Quorum Call Newsletter - February 2021

Quorum Call

News from the District

From the office of Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney

February 2021 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Most New Jersey residents now plan on getting the coronavirus vaccine. New Jersey will receive about 130,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine in each of the next three weeks, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday. Approximately 2 million residents have signed up through the state’s portal as of Friday. That was up slightly from the 1.8 million who registered as of Jan. 20. Approximately 30,000 have scheduled vaccine appointments, state health officials said Friday. You can check the states dosages administered by checking the states dashboard.

For those New Jerseyans who have received the first Covid-19 vaccine dose, there’s another wave of confusion about how to get the second dose within the recommended time frame. Some counties have reported receiving an email about second doses, but it only included a link to the New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS), which to date does not allow for second dose bookings. Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick is calling for Legislative hearings to fix the problem. “This is worse than poor planning, this is inexcusable,” said Bramnick. “No one should get their first dose without certainty that they will be able to receive their second. The Legislature should hold a hearing immediately to get to the bottom of this and fix the problem.”

I understand the frustration amongst new jerseyans, I have family members and friends who are struggling for the second dose. I am always fighting for my constituents especially during these unprecedented times. To help smooth the process, New Jersey plans on Monday to launch a free telephone hotline with live operators to answer questions in multiple languages and help people sign up. The call center — at 855-568-0545 — is slated to be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Also, I have included my recipe below for those of you who follow.

Sincerely,

Kevin J. Rooney

Assemblyman

Message from the Assemblyman:

LATEST PRESS RELEASE

Rooney spotlights New Jersey’s small business health insurance crisis induced by the coronavirus Read here:

OBSERVATIONS

Black History Month

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Presidents Day

Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday, in the United States, holiday (third Monday in February) popularly recognized as honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents.

HEROES BEHIND THE BADGE

When no one came forward to claim an abandoned puppy earlier this month, one police officer in New Jersey decided to step up.

Read here:

HERO: State Trooper Saves Unconscious Man At Garden State Parkway Service Area

Read here:

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

Please be aware that the COVID-19 Vaccine page and FAQs are now live on the COVID-19 Info Hub! The State of New Jersey’s goal is to ensure an equitable and efficient COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Please see the materials below and attached for the most up to date information on the State’s Vaccine Distribution Efforts.

Finally, my staff and I have received several queries about unemployment during the pandemic. Below are some helpful resources:

Wings for the big game

Dipping Sauce:

1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup of mayonnaise
4 ounces blue cheese to taste
Dash hot sauce
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of Kosher salt

Wings:

1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
1 cup of hot sauce, adjust according to desired heat level
4 to 5 pound package of whole chicken wings
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions:

Preheat fryer to 375 degrees. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, hot sauce, Worcestershire and pinch of salt in a food processor until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Melt the butter in a saucepan, once reduced remove from heat and stir in the hot sauce. Set aside to cool.

Remove the wing tips from the chicken wings. Cut the wings in half at the joint. Once you have all the wings cut, fry them in batches in the hot oil until golden brown and crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined tray and sprinkle with, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Transfer the wings to large bowel pour the hot sauce butter mixture to coat wings evenly.

Add favorite garnishes such as carrots and celery