Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 9/24/2020 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for 9/24/2020:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The African Americans of the United States don’t owe the Democratic Party anything. They owe us everything. Without us, there would be no Democratic Party. They can’t win dogcatcher without the African American support. There hasn’t been reciprocity. Nothing but disrespect. As bad as they are, and they are horrible… I abhor Donald Trump.” – Atlantic City political operative Craig Callaway
TOP STORY: Trouble in Paradise (or at Least Atlantic City): The Callaway Interview
Follow Insider NJ’s COVID-19 Information Update Center and Insider NJ’s County COVID-19 Data Center.
The statewide COVID-19 count stands at 200,580 cases and 14,285 fatalities (and 1,791 probable fatalities) as of Wednesday; the viral transmission rate rose to 1.15. Governor Murphy and state officials held their COVID-19 briefing, during which the Governor said he’s ‘proud’ of the soon-to-be signed budget, saying it emphasizes ‘tax fairness’, even without his proposed ‘baby bonds’. urged gym-goers to keep masks on for the duration of their time inside, citing anecdotal evidence that some are entering gyms with a mask on, then removing it.
Governor Murphy will appear on NJTV’s Chat Box with David Cruz tonight at 6pm.
A lawsuit filed in Sussex County Superior Court on behalf of shuttered businesses challenges Governor Murphy’s COVID-19 executive orders.
Private school enrollment is up as parents seek in-person learning, according to the Bergen Record.
Bergen County announced the locations of the first week of the fall regional COVID-19 mobile testing sites.
Burlington County museums and art galleries will reopen next week.
Camden County received $290k in grants to fight and study overdose and substance abuse.
The PBA protested the Cumberland County Jail closure, according to the Courier Post.
Essex County is looking to hire young adults to serve as poll workers, according to NorthJersey.com.
Monmouth County announced VBM ballot drop-off locations.
Somerset County’s 2nd annual Diversity Festival begins October 1st.
Rep. Smith’s ‘Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act’ passed the House.
Rutgers University is aiming for a spring return to campus, according to MyCentralJersey.
ICYMI: Travel quarantine advisory updated; Pascrell named chairman of House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight; NJ surpasses 200k COVID cases (iLine post); Murphy zeros in on GOP ‘rank hypocrisy’; Murphy signed environmental justice legislation; leaders announce formal agreement on the millionaire’s tax; Murphy announced impending departure of Platkin, Garg poised to advance (iLine post)
In Atlantic City, Insider NJ sits down with Mayor Marty Small and sits down with local political operative Craig Callaway.
In Trenton, the city launched the new Office of Returning Citizens to help formerly incarcerated residents secure housing and employment.
In Clifton, the police contract impasse is now in the hands of the state, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Bayonne, Mayor Davis and the council endorsed the ‘Together We Can’ BOE slate, according to Hudson County View. Schools will continue remote learning through November 4th, according to Hudson County View.
In Jersey City, a WalletHub report ranks the city the 20th best coffee city in the nation. Sources speculate on a potential Menendez Jr. mayoral run next year, according to Jersey Journal.
In Newton, religious leaders will hold a pro-police rally on Saturday, according to NJ Herald.
In Bernardsville, the local council election has erupted into a political firestorm, according to NJ Hills.
In Paterson, Rep. Pascrell announced COVID-19 mobile testing site locations.
In Toms River, the township will negotiate with the Justice Department over religious zoning, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Hoboken, the city completed the installation of 15 blocks of new water mains.
In Watchung, Police Chief Cina will retire, according to NJ Hills.
In Hamilton (Mercer), police will receive more body cameras under a $920k contract, according to the Trentonian.
In Plainfield, an official is being sued over alleged racist COVID-19 comments, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Caldwell, the council approved a resolution supporting police, according to TAPinto.
In Margate and Longport, the towns are considering extending a shared municipal court agreement, according to Downbeach.
In Morristown, the council approved a tax break for the M Station, according to MorristownGreen.
In Franklin (Somerset), two Hindu temples are being proposed near each other, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Somerset, Mayor Kramer detailed the town’s plan for the general election, according to TAPinto.
In Ridgewood, the FBI raided the home of a NY art dealer, according to the Bergen Record.
In Middletown, the BOE President responded to a ‘smear’ video, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Chatham, schools officials are rejecting the ‘shaming’ of students with COVID-19, according to NJ Hills.
In Millburn, two neighborhood associations are sponsoring a candidate’s forum next month, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: In Smithville, protesters civilly clashed; in Jersey City, Hadjiyannis announced Ward D candidacy; in New Brunswick, Floyd’s brother came to New Jersey to march with Black Lives Matter movement members and their allies; in Mountain Lakes, inside debate flap; in Somerville, Black Lives Matter rally; in Parsippany, Trump supporters held two rallies; in Dover, Bennett approved as administrator
AROUND THE WEB:
Mother of Asbury Park man shot by police: ‘They didn’t have to take his life’
Christian Spencer, Susanne Cervenka, Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
- The mother and other relatives of the Black man fatally shot in a confrontation with police here last month said Wednesday that the officer responsible should face criminal charges.
