Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 6/20/2019 – InsiderNJ
Below is the Insider NJ Morning Intelligence Briefing for 6/20/2019:
SPONSOR MESSAGE: (Pre-K Our Way)
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s not healthy when Democrats are fighting with Democrats.” – LD32 Senator Nick Sacco
TOP STORY: Murphy v. Norcross: One New Jersey Budget Cycle, Two Movies
A new Monmouth University poll shows presidential candidate Senator Cory Booker doubling his standing to 2%, an improvement from May’s 1%. Former VP Biden maintains his frontrunner status, with 32%, followed by Senator Warren at 15% and Senator Sanders at 14%. A Hampton University poll shows Booker polling at 2% in Virginia. Booker tore into Biden for praising former segregationist Senators Talmadge and Eastland when speaking about the past ‘civility’ of the Senate; Booker said that Biden’s ‘relationships with proud segregationists are not the model for how we make America a safer and more inclusive place for black people, and for everyone’. Biden fired back saying ‘Cory should apologize’.
Governor Murphy promoted gun safety legislation at an event in Westfield yesterday, urging Senate President Sweeney to advance a bill package. The Governor’s Office released a list of officials in support of gun safety reform.
The NJGOP released a statement on President Trump’s 2020 re-election launch, saying the party is ‘excited to get to work’ for the President’s campaign.
Three Bergen County DPW workers were suspended without pay following their arrests, according to TAPinto.
Senator Menendez released a statement mourning the passing of former Hudson County Freeholder Joseph Simunovich.
Rep. Pascrell introduced a revised version of the ‘Tax Equity and Prosperity For Puerto Rican Families Act of 2019’. Pascrell lauded House passage of $%M in funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.
Rep. Gottheimer introduced legislation to repeal the Treasury’s ban on charitable contributions in lieu of property tax payments.
LD38 Senator Lagana hauled in $100k at a packed fundraiser last night; a source noted that the Senator is ‘becoming a real force’.
Green Party leader Madelyn Hoffman announced her candidacy for US Senate in 2020, citing Senator Booker’s ‘association’ with George Norcross.
Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi discusses the challenges facing NJGOP with State of Affairs host Steve Adubato (video).
Trump loyalist Roger Stone says he’s betting on George Norcross to prevail in the tax incentive battle, saying Norcross is a ‘straight shooter’.
Garden State Equality’s Aaron Potenza is departing his position as policy director to serve as a programs manager for NJCASA.
Former NJBPU President Richard Mroz is rejoining Archer Public Affairs.
GOP Senate candidate Trish Flanagan signed a taxpayer protection pledge.
Here’s what’s on tap under the Gold Dome today and here’s what happened in Trenton on Monday and Tuesday.
As lawmakers head to Trenton today to consider the budget, Senator Sacco remarked that the current Democratic civil war is ‘not healthy’.
Governor Murphy fired off a letter to state lawmakers taking issue with their budget proposal, including revenue that he says he may not certify, as well as the absence of a millionaire’s tax provision. He wrote that he’s willing to ‘work with’ the Legislature, but warned that he ‘may have to take corrective action’. Senate President Sweeney fired back in a letter to Murphy saying ‘if you live up to your letter’ the Legislature will have time to evaluate any line-item vetoes ‘in case we need to override them’.
Murphy also defended his appearance in a New Direction NJ ad in support of millionaire’s tax, according to NJ.com, saying he doesn’t care if he ‘rubs people the wrong way’, adding that he’s ‘given these folks [legislators] ample opportunity to find common ground’ but that he was elected by the voters, not legislators. Sweeney responded ‘so were we’, asking ‘where’s the governor’s plan to fix the finances of this state? Oh, that’s right, he doesn’t have one’.
A day after the Legislature introduced its own budget proposal, Governor Murphy doubled-down on his insistence on a millionaire’s tax provision, saying pressure will ‘intensify not lessen‘ if its not included in the budget. On Monday, Murphy had said the legislative proposal ‘falls short on the principle of tax fairness‘.
Senate President Sweeney called on Murphy’s chief counsel Matt Platkin to resign for mishandling the Brennan-Alvarez allegations, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Senate President Sweeney attended the ribbon-cutting of new Aviation and Technology Research Park at Stockton University.
