Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 2/18/2022 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “People want to make their own choices. They are done with masks, with testing, with compelled vaccinations, with all of it, Gov. Murphy’s knows this. His focus groups said so.” – Assemblyman DePhillips calling for an end to COVID mandates
TOP STORY: Legislative Redistricting Deal Bar Napkin Notes
The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be off on Monday in observance of Presidents Day; we will return on Tuesday.
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,860,716 cases and 29,660 confirmed fatalities (and 292,377 probable cases and 2,949 probable fatalities) as of Thursday (an increase of 2,501 confirmed cases, 365 probable cases, 65 lab-confirmed fatalities, and 21 hospital-reported fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is .57. There are 1,159 total hospitalizations, with 195 in intensive care units. There are 6,693,645 people fully vaccinated.
Governor Murphy announced the release of the NJ State Future of Work Task Force report outlining a roadmap and recommendations.
All NJMVC facilities will be closed on Monday.
Cannabis workers are moving full steam ahead to unionize despite delays in the cannabis market, according to NJ.com.
A former Fort Dix correctional officer was sentenced to prison for accepting bribes.
Two undersheriffs left the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office in a shakeup, according to the Bergen Record.
A Burlington County couple was charged with forced labor and other crimes. The county is holding a special COVID-19 pop-up vaccine clinic.
Mercer County released a report from Rutgers on its parks and open space network.
Senators Menendez and Booker urged President Biden to include funding to safeguard elections in the FY2023 budget.
Senator Menendez is pushing for increased accountability and customer service at the IRS.
Rep. Sherrill met with leaders of the state’s Ukrainian-American community.
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
The Legislative Apportionment Commission have reached the framework of a deal submitted to the tiebreaking member, which includes districts that pit Senators Sacco and Stack, and Senators Codey and Gill, against each other.
In CD10, Rep. Payne was endorsed by AFSCME New Jersey in the primary.
In CD11, the GOP primary candidates discussed affordability, taxes, and SALT at a gathering hosted by the Chatham Township GOP. Assemblywoman Dunn, who had been courted by powerful GOP figures including former Governor Christie, won’t run in the primary.
Cape May County Commissioner Thornton won’t seek re-election this year, according to SaveJersey.
Insider NJ Poll: Who Would Win a 2022 Rematch Between Malinowski and Kean?
ICYMI: In CD7, IUOE endorsed Kean, Malinowski touts poll; 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 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; Morris commissioner candidates making rounds; following release of map proposals, Commission held hearing; Codey expressed misgivings; Caputo: ‘I love Irvington‘, Vauss says ‘inappropriate‘ to redistrict city
NJ downtowns are exploring new technology to serve residents and visitors, according to NJ101.5.
In Trenton, the city requested RFPs for the redevelopment of Roebling Block 2. The council meeting yesterday was cancelled because Clerk Conlon is out on ‘sick leave’, according to the Trentonian.
In Bayonne, former BA Percella announced her candidacy for Ward 3 council, according to TAPinto. The council delayed a vote on a PILOT agreement to March after Mayor Davis requested they vote it down, according to Hudson County View.
In Berkeley Heights, the town is moving forward with the Westside drainage project, according to TAPinto.
In Branchburg, there’s still no chief for the police department, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Corbin City, railroad concerns were raised, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Englewood Cliffs, Mayor Kranjac penned an op-ed calling for an apology from the Governor over neglect and mismanagement of veterans homes during COVID-19, according to NJ.com.
In Essex Fells, the school referendum is set for March 8th, according to NJ Hills.
In Fairfield, the town isn’t likely to open the pool this summer, according to NJ Hills.
In Hanover, a BOE member removed Facebook posts about Anne Frank and COVID mandates, according to NJ Hills.
In Hoboken, the council voted to increase union donation limits with Councilwoman Fisher’s lawsuit lingering, according to Hudson County View.
In Kingwood, residents are opposing a marijuana grow facility, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Logan, a variance was approved to allow a company to develop warehouses near Bridgeport, according to the Courier Post.
In Montvale, officials banned a black filmmaker from a Black History Month event, deeming him divisive, according to the Bergen Record.
In Morristown, safety measures were detailed for a proposed distillery, according to Morristown Green.
In Newark, the mask mandate was extended, according to NJ Biz.
In Ocean County, Mayor Gillian filed petitions to run for re-election, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Paterson, schools will keep the mask mandate, according to Paterson Press.
In Phillipsburg, four years of sewer rate hikes were approved, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Prospect Park, the town is giving free smoke alarms to all residents, according to TAPinto.
In Red Bank, the Charter Study Commission heard from the former BA and other officials, according to TAPinto.
In West Caldwell, flooding concerns were addressed by the engineer and project manager, according to TAPinto.
In Vernon, the town wants to fix Mountain Creek’s sewer pump station, according to NJ Herald.
