New Jersey

NJ disability program faces $3M cut in proposed budget. Advocates call it ‘devastating’

Published

7 months ago

April 1, 2025

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NJ disability program faces M cut in proposed budget. Advocates call it ‘devastating’

New Jersey’s Centers for Independent Living, which provide services to people with disabilities, face a proposed $3 million budget cut.
Disability advocates argue that the cuts would severely affect the centers’ ability to offer essential services like job training and accessible housing assistance.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration says “belt-tightening” is necessary as the state faces fiscal challenges.

Disability advocates across the state are calling on lawmakers to reverse a proposed $3 million cut to New Jersey’s Centers for Independent Living, which assist with job training and other resources for thousands of clients.

“This is a devastating setback to the disability community,” said Donald Campbell, executive director of the Atlantic Center for Independent Living in Galloway. “CILs are not just service providers — they’re lifelines. They help people get out of bed in the morning, find accessible housing, secure jobs and transition out of institutions.”

The cuts in Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget proposal would amount to a 45% reduction in the centers’ $6.7 million operating budget, which relies on both state and federal dollars, said Carmela Slivinski, who directs the DAWN Center for Independent Living in Denville.

New Jersey has 12 Centers for Independent Living, all run by nonprofit groups that serve the state’s 21 counties. The programs offer services designed to help people with disabilities live more independently and participate in society, supporters said.

Murphy’s $58.1 billion budget plan, introduced in February, must still pass through the state Legislature, where lawmakers are likely to make changes. His fiscal blueprint includes more spending for tax relief and school funding, but it’s also being crafted as Republicans in Washington contemplate deep cuts to Medicaid and other programs that fund state services.

Maggie Garbarino, Murphy’s deputy press secretary, said “some belt-tightening” was necessary to protect the state’s long-term priorities. As a result, the proposed budget eliminates most of the direct grants that were awarded without competition last year, and it significantly reduces funding for many older grants, she said.

Questions to Murphy’s office on whether the administration planned alternative support for the centers and how it weighed the potential loss of services went unanswered.

The only option for some with disabilities

The centers serve clients of all ages and types of disabilities and are often the only option for people who acquire a disability later in life, such as from a car accident or stroke, Slivinksi said. Those people often don’t qualify for programs like those offered by the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Customers can connect with services that make homes accessible, find transportation options and offer employment training. Often the help comes from peers — 51% of CIL employees also have a disability. In 2023, the programs helped 7,800 people statewide, said Marily Gonzalez, CEO of the Heightened Independence and Progress Center in Hackensack.

Center directors said their offices play a unique role in helping people navigate fragmented benefit systems and access lesser-known resources, such as foundations that can help pay for wheelchairs when insurance won’t pay.

“These individuals have needs, but no programs are designed for them,” said Slivinski. “We’re often the only place they can turn to.”

CILs have always operated with limited resources, she added. “I’ve been with my center for 26 years now, and I don’t remember a day when we weren’t fighting for additional resources,” she said.

State funding enabled Slivinski’s DAWN Center for Independent Living to hire two staff members and buy a car. The center created a mobile office that goes to the rural areas of Sussex and Warren counties to help people who have a hard time reaching more populated areas.

“We meet people where they’re at,” she said. Without the money, “that’s going to go away.”

The newer employees at Slivinski’s center won’t be the only ones to lose their jobs. At the Heightened Independence and Progress Center, which serves Bergen and Hudson counties, the cut could affect over 30 positions, many held by people with disabilities, Gonzalez said.

Slivinski said she understands that budgets are tight, but the amount in question is small in the context of state spending, she argued.

Murphy wants to ‘leave the state flush’

“It’s a drop in the bucket for the state,” she said. Still, she said, “some of the smaller centers will not be able to survive this,” she said.

Slivinski recently met with representatives of Murphy’s office to explain the scope of CIL services and was told the proposed cut was part of a sweep of discretionary appropriations aimed at reducing the size of the budget.

“We were told the governor had wanted to leave the state flush, and all of the funding that was considered discretionary funding, like an appropriation through the Legislature, was wiped away,” she said.

The CILs have since been meeting with legislators, including members of the Assembly Budget Committee and the Legislature’s Disability Caucus, in hopes of getting the money reinstated.

A message to state Assemblywoman Ellen Park, a Bergen County Democrat and vice chairwoman of the chamber’s Budget Committee, wasn’t immediately returned.

Both Campbell and Slivinski said the consequences of the funding cut would go beyond lost programs. The centers play a crucial role in helping people with disabilities remain in their communities, avoiding costly and often inappropriate institutional care, they said.

“When the funding disappears, the services disappear — and with them, our independence,” Campbell said.

He urged residents to contact legislators and ask for the funding to be restored.

“The cure for despair is action,” he said.

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New Jersey

Newsweek names New Jersey’s best hospitals for 2026 – NJBIZ

Published

1 minute ago

October 24, 2025

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Newsweek names New Jersey’s best hospitals for 2026 – NJBIZ

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Newsweek is recognizing the top health care facilities in the U.S. in its America’s Best-in-State Hospitals 2026, released Oct. 22.

Of the more than 6,000 hospitals across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 800 made this year’s ranking. Of those, 11 are in New Jersey.

In partnership with data firm Statista, Newsweek evaluated hospitals based on:

Peer recommendations from medical professionals
Hospital quality metrics from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other public data sources
Patient experience scores
Accreditations and certifications from recognized organizations

Those that made the ranking “consistently demonstrate excellence across medical specialties, safety, and patient satisfaction,” according to the publication.

