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THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO, UH, SET YOUR CELL PHONE ON, RIGHT? YEAH.
GOOD EVENING TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, THE HONOREES ALL WHO HAVE ASSEMBLE HERE TODAY, ALL WHO ARE WATCHING VIA LIVESTREAM.
I'M WAYNE RICHARDSON, PRESIDENT OF ES COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WELCOME YOU TO OUR ANNUAL JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION.
SO, VICE PRESIDENT MORRIS, HE'S THE PRESIDENT, HYPE MAN,
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR AS IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE, CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COUNTY'S GREATEST STRENGTH, DIVERSITY OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE RECOGNIZE MAY JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH, HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT EVERYDAY JEWISH AMERICANS ARE HARD AT WORK MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS EVENING, THE COMMISSION HAVE SELECTED DESERVING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DONE JUST THAT.
WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HONOR, MICHAEL H. COHEN TOWN COMMITTEE MEMBER IN MILBERG, PAULA PIKES FROM THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD AND NEIGHBOR, NEIGHBOR METHOD, LARRY HIRSCH AND NEW JERSEY STATE DEMOCRATIC MEMBER AND DISTRICT LEADER IN SOUTH ORANGE.
AND CARRIE CHIAT, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST IN MONTCLAIR.
TO EACH, I PERSONALLY SALUTE YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE ESSENCE COUNTY A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND RAISE A FAMILY.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO BRITTANY STERN, WHO IS A STUDENT AT CONT SOCIALIST AND FROM CONGREGATION BENIGN ISRAEL IN MILBURN TO PERFORM THE STAR SPAN BANNER AND AN ISRAELI NATIONAL OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BRIGHT STARS THAT
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THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRITTANY, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND HOW ENCOURAGING IT IS TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE EMBRACING IN THE MINISTRY.I'M COMMISSIONER AT LARGE PAT SAL, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE PART IN OUR ANNUAL JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH PROGRAM.
I AM PROUD TO BE A JEWISH AMERICAN AND DELIGHTED TO BE ONE OF THE CATALYSTS FOR THE BOARD'S CELEBRATION.
TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JEWISH MEN AND WOMEN EVERYWHERE AND HONOR OUTSTANDING ESSEX COUNTY CITIZENS FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COUNTY AND TO OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
WE WILL BEGIN OUR PROGRAM WITH AN OPENING PRAYER FROM RABBIS ALMAN ROSEBAUM.
RABBI ROSEBAUM RUNS LIFE TOWN AND FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE IN MY HOMETOWN OF LIVINGSTON.
HE DEALS IN SPECIAL ABILITIES.
HE HAS A FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE IN LIFE TOWN, COVERING MANY AREAS AND HELPING SO MANY PEOPLE ACHIEVE WHAT THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE.
HE DOES A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL JOB.
SO PLEASE WELCOME RABBI GROSSMAN AS HE COMES TO THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND MAZELTOV, TO ALL THE HONOREES.
I ROOTS ARE FROM, UH, ESSEX COUNTY, AND I GREW UP IN MINNESOTA.
MY FATHER GREW UP HERE IN NEWARK, AND, UH, SO BACK TO MY ROOTS BEING A LIVINGTON.
FOR SOME YEARS THIS PAST WEEKEND, JEWISH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATED THE HOLIDAY OF SHAVUOT, WHICH COMMEMORATES THE REVELATION AT SINAI, GIVING OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS FROM THE TORAH.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT MOUNT SINAI, THE BIBLE RELATES THE
THE WORD IS STAYED IN THE PLURAL, AND THEY ENCAMPED RATHER THAN ENCAMPED IN THE COMMENTARIES.
THE UNUSUAL FORM OF THE VERB INDICATES THAT IT WAS KEISHA AS ONE PERSON WITH ONE HEART.
THE USE OF THE SINGULAR FORM INDICATES THAT THE END REACHED THE HIGH LEVEL OF UNITY.
THE BLESSED MEMORY NOTES THAT THEY WERE WITH ONE HEART, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WITH ONE MIND.
SINCE WE ALL POSSESS DIFFERENT INTELLECTUAL FACULTIES, EMOTIONS, CHARACTER TRAITS AND VIEWPOINTS, THERE'S NO NATURAL WAY THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR INDIVIDUALITY AND BE TRULY UNIFIED.
ONLY IF WE ARE FOCUSED ON GOD AND THE GODLINESS IN EVERYONE ELSE DO OUR DIFFERENCES SUDDENLY CEASE TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO UNITY.
OUR DIFFERENCES STILL EXIST, THAT THEY ACTUALLY ENHANCE OUR COLLECTIVE DIVINE MISSION.
SIMILARLY, IN THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION, WE LEARNED OF THE DEDICATION OF THE TABERNACLE, THE DESERT.
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FESTIVITIES, ALL THE HEADS OF THE TRIBE TO THE SEA BROUGHT THE EXACT SAME OFFERING.AND INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING DITTO, EACH OFFERING IS ENUMERATED WITH ALL THEIR DETAILS.
EACH TRIBE REPRESENTED BY THE MUSTY, BY THE PRINCE, DREW A DIFFERENT ENERGY INTO THE WORLD.
THEIR ACTIONS MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT THE SPECIFIC PERSONAL FLAVOR OF THAT TRIBE WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
EACH OF THEM WAS UNIQUELY REPRESENTED.
DIVERGENCE CREATES A STRONGER HOLE IN A FRACTURED WORLD.
WE ALL NEED TO START LOOKING BEYOND DIFFERENCES.
AS IMPORTANT AS THEY MAY BE, WE NEED TO START RESPECTING THE OTHER PERSON, EVEN IF WE KNOW THAT WE ARE 100% RIGHT, WHICH MAKES THEM 100% WRONG, WE MAY DISAGREE ON ISSUES WHILE RESPECTING THE OTHER PERSON, EVEN IF WE FEEL THAT THE OTHER PERSON IS NOT WORTHY OF RESPECT.
THE BIBLICAL COMMAND OF TO LOVE YOUR FELLOW AS YOURSELF, WHICH IS THE OPENING OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT, THAT FRIENDSHIPS SERVE A LIFETIME, DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONDITIONS.
IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT I SHARE THE FOLLOWING PRAYER.
