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Author: City of Linden

Applications Open for the Small Landlord Emergency Grant (SLEG) Program – Tomorrow

This program will reimburse small residential rental property owners for lost rent revenue due to COVID-19 between April and July 2020. Although applications are not first come, first served and are open for a week, we urge you to prepare your documents and make sure you’re ready to apply. It is more important to have your application be correct and accurate than it is to submit early.

View the Application Checklist

Storm Isaias Aftermath Update

I know that some residents are concerned about branches and limbs pick-up. We are asking for your continued patience because Storm Isaias adversely affected our entire City. Our Department of Public Works has been busy working around the clock along with PSE&G with limited man-power due to COVID-19.

Over 13,800 people lost power in Linden, more than Hurricane Sandy. Phase 1 of the clean-up was taking care of the trees that affected the power lines, so that power could be restore to our residents and businesses. Phase 2 was to remove additional trees that are no longer stable, to avoid any potential injuries to citizens, homes and vehicles. Phase 3 will be the continued clean-up of branches and limbs and will be continued to be picked up during grass clipping days.

We are still currently in Phase 2 and Phase 3. We are asking for patience and understanding. Our DPW men and women are working hard and just need time to get the job done.

Thank you,

Mayor Armstead

Union County COVID-19 Test Sites

Union County residents can now walk to our free COVID-19 test sites, provided by the Union County COVID-19 Mobile Test Unit. The Mobile Test Unit is visiting local communities to offer free COVID-19 tests to the public, by appointment. All tests are conducted on a walk-up basis; no car is needed.

  • Any Union County resident can make an appointment at any Mobile Test Unit location.
  • Union County residents who need assistance by phone can call the Mobile Test Unit at 908-518-4307.
  • The Union County COVID-19 Mobile Test Unit has conducted more than 2,000 tests to date and is staffed by health professionals with the Union County Division of Health.
  • Residents can attend any of the following upcoming Walk-up Sites. Click each site to make an appointment online.

Test Sites

  • Elizabeth Erxleben Center 513 Richmond Street, Tuesday, August 25th 4pm – 7pm
  • Plainfield Gerald Green Plaza 200 West Second Street, Tuesday, August 25th 4pm – 7pm
  • Rahway Zion Lutheran Church 215 Elm Avenue, Tuesday, August 25th 10am – 1pm
  • Westfield Tamaques Park Thursday, August 20th 10am – 1pm (1872 Lamberts Mill Road in Scotch Plains for your GPS)

Interfaith Action Movement (I AM) Creating Decennial Census Awareness for 20,000 People

Aiming to reduce under-counts of communities of color and other hard to reach communities

Leaders from faith and community-based organizations, higher education institutions, law enforcement, state, and local government officials, and business leaders have come together to form New Jersey’s Interfaith Action Movement (I AM).

This diverse, action-oriented coalition is coordinating a state-wide strategy to peak awareness of the U.S. Census specifically focused on hard to count (HTC) populations within the state of New Jersey. The I AM efforts centerpiece is a series of Census Family Reunion Sundays slated for September 6, 13, 20 and 27, in advance of the new Census deadline of September 30, 2020.

I AM is led by Rev. Dr. Derrick Green, Senior Advisor for Diversity, Faith, Urban and Regional Growth for New Jersey Governor Phil D. Murphy.

Downloads

Union Vicinage Landlord/Tenant Virtual Informational Conference

Union Vicinage Special Civil Part judges and staff will explain current landlord/tenant court processes. State, county and community providers will discuss a variety of available services, with a focus on resources for landlords and tenants.

When & Where (click on link to register for Zoom Meeting)

This conference is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information or to request an ADA accommodation or interpreter, contact David Beverly at 908-787-1650, ext. 21028 or click to send an email here.

Click here to view and/or download the flyer for this event.

Winfield COVID-19 Walkup Testing @ the Winfield Firehouse on Thursday, August 13th

The Union County Freeholder Board is pleased to announce that the Union County COVID-19 Mobile Test Unit is now visiting various community locations to provide free tests for Union County residents. Any resident can make an appointment for a test, whether or not they have symptoms. No doctor visit or car is needed; all tests are conducted on a walk-up basis with masks and social distance required.

Winfield: Fire Station, 12 Gulfstream Avenue, Thursday, August 13.

Back-Rent Forgiveness for NJ Tenants

Governor Murphy on Friday introduced a new emergency aid program Friday that will allow owners of small rental apartment buildings to tap into a pool of $25 million in grant money to make up for rent that tenants affected by the crisis couldn’t pay from April to July. The landlords who receive the federal funds will then be required to cancel the back rent and late fees those tenants weren’t able to pay in that time. The state’s Small Landlord Emergency Grant program is open to landlords of residential properties with three to 10 units — buildings that are found across the state but are largely inhabited by low- and moderate-income residents in urban areas.

For this program we are standing up $25 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established through the Federal CARES Act. This program, which is authorized by the New Jersey Mortgage and Housing Finance Agency, will provide emergency grant funding to the owners of small rental apartment buildings between three and ten units to help cover their COVID-19 related rent losses from April through July. Landlords who receive assistance through this program must then pass along the benefits to their tenants by forgiving outstanding back rent and late fees accumulated during this same period.said Governor Murphy in his press briefing on Friday.

For more information about the program, please click here.

Recap of the Aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias

The City of Linden was hit harder during this storm than it was during Hurricane Sandy. I want to thank our residents for their patience during this difficult time. There were 575,000 PSEG customers statewide that were without power, which is a quarter of their customer base. Here in Linden over 13,800 PSEG customers lost power. There are still 1,490 customers without power. Global estimated restoration time for all customers is Aug 10th @3pm, possibly sooner. Customers will be restored intermittently between now and then. PSEG and our DPW will be working to rid the hazards on Stiles St at Elm St and Stiles St at Elmwood Terrace.

We have been prioritizing the trees that are down, and those that are on houses and blocking roads are naturally at the top of the list. We are presently 90% through the list. Our State-contracted Independent Contractor is assisting us with clearing the trees. We will then be chipping the large limbs and branches that are in our roadways. On the grass collection days, we will be picking up the branches and limbs along with the grass clippings that residents bring to the curb.

Residents who need to charge their electronics may go either to the Promenade on Wood Avenue (next to Motion Credit Union), or to the JTG Center. The JTG Center will also be used as a cooling station and hours of operation are from 11am to 6pm. Remember that face masks are required along with social distancing.

If your power is out, please make sure to report it to PSEG by phone at 1-800-836-7734, through their website, or by texting the word “OUT” to 47734. PSEG also has opened a Comfort Station at Warinaco Park in Roselle. They are offering free water and ice to Union County residents.

Thank you to the Police Officers, Firefighters, Public Works Department, Dispatchers, OEM Volunteers, Utility Workers and all those who did so much to make sure we weathered the storm!

Thank you,

Mayor Derek Armstead