TRENTON, NJ – The Phil Murphy show continued today with more weird science by the Governor.  Murphy, who has been stressing the point that COVID-19 is 19 times more contagious indoors than outdoors, today said inside daycare facilities can open on June 15th.  In the same breath, Murphy said outdoor youth sports such as baseball, softball, and soccer can resume the following week.   Childcare centers will be able to reopen their doors on June 15th, Murphy told the state today.  New health and safety standards for childcare centers will be released later today.

“Activities will be limited to sports activities outdoors and no contact activity,” Murphy said.  “We’re proud to take this step.”

Murphy said he worked tirelessly with youth sports operators to make his decision.

Youth summer camps will be allowed to be opened in July.  The Department of Health will be releasing safety standards that will govern what summer youth sports will look like.

Photo by Keith Johnston on Unsplash

 

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Before another person says the looting and rioting going on in Minneapolis has anything to do with improving the situation for black Americans or justice for the murder of George Floyd, here’s the truth, it’s not.  This is evidenced by the burning and looting of the Scores Sports Bar in the city that was looted, vandalized, and destroyed.  Scores Sports Bar was set for a grand opening this spring but when COVID-19 hit that was put on pause. Now, just as Scores was gearing up to welcome customers with updated guidelines from the governor, George Floyd was murdered and everything changed overnight.

Scores Sports Bar fell victim to looters Wednesday night. This black-owned business is left trying to pick up the pieces amidst mourning with the community.

Kb Balla & his wife Twyana are active members of their community. KB is a firefighter with the Brooklyn Center Fire Department and Twyana was a member of the Sounds of Blackness. They have four beautiful children and the toll of this entire situation is heavy. KB has been a community entrepreneur for decades and coaches and contributes to the community in which they live.

“I have been an entrepreneur in the State of Minnesota for many years, and my community really showed their love in the rawest form. Many of you know that Scores Sports Bar was my DREAM. It was all coming together and when COVID-19 hit, the reality of not being able to open for a grand opening was difficult,” Balla said.  “With the help of my family and friends, I pushed through. To find out that the countless hours, hard work, late nights away from my kids, and family had all been for nothing was soul-shattering. It is not the material things, more so the time that cannot be reclaimed.”

That day the bar was looted and vandalized.

“While filming for CNN, people came in trying to steal the safe and I wondered what next? My community, that’s what. Strangers showed up with brooms, cleaning supplies, trash bags, and food. They helped me and my family clean up in 20minutes what would have took days,” he said.

The next morning, Balla was working his shift as a firefighter when his station got the call that his building was burned to the ground.

“I was doing my shift at the fire station this morning when I got the call that the entire building had been burnt down last night. My heart was heavy, and I had to leave work because the emotional toll was too substantial,” Balla said.

Now, the community has rallied behind Balla and his family and he has raised over $100,000 through a GoFundMe to help him rebuild his American Dream that was looted, vandalized and burned down in the name of justice.

 

 

 

 

 

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – In Minneapolis, we’ve seen things that are embarrassing to America.  As if the alleged murder of a black man by four police officers wasn’t bad enough, now business owners are losing their businesses and people are looting and destroying their own city.  This is also unacceptable.  This is not Christmas, a man died. It doesn’t give people the excuse to loot, rob and burn down buildings owned by Americans who had nothing to do with what the police officers did.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Rullo2017/videos/262920345062690/?v=262920345062690

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – (VIA GUARDIAN US) – CNN has reported that its correspondent Omar Jimenez, producer Bill Kirkos and photojournalist Leonel Mendez have been released from police custody after they were arrested in Minneapolis live on air.  The camera crew was told to move by police and didn’t.

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TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Township Council has approved a resolution that would allow for temporary outdoor dining during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The ordinance amends the township land-use code to allow for special event applications to allow for outdoor tables, chairs, umbrellas and benches for food establishments. The $100 permit fee is waived. The policy will take effect when permitted by Executive Order of the Governor.

Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick voted in favor of the ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting. “I am proud to support our town’s small businesses and restaurants, many who have been struggling with closures during the pandemic.  This resolution will allow them to have a solid head start once the Governor lifts the restrictions on these businesses and allows outdoor dining, which could be in the very near future,” Rodrick said.

“I have full faith in our business community that they will act responsibly under whatever guidelines are set by the Governor during this time regarding social distancing requirements,” Rodrick added.

Ocean County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders has been trying to push the process along within the Murphy administration to allow small businesses to reopen.

Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, who operates a small business in Eagleswood Township, said it’s time for the state to open other small businesses. His hardware store has remained open during the pandemic as allowed by the state’s executive order.

“During the closure, small businesses still have to pay rent or mortgages,” he said. “The state has been showing flexibility allowing more businesses to open. Now is the time to move forward safely allowing small businesses to open.”

Freeholder Joseph Vicari, during the pandemic, has also been an advocate for county restaurants and businesses to reopen.

This week, Mayor John Ducey announced a similar plan to allow restaurants to reopen in Brick Township.

“All applications will be reviewed by our Township staff,” said Toms River Council President Maruca.

 

You can view the permit application here.

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TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Police Department’s EMS IAFF Local 4846 and MV Silveri and Sons pitched in on Friday with a substantial donation so volunteers can continue keeping those struggling families in Ocean County fed.   Boxes of food are lined up for the needy at Citta Elementary School, Walnut Elementary School, East Dover Elementary School, South Toms River Elementary School and at the 3rd Avenue parking lot in Ortley Beach.

As food pantries and agencies such as Fulfill continue to provide meals for those who can no longer afford to feed their families, the small business shut down continues across the state.   Earlier this morning, Governor Phil Murphy hinted that might change soon, but for some who have lost their jobs and even their small businesses, it may come too late.

No registration or sign-ups are required. Food kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until 12:30 pm on Friday.

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WOODLAND, NJ – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, the state’s prison population was given get out of jail free cards by Governor Murphy while our nation’s aging veterans were given death sentences in state-run veterans care facilities.  What’s going on in these nursing homes is unconscionable. This is a failure by our governor. Prisoners put first to our most vulnerable veterans in nursing homes 53% of COVID19 deaths and New Lisbon developmental centers for developmentally disabled. Complete dereliction of duty and utter negligence.

https://www.facebook.com/Rullo2017/videos/1377196745804251/

 

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For the past year, 17-year-old Rachel Chapman has been 7-year-old Curtis Roger’s nanny.  Rachel picks Curtis up from school every day, takes him to his piano lessons and helps him with his homework.  After Curtis found out Rachel’s prom was canceled, the young boy showed his man card and stepped up to the plate.  Curtis organized his own prom dinner for Rachel.

“My daughter has been a nanny for this amazing kid for over a year. When he realized she wouldn’t have a senior prom, he wanted to throw her one. He planned a socially distant prom, complete with dancing & her favorite foods,” her mom Becky said.

“She has become apart of our family and he absolutely adores her,” said mom Elissa Rogers in a television interview Thursday. ” “She’s a just great person with good heart so it’s been a blessing to have her helping us out with Curtis.”

Curtis nailed it…and the 7-year-old has substantially raised the bar for teenage boys nationwide.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald J. Trump today signed an executive order seeking to limit social media corporations’ ability to censor free speech.  The move comes after Twitter fact-check a political statement made by the President.   Trump found an unlikely ally in the form of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” Zuckerberg said. “Political speech is one of the most sensitive parts in a democracy, and people should be able to see what politicians say.”

“Free speech is the bedrock of American democracy.  Our Founding Fathers protected this sacred right with the First Amendment to the Constitution.  The freedom to express and debate ideas is the foundation for all of our rights as a free people,” Trump’s order said.   “Did Twitter censor Obama when he said everyone can keep their health plan?”

