New Jersey
Garden State Equality director resigns amid child endangerment, assault charges
Christian Fuscarino resigned Tuesday as executive director of Garden State Equality amid charges of child endangerment and assault after an incident last month with a child in his Neptune City home.
“I resigned from Garden State Equality to ensure that the organization’s work is not impacted by a private family matter,” Fuscarino, a nationally recognized advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, said in a statement on social media.
“While my loved ones and I have been working through this moment together with care and love, the press has turned a deeply personal situation into a public headline,” Fuscarino said.
“Everyone involved is safe and navigating this situation responsibly,” he added.
Fuscarino asked that the matter “be seen for what it is: a private family moment, not a public spectacle.”
Fuscarino, 35, is charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by a caretaker and two counts of simple assault, according to court documents.
An affidavit of probable cause alleges Fuscarino pulled the child from bed about 8 p.m. on Nov. 9 and struck the victim multiple times in the face with an open hand, pushing the child into a wall during the encounter.
The incident was captured on a home security video system, according to the affidavit.
The child was later taken to the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center in Freehold for a forensic interview. The child made no disclosure of physical abuse, the affidavit states.
However, another person living in the home told investigators they witnessed Fuscarino strike the child and intervened.
The state Division of Child Protection and Permanency obtained the video and notified the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on Nov. 20.
A Neptune City police detective arrested Fuscarino on Nov. 21. The case has since been referred to the prosecutor’s office, court records show.
In a statement Tuesday, Garden State Equality said they had placed Fuscarino on leave after learning of the charges.
By Wednesday, Fuscarino’s bio on the Garden State Equality website had been removed.
“Garden State Equality takes allegations against our staff seriously and we oppose violence of any kind,” the agency said. “We respect the courts and will allow that process to be handled by them.”
Fuscarino had served since 2016 as the executive director of Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ+ organization in New Jersey, which is based in Asbury Park.
With 20 years of experience in LGBTQ+ advocacy, Fuscarino had been at the forefront of efforts to protect transgender rights, combat hate violence, and implement groundbreaking healthcare and education policies.
In a July 2018 story posted to NJ.com, Fuscarino said he wanted to dedicate his life to helping New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ community so that others would not have to suffer the indignities that he endured in adolescence.
A brief respite from cold weather is ahead of New Jersey this weekend, before temperatures continue to rise late next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Saturday, Feb. 28 will be sunny across the Garden State, and temperatures will be comfortable, reaching the high 40s and low 50s.
Then, a brief artic cold front is expected to move into the region late on Saturday night, bringing temps to low 30’s and some scattered snow showers on Sunday, especially in North Jersey.
During the week, a couple low pressure systems are in the NWS forecast. Little snow if any is expected from these systems, especially in the late week, when a significant warm-up is expected.
Asbury Park and Monmouth County weekend weather forecast
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Sunday: Partly sunny and a chance of snow before 1 p.m. The high should be near 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Wildwoods and Atlantic County weather forecast
Saturday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Sunday: Partly sunny and a slight chance of rain before 1 p.m. The high should be near 44. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.
Newark and Essex County weather forecast
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 32.
Sunday: Cloudy and scattered snow showers before 1 p.m. Then gradual clearing of skies, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.
Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today Network. Find him on Twitter at _JCCastillo.
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New Jersey
San Diego Wave FC Unveils “Balboa Park Kit”: New Community Jersey for 2026 Season – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club
Wave FC introduce all-new community kit inspired by San Diego’s Historic Balboa Park
Since 1868, Balboa Park has served as the city’s creative commons. Spanning 1,200 acres, the park is home to world-class museums, performing arts institutions, community gathering spaces, and everyday moments that define life in San Diego, from pickup soccer games to family picnics and cultural celebrations. Larger than New York’s Central Park and Chicago’s Millennium Park combined, Balboa Park represents the depth, diversity, and creative energy of the region.
Designed in collaboration with Nike, the bespoke kit draws the park’s historic architecture and vibrant tilework. The sleeve cuffs and collar feature the vibrant colors of pink, orange and blue, and patterns from Balboa Park’s tilework, translating architectural detail into wearable design.
Kaiser Permanente, who continues to serve as the official team physicians of Wave FC, is proudly featured on the front of the Balboa Park Kit for the fifth consecutive season. Additionally, San Diego based global leader in glucose management, Dexcom, the Club’s official glucose biosensing partner, is returning for the third year and will be featured on the right sleeve. The Club’s pride mark, a compass symbolizing direction, unity and purpose, is displayed on the lower left corner of the new jersey.
To celebrate the launch, San Diego Wave FC will host its 2026 Jersey Launch Event, presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey, tonight, February 26, at Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park, from 4-8 p.m. PT. The free, public event, will feature live entertainment, exclusive access to the Balboa Kit, giveaways, a Fifth Season museum experience, and community activations spotlighting leaders and organizations from across Balboa Park cultural community.
As part of the event, a portion of proceeds from the Balboa Park Kit will be donated to Forever Balboa Park, supporting the preservation, accessibility, and future of the park for generations to come. Fans can donate directly to Forever Balboa Park here. The San Diego Museum of Art will provide a complimentary gift to all Season Ticket Members at gift pickup for fans to use throughout the museum’s Centennial Celebration. Wave FC players will be in attendance throughout the evening, connecting the fans and celebrating the launch alongside the community.
Fans who purchase a Balboa Park Kit at the event or online on the day of launch will receive an exclusive Fifth Anniversary patch, commemorating the Club’s fifth season.
The Balboa Park Kit joins the Altamar Kit as part of San Diego’s full 2026 jersey collection and is now available here. Fans can select “pick up at event” for an expedited entry line at the Balboa Park event.
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