Corrado Calls for Murphy to Reopen State Government Offices, Including Unemployment Walk-in Centers

Senator Kristin Corrado called on Governor Phil Murphy to reopen State government offices that serve the public, including unemployment walk-in centers, following news that New Jersey’s indoor capacity restrictions are being eliminated.

“With all of the public health metrics pointing in the right direction, there’s no justification for Governor Murphy to keep government offices closed that should be open to serve the public,” said Corrado (R-40). “We continue to hear from hundreds of unemployed workers who can’t resolve their claims online or over the phone to get the benefits they’re owed. It’s unbelievable they still can’t walk into an unemployment center to quickly resolve whatever issues they’re having in a face-to-face conversation. Governor Murphy needs to reopen those walk-in centers and other public-facing offices immediately.”

It was reported today that New Jersey is joining Connecticut and New York in lifting many of the remaining coronavirus restrictions, including capacity limits in indoor places. Social distancing and mask requirements will remain.

To address the concerns that Governor Murphy still has not reopened the walk-in unemployment service centers, Corrado is in the process of drafting a bill requiring them to open.

“It seems ridiculous that we have to pass a bill to force the Murphy administration to reopen offices to serve the public, but that’s where we’re at,” added Corrado. “The governor recently suggested they may be back to work in a few months. They should be back today.”