn’t overloaded. That overload never happened, but no sooner than the curve was softened in May, Governor Phil Murphy pulled “spot positivity rate” or “Rt” as a key indicator for reopening, along with new hospitalizations and the virus’ effective reproduction rate.
With all three of those indicators at pandemic low levels, last week the state announced it is now using ten different indicators, but so far hasn’t shared the 7 newly added indicators with anyone outside of Murphy’s administration.
We’re now seven months removed from the initial pandemic shut down and Governor Phil Murphy keeps moving the goalposts on New Jersey’s struggling industry and businesses. Freshman New Jersey Senator Michael Testa this week said enough is enough and the state legislature needs to act swiftly to stop Murphy’s “power grab” which is disguised as a government concerned about the health and wellbeing of its residents.
For the seventh time since March, Governor Murphy has extended the Public Health Emergency that he has used to justify overbearing executive orders that have caused unimaginable disruption to the lives and livelihoods of our friends and neighbors,” Testa said. “New Jerseyans did exactly what the governor asked back in March. They stayed home and many lost their jobs as employers ordered closed by the governor have shuttered forever. It has to end.”
Testa cried foul against the Murphy administration saying the governor is acting in an authoritative manner, ignoring the legislative branch of government.
“The Legislature has met numerous times since the Public Health Emergency was first declared in March, providing ample opportunity for the Legislature to be consulted and perform oversight as a co-equal branch of government,” Testa said. “Shame on the Democrats who control Trenton for failing to make the governor justify each and every one of the restrictions he placed on New Jerseyans.”
DiMaso and New Jersey Senator Declan O’Scanlon this week called for Murphy to increase the 25% capacity in restaurants to 66% before more businesses close their doors and more New Jersey jobs are lost. O’Scanlon said he received a message from a prominent business owner and restaurateur that he may be forced out of business if things don’t change.
With the weather getting colder and Murphy’s outdoor dining exclusion set to expire in November, restaurant owners are starting to panic about the future.
“This is a prominent restaurateur, his family and restaurant are beloved throughout Monmouth County. This is the last restaurant I’d expect to hear this from. If this individual is this close to the precipice we are in danger of losing them all,” said O’Scanlon. “This is a direct text and if this individual does pull the trigger it will be a shock to Monmouth County and to the State industry.”
“Sorry to bother you I know you’re a busy man but I was wondering if there has been any word on Murphy raising the indoor dining percentage from 25% to your proposed 66% because if that doesn’t happen sooner than later I’m going to have to throw the towel in it’s just not enough to keep the doors open and I would like to give my staff ample notice. I mean looks like we may have this week on our side but that’s probably it. Unfortunately I cannot put outdoor heaters under our canopy due to the obvious fire hazard and after September 30 the road closure which allowed us to put tables out in the street ends… lmk thanks,” the restaurant owner texted to O’Scanlon.
“The evidence is clear from all of our surrounding states – Indoor dining at 50 percent to 100 percent capacity can be done safely. We are way behind our Northeast neighbors virtually all of which have been open far longer than we have and at capacities ranging up to 100 percent. None of them are reporting spikes due to indoor dining.” O’Scanlon continued. “The science isn’t different in New Jersey.”
“We hear every single day from beleaguered restaurant owners who don’t know how to continue like this,” said DiMaso. “The Governor claims we need to see a sustained lack of outbreak, but we’ve already seen that. And even yesterday in his conversation with Dr. Fauci, the Governor was told that we are in a good position to continue the reopening of our economy. These businesses cannot take much more and, frankly, I don’t know what the administration is waiting for anymore.”
TRENTON, NJ – As New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy continues to tout his success in the COVID-19 battle, facts don’t back up the governors position any more than they can back up his science that has led New Jersey to become the most deadly state when it comes to contracting COVID-19.
New Jersey has had 207,977 reported cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic. 16,225 New Jersey residents died from the virus. In comparison, states like Texas, California, and Florida each have had over 700,00 reported cases and between 14,000 to 15,000 people died.
Once exposed, Californians have a 1.92% chance of dying from the virus. In Texas and Florida, the percentage of deaths among those infected has been 2%. Nationwide the death rate among infected COVID-19 patients ranges from 1% to 2%. In New Jersey the death rate is a staggering 7.8%. In New York, it is 6.7%. New Jersey leads the entire nation in deaths per capita with 1,827 deaths per 1 million residents. New York is second with 1,708 deaths per 1 million residents.
Despite being ranked 9th in the country in total case volume the decisions made by Governor Murphy in the early days of the crisis have led to the state being the COVID-19 death capital of America, with New York close behind in second place. This happened despite the Governor’s prolonged forced closure of businesses, restaurants and outdoor activities this past spring and summer.
