EnviroPolitics Blog

The list of those who won’t get a $1,200 stimulus check is growing — and includes some surprising groups

The list of those who won’t get a $1,200 stimulus check is growing — and includes some surprising groups

Thirty-four senators sent the White House a letter Wednesday asking why the Trump administration is placing a “significant burden” on senior citizens and the disabled.

By Heather Long of The Washington Post
April 1, 2020 at 11:34 a.m. EDT

The Trump administration is requiring Americans who receive Social Security to file a tax return to receive their $1,200 economic stimulus payment, an added step that is causing confusion and could prevent millions from easy access to relief.

Many lawmakers and advocates for the poor say filing a tax return shouldn’t be necessary for people on Social Security because the government already knows how to send this population monthly checks. The $2.2 trillion aid legislation, passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, said that if someone has not filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return, the U.S. Treasury should get their information from Social Security, if applicable.

But, the Internal Revenue Service posted a notice on its website on Monday instructing Social Security recipients who do not normally send in a return to file a “simple” tax return, which will be available soon.

“People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment,” the IRS said. “Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.”

Calculate how much you’ll get from the $1,200 (or more) coronavirus checks

A request to the Treasury Department for comment about the discrepancy was not returned. Democrats are upset that the Trump administration isn’t doing more to help ensure that as many Americans as possible get these payments during this national health emergency.

Thirty-four senators sent the White House a letter Wednesday asking why the Trump administration is placing this “significant burden” on senior citizens and the disabled. Members of the House are also speaking out.

Read the full story

The list of those who won’t get a $1,200 stimulus check is growing — and includes some surprising groups Read More »

NJ’s Newly-launched Jobs Portal Attracts Thousands of Job Hunters

Over 340,000 residents have been on the website since it was launched on March 21; some 44,000 jobs are listed there

By RHONDA SCHAFFLER, NJTV NEWS

Losing your job — even temporarily — is very stressful. And in the midst of the current health care crisis, far too many New Jerseyans are also feeling job and financial stress. A record number of people have filed for unemployment claims as COVID-19 has ravaged the economy.

Efforts to help came quickly from state leaders. And days after businesses began closing, the Murphy administration launched a new COVID-19 jobs portal.

New Jersey’s Chief Innovation Officer Beth Novack says the site is bare-bones and a work in progress and the idea was just to get it up ASAP.

“We’re working hard to improve it, to make it more searchable, more sortable and make it more user-friendly to people. But in the meantime, we were the first state to get something up and have something available,” she said.

The website came together within 72 hours, thanks to the combined efforts of the Office of Innovation, the state Labor Department and New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority.

There are about 44,000 job listings on the website. It’s an easy lift for companies to post jobs, only having to fill out a short form on the website. So far, 500 companies are currently participating.

State Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo says the jobs run the gamut.

“We have employers on there who are big and large who have locations and jobs available across the state. Some are regional. We have some of the biggest names in health care down to Wawa, they are all there hiring folks in New Jersey,” he said.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan says that’s welcome news in the midst of the economic downturn.

“There’s tons and tons of bad news, way too much bad news on the economy right now in terms of unemployment, and layoffs and the businesses that are closed. But there’s a surprising amount of companies that are critical to the recovery that need workers. It’s an opportunity to solve short-term challenges,” Sullivan said.

Over 340,000 residents have been on the website since it launched on March 21. But it’s not a cure-all for all New Jerseyans looking for work. There are far more job seekers than jobs available. The hope is, of course, that companies which laid off workers will call them back soon after this crisis has passed.

Like this? Click to receive free EP Blog updates

NJ’s Newly-launched Jobs Portal Attracts Thousands of Job Hunters Read More »

Small-scale organics recyclers struggle amid coronavirus pandemic

New York City and San Francisco are including curbside organics collection among essential public services. But fallout from COVID-19 has meant dramatic changes for small-scale composters.

E.A. Crunden @eacrunden reports for WasteDive

Measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 are affecting organics recycling, with small-scale community efforts hit particularly hard. City and state governments are also shifting their approach to organics collection, implementing safety measures and in some cases scaling back or suspending programs.

