PARSIPPANY — Interfaith community members from Morris County and beyond will gather at Smith Field in Parsippany at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 6 to express their support of Israel and to denounce the recent wave of antisemitism in the United States.

Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest in partnership with participating synagogues, the event will feature clergy from various religious denominations as well as local and state government officials.

According to event coordinator Rabbi Inna Serebro-Litvak of Temple Shalom in Succasunna, the speakers will assemble “to express their support for Israel in lieu of the recent events of violence, the barrage of missiles sent to Israel from Gaza by Hamas, which also spiked rising antisemitism in the United States.”

In addition to various local synagogues, the interfaith community will be represented by Calvary Baptist Church of Morristown and Abundant Life Church of Whippany.

Speakers scheduled to appear include Senator Anthony M. Bucco, Rabbi Shalom Lubin, Rabbi Inna Serebro-Litvak, Rev. Herman Scott, Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Rebecca A Gold of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, and others. Parsippany Mayor Michael Soriano will attend.

Rally sponsors include Temple Shalom, Succasunna; Adath Shalom, Parsippany; Mt. Freedom Jewish Center, Randolph; Morristown Jewish Center, Morristown; Temple B’Nai Or, Morristown; Congregation Shaya Ahavat Torah, Parsippany; Temple Beth Am, Parsippany; Pine Brook Jewish Center; Temple Hatikvah, Flanders; Gottesman RTW Academy, Randolph; Amir Hadar.

PARSIPPANY — A support our Police and Law Enforcement rally is going to be held on Sunday, June 6 at 11:00 a.m. in the Parking lot of 51 Gibraltar Drive.

The event is being led by Mr. Edward Mosberg, a Holocaust survivor and longtime Parsippany resident.

A preview to his address is listed below:

My name is Edward Mosberg,  I am a Holocaust Survivor and a proud American Jew. 

I am a witness to the hatred that the Nazis had against all the people that were not like them, whether they were black, white, brown, Gypsies or others. The Nazis murdered millions upon millions of people that were not like them and we in the United States should ensure that this never happens again against any race because all people are created equal by God and they have to be protected by our Police officers. 

We are gathered here today to show gratitude and appreciation to our Law Enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect all of us.

We must RE-fund the Police by showing them our appreciation and make sure to support them in any way we can.

Police officers come from all races colors and backgrounds and they are the backbone of a functioning society,  if not for their selfless dedication there would be total anarchy in our streets. 

The past couple of years have been particularly difficult as you faced unrest, a pandemic, and a lack of proper funding.

As it was recently POLICE WEEK, we bow our heads in remembrance of those officers that were tragically killed in the line of duty. We should never forget them and may their memories be eternally blessed.

I am honored to have spoken at a number of Police academies and will continue to do so for as long as I can, I am 95 years young.

In conclusion,  may God bless you and your families for their sacrifice, and once more may God bless the officers killed in the line of duty, and may God bless the United States of America!

PARSIPPANY — Mayor Soriano issues Proclamation for LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

PARSIPPANY — Mayor Soriano Issues Proclamation for National Gun Violence Awareness.

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board will hold a meeting on Monday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m.

Click here to download the agenda.

MORRIS COUNTY — Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings have both given their top AAA rating to Morris County’s financial stability in reviewing the county’s general obligation bonds and the county guaranteed bonds offered through the Morris County Improvement Authority, with S&P ranking the county’s credit characteristics above the United States.

The rankings, issued separately last week in reports released by the rating agencies, continue a AAA ranking Morris County has maintained for decades. The underlying consensus of the rating agencies is that Morris County has strong credit, a stable financial outlook and that the county continues to be forward-thinking, planning strategically in the face of major risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for cyber-attacks.

“In retaining the county’s AAA rating with S&P and again with Moody’s, both rating agencies recognized the county’s quick and prudent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud of our efforts that saved lives and livelihoods, as we led the state in safely keeping businesses opened and our residents employed,” said John Krickus of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, who also is the board liaison to the county finance department.

Savings for Taxpayers: The AAA rating benefits everyone in Morris County.

The AAA rankings allow Morris County and the municipal agencies within the county to take advantage of the best possible interest and financing rates when borrowing or bonding for major projects, therefore saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. It is akin to having an exceptional personal credit rating because it reflects the ability of the county to meet its financial commitments. Obligations that are rated AAA are determined to be the highest quality, with the lowest credit risk.

“Morris County’s GO (general obligation) bonds are eligible to be rated above the sovereign because we believe the county can maintain better credit characteristics than the U.S. in a stress scenario,” S&P concluded in its assessment report.

Pandemic Planning and Response a Major Factor

Both S&P and Moody’s continued to emphasize that their ratings reflect Morris County’s detailed, planned response to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued diligence in addressing all potential impacts of the virus through the formation of a COVID-19 Strategic Planning Advisory Committee.

“The AAA rating reflects the county’s substantial tax base, strong and diverse economy, very high resident wealth and income, healthy reserve levels, and modest debt burden. The rating also reflects a long trend of strong, proactive financial management,” Moody wrote. “Although the pandemic has had a negative impact throughout the state, Morris County’s credit quality has not been impacted. The county created a COVID-19 Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, which meets regularly and has implemented a variety of measures to reduce the impact. The county’s largest revenue, property taxes, is guaranteed by its constituent municipalities.”

