The NJ Marine Fisheries Council passed motions to adopt new recreational regulations for Bluefish and Striped Bass at their February 13, 2020 meeting.
The NJ Marine Fisheries Administration is working to implement these new regulations by April 1. Until then,
regulations from 2019 are in effect
. See the table below and keep an eye out for additional message information.
Jeff Tittel, Director
New Jersey Sierra Club
This week, New Jersey Turnpike Authority released more details about a proposed toll increase. The proposed increases include a 36% increase for the New Jersey Turnpike and a 27% increase for the Garden State Parkway. The money from the toll hike will go toward various projects, including full-
time use of NJ Turnpike exit 19W with direct access to the American Dream Mall in the Meadowlands.
“Using toll money to pay for more direct access to the American Dream Mall is a sham. This mega mall was too costly to build and too costly to visit, and now they want New Jersey commuters to pay for a direct exit from the Turnpike to the mall. This is ridiculous. New Jersey taxpayers already paid for that interchange to be moved originally to allow for direct access to the mall and also paid about $2 million in road and rail improvements to benefit the mall. In addition, taxpayers paid over $1 billion to subsidize this monstrosity of a mall, its customers are being charged to enjoy it, and now commuters are being charged even more,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This hits commuters in the wallet and doesn’t help them get to work. The mall still owes taxpayers millions of dollars for their mega mall, and now they are taking more money out of our wallets.”
The toll increases would be equally applied to all toll rates, including cash, E-ZPas, peak, off-peak, truck and car rates. The rate for a passenger car on the Turnpike would increase by an average of $1.25 and Parkway tolls by 30 cents.
“The tolls for the Turnpike will go up by an average of $1.25 per trip. That means that the average commuter who takes the Turnpike every day will be paying an additional $600 every year just to get to work. Using that money to benefit the American Scheme mega mall is ridiculous because it has already been the largest corporate subsidy in the state’s history. In addition to these toll hikes, people have to pay $24 for parking, and the daily price to ride American Dream rides will be $80 soon. Combined, that’s more than a season pass at Six Flags and just $5 shy for a daily pass to Disney World,” said Jeff Tittel. “The people who work at the American Dream Mall making $11/hour cannot afford to go there, much less drive there with these toll hikes. To spend a full day at the park could take a full week’s wages.”
This toll hike is estimated to raise more than $500 million. The money will support a capital plan that goes through 2029. There are 53 projects that will widen sections of the Parkway and Turnpike. Both roads will also get cashless toll collection, and full-time use of exit 19W. 19W allows direct access from the Turnpike to the Meadowlands sports complex and is currently only open on event days.
“There is no real traffic program for the bus or train services that are reliable, instead the mall will be car-dependent. The project, which comprises 7.1 million square feet of office and commercial space, in order to be successful, it will need to generate around 120,000 to 150,000 cars a day, gridlocking Bergen County with traffic. Everyday traffic will be like game day at Giants Stadium, and now they want to use toll money to benefit the mall,” said Tittel. “The Murphy Administration has been trying to fix traffic problems by proposing a rail plan that will cost $1-$2 billion while NJ Transit is crumbling. That money could have been used to finish the Bergen-Hudson Light Rail Line or important improvements for NJ Transit. Why should we be paying for a rail to a private mall. They created the problem, why should NJ taxpayers and commuters pay to fix it?”
The mall is an estimated 3 million square feet with more than half of that allotted to entertainment and the other 45% of the space will be for retail. There are 11,000 parking spaces and they share 22,000 with MetLife stadium on non-event days. The American Dream/Xanadu mall sits partly on wetlands in an environmentally sensitive area prone to flooding. Meadowlands resources are important for flood control, fisheries, and migratory birds.
“We have been fighting this mega mall for over 20 years because it is too large, it’s in an environmentally sensitive area, and will cause a lot of pollution and traffic. The American Dream/Xanadu site flooded during Hurricane Sandy. The mall’s water park is built on top of wetlands, which means increasingly vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise and storm surges. Studies have shown the entire area will end up under 3 feet of water. The EPA and Fish & Wildlife under President George W. Bush opposed the project because of environmental impacts on clean air and water, and wildlife,” said Tittel. “Overdeveloping the Meadowlands will not only put more people in danger of flooding, but will actually impact wetlands and the fragile ecosystems.”
Governor Murphy believes this project has provided New Jersey residents with extraordinary opportunities for good-paying construction and building jobs, as well as opportunities for New Jersey’s business owners.
“The billions of dollars for American Dream could’ve been used for building schools and colleges, taking lead out of our drinking water, or cleaning up our toxic sites. Instead, this private enterprise is a one-two punch to our wallets, the billions it took to build it and the high price tag to enjoy its amenities. The American Dream mall shows everything that is wrong about New Jersey,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “By proposing to use toll increases to help pay for direct access to the American Dream Mall, the NJ Transit Authority is failing the commuters of New Jersey.”
Theodore L. Galiazzi, Sr., “Ted”, on March 12, 2020, of Bellmawr; formerly of Magnolia.
Age 80.
Beloved husband of Marie (nee Iacovelli). Devoted father of Linda Galiazzi, Diane Verratti, Ted Galiazzi, Jr. (Heather), and Michael Galiazzi (Christine). Loving Pop Pop of Mia, Bella, Mikey, Julionna, Gia, and Nick. Dear brother of Richard Galiazzi (Marie), Annette Venezia, and the late Anthony and Bobby Galiazzi. Also survived by nieces and nephews.
