Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 11/25/2019 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for 11/252/2019:
SPONSOR MESSAGE (PLANNED PARENTHOOD):
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “While Governor Codey may be content with maintaining a 1970s mentality towards sexual harassment and assault in State government, the Majority Leader and I are determined to offer the workplace protections that women deserve in 2020 and beyond.” – Senator Corrado, following Senator Weinberg, on Senator Codey’s comments that the select committees’ aim is to embarrass the Governor
TOP STORY: Insider NJ’s Who’s Up and Who’s Down: Week of the League
Here’s what’s on tap under the Gold Dome today.
Senate President Sweeney announced that the Senate Labor Committee will amend the ‘misclassification’ bill so that independent contractors can continue to pursue their work under the current rules.
Senate President Sweeney will introduce legislation to provide cap relief for school districts facing adjustment aid cuts.
Senator Corrado lambasted Senator Codey’s claim that the select committees’ aim is to ’embarrass the Governor’, saying he has a ‘1970s mentality towards sexual harassment and assault’, noting that the committee released a report with recommendations moving forward in the Legislature. Last week, Senate Majority Leader and LSOC co-chair Weinberg said ‘I am sorry Governor Codey chooses to view this important investigation through such a small and limited prism‘ while defending the committee’s work.
Speaker Coughlin says he will be reaching out to advocacy groups to discuss their concerns regarding State House access.
Senate Minority Leader Kean released a statement in opposition to Senate President Sweeney’s independent contractor bill, saying it will take away workers’ choices.
CAIR-NJ and their partners will host a ‘Muslim Day of Advocacy‘ at the State House today.
Advocates gathered at the Statehouse to condemn ‘anti-democratic practices’ at the Statehouse following the ejection of Sue Altman from last Monday’s tax incentive committee hearing.
Jersey Renews urged passage of S2252/A4829.
ICYMI: Gopal says Altman removal warrants investigation; Sweeney and Scutari introduced a resolution for marijuana legalization referendum; Weinberg may reconvene Select Committee
In Paterson, Freeholder Akhter organized a turkey drive for Thanksgiving at the Islamic Center.
In Boonton Township, Freeholder Cabana will take a $95k job as the township administrator; Cabana also serves as municipal prosecutor in several Morris County towns.
In Newark, a new report finds that almost all of the lead water filters are working, according to NJTV.
In Hamilton, Trenton Councilwoman Vaughn says that Mayor-elect Martin should ‘stay in your lane‘ regarding Trenton Water Works, according to the Trentonian.
In Lafayette, the town greenlighted a medical marijuana grow facility, according to NJ Herald.
In Mountain Lakes, BOE member Cipriani resigned, according to NJ Hills.
In Wallington, Councilman Brunacki wants a recount after losing by 9 votes, according to the Bergen Record.
In Bloomfield, Ben Morse won a BOE seat following a recount, according to TAPinto.
In Bayonne, the council unanimously approved the creation of the Bayonne Municipal Hospital Authority, according to the Jersey Journal.
In Paterson, Mayor Sayegh’s ‘One Paterson’ group is raising funds, according to Paterson Press.
In Wayne, teachers will fund the teachers’ union head’s salary, putting taxpayers off the hook, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: In Jersey City, surviving mayors gathered; in Hamilton, Martin announced transition committee co-chairs
AROUND THE WEB:
Congressman Van Drew is wrong on impeachment, professor says. Here’s why.
Brigid Callahan Harrison
- Last month, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District cast one of only two Democratic votes against a resolution to advance the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. This past week, he says that he’s still a “no” vote on impeachment. These decisions have damaged his ability to represent the people of South Jersey.
Teague talks special education with Paterson’s special ed chief
Corey Teague
- I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Cheryl Coy, chief of special education. During our meeting we discussed a plethora of issues including one day changing the designation of the district’s special education program to “Exceptional Learners” program. Over the years, the term special education has had many connotations. Both positive and even negative. Being the father of a child who attends school under the banner of special education I know all too well about this.
Is George Norcross helping Camden or himself? | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- George Norcross, the state’s most powerful political boss, stepped from behind the curtain and offered rare public testimony on Monday at a Senate hearing that is destined to be remembered only for the moment when State Police targeted one of Norcross’ most persistent critics, Sue Altman, and dragged her out of the hearing room by both arms.
The Trump impeachment hearing: whistle-blower blew up a non-story | Mulshine
Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger
- On May 9 of this year, the New York Times carried a story headlined “Rudy Giuliani Plans Ukraine Trip to Push for Inquiries That Could Help Trump.” The article reported that Giuliani, who is President Trump’s personal lawyer, “is encouraging Ukraine to wade further into sensitive political issues in the United States, seeking to push the incoming government in Kiev to press ahead with investigations that he hopes will benefit Mr. Trump.”
Let Julie Roginsky talk, Governor | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Gov. Phil Murphy is facing pressure in the Legislature and the courts to lift the gag order on women who worked on his campaign. But last week, he tried to make the problem go away by denying that it exists.
