Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 5/10/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The amendments do nothing about the concern that commercial entity requests are overusing the OPRA Law. This bill targets the public.” – NJ Citizen Action’s Dena Mottola on OPRA overhaul legislation
TOP STORY: Transparency on Trial in the Senate Budget Committee
The state locks up some former inmates with no release date in sight, with critics saying it isn’t making us safer, according to NJ.com.
A poll finds that abortion is a primary factor for 3 in 10 in their 2024 vote, according to NJ.com.
NJ Transit awarded a $85M to a bus company accused of fraud, according to the Bergen Record.
Amid protests, commencements are on track at Rutgers and other universities, according to MyCentralJersey.
Princeton hunger-strikers say a meeting with the president did little, according to MyCentralJersey.
Atlantic County Clerk Giralo explained the new primary ballot format.
Hunterdon County commissioners oppose heavier trucks on roadways, according to NJ Hills.
Sussex Tech got a $100k bump to save three career programs, according to NJ Herald.
Reps. Gottheimer and Norcross urged Rutgers to address anti-Semitism and safety concerns of Jewish students.
ICYMI: Fulop celebrates reservoir trail; Kim leading in Senate race; Murphy addressed the First Lady’s Senate exit; majority reject OPRA changes; animosity growing around Sussex’s Hayden; as state wrestles with ballot decision, appeals rejected stay request, Republicans filed lawsuit to expand ruling to GOP ballots; ballot system brought to electoral maturity; poll shows Dems support Rep. Kim; Quraishi ruled county line unconstitutional
Former Senator Durr will run for Governor, according to NJ Globe.
In CD10, Senator Timberlake applauded Councilwoman McIver’s candidacy for the seat of the late Rep. Payne.
Atlantic County Democrats want faster VBM mailing, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The family of the late Passaic County Sheriff Berdnik endorsed Chief Adamo for Sheriff and his running mates.
ICYMI: CD10 names in the game, Armstead collecting signatures; Vainieri endorsed Guy for HCDO chair; Fulop held town hall; Glassner looking to pull Bashaw into fight; as Passaic intensifies, Speziale endorsed by Fulop; Murphy addressed campus unrest; Malinowski eying chairmanship of Hunterdon Dems; Fulop launching down-ballot effort; in CD8, Menendez slammed Bhalla; Passaic’s intense primary battle; Moran launched Moxie; Murphy became factor in end of line; Menendez independent candidacy could give GOP best shot; line impact less seismic; Bhalla is going for broke in primary challenge; Sherrill trouncing other 2025 guv Dems; Zisa stepping down; Ciattarelli launched guv candidacy; Bramnick has question for Ciattarelli, Spadea; Bashaw declined to participate in debate; in CD3, Conaway, Murphy battle energized; don’t count out party boss influence just yet
The Senate Budget Committee advanced legislation overhauling OPRA, despite opposition.
Lawmakers are eying fines for businesses that coerce workers over immigration status, according to NJ Monitor.
A fight over who picks judges just erupted in Trenton, according to NJ.com.
Senator Gopal is demanding a state investigation into a charter school network, according to NJ.com.
ICYMI: Lawsuit filed alleging state ‘knowingly’ forced casino workers to work in second-hand smoke
An Insider NJ movie review of ‘Civil War’.
Veteran defense attorney Joe Hayden shared his personal recounting of the Bill Musto trial.
Leonard Lance discusses former President Trump on the Julie Briggs Show.
Beware the Ides of March: New Jersey and Rome.
Former Senator and Governor Richard J. Codey shares this thoughts on this year’s presidential race.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Advance and Insider NJ’s 2024 African-American List
The state says that shared services save money for taxpayers, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Berkeley Heights, the council reviewed the budget, according to TAPinto.
In Edison, the town approved a reduction to its tree fund, according to TAPinto.
In Fanwood, the budget was presented, according to TAPinto.
In Flemington, the town is taking steps to remove lead and chemicals from the water supply, according to TAPinto.
In Hoboken, the police department hosted a tense meeting at the housing authority following a murder, according to Hudson County View.
In Holmdel, the third effort is starting to fill an old farm with houses, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Howell, cops are hunting for a thief of a mayoral candidate’s 130 signs, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Jersey City, the council passed the preliminary budget, according to Hudson County View.
