Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 9/8/2021 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We’re going to be in real, real trouble.” – President Biden on climate change as he toured damage in Manville following Hurricane Ida
TOP STORY: Ravaged Manville, New Jersey Welcomes President Biden
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 962,278 cases and 24,229 confirmed fatalities (and 142,515 probable cases and 2,749 probable fatalities) as of Tuesday (an increase of 268 confirmed cases, 109 probable cases, and 8 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.04. There have been 11,643,791 COVID-19 vaccinations administered (with 5,646,745 people fully vaccinated).
President Biden landed in New Jersey yesterday (see video of his arrival here), touring the damage wrought by Hurricane Ida in hard-hit Manville, as some residents welcomed him, while others rallied against him.
Governor Murphy directed flags to half-staff today through Friday in honor of those who died due to Hurricane Ida. The Governor reported no new fatalities or missing persons due to the storm yesterday, with the total fatality county at 27 and 4 missing persons.
FEMA announced that storm survivors in six designated counties can apply for assistance.
A Monmouth University poll finds NJ voters see domestic terrorism as a greater threat than foreign terrorism by a margin of 4 to 1.
Bergen County’s Overpeck Park will serve as a distribution center for American Red Cross ‘clean-up kits’.
Essex County was left off of FEMA’s initial aid package for Ida, drawing ire, according to NorthJersey.com.
Hudson County mayors are flummoxed as to the ‘shameful’ omission from federal disaster aid following Ida, according to TAPinto.
Summer at the Jersey Shore was closer to ‘normal’ this year, but pandemic anxiety is back, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Governor Murphy appointed a dean or nursing at Felician University.
ICYMI: Murphy announced $10M in Ida aid, toured damage from storm; Murphy declared emergency due to Ida; Murphy: school mask mandate isn’t ‘polite suggestion’; school, state employees required to get vaccinated; Afghan refugees coming to NJ; Passaic Surrogate Toledo charged; Booker addressed Afghan crisis; demonstrators protested outside Gottheimer’s office
Assemblywoman Timberlake appointed Ricky Stephens as her Chief of Staff.
Assembly Minority Leader Bramnick doesn’t support Jack Ciattarelli’s call for legislative hearings into Governor Murphy’s storm response, according to Politico NJ.
Activists are worried that the new LGBTQ curriculum isn’t being taught in most schools, according to NJ Monitor.
Senator O’Scanlon called for a special legislative session to avert the looming UI payroll tax increase.
The NJDHS highlighted initiatives across the state to create more inclusive and healthy communities.
The NJLCV called on Congress to pass a climate change plan following Hurricane Ida.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2021 Insider 100: Policymakers publication.
ICYMI: Dem Senators pushing Murphy to offset UI tax increase; Murphy took action on legislation; Murphy announced McWhite CRC Diversity officer; Murphy announced Giblin as deputy chief counsel
In Penns Grove, a former councilman was charged with underreporting his income in order to secure a federally-subsidized apartment.
In Cresskill, students are learning remotely after the high school flooded due to Ida, according to the Bergen Record.
In Margate, some parents don’t want their children wearing masks in school, according to Downbeach.
In Princeton, community leader Minnie Craig passed away, according to TAPinto.
In Rahway, the BOE announced a new business administrator, according to TAPinto.
In Ridgewood, two candidates filed to run in the council election, according to the Bergen Record.
In Ventnor, the BOE will approve new teacher salaries at a special meeting, according to Downbeach.
ICYMI: In Jersey City, Lavarro submitted petitions; in Newark, DOJ reached settlement with schools; in Hoboken, workers rallied for benefits; in Chatham Township, a key issue in the contested committee race revolves around the Nazis and Elie Wiesel.
AROUND THE WEB:
NJ’s COVID recovery unequal, lagging behind much of US, reports find
Daniel J. Munoz, NJBIZ
- New Jersey has one of the worst job recoveries from the COVID-19 recession, according to one report, and bears considerable economic inequality according to another. On Sept. 2, Washington, D.C. think tank Pew Charitable Trusts ranked all 50 states in their employment levels compared to 2019. It found New Jersey’s employment levels declined 6.3% since then, ahead only of Rhode Island, California, Hawaii and Nevada.
Jersey City Council grills Suez officials over handling of boil water advisory during caucus
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- The Jersey City Council grilled Suez officials over their handling of last week’s boil water advisory during today’s caucus meeting.
THE LIST: Remembering New Jersey’s September 11th victims on the 20th Anniversary
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- This Saturday will mark the 20th anniversary of September 11th, Save Jerseyans. It’s difficult to believe! The weekend’s weather is supposed to be as disarmingly beautiful as it was back on that fateful day in 2001 when the State of New Jersey lost 750 residents in the coordinated Al Qaeda attacks on Lower Manhattan, the Pentagon complex in Northern Virginia, and United Airlines Flight 93 over the normally quiet Pennsylvania countryside.
‘Hit him hard’: The contest for NJ governor is already a race to the bottom
Charles Stile, NorthJersey.com
- The driver of a gray Nissan pulled over on Main Street in Manville last week after spotting Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor. “Hey, Jack, you gotta kick Murphy’s ass!” he yelled, referring to Gov. Phil Murphy, the incumbent Democrat. Ciattarelli yelled back that he intended to. The driver leaned out the window to take a photo with his phone.
Does NJ deserve its high-tax reputation?
John Reitmeyer, NJ Spotlight
- New Jersey is notorious for levying high taxes, and the state may never be known as a tax haven. But a plethora of recent policy revisions are easing the tax impact on at least some groups, including seniors, parents and low-wage workers who have all been the focus of the state’s latest affordability initiatives.
The population has shifted and redistricting on the way for New Jersey | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal
- In 2001 the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Jersey City wasn’t big enough to have three legislative districts. But the ruling came after the election, so the Court postponed implementation for nine years.
Why Hoboken raised the bar on Murphy’s school vaccine mandate: A Q&A
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Most New Jersey schools will open this week with no requirement that teachers or students be tested for coronavirus or show proof of vaccination.
Englewood seniors forced to relocate in the aftermath of Ida
Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com
- As life returns to normal for some North Jersey residents, others are finding new challenges due to the damage from Hurricane Ida. More than 70 senior citizens living in a federally owned housing complex were forced to relocate as their building was deemed unsafe.
‘Couldn’t enjoy it more’ : Drew students say it’s good to be back
Olivia Yepez
- The Drew University campus feels different than it did a year ago. Almost normal, in fact, now that COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out. The Madison liberal arts school required vaccinations for all students ahead of their return last month. The paved path that connects dorms, dining halls and academic buildings was filled last week with students en route to their first in-person classes in more than a year.
Ciattarelli on sideline as Murphy responds to destruction caused by Ida
David Cruz, NJ Spotlight
- Gov. Phil Murphy has been making stops in storm-ravaged towns up and down the state and winning high praise for those efforts. They’re the kinds of events that starve political opponents of oxygen during the weeks leading up to an election.
Manville is strong and stubborn, but it needs Washington’s help | Deak
Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey.com
- Just ask Bound Brook Mayor Bob Fazen. His town was saved from another disaster last week when the remnants of Hurricane Ida came through because of the Green Brook Flood Control Project which built dikes around the borough. There was some flooding in the borough’s West End when a NJ Transit train became stranded during the storm and the floodgates couldn’t close.
(Visited 349,192 times, 80 visits today)