Freelance writer and editor Kim Kavin was at the Peapack train station in Somerset County on July 30, excited for a night out in New York City with a friend from California she hadn’t seen in years.

Unfortunately for Kavin, she was planning on NJ Transit getting her to and from the city. But after a 20-minute delay, the train was canceled. Kavin, who had already bought a round-trip ticket, asked NJ Transit to refund her $36.50 and has yet to hear back.

Kavin does not think much of Gov. Phil Murphy’s Thursday announcement that, as an apology for the transit agency’s abysmal performance this summer, all riders will get free trips on NJ Transit for a week starting Aug. 26.

“I don’t need a ride. I needed a ride when my friend was visiting from California. Now I need my $36.50 back. That’s what I want from Phil Murphy,” she said.

Listen, riders aren’t itching to get one or two train or bus trips for free; they want good, reliable public transportation year-round. And the prospect of a few on-the-house NJ Transit rides the week before a holiday weekend will not reassure them that, after the fare holiday ends, service will get any better.

“This fare holiday is a gimmick,” said Alex Ambrose, a policy analyst with progressive think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective. “It does nothing to actually address the structural problems that exist in NJ Transit, one of the biggest of which is that lawmakers have neglected to adequately fund transit for decades.”

This is a rare issue where progressive wonks and business leaders agree.

Michele Siekerka, president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, also opposes the fare holiday, though for a different reason. Siekerka hates it because it represents a bait-and-switch by Murphy’s administration.

Murphy helped push through a new surtax on some of the state’s most profitable businesses, which he said would help give the financially beleaguered NJ Transit a steady revenue stream for the next few years. Instead, Siekerka noted, the $1 billion the surtax is expected to generate in its first year is going to the state’s general fund — not to NJ Transit.

“If there was such a desperate need, why did we money-grab a billion dollars from the business community to stick in surplus for a year? It makes no sense,” she said. “It’s illogical, it’s nonsensical, it’s irrational, and it’s very, very difficult to have a legitimate discussion about.”

It’s not just the business community paying more to help fund public transit. NJ Transit approved a big fare hike this year — some fares rose 15% — and will tack on 3% fare hikes annually starting next July.

So after raising taxes and hiking fares to rescue NJ Transit from its a budget crisis, the Murphy administration will take $19 million the agency was expected to make from fares the last week of August and flush it down the toilet.

What sense does this make?

Murphy offering an apology to NJ Transit users is good, though he undercut it with his don’t-blame-me attitude (“A lot of this is out of our hands,” said our powerful governor who claims to have a close relationship with the president of the United States). What the apology should come with is not a gimmick to appease riders for one week, but a concrete plan to make sure NJ Transit service is frequent, reliable, and accessible. Hopefully we see that soon.

WILLINGBORO, N.J. (CBS) —  Peter Parker famously says, “Anyone can wear the mask.”

In the case of a stolen wallet, South Jersey police officers are putting on the mask, and stepping up to save the day.

“I could see myself in him a little bit. I just wanted to put a smile on the young man’s face,” Willingboro Police officer Alan Allen said.

Jahmene “JJ” Cubbage showed off his new backpack Thursday evening. After pulling out a notebook, he shared why he loves it: Spider-Man – his favorite superhero – graced the cover.

“I like him because I like his colors on his suit,” Cubbage said.

Rewind to earlier this month, and JJ met a real-life superhero.

“Everybody was kind of stunned. They didn’t know what was going on,” Allen said.

Like any good superhero story – there’s a back story.

“You don’t see that too often – a bad situation being made positive,” JJ’s mom, Danika Thames-Cubbage, said.

This one happened a few weeks ago after Thames-Cubbage called 911 when someone broke into her car. JJ’s beloved Spider-Man wallet was taken out, emptied and thrown into a nearby bush.

Inside was just $3 and a couple of gift cards.

“He likes to get hashbrowns in the morning before school. So I usually just keep a few dollars and money in there,” Thames-Cubbage said.

Allen originally responded to the call, and then returned to the family’s home a few days later with some friends and a surprise.

Together – the department gifted the 8-year-old a backpack stuffed with Spider-Man things — a water bottle and Chick-fil-A gift card. In a video captured by Cubbage’s dad, the future third-grader hugged Allen.

“It caught us off guard that they came back to even think about him. That he was even a second thought. We were grateful. Very, very grateful,” Thames-Cubbage said.

As Spider-Man himself says, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Responsibility is something Allen says he doesn’t take lightly.

“I want the community to expect a positive outreach from police. We are here to help. I don’t want them to be fearful of police,” Allen said.

It’s certainly a moment these two won’t forget. One day, JJ said he too wants to be a superhero — following in Allen’s footsteps.

As for the case, the department said it remains active and open as detectives continue their investigation. 

Willingboro Township police want to remind residents – “if they see something, say something” – and to always lock their car doors and homes.

Willingboro Township police also offer several programs for the community including alarm registration, security camera registration and vacation checks.

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — Camden is doubling down on its effort to clean up the city as it unveils new tools to help keep the streets clean.

On Thursday, truckloads of trash were unloaded and the unwanted items were hauled away into a dumpster.

Alex Rodriguez was one of the many people living in Camden who waited in line to throw away an old TV, plywood and chairs.

“I’m glad the city is doing this kind of cleaning for the community,” said Rodriguez, who has lived in Camden for 30 years.

Rodriguez says large trash items remained at his home because there was never a place to legally dump them.

“Now we got the opportunity to bring it here, I’m glad,” he said.

The city held its monthly bulk trash event in the Cramer Hill neighborhood, which is an initiative that was launched to help fight against illegal dumping.

“Illegal dumping isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a threat to our health, safety, and quality of life,” Councilwoman Jannette Ramos said.

City leaders say 30,000 to 35,000 tons of material are dumped illegally each year, which costs Camden about $4 million to clean up.

In June, city council announced an illegal dumping reward program, which will provide up to $1,000 to anyone who gives information that leads to a conviction.

Now, a new garbage truck is being unveiled as another tool to help clean up the city. According to the city, the truck cost $280,000 and was purchased through a combination of grant dollars and budgeted funds. It is the first garbage vehicle procured by the city in almost a decade. 

Mayor Vic Carstarphen says a clean community is a happy community.

“It builds trust, it builds confidence in our residents to know that we care, and we are committed,” Carstarphen said.

The mayor says he’s committed to tackling quality-of-life issues, and two additional new garbage trucks will hit the streets in the fall.

Rodriguez is happy to see progress and says it takes a team effort to restore pride across Camden.

“The community has to work together with the city to keep the city clean,” he said.

The bulk waste event takes place every third Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.