In areas where food scrap recycling access was somewhat limited to begin with, the fallout is already taking a toll. Lynne Serpe, who runs the New Orleans-based Compost NOW, told Waste Dive she typically collects 4,000 pounds of food scraps on a weekly basis. Those volumes have decreased to 1,200 pounds.

The situation could become increasingly untenable as municipalities escalate clampdown policies aimed at protecting public health. “We will keep things going for as long as we can,” Serpe said

Those trends come as the pandemic’s impacts on the waste sector have differed somewhat across the country. While trash collection is largely considered a public health necessity, some areas are suspending their recycling programs amid worker safety concerns and economic realities. Organics recycling, which is still far from widespread, is also facing tense times.

Don’t miss stories like this Click for free EP updates

In New Orleans, Serpe said her operation largely relies on universities and libraries. In an effort to reduce emissions from miles traveled, the program usually hosts 11 drop-off sites around the city during most days of the week. But measures associated with the pandemic have drastically changed that. “Last week, I hosted collection at my house,” she said.

Small-scale composting can rely on volunteer labor that often skews older. With that demographic among the most vulnerable to the virus, many are now staying home, leaving such efforts without labor on hand. That decline has hit Serpe’s program, along with a “stay-at-home” directive in place across New Orleans. But Serpe said she is working to adapt and keep her project alive through a combination of measures, including scaling down operations. She has also asked some local farms to allow residents to directly drop off scraps, while seeking other ways to offer multiple collection sites.

“We’re also making sure in all of our messaging… not to encourage people to make a special trip just for this,” Serpe said, emphasizing residents should drop off food scraps “if you’re out on an essential run” for groceries or similar necessities. People are also being asked to stand six feet apart when they do come, in keeping with social distancing recommendations, while additional efforts to wipe down bins have been implemented.

Another key factor in Serpe’s push are local partners including Schmelly’s Dirt Farm, an organics hauler and delivery team. The company offers commercial pickup in addition to partnering with residential food scrap drop-off programs. Serpe said Compost NOW’s relationship with the hauler has historically allowed for more operational flexibility, as well as increased tonnage compared to what might otherwise be feasible. That partnership is proving especially helpful now, easing the burden of transporting material to local farms.

Read the full story

If you liked this post you’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed with the latest news, commentary and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.

Small-scale organics recyclers struggle amid coronavirus pandemic Read More »

Geriatricians’ advice for seniors coping with the coronavirus pandemic

Judith Graham reports for The Washington Post

She knew it wasn’t a good idea and her daughter would disapprove. Nonetheless, Barbara Figge Fox, 79, recently went to four stores in Princeton, N.J., to shop for canned goods, paper towels, fresh fruit, yogurt and other items.

“I was in panic mode,” said Fox, who admitted she has been feeling both agonizing fear and irrational impulsivity because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Susannah Fox, Barbara’s daughter, had been warning her exceptionally healthy mother for weeks of the need to stay inside as much as possible and limit contact with other people. Everyone 65 and older is at high risk of complications from covid-19 and should adopt these measures, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

“At one point, when I was pushing her to limit her activities, my mother said defiantly, ‘Well, I’m going to die of something,’ ” said Susannah, an adviser to health-care and technology companies. “And I said, ‘Well, that’s true, but let’s not rush it.’ ”

With coronavirus fears, volunteers deliver meals to the elderly Restaurant Medium Rare partnered with volunteer drivers to deliver meals to elderly individuals who were self-isolating due to coronavirus concerns. (Alice Li, Jorge Ribas/The Washington Post)

Are precautions of the sort the CDC advises really necessary, even in areas where the new coronavirus doesn’t yet appear to be circulating very widely? What about disease-free adults in their 60s and 70s? Do they need to worry about going to a food store, pharmacy or a close friend’s house for dinner? Are all outside activities ill-advised?

I asked several geriatricians for their advice. All cautioned that what they told me could be upended by unforeseen developments. Indeed, in the past week, the governors of about a dozen states — including California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Washington — have told residents, and not just older adults, to stay inside, in an aggressive effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Read the full story

Don’t miss stories like this Click for free EP updates

Geriatricians’ advice for seniors coping with the coronavirus pandemic Read More »

New Jersey lawmaker to the rescue – literally

HOLMDEL, NJ – In stark contrast to those struggling to keep busy amid the coronavirus shutdown, Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso fills hours of every day answering calls for help. For more than a decade, DiMaso has been volunteering for the Holmdel First Aid Squad.