Here’s the rest of the executive order:

In a country that has long cherished the freedom of expression, we cannot allow a limited number of online platforms to hand pick the speech that Americans may access and convey on the internet.  This practice is fundamentally un-American and anti-democratic.  When large, powerful social media companies censor opinions with which they disagree, they exercise a dangerous power.  They cease functioning as passive bulletin boards, and ought to be viewed and treated as content creators.

The growth of online platforms in recent years raises important questions about applying the ideals of the First Amendment to modern communications technology.  Today, many Americans follow the news, stay in touch with friends and family, and share their views on current events through social media and other online platforms.  As a result, these platforms function in many ways as a 21st century equivalent of the public square.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube wield immense, if not unprecedented, power to shape the interpretation of public events; to censor, delete, or disappear information; and to control what people see or do not see.

As President, I have made clear my commitment to free and open debate on the internet. Such debate is just as important online as it is in our universities, our town halls, and our homes.  It is essential to sustaining our democracy.

Online platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse.  Tens of thousands of Americans have reported, among other troubling behaviors, online platforms “flagging” content as inappropriate, even though it does not violate any stated terms of service; making unannounced and unexplained changes to company policies that have the effect of disfavoring certain viewpoints; and deleting content and entire accounts with no warning, no rationale, and no recourse.

Twitter now selectively decides to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias.  As has been reported, Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician’s tweet.  As recently as last week, Representative Adam Schiff was continuing to mislead his followers by peddling the long-disproved Russian Collusion Hoax, and Twitter did not flag those tweets.  Unsurprisingly, its officer in charge of so-called ‘Site Integrity’ has flaunted his political bias in his own tweets.

At the same time online platforms are invoking inconsistent, irrational, and groundless justifications to censor or otherwise restrict Americans’ speech here at home, several online platforms are profiting from and promoting the aggression and disinformation spread by foreign governments like China.  One United States company, for example, created a search engine for the Chinese Communist Party that would have blacklisted searches for “human rights,” hid data unfavorable to the Chinese Communist Party, and tracked users determined appropriate for surveillance.  It also established research partnerships in China that provide direct benefits to the Chinese military.  Other companies have accepted advertisements paid for by the Chinese government that spread false information about China’s mass imprisonment of religious minorities, thereby enabling these abuses of human rights.  They have also amplified China’s propaganda abroad, including by allowing Chinese government officials to use their platforms to spread misinformation regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to undermine pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

As a Nation, we must foster and protect diverse viewpoints in today’s digital communications environment where all Americans can and should have a voice.  We must seek transparency and accountability from online platforms, and encourage standards and tools to protect and preserve the integrity and openness of American discourse and freedom of expression.

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TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday was asked if he was aware of a plan by approximately 1,000 small business owners to open on June 1st regardless of his decision and he said those business owners are playing with fire.

To date, Murphy’s administration has demanded local law enforcement to enforce strict compliance with his small business lockdown.  In some cases, owners are being fined, others have been threatened with losing their state license to operate.   Many of the businesses in the protest include gyms, salons, and barbershops.

“Listen, salons and gyms, first of all, let me say something that the compliance has been overwhelming, not just by the individuals who have stayed home, working from home, done the face coverings, washed their hands with soap, we wouldn’t be where we are if it hadn’t been an extraordinary individual effort. But it’s also been extraordinary compliance by the business community, particularly the small business community. So for every one owner who wants to do X, there are a gazillion multiples of those who are doing Y and doing the right thing,” Murphy said. “I can’t speak to this specific group. I hope folks will understand the rationale, the intensity of the potential of infection indoors, and the steps that have to be taken. I would just say to folks, you’re playing with fire. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it. But it has to be done the right way and at the right time, and I think we’re going to, if you bear with us over the next few days, we’ll give some more guidance on that.”

The organizer of that rally, Tommy Trilivas, said today, the Murphy administration is keeping a close eye on the protest and a Facebook page run by Trivilas

“[Murphy] touched base on everything I made a video about yesterday,” Trivalis said.  “Dates, explanations of why dates are not given, and when the reporter brought this group up specifically he did not have that same hostile tone he normally has because he knows we have been asking to work with him and not have to defy the order. We have made efforts to put a safety protocol together, and i really hope he understands that people are sticking to the plan of opening up on June 1 because people are not going to take a projected date that can be backed out on.”

