Letters about COVID-19

Republicans Want to Blame Biden for the Success of Their COVID Misinformation Campaign
Bill Beren
Published: 01/02/2022
Curiously, he fails to criticize Republican governors and legislatures who continue to fight mask and vaccine mandates, which are proven to be the most effective defenses against a rapidly mutating and transmittable virus. Read More
COVID-19DisinformationJoe BidenPublic HealthVaccination
In the NJ Legislature, Democrats Are Working, Republicans are Super Spreading
Laura Morowitz
Published: 12/04/2021
Republicans only know how to engage in antics shown to worsen the pandemic. Pathetic. Read More
COVID-19Democratic PartyPhil MurphyPublic Health
Brotherhood, not 'Big Brother'
Charlie Nunzio
Published: 11/01/2021
Yes, we get vaccinated to protect ourselves, but also to protect others, especially children and those who may be immune-compromised. I wish health experts would emphasize this more. When you are vaccinated, even if you get a breakthrough infection, you are much less likely to pass it on because your contagious period is two to three days rather than seven to 10 days in an unvaccinated host. The vaccinated are also eight times less likely to become infected in the first place, according to Sanjay Gupta, MD, and other health experts. Read More
Public HealthVaccinationCOVID-19
In This Election, Science and Competence Must Win
Laura Morowitz
Published: 10/24/2021
NJ does not need another bully governor. We need calm, compassion and competence. We need Governor Murphy and we need to return him to office on November 2. Read More
ElectionsPhil MurphyCOVID-19Jack CiattarelliStop the StealChris Christie
Senator Joe Pennacchio Is Deadly Wrong on Masks
Laura Morowitz
Published: 09/03/2021
And yet, in contrast to all the above things, wearing a mask can help prevent children from catching a disease that can kill people. Masks are non-invasive, they are cheap and they are easy. Being in the hospital is invasive, incredibly expensive and profoundly difficult. Stop catering to fool and the angry mob and do the right thing for the people of New Jersey. Read More
COVID-19EducationJoe Pennacchio
Serious Illness Is Not Acceptable Risk
Emma Cortese
Published: 09/03/2021
The Board’s reasoning rests on low “susceptibility” which implicitly is a measure of risk or probability of disease development.  But the Delta Covid variant is highly contagious. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nationally as of August 19,, more than 4.59 million children have tested positive for COVID-19. Since the onset of the pandemic….. child cases have increased exponentially, with a four-fold increase over the past month. Read More
COVID-19Fairfield, NJBoard of Education
Ensuring our Education Standards Match the World of Our Students
Ed Jones
Published: 06/25/2021
Although I’m not sure this dancer was educated in New Jersey, his apparent lack of concern for basic facts led me to the New Jersey Education website to review the English Language Arts and Science Standards. I wondered if students were expected to become savvy social media readers and become scientifically literate. Read More
COVID-19Social MediaDisinformation
NJ Is Releasing Prisoners Early Due To COVID But They Need Help
Maria Eva Dorigo
Published: 11/16/2020
NJ Department of Correction is releasing early 2,200 people from its prisons to reduce the overcrowding and minimize the risk of contracting COVID. This is excellent news since NJ has the nation’s worst prison death rate from COVID. Read More
COVID-19Jail Reform
In the Year of Coronavirus, You Must Be an Active Voter
Laura Morowitz
Published: 08/26/2020
Your part in this election starts TODAY. Protect our democracy. Read More
VotingElectionsVoter RegistrationCOVID-19United States Postal Service
We Need Continued Support for Our Working Class and the Unemployed
Jake Ephros
Published: 07/31/2020
Unemployed, underemployed, and overworked New Jerseyans deserve the full support of our government, full stop. How could anyone deny the working class the basic financial support mandated by an unprecedented global health crisis, one which won’t be going away any time soon? Read More
UnemploymentWorking ClassDonald TrumpFederal FundingCOVID-19Amazon
A Mockery of Celebration
Emma Cortese
Published: 07/17/2020
Instead, in commemoration of Independence Day, he stood at the foot of Mount Rushmore, the smallness of his character reinforced as he used the majestic Black Mountains for a stage to proclaim American heritage won’t be stolen—oblivious to the sad and hypocritical irony of trampled Indigenous American’s sovereignty on that sacred site. Read More
