Richard Smith Archives - New Jersey Globe

Sherrill gets huge boost with endorsements from 146 Black faith leaders

October 21, 2025 6:19 amOctober 21, 2025 12:45 pm

Rep. Mikie Sherrill has received the backing of nearly 150 Black faith leaders from across New Jersey, consolidating a critical part of the state’s Democratic vote base as she enters the final two weeks of a tight gubernatorial campaign against...

Fight brewing over Board of Ed nominee’s Senate hearing

January 31, 2023 1:39 pm

Mary Bennett, one of Gov. Phil Murphy’s nominees for the New Jersey State Board of Education, was scheduled to appear yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the first step towards her eventual confirmation to the 13-member statewide board. But at...

N.J. police officers would have to hold state licenses under proposed program

May 18, 2022 3:13 pm

Gov. Phil Murphy and acting Attorney General Matt Platkin jointly announced this morning that they will work with the state legislature to create a statewide police licensing program, under which all law enforcement officers would have to hold Police Training...

Officials, faith leaders condemn anti-Semitism

July 8, 2021 9:56 am

Top officials in state government and a swath of faith leaders announced the formation of a new group to denounce anti-Semitism Thursday. “In recent weeks, our area has witnessed an alarming rise in antisemitic attacks — physical and verbal, in-person...

Robinson wants more meetings on Liberty State Park remediation plan

October 16, 2020 1:39 pmOctober 16, 2020 3:19 pm

A Jersey City councilman and an anti-violence coalition in the city raised concerns over the Department of Environmental Protection’s handling of Liberty State Park’s remediation Thursday. “I have serious concerns that the proposed plan appears to leave contamination in the...

NAACP president calls on DEP to hold additional hearings on Liberty State Park remediation

October 15, 2020 4:11 pmOctober 15, 2020 4:40 pm

The New Jersey NAACP called on the Department of Environmental Protection to hold additional public hearings on a remediation plan for Liberty State Park, warning that the lone announced hearing risked shutting communities of color out of the process. “To...

Axel Owen will manage campaign to pass marijuana legalization referendum

June 19, 2020 12:01 amJune 18, 2020 11:56 pm

The coalition advocating for passage of a referendum to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, has tapped a top state political operative to manage their campaign. Axel Owen, a former Democratic State Committee political director, will lead NJ CAN 2020, an...