Gloucester City Police Announce Christmas Road Closures/Parking Restrictions

December, 2019

On Thursday, December 5

. the annual Gloucester City Christmas Parade will begin on Johnson Blvd. at Monmouth Street at 6:00 pm.

The parade will proceed west on Monmouth Street to King Street.

In order to accommodate the parade, the following road closures will be in place from 5:30 pm until 9:00 pm.

Roads will be reopened earlier, as safety permits:

Monmouth St. closed from Johnson Blvd. to King St.

Johnson Blvd. closed between Frances and Bergen Sts.

Brown St. closed between Somerset and Bergen Sts.

East Brown St. between Frances and Somerset Sts. closed to westbound traffic only (towards Somerset St.)

Eastbound traffic traveling from Somerset towards Frances will be open.

N. Railroad Ave. at Monmouth St.

S. Railroad Ave. at Bergen St.

Champion Rd. at Somerset St.

Sussex St. between Somerset and Monmouth Sts.

Burlington St. between Bergen and Monmouth Sts.

The following parking restrictions will be in place from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm:

Monmouth St. (both sides) between Johnson Blvd. and King St.

Johnson Blvd. (both sides) between Frances and Hudson Sts.

King St. (both sides) between Hudson and Monmouth Sts.

Signs will be posted and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

GTPD Participating In Statewide Impaired Driving Enforcement Crackdown

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP NJ (Dec. 4, 2019)–Beginning December 6, 2019 and continuing through January 1, 2020, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated. The Gloucester Township Police will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end of year “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. During the last five years New Jersey has experienced nearly 37,000 alcohol involved crashes resulting in more than 679 fatalities. Last year, 20% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Just last year, 10,511 people died in drunk driving crashes across the nation. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $44 billion annually.

We want to offer the following advice for the holiday season:

• Take mass transit, a taxicab, rideshare service or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

• Spend the night where the activity or party is held.

• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.

• Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

The timing of this initiative is even more important given it coincides with the holidays where we see an increase in traffic volume due to celebrations involving family and friends as well as numerous shopping trips to retail businesses. The Gloucester Township Police Department is committed to ensuring everyone gets to where they are going safely by enforcing aggressive driving behaviors and detecting and arresting those driving while under the influence. We want to reinforce the importance of safe driving behaviors in an effort to save a life or prevent a serious injury.

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Darlene Johnson Elected Chair of FCA\’s Board of Trustees

KANSAS CITY, Mo—

The

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA,

www.fca.org

)

is announcing that Darlene Johnson has been elected the chair of

FCA’s

Board of Trustees.

Johnson is the first female African-American board chair and the second female in

FCA

history to lead the board. Her two-year term begins Jan. 1, 2020, and she previously served

FCA

as the vice chair of the board.

“The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Board of Trustees is blessed to be led by a chair who has faithfully served the ministry and has a passion for the vision and mission of FCA,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “Darlene Johnson is also a coach’s wife who understands the significant influence coaches have on athletes, as well as the challenges coaching can bring to a marriage, family and home. We celebrate Darlene’s contributions to FCA and her community and look forward to her leadership.”

Johnson was born and raised in central New Jersey and has an educational background in business and computer systems. She owns and operates a home-based clean beauty business and enjoys encouraging all people, especially women, to grow in the use of their God-given talents. Johnson’s husband, Craig, is in his sixth season as the New York Giants’ running backs coach. They have two adult children, Shelby and Sydney.

“I am humbled and excited to see God’s plan unfold, as He uses me for His glory and to advance the gospel message in FCA through coaches and athletes,” Johnson said. “I love sports, and I love seeing people from all walks of life come to faith in Christ! It’s a rich blessing to be involved in sports ministry and a ministry that has impact all over the world. I will work hard to represent this ministry with commitment, excellence and integrity.”

Johnson added that the Bible verses Colossians 2:6-7 have been ministry verses for her since 2006, as well as confirmation that her new role at

FCA

is the path God has chosen for her in this season of life and ministry: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Bruce Williams served as Chair of the

FCA

Board of Trustees for 2018-19 and handed over the gavel to Johnson during a ceremony at last month’s board meeting.

“I am thrilled that Darlene Johnson will serve as the next chairman of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Board of Trustees and, historically, as the first African-American woman to be chair,” Williams said. “We are so excited to see how God will use Darlene, and we thank her for her servant’s heart and her willingness to serve at this important time for the ministry.”

