COVID Vaccines, New Open Space: What To Expect In Edison-Metuchen

EDISON-METUCHEN, NJ – The year 2020 will forever be marked as one filled with loss, extreme difficulties and missed opportunities. While the pandemic is far from over, the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for a better year. As we settle into 2021, here’s what we can expect:

A New Open Space

Residents of Silver Lake, Edison protested the building of a warehouse on the intersection of Glendale and Silver Lake avenues.

Their activism finally led the town council to unanimously pass a resolution to purchase the site of the controversial warehouse and preserve it as an open space. Mayor Thomas Lankey also wrote to Middlesex County freeholder director Ronald G Rios, formally requesting the county to purchase the land.

If all goes well, the town might get a space every resident can enjoy, that will also help in preservation goals of the Raritan River.

The final decision on the property purchase now rests with the county. But residents hope things work out in their favor. After all, who wouldn't enjoy a little more of nature?

COVID-19 Vaccines Are Here

Expect COVID-19 vaccines in Edison-Metuchen soon, including at your local ShopRite or doctor's office. New Jersey is currently putting together a plan on who will get the vaccine and when.

The state aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the population by the first six months of the year. With that in mind, New Jersey is set to open 200 community vaccine sites and six "megasites" in January. And one site is right here in Edison. The six vaccine "mega-sites" are:

• Atlantic County: Atlantic City Convention Center
• Bergen County: Racetrack at Meadowlands, East Rutherford
• Burlington County: Moorestown Mall
• Gloucester County: Rowan College of South Jersey, Sewell
• Middlesex County: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison
• Morris County: Rockaway Townsquare Mall

Around 38 ShopRites and 26 doctor's offices/urgent care locations across New Jersey will administer the vaccine. The locations have not been revealed yet.

Currently, the state is vaccinating those in group 1A , which includes healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff.

Driver's License Access For Immigrants

Advocates have worked hard during the pandemic to help the state’s undocumented population affected by job losses due to the economic shutdown. And Princeton has a sizeable undocumented population.

A year ago, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law to expand access to driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. Although the state was supposed to start providing license beginning Jan. 1, on Dec. 29 the Motor Vehicle Commission said they were delaying implementation of the law due to a large workload caused by COVID-19.

No tentative date was cited, but the hope is that licenses will start being issued soon, now that vaccine distribution has begun and the MVC is working hard to reduce the workload.

Marijuana Legalization Bill Delayed

The marijuana legalization bill has been delayed. According to a report by Politico, the Murphy administration is objecting to legislation that creates the framework for selling the drug.

During a Dec. 28 press conference Murphy said there are some "technical, but important things we're trying to wrinkle out" on the legislation. The bill needs Gov. Phil Murphy's signature to become law. During the November elections, New Jersey voted overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana.

State officials have said that it could from 6 months to a year for the drug to be sold in stores. Delay in legislation will delay the selling of the drug. Marijuana dispensaries and manufacturing facilities could help replace lost revenue and help struggling down towns as they recover from COVID-19.