Assemblywoman Schepisi introduced a constitutional amendment to prevent government shutdowns in the event that budget deals aren’t reached.
Higher Education Secretary Smith Ellis participated in a roundtable with Essex Community College students to highlight the impact of CCOGs.
1199SEIU released a statement rejecting the modifications to the nurse staffing bill, A382, and assailing the lack of notice by the Assembly Appropriations Committee before voting on it.
Labor unions and progressive groups will rally at the Statehouse today in favor of the millionaire’s tax.
JerseyCAN released a report highlighting student performance data.
The Coalition For The Delaware River Watershed released a statement saying the budget proposal falls short in funding the Delaware River Basin Commission.
Salvation and Social Justice endorsed legislation that would provide drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants. The Latino Action Network urged the Legislature to pass the license bill.
In Hamilton (Mercer), the NJFMBA endorsed Democrat Jeff Martin for mayor.
In Hoboken, Team Bhalla Ward 1 council candidate Pagan Milano called on Councilman DeFusco to remove political consultant Ryan Yacco from his re-election campaign; Yacco testified at the Raia VBM fraud trial that his company wrote the checks to voters who were paid as part of Raia’s scheme, according to Hudson County View (read more on the trial via HVC here and here).
In Jersey City, the Training and Employment Program highlighted their ‘turnaround’ under the leadership of Sudhan Thomas after the firing of former Executive Director Jim McGreevey; a city spokesperson said the matter of ‘financial improprieties’ during McGreevey’s tenure has been ‘referred over to law enforcement’.
In Atlantic City, UNITE Here Local 54 President McDevitt is leading a petition effort to change the city’s form of government to council-manager, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Monroe, a former high school principal is suing the school district, alleging she was move to the elementary school after displaying a candidate’s lawn sign, according to the Courier Post.
In Paterson, council members slammed Mayor Sayegh over ’emergency maneuvering’ over Hinchliffe Stadium, according to Paterson Times.
In Newark, the city won a court appeal over the civilian review board in its battle with the police union, according to NJTV.
In Pleasantville, the Liberian ambassador addressed high school graduates, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Manville, a retired police officer who is a Marine vet suffering from PTSD is suing the municipality, according to MyCentralJersey.
AROUND THE WEB:
Lakewood schools’ $30M promised by Murphy cut from new Sweeney budget
Stacey Barchenger, Asbury Park Press
- Lakewood schools will not receive an additional $30 million state funding next year under a budget introduced by the Legislature. The budget bills axed language proposed by Gov. Phil Murphy that applied only to Lakewood and would have funneled millions more to the cash-strapped school district for transportation, special education and other uses.
Construction now underway for new Camden High School, set to open in September 2021
Carly Wanna, Philly.com
- Standing behind a mound of dirt, Camden Mayor Frank Moran yelled over the sounds of tractors. “If you want the High —,” he started. “You got the High,” the audience chanted back, proudly finishing his cheer. Many members of the crowd — including teachers, alumni, and students of Camden High School — were more than familiar with the mantra.
Human marijuana bong sings pro-medical pot song to Freehold Borough Council
Chris Jordan, Asbury Park Press
- The Freehold Borough Council got a surprise musical performance at its Monday, June 17 meeting. No, it wasn’t Bruce Springsteen. It was a human bong. Medical marijuana advocate Edward “Lefty” Grimes of East Hanover and Michael Vintzileos of Point Pleasant, who was dressed as an 8-foot marijuana bong, performed during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Cape May County aims redevelopment efforts at downtown Wildwood
Bill Barlow, For The Press
- Cape May County has launched a new countywide economic development initiative with plans to start on Pacific Avenue. The first step will be a program in partnership with local groups aimed at redevelopment of what the county, in a statement, referred to as Wildwood’s long-deteriorated Pacific Avenue downtown.
State says it ‘questioned’ Hamilton Township over Jeff Plunkett’s dual-position arrangement
Isaac Avilucea, The Trentonian
- Something isn’t adding up. Was it a miscommunication or did the township mislead a state agency into believing now-former health director and current health officer Jeff Plunkett was working two full-time jobs so it could save money?
Craft absent from post for over 300 days, Menendez notes
Lauren Gardner, Politico
- U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft was absent from her post for more than 300 days during her tenure in Ottawa, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s top Democrat said today during Craft’s confirmation hearing to become the American envoy to the U.N.