Mcadoo Man Convicted Of Threatening The President

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shawn Christy, age 28, of McAdoo, was convicted on November 26, 2019, by a federal jury on twelve counts involving threats against the President of the United States, transmitting threatening communications, interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, interstate transportation of stolen firearms, interstate transportation of firearms while charged with a felony offense, and unlawful possession of a firearm as a fugitive and as a convicted felon. The seven-day trial was held before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the jury deliberated for approximately six hours before finding Christy guilty of all charges.

The evidence showed that arrest warrants were issued for Christy in early June 2018, for his failure to appear for court proceedings in Schuylkill and Northampton Counties, and that while a fugitive Christy posted threats in June 2018 to kill President Trump, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli, and any law enforcement officer that sought to detain him.

Christy was apprehended in Ohio on September 21, 2018, after a three-month manhunt by U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, Secret Service agents, and state and local law enforcement from six states. Prosecutors presented evidence that Christy stole and transported two vehicles from Pennsylvania to New York State and West Virginia, stole firearms and transported them from Pennsylvania to Maryland and Kentucky, broke into businesses in Pennsylvania and Maryland, broke into a church in Maryland, and broke into residences in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

After the verdict, Judge Mariani ordered a presentence investigation report to be completed and tentatively scheduled sentencing for February 2020. Christy remains in custody pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol agents, the Pennsylvania State Police, Butler Township Police, Maryland State Police, New York State Police, Allegany County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office, Nitro Police in West Virginia, Richland County Jail Officers in Ohio, Northeastern Ohio Correctional Officials, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis P. Sempa and Sean A. Camoni are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each threat offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for each interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle offense is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for each interstate transportation of a stolen firearm offense, and for unlawful possession of a firearm as a fugitive and convicted felon, is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for each interstate transportation of a firearm while charged with a felony offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant\’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

STUDY: IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH

Depression symptoms rise over time when facing multiple conditions that need different types of self-care, especially among husbands whose conditions differ from their wives’

Newswise — When they said their wedding vows, many of them promised to stand by one another in sickness and in health.

But a new study suggests that as married couples age and develop chronic conditions, the daily demands of coping with their own health demands and those of their spouse may take a mental toll.

Depression symptoms increased over time among married men and women who themselves had two or more chronic conditions that need different types of self-care – such as a special diet and medications for heart disease or diabetes along with pain-reducing therapy for arthritis.

When husbands and wives both had chronic health conditions, and needed different kinds of self-care from their partners, husbands fared worse. Their depression symptoms were significantly higher, but this effect was not found for wives.

The new findings, made by a team from the University of Michigan using data from a long-term study of more than 1,110 older opposite-sex married couples from 2006 to 2014, are published in

Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.

While less than 10% of the women and less than 7% of the men in the study had levels of depression symptoms serious enough to suggest a need for treatment, lower-level depression is important for older people, clinicians, caregivers and adult children to understand, says Courtney Polenick, Ph.D., who led the study.

In both husbands and wives, the rise of depressive symptoms didn’t begin until a few years after the first assessment of their health and well-being.

“Our results suggest that there’s a window where, if one or both of you are managing complex conditions that don’t have similar self-management goals, it may be possible to intervene and prevent the development or worsening of depression,” says Polenick, who is part of the U-M Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Social Research. “This might be the time for couples, and those who care for them, to emphasize broadly beneficial lifestyle behaviors that help to maintain both mental and physical health.”

For instance, a woman coping with both high blood pressure and arthritis needs to make changes to her exercise routine, but her husband without such conditions could commit to making those changes along with her. Or a wife with diabetes who does most of the cooking and has a husband with prostate cancer could adopt a healthier menu for both of them.

Polenick and her colleagues from U-M’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation looked at data from the Health and Retirement Study, which repeatedly interviews and surveys thousands of American adults in their 50s and beyond over time.

They focused on conditions that have similar treatment goals focused on reducing cardiovascular risk — diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stoke – and those with treatment goals and needs that are different from each of the other conditions– cancer, arthritis and lung disease.

When one person in the couple had at least one condition with different treatment goals and needs, they’re considered to have “discordant” conditions. When one member of a couple had at least one condition that has different treatment goals and needs from the other partner, the couple is considered to have discordant conditions.

“Research has focused on how individuals with multiple conditions, also called multimorbidity, manage their chronic health needs,” says Polenick. “But most people in later life are partnered, with similar health-related habits, and we need to understand how changing health affects the couple dynamic.”

The fact that both wives and husbands experienced significant increases in depressive symptoms as the years passed, when they were coping with discordant conditions in themselves, is by itself important to understand, Polenick notes.

