State Sen. Kristin Corrado said Gov. Phil Murphy’s decision to expand indoor capacity for some businesses was a step in the right direction, but more was needed and argued the governor should not have the capacity to pick which businesses can enjoy this boon. Corrado (R-40) argued that if large, indoor gatherings are safe, it would stand to reason all businesses could operate under the same rules, stating “I’m glad to hear Governor Murphy is following the lead of other states in raising indoor gathering limits, but it doesn’t make sense that some will be limited to 25 people while others will be at 50% of capacity.” North-JerseyNews.com
Former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “I would recommend it and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,” said Trump, who received the vaccine before leaving office. “It’s a great vaccine. It’s a safe vaccine and it’s something that works.” The Wall Street Journal
GOP Rep. Chris Smith criticized the state’s Labor Department for new limits on unemployment claims he can make on behalf of residents having problems filing for benefits. Smith was recently told by state Labor Department officials that a new limit had been placed on the number of claims that third parties can file on behalf of residents to just 25 every two weeks. State officials claimed federal unemployment policies were part of the problem. The Daily Record
The Newton Motor Vehicle Commission location is temporarily closed for the second time in 2021 as another employee tested positive for the coronavirus. Nine motor vehicle facilities were shuttered statewide as of Tuesday morning, including those in Wayne, Paterson, Oakland, Springfield, North Bergen, East Orange, Lawrence and Trenton. New Jersey Herald
With optimism that the Biden Administration will push the project forward, the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) recently held their first meeting earlier this month. The commission’s inaugural meeting on March 5 included the full allotment of seated New Jersey and New York commissioners lawmakers believe marks a new era of cooperation with the federal government on improving the commuting experience for the people of New Jersey. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill stated “The congressional delegation, the Governor, and our partners across the state have worked together for years to move the Gateway Project forward. With the new administration, we have an incredible opportunity to make sure we get shovels in the ground.” North-JerseyNews.com
Sen. Bob Menendez took to the Senate floor to issue a rare condemnation of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) who said he wasn’t concerned about rioters storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 because they were supporters of President Donald Trump but would have been were they black. “For Senator Johnson to cast those who attacked the Capitol as harmless patriots while stoking fear of Black Americans is like rubbing salt in an open wound,” Menendez said. “Everyone in this body should know that when you perpetuate such racist tropes, you contribute to a culture that gives people permission to treat Black Americans as suspicious and their lives as expendable.” New Jersey Globe
New Jersey’s federal courts face the worst backlog of cases, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. There were 46,609 cases still awaiting action last year in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey. The Garden State’s federal bench is understaffed as one-third of its judicial seats have been vacant for years, leaving each seated judge with a pending caseload three times over the national average. The New York Times
The number of excessive force complaints filed against Paterson police officers in recent years was about 27% higher than those for Newark and Jersey City. Paterson police received 156 excessive force complaints from 2015 through 2019, while Jersey City had 123 and Newark had 122. The Record
New Jersey lawmakers will begin debate on a bill to give residents more power to investigate local cops. The state Assembly’s Community Development and Affairs Committee will hold the first hearing of Trenton lawmakers to discuss allow towns statewide to create civilian complaint review boards, which could force departments to hand over internal documents and run inquiries at the same time officers were investigating their own. The bill is one of a suite of police reforms proposed in the wake of protests last year after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. NJ.com
A pair of bills sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-37) would address homelessness within the Garden State as well as senior abuse and neglect. The first bill would focus on providing safe places for homeless people to stay following medical treatment. The bill was backed by Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-7) and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-15). Meanwhile, Vainieri Huttle joined Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-7) in sponsoring legislation that would protect the elderly and other vulnerable adult fs from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. North-JerseyNews.com
Total gaming revenue for February in New Jersey was $258.5 million, a 6% drop the same period last year, according to the Division of Gaming Enforcement. When the state’s racetracks are factored in, the total margin of loss is much narrower: $288.3 million this February compared with $287.3 million last February. The decline comes despite the surge in sports betting, which jumped 172% last month compared with February 2019 due to bets on the Super Bowl. ROI-NJ.com
Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Franklin Walker presented an $827.4 million budget for the 2021-22 school year, a 9% increase over last year. The proposed budget, creating a fully funded school district for the first time in years, carries a $1,168 tax increase for average property owners—doubling the tax increase placed upon homeowners last year. The Jersey Journal
Montville officials have requested a state investigation into cable and internet provider Altice after hundreds of residents lodged complaints last Fall. The township is the 10th city to send the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities its concerns over “inadequate” service provided, with complaints cited including missing television channels, freezing and pixelating channels, a lack of service, dropped or “very slow WiFi and internet,” expensive fees and long wait times on calls to fix service. The Daily Record
And finally…A Happy St. Patrick’s Day from The Chieftains with some help from Mick Jagger.
