Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 2/17/2022 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “For those members that showed up since March of 2020 when the rest of the world was on Zoom, showed up to the prisons, locked themselves behind bars 10 or 11 months before a vaccine was even available to anybody —seems like at midnight tonight [last night], many are going to be tossed out with the bathwater.” – NJSPBA President Colligan on the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for corrections officers
TOP STORY: A Local Look at Redistricting’s Early Impact in Piscataway
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,858,228 cases and 29,595 confirmed fatalities (and 292,123 probable cases and 2,949 probable fatalities) as of Wednesday (an increase of 2,235 confirmed cases, 345 probable cases, 61 lab-confirmed fatalities, and 20 hospital-reported fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is .53. There are 1,534 total hospitalizations, with 221 in intensive care units. There are 6,690,330 people fully vaccinated.
Governor Murphy and the NJMHFA announced foreclosure prevention funding to support communities and residents.
Governor Murphy appointed four women to the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women Board of Trustees.
The Murphy Administration announced $5.9M in FY2022 bikeway grants in nine counties.
Union officials expect a staff exodus of anti-mandate corrections workers, with less than half vaccinated hours before the midnight deadline last night, according to NJ Monitor.
Atlantic County Commissioners passed a resolution urging the state to investigate the hiring of Kayan Frazier, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Eleven Camden County middle schools were named ‘Schools of Character’.
Hunterdon County completed its election equipment upgrades, according to TAPinto.
A new assistant prosecutor was hired in Morris County, according to NJ Hills.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Kean University held a law enforcement recruitment event.
Warren County Commissioner Kern sent a letter to Governor Murphy questioning why COVID-19 vaccines are mandated for officers but not inmates.
Senator Booker urged the Biden Administration to reverse inhumane immigration policies impacting black migrants. Booker introduced legislation to protect the North Atlantic Right Whale.
A dismissed NJ Trooper alleges he was harassed because of his race and religion, according to the Bergen Record.
ICYMI: Murphy appointed Doran OSHP Director; Veep visited Newark; Pietrykoski departing Booker office; Murphy extended emergency; former NJSEA CEO Mulcahy passed away; school mask mandate lifted on 3/7; Murphy nominated Platkin AG; Murphy’s ‘jaw hit floor‘ over Caddle murder-for-hire
In CD7, IUOE Local 825 endorsed Tom Kean in the GOP primary. Rep. Malinowski released a poll showing a dead heat with Kean.
Insider NJ Poll: Who Would Win a 2022 Rematch Between Malinowski and Kean?
ICYMI: In CD10, Payne endorsed by Baraka; in CD1, Norcross kicked-off re-election, Murphy appearing with him, Gustafson delighted in their embrace; in CD3, primary candidate Smith sent cease-and-desist to Healey over false statements, Healey secured Monmouth backing; NJEA released endorsements; Barranco alert to political problem of proposed LD26 map; in CD4, Smith secured Monmouth GOP support in primary battle; in CD10, Payne announced campaign team; in CD11, GOP leaders endorsed Selen; activists seek fairer representation; Neibert endorsed by Morris commissioners; Morris commissioner candidates making rounds; following release of map proposals, Commission held hearing; Codey expressed misgivings about map; Caputo: ‘I love Irvington‘, Vauss says ‘inappropriate‘ to redistrict city; Maeder announced candidacy for Somerset Clerk; in CD11, GOP’s intra-party slog; Barba announced candidacy for Bergen Exec
In Piscataway, the ward redistricting dispute is one of several signs of intra-party strife among local Democrats.
In Randolph, the chasm continues over school holidays, as the BOE doubled-down on its decision to remove the second day of Rosh Hashanah from the calendar following a passionate four-hour meeting.
In Bridgewater, Assemblyman Wimberly decried the police handling of an altercation between two teenagers at the mall as ‘deeply disturbing’. The NAACP called for the officers’ removal, according to MyCentralJersey. The United Black Agenda called for action on police reform legislation.
In Newark, the NJISJ applauded the city council’s passage of a resolution in support of the Statewide Reparations Task Force. AFT President Weingarten announced a six-figure investment in the Public Schools Teacher Education Academy. The council passed a worker retention ordinance, according to TAPinto.
In Hamilton, the township received an electric vehicle charging station grant.
In Brick, the trial over a proposed Jewish boys’ dorm was rescheduled to March, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Carteret, the ferry service got a $6M boost from the federal government, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Chatham, a rise in stolen cars is causing concerns, according to NJ Hills.
In Evesham, the town received a large grant for sidewalk safety, according to Burlington County Times.
In Harding, the mayor says the town’s ownership and stewardship of Glen Alpin is coming to an end, according to NJ Hills. Homeowners will pay an average $38 more in municipal taxes, according to NJ Hills.
In Hillsborough, the BOE will hold a virtual meeting today to avoid the conflict that erupted at the previous in-person meeting, according to TAPinto.
In Keyport, the high school may suffer if Union Beach students don’t go there, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Long Hill, officials discussed fire truck funding, according to NJ Hills.
In Maywood, the GOP candidate leads in the special election, according to the Bergen Record.
In New Providence, former Councilman Galluccio passed away, according to TAPinto.
In Paterson, Mayor Sayegh’s private email account was hacked according to officials, according to Paterson Times. The council is demanding more information on the investigation of the fire chief, according to Paterson Press.
In Pluckemin, apartments were denied on a now-vacant tract, according to NJ Hills.
In Trenton, besieged Clerk Conlon ‘abandoned‘ a council meeting, according to the Trentonian. Councilman Harrison says he filed a police report alleging Conlon harassed him, according to the Trentonian. Council candidates rallied for Conlon’s dismissal, according to Trentonian. Councilwoman Vaughn requested an investigation into union officials and employees for protesting, according to the Trentonian.