But the fact that wives whose husbands’ health needs differed from their own didn’t experience an even greater rise in depression is a bit surprising, she adds.

Meanwhile, husbands whose conditions had self-care needs that were different from their wives’ conditions did experience an additional rise in depression symptoms.

Among individuals who are baby boomers or older, wives may be more used to taking the lead in caring for the health and emotional well-being of both themselves and their husbands, she says. But when husbands have wives who are coping with different health demands than their own, the husbands may experience less of this support than usual, worsening their stress and mental health.

Polenick and her colleagues continue to explore these intra-couple dynamics, and their consequences for mental and physical health. They also hope to expand the range of chronic health conditions they examine, and to look at shorter timeframes in conditions that can be managed with lifestyle changes.

But in the meantime, she notes that middle-aged and older couples may want to do more now to understand the factors that they can control as they age, and those they cannot, and talk about how they feel as a result.

“This is a reminder to step back and look at what your partner is coping with, to learn about their health conditions, to be conscious of it on a daily basis, and for grown children and clinicians to do the same,” she says. “Having that awareness, and helping one another manage health problems while watching for signs of depression, may help both members of a couple over time.”

In addition to Polenick, the study team includes Kira Birditt, PhD, Angela Turkelson, MS, and Benjamin Bugajski of U-M, and Helen Kales, MD, formerly a professor at U-M and now the chair of psychiatry at the University of California, Davis.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (AG057838), as is the Health and Retirement Study.

Pastor And President Of Louisiana Religious College Charged With Sexual Assault

NEWARK, N.J. – The president of a bible college will appeared in court on charges he sexually assaulted a student on an international flight bound for Newark, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Cornelius Tilton, 65, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged by complaint with one count of abusive sexual contact after being arrested by FBI agents on Nov. 30, 2019, when the flight, which departed from Tel Aviv, Israel, arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Tilton was sitting in a window seat next to the victim, a 19-year-old male student at a theological seminary who was traveling with a group of students on a religious trip to Israel. Tilton accompanied the group as an unofficial guide and gave speeches.

During the flight, Tilton allegedly placed his hand on the victim’s bare calf. Tilton continued to touch the victim’s thigh, and eventually began rubbing the victim’s genitals over the victim’s shorts. The victim did not react, or look at Tilton, out of shock and fear. Tilton took the victim’s hand and placed it on Tilton’s erect penis, on top of his clothing. The victim got up to go to the bathroom, in hopes of ending the assault. Tilton also went to the bathroom. When the victim and Tilton were back in their seats, Tilton continued to touch the bare skin of the victim’s lower back, underneath the victim’s clothing. Tilton moved his hand around to the front of the victim’s waistline, and attempted to place his hand down the victim’s pants, when the victim blocked Tilton’s hand with his elbow. The victim then got up from the seat and informed a flight attendant about the assault.

The charge of abusive sexual contact carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Financial Assistance Programs to Help with Winter Heating Costs

FOLSOM, N.J.

– Dec. 3, 2019 – With winter on the horizon, South Jersey Gas encourages customers to prepare for the colder months ahead. For some families, keeping warm is not as simple as adjusting the thermostat and many face competing financial priorities.

\”At South Jersey Gas, we know how important it is to have access to safe, reliable, affordable natural gas,\” said Dave Robbins, President, South Jersey Gas. “Through community outreach, our dedicated Energy Assistance team builds awareness of financial assistance programs and tools that help ensure our customers have the resources they need to meet their energy needs now and well into the future.”

South Jersey Gas wants to help customers better prepare for winter heating season by advising them of the following programs and services that can provide peace of mind when managing winter heating bills.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

provides income-qualified customers with grants to offset their winter heating bills. Eligibility factors include household size, income level and geographic location. Program recipients can combine this offer with other utility financial assistance programs. LIHEAP\’s application season runs from Oct. 1 through Aug. 31, 2019. For more information including eligibility requirements and an application, call 2.1.1 or the LIHEAP Hotline at 800.510.3102.

Universal Service Fund (USF)

awards eligible participants up to $1,800 each year in monthly credits split between a customer’s electric and gas bill. Applications are available year-round. For more information dial 2.1.1. or 800.510.3102.

Income guidelines have been changed effective this program year. Customers at or below 185% of poverty level are now income eligible to apply for this monthly benefit.

The Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric Program (PAGE)

program provides a one-time grant of up to $750 to low-to-moderate-income households experiencing a temporary financial crisis. Eligible customers may receive a subsidy on both their gas and electric accounts up to $1,500 per year. This program is for customers not eligible for other programs (e.g. LIHEAP or USF) during a given enrollment period. Visit NJPoweron.org for additional information and an application.

Lifeline

offers a $225 grant to seniors or adults receiving Social Security Disability benefits. The benefit can be applied equally to natural gas and electric utilities. For more information dial 800.792.9745.

NJ SHARES

provides financial relief to income-eligible households, not eligible for other types of assistance, in paying their energy, telephone and water bills. For more information dial 866.657.4273. Customers can also donate to support their neighbors in need through NJ SHARES at NJShares.org.

The South Jersey Gas Energy Assistance team hosts community outreach events to help determine customers eligibility and assist with program applications. Outreach dates are available online at southjerseygas.com/energyassistance. In addition to state and federal financial resources, South Jersey Gas provides customers with tools to help manage heating costs and energy savings.

South Jersey Gas Budget Plan

offers a convenient way for customers to pay a consistent amount every month for a 12-month period, based on historic usage, making household budgeting easier. Customers can enroll by calling the Customer Care Center at 800.582.7060 or by visiting southjerseygas.com.

South Jersey Gas Energy Efficiency Program

offers resources to help customers save money while reducing their carbon footprint. Resources include home energy assessments, home weatherization for income-qualified customers that include the installation of energy saving measures, a one-stop shop marketplace for instant rebates on energy-efficient products and high-efficiency equipment loans and rebates and more.

About South Jersey Gas

South Jersey Gas, subsidiary of SJI (NYSE:SJI), delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas and promotes energy efficiency to approximately 385,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and portions of Gloucester, Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey. For more information, visit

southjerseygas.com

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS CELEBRATE WORLD TRICK SHOT DAY

WITH FIRST-EVER “SKYDIVING TRICK SHOT”

Globetrotter Star Hammer Harrison dunks following 13,000-foot skydive to pull off ultimate trick shot

The world famous

Harlem Globetrotters

, who have made seemingly impossible trick shots part of their everyday repertoire, have once again put their shot-making expertise on center stage today to help celebrate the fourth annual World Trick Shot Day.

In celebration of this year’s World Trick Shot Day, Globetrotter star

Hammer Harrison

successfully completed the highest slam dunk ever attempted, skydiving from 13,000 feet at Skydive Arizona in Eloy, Ariz., before successfully slamming home a dunk just before landing. The shot can be seen here:

World Trick Shot Day was created by the Globetrotters in order to give fans around the world a chance to celebrate what they can do with a basketball, a hoop and some creativity. Three years ago, the Registrar at National Day Calendar officially declared “World Trick Shot Day,” which is celebrated on the first Tuesday of every December.

This is the second straight year Hammer has successfully completed an amazing shot for World Trick Shot Day. Last year, he dunked off the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, a shot of over 850 feet. That shot can be seen here:

World Trick Shot Day was created to not only pay homage to the fun and entertaining aspect of the trick shot, but also to invite and engage with fans from all over the world to get in on the act as well. By using the hashtag, #WorldTrickShotDay, trick shot artists everywhere can share their attempts at one-of-a-kind moves across social media. Additionally, the Globetrotters will reward some of the best submissions with tickets to their 2020 “Pushing the Limits” World Tour.

“We work on trick shots every day, though the skydive trick shot is not one of them,” laughed Harrison, who enters his 11th season with the Globetrotters in 2020. “We practice them because it’s such a thrill for us, and for our fans. Our fans give us such great feedback when we post them. We love getting the chance to see what they can do, too.”

The Globetrotters have made trick shots a staple of their repertoire for much of their 94-year history, beginning with greats such as Goose Tatum, Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal, and continuing through with today’s Globetrotter stars, who own 22 current Guinness World Records and just weeks ago set six new marks.

The Globetrotters are currently preparing for 94

year of touring with the 2020 “Pushing the Limits” World Tour, during which the team will play in more than 250 North American markets, as well as more than 30 countries worldwide. Tickets are now available at

harlemglobetrotters.com

The Harlem Globetrotters® are legendary worldwide, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills for the past 93 years. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents – over nine thrilling decades. The Ambassadors of Goodwill are sponsored by Baden Sports, the Official Basketball, Champion, the Official Uniform & Apparel provider, Tum-e Yummies, the Official Fruit Flavored Drink, Carnival Cruise Line, Inc., Heelys, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters\’ official Web site:

www.harlemglobetrotters.com

and follow them on Twitter

@Globies

Pennsylvania AG and other Attorney Generals File Amicus Brief in Transgender Discrimination Case

December 2, 2019 | Topic:

Rights

Press Release

HARRISBURG PENNSYLVANIA – Attorney General Josh Shapiro and a coalition of 22 other Attorneys General are standing up for transgender rights by filing an

amicus brief

supporting an anti-discrimination lawsuit against the Gloucester County School Board in Virginia.

