Free Republic

Gov. Phil Murphy warned Thursday that it’s still too early for indoor businesses like gyms and salons to reopen as the coronavirus outbreak continues to slow in New Jersey. Murphy was asked to respond to social media groups attempting to organize businesses for a coordinated defiance of the coronavirus closures on Monday, June 1. “I would just say to folks: You’re playing with fire,” he said at his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton. “It has to be done the right way and at the right time,” Murphy added. “And I think we’re going to, if you bear with us over...

A Paterson NAACP leader said the recent city council vote-by-mail election was allegedly so flawed that the results should be thrown out and a new election ordered. “Invalidate the election. Let’s do it again,” said Rev. Kenneth Clayton said amid reports more that 20 percent of all ballots were disqualified, some in connection with voter fraud allegations. “These kinds of acts make people not want to vote anymore. They feel disenfranchised, disconnected that their votes don’t count, and that is not fair to people," he said. Rev. Clayton said the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will...

It was the call heard 'round the world. A May 2 virtual meeting meant for Trenton officials to discuss fighting the devastating coronavirus in the Capital City devolved into a mudslinging free-for-all of homophobic slurs and insults. **SNIP** But things escalated to new heights on May 2, when West Ward Councilwoman Robin Vaughn unloaded on East Ward Councilman Joe Harrison and Gusciora during a conference call for the local leaders to discuss the city’s response to the coronavirus. In her rant, Vaughn called Gusciora a "pedophile,” a “woman” and a “bitch a**,” among a flood of expletives. When Harrison tried...

A state judge set a May 29 hearing date for arguments over whether Gov. Phil Murphy acted properly in barring high school graduation ceremonies and deciding which businesses were essential and therefore could operate during the coronavirus outbreak. An order to show cause issued Wednesday by Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgen in Ocean County stems from a joint lawsuit filed last week by several businesses and individuals in Toms River opposed to executive orders issued by Murphy in his attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus, including E.O. 103 on March 9, declaring a state of emergency. The...

The New Jersey man who has gotten national attention for opening his Bellmawr gym in defiance of the state’s shutdown orders is now facing some backlash after word circulated online that he also broke the law 13 years ago in an incident that cost a young man his life. Ian A. Smith was a 20-year-old Stockton University student in 2007 when he drank 10 to 12 beers and in the morning ran a stop sign, killing Kevin Ade, 19, of Galloway Township, according to 6ABC reports at the time. He pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to five...

“This fund will be for the defense of Atilis Gym Bellmawr and all of its members. Frank and Ian were served with summons today. Now Governor Murphy is threatening Atilis Bellmawr staff AND members with summons and fines up to $1,000 per person. The Atilis Bellmawr Attorney Kevin Barry will be representing all of our staff and members who incur any charges. This fund is to support our efforts to reopen. From the bottom of our hearts we thank every one of you for supporting us through this tough time- and we are thankful for any funds donated to...

Even as New Jersey gradually reopens, residents will be asked to wear face coverings and practice social distancing until there’s a vaccine or effective treatment for the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy stressed Tuesday. “This is the reality,” Murphy said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton. “We’re not mandating you wear a mask, but we are strongly encouraging you to do that, and staying apart from people. I think that’s the new norm.” Murphy has started scaling back his near-lockdown orders in recent days as signs continue to show the COVID-19 outbreak in New Jersey is slowing and the economy...

ELLMAWR, N.J. (CBS) — At least one person was arrested after leaving Atilis Gym in Bellmawr on Tuesday. This comes as the gym’s owners were charged again today for violating Gov. Phil Murphy’s stay-at-home order. The charges are not yet known for the person who was arrested. Atilis Gym opened at 8 a.m. again, after receiving a warning from Gov. Phil Murphy Monday that they were in violation of New Jersey’s stay-at-home order. Bellmawr police tell CBS3 the owners have been charged for the second day in a row, but no further information is available at this time. On Monday,...

“Social distancing ambassadors” will be prowling popular New Jersey boardwalks this summer to make sure beachgoers don’t get too close. The teams will be dispatched donning special vests to Wildwood, Ocean City and other summer hangouts through Cape May County’s new coronavirus campaign, “Six Feet Saves Lives.” “As public places begin to reopen it is important to continue to take proper precautions, such as wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and social distancing,” said Kevin Thomas, Cape May County Health Officer, in a statement.