In Wall, the school district is facing lawsuits over the football team, according to NJ101.5.
In Wayne, the VFW hall was sold at public auction, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: In Newark, Campos nabbed law enforcement support; in Bayonne, Ashe-Nadrowski announced campaign team; in Edison, Mayor Joshi announced new hires; in Bayonne, Booker will run on Davis ticket; in Parsippany, former Mayor Priore passed away; in Randolph, BOE controversy over Rosh Hashanah; in Irvington, Vauss announced re-election; in Newark, CWA endorsed Baraka; in Bayonne, Davis tapped Weimmer for Ward 2; in Newark, Osborne picked up petitions; in North Hunterdon-Voorhees, parents express opposition to LGBTQ books; in Newark, Brown discusses candidacy
AROUND THE WEB:
Speech-delayed boy, 3, does not qualify for emergency relief, must wear mask to school, ruled judge
Mary Ann Koruth, NorthJersey.com
- A judge has denied a family’s request for a speech-delayed 3-year-old boy with learning disabilities to attend preschool without a mask. Judge Jeffrey Rabin ruled the child did not qualify for the emergency relief his mother Katharine Hart requested.
Ted Sherman, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Gov. Phil Murphy reiterated Wednesday that the state would unilaterally leave the bi-state Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, calling it “a completely different world” from the days when the watchdog agency was created nearly 70 years ago.
‘Ready to fight’: Ukrainians in North Jersey are bracing for war
Matt Fagan, NorthJersey.com
- Anxious about the fate of loved ones, for the better part of a month, North Jersey’s Ukrainian Americans have had their TVs tuned to the BBC and their smartphones navigated to YouTube as they wait for the next development in their homeland.
‘Shameful’ transportation program keeps NJ veterans from doctors
Michael Symons, NJ1015
- Transportation is the biggest challenge facing New Jersey veterans, in some cases keeping disabled veterans from needed medical care, lawmakers were told Wednesday in an online hearing. The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs works cooperatively with the 21 counties on providing transportation options, but veterans groups told the Legislature it is an inadequate system that often leaves people unable to get to or from medical appointments unless they arrange a ride four weeks ahead.
NJ wants younger, more diverse high school football referee pool
Patrick Lavery, NJ1015
- A $50,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, secured by state Sen. Paul Sarlo, will help fund a pilot program called the Diverse Officials in High School Football Scholarship Initiative, to try to make the state’s “bench” of referees better reflect the student-athletes they adjudicate.
NJ Decides 2021: Election Conversations
NJ Spotlight
- NJ Spotlight News hosted a series of online forums — titled “NJ Decides 2021: Election Conversations” — that focused on the big issues voters faced in the 2021 gubernatorial and state legislative elections. The online forums detailed issues like education, COVID-19 and social justice and more.
NJ looks to spur redevelopment of neglected sites
Jon Hurdle, NJ Spotlight
- An abandoned building in Camden, an open lot previously occupied by a chemical plant in Newark, and a former warehouse in Trenton are long-neglected sites that would be valuable redevelopment opportunities if buyers and sellers could be brought together. Along with about 500 others around the state, those sites appear in a new inventory of brownfield sites — land parcels that have been used by industry or commerce but are now abandoned, idled or under-used, and may be contaminated.
Andover BHT testimony continues as experts address environmental concerns
Kyle Morel, New Jersey Herald
- Testimony for a proposed construction storage facility resumed at Tuesday’s Land Use Board meeting after a two-month break, with the applicant’s engineer introducing a scaled-down version of original site plans and addressing various environmental concerns.
Owners of N.Y. Jets donate their mother’s 800-acre farm near Princeton for conservation
Frank Kummer, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Scions of New Jersey’s prominent Johnson family — also owners of the New York Jets — have donated their late mother’s 800-acre Mercer County farm, with its sweeping valley view outside Princeton, for preservation.
Residents want more virtual access to local public meetings
David Cruz, NJ Spotlight
- The pandemic forced many cities into using video conferencing software for public meetings, and advocates say virtual options have expanded access to public municipal meetings. But with case numbers of COVID-19 waning, some towns are returning to in-person public meetings only.
Local officials argue against Amazon deal at Newark airport
Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ Monitor
- A 25-year resident of Elizabeth and father to a 15-year-old boy, George Boada is aware of the risks of living in a city at the heart of the state’s economic hub. But with a $432 million deal pending between Amazon and Newark airport, Boada worries the risk of getting sick due to toxic pollutants in the area will only increase.
After 2020 ‘beach party,’ Paterson is still waiting for $40M redevelopment project
Joe Malinconico, Paterson Press
- Near the banks of the Passaic River, developer Levi Kelman gathered with the mayor and other city officials at a dormant industrial site in September 2020 for a Paterson “beach party” publicity stunt.
‘Wake-up call’ report details looming floods
Tom Johnson, NJ Spotlight
- The United States is projected to experience up to a 1-foot rise in sea levels along its coastline by 2050, a prognosis that will significantly increase coastal flooding, according to a new report led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
As COVID cases decline, St. Patrick’s parades and NJ’s largest spring events are returning
Scott Fallon, NorthJersey.com
- In the two years since COVID-19 first swept through New Jersey, Michael Arnone had to cancel his popular Crawfish Fest in Sussex County three times — first during the initial surge in spring 2020, then a year later during another spring spike and finally last August when the highly contagious delta variant emerged.
Asbury Park Press
- NJ governor Phil Murphy renewed the public health emergency for another 30 days on Feb. 10. State senators and some towns are pushing back.
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