Gavin Grimm, a former student at Gloucester High School, sued the local school board in 2015 — when he was still a student — for discrimination that banned him from using the common male restrooms at his high school. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in support of Grimm in the case of

Gavin Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board.

“Discrimination for any reason is an offensive way to treat another human being, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is lending its voice and legal might to this important case to make sure transgender people have the right to basic human services,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said, who noted there are an estimated 44,000 Pennsylvanians who are transgender.

In a 2015 U.S. Transgender Amicus Brief of Pennsylvania residents, 77 percent of those who were perceived as transgender at some point between kindergarten and 12

grade said they experienced verbal harassment, being prohibited from dressing according to their gender identity, were disciplined more harshly than others, or were physically or sexually assaulted because people thought they were transgender.

Twelve percent of the Pennsylvania respondents faced such severe mistreatment as a transgender person that they left a K–12 school.

Grimm not only sued to challenge the Gloucester County School Board’s policy of banning him from using the common male restrooms at his high school, but also the board’s refusal to update his educational records to correspond with his updated birth certificate that reflects his male gender. The federal district court in Virginia ruled in Grimm’s favor in August 2019, finding that the school board’s actions discriminated against Grimm on the basis of his sex in violation of Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The coalition of attorneys general — led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson — argue, first and foremost, that transgender individuals have the right “to live with dignity, be free from discrimination, and have equal access to education, employment, housing, public accommodations, and other necessities of life.”

They also argue that policies that prevent transgender individuals from using gender-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity cause stigma, isolation, and exclusion. The brief highlights how policies that allow students and members of the public to use gender-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity promote safe and inclusive communities, workplaces, and schools, and benefit the people of the states without harming personal privacy or safety interests, or without incurring any substantial costs.

Finally, the brief highlights that the school board’s restroom policy preventing transgender people from using common restrooms consistent with their gender identity and its refusal to update Grimm’s school records do nothing to further legitimate governmental interests and only serve to stigmatize transgender persons in violation of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

Nearly 1.5 million people in the United States — including approximately 150,000 teenagers — currently identify as transgender.

AG Shapiro joins the Attorneys General of New York, Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia in filing the brief.

NJBIA 2020 Business Outlook Survey Shows Less Optimism for NJ Economy

Despite a relatively successful 2019, New Jersey businesses are showing a decidedly more concerned outlook and conservative approach for 2020, accordingly to

NJBIA\’s 61st Annual Business Outlook Survey

released today.

Reflecting on 2019, member businesses reported gains in sales, profits and purchases for the year – although at lower rates than in 2018.

Looking ahead, more than half of respondents forecasted a recession in 2020 or 2021. Meanwhile, the outlook for New Jersey\’s economy for the first six months of the new year is the lowest it has been in a decade – when the state and the nation were in the midst of the Great Recession.

\”While New Jersey businesses continue to have solid returns, there is no question they are feeling the weight of increased costs and mandates,\” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka.

\”We can ascertain from these responses that New Jersey\’s challenging business climate, coupled with the many forecasts of an economic slowdown, are giving our business owners pause for what\’s ahead.\”

Among the key findings in NJBIA\’s 2020 Business Outlook Survey:

Only 12% reported the New Jersey economy will fare better in the first six months of 2020 than in 2019, while 40% said it will be worse. The -28% net outlook for the state\’s economy is the lowest since 2009.

For the U.S. economy, 32% forecasted a better first six months of 2020, compared to 25% who reported it will be worse. The +7% net difference marks a steep decline from the very positive outlooks for 2019 (49%) and 2018 (46%).

A combined 56% of respondents forecasted a recession in 2020 or 2021.

Those forecasting an economic slowdown have plans to address it: 62% said they will reduce operational costs, 50% plan to grow their customer base, 35% will postpone hiring and 32% will stall raises.

Only 14% said they would open another location in New Jersey, while 30% said they would choose to expand in another state, with the balance having no plans for expansion at all.

As a location for new or expanded facilities, New Jersey was listed as very good or good by 21% of respondents, while 41% described it as fair and 38% ranked it as poor.

