© 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC.
taking the 6-1 win in seven innings in game one
the Musketeers' fifth series win in conference action
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website
If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it
OK Privacy policy
1at6Xavier
But Pirates Drop Doubleheader at Xavier5/4/2025 6:34:00 PM | Baseball
Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display
Give Now
The new space will feature an open study lounge and technology consultations rooms
Physician Assistant Graduate Leads with Advocacy and Service
Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares' 87 Named Keynote Speaker
New Book Brings Hip-Hop Pedagogy to Classrooms Nationwide
UNGA President Philemon Yang at the World Leaders Forum
Charter Day: Honoring Service and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
By Jeff Goldberg on May 4
2025Comments Off on Seton Hall Prep lacrosse team wins six consecutive games
NJ — The Seton Hall Prep lacrosse team won three games last week to extend its winning streak to six games and improve a 9-2 record
Tevlin Memorial Field in West Orange and defeated the Hilltoppers
Senior Joe DelMauro led the scoring with three goals and one assist
while senior Clark Rich scored two goals and added one assist
Junior Owen Dunleavy and senior Charlie Killen each scored one goal
Senior goalie Conor Keenan made seven saves
junior Lucas Angel was 7-of-7 and senior Teddy Coyle was 6-of-7
Seton Hall hosted Caldwell and defeated the Chiefs
Senior Nolan Sabel had three goals and two assists; Dunleavy had two goals and two assists; junior Alex Ante had two goals; and junior Quinlan Oakes
senior Dylan Oakes and junior Drew Merklinger each had one goal
the Pirates traveled to Princeton to take on The Hun School and defeated them
junior Bryce Pfeffer and Ante each scored two goals
The following scored one goal apiece: Rich
sophomore Derek Sabel and junior Davis Parkin
while Coyle was 4-of-6 and Angel was 3-of-6
Seton Hall Prep lacrosse
Seton Hall Prep lacrosse team wins six consecutive games added by Jeff Goldberg on May 4, 2025View all posts by Jeff Goldberg →
About Us
Field has been home to the Seton Hall University Pirates softball team since 2005
The stadium features a turf field and a capacity of 700
Technically it is located not on the Seton Hall campus but in Ivy Hill Park
a county park adjacent to the Seton Hall campus
Mike Sheppard, Sr. whose name is also on the adjacent Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium at Owen T. Carroll Field, home of Pirates baseball and soccer
was the longtime baseball coach at Seton Hall University and led the Pirates to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances
including College World Series in 1974 and 1975
There is no food or drink for sale at Essex County Mike Sheppard
Fans are free to bring their own with the exception of alcohol
Field consists of a small set of elevated bleachers running from the inside of one dugout to the inside of the other
Fans sitting here will be up close to the action and have great viewing angles
though they will be behind a net due to how close they are
Some fans also choose to stand down the foul lines by the bullpens
but no place to sit either - standing will be your only option
There is not a whole lot going on here other than the game itself
Music is played between batters and during other breaks in the action
and the PA announcer makes the standard announcements
The Seton Hall campus is located in South Orange
which may be the best college town in the Big East
The downtown area around South Orange Avenue is filled with local businesses
Bunny's Sports Bar is very popular with the locals
Just keep in mind if you head too far east on South Orange Avenue towards Newark
You should be safe if you drive through here in your car on the way to or from campus
but you don't want to do too much walking around here
as long as you stick to the part of South Orange Avenue near campus
Seton Hall only draws a few dozen fans to a typical softball game
most of them friends and family of the players
Those who do attend are very knowledgeable about the team
and even rival Big East Teams who Seton Hall plays
we overheard fans having knowledgeable discussions comparing the Pirates' opponents that day to Big East opponents they had previously faced
While the Pirates' fanbase isn't large in number
Seton Hall is located on South Orange Ave.
