MORRIS COUNTY — Cara Parmigiani, the Democratic challenger for Morris County Freeholder, has earned the endorsement of the Transportation Workers Union of America, Local 100, which represents public transportation employees in the New York City metropolitan area.

“Public transportation is a critical cog in Morris County’s economic machine that allows our residents to commute to their jobs and support their families. We need to improve and expand our public transportation options to improve the quality of life of our commuting residents and staunch the exodus of younger generations out of Morris County because they cannot commute easily to their jobs,” Parmigiani said.

“Additionally, public transportation provides good jobs, and I am proud to have the support of the TWU, which ensures the integrity of these professions,” Parmigiani said. “The TWU makes sure our public transportation workers are properly trained, are protected in their workplace and receive fair compensation and retirement security. We must always be diligent in recognizing the role organized labor plays in sustaining our middle class and protect their rights to collective bargaining,” Parmigiani said.

The Transportation Workers Union of America represents employees working in bus and subway lines, as well as several airlines, nationwide. TWU Local 100 represents 41,000 public transportation employees in the New York City metropolitan area who operate and maintain subway trains and tracks, staff token booths, clean platforms and cars and repair mechanical equipment, such as elevators and escalators; drive and maintain public buses; and perform similar work with many private commuter transportation firms and school bus companies. Local 100 also represents 26,000 retired transportation workers.

Cara has appeared as an attorney in fifteen New Jersey counties in most divisions of the Superior Court. She has also appeared before various planning boards, zoning boards and municipal courts. Cara provided guidance for a Municipal Master Plan re-evaluation and served on her local Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Cara represents patients in psychiatric facilities across the state. Cara is a graduate of Rutgers University and Seton Hall Law School. She lives with her wife and daughter in Morris Plains.

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MORRIS COUNTY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) hosted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and local mayors yesterday to address flooding in the 11th District of New Jersey. Colonel Thomas Asbery from the USACE gave an update on flooding issues, and mayors from Passaic, Essex, and Morris Counties discussed the issues their towns currently face from repeat and intensifying flooding. Following the discussion, the group went to Two Bridges on Fairfield Road in Wayne for a site visit.

“With ongoing flooding issues in our communities, it was important to bring together the Army Corps of Engineers, the NJDEP, and local mayors who represent towns along the Peckman and Passaic Rivers,” said Representative Sherrill. “We need to address local flooding and major weather events, and our towns can’t tackle that alone. I will continue to work with our mayors on this issue because the problem of flooding is not going away.”

“We appreciate the leadership of Congresswoman Sherrill in bringing the community together to discuss flooding in the Passaic River Basin,” said NJDEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe.“Especially in the face of continued impacts from climate change, we understand the impact to life and property that chronic flooding causes for the residents of Passaic, Essex, and Morris counties. The DEP looks forward to continuing its work with all of our local and federal partners to explore ways to address these challenges as we endeavor to make New Jersey stronger and more resilient.”

“I am very happy that the Congresswoman convened this meeting,” said Wayne Township Mayor Christopher P. Vergano. “Any time we can have a discussion that moves the conversation on flooding forward is progress.”

“We hope that the meeting was beneficial to engage the local leaders on the challenges the basin faces and that the result of today allows us to move the study effort on a path forward,” said Colonel Asbery, USACE.

This is the second in a series of flood infrastructure meeting Representative Sherrill has convened since taking office. In February, Representative Sherrill held a Mayors’ roundtable to learn more about the innovative ways local leaders are tackling flood mitigation and the roadblocks they face.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker and Acting Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson announce that Daniel Soler, 49, formerly of Morristown, was sentenced by the Honorable David H. Ironson, J.S.C., to five years in New Jersey State Prison.

Mr. Soler will also be subject to registration pursuant to Megan’s Law and Parole Supervision for Life. Mr. Soler previously pled guilty to Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, admitting to an act of sexual contact upon a child who was under the age of thirteen.

Mr. Soler knew the victim through mutual acquaintances. Mr. Soler must serve a minimum of fifty-one months of the five year State Prison term prior to being eligible for parole. In addition, he was ordered to pay mandatory fines and penalties and to have no contact with the victim.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and the Morristown Police Detective Bureau, whose efforts contributed to the investigation and resolution of the matter. The prosecution of this case was led by Assistant Prosecutor Gloria Rispoli.