A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSEMBLYMAN

Dear Friends, 

Thank you for viewing my February 2023 Newsletter. Enclosed you will find some pertinent updates from the past month in my office and Trenton, as well as what is on the horizon for the upcoming month.

January ushered in a new year, and with it came new policy initiatives out of Trenton. The Governor gave his "State of the State" address on January 10 and teased that changes to New Jersey's liquor license issuance laws are coming down the pike. I have already held multiple meetings with industry leaders and small business owners to both support for and concerns with the Governor's comments. I am monitoring the situation closely and will keep you abreast of any important developments as they occur.

My District Office has been hard at work assisting constituents with issues ranging from unemployment claims to notary public renewals to developing legislation that is beneficial to our LD40 communities. Please do not hesitate to contact the office at 973-237-1362 or [email protected] for assistance. We are here to help and support you in any way possible.

Should you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will never stop working for you and all of my constituents across my district and New Jersey. I wish you all a wonderful month!

All the best,

Kevin J. Rooney

Assemblyman

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION

ASSEMBLYMAN ROONEY HARD AT WORK IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE

General Assembly Voting Session

Thursday, January 26 ~ Assemblyman Rooney joined with his Assembly colleagues at the State House in Trenton for the January Voting Session, where they cast their votes on approximately 40 bills on a wide variety of topics.

Assemblyman Rooney was proud to have his bill A-189 (with its approved Senate companion bill S-743) unanimously pass the General Assembly. This bipartisan bill provides important consumer information regarding E-ZPass discounts for NJ tagholders. The bill has now passed both the Senate and Assembly and heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

For more information on this legislation, please see the article HERE and the below press release.

——

Rooney bill that brings clarity to E-ZPass pricing discounts passes Assembly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 26, 2023

CONTACT: Press Office / 609-847-3400

TRENTON, N.J. – The state Assembly on Thursday passed a bill that would bring clarity to E-ZPass toll discounts.

The bill (A-189), sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney, directs the state’s Turnpike Authority to notify existing and potential customers on its website that toll discounts advertised by operators outside its jurisdiction may not be available for New Jersey E-ZPass users. The existing website lists available plans and honored discounts offered by agencies that control some interstates and bridges that connect New Jersey to Delaware and New York.

“The assumption E-ZPass customers have is that as a customer, they are entitled to any advertised discounts. That makes sense, but is incorrect, as prices are set by each individual agency that uses E-ZPass, as are discount parameters. The disparities can be quite steep,” Rooney (R-Bergen) said. “Requiring transparency is pricing and discounts is good customer service.”

Each agency or authority that offers E-ZPass sets its own toll rates and discounts based on its own revenue needs. Those individual entities also decide who qualifies for discounted rates, based mainly on residency, or on pass holders versus those who don’t have E-ZPass.

“So in New Jersey, those with E-ZPass pay those discounted rates where the Turnpike Authority has jurisdiction, or where we have an agreement to charge residents and non-residents the same toll. However, even with E-ZPass, New Jersey drivers may end up paying out-of-state toll rates even where the service is accepted,” Rooney added. “Drivers should be able easily to find that information online before leaving for a trip.” 

The E-ZPass Group started in 1990 as an alliance of seven toll agencies in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to use the then-emerging electronic toll collection technology that uses electronic tags mounted on vehicle windshields to deduct money from a prepaid account. The first of its kind regional toll collecting system has today expanded into 19 states. According to the group, in 2021, there were 32 million accountholders and more than 3.6 billion transactions totaling more than $14 billion.

The bill now goes to the governor’s desk for signing.

# # #

American Kennel Club Meet the Breeds®

Saturday, January 28 -- Assemblyman Rooney was an Honorary Chair of this year's Meet the Breeds event hosted by the American Kennel Club. The event gives dog lovers a unique opportunity to meet, play with, and learn about hundreds of dogs. Attendees were able to learn about differences in breeds as well as tips for responsible pet ownership.

Valentine's Day ~ February 14, 2023

Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14, originating as a Christian feast day honoring the lore of Saint Valentine and evolving into a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

Presidents' Day ~ February 20, 2023

Presidents' Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor all persons who served as presidents of the United States, and, since 1879, has been the federal holiday honoring the first American president, George Washington. The day has evolved into the celebration of Washington's birthday (February 22) as well as that of 16th president Abraham Lincoln (February 12).

Other February Observances

American Heart Month

Black History Month

National Cancer Prevention Month

FIRST RESPONDERS IN ACTION

Pompton Lakes Firefighters Extinguish

House Blaze with Explosion

Assemblyman Rooney would like to commend the members of the Pompton Lakes Volunteer Fire Department who successfully put out a residential house fire on January 13. Within moments of first entering the blazing structure, the home literally exploded, injuring members and trapping firefighters in the basement. Luckily, all of the members were able to extricate themselves and be treated by the Pompton Lakes-Riverdale First Aid Squad volunteers on site. The house fire was extinguished before causing damage to surrounding homes.

Looking for a job? Scammers might be looking for you

Recent layoffs in industries like the tech sector have scammers fine-tuning their approaches to take advantage. They may advertise jobs online, sometimes setting up fake websites, or look for targets on social media — all to try to steal your money and personal information.

Scammers may go to great lengths to get what they want. Some may conduct fake online job interviews and set up phony onboarding portals where they ask you for Social Security numbers and bank account information to (supposedly) deposit paychecks. Other scammers may ask you to send money for (supposed) equipment needed for remote work — with the promise to reimburse you with your first paycheck. But these are scams.

Whether you’re looking for your first job or seeking a new gig, here’s some advice to help you avoid job scams:

1. Verify job openings before you apply. Reach out to the company directly using contact information you know to be legit — not an email or phone number you got from the person who contacted you. If you’re not familiar with the company, search its name with the word “scam” or “fraud.” You may find stories from others who have been targeted.
2. Watch for telltale signs of a possible scam. There’s no sure-fire way to detect a job scam, but there are red flags that should raise your suspicions — for example, email from personal accounts not affiliated with a company, poor spelling and grammar, interviews conducted solely via email or online chat, salaries out of line with industry norms, and requests for account numbers or other personal information. 
3. Don’t pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job. And legitimate placement firms and headhunters typically don’t charge prospective employees. Instead, they’re paid by the company looking for qualified candidates. If you’re asked for money, walk away. You could be dealing with a scam.

The FTC has resources to help you spot potential job scams. If you run across something sketchy during your job search, report it to the FTC.

*Note: This article by Colleen Tressler from the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Business and Consumer Education, can be found HERE.

Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients:

• Shortcake
• 3.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold butter, cut in pieces
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 cups heaving whipping cream
• Strawberries
• 1 quart strawberries, sliced
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Topping
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, stir the flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, baking powder and salt until blended. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
2. In small bowl, beat eggs and 2 cups whipping cream just until blended. Stir into flour mixture until mixture forms a soft dough. Using lightly floured fingers, pat and press dough in bottom of 15x10x1-inch ungreased pan.
3. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix strawberries and 1/4 cup granulated sugar; stir occasionally.
5. When ready to serve, in chilled large bowl, beat topping ingredients with electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Spread top with whipped cream. Using slotted spoon, spoon sugared berries over top. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
6. Serve and enjoy!