Regional Briefs – August 7, 2015

De Blasio Chides Media for Reporting Crime Rate Hike

NEW YORK – Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday rebuked the media for reporting on increased violence, Capital New York reported. “We had a record low year for crime overall. … I understand the concept in this city, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ But let’s try to be a little factual here.” Crime has increased 10 percent since last year.

Poll: Christie’s Popularity At Home Dips to New Low

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – More voters in New Jersey are dissatisfied than ever with Gov. Chris Christie, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Thursday. Just 30 percent have a favorable opinion of the Republican presidential candidate, while 59 percent don’t like him, down 11 points since April.

Child’s Gravestone Found At New Jersey Bus Station

NUTLEY, N.J. – Police are trying to figure out how a child’s gravestone ended up at the NJ Transit Bus Terminal on Wednesday. The headstone is engraved with the name Max Ferreira, born June 16, 1990 and dying on Sept. 29, 1998.

Emerging City Hall Job Applicant Vandalizes Office

VINELAND, N.J. – A man walked into Vineland city hall Tuesday and asked to see Mayor Ruben Bermudez. Told the mayor was out to lunch, he left, destroying items in the lobby on his way out, the Vineland Daily Journal reported. The man returned Wednesday to fill out a job application at the police department and was arrested.

Man Charged After Garage Blast Ordered Into Custody

WHEATFIELD, N.Y. – A man caught last month making homemade bombs in his garage was ordered Wednesday into custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Niagara Gazette reported. A federal judge ruled that Michael O’Neill, 45, poses a “danger to the community.”

Rockland County Legislators Considering E-cigarette Ban

NEW CITY, N.Y. – Rockland County lawmakers at a public hearing Tuesday night mulled adding a ban on e-cigarettes to the existing indoor smoking ban, the Journal News reported. Teens are increasingly “vaping” instead of smoking.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the August 7th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.