\”New Jersey\’s affordability and regional competitiveness continue to be challenged,\” Siekerka added. \”While our greatest assets like our schools and workforce continue to rank high, the factors driving our ability to afford those assets continue to be even more expensive and of greater concern year over year.

\”This is why NJBIA continues to call for a reform agenda in order to get these outlier costs under control, especially right now with concerns of a recession on the horizon.\”

New Jersey\’s Competitiveness

On the positive side, New Jersey\’s greatest assets continue to shine. Education continued to receive high marks with 49% rating the quality of public schools in New Jersey better than other states – a 5% jump from last year.

Quality of workforce (with 29% saying its better) and ranking New Jersey as a better place to live (24%) are both up slightly from last year. Another 22% say New Jersey is better than other states at protecting the environment – the same number as last year.

But New Jersey\’s rankings continue to tumble when it comes to the costs, making New Jersey even more of an outlier than just last year.

For example, 89% reported the Garden State worse than other states for taxes and fees. Other cost areas of high concern are controlling government spending (79%), attracting new business (68%), controlling healthcare costs (67%), controlling labor costs (65%), the cost of regulatory compliance (62%), and attitude toward business (60%).

In each of these areas, the rankings were lower than last year\’s – and in some cases, by a considerable margin.

Employment

A combined 27% said employment in their company increased in 2019, compared to 10% who reported a decrease in employment. That\’s a net positive of +17%, which is slightly down following last year\’s +19% net positive in employment.

While the hiring outlook for individual companies appears positive, it lags considerably from 2019. A total of 30% expect to increase employment either substantially or moderately in 2020, compared to 9% who anticipate a moderate or substantial decrease in employment. However, the +21% net positive is lower than the +32% net positive outlook in employment from a year ago.

Sales

Year-over-year actual sales for member businesses remained consistent. In 2019, 54% said sales had increased by varying percentages, compared to 18% that reported fewer sales. That +36% differential is the same net positive disclosed by member businesses in 2018.

Looking ahead, the overall prediction is that sales will slow. While a total of 54% anticipate increased sales in 2020, 14% foresee lower sales. The +40% net positive outlook is a marked decline from the outlooks of 2019 (+53%) and 2018 (+49%).

Profits

Net earnings were strong for member companies with 48% reporting profits for the year, compared to 23% recording a loss. The net positive of +25% this year is consistent with the +26% showing by businesses in 2018, and a sizable increase from 2017 (+18%) and 2016 (+3%).

A total of 49% predict profits in 2020, while 17% envision a loss. The net positive of 32% is a sizable drop from the forecasts for 2019 (46%) and 2018 (43%).

Purchases and Prices

Price increases by businesses, perhaps compensating for costs of new workplace mandates, continue to be a trend. One percent of respondents said they substantially increased prices of their primary products and services, while another 48% said they had moderate increases. Only 3% said they decreased prices moderately or substantially.

That +46% change is a sharp increase from 2018 (+38%) and 2017 (+29%).

Members maintain optimism about their future purchasing plans, with 43% expecting to increase the dollar value of their purchases in 2020 and 15% anticipating a decline. This net positive of +28% is down slightly from 2019 projections (+32%) and even more so than 2018 forecasts (+39%).

Wages

In 2019, 77% of member companies gave pay increases – a typical number for this survey. The average increase was 2.9%. A combined total of 16% gave an average raise of 5% or more, while 33% of respondents doled out increases between 3% and 4.9%.

For planned pay raises in 2020, 34% plan to provide a bump between 1% and 2.9%. Only 12% plan on giving raises of 5% or more in 2020 – compared to the 16% who gave raises in the same range in 2019.

Minimum Wage and Cannabis

Looking ahead to Year Two of the five-year phase-in of the $15 minimum wage, 51% expect it to impact their business. Of those respondents, 32% say they will raise prices, 21% will reduce staff, 15% will reduce benefits and 13% will look toward automation.

When asked if they felt the potential legalization of recreational cannabis would be good for the state economy, 44% of respondents said yes and 56% said no.

More than two-third (67%) of business owners said they had concerns about legalized recreational cannabis. Of those respondents, 84% said their considerations revolved around safety in the workplace and 75% said workforce productivity was a concern. Chronic absenteeism (45%) and proximity to dispensaries (17%) were also noted.

About the Survey

Questions for NJBIA\’s 61st Annual Business Outlook Survey were sent to member business owners in September 2019. The report is based on 878 valid responses. Most respondents were small businesses, with 61% employing fewer than 24 employees.