New Jersey
Lawmakers eye fines for businesses that coerce workers over immigration status • New Jersey Monitor
Immigrant workers are more reluctant to speak out about injustice in the workplace, report injuries, or cooperate in investigations out of fear of revealing their immigration status to authorities.
Now, a new bill would allow the state to levy hefty fines against employers threatening to use their workers’ immigration status against them during labor disputes. An example would be if a boss threatens to tell authorities that a worker came to the country illegally to pressure that worker into not reporting the employer for paying less than minimum wage.
“No worker should be forced to turn a blind eye to their employer’s unlawful behavior out of fear of being prosecuted for their immigration status,” bill sponsor Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) said in a statement.
Businesses found to have exploited their workers based on their immigration status would face fines of up to $1,000 for the first violation, up to $5,000 for the second, and up to $10,000 for any subsequent violations.
The fines would be in addition to any fines related to violations of state labor laws.
But the bill is not enough for immigrant advocates who want to see more enforcement of existing laws and more serious consequences. Erik Cruz Morales of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said the bill is only a small first step toward tackling a bigger issue.
Morales said New Jersey should consider revoking business licenses from companies with multiple labor law violations. Even a $10,000 fine could be a slap on the wrist for companies bringing in millions of dollars, he noted.
Lawmakers should also look into beefing up the Law Against Discrimination to cover discrimination against immigration status, Morales said.
Morales said many immigrant workers fear filing complaints against their employers for breaking existing law — say, paying less than the state’s $15.13 minimum wage — let alone reporting them for violating a new law related to their immigration status.
“People are avoiding interacting with public government or filing a case, from what we’ve heard from people. They’re like, ‘I’m undocumented, what rights do I have in this country? I’m just going to stay quiet and get my $12 an hour, even though it’s $15,’” he said.
New Jersey is home to more than 2 million residents born out of the country and an estimated 440,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
While undocumented workers are protected by federal labor laws to prevent discrimination and are entitled to worker rights like breaks, minimum wage, and overtime, their immigration status often discourages them from fighting unfair work treatment, according to researchers at the University of Chicago. They found that undocumented workers are more likely to face discrimination and exploitation in the workplace.
Ruiz said the bill would protect workers’ rights and “hold businesses accountable for exploitative behavior.” The bill would help employees no matter what their immigration status is, she said.
It unanimously advanced out of the Senate Labor Committee Monday with no discussion. The companion bill still faces a vote in the Assembly Labor Committee.
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A black bear was spotted in the area of Frederick Court in Princeton on Saturday night, according to an alert issued to residents. A bear was also spotted May 15 in the area of Heather Lane between Cherry Valley Road and Great Road. It is unclear whether the latest sighting is the same bear.
Residents are advised not to approach the bear and to remain indoors if they see it.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are common in parts of New Jersey, and they sometimes travel through residential neighborhoods as part of their natural movement patterns.
Residents should not leave food or garbage outdoors because bears can quickly become attracted to human food sources. Bears may eat garbage, pet food, birdseed, and other easily accessible items. Bears that gain access to food in residential neighborhoods may lose their fear of people and repeatedly return to the area. Some nuisance bears eventually must be trapped.
State wildlife officials urged residents in bear-prone areas to take precautions to reduce the chances of attracting bears.
Recommended precautions from the The information was provided by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife include:
- Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers.
- Store garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Keep garbage in a secure location until the morning of pickup.
- Do not feed bears.
- Do not approach bears.
- Do not run from bears because running may trigger a chase response.
- Avoid direct eye contact with bears.
- Remain calm and slowly back away if encountering a bear.
- Make noise by yelling, clapping, singing, or using an air horn.
- Make yourself appear larger by waving your arms or lifting a jacket overhead.
- Stay together if you are in a group.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route.
Officials also advised residents to watch for warning behaviors from bears, including huffing sounds, jaw popping, and swatting at the ground, which can indicate the animal feels threatened.
Bears may stand on their hind legs to get a better view or detect scents in the air, which is not always considered threatening behavior.
Residents can report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the NJDEP’s 24-hour hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP, or 1-877-927-6337.
Tuesday, May 17, 1977 ― 49 Years Ago
Worldwide shortages of oil could cripple the global economy by the early 1980s if nations do not immediately pivot toward conservation and alternative energy. That was the stark warning issued on the front page of the Asbury Park Press on this date from the Workshop on Alternative Energy Strategies, a respected international think tank, as reported by the Associated Press.
Organized in 1974 by Carroll L. Wilson, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the 35-member panel of government and business leaders concluded that the supply gap would likely reach a critical breaking point between 1985 and 1995, the AP wrote. While the experts suggested that aggressive conservation efforts might push the crisis as far back as 2010, the consensus was that the era of abundant, cheap energy was over.
2 Murderers Escape From Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital
MARLBORO ― Two convicted murderers escaped early this morning from the Rahway Prison Unit located on the grounds of Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital, according to township police.
Raymond Bukowski of Plainfield, serving up to 25 years for murder and armed robbery, and Nicholas Gallicchio of Newark, serving up to 30 years for murder, were both reported missing at 1:30 a.m. today; police said.
Mayor Arthur Goldzweig, who has previously asked the state to close the prison unit here, said early today that the township will now seek a court order to close it.
