January 27, 2024
Mr. Dexter King, The Direct Descendent Of
Rev Dr. Martin Luther King And Mrs. Coretta Scott King Passed Away
Picture Source NAACP Twitter
Dexter King is the second son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. He is the younger brother of Martin Luther King III and the older brother of Rev. Bernice King. Dexter King has been involved in various civil rights initiatives and activism work throughout his life. He served as the chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change from 1995 to 2004. He has also produced and directed several documentaries about his father's life and legacy. "Dexter King died of prostate cancer at home in Malibu, California, on January 22, 2024, at the age of 62, just 8 days before his 63rd birthday." Rest in peace and power, American Civil Rights and Animal Activist Mr. Dexter King, the son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott-King.
Respected Passaic County Sheriff Commits Suicide
At A Turkish Restaurant On Tuesday, January 23, 2024
A well-known and beloved Sheriff commits suicide after providing an interview to "Turks of America" at the restaurant Toros' located at 489 Hazel St. Clifton, N.J., on January 23, 2024. per Nicole Rosenthal of the Middletown Patch report on 01/24/2024, Titled: Passaic County Sheriff Shoots Himself At Local Restaurant: Earlier that day, the restaurant where Sheriff Berdnik committed suicide on the same day that the restaurant Toros' was given a Key of the City of Patterson N.J. for their outstanding contributions to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information shared by reporter Cemil Ozyurt recalled a social media post of Berdnik, once translated from Turkish to English, stating, "I've never been this close to death." On a side note, the Passaic County Sheriff's Office of Berdnik came under serious fire because a Passaic County correctional officer and two sergeants are charged this month for "deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice because officers Jose Gonzales, Donald Vinales, and Lorenzo Bowden abused a pretrial detainee where with officers beat a handcuffed man repeatedly in an area of the Passaic County Jail House called by inmates and correctional officers the "blind spot." Said blind spot has no cameras, unlike other sections of the prison. To learn more about the tragic event, please click the links:
Keansburg Mayor George Hoff, On January 24, 2024
Named Mr. James Martin "Honorary Mayor for A Day."
That's right, folks, there's a new mayor in town with the sweetest smile. Mr. James Martin was authorized as Keansburg's Honorary Mayor for a day by Mayor Hoff, who shared a lovely testimonial of Martin's kind spirit and positive attitude. The Councilpersons Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Tonne, Mr. Cocuzza, Mr. Foley, plus Mayor George Hoff took pictures with young James and his family. You may ask yourself, "What is an honorary mayor for a day?" I'm glad you asked. An Honorary Mayor for the day is a title given to an individual selected to serve as the mayor of a city or town for a single day. This is usually a ceremonial position and is often given to individuals as a way to honor them for their contributions to the community or to recognize a special occasion or event. While the honorary mayor for the day typically does not have any actual political power, they may be asked to participate in various events and activities throughout the day. In 2023, Taylor Swift was named honorary mayor of Santa Clara, California, on July 26,. That said, we can see that Mr. Martin is in good company. In closing, all the relaunched Echo can say is, hey, Taylor Swift, get out of the way for Mr. James Martin, The Burgs Mayor for the day of January 2024.
Ruby, The Health Outreach Bus Is On The Move! A Jersey City Initiative Seeking To Help The Overwhelming Homeless Crisis Of Citizens And Residents In New Jersey.
Ruby Outreach Buses can help the homeless crisis by directly bringing much-needed resources and services to those experiencing homelessness. These buses can provide medical care, mental health services, hygiene facilities such as showers and toilets, and food and clothing. They can also act as a mobile platform for outreach workers to connect with people experiencing homelessness and assess their needs. By bringing services directly to those in need, Ruby Outreach Buses can help bridge the gap between homeless individuals and their required resources and support. Ruby, The Health Outreach Bus is outfitted with washer, dryer, shower, & compassionate outreach workers. Built to provide critical services to at-risk homeless residents & she is coming to a neighborhood near you! Please click the link below to view Ruby's current tour schedule posted here: #HealthierJCÂ @JerseyCity.