In Lakewood, schools are seeking the largest loan ever for the budget, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Manville, a documentary depicts the town’s struggle to remain quintessential, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Montclair, the planning board approved a small-cell-wireless ordinance, according to TAPinto.
In Newark, the city has a new mattress disposal rule but enforcement may be too soft, according to TAPinto.
In North Wildwood, tents and cabanas on beaches were banned but the mayor says it might not be permanent, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Raritan Township, a housing complex for seniors was proposed, according to MyCentralJersey. A redevelopment plan for a shopping mall was rejected, according to MyCentralJersey.
In South Brunswick, schools are facing ‘significant losses’ and job cuts, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Teaneck, a Gaza protester was arrested for disrupting a council meeting, according to the Bergen Record.
In Toms River, schools risk not reopening in the fall due to state aid cuts, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Warren, the PBA endorsed Croson and Blick for committee, according to NJ Hills.
In Wildwood, the town is readying for the Trump rally, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Wildwood Crest, a new beach resort is opening, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Wyckoff, a family is suing the school district over a photo of their daughter, according to the Bergen Record.
ICYMI: In New Brunswick, freedom of press case may go to state SC; in Roxbury, BOE decision to rescind transgender protections
Insider NJ columnist Carl Golden writes ‘‘Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game!?’‘
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘Gaza’s Fate Looms Large in NJ Dems June Primary Debate‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson writes ‘Health Care Access: We Need to do Better‘
Insider NJ columnist former Senator Bernard Kenny writes ‘America 2024: A Matter of Life and Death‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Senator Timberlake writes ‘Heroes Who Walk Beside Us: Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Trump is having a rally in Wildwood on Saturday. Here’s what to expect.
Aliya Schneider, Philadelphia Inquirer
- This Saturday’s rally for former President Donald Trump isn’t the first one being held in Wildwood, but it’s the first one on the Wildwood beach. The former president held a rally at the Wildwood Convention Center in January 2020. The center wasn’t available for this rally, so Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. offered the beach.
Red ‘moocher’ states prey on federal dollars, so where’s NJ’s slice? We need clawback czar
Josh Gottheimer
- When I first ran for Congress, I realized pretty quickly that many of my colleagues from ruby-red Southern states talked a big game about how “fiscally responsible” their states were. They mocked Jersey for investing far too much in our people — our schools and roads, law enforcement and fire departments, clean drinking water and other critical services. But the truth was that they had figured out a way to spend more on their families without actually paying for it out of their state and local tax dollars. Over the years, they had mastered the art of filling their state coffers with federal tax dollars taken from other states, like ours.
Rutgers president questioned over handling of pro-Palestinian protests
Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight
- Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway on Thursday testified before the Assembly Budget Committee about the financial pressures his school is facing and why the university needs more help from the state. But the conversation quickly shifted to the recent protests on Rutgers’ and other university campuses, with state legislators focused on the agreement Holloway made with pro-Palestinian student demonstrators to end their encampment.
Trump vendors won’t be allowed to set up shop in Wildwood during his rally
Eric Conklin, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Expecting thousands of people in Wildwood for former President Donald Trump’s rally on Saturday and to celebrate Mother’s Day, city officials have paused the granting of mercantile licenses, planning to have police tell those selling without a license to pack up and leave.
PSE&G Seeks Double-Digit Increases for Electric, Natural Gas
Neill Borowski, TAPinto Madison
- Public Service Electric and Gas Co. is asking the state Board of Public Utilities to approve double-digit rate increases for its residential electricity and natural gas customers. PSE&G states in its filing that the typical residential customer using 6,580 kilowatt-hours a year would pay $125.55 a month, up from $113.64 now, for a 10.48% boost. The range of increases cited by PSE&G: a low-use customer consuming 1,644 kilowatt-hours annually would face a 16.59% increase and one using 12,000 a year would face a 9.49% increase.
Beached whale on NJ beach causes social media confusion
Dan Alexander, NJ1015
- Pictures showed a whale on a New Jersey beach but it had not stranded there as many wrongly believed. The 44-foot sei whale had gotten caught Saturday on the bow of a cruise ship in the Port of Brooklyn, according to NOAA Fisheries spokeswoman Andrea Gomez.