The mayor, who is a Democratic candidate for state Assembly, said he will also ask the governor to provide immediate additional security at the prison unit, either through the New Jersey State Police or with increased security staff.
The Marlboro Township Police Department did not release details early today on how the murderers got out of the unit. Three other prisoners have escaped from the hospital grounds recently.
Jordan Drops Governor Bid; To Back Byrne
TRENTON ― Jersey City Mayor Paul T. Jordan yesterday withdrew as a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and endorsed Gov. Brendan T. Byrne as the party’s standard-bearer.
Previously, Jordan said Byrne’s nomination would be a “disaster” and that New Jerseyans would breathe a “collective sigh of relief” if the governor did not run for re-election.
Jordan, whose withdrawal from the primary election race came after the one-sided defeat of his candidate in the Jersey City mayoral election last week, said he will now campaign actively for Byrne.
Byrne, through a spokesman, welcomed the endorsement, saying that Jordan’s philosophy closely paralleled his own.
Richard Coffee, Byrne’s campaign director, said the move “projects the governor as the solid front-runner” in the Democratic primary field.
Fire Damages 2 Stores in Monmouth Mall
EATONTOWN ― Firemen battled a smoldering, smoky blaze at the Monmouth Mall for nearly two hours last night and into this morning.
Fire Chief Joseph Gaetano of the Eatontown Fire Department said the blaze was confined to rear portions of the Rite Aid Pharmacy and the Puppy Love Pet Shop in the northwest section of the main level of the mall.
He said this morning it still had not been determined whether the fire started inside or outside the drug store, although most of the fire damage was located in the storeroom of the pharmacy.
All animals in the pet shop, including a prize monkey and cockatoo, were rescued by firemen who groped through thick smoke in the store.
Several firemen were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by the Eatontown First Aid Squad, said Assistant Fire Chief William Stalfa.
MANALPAN, N.J. – A little more than 3 miles west of the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth lies Knob Hill Golf Club, a hidden gem among the Shore’s treasure chest of renowned courses.
A rolling par-70, 6408-yard course with its own unique charm and history, the semi-private club stands out among the area’s top-tier private and nationally acclaimed public courses by providing member and public access throughout the week.
This season, two redesigned holes – Nos. 16 and 17 – present new challenges with an aim to improve the course optics and experience and for all comers.
“We are always looking for ways to reinvest in and enhance the course,” said Director of Golf Lou Kubisa. “We understand fees are going up all over and this is an opportunity for us to show we are committed to the membership and public golfers that play here. That’s our niche. We all do a very good job of managing the experience and conditions for our members and the public. This shows our commitment and we are really happy with the way everything turned out.”
The overarching goal with the redesign was to create more playable space on the 16th hole and to keep golfers’ focus on the course away from other holes and activity outside the existing property lines. That also led to changes for the 17th green and resulted in both holes being more isolated from each other and from the environment beyond the boundaries.
Members got their first swings at the new holes on the morning of May 2. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
“I love it! I parred them both,” said Colts Neck resident and long-time member Gene Maresca. “It took a little longer than expected with the rough winter but everything came out great.”
“I didn’t play them very well today but I love the aesthetics of both,” said Plainsboro resident and member Len Bellezza. “On 16 there used to be a lot of trees up the right side and it seems the wind is always blowing left to right there so most people would slice into the trees. Now the trees are out and it’s uphill so it plays much longer and it’s wide. It’s beautiful.”
The redesign was something Kubisa had been thinking about for some time. The project went into motion last fall with an eye toward early spring finish. The extreme cold and winter storms pushed construction back several weeks to the early May opening.
“As a golf professional here, I always wanted to enhance the 16th hole,” said Kubisa. “It was kind of a claustrophobic tee shot with trees along the boundary. So we shifted everything toward the center of the course rather than along the edges.”
Tasked with creating more space on the par-5 16th while keeping golfers’ sightlines focused on the course and away from property edge, architect Jim Ryan also repositioned the 17th green to accommodate the change. The major changes stemmed from lowering 16’s tee boxes, shifting its fairway left toward the interior of the course and building up its boundaries, resulting in an entirely new, somewhat isolating experience for golfers.
The repositioned and still reachable 275- to 300-yard par-4 17th hole also features new green-surrounding amphitheater mounds. Designer Ryan aimed to keep the hole’s driveability by rewarding golfers for carrying the now green-fronting water hazard with embankments designed to gently coax wide shots back on the green. It worked.
“I love 17,” said member Anthony Parrente from Jackson. “I hit a cut on the right side above the bunker, hit the hill and it rolls down to five feet of the hole.”
Originally designed by Marc McCumber and opened in 1998, Knob Hill consistently ranks near the top of NJ’s semi-private courses given its challenging layout, excellent condition and scenery, placing 2nd in NBC Golf Pass and Golf Choice rankings for 2026. The clubhouse and the Sycamore Grille restaurant are open to the public throughout the year, featuring comedy shows, live music, trivia, wine tastings and theme nights.
The course history before Knob Hill’s opening in 1998 remains sketchy with speculation and searches dating it to post-WWII golfing boom of the 1950s and 1960s, akin to the Monmouth County-owned Hominy Hill course.
The club’s logo and restaurant Sycamore Grille are a tribute to the 185+ year-old sycamore tree outside the clubhouse with an old metal “Hole 14” this-way arrow sign embedded in its trunk. The historic tree draws flocks of tourists year-round.
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