Volume 11/Issue 26 - Thursday, May 7, 2020
  • Latest Updates: Murphy’s Popularity Remains High, Public Health Emergency Extended; Heath Care Leaders Back Murphy’s Approach on Reopening, Latest on Unemployment Payouts and More.
  • COVID-19 Resources

LATEST UPDATES

Rutgers-Eagleton Poll Shows Murphy’s Popularity Remains High: According to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll released this week, New Jersey residents continue to give Governor high marks for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the poll of 1,502 New Jersey residents, 77% approve of Murphy’s performance as governor, compared to 21% who disapprove. Murphy’s approval rating is a 25% increase from the last Rutgers-Eagleton poll from April.

Murphy Extends Public Health Emergency by 30 Days: New Jersey’s State of Emergency will remain in place indefinitely. Governor Murphy said, “I want to make it absolutely clear that this action does not mean that we are seeing anything in the data which would pause our path forward and it should not be interpreted by anyone to mean we are going to be tightening any of the restrictions currently in place.”

NJ Health Care Leaders Back Murphy’s Play: As the pressure to open up the state’s economy, including non-essential retail continues to grow, the leaders of New Jersey’s largest hospital networks stepped up to express support for Governor Murphy’s approach to the reopening.

Atlantic Health CEO Brian Gragnolati, Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Bob Garrett and RWJ Barnabas Health CEO Barry Ostrowsky all praised Governor Murphy for his cautious approach to handling the shutdown and said they were not clamoring for a quick reopening.

“I think we have to be very cautious,” said Bob Garrett. “Even though the numbers are down, we’re still seeing a significant number of COVID-19 patients, a significant number of patients being really sick and critical care and on ventilators. And we’re still seeing people dying.

NJ Union and Business Leaders Push for $24 Billion in New Infrastructure Funding: A group of New Jersey labor and business organizations have joined together to support continued investment into the state’s critical infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are urging the Murphy Administration to not only stay the course on existing projects, but to take an even longer-term approach by committing to future projects.

The plans, funded by toll increases, will include $24 billion in construction on the NJ turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Click here to view the NJ Turnpike Authority’s Proposed 2020 Capital Improvement Program.

Atlantic City Casino Relief Bills Introduced: Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald introduced several bills aimed at helping Atlantic City’s casino industry survive COVID-19 pandemic, These bills would give casinos temporarily relief from a variety of taxes and fees, and offer state loans to cover their May and April payments in lieu of property taxes to Atlantic City.

NJ Unemployment Payouts Approach $2 Billion: The New Jersey Department of Labor announced that another 88,326 New Jersey residents filed for unemployment last week, bringing the statewide total of unemployment claims to 1,018,000. More than 642,000 filers are now receiving unemployment benefits in New Jersey. The state has also processed the claims of 72,000 gig economy workers and independent contractors who are now eligible under the federal stimulus law.

Latest NJ COVID-19 Statistics: The number positive coronavirus test results in New Jersey has increased to a total of 133,635. The number of statewide coronavirus-related deaths is currently 8,801.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Mental Health Awareness Month: The New Jersey Department of Children and Families have announced that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For anyone feeling stress, isolation or grief right now, please reach out for help. NJ Mental Health Cares: 1-866-202-4353 @CrisisTextLine text ‘NJ’ to 741741

All NJ residents with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and resources available to them should visit: www.covid19.nj.gov

For more information about NJ business assistance programs and application information, please visit: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

CARES Act: The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed in Congress are intended to assist small business owners with whatever needs they have right now. For more information on the small business owner’s guide to the CARES Act, click here.

Jobs and Assistance in NJ: An online portal is available to provide information to impacted small business owners. The portal includes information on Executive Orders, regulations impacting small businesses and access to financial assistance from the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

Testing Sites: Click here to get updated information and locations of public testing sites.


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