which runs through Newark into South Orange itself
Field is technically located in Ivy Hill Park
your best bet is to park on campus in the large parking garage
you will walk through a gate marked "Ivy Hill Park" and the stadium will be right there
but may be challenging on weekday afternoons as it is also used by faculty and others at the college
Many GPS apps will try to take you to the wrong place if you enter the stadium name
but if you can just get to the college campus
tell the guard at the entrance checkpoint you are going to the softball game and they can direct you to parking
The South Orange train station is also located a short walk away from the Seton Hall campus
Restrooms are located down the third base line and consist of two single person bathrooms
There are also port-a-potties down the right field line
Keep in mind that the restroom on the right (as you are facing the entrance) has its lock mislabeled from the inside
and the restroom on the left works fine from both sides
This can cause confusion where people think their door is locked when it isn't
Return on Investment 4Admission to Seton Hall regular season softball games is free
So is parking and you won't pay anything for concessions because there aren't any
However there isn't enough here to earn the top score
Look for the banner on the right field fence honoring Seton Hall Big East titles and postseason appearances
but is still a nice place to take in a game
You will sit up close and personal to the action
and it's hard to argue with the chance to see a live sporting event for free given everything seems to be going up in price these days
Stadiumjourney.com
Doubleheader Set for Sunday 05.03.25 | Baseball
Game one is set to start at 11 AM on May 4 from Hayden Field
By Steve Tober on May 3
2025Comments Off on South Orange goalie Simon Hardiman leads Montclair Kimberley Academy boys lacrosse team
NJ — South Orange resident Simon Hardiman is enjoying a superb junior season as the third-year starting goalie for the Montclair Kimberley Academy boys lacrosse team
Hardiman had recorded 64 saves while allowing 58 goals through the first six games for the Cougars
who had a 4-2 record (3-1 in the Bianchi Division) through the first six games through April 23
“Simon has been a mainstay in goal for us the past three seasons,” said MKA veteran coach Dave Giarrusso
“He’s always had tremendous talent and moxie and he continues to be a force in the back for us
we threw him in the fire – so to speak – as just a freshman and he did a really nice job for us
while playing at a level far beyond being a ninth-grader who had been playing varsity high school lacrosse for the first time.”
while allowing 141 goals last spring for the 10-9 Cougars
while allowing 175 goals in 17 starts for a young rebuilding 5-13 MKA lax squad
Montclair Kimberley Academy boys lacrosse
South Orange goalie Simon Hardiman leads Montclair Kimberley Academy boys lacrosse team added by Steve Tober on May 3, 2025View all posts by Steve Tober →
Get a weekly serving of the hottest NJ food news sent right to your inbox with our Side Dish newsletter
South Orange’s downtown has a smattering of restaurants of varying cuisines
from classic Italian to a popular Ethiopian restaurant to the deli that’s the birthplace of the famed Sloppy Joe sandwich
Most are within walking distance of the train station, making things easy for commuters who want to grab a bite after returning home from work or diners from other parts of New Jersey who don’t want to drive to experience a great place to eat. South Orange shares a school district with nearby Maplewood
and the two towns have a lot of New York City transplants used to good dining
Below are our top picks for the best restaurants in South Orange in alphabetical order
[RELATED: The Best Restaurants in New Jersey]
The restaurant solely offers a prix fixe option
with two courses for $74 per person and three for $89 per person
but diners can expect entrées like roasted lamb rib chops
a special five-course chef’s tasting menu from executive chef Richard Krug is $69 per person
The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients whenever possible
fresh fare is on the menu at Jackie & Sons for breakfast
Dishes range from American classics to Mediterranean-inspired food to authentic Palestinian dishes
greens and the popular “meze heaven” offerings
where you can choose any three for $15 or four for $18 with options like cauliflower tahini
The smoothies and coffee drinks are also great
Felina Steak in South Orange is the fourth Felina to open in the state by Landmark Hospitality
The South Orange spot located in a beautiful historic building that dates back to 1894 and was previously Village Hall
It’s in the heart of downtown South Orange and specializes in steak and seafood
with everything from chips and nachos to a variety of empanadas
quesadillas and burritos to Dirty Birdy Chicken Wings with several sauce options
Enjoy your food either inside or on the back patio
Opening just months before the pandemic began
has created a welcoming gathering place serving top-notch coffee drinks
plus a truly terrific seasonal menu for breakfast
Dishes include a variety of delicious “Eggies,” as the Order calls them
It’s a great place for a laidback meal catching up with a friend or two
This old-school Italian restaurant (in its current location since 1965
in operation is New Jersey since 1935) is known for its fantastic pizzas
which are great sans topping or with a variety of meat or veggie options
Reservoir also serves up hearty Italian dishes
this Ethiopian restaurant serves authentic cuisine and caters to diners who are familiar with it as well as newbies who are trying Ethiopian food for the first time
The staff is always helpful with recommendations and help navigating the menu
The menu is large (entrées come with two side dishes) and includes a lot of vegetarian options
Read more Eat & Drink, Top Restaurants by City articles
who becomes the first gubernatorial candidate to name a running mate before the primary
Steve Fulop will announce his pick of Sheena Collum
the popular mayor of South Orange with a statewide reputation as a brainy policy wonk who once described herself as “an unapologetic
pussyhat-wearing progressive,” to run with him for lieutenant governor if he wins the Democratic gubernatorial nomination
An announcement has been scheduled for tomorrow in South Orange
Collum is unapologetic in her willingness to take on the political establishment
She is a staunch advocate for shared government services and smart development built around public transportation
She has impressed voters in her small town of about 18,000 people with insistence that local government be more transparent
The ticket marks the combination of big city and small suburb mayors
Fulop indicated last year that he would pick his running mate before the Democratic primary
He becomes the first gubernatorial candidate to announce a pre-primary choice since the office was created for the 2009 election
whose name will not appear on the June 10 primary ballot
is expected to hit the campaign trail immediately — something that offers Fulop what could be a high-profile surrogate in the final two months of the campaign
The Fulop campaign already has events planned this week
She also potentially takes votes from Sherrill
essentially becoming the second woman seeking statewide office this year
South Orange is in Sherrill’s congressional district
she would become the state’s first Asian American lieutenant governor
In an interview with Village Green last year
Fulop said Collum “is like a force of nature” and said she was one of the best mayors in the state
“Her knowledge of development and policy is really second to none
“She’s not really a just pie in the sky type of person
She’s about results and getting things done.”
