Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 5/15/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You got so many people out there saying they want to run, but what I see is they’re running for themselves. I’m running for the people. I don’t care about the fame and the fortune, all that stuff that people worry about. I’m fine with how I am. I’m a plain, simple guy.” – Former Senator Durr jumping into the GOP gubernatorial primary
TOP STORY: Crisply Crispi
Governor Murphy directed the lowering of flags in honor of fallen Trooper Bethea.
Governor Murphy signed legislation providing support to school districts facing aid cuts.
Senator Menendez can’t call a psychiatrist in trial, but sitting Senators could be name-checked or called to testify, according to Politico NJ. Jury selection continues, according to NJ Spotlight.
NJ schools call the police now more than ever, according to NJ101.5.
There’s no curriculum yet for media literacy education in the state, according to NJ Spotlight.
Mercer County Executive Benson revealed the budget, according to the Trentonian.
ICYMI: Thousands gathered for Trump rally, Van Drew welcomed Trump, who said ‘we’re going to win’ NJ, will ‘shut down deadly sanctuary cities‘ made endorsement of Serrano Glassner; Fulop celebrates reservoir trail
‘America First Republicans’ Chair Mike Crispi’s star is rising to unanticipated heights following his role at former President Trump’s Wildwood rally.
Former Senator ‘Ed The Trucker’ Durr is pulling into the gubernatorial race, according to NJ.com.
In CD7, the Middle East is dominating the early part of the contest, according to Politico NJ. Giffords PAC endorsed Sue Altman.
In CD10, Hudson County will stay neutral in the special primary, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Dem Senate candidates debated; Ocean GOP backing Bashaw; Sherrill took aggressive approach to Trump rally; in CD10, contenders filed to run; CD10 names, 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 chair of Hunterdon Dems; Fulop launching down-ballot effort
Revenue forecasts are holding steady as Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sarlo floated a sales tax hike, according to NJ Monitor.
The OPRA overhaul legislation heads to the Governor, according to Politico NJ.
Cuts in state aid to school districts could soon be rolled back, according to NJ Spotlight.
Oral arguments began in the lawsuit to stop casino smoking, according to NJ Spotlight.
Assemblyman DePhillips opposes proposed changes to appellate judge appointments.
Assemblyman Inganamort introduced legislation to remove elected officials who skip too many meetings, according to NJ.com.
New legislation would give a 10 cent refund for returning bottles and cans, according to NJ.com.
ICYMI: Senate passed OPRA legislation, boos and jeers greeted vote
An Insider NJ movie review of ‘Civil War’.
Veteran defense attorney Joe Hayden shared his personal recounting of the Bill Musto trial.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Advance and Insider NJ’s 2024 African-American List
In Paterson, ward council incumbents are leading in most races, but some races are too close to call with full results not yet in, according to Paterson Press. Ward 3 Councilman Mendez declared victory. Ward 5 Councilman Velez won re-election. Ward 6 Councilman Abdelaziz won re-election in a landslide.
In Montclair, Baskerville is in a strong position to win the mayoralty.
In Orange, Mayor Warren secured re-election.
In Irvington, Mayor Vauss’ allies swept in the elections.
In Caldwell, the budget was introduced, according to NJ Hills.
In Chatham Borough, the budget was approved, according to NJ Hills.
In Florham Park, the BOE refuted the lack of teacher retention, according to NJ Hills.
In Harding, the budget was adopted, according to NJ Hills.
In Hoboken, the Housing Authority voted to seek Commissioner Sanford’s removal, according to Hudson County View.
In Jersey City, two mayoral candidates oppose Senator Stack’s county benefits bill, according to Hudson County View.
In Lebanon, a medical marijuana cultivation facility was rejected, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Montclair, the township settled the CFO whistleblower lawsuit, according to Montclair Local.
In Morris Township, the Red Bulls broke ground on a new soccer center, according to Morristown Green.
In Paterson, a clerk was suspended for posting on the mayor’s Facebook page, according to Paterson Press.
In Peapack-Gladstone, residents are outraged over a plan to exterminate geese, according to NJ.com.
In Piscataway, taxes will be reduced, according to TAPinto.
In Randolph, former Councilman Tkacs passed away, according to NJ Hills.
In Raritan Borough, Councilwoman Melitsky resigned, according to TAPinto.
In Red Bank, Broadwalk outdoor dining was made permanent, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Trenton, the translation ordinance met obstacles on first introduction, according to the Trentonian.
In Union Township, hackers targeted the school district, according to NJ101.5.
