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Governor Phil Murphy

This Week in NJ - December16, 2022

12/16/2022

Governor Murphy Announces More Than $24 Million to Expand Access to Public Transportation and Spur Transit-Oriented Development

overnor Phil Murphy announced critical funding to expand access to safe transportation and enhance areas around public transit facilities across the state. The awards total more than $24 million across three programs as part of Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget. Funding for the Local Aid and Economic Development Grants line-item increased by nearly 50% over the last fiscal year, representing the Murphy Administration’s commitment to a wide range of transportation options and smart, transit-oriented development.

The Safe Streets to Transit Program will provide $13.4 million in funding to improve access to transit facilities and public transportation in counties and municipalities, including Dover, which will utilize its nearly $800,000 award to improve traffic signals that will help protect pedestrians and school children.  Additionally, the Local Bikeway Program will provide $8.4 million to promote bicycling as an alternate mode of transportation, while the Transit Village Program will provide $2.9 million toward the revitalization and redevelopment of areas around transit facilities into mixed-use neighborhoods.

“In order to maximize the impact of our considerable public transportation upgrades, we must ensure that our transit facilities are linked not just to economically thriving neighborhoods, but to streets that bring our community members to their destination reliably and efficiently,” said Governor Murphy. “For many New Jerseyans, commutes or daily travels do not begin and end at the train station. That’s why my Administration is doubling down on its efforts to promote active transportation alternatives and ensure that – whether you’re a pedestrian or cyclist – you can safely and affordably access our nation-leading public transportation network.”

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Murphy Administration Highlights Public Health Preparedness for Winter Months

With multiple respiratory viruses currently circulating throughout the state, the Murphy Administration continues to monitor the situation and support New Jersey’s public health system as the winter months approach. Residents are encouraged to take the necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy in advance of many upcoming holiday gatherings.

"My Administration remains vigilant in monitoring the viruses currently circulating here in New Jersey and will continue to offer support to our hospitals and health care providers as necessary,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The data and tools now available to us and the ongoing investments we are making in our public health infrastructure have better prepared us to address the public health needs of our state. Particularly as we enter the winter months and holiday gatherings take place over the next few weeks, I encourage residents to help keep themselves and their communities safe by taking simple precautions of their own, from getting vaccinated to staying home if they are sick.”

“The lessons we learned and the tools we developed during the past two-plus years of the COVID-19 pandemic, including improved surveillance mechanisms, have prepared us operationally in responding to this season’s uptick in respiratory viruses sending many of our residents to emergency departments across the state,” said New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Being proactive in staying healthy is a collective effort and we all need to play our part to avoid a surge that could strain our health care system early in the new year.”

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Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Addressing Teacher Shortage by Eliminating the edTPA Requirement

Governor Phil Murphy signed S896 w/GR into law, which prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring the completion of the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (“edTPA”) as a condition of eligibility for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (“CEAS”) or certificate of eligibility (“CE”). The Legislature unanimously concurred with the Governor’s conditional veto of an earlier version of the legislation that prohibited consideration of any Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment as a factor in determining whether to recommend a candidate for a CEAS or CE. The Governor recommended changes necessary to maintain the elimination of the State’s current requirement that educator candidates pass the edTPA test, and instead moved the responsibility for administering a performance-based assessment to the educator preparation programs (“EPP”), which are best-positioned to select or create the most appropriate assessment for their candidates.   

“As we face a national teacher shortage, we must work to establish effective and efficient solutions to grow this critical workforce on behalf of New Jersey’s students,” said Governor Murphy. “By eliminating edTPA, we will streamline a process that has previously acted as a barrier in the transition between sitting in a classroom and leading a classroom. In New Jersey we recognize that teaching is not only a career, but a calling. I am proud to sign legislation that empowers educator prep programs to appropriately assess their candidates, which will ensure that New Jersey continues to produce the nation’s best educators.”

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Governor Murphy & Commissioner Persichilli Urge Parents to Heed Updated CDC Recommendations on Omicron-Targeting Covid Vaccinations for Young Children

Following the recent recommendation made by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children ages six months through five years are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 bivalent vaccine. This updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine offers stronger protections from Omicron, including its BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. 

Under this expanded use of updated COVID-19 vaccines, children ages six months through five years who previously completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster at least two months after their final primary series dose. Children ages six months through four years who are currently completing a Pfizer primary series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose.

Everyone ages 6 months and older can be vaccinated for free at sites across New Jersey, regardless of insurance or their immigration status. Parents and caregivers can find locations offering COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, including the bivalent booster for this new age group, on the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder and Community Calendar at covid19.nj.gov.

“Vaccines remain one of the strongest tools in our toolbox when it comes to defending against severe illness due to COVID-19,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The expanded eligibility for the bivalent vaccine means even more of our residents can now receive updated protection against this virus. I encourage parents and guardians to make an appointment for their child to get boosted if they are eligible – or receive the primary series if they have not yet – to help keep their family healthy as we head into the new year.”

“As we approach the upcoming winter holidays when travel and gatherings are commonplace, getting the updated bivalent vaccine and getting boosted will give New Jersey residents and their children additional protection against highly transmissible subvariants of Omicron,” said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Immunity wanes over time, which is why we encourage everyone to get boosted and keep COVID-19 out of their holiday plans.”

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Attorney General Platkin Appoints Sundeep Iyer as Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that he has appointed Sundeep Iyer to serve as the Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, the state agency charged with protecting the civil rights of all New Jersey residents. As required by statute, the appointment was also approved by Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Commission on Civil Rights. Sundeep will begin his new role on January 3, 2023. 

 

"I am thrilled that Sundeep Iyer has been appointed to lead the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights," said Governor Murphy. "Sundeep is a brilliant attorney who has used his considerable talents to champion the cause of equal justice, including by working as a special attorney for the prosecution in the trial for George Floyd's murder. I know Sundeep will fight tirelessly to safeguard the rights of all New Jersey residents, and I thank Attorney General Platkin for this outstanding appointment."

 

“Enforcing New Jersey’s powerful civil rights laws is a top priority for me and the Murphy Administration. As the rate of bias incidents rises across our state and our country, and as we confront systemic inequalities like housing discrimination that plague our society, we must continue to work tirelessly to protect the civil rights of every person in New Jersey,” said Attorney General Platkin. “That is why, with Governor Murphy’s support, I am proud to appoint Sundeep as the next Director of the Division on Civil Rights. Sundeep has an extraordinary commitment to equality and social justice, and he has the vision and skills necessary to lead the Division as we work to protect the civil rights of our residents.”

 

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the next Director of the Division on Civil Rights, and I thank Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin for entrusting me with this role,” said Sundeep Iyer, incoming Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. “This is a critical time for civil rights in New Jersey, and I look forward to working with the dedicated public servants in the Division to enforce our State’s civil rights laws and ensure that no New Jersey resident faces discrimination in our State.”

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