Fulop has shown his penchant for other mayors with some level of executive experience
Most of his earliest endorsements came from fellow mayors
some of whom have been involved in helping him advance detailed position papers on key issues
Collum’s day job is as executive director of the American Planning Association’s New Jersey chapter
The non-profit organization advocates for community planning
and creating communities “that offer better and more equitable choices for how people live
She was one of Fulop’s earliest supporters and the author of his plan to double affordable housing in New Jersey.
Born in Flemington, the 41-year-old Collum grew up in Mississippi and, as a teenager, showed a penchant for taking on the local political machine. As the student body president at Starkville High School, labeling herself as an “aspiring politician,” she sent a letter to her local newspaper expressing “anger and devastation” over education budget cuts.
“Every single politician who wanted to get into office screamed, ‘Education!’ wrote Collum, then 18. “And we were stupid enough to listen … I always thought people in politics were there because they had a passion for others. I was wrong.”
Even at a young age, Collum had grasped that art of the sound bite: “How can we trust elected officials who take away from our schools and then propose pay raises for officials? Lawmakers are very lucky to be where they are, because, at this rate, they won’t be there for long.”
Just a couple of years later, as president of the Seton Hall University Student Government Association, Collum smacked a slate of candidates in a May non-partisan election for local office in South Orange, who accused college students of trying to hijack a local election. On campus, Collum played a major role in registering nearly 500 students who lived on campus and led a successful effort to get a polling location placed at the university.
“We’re not trying to set up a voting bloc,” Collum, then a junior, told the Star-Ledger at the time. “We’re just trying to get Seton Hall students the representation they haven’t had in 150 years.”
While still in college, her criticism of Seton Hall naming buildings and other honorifics for millionaire businessmen who had been convicted of crimes made international news. She tangled with administrators and church officials after they wouldn’t allow Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry to speak on campus after Collum secured him because of his views on abortion.
In 2013, after three incumbent South Orange Village Trustees declined to seek re-election, Collum, then 29, ran for local office and was the top vote-getter in a race for three seats in a seven-candidate field and won comfortably.
Two years later, when the incumbent stepped down during his first term, Collum ran for Village President, a title later changed to mayor. She defeated Emily Hynes with 70% of the vote to become South Orange’s first woman village president.
In 2019, Collum faced a re-election fight against Village Trustee Deborah Davis Ford, an Essex Democratic insider who served as the Essex County Board of Freeholders clerk. She had money and endorsements from Essex Democratic leaders.
Davis Ford also had the backing of two local firefighter unions that opposed Collum’s proposal to enter into a full consolidation of fire services agreement with next-door Maplewood. The union pumped a bunch of money into the race.
Collum scored a landslide 76% victory over Davis Ford, sweeping her village trustee slate in with her. Seeking a third term in 2024, Collum and her ticket were unopposed; still, they ran an aggressive campaign.
As mayor of a train station town, Collum has been a staunch critic of New Jersey Transit. Last year, she sent a letter to employers telling them that some of their staff “who rely on NJ Transit trains, may be late through absolutely no fault of their own.”
She has focused on smart growth, economic development, and infrastructure during her nearly twelve years in local office, including advocating for shared services and capital planning.