A critical failure of the Murphy administration was when, on March 29th, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichili ordered that nursing homes and extended care facilities could not refuse COVID-19 patients. What happened after that was an already overburdened and unprepared senior healthcare system was inundated with patients it could not properly care for. Over 10,000 senior citizens died because of that fateful decision made by the Murphy and Persichili.
Now, even as the New Jersey COVID-19 caseload has diminished and the “Curve” has been flattened since May, a new flareup in Ocean County has health officials statewide worried about the second wave of COVID-19. Although with enhanced treatments and better knowledge of how to treat the virus, this new round of patients are beating the virus. Live saving drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma are no longer being withheld by the state government, so people are recovering quicker and fewer patients are being put on ventilators, according to state COVID-19 records posted daily.
While the first phase of COVID-19 was predominantly a senior-citizen healthcare tragedy, the new wave of COVID-19 in New Jersey is affecting younger people. Teens and young adults have accounted for many of the newest cases, with very few having anything more than mild cold and flu-like symptoms, but that can change. Health officials warn that a hospital spike could trail as long as two to three weeks behind the initial outbreak.
Testing volume has increased in Ocean County, especially among the Orthodox Jewish community where lines are now forming outside walk-in clinics in Jackson, Lakewood and Toms River as residents test to see whether or not they have been infected. A source within Ocean County’s government says over 1,000 have been infected in Lakewood in the past five days and numbers being released to the public are not reflective of actual numbers, due to a glitch in the state COVID-19 reporting system.
As for Murphy, the governor has blamed sports parties, house parties and family gatherings for the latest spike in Ocean and Monmouth County. The Governor is expected to visit Ocean County on Thursday to meet with county officials to discuss the recent surge in cases.
[Howell, NJ]… “F r sc e an n ars a ath rou f h, u n his ont , a na on, c ed in l r , and dedicated p os n hat “all a c at equal” may seem like gibberish to you, but in reality, if Abraham Lincoln were giving his Gettysburg Address via a zoom conference from Howell today, this is close proximity to what we would get. Why? Because Optimum Online flat out is not delivering the internet nor cable TV we are paying for, or are promised.
If you live in Howell, you petty much have no options. You can get Optimum or a satellite provider. In some areas of the Township, such as Ramtown, Xfiniity, a superior provider might be available. Superior is of course up to the person making a comparison, but not witnessing any issues with Comcast brand products – at least not to this magnitude, we’ll say this is a situation where the grass is greener on the other side. For the most part, you’re stuck with Optimum.
As a Howell resident, one of the best resources for anything “Howell” related is the “Howell Happenings” Facebook page. With a growing number of complaints around the Township concerning cable and internet, the moderators of Howell Happenings made the following post the other week:
“So there has been many complaints with Optimum/Altice services and at Tuesday’s council meeting I decided it was time to get answers. Below is the question I wrote in being read on the record and their answers. Seems council isn’t too happy either, especially Mayor Berger. AND right now the town is in contract negotiations with Optimum which happens once every 10 years. This is an issue we all need to continue to question to make sure these negotiations work for us. Watch the video for more info.
https://www.facebook.com/HowellHappeningNJ/posts/3364796460256683
At the time of writing this article, there are over 130 negative comments to that post concerning people’s experiences with Optimum. Surveying residents for more information, we obtained additional negative remarks from residents stating their discontent.
To summarize, here is a bulleted list of issues customers are complaining about:
- Cable TV interruptions, in some cases daily.
- Hardware issues, with Optimum provided wifi routers not giving a good signal.
- Intermittent internet outages, poor connectivity, and poor speed.
- Customer service call back lines, not calling back.
- Technicians being unable to repair issues, blaming problems on “infrastructure.”
- Cable and Internet delivery devices needing hard resets multiple times a day.
- Changing the price on services on the regular/giving very preferential packages to new customers without helping existing ones.
- Representatives & technicians are stating this is due to excessive use from COVID-19 related demand (which is false, these issues have been going on for years).
- Many general customer service complaints.
The customer service complaints are nearly universal to everyone’s experiences. Between discourteous representatives and also their obvious inability to offer any relief, people are frustrated. Some residents have stated they made headway with their bills by calling the customer service retention line. In my opinion, this is the clear cut problematic product of outsourcing representation out of the United States.
Altice, the parent company of Optimum is no stranger of hot water in New Jersey. There is a legal battle between our Attorney General, Gurbir S. Grewal and Altice concerning unfair billing practices. The latest documentation pointing to a case filed in the 3rd Circuit court appealing another decision on the same. The text of this appeal filed in July of 2020 can be viewed HERE.
