Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 9/19/2019 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for 9/18/2019:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Politics is a business with no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.” – Trenton Councilman Jerell Blakeley
TOP STORY: Bar Stool Observations from the 2019 Election Cycle (So Far)
A public memorial service for the late Senator Anthony Bucco will be held on October 6th at the County College of Morris.
The Murphy administration announced a $12M grant to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma in NJ children.
The US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform ranks New Jersey 43rd out of 50 in nation for worst legal climate, falling to its lowest rank ever.
The NJ Treasury announced a new online service to streamline certifications for women, minority, and veteran-owned small businesses.
AG Grewal announced statewide guidance on hairstyle discrimination.
Rutgers University announced a new course on the US-Mexico border.
Senators Menendez’s and Booker’s ‘Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act’ passed the House and now heads to President Trump for action.
Senator Menendez introduced a resolution honoring over 500 Hispanic-serving institutions.
Rep. Kim will hold a town hall in Seaside Heights on flooding and flood insurance. He introduced the ‘VA Overpayment Accountability Act’.
Rep. Van Drew announced over $6M in SAFER grants to South Jersey firehouses.
The House Democratic caucus relaunched the National Security Task Force, co-chaired by Rep. Kim.
Essex County Executive DiVincenzo dedicated five bronze plaques in honor of the late Pearl Beatty, the late Kenneth A. Gibson, the late Lebby Jones, the late Trish Morris-Yamba and the late Ramon Rivera.
Monmouuth County officials attended an election security training exercise held by the NJ Division of Elections and Department of Homeland Security.
ICYMI: Murphy’s approval rating 41%; Cokie Roberts passed away; Menendez blasted Trump’s ‘locked and loaded’ comment; following debate, Booker sided w/ Castro; Matey sworn-in to 3rdCircuit; Who’s Up And Who’s Down: Week of the Suez/KKR Debacle; NDNJ full list of donors
Vote in the Insider NJ Poll: Who Won the Presidential Debate?
Insider NJ’s bar stool observations of the general election season (so far).
LD26 Assemblyman Webber held a fundraiser on Tuesday; among the attendees was former CD11 Democratic candidate Mark Dunec, who last year endorsed Webber in his match-up against Mikie Sherrill.
In CD1, South Jersey radio host Harry Hurley reextended his offer to host a debate for the Senate race.
CD2 GOP primary candidate Brian Fitzherbert was endorsed by Ventnor Mayor Holtzman. The NJSPBA released their endorsements for the 2019 legislative elections.
In LD11, the Professional Firefighters Association endorsed incumbent Assemblymembers Houghtaling and Downey. GOP challengers Amoroso and Woolley challenged the incumbents to a debate.
LD23 Democratic Assembly candidates King and Trofimov were endorsed by Rep. Malinowski.
Camden County GOP Chairman Ambrosino called on South Jersey female leaders to denounce former Assemblyman Barclay’s county job; Ambrosino argued that while the women leaders publicly denounced Justice Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings, they ‘sit silent‘ on Barclay, adding that ‘apparently, outrage only exists at allegations against Republicans and not admitted facts when it comes to one of their fellow machine Democrats’.
The NJ Institute For Social Justice announced Martin Vergara as a new board of trustees member.
The Arc of Warren County will hold a fundraiser on Sept. 27th.
ICYMI: In LD8, the political anatomy of the battleground race; NJSPBA released endorsements; DeGise held a fundraiser; Parenti and Russo went head-to-head; in CD11, Washburne running in Dem primary; in CD12, Razzoli says Dems ‘hijacked by socialists‘; in LD21, Mandelbatt/Gunderman to speak at NJFMBA convention; in LD25, Bhimani confronts tax abatement question; in CD7, PAC formed for Kean; Brindle ‘disappointed‘ in Bramnick and Kean; Jani will serve as Biden’s Pacific Islander Director; following Altman-Ayscue Twitter collision, prog groups request NJTV remove him as commentator, NJTV says he’s neither paid nor a network employee; Gibbs formed CD3 exploratory committee; Bucco/Bergen slammed Dems on DLs for undocumented immigrants; Lagana joining Cleary Giaccobe Alfieri and Jacobs; Zwicker rebuked NJLCV, Freiman declines endorsement, Tittel defends Zwicker, LCV says Zwicker ‘flat out wrong‘; Gingrich backs Kean; Spevak heading to MWWPR; Schmid kicks off CD4 campaign; in Somerset, Gaburo v. Schaffer
Vote in the Insider NJ Poll: Who Will Win the LD21 Contest for Two Legislative Seats?