Former CFO of Morris law firm pleads guilty to embezzling $1.5M
Kevin Coughlin, Morristown Green
- The former chief financial officer of McElroy, Deutsch, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to embezzling more than $1.5 million from the Harding-based law firm, and to evading state income taxes. When John Dunlea, 61, of Westfield, is sentenced on June 14, 2024, the state will ask Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor to send him to prison for five years, and require restitution to the national firm.
LeFrak signs 27K sq. ft. of new retail leases in Jersey City’s Newport
ROI-NJ Staff
- LeFrak, the developer behind the transformation of Jersey City’s Newport, together with Newport Associates Development Co., on Thursday announced that eight new retail leases have been signed within the last few months at the city’s waterfront neighborhood.
Once troubled Ledgewood mall in Morris County fetches $83M
Daniel Munoz, NorthJersey.com
- The formerly troubled Shops at Ledgewood Commons in Roxbury has sold for $83 million to commercial real estate firm Urban Edge Properties, which also owns the Bergen Town Center in Paramus.
Amended OPRA bill an absolute sham. Gov. Murphy, veto this affront to democracy – Editorial
USA TODAY Network New Jersey Editorial Board, NorthJersey.com
- If you cast your ballot for Democrats this fall, that’s a vote to preserve the great tradition of our American democracy ― at least that’s the message strategists are using in their presidential and congressional campaigns, and across down-ballot races, too. Here in New Jersey, though, it becomes harder and harder to believe.
Yet another attack on transparency from Team Scutari | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- In December, the state comptroller busted Union County for handing out $417,772 in stipends and tuition reimbursement to three top officials – people who have six-figure salaries – without first passing an ordinance prior to the vote.
Stay Safe At the Beach: New Rules on Digging in Sand
Eric Scott, NJ1015
- New Jersey’s Shore towns have been warning for years about the dangers of digging deep holes at the beach, but one town is now outright banning the activity. No one has been hurt or killed from a sand collapse in Sea Girt and the Monmouth County town would like to keep it that way. A new local ordinance states that holes in the sand may be no deeper than 12-inches or above the knees of the shortest person in a group, whichever is shallowest.
Clara Maass nurses claim unfair labor practices by hospital management
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- A simmering labor dispute flared up again at the Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville on Wednesday, when hundreds of union nurses picketed outside. The nurses, members of 1199 SEIU, argue the hospital’s operator, RWJBarnabas, has not engaged in good-faith bargaining since the nurses unionized two years ago.
Q&A: Can U.S. top court decision make homelessness a crime in NJ?
Bobby Brier, NJ Spotlight
- As housing advocates in New Jersey await the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, many remain concerned about the case’s impact on homeless people in the state.
NJ primary election voters’ guide 2024
Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight
- NJ Spotlight News and the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University have launched a voting guide for the 2024 congressional primary elections on June 4. The guide provides a look at all the federal elections to represent New Jersey and its congressional districts in this year’s primaries. NJ Spotlight News and the center created the guide to give voters an overview of the race to replace Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who is not running in the primary as he prepares for a trial on federal public corruption charges, and of all 12 congressional districts and the Democratic and Republican primaries in those districts.
NJ’s 10 most endangered historic places
Genesis Obando, NJ Spotlight
- Preservation New Jersey is calling on the state to do more to preserve historic sites around the Garden State. “This announcement serves as a call to action, inspiring us all to take part in the conservation of our rich heritage and ensure that these historic sites continue to stand,” the nonprofit said in a statement.
Drama continues for Dogs of Death Row — Trenton
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- As Trenton officials time-stamped another seven canines giving them a week to live, someone should offer this cruel and unusual punishment as a television cable series. The Dogs of Death Row — Trenton could feature tales about the 107 canines in city care, 47 and almost always rising in the Trenton Animal Shelter and 60 bedded down in a Yardley, Pa. kennel. The last arrangement costs city taxpayers $13,000 per week, a tab that soared over $1.1 million.