In Wayne, a new community center could be coming, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: guide to municipal elections; in Annandale, ongoing book battle; in New Brunswick, freedom of press case may go to state SC; in Roxbury, BOE decision to rescind transgender protections
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘Wildwood Proves Trump Maga Fever Still Raging‘ and ‘Gaza’s Fate Looms Large in NJ Dems June Primary Debate‘
Insider NJ columnist Carl Golden writes ‘‘Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game!?’‘
Insider NJ columnist former Senator Bernard Kenny writes ‘America 2024: A Matter of Life and Death‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Eulogy for an atypical state commissioner
Michael Catania, NJ Spotlight
- Most individuals who become Department of Environmental Protection commissioners are lawyers or scientists. Many have experience in government, or in large private organizations. And, undoubtedly, all of them find that the management of DEP, and the complex responsibilities entrusted to that agency, are the biggest challenges of their careers.
ROI-NJ celebrates Top 50 Women in Business Influencers with Opici Wine event
ROI-NJ Staff
- ROI-NJ celebrated a very special group on Monday afternoon, as the Top 50 Women in Business Influencers were invited to gather at Opici Wine Group in Glen Rock for an afternoon of networking, wine tasting and to honor the top trailblazing women in the state.
Jon Stewart pokes fun at New Jersey in a Menendez trial segment on ‘The Daily Show’
Lucas Frau, NorthJersey.com
- Comedian Jon Stewart had a segment on Monday night’s “The Daily Show” in which he poked fun at New Jersey while discussing the Sen. Bob Menendez corruption trial. The jury selection process has begun in the trial. Stewart played a clip from WCBS-NY in which the reporter said the defense attorneys proposed asking potential jurors if they have opinions about people from New Jersey and whether they think that being from New Jersey makes them more likely to commit a crime.
How they voted: New Jersey Legislature hobbles OPRA and public records access
Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com
- The New Jersey Legislature gutted the Open Public Records Act on Monday, passing legislation that will roll back access to government documents and data. The bill, positioned by its sponsors as a reform to OPRA, is now on its way to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk. Here’s a look at how every member of the Legislature voted on the measure.
Gold bars are not the worst of it. For that, look to Egypt’s torture chambers. | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- The second corruption trial of Sen. Robert Menendez, which began Monday, will tell a far more lurid story about his behavior than we heard during his first trial in 2017.
‘They came loaded for bear’ in Menendez trial, former federal prosecutor says
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- If the case against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) sounds familiar, that’s because the 70-year-old Democrat was tried for corruption seven years ago. Menendez was not convicted in the 2017 trial, which involved allegations he accepted bribes from a wealthy Florida eye doctor. Legal experts say the current case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against New Jersey’s senior senator appears far stronger on its face.
Time for New Jersey to help its retirees with cost-of-living pension hikes | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal
- It was 2011 and both houses of the New Jersey state Legislature had to make a decision every one of us knew would be highly unpopular. We knew it was coming and we knew what we had to do. But no one was happy about it.
Princeton University tells sit-in protestors to clear out
Dan Alexander, NJ1015
- In a letter to the Princeton University community, President Christopher Eisgruber tells the pro-Palestinian sit-in organizers that they must leave Cannon Green as the space is needed for Class Day preparations. The sit-in started on April 25 as an encampment which quickly ended with two arrests as the tents set up on the school’s McCosh Courtyard were a violation of university policy. Organizers turned it into a sit-in, which meant protesters had to endure rain and both cold and heat. As the sit-in moved to Cannon Green, some of the protesters began a hunger strike at the encampment.
Kevin Coughlin, Morristown Green
- State Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-26th Dist.), whose district includes Morris Plains, pulled no punches Monday in Trenton, where Democrats and several Republicans voted to gut New Jersey’s public records law. Describing the amended bill as ‘malicious…catastrophic’ and ‘an atrocity,’ the former Denville councilman said he felt embarrassed for lawmakers who supported it for political reasons.
Krystal Knapp, Jersey Vindicator
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Monday decried the New Jersey Legislature’s vote to pass a bill that guts the state’s Open Public Records Act. As audience members cried out “Shame! Shame! Shame!,” the bill was approved 21-10 by the Senate. There was no debate or discussion. Nine senators abstained. The only Democrats to vote no were Sen. Andrew Zwicker and Sen. Britnee Timberlake.
One day after Wildwood rally, NJ.com urges residents to visit Delaware’s beaches this summer
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Coincidence, Save Jerseyans? I think not. 24 hours after Donald Trump held a historic beach rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, attended by tens of thousands of residents and tourists, NJ.com (a/k/a The Star-Ledger), published a story urging its readers to consider vacationing this summer in… Delaware?
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
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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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Increasing Use of Cosmetic Products & Their Side Effects
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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
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.