Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 8/6/2020 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for 8/6/2020:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “New Jersey got literally whacked.” – NJBPU President Fiordaliso on Hurricane Isaias
TOP STORY: The Storm within the COVID-19 Storm
The statewide COVID-19 count stands at 183,327 cases and 13,989 fatalities (and 1,853 probable fatalities) as of Wednesday. Governor Murphy and state officials held their COVID-19 briefing, where the Governor said the state’s transmission rate has fallen to 1.32 (down from a recent rise over the past two weeks). Murphy won’t reopen indoor dining or gyms yet, but said the the state may be at the ‘front end’ of the rolling seven-day average needed for those things to happen. Addressing Hurricane Isaias, BPU President Fiordaliso said the state ‘got whacked’ by the storm, which left 1.4M without power; as of yesterday’s briefing, 500k had power restored.
The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday (watch here) in the NJGOP’s lawsuit against Governor Murphy’s $9.9B COVID-19 emergency borrowing plan. The court is taking the matter into consideration. NJGOP Chairman Steinhardt ahead of the hearing said ‘we are here representing the economic common sense of every New Jersey family’.
The Archdiocese of Newark will close 5 Catholic schools and consolidate 3 schools due to COVID-19, according to ROI-NJ.
Burlington County Freeholder Director Hopson called on the BPU to probe utility companies’ storm preparedness and response efforts and called for the freezing of rates until improvements are made.
Camden County urged residents to cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracers.
Rep. Norcross applauded the USDOL’s $1.7M grant to the state.
WalletHub released a study of the most and least equitable school districts in the state.
ICYMI: NJ’s travel quarantine advisory updated; Murphy cracked down on house parties, acknowledges ‘mad as hell’ atmosphere; face masks req’d for students; Murphy extends public health state of emergency; Murphy sounds alarm bell case increases, gets tough again; Murphy lambasted McConnell; Murphy laments rise in cases from indoor parties, says this is not time to be ‘inducted into the knucklehead hall of fame‘; Salas calls for increased privacy rights; Grewal holds ‘use of force’ policy revisions conference; $12.4B in unemployment claims; Murphy on COVID numbers: ‘mixed bag‘; Murphy defended schools re-opening plan; Menendez, officials demand state/local gov’t aid; indoor partygoers ‘playing with fire‘
Monmouth County GOP Chairman Golden was re-elected as chairman, and blasted NJGOP Chairman Steinhardt as ‘impudent and ineffective’, according to MoreMonmouthMusings.
In CD2, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund endorsed Democratic candidate Amy Kennedy.
In CD11, Rep. Sherrill endorsed local and county candidates throughout the district. The Sussex County GOP slammed Sherrill over the endorsements, accusing her of engaging in a ‘popularity contest’. NFIB endorsed GOP candidate Rosemary Becchi.
In LD25, Senator Bucco and Assemblywoman Dunn touted their endorsements from the NJEA’s PAC.
GOP Senate candidate Dr. Rik Mehta blasted Senator Booker for missing Senate votes during his presidential campaign, calling him America’s ‘laziest’ Senator.
Latino Democratic leaders praised former VP Biden’s plan to invest in Latino communities around the nation.
A Monmouth University poll shows close contests in Iowa for the Senate and presidential races.
SOMA Action released endorsements for the 2020 general election.
ICYMI: County fundraising has lowest six-month haul in twenty years; NJEA endorsements; Suleiman called for resignation of BOE commissioner; Insider NJ’s Who’s Up And Who’s Down; Murphy will virtually attend DNC convention (iLine post); Cape May Dems reaffirmed Sciarra; Singh filed for recount; Building Trades endorsements; Mirinov prevailed in re-election bid
In Jersey City, over half of parents say they won’t send their children to school for in-person learning in the fall, according to the Jersey Journal.
In Long Branch, the former schools superintendent, once part of a ‘sex slave’ lawsuit, is running for BOE again, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Elizabeth, the Justice Department charged the owner of hundreds of rental units with subjecting tenants to sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
In Bridgewater, the town renamed a property in honor of a WWII veteran.
