Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 6/2/2020 – Insider NJ – InsiderNJ

Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for 6/2/2020:

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don’t want to make light of this and I’ll probably get lit up by everybody who owns a nail salon in the state, but it’s one thing to protest what day nail salons are opening and it’s another to come out in peaceful protest overwhelmingly about somebody who was murdered right before our eyes.” – Governor Phil Murphy

TOP STORY: ‘How the Sausage is Made’ Integral to Information Flow in Democracy

State offices closed early yesterday (iLine post).

Senator Codey expressed his support for the COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act, which passed the Assembly Budget Committee yesterday, and urged Senate President Sweeney to post it for a vote in the Senate.

Senator O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman DiMaso expressed distress over the anonymous NJDOH staffers’ letter to legislative leadership alleging COVID-19 mismangement. The two criticized Governor Murphy’s decision to allow restaurants to reopen with outdoor seating on June 15th, days after neighboring states.

Senator Pennacchio introduced a resolution urging federal action to assist small business tenants and landlords.

Assemblywoman Pinkin expressed support for the NJDEP’s strengthening of drinking water standards.

The NJBIA testified in support of the COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act.

1199SEIU called for swift passage of the bond act.

The NJ Health Care Quality Institute released a toolkit aimed at increasing access to reprodutive services.

The NJ Society of CPAs named Theresa Hinton as their new COO and named Alan Sobel as President for 2020-2021.

ICYMI: Colligan supports Bond Act; Murphy took action on legislation; Muoio testified before Asm. Budget; Wimberly mourned death of Floyd, Rice says Chauvin ‘deserves gas chamber‘; Senate GOP sent a letter Murphy calling for more action; Pennacchio defended appearance at rally following Robinson criticism; Gopal applauded removal of Judge Russo; Senate will establish special committee to investigate COVID-19 handling; SJ legislators urge Murphy to issue specific timetable for reopening

AROUND THE WEB:

South Jersey Republicans’ choice: Demographics or Trump

Matt Friedman, Politico

• Republicans in a crucial New Jersey swing district have a choice in the July primary: pick a millennial woman with organized labor ties or a middle-aged man with connections to President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Fine Print: What to Watch for as NJ Lawmakers Examine Gov. Phil Murphy’s Emergency-Borrowing Proposal

John Reitmeyer, NJ Spotlight

• Emergency-borrowing legislation that Gov. Phil Murphy wants lawmakers to enact so the state can deal with revenue losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic is scheduled to get its first committee review in the Assembly on Monday. The emergency-borrowing proposal is also expected to be a topic of debate as Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio appears before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee to discuss her department’s recent moves to rebalance spending in the wake of the pandemic.

Presenting the 2020 NJBIZ Law Power 50

Jeffrey Kanige, njbiz.com

• Like most businesses, the practice of law changed dramatically in March as the state largely shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19. Perhaps the most visible manifestation is video oral arguments held by the state Supreme Court. But the legal industry also changed, out of necessity. It’s a business built largely on relationships – and the pandemic forced lawyers to nurture those relationships remotely.

Pipeline opponents still seeking stop to Burlington County line

David Levinsky, Burlington County Times

• About a half dozen residents and environmental advocates sounded off on the pipeline project during Wednesday’s freeholder meeting, the first since it was revealed the utility company had received the go-ahead from the county engineer to proceed with construction within the county’s borders.

School districts face cuts in proposed state aid

New Jersey Hills

• Some school districts in Morris County face reductions in proposed state aid ranging from 10.6 percent to 3.4 percent after Gov. Phil Murphy revised the figures in an effort to close a huge gap in the state budget resulting from efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic. In February, he had proposed a total increase of about $336 million in state aid to schools.

NJ’s Secretary of State’s job is to oversee elections — but her passion is food

Esther Davidowitz, NorthJersey.com

• Tahesha Way has a serious and important job: She is the Garden State’s Secretary of State, whose primary responsibility, she informed, is to oversee elections. That may seem like a long way from and not at all connected to one of her major passions: food. “Yes, my husband and I are foodies,” said Way, whose husband, Charles “Get out of the” Way, is a former New York Giants fullback. “My husband,” she noted, “can eat.”

‘How Dare You?’ – Vandalism, looting, cop cars on fire in Trenton

Erin Vogt, NJ1015

• After two days of peaceful protests, the city’s downtown saw looting and vandalism late Sunday, in a night of escalation in which at least two police cars were set ablaze. After a march in honor of George Floyd wrapped up Sunday evening, bystanders captured some of the violence, largely along State Street. Floyd’s death under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer — since charged with his murder — set of protests nationwide, outraged at the more than eight minutes the unarmed black man remained pinned down despite being handcuffed and saying he couldn’t breathe. In several major cities, including nearby Philadelphia, protests have turned violent and been accompanied by widespread looting and vandalism.

Without being proactive, ‘there will be more George Floyds in the future,’ Hoboken mayor says

John Heinis, Hudson County View

• Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has released a lengthy statement weighing in on the murder of George Floyd, indicating that “there will be more George Floyds in the future” unless actions are taken to address racial disparities.

Delay in reporting of coronavirus test results in Paterson impeding contact tracing

Jayed Rahman, Paterson Times

• Latisha Williams and her two children were screened for the new coronavirus at the School 28 playground more than two weeks ago. She is still waiting for the three test results. Williams is not alone. Other residents have experienced abnormal delays in receiving their test results, according to several City Council members.

