Mayor Ted R. Green speaks at a rally held in response to SNAP cuts.
The following are the top stories out of East Orange and Orange in 2025 as decided by our news staff.
Plan to refurbish Orange General Hospital
A deal was announced to transform the former Orange Memorial Hospital. Gateway Merchant Banking has begun work to transform the former Orange Memorial Hospital site into a complex with 1,000 apartments, a new City Hall, 40,000 square feet of retail space, an acre and a half of public park land plus a skating rink that will be used for ice skating in winter, roller skating in summer and as a place for public programming at other times.
LaMonica McIver’s tumultuous first year
In her first year serving in Congress, LaMonica McIver, 39, found herself in the midst of a national story when she was charged with assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement officers during a visit with Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka to Delaney Hall, the recently opened privately run detention center for immigrants in Newark . The Associated Press reported that a video released by Homeland Security shows McIver on the facility side of a chain-link fence just before the arrest of Baraka on the street side of the fence. She and uniformed officials go through the gate and she joins others shouting “surround the mayor.”
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was able to visit the inside of the immigrant detention facility, Delaney Hall recently. On a previous visit she was not allowed in and was involved in an altercation that led to criminal charges.
The AP reported that the video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people when her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a face covering and a uniform with the word “Police” on it. The AP said it was a bodycam video and it wasn’t clear if the contact was intentional or incidental. Alina Habba, the then interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, filed the charges against McIver. Habba later resigned but the charges against McIver are still pending. Baraka was also charged as a result of the incident at Delaney Hall but the charges were dropped. McIver represents East Orange, Orange, Irvington and other municipalities in Essex and Union counties in Congress.
Dotson gets key to the city
The city of East Orange rolled out the red carpet for one of its native sons, giving a key to the city to Jahan Dotson, a wide receiver and Super Bowl LIX winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. Dotson got his start with East Orange’s Junior Jaguars Pop Warner Football program playing on their flag and Mitey Mite teams.
Lt. Tahmesha Dickey Black Maternal Health Center is dedicated by mayor, council
In October, Mayor Ted R. Green and the East Orange City Council dedicated the Lt. Tahmesha Dickey Black Maternal Health Center at the offices of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative located at 280 S. Harrison St. The facility is named for Lt. Tahmesha Dickey of the East Orange Police Department, who lost her life during childbirth. The Perinatal Health Equity Initiative (PHEI) has programs designed to restore joy and ensure there are zero preventable maternal deaths using models that are designed by and for Black women.The Lt. Dickey Center is a safe space for support, advocacy, education, and empowerment.
Monte Irvin park community building is completed
A new community center in Monte Irvin Orange Park opened on Oct. 27. The 8,580-square-foot building also will be named in honor of baseball Hall of Famer and Orange native Monte Irvin. The community center is located near the intersection of Central Avenue and Oakwood Avenue with the entrance being on Oakwood Avenue about 100 feet from the intersection. The building is 8,580 square feet and has a multi-purpose room that is about 5,000 square feet. There also is a warming kitchen, space for a police substation, an office and storage space. The restrooms are accessible from inside the building and from outdoors. If the building is not in use, access to the restrooms can be limited to just the outside. A driveway in front of the building makes it possible for visitors to be dropped off at the front door and a covered entranceway will protect those entering the building from the elements. There is a parking lot that accommodates about 50 vehicles. In back of the building is a covered patio for outdoor seating and events.
Sheriff’s officers charged with stealing in East Orange
Three Essex County Sheriff’s officers were charged with stealing from an East Orange home where they were executing a search warrant. The incident occurred on Jan. 10, 2023, at the apartment of Kirk Mansook, located at 470 Park Ave. in East Orange. At the time, Officers Jimmy Rodriguez, 39, of Kearny, Fabian Caicedo, 45 of East Rutherford, and Erik Udvarhely, 44, of Belleville, were assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Narcotics. During the search, Mansook was arrested on minor drug charges and later released. Upon returning home, he discovered several items were missing, including multiple boxes of high-end sneakers, and a designer belt, according to the prosecutor’s office. Surveillance video revealed that Rodriguez and Caicedo removed the items, placed them in plastic bags, and loaded them in their work vehicle. Rodriguez and Udvarhely later transferred the items to their personal vehicles
Quadruplets are born to East Orange couple
On July 1, Aja Kennon and her fiancé Emmanuel of East Orange welcomed natural quadruplets Ean, Evan, Alayha, and Eamon at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. With no fertility treatments involved and twins running on both sides of the family, the birth is one in a million occurrence. Aja worked up to eight months into her pregnancy, carrying the babies to an impressive 34 weeks. Her delivery involved over 20 medical professionals, each baby with their own dedicated team.
SNAP Cuts and the East Orange response
The loss of federal SNAP benefits during the federal budget showdown in November put local leaders into action. At a press conference on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Ted R. Green rallied residents and asked them to look out for their neighbors in the days ahead. Green said about 5,000 residents of East Orange rely on SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food assistance to families with low incomes to help them buy groceries. Among the actions taken were expanded access to local, existing food pantries and arranging for transportation to food pantries. Superintendent of Schools Christopher Irving said the district would make dinner available to students who need it.
Call to Action hosts a rally and march for veterans
A rally and march was held June 6 as part of a veterans “Call to Action” National Rally on the anniversary of the D-Day invasion of France during World War II. The rally was held in Monte Irvin Park in front of the statue of Irvin, which is about a block away from the East Orange Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The event was held to draw attention to cuts being made in the Veterans Affairs system.
First marijuna dispensary opens in East Orange
The city of East Orange got its first adult use marijuana dispensary. HZY Goods, on 19 Prospect St., held a grand opening in November. Owners Rob and Staci Puleo of Verona had been working on opening the dispensary for the past five years.
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