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  • Collingswood might lift booze ban | Inquirer South Jersey

    Collingswood might lift booze ban | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey.

    It’s the end of another week, and our second for this newsletter. Our main priority is to ensure you’re informed. So if you have a question about the region, please ask it through Curious South Jersey. One of our reporters might hunt down the answer for you β€” like, β€œWhy is the Philly area’s National Weather Service office in Mount Holly?”

    Hint: The answer is simpler than you think. Now, onto your news.

    Collingswood could lift its ban on alcohol sales, a decision that may come down to the voters.

    And a New Jersey property tax relief program for seniors could see substantial changes under the state budget deal.

    Plus, we share what you can buy in Camden County’s housing market for $405,000, and more news of the day.

    β€” Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    P.S. Thank you for your continuing support. We want your thoughts! Tell us your opinions of the newsletter by taking our survey or replying to this email.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Reconsidering Collingswood’s dry status

    The Collingswood Board of Commissioners is weighing the possibility of relinquishing its dry town status.

    The borough has Quaker roots and has maintained its ban on alcohol sales since the 19th century.

    Now, the board is looking at a pivot from the borough’s tradition as a way to boost revenue and to support the local restaurants.

    Discussions are in the beginning stages, and a policy change would require voters to weigh in.

    Reporter Lacey Latch explains what the potential next steps would be to make it happen.

    The tax program at the center of budget negotiations

    As the budget deadline approaches, Stay NJ β€” a property tax relief program for seniors β€” is top of mind.

    The program was created in 2023 to entice residents to stay in the state by providing senior homeowners refunds.

    Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who is pushing for cuts, and House Speaker Craig Coughlin (D., Middlesex), a champion of the program, seem to have made a compromise.

    The eligibility of the benefit, which is currently available for seniors making less than $500,000, would be sliced to $200,000. Those who make less money could receive a larger refund under the arrangement.

    The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider has the latest on the budget deal and the future of the program.

    What to know today

    🧠 Trivia time

    Hillary Bor closed Pumpkin BYOB across the bridge in Philly and now lives in South Jersey selling what?

    A) Burgers

    B) Cheesesteaks

    C) Hot dogs

    D) Bagels

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    ⚽ Practicing: Dribbling skills for day 2 of the SoccerFest26 at the Waterfront.

    πŸ›Ή Remembering: The old skate park that was at the Moorestown Mall.

    🦟 Avoiding: More mosquito spraying this morning in Camden, Lawnside, Waterford, and Winslow.

    πŸ–οΈ Down the Shore

    This β€œAsk Down the Shore” feature appears as part of our weekly summertime series from Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg. Subscribe to her free Down the Shore newsletter here.

    This week, we asked readers through the Shore Line group chat: What is the best time to drive to the Shore to avoid traffic? Below are two of the responses:

    • Best time is at 5:30-6 a.m. or after 7 [p.m.] on Friday β€” still light out at both times. Don’t like to drive when dark.
    • Here’s my solution to avoiding heavy traffic to and from the shore. Go down on Wednesday before MDW and come back on Wednesday after LDW (it helps to be retired!).

    What’s your strategy? Or do you have another concern related to the Shore? Email Rosenberg at downtheshore@inquirer.com.

    πŸ“Έ Photo of the week

    An eight-ton sand sculpture promotes Cape May at New Jersey’s pavilion at the Great American State Fair, in Washington, D.C. The pavilion was sponsored by Cape May County, a Republican stronghold that chose to represent New Jersey after the state government declined to participate.Sam Janesch / Staff

    πŸ–οΈ One sand art to go: Visitors were met with this sand sculpture, a new three-minute video highlighting Cape May County, and a giant image of George Washington lounging at the beach with a cold drink at New Jersey’s Pavilion at the Great American State Fair in D.C. County administrator Kevin Lare said it took at least $150,000 from the county’s tourism budget to make it happen.

    That should be everything you need to begin your day. Thanks for starting it with The Inquirer. See you on Monday!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Collingswood is considering lifting its dry town status to boost local restaurants. Residents may have the final say.

    Collingswood is considering lifting its dry town status to boost local restaurants. Residents may have the final say.

    After more than a century as a dry town, Collingswood is considering lifting its ban on alcohol sales within the borough.

    For months, the three-person Collingswood Board of Commissioners has been discussing whether to lift the long-standing restrictions on liquor sales both as a potential new revenue source for the borough and as a way to bolster the local restaurant industry.

    Per the state’s population-based license cap δΈ€ one liquor license for every 3,000 residents β€” Collingswood would be able to issue as many as four retail consumption licenses that permit restaurants or bars to serve alcohol, or one distribution license for a liquor store within borough limits.

    If liquor sales are eventually permitted, the borough could receive anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 annually through licensing and renewal fees.

    But discussions are still preliminary as the commissioners work to determine what is best for Collingswood’s existing restaurant and business owners, borough administrator Cassandra Duffey said.

    β€œThere’s a general sense that liquor can be a good thing, but there’s a concern that if it’s done in a way that’s unbalanced, it can also throw people off,” she said.

