ASBURY PARK, NJ –  If you stroll past the famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park, you’ll notice two large signs on the oceanfront side of the building promoting the wearing of face masks during COVID-19.  Those signs are part of a joint campaign between Governor Phil Murphy and Twitter.

“Best thing about these masks is I can sing along to my music without looking like a weirdo,” one sign reads.

Another says, “All the cool kids wear masks during a pandemic.  Be a cool kid, k?”

Murphy said those signs are part of a partnership between his administration and the social media giant.

“Proud to partner with @Twitter to amplify the voices of New Jerseyans to ensure we ALL continue to #WearAMask – for ourselves and for each other,” he tweeted.

Murphy said the initiative by the state propaganda machine to combat “mask fatigue”.  Murphy said the New Jersey State government’s partnership with Twitter on a campaign will promote the use and importance of wearing face masks. Asbury Park and Jersey City are two of six U.S. cities participating in an effort to combat mask-fatigue.

The initiative will display tweets from real people on physical spaces, including billboards, local landmarks, and other high-traffic areas. Twitter worked extensively with members of the Governor’s digital team and economic development team to identify messaging opportunities and bring the unique conversation happening on Twitter to life.

“From the earliest days of this pandemic, New Jersey has been steadfast in our conviction that face masks are a critically important tool to limit the spread of this virus,”said Governor Murphy. “This partnership is a creative way to amplify and incorporate the voices of New Jerseyans in our efforts to ensure we continue to mask up.” “People around the world are talking about masks and the real-talk happens on Twitter,” said Nola Weinstein, Twitter Global Head of Culture & Brand Experience. “We’re excited to bring these Tweets to the Streets, amplify people’s voices, and encourage everyone to mask-up.”

TRENTON, NJ – As New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy took time out of Monday’s COVID-19 daily briefing to grandstand politically about the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the Governor was non-committal when asked if he would suspend nominating state judges during his final year in office in 2021.

I’ve not seen the ad. Can I come back to you on that, and I’ve not thought about that. It’s a very good question in terms of barring judicial appointments in the last year. I have tended to be, so I don’t want to speak out of both sides of my mouth, but I was pretty clear and on the record that I thought it was a miscarriage to not hear Judge Garland’s candidacy in 2016, particularly eight months out.

Murphy lashed out a U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald J. Trump for suggesting the administration will nominate a replacement for Ginsburg and ignore her alleged dying last wish to leave that decision to the winner of the 2020 Presidential election.

When asked if he would put his money where is mouth is, Murphy waffled.

“I’d secondly say you can’t have it one way one year and a different way when frankly, the facts have not only really changed, but they’re much more acute in this case,” Murphy responded. “But it’s a good question. I’ve not given it thought and I will do that and I’ll come back to you.”

Earlier in the press conference, Murphy railed Republicans for suggesting the current administration replaces Ginsburg.

“May the posturing that has already commenced be a cautionary tale of how our national politics has careened off the rails over the past four years. The rank hypocrisy of those like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is showing. They want to ram a nominee through six weeks before a presidential election, when just four years ago they refused to offer even a hearing to a nominee whose name was put forward eight months before an election. “Let the people decide”, they screamed in 2016,” Murphy said.  “But today, they’re thumbing their noses at the people in the name of a narrow political ideology. How many Senate Republicans will have the guts to stand up and demand that the process be put on hold until after the nation chooses its next president? That’s really a rhetorical question, as so few have shown any guts over the past four years. Please, God, can four of these people channel the likes of John McCain and others who went before them.”

Murphy blasted Republicans during the daily COVID-19 briefing, which has taken a turn from a daily health and safety to a daily political bully pulpit for the Governor.

“But for them, this isn’t about the nation’s future. It’s about reasoned jurisprudence. It’s a blatant power grab by those whose mission is to undo decades of civil rights progress, protect polluters over the environment, gut healthcare for millions of Americans and deny a woman the right to make her own medical and reproductive decisions. And right now, our attention and the attention of the President and Congress should be focused on the pressing issue of getting ahead of COVID-19 and ensuring a comprehensive national response and recovery,” Murphy said. “We cannot be distracted from that goal. I think I know what Justice Ginsburg’s opinion would be on the matter, and there would be no lack of Americans who would concur in that opinion. And it’s only rightful, I might add, that tomorrow is National Voter Registration Vote. So whichever side of this you’re on, get registered and get out and vote.”

ROSELLE PARK, NJ – Central Park, sport bar and restaurant in Roselle Park has been cited for violating Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order limiting restaurant capacity to 25% of total capacity.  New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan did not describe in any detail the nature of the violation.  Central Park has created a socially distant atmosphere within their restaurant, separating tables and adhering to the guidelines set forth by the Murphy Administration.  The violation announce comes after a very busy weekend in sports that saw the second-week action of the NFL, college football, baseball and NBA basketball playoffs.  The restaurant offers a great in-house experience for the most diehard sports fans.  Police responding to a complaint issued the owner of the bar and the manager executive order violations.

