Office of the Governor | This Week in New Jersey: December 3rd, 2021

Governor Murphy Announces Support For Comprehensive Gun Safety Bill Package in Current Legislative Session

As part of his ongoing commitment to meaningfully address the nation’s gun violence crisis, Governor Phil Murphy urged legislators to take action in the coming weeks and pass a comprehensive gun safety legislative package that was initially proposed by the Governor in April.

“Over the past four years, New Jersey has become a national leader on gun safety,” said Governor Murphy. “We must continue to build on that progress and make our state safer for the over nine million people who call New Jersey home. Today, I am proud to further commit to this goal, and I hope to work with my Legislative partners to take this step by the end of this legislative session. I thank Speaker Coughlin, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, and other legislative partners for their continued commitment to gun safety.”

Governphoto: Governor Murphy or Murphy Cuts Ribbon on Cramer Hill Waterfront Park

Governor Phil Murphy cut the ribbon on Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, a landfill-turned-waterfront park in the City of Camden. The former Harrison Avenue Landfill, which operated from 1952 to 1971, was an 86-acre municipal landfill that was never properly closed and capped, leaving it vulnerable to illegal dumping years later.

“After nearly 70 years, we are reconnecting the community and City of Camden with its greatest natural resource – its riverfront,” said Governor Murphy. “The harmful legacy of an improperly capped landfill and a site for illegal dumping plagued this neighborhood and community for far too long. My Administration is committed to a stronger and more resilient Camden for tomorrow, where residents have access to clean, open space. Justice comes in all forms, and today is about environmental justice for the families of Cramer Hill.”

Governor Phil Murphy Signs Legislation Making More Families Eligible for the State’s Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

As part of his continued commitment to help working families recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (S4065/A6071) that will make significantly more New Jersey families eligible for the state’s Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

“The COVID-19 pandemic led many working parents—and working mothers in particular—to leave the workforce due to childcare challenges,” said Governor Murphy. “This legislation will help ensure affordable access to childcare, a critical part of getting hardworking New Jerseyans back into the workforce and reversing the ‘she-cession’ caused by the pandemic.”

NJBPU Receives 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced that applications are open for the Offshore Wind Tax Credit Program as updated by the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act (ERA) and P.L. 2021, c. 160.

“Between the New Jersey Wind Port, new offshore wind workforce development programs, and Governor Phil Murphy’s dedication to growing a greener, fairer New Jersey, the Garden State is quickly emerging as the American capital of offshore wind,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The Offshore Wind Tax Credit is a powerful financial tool that will complement these efforts by enabling global offshore wind companies to make the decision to locate, invest, hire, and most importantly, build a local supply chain here in New Jersey.”

Acting AG Bruck Announces Initiative That Pairs A Mental Health Professional With a Law Enforcement Officer To Respond Together To Behavioral Health Crises

Acting Attorney Andrew J. Bruck and New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced the beginning of a pilot program that pairs a New Jersey State Police law enforcement Trooper with a certified mental health screener to respond together to 9-1-1 calls for behavioral health crises.

“The Acting Attorney General’s new initiative, ARRIVE Together, recognizes the importance of connecting individuals experiencing a crisis with mental health professionals,” said Governor Murphy. “This pilot program will help us assess how we can safely de-escalate behavioral health crises when law enforcement is contacted. We believe that this new initiative will help connect individuals in crisis to care and treatment and can help to reduce violence during interactions with law enforcement.”

“In modern times, we ask law enforcement officers to undertake roles they never expected when choosing to serve—marriage counselor, addiction specialist, social worker. And increasingly, officers are asked to act like doctors and psychiatrists, determining what drug a person may have taken, or what mental health condition they may be experiencing,” said Acting Attorney General Bruck. “We need to respond to our community members in crisis with clinicians and compassion, and we need to divert individuals with mental illness away from the criminal justice system. Today’s announcement is yet another step in our effort to implement Governor Murphy’s vision for public safety in New Jersey.”