    β€œIs there strength in the dry-town brand that has been around for years and years?” Duffey said.

    Tracing back to its Quaker roots, Collingswood has prohibited alcohol sales by ordinance since the 19th century.

    A change to the policy would require public approval through a referendum during the November general election, borough solicitor Caitlin Harney Norcia said.

    To begin that process, the borough’s commissioners would need to adopt a resolution by Aug. 21 so that the Camden County Clerk’s Office has enough time to add the question to the ballot. In order to adopt the resolution, at least 15% of voters who participated in the last general election must sign a public petition in favor of putting the question on the ballot, Harney Norcia said.

    After that, β€œrepealing any kind of prior restrictions could all be done relatively easily,” Harney Norcia said, describing the logistics of updating local ordinances if a referendum passes.

    If voters approve lifting the ban, Harney Norcia said, the borough could either award licenses in a competitive bidding process, which could generate one-time revenue for Collingswood’s budget, or enact an application and review process that includes annual fees and public presentations by prospective licensees.

    But if the measure were to fail on Election Day, Collingswood would be barred from holding another referendum on alcohol sales for five years, according to state law.

    Some business owners have expressed concern that the public bidding process could result in one of the borough’s few licenses being awarded to an outside business instead of an established Collingswood restaurant, Duffey said.

    β€œThe challenge is not to disrupt the balance of businesses that already exist here,” she said. β€œIf you get a bidder that gets a license from outside of town, sure, you get the revenue, but then you’ve added somebody and it doesn’t necessarily benefit one of our businesses.

    β€œThe other option is to award [the licenses] directly, but then somebody must make a decision on who gets them, which is also a challenge,” she added.

    The commissioners are in continued talks with the borough’s business improvement team, local restaurateurs, and others about the best approach, she said.

    β€œIs there a way to distribute licenses or award licenses that is a boost for everybody?” Duffey said.

    The internal debate in Collingswood comes less than two years after residents in neighboring Haddon Heights voted to get rid of its de facto ban on liquor sales. The town has set a $200,000 minimum bid for its first retail liquor license and is currently accepting applications ahead of a public auction sale in September.

    Haddon Heights is hoping to leverage the new liquor licenses as a way to help boost a broader revival and redevelopment, Mayor Zachary Houck said.

    The licenses β€œwould hopefully draw in one or two additional restaurants or enhance existing restaurants and let us then continue to move that ball forward when it comes to enhancing our downtown historic district,” Houck said.

    Making more, and more affordable, liquor licenses available statewide was a goal of legislation then-Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law in 2024. The measure was touted as an unprecedented reform of New Jersey’s liquor laws, long described by critics as arcane and antiquated.

    β€œBy easing restrictions and boosting the availability of licenses, we are creating new opportunities for small businesses, especially mom-and-pop establishments, to expand and facilitate development on main streets across New Jersey,” Stella Porter, a spokesperson for Murphy, told The Inquirer that year.

  • New Collingswood agreement opens playgrounds after school, grants $10.5 million to revamp athletic fields

    New Collingswood agreement opens playgrounds after school, grants $10.5 million to revamp athletic fields

    A new agreement between the Collingswood Board of Education and Collingswood Borough approved this week will open the door for a $10.5 million renovation of the school district’s athletic complex.

    The three-person Collingswood Board of Commissioners voted in favor of the shared service agreement on June 17, and the 11-member Board of Education followed suit unanimously at its Monday meeting.

    The agreement aims to update the school district’s recreation spaces and give the borough more access to school properties formerly closed to nonstudents, including auditoriums, classrooms, and athletic fields.

    The public can now visit the district’s playgrounds and track facilities from 7 a.m. until dusk on days when students aren’t at school, including the summer months, weekends, and holidays. When school is back in session, those facilities will open when after-school activities end and close at dusk.

    The changes come just as the school district moves into its summer season, and months after the district announced that one of its elementary schools will not reopen next school year due to budget cuts.

    A new field, track, bleachers and more

    The $10.5 million renovation project for the athletic fields at Collingswood Middle and High School is financed by $15 million in bonded funds the borough authorized last spring for the redevelopment of fields and facilities in Collingswood.

    The new shared service agreement just lays out the formal framework for that collaboration and ensures the borough gets perks in return, like use of school property for July 4 celebrations and access to the new facilities.

    Amy Henderson Riley, one of Collingswood’s commissioners, said the agreement gives the spending a dual purpose.

    β€œWhen you work together, things can be kind of amazing. Everybody is being squeezed,” Henderson Riley said. β€œThe word of the year is affordability.”

    The project proposal, presented in October at a community forum on Collingswood’s recent 310-page recreation master plan, has a long list of goals. The district wants to convert the current grass football field into a multisport artificial turf field and build a new eight-lane track, along with adding a grass softball field, a concessions building, new bathrooms, a 1,500-seat grandstand, a student press box, and more improvements.