Alert -Alert New Jersey Transit will be raising fares on July 1, 2024, By 15%
Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow once said, "Into each life, some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary." With that said N.J. Transit commuters may have to dig a little further in their pockets this summer because transit ticket prices may increase by $3.00 each, per a report by Nicole Rosenthal, Middletown Patch Report, titled "NJ Transit To Raise Fares 15% On July 1," on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. The last time that New Jersey Transit raised fairs was nine years ago. This most recent hike could add approximately $106.6 million in revenue for NJ transit. The Regional Plan Association's New Jersey Transit Director, Zoe Baldwin, stated that the fare hike proposal is a "direct result from New Jersey's continued failure to address a well-known problem, and NJ Transit riders deserve better." Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin recommended highly that the NJ Transit Board "consider the impact higher fares will have on train and bus consumers." Most of Governor Murphy's co-democrats claim that the N.J. Transit is jumping the gun in the race to have better profits. If you would like to share your opinion concerning fair hikes, you can submit your comments online at njtransit.com/hearing via mail at Public Hearing Office – Fare Proposal Comments, One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105, or through email, hearing@njtransit.com.  To learn more, please click informative links here: https://patch.com/new-jersey/middletown-nj/s/iug3b/nj-transit-to-raise-fares-15-on-july-1?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=8b63617579edf54cbadf7183154015d85784f08e1cf6f4064784661f1b651b81&user_email_md5=e90707a6228d470c252bb1bc33689a6b&lctg=6571e20423b29a937d012200
Public Hearings Discussing Transit Ticket Cost Increase Will Be On:
Monday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cherry Hill Public Library, conference center, 1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill.
Monday, March 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Atlantic City Convention Center, meeting room 309, 1 Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City.
Tuesday, March 5, from 10 a.m. to noon at Passaic County Community College, Paterson Room, 1 College Boulevard, Paterson.
Tuesday, March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bergen County Administration Building Conference Center, 2 Bergen County Plaza, 1st Floor, Hackensack.
Wednesday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Trenton Transit Center, 72 S. Clinton Ave., Trenton.
Wednesday, March 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Belmar Municipal Building, council chambers, 601 Main St., Belmar.
Thursday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkeley College Woodbridge Campus Student Center, 430 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge Township.
Thursday, March 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kean University, North Avenue Academic Building conference center, Room 606, 1000 Morris Ave., 6th Floor, Union.
Friday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station, long hallway, County Road and County Avenue, Secaucus.
Friday, March 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at NJ Transit headquarters, 9th-floor boardroom, 1 Penn Plaza East, Newark.
Currently, Georgia Is Willing To Pay For Foster Care
Instead Of Providing Assistance To Homeless Families. Sounds Familiar?
A ProPublica article written by Agnel Philip titled "When Families Need Housing, Georgia Will Pay for Foster Care Rather Than Provide Assistance" gave us insight on how Georgia's Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is spending millions of dollars to place children in foster care, instead of providing housing assistance to their families. The article highlights how this policy is resulting in separating families, causing trauma to children, and costing taxpayers more money. It also sheds light on the struggles that low-income families face in finding affordable housing in Georgia, which is exacerbating the state's growing foster care crisis. Something that DYFS, now referred to as DCF, has been doing to vulnerable single, primarily Black mothers whose incomes do not match the cost of living in New Jersey for many years. The article "When Families Need Housing, Georgia Will Pay for Foster Care Rather Than Provide Assistance" highlights how this policy is resulting in separating families, causing trauma to children, and costing taxpayers more money. It also sheds light on the insensitivity Georgia's Department of Children & Family Services has toward citizens struggling to keep their families together.
To learn more, please click the link here: https://www.propublica.org/article/georgia-housing-assistance-foster-care?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
The Monmouth Prosecutor's Office, On Thursday, January 25, 2024,
indicted Middletown Police Officer Santiago Of Thievery
The Monmouth Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, January 25, 2024, indicted Middletown Police Officer Brenden Santiago, of "one count of third-degree shoplifting and one count of fourth-degree attempted shoplifting." Witnesses observed Santiago stealing more expensive items via a local store's self-check-out aisle approximately six times, per a report shared by Carly Baldwin of the Middletown Patch titled "Middletown Police Officer Accused Of Theft In Self-Checkout Lanes." Per the article, Santiago used a "skip-scanning" method that seasoned shoplifters know how to do. Santiago's behavior while being an officer is a concern because it is important for a police officer not to be a thief because they are in a position of authority and trust. The public relies on police officers to uphold the law and to protect them from crime. If a police officer is a thief, it undermines the public's trust in the police force and can lead to a breakdown of law and order. Additionally, police officers are held to a higher standard of conduct and are expected to adhere to a strict code of ethics. Theft is a violation of this code and can result in disciplinary action or even criminal charges. To learn more about the $500 of stolen goods Santiago is accused of taking out of a local store, please click the link: https://patch.com/new-jersey/middletown-nj/new-info-released-middletown-police-officer-charged-theft