Isles, helping Mercer County residents for over 40 years
Jeff Edelstein, The Trentonian
- I did some adulting the other night, going over to the Isles Spring Celebration fundraiser. I even wore a sport jacket and button down shirt (though I did match it with jeans). Anyway, Isles: You’ve heard of them. I’ve heard of them. We all kinda-sorta know them. But to be honest, I thought they were the typical non-profit, charitable organization. You know, handouts and such.
North Hunterdon-Voorhees book banners lose again; board prez says other work to be done
Cheryl Makin, MyCentralJersey.com
- The North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District Board of Education has again defeated an effort to remove a book on adolescent relationships and sexuality from the school district’s libraries. The effort to ban “Let’s Talk About It, The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)” by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan was defeated Tuesday by a 7-4 board vote.
New Virginia-class submarine to be commissioned in New Jersey
Kaitlyn McCormick, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- A new Virginia-class submarine has been delivered to the U.S. Navy: The future USS New Jersey. The fast-attack submarine was accepted from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division in late April, according to the U.S. Navy. It noted the submarine, SSN 796, “is the third naval vessel to be named after the Garden State.” The first USS New Jersey, BB 16, was a World War I battleship.
Murphy celebrates “a full week of declining numbers” then says “status quo of lockdown will remain until new cases and fatalities decrease.” So, which of Murphy’s statements is accurate? He said 2 opposite things in a single paragraph of speaking.
He;s “vacationing” at his villa in Italy, while Covid surges and the state is paralyzed by “remote work”…………translation: NO WORK
That is what happens in practicality when they are “suspending their disbelief” (HR Clinton) in real numbers and going on predictive models to make decisions. And then after doing that, they vote with “feelings.”
lmao imagine supporting lockdowns after the largest mass death event in american history and calling that a feeling driven conclusion? maga chuds never fail to disappoint
keeping up with the news
OK
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keeping up with the news
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So….about those 56 machines in Bergen… <<>>
Murphy running for President is LAUGHABLE. Nased on what??
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Murphy doesn’t want to be the president, he wants to be a state trooper.
Nice article! thanks for sharing the post!
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lETS NOT FORGET that during the pandemic Donald Trump sent the MERCY, a fully equipped, COVID prepared Hospital ship to save lives of victims and healthcare workers . But Murphy in his wisdom would rather send Patients back to nursing homes that were ill-equipped to treat these patients so they could die , rather than utilize a life-saving gift and be like NY governor Cuomo, another anti-Trump
tool.
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Gun owners don’t have to talk about guns because they know that they have to come out and vote to protect their constitutional right to bear arms. The Supreme court decision has affirmed that right and somehow our “leaders” haven’t learned how to read.
NJ is one of the most corrupt and racist places to live. There’s “0” accountability for the criminal acts, corruption, and unfair treatment of the people of this state. It starts with our governor who cares less for truth and honesty. Continue to ruin the lives of the citizens of this state.
How about those unintended consequences.
New Jersey mandating that all cars being sold by 2035 be electric is telling us what we can or cannot buy with our own money. There will always be gasoline powered vehicles because of the power produced by internal combustion compared to the power produced by batteries; which is to say the more power the bigger the battery to the point of rediculousness. My thought is that if the state wants fewer gas powered vehicles on the road it should create a mass transit electric powered system that would emphasize convenience for commuters and everyday shoppers. Of course that would mean vehicles weighing tons more because of the size of batteries and that creates a whole other question of where to dispose of them (also for elelectric car batteries), since they are composed of highly toxic materials that can’t be burnt or buried. These are unintended consequences no- one is willing to grapple with until its too late. I think by 2035 th he electric car fantasy will go the same way the offshore wind farm has gone.
Stephen Brickman
206 Stonehenge Dr
Phillipsburg,NJ 08865
Stephen.Brickman@gmail.com
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The military serving in the Middle East represents every state in the Union. Those are our sons and daughters, Moms and Dads and yet we are very little to protect them, or REALLY retaliate when they’re attacked. Governor Murphy is the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, and past chair of the National Governors Association and yet you never hear him mention about any requests either organization makes to Biden to be more aggressive about protecting our kids in harms way. It’s as though it doesn’t seem to matter to them. No wonder we look so weak to the rest of the world.
Teaneck property taxes pays for the school budget. Teaneck High School students walk out. Is a Hamas military shuffle march property tax bill included?