Senate panel rescues Battleship New Jersey museum, restores state aid
Carol Comegno, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Action by state legislative budget committees Tuesday restored state aid for the Battleship New Jersey museum in a revised $32.7 billion state budget proposal for the remaining nine months of fiscal year 2020-2021.
2 ordinances creating civilian complaint review boards in Jersey City will be withdrawn
Joshua Rosario, The Jersey Journal
- Two Jersey City Council members with competing plans for Civilian Complaint Review Boards are pulling their ordinances from Wednesday’s agenda.
Warren committee pushes for state to allow residents to vote in person in November
Claudia Ceva, New Jersey Hills
- The township wants residents to be able to cast their ballots at electronic voting booths in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election, in which the majority of New Jersey voters are expected to vote by mail. The Township Committee unanimously voted to pass a resolution at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17, “strongly encouraging” the state to allow constituents to vote in person at voting machines.
Was a Hamas terrorist paid blood money after killing a Teaneck woman? Congress wants to know
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- Nearly a quarter-century ago, Sara Duker of Teaneck was murdered by Palestinian terrorists in Jerusalem. Now the U.S. government may finally confirm a dirty little secret about that killing — that the Hamas leader who orchestrated the slaying of Duker and two dozen others on a Jerusalem bus in 1996 is being quietly paid by Palestinian officials while behind bars in Israel.
Outdoor dining in fall, winter? Restaurants push NJ to ease up
David Matthau, NJ1015
- So far so good. It’s been 20 days since Gov. Murphy allowed New Jersey restaurants to resume indoor dining service, at a 25% limited capacity, and health officials have not detected any spike or uptick in COVID-19 cases linked to any specific restaurant. But now there’s a new problem.
Malinowski is trying to derail a federal investigation into Phil Murphy’s nursing home deaths
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- You probably didn’t hear about it, Save Jerseyans, but 22 Democrat congressman signed a letter to the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights complaining about the early-stage probe into four states’ COVID-19 nursing home deaths (including New Jersey).
Approval likely for $32.7B budget and millionaires tax hike
John Reitmeyer, NJ Spotlight
- Lawmakers advanced a nine-month spending bill and several tax hikes needed to support it Tuesday, keeping the state budget legislation on course to go to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk for final approval later this week. In a separate action that took place simultaneously, Department of Treasury officials also met to finalize plans to borrow up to $4.5 billion for the new budget, a sum that has already been incorporated into the Legislature’s spending bill.
The Kennedys will soon be gone in Congress. Unless Amy Kennedy beats Jeff Van Drew in New Jersey.
Allison Steele, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Amy Kennedy spotted a familiar face. Shane Harris was near a line of volunteers waving campaign signs at passing cars. Harris met Kennedy a few months ago, and had showed up again at a campaign stop here Saturday, this time with his adult daughter. He told Kennedy, who’s running for Congress in South Jersey’s 2nd District, that she had both their votes.
These are the 21 states and territories NOT under N.J.’s travel quarantine order
Matt Arco, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- New Jersey’s coronavirus quarantine states grew Tuesday, a week after a half-dozen states were dropped from the list of areas where people visiting the Garden State or returning home are asked to quarantine for 14 days.
How Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped a high school girl win a spot on Teaneck’s boys tennis team
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- Years before she became a Supreme Court justice and a cultural icon known as “Notorious RBG,” Ruth Bader Ginsburg took up the case of Abbe Seldin of Teaneck, New Jersey. Seldin, 15 and a nationally ranked tennis player in 1972, just wanted to try out for the Teaneck High School varsity tennis team. Even the team’s coach publicly announced that he wanted her on the squad. Seldin was, as the coach noted at the time, better than many of the boys.
Gas tax hikes pile up: States become desperate for road repair revenue as COVID-19 reduces driving
Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY
- Americans who want to stay socially distant during the COVID-19 pandemic now have another reason to think twice before going out for gas. Several states have increased gas taxes in recent months to make up for sudden shortfalls in revenue devoted to road repairs.
NJ’s top elections official: ‘Vote, sign, seal, and return the ballot’
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotight
- The top challenge for elections this year won’t just be getting folks to register, but educating them on how to use the vote-by-mail system and building their confidence that every vote will be counted. The state is using multimedia and traditional platforms to reach voters and pushing out information in various languages and through the help of a new website.
County Keeping Names of Corrections Officers Charged With Crimes a Secret
Charlie Kratovil, New Brunswick Today
- Two corrections officers at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center were suspended after being charged with crimes in 2019, but county officials won’t say who they are or what they did.Warden Mark Cranston and County Counsel Thomas Kelso have thus far protected the identities of the charged employees, and cleared one of them to return to work at the jail. At a time when law enforcement transparency and accountability is at the forefront of the national discussion, Cranston and Kelso are actively violating the New Jersey Attorney General’s internal affairs policies.
Study: Women who get more help at home are more productive, happier at work — even during a pandemic
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- The premise seemed obvious. When the state went on lockdown and working parents not only had to work at home, but care for their children at the same time, the general consensus was that the woman’s job — and her lifestyle — would take the bigger hit.
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