DiVincenzo Gives 2026 'State Of Essex County' Speech: Here's What He Said

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. presented the annual State of the County Address last week, highlighting issues such as affordability, health care, education and infrastructure.

DiVincenzo’s office recapped some highlights from his Feb. 26 speech in a news release.

INFRASTRUCTURE – DiVincenzo listed several infrastructure projects that were recently made at new bridges and intersections, as well as the opening of the Wynona Lipman Family Courthouse in Newark. He also highlighted projects to modernize athletic fields and picnic areas at county-run parks, as well as opening the Monte Irvin Orange Park Community Center. Other projects have included dedicating the Wilbur McNeil Walking Track in Weequahic Park, and the Patricia Chambers Cherry Blossom Grove in Branch Brook Park. In addition, DiVincenzo pointed to the updated Outback Adventure and the new Barry Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center at the Turtle Back Zoo. Meanwhile, Weequahic Golf Course received a comprehensive renovation and the Parks Administration Building was updated.

EDUCATION – New facilities have opened at Essex County College, including the new West Essex Campus, an updated library and Innovation Center and the modernization of the cafeteria. DiVincenzo also pointed to the success of many students at the Essex County Schools of Technology, and accomplishments by the West Caldwell Tech Robotics Team.

HEALTH – DiVincenzo highlighted the Office of Public Health Management’s new partnership with Montclair State University, the continued partnership with RWJBarnabas Health on the county’s Mobile Health Unit initiative, and using AI and GIS to “hone services.”

NATIONAL ISSUES – Essex County has continued to react to “rising costs and federal cut mayhem,” DiVincenzo reported. In November, the federal shutdown left 120,000 Essex County residents without access to SNAP benefits. The county responded by hosting five food distribution events in two weeks, aided by the Community FoodBank and RWJBarnabas Health. DiVincenzo then told the story of how two Community Health Quick Response Team members went above and beyond to help a client. They set her up with housing, made sure she followed through on her treatment and, when she had to appear in court on a DUI charge, one of them drove all the way to South Jersey so she did not have to appear before the judge alone. The client now has a permanent apartment in East Orange, received a voucher for furniture and “is an example of the change that is possible with support from a network of compassionate professionals,” DiVincenzo said.

Read the county’s full news release here.

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