THIS IS A PRAYER THAT SAID THREE TIMES A DAY IN THE MOST HOLIEST OF MOMENTS IN OUR PRAYER, THAT THE SERVICE, MY CHOICE OF THIS PRAYER IS FOCUSED ON THE WORDS THAT GOD BLESSES US WHEN WE ARE UNIFIED AS ONE BESTOW PEACE, GOODNESS, AND BLESSINGS, LIFE GRACIOUSNESS, KINDNESS AND MERCY.
AND UPON ALL YOUR PEOPLE, BLESS US, OUR FATHER, ALL OF US AS ONE WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR CONTINENCE OF LIFE AND LOVING KINDNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BLESSINGS, MERCY, LIFE AND PEACE.
AND MAY IT BE FAVORABLE IN YOUR EYES TO BLESS YOUR PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES, AT EVERY MOMENT WITH YOUR PEACE.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE MY COMMISSIONER, COLLEAGUES WHO ARE JOINING US HERE TONIGHT.
WE HAVE PRESIDENT WAYNE RICHARDSON, VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS PALMER, COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL, COMMISSIONER AMI COOPER, AND COMMISSIONER ROMAINE.
AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO CALL TO THE PODIUM MYO, WHO'S GOING TO GIVE READINGS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE DE GENO.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT MYO WHILE SHE'S WALKING UP HERE.
MYO IS JEWISH WARO ESCAPED RUSSIA AND CAME TO THE UNITED STATES.
AND HERE SHE IS WORKING FOR THE COUNTY AND DOING A FANTASTIC JOB AS THE HEALTH OFFICER.
AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO YOU, WHO WENT FOR VACCINATIONS AT THE MANY DIFFERENT PLACE, DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE THEY WERE BEING GIVEN OUT.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF IT, AND SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
A GOOD AFTERNOON EVENING, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ACTUALLY GAVE ME THE HONOR LAST YEAR, UH, FOR THE JEWISH HERITAGE AWARD.
UM, I KIND OF SAT, STOOD UP HERE AND SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER WAS IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A VERY, UH, EMOTIONAL TIME BECAUSE WE AS, UH, THE JEWISH PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND CONTINUE ON EVERY DAY.
BUT ONE THING THAT WE DO HAVE TO RELY ON ARE LEADERS LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS, LIKE
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OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, TO CONTINUE TO PUSH EVENTS SUCH AS THIS AND TO CONTINUE TO HONOR ALL OF THE GOOD WE CAN, OF COURSE, FOCUS ON ALL OF THE BAD AND NOT JUST THE JEWISH PEOPLE, EVERYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING, UH, THAT IS FOCUSED OUT THERE.WHY SHOULD WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE BAD WHEN WE CAN JUST HONOR THOSE AND ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EVERYONE ELSE? SO ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, AND ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, I'M TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE HERE.
UH, SHE IS, UH, SOMEONE THAT I WORKED WITH FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND I TRULY, TRULY AM HONORED TO BE HERE, TO BE HERE FOR THIS DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AT THIS POINT.
AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU, MAYA.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE DIGNITARIES WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF MILBURN, MAGGIE.
WE HAVE ALBOURNE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNETTE ROMANO.
WE HAVE A COUNCILWOMAN FROM BLOOMFIELD, JENNY MENDEL BLOOMFIELD.
WE HAVE RAMESH SUDO CIRCADIA, FIRST ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR, AND WE HAVE JOSHUA RAYMOND, THE MAYOR OF NORTH CODWELL.
WE TOOK TIME TO SHARE WITH US THIS EVENING.
NOW I TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER BRANDON GILL.
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH EVERYONE, UH, THIS EVENING.
UH, BEFORE I, UM, BRING UP, UH, THE FIRST HONOREE, UH, TONIGHT, MY DEAR FRIEND, CARRIE CHAAT, UM, I WANTED TO FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, THANK OUR PRESIDENT, UH, WAYNE RICHARDSON, OUR VICE PRESIDENT, UH, CARLOS EZ AND IN PARTICULAR, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, PAT SIEBELS, WHO HAS CONTINUED, UH, THIS TRADITION FOR MANY YEARS.
AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS EVENT, UH, HAPPENS.
UH, AND THIS EVENT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT, BUT PROBABLY MORE SO THAN EVER BASED ON THE TIMES THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SHOW THAT LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW MAYA SPOKE EARLIER, BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, HERE PUBLICLY, AND, AND WE'LL ALWAYS SAY IT AS LONG AS I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, BUT THE LEADERSHIP THAT SHE SHOWED LEADING OUR EFFORTS, UH, DURING, UH, COVID, AND SHE IS QUICK TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE, THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS.
AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THE DECISIONS THAT SHE MADE, UH, THE TEAM THAT SHE PUT TOGETHER, UH, MADE ESSEX COUNTY NOT ONLY FIRST, UH, IN THE STATE, BUT I WANNA SAY MAYBE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF ITS RESPONSE.
AND THOSE DECISIONS SAVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES, FOR SURE, TO OUR OTHER, UH, FELLOW HONOREES.
UH, LARRY, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A, IT'S TWICE OUR TIME NOW, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, OF COURSE, UH, TO BOTH TO PAULA AND COUNSEL AND COHEN.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO YOU THIS EVENING, UH, AS WELL, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, I AM NOT ABLE TO STAY FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM, SO I APOLOGIZE.
UH, I'M BALANCING A 14 YEAR OLD AND 11 YEAR OLD, AND A WIFE WHO'S ON THE BALLOT ON JUNE 6TH
SO, UH, I CANNOT STAY FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.
SO I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR THAT.
BUT PLEASE KNOW, I WANTED TO BE HERE AND, AND OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS.
SO, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE YOU TO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR FIRST HONOREE OF THE EVENING, MY FRIEND AND KYLIE CARRIE SHABBAT.
PLEASE JOIN ME AT THIS PODIUM.
CARRIE, CARRIE LOVES THE ATTENTION.
SO BECAUSE YOU RAN OUT, YOU KNOW, CAUSE HONORING ME AND LARRY
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WE'RE ALL THAT'S ALRIGHT.UH, ALLOW ME TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS, UH, FROM THE, THE COMMENDATION.
UM, CARRIE WAS BORN IN QUEENS, UH, TO EDITH AND IZZY SHABBAT HIS PARENTS, BOTH HIS PARENTS VERY POLITICALLY ACTIVE, AS WELL AS HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.
HE GREW UP IN SPRINGFIELD GARDENS IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, AND GRADUATED FROM SPRINGFIELD GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL.
