Tuesday February 25 News Updates Lakewood

Weather: 60° with sunshine early, followed by cloudy skies this afternoon.

Tonight Central Avenue closed to traffic 

- Bill Spadea wins the Ocean County Republican convention. 129-83, against Jack Ciattarelli.

- House GOP passes budget bill which ends taxes on tips, overtime, social security.

- President Trump announces a new immigration "Gold Card" that will be sold to immigrants for $5 million. The Gold Card is a premium version of a Green Card, "It's gonna be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card."

"They'll be wealthy and they'll be successful and they'll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people."

- The historic Baal Shem Tov's Sefer Torah is now on the way to the Skver Shtetl from JFK Airport. It was brought by a special delegation of the Machnovka-Belz Rebbe and was welcomed at the airport by the Skver Rebbe's son and askanim. The Sefer Torah is being escorted with top security on its way to Skver.

(Rockland daily)

- Trump: Kash Patel Unleashes MAGA Justice on Comey’s Deep State Honeypot Scheme

Kash Patel, Trump’s new fearless FBI Director, just launched a bombshell investigation into crooked James Comey’s secret honeypot operation that targeted our great President during his first term. Patriots always knew the Deep State was up to no good and now whistleblowers have exposed Comey’s slimy plot to send undercover seductresses after Trump’s 2016 campaign—pure election interference. 

- Murphy budget: The FY2026 budget delivers a record high amount of property tax relief to the people of New Jersey, with nearly $4.3 billion for Direct Property Tax Relief.

Budget proposes $1.27 billion for Preschool Education Aid.

The budget also includes legislation to require every school district to provide full-day kindergarten.

- State Senator and GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Jon Bramnick:

“Governor Murphy’s proposed budget sets another record for spending at $58.1 billion, $1.5 billion more than last year. The increased spending once again comes on the back of taxpayers with a proposal to raise taxes and fees by $1.2 billion.

- Tonight in Lakewood The Voice Of Emunah  with Rav Shalom Arush of the emunah series  and  Yair Elaytzur the composer of Od yoter tov song 8:30 PM Clifton Avenue Grade School, 625 Clifton Ave

- Gov Phil Murphy says that his proposed state budget for Fiscal Year 2026 will include a new sales tax exemption for cribs and "other critical baby supplies."

- CRC KASHRES ALERT: Glicks Dark chocolate Conettos. Milk chocolate is packed in Parve dark chocolate bags. Lot #02092024.  It has been recalled but still on store shelves. Please spread the word you can save a life. Please circulate.

- Power outage 1:00pm: Over 7000 JCP&L customers without power in Lakewood Northeast areas Rt 9 to Howell border Squankum Rd E Kennedy and E County line estimated restoration is 3:30 pm traffic lights out GG no power

- Lakewood roads Crash Report - January 2025

Last month there were 472 Total crashes in Lakewood  resulting in 37 with injuries and 11 Pedestrians struck (2.6 weekly) per faanews

- A Southwest Airlines jet was forced to abort landing in Chicago this morning when a private jet suddenly taxied onto the runway. 

- Historic Hachnosas Sefer Torah: Tomorrow, Wednesday, in New Square, joined by Skver Chasidim from all over the world. Over 40,000 participants are expected.

- Medicaid Cuts Under Trump: Devastating cuts to Medicaid under the Trump administration would threaten health care for 700K in New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration estimates the loss to New Jersey at $5.2 billion a year, according to a new memo from state Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.

- Lakewood Republican Club Endorsement: The Lakewood Republican Club has endorsed Jack Ciattarelli in his bid for governor.

- Monmouth County Republican Convention: The Monmouth County Republican Convention has endorsed Jack Ciattarelli as the candidate for governor. Ciattarelli defeated Bill Spadea, securing the first major official win of the 2025 GOP election cycle.

- Lakewood Traffic Concerns: The Lakewood mayor Ray Coles stated that the township wishes to have traffic crossing guards at busy intersections such as Central Ave and Carranetta, but there’s a lack of interested personnel for the job. He did not propose using police officers during peak traffic times.

- Trump on Keystone XL Pipeline: Trump stated, “Our country’s doing really well, and today, I was just thinking that the company building the Keystone XL Pipeline, which was viciously canceled by the incompetent Biden Administration, should come back to America and get it built — NOW! The Trump Administration is very different — Easy approvals, almost immediate start! If not them, perhaps another pipeline company. We want the Keystone XL Pipeline built!”

- Upcoming Zoning Board Meeting:

Mikvah of Miller Road, Corner of Adams, applying for a variance to construct a mikvah.

Yeshiva Toras Chaim, Ridge Avenue, seeking a block use variance for a 3-story dormitory.

- APP Reporters to Strike: Reporters at six Gannett-owned newspapers in New York and New Jersey, including the Asbury Park Press, have voted to strike over what they say is Gannett's "disregard for labor law and refusal to agree to a fair contract after three years of bargaining."

- Let’s Go Brandon Store Closing: The "Let’s Go Brandon" store in Toms River is closing due to an expired lease. The store has sold Trump merchandise since opening in 2022.

- Trump posts poll: Is it time for new AG Pam Bondi to IMMEDIATELY release the Epstein, 9/11 and JFK files?

- Gov. Murphy’s Final Budget Address: New Jersey Gov. Murphy will deliver his final budget address today at 3 p.m., outlining his spending blueprint for Fiscal Year 2026. This year’s budget is expected to carry a $3 billion structural deficit, compounded by the possibility of significant federal funding cuts.

- Trump Announces Tariffs: President Donald Trump announced on Monday that tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will begin next month.

- Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein Visits Satmar Rebbe: Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Yad Aharon Yeshiva, visited the Satmar Rebbe with a Shlichus  of Rav Dov Landau RY Slabodka, and shared news of the establishment of the organization ‘Ezram UMaginem,’ which he founded to help any Avreich or Bochur facing danger due to the threat of conscription to lDF

Video: Practice run for Skver Hachnosas Seger Torah Float truck