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On Friday, I joined Reshma Saujani and Winnie Wong to talk about how social media is innovating disaster response and recovery at the Centre for Social Innovation in New York City.  The panel was a great discussion of how the government responded (or didn't in some cases) to Hurricane Sandy and other disasters, and how community groups and activists were able to fill in the gaps and organize hugely valuable relief efforts outside of the traditional government response structure. We discussed how these different groups can partner better, and how technology and social media empower us to spread the message of what's happening in a different part of the country or world, as well as help be a platform to connect those who need resources to those who have them.  Some of the best live-tweets from the event: Thank you for the informative & inspiring panel tonight, @girlswhocode @occupysandy & @alextorpey! #SMW13 #SandyUnites #SMW13— NYC Food Truck Assoc (@nycfoodtruck) February 23, 2013 @chrisgee: .@alextorpey: I've gotten policy ideas from what other towns are doing by reading about it on social media. #smwsmsandy #smwnyc— Chris Gee (@chrisgee) February 23, 2013 In the past, people never had #gov reach out & reply to...

On Wednesday, the Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director of East Orange Water Commission were indicted by the Attorney General on charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, a pattern of official misconduct, unlawful release of a toxic pollutant, tampering with public records or information and violating the state drinking water and pollution laws. Please read my letter to the community regarding water safety, the evolution of these events and what we're doing moving forward below:

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South Orange Village President Alex Torpey gives a brief update about a number of the latest happenings in South Orange, including recent police promotions, new hiring at the South Orange Performing Arts Center and SO Village Center Alliance, the 2013 budget, and more.

The Village released the following statement on Friday regarding disaster assistance: The Federal Emergency Management Agency and New Jersey Department of Community Affairs today released the following statement regarding disaster assistance: TRENTON, N.J. — Survivors of Hurricane Sandy now have until March 1, 2013, to register for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. People with storm losses in all counties in New Jersey can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Registration is also available by calling 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585 or 711/VRS. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week. The deadline was extended one month at the request of the state of New Jersey. Through Wednesday, Jan. 23, more than 57,500 storm survivors have been approved for help through FEMA’s Individual Assistance program in New Jersey. The disaster registration process serves as a referral point for FEMA programs and those of partner agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.  The SBA has also set March 1 as the...

South Orange passes resolution advocating for three basic gun safety measures. 

This noticed was placed on the Village on Friday, please take the survey and let us know what you think! The Board of Trustees and OEM invite all community members to participate in this brief survey regarding Hurricane Sandy. This information will help the Village prepare for and continue to improve our response to these types of events in the future. http://surveys.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?id=3366568 Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you! Below is the schedule of neighborhood association meetings that have been scheduled to discuss the impact of the storm, and the response, with each neighborhood. Meetings are at 730pm.  Jan 9 - Montrose Historic Park Association Jan 10 - Upper Wyoming Neighborhood Association + Wyoming & Ridgewood Neighborhood Association Jan 16 - Tuxedo Park Neighborhood Association Jan 17 - West Montrose Neighborhood Association Jan 24 - Newstead Neighborhood Association

Happy New Year!I'm excited for 2013... I think this year will bring many challenges, but many opportunities as well. And although I am beginning the planning for 2013's State Of The Village address (which will be much more in depth), I wanted to recap some of the great things from 2012 that we accomplished in South Orange. And make no mistake... these kinds of achievements take a team working together. No one can go at it alone, and we saw the amazing teamwork, not just among village staff but our entire community this year so many times (Most notably in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy). Here are some notables: The second lowest tax increase in over a decade. (The first lowest being the 2011 budget). Read more about the budget and the exciting new transparency tools building upon last year's precedent setting release of the budget in downloadable spreadsheet. The creation of a downtown management corporation called the South Orange Village Center Alliance, which is a turbocharged version of Main Street, with more access to grants and funding sources, that will help local merchants invest back into our downtown and continue to grow it to continue to help make our village a more attractive arts/culture/food destination for...

This is a copy of an email I sent to about 400 New Jersey mayors/clerks (whose contact information were available online). This letter and this initiative are not communications or official action on behalf of the Village. Dear fellow mayors and municipal colleagues, My name is Alex Torpey and I’m the Mayor and Emergency Management Coordinator for the Township of South Orange Village.  I’m emailing you today because, like many of you, I'm frustrated. And like many of you, I want to see decisive actions and results from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities working with our utility companies in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. But we need to do this together.All of our communities have been dealing with the challenges and destruction from Hurricane Sandy - some of us are still recovering and rebuilding and will be continuing to do so for the foreseeable future. Our first responders, relief workers, community members and utility workers have all stepped up to the plate in incredible ways across our state. Many local governments have already begun looking at what went well and what needs improvement. It's time for the utility companies to do the same. Last year after the storms, we tried to lend...