SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy will leave his safe zone in Monmouth County and break quarantine for a stroll on the boardwalk with his wife in Seaside Heights or Seaside Park this weekend if the weather breaks.  “I will be somewhere, weather dependent, on the boardwalk probably doing a run and strolling a little bit with my wife somewhere in the Seaside Heights, Seaside Park neighborhood, sometime this weekend. I’m not sure, I don’t have an exact moment as to when,” he said.

During the Friday press conference though, Murphy added that indoor entertainment facilities such as arcades, restaurants, games of chance, amusement rides and other boardwalk amenities may not be opening any time soon.

“Nothing new to report on arcades or shops. You know, this will depend on if we continue to have another couple of good weeks here, my hope is that we get to that, particularly if they’re outdoors,” Murphy said.

On Saturday, activity in Seaside Heights was pretty good with beachgoers social distancing and sporadic, socially distanced groups people walking the boardwalk once the rain gave way to partly sunny skies.

Murphy applauded a dismal weekend weather outlook.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – On Tuesday May 19, 2020, Police Officer Stephen Cilento was on patrol on Cassville Road when he observed motor vehicle violations regarding a 2011 Hyundai being operated on the roadway. As he followed the vehicle, a lookup of the vehicle license plate indicated that the vehicle registration and registered owner’s driver’s license were both suspended. He then conducted a motor vehicle stop with the vehicle.

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CAPE MAY, NJ – ‎Daniel Hume, a decorated combat veteran who served 5 1/2 years in the United States Marine Corps today says police showed up at his popular Sunset Beach Gift Shop and told him to shut it down.  Hume said his business had been shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic began as he and his family reconfigured their store to serve the community with essential items needed by local families during the COVID-19 pandemic.   For years, the gift shop adjacent to one of America’s most beautiful sunset beaches was a must-see sight for anyone visiting Cape May.

Now, he says police told him if he opens Sunday morning, he’ll be arrested.    Visit Sunset Beach Gift Shop and show your support!

“Tonight my family and I were threatened with arrest if we opened our store, Sunset Beach Gifts, in Cape May County,” Hume said. “We have reconfigured our store, widened aisles, installed plexiglass barriers at checkouts, and roughly 30% of our store is now food and essential items (face masks, clothes, hand sanitizer, and soap).”

This week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that non-essential retail stores can reopen for curbside pickup, but Hume contends his newly reopened store is no longer just a gift shop, but over 30% of the items in stock are now food and essential items.    The family also operates the nearby beachside eatery, also a very popular evening snack bar for those going to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

“Since we still have an eatery that is curbside, we decided to speak with our attorney before reopening our retail store,” he said. “If I did not have children, I would have been willing to go to jail tonight. The Cape May County Prosecutor told our municipal police chief to arrest us tomorrow if we reopen.”

Hume said his family and business are being penalized because they decided to close the past two months while changing their store.

“They said we aren’t essential because we closed March 15th, even though we only closed in order to reconfigure our store in order to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” the Marine Corps veteran said. “I am a 5 1/2 year Marine Corps combat veteran with 1/7 Marines and I never truly believed I’d have a police officer threaten me with disorderly conduct for asking why we weren’t essential.”

Every night during the summer months, for years, Hume has hosted a nightly flag ceremony performed by World War II veteran Marvin Hume.  On some nights, the ceremony draws hundreds of guests.  This year, due to Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order restricting large gatherings, the nightly ceremony, which was to have resumed May 1st has been put on hold until further notice.

Sunset Beach is rich in U.S. military history.  Directly off the coast lies the sunken hulk of the SS Atlantis, a World War I “Liberty Ship” that transported American troops to and from the war in Europe.  After being decommissioned, it was to be used as a ferry dock at the Cape May-Lewes ferry terminal, but broke free from its moorings on June 18, 1926, before running aground off Sunset Beach.  Attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful and today, remnants of the ship (pictured above) are still visible protruding from the water.  Down the street from Sunset Beach is one of the last remaining World War II coastal lookout towers that scoured the horizon for Nazi U-boats during the war. It now serves as a museum.  If that’s not enough history, around the Cape May Point, lies Battery 223 another World War II American coastal defensive position.   Cape May is also home to the United States Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May.