In Bayonne, schools are planning for all virtual learning in the fall, according to NJTV.
In Phillipsburg, the town nixed a referendum on closing the library, for now, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Paterson, the city broke ground on the Riverside Terrace project.
In Freehold, the town is seeking to seize mall property to satisfy the Fair Housing settlement, according to NJ Biz.
In Holmdel, the mayor survived a bitter GOP primary challenge, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Parsippany, councilmembers will host a meet and greet with Rep. Sherrill.
In Somerville, the schools reopening plan includes 5-days of in-person learning for some students, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Helmetta, the town is one step closer to selling the former animal shelter site, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Hawthorne, tax appeals doubled in 2020, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Paterson, the city has a new waiting list for rent vouchers, according to Paterson Press.
In Lavalette, the town settled two lawsuits over a cop’s 100-mph crash into oedestrians, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Bernardsville, the town began a recreational needs survey, according to NJ Hills.
In Hoboken, the Busines Alliance announced the August ‘summer streets’ schedule.
ICYMI: In Morristown, AG’s Office ‘involved’ in investigating Kildea hanging death; in Linden, Scutari released unearthed memo; in Bellmawr, gym owners kicked open doors to shuttered business
AROUND THE WEB:
A Growing Tribute of Condolences to State Senator Ron Rice on the Passing of His Wife of 35 Years
TAPinto East Orange/Orange Staff
- Elected officials and political leaders from all over the state are sending in words of condolences to State Senator and Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, Ronald L. Rice (Newark) on the sudden passing of his beloved wife of 35 years, Shirley Rice. Mrs. Rice passed away unexpectedly on the morning of August 4, 2020. Shirley Rice, a long time champion for collegiate education, met the then future senator while working as an administrator at the University of California-Berkeley. Shirley Rice later became an administrator at Essex County College.
Murphy, MVC say they’ve eliminated 55% of the backlog, as drivers say they’re in line for hours
Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Close to a month after New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies reopened, officials said they have cleared 55% of the backlog of drivers who couldn’t do business during the three months the coronavirus pandemic closed facilities.
Jameek Lowery died from taking drugs, not Paterson police misconduct, city says
Joe Malinconico, Paterson Press
- The city’s lawyers are asserting that Jameek Lowery caused his own death by voluntarily taking illegal drugs and that Paterson municipal government should not have to make any payment to his descendants.
Could a quarter-penny tax on stock trades help NJ’s budget gap?
Michael Symons, NJ1015
- As the cash-strapped, COVID-stressed state looks for ways to avoid deep cuts in its budget, an unorthodox proposal has been put on the table by one lawmaker – a quarter-cent tax on financial transactions conducted through high-quantity processors. Many Wall Street trading companies run their high-speed trades through computer server farms in North Jersey, in warehouses in places such as East Rutherford, Mahwah and Secaucus. Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Essex, said a small tax on them could raise big bucks.
Gym, indoor diner risk fines to keep businesses afloat
Leah Mishkin, NJTV
- The co-owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, Frank Trumbetti, says he’s already received 18 citations and is receiving a $10,000 fine a day for keeping his doors open and defying Gov. Phil Murphy’s orders to stay closed. The father of five says he broke into the building after locks were changed, and he now sleeps at the gym to protect his business.
South Jersey chamber slams Murphy borrowing plan after Supreme Court hearing
ROI-NJ.com
- The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in Republican leaders’ bid to stop Gov. Phil Murphy from borrowing $9.9 billion for the state budget. Republican lawmakers went to court after the Legislature passed the New Jersey COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act, claiming it violates the state constitution. Murphy wants the ability to borrow money due to pandemic-related revenue shortfalls.
School bus company sues Paterson for not getting payments amid pandemic
Jayed Rahman, Paterson Times
- A transportation company has filed a lawsuit against the Paterson Public Schools alleging a breach of contract. Passaic City-based Joshua Tours alleges the district failed to make payments during the coronavirus pandemic. Schools had closed in late March because of the virus outbreak.
Fulop: Jersey City police de-escalation training is underway, Tomahawk contract on hold
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- In June, Jersey City announced that their police department would participate in a $1 million dollar, dual-pronged de-escalation training program that Mayor Steven Fulop confirmed is underway – though the interactive portion of the training remains on hold.