Trenton Councilwoman Robin Vaughn on Saturday let loose a stream of expletives and homophobic insults against the New Jersey city's mayor, who is gay, after a disagreement between the two about funding for nonprofit organizations during a conference call, according to a report. In audio obtained by The Trentonian, Vaughn, other members of the Trenton City Council and Mayor Reed Gusciora were discussing efforts to manage the city during the coronavirus pandemic when Vaughn and Gusciora got into a confrontation on "do-nothing" charity organizations getting city money and launched into an angry tirade over the phone. "The concern as to...

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will announce Monday that all public and private schools in the state will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, POLITICO has learned. Murphy will make the announcement at his daily briefing — scheduled for noon in Trenton — alongside state Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet, according to a statement from the governor’s office obtained by POLITICO. “This is a difficult decision and I know that many students, parents, and staff would like to be able to return to school,” Murphy said in the statement. “However, I have been unwavering on the message that...

Freep this poll, saying we need to open NOW!!!! http://newjersey.news12.com/story/42091505/news-12-poll-when-should-the-economy-reopen?fbclid=IwAR3OWH680a_oL7GftkNkmoXUALH7swqbfe9h5JnhMBLA50uZh-lhjh2J-rE

New Jersey is facing a financial disaster due to loss in revenue and spike in expenses related to the coronavirus outbreak that could be just weeks away, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday. “Right now, it’s pouring,” Murphy said, shortly after announcing he was ordering all public and private schools closed for the rest of the academic year. “We are on the brink of having to make very tough and, quite frankly, very unpalatable decisions." Murphy has previously warned of “historic” public worker layoffs without federal assistance. Murphy rescinded an executive order Monday from last year tasking the state treasurer to...

In hometown of Allendale, James Comey is no 'nut job,' but principled career man

A professor at a New Jersey university is blaming President Trump and his supporters for the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, claiming it’s their fault African-Americans have been dying at a disproportionate rate. “F--- each and every Trump supporter. You absolutely did this. You are to blame,” was among the comments – several of them containing profanity -- posted on Twitter this week by Brittney Cooper, an associate professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Rutgers University. In another post, Cooper wrote that she and other African-Americans suspect that recent efforts to reopen the country following...

Gov. Phil Murphy painted a dire outlook for New Jersey public-worker jobs on Saturday afternoon, pleading for more financial aid to lift a state economy that has been cratered by the coronavirus. “We will have layoffs that will be historic,” Murphy warned, as he called for Congress to send more direct aid to states, and as he urged state lawmakers to help him borrow billions of dollars. He added that the layoffs would be felt through New Jersey, at the state, county and local levels. “That’s what’s at stake. I don’t know how many, but it is big, big numbers,”...

Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday launched into a fiery takedown of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for saying state and local governments with cratered finances because of the coronavirus pandemic should be allowed to file for bankruptcy rather than rely on federal aid. “Come on, man,” Murphy said. “That is completely and utterly irresponsible. There’s no level of responsibility associated with that. And I don’t care what party you’re in.” “Because that won’t happen,” the governor said. “We won’t go bankrupt. You have my word we won’t go bankrupt.” But without federal aid, Murphy said, states will be forced...

A 48-year-old woman who authorities called the leader of a protest Tuesday in Trenton demanding Gov. Phil Murphy reopen the state despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic was issued a summons accusing her of violating the state’s lockdown orders, the State Police said. Stephanie Hazelton, of Medford, was charged with violating Executive Order No. 104, which in part bans large gatherings in the state during the crisis. No other protesters were charged and Hazleton was released after being given the summons, according to Trooper Alejandro Goez, a State Police spokesman. “The troopers showed a tremendous amount of restraint,” Col. Pat Callahan,...

A retired professor known for espousing antisemitic views to his students has died in a house fire. That’s no moon A 79-year-old Woodbury resident died early Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in the 19th century house on Route 32 where he had lived for 34 years. Clyde Magarelli, a retired professor who had taught sociology for five decades at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., lived alone and was the only person in the house during the fire. Woodbury Fire Chief Scott McClennan Jr. said at the scene that the fire initially was reported around 4:15 a.m. by passing...

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The coronavirus could be a literal game changer once America's casinos reopen. Many decisions remain to be made. But prepare to have your temperature scanned at the door. Maybe a half or third of slot machines will work. Every other table could be closed, and there could even be plexiglass barriers between dealers and customers or separating slot machines. Dealers and servers and customers - including those who smoke - all could be required to wear masks in many places. Workers may be standing by to wipe down slot machines, kiosks and even elevator buttons as...