Statement by Governor Phil Murphy on the Arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

Following the arrest of Newark Mayor Baraka, Governor Murphy released the following statement: 

“I am outraged by the unjust arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka earlier this afternoon outside of Delaney Hall in Newark.

“Over the past few months, Mayor Baraka, as well as advocates, faith leaders, and members of our Congressional delegation, have protested the opening of a private immigration detention center in the city of Newark. Four years ago, I was proud to sign a law banning private immigration detention centers in New Jersey. And just last week, my Administration was leading the fight to defend that law before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors. I am calling for his immediate release by federal law enforcement.”

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First Lady Tammy Murphy Convenes Youth Leaders for 2NDFLOOR® Roundtable on Mental Health and Well-being

First Lady Tammy Murphy convened youth leaders from across the Garden State for a roundtable discussion focused on youth mental health and their experiences using the free 2NDFLOOR® Youth Helpline app. The discussion, held at the Historical Barn at Drumthwacket, brought together five youth volunteers and representatives from 180 Turning Lives Around, the nonprofit organization that operates 2NDFLOOR®.

The roundtable, which took place during Mental Health Awareness Month, underscored New Jersey’s commitment to addressing the youth mental health crisis and promoting awareness of the critical resources and support programs currently available to young people across the state.

“Our youth are facing extraordinary challenges, and it is our responsibility to meet them with compassion, innovation and resources that truly work,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “The 2NDFLOOR® app is a lifeline for so many young people in New Jersey. Hearing directly from these incredible youth today reaffirmed why this work is so critical, and why we must continue to listen to and uplift their voices.”

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Business.NJ.gov Marks Five Years of Helping New Jerseyans Start Businesses Faster

Governor Phil Murphy released a five-year report showing the impact of Business.NJ.gov, the state’s one-stop shop that streamlines and simplifies information and processes for starting, operating, and growing a business in New Jersey.

“We have proudly followed through on our promise to create an accessible resource hub to support entrepreneurs and business owners as they grow their businesses here in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “With direct input from businesses and entrepreneurs alike, the website is curated to address their exact wants and needs. I am thrilled by the success of the portal over the last five years and our Administration remains laser-focused on ensuring the Garden State is the best place to start and run a business.”

“The Office of Innovation and partner agencies behind Business.NJ.gov have been relentlessly focused on working with the business community to create this powerful, intuitive tool for New Jerseyans who want to start or grow a business,” said Dave Cole, New Jersey State Chief Innovation Officer. “We look forward to finding even more ways to harness the power of data and innovation to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Garden State.”

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RFI Seeks to Bolster Role of Nuclear Energy in Advancing Affordability and Reliability Needs

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) released a Request for Information (RFI) to explore the role and opportunity to develop new nuclear energy resources to advance the State’s affordability, resource adequacy, and clean energy goals.

“New Jersey is committed to addressing the regional cost crisis. As part of my Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to explore ways to bring online new sources of electricity generation and improve and expand our nuclear fleet to grow the supply of resources as the U.S. faces increasing demand. At the same time, we’re pushing PJM Interconnection to bring new resources online faster and reduce prices,” said Governor Phil Murphy.

"New Jersey, and the region, need more electricity, and since day one of the Murphy Administration, our commitment to supporting our existing nuclear fleet has never waned,” said Christine Guhl-Sadovy, President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. “As we work to push PJM to improve their interconnection queue to allow more resources like solar and storage to be built in the short-term, expanding our nuclear fleet offers the Garden State an opportunity to add new generation to our resource mix, improving reliability and affordability for ratepayers in the long-term.”

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Governor Murphy and Education Commissioner Dehmer Advance Literacy Education Initiatives: Grants and Guidance Now Available to School Districts

Continuing the Murphy Administration’s efforts to strengthen foundational literacy skills among students, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer announced a series of coordinated actions to advance the implementation of legislation signed in August ensuring young learners have access to the tools and resources needed to become strong, confident readers:

“Having a strong grasp of foundational literacy skills like phonics can open doors for our children and enable them to better succeed throughout their academic careers. Our Administration is dedicated to supplying our students and educators with the tools necessary to support this essential component of a comprehensive education,” said Governor Murphy. “We have listened to the research and recommendations of our Working Group on Student Literacy, and we are thrilled that New Jersey’s literacy initiative is continuing to build momentum. With the release of the New Jersey Literacy Framework and two new grant programs, school districts across the state will have access to tested best practices and supports to teach our kids the fundamentals of reading. These efforts are essential to make New Jersey the best place to raise a child.”

“We’ve known for a long time that literacy is a core skill that is the gateway to all other learning,” said Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “As part of our renewed early literacy focus in New Jersey, we’re taking a very intentional approach – one that blends proven, evidence-based instructional methods with tried-and-true approaches such as phonics and regular screening tools to keep educators and families informed of student progress. This is an initiative that will benefit all students, particularly our youngest students as they transition from learning to read to reading to learn.”

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