Chris Hackett for CTSD

I've been getting some PMs of people asking for my opinion on the BoE race for NHV this year. I am humbled and surprised that anyone still cares about what I have to say. While I have made comments in some of the Facebook groups that might indicate my support, I had thus far refrained from making any "formal" statements (if they can be called that since I have no official capacity). However, I decided I DO want to post something, specifically because of the ballot question for CTSD. What I am posting is I am sure going to upset absolutely everyone on the spectrum!

First, on the NHV BoE race. I will not call what I am about to write an "endorsement", because who cares who I "endorse", so I will simply note who I am supporting as an individual. I am choosing this year to support the REYES and FORLINI slate. I am making this decision not because of any specific stance or position this year, because I already knew I would be voting against Kirchberger and Chapman before the election started. (though I know Cynthia personally and I know she would do a great job. I do not know Mr. Forlini). I made this decision because those of you who supported me a few years ago know where I stood on the COVID restrictions in schools. Both Kirchbirger and Chapman were on the BoE and supported these restrictions, and Chapman even went so far as to lean into them further and attempt to continue them after the State repealed them. I made the decision in late 2020 that I would never vote for a Board of Education candidate who stood idly by and shrugged (or worse vehemently agreed) while our children were forced to ritualize the anxiety of adults. Two years later and we all know that the restrictions were foolish, but very few are willing to admit it. Every day more studies come out showing the damage we did. I do not believe in rewarding elected officials who helped cause the damage. I know this makes me a one issue voter, and I don't care. That is how important this issue was to me. I never want to see this done to our children again, and I do not want to see the people who supported it be anywhere near positions of power again. If you agreed with me back then, I urge you to consider that when you vote tomorrow.

As for the CTSD ballot question, I SUPPORT the questions. I know there are many who supported me who are in opposition to the question on the basis that the BoE should be able to find money from within the budget to approve SROs without a ballot question. I fully agree with that point. However, this Board of Education, which is made up almost entirely of Democrat activist candidates, will NEVER vote for SROs in schools. This ballot question allows us to get the necessary SROs for our schools NOW, instead of waiting for the Board of Education to be replaced (which may never happen since nobody is stepping up to run.) I do not believe in proving a point and risking our children's safety in the meantime. Therefore, I urge people to vote YES on the ballot initiative. Let's not cut off our nose to spite our face. This is what is best for our kids. If you want to "stick it to the BoE", run against them, instead of voting against SROs for your kid's schools.

I've gotten lots of messages from folks asking if I intend to run for BoE again for this year. Rather than respond individually I will respond to everyone here.

With a newborn at home and work picking up again, I have decided I do not have the bandwidth to run a campaign or, if I am being honest, have the time to even be on the Board. I do not want to be known as someone who puts a name down without the commitment behind it.

I am happy to have been able to make even a small difference during the trying time of the past two years. If nothing else hopefully I showed some other parents around town that getting out there isn't hard or scary - in fact it can be energizing and even fun. In that vein I hope I see some other great candidates with a diversity of viewpoints out there to support and vote for.

Have a great summer and if any parents have kids headed to PMG I'd love to connect so that our kids can get to know each other!

Last year, I ran a Board of Education campaign on this exact premise and was lambasted by those listening to Governor Murphy while he continued to lie about the risk to children.

The risk then was no bigger than the risk now. The vaccination rate then was nearly equal to the vaccination rate now.

I am happy to see, that "normalcy", something most in this town wanted badly, is now the Governor's official policy and soon to follow will be the sycophants who now got the cue that it's ok.

But make no mistake, those who sat in power and sat silently while this travesty on our children continued (and in fact still continues for another month), must be held accountable. And they will be.

The choice of whether a child should wear a mask in school does not belong to a school district. It belongs to the parents.

Following the actions of the Legislature yesterday, Gov. Murphy has re-declared a public health emergency. As such, his prior EOs including the school mask mandate is still in effect.

I'll spare you all my commentary but note that the school districts are correct if they state the mandate is still in effect.

Office of the Governor | Governor Murphy Reinstates Public Health Emergency to Respond to Omicron Variant of COVID-19 Executive Order No. 280 declares a Public Health Emergency and restates the existing State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing state agencies and departments to utilize state resources to assist the State’s healthcare system and affected communities responding to and recove...

Finally some good news! Assuming this holds it means this will go back to the local BoEs instead of a State mandate.

The Arizona study’s lead authors stand by their work, and so does the CDC. But the critics were forthright in their harsh assessments. Noah Haber, an interdisciplinary scientist and a co-author of a systematic review of COVID-19 mitigation policies, called the research “so unreliable that it probably should not have been entered into the public discourse.”

The CDC’s Flawed Case for Wearing Masks in School The agency’s director has said, repeatedly, that schools without mask mandates have triple the risk of COVID outbreaks. That claim is based on very shaky science.

Now getting national recognition. How much longer are we going to ignore the signs of a problem in NJ?

"Early data show emergency room visits for su***de attempts among adolescent girls, in particular, rose by 51% during COVID-19..."

Surgeon general warns of youth mental health crisis amid COVID-19 U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on Tuesday issued a new Surgeon General’s Advisory, warning of a growing youth mental health crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic.