Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 6/3/2021 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The people that are quote-unquote disenchanted, I want to work with them, too. Let’s do something together instead of pointing fingers. I know I got to work hard.” – Camden Acting Mayor and mayoral primary candidate Vic Carstarphen
TOP STORY: Off-Line Holley Tries to Target Cryan’s Democratic Primary Soft Underbelly
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 888,074 cases and 23,569 fatalities (and 128,689 probable cases and 2,678 probable fatalities) as of Wednesday (an increase of 237 confirmed cases, 53 probable cases, and 20 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is .73. There have been 9,083,348 COVID-19 vaccinations administered (with 4,259,893 people fully vaccinated).
Bergen County launched a emergency rental assistance program for landlords and tenants.
Camden County announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at its June concerts.
Morris County has fully vaccinated 70% of its adult residents.
Rep. Gottheimer led 55 House members in a letter to Defense Secretary Austin in support of funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
Rep. Pascrell urged the GAO to investigate the relationships between private equity investments and subsequent healthcare facilities closures of bankruptcies.
Four women are suing NJ Transit, accusing a bus supervisor of sexual assault, according to the Burlington County Times.
Unite HERE Local 54 endorsed Governor Murphy for re-election.
Jack Ciattarelli held an event with Bergen County Republicans, proclaiming his confidence that Governor Murphy will be ‘one and done in 21‘. Ciattarelli proposed a property tax freeze for all seniors, according to Politico NJ. ELEC approved $143k in matching funds for Ciattarelli, bringing his total matching funds to nearly $4.5M (iLine post).
ELEC reports that gubernatorial primary spending by candidates has topped $14M, with Governor Murphy spending more than the GOP primary candidates combined.
In LD13, Assemblyman Scharfenberger endorsed his running mate Vicky Flynn, according to TAPinto.
In LD20, Assemblyman Holley was endorsed by Eric Garner’s mother, Gwenn Carr, in his bid for the Senate seat in the Democratic primary.
In LD37, Assemblyman Johnson went door-to-door in his hometown with Bergen Sheriff Cureton, as he battles Assemblywoman Huttle in the Democratic Senate primary.
The Burlington County GOP moved its HQ to Medford (iLine post).
The GOP gubernatorial primary could ‘cannibalize’ the GOP base, according to Politico NJ.
Steve Lonegan endorsed Penna and Byrne for Essex County GOP State Committee.
Former Assemblyman O’Donnell is urging the court to toss bribery charges against him, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: Webber touted 2018 Trump endorsement; in LD37, anatomy of the primary; CD7 municipal chairs expressed support for embattled Malinowski, county chairs expressed support; Mastrangelo jabbed Penna following Ciattarelli altercation; LD37 Senate candidates squared off in debate; Grossman unleashed a rant; LD13’s Solomeno endorsed by Victory Fund; DeCroce touted support from police; Murphy camp chest-thumped after GOP debate; Singh held Morris event; in LD26, Mastrangelo rejects ‘gutter politics’; Rizzo battles for right-wing; in LD26’s intense battle, Webber, Barranco slammed DeCroce’s BLM vote
Democratic legislative leaders introduced updated legislation to end the public health emergency and limit Governor Murphy’s powers, according to Politico NJ.
A new report on the Schools Development Authority finds waste and mismanagement, according to the Bergen Record.
Senator Singer introduced legislation to protect law enforcement from assaults by laser sights, pointers, and similar devices.
Senator Addiego introduced legislation dedicating opiate settlement money to addiction services. Addiego will host a webinar with the NJEDA on Phase 4 of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program.
Senator Sarlo is leading the effort for a coordinated marijuana regulation policy in Southwest Bergen County towns.
Senator Corrado will introduce legislation to allow children to unmask at daycare.
Jersey Renews thanked Senator Weinberg for supporting full funding for transit and an end to clean energy fund raids.
ICYMI: Sellinger leading US Attorney candidate (iLine post); pressure building on Murphy to drop student mask requirement; Coughlin postponed public health emergency vote; Codey’s Insider NJ interview
In Camden, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge visited the city yesterday to announce a $35M Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant for the Housing Authority and Cramer Hill neighborhood.