Top takeaways from Supreme Court hearing on Murphy $9.9B borrowing plan
Daniel J. Munoz, njbiz.com
- With the Murphy administration’s plans to borrow $9.9 billion to make up for revenues lost during the COVID-19 economic downturn hanging in the balance, the state Supreme Court heard two and a half hours of oral argument Aug. 5 over the constitutionality of the governor’s scheme.
Morris County school districts release reopening plans, offer multiple options for fall
Jessie Gomez, Morristown Daily Record
- Morris County school districts continue to release reopening plans for the fall as they weigh health and safety concerns for students and staff. In March, school districts were forced to close due to the rising number of coronavirus cases across New Jersey. With just weeks left until the start of the school year, school officials must craft new social distancing guidelines for in-person instruction, seating on busses, lunch regimes and limited student interactions, among other details.
The Biden rule: ‘No men need apply!’ | Buchanan
Patrick J. Buchanan
- There is a real possibility that, this coming week, Joe Biden will be selecting the 47th president of the United States. For the woman Biden picks — he has promised to exclude from consideration all men, black, brown, white or Asian — has a better chance of succeeding to the presidency than any vice presidential nominee in U.S. history, other than perhaps Harry Truman.
Murphy Administration blew it on prison release. But it can still save lives | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- On April 10, Gov. Murphy gave his Department of Corrections commissioner the authority to release up to 3,000 non-violent inmates who were within 3 months of completing their sentences, in order to protect them from the coronavirus explosion inside our correctional facilities.
Time to address NJ’s aging power grid
Bill Spadea, NJ1015
- In a few short weeks, I’ll mark my fifth year as your morning drive host. One thing that stands out over that time is how many times we’ve had a conversation about generators and the fact that your power is out. It’s so common in the Garden State that it seems we could do a power outage special every week. I want to applaud the hard work and tireless effort of all the employees of the power companies who do their very best to get your lights back on after a storm. But it’s time to raise the question among the political elites in Trenton.
Why did Monmouth County pay nearly $1M for COVID grant program that Ocean got for free?
APP.com
- Why did Monmouth County pay nearly $1M for COVID grant program that Ocean got for free?
Roundtable: What Health and Policy Experts Saw as COVID Exposed Structural Racism
Lilo H. Stainton, NJ Spotlight
- NJ Spotlight and NJTV News hosted a virtual roundtable last week focused on the impact of structural racism under COVID-19 and strategies to improve equity as New Jersey responds to the pandemic. Speakers discussed racial disparities exposed by the outbreak, ongoing efforts to reduce gaps in health-care access and outcomes, and what else is needed to create a more equitable — and healthy — society.
COVID concerns: Rowan University students complain about housing, dining cost increases
Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Some Rowan University students say they are frustrated about increased housing and dining costs amid the coronavirus outbreak. These complaints come amid a volley of questions and criticism from students about the university’s decision to reopen the campus.
Rancocas Valley on track to give every student a computer
Jarrad Saffren, Burlington County Times
- Rancocas Valley Regional High School, one of the largest schools in Burlington County with over 2,000 students, is on track to achieve a one-to-one computer-to-student ratio by this fall.
Mayor Sayegh fundraiser gets contract in Paterson’s Riverside Terrace housing project
Joe Malinconico, Paterson Press
- A prominent Democratic Party fundraiser connected to Mayor Andre Sayegh is working as a consultant for the Pennsylvania-based developer handling the $105 million reconstruction of the Riverside Terrace public housing complex.
WATCH: Construction crews prep for the demolition of Trump Plaza
Press of Atlantic City
- Construction crews have begun preparing the site of the former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino for demolition, six years after the facility closed. See video and more photos of the work.
Cape May-Lewes Ferry promotes first female captain
Zac Spencer For The Press
- Born and raised in Cape May County, 48-year-old Sharon Urban spent most of her childhood around the water and her adulthood making her living on it. Nearly three decades of sailing culminated last month with a pinnacle achievement in the life of a mariner.
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