HE THEN GRADUATED FROM FILM SCHOOL AT NYU IN TERMS OF HIS MANY, MANY, UH, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
IN 2005, HE WAS THE LEADING AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION WITH HIS BROTHER RICHIE CALLED BLUE WIG NEW JERSEY.
THIS SMALL IDEA AT THE TIME WENT ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW JERSEY.
IT COUNTS AMONG AND HE COUNTS AMONG ITS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ITS SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO PASS EARNED SICK LEAVE AND RENT CONTROL IN OUR HOMETOWN OF MONTCLAIR.
YES, CARRIE ALSO ORGANIZED HUNDREDS OF MONTCLAIR AREA RESIDENTS TO TRAVEL TO THE JERSEY SHORE TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS. HIS EFFORTS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING 75 SERIOUSLY DAMAGED HOMES, AND HE HAD RECEIVED A CITATION FROM OUR LOCAL TOWN COUNCIL AND FROM THE COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF HIGHLINE HIGHLINES FOR HIS EFFORTS, CARRIE'S A MEMBER OF TEMPLE NEAR TOID IN BLOOMFIELD.
SO HE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE YESTERDAY AS WELL, RIGHT? FOR BOTH DAYS.
SO MAYBE YOU SAVED YOUR PARKING CLUB, UH, IN BLOOMFIELD WHERE HE HAS SERVED FAITHFULLY FOR OVER 20 YEARS AS THE HEAD USHER ARRANGING SECURITY AND LOGISTICS FOR OVER 1500 MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION DURING THE MAJOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS.
UH, AND IF ANYONE KNOWS, KERRY TAKES THAT RESPONSIBILITY UNBELIEVABLY SERIOUS, BECAUSE IT IS SERIOUS.
ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS, UH, MR. PRESIDENT THAT I EVER TOOK AS A COMMISSIONER WAS TO SIT DOWN WITH CARRIE AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO AS A COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TEMPLE WAS SAFE, UH, AND SECURE.
CARRIE HAS ALSO BEEN THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE MONTCLAIR DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEE, WHICH WHERE HE COORDINATES A NETWORK OF OVER 2,500 UNPAID VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR LOTS AND LOTS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF VOTER CONTACTS.
SO FOR SOME YOU MAY APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, WE'RE SORRY ABOUT THAT.
HE HAS POSTED OVER 1000 PHONE BANKS SENT OVER 140,000 POSTCARDS.
AND EVEN DURING COVID LAUNCHED NUMEROUS CANVAS LAUNCHES WORKING WITH DOZENS OF CAMPAIGNS ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND SWING STATES.
SO WE DON'T SAY THAT TONIGHT AS A PARTISAN MATTER, BUT IT'S ANOTHER ELEMENT OF KERRY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND ALSO TO HIS EFFORTS.
DURING TIMES WHEN THEY WERE MOST TOUGH FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE, KERRY ORGANIZED A TEMPLE TALK SERIES FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH SPEAKERS THAT HAD INCLUDED GOVERNORS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR MURPHY, FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY, JAY JOHNSON, CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL, AND NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL MATTHEW PLATON.
DID YOU EVER INVITE ANY REPUBLICANS? THEY NEVER CAME
HE ALSO ASSISTED IN THE, AND HE ALSO ASSISTED IN THE ORGANIZING THE ANTI HATE RALLY.
JUST RECENTLY IN JANUARY OF 2023, IN RESPONSE TO AN HORRIFIC ATTACK ON THE TEMPLE, OVER 1200 AREA RESIDENTS CAME IN SUPPORT OF THE TEMPLE THAT EVENING, INCLUDING MANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHO WERE HERE TONIGHT.
GOVERNOR MURPHY, SENATORS BOOKER, EM, REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL AND PALL, AS WELL AS DOZENS AND DOZENS OF STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.
AND CARRIE HELPED TO COORDINATE ALL OF THAT ACTIVITY AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS NEEDED.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES ALSO AS THE SECRETARY OF THE MONTCLAIR NAACP.
HE HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF MONTCLAIR SINCE 1991.
HE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS WIFE, BETH, WHO WAS HERE TONIGHT WITH HIM FOR THE LAST 28 YEARS.
HE ALSO HAS NO SENSE OF HUMOR, UM, FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS.
AND THEY HAVE TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS WHO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW AND WATCH, GROW AMANDA AND REBECCA.
SO CARRIE, TO YOUR SERVICE, TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND TO OUR SOCIETY AT AT LARGE, IT'S CARRY YOUR SERVICE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND TO OUR SOCIETY AT LARGE, CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG FORCE.
AND WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S ACCOMMODATION AND PLA THE PLA THE PLAQUE READS, THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY HONORS CARRIE SHABBAT FOR EMBODY, FOR EMBODYING THE SPIRIT AND PRIDE
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OF THE ESSEX COUNTY JEWISH COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATION OF JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH MAY 31ST, 2023.WE ARE ALSO HAPPY TO GIVE EACH, UH, YOU A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FROM OUR CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE AND OUR CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS OF COURSE TO YOU.
UH, AND I WANNA ALSO PERSONALLY THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UM, FOR ALL OF THE FRIENDSHIP, UM, OVER THE YEARS.
UM, I WILL NOT TRY TO SAY, UM, IN HEBREW, BUT I KNOW IT'S TRANSLATED TO THE GREATEST GIFT OF LIFE IS FRIENDSHIP.
AND CARRIE, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE GREATEST GIFT WITH YOUR UNWAVERING FRIENDSHIP AND SO FORTH.
I, UH, ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE FRIENDSHIPS WE HAVE IS BRENDAN AND HIS FAMILY WITH WORKING TOGETHER ON COMMUNITY ISSUES FOR YEARS.
AND, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO SO.
BUT THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE IS CUZ OF MY WIFE.
SHE REALLY IS MY PARTNER IN CRIME.
MOST PEOPLE PLAY COUPLES PLAY GOLF.
WE GO OUT CANVASSING, BUT JUST BE REAL QUICK AND, AND BEING PART OF JEWISH COMMUNITY MEANS THAT YOU'RE PART OF A WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND WE SAW WHAT THAT MEANT WHEN OUR TEMPLE WAS ATTACKED.
ALL THE COMMUNITIES CAME TOGETHER IN SUPPORT BECAUSE IF ONE COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK, WE'RE ALL UNDER ATTACK.
AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, UH, TO GET NOT JUST THE, THE EVERYONE FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY'S OFFICE, MATT PLA AND ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHAT CAN YOU DO? THE FOLKS IN BLOOMFIELD, MAYOR, MIKE, JENNY, CARL, THEY, THEY WERE JUST AMAZING.
BUT REALLY WHAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAME OUT EVERY PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD TO TURN AWAY PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE.
WE HAD, UM, THREE, 400 HUNDRED PEOPLE ON THE LAWN AND THEN WE HAD, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT THE JEWISH TRADITION IS, YOU KNOW, EMBRACE THE STRANGER.
AND WHEN YOU EMBRACE A STRANGER, YOU MEAN YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE'S LIVES, FOR IMMIGRATION, FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, FOR EDUCATION.
AND, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE AND THANK YOU BETH.
THANK YOU CARRIE, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND I KNOW CARRIE BECAUSE I GET EMAILS FROM HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND AS SOON AS I GET IT, I KNOW WHO IT'S FROM.
AT THIS TIME IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A SECOND HONOREE FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING TO THE PODIUM MICHAEL H CO.
I WILL SHARE A FEW DETAILS FROM THE COMMENDATION.
MICHAEL H. COHEN WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK, AND ATTENDED THE BRONX HIGH SCHOOL OF SCIENCE.
HE RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AND AN MBA IN ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM A KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.
HE MARRIED HIS WIFE MERYL STONE IN JULY, 1988, AND THEY MOVED TO SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY LATER THAT YEAR.
THEY HAVE TWO ADULT SONS, BENJAMIN IS 32 AND LIVES WITH HIS WIFE RACHEL IN PHILADELPHIA.
IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
MATTHEW WAS 30 AND LIVES IN SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY.
MICHAEL SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS CAREER AT JP MORGAN CHASE BANK.
IF YOU'RE WORKING AS A TECHNOLOGY PROJECT MANAGER FOR MANY YEARS.
HE BECAME A MANAGER IN THE FINANCIAL REPORTING GROUP IN 2006.
HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF LIVINGSTON FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
IT IS REMARKABLE TO SEE HOW THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN AND IS ABLE TO PROVIDE SO MUCH SUPPORT TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY.
MICHAEL HAS ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN POLITICS AND WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GRAMERCY S STUYVESANT INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS PRIOR TO MOVING NEW JERSEY TO NEW JERSEY.
AFTER HE FOUGHT RETIRED FROM JP P M C IN 2017, HE AGAIN BECAME
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INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND CAMPAIGN FOR TOM OW FOR CONGRESS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL MILBURN TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CANDIDATES.HE BECAME THE TREASURER OF THE MILBURN SHORT HILLS DEMOCRATS IN 2020, AS WELL AS THE TREASURER OF THE LOCAL CAMPAIGN IN 2020.
IN 2022, MICHAEL DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO SEEK THE OFFICE OF TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND WAS ELECTED BACK NOVEMBER.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE MILLBURN PLANNING BOARD, MILBURN LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE CORA
HE DOES SO MUCH WORK FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MILBURN AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE HIM RECOGNIZED TONIGHT FOR ALL THE WORK HE DOES.
HIS RECORD OF SERVICE IS BEYOND REPROACH AND WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S ACCOMMODATION AND FLACK READS.
THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY HONORS MICHAEL H COHN FOR EMBODYING THE SPIRIT AND PRIDE OF THE JEWISH OF THE ESSEX COUNTY JEWISH COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATION OF JEWISH HERITAGE MONTHS.
YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FROM CONGRESSMAN DONALD DE PAYNE JR.
AND CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL.
SO NOW MICHAEL, IF YOU WILL TALK TO THE AUDIENCE.
SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMISSIONER PAT SAL.
KNOW OVER THESE PAST COUPLE YEARS, AS WELL AS MY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD LED LUCIANO.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ESSEX COUNTY FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS AND APPRECIATE MANY THINGS IT HAS TO OFFER, INCLUDING THE ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX AND SOUTH RESERVATION, AS WELL AS THE CHARM OF MY TOWN IN MILBERG.
AS WE ARE COMMEMORATING JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH.
I'M ALSO PROUD OF THE MANY JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY MY SYNAGOGUE CONGREGATION,
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT WHO HAVE SUPPORTED AND MENTORED ME IN MY NEW ROLE ON THE MILBURN TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, PARTICULARLY MILBURN DEMOCRATIC CHAIR, AND MY 2022 RUNNING MA ADA RAMANO MIL MILBURN MAYOR, MAGGIE MIGGINS, AND THE FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALL OF THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE MERYL STONE, AS WELL AS MY SON AND CHIEF DOOR KNOCKER, MATTHEW
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MUSICAL SELECTION THAT WILL BE WONDERFUL FROM OUR CANTORIAL STUDENT, BRITTANY STERN.
I'LL BE SINGING A SETTING OF MICHA MOJA BY SAUL ZIM THAT I'VE HAD SOME WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH SINGING IN A COMMUNITY MY FIRST YEAR AT THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
AND I INVITE EVERYONE IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO JUST SING ALONG, IT HAS A LOT OF VIOL LIES, AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT THAT PART, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO
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LET'S GET BRITTANY ANOTHER ROUND OF, SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BRITTANY.SHE IS A MEMBER OF CONGREGATION BENARD ISRAEL BURG, WHERE SHE GREW UP.
SHE GRADUATED FROM KATE WESTBROOK RESERVE UNIVERSITY IN 2019 WITH A BA IN THEATER.
UM, AND WHILE SHE WAS THERE, SHE PLAYED IN MANY PERFORMANCES SUCH AS THE ADAMS FAMILY INTO THE WOODS, AND IF SLASH THEN SHE RECENTLY COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR, UM, AS A STUDENT AT THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AMERICA AND NEW YORK.
SO THIS WONDERFUL PERFORMER IS STILL DOING GREAT THINGS.
LET'S, LET'S SALUTE HER AGAIN.
I AM DISRE COMMISSIONER TO SHARMI COOPER AND I'M HONORED TO TAKE PART IN TONIGHT'S EVENT WHERE WE CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE IN ESUS COUNTY, WHERE WE'RE SO DIVERSE AND WE LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HERE AT THE COMMISSIONER BOARD, AS WELL AS OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE CELEBRATING ALL OF OUR VAST DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
SO TONIGHT I HAVE THE HONOR OF BRINGING UP MY HONOREE, LARRY, LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND APPLAUSE.
