Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 4/18/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If we’re changing the ballot design, flip the switch to do the whole thing at once, and let’s change how people vote. This is the perfect time to do it together.” – Senator Zwicker on ranked-choice voting in local elections
TOP STORY: Fulop Makes His Move
A Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds New Jerseyans are divided on firearms in the home.
An appeals court upheld the ruling striking down the Democratic primary ballot design, according to Politico NJ.
Senator Menendez could lose his pension if he’s convicted and exhausts all appeals, according to NJ Spotlight. There’s a flurry of motions in the case as the trial nears, according to NJ Spotlight. The Senator is burning through cash as his legal woes mount and fundraising plummets, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The NJ Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors can keep records secret from the public, according to NJ.com.
Route 206 roadwork has sat unfinished for a year, according to NJ.com.
Atlantic County commissioners discussed offshore wind and opioid settlement funds, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Jersey City Mayor Fulop visited the Morris County reservoir owned by the city to celebrate the development of a recreational wooded trail.
Sussex Tech will lose programs and staff due to budget cuts, according to NJ Herald.
Senator Booker reintroduced a resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week. Booker introduced legislation to assess emissions from forest biomasses.
Allie of Rep. Payne are concerned as he remains hospitalized after a cardiac episode.
NJ Hills Media Group announced their search for a new executive editor.
ICYMI: 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 the county line unconstitutional
Rep. Gottheimer played a role in the effort to defend the state balloting system, according to Politico NJ.
Rep. Kim and Curtis Bashaw hold the fundraising edge in the race to succeed Senator Menendez, according to NJ Monitor.
Rep. Kim was endorsed for Senate by the NJ State Association of Pipe Trades.
In CD2, SMART endorsed Democratic primary candidate Joe Salerno.
In CD8, Mayor Bhalla called on Governor Murphy to veto NJ Transit fare hikes. Jersey City Councilman Rivera endorsed Rep. Menendez, according to Hudson County View.
Passaic County Democrats blistered former Sheriff Speziale. Former Police Academy Director Lyons endorsed Chief Adamo for Sheriff.
The South Jersey Black Political Caucus will make endorsements.
Former President Trump will hold a Wildwood rally, according to Burlington County Times.
ICYMI: 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
Senator McKeon urged the state’s largest food establishments to ditch single-use plastic straws.
Senator Steinhardt is prioritizing anti-crime bills.
Senator Henry met with Jackson school officials to discuss funding cuts.
ICYMI: Lawsuit filed alleging state ‘knowingly’ forced casino workers to work in second-hand smoke
Download and read Insider NJ’s annual Irish American New Jersey leaders list in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, compiled by Tom Barrett.
Insider NJ legal analyst Joe Hayden breaks down the legal issues of the day on the Julie Frees Show.
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
In Belmar, a town hall meeting will be held on the Verizon 5G development, according to TAPinto.
In Carteret, ferry service to Manhattan could begin next month, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Collingswood, a ‘white student union’ at a school prompted an investigation, according to the Burlington County Times.
In Edison, 8 homes were approved for the former Charlie Brown’s site after years of battle, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Glen Rock, residents continued to call for a councilwoman’s resignation after an Easter meme, according to TAPinto.
In Hoboken, the council held budget hearings, according to Hudson County View. The BOE passed a preliminary budget, according to Hudson County View.
In Howell, farmers pushed back against local limits on special events, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Long Hill, officials eye a restructuring of the Communications Advisory Committee, according to NJ Hills.
In New Brunswick, the BOE incumbents prevailed, according to TAPinto.
In Newark, the ‘Newark Schools Forward’ slate prevailed, according to TAPinto.
In Old Bridge, the $70M budget was approved, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Passaic, incumbents prevailed in the BOE race, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Paterson, progress is cited with the police department, according to Paterson Press.
In Phillipsburg, the mayor proposed an ordinance to regulate commercial passenger dropoffs, according to TAPinto.
In Red Bank, the budget was presented, according to TAPinto. Takeout plastic utensils and condiments were banned, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Roxbury, the budget includes a tax increase, according to TAPinto.
In Seaside Heights, voters killed the Toms River schools merger, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Springfield, a battle was won with a developer, according to Burlington County Times.
In Upper Saddle River, the town is monitoring water levels, according to the Bergen Record.
In Warren, off-the-line GOP candidates’ request for the county GOP endorsement has drawn allegations, according to NJ Hills.
ICYMI: In Jefferson, AFP, Jersey 1st held an event; in Hoboken, Dems endorsed Kim and Bhalla, Chair Hodes resigned; in Trenton, officials hoping for Starbucks change of heart
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Senator Timberlake writes ‘Heroes Who Walk Beside Us: Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.‘
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘Immigrants: New Jersey’s Secret Sauce‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, CD3 Democratic primary candidate Sarah Schoengood writes ‘Time for a Comprehensive Political Reform: The Unwanted Gatekeepers of New Jersey‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Griselda Camacho writes ‘We Need Latina Representation in New Jersey‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Bertin Lefkovic writes ‘A Progressive’s Defense of the Party Line Ballot‘
Insider NJ columnist Jay Lassiter writes ‘Tammy Murphy Dismisses Concern of her GOP Backstory: “I have a lot of friends in the LGBTQIA+ community”‘ and ‘Diving into Andy Kim’s BurlCo Drubbing of Tammy Murphy‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Three Bergen County towns hold board of education elections. Here are results
Kristie Cattafi, NorthJersey.com
- Bergen County had three school districts hold school board of education elections on Tuesday. Cliffside Park, Fairview and newly switched Lodi are the last remaining towns to not hold November school board elections. Fairview’s election was uncontested, while Cliffside Park had contested elections.
