MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblyman Brian Bergen signed on as a prime sponsor to an Assembly resolution urging Congress to fully re-establish the state and local tax deductions, commonly known as SALT, that homeowners were permitted when filing their federal tax returns until a cap was imposed by federal law. The resolution notes the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the Garden State population and its economy and requests the homeowner tax deduction be restored for the 2019 federal tax filings due July 15.

“People in New Jersey are already taxed more than residents in almost every other state and they have suffered more from the pandemic than residents of almost every other state,” said Bergen. “Reinstating the SALT deduction for this tax season would go a long way toward helping Garden State families get through this crisis.”

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce introduced AR163, noting the state’s economy was already sputtering prior to the COVID-19 crisis and that residents of New Jersey need tax relief immediately.

The resolution asks Congress to waive the $10,000 cap imposed by the federal tax cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 on the amount of state and local taxes homeowners can deduct from their federal tax bill. High cost-of-living states, such as New Jersey, were uniquely impacted by the cap because combined state and local taxes incurred annually by many Garden State homeowners easily exceed $10,000.

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio today said more serious questions have been raised at the New Jersey Department of Health and “the lack of leadership has been glaring at the highest levels of state government during the COVID crisis.”

Pennacchio’s comments come after a published report of heated arguments between the health commissioner and high-level staffers on the Governor’s team, and an attempt to sign a $500,000 contract with a politically-connected consultant firm for four weeks of work with nursing homes.

“These are serious issues – 6,000 souls died in state-regulated nursing homes,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “The state forced the virus into these long-term nursing facilities while keeping their loved ones out. A pandemic is devastating the state economy and has killed 12,000 state residents, half of the seniors in long-term care.

“Leadership is most evident in the midst of a crisis, and the pandemic has exposed damning weaknesses at upper levels of the state’s chain of command,” Pennacchio said. “The very people New Jerseyans relied on to keep them safe have repeatedly shown they were overwhelmed and under-qualified.”

A day earlier, another story reported the termination of the assistant commissioner of Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories & Emergency Preparedness who oversaw emergency medical services and the state office of disaster resilience within the Department of Health.

Christopher Neuwirth claimed in a Facebook post that he “was blatantly scapegoated and fired.”

“These issues, coupled with the loss of 6,000 residents in nursing homes that were forgotten by the Administration and abandoned by state inspectors, demand answers,” said Pennacchio.

“The problems may have been worse than we imagined. The Senate should immediately convene a special committee with subpoena power to investigate the pandemic response and get to the bottom of this mess. If these were traffic issues on the George Washington Bridge, subpoenas would already have been issued,” concluded Pennacchio.

MORRIS COUNTY — Due to the COVID-19-related cancelation of its May 16 Household Hazardous Waste event, the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority has decided to add an additional drop-off event in June, with disposal days now set for June 13 and June 28, both to be held at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy in Parsippany.

The June 13 event originally was scheduled for County College of Morris in Randolph but has been moved to Parsippany.

SPECIAL COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS:

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all participants dropping off household hazardous materials must wear face coverings, keep their vehicle windows closed, and stay in their vehicles for the duration of the event.

The MCMUA is requesting that all materials be stored in the trunk, cargo area, or bed of the vehicle for easy access by the MUA’s contractor, whose team will remove it from the vehicle. Please plan your visit accordingly.

FUTURE EVENTS

For residents who are unable to attend either of these June events, the MUA also plans to host fall events, currently set for Saturday, September 12, at the Public Safety Training Academy, and Saturday, October 10, at Chatham High School.

Click here for additional updates regarding our Household Hazardous Waste and other programs as they are announced by clicking here.

INFORMATION ON ACCEPTABLE ITEMS FOR DROP-OFF

The list of acceptable hazardous materials include pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, oil-based paints, stains, paint thinners and removers, solvents, automotive fluids, lead-acid and rechargeable batteries, pool chemicals, and darkroom chemicals.

Also accepted are aerosol cans (not empty), propane and helium cylinders, small quantities of asbestos (wetted, double bagged and sealed with duct tape-100-pound limit), driveway sealant, roofing tar, fluorescent bulbs, PCB-ballasts, mercury thermometers and switches, household cleaning products, muriatic acid.

Latex paint is not considered hazardous, so it is not accepted. Explosive or highly reactive materials, such as picric acid or nitro compounds, also will not be accepted.

IMPORTANT E-WASTE and LATEX PAINT NOTE:  E-Waste (used consumer electronics) and latex paint will not be accepted. Click here or call (973) 829-8006 for E-Waste disposal information. Latex paint should be dried out and disposed of in the trash.

These events are for residential household waste. Businesses are not permitted to attend these disposal events. Businesses can visit the permanent facility in Mount Olive by appointment only. 

MORRIS COUNTY — This two-year-old American Bulldog/Pit mix is an absolute love and will be your favorite dog ever!

Mac loves to cuddle, give kisses, and go for walks. He’s a total mush just like his name!

Due to Mac’s hard past, he currently struggles with some fear issues. New people scare him, as do new situations, and he will need a patient family who helps him understand that he is safe and loved now.

Mac is good with other dogs and kids 16+. He is potty-trained and walks well in a harness. He also knows “sit” and “come!” Mac is very eager to please.