On Juneteenth, Booker testifies at House hearing on reparations
Brenda Flanagan, NJTV
- Sen. Cory Booker told a Congressional hearing on reparations that it’s time to talk about the pervasive impact of slavery on the African American community. He’s sponsoring a companion bill to H.R. 40, which would set up a commission to study how best to heal the lingering devastation of segregation and discrimination.
Lawsuit links Paterson councilman Jackson and Center City Mall affiliate
Jayed Rahman, Paterson Times
- A company connected to Alma Realty, owners of Center City Mall, provided a $450,000 mortgage when councilman Michael Jackson sold his property on Grand Street that houses his restaurant Jacksonville more than two years ago, according to court records.
Phillipsburg council backs off threat to halt government, but fight over police HQ move continues
Steve Novak, For lehighvalleylive.com
- The Phillipsburg council paid its bills and proceeded with business as usual at its Tuesday night meeting. Normally, that wouldn’t be noteworthy in itself — but at the meeting’s start it wasn’t clear if the town government was about to come crashing to a halt.
Investigations, criminal allegations and a lawsuit: Dysfunction reigns at school authority
Dustin Racioppi, Trenton Bureau
- After moving through the bureaucratic process of approving roof repairs and replacing air conditioning at schools in New Jersey’s poorest areas, the board of the scandal-scarred Schools Development Authority caught an earful.
Strength in unity at Atlantic City Latino town hall
David Danzis, Press of Atlantic City
- Mayor Frank Gilliam Jr. on Tuesday promised Latino voices would be heard throughout City Hall, guaranteeing every city department would have Hispanic representation.
I-80 rock fence hearing, presentation draw crowd to N.Warren High School
Bruce A. Scruton, New Jersey Herald
- Several hundred people attended dual presentations on a massive, $65 million state project which had the Department of Transportation praising its efforts at safety and in another room, local elected officials looking at the effect of a two-year construction project on local economy, traffic tie-ups and emergency responses.
After New York offers driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, is New Jersey next?
Monsy Alvarado, North Jersey Record
- A day after New York became the 13th state to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses, New Jersey’s advocates on Tuesday renewed calls for the Garden State to be next.
Mullane: Why the freeholders should open the county jail for inspection
JD Mullane, Burlington County Times
- The Rev. Al Sharpton’s group wants to tour the Burlington County Jail. Here’s why they shouldn’t be the only ones who document what they find.
Investors see huge profits from old nuclear plants, but it could cost taxpayers
Christopher Maag, North Jersey Record
- Some of the nation’s richest investors are betting they see profit where no one else does: tearing down America’s aging nuclear reactors. Among them is one of the most recognized names from the Reagan Administration, former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman. Lehman’s plans are shrouded in secrecy. The hedge fund that bears his name does not disclose basic information about its finances.
Police misconduct in NJ: State to track bad cops after report, but loopholes remain
Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press
- New Jersey closed more gaps in police oversight, giving bad cops fewer places to hide after the attorney general issued a new policy Tuesday. The policing reform follows a series of investigative reports by the Asbury Park Press and the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey.
Opinion: Budget Needs Long-Term Solutions, Not Short-Term Politics
Richard F. Keevey, NJ Spotlight
- The focus of budget discussions must be addressing the long-range fiscal issues facing our state. Simply increasing taxes this year without other critical program changes will not solve our fiscal problems. Now is not the time to falter; it is time to act responsibly.
The Untold Tragedy of Camden, NJ
Alex Law
- Camden, New Jersey maintains a reputation as a violent morass that swallows economic opportunity. Decades of failed economic programs had led many people to conclude Camden is the quintessential unsolvable quagmire of urban plight. Then, in a sweeping series of legislation and press releases, the world learned that New Jersey was going to send hundreds of millions to the struggling city in order to – once again – rebuild.
SDA swamp saga rages on. This joke is getting old | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Just when you thought it was safe to consign Lizette Delgado-Polanco to our state’s sleazy bureaucratic history, we learn that her reign of terror at the Schools Development Authority was brought to the governor’s attention — long before her nepotism fever spiked — and then ignored.
(Visited 48,090 times, 8 visits today)