Pasqua gets Legion of Honor Award
The Chapel of the Four Chaplains recently awarded their “Legion of Honor” award to Ralph Pasqua. He is the longtime commander of the Korean War Veterans Association of Hudson County and was selected for this Distinguished Award for the involvement he has had with the community for many years. In addition to his work with the veterans, Pasqua is a longtime member of the Kiwanas Club in Jersey City, as well as a past president. He has also been very involved with the Jersey City Boys and Girls Club for years. He has been honored by both of these organizations over the years.
The “Legion of Honor” Award is only given to a small number of individuals from throughout the United States. It is awarded by the Chapel of the Four Chaplains. The Chapel’s structure is located at the Philadelphia Naval Yard and named in memory of the Four Chaplains who gave their life jackets to troops who were fleeing the sinking of the troop ship “Dorchester” after it was torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II off Greenland. There were two Protestant ministers, a Jewish rabbi, and a Roman Catholic priest. In giving their life jackets to troops on the sinking ship, they gave up their life for their fellow man. They were said to have linked arms and gone down with the sinking ship. The sacrifice was above and beyond the call of duty. The U.S. Post Office recognized this act with a postage stamp.
Time to renew pet and business licenses
City officials reminded pet owners and various business license holders that Tuesday, Jan. 31, is the deadline for license renewal.
Business licenses due for renewal cover pet shops; laundromats; dry cleaners; food-dispensing trucks; vending machines; and restaurants, delicatessens, and other food establishments. These licenses are issued by the Health Division of the Department of Municipal Services.
Under New Jersey law, dogs and cats that receive municipal licenses are required to be immunized against rabies by licensed veterinarians. These pet licenses are issued by the City Clerk’s Office.
Current license holders received license renewal mailings. The mailings cited the Jan. 31 deadline. After Jan. 31, the City Clerk’s Office will assess late fees of $25 per pet, and the Health Division will assess late fees of $50 per business.
Anyone with questions about a pet license should call the City Clerk’s Office at (201) 858-6029. For questions about various business licenses, call the Health Division at (201) 858-6100.
Lesniak and Cunningham sponsor legislation for criminal justice system reform
At a news conference at the Statehouse on Jan. 23, senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Sandra Bolden Cunningham and criminal justice advocates announced the introduction of a comprehensive package of bills sponsored by the senators to create a pathway to reform of New Jersey’s criminal justice system and rehabilitation for criminal offenders.
“As a nation that imprisons more of its residents per capita than any country in the world, we should continually evaluate our penal justice system to determine if our current policies provide protection for the safety of our residents and are cost-effective, or if changes are needed,” said Lesniak. “The four bills we are announcing today are designed to reduce waste and inefficiency in our criminal justice system and redirect resources to better protect the public by reducing repeat offenses.”
“This is a matter of fairness and fiscal sense for nonviolent offenders currently serving in the criminal justice system, and a matter of public safety for the rest of the State of New Jersey,” said Cunningham. “Under the current system, nonviolent offenders are warehoused with violent offenders, and often learn to become better criminals, rather than receive treatment for substance abuse that they so desperately need.”
The bill sponsors said that package of bills is designed to encourage drug treatment and rehabilitation and remove counterproductive barriers to employment of ex-offenders.
The four bills are currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee. Identical legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Cryan, was also introduced in the Assembly, and the three sponsors have asked for swift consideration in that house as well.