TRENTON, NJ — Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John McKeon, Mila Jasey and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to ensure stiff penalties for anyone who commits vehicular homicide while driving drunk cleared a Senate panel on Thursday, June 15. Bill A-3686, known as “Ralph and David’s Law,” would establish a new crime of “strict liability vehicular homicide” […]
TRENTON, NJ — On Thursday, June 15, the Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a measure, AR-268, sponsored by Chairman John McKeon, opposing the dramatic increase in arrests on courthouse premises across the country by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The legislation was prompted by a hearing that McKeon’s committee held last week on the […]
Mayors want better equity, communication from NJT
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — After weeks of being sidelined, municipal officials from several towns finally met with NJ Transit representatives June 7 to discuss the burden local communities will shoulder this summer as the Morris & Essex Midtown Direct trains to Penn Station are diverted to Hoboken. The diversion will last for approximately eight weeks […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The New Jersey Clean Communities Council has awarded its Robert Pellet Leadership Award to Assemblyman John McKeon for his ongoing efforts to promote anti-litter initiatives in New Jersey. McKeon, a former West Orange mayor who serves as vice-chairman of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, accepted the award at the […]
Officials pleased with concessions, angered by treatment
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Following Gov. Chris Christie’s May 23 announcement that the Morris & Essex Midtown Direct trains to Penn Station will be diverted to Hoboken for approximately eight weeks this summer while Penn Station is upgraded to repair tracks and switches, officials from the many towns affected called for a meeting with NJ […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange Township and West Orange School District were recognized for several environmental initiatives during the 14th annual New Jersey Clean Communities conference program, “Upstream to Essex County,” held May 24 through 26 at Turtle Back Zoo, McLoone’s Boathouse and Pleasantdale Chateau, all in West Orange. New Jersey Clean Communities is […]
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Local residents were fuming as Gov. Chris Christie announced May 23 that the Morris & Essex Midtown Direct trains to Penn Station will be diverted to Hoboken for approximately eight weeks this summer while Penn Station is upgraded to repair tracks and switches, which have been deteriorating for many years. In […]
Religious and government leaders take a firm stand following hateful graffiti, JCC bomb threat
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE / WEST ORANGE, NJ — Things have certainly been tense in America in the last few months, with organizations like the ACLU showing a marked increase in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and racist incidents. Unfortunately, Essex County has also experienced some of this hatred. Residents and officials in Essex County were disheartened during […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Recreation Department honored four volunteers who have dedicated their time to supporting township programs at its annual Recreation Achievement Luncheon at the Katz Community Center on March 4. The department awarded plaques to Bob Franco, Vincent Stanziale Jr., Angie Della Pia and Mark Cacciacarne, who were respectively selected […]
Residents, township officials discuss ‘sanctuary,’ racial diversity, police statistics and more
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Mayor Robert Parisi told those gathered for the West Orange Human Relations Commission’s Feb. 22 “We All Belong” town hall meeting that it would be unnecessary to declare the township a sanctuary city because undocumented immigrants in the township currently do not risk being singled out by local law enforcement. Though […]