Mac is also happy to help his foster family finish their meals and loves snacks. What can we say, his name is on point!

If you’re looking for a big snuggle bug to add to your home, apply to adopt Mac today!

If you are interested in adopting Mac, please fill out an application by clicking here.

Click here to follow on Instagram; Click here to follow on Facebook.

MORRIS COUNTY — Many families have been scrambling to either do without child care or to try to find alternative care so they can work. Assemblyman Brian Bergen and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce urged Gov. Phil Murphy to immediately open daycare facilities across the state.

“Businesses are starting to open and with more openings forecasted in the next several weeks, we have to start to address child care,” said DeCroce (R-Morris). “Working parents need time to plan and enroll their children so they can get back to work as soon as possible.”

Daycares, preschools, and child-care providers nationwide are facing a tough road as they attempt to provide safe, quality care to children while navigating the ever-changing challenges posed to their businesses. And, experts say that many providers may not make it.

Murphy has allowed a handful of centers to remain open for children of essential workers throughout his shutdowns. Now that demand is likely to increase, those who were not initially granted an exception are being shut out of the market.

Many child care providers worry they may never be able to reopen.

“It was suggested that PPP loans would be forgiven if we employed our staff and used it to pay our rent,” said MaryEllen Soriano, owner of Morris County EduCare.  “We did our part but now we might not even have a chance if we can’t reopen in time.  At this point, we would have to reopen by June 1 just to have a chance to meet those commitments.”

Not acting decisively to help the industry could have dire consequences said Bergen.

“Child care is expensive to operate, yet families are largely left to pay for it themselves while providers eke out a living on meager profits,” said Bergen (R-Morris).  “The economics are fragile even in good times.  When a crisis like this hits, it is devastating.  Some should not be open and while others cannot.”

In mid-May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally issued guidance (which still defers largely to local guidelines) to help child care centers, as well as camps, restaurants, bars, and other operations, decide if they can safely reopen.

The two lawmakers also announced a plan with more than 30 small-business owners from Morris County last week that outlined a road map to open businesses safely and immediately.

• Staff limits: Schools should limit the number of staff members to only those required to facilitate the commencement ceremony; 
• Sick individuals: Sick individuals should not attend. NJDOH and CDC guidelines can provide direction for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Districts should discourage attendance if a visitor or someone in their household is experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness or if they have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Schools should consider screening visitors upon arrival with non-contact thermometers and excluding any person with a temperature exceeding 100.4 °F; 
• Equity: Districts are encouraged to ensure that graduation ceremonies are inclusive and accessible for all students and families. Accommodations should be made for families that may not be able to attend in-person; 
• Certification to the DOE: School districts that plan to hold a drive-in/drive-through or modified in-person ceremony must certify to the Department of Education, via an online submission form that will be made available on June 5, 2020, that their planned ceremony will comply with applicable requirements for gatherings, including those addressing social distancing.   The form must be submitted no later than seven days prior to the scheduled date of the ceremony.

• Local review: School districts should plan ceremonies in consultation with municipal officials (local law enforcement, local health officials, etc.); 
• Location: Modified in-person commencement ceremonies must take place outdoors. Indoor ceremonies are not permitted. Open-air rain tarps, tents, and other outdoor structures may be used only to protect against foul weather or for shade; 
• Attendance: Schools may consider limiting the number of guests or holding student-only commencements. Ceremonies must meet the relevant capacity limitation on in-person gatherings in place at the time of the ceremony; 
• Social distancing: Attendees must remain six feet apart at all times, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners. Schools should consider using tape or other materials to demarcate six feet of distance between students and attendees while standing and walking, and ensure that all seating for students, guests, and staff allows for six feet of distance between persons; 
• Multiple ceremonies: Districts should consider class size and available space to determine the number of ceremonies needed. Districts should follow CDC and NJDOH protocols for cleaning in between ceremonies and consider holding ceremonies over the span of several days; 
• Duration: Districts should consider limiting the length of ceremonies to shorten the time students and attendees are exposed to each other. Districts should also limit speakers and live performances and avoid the sharing of microphones or other equipment that may pose a health risk; 
• Entrances/exits: Districts should assign staff to monitor entrances and exits to prevent congregation and consider staggering arrival times to ease crowds at access points. If possible, districts should utilize multiple entrances and exit points; 
• Face coverings: In accordance with CDC recommendations, attendees should wear face coverings (except for children under two or in cases that would inhibit a person’s health); and

• Drive-through and drive-in commencement ceremonies must comply with all requirements of Executive Order 142 (2020), or the rules or requirements for vehicular gatherings that are in place at the time of the ceremony;
• Accommodations should be made to allow families without vehicles to participate while adhering to social distancing protocols;
• If allowing access to restrooms, take appropriate measures to prevent congregation and consult with health officials on disinfection protocols;
• Multiple ceremonies may be needed depending on class size;
• Consider potential broadcasting of the ceremony or otherwise making a live stream available for family members unable to attend; and
• Organizers or others assisting with the event, and who are not in closed vehicles, must follow all applicable Executive Orders and Administrative Orders and must wear face coverings, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health.