What does this mean for us? What can we do? First and foremost, raise awareness.
As one commenter in the Facebook threads noted, we can’t even turn to News 12 for a story, as the station is owned by Altice News. Articles are now coming forward concerning this, bringing the matters front and center, such as those provided by:
Howell Patch – Twp Council Slams Internet Provider In Howell: ‘It Is Horrible’
And
There very well might be a case here for Attorney General Grewal, and you can reach out to his office via this LINK.
The Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications within New Jersey should also be informed, and they can be reached via phone: 1-800-624-0331
On a local level, the Howell Mayor and Council is obviously aware of the problems. Form the Central Jersey dot Com article we have:
Bonevich said Howell’s Information Technology Department should have its own complaint form on the municipal website so residents’ comments may be forwarded to the BPU…“That is the way to do it. Why depend on (Optimum)? Let us field the complaints and send it all in one shot,” the councilman said. Berger supported the suggestion for a complaint form to be placed on Howell’s website.
Bonevich and Berger delivered and there is now a web form for residents to directly enter in their complaints about Optimum. The web from can be found HERE.
In addition to filing complaints through the web form, reaching out to the entire council, Mayor included, would not be out of the question…Berger and Bonevich seem to be the only ones that expressed an interest on this subject and making things better for residents – the other members need to hear from the residents as well. Post letters sent via USPS generally garner more attention from officials. Or, consider calling the respective extensions and ask how and where correspondence should be directed. Be respectful and polite, the council is on the side of the citizens. The contact information for Howell’s council can be found HERE.
Or if you prefer, you can email the complete governing body here: [email protected]
And finally, in 2020, something that gets attention, is taking to twitter. Tweet your complaints to:
@AlticeUSA and @OptimumHelp
How about some coverage from NJ 101.5 and Bill Spadea?
With contract negotiations coming up, one thing is for sure, Optimum needs to change or they need to go!
What to read more of John’s work or connect with him on social media? Visit him on the web at www.johnpetrolino.com Instagram @jpetrolinoiii Twitter @johnpetrolino
TOMS RIVER, NJ – Earlier today, the Ocean County Health Department reported over 500 total cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Tonight, Daniel Regenye, spokesperson for the OCHD said that number was an error generated by the state’s COVID-19 tracking system.
“The State had issues with their system over the weekend, so number exports over the past few days have been inconsistent,” Regenye said. “We are hopeful they resolved the issue and it will get back on track.”
Now, the county lists 242 new cases in Ocean County for Monday.
TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy is asking the Trump administration to approve a request of $34.2 million in federal disaster recovery funds to help pay for costs associated with Hurricane Isais back in August.
https://www.facebook.com/423813954320813/videos/658728264788456
“These funds are necessary to help state, county and local officials recoup the costs of the cleanup from the storm,” Murphy said. ” The damage from Isaias led to roughly 1.4 million losing power and many of those outages lasted for several days along with disruption to mass transit and closures due to downed power lines and trees.”
The storm damage forced the state to open thirteen temporary debris management sites used to transfer debris to permanent facilities.
Murphy is requesting a major disaster declaration for Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Salem and Sussex Counties. The Governor did not request funds for Ocean County, where he visited Jackson Township the day after the tropical storm struck the county.
When visiting Ocean County, Murphy met with Jackson Mayor Michael Reina, who is currently the focal point of a Department of Justice civil rights lawsuit and now a possible FBI criminal investigation.
Reina thanked Murphy for everything he has done for the residents of Jackson and Ocean County, which now amounts only to a photo op visit by the governor in close proximity to his Island Beach State Park mansion where he was staying around the time of the storm.
Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the Trump administration is giving the state 2.6 million 15-minute COVID-19 tests and thanked the President for giving his state the ability to nearly double its testing capacity and to return test results to patients within minutes.
Murphy today was notified by the White House via teleconference meeting that it will be part of a historic initiative led by the Trump administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of and Defense (DOD). That initiative awarded a contract for $760 million to Abbott for delivery of 150 million rapid, Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Point of Care (POC) SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests to expand strategic, evidence-based testing in the United States. Testing will be potentially deployed to schools and to assist with serving other special needs populations.
The first 170,000 tests will be delivered to New Jersey within the next two weeks and Murphy said it will “scale up” New Jersey’s testing capabilities.
“This could be a game-changer,” Murphy said. “We can double our testing capacity and test-up resources into hot spots like Ocean County.”
“The introduction of Abbott’s antigen test is another incredibly valuable result of President Trump’s all-of-America approach to constructing our world-leading COVID-19 testing capacity,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “By strategically distributing 150 million of these tests to where they’re needed most, we can track the virus like never before and protect millions of Americans at risk in especially vulnerable situations.”
The Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card recently received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, does not require instrumentation, and will deliver COVID-19 test results in 15 minutes or less. The Administration has laid the groundwork for this program with months of collaborative work, paving the regulatory and innovation pathways.
The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card test uses nasal swabs and is simple to use, inexpensive, and can be easily employed by medical personnel or trained operators in certain non-clinical environments operating through a CLIA certificate. Rapid POC testing will help to enable the opening of and also to lower the risk of COVID-19 spread.
“Over the past months, our collaboration with Abbott has exemplified the Administration’s whole-of-society approach to this pandemic, fully leveraging America’s industry and innovative spirit,” said ADM Brett Giroir, MD. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we have worked closely with the private sector to stimulate testing innovations such as the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 test. This is no small achievement and is of an unprecedented scale. The Administration is now prepared to fully deploy this new testing asset to continue combatting the virus and safely and sensibly reopening our great nation.”
Abbott has the capability to scale up to meet the demand for antigen testing across the country and is the only known sources that can immediately provide the required items to meet HHS’s urgent needs. The system uses a nasal swab and associated media placed on a strip that can detect COVID-19 and other viruses.
FREEHOLD, NJ – Youth sports are being blamed for the uptick in Monmouth County COVID-19 infections, according to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
“I know that there has been a lot of talk about the recent uptick in COVID cases in Monmouth County and I would like to shed some light on these cases and the reasons they are occurring,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “The Monmouth County Health Department’s (MCHD) case investigations have determined the bulk of exposures are from youth athletic facilities, school sports practices and gatherings that occurred during Labor Day Weekend and almost half of the new cases are young adults between the ages of 16 and 25.”
Arnone said the return of school sports has been linked to the increase, but echoed other official statements that indoor dining has not lead to any increases in the spread of the virus.
“It is also important to note that MCHD has conducted a thorough review all the COVID-19 cases in the 29 towns they serve and no cases have been linked to restaurants or retail food establishments at this time,” added Freeholder Director Arnone.
Just last week, Governor Phil Murphy said youth sports have not played a role in an increase of infections statewide.
Photo by Kobby Mendez on Unsplash
COLUSA COUNTY, CA – A teacher at Colusa High School in California threatened to kick a student out of a virtual classroom because a Trump 2020 flag hung on his bedroom wall was visible too other students in the zoom meeting.
“You can sit up, remove the flag, or reposition your camera within the next 15 seconds or I’m kicking you out of class,” the teacher allegedly told the student. The teacher then began to count, but the student exited the classroom before waving goodbye.
RPM Development Group announced today the sale of a home widely considered to be the most notable at East Gate, the upscale collection of residences created in century-old Officer’s Housing on the 1,126-acre Fort Monmouth former U.S. Army post. The famed “General’s House” has been sold to inspiring new owners who have set their sights on creating one of the most distinctive homes in the Monmouth County marketplace. The “General’s House” is the most recognized address in Officer’s Row, a collection of signature homes at East Gate which are aptly named after its former purpose as acclaimed residences for high ranking officers stationed on Fort Monmouth.
The five-bedroom home was sold “as is” to Diane and Bob Baxter, a local couple who envision an estate which maintains the residence’s formality and historic elements, but also features contemporary and modern luxury and comfortable, relaxing living spaces. At about 4,500 square feet, the marquee General’s House is the largest residence in East Gate and a once in a lifetime opportunity to fully renovate a one-of-a-kind floorplan. The home, identifiable by its brick exterior, eye-catching portico entryway and location at the head of the community, stood out to the Baxter’s for its uniqueness inside and out.
“We were attracted to the formality of the home design, as well as the solidness of the brick structure,” they said. “The archways, high ceilings, crown moldings, French doors, and the beautiful staircase, all stood out. Most important were the two sun porches off the back of the house and the beautiful view overlooking Parker’s Creek. While many of these features may require restoration, we will keep what we can and replace what we have to.”
The first steps in the revitalization of the noteworthy residence will not be glitzy, the Baxter’s indicate, with a focus on bringing the home systems up to 21st Century standards.
“The house has no air conditioning or modern heating systems,” the couple points out. “There’s no kitchen and the bathrooms are not functioning. The windows and gutters need to be replaced. The initial work ahead will not be very exciting. It is a lot of blocking and tackling. However, once those systems are upgraded, then we can begin the fun part which is to preserve as much of the character of a 1930’s federal style home as possible.”
After the upgrades are complete and the canvas set, the Baxter’s will get started on making their vision for the General’s House a reality. It begins with a design theme that perfectly combines older charm with newer interior appointments, not unlike historic dwellings of modern distinction seen worldwide.
