Opioids
Phil Murphy added opioid addiction to the list of conditions for which a person can be prescribed medical marijuana. The Murphy admin also removed the prior-authorization requirement for opioid treatments involving medication. The governor said they would be opening treatment centers in Camden and Newark.
AtlantiCare
Elsewhere in medicine, CRDA approved a plan by AtlantiCare to build a 65,000-square-foot facility on Atlantic Avenue, between Ohio and Indiana Avenues, on one of their (CRDA’s) vacant lots. They will have classes and maternal care and urgent care and dialysis. CRDA’s chipping in the land and $15 million. I wonder who will get the construction contract.
Mayor Gilliam said the project, “will put people to work, but more importantly, it adds an amenity to a city where healthcare is a substantial cost.”
In possibly related news, “NJ’s First Lady Launches Campaign to Lower Maternal Mortality.”
Shutdown
Do you want to help federal workers hurt by the government shutdown? Here’s a list of places offering support as well as places where you can make food donations, compiled by Elinor, my wife and hero (Ed. Stop sucking up). It’s a work in progress, so let us know if we should add anything.
Concrete Block
Nanette LoBiondo Galloway has an extremely charming story about the big piece of concrete or something on the beach at Douglas Avenue in Margate.
People don’t even know what it is–a piece of old seawall? the remains of the boardwalk foundation?–but you better believe scads of Margatians came out of the weeds when they found out the city and the Army Corps of Engineers were maybe going to get rid of it.
This reminds me of the big cardboard boxes (2) that were my kids’ favorite toys in 2015/2016. I don’t even remember what came in them–probably a gilded tricycle–but the boxes themselves got turned into a helicopter and an ocean-liner and a riverboat paddlewheeler and a hovercraft. Mostly a hovercraft. The kids slapped stickers on them and drew portholes on the sides and propellers on them and played in them constantly. Then when we moved they went back to being functional boxes, full of our actual belongings, again, and they got lost in the trauma of our trying to readjust to America.
My point is you should never buy your kids (Ed. even the Margatians) anything because they’ll be happier with big rocks and old cardboard boxes and you will too.
Have you thought about advertising your business with Route 40? Ask us about our rates! We support #commerce.
Locals say ‘magical’ concrete rock should remain as a landmark for Margate youths
For more feats of journalism…
Middlesex prosecutor closes inquiry, declines to charge Alvarez–A second county prosecutor said Wednesday that it would not press charges against Al Alvarez, a former campaign adviser and Murphy administration official who resigned his state job in October over allegations he raped Katie Brennan, another state aide. www.politico.com
MBCA Holds Annual Business Luncheon Meeting in Atlantic City–The Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association (MBCA) held its annual New Year’s Luncheon Business Meeting at Caesars in Atlantic City on Wednesday, January 23rd. www.snjtoday.com
MURPHY OUTLINES EXPANDED, MULTIAGENCY APPROACH TO OPIOID ADDICTION–New Jersey will roll out additional efforts to further reduce the number of prescriptions written for opioids; make it easier for Medicaid patients to access addiction care; allow patients with addictions to qualify for medicinal marijuana as part of wider treatment; and expand job training, family supports, and other services. www.njspotlight.com
N.J.-licensed online gambling site slapped with fine after glitch allows under-21 bets–New Jersey gambling regulators have levied their first fine for underage internet gambling, assessing the company behind the playsugarhouse.com website $30,000 for allowing underage gamblers to place bets online for more than a year. www.nj.com
Suspected shooter surrenders to SWAT team after standoff in downtown Salem City–A fugitive opened fire at police who tried to arrest him, leading to a lengthy standoff in downtown Salem City before the wanted man surrendered Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. www.nj.com