Veteran Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-28) applauded the government forces that came together to agree on the Essex County Improvement Authority’s $120 million bond for the City of Newark to address the lead contamination crisis.

“I commend him for doing it,” Caputo said of Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. “Debt service payments will be low.”

Of the political snafus ailing his party right now, Caputo added, “We can’t point fingers right now. We have to be patient and see what the next round of testing yields.”

The assemblyman also praised the work of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Governor Phil Murphy.

“The governor was humble – and that’s not a bad thing,” he noted. “Baraka was not ashamed to ask for that help. He’s got a problem, he has to deal with it, and he is.”

Belleville should seek a loan also, Caputo said of the area impacted town he no longer formally represents.

“Bloomfield is thinking about bonding it for themselves,” the assemblyman added.

As DiVincenzo noted earlier today, the Essex County Improvement Authority will bond 120 million for the City of Newark “to use only for its pipe replacement program.”

“We are able to borrow money at a significantly lower rate,” said DiVincenzo, who over the last number of days met with Baraka, whom the county executive praised for addressing the lead contamination crisis.

DiVincenzo said the county is uniquely poised to help the city because it enjoys a triple A bond rating.