News & Releases

TRENTON – Senator John A. Girgenti said today that requiring our educators to undergo gang violence training in order to spot signs of gang activity in their students is crucial for protecting New Jersey from gangs.

“We must join in the collaborative efforts of those on the front lines who are fighting every day for safer streets and schools,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “We can no longer sit back and simply allow gang members to recruit our children. We need to be able to spot the warning signs of gang membership early on, in the hopes of rescuing our youth from the clutches of the gang lifestyles.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti to establish a ten member task force to study the construction and operation of a Veterans’ hospital.

“As more newly returned combat veterans turn to Veterans’ Hospitals for health care, it’s important that we provide them with world-class care,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “It’s important that we take care of those who have been fighting in a war that protects our freedom. Creating this task force will thoroughly examine and determine the how to best address the needs of our vets, especially the latest generation.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would require the inclusion of a senior resident of a continuing care retirement community on the facility’s local governing board was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35-1.

“Any just government must operate with approval and representation of the people,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “However, in retirement communities, the voice of the people is being silenced by boards of directors who are not accountable to their residents. In these communities, where the boards of directors act as de facto governments, it is only fair that we give seniors a voice in the decision-making process affecting their daily lives.”