“We’re aiming to have an eclectic mixture of a historic and structured layout with modern and relaxed feel,” they continued. “For example, if you can imagine walking into a Connecticut farmhouse that retains its historic country charm, but is still fully up to date and livable, or a Parisian apartment where modern furniture and fixtures seem to be dropped into an 18th century building with its retained crown molding and paneled walls.”
Certain aspects of the floorplan will change, and specific rooms will be converted to fit the lifestyle needs of the Baxter’s. The interior motif and palate will include personal flair.
“There’s two parts of the project that are very exciting to us right now,” they said. “We have a friend who is a very talented artist and will be painting a mural on the dining room wall. We have also decided to move the kitchen to the back of the house where the dining room was. We feel the flow from the living room opening to the sun porch will be ideal for our lifestyle. We will also likely put a breakfast dining table and sitting area on the porch.”
The integrity of the General’s House will remain firmly in place, the couple points out, with some of its older spaces transformed into contemporary uses. The general’s office is slated to become a library, a bedroom will be transitioned into a home gym, the attic utilized as a game room and additional storage space, and a portion of the basement targeted to become a wine cellar.
“We will also keep a small staircase in the back of the home, and plan to change the two small maids’ rooms and a bath into a laundry facility and a nursery or child’s room for future grandchildren.”
A great proximity to family and those future grandchildren is a main reason the Baxters’ chose East Gate. The fast-selling community is already home to their son and his wife, who purchased their first residence at the neighborhood.
“Our children bought here, and after spending much time at East Gate, we have grown to love the quiet community,” the couple said. “We also love being able to walk and ride our bikes here without having to deal with much thru-traffic. We wanted to be closer to our son and the General’s House is a great project for us to restore.”
The General’s House is part of a dynamic collection of luxury homes created by developer RPM Development Group at East Gate in Oceanport, N.J. The remaining residences offer all of the attributes that drew the Baxters to purchase at the fast selling community, with the added benefit of being move-in ready with home systems fully brought up to modern standards and remodeled and contemporary interiors lined with stylish interior appointments and finishes.
Included in the available inventory are the highly popular single-family attached homes located in sought-after Officers Row. Like the General’s House, the spacious and well-appointed homes blend modern luxury and old world charm with the same historic and preserved Federal style construction that has made East Gate so unique, and offer magnificent waterviews of Parker’s Creek., according to CB New Homes of Florham Park, NJ, its exclusive marketing and sales agent.
Priced from the upper $700,000s, the three-bedroom single-family attached homes boast uniquely wide floorplans that feel and live like expansive single-family homes inside and out, without the hassle and headaches of tiresome maintenance. The floorplans offer 2.5 baths, dining/living room, open concept kitchen, expansive master bedroom suite with lavish master bath and sitting room and den that makes for the perfect home office that everyone wants and needs in today’s business climate. Crown molding can be found throughout the main living level and hardwood flooring is included on both the first and second floors. Outside, each home has a large patio to fully enjoy Fort Monmouth’s natural surroundings that are both tranquil and scenic.
East Gate has had significant appeal to young couples and families eager to purchase a two-story single-family attached residence. These buyers are drawn by the comfortable living spaces and roomy outdoor areas, and appreciative of the extra leisure time afforded by the neighborhood’s maintenance-free lifestyle. They‘re also quick to take advantage of an extremely affordable cost of ownership created by today’s low interest rates, low monthly maintenance fees and property taxes that are reasonable, especially when factoring in the neighborhood is served by the award-winning Oceanport school district. Better yet, the single-family attached residences offer Immediate Occupancy.
Commutability has also played a significant role in East Gate’s appeal to working families. Easily accessible are New Jersey Transit’s Little Silver Train Station, located just two miles away, and express ferry service, both of which provide fast service to Manhattan.
Residents at East Gate enjoy being part of the Jersey Shore’s premier live/play community. An abundance of amenities and services are nearby, including the Marina at Oceanport, parade grounds, open space and walking and biking trails and kayaking around Parker’s Creek. There’s also East Gate Park, a one-acre outdoor space featuring a monument paying homage to Fort Monmouth’s storied past, pedestrian pathways, benches, lawns, seasonal flowers and shrubbery and a modernized lightning/lantern package
East Gate is situated just minutes from popular New Jersey beaches and the banks of the Shrewsbury River, and is in proximity to the entertainment, dining and culture of Red Bank and Asbury Park. Major highways, including Routes 35, 36, 18 and the Garden State Parkway, are also nearby.
For additional information on East Gate, please call 732-523-5566 or visit www.EastGateOceanport.com.