Faced with expensive repairs of an old village hall that didn’t meet certain code requirements and was not handicapped accessible, Collum instead sold the building – it’s now a beer garden that has helped spike economic development in South Orange – and moved local government offices to a nearby commercial office building.
DePaul Travels to South Orange to Square Off Against Seton Hall2/26/2025 3:49:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
South Orange - Laughter and creativity filled the air at JESPY House on Saturday
Every parent wants their child to be happy
the leading Region 2 provider for the state’s Bringing Veterans ..
we pride ourselves on being a town that values community
NJ – The Two Hundred Club of Essex County will hold its 59th Annual Valor ..
Clean Water
A proposed deal to sell South Orange’s water system to NJ American Water will snatch a public resource out of public hands and lead to higher water bills
This November, South Orange voters will head to the polls to decide whether to sell their water utility to NJ American Water for $19.7 million. The deal, approved by the Village Council in July
would sell this precious public service to a for-profit company and set the stage for higher water rates for years to come
towns are considering deals to sell their water and sewer systems to the highest bidder
These deals are posed as fixes to systems’ and municipalities’ financial challenges
But elected officials and the public should not be fooled
private utilities charge customers higher bills to make that profit
While NJ American’s proposal to South Orange includes two years of rate freezes
the company can’t actually keep that promise — the final decision rests with the Board of Public Utilities
NJAW’s proposal explicitly includes a 9% hike from the third to fifth year after the sale
and rates could continue to rise after that
Clean water and sanitation are human rights
and everyone should be able to afford access to these essential resources
But private companies like NJ American Water don’t have access or human rights top of mind
this can have a variety of negative consequences for a community
It can result in clashes with local policy and government
including on projects for economic development and sustainability
There is no incentive for private companies to cooperate with neighbors or local governments to protect drinking water resources and watersheds or ensure equity and sustainability of water and sewer services
Private companies may also cherry-pick which areas they provide service in or where they invest in projects to avoid serving low-income communities where they won’t make as much money
as they are more likely to struggle to pay their water bills.
Publicly owned utilities provide residents with democratic control over their water and sanitation
Handing them over to a private company limits public accountability and prevents residents from demanding changes to systems that don’t serve them
residents can visit their elected officials and share problems they’re seeing
privatization entirely eliminates these options
Residents don’t have a vote in the corporate boardroom.
privatization usually leads to a loss of transparency
as companies restrict public access to information
This transparency is key for communities to understand potential problems in their water systems and push for change
the people who run public water systems are public servants; they serve the people
But water corporations are first and foremost accountable to their stockholders.
and municipalities and residents are understandably concerned about the costs
But while privatization has been portrayed as a way to alleviate these costs
it will only pass them — and more — onto ratepayers.
The 10% profit that NJ American can make from the lead line replacement will raise the price tag of this project
and the company can raise rates to help cover it
Even if the company saves money on upgrades through loans and grants
it won’t pass on these savings to ratepayers
as the company charges the same rates statewide
South Orange ratepayers will bear the cost of other system improvements across all of NJ American’s acquisitions
South Orange could pursue federal and state grants and low or zero-interest loans to fund the replacement of lead pipes
some of these are only available to publicly owned water systems
The system can then pass the savings from these grants and loans to the community by lowering rates
This summer, when Hopewell Borough, New Jersey proposed a water sale, Food & Water Watch worked with local residents to put the decision to a borough-wide vote. The Borough recently announced that it wouldn’t have time to get the proposal on the ballot this November
delaying the referendum vote for at least another year
This gives Hopewell the time and opportunity to pursue other funding options, including a federal grant that would provide more than $2 million to address toxic PFAS contamination and other issues in the town’s wells
But if the Borough were to privatize in the future
The case of Hopewell shows that privatization is far from the only option
Privatization deals make water more unaffordable
This is not how we should manage the services that provide us essential clean water and sanitation
it’s abundantly clear — NJ American Water’s proposal would be a terrible deal for South Orange residents
we can stop this corporate takeover by voting against selling South Orange’s water system
Make calls to educate residents of South Orange and other New Jersey towns facing water and sewer privatization
We are celebrating our 20 years of~grassroots power — join us in~person or virtually
Sign up for updates
Endnotes[]
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food
and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests
Food & Water Watch is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
To learn more about Food & Water Action
2024 © Food & Water Watch | Cookie Policy | Healthy Events Policy | Privacy Policy
2025 at 3:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Patch Graphics)SOUTH ORANGE
NJ — Want to learn how to submit news tips or post a local event/classified on Patch South Orange
At Patch, we believe that local news and information have the power to unite a community. We also believe in giving neighbors the power to tell their own stories and help keep each other informed about what’s happening at the local level. >> Sign up for free Patch email newsletters and news alerts here
There are a few different ways to reach out:
Log in or sign up to start posting
Or find out more about Patch’s various posting types below
Post an Event
Adding your event to the Patch Community Calendar is a great way to boost attendance and let neighbors know about fun stuff happening near them. If the thing you’re posting about has a date and time, it should always be posted as an event
your event will appear in the main Calendar section for your community
and sometimes in other event preview sections across Patch and in emails to readers
To boost your listing and give it extra visibility
you can also pay to promote it as “Featured” across the region
your money will help support more local journalism in the communities you care about!)