Newark airport’s new $2.7B terminal won another global award
Larry Higgs, nj.com
- Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A just swept the Oscars of the aviation world. Terminal A is officially world class, being named the best new airport terminal in the world by global airport evaluation firm Skytrax. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the new $2.7 billion terminal was awarded a prestigious 5-star rating by Skytrax, a preeminent aviation industry rating firm last month officials also took possession of Wednesday.
Heathcliff, the original orange cat, is a comic born and raised in Bergen County
David M. Zimmer, NorthJersey.com
- Two rows of fresh fish chill on ice outside the Elite Fish Market in the colorful port town of Westfinster. From behind the counter, the fishmonger, Mr. Schultz, looks on incredulously. “Geo Gately,” in faultless looping script, is written on the wall above his head. His ire seems focused on a striped feline, who stands upright in swim fins atop the fish-filled rack. The cat is wearing goggles on his head and a delightedly devilish look on his face. He’s holding a spear.
Millburn flips middle finger to affordable housing | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- New Jersey is building more affordable housing than ever before, but for every home we build, there are still 14 prospective renters who need one. The daunting bottom line: The state faces an estimated shortage of at least 230,000 homes, and the only thing that will change that grim arithmetic is to have all 600 cities and towns operate in good faith and build their quota in accordance with the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
Too many cubicles, too few homes spur incentives to convert offices to housing
Tim Henderson, NJ Monitor
- Juan Ramirez, watching his dog play in Chandon Park here in suburban Virginia on a Saturday morning, tries to imagine the massive office buildings next to the park becoming apartments and townhouses. “I guess it’s inevitable. People don’t use offices as much now. I hope it’s affordable. Maybe it’ll bring more young people to town, more taxes for parks,” said Ramirez, 38, who grew up in the area and returned recently to take a restaurant management job after living in Minnesota and Ohio.
These NJ dogs were abused. Here’s how you can help
Judi Franco, NJ1015
- Unfortunately, we all know cases of people who have absolutely no business having animals. No one is really sure why people who do not know how to take care of pets would have them in the first place, but alas, it happens every single day. Entered the ASPCA. Besides, for all of the wonderful they were work they do, as their name implies, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals main mission is to stop animals from being abused and to help them in the unfortunate event that they are.
N.J. Food Council encourages trade relationships at recent conference
ROI-NJ Staff
- In a continuing effort to demonstrate the New Jersey Food Council’s commitment to encouraging trade partnerships through member engagement and elevating the industry, leaders from New Jersey’s food retail and distribution businesses gathered in Atlantic City in April to focus on the next generation of the food supply chain, as well as evolving opportunities in the food industry.
In NJ, a push to vote ‘uncommitted’ to protest Biden support for war in Gaza
Hannan Adely, NorthJersey.com
- When New Jersey Democrats hit the polls in the June 4 presidential primary, some will be casting a vote for “uncommitted” on their ballots in a show of protest over President Joe Biden’s support for the war in Gaza.
Why did Paterson police chase video truck from Speziale sheriff event at The Brownstone?
Joe Malinconico, Paterson Press
- Carl Severe, a private businessman who drives a video advertising truck, found himself in the crossfire of the bare-knuckle battle for the Democratic nomination for Passaic County sheriff on Tuesday evening.
WATCH: Jersey Shore town hurries to rebuild its beach before the summer
Steven Rodas, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Sea Isle City is one of the lucky ones. Crews are currently hard at work refilling the beaches of the Jersey shore town.
What Newark School Board Candidates Say After Mayor-Backed Slate Wins With Low Turnout
Matt Kadosh, TAPinto Newark
- The four women on the mayor-backed slate of school board candidates secured wins in the Tuesday, April 16, Board of Education race — a contest that had 10 candidates vying for four seats. “Moving Newark Schools Forward” candidates Helena Vinhas, Vereliz Santana and Dawn Haynes secured three-year terms on the board, while Kanileah Anderson, who ran unopposed, won a one-year term, the preliminary results show. Vinhas said she will be the first school board member from the East Ward since Philip C. Seelinger Jr., who served until 2017.
Inside The Ranked Choice Voting Trigger Ordinance Adopted In Jersey City
Daniel Israel, TAPinto Jersey City
- The Jersey City Municipal County recently passed a local ordinance that would allow for ranked choice voting (RCV) to be triggered into effect upon the passage of any state laws allowing for ballots to be cast in this matter. RCV would enable voters to rank candidates in order of preference. According to the ordinance, this ensures that winners of any election have the support of, and are accountable to, a majority of voters.
This is the salary a person in NJ needs to be comfortable
Bill Doyle, NJ1015
- Not surprisingly, the salary a single person in New Jersey needs to live comfortably is in six figures. A little less than half of adult Americans are single (divorced, widowed, or never been married), and there are ways that being single is more expensive than being married.
Job cuts at Rutgers writing program turns strike anniversary into protest
Mary Ann Koruth, NorthJersey.com
- Howard Swerdloff, a 14-year veteran of Rutgers University’s Writing Program on the New Brunswick campus, was preparing to celebrate the first-year anniversary of a historic faculty strike that ended with salary and job security wins for him and fellow lecturers — only to learn last week that he would not have a job this fall.
See the Bruce Springsteen Archives building approved for Monmouth University
Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press
- Monmouth University will build the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, but it received an earful from a couple of aggravated neighbors in the process. The university went before the city’s Planning Board on Tuesday night seeking final site plan approval with variance relief to build the two-story museum that will pay homage to the music icon who was born in the city in 1949. The museum will include galleries and archive rooms, a 244-seat auditorium and gift shop.
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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Roofing In Brighton
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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
Sent from my iPhone
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