Often called “The Father of the Modern Submarine,” New Jersey inventor John Philip Holland successfully launched his Holland Boat No.1 into the Passaic River at Paterson on May 22, 1878. 
   
Born in Ireland, Holland came to the United States in 1873. His first design, a submersible powered by foot pedals, was rejected by the U.S. Navy. Much to Holland’s dismay, however, the Navy released his plans without his permission. 

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VICTORY GARDENS

State governments shut down businesses to protect the most vulnerable from contracting the virus, COVID-19.

To get the citizens to agree with stay at home orders, we were promised unemployment benefits coupled with $600 federal stimulus added onto our U.I. pay.

As of April 30, 2020, there are 308,000 New Jersey citizens without any income. Unemployment Insurance has not paid us. Nor have we received the federally funded unemployment stimulus from the CARES Act.

To date, no one has received any of these monies. The phone lines are not manned. The email contacts bounce. Governor Phil Murphy, @GovMurphy of New Jersey only avoids the issue, answers different questions then asked, or changes the subject.

I, like many others, registered for unemployment on March 15, 2020.

But many of these victims have variations of their stories. No one with authority will answer their questions or address their issues.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, @elonmusk, in an interview with CNN said that people were forcibly imprisoned in our homes. What needs to be added to that statement is, we are without any source of income.

I hear their stories. I am one with them. Who will listen?

Where do we go to get help and guidance? State communications have been exhausted. Federal level doesn’t even show up to their own scheduled meetings.

Justice Department@TheJusticeDeptAG Barr will be participating in the nationwide #AskTheAG Q&A session on May 1 at 12pm ET Send us your Qs on how DOJ is protecting public safety & combatting fraud, price gouging, hoarding, & more during the #COVID19 pandemic. Reply below or tweet your question with #AskAGBarr

Thanks! Ask another? 10:28 AM · Apr 29, 2020·Twitter VIT App for iOS5.9K Retweets7.7K Likes DenvilleCommunity @iDenville·11m Replying to @TheJusticeDept Hellloooo??!!! You scheduled a Q&A1DenvilleCommunity @iDenville·14m Replying to @TheJusticeDeptHello? It is May 1st, 12:06pm. There was suppose to be a Q&A you scheduled for 12pm.11 DenvilleCommunity@iDenville·11mHellooooo???!!!!DenvilleCommunity@iDenville·24mReplying to @TheJusticeDept#AskAGBarr Thank you for the time. I know I am bringing a state issue; but we have exhausted all state level communications, with no results. As of 4/30/20, there r 308,000 NJ citizens w/o any income. Unemployment Insurance hasn’t paid.DenvilleCommunity@iDenville·1hReplying to @TheJusticeDeptAs of 4/30/20, there are 308,000 New Jersey citizens without any income. Unemployment Insurance has not paid us. Nor have we received the federally funded unemployment stimulus from the CARES Act. Nor have we received the federally funded unemployment stimulus from the CARES Act.113DenvilleCommunity@iDenville·1hAll traditional state level hoops, loops, phones, forms, emails have been exhausted with no response. We need help.1132 more repliesDenvilleCommunity@iDenville·7mReplying to @TheJusticeDept@TheJusticeDept schedules a meeting and doesn’t show up. https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept/status/1255504332763598849…@NoobChic@Eyerishgirlkk@GROOT44477669@jbat1987@BajekEdward@ivicesariviarq@FCKOFFRONA@Patriot70472090@FilipponeJill@ayannal11331803@dgsp9@bsbeamer@fourdeje@dgsp9@bookies_worstQuote Tweet

Justice Department @TheJusticeDept · Apr 29 AG Barr will be participating in the nationwide #AskTheAG Q&A session on May 1 at 12pm ET Send us your Qs on how DOJ is protecting public safety & combatting fraud, price gouging, hoarding, & more during the #COVID19 pandemic. Reply below or tweet your question with #AskAGBarr

@aliepierce : @GovMurphy @SenatorMenendez @CoryBooker – silent in terms of #CancelRentNJ#CancelMortgages & #unemployment – you are a public servants in a role that has the ability to represent ALL New Jerseyans. The state of New Jersey continues to be in a state of emergency. Represent your state. Shouldn’t famlies mourn their loved ones without aditional burden?!? Read your constituents comments and serve them: http://chng.it/TkBN7LWz #WeThePeople #CancelRentUSA #CancelRent #cancelrentnj #BailOutPeopleNotCorporations #WeNotMe

Alie even has created a petition. Phil Murphy: Cancel Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Payments in NJ During COVID-19 Crisis.

“New Jerseyans have enough anxiety trying to just weather the storm of this pandemic. For so many, rent/mortgage is already due. PLEASE put a moratorium on all evictions/foreclosures.” http://chng.it/bDPHnZ7r via @Change#CancelRentUSA

There are more voices from victims on the petition: “I’m not working at the moment and won’t have money to pay rent http://chng.it/dTMmH5RK #CancelRent #CancelRentUSA #BailOutPeopleNotCorporations #WeNotMe #HumanRights and “I am a first time home owner and this pandemic has made really hard to pay.” http://chng.it/LMZFLnXd #BailoutHumansNow #CancelRent #CancelRentUSA #WeNotMe #WeThePeople #HumanityFirst #WeNotMe

@stvnplm: People who filed later than us are receiving benefits whereas me and many others filed on 3/15 and haven’t received a penny only automatic email replies and no one answers the phones on 201-601-4100 PLEASE HELP US AND INVESTIGATE THEM, push them to pay us.