Post a Classified
The Classifieds section serves as a local marketplace where you can sell or give away your stuff
find roommates or tenants and make other local business announcements
your classified will appear in the main Classifieds section for your community
and sometimes in other preview sections across Patch and in emails to readers
Interested parties can use a contact form that will appear inside your post to email you directly about your offer
you can also pay to promote it as “featured” across the region
Still have questions about posting on Patch? Read more in our FAQ section, or contact our support team anytime at support@patch.com
Post an Article
If you’re looking to contribute in a more formal or traditional way, you have the option to complete one additional verification step in order to post a press release, column, op-ed, letter to the editor or obituary in the form of an article
it will be labeled as “Neighbor News” and will show up in the Neighbor Posts section of your home community
they can also choose to share it with nearby communities or include it in an email to readers
Patch also welcomes vetted contributors interested in sharing their expertise and reporting on their communities more deeply. To apply, email contributors@patch.com with a link to your Patch profile
some examples of your work and a few sentences on why you’d like to contribute
HOW TO SUBMIT LOCAL NEWS TIPS AND PRESS RELEASES
News tips and press releases can also be sent to your local Patch editor
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
2025 at 5:17 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Steven Fulop has named South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum as his running mate in the 2025 election for governor of New Jersey
NJ — Steven Fulop has named South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum as his running mate in the 2025 election for governor of New Jersey
Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City, announced Collum as his lieutenant governor choice at a news conference on Wednesday (watch footage below, or view it online here)
Fulop – who is running as a Democrat in the upcoming primary election – called Collum “one of the most respected and forward-thinking local leaders in New Jersey.”
she’s now the longest-serving woman mayor in Essex County,” he wrote in a campaign mailer
“She’s led on everything from economic development and affordable housing to sustainability and public safety
delivering more than half a billion dollars in investment that puts community first.”
According to the Fulop campaign
Collum has broken ground as the first female mayor of South Orange
and now holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Korean American mayor in New Jersey
Here is some additional background about Collum, according to the municipal website:
Fulop offered praise for Collum’s qualifications – and willingness to speak out
somebody that's willing to speak his or her mind
somebody that's willing to go against the grain
somebody that's opinionated – that isn't only going to agree with you – somebody that would be good counsel
somebody that would be pleasant to spend a lot of time with… and I think I found somebody that checked all of those boxes,” he said
Collum outlined some of her campaign priorities at Wednesday’s news conference
They included “inefficiency in government,” housing reform/development and public transportation
She also promoted shared services among local governments and boards in the name of saving taxpayer money
“I don't want to see 564 micro utilities for storm water management,” Collum said
“I see regional opportunities for partnership and cost savings: Northeast
I fought for my political life to partner with Maplewood to have a significant consolidation of our fire departments,” she continued
“And even when you think about fire departments
I have homes that are literally closer to West Orange
homes that are closer to the City of Orange – there are so many opportunities.”
“We're going to have to reimagine a lot of stuff and what these public partnerships look like
or else you're going to see a lot of privatization start happening in New Jersey – unless government can do things better
“Everybody should be worried about the state budget right now
as we started this budget at a 5 percent increase before doing anything municipal whatsoever,” Collum said
“Our school district is looking at shutting down a school
because they are not guaranteed the funding that they need,” she added
South Orange’s mayor didn’t mince words when it comes to President Donald Trump and the ongoing controversies with the federal government
“We need to build the biggest and best team to fight the Trump administration,” Collum said
is very personal – and I'm speaking to independent
unaffiliated voters – this moment comes around once in a lifetime where the threat is so big that it just scares you at your core.”