S&P underscored a similar assessment.

“We view the county’s management as very strong, with strong financial policies and practices under our FMA (Financial Management Assessment) methodology, indicating financial practices are strong, well embedded, and likely sustainable,” S&P concluded. “County officials quickly reacted to the pandemic and set up the COVID-19 Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, composed of county commissioners and management. The committee aimed to undertake an all-encompassing review and analysis of Morris County’s services, method of delivery of those services, and financial conditions over the next six years (2020-2025). We also viewS&P Global.jpg positively that the county has taken active measures to protect itself from emerging risks, such as cyber risks.”

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners noted the county’s prudent financial planning also enabled them to adopt another budget this year that maintains a robust capital spending plan while preserving services and programs that receive popular support from the public.

“We’ve maintained our AAA rating because Morris County is very prudent in how we fiscally manage our operations. Yet, while holding the line on county taxes, we are again moving forward this year with critical infrastructure projects at the same time we are directing spending toward key educational, human services, public safety, cultural and economic initiatives that serve all 39 Morris County municipalities,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Deborah Smith, who also is Chair of the Board’s Budget Committee.

The reports from the two rating houses were released in regards to the county’s General Obligation Bonds totaling $45.2 million, consisting of $37 million in General Improvement Bonds, $1.2 million in Park Bonds and $6.9 million County College Bonds and county guaranteed bonds issued by the Morris County Improvement Authority, consisting of $13.9 million in Guaranteed Renewable Energy Program Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds.

Since the Improvement Authority was established in 2002, the agency has provided towns, school districts, and the county itself with innovative and cost-effective methods of funding public projects while saving tax dollars. Through the authority, towns have been able to borrow under the umbrella of Morris County’s “AAA” bond rating to finance local projects, such as purchasing equipment and vehicles or constructing local facilities, at lower costs thereby reducing the property tax burden on their residents.

S&P’s report noted that Morris County has been able to face financial pressures stressing every county in New Jersey this past year.

“Over the longer term, rising pension, and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) costs may increasingly pressure the county’s budget. That said, we believe the county has sufficient budgetary flexibility to address these longer-term concerns, while management has also demonstrated an ability and willingness to reduce cost pressures, as evidenced by changes to retiree health benefits in 2007,” the report stated.

The S&P report went on to note its ratings reflect S&P’s assessment of the following factors, including S&P’s view of the county’s:

• Very strong economy, with access to a broad and diverse MSA;

• Very strong management, with strong financial policies and practices under our Financial Management Assessment (FMA) methodology;

• Strong budgetary performance, with a slight operating surplus in the current fund in fiscal 2020 according to unaudited results;

• Very strong budgetary flexibility, with an available fund balance in fiscal 2020 of 14.7% of operating expenditures according to unaudited results; while reserves grew in nominal terms, they declined as a share of expenditures due to a one-off increase in appropriations as a result of grant-funded pandemic-related expenditures;

• Very strong liquidity, with total government available cash at 35.5% of current fund expenditures and 3.2x governmental debt service, and access to external liquidity we consider strong;

• Adequate debt and contingent liability profile, with debt service carrying charges at 11.0% of expenditures and net direct debit that is 105.5% of current fund revenue, as well as low overall net debt at less than 3% of market value and rapid amortization, with 87.6% of debt scheduled to be retired in 10 years, but a large pension and OPEB obligation; and

• Strong institutional framework score.

MORRIS COUNTY — 26th Legislative District State Senate candidate Christine Clarke has received the endorsement of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, the latest advocacy group to support Clarke’s race.  The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) political arm of the Center for Biological Diversity, an organization with over 1 million members that advocates for endangered species protection through legal action, grassroots activism, and creative educational content.

The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund believes that protecting the environment is a bedrock American value that should rise above partisan politics.

“We are thrilled to endorse Christine for the LD26 primary and the general election in November. Christine has been an outstanding champion for wildlife, protecting our environment, and safeguarding our climate. We can’t wait for her to bring change to Trenton and help New Jersey move to a just, clean energy future with clean air and water for all,” said Brett Hartl, Chief Political Strategist.

“As someone who values nature, biodiversity, and environmental conservation, I’m honored to be endorsed by the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund and will continue to be an ally in the New Jersey State Senate,” said Clarke.

Christine Clarke is an environmental advocate, a grassroots organizer, and a mother-of-four running for State Senate to build the job-creating clean energy economy, advance a green recovery from covid-19, protect clean air and water, improve healthcare and lead with empathy and common decency. To learn more about her click here.

The 26th District includes 13 communities in Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties: Butler, Fairfield, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Morris Plains, North Caldwell, Parsippany, Rockaway Township, Verona, West Caldwell, and West Milford.

PARSIPPANY — On Sunday, May 23, members of Scouts BSA Troop 173, and Girl Scout Troop 96229, in conjunction with members of Parsippany Elks Lodge #2078 placed flags at the gravestones of veterans buried in Parsippany’s historic Vail Cemetery in advance of Memorial Day.

On Saturday, May 29, Scouts from Parsippany Troop 173 and Whippany Troop 155 placed flags at headstones in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover to honor veterans interred there.