TRENTON, NJ – If you think things in New Jersey are going to return to normal, think again.  New Jersey Department of Health Commission Judith Persichili, who warned of a “Twindemic” this fall said on Monday that the “new normal” will be here for the foreseeable future and COVID-19 fatigue is beginning to show itself around the state.

“We’ve been working together for more than six months to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our state. We know that this new normal will persist for the foreseeable future, and all these factors are causing what is called pandemic fatigue,” Persichili said.  “Pandemic fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion from the effects of COVID-19 health emergency on our lives. The key sign of pandemic fatigue is weariness. People may also feel helpless, sad and irritable. Those experiencing this fatigue may have trouble focusing or may have trouble with eating, or they may be sleeping less, or more than usual or lack motivation and become withdrawn.”

That fatigue, Persichili said has lead to an increase in drug addiction as overdose deaths in New Jersey continue to rise under Governor Phil Murphy’s draconic COVID-19 measures.  Some estimates now claim COVID-19 fatigue is now killing more New Jerseyans than the actual virus itself.

“While we may be feeling burned out, it’s important that we take steps to care for our physical and mental health. Work on getting more sleep and eating nutritious foods. Unplug from social media and the news,” she said.  “Go for walks, read a book, try another activity that can help calm your mind. Connect with others by a phone call or video chat. Social support is vital to mitigating stress. As tired as we all are from battling of the pandemic, we have to continue to take precautions such as wearing face coverings and social distancing because this virus is still circulating and we need to stay the course in this fight. It’s like running a marathon. It’s a long race and we are all going to get to the finish line, but it’s going to take time and perseverance.”

Persichili noted that individuals are dealing with mental health stressors, some may turn to alcohol and drugs to cope. This May, New Jersey saw the highest number of suspected drug-related deaths seen in any month, not just for 2020 but for 2019 and for 2018 as well. Overall, the state has seen a 12% increase in suspected drug-related deaths from January to July 2020 when compared to the same period last year.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – After a two-hundred person party took place with township high school seniors, the Washington Township school district has suspended in-person classes and school sports until at least Thursday as the district continues working with health officials’ contact tracing activities.   The district had some COVID-19 positives before the party and out of an abundance of caution, the district shut down in-person services for the time being.

The party was a senior class kick-off party organized by district parents. It was not sanctioned by the high school or school district, school officials said.   The district was concerned after learning that social distancing was not followed and many did not wear face masks at the event.  Students came out en masse to the party which also served as a memorial to Dakari Williams, a 17-year-old student who died in a car accident last week.

A letter to parents sent by Superintendent Joseph Bollendorf said the kick-off party was not the sole determining factor to push off in-person learning.

“The high school has not been delayed solely because a community kickoff function was held for our seniors,” Bollendorf wrote. “With recent information regarding positive cases in our community, the district had to do its due diligence to make sure that folks who attended the functions were not unknowingly exposed.”

Below is the letter sent to district families:

Dear WTPS Families, This letter is to inform you that all in-person instruction for our high school students (including Cohort C) is cancelled on Monday, September 21, 2020. At this time, this cancelation is for the high school only. Remote instruction for our high school students will continue.

District staff have worked exceedingly hard to prepare our schools and to create programs that would permit our students, electing to avail themselves to in-person instruction, to return to our schools on Monday, September 21st; however, there are many variables out of the District’s control that impact our ability to provide in-person instruction. Our staff has been incredibly flexible and a true partner in navigating this ever-changing landscape to achieve our shared goal of in-person instruction. There are many districts across the state that have been unable to open their doors due to staff shortages. That has not been the case in our Washington Township Public Schools.

I am so proud of our staff members for their willingness to be a part of this journey and give our kids the opportunity of in-person instruction. The successful implementation of this in-person initiative is contingent upon the cooperation of our community in taking all health and safety guidelines seriously. This includes everyone: our parents, our students, and our staff. Social distancing, wearing face masks, and washing our hands are the most essential things we can all do to stop the spread of COVID-19. We are dependent on one another to do these things to keep each other safe and to allow us to open our schools. Recently, we were forced to delay the opening of one of our elementary schools because of two separate COVID-19 cases. More recently, the high school has experienced multiple COVID-19 cases that have impacted some of our sports teams. These things are bound to occur, but if we are all doing what we know we are supposed to do, we can control the frequency of these cases, and thereby continue to keep our schools open. This weekend I was made aware of a large gathering of our high school seniors. Unfortunately, there is much evidence to show that neither social distancing nor face coverings were in place.

We have multiple students that have been determined to be close contacts of the COVID-19 cases we are currently tracing, and now have a significant concern as to whether or not students were placed at risk during this function. My number one responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of our students and our staff. We are currently working closely with our health department to begin the arduous process of adding this event to our responsibilities related to the contact tracing of known COVID-19 cases and potential additional positive cases.

This will take some time. E4 Excellence through Equity, Engagement, and Environment Therefore, I am compelled to cancel the in-person hybrid schedule for all high school students (including Cohort C) until Thursday, September 24th . All other schools in the District will open as planned on Monday, September 21 st , except for Hurffville, which will start the hybrid schedule on Monday, September 28th . All athletics as well as other in-person school activities at the high school will be suspended until further notice. My sincere hope is that the contact tracing results will permit us to start the high school hybrid schedule on September 24th.

The high school will communicate details to their families as to which cohort will begin on the 24th . We will certainly continue to communicate any further developments. Recently, parents of students receiving in-person instruction were required to sign a pledge reinforcing our commitment to check our children each day for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 before sending them to school. We must rely on each other to keep one another safe. It truly takes everyone’s commitment. We have many folks in our schools who, despite their own risk factors, are ready and willing to be there everyday for our kids. We owe it to on another to do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. It will not work with partial accountability. Together we are strong! Sincerely, Joseph N. Bollendorf Superintendent

KEANSBURG, NJ – A video of sanitation workers in Keansburg, New Jersey has gone viral.  The men, picking up trash on their daily route in the small shore community realized that everyone around them was grumpy and unhappy looking, so they decided to spice things up and dance while they worked.  The act was caught on a residents’ home security system and shared with the world.  William Watson said it all just happened and now they do it every day for the past month.  Residents in the neighborhood say the morning garbage pickup is a morning boost that helps them get through the day.

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy does a good job at putting a positive spin on spiraling further into debt as a state, but Forbes today explained the cold and harsh reality of the Murphy agenda.  New Jersey taxpayers are each $58,000 in debt when it comes to the state finances and that’s they are in the worst debt position in the entire nation according to a report by “Truth in Accounting“.    According to to the report New Jersey ranks 50th and leads all of the nation’s eight “Sinkhole States”, states that have put their taxpayers into debt.

How bad is it? New Jersey has $24.9 billion available to pay $214.5 billion worth of bills

“NEW JERSEY has held its last-place position since 2014 and needs $57,900 from each state taxpayer to pay off the debt accumulated through fiscal year 2019. New Jersey’s financial condition will most likely worsen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The state is considering borrowing more money to help “balance” its budget, but this will cause the state’s overall debt to increase,” the report said.

The report shows that New Jersey went into the coronavirus pandemic in dire fiscal health, and it will probably come out of the crisis even worse. Based upon the state’s latest audited financial report, which is dated before the crisis began, New Jersey had a Taxpayer Burden of $57,900, earning it an “F” grade from Truth in Accounting.

“New Jersey’s elected officials have made repeated financial decisions that left the state with a debt burden of $189.6 billion. That burden equates to $57,900 for every state taxpayer. New Jersey’s financial problems stem mostly from unfunded retirement obligations that have accumulated over the years. Of the $225.6 billion in retirement benefits promised, the state did not fund $95.7 billion in pension and $76.8 billion in retiree health care benefits,” the report said.  “New Jersey did not have enough money set aside to weather the current pandemic and fluctuations in the market. According to rough estimates by Truth in Accounting, New Jersey is projected to lose $14 billion in revenue as a result of this crisis. The uncertainty surrounding this crisis makes it impossible to determine how much will be needed to maintain government services and benefits, but New Jersey’s overall debt will most likely increase.”

HOWELL, NJ – The New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association (STFA) and the NJ Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Organization (FMBA) announced their endorsements of the Democrats in the Mayor and Council race in Howell Township.

Theresa Berger is running for re-election for Howell Mayor along with Andre de Garmeaux who is running for his first term on the Council.

“Now, more than ever, our communities need leaders that will stand strong for public safety,”
Eddie Donnelly, president of the more than 5,000 member Firefighters Organization said, “We know Theresa and Andre are those type of leaders and will serve Howell in a way that makes it safer and stronger.”

Wayne Blanchard, STFA President, also released a letter of support for Mayor Berger, detailing her strong support for the law enforcement community and praising her leadership. The letter said in part:

“Therefore, your (Mayor Berger’s) leadership, support, and commitment to public safety are an asset to Howell Township, its residents, and the men and women of the STFA. We are proud to stand with you as you lead Howell Township into becoming an even more prosperous and safe community under your watch.”

The STFA letter praised Berger’s work championing the “Move Over Law.” This law protects police officers by requiring that drivers move over or slow down when passing a first responder stopped on the side of the road, and is named in honor of fallen Trooper Marc Castellano, a Howell resident, who was struck and killed by a vehicle on Interstate 195 on June 6th, 2010. Mayor Berger has worked with the STFA to increase community awareness of the need to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.

“Our law enforcement, state troopers and firefighters work every day to keep our communities safe. I am proud to receive their support,” stated Mayor Berger.