As New York City prepares for the return of indoor dining this coming Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo is urging New Yorkers to report violations and has announced that 400 state workers will be assigned to the city to enforce strict compliance. Capacity will be capped at 25% upon the reopening of indoor dining in the city.
According to Cuomo’s orders, restaurants will have to implement temperature checks, take contact information for tracing, enforce face coverings when not seated and to make sure businesses cease service after midnight. Bar services are not permitted in the city.
The governor said guidelines will be reassessed based on data by November 1 and if no infections or outbreaks are reported, capacity can increase from 25% to 50%.
The Governor’s office released the following information regarding reopening:
Restaurants Must Publicly Post Their Indoor Dining Capacity and Phone Numbers to Report Violations; Patrons Who Observe Violations Can Report Issues by Calling 833-208-4160, or by Texting ‘VIOLATION’ to 855-904-5036.
Indoor dining in New York City will be allowed to resume beginning September 30th with a 25 percent occupancy limit. All restaurants that choose to reopen will be subject to strict safety protocols, including temperature checks, contact information for tracing, face coverings when not seated and other safety protocols. Bar service will not be permitted, and restaurants will close at midnight. Guidelines will be reassessed based on the data by November 1. If the infection rate does not increase, restaurants may be permitted to go to 50 percent capacity; the State will monitor any positivity increase on an ongoing basis and potentially reassess if necessary. Business guidance for indoor dining in New York City is available here.
The City of New York will provide a team of 400 enforcement personnel to work with the State Police Task Force to ensure compliance. Restaurants must publicly post their 25 percent indoor dining capacity and the phone number and text number to report violations. Patrons who observe violations can report issues by calling 833-208-4160, or by texting ‘VIOLATION’ to 855-904-5036.
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Robert Lester Odom, 47, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced on Friday, September 25, to 40 months in federal prison after having pled guilty to the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. The sentence was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“This vicious attack was made even more serious due to the vessel’s location, so far away from help,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Reducing violent crime is a top priority for the Justice Department and our District, and as federal prosecutors we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these criminals accountable for their actions.”
The facts introduced at the sentencing hearing revealed that on September 27, 2019, Odom, a crew member on a commercial fishing boat, attacked and wounded the vessel’s captain with a pellet rifle and a long-blade knife. At the time of the offense, the vessel was at sea approximately 20-26 nautical miles south-southeast of Perdido Pass, with a captain and two crew members. While fishing shortly before 9:30 pm, Odom shot the captain in the chest with a pellet rifle and then, after a struggle, stabbed the captain twice, causing immediate, profuse bleeding. United States Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers responded to a call for help, and United States Coast Guard personnel administered first aid to the captain. The captain was then flown by helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
“The Coast Guard’s commitment to protecting life at sea, and upholding our nation’s laws, are our highest priorities,” said Rear Admiral John Nadeau, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District. “I’m proud of our dedicated men and women who responded to save the victim in this case, and worked with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice was served.”
As part of his sentence, Odom was ordered to pay $12,180 in restitution to the victim. In addition, after serving his term of imprisonment, Odom will begin a three year term of federal supervised release.
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Love prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
YONKERS, NY – Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and John J. Mueller, Commissioner of the Yonkers Police Department, announced charges today against Darren Smith for attempting to murder a federal law enforcement officer. The defendant will be presented in White Plains federal court today before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, the defendant fired a handgun into a commercial hub in Yonkers and, in a further wanton disregard for human life, attempted to direct his fire at a federal law enforcement officer. Our Office will work to ensure that those who put our law enforcement partners in danger are held to account.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As law enforcement professionals, we all take an oath to protect the public from harm. When this subject allegedly fired his gun wildly into a public square to prevent his arrest, police officers, including a task force officer from our Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, took immediate action to prevent innocent people from being killed or injured by stray bullets. We take our oath seriously, and we won’t back away from our pursuit of holding criminals accountable for their actions.”
Yonkers Police Commissioner John J. Mueller said: “As this was one of the most depraved and reckless acts I have witnessed in my 28 years in law enforcement, the response by our Yonkers Police Officers was also one of the most heroic and selfless acts I have witnessed in my career. We often hear how our police officers run toward danger, without consideration for their own well-being. In this incident, everyone who views the video can attest to the validity of this often used term. As Yonkers Police Commissioner, I could not be prouder of the officers and supervisors that God has blessed me to work with. Thank you also to the outpouring of support from our beloved community who have inundated the Yonkers Police with well wishes and gratitude.”
