Free Republic

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is actively talking to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont about mapping out mandatory quarantine “guidelines” for individuals traveling into the tristate area from Florida and other states seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases. Cuomo said the trio is “seriously considering” implementing a 14-day isolation for Floridians and that could be extended to travelers coming from Texas, Arizona and at least 20 other states. “The virus is up and more people are getting sick and now our fear in New York is those people are going to travel to New York and...

Merkel outlined her objectives Thursday for Germany’s forthcoming 6-month presidency of the EU, saying a more Global role and Enhanced International Governance are a way forward. This is not the first time Merkel has touted an E.U. global role...Her simple solution remains: more E.U. in more places more often. The presidency of the Council of the European Union passes among member states on a rotating basis and lasts for a six-month period, with Germany taking the role from July 1 until the end of the year.

A pair of top Democrats has introduced a bill aimed at blocking President Trump’s plan to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Germany. The bill, introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) in their respective chambers, would prohibit funding to implement a withdrawal in Europe unless several conditions are met. “The current U.S. troop presence in Germany is in the U.S. national security interest. Full stop,” Menendez said in a statement. “The administration has made no effort to explain how our country is stronger because of this...

Proudly labeling Camden's transformation as the result of disbanding its police force isn't the whole story. Camden reorganized and grew its police force. Proponents of defunding or disbanding police departments are lauding Camden, New Jersey, as a model for the nation. They suggest that the rapid decline in the city’s crime since it disbanded its police department in 2012 proves the merits of their position.We can discern the truth by analyzing the policies Camden implemented after it disbanded its police department and measuring how well they worked.It bears noting up front that in spite of the heartening declines in crime...

For weeks, a black-and-white American flag with a blue stripe down the middle stood above the New Jersey Turnpike. The flag, posted on an overpass in Woodbridge Township, appeared this spring, residents say. Now, some are relieved that it has been removed. Residents who objected to the “thin blue line” flag says its message stands in opposition to the fight against systemic racism.

The New Jersey city of Camden is in the process of removing its Christopher Columbus statue as “the time was right to do it with everything that is happening nationally.” Vincent Basara, its spokesman, spoke to Fox News Friday after the city announced it will “establish a plan to reexamine these outdated symbols of racial division and injustices.” "The statue has been controversial for years and the time was right to do it with everything that is happening nationally,” Basara told Fox News, referring to the ongoing demonstrations following the death of George Floyd.

The Asbury Park City Council voted Wednesday evening to allow indoor dining beginning on June 15, a move in direct violation of New Jersey executive orders related to COVID-19. On June 3, Gov. Phil Murphy signed Executive Order 150, which allows outdoor dining on June 15, subject to health and safety protocols. But Asbury Park went a major step forward by allowing diners to eat inside. Reached on Twitter, Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn confirmed a report by The Coaster breaking the city’s decision. Quinn said the governing body passed a resolution allowing indoor dining in accordance with the issuance of...

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy indicated Monday that he has no plans to enforce social distancing rules on large groups gathering for anti-racism protests even as non-essential businesses are allowed to reopen only in phases and other large groups are prohibited. “I can’t imagine what it would look like if we said to people, ‘Actually, you have to stay in. You have to ignore systemic racism — I’m sorry, just ignore it. Stay in,’” the governor said during his daily coronavirus briefing. I can’t imagine what that looks like as it relates to public safety

The fringe left, to include adviser to Joe Biden Rep. AOC, is emboldened and fixed on the notion that defunding police or at least dismantling their agencies and starting over is going to fix everything. The idea seems to have sprung up out of nothing and purely as an overreaction to the tragic police killing of George Floyd. But it didn’t. Two U.S. cities, both on the east coast, have taken some form of this approach to reforming their police departments. For a variety of reasons, the two cities have not experienced the same outcome. First, Camden, New Jersey. Despite...

Camden dissolved its police department to root out corruption. The city's crime rate was among the worst in the US. Within nine square miles and among nearly 75,000 residents, there were over 170 open-air drug markets reported in 2013, county officials told CNN. Violent crime abounded. Police corruption was at the core. Lawsuits filed against the department uncovered that officers routinely planted evidence on suspects, fabricated reports and committed perjury. After the corruption was exposed, courts overturned the convictions of 88 people, the ACLU reported in 2013. So in 2012, officials voted to completely disband the department -- it was...