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HOWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ – Although some businesses have been forced to shut down or change the way they do business during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are finding new opportunities in a Monmouth County-based business to business barter network called Barter Pays!    Established 26 years ago by Faye Alba, Lisa Vitale, and Susan Vitale, BarterPays! gives local business owners a way to purchase goods and services without spending cash.  Nearly every type of business you need can be found in the Barter Pays! network.

To find out how Barter Pays! can help get your business back in business, call the Barter Gals at 732-730-0181 or visit their website at www.barterpays.com.  They can also be reached on their Facebook page,  www.facebook.com/BarterPays.

Faye Alba and her “Barter Gals” have taken their brick and mortar office on Route 9 in Howell virtual and they are continuing their business operations from their homes, like so many other businesses doing whatever it takes to stay alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are offering free memberships and providing business owners with a way to trade their products and services and save their precious cash,” Alba said. “BarterPays! provides small business owners with an innovative way to make sales, new ways to market their companies, and, at the same time, slash cash spending. We continue to sign up new members who are looking for ways to market and grow their companies now and in the future.”

Since mid-March, Barter Pays! has been referring new customers to businesses that are able to operate at this time.  “Businesses that are currently unable to operate due to COVID-19 can join for free now, and we will refer them to new customers as soon as they are able to reopen.  Interest-free credit lines are available, too,” Alba said.

During COVID-19, barter has played a bigger role in the business plans of many businesses, small and large across New Jersey.

“Members are leaning on barter now more than ever, so the barter gals are busy! The barter gals are helping all of our members save money by switching their cash expenses to barter,” according to Lisa Vitale.  “Members are spending more time at home, so they are using their barter dollars on power washing, irrigation systems, gutter cleaning, pool maintenance, lawn rejuvenation, plants and flowers, and spring cleanouts.”

When it comes to business services, Barter Pays! has a lot to offer including helping members set up their virtual offices by bartering VoIP phone service, IT services, and more.

“We are marketing and promoting the new services many members now offer, including curbside pickup and delivery of everything from jewelry to chocolates. And many of our members are using barter dollars to help local restaurants and frontline workers alike, by sponsoring meals donated to essential workers,” she said.

To find out how Barter Pays! can help get your business back in business, call the Barter Gals at 732-730-0181 or visit their website at www.barterpays.com.  They can also be reached on their Facebook page,  www.facebook.com/BarterPays.

TRENTON, NJ – The Karens across New Jersey are going to need count beyond their ten fingers to continue reporting large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic as Governor Phil Murphy just raised the limit on outdoor gatherings from 10 to 25 people.   This new edict by the Governor affects charter and fishing boats; outdoor batting cages; driving ranges and other outdoor recreational businesses and activities.  Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 individuals. Social distancing rules still apply.

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy, months after announcing an 8 pm curfew for the state of New Jersey said this week, there was never a curfew in the State of New Jersey.  “There was never a curfew, the word curfew, I used inappropriately about two and a half months ago, there was never a curfew, I said my piece,” Murphy said.  He also made it clear that his recommendation to wear face coverings when outdoors is also a suggestion and not a law.

Earlier this week, we debunked two other Murphy’s Law crackdown myths.

We debunked two Murphy’s Law lockdown myths once and for all, the first one being the forced wearing of face masks when in public and the second, the mysterious 8 pm curfew.  Murphy admitted, neither requirement exists and both are simply friendly guidance from the guy in charge.

Let’s start with the 8 pm curfew, you know, the one where the coronavirus comes out once the sun sets putting you at higher risk for infection.

