Governor Phil Murphy

This Week in NJ: January 22nd, 2021

01/22/2021

GOVERNOR MURPHY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY PERSICHILLI, CONGRESSMAN ANDY KIM, AND STATE SENATOR TROY SINGLETON VISIT BURLINGTON COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINATION MEGA-SITE AT MOORESTOWN MALL

Governor Phil Murphy, Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, Congressman Andy Kim, and State Senator Troy Singleton visited the recently opened Burlington County COVID-19 Vaccination Mega-Site at the vacant Lord and Taylor space at the Moorestown Mall. They observed as eligible New Jerseyans recieved their vaccinations. Senator Singleton recieved his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the visit, in an effort to encourage others in the African-American community to sign up for vaccinations

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GOVERNOR MURPHY RETURNS TO ROOSEVELT CARE CENTER IN OLD BRIDGE TO WITNESS LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS AND STAFF RECIEVE THEIR SECOND COVID-19 VACCINES DOSES

Governor Murphy, Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, and others returned to Roosevelt Care Center in Old Bridge to observe long-term care residents and staff recieve their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Murphy previously visited the center on December 28, 2020, where he witnessed 103-year-old Mildred Clements become the first long-term care resident in New Jersey to be vaccinated. 

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GOVERNOR MURPHY AND FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY PARTICIPATE IN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE BY VOLUNTEERING AT CUMAC

Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by volunteering at CUMAC in Paterson. CUMAC provides groceries and other essential supplies to families in need in the Paterson area. The Governor and First Lady fulfilled grocery orders for CUMAC clients and met with CUMAC volunteers.

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GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCES DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIRECTOR PAUL RODRIGUEZ TO JOIN BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION

Governor Phil Murphy announced that Paul R. Rodríguez, Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, will be departing from his role and joining the Biden-Harris Administration. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has named Kaitlin Caruso as Acting Director of the Division effective immediately.

Rodríguez, who has led the State’s consumer protection agency since June 2018, will immediately begin serving as Deputy General Counsel to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS promotes the health and well-being of all Americans, fostering advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. The agency plays a critical role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been a focus of Rodríguez’s work in New Jersey over the last year.

“Since his appointment in 2018, Paul Rodriguez has been a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s most vulnerable and provided the Division of Consumer Affairs with the requisite expertise and vision to navigate the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic,” said Governor Murphy. “Paul’s counsel and professionalism will be a strong addition to the Biden-Harris Administration, and I thank him for his dedication to the betterment of our state.”

“Paul Rodríguez has led the Division of Consumer Affairs with remarkable skill, agility, and determination, protecting consumers from those who would prey on them and working to ensure New Jerseyans have access to healthcare when they need it most,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, Paul has demonstrated true leadership during a time of crisis, bringing out the best in his staff, expanding the capabilities and scope of the Division, and fighting to promote equity and protect the most vulnerable. We will miss him and his commitment to his home state, but I know he will be a great asset to the Biden-Harris Administration and to all Americans.”

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AG GREWAL FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION'S "MIDNIGHT RULE" WEAKENING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that New Jersey has joined a multi-state civil rights lawsuit challenging a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that weakens protections for employees of federal contractors by making it easier for federal contractors to discriminate against employees and prospective employees on the basis of basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

“We stood up for the civil rights of New Jersey residents in court throughout the Trump Administration,” said Attorney General Grewal. “We’ve now entered a new era. But until last-minute rules rammed through in the final days of the last Administration are repealed or struck down in court, we will continue to take action to protect the well-being of our residents.”

“For-profit corporations should not be permitted to impose their owner’s religious beliefs on employees who do not share those beliefs, period,” said New Jersey Division on Civil Rights Director Rachel Wainer Apter. “This regulation will seriously undermine anti-discrimination protections set forth in the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. The purpose of that law was to protect civil rights and to ensure equal employment opportunity; this regulation does the opposite.”

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