“Health care decisions are deeply personal, and patients deserve reliable information when choosing where to seek care,” said Alexis Kayser, Newsweek health care editor. “The hospitals recognized on this list represent the very best in patient-centered care, combining medical expertise with compassion and innovation to improve lives in their communities.”

Care close to home

According to Newsweek, New Jersey’s Best-in-State Hospitals for 2026 are:

No. 1: Morristown Medical Center, Morristown | Atlantic Health System
No. 2: Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood | Englewood Health
No. 3: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick | RWJBarnabas Health
No. 4: Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack | Hackensack Meridian Health
No. 5: Overlook Medical Center, Summit | Atlantic Health System
No. 6: Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick | Saint Peter’s Healthcare System
No. 7: Cooper University Hospital, Camden | Cooper University Health Care
No. 8: Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro
No. 9: Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch | RWJBarnabas Health
No. 10: The Valley Hospital, Paramus | Valley Health System
No. 11: Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck

Last year, 10 hospitals in New Jersey made the list. Holy Name was the addition to the 2026 ranking. U.S. News & World Report released its own list of best hospitals in July, with some repeat honorees to Newsweek’s.

Health care kudos

Englewood Health shared its hospital’s results in an Oct. 23 announcement, noting its No. 2 ranking in the state and highest in Bergen County.

Warren Geller, president and chief executive officer of Englewood Health — Geller

“We are honored to once again be recognized among the very best hospitals in New Jersey,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “This award reflects the dedication of our entire team—physicians, nurses, and staff—who work tirelessly to provide exceptional care and an outstanding experience for every patient, every day.”

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New Jersey

The Best Romantic Dinner Spot in New Jersey Revealed

Published

18 hours ago

October 23, 2025

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The Best Romantic Dinner Spot in New Jersey Revealed

New Jersey is a great place to have a romantic dinner, and now a major food website has named one restaurant the Garden State’s most romantic.

The Most Romantic Restaurant In New Jersey

In New Jersey, the only thing we take more seriously than romance is the food we eat, and when you combine the two, you make us very happy.

We love food, and we love love, and one of the most well-known food websites has crowned one of New Jersey’s incredible restaurants the most romantic in the state.

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

Lovefood took on the challenge of naming the most romantic restaurant in every state in America, and if you’ve never been to the one they chose for New Jersey, put it on your bucket list soon.

Where Is New Jersey’s Top Romantic Restaurant?

So, how far will you have to travel to experience romance and dining in a perfect combination?

Read More: New Jersey Restaurant Scene Gains National Attention

The place that earns the top spot for romance in New Jersey is a gorgeous restaurant with one of the best views in America.

Photo by Wedding Dreamz on Unsplash

Chart House in Weehawken overlooks the New York Skyline, and the only thing that rivals the breathtaking view is the amazing food.

New Jersey’s Most Romantic Restaurant

Many New Jersey residents have dined at this elegant restaurant, and the reviews, like the view, are exceptional.

If you have never been to Chart House, get to Weehawken soon. You and the love of your life will be glad you did.

5 Romantic Restaurants In Monmouth County, NJ

Gallery Credit: Lou Russo

Jersey Shore Restaurants That Have Been Around A Long Time

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New Jersey

Behavior of some drivers in New Jersey raises pedestrian safety issues

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2025

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Behavior of some drivers in New Jersey raises pedestrian safety issues

You would think or hope this wouldn’t be an issue in New Jersey. But apparently, it is.

Unfortunately, New Jersey drivers feel the need to put themselves first and ahead of everybody else. And yes, that includes pedestrians.

ALSO READ: What young drivers fear is a very New Jersey thing

OK, maybe that’s a little too harsh. Perhaps it’s better if we say some New Jersey drivers. To be fair, I truly do believe the vast majority of us do pay attention on the roads and follow the law.

It’s that small minority that give us the bad name. It’s equivalent to the small few who are loud. Even though there are less of them, we notice them more because they make themselves stand out.

It’s the same with our drivers. Those of us who do the right thing don’t get noticed. It’s those very few that don’t know what they’re doing that really give us that bad reputation.

And when it comes to pedestrian over driver, this couldn’t be any truer for some of us.

Mike Brant TSM

No regard for the law

This particular instance occurred in downtown Toms River, right by the public library.

There’s a crosswalk there with a sign stating that vehicles must stop for pedestrians within the crosswalk. Seems pretty straightforward, especially with a sign right in the middle of the road.

But yet, multiple cars wouldn’t stop for people trying to cross. Now no, the cars weren’t speeding, but they also never bothered to hit their brakes and let the pedestrians cross the road.

I was one of those pedestrians who, despite standing on the side ready to cross, the cars wouldn’t stop. Not one. I had to wait until no cars were coming up the road.

Mike Brant TSM

Not a one-off

Curious, I decided to watch from one of the benches on the other side after I crossed. And you know what? The same thing happened with others trying to cross too. The cars weren’t speeding, but they weren’t stopping to allow pedestrians to cross either.

It’s a shame some New Jersey drivers are oblivious to the fact that they have to stop. Fortunately, this isn’t a regular occurrence at this spot. Still, you sometimes will come across multiple vehicles in a row that have no regard for the law or the safety for others.

10 things New Jerseyans should keep in their car

Gallery Credit: Kyle Clark

Exclusive look at Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest 2025

A sneak peak at this years Fright Fest, along with an exclusive look inside some of the attractions. Please note that some photos appear blurry due to the lighting and 3D effects of the attraction.

The final day for Fright Fest is Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.

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