    Collingswood’s James Garfield Elementary School set to close due to budget cuts

    The firms involved so far include Remington & Vernick Engineers and Garrison Architects, Superintendent Fredrick McDowell said. A construction company won’t come on board until Collingswood and its school board publicize a bid package for construction work and review those bids at least 30 days later.

    McDowell said Wednesday the goal is to start the project as soon as possible, though there’s no timeline yet for when the project could begin or wrap up. Students will continue to use existing facilities in the meantime.

    A new grade school and park improvements

    The remaining $4.5 million in bonded funds from the borough will likely be split between improvements to Knight Park, a 70-acre green space in the middle of Collingswood, and the potential acquisition of a new upper grade school.

    The recreation presentation from October reported that $2.5 million of the $15 million bonded funds will go toward Knight Park upgrades.

    Henderson Riley said her fellow commissioner Jim Maley is overseeing the steering committee for the Knight Park project. Maley did not return requests for comment.

    The other $2 million could go to the acquisition of the former Good Shepherd Catholic School on Lees Avenue. The Collingswood School District has sought for years to convert Good Shepherd into an upper grade school building for fourth and fifth graders.

    Henderson Riley said there is currently no information to share on the status of acquiring Good Shepherd.

    The only way the school district could have afforded the athletic field renovations and these projects without collaboration with the borough is through a bond referendum, McDowell said, a vote at the ballot box to determine whether a school can borrow funds through the sale of bonds.

    In 2024, about 70% of Collingswood voters voted against a bond referendum that would have funded the athletic field redesign.

    It would have also closed two elementary schools and allowed the district to acquire Good Shepherd and convert it into an upper grade school. The referendum would’ve raised Collingswood residents’ property taxes, since that’s how bonds are paid back.

    One of those elementary schools, James Garfield Elementary, still closed due to budget cuts this week.

  • How this property tax relief program for New Jersey seniors could change under the state’s budget deal

    How this property tax relief program for New Jersey seniors could change under the state’s budget deal

    A nascent property tax relief program for New Jersey seniors has been at the center of budget negotiations between Gov. Mikie Sherrill and lawmakers as the state’s budget deadline quickly approaches.

    That program, called Stay NJ, is expected to undergo changes that would slice the income eligibility by more than half, kicking off seniors that made hundreds of thousands of dollars and started reaping the benefit this year.

    The benefit is currently available to seniors making less than $500,000, but that cap would be lowered to $200,000 under an agreement between the governor and legislative leaders, according to reports of closed-door budget talks. Those making less money would be eligible for a larger refund under the arrangement.

    The proposal is a compromise between Sherrill, who pushed for cuts to the program, and House Speaker Craig Coughlin (D., Middlesex), a key player in budget negotiations who has championed Stay NJ.

    As the name suggests, Stay NJ was created in 2023 to incentivize New Jerseyans to remain in the Garden State by providing refunds to eligible senior homeowners. The program was designed to start payments in 2026, so the very first checks had just begun going out when the first term governor presented her early March budget proposal.

    She argued that the state could face a dire financial situation if there aren’t serious cuts.

    Here’s what to know about the status of the Stay NJ program.

    Is there a budget deal?

    Sherrill, Coughlin, and State Sen. President Nicholas Scutari (D., Union) announced Tuesday that they came to a budget β€œagreement.” The closed-door deal wasn’t made public, and legislators continue to iron out the details ahead of the deadline this coming Tuesday.

    They said the budget agreement totals $60.7 billion, the same total Sherrill proposed in March. The governor has touted her proposal as β€œfiscally responsible,” though it’s still the highest price tag in the state’s history.

    The joint statement mentioned few details but cited a handful of measures, including Stay NJ.

    The state leaders said their agreement ensures the program β€œis a sustainable benefit retirees can count on.”

    The fate of other programs impacting South Jerseyans is less clear, including Rowan’s veterinary school, a program that provides healthcare to children that have experienced abuse, and resource centers that help Hispanic women get employment.

    What is Stay NJ?

    The property tax relief program issues refund payments to eligible seniors in quarterly installments. The first Stay NJ payments were issued in February with an average of $600 each, according to the state treasurer’s office.

    Under the current policy, eligible homeowners over 65 years old who make under $500,000 a year are eligible to get refunds for as much as half their property tax bills. The refunds are capped at $6,500 in a year.

    What did Gov. Sherrill want to change about Stay NJ?

    Sherrill wanted to slice the eligibility cap in half so only seniors with an annual household income below $250,000 would qualify.

    She also wanted to lower the maximum benefit to $4,000.

    β€œThat’s a fairer, more efficient use of taxpayer money,” she said in her budget address in early March.

    Stephen Sigmund, a spokesperson for Sherrill, said at the time of her proposal that 90% of Stay NJ recipients would keep their benefits.

    The AARP expressed outrage at her proposal as New Jersey seniors struggle with the cost of living. But critics of the program who believe it directs too much state money to higher earners praised her for wanting to rein it in.

    So what’s actually changing?

    According to reports of the budget agreement, Sherrill and legislators agreed on a compromise.

    Sherrill agreed to steer an additional $100 million funding to the program, NJ.com reported.

    Meanwhile, legislative leaders agreed to lower the income threshold to qualify for the program to $200,000, even lower than what Sherrill initially suggested.

    And as part of the new plan, those earning the least would get bigger deductions, according to the report.

    Seniors making $100,000 or less would qualify for up to $6,500; those making between $100,000 and $150,000 would be eligible for up to $5,000, and those making $150,000 to $200,000 would qualify for up to $4,000, according to the report.

    Coughlin said at an AARP town hall that Sherrill’s proposed cap across the board of $4,000 was β€œtoo low,” and that he would β€œstand up for Stay NJ,” New Jersey Monitor reported earlier this month.

    Spokespeople for the governor did not respond to a request asking for confirmation of the plan.

  • Ocean City Council moved forward on a plan to build a luxury hotel at the old Wonderland Pier site

    Ocean City Council moved forward on a plan to build a luxury hotel at the old Wonderland Pier site

    OCEAN CITY, N.J. β€” The proposal to build a luxury hotel on the site of the closed Gillian’s Wonderland Pier on Ocean City’s Boardwalk got a long-sought boost Thursday, 6/25.

    The City Council voted 5-2 to declare the site at 600 Boardwalk β€œin need of rehabilitation,” a designation sought by developer Eustace Mita.

    Council will now begin a process of negotiating with Mita over what ultimately gets built on the property, which for decades attracted families to its rides and arcades.

    Reached by text message, Mita called the action a β€œgreat vote for the populace of Ocean City ! A win for progress in the future of America’s greatest family resort.”

    He added, β€œBut this is only the first step in the process.”

    Mita has proposed a seven-story luxury hotel, but a committee appointed by council to study the property suggested that a smaller hotel might be more suitable.

    Council member Dave Winslow, originally opposed to the designation, said he now saw the rehabilitation designation as a way for the City Council to have more input in what ends up being built.

    β€œThere’s an urgency to restore the north end of the Boardwalk to its former glory,” Winslow said. β€œThe designation gives zero approval to build anything. It puts the future development of the property in the hands of this governing body to make decisions on scope.”

    Council President Terry Crowley Jr. also stressed that the designation was the beginning of a process. He said the council would be mindful of the conclusions of a Boardwalk committee that urged the smaller footprint with public entertainment along the Boardwalk, and which would be mindful of neighbors.

    β€œWe want a state-of-the-art product at that end of the Boardwalk,” he said.

    The nearly three-hour meeting included numerous residents speaking against the resolution, suggesting there might be legal action taken if council passed it, and urging them to wait until July when a newly elected anti-hotel council member, Jim Kelly, will be sworn in.

    A rendering of the proposed new Icona in Wonderland Resort, which is proposed to be built on the site of the old Wonderland Pier. The proposal for a 252-room resort includes saving the iconic Ferris wheel and carousel.Courtesy Icona Resorts

    The meeting was moved to the city’s Music Pier to accommodate the number of people, and turned heated at times.

    Several speakers asked that several council members recuse themselves, accusing them of conflict of interests. Others said declaring Boardwalk frontage in need of rehabilitation in a wealthy beach town was illogical.

    β€œThe rehabilitation designation was created to help struggling deteriorated communities revitalize themselves,” said resident Dave Hayes, during public comment. β€œIt was never meant to apply to expensive beachfront properties so wealthy developers like Eustace Mita could further increase their profits.”

    Numerous business owners on the Boardwalk and elsewhere in town urged the council to move forward on the project.

    β€œIt’s been the better part of a year,” said Caitlin Quirk, president of the Downtown Merchants Association. β€œYou’ve done your due diligence. You’ve done your homework.”

    While neighbors argued the hotel idea was not in keeping with the family entertainment of the Boardwalk, business owners said the entire economic viability of the boardwalk was at stake.

    Mark Raab, whose family owns numerous Boardwalk properties, said one of the stores near the closed Wonderland has no tenant this summer and is boarded up.

    β€œNext year, it’s even dimmer,” he said. β€œWe have five storefronts up for lease, two definitely not coming back. This is a crossroads that we are enduring. Thousands of people are going to walk by that boarded-up store and wonder why. We are out of time.”

    Council member Jody Levchuk, who runs Jilly’s Arcade on the Boardwalk, said all the planning reports point to β€œthe demise of the north end of the Boardwalk” if action wasn’t taken.

    Mita, who has proposed back in November 2024 turning the property into Icona in Wonderland, had sought the designation initially as a way to fast track his hotel idea.

    That did not happen.

    In January, the city’s planning board deadlocked on whether to recommend declaring the site in need of rehabilitation and sent it back to Council.

    Mita in the meantime moved on to other projects, including a β€œSoul Sanctuary” Catholic retreat in Ireland on the former grounds of a notorious abbey.

    The future of Wonderland has generated protracted and heated debate in the Shore town, with residents initially vowing to save Wonderland and later arguing that β€œbig hotel” would be a β€œbig mistake.”