Before politicians rush headlong into the potentially disastrous decision to defund police departments, they should think about the ramifications. More than three centuries ago, British writer Jonathan Swift observed, “Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it; so that when Men come to be undeceiv’d, it is too late.” Well, a new movement to defund the police is well on its way. And in a remarkably short time, it has quickly outpaced the logic and common sense questions that could slow it down.The goal of the “defund the police” movement is obviously to punish police officers for bad behavior....

Abortion giant Planned Parenthood is one of the organizations that worked with the state’s Department of Education to prepare the new standards.WARNING: The following article contains sexually explicit language and material. TRENTON, New Jersey, June 8, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The new standards for sex education in public schools of New Jersey push homosexuality and gender ideology, as well as abortion and contraception. Children are taught about giving “consent” and how to decide “whether and when to engage in sexual behaviors” such as “oral” and “anal sex.” Abortion giant Planned Parenthood was one of the organizations that had worked with the...

The Democratic Party’s veepstakes may have narrowed down to two top contenders. Out of all the potential running mates thought to be on Joe Biden’s shortlist, only two — California Sen. Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren — spoke at the Texas Democratic Party’s state convention, which ended Saturday. “These things don’t happen by accident,” Democratic strategist Brad Bannon told The Post. “I think those two are getting an audition in Texas.”

American workers and businesses have had to cut their spending for weeks amid the pandemic, but in America’s most spendthrift states the message is: What, me worry? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a plan to bail them out, and if she fails Joe Biden will deliver in 2021. Take California, where Democratic leaders in Sacramento this week rejected Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan for budget triage that included a $14 billion spending cut, suspension of union raises, plus a 10% pay cut for state workers. Mr. Newsom also called for a $4.4 billion increase in business taxes by eliminating certain deductions...

LGBTQ activist groups and Planned Parenthood are applauding the New Jersey State Board of Education’s approval of their “gold standard” sex ed standards. LGBTQ activists Garden State Equality and abortion business Planned Parenthood announced in a joint statement Wednesday they are pleased their recommended public school sex ed standards, modeled after the National Sexuality Education Standards for grades K-12, were approved. “The new guidelines and educational requirements feature an updated, more comprehensive curriculum that includes expanded content topics, including LGBTQ identities and consent,” the press statement said.

Newark, N.J. ‘To all the jackasses out there who we now have to carry—get with the program,” Gov. Phil Murphy fulminated on Twitter April 6. “We know who you are and we will not relent until we have 100% compliance.” On May 2 he added: “ATTN KNUCKLEHEADS: KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE #FlattenTheCurve.” But New Jersey relented on Saturday as thousands massed in the streets of Newark, the state’s most populous city. While many protesters did avail themselves of masks, standing 6 feet apart—as per the state’s oft-repeated guidelines—was impossible. Mr. Murphy’s prohibition on “outdoor gatherings” was still in effect, although...

New York's top terrorism official says there's evidence that members of anarchist groups from outside the city intentionally planned to incite violence at protests calling for justice in the death of George Floyd. Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said there is a high level of confidence within the NYPD that these unnamed groups had organized scouts, medics, and supply routes of rocks, bottles and accelerants for breakaway groups to commit vandalism and violence. There are strong indicators they planned for violence in advance using at times encrypted communications, he said. One out of every seven arrests, of...

When she learned about George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Yolanda Deaver wanted to be there to protest. *snip* Camden Police Chief Joseph Wysocki helped lead the way, carrying a banner proclaiming “Standing in Solidarity,” while a police captain led a Camden Strong chant at one point. Others carried signs proclaiming Black Lives Matter and demanding justice for Floyd. Cries of “No justice no peace” and “Black Lives Matter” filled the air. U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross and Camden Mayor Frank Moran also joined the walk.

Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sen. Cory Booker said President Donald Trump does not deserve his attention. The New Jersey Democrat made his remarks in reference to Trump’s handling of race issues as president.

...snip... Among the other protests planned in New Jersey: A protest in Trenton, “Justice for George Floyd,” is planned from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to PlanetPrinceton.com. Demonstrators in Atlantic City are meeting at the Public Safety Building on Atlantic Avenue at 1 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a march in Long Branch on Sunday at beginning 1:30 starting at Pier Village by the ice-skating rink. In Burlington County, a vigil is planned for 7 p.m. Sunday on Walnut Street in Bordentown. Also Monday, a group calling itself “Asbury Park Justice for George Floyd” is hosting...