Trivalis said business owners in New Jersey are on the brink of destruction and this weekend brings another rent check due to their landlord.  Today, Murphy vetoed a bill that would provide small business owners rent relief in favor of protecting the interests of the landlords.

“People are at the end of the rope here and now its time for you to trust that we will do the right things to make a safe environment for our customers,” he added. “No one is interested in having us go in the other direction and be in a situation of having to shut down again! The ball has always been in your court Mr. Gov you are calling the shots from day one and we have all complied, we are just reacting accordingly to your next moves.”

Trivalis said his group is asking the governor for a small-business reopening opening of June 7th.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

 

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TOMS RIVER, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy today crushed any hope small businesses would have had with putting off their unpaid rent for their commercial space while being forced out of business by the small business shutdown.  Senate Bill No. 2363 was passed by the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, but it died on Murphy’s desk today. This bill would authorize a “distressed small business tenant” to suspend payments of rent following the issuance of a “rent suspension executive order.”  The bill would have defined a distressed small business tenant as a business that had 50 or fewer employees on February 10, 2020, that leases real property for non-residential purposes, and whose monthly revenue does not exceed 80 percent of the tenant’s “reasonable expectations” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  In a nutshell, Murphy sided with the landlords.

The rent suspension executive order would specify the duration of the suspension, which could not exceed three months, and identify a repayment schedule of between six to nine months, which would begin on the first day of the second month after the COVID-19 emergency is lifted.

A commercial landlord would have been prohibited from evicting a distressed small business asserting an emergency rent suspension consistent with the executive order. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on small businesses throughout the country and here in New Jersey.

Murphy told small businesses they are the anchor of the financial resurgence in New Jersey, but too bad if you can’t make it through his forced shut down.

“Our small businesses are not only the storefront shops that anchor Main Street, they are also the engines of our State’s economy, responsible for creating jobs and spurring economic growth. Small businesses will fuel New Jersey’s resurgence when the COVID-19 pandemic is over,” Murphy said.  “While I share the sponsors’ concern for the viability of our state’s small businesses, I am concerned that the approach contemplated in this bill fails to fully consider the financial impact that an emergency rent suspension would have on our non-residential property owners who are, in many cases, themselves small businesses.”

The bill would have allowed any business that meets the definition of a distressed small business tenant to assert a right to an emergency rent suspension, regardless of whether the business is capable of making its rent payments.

“The bill disregards the financial position of the impacted parties, shifting the financial burden in all cases from tenants onto property owners, who may not be relieved of their own obligations to pay mortgage payments and property taxes.”

Instead, Murphy ordered the Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) to provide grants during periods of emergency.  So far, those grants have paid most businesses who applied between $2,000 and $4,000 in funding, barely enough for one month’s rent in most cases.

Photo by Jason Mowry on Unsplash

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TOMS RIVER, NJ – A bill sponsored by New Jersey Assemblyman James Holzapfel that would extend job protection for employees who fail to report to work during a state of emergency was vetoed by  Governor Phil Murphy today.

Holzapfel’s bill would prohibit an employer from terminating, dismissing, or suspending an employee who fails to report to work because the employee is serving as an emergency medical responder during a state of emergency.

In order for an employee to obtain the job protections outlined in the bill, the employee would be required to provide their employer with at least an hour’s notice and, upon returning to employment, documentation demonstrating that the employee was engaged in, and necessary for, the rendering of emergency medical services. Although the bill would apply broadly to all employers, it specifically would prohibit law enforcement and fire departments from limiting the ability of first responders to serve as medical responders during an emergency.

“I commend the bill’s sponsors for their efforts to ensure that our emergency medical responders are not jeopardizing other employment when they are called upon to serve their communities. Our emergency medical responders are on the frontlines of the State’s COVID-19 response,” Murphy said as he vetoed the legislation.  “When they are needed in times of crisis, they should have full confidence that they will not be fired or penalized because of their time away from work.”