    While some cling to the idea that an amusement park could still be opened there, most opponents have tried to argue that Mita’s proposal is too big for the site, would compromise nearby residential neighborhoods, and is not in keeping with the Boardwalk town’s family vibe and need for family entertainment.

    How big the hotel will be remains a topic to be negotiated now between the city and Mita, who bought the land from Mayor Jay Gillian and initially leased it back to him to continue to run Wonderland.

    Gillian made the decision to close the 65-year-old institution in October 2024, saying it was no longer financially viable. He declared personal bankruptcy this year, in part from failed business ventures. Voters elected him to a fifth term in May.

    Council member Tony Polcini said his yes vote was β€œto give hope to the people that work hard,” in seasonal businesses.

    β€œThe beach and the Boardwalk are a part of our livelihood and why our homes are worth so much,” he said. β€œI really truly feel that moving this process forward to a yes will allow us to negotiate and do what is best for Ocean City.”

    Voting no were council members Keith Hartzell and Sean Barnes, who said the regular zoning and planning process would be a better way to move forward.

  • Gov. Mikie Sherrill proposed an 80% cut to a program that provides job training and support to Hispanic women. The budget is due in days.

    Gov. Mikie Sherrill proposed an 80% cut to a program that provides job training and support to Hispanic women. The budget is due in days.

    Consensa Francisca Silva Silva moved to Camden from Costa Rica more than two years ago knowing nobody. She lived on the street for two months, she said, and then was bouncing from house to house when a young man in the neighborhood told her to check out the Hispanic Women’s Resource Center in Camden, one of several such centers in the state.

    She went. With help from the program, Silva received food, obtained a work permit, made a down payment for a studio apartment, and started a job at McDonald’s.

    That statewide initiative is now facing detrimental cuts under Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s budget proposal. The governor has proposed cutting nearly 80% of its funding, and Silva worries that other immigrant women looking to improve their circumstances will not get the help she received.

    β€œIt was very hard to come here without knowing anyone, and it was really hard because at first I couldn’t find any work,” Silva, who is Nicaraguan, said in Spanish, translated by Jesselly De La Cruz, the executive director of the Latino Action Network Foundation, which funds the centers.

    The initiative is one of numerous South Jersey programs at risk under Sherrill’s proposal, including the Rowan University veterinary school and a program that provides mental healthcare to abused children. But the cuts are not a done deal.

    Sherrill and legislative leaders announced Tuesday they had come to an β€œagreement” on a budget totaling $60.7 billion, the same price tag Sherrill proposed in March. But it has not been made public and it is unclear how far into the details they have gotten. They have until Tuesday to figure it out.

    And the process is still underway. State Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, a Camden Democrat who sits on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, has been a supporter of the centers. She was unable to speak Wednesday afternoon because she was in a committee budget hearing.

    Client Consensa Francisca Silva Silva (right) participates in a workshop at the Hispanic Women’s Resource Center in Camden Thursday, June 11, 2026.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    On a recent Thursday, Silva participated in a healthy life skills workshop in Spanish at the Camden center, where she learned about taking care of herself as summer temperatures get hotter in the city. About 20 adults clapped for one another with big smiles on their faces, and they received goody bags with sunscreen, lip balm, a towel to keep cool, and a little fan. A young girl played with magnetic tiles and a baby was kept calm, passed between women.

    The governor proposed cutting funding for the center’s programs to $535,000, down from more than $2.5 million this year and more than $3 million in 2025. Murphy had proposed a similar cut last year, but the funding was restored during budget negotiations.

    Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers were established through 1991 legislation to address the wage gap for Latinas. New Jersey is one of the states with the biggest wage gap for Latina workers, according to the National Women’s Law Center.

    Staff members observe from back of the room during a workshop at the Hispanic Women’s Resource Center in Camden Thursday, June 11, 2026. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    The Latino Action Network Foundation funds these resource centers in partnership with six nonprofits across 14 sites, including five in South Jersey. The Camden center is located at the nonprofit Healthy Families and Communities, and there are centers in Vineland in Cumberland County, Hammonton in Atlantic County, Pennsville in Salem County, and Rio Grande in Cape May County.

    Sherrill’s proposal would β€œdrastically cut” the number of resource centers, and sites in Hammonton and in Lakewood, in Ocean County, would likely be on the chopping block, De La Cruz said, adding that services would need to be cut in eight of 11 counties.

    Martha Infante, 38, who lives in Pennsauken, said she was disoriented when she moved to South Jersey from the Dominican Republic. But through the Camden center, she found out how to apply for work online and learned basic English. She obtained coats for her daughters’ first U.S. winter, and a staffer accompanied her to a New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles center to get her driver’s license.

    β€œI came here and my mind was all over the place, I didn’t know where things were,” she said in Spanish.

    She now works as a home health aide, thanks to training she got through the center, and even participated in a program where she learned about advocating for her community in Trenton.

    β€œDon’t cut these funds, Gov. Sherrill,” she pleaded. β€œDon’t cut the funds! This is like a family. It’s like a home for the community.”