Ted retired from RCA in Camden after 30-plus years of employment. There will be a viewing from 8:15am to 10:15am Wednesday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass 11am Wednesday at Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa RC Church, Runnemede. Interment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
On March 11, 2020. Age 92. Of Medford. Formerly of Princeton, Basking Ridge and North Plainfield, NJ. In the loving and devoted care of his wife of 50 years, Ella Mae Ferri (nee Jahn). Cherished father of Maryileen Cumbaa (Charles), Richard Ferri (Terry), Robert Ferri (Melody), Gregory Ferri (Melissa),
Bernadette Dunphy (Phil), Suzanne Meyer (Jay), Donna Ferri (late Paul) and the late Raymond Ferri Jr. Beloved step-father of Lisa Martell (Chris), Leslie Westhead and the late Lauren Jane Chiovarou. Loving grandfather of Richard Ferri, Max Ferri, Brandon Ferri, Dylan Ferri, Alex Cumbaa (Allison), Chelsea Nourse (Daryl), Brian Dunphy, Nicolette Dunphy, Courtney Dunphy, Sean Dunphy, Amanda Meyer, Kathryn Meyer, Lauren Robertson (Martyn), Lindsay Martell, Leah Martell, Danielle Foster (Kenneth), Derek Westhead and Shannon Westhead.
Ray was born and raised in North Plainfield, NJ. He proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 31,1944 to May 17, 1945 as a private. Ray proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 20,1945 to October 14, 1946 as a Private First Class. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from May 12, 1950 to July 23, 1951 as a Naval Cadet in Pensacola, Florida. After his proud and honorable military service, Ray worked as a technician for Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. He was the owner of Ridge Associates in Rockaway, NJ.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ray’s visitation on Monday, March 16, 2020 from 9:30 am to 10:45 am at The Catholic Church of Saint Isaac Jogues (Chapel): 349 Evesboro – Medford Road, Marlton, NJ 08053. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am in the church. U.S. Marine Corps Military Honors will follow Mass. Cremation private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Memorials Processing: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 – 9959. Please write in memo: Raymond Thomas Ferri.
Condolences and Memories may be shared at
www.mccannhealey.com
under the obituary of Raymond Thomas Ferri. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCann-Healey Funeral Home: Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142
Allentown, Pa.
– U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following statement regarding the murder of Philadelphia Police Corporal James O\’Connor:
\”Philadelphia Police Corporal James O\’Connor was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a murder suspect this morning. Put more simply, he was murdered for doing his job – serving and protecting the people of Philadelphia, which he has done for the past 23 years. My deepest condolences go out to Corporal O\’Connor\’s wife, children, friends, and fellow officers.
\”The monster who murdered Corporal O\’Connor must be aggressively prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And Congress needs to do more to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals.\”
By Christen Smith |
The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf closed all public schools Friday, just hours after health officials confirmed the state\’s first case of novel coronavirus diagnosed in a patient younger than 18.
The shutdown will last 10 business days through March 30, at which time Wolf said the state will reevaluate the situation.
“We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities,” he said. “First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities.”
Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said this is the first known pediatric case in the state, where so far 33 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 300 tested, 140 have come back negative and 130 more are pending, Levine said.
No other details were released about the pediatric patient, except that the case was from Monroe County. Thursday, the governor recommended statewide social distancing policies and shut down schools and public buildings in Montgomery County, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. He expanded that mandate to all schools across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties Friday afternoon.
Schools will not be penalized for falling short of the 180-day instruction requirement, Wolf said. The Department of Education will provide breakfast and lunch to low-income students during the two-week closure.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said children don’t appear as susceptible to the more severe symptoms of COVID-19, though it is unknown why.
So far, the CDC has confirmed 1,629 cases across 46 states and Washington D.C., with 41 reported deaths. Worldwide, more than 133,000 people have contracted the virus and nearly 5,000 have died.
published here by The olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com with permission of
The Center Square
By Dan McCaleb |
The Center Square
A day after President Donald Trump issued an
emergency declaration
over the coronavirus pandemic, Americans woke up Saturday realizing life over the next several weeks will be very different.
Schools are closed. Colleges and universities are turning to virtual education online. College students studying far from home are making travel plans to return home early.
Sporting events are postponed or cancelled.
Many workers are being asked to work from home.
Grocery store shelves are empty.
Churches are cancelling services.
Many states have enacted bans on mass gatherings, including parades, concerts and other social events.
Americans\’ 401(k)s are less valuable.
Social distancing is the catch phrase of the day.
As of Friday night, more than 2,200 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that originated in China in December. At least 59 people died: the majority of them, 37, in the state of Washington, the epicenter of the disease in the U.S.
Globally, more than 142,000 cases have been confirmed.
Trump during a Friday afternoon news conference asked Americans not to panic but instead called for a \”shared sacrifice\” so \”we can get past this.\”
Trump\’s emergency declaration makes available up to $50 billion of federal funds to help stop the spread of the disease and frees up other federal resources. He asked every hospital in the country to activate their disaster plans to help deal with the crisis and every state to establish emergency response centers.
He said a public-private partnership will lead to the faster development of new tests, which have been in short supply around the country. Drive-thru testing has begun in some states, and Trump vowed that more would be opening across the country soon.
Health officials say most people are not at high risk of serious complications from COVID-19, but they urge everyone to take proper precautions to help protect people who are in high-risk groups, such as older people and those with chronic health conditions.
Health officials recommend the following precautions:
Those who believe they been exposed to COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider, or the nearest hospital if they lack a healthcare provider
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Avoid contact with people who are sick and say home if you are sick
Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in public
posted here with permission of
The Center Square