SO FOR LISTENING TO SOME OF YOU TONIGHT, UM, HE'S NO STRANGER.
A LOT OF YOU IN THIS ROOM KNOW THIS GREAT MAN RIGHT HERE.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A LONGTIME COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND LEADER FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FIELD.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS A DEMOCRATIC, UM, COMMITTEE PERSON FOR THE STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, AND HE IS A DISTRICT LEADER IN SOUTH ORANGE.
HE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FOR SOUL STREET, A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THOSE BEAUTIFUL SOULLESS STREET FURNITURE PIECES THAT WE SEE AS WE DRIVING THROUGH DIFFERENT TOWNS.
UM, THOSE WONDERFUL ADVERTISEMENTS THAT WE SEE ON THEM, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
PRIOR TO WORKING THERE, HE WORKED FOR 20 YEARS FOR HUD, WHERE HE WAS A SENIOR COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE, WHERE HE MANAGED MULTI-MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS AND WORKED FOR A COUPLE YEARS AT LIS AS A SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER HELPING SMALLER CITIES DEVELOP THEIR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE RETIRED, BUT HE'S STILL WORKING
HE LIVED IN NEW YORK, UM, MOST OF HIS LIFE UNTIL HE MOVED TO SOUTH ORANGE IN 2010 WITH HIS FAMILY AND HE BECAME VERY, VERY ACTIVE.
HE OFTEN VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME AT FOOD PANTRIES AND SERVES ON THE SOUTH ORANGE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
HE'S BEEN ACTIVE IN MANY, MANY CAMPAIGNS LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS HONOREES TONIGHT, HE IS NO STRANGER TO KNOCKING ON DOORS AND MAKING SURE THAT DEMOCRATIC VOTE COME OUT SO THAT WE KEEP GOOD VALUES, GOOD FAMILIES FOCUSED HERE BECAUSE OF MR. HIRSCH.
HE ALSO SERVED AS A LEAD VOLUNTEER AND ORGANIZER FOR THE ESUS COUNTY, FOR BARACK OBAMA AND HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN IN 2012, WITHIN THE 2016 FOR HILLARY CLINTON.
HE'S ALSO A FORMER NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEEMAN AND HE WORKED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOUTH BRONX CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL.
SO HE LEFT NEW YORK WHEN HE WORKED AND VOLUNTEERED AND DID A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK AND DOOR KNOCKING AND CAME TO THE NEW JERSEY AND CONTINUED THAT SAME PASSION.
SO FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ALL YOUR OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MR. HIRSCH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HONORING YOU AND RECOGNIZING YOU TONIGHT WITH THE BOARD'S ACCOMMODATION.
SO WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PLAQUE FOR YOU.
[00:40:01]
YOU.IT SAYS THE ESUS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER HERE BY HONORS LARRY HIRSCH FOR EMBODYING THE SPIRIT AND OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, CHAIRMAN RICHARDSON, AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
MANY OF YOU WHOM WE'VE HEARD IN OUR DISCUSSION, I CONSIDER FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FROM MY YEARS HERE.
UM, ALSO WANNA THANK MY GOOD FRIEND IF HE'S NOT HERE, GERALD MURPHY, WHO IS RECOMMENDED ME TO COMMISSIONER HOOVER FOR THIS HONOR FROM EAST ORANGE.
AND TO SAY HOW HAPPY I END UP BEING HONORED ALONGSIDE MY FRIEND IN FELLOW GRASSROOTS, MR.
YES, FINALLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO MY WIFE ALICE, MY MOTHER FELICIA, WHO ARE HERE, MY DAUGHTER OLIVIA, WHO'S AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY DOING GOOD WORK, UM, FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE MANY YEARS.
MY MOTHER WENT BACK TO AT LEAST 40 YEARS AS I WAS DOING MY CRAZY GRASSROOTS WORK IN NEW YORK.
UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU BOTH AND AND REALLY JUST OWE THEM, OWE THEM EVERYTHING.
PRIOR TO MOVING TO ESSEX COUNTY 13 YEARS AGO AS A COMMUNITY POLITICAL ACTIVIST, ACTIVIST, LEADER IN NEW YORK CITY FOR 25 YEARS, THE HARDEST PART ABOUT LEAVING NEW YORK WAS LEAVING THE FAMILY OF ACTIVISTS I DEVELOPED OVER THAT TIME, STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
IT WARNS ME GREATLY TO SAY THAT I HAVE FOUND THAT FAMILY HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, LIKE PE LIKE ME, THE PEOPLE I'VE MET HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, ARE COMMITTED TO THE PROGRESSIVE IDEALS OF HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE, ENSURING EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL AND SUSTAINABLE, PEACEFUL PLANET FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
THE JEWISH TRADITION OF KU OLA OR REPAIRING THE WORLD IS USUALLY DONE THROUGH THE ACTS OF AKAH, MEANING JUSTICE OR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
COMBINING THIS WITH THE COMMANDMENT OF DOING UN TO OTHERS, AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU BOTH GIVES A PERSON EMPATHY AND A DESIRE TO HELP MAKE THINGS BETTER.
EMPATHY IS SEEING ANOTHER PERSON'S STRUGGLE AS YOUR OWN, AND THIS IS WHAT MOTIVATES ME EVERY DAY.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE AGGRESSIVE GOALS IS TO ORGANIZE ON THE GROUND AND TO ELECT THE BEST PEOPLE TO OFFICE AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES AROUND IMPORTANT ISSUES.
THIS APPROACH SERVED ME WELL IN NEW YORK AS WE ORGANIZE BUILDING BY BUILDING TO SUPPORT OUR CANDIDATES AND GOALS AND IS AN APPROACH I BROUGHT HERE TO ESSEX COUNTY.
AS WAS MENTIONED, I BECAME THE LEAD VOLUNTEER FOR ORGANIZING FOR ACTION AND THEN FOR THE REAL ACTION OF PRESIDENT OF BARACK OBAMA.
I'VE CONTINUED WITH VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS AND ISSUE DRIVES AND ARE PROUD TO HAVE HELPED SUPPORT SO FAR GREAT LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY, INCLUDING GOVERNOR MURPHY, CONGRESS MEMBER MIKEY CHERYL, AND SOMEONE WHO WILL BE MISSED IS RETIRING.
OUR GREATEST FAMILY MEMBER, MYLA JC.