“I am 100 percent convinced that the people of New Jersey are caring and they are compassionate and they're empathetic
and when they see that the rights of people less vulnerable are being taken away
they're going to stand up … they're going to rise up,” she said
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site
.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By N.J. Community NewsSouth Orange River Day will be held this year on Sunday
South Orange River Day offers members of the community opportunity to help clean up a section of the East Branch of the Rahway River and its banks while celebrating environmental awareness and education
volunteers collect garbage that threatens water quality
animal life and aesthetics while learning about the watershed
environmental topics and celebrating the community
The event will also feature the following:
Pre-registration is encouraged by clicking here
Volunteers should go to the Skate House by the pond in Meadowland Park off Mead Street for the event
Submit Essex County community news to essex@njadvancemedia.com
Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story
which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025)
© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us)
The material on this site may not be reproduced
except with the prior written permission of Advance Local
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here
Ad Choices
2025 at 4:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}New Jersey American Water announced Thursday that it signed an agreement to purchase South Orange’s water system for $19.7 million
NJ — One of the largest water companies in the nation is on the brink of adding to its growing footprint in New Jersey
New Jersey American Water (NJAW) announced that it signed an agreement to purchase South Orange’s water system – which serves nearly 5,000 local customer connections – for $19.7 million
Voters in South Orange paved the way for privatizing their water system in a referendum as part of the 2024 election
The public question saw both cheers and jeers prior to Election Day
>> Read More: What To Know About South Orange’s Water Referendum
Supporters say that privatization help towns to dodge costly repairs, including the state-mandated replacement of lead service pipes
They say the sales won’t negatively impact water rates
adding that experienced companies are able to provide better service – with less of a headache for local municipalities
Critics argue that selling water or sewer systems increases costs for homeowners and businesses over the long term
while selling off a “precious public resource” to a private company that is only interested in its own bottom line
the company has agreed invest $50 million in infrastructure improvements within the first 10 years of ownership
Anticipated improvements to the system – which is more than 100-years-old in some areas – include the following:
The agreement includes five years of “rate stabilization,” although it doesn’t make any assurances beyond that time frame
There would be no rate increase for the first two years after the sale
Water bills would go up 3 percent in the third
New Jersey American Water said it anticipates completing the acquisition in South Orange during the second half of 2025
The deal remains subject to approval by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
A municipal task force was given the job of taking a look at the sale in 2022, and came up with a list of positives and negatives. Read the full report here
Critics of the deal have included nonprofit advocacy group Food & Water Watch, which released a list of “Three Reasons Why Water Privatization Is a Bad Deal for South Orange.”
Supporters have included South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum
who recently reaffirmed her stance that the deal is good for the village
“I am fully confident that the sale of our water system to New Jersey American Water is in the best interest of South Orange residents,” Collum said
“This is a positive step toward securing safe
reliable and affordable water for generations to come.”
New Jersey American Water is the largest water service provider in the state, serving nearly 2.9 million people in more than 190 communities. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water
South Orange wasn’t the only town in New Jersey that voted on privatization in the 2024 election
The three above towns aren’t the only ones in the Garden State to debate selling their water or sewer systems in the past few years
“The sale will allow us to pay off municipal debt
affordable rates for our residents,” Manville Mayor Richard Onderko said
New Jersey American Water has the resources needed to invest in critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit Manville for years to come.”
the company announced it completed its acquisition of the water and wastewater systems of Egg Harbor City for $21.8 million
The sale of these systems was estimated to serve about 3,000 customer connections
The deal with Egg Harbor City was the first in the state to be completed through the Water Infrastructure Protection Act of 2015
which permits the sale or lease of municipally owned water or wastewater systems under certain conditions
New Jersey American Water agreed to invest $14 million in the first 10 years to make needed upgrades to the city’s water and wastewater systems
including $9 million in the first five years
while “keeping rates stable for customers.”
the company announced that it completed its acquisition of the wastewater collection system of the Borough of Somerville for $7 million
The municipally owned system serves about 3,800 customers
most of whom already were already receiving service from New Jersey American Water
The agreement to purchase the system was approved in a voter referendum in November 2022
which passed with 75 percent of the voters approving the sale
NJAW committed to invest a minimum of $9.5 million in sewer system improvements over the next 10 years
the company announced that it completed its acquisition of the water and wastewater systems of the City of Salem for $18 million
The systems serve more than 2,300 water and 2,300 wastewater customers
The deal followed a voter referendum that took place in November 2023
which passed with more than 60 percent of voters approving the sale
New Jersey American Water agreed to invest more than $50 million in improvements over the first 10 years