Murphy said a current law exists to protect employees and he would prefer to see that law updated instead to include first responders.

“Importantly, current law already provides protections for volunteer emergency responders during states of emergency. P.L.2009, c.202 prohibits an employer from terminating, dismissing or suspending an employee for failing to report to work because the employee is serving as a volunteer emergency responder during 2 a state of emergency declared by the President or the Governor, or because the employee is actively engaged in responding to an emergency alarm,” Murphy said  “The law’s protections extend to active members of a volunteer fire company, volunteers of a first aid, rescue or ambulance squad, and members of any county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management whose duties include responding to a fire or emergency call. The law contains notice and documentation requirements identical to those outlined in Senate Bill No. 2351.”

Murphy said while this bill would support the staffing levels of emergency medical responders, it would do so at the expense of law enforcement and fire departments. The work ranks of police and corrections have been ravaged by the COVID-19 virus.

“I am particularly concerned about how this bill could exacerbate staffing shortages that may result if New Jersey is hit by a second wave of the virus in the fall or winter,” Murphy said. “Moreover, because the bill is not limited to the COVID-19 emergency, I am concerned about the unintended consequences it could have on the State’s ability to effectively respond to the unique challenges and circumstances presented by future public health emergencies and states of emergency.”

 

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TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy today said the chances of risk of COVID-19 infection is 19 times higher indoors than it is outdoors.   This news was delivered by the governor after he just had his entire state locked inside for the past 60 plus days.   Murphy said this as “STAY AT HOME” was highlighted below the table as he was speaking.  Remember folks, this is all based on science.  The disease is more likely to spread indoors, so the governor is advising you to stay indoors until the numbers get better.

We’re not sure what his interpreter is saying here, but we have an idea.

“The chances of risk of whether it’s an infection or a droplet hitting you are 19 times more indoors than out of doors,” Murphy said. “Which is another reason folks why we are being very, very careful, exceeding careful on indoor sedentary, lacking ventilation realities.”

 

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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – D’strict, a South Korean digital solutions company is making waves this week after unveiling their latest work, “Public Media Art #, Wave”.  The company which has mastered the art of digital effects and illusions is now getting notoriety for their achievement.  This isn’t the first time D’strict wow’d the world. They have created several stunning visual arts concepts for advertising, marketing and entertainment in the past.  The company is one of the pioneers of outdoor digital effects and displays.

“District is a design company that designs innovative space-based user experiences (UX) through content creation using digital media technology . District, which has changed its flagship business in response to changes in various digital media technologies since its establishment in 2004, has launched a world’s first digital theme park, “LIVE PARK” in 2012, and has a new concept of entertainment based on content (IP) on a specific theme. We are carrying out the “Digital Theme Park” business that realizes space and the “Digital eXperience Design” business that provides innovative spatial experiences for HIGH-END real estate and brands,” the company said.

https://www.facebook.com/DstrictHoldings/videos/269967084188051/

 

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BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA – A 2017 incident involving Pennsylvania State Troopers and a DUI suspect went from routine to nearly fatal in a matter of seconds for investigating officers.  The event was caught on a police dash cam video showing Troopers Cp. Seth Kelly and Ryan Seiple conducting a routine traffic stop on Route 33, just north of the city of Bethlehem.  At one point, suspect Daniel Cleary stopped becoming cooperative with the officers and grabbed for their guns.  After a scuffle, Cleary went into his car grabbed a gun and began shooting at the officers.

Before the incident, Cleary had failed three of the officers’ field sobriety tests.

Officers used a taser against Cleary, but it didn’t work.  Trooper Kelly was hit by a round fired by Cleary’s gun, and applied a tourniquet to his leg to stop the bleeding.  In 2018, Cleary was convicted by a jury after watching this video.  Daniel Cleary is now in prison and could be there for the rest of his life after receiving a 53 to 110 year sentence.