Senate President Sweeney is making calls to secure another term as Senate President, according to NJ.com; he would become the longest serving in state history should retain his position in the next term.
Steve Adubato and Beth Simone Noveck discuss the state’s innovation economy (video).
A coalition of progressive groups called on the Legislature adopt six reforms to the state’s tax incentive programs following a report released by NJ Policy Perspective on corporate tax subsidy reforms.
Senate President Sweeney challenged tobacco companies to take immediate action to curb vaping by young people.
Senate President Sweeney and Senators Oroho and Pennacchio will tour Lake Hopatcong today to gain first-hand understanding of the algae bloom that closed the lake this summer.
Assemblyman Conaway toured the Catholic Charities facility in Westampton.
ICYMI: Morris Dems must sort out the replacement process for LD25 following Bucco’s passing; Murphy signed A5463; names are in the mix should Bramnick lose; Corrado wants Select Committee to reconvene
In Raritan Township, Rep. Malinowski called on Committeeman Reiner to apologize for anti-Islamic social media posts or resign. Reiner issued an apology, saying his intentions were to ‘highlight the radical fringe jihadists who have highjacked their faith’ but apologized to the ‘vast majority of Muslims who practice their faith peacefully and contribute greatly to our community’. Assemblymen Zwicker and Freiman said that despite his apology, Reiner is ‘unfit to continue‘ as an elected official.
In Irvington, the South Ward special election features a match-up between the late Freeholder Beasley’s daughter, Jamillah Beasley, and Al Tariq ibn-Shabazz. There are three special elections in Irvington this November.
In Roselle Park, Mayor Signorello endorsed Pete Buttigieg for president.
In Phillipsburg, Lee Clark made history as the first African-American councilmen when he was sworn-in to fill a vacancy.
In Hamilton, Mayor Yaede’s running mate Vincent Capodanno filed an ethics complaint against mayoral candidate and Council President Martin, alleging a conflict of interest regarding his employer and the Hamilton-Robbinsville sewer issue.
In Hoboken, Ward 1 Council candidate Migdalia Pagano-Milano called on Councilman DeFusco to join the ‘Stamp Out Voter Fraud’ pledge made by the Team Bhalla slate. DeFusco responded, saying ‘instead of looking to manufacture misleading headlines, perhaps my opponent should try running a campaign based on policy and integrity’ and call out dark money interests. The city is moving to acquire a vacant lot to expand the Southwest Resiliency Park.
In Trenton, Councilman Blakely held emergency town hall to condemn hate speech. The entire House delegation released a statement calling on Trenton councilmembers who used anti-Semitic remarks to apologize or resign. Councilman Muschal apologized, suggesting that the city attorney uses the slur ‘all the time’, according to the Trentonian (and subsequently apologizing, according to WHYY). Council President McBride also apologized. Councilwoman Vaughn also issued an apology. Rep. Watson Coleman announced a HUD grant to rebuild the Donnelly Homes public housing complex.
In Elmwood Park, the Bergen Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash involving former Mayor Caramagna and a borough vehicle, according to the Daily Voice.
In Old Bridge, Mayor Henry and his slate were endorsed by Jack Ciattarelli.
In Plainfield, two independent BOE candidates were disqualified, according to TAPinto.
In Bayonne, a council candidate was court-martialed in 2008 for having sex with a minor, according to Hudson County View.
