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Author: City of Linden

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

Governor Murphy reverses indoor gathering rules in NJ after a spike in the spread of coronavirus

Governor Murphy Announces Decreased Indoor Gathering Capacity Limit

Governor Phil Murphy announced the decrease of indoor gathering capacity limit in response to the increase of COVID-19 cases in New Jersey. Indoor gatherings are now limited to 25 percent of a room’s capacity, but regardless of the room’s capacity, the maximum limit shall be 25 persons, down from 100 persons. For purposes of determining this limit, any private residence or residential unit shall be treated as a single room. However, today’s change will not be applicable to the following events: weddings, funerals, memorial services, religious services or celebrations, and political activities. These events may continue under the previous rules that limited these events to 25 percent of a room’s capacity, but with a limit of 100 persons.

“In order to protect public health, we are re-tightening the restriction on indoor gatherings due to uptick of COVID-19 cases in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “We cannot stress enough that large and crowded indoor gatherings, where social distancing isn’t being practiced and face masks aren’t being worn, are not safe. Until there is a significant decrease of COVID-19 cases, these restrictions will continue to be in place.” 

The Order took effect at 6am on Tuesday, August 4.

Click here for a copy of Executive Order #173.

Notice RE Two Vacancies for Laborer 1 (tier 2) in the Department of Community Services and Municipal Garage

Please be advised that there are 2 vacancies for the position of Laborer 1 (tier 2) in the Department of Community Services and Municipal Garage at the hourly rate of $15.00 (job description and requirements attached). These positions are full time for 40 hours per week. Click here to view and/or download the detailed job description. At this time, these positions will also be publicly advertised and open to all City of Linden residents. Anyone interested in the above-mentioned vacancy must submit an employment application which can be obtained here.

All applications must be completed and returned to the City Clerk, no later than Monday, August 10, 2020. Please be advised that all employment applications must be complete at the time of submission. Copies of resumes, proof of qualifications or any additional documents you wish to submit with your application must be supplied by the applicant. No copying services will be provided by the City Clerk’s Office.

Power Outages in Linden – Update from PSE&G

There are 20,000 PSE&G customers in the City of Linden, and over 1/2 are currently without power. PSE&G is working as quickly as possible to restore power to outage areas, however, there may be customers without power until mid-Thursday morning. PSE&G’s Regional Public Affairs Manager is giving updates directly to the Mayor as they come in, and they will be posted to the City’s Latest News feed.