Wednesday February 19 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather Update:

31° and cloudy today. Tomorrow, expect a chance of flurries or snow showers.

- HaRav Eliezer Kahaneman shlit”a, Nasi of Yeshivas Ponevezh will visit the U.S. with a Melava Malka in Lakewood this Motzei Shabbos, 24 Shevat at the Gratter Simcha Hall, 100 Park Ave S.

- Trump will be laying off over 6,000 IRS agents Tomorrow, just one week after DOGE began their audit,

-Approximately $15 million was stolen from the Lakewood Board of Education's operating account sometime over Presidents Day weekend

(Onenjersey)

- Trump: CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!

- NYC congestion pricing axed as Trump pulls approval of hated toll NYP reports: 

New York City’s spectacularly unpopular congestion pricing scheme is on death row as the Trump administration will announce Wednesday it is pulling its approval of the toll — slamming it as “backwards and unfair” — in a major blow to Gov. Kathy Hochul,

- Trump unloads on zelensky  'A Dictator without Elections": T hink of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle. .. Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. 

-Elon Musk Proposes $5,000 DOGE Dividend for Americans:

Elon Musk has proposed a plan to President Trump for a 'DOGE Dividend,' aiming to distribute $5,000 checks to all American taxpayers. The plan would be funded by potential savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency. 

DOGE to BOE:

 Users on social media are calling on Musk and DOGE to address Lakewood BOE's financial situation, especially following articles in tbe APP about high salaries and significant debt. The false claims about Lakewood not paying taxes are mentioned too.

-Tonight's BOE Meeting:

The Lakewood Board of Education is set to borrow more money from the state, with Lakewood taxpayers owing $300 million to New Jersey. The district is considering selling some properties to reduce the debt. The district has also mentioned the possible closure of Piner Elementary, which is housed in a leased building from the Archdiocese of Trenton.

-Salary Increases for Township Officials:

Lakewood township officials are set to vote on salary raises tomorrow night. The mayor's salary remains at $108k, while committee members will receive a 3.5k raise after a 20k increase last year. Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller will see a 10k raise after last year's 20k boost. The Chief of Police's salary will increase by 65k, from $265k to $330k. Meanwhile, taxes on residents have been raised by over $1000 per household. See all salary increases HERE

-Teacher Strike at Heimish Girls School:

Teachers at a local Heimish girls school went on strike yesterday due to unpaid wages. Parents had to pick up their children in the middle of the day. Earlier this year, the school re-registered all students in an effort to collect unpaid tuition, but the situation remains unresolved. The school has notified parents that the regular schedule will resume today.

-Tehillim for Rabbi Chaim Abadi:

Please say Tehillim for Rabbi Chaim Abadi, who was rushed to the hospital early this morning. His Hebrew name is Chaim Yisrael Ben Chaya Rizsha.

-Yartzeit of Rav Yehuda Zev Segal ZTL:

Tonight marks the Yartzeit of the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yehuda Zev Segal ZTL. There will be a Siyum and Divrei Hisorerus at Zichron Shneur Ezras Nashim, 282 Oak Knoll, Lakewood, at 10:30 PM. Divrei Zikaron will be delivered by Rav Heshy Basch shlita.

-OU Kosher Certification for Mr. Beast Feastables:

Mr. Beast's Feastables are now certified OU Kosher! They are certified OUD, but not Chalav Yisroel.

-Lakewood Township Traffic Signals Update:

The township will finally accept Ocean County's offer to install battery backups and generator switches in traffic signals after previous hesitations. This agreement will be finalized at the township meeting this Thursday. FAA

-Pedestrian Fatalities in Toms River:

Two pedestrians were struck and killed by a vehicle in Toms River yesterday. They have been identified as 72-year-old Craig Parson and 68-year-old Debra Wright, both of Toms River.

-LPD Reminder:

Due to Presidents Day this past Monday, all trash and recycling pickups for this week have been delayed by one day.

-Trump's Social Security and Medicare Comments:

Former President Trump stated, "Social Security won't be touched, other than in cases of fraud. Medicare and Medicaid will remain unaffected. We will remove illegal migrants from the system."

Preparations for Rav Shaul Alter's Visit:

Preparations are underway for Rav Shaul Alter's upcoming Shabbos visit to Lakewood at his kehila on Lucy Rd off New Hampshire near Belz. A large tent is being set up for the occasion.