July 4thDonald TrumpCOVID-19Indigenous Peoples
Essex County Freeholder Resolution on Prisoners of ICE Just a First Step
Jim Price
Published: 06/12/2020
The resolution will prove meaningless if the freeholders don’t publicly put pressure on both ICE and County Executive Joe DiVincenzo to comply with the resolution. Comply, as in release them to their families and communities, not transfer them to some other jurisdiction that complains less. And when the pandemic ends, leave them free. Read More
COVID-19Donald TrumpEssex County, NJICEImmigrationJoe DiVincenzo
US Withdrawal from the WHO
Lori Heninger
Published: 06/01/2020
Viruses are not bound by national borders; the WHO is the existing global body with the reach and authority to track and monitor the health of people all over the world. Their scientists are working on a vaccine to keep us free of COVID-19. Read More
World Health OrganizationCOVID-19Donald Trump
Freeholders Need To Stop Making Excuses and Collaborating With Trump’s Attacks On Our Immigrant Communities
Whitney Strub
Published: 06/01/2020
So why the reluctance to support a necessary and urgent humanitarian resolution, as COVID-19 continues to endanger the lives of detainees and jail inmates? Here’s one hypothesis: this is what happens to your moral compass when you fund an already-wealthy county through immigrant detention, as Essex, Hudson, and Bergen counties all do. Read More
Brendan GillCOVID-19Essex County, NJICEImmigrationPatricia SeboldRobert MercadoCarlos Pomares
Supporting the Release of Prisoners of ICE
Matt Dragon @matt_dragon
Published: 05/22/2020
After the pandemic, we must refuse to go back. We must commit to helping communities, supporting and funding them sooner rather than over-incarcerating residents later. We need to build community not tear it apart and incarcerate the pieces. Read More
Brendan GillCOVID-19Criminal Justice ReformEssex County, NJICEImmigrationJail Reform
Release Vulnerable Prisoners, Save Lives
Maria Eva Dorigo
Published: 05/19/2020
According to ACLU NJ, New Jersey has the highest rate of prison deaths in the country, more than NY, CT, PA and MA combined. 544 prisoners, 600 correctional officers tested positive and 42 prisoners died. Read More
COVID-19Criminal Justice ReformICEImmigrationJail ReformPhil MurphyBergen County, NJ
We knew it would happen.
Laura Morowitz
Published: 05/03/2020
Last Monday Freeholder President Gill publicly stated that he will introduce a non-binding resolution to release all non-violent detainees. We are watching to see if this happens, and if it passes, or whether the Freeholders continue to abdicate their responsibilities, allowing innocent human beings to die while collecting millions from ICE to hold them against their will. Read More
Brendan GillCOVID-19Essex County, NJImmigrationICEJoe DiVincenzo
Mitch’s Agenda Costs NJ
John Willard
Published: 05/01/2020
Mitch doesn’t care about New Jersey. He has said, "All 100 senators may have one vote, but they’re not all equal. Kentucky benefits from having one of its own setting the agenda for the country." And New Jersey pays. Read More
COVID-19Donald TrumpFederal FundingMitch McConnellUS Senate
Can the "Best Jail" Label Stand Up to Basic Scrutiny?
Jim Price
Published: 05/01/2020
We understand that Joe D cannot release anyone on his own say-so, only ICE has the authority. But there is nothing stopping him or his freeholders from publicly calling on ICE to release the detainees. Read More
COVID-19Essex County, NJICEImmigrationJoe DiVincenzoPhil Murphy
We Need To Push The Freeholders To Improve Conditions at Essex County Jail
Elizabeth Redwine
Published: 04/24/2020
It is our responsibility as residents of Essex County and New Jersey to ensure that the freeholders hear us and improve conditions at the Essex County jail for detainees. Read More
Essex County, NJImmigrationCOVID-19
We Need Negative Testing Numbers From County Jails
Matt Dragon @matt_dragon
Published: 04/10/2020
It's now too late to prevent widespread infection and death in our county jails. But these are our prisoners, your prisoners, my prisoners. We must hold our officials accountable. Read More
Essex County, NJICEImmigrationJail ReformCOVID-19North JerseyCriminal Justice Reform
Will County Exec Joe DiVincenzo's COVID-19 Infection Help Him Hear The Calls To Decarcerate?
Anthony Lioi
Published: 04/03/2020
"For everyone held captive by ICE, the threat of an outbreak of COVID-19 has been terrifying." Read More
Criminal Justice ReformEssex County, NJICEImmigrationJail ReformJoe DiVincenzoCOVID-19