New Jersey
Today is Juneteenth, but the state of New Jersey will also celebrate Friday. Here’s why
This year marks the third year that New Jersey will celebrate Juneteenth as an official state holiday. However, while Juneteenth technically combines the words June and nineteenth, the state of New Jersey will be celebrating the holiday on Friday, the 21st.
Here is everything you need to know about Juneteenth in New Jersey.
What does Juneteenth celebrate?
Juneteenth celebrates the day that federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 and shared the news that slavery had been abolished, therefore freeing the state’s 250,000 enslaved people. This took place two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, according to History.com.
The following year, freed men in Texas organized the first ever “Jubilee Day” on June 19. The day was celebrated with barbecues, prayers, music and more. Then, according to History, as Black people migrated around the country, the tradition of celebrating Juneteenth went with them.
Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in 1979 with several other states following suit in the years since. It is considered by many to be America’s second Independence Day and is typically celebrated on June 19.
Why is New Jersey observing Juneteenth on Friday instead of Wednesday?
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. This means that on Wednesday, June 19, banks, post offices and credit unions will be closed, and USPS will not be delivering mail. Additionally, thousands of people all over the country will have the day off of work.
In 2020, less than one year prior to the federal declaration of the Juneteenth holiday, Murphy signed legislation designating Juneteenth as a state and public holiday. However, instead of celebrating on June 19, the state observes the holiday on the third Friday of June each year.
Since the New Jersey state government made Juneteenth a state holiday before the federal government declared it a national holiday, the state will continue to observe it on the third Friday in June rather than whatever day the 19th falls on.
Therefore, similar to other state holidays, state agencies such as the Motor Vehicle Commission, state courts, and other state employees will be closed or have the day off on Friday.
New Jersey state holidays
Juneteenth is one of 13 total state holidays that New Jersey is scheduled to observe in 2024. The other 12 holidays include:
- New Year’s Day: 1/1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: 1/15
- Presidents Day: 2/19
- Good Friday: 3/29
- Memorial Day: 5/27
- Independence Day: 7/4
- Labor Day: 9/2
- Columbus Day: 10/14
- Election Day: 11/5
- Veterans Day: 11/11
- Thanksgiving Day: 11/28
- Christmas Day: 12/25
Several other states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. According to the Pew Research Center, 28 states and the District of Columbia celebrated Juneteenth in 2023 with either all or some state government workers being granted a day off. Most of these states have designated Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday in recent years.
2-minute read
NJ fines Sen. Wimberly $24K after using donations on hotels, airfare
Wimberly has been fined about $24,000 by New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission, partly for spending campaign funds on his own personal use.
PATERSON — In a three-month span at the end of 2022, state Sen. Benjie Wimberly, then an assemblyman, spent more than $7,200 in political donations on hotel bills, airfare and other travel expenses.
Now, Wimberly has been fined about $24,000 by New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission, partly for spending campaign funds on his own personal use.
The ELEC complaint against Wimberly had been pending since December 2024, and a settlement between the state and the senator was reached at the end of May 2026. ELEC made details of the deal public on July 1.
“Senator Wimberly chose to settle the matter with ELEC because his priority is addressing the immediate and important needs of his district,” said his attorney, Angelo Genova, a prominent and well-connected lawyer in New Jersey political circles.
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“As expressly stated in the Consent Order and Final Decision, Senator Wimberly and his treasurer neither admit nor deny the violations, and they maintain their good-faith belief that the disputed expenditures were permissible under the law,” Genova added.
Wimberly’s campaign treasurer, David Cozart, works as an assistant superintendent for Paterson Public Schools, with a $213,000 salary. Wimberly also works for the city school district as director of recreation, with a $194,000 salary.
The commission determined that 19 of Wimberly’s expenditures at the end of 2022, when he was still an Assembly member, were for impermissible uses. The order said $10,861 of the fine stemmed from Wimberly’s improper use of political funds. The rest of the penalty was for late filing of a finance report that covered October through December of 2022.
Among the expenditures highlighted by ELEC were:
- $645 to the Hilton Garden Inn Lodge Colonial on Oct. 11, 2022.
- $751 to the Embassy Suites Hampton on Oct. 25, 2022.
- $497 to the Landing at Hampton on Nov. 8, 2022.
- $322 to the Hilton Garden Inn on Dec. 6, 2022.
- $378 to the Omni Hotels on Dec. 14, 2022.
The ELEC complaint did not provide specific locations of those businesses.
Partial payment of $4,000 in April
The order said Wimberly and Cozart made a partial payment of $4,000 in April 2026. The election commission also reduced the penalty, lowering it to $15,335.
Going forward, Cozart and Wimberly would make four payments of $3,833.99 through April 2027, the order said.
Wimberly supporters noted that the original complaint filed against him came at the end of 2024, when he was still an Assembly member making a bid for the vacant New Jersey 35th District Senate seat left vacant when Nellie Pou went to Congress.
Wimberly sought the Senate seat even though several Passaic County Democratic party leaders were backing then-Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter for the Senate. After the initial tally ended in a tie, Wimberly won the internal party election by one vote over Sumter.
Governor Mikie Sherrill at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township after collapse
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill meets with first responders before a press conference at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township.
Last week wasn’t a great one when it comes to weather at the Jersey Shore.
This one will be much better, at least if you like heat.
A heat wave will hit New Jersey this week with hot weather moving into the area on Tuesday. The warm temperatures will stick around for most of the week before we get a little relief by the end of the weekend.
The National Weather Service forecasts the heat wave to start July 14 with a sunny day with highs around 92 degrees. Wednesday is even hotter with temperatures expected to flirt with 100 degrees. Thursday stays hot with a high of 92 degrees forecasted, with Friday and Saturday also expected to see highs in the low 80s.
According to the NOAA, Wednesday the Jersey Shore area will be under an extreme heat watch.
Tuesday through Friday are expected to be sunny, with some clouds. Saturday is when showers roll in.
Sunday the heatwave is expected to break. Showers are also expected to stick around with a high of 84 degrees expected.
2-minute read
Paper Plane Coffee adding a new Maplewood NJ location
Paper Plane Coffee, the popular Montclair spot, will open a Maplewood location.
The Record, NorthJersey.com, the Daily Record and the New Jersey Herald want to keep you up to date on all the newest shops, restaurants and service providers moving into your towns. Below is a roundup of businesses that recently opened or are coming soon.
Are you opening a business in North Jersey? Get the word out to your neighbors as soon as possible. Send us your information and photos and we will try to add them to our next new-business roundup.
We’re also interested in reporting business closings. Have a tip? Contact Business Reporter Daniel Munoz at munozd@northjersey.com, or 201-270-9870, and Stephanie Noda at noda@northjersey.com, or 973-558-0950.
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Cre8sArt School, Westwood
Arts education classes for students of all ages and levels, including year-round classes, camps, workshops and portfolio development programs.
WHERE: 24 Booker St., Westwood
WHEN: Grand opening was June 14. Hours are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 888-371-9904 or visit https://cre8sart.com/
Point 5 Jersey, Morristown
Liquor store dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks, from mixers to specialty beverages.
WHERE: 48 Washington St., Morristown
WHEN: Grand opening was June 17.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 862-286-0555, email point5jersey@gmail.com or visit www.point5jersey.com
Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.
Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100, Facebook and Instagram
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