    Client Martha Infante (left) talks with staff member Chailienisse Vega (right) after participating in a workshop at the Hispanic Women’s Resource Center in Camden Thursday, June 11, 2026. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Some of the women in the program are fleeing domestic violence and seeking financial independence. Others are struggling to get a work permit, or may have lost a family member who helped pay the bills to deportation. A lot of former β€œDreamers” β€” undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children β€” utilize the center as well, De La Cruz said.

    The need for the centers has only escalated under President Donald Trump’s second administration, she said.

    The social worker-turned-executive said she was surprised by the severity of Sherrill’s proposed cut, especially because of the governor’s efforts to push back against Trump’s immigration policies.

    A 2023 Rutgers study funded by the Latino Action Network Foundation found that the most popular services at these resource centers were English-language classes and employment services, such as job referrals, assistance filling out applications, resume writing, and interview preparation.

    Staff member Andreina Pardo pauses to stretch with participants as she leads a workshop at the Hispanic Women’s Resource Center in Camden Thursday, June 11, 2026. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    β€œAside from helping them with the technical aspects of job hunting, the assistance from the Centers seemed to provide a boost of confidence for many of the women, giving them an additional push to apply for positions even if they felt hesitant to do so at first,” the study said.

    Gladys, 48, who declined to give her last name due to concerns over her safety, said in Spanish that the free English courses made her feel like she could β€œcome up for air and breathe” after not being able to communicate.

    The Camden resident had been an ecologist in Nicaragua and has gotten involved in the center’s community garden. She said she would love to pursue a career teaching children about the environment, but her plans are on hold because her work visa was canceled.

    In the meantime, Gladys said, activities at the center like art classes have made her feel less alone. She has been able to connect with women in the same situation as her, and those who migrated to the U.S. earlier who can give her advice from their experiences.

    β€œMaybe my circumstances don’t change, but my emotional well-being changes because I’m able to connect with others,” she said in Spanish.

  • β€˜Don’t cut these funds, Gov. Sherrill’ | Inquirer South Jersey

    β€˜Don’t cut these funds, Gov. Sherrill’ | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. The bulk of the rain seems to be over this week, but there’s a chance of some more showers.

    Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers face steep cuts under Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget.

    And Medford passed an ordinance to prohibit data centers within its limits.

    Plus, Pennsauken’s Yaxel Lendeborg was chosen in the first round of the NBA draft, and more news of the day.

    β€” Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Pleading for state funding

    Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers were established in 1991 to address the wage gap for Latinas in New Jersey, one of the states with the biggest gap for Latina workers.

    Under Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget, the statewide initiative could see its funding decrease by 80%.

    These centers help women like Consensa Francisca Silva Silva who was able to obtain a work permit, make a down payment for an apartment, and start working thanks to the assistance she was able to receive for one of these centers in Camden.

    β€œIt was very hard to come here without knowing anyone, and it was really hard because at first I couldn’t find any work,” Silva said about her experience when she first arrived from Costa Rica.

    Silva and other supporters worry immigrant women like her won’t get the support they need if the cuts go through.

    The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider has the latest information on the budget process.

    Medford bans data centers

    Medford sent a clear message this week: No data centers here. Its council adopted the ordinance to prohibit them, despite not receiving any formal applications for a center.

    β€œThese are extra precautions to ensure that we don’t move forward in a direction that we can’t come back from until we know full well what the impacts of data centers will be,” Medford Mayor Michael Czyzyk said.

    Council reserves the right to amend the ordinance to permit data centers in the future.

    Medford is the latest South Jersey community to resist data centers, including Cherry Hill.

    Reporter Lacey Latch has the story.

    What to know today

    • The New Jersey Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered prosecutors to fully disclose how police used facial recognition technology in a murder case, New Jersey Monitor reports.
    • A body of a swimmer who went missing last month in Ocean County has been recovered, according to the police.
    • The federal government ordered Chemours Co. to pay $450 million over illegal discharges of synthetic β€œforever chemicals” known as PFAS. According to the Associate Press, the company will pay penalties and provide mitigation efforts to prevent these types of discharges in North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Jersey.
    • Camden might get a new rooftop nightclub along the waterfront. The Club 9 SkyLounge is proposed for the rooftop deck of the Hinson Parking Garage on Delaware Avenue.
    • Yaxel Lendeborg, a 23-year-old forward who played for Pennsauken High School, was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA draft.
    • Moorestown Township established new rules for e-bikes, electric scooters, dirt bikes, and other motor-assisted devices. One of those rules is that they’re generally banned from sidewalks. The new ordinances takes effect on July 19.