ICYMI: In Piscataway, redistricting causes intra-party strife; in Randolph, the chasm continues over school holidays;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:
Assembly Speaker: We’ve fought for New Jersey’s middle-class families for 1,500 days | Opinion
Craig J. Coughlin
- “Our work must focus on building a stronger system of opportunity and security for our middle class.” That was the promise I asked the 218th New Jersey General Assembly to deliver on for the people of our state when I took my first oath of office as Speaker, back in January of 2018.
Black teen restrained by police in NJ mall fight video hires George Floyd’s family lawyer
Suzanne Russell, MyCentralJersey.com
- A nationally recognized civil rights attorney who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin has been retained to represent the family of Z’Kye Husain, a Black teen who was detained by police at Bridgewater Commons last weekend.
Nearly 400 New Jersey cops faced major discipline last year
Dana DiFilippo, Nikita Biryukov and Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ Monitor
- Burlington County Correctional Sgt. Matthew Peer channeled his inner Hulk Hogan when he leaped off a metal table onto inmates to break up a jail fight. Newark Police Officer Tigee Pagan let a civilian drive his police car “in an unsafe manner” and posted a video of the illicit joy ride to Instagram. Jersey City Police Officer Marvin Leggitts left his loaded gun in a McDonald’s bathroom in Hillside. The three were among 389 law enforcement officers who faced major discipline in New Jersey last year, according to data the Office of the Attorney General released Thursday.
George Norcross demands transaction records as Republic Bank battle continues
Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- George E. Norcross III has opened a new front in a stockholder battle at the parent firm of Republic Bank. The South Jersey businessman is demanding records on “related party” transactions between the Republic First Bancorp Inc. and its directors, officers or shareholders, according to a filing Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
School districts in “blue” territory are bucking masks
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Paterson is the latest big “blue” New Jersey school district (joining Camden and Newark) that’s decided to continue masking its children even after Phil Murphy’s K-12 mandate ends on March 7th. The pushback against masking is continuing to percolate outside of the deepest blue municipalities and it’s bleeding into 2022’s politics, Save Jerseyans.
Opinion: School-aid task force is a necessary step toward real reform
Carl Golden, NJ Spotlight
- One of the more hopeful signs to emerge in the early days of the new legislative session was the state Senate’s approval of creating a task force to conduct a year-long study of New Jersey’s system of aid to public education.
McKnight seeks to mandate police to hold public roundtables with communities
David Cruz, NJ Spotlight
- A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-Hudson) seeks to get police and communities together in regular meetings. Jeff Feldman of the National Association of Social Workers, New Jersey chapter said that while such meetings are already taking place in some communities, the bill would codify the process.
186,000 New Jerseyans are about to find out they have lead drinking water pipes
Scott Fallon, NorthJersey.com
- More than 180,000 residents across New Jersey will be notified by Tuesday that drinking water is coming into their homes through a lead pipe, state officials said Thursday.
‘The brand is so toxic’: Democrats fear extinction in rural America
Steve Peoples, AP
- Some Democrats here in rural Pennsylvania are afraid to tell you they’re Democrats. The party’s brand is so toxic in the small towns 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh that some liberals have removed bumper stickers and yard signs and refuse to acknowledge their party affiliation publicly. These Democrats are used to being outnumbered by the local Republican majority, but as their numbers continue to dwindle, the few that remain are feeling increasingly isolated and unwelcome in their own communities.
Judges side with transgender man in protecting privacy of name changes
Dana DiFilippo, NJ Monitor
- An appeals court on Wednesday ruled in favor of a transgender man who sought to seal his name change from the public record, declaring transgender people deserve privacy and protection from the harms that could arise from publicizing their name changes.
Disabled veterans decry spotty transportation services
Nikita Biryukov, NJ Monitor
- New Jersey veterans with disabilities told Assembly lawmakers Wednesday they face a complex web of disconnected transportation services when trying to reach Veterans Affairs hospitals. In a hearing before the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, former service members recounted tales of late and missing rides, unreturned calls, and long waits that forced some to forgo medical treatment.
NJ ready for a major vaccine campaign for children under 5
David Matthau, NJ1015
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration isn’t expected to give the go-ahead to Pfizer for COVID vaccines for kids between the ages of 6 months and 4 years old until at least April or May, but the New Jersey Department of Health has already started getting ready for the roll-out of that effort.
WHYY has lost at least half its journalists. Many complain about pay, morale and lack of innovation
Harold Brubaker, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Thirty-four WHYY journalists signed a letter to top managers last February complaining about how they were running the newsroom at the biggest public media outlet in the Philadelphia region.
Power outage in Sea Bright due to equipment fire, putting entire borough in the dark
Nicolas Fernandes, Asbury Park Press
- An electrical equipment fire in Sea Bright has caused a boroughwide power outage, officials said. The outage, which happened shortly after 5 a.m., is affecting 1,159 customers, JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig said.
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