The video highlights the grave danger police officers encounter on a daily basis and why sometimes, officers’ tensions are high once a subject begins resisting arrest.

https://www.facebook.com/angel.cruz.1023/videos/3222669881160759/

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STATEN ISLAND, NY – Staten Island business owner Bobby Catone, owner of Sunbelievable tanning salon in Staten Island has been shut down by Mayor Bill DeBlasio this morning.
“My lawyers decided to take the summons, by the Mayor’s health department,” Catone told a crowd of supporters today.   Catone said that his business is already experiencing enough financial distress and complied with the order to shut down.

“I can’t afford to lose my license,” he said.   Here’s a video published to Facebook today by the Staten Island Advance.

 

https://www.facebook.com/statenislandadvance/videos/1862465057216730/

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Dear, New Jersey,

We are the nurses who have taken care of you or your loved ones during CoVid and throughout every other crisis; we did so willingly despite the danger it presented in our own lives. We lost some of our colleagues to CoVid, but we still continued to show up to work every day because of you. We were there because your lives matter and that means our jobs must be done. However, our contract with HMH is up in just a few days and they finally sent us their economic proposals today. Read through them yourself and you’ll understand that the message is clear: we are not valued at all by HMH despite all of our sacrifices throughout this.

What we want is simple. We are asking that you stand up for us and help us in this fight. Just as you need us, we now need you. Please join us in this fight by sharing this status and contacting the people in power who can help us. Don’t allow them to destroy everything we have worked so hard to build because we have done so in order to provide the best care possible to all of you.

Today, HMH proposed the following changes to our contract. Please note that this is not a complete list. Since we received these proposals late, the bargaining committee is going to spend the evening going over every detail. Proposals by HMH are as follows.

  • Raises that are unequal to the raises of nurses at all of the other facilities that they “harmonized pay for”, including less money for new nurses. Starting rate for new hires about $4/hour less than offered at OMC, Riverview and other non-union HMH hospitals nearby.
  • No float districts. All nurses can be floated to any unit. That means that they could send a NICU nurse to the MICU to take care of adults if they so choose. Technically because I have PALS, they could send me to peds when I haven’t taken care of a single child since nursing school. Also they want elimination of all rules around floating, including no floating for less than 1 year and no floating for more than 10 years. That means a brand new nurse could be floated to critical care…that’s terrifying. I’ve worked somewhere where we were a skeleton staff and floated all over. It’s tough, and it’s dangerous.
  • Elimination of the open shift and extra shift program. No incentives for extra shifts/overtime shifts. Elimination of critical shift bonus. This is literally the only way we are able to get fully staffed because people pick up these shifts for extra money. No one will work these incredibly short-staffed shifts otherwise.
  • No limit on the duties that a nurse must perform, forcing every nurse to take the work of other crucial staff in the hospital such as EVS, transport, etc.
  • Disbanding the float pool as we know it. Float pool differentials (updated to add: they have offered a small amount for floating that the float pool would not accept because let’s face it, their job is tough) and only a small core of per diem nurses to be utilized as coverage. We nurses who don’t have a ton of years under our belts rely on the float pool to cover our denied PTO (and it’s always denied) or we get no vacation yearly. We rely on them to fill the 100 positions we have open in our hospital. We cannot work without a float pool.
  • No BSN certification extra pay. It’s all into income, whether you have your BSN or not. Currently, I make $1.50 extra per hour to have my BSN and everyone is required to get theirs due to the magnet status.
  • Convert hourly certification differential to a $2500 bonus. This is paid at $2.00/hr currently and $0.75 for the second certification. As a bonus, they get to write it off and we have to pay 40% taxes on it so we lose money.
  • A 30-year pay scale that will not improve the wages of nurses with more experience and does not take any international experience into account. You’re essentially being told you’re not worth anything extra if you have more experience. It’s like they’re trying to force early retirement to save money on hiring new grads.
  • Rollbacks on all Health Insurance protections we won in the last contract. I rely on affordable health insurance to make up for our horrible pay. It’s truly shameful what I make per hour.
  • Elimination of the CARE program. This program gives us up to $5 extra an hour for helping to maintain our Magnet status and it is a lot of work.