    πŸ—“οΈ The best things to do this week

    ⚽ SoccerFest26 at the Waterfront: Residents and tourists will be able to celebrate the World Cup with match screenings, international food, soccer-based youth programming, live music, and various craft vendors. ⏰ Thursday, June 25-Saturday, June 27, various times πŸ’΅ Pay-as-you-go/RSVP required πŸ“ Wiggins Park, 2 Riverside Dr., Camden

    πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Gloucester Township’s LGBTQ+ Pride Festival: The three-day Pride celebration will feature local vendors, film screenings, art, wellness sessions, and drag shows. ⏰ Friday, June 26-Sunday, June 28, various times throughout the weekend πŸ’΅ Pay-as-you-go πŸ“ Harmony Hall, 3 S. Black Horse Pike, Blackwood

    πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Freedom Fest: A Star Spangled Spectacular: The festival will include live performances, fireworks, food trucks, and more. ⏰ Saturday, June 27, 3 p.m. πŸ’΅ Pay-as-you-go πŸ“ Delran Community Park, 12 Hardford Rd., Delran

    See more event listings here.

    🧠 Trivia time

    The Phillies drafted Logan Dawson last year. He grew up locally in Voorhees and is a lifelong fan of the team. Who was his favorite player growing up?

    A) Ryan Howard

    B) Chase Utley

    C) Jimmy Rollins

    D) Cole Hamels

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🚲 Double-checking: The rules and restrictions about e-bikes in New Jersey.

    ⚽ Exploring: The different games at the PATCO Soccer Stop for the World Cup.

    🌻 Wishing: It were sunflower picking season at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro.

    🏑 On the market

    A Mount Laurel Colonial with modern updates and an expansive backyard

    The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home has Colonial charm with the original deed dating back to 1842. It has a classic farmhouse exterior with modern amenities inside such as an updated kitchen. The home showcases exposed wood beams and hardwood flooring. There’s also an abundance of space including two large great rooms, and an expansive backyard with mature trees and patio areas.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: 589,999 | Size: 2,703 SF | Acreage: 1.10

    And that is all I have for you today. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning. πŸ‘‹πŸ½

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Medford bans data centers within town limits amid public debate about AI

    Medford bans data centers within town limits amid public debate about AI

    Large-scale data centers will not be moving into Medford any time soon thanks to a new ordinance adopted unanimously by the Medford Township Council this week.

    While the township has not yet received any formal applications for data centers, officials are taking steps like the ordinance passed Tuesday that specifically prohibits the land use within town limits as a chance to be proactive.

    β€œThese are extra precautions to ensure that we don’t move forward in a direction that we can’t come back from until we know full well what the impacts of data centers will be,” Medford Mayor Michael Czyzyk said at Tuesday’s public hearing.

    The ordinance received support from Medford-area residents at the hearing but some questioned whether the township might be making its bed too early considering how quickly technology evolves, especially if there’s a chance to reap the rewards of a data center project without negatively impacting the surrounding community.

    β€œIf there’s no impacts to the residents and there’s only a financial benefit, I believe I would consider looking at that at that time, but we’re not there yet,” Czyzyk said.

    While the ordinance constraints may seem all-limiting as it exists today, Czyzyk said, council maintains the authority to at any point amend the ordinance to permit data centers in the township’s redevelopment district.

    β€œI definitely understand that things will evolve and there may be a time in the future that the term data center is something that is more amenable to the residents and the body that governs them,” Czyzyk said.

    β€œI will feel comfortable with the vote I cast on this ordinance tonight knowing full well that today I feel that way and that there’s mechanisms in the future if things do change, a process will be undertaken to remedy that,” he said.

    Nearby in Cherry Hill, Mayor David Fleisher has explicitly vowed to block the construction of any large AI or commercial data facilities in the township citing concerns of high energy usage, water consumption, and proximity to residents.

    There are dozens of data centers currently operating throughout the state with major hubs located primarily in North Jersey urban centers like Secaucus and Newark. But more recently, developers have been eyeing spots in rural South Jersey as the industry expands to meet growing demands for generative AI.

    For months, South Jersey residents have been protesting a major AI data center that is currently under construction in Vineland.

    Developers and other data-center proponents say the facilities bring in tax revenue, create jobs, make use of old industrial sites, and put towns on the cutting edge of a hot industry, all without straining school districts or emergency services.

    Opponents, meanwhile, cite concerns about pollution, noise, power and water use, and the impact on their electric bills. Some also say they worry the AI boom is a bubble that could soon burst.

    As concerns continue to grow among towns across the Garden State, representatives from more than 60 environmental, labor, and community groups sent a letter to New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill last month calling for a statewide moratorium on the approval and construction of new facilities that use 20 megawatts or more of power.

    So far in response to the public pressure, Sherrill has proposed a plan that would require new data centers to cover grid upgrades, utilize their own power generators, and publicly report resource usage.

    While some municipalities like Medford have issued moratoriums on new data centers, no state governments have successfully done so, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

  • A new rooftop nightclub proposed for the Camden waterfront aims to be part of the city’s ‘evolution’

    A new rooftop nightclub proposed for the Camden waterfront aims to be part of the city’s ‘evolution’

    Clubgoers might soon have the chance to take in nighttime views of the Philadelphia skyline at a new rooftop nightclub along the Camden waterfront.