THIS LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING THAT WHAT HAS MOTIVATED MY WORK WITH PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS IS MY STRONG LIFELONG BELIEF THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME THINGS, A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE, A OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER, THEY'LL PROVIDE FOR US AND OUR FAMILIES, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND CLEAN AIR AND WATER.
THIS GUIDING PRINCIPLE HAS PROVIDED ME EMPATHY FOR OTHERS AND DESIRE TO DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.
IN ADDITION TO MY COMMUNITY WORK, THIS MOTIVATION HAS LED TO MY CAREER WORKING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WILL HELP TO GUIDE TO THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I URGE EVERYONE TO FOLLOW THIS PRINCIPLE AND EMPATHY TO HELP OTHERS AND MAKE A BETTER WORLD.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR, AND THANK YOU PAT FOR THIS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
WE ALSO HAVE FROM MIKEY CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL'S OFFICE AND CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU.
I'M THE, UH, I'M EXCITED BEFORE BETWEEN YOU AND FOOD.
EVENING GOOD TO BE ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE GUY WHO GETS YOU PUMPED UP, RIGHT? SO THAT'S, THAT'S ME AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED ME LAST, BLOOMFIELD BLOOMFIELD'S IN THE HOUSE, UH, YOU THAT SOME GREAT PEOPLE FROM BLOOMFIELD AND TODAY IS EXCEPTION.
MY NAME IS CARLOS TAMARA, I'M THE HONOR OF BEING THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS, UH, BOARD.
AND WANNA I JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN CELEBRATION OF THE JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH AND THANK EACH OF THE HONOREES WHO HAVE GIVE TODAY.
AND AT THIS TIME IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR FINAL, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE LEAST, UH, HONOREE.
[00:45:01]
GOOD FRIEND PAUL.SO LEMME UH, JUST ALLOW ME A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO SHARE A FEW DETAILS ON THE COMMENDATION AND A SHORT STORY.
PAUL PIERS HAS BEEN WITH THE FUL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SINCE 2000, AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES.
SHE IS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER IN NEW JERSEY AND HAS ADVANCED CERTIFICATION IN FAMILY THERAPY AND TRAINING IN EM, D R AS A DIRECTOR.
SHE OVERSEES MENTAL HEALTH, UH, THE MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC, SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION, AND THE CARRIERS UNIT AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN FOR BLOOMFIELD.
SHE'S ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BLOOMFIELD HOUSING AUTHORITY AND CHAIRS OF BLUE BLOOMFIELD MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE.
PAUL PAULA CONSIDERS HIMSELF, UH, CONSIDERS ONE OF HER BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN BEING ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR NETWORK, THE VOLUNTEER NETWORK FOR THE COUNCIL OF BLOOMFIELD, WHICH PROVIDES FOOD AND, UH, FRIENDLY VISITORS.
AND, UH, IN ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MOVE FOR RESIDENTS WHO MAY NEED THE METHOD THAT THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. HER RECORD OF SERVICE IS EXCEPTIONAL, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN ACCOMMODATIONS.
I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU A STORY THAT, UM, I THINK REALLY DEMONSTRATES HOW IMPORTANT PAULA'S ROLE FOR ANYONE WHO DOES WHAT PAULA DOES FOR A LIVING.
I AM THE, UH, SON OF A SURGEON AND A NURSE, AND, UH, I COULDN'T STAND INSIDE OF BLOOD, SO I DIDN'T FOLLOW MY FOOTSTEPS CLEARLY WOULDN'T BE FOR YOU TODAY.
UH, BUT I DID GROW UP, UH, WITH PARENTS WHO WERE DEDICATED TO SERVICE AND, UM, WHEN THEY WENT TO WORK, UH, IT WAS USUALLY TO FIX SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEMS, UH, SERIOUS PROBLEMS. AND I REMEMBER THIS PRE PANDEMIC, SO IT LIKE CAME ANCIENT HISTORY.
SHE DOESN'T, DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE ON WHAT TO SAY UP.
UM, THEY, A YOUNG WOMAN REACHED OUT TO ME, UM, SOMEONE WHO I KNEW THROUGH TOWN.
SHE WAS PROBABLY 30 ISH OR SO.
SHE WAS ONE STOP AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS.
AND, UM, I REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT, OKAY, WE HANDED HER OFF AND, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF WILL DO WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO.
THAT, THAT, THAT HAPPENS A LOT FOR ALL OF US.
AND THEN A FEW MONTHS GO BY AND I WORKED WITH THIS CERTAIN LADY AGAIN, AND, UH, THE STAFF TAUGHT ME THAT SHE DIDN'T REALLY FOLLOW UP WITH WHATEVER SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE.
MAYBE SHE JUST RESOLVED THE ISSUE AND SOMETHING DID.
YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS LATER I HEARD FROM HER AGAIN, AND HER, HER SITUATION HAD GOTTEN WORSE FOR A LOT OF REASONS THAT I, I WON'T SHARE, BUT IT, IT WAS BAD, UH, DYNAMIC.
AND SO I REACHED OUT TO PAULA AND PAULA IMMEDIATELY, UH, REACHED OUT TO HER, SAT HER DOWN, UM, MET WITH HER OFF OF HER VARIETY OF THINGS.
NOW I WISH THIS STORY HAD A VERY HAPPY ENDING, BUT IT DID, UH, BECAUSE SOMETIMES, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THE 99% THAT PAULA DOES OR SOMEONE, THAT PERSON HAS TO DO THAT 1%, UH, FOR US TO GET THE PARTY GOING AND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
AND SHE DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH FOR A LOT OF REASONS THAT WERE PROBABLY BEYOND HER CONTROL, MENTAL AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN.
AND, UH, WHEN PAULA TOLD THE END, I, I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED.
NOT, NOT ANYTHING BUT DISAPPOINTED.
I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HELP THAT PERSON.
AND, UM, IT REALLY BOTHERED ME.
I REMEMBER, SURE, I MET WITH MY WIFE AND SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T REACH OTHER.
AND THAT WAS REALLY, UH, TROUBLING.
AND I REMEMBER PAULA SEEING HER A FEW MONTHS LATER, YOU KNOW, WELL MINUTE I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS.
AND SHE REACHED OUT TO ME AND THE NEXT DAY SHE'S LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IS LIKE WE, WE CAN REALLY USE ID CARDS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO ID, THEY'RE EITHER HOMELESS OR ONE STOP AWAY FROM HOMELESS.