In Bergenfield, Governor Murphy and USDOE Secretary Cardona visited the high school to highlight the importance of in-person learning.
In Edison, mayoral candidate Mahesh Bhagia sent a letter to the AG requesting an election monitor for next Tuesday’s primary.
In Hamilton (Mercer), the NJDOT will allow the township to ban trucks through Cornell Heights.
In Hoboken, Councilwoman Fisher sponsored a budget amendment to reduce taxes by 4.5%.
In Waldwick, Democratic council candidates Anthony Paradiso and Amy Weiner expressed disappointment with the council’s rejection of installing a community flagpole for monthly flags, including the Pride Flag.
In Trenton, Trenton Water Works celebrated its first water and sewer job training graduating class. Clerk Conlon asked Mercer County elections officials to send in the National Guard, according to the Trentonian.
In Atlantic City, the BOE moved to disqualify the solicitor in a lawsuit against him, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Cherry Hill, Police Chief Monaghan will retire after 26 years, according to the Courier Post.
In Clifton, the Palestinian center is increasing security amid violent threats, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Deal, the beachfront parking permit plan was tabled, for now, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In East Newark, the OAL will hear a case over the BOE President’s votes while serving as town CFO, according to Hudson County View.
In Englewood, Mayor Wildes says he will continue his coffee chats after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, according to the Bergen Record.
In Fairfield, the community rallied to save the VFW post, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Flemington, the council approved the budget with the water budget deficit included, according to TAPinto.
In Hawthorne, June was proclaimed as Pride Month in the town for the first time, according to TAPinto.
In Lafayette, work began on the medical marijuana facility, according to NJ Herald.
In Long Hill, a proposal to restructure the emergency management office has drawn questions, according to NJ Hills.
In Middle, a lawsuit is challenging the township on affordable housing, according to the Cape May Sentinel.
In Newton, Steven VanNieuland was sworn-in as police chief, according to NJ Herald.
In Nutley, the town proclaimed June LGBTQ+ Month, according to TAPinto.
In Parsippany, the town slashed the emergency loan needed to balance the budget, according to the Daily Record.
In Paterson, a shutdown looms after the council rejected Mayor Sayegh’s budget proposal for a second time, according to Paterson Times. Sayegh and the Police Department will announce the hiring of a victim witness advocate within the department.
In Piscataway, a BOE member was censured over signing a Democratic flyer, according to MyCentralJersey. Residents are suing the Zoning Board to stop warehouses next to a school and park.
In Roselle Park, anti-Biden flags near a school are infuriating neighbors, according to NJ.com; the homeowner says she has no plans to remove them, according to NJ.com.
In Weehawken, the town acquired 14.5 acres of the Palisades to keep it safe from developers, according to the Jersey Journal.
In Westfield, the town raised the Pride Flag, according to TAPinto.
In Ventnor, new water meter rates will be codified, according to Downbeach.
ICYMI: In Edison, Bhagia the face of statewide resistance; in Camden, Custis slate endorsed by Working Families; in Dover, Codey endorsed incumbents; in Parsippany, GOP mayoral primary low-key but stakes are high; in Bordentown, Nucera sentenced to prison; in Camden, Rojas released statement on bullets fired at residence; in Newark, Baraka signed order expanding outdoor dining; in Edison, Kahn expressing reluctance to buck party; in AC, heavyweights turned out for Small’s fundraiser
AROUND THE WEB:
Allison Steele, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Standing on his North Camden doorstep, Armando Orta told Elton Custis that the roads need repaving. He was the second person in less than two blocks to mention a perennial issue in Camden, where some streets are practically un-drivable.
Willingboro native becomes first Black woman to lead Medicare and Medicaid services
George Woolston, Burlington County Times
- Tapped by President Joe Biden, a Willingboro native has become the first Black woman to lead the nation’s health insurance programs. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure was sworn in as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra last week after her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Jewish groups call on community to quell anger toward Tenafly student over Hitler essay
Nicholas Katzban, NorthJersey.com
- The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey has called on the public to refrain from directing further malice toward a child and the student’s family after a Tenafly school project about Adolf Hitler gained infamy online. In a joint statement from several groups released by the federation on Wednesday, the organization said the project was completed by an 11-year-old student at Maugham Elementary School who has since endured “ridicule and harm, which they do not deserve.”