On September 25, 2020, after law enforcement officers attempted to stop Smith’s car, he fled on foot with a handgun. As officers, including a FBI Task Force Officer, attempted to arrest him, Smith fired his handgun into Getty Square in Yonkers. As the FBI Task Force Officer attempted to control Smith’s hand to prevent him firing again, Smith struggled to turn the gun in the Task Force Officer’s direction and continued to fire. In the course of the struggle, the Task Force Officer fractured his finger, sprained his knee, and suffered several abrasions to his right hand.
Smith, 24, of New Rochelle, New York, is charged with one count of attempting to murder a federal officer, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of using a deadly weapon to interfere with the performance of a federal officer’s official duties, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of discharging a firearm in the course of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
The maximum potential sentences, in this case, are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises agents and officers from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Probation, the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Yonkers Police Department, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Peekskill Police Department, the Greenburgh Police Department, and the New Rochelle Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Shiva H. Logarajah is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
After analyzing millions of member check-in data across 2,873 gyms, sports clubs and boutique fitness centers over the course of three months, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and MXM, a technology and knowledge transfer company specializing in member tracking within the fitness industry, conclusively found that fitness facilities are safe and are not contributing to the spread of COVID-19.
From May 1 through August 6, 2020, IHRSA and MXM closely examined and compared member check-in data (number of gym visits) from a number of fitness facilities – such as Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Life Time, and Orangetheory – across the country with self-reported infection rates. After nearly 50 million check-ins over that three-month period, the study found that a nominal 0.0023 percent tested positive for COVID-19. Gyms nationwide have robust COVID-19 safety measures in place and there is zero evidence that the positive cases originated in gyms themselves.
“As recently as a few months ago, the data correlating fitness facility visits and mitigating risk was practically nonexistent. All that’s changed – and for the better,” said MXM CEO Blair McHaney. “It’s become abundantly clear that the safety measures gyms, sports clubs and boutique fitness centers have in place are not only incredibly effective at keeping their membership safe, but also curbing any potential spread of COVID-19 during a time when we all need access to exercise facilities to stay healthy.”
The fitness industry’s only trade association, IHRSA, along with MXM, invited all health and fitness clubs in the United States to participate in the long-form study. Over the course of the study, fitness centers provided their total check-ins and number of locations across all states in which they have a presence as well as self-reported on the total number of positive COVID-19 cases documented between employees and members who have been in the club. MXM previously conducted a study surrounding the lack of concentrated outbreaks in fitness facilities with affirming results just last month.
“The check-in data proves that health clubs – when following strict cleaning and safety protocols – are safe,” said Brent Darden, IHRSA interim President and CEO. “At IHRSA, we have a responsibility to educate and inform people that they should feel comfortable and confident going into fitness facilities throughout the country right now. The data shows that, with proper sanitization protocols in place, people can safely return to their workout routines. Working out has never been more important to help boost immunity and improve mental health. It’s time to acknowledge that gyms are safe.”
Access to fitness centers is key to keeping Americans healthy. Physical activity plays an important role in not only maintaining a healthy immune system, but reducing COVID-19 risk factors such as obesity, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 42.4 percent of U.S. adults1 and approximately 18.5 percent of children and adolescents2 in America are considered obese. Physical fitness has long-term mental health benefits as well, including reducing the risk of stress and depression. Notably, one in five Americans experience mental health illness3, and people with mental illness have 40 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population4.
“Fitness centers are needed now more than ever to help us stay active and maintain a healthy immune system,” added Robert Sallis, M.D. with Kaiser Permanente. “COVID-19 risk factors haven’t changed since the pandemic began – obesity, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes put you at much higher risk for both short- and long-term complications. It’s imperative that we all make real change now to stay healthy given that exercise is an essential part of life.”
For additional details on the study and how the fitness industry is committed to keeping its members safe, healthy and moving, visit IHRSA.org.
Photo by John Fornander on Unsplash
In the 1971 timeless classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (not to be confuse with the terrible remake, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), the owner of the Willy Wonka chocolate factory, played by Gene Wilder, offers a free lifetime supply of chocolate by way of five golden tickets hidden inside Wonka branded chocolates. One real-life candyman, David Klein, the founder of The Jelly Belly jelly beans is giving away one of his candy factories in a gold ticket treasure hunt. David is getting ready to retire, but not before he has some fun and not before he gives back to everyone who loves the candy industry as he does.
Gold Tickets are being hidden worldwide for fans of Jelly Belly to find.
David and his partner have started going across the USA hiding gold style tickets in the form of necklaces in places they come across with an interesting story. Plans are to have multiple treasure hunts for these gold tickets in each state. You can join one of their treasure hunts which are launching right now at www.TheGoldTicket.com.
