Financial relief on the way for workers and businesses.
Dear Hazlet Residents,
As we start another week at home during this extraordinary moment in our history, I want to say how proud I am of how our town is responding to Gov. Phil Murphy’s stay at home order. Social distancing is critical to "flattening the curve" and gives our health workers a better chance of responding to COVID-19 patients as we approach peak levels of infection. By staying home you are doing more than socially distancing. You are actively demonstrating "social solidarity." Every healthcare worker is grateful for your effort to halt the spread.
Monmouth County officials have been sharing COVID-19 positive test results by town in previous days, which reflect tests that were administered as much as 7 days ago. They paused recently to train their staff. When they resume, we will be sure to share those numbers on the same day we receive them, as we have in the past. Today, March 29, the state Dept. of Health posted that Monmouth County has 870 positive cases.
In the past few days, President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) into law. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion dollar funding package to help individuals, businesses and healthcare impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hazlet Township Committee has been in constant contact with our federal representatives during this process and, while the CARES Act is not perfect, our representatives have sent out the message that this is not final legislative step from the federal government in response to this pandemic.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has posted this summary of what is in the stimulus package for New Jersey. It highlights the relief for residents, including direct payments to 80% of New Jersey families, expanded unemployment insurance and fee waivers for retirement fund withdrawals. It also highlights help for the state health system, support for New Jersey and local communities and affordable housing, as well as help for local schools and higher education. It also includes help for small businesses.
Our township committee has been looking into the small business portion of the funding package. Read our take on the Paycheck Protection Program, We will continue to explore the benefits of the CARES Act and provide additional information when available..
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Mike Glackin
Mayor
Hazlet Township
mglackin@hazlettwp.org