“I like being able to give back to the community in an anonymous way. When I go out on calls, people don’t even know it’s me,” said DiMaso (R-Monmouth). “You don’t do this job for the credit, you do it to help the residents who are in need of assistance.”

Before the coronavirus outbreak, DiMaso would transform into a first responder every Monday night or whenever her daytime schedule would permit. Now that her legislator duties have moved online and in-person meetings have been rescheduled, she is at the station all day or all night only leaving for dinner with her husband or to catch a few hours of sleep. She hits the repeat button the next morning.

“We have five nursing homes in our community, so we are coming to the aid of many senior citizens right now,” said DiMaso. “Many of our calls deal with people who believe they are infected with COVID-19, so there is a matter of educating people on the symptoms and taking the extra precautions to protect ourselves and patients as well as disinfecting the ambulance. Everybody right now is getting a mask.”

The 55-member Holmdel squad goes out on about four calls a day. If the first responders transport someone who is believed to be infected, their protocols have them wiping down ambulances from ceilings to seats and dressing in complete protective gear including goggles, booties, gloves and masks. She said they are in a fortunate position to have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment thanks to a forward-thinking officer.

“Thankfully we are prepared to do whatever needs to be done to care for the residents. It’s a team effort,” said DiMaso. “Whether that means we are working 12-hour overnight shifts, or quickly changing from our civilian clothes to answer a call, we are here to save lives.”

DiMaso is no stranger to public service or health care. She started volunteering for the Holmdel squad when she was the town’s mayor. She is the daughter of a police officer and her husband is a physician. She is also the chairwoman of the Bayshore Medical Center Foundation.

For many first responders, it’s not a career, it’s a calling. DiMaso echoes those sentiments.

“Out of all the things that I spend my time doing, this is the work from which I draw the most satisfaction,” concluded DiMaso. “You get an immediate response from helping someone.”

Don’t miss stories like this Click for EP Blog updates

New Jersey lawmaker to the rescue – literally Read More »

Will NJ Gov. Murphy delay June primary date or resort to mail-in balloting?

Amy Kennedy, left, and Brigid Harrison are already battling hard for the Democratic Party nomination to run in the 2nd Congressional District.

COLLEEN O’DEA reports for NJ Spotlight

This year’s primary election for seats representing New Jersey in Congress will feature contests that involve either one or both of the major parties in nearly all districts as well as the battle for Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker’s seat.

What isn’t known now is how and when the primary, typically held on the first Tuesday in June, will take place. State officials are evaluating the situation, given the current state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, and are expected to make a decision soon. So far, Gov. Phil Murphy has declined to change the date of the primary, now scheduled for June 2, but he could choose to delay the vote or have it conducted entirely by mail if he thinks the disease will still be a threat in two months.

Murphy already postponed some local and school board elections until May 12 and ordered that all elections by that date be conducted completely by mail-in balloting. Some states, including Pennsylvania and Connecticut, have postponed their primaries until June 2. That traditionally had been the last primary date for the presidential election, which is also this year. But other states have pushed their voting even further back — Louisiana until June 20, for instance, and New York and Kentucky until June 23.

Like this? Click to receive free EP Blog updates

It is unclear whether New Jersey’s vote will matter in this year’s presidential nominating process. President Donald Trump is unopposed on the Republican side and while both former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are on the Democratic ballot, it would be difficult for Sanders to overcome Biden’s delegate lead. New Jerseyans seeking to go to the parties’ conventions, currently scheduled for over the summer, also filed yesterday.

Booker is back

Regardless of when the election is held, Monday was the deadline to file to run as a Democrat or Republican in the primary. As of 8:45 p.m., the state Division of Elections reported that 55 candidates had filed for the state’s dozen seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and seven are running for Senate, with Cory Booker pivoting back to seeking re-election to a second term after dropping out of the Democratic presidential contest in mid-January.

This year’s filings were complicated by COVID-19. It prompted some county parties to cancel their conventions and vote virtually to endorse candidates. Murphy had changed the filing

Read the full story

Will NJ Gov. Murphy delay June primary date or resort to mail-in balloting? Read More »