“The biggest and best part of these treasure hunts is that anyone who joins at least one treasure hunt, will be eligible to search for THE ULTIMATE TREASURE which will be the key to one of his candy factories and an all-expenses paid trip and education to a candy-making university,” the company said.”He will add this treasure hunt after all the states have had a chance to play. Each treasure hunt is valued at $5,000 and cost is only $49.99 to enter a hunt. Each treasure hunt has a strict limit of 1000 participants, no exceptions.”
“With The Gold Ticket Treasure hunt, our goal is to get people out and about with their families. Grandma and Grandpa can even join with the kids and grandkids,” said Klein said, “The Candyman. Take videos of your treasure hunt experiences for possible inclusion in our upcoming series.”
You can learn more at www.TheGoldTicket.com and watch for free David’s documentary, Candyman The David Klein Story and be inspired. Remember to join a treasure hunt and sign up for our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/thegoldticket for more information. The Gold Ticket Treasure Hunt would be a GREAT gift this holiday season. Join David on this Willy Wonka fantastical journey across America and see if you can find one of his elusive gold tickets.
Klein was born in Syracuse, New York and grew up in the Los Angles, California area. After getting a law degree, David decided his passion for candy was much stronger than any other ambition he had. In 1976 David created The Jelly Belly jelly bean and marketed it nationwide. He has appeared on the Mike Douglas show, the Regis Philbin show, and on the cover of People Magazine in his iconic bathtub of jelly beans photo. David has been a philanthropist all his life and has mentored many entrepreneurs to astronomical success. His love for people is shown in everything he does.
eBay, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic marketplaces, kicks off its week-long “vinyl obsession” event with an amazing breadth of rare and trending vinyl curated directly from Record Store Day-pledged stores, available at eBay.com/vinylweek. Now through October 4, shop curated staff picks, collectible titles and a dedicated selection of top albums in a sale benefitting MusiCares. This event celebrates records, music culture and the shops that make it all possible, and there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Discover Musical Gems
eBay’s Vinyl Week takes record shopping digital with an experience that nods to beloved in-store offerings. From perusing the pre-loved vinyl bin and uncovering a coveted LP to getting recommendations from the experts behind the counter, shoppers can find exactly what they’re looking for from a cohort of small businesses dedicated to bringing record collections to life. Highlights include:
- Staff Picks: Tapping into the knowledge of the participating record store community, shoppers can browse the virtual bins to find recommendations on cool, obscure and must-listen albums, like Bob DVylan’s “Blood On The Tracks Mofi One Step” and Billy Joel’s “The Stranger LP Picture Disc.”
- Collectible Titles: Comprised of the very best records, including a Cake Colored Vinyl Box set, an Ozzy Osbourne “Ordinary Man LP” with signed booklet and a Brian Eno “Begegnungen II” signed album, this selection will be sure to appeal to music connoisseurs looking for that one-of-a-kind addition to their stacks.
- MusiCares Charity Auction: A selection of memorabilia and top albums direct from GRAMMY® Winning artists, including a signed “Darkness and Light” vinyl from John Legend, a framed GRAMMY 50th Anniversary Print from the Beastie Boys, and a Sturgill Simpson Signed Gibson J-185 Guitar and Case. Proceeds benefit the charity and its efforts to provide resources to people in need within the music community.
- Free Tidal Subscription: With the purchase of select records from get_importcds, shoppers will receive a free, three-month TIDAL Hi-Fi subscription ($60 value).
A Community of Experts
Independent record stores are Main Street cornerstones and with their commitment to providing the very best selection to their customers, these small businesses represent the spirit of eBay and its seller community. At a time when shopping small is more important than ever, eBay is spotlighting the entrepreneurs at the heart of Vinyl Week and encouraging shoppers to browse their distinctive offerings.
One seller, Nick Naruz, owner of Toad Hall Books and Records, shared more on his experience selling on the marketplace: “Partnering with eBay has allowed my brick-and-mortar store to stay busy during the pandemic. Selling Records online has kept our doors open through these hard times.”
Here are just a few of the participating independent record stores shoppers can explore:
- Toad Hall Books and Records: Established in 1973, the family-run shop deals in vinyl records, books, comics and stereo equipment, including hard to find, out of print and obscure items.
- Looney Tunes: Family owned and operated since 1971, the record store strives to have the largest selection, lowest prices and best customer service – living by the motto “Where Music & Fun Are One!”
- Euclid Records: The very essence of the modern record store with nearly a quarter million titles in stock, this establishment has been selling new and used LPs and CDs for more than 33 years.
For more coveted vinyl, shoppers can also browse the latest drops from Record Store Day, the organization behind the country’s largest annual celebration of independent record stores, now through October 24, and follow @eBay on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the marketplace’s latest offerings.