Former Perth Amboy firefighter ordered to pay $4.75M in child sexual abuse lawsuit

Nick Muscavage, Bridgewater Courier News

• A former city firefighter has lost a lawsuit based on claims of child sexual abuse dating back more than 20 years, and has been ordered to pay $4.75 million as a result. In March 2019, Hugo Fleites was sued by an man claiming that he was raped by the former firefighter beginning in 1997.

Pride Month: How LGBTQ community, allies will be celebrating differently due to COVID-19

Alex Biese, Maddy Lauria, Jim Beckerman, Celeste E. Whittaker and Sean Lahman, Asbury Park Press

• There’s no stopping the spirit of Pride. The global coronavirus pandemic has changed every aspect of life, and the resulting cessation of public gatherings means June’s commemoration of Pride Month will be decidedly different. Organizations across the region are getting creative, hosting celebrations, gatherings and shows as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community perseveres during a trying time, facing an uncertain future.

Atlantic City rises from riot aftermath

David Danzis, Press of Atlantic City

• Less than 12 hours after an otherwise peaceful protest turned destructive and resulted in an untold amount of property damage, volunteers and residents took to the streets Monday morning to pick up the pieces and reclaim their city.

Burlington County eateries weighing outside dining options

Lisa Broadt, Burlington County Times

• Restaurants can open for outdoor dining in two weeks as part of the state’s transition to the second stage of coronavirus reopening, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday.

What’s motivating protests in the midst of a pandemic

Briana Vannozzi, NJTV

• The protests seen over the weekend across the nation are about much more than George Floyd’s death. It comes on the heels of two other high-profile killings of black Americans in recent weeks. Many say the United States is in the midst of a reckoning, while others fear the nation will fail to seize this moment on race and police relations. It all comes as we remain gripped by a pandemic that is disproportionately killing, infecting and disrupting the lives of black Americans.

COVID 19 Keeps Fading in NJ, But Could it Come Roaring Back?

David Matthau, NJ1015

• With COVID-19 hospitalization rates, daily deaths, and the number of patients in intensive care and on ventilators continuing to decline, Gov. Phil Murphy has announced the Garden State will enter Stage Two of his three-stage New Jersey Restart and Recovery plan beginning June 15. That’s when socially distanced outdoor restaurant dining and indoor, non-essential retail shopping can begin. A week later barber shops and salons will be allowed to reopen followed by what is described as the “gradual opening” of personal care shops, gyms and health clubs at reduced capacities.

Ex-deputy fire chief’s incendiary Facebook posts on George Floyd cause trouble for Clifton

Matt Fagan, NorthJersey.com

• A retired Clifton deputy fire chief who posted incendiary comments on Facebook regarding George Floyd protests has done damage to the city, officials said.  “If you are out at any of these ‘protest’ you are a scum bag and deserve to get shot,” read a post Monday by Norm Tahan, who retired in 2014 but used a photo of himself in uniform as a profile image.

Wyckoff raises flag to celebrate Pride Month, but not without controversy

Marsha A. Stoltz, NorthJersey.com

• Mayor Timothy Shanley raised the rainbow flag celebrating the beginning of Pride Month early Monday, but not without controversy. Shanley said he originally intended to raise the flag alone because the 25-person state limit on group gatherings made it difficult to determine whom to invite and how to control the crowd size.

Area students protest racism and police brutality in front of Princeton University gates

Krystal Knapp, Planet Princeton

• About a dozen Princeton area students and recent graduates stood in front of Princeton University’s FitzRandolph Gate and the corner of Nassau and Witherspoon Street on Monday afternoon to protest racism and police brutality. The students chanted “black lives matter” as cars passed by, and cheered as drivers honked in solidarity.

These young Latino professionals provide South Jersey farmworkers ‘a voice to help them out of the shadows’

Jesenia De Moya Correa, Philadelphia Inquirer

• The group of seven young professionals from South Jersey learned about their common interests on Facebook. They were the sons and daughters of migrant workers, most of whom had worked the fields themselves as children. They shared media reports about the “appreciation caravans” that took place across California’s agricultural communities in late April. Then one had a suggestion: Why not start an effort similar to the West Coast?

New assignment judge named for Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties

Suzanne Russell, Bridgewater Courier News

• Superior Court Judge Thomas C. Miller has been named the new assignment judge to lead the Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Vicinage starting June 6, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced Monday in a release. Miller replaces Assignment Judge Yolanda Ciccone, who is retiring after nearly 29 years on the bench and more than 13 years as assignment judge, the release states.

As chaos engulfed Philadelphia, peace reigned across the river in Camden

Phaedra Trethan, Cherry Hill Courier-Post

• Barack Obama visited Camden in 2015 and lauded the Camden County Police Department’s commitment to achieving public safety through community-engaged policing. On Monday, while what began as peaceful protests condemning the death of George Floyd at the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin continued to descend into violence, arson, vandalism and looting, the 44th President once again praised the department for its part in keeping the peace in Camden.

Coronavirus NJ: Business owners happy to reopen, push to make it sooner

David P. Willis, Asbury Park Press

• The small shops that line the Jersey Shore’s downtowns got the information they were waiting for Monday. After being closed for three months, they can once again open their doors to customers on June 15. Two weeks ago, they were able to sell to customers via their websites or telephone with curbside delivery.

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