AND IF THEY HAD A, AN ID, A GOVERNMENT ID, IT'S WHAT HELPS THEM TO GET STARTED TO GET A VARIETY OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
SO WE CAME DOWN HERE, WE DROVE OVER HERE, AND WE SAW CHRIS ERKIN, AND HE WAS FANTASTIC.
SHE SAYS, YOU ALWAYS IS SAID HELLO TO CHRIS.
AND I, I SAID, YOU KNOW, DID YOU EVER HEAR WHAT I, AGAIN, SHE SAID, NO.
AND, BUT YOU SAID, I CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW HE SAID IT, BUT YOU SAID SOME ENCOURAGING WORDS ABOUT IT.
AND I, I WENT HOME AND I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT EVERY DAY YOU GET UP AND YOU'RE POSITIONED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP AND IT THE SUCCESS STORIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IT'S THE ONES THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, NOT THROUGH OUR FAULT, AND THAT SHALL NOT TO PAUL'S FAULT, THAT WE JUST CAN'T REACH.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, YOU KNOW, HOW UPSET I WAS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE DISAPPOINT OR UPSET OR I JUST BAD NIGHT.
THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY, PROBABLY LIKE REGULARLY,
[00:50:01]
LET'S JUST SAY REGULARLY, RIGHT? AND THEN THE NEXT DAY YOU JUST RECHARGE THE BATTERIES AND GO BACK TO WORK INDIVIDUALLY.AND THAT ABILITY TO RESET REMINDED ME OF MY PARENTS BECAUSE I GOTTA THINK THAT AS WORKING IN AN ER OR THE, OR YOU SEE SOME PRETTY ROUGH STUFF AND THEN YOU GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILY.
AND THEN WE GIVE THEM HELP FOR ALL THE NONSENSICAL STUFF THAT WE THINK WAS A BIG DEAL BACK THEN.
AND PAULA DOES STUFF FOR MAYBE NOT YOUR, BUT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT, UH, WE TRY TO HELP PEOPLE.
AND SO FOR THAT, I THINK YOU ARE DESERVING OF THIS DISTINCTION.
SO FOR THAT, I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SURVEYS THAT YOU DO FOR ME, UH, AND FOR REBOUNDING COMING BACK IN THOSE DAYS WHERE THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED.
AND I THINK THAT DESERVES A APPLAUSE.
NOW, I'M NOT GONNA ENDOWMENT CAUSE KNOW THAT WAS LIKE, I KNOW THAT.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT EVERYBODY DOES.
AND, UH, I WANNA, UH, LET ME READ WHAT THE PLAQUES ARE THE CONGREGATION SAY.
THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION HEREBY HONORS PAUL PIPE FOR EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF PRIDE, ESSEX COUNTY JEWISH COMMUNITY CELEBRATION WITH OUR JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH, MAY 31ST, 2023.
SO PLEASE, UM, WE HAVE THE HARDWARE HERE, PUT IT UP WITH THE MANY OTHER ACCOLADES I'M SURE SHE'S RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM PAUL MORE INTERESTING THINGS SAID THAN I, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR THIS HONOR.
ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE JEWISH RELIGION IS MANDATING THE CARE OF THE DISENFRANCHISED, AS IT SAYS IN ISAIAH 57, WHICH WE READ ON, KEEP YOUR, BREAK YOUR BREAD WITH THE HUNGRY, BRING THE IMPOVERISHED INTO YOUR HOME AND CLOTHED AND NAKED WHEN YOU SEE THEM.
THIS IS ALSO THE FOUNDATION OF THE BLOOMFIELD DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE ENTIRE STAFF, ALL FROM DIFFERENT RELIGIONS AND ETHNICITIES, AND EMBRACE THIS AND WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU TO THE HUMAN SERVICES TEAM.
AND I'D LIKE THEM TO STAND UP.
I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE FURIOUS ABOUT THIS, BUT LOIS MAYOR MAGNESIA AND THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVE SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS BY STARTING INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE TURKEY GIVEAWAY, WHICH DISTRIBUTED THANKSGIVING FOOD TO OVER 750 FAMILIES THIS PAST SEASON.
IN ADDITION, COUNCILWOMAN JENNY MENDEL, 75 FOR 75 PROJECT HAS INCREASED OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE HOLIDAY PRESENTS, CLOTHING AND FOOD FOR FAMILIES WHO LACK THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PURCHASE THESE ITEMS ON THEIR OWN.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
IN SUMMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN ARI AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
CARLOS IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE ASSIST WHEN CALLED UPON.
AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CASE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS, UM, I HOPE WE HAVE THE SAME DETAILS.
SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE THEM.
I HAPPEN TO MENTION THIS TO THE COMMISSIONER, NOT JUST ANYWHERE BUT ONE OF HIS FUNDRAISERS WHERE HE WAS BUSY WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE, BUT HE DIDN'T FORGET.
HE REACHED OUT TO ME AND HE DID IMMEDIATELY SET UP A MEETING WITH THE COUNTY CLERK, CHRIS DURKIN.
HE DIDN'T JUST SET UP THE MEETING, HE CAME WITH ME THOUGH.
AND HE SET UP A PROCESS WHERE BLOOMFIELD HUMAN SERVICES WOULD BE ABLE TO QUICKLY ACCESS PHOTO IDS FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND THIS ENABLES THEM TO START THE PROCESS TO SECURE HOUSING AND OTHER NEEDED RESOURCES.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE, THE COMMISSIONER WAS BUSY SCHLEPPING BOXES, NOT JUST
[00:55:01]
ANY BOXES, BUT EXTREMELY HEAVY BOXES.THE COUNTY WAS GIVING OUT FOOD AND AT THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
IT TAKES A WHILE FOR ANY PROJECT TO CATCH ON.
I'D GET A CALL ON MY CELL PHONE, WE HAVE 20 EXTRA BOXES, I'M PUTTING THEM IN THE BACK OF MY CAR AND I'M BRINGING THEM TO BLOOMFIELD.
AND TOGETHER WE'LL BRING THEM UP ON THE ELEVATOR WHERE ALL THE STAFF WOULD TAKE THEM OUT AND WE REDISTRIBUTED THEM TO BLOOMFIELD RESIDENTS.
HE'S ALWAYS THINKING OF THE BLOOMFIELD RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND BEING THE CATALYST TO HELP SOLVE THOSE ISSUES.
