NJ Statehouse Reopens Following $300M Renovation
New Jersey’s iconic statehouse building, part of which dates to the 1700s and was once called a fire trap, is once again open following a $300 million renovation. Governor Murphy and his administration began moving back into the building last week, and work remains to be done on the building's façade.
Former Gov. Chris Christie announced the project in late 2016, saying the project was needed because the building was unsafe — he called it a “fire trap” at the time.
Funding was secured in May 2017. Soon after that, three years of work began to prepare the building for the renovation — including removing asbestos, layers of paint and numerous drop-ceilings, walls and other fixtures.
That work revealed giant skylights that were entombed under years’ worth of added plaster ceilings, with huge nets to catch falling pieces of debris and garbage bins to capture leaks from rainwater.
The skylights have been restored to functional use, and the building made to adhere to how it looked in the early 1900s, when the last major addition was made.
Other changes include the addition of modern sprinkler and fire alarm systems, new heating and air conditioning, a hand-dug foundation that the building previously lacked, internal fire escape stairwells to replace exterior versions that were falling down, new windows and numerous cosmetic changes.
Assemblymen Caputo and Giblin to Retire
Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-28) and Assemblyman Tom Giblin (D- 34), two long-serving, veteran Assemblymen from Essex County will not be seeking re-election in 2023.
Democrat leaders in Essex and Passaic Counties recently met to choose Giblin’s replacement – Alixon Collazos, a former aide to Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Englewood). She is a public affairs executive at the BGill Group, a firm run by her husband, Essex County commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair).
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Governor Phil Murphy’s nomination of Assemblyman Ralph Caputo for a seat on the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey board of directors. A replacement for the remainder of Caputo’s term in the Assembly is expected to be announced soon.
Murphy Appoints 3 New NJSEA Board Members
Just a few weeks after announcing that Bergen County Democratic Organization Chairman Paul Juliano will replace Vinny Prieto as the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority’s new Executive Director, Governor Murphy announced the appointment of three new Board members - Gail Gordon, Eric Pennington and Tom Mullahey.
Gail Gordon, who will be the only female on the Board, is a prominent attorney and lobbyist from Fair Lawn and is married to former state senator and current NJ Transit board member Bob Gordon.
Eric Pennington is the business administrator for the City of Newark. He is also an attorney and has served on the board at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Tom Mullahey is a Rutherford Councilman and the athletic director for the Clifton School District.
New Client Announcement: NJ Symphony
River Crossing Strategy Group is excited to introduce our newest client, the New Jersey Symphony! The Symphony's mission is to connect with the people and diverse communities of New Jersey through the power of live symphonic music to inspire, entertain and educate.
River Crossing looks forward to hitting the ground running with the New Jersey Symphony to highlight their incredible professionals, music, and programs throughout the State. Through issue advocacy and outreach to our municipalities and elected leaders, River Crossing is excited to help the Symphony become an even bigger musical and cultural presence. Especially as we round out the Symphony's centennial year, now is the perfect time to more widely recognized that the Symphony is here for us, all of us, in New Jersey.
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