WOODBRIDGE ANNOUNCES BAN ON FIREWORKS AND OPEN FIRE DURING STATE FIRE EMERGENCY

[Woodbridge]  Mayor John E. McCormac and the Woodbridge Office of Emergency Management today announced that due to fire restrictions imposed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Fire Safety warning of extreme fire danger and drought conditions in effect for all Central Jersey counties, the use of any type of fireworks, legal or otherwise, during festive or cultural celebrations is prohibited.

The State Division of Fire Safety has implemented a ban on bonfires and fireworks displays in the New Jersey Forest Fire Service primary response area that includes Woodbridge Township.  The Woodbridge Office of Emergency Management, the Woodbridge Police Department and all Woodbridge Fire Districts will be implementing the Fire Service recommendations effective immediately within the township.

Mandatory statewide Stage 3 fire restrictions, put in place earlier this week, prohibit all fires unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity. No wood or charcoal fires are allowed, and the use of kerosene or gas torches of any kind is prohibited while this level of restriction is in place. The fire ban is in place on all public lands and private properties in all municipalities throughout the state.

Residents should report the use of fireworks to the Woodbridge Police Department by calling 732-634-7700.

Speaker Craig J. Coughlin & Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly Join White House Discussion on Gun Violence Prevention

(TRENTON) — Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin and Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly today participated in a White House forum on gun safety laws, convened by the newly formed Office of Gun Violence Prevention and led by Vice President Kamala Harris. State legislative leaders from across the country were invited to share their experiences passing gun safety laws and to discuss strategy for the nationwide effort to prevent gun violence as part of the White House’s Safer States Agenda.

“I am very proud of our record in New Jersey, leading the nation in passing and defending common sense gun safety laws, which are among the strictest in the country,” said Speaker Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “President Biden and Vice President Harris broke new ground when they formed the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It was an honor to be invited to the White House and it was inspiring to engage with so many legislative leaders from other states who are standing up to tackle this issue in innovative ways. All of us are grateful for the courage and tenacity of advocates and gun violence survivors who have built such a strong movement for change.”

As part of today’s event, Speaker Coughlin participated in a panel discussion led by Greg Jackson, Deputy Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Speaker Coughlin discussed how the state legislature worked with the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and local law enforcement to find the best ways to increase the number of resources and, importantly, the accessibility of resources for victims of gun violence. California State Senator Aisha Webb and Minnesota Rep. Kelly Moller also spoke on the panel.

New Jersey’s gun safety legislation includes an assault weapons ban, comprehensive background checks for gun purchases, protective orders against gun ownership by those convicted of domestic violence, restrictions for straw purchasing of firearms, and most recently, New Jersey’s landmark legislation to prohibit the carrying of firearms in hospitals, playgrounds, daycare centers, bars, and other sensitive areas. 

“It was an honor to represent the General Assembly with Speaker Coughlin today at the White House Legislative Convening on Gun Control,” said Assemblyman Wimberly (D-Bergen, Passaic). “Forums like this are particularly important to cities like Paterson, which is plagued with gun violence, so that we can continue to reform our gun safety laws and stop precious lives from being senselessly taken far too soon.”