Cone-gate? Candidate’s ice cream truck gets booted from Morristown seniors complex
Kevin Coughlin, Morristown Green
- You scream. I scream. We all scream for ice cream! Especially in an election year. Morristown mayoral candidate Esperanza Porras-Field is crying foul after the Morristown Housing Authority asked her to remove an ice cream truck from the parking lot of the Ann Street seniors housing on Memorial Day.
Veteran Democrats now opponents in NJ’s high-profile legislative primary
Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight
- The stakes in the matchup between Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson for the right to succeed retiring Sen. Loretta Weinberg, currently the majority leader, are higher than just who is likely to fill one of 40 Senate seats next January. It’s seen as a battle between the powerful party line and the grassroots, between a loyal Democrat and an uber-progressive, between a woman and a Black man.
Amid vaccine push in reluctant communities, politics plays big role
Lilo H. Stainton, NJ Spotlight
- Hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine appears to be declining within Black and Hispanic communities in New Jersey, according to the results of a new online poll that also said politics — not race — was the strongest indicator of immunization acceptance.
Internal Affairs Units in Hudson disciplined 36 cops, including 3 terminations, in 2020
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- The Internal Affairs Units of Hudson County law enforcement agencies disciplined 36 police officers last year, which includes three terminations from one department, according to copies of each IAU’s annual summary reports.
Jersey City developer withdraws suit that alleged public safety director’s aide stopped 2 projects
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- A Jersey City developer has withdrawn a lawsuit that alleged an aide to the city’s public safety director stopped two development projects just eight days after the initial court filing.
N.J. places 15 companies in 2021 Fortune 500
ROI NJ Staff
- Fifteen companies headquartered in New Jersey are in the latest Fortune 500, which was released Wednesday. Leading the way was Johnson & Johnson. The New Brunswick-based pharmaceutical giant, known around the globe, came in at No. 36 — the only New Jersey company to place in the Top 50.
Clayton model adopted around N.J. to help students cope with social and emotional needs
Melanie Burney, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Before the morning bell rings at Herma Simmons Elementary in Clayton, counselors prepare to handle any jitters that could keep their young students from learning.
Ciattarelli still favored in GOP governor race. Trump still looms over the contest
David Cruz, NJ Spotlight
- As Republicans head into next week’s primary election, four candidates are vying for the GOP nomination to face Gov. Phil Murphy in the general election this fall.
Mayor Goldberg Proclaims June as “Pride Month” in Hawthorne
John Van Vliet, TAPinto Hawthorne
- June is officially Pride Month in Hawthorne, following a proclamation by Mayor Richard S. Goldberg at the Wednesday, June 2 council meeting.
Ernst & Young to pay NJ $100K to end investigation into training program
Michael L. Diamond, Asbury Park Press
- Ernst & Young will pay $100,000 to New Jersey as part of an agreement to end an investigation into a leadership training program that state officials said included widely criticized gender stereotypes, the two sides said Tuesday.
Lining up to fight the party line
Jeff Pillets, NJ Spotlight
- In late April, the members of Camden County’s Democratic Committee got together via Zoom to review and endorse candidates running in the primary. The meeting lasted a grand total of seven minutes. Kate Delaney, a teacher from Collingswood who wanted to be mayor, was at the meeting waiting to make her best argument to land her party’s endorsement. She never got the chance.
Tom Bergeron, ROI NJ
- If you’re looking for a cliché-filled story that condescendingly describes how girls are playing football — gasp! — go back to your childhood. Or 1972, when Title IX mandated that females are given the same opportunity as males when it comes to high school and college athletes.
Holtec employee splashed with radioactive water in Oyster Creek cask accident
Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
- A Holtec employee was splashed with radioactive water in late February when a lid popped off a storage cask at the defunct Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, the company and nuclear regulators said.
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