    The Cloud 9 SkyLounge is proposed for the rooftop deck of the fourth-floor Hinson Parking Garage next to the Delaware River Port Authority office tower on Delaware Avenue.

    The club would include a stage and dance floor, private cabanas, a pool deck, bar areas, a food truck zone, VIP parking, and more, according to the developer’s application to the city, which is still awaiting final consideration from Camden’s planning board.

    So far, city officials have approved the new use for the property, said Joe Console, attorney for the Cloud 9 developers.

    Now, the applicant will work on developing more detailed engineering reports, showing that the project complies with local regulations as it relates to traffic, noise, building capacity, and more, Console said. Once complete, the project will eventually be brought back before the planning board for review and final approval.

    β€œOur vision is to create a world-class entertainment and hospitality destination that showcases the beauty of the Camden waterfront, the Philadelphia skyline, and the energy of the entire region,” Cloud 9 founder and CEO Kenneth Walden said. β€œWe want visitors to experience something they would normally expect to find in cities like Miami, Las Vegas, New York, or Los Angeles β€” right here in Camden.”

    As an adaptive reuse project instead of new development, the club would require no changes to the parking garage’s existing footprint, and the rooftop venue would be limited to temporary installations, according to the application.

    Parking for the rooftop venue would also be self-contained within the existing parking structure. The developers said they do not anticipate any parking issues extending into the surrounding area.

    A rendering shows the entry view of the proposed Cloud 9 SkyLounge rooftop deck of the Hinson Parking Garage on Delaware Avenue in Camden.Obtained by The Inquirer

    The parking garage is currently owned by the city’s parking authority and the rooftop would be rented to Cloud 9 starting at $5,000 per month, per the application documents. The venue would be open Thursday 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.

    β€œCloud 9 was born from a simple belief: that Camden deserves extraordinary destinations just as much as any major city in the country,” Walden said. β€œFor years, people have viewed Camden primarily through the lens of its challenges. I believe it is equally important to recognize its potential, its resilience, and the remarkable transformation taking place along the waterfront. Cloud 9 is intended to be part of that continued evolution.”

    The property is located within the city’s mixed waterfront zoning district which is designed to help revitalize former industrial or vacant properties into pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use areas along the waterfront.

    The venue’s developers included in their application that the project is β€œconsistent with the overall vision of the [mixed waterfront zone] as it promotes: activation of underutilized urban space, enhancement of the waterfront entertainment environment, increased tourism and economic activity and adaptive reuse of existing infrastructure.”

    The new nightlife destination would be within walking distance to some of the city’s other waterfront destinations such as Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Wiggins Waterfront Riverstage, and Adventure Aquarium.

    A rendering shows the beach view of the proposed Cloud 9 SkyLounge rooftop deck of the Hinson Parking Garage on Delaware Avenue in Camden.Obtained by The Inquirer

    The office for Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen said that while they are aware of the proposed rooftop bar and lounge, they declined to comment specifically on the project or its details as it continues to make its way through the land development process.

    β€œCamden is undergoing an unprecedented transformation as investment is taking place citywide. As a result, there is great interest from developers, and a wide variety of projects are being proposed in every part of the city,” said Vincent Basara, director of communications for the mayor’s office. β€œCamden is always open to new ideas and proposals. The success of this project will ultimately be based on the merit of the application. We are confident in the public process and the various reviews which are required.”

    About a mile north on the other side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is accepting mixed-use redevelopment proposals for a 16-acre waterfront parcel that was previously home to the former Riverfront Prison and Weeks Marine site in North Camden.

    β€œBeyond the venue itself, I believe Cloud 9 can contribute to the city in several meaningful ways,” Walden said. β€œThe project has the potential to create jobs, attract visitors from throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and beyond, generate additional economic activity for nearby businesses, and further strengthen Camden’s reputation as a destination worth visiting and investing in.”

    The Cloud 9 SkyLounge was presented to the city’s zoning hearing board for final site plan approval on June 1 and will need to continue through the development process before finally being voted on by the city’s planning board. The exact timeline for this process varies by project, but a final vote on Cloud 9 is likely still weeks or even months away, as the application must go before the city’s planning board, though they will not officially discuss the project until at least the board’s July meeting.

  • Where to watch Fourth of July fireworks in Philly, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore

    Where to watch Fourth of July fireworks in Philly, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore

    This Fourth of July will be unlike any in recent memory. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Philadelphia and the surrounding region are packed with celebrations β€” and fireworks displays. From the city and suburbs to South Jersey and the Shore, there are dozens of opportunities to catch a show.

    Whether you’re staying in Philadelphia, heading to the suburbs, or spending the holiday down the Shore, here’s where to find Fourth of July fireworks across the region.

    Fireworks in Philadelphia

    Fireworks after the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park on July 2, 2025.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Fireworks in Bucks County

    Fireworks in Chester County

    Fireworks in Delaware County

    Fireworks in Montgomery County

    Fireworks in Allentown

    Fireworks in South Jersey

    A view of Atlantic City’s fireworks from the Marina. (Courtesy of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority)

    Fireworks at the Jersey Shore