I’m a conservative and I do believe life begins at conception but the problem is that each mother is responsible for that life and it is in the realm of her mental and physical health that she will either bring it to term or abort it. This should not be a political decision and should not be be dictated by thousand of strangers. The Supreme Court turned it over to the states but it still remains personal for the mother and her family.
I don’t think it should be an “agenda item” for any political party. A state medical society may want to impose a time frame within which an abortion can occur but even that may be subject to the mother’s doctor’s discretion.
I say just quit discussing it and leave it up to the mother a father.
Voting should be based on understanding what’s actually happening and knowing who would make life safer and more livable. The only way to do that is to get both sides of the information remembering there are always two sides to a story. Mainstream media in my area includes the Star Ledger and the Easton Express. If you look at the bylines of the opinions you will find writers from the Washington Post and Bloomberg, both notoriously on the left. Even the political cartoons are a dead giveaway. CNN and CNBC are also left leaning. So what are the options for getting opinions and news from the right? Fortunately cable news has Fox, which is near center, and Newsmax, and NewsNation which are full right. Watching these even just occasionally will show a much broader picture and give the reader more information with which to make an informed voting decision. And remember you DONT have to vote party if you feel there’s a wiser choice.
The governor signed off on having Narcan available in all schools grades 9 through 12. But what about the idea
of having Narcan available in ALL SCHOOLS in New Jersey?
How’s his for an idea? Uncover the identities of the un-elected advisors to Pres. Biden, and publish their names. That way there is actually someone to blame when we lose valuable lives from unanswered attacks by terrorist organizations. We know Biden isn’t making these decisions on his own. My guess is that these advisors will quit the team rather than take the heat for poor decisions, revealing a big weakness in this administration. It might lead to improvements to the decision-making process.
Note to Concealed Carry permit holders: make sure you subscribe to one of the insurance companies that specialize in CCP, ie: US LAW SHIELD. If you ever have to fire your weapon , that has to be the first phone call you make. The second is 911, the third is your family. With so many new permit holders there will probably be an increase in discharges until word gets out that it’s actually unsafe for criminals to be in New Jersey and crime will take a nosedive.
Now unless you have a conviction in your background you can get that CCP and really defend yourself and your family. And more women are applying which is great for family defense. The stats that record gun violence will have to be re-organized into guns used for crime and guns used to prevent crime. A lot of get-always here because sometimes just brandishing a firearm is enough to stop a crime. But it should be reported anyway..
The liability limits for taxi cabs are extreme starting July 1. It was a plan in place through the insurance banking committee and it was abruptly changed with an amendment. The guys are barely making a living today and you’ve increased their insurance. What’s fair is fair and this is not it was an incremental increase, which was fair, and was removed by the governor please refer back to the original plan
Iowa gets it right. What better school security is there than trained, armed teachers with concealed carry permits. You wonder what parents and local government officials when they oppose this idea. Apparently they would rather wait for some demented individual, either a student or maybe an ex student pulls out a handgun of his backpack , or a long gun out of a duffel and starts firing do they can call it in and wait for help to show up. This move would save many lives and I would heartily endorse this idea nationwide. Of course I’m just an average gun owner who believes that our kids are our most valuable asset and need real protection.
The problem with the Line is that there is no vetting process. Whoever pays the most and/or is specifically unqualified and therefore relegated to the status of puppet is who the county bosses support and threaten the committee members to support. My opponent said on-air that he will do whatever they tell him. What kind of leadership is that. I have 8-10 organizations endorsing me to his zero. I have served many statewide for almost 4 years while he has never helped anyone but himself. No-brainer who is qualified, and they know it. That’s why they are getting nasty and vile while I continue to take the high road.
With the mainstream media touting the current president and suddenly discovers he’s been lying to us all about how supportive he is of Israel when it is reported he is receiving BIG donations from Soros and Rockefellers , both proven anti-American donors, to become pro Palestinian and Pro Hamas and Anti Israel by holding up ammunition shipments to Israel. And solidly answering the question of why he never goes directly against Iran. Is the MSM party to this also. How can the general public now know who and what to trust. They warn us how terrible a trump administration will be as if they have totally forgotten how good we had it under Trump. All I can say is put on your big boy pants and tell us how it really is.