@jzparker: Replying to @stvnplm@iDenvilleand 20 othersI filed on 3/18. No one answers the phone, no e-mails are responded to and @GovMurphy@NJSenatePres@NJDOLCommish@CoryBooker@SenatorMenendez will not respond to the numerous pleas for help! I hope some1 picks up this story b/c none of them are any help! @njdotcom@News12NJ

@jbat1987: I filed 3/25/20 after COVID19 lay-off. I got a letter to start claiming benefits. status is filed with an amount. Every week I claim it says “not payable, call an Agent.” I’ve called #njunemployment 1000s of times with no luck. Not a penny yet and I’m pregnant. 🙁

@mimiwit: Replying to @TODAYshow What’s very scary is that I tried to change some personal Info just to kind of look around the site to see if I could figure anything out. The response was no claim under this social security number! The question is do I file another claim? Can’t reach anyone

@pasquarella_t: Yes 7 weeks out, not able to get any information via phone, email is generic response. Claim went from pending to filed, I certified for the weeks , claim not payable at this time. Like thousands of other people who paid into ui their entire working lives.

@rich8859: My benefits expired on March 22nd, still waiting on federal extension to come through. NJ DOL keeps saying they are waiting on federal guidance on how to distribute. Meanwhile I’m broke with no answers

@bookies_worst: Replying to @TODAYshow Yes. Single dad with 2 children under 9. If you review my tweets i have even tweeted to both NJ Senators and told them i had to have my children witness me steal rameen because we have nothing to eat! Yes this has affected us greatly in a horrible way

@Karla12082018: Replying to @TODAYshowI have been certifying for 7 weeks, That means that in these 7weeks I did not receive a penny, and that means that all the bills are on me! I have sent many emails, I have called a thousand times and there is no way to communicate with them, is it fair for our families? @NJLaborDept

@asvanhorn: Replying to @TODAYshow That would be the majority of Americans including me. I’ve been on hold for 6 hours every week day since the last week in March and get disconnected multiple times. I’ve filed 5 weeks and no payment yet. No one answers emails. No correspondence.

@bsbeamer: Replying to @TODAYshow According to @GovMurphy, #freelancers & self employed were supposed to be contacted by @NJLaborDept by end of day yesterday. Online says need to call to “certify”. When calling, you’re told by message to go online or call tomorrow due to volume. Been this way for 4+ weeks.

@caitliinbrennan: Replying to @TODAYshow Yes!!! Filed 3/22 and still have not been able to receive any of my payments!! “Claim not payable at this time”. It’s impossible to get through on the phones or emails, no one is answering our questions!!! We need help!!

@phd95: Replying to @TODAYshow Yep, 5 weeks ago, applied for partial unemployment. Haven’t recevied one dime despite receiving ppwk confirming that I am eligible. Each time I certify, i get a “not payable at this time” message so I try to call to sort it out & get a phone message “..call back tomorrow”

@AuNaturalle2974: Replying to @jbat1987 @kurtsiegelin and 3 othersI applied March 26th and my claim is still pending. They haven’t even began to process it. It’s now 5 weeks of waiting with no answers.

@Juli21532035: HELP!!!! Do I qualify for PUA benefits instead? Please let me know!

These are just samples of the voices of victims begging for help.

From NJ.com – Assemblyman to Murphy: Everyone saw the storm coming, except you. You blew it – again

By Star-Ledger Guest Columnist, Anthony M. Bucco

Excerpt:

This is a serious situation that should not be minimized. When every highway and major roadway is shut down, it puts people’s lives at risk. Not only do we have to deal with the safety of our drivers, but we also have to consider children as young as five-years old stuck on school buses for hours away from their worried parents.

Read More @njdotcom

Did you sustain property damage on State Roads during this storm? You may need this reimbursement form to submit to NJ’s Department of Treasury

 

If any New Jersey citizens encountered damages during Thursday’s snow storm on a State Highway, you may need this form:

Property Damage Claim-Short Form

Terrance Little, Claims Investigator 3
Main Reception Line: (609) 292-4347
Fax: (609) 984-8486

The State of New Jersey does not carry public liability insurance and is self-administered for tort claims. The Tort Section manages, investigates and adjusts claims made against the State of New Jersey, its departments and agencies, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 59:1-1, et seq. a/k/a the New Jersey Tort and Contractual Liability Act. The Section makes a determination of liability and damages pursuant to the provisions, defenses and immunities afforded to the State under Title 59.

Title 59 represents the legislative response to a New Jersey Supreme Court decision which abrogated the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Its purpose was to re-establish immunity of all public entities in New Jersey, based on the legislative balance of interests of the individual claimant and the taxpayers of the State of New Jersey. Litigation support is provided by the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Law.

The Tort Section also files claims on behalf of the State of New Jersey against private entities, individuals, and other public entities to recover damages incurred as a result of their negligent acts.

This form is the first line of defense in tort actions filed against the State. It administers, investigates and adjusts a majority of the civil claims and actions filed against the State, its departments and agencies. This form ensures that meritorious claims are reasonably settled in an expeditious fashion (within the 6 month “grace” period under N.J.S.A. 59:8-3) and that unfounded claims are denied accordingly by asserting the applicable immunities and defenses afforded under Title 59, so as to avoid or minimize unnecessary litigation. To file a claim, please complete the appropriate form found on our home page.

Property Damage Claim-Short Form

Excerpt from NJ.com:

 

(snip)