Latest news with #NewJerseyNews
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Hoboken installs AI-powered cameras at Church Square Park to enhance safety
HOBOKEN, N.J. (PIX11) — On any given day, Church Square Park in Hoboken is packed with people — and now, it's also packed with cameras. Thirty new sets of eyes were installed at the park after people living nearby called for change. More Local News 'It's an improvement. We had cameras before they weren't working,' said First Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano. The park has recently raised concerns, especially after police said a nanny was attacked and knocked unconscious in the park in October. 'That kind of sparked some outrage in the community, because it happened during the day, kids were around,' Presinzano said. After that, Presinzano said close to 200 people attended this city council meeting to share their safety concerns. 'There were other gripes in town, it came to a head,' he said. And it seems the police department was listening. 'We heard that, we responded with it,' said Lt. Jonathan Mecka with Hoboken Police. The department recently installed 30 AI-driven cameras across the park. More New Jersey News They're easy to spot, and police hope that alone helps deter troublemakers. But if that doesn't help, maybe the AI can. 'If we have a situation with a blue visor or blue vest, we can type in blue vest, and the cameras will automatically pick our people within the park that have that,' he said It could be a game changer for police work, Mecka said. 'The ability to be able to search for a camera and put that search field in I know from personal experience just with an iPhone it's amazing,' he said. The $135,000 camera system was funded by grant money, helping residents like Trisha Brown feel safe when she's out walking her dog. 'Just just like any place you have to be smart about it. I feel safe it seems like people are kind of watching out for each other,' Brown said. Police also added more lighting to the park and keep an officer stationed there at all times. Mecka says the next step in their safety plan is to add more police officers to the force. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's what Gov. Murphy wants to spend on in his final New Jersey budget
TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) — For one last time, Governor Phil Murphy delivers his budget address. He's proposing just over $58 billion for fiscal year 2026 to help schools, transit, and the next generation of New Jerseyans. 'Though we have come far in this journey, let me be absolutely clear: we have not reached the finish line yet,' Murphy said in Tuesday's address in Trenton. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State In his final budget, Murphy is proposing $28.5 billion to support direct and indirect property tax relief programs, including but not limited to ANCHOR, Fenior freeze, and StayNJ. 'Back in 2018, the average, eligible homeowner in New Jersey received $246 in property tax relief,' said Murphy. 'This year, that average tax relief payment will be over $1,500, a more than 500% increase in just seven years.' His budget will introduce a new sales tax exemption for cribs and other critical baby supplies to help families. He's also proposing $815 million in funding from the Corporate Transit Fee for New Jersey Transit. The administration says the money will help to fully modernize the agency by replacing every outdated rail car and bus in the fleet. He's also appropriating more than $22 billion to fund schools – $444 million more than the last budget – and will look to address school districts that were victim to cuts last year. More New Jersey News 'We are also going to reduce volatility in the school funding process by ensuring that no school district sees a steep reduction in state aid from one year to the next,' said Murphy. In their response to the budget, Trenton Republicans hoped for tighter spending. 'This upcoming budget is anything but affordable,' said Asw. Nancy Munoz (R-NJ 17th District). 'We need to strip it down to the studs and rebuild with responsible spending and that's what we intend to do during the budget season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NJ bill would protect first responders with PTSD: ‘Seen the worst'
TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) – In 2005, while serving as a Mercer County Sheriff's Officer, Sean Lavin was deployed to Louisiana to aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He said when he came back, he couldn't sleep because of what he saw. 'Not one of us was ok with what we saw,' said Lavin, who retired as a sergeant. 'We had instances where we found people in their couch, in their bed, under their bed, in their closet, who didn't survive.' More New Jersey News He said he kept his PTSD a secret out of fear he'd maybe lose his job or be suspended. On Monday, he went to the State House to deliver powerful testimony in support of a bill that aims to give job protection to first responders with certain cases of work-related PTSD. 'This bill would put it where PTSD is recognized, is handled the same way any other injury is, through worker's comp; you stay on the job, you stay with your pay, your pension, your health care so you can get that treatment,' said Lavin. Advocates with the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police say it's a bill that not only promotes treatment for PTSD but can prevent suicide. 'You go to the fatal car accident, and half an hour later, you're going to a baby that just died,' said Scott Cox, another retired officer who now works with Lavin at the NJFOP. 'There's no place on earth where a police officer or a first responder hasn't seen the worst.' More Local News The bill would prohibit departments from firing, harassing, or discriminating against any paid first responder who takes or requests a leave due to PTSD. Primary sponsor Assemblyman Bill Moen hopes to see the bill head to the floor again. 'This legislation, it passed with broad bi-partisan support through the State Assembly in the last legislative session,' said Moen (D-NJ 5th District). 'There is a track record for getting this done so I do hope this is up soon.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