ALSO, MY JOB TO CLOSE THIS OUT.
SO AS THIS PROGRAM COMES TO THE CLOSE, I JUST WANT TAKE APPOINTED PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I WANT, I WANNA, I WANT TO TAKE, I KNOW EVERYONE ON THE BOARD AGREES WITH THIS.
I KNOW PRESIDENT WOULD DOING THE SAME THING THROUGH HEARING THAT, UM, WHILE WE CELEBRATED ONE, FOUR WONDERFUL PEOPLE, UH, ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE CELEBRATE A WONDERFUL PERSON WHO REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S PAT TIME IS THE LONGEST TENURE COMMISSIONER.
SHE, UM, KNOWS THAT AGENDA INSIDE OUT.
SHE'S ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE COMMISSIONERS HERE.
SHE'S NOT JUST A ROLE MODEL TO US AS COMMISSIONERS.
AND CERTAINLY FOR ME, AS I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE TAKEN UNDER HER WING WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, SHE'D COULD BE A VERY WARM WELCOME.
BUT SHE'S A ROLE MODEL TO ANYBODY.
AND IF YOU WEREN'T UNDER BOARD, YOU'D BE SITTING IN THIS CHAIR BEING HONORED TODAY.
I CAN REST ASSURED THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING WE WOULD ALL BE ON.
SO ROUND PAUSE FOR OF COURSE YOU DESERVE.
AND I, SO I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE HONOREE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO WERE HONORED TODAY AND, UH, WE REALLY ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN ESSEX COUNTY TO HAVE SUCH A FABRIC OF WONDERFUL SOCIETIES.
UH, MEMBERS HERE, UH, WE WANNA THANK, UH, RABBI SBA FOR THE PRAYERS.
UH, CERTAINLY WANNA, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, BRITTANY STERN FOR YOUR LOVELY VOICE AND TALENT.
MY, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER HERE.
I REALLY GOTTA BRING MY DAUGHTER JERRY PROGRAM.
SHE LOVES THEATER AND EVERY, IT SEEMED LIKE WE JUST HAVE NONSTOP, OR I HAVE WONDERFUL TALENT TO COME AND SHARE WITH US AND TO THE WONDERFUL, UH, HONOREES WHO WERE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CARRIE, MICHAEL, LARRY, AND OF COURSE PAUL.
UH, BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS, UH, YOU'VE EACH, UH, MADE OUR LIVES BETTER.
AND HEARING YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAS INSPIRED EACH ONE OF US TO DO MORE AND TO BE BETTER CITIZENS.
SO, UH, FOR THAT WE THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, OUR STAFF WHO HELPS US TO PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR WHEN WE LOOK GOOD.
WHEN WE LOOK BAD, IT'S CAUSE OF US.
SO WE WANNA THANK, UH, MADDEN CLARK, UH, MS. UH, DEBORAH DAVIS FORD, UH, TO THE POSITION, BUT NOT TO THE GROUP.
UH, KATHY BROWN AS THE DEPUTY, UH, LIONEL AND JEFF ARE THE BACK.
DOES ANYBODY WHO ELSE, THEY'RE ALL LIKE BEHIND THE SCENE.
AND I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE HE, HE SLID IN, UH, CUZ I KNOW HE HAD, UH, CHILDCARE ISSUES THERE HERE AND HE'S RELATIVELY NEW THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER LYNN LUCIANO.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT LADY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TONIGHT CAUSE HE'S A VERY REGULAR AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR THING.
NOW, UH, YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO A RECEPTION THAT'S JUST DOWN THE HALL.
SO THAT'S, I'M THE GUY WHO'S STANDING TO FOOD AND UH, THE CONFERENCE ROOM IS 5 0 1.
HONOREE, PLEASE JUST STICK AROUND FOR A MOMENT.
WE'LL TAKE A SERIES OF PICTURES, UH, CAUSE PAULA CALLED THEM ALL OUT.
ALL OF YOU ARE GONNA BE REQUIRED TO TAKE PICTURES UP HERE WITH PAUL SINCE YOU WERE SO EMBARRASSED TO STAND.
NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE PUBLIC PICTURES WITH YOU.
MAKE SURE SO AFTER THE ENTIRE BOARD, I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ATTENDING, FOR WATCHING YOUR LIVE STREAM AND SHARING YOUR EVENING WITH US.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA ASK RABBI
ALSO, AGAIN, CALL THE HONOREES AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEY INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN
[01:00:01]
US IN LIVINGSTON, COME WITH VISIT WHERE ALL THE ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOLS COME TO VISIT LIFE.FOUND THE REAL CITY THAT WE HAVE, THAT ALL THE SCHOOLS GET TO USE AS PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM.
AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN KIN VOUCH FOR ON CREDIBLE IT IS.
SO I CLOSE WITH A WELL KNOWN BLESSING FROM THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE PRIESTLY BLESSING.
DENY, MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH SUCCESS, MAKING YOU EXTRAORDINARILY PROSPEROUS THE ISSUE MAREKA AND WATCH OVER YOU PROTECTING YOU, YOUR FAMILIES, AND YOUR POSSESSIONS.
RA MAY GOD SHY IN HIS FACE TO YOU IN FRIENDSHIP, GIVING YOU THE WISDOM TO BE GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL TO EACH OTHER,
MAY GOD RAISED HIS FACE TOWARDS YOU, OVERLOOKING ANY SHORTCOMINGS AND GRANT YOU PEACE, BECAUSE IF THERE'S NO PEACE, THERE'S NOTHING.
HONOREE, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP, BRING YOUR, UH, YOUR GLASS HARDWARE AND UH, WE'LL TAKE SOME PICTURES.
EVERYONE ELSE, IF YOU COULD JUST HOLD OFF, WE'LL HAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKE PICTURES AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES.
ANOTHER PRIVILEGED, UH, IF YOU EXCUSE ME.
THIS, THIS SATURDAY AT RIKER HILL IN LIVINGSTON.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ART SHOP WITH LIVE MUSIC, LIVE AT 10 LIVE JAZZ.
COME OUT AND SUPPORT COMMISSIONER SIBO AND FROM 10 TO TWO, I BELIEVE.
IF YOU WANNA COME AT 10, YOU JUST MEET EARLY
RECORD HILL ART PARK IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
SO SPEND SOME TIME, COME AND SEE ALL OF YOUR ARTWORK AND LISTEN TO ALL THE JAZZ FREE WILL ENJOY IT.