The February 2020 issue is available now

Focus: Healthy Communities

February 2020 NJ Municipalities magazine cover

Tobacco products have been around for centuries, but it was not until 1964 that a ground breaking report issued by the US Surgeon General brought attention to smoking’s health risks. Americans soon learned that smoking caused lung cancer and increased a person’s risk of stroke, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma.

As a result of the report, anti-smoking campaigns pushed for the development of policies and practices to address tobacco use to reduce morbidity and mortality. State Attorney Generals researched suing cigarette manufacturers to recover medical costs for sick and dying cigarette smokers. In the landmark Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the four largest cigarette manufacturers in America were forced to pay billions of dollars annually. They also faced significant prohibitions and restrictions on tobacco advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns. Despite this progress, today’s youth are facing an epidemic health risk-vaping.

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Featured Article

Healthy Town, Healthy Count

Municipalities risk benefits for hard-to-count areas in the 2020 Census

Paterson Mayor André Sayegh recognizes the gravity of the upcoming census count. The city is considered a hard -to-count area (HTC) with populations that are hard to locate, interview, persuade, or contact.

The city’s children ages 0 to 5 are most likely to be left out of the count. The community is working to ensure these children get counted, focusing on partnerships with schools. Tools include: A children’s book called We Count about the census and its importance. Census pep rallies for children “Census Selfies” social media campaign. The importance of data Ina diverse state like New Jersey, having access to data that represents community-specific demographics is crucial. Mayors Wellness Campaign participants are challenged to find local data that supports creating community health needs assessments, funding decisions, and strategic planning. This is just one of the many reasons why the upcoming 2020 Census Count is essential to local officials and communities.

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In this Issue

Legislative Guide

This comprehensive Legislative Guide contains information on the League's Legislative Team, tips on becoming active, and a statement from League President James Perry.

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About NJ Municipalities

NJ Municipalities serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on municipal affairs, new initiatives and changing legislation for public officials in New Jersey. This magazine has been a news source for local government organizations for over 100 years, and is available in print and digital format. Published monthly, with the exception of July, August and September.

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