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Sat, Dec

On Thursday Gov. Murphy announced additional steps to take pressure off the overburdened Motor Vehicle Commission, once again extending deadlines and expiration dates. Since MVC offices reopened Tuesday, the locations have become more crowded and chaotic, with fights breaking out and people camping overnight on line. Criticism of the MVC and the governor has been building from lawmakers and public. All standard driver’s licenses, permits, IDs, vehicle registrations, inspections and temporary tags that expired between March 13th and May 31st have now been extended until September 30th. Drivers with licenses, permits, registrations, inspection stickers and temporary tags expiring between June 1st and August 31st have been extended until December 31st.

 

A decade ago, most towns required residents to separate their recyclables into multiple bins. But in an effort to boost recycling participation, many municipalities switched to a single-stream system, where everything is commingled in one bin, to be sorted later at recycling facilities and the public has become lazy. In hindsight, it’s turned out to be a significant problem because many recycling cans are now contaminated. Some towns have instituted a “tag and leave” program, leaving contaminated loads at the curb and tag them with an explanation for the homeowner when they can see plastic bags or Styrofoam or something else not allowed in your recycling. Studies show that’s the only thing that changes behavior. “Over the past 10 years New Jersey has really hit a recycling crisis,” said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. “I’d say we as a state and as a country — even the world — are at a critical juncture.”

Learn more about the history of Lenape peoples in this region in a conversation with Nanticoke-Lenape tribal historians, including Cara Blume, whose research was the foundation for federal recognition claims by Delaware and New Jersey Lenape tribes, and the Reverend John Norwood, first principal justice of the Tribal Supreme Court. Along with local tribal history, the Historical Society of Philadelphia will also join to discuss its Native American collections and important archival questions about erasure and self-representation. This event, inspired by Tommy Orange’s novel There There, is part of the Free Library’s One Book, One Philadelphia program. This event will take place on Thursday, February 27th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. and is free with registration.

Take a ride through Cape May’s Historic District to see festively decorated inns and homes as guides talk about Victorian Christmas traditions, lead sing-alongs, and play Christmas music on a Holiday Light Tour. Offered nightly from November 24th through December 31st - except Thanksgiving and Christmas - these rides will highlight the holiday sights and sounds in this historic shore town. Rides start at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth and last about 30 minutes. Tickets $15 adults; $10 children (ages 3-12). For more information, please call 609-884-5404

Governor Phil Murphy today announced the nomination of Merchantville resident, Kevin D. Walsh, Esq., to serve as the fourth New Jersey State Comptroller. Walsh’s nomination is subject to advice and consent by the Senate and is for a six-year term. He will begin serving as Acting Comptroller on Monday, January 27. “As a dedicated public interest attorney, Kevin’s independent and thorough judgement make him an ideal fit to stand up for New Jersey taxpayers as our next State Comptroller,” said Governor Murphy. Walsh has spent the past two decades as a civil rights attorney and as the Executive Director of the Fair Share Housing Center, where he has led the enforcement of the Mount Laurel doctrine to promote racial and economic integration in New Jersey through the expansion of affordable housing. Walsh holds a Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers School of Law–Camden and has volunteered with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden, and with Build Jake’s Place, which helps construct inclusive playgrounds accessible to children and adults of all abilities. 

Starting Sunday, December 1st, anyone convicted of DWI in the Garden State, even for a first offense of .05%, which is below the legal limit of .08., will have to install a so-called “ignition interlock device” in their car to prevent them from driving with alcohol on their breath.The law also eliminates license suspensions for first-timers whose blood-alcohol level was only slightly above the legal limit, or between .08 and .10 percent. Up to now, only those convicted of a second DWI offense or more, or first-timers convicted of having a blood-alcohol level above .15 were subject to installation of the locking devices, including the cost of their installation and monthly monitoring charges that could amount to several hundred dollars. The law, signed by Gov. Murphy in August has been hailed by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and other supporters as a common-sense alternative to mandatory suspensions without ignition lock requirements. 

Situated along the Delaware River, the 6th District encompasses fifteen (15) communities straddling Burlington and Camden counties: Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Maple Shade, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock and Voorhees. This has been a solidly Democratic district, with 45% registering with the blue party and 17% registering as Republicans. Most of the rest are not affiliated with any party. The incumbent Democrats - Assembly members Louis D. Greenwald, the majority leader who lives in Voorhees, and Pamela Lampitt of Cherry Hill - are now facing two Republicans, John Papeika of Cherry Hill and Cynthia Plucinski of Haddonfield.

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