 

We support the public and now more than ever, we need you to support us.

Signed,

A New Jersey Nurse

Photo by Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash

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TOMS RIVER, NJ – Straight Talk with Joe Rullo:  Today, Joe Rullo dives into the absurdity of Governor Phil Murphy’s toll hikes on the Garden State Parkway and the absurd inconsistencies that litter the governor’s plan to reopen New Jersey.    “These tolls are nothing but tax increases,” Rullo said.     While people are dying of COVID-19, he holds a hearing on raising tolls while most people haven’t received their first unemployment check yet.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Rullo2017/videos/1166873013648537/

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CAPE MAY,  NJ  – Straight Talk With Joe Rullo, this week Joe Rullo traveled to a Cape May gift shop owned by U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran Daniel Hume and his father Larry.    The Humes own the beloved Sunset Beach Gift Shop in Cape May.  Daniel Hume repurposed his gift shop to become an essential needs general store and reopened under Murphy’s guidelines.  He was then threatened by police who threatened to arrest the veteran if he reopened his business again.  Sunset Beach Gift Shop remains closed, another victim of the Murphy administration’s choke hold on small business.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Rullo2017/videos/912961765794178/

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VINELAND, NJ – New Jersey Republican Senator Michael Testa has hung up his apron and put the baking sheets back in the closet and is now rolling up his flour infused sleeves to urge Governor Murphy to put New Jersey back to work and allow small businesses to reopen.  Throughout the pandemic, during the lockdown, Testa has shown off his mad baking skills…pizza…bread, but now, it’s game on again.

“Our South Jersey restaurants are barely making ends meet. Last week, the Mayor of North Wildwood created a well-organized plan to allow community restaurants to open up and enjoy the beautiful weather,” said Testa.

“What did our heavy handed Cape May County prosecutor do? He followed Gov. Murphy’s orders and shut down the plan. Then the governor’s administration had a helicopter monitor the city. Are we currently living in George Orwell’s 1984?”

In efforts to prevent alcohol on North Wildwood roads, Mayor Patrick Rosenello established designated areas for people to drink safety. However, the areas were shut down by the Cape May County prosecutor according to reports from New Jersey 101.5.

“This is about the economic collapse of the tourism industry, which is one of the largest industries in the State of New Jersey and the only industry for many parts of the State,” Mayor Rosenello said. “Senator Testa and I have been outspoken for weeks about this issue. The Governor received widespread support and buy-in from millions of people because we were told the shutdown was to stop our health care system from being overrun. That threat not only never materialized, hospitals are now actually laying people off because they have so little business. The ‘curve’ that we were all supposed to be working to ‘flatten’ is now about as flat as the economic heartbeat of this State. It is time to reopen.”

“How many plans sit on the Governor’s desk idle? Small business plans, community zoo ideas, restaurants reopening structures, Chamber of Commerce strategies, and more….” Testa said. “With each passing day, our economy’s survival is closer and closer to the edge.”

Senator Testa also noted that a study and plan submitted to the Governor’s office by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce exposes that patrons of the Governor’s approved businesses are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 in comparison to residents participating in outdoor activities.

“What metrics are the Governor using? Morris County ranks a Big Box store a at high-risk 4 out of 5 when it comes to the safety of your family, however, many outdoor activities rank at a safe 1 out of 5,” Testa added. “The economic impacts caused by the Governor Murphy’s never ending state shutdown have already crippled our economy and will possibly devastated South Jersey businesses for the next decade. The matter of fact is that our business owners are captains of their industry and they are fully capable of opening and keeping their employees and customers safe.”

“I am calling on Senate Republicans and Democrats to reach across the aisle and stop the Governor’s economic disaster before we hit a cliff.”

