Here are some things from our Inbox today

Former Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential campaign is offering college students $20-per-hour to help gather petition signatures to get him on the ballot in the Indiana primary.  Ballot access in the Hoosier State is more cumbersome than in New Jersey; candidates need 500 signatures in each of the state’s nine congressional districts.  Indiana also requires signatories to list their date of birth.  And Indiana law doesn’t require petition circulators to be state residents or voters.    The filing deadline is January 30.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Cardinal Joseph Tobin opened St. Lucy’s Complex, which offers housing and support services “that go above and beyond for individuals experiencing homelessness in the community.”  The new facility is part of a partnership with the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark and Jersey City.  Says Fulop: “There is no one-size-fits-all solution to homelessness.  That is why we are creating a holistic approach with the new St. Lucy’s campus to provide emergency food and shelter, and we are now taking it a step further with more permanent actions that help break the cycle and set residents on a stable path to becoming productive citizens.”

The 850-member New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Industrial Office Parks has named Dan Kennedy as their new CEO.  Kennedy, a former state government official and Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey executive is a longtime proponent of smart growth in the state.  Says Kennedy: “We will be evaluating ways we can build value for our members and ensure a future where the association continues to grow and prosper,” he said.  “This plan will guide us in building on NAIOP NJ’s solid foundation in areas ranging from public policy to programming while continuing to meet the standard of excellence our members expect – without missing a beat.” 

Former Gov. James E. McGreevey announced that a civic association he founded in honor of his late parents will distribute school clothes, offer access to healthcare vendors, provide state and county social services information and connect youth with essential resources at a Back to School event at Mary McLeod Bethune Park in Jersey City on Saturday.  Said McGreevey, a potential candidate for mayor in 2025: “This event is an opportunity to ensure that our students have the tools they need to succeed in the upcoming school year.”

Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) will host a banner unveiling ceremony and community open mic at her East Orange district officer in honor of former Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who died on August 1.  After Oliver resigned from the Assembly to become lieutenant governor, Timberlake won the vacant 34th district seat.  Says Timberlake: “This will be more than the unveiling of a beautiful, commissioned canvas; this will be a time of personal reflections and memories of a beloved icon of the community.”

As their strike enters its second month, the union representing about 2,000 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, United Steel Workers Union Local 4-200, will hold a press conference on Thursday.

An organization opposed to offshore wind energy, Save Right Whales Coalition, says a Maine acrostics firm has found that “noise produced by offshore wind sonar activities is much louder than NOAA Fisheries’ National Marine Fisheries Service has reported.”

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced the installation of new bathrooms at all Bergen County golf courses.  Says Tedesco: “We believe every golfer should enjoy top-class amenities, and these upgrades are a testament to that commitment.”

The National Organization for Women of New Jersey has elected former Senate and Assembly candidate Jill LaZare as their new president.  She ran unopposed after serving as acting president last year.  The other new offices are Michelle Deimling, Daine Scarangella, Maureen Yewaisis, Karen Lontka, and Shirley Henderson.  Said LaZare: “Next year is going to be a crucial election year in New Jersey because our Congressional District 7, currently represented by Republican Tom Kean, Jr., is one of the few swing districts in the entire country.  Kean is on record opposing abortion rights, and New Jerseyans cannot count on him to uphold their rights to self-determination if a federal abortion ban is proposed.” LaZare personally supports Sue Altman in the Democratic primary but said NOW-NJ would endorse a candidate next year.

A former speechwriter and lawyer to the Rev. Dr.  Martin Luther King will be at Camden County College at 5:30 PM to discuss his new book, “Last of the Lions.”  Dr. Clarence B. Jones, who helped write King’s “I Have a Dream” speech sixty years ago,  will answer questions and sign his book at the college’s Blackwood Campus in Gloucester Township.   Says Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young:  “Jones lived through and played a part in some of the most pivotal moments of our nation’s history, and now more than ever it’s critical to hear about his journey, I think we can all learn something from him. I encourage all residents, especially young people, to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the wisdom and knowledge of Dr. Clarence B. Jones firsthand.”

Americans for Prosperity and Jersey 1st will hold a free “Pints and Policy” conference on September 26 at Flounder Brewing Co. in Hillsborough to discuss expanding economic opportunities in New Jersey.

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) applauded a decision by the Westfield Board of Education to rescind their vote to remove Sahar Aziz due to absences.  Aziz is a Rutgers Law School professor.  CAIR-NJ alleged that the school board had targeted Aziz because she was Muslim.  Says CAIR official Corey Saylor: “The unanimous vote indicates the full board understood the implications of targeting Dr. Aziz. Regardless, we will continue to monitor the Westfield School Board to ensure this illegitimate effort to remove Professor Aziz does not manifest in a new form in the coming months.” 

A Better Way, a Trenton-based violence intervention and prevention advocacy group, has received a $100,000 grand from the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.  A Better Way was formed to help veterans, at-risk youth, and people reentering society.  Says Perry Shaw, the group’s executive director: “This grant will enable us to expand the TCST Initiative and implement the Career Forward program, targeting individuals who have experienced incarceration and are most affected by gun violence in our community.”

Because of a “healthy balance across the main metrics,” CoWorking Cafe has found that Jersey City is the 7th best city in the U.S. for working parents.   Jersey City has an average 14.6% share of remote workers and 0.8 coworking spaces per square mile.   If you’re a web developer, New Jersey is the 9th best state in the nation to live in, according to a study by  Digital Silk.  “22.1% of the workforce works from home, and the average base web developer salary is $81,250, and the state ranks 5.56 on the quality of life scale, contributing to its index score of 55.8, their research shows.

The Cannabis industry has a new talking point: a flack is pushing a story on Lavinia’s oh.hi lubricant product that they say is a “game changer in intimacy.”  Said the flack: “Rub a bit on where you’re seeking attention 15-30 minutes before action time, and then let the magic happen – repeated, effortless orgasms.”  There’s a catch: the product is only available in California.