In Paterson, Mayor Sayegh introduced his budget, which includes funding for the controversial council aides, according to Paterson Times. Sayegh unveiled a plan to bolster public works.
In Linden, the city is set to build a solar power generator on the site of a former landfill.
In Jersey City, the fire department received $8.8M in federal funding. The city will announce it’s city-run bus system today. The city received a CityStart Grant Award. The Rent Control Committee will begin their hearings today.
In Toms River, a councilman claims his colleagues lied about religious zoning talks, according to the Asbury Park Press.
ICYMI: In Prospect Park, Khairullah stopped and questioned at JFK; in Paterson, following Jackson anti-Semitic remark, Currie called for a censure; in Edison, Shah will run for mayor, Lankey suffers resounding defeat on water proposal
Vote in Insider NJ Poll: Who will Win the 2021 Contest for Mayor of Edison?
AROUND THE WEB:
Ras Baraka
- As an elected official, I know taking criticism is part of my job, but the op-ed column run by The Star-Ledger/nj.com from the Newark Water Coalition on Tuesday, Sept. 16, is so blatantly false in its facts and harmful in its language to my residents and the public, I must take it head-on.
Charter group files motion to intervene in school segregation lawsuit
Carly Sitrin, Politico
- The New Jersey Charter Schools Association, along with a group of parents and one school, is getting involved in an ongoing lawsuit to desegregate classrooms in the state, arguing the suit “unfairly targets” charters.
Colleagues and others reflect on the life of Senator Anthony Bucco
Jennifer Jean Miller, New Jersey Herald
- As he was known for serving at different levels of government during his lifetime, New Jersey Senator Anthony “Tony” Bucco, R-25th Dist., is being remembered for his 41 years of service by those at all levels of government and on both sides of the aisle, following his passing on Monday.
Tempers flare as Millburn Township Committee accepts affordable housing settlement
Kaitlyn Kanzler, North Jersey Record
- The Township Committee approved an affordable housing settlement following a contentious meeting Tuesday night, upsetting many residents. For the past year, the town has been in litigation for a 1.56-acre property on the corner of Woodland and Chatham roads, bordering the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary. The builder, Silverman Group, sought to build a 62-unit apartment complex above 10,000 square feet of medical office space.
Maplewood Township Committee Advocates For Immigrants and the Environment, Hears Liquor License Case
Steven Maginnis, TAPinto Maplewood
- The Maplewood Township Committee passed four ordinances on second reading and three more ordinances on first reading at its September 17 meeting. The ordinances passed on second reading included the permitting of serving and allowing the consumption of alcohol at public locations subject to approval and a ban on parking gasoline-powered cars in electric-vehicle charging spaces, while all of the new ordinances that were passed concerned electric cars.
Activists press for federal support to upgrade NJ’s vulnerable voting machines
Briana Vannozzi, NJTV
- Progressive activists on Tuesday called for an overhaul of New Jersey’s voting system, saying that the lack of a paper backup to the electronic machines at the polls in many counties could undermine the faith of voters that their ballots will be counted. “This is our most important fundamental right, the right to vote,” said Marcia Marley, president of BlueWave NJ. “And if it doesn’t count, why vote?”
Judge Hears Arguments For and Against State’s Dark Money Disclosure Law
Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight
- The battle between top Democrats in Trenton that led to the passage of New Jersey’s new law requiring donor transparency of dark-money groups was cited by a lawyer for a prominent national conservative organization Tuesday when urging a federal judge to block the measure from taking effect.
Death at Atlantic County jail under investigation, friend of man says medical staff laughed
Colt Shaw, Press of Atlantic City
- The state attorney general is investigating the death of a man in custody at the Atlantic County jail, a spokesman for the office confirmed. Mario Terruso Jr., 41, of Mays Landing, died about 1 a.m. Monday after being transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus, said Peter Aseltine, public information officer for the Attorney General’s Office.
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