“That was advice, don’t go out after 8:00 p.m., it was never a curfew,” Murphy said at Tuesday’s daily COVID-19 press conference and he was backed up by New Jersey’s Chief Legal Counsel Matt Platkin.

“There is no and has never been an 8:00 p.m. curfew. If you’ve been abiding by one, I’m sorry,” Platkin said.

Murphy also said no law requires the public to wear face masks at all times. Murphy said that he still encourages residents to stay home and wear face coverings all the time, even when eating McDonalds on a private charter bus to and from your daily COVID-19 briefings.

“I think it’s in place, frankly, we’re still staying at home 24 hours a day, if you can,” Murphy said.   “Do I think we’ve got social distancing, including masks, social distancing, washing hands with soap and water, in the absence of a vaccine? We’re not mandating you wear a mask, but we are strongly encouraging you to do that, and staying, you know, apart from people. Again, one guy’s opinion, I think that’s the new norm.”

Under Governor Murphy’s executive order, face coverings are mandatory in indoor public spaces and stores.  You do not have to wear a facemask at the beach, park, boardwalk, walking down your neighborhood street, on a boat, in your car, climbing a tree, building a castle or participating in outdoor physical activities.    As for the 8 pm curfew, that was originally intended as a closing time for businesses, because you know, the ‘rona lurks in the dark here in Jersey.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ  –  The Jackson Township governing body, including Mayor Michael Reina and other members of the Jackson Township Council and Jackson Township Planning Board were served today with a federal lawsuit, signed by U.S. Attorney General William Barr.   In recent months, two members of the council have resigned over the impending suit.  Barry Calogero, a Trump administration appointee with the U.S.D.A and Robert Nixon, a New Jersey State Police PBA lobbyist. Both Calogero and Nixon resigned their duties as elected officials in recent months ahead of the DOJ lawsuit.

A release was issued by the Department of Justice:

The Justice Department today announced that it filed a lawsuit against Jackson Township, New Jersey, and the township planning board alleging they implemented zoning ordinances that intentionally restrict the operation of religious schools and housing associated with such schools, including religious boarding schools known as yeshivas, required by the Orthodox Jewish community.

The complaint alleges that the township passed two ordinances, and the planning board applied those ordinances in a manner that discriminated against the Orthodox Jewish community, in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Both ordinances expressly prohibit dormitories throughout Jackson, making it impossible for religious boarding schools such as Orthodox Jewish yeshivas to establish there. Although Jackson passed these ordinances to prevent dormitories anywhere in Jackson, the planning board has since approved, without requiring a variance, the plans for two nonreligious projects with dormitory-type housing.

“Religious discrimination has no place in our society and runs counter to the founding principles of our nation,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. “No religious community should ever face unlawful barriers or be singled out for inferior treatment. This complaint reflects our continued commitment to combat discrimination and unequal treatment.”

“Using zoning laws to target Orthodox Jewish individuals for intentional discrimination and exclude them from a community is illegal and utterly incompatible with this Nation’s values,” Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, said. “Let me be clear.  The Department of Justice will use the full force of its authority to stop such anti-Semitic conduct and prevent its recurrence.”

The complaint also alleges that the township and planning board enacted the ordinances with respect to religious dormitories against a backdrop of extreme animus by [some] Jackson residents and township decision-makers toward the Orthodox Jewish community and a movement by residents to keep Orthodox Jewish community members from settling in Jackson. The complaint alleges that the township and planning board’s actions towards the Orthodox Jewish community violate RLUIPA’s non-discrimination and equal terms provisions, as well as the FHA.

RLUIPA is a federal law that protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative, which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship

In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Religious Liberty Task Force. The Task Force brings together department components to coordinate their work on religious liberty litigation and policy, and to implement the Attorney General’s 2017 Religious Liberty Guidance.

Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339 or the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the U.S. Attorney’s civil rights complaint portal or the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website. Information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Unit, and Trial Attorney Beth Frank, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section.