State officials continue to feel comfortable with their guidance that students will not have to wear a mask in the Fall despite recent recommendations from a pediatrician association that masks be required when doors open in September. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently called for schools to enforce universal masking mandates because so many kids will not be protected by the Fall. But, with a relatively high vaccine rate in New Jersey, state officials see no reason right now to mandate masks to be worn by students when classes start for the 2021/2022 school year. “I remain conformable with where we are,” said Gov. Phil Murphy at a press briefing July 19. North-JerseyNews.com
Small businesses in New Jersey are now eligible for another round of grant money to help them recover from the coronavirus pandemic under a bill Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law July 21 in Tenafly providing a pool of $135 million in federal aid. The new round of money consists of $55 million to microbusinesses, $15 million to bars and restaurants, $10 million to child care facilities, $10 million to for-profit arts and culture organizations, and $45 million to eligible small businesses and non-profit organizations. The Record
State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) wants a coordinated effort from New Jersey lawmakers to oppose the congestion pricing plan being considered in Manhattan. “We need a unified front from all our federal officials, U.S. Senate, Congress, joined by all of our leaders of our state,” said Weinberg. “It was set up in such a way that, in particular, North Jersey, will have to pay a certain amount in congestion pricing that other people who commute in cars and other ways won’t have to pay. It is not a fair system.” New Jersey Globe
The NJ Transit board could not pass a fiscal year 2022 budget at its July 21 board meeting because of a stalemate with New York over splitting federal funds the agency needs to support its spending plan. The state’s transit agency is fighting to secure about $3.5 billion out of $14.2 billion from two federal aid packages—the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act. The money cannot be released until an agreement is reached between New Jersey, Connecticut and New York on how to split it. The Daily Record
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rejected two Republicans from joining a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, saying their conduct suggested they could not be trusted to participate. Speaker Pelosi announced she would not seat Reps. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) based on their actions around the riot and comments they had made undercutting the investigation. Banks and Jordan have amplified former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud, joined their party’s efforts to challenge President Biden’s victory on Jan. 6 and have opposed efforts to investigate the assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters. The New York Times
New Jersey’s federal representatives reintroduced a measure aimed at improving privacy protections for judges that was first proposed after the attempted assassination last year of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas. The bipartisan legislation—The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021—would place restrictions on the sale or dissemination of personal information of federal judges and their immediate families. “No judge should have to fear for their safety, or the safety of their families, because of public service to our country,” Rep. Mikie Sherrill said. “It’s imperative we make clear that we will protect public servants who are doing their duty and living up to their oaths.” North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey’s public-worker pension fund is looking to make a major investment in companies working to blunt climate change. Members of the New Jersey State Investment Council recently reviewed a plan to invest up to $200 million in a California-based private-equity fund called TPG Rise Climate. The fund is raising money to invest in businesses that have a clear and measurable positive environmental impact. NJ Spotlight News
A coalition of states unveiled a $26 billion settlement with drug companies to resolve thousands of opioid-crisis lawsuits that must be spent on social services to address the harms of opioid addiction. New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson and the nation’s three largest drug distributors— McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp., and Cardinal Health Inc.—have been negotiating the deal for more than two years to ensure the state’s will use the monies for treatment programs, education on how to dispose of pills and needles, and funds for first responders. The Wall Street Journal
The Atlantic City council voted to shut down New Jersey’s largest needle exchange program against the advice of the city health director who recommended keeping the needle exchange open while an alternative plan is figured out. The city council has taken up the issue in recent months as council members raised concerns the harm reduction center brings blight to the city that makes other residents and tourists uncomfortable as well as arguing other nearby towns should be able to support a similar type of programs to serve people in Atlantic County. NJ.com
The Butler borough council unanimously approved an ordinance to authorize retail recreational cannabis sales, making the borough the third municipality in Morris County to allow sellers to set up shop. The ordinance limits sales to its Highway Commercial District along Route 23 as well as unanimously approving two additional ordinances related to cannabis sales—one to establish a tax structure and the other dealing with land use. The Daily Record
There will be no bear hunt in New Jersey in 2021 after the state’s Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette did not sign off on the updated Comprehensive Black Bear Management Plan (CBBMP). The Division of Fish and Game, part of DEP, posted on its website that on June 21 that New Jersey’s CBBMP expired, “and as such, there is no black bear hunt in 2021.” The message read that in accordance with the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling on Sept. 27, 2007, no black bear hunt may occur without a “properly-promulgated CBBMP proposed by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council and approved by the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.” New Jersey Herald
A need to upgrade Passaic County voting machines to comply with New Jersey’s new early voting law has commissioners shelling out nearly $11 million for new equipment. A $10.7 million bond ordinance adopted by commissioners July 20 will pay for the machines, electronic poll books, a new cargo van and other equipment needed to prepare county polling locations. The voting law adopted earlier in 2021 mandates nine days of early, in-person machine voting ending the Sunday before Election Day. The Record
An art gallery in Bayonne has been temporarily closed after getting into a dispute with city officials over a striking mannequin display installed around the front door. Zoning officers told the owner of Dollhaus II that the city had received “multiple” complaints from residents about two life-size pink, anatomically correct from the waist up naked mannequins in a yoga position were installed in a front window. The Jersey Journal
And finally…A fire that damaged the Mountain Creek water slide has been deemed ‘suspicious’ by local authorities. New Jersey Herald