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TRENTON, NJ – CNN host and professional Trump-hater Chris Cuomo unsuccessfully attempted to bait New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy into turning an interview about New Jersey’s COVID-19 into a Trump-bashing session.  Several times throughout the interview Cuomo tried to divert the conversation into a message against President Donald J. Trump and failed miserably.  Murphy was not taking the bait and remained on topic, even praising the President for the common ground he and Trump have found during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Murphy said Memorial Day weekend was a positive experience for the state, but bad weather skewed his ability to properly assess the results, compared to a full weekend of good weather, especially at the Jersey Shore.

“Listen, we’ve been able to find a lot of common ground with the Trump administration and I’m grateful for that,” Murphy said. “It doesn’t mean we agree on everything.”

 

 

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Looters descended upon the Minneapolis Target store and stole televisions, vacuum cleaners, cameras, video games and other essential items to honor the memory of George Floyd, who was killed by police officers.   Last night thousands of protesters took to the streets to protest police brutality.  Several hundred others diverted and began looting stores and burning down businesses.

After a video surfaced of an officer with his knee firmly on Floyd’s neck, the department announced the immediate termination of four police officers.   The protest began peacefully in the streets of the city, but turned ugly after looters began turning their attention to the local businesses.

According to the police department, Wendy’s, Autozone, 7-Sigma building, and a T-Mobile store were burned.

Rioters also burned a new construction project being built to provide affordable housing units to the city.

Liquor stores were among the businesses most targeted by looters.

 

https://www.facebook.com/vivaLeViral/videos/692915951280249/

 

 

 

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BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ –  At their May 12 meeting, the Brick Township Council will consider an ordinance that will make it easier for restaurants to establish outdoor dining areas. The ordinance establishes a process that will give restaurant owners the ability to apply for a seasonal outdoor dining permit through the Zoning office instead of having to undergo a full site plan approval.  This week, Mayor John Ducey approved the ordinance.

Ducey said so far, several restaurants have inquired about the new ordinance including, Windward Tavern, Beacon 70, Mantoloking Road Ale House, Rosalitas, Tre’ Pizza, Ikko Hibachi and River Rock

“The idea behind this ordinance is to help our local businesses. It is likely that when restaurants begin reopening that there will be social distancing rules in place that will reduce the number of available seats,” said Mayor John G. Ducey. “This ordinance will give restaurants the opportunity to increase the number of guests they can serve.”
The ordinance – which was discussed and put together by the administration and the Council Land Use Committee – will create a seasonal permit that is valid for 12 months that will allow restaurants to place seating for patrons outside of their building. Permit applications will be reviewed by the Zoning Officer, Police Department and Fire Marshall to ensure the application meets established laws, rules, regulations and codes.
The ordinance requires applicants to establish an outdoor dining area and provide details of barriers, spacing between tables, aisles and entrances to area. Restaurants will be responsible for ensuring furniture is secured, litter is managed, dining area is washed and noise ordinance are adhered to.
Outdoor dining areas will be permitted to operate from 7am until 10pm Monday through Thursday and 7am until 11pm Friday through Sunday.
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On Thursday May 21st at approximately 7 pm, Police Officers Randall Trasky and Brittany LaFalce responded to Sunrise Senior Living located on North County Line Road on the report of an employee inappropriately touching a memory care resident. Upon being made aware of the incident, Sunrise administrative staff took immediate action to safeguard the victim and contacted the police department to report the incident. Detective Sergeant Mitch Cowit along with Detectives Craig Lindenberg and Derek Thomason assisted with the investigation and interviews which resulted in Michael Edwards, age 32, of Manchester being charged with aggravated criminal sexual contact. He was processed and later released on a summons pending a court appearance and was also advised that he was not welcome back on the property.

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – On Thursday May 21st, detectives were conducting a detail when they observed a narcotics transaction. The investigation resulted in a motor vehicle stop on West County Line Road and the search of vehicle which resulted in the recovery of marijuana and paraphernalia used to prepare and smoke marijuana. A 20 year old male was placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance while operating a motor vehicle. He was processed and released on summons pending a court appearance.

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