Cape May approves bond for library plan
Bill Barlow, For The Press
- With funding in place from the city, Cape May County and the county library system, Cape May is poised to finally renovate the historic school on Franklin Street. The building served as the school for Cape May’s black children in the days of segregation. For years, the Center for Community Arts tried to renovate the building. While some work was completed — including repairs to the windows — the organization was unable to complete the work.
N.J. judges want a say in how their pension dollars are invested
Samantha Marcus, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- New Jersey’s former judges want a seat at the table when it comes to deciding how their retirement funds are invested. A bill approved by a Senate committee Monday would add a member of the Judicial Retirement System to the State Investment Council, the body overseeing the state’s $77 billion public-worker pension fund.
NJ marijuana legalization: Legal weed may have cheap taxes if approved by voters in 2020
Mike Davis, Asbury Park Press
- If all goes according to proponents’ plan, New Jersey may finally be the cheapest at something: legal weed taxes. A marijuana-legalizing ballot measure expected to go before voters next year states that legal weed sales in New Jersey would only be subject to the state sales tax, which is currently at 6.625%.
Impeachment or not, Trump could hurt these N.J. Dems in 2020. And Dems are saying this.
Jonathan D. Salant, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- President Donald Trump is a businessman, unlike “mostly useless” politicians. He is working to reverse America’s decline and working to bring back companies to the U.S. He wants to control the borders. Impeachment? Well, that’s “dominating” the Democratic agenda, and Trump’s attempt to get Ukraine to investigate a leading political rival was just politics as usual.
LGBTQ advocates call on N.J. to ban ‘gay panic’ defense for violent crimes
Rebecca Panico, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- One of the men convicted of fatally stabbing and dismembering Francisco Gonzalez Fuentes’s body in Cliffside Park during 2011 attempted to use what is known as the “gay panic defense” on appeal.
Legal weed is now up to the voters, and that has N.J. mayors worried
Amanda Hoover, NJ Advance Media For NJ.com
- As mayors grapple with the ways cannabis businesses would affect their towns, they’re now worried about exactly what will happen now that legislative leaders have decided to leave legal weed up to the voters in a ballot question next year. But industry insiders say local leaders still hold power in shaping their towns’ policies — maybe even more than they think.
Sam Wood, Philadelphia Inquirer
- A high-flying couple from Paraguay were arrested by the FBI on Thursday at a hotel in Newark, N.J. near Liberty International Airport and charged with running a money laundering operation for purported narco-traffickers.
Cardinal Tobin: Church is rebuilding ‘shot’ credibility in wake of abuse scandals
Deena Yellin, NorthJersey.com
- Just a week before state law may unleash a torrent of new priest abuse lawsuits, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of the Newark Archdiocese said the church is working hard to rebuild trust with the more than 1.3 million Catholics under his watch.
With Somerset GOP on the ropes, Howes appears to be the man on deck
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- I’m not the League’s biggest fan, Save Jerseyans, but that doesn’t mean we’re not keeping a close eye on things (and our readers are everywhere). For example: this year’s League Somerset GOP reception was heavily-populated by county Republicans supportive of a change in leadership. They were actively working the room with a goal in mind. Specifically? They appear to be coalescing around Tim Howes as a successor to veteran incumbent Somerset GOP Chairman Al Gaburo.
Interactive Map: Mail-in Ballots a Rising Trend in New Jersey
Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight
- More than 230,000 New Jerseyans voted before Halloween this year using mail-in ballots that continue to gain popularity across the state — a trend that could change future campaign strategies. In total, the more than 278,000 people who used mail-in ballots this year was about 1½ times greater than in 2015, the last time the Assembly topped the ticket and all previous elections except for the 2012 presidential race.
An author and former political candidate in his ‘Happy Place’ in his Atlantic City home
Vincent Jackson, Press of Atlantic City
- “My Happy Place” life-long Atlantic City resident Joseph Polillo, who has run for office several times since 1990. In 2017, Polillo filed as an independent in a run for mayor.
LaRossa elevated to chief operating officer of PSEG
ROI-NJ Staff
- Ralph LaRossa was named chief operating officer of Public Service Enterprise Group in one of a handful of personnel announcements the company made in an effort to better position itself during its transformation toward what it calls a clean energy future. In this newly created position, LaRossa will be responsible for all operating functions of PSEG, including many of the functions within PSEG Services Corp.
Norcross stars, turmoil erupts at Senate tax break hearing
NJBIZ Staff
- The controversy over New Jersey’s tax incentives came to a head on Nov. 18, when South Jersey political power broker George Norcross III – a central fixture of the debate – appeared before lawmakers to refute allegations leveled by a task force Gov. Phil Murphy appointed to investigate the programs. But New Jersey Working Families Executive Director Sue Altman involuntarily became the center of attention, at least temporarily.
Peace march underway in Pleasantville week after shooting at football game
Molly Bilinski, Press of Atlantic City
- A peace march stepped off at noon Saturday, a little more than a week after a deadly shooting at a high school football game in the city. Community members will travel from Woodland Avenue Park at Woodland Avenue and New Road to the football field at Pleasantville High School, 701 Mill Road, Kyra Gerald-Lee, 47, a social worker and lifetime city resident, said Friday.
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