Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 1/15/2020 – InsiderNJ

State of Affairs with Steve Adubato is an issue-oriented, engaging public policy series that explores the state of affairs on critical issues being addressed in the New Jersey Statehouse through compelling conversations with our state’s top government and industry leaders, policy experts, educators and healthcare experts. State of Affairs can be seen weekends on PBS stations Thirteen/WNET and NJTV.

On the heels of his 2020 State of the State address, Governor Murphy formally unveiled the ‘Jobs NJ’ initiative yesterday that was outlined in Tuesday’s speech. The plan’s priorities include increasing minority educational attainment, in-demand job training, and matching talent to jobs. Speaking to reporters following the announcement, Murphy said he doesn’t ‘wake up in the morning reflexively trying to figure out ways to tax people’ and reiterated his call for a millionaire’s tax, twice denied in previous budgets, as his administration begins to craft the FY2021 budget. The NJBIA praised the initiative, while the NJ Chamber of Commerce said it can be a ‘significant pillar‘ for building the innovation economy. Senator Bucco chided the Governor for ‘sending mixed messages’ on jobs, saying that ‘the totality of the Governor’s tax-increasing and anti-worker policies will set us back two steps for every step forward’.

Activists descended on the headquarters of the Delaware River Port Authority demanding Governor Murphy and DE Governor Carney launch an investigation into the DPRA’s land dealings, particularly concerning two Camden land parcels, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Rep. Pascrell hammered the China agreement, calling it a ‘publicity stunt’ and ‘the equivalent of an arsonist demanding credit for putting away his matches’.

Rep. Kim announced his office will return $25k in leftover funds from his House office budget to the Treasury. Kim will hold a town hall in Ocean Gate on Jan. 22nd.

Reps. Payne and Pascrell will unveil new fire safety legislation tomorrow on the anniversary of the Seton Hall University fire.

Rep. Gottheimer testified on the growing threat of the financing of domestic terror at a House Financial Services Committee subcommittee hearing.

Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett was elected the First Vice-Chair of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

Sharon Harrington was named Vice Chair of the Casino Control Commission, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

Jovita Carranza was named the 26th Administrator of the SBA.

ICYMI: Legislature gave ovation to Laura Seals; leaders reacted to State of State; SCOTUS waded into the Bridgegate appeal; Christie in attendance; Booker suspended presidential campaign, Jersey Dems consider options, Currie keeping powder dry, Juliano searching for consensus, DeGise says ‘we’re all going to be talking about this‘; Muller state director for Bloomberg; Mehta jeered Booker, Steinhardt called him ‘absentee Senator‘; Monmouth poll finds four candidates clumped together in Iowa; key must-read pieces

Vote in Insider NJ Poll: Who Should Booker Back for President?

LD27 Senator and former Governor Dick Codey announced his support for Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary. Following Senator Booker’s campaign suspension on Monday, Rep. Malinowski endorsed Biden the following day, as state Democrats begin to weigh their options heading into the primary season.

In CD2, GOP CD4 Rep. Smith endorsed fellow Republican Jeff Van Drew for re-election. Up until Van Drew’s defection from the Democratic Party, Smith was the lone Republican in the state’s congressional delegation following the 2018 midterm elections. Earlier this week, Van Drew was formally endorsed by GOP LD1 Senator Testa.

In CD4, several Monmouth and Ocean Democratic organizations and leaders called for the withdrawal of candidate Jim Keady from the Democratic primary, following an intense forum last week.

Paterson Councilwoman Lilissa Mimms withdrew her intent to screen for a Passaic County freeholder nomination following incumbent Freeholder Best’s declaration that he’ll run for re-election this year. Mimms endorsed Best, as well as runningmate Freeholder Bruce James. Before Best’s intentions were unknown, Mimms had expressed interest in the seat; Wayne Witherspoon also expressed interest in running.

Following Governor Christie’s Bridgegate appeal appearance at the Supreme Court, the DCCC released a statement blasting Christie’s role in the Van Drew party switch and chiding Rep. Van Drew, saying that ‘following in the footsteps of and taking political advice from someone whose own promising career went up in flames seems unwise, but if he likes it, we love it’.

GOP Senate primary candidate Hirsh Singh released a statement on Senator Booker’s presidential campaign suspension, saying Booker is ‘desperate now, and that makes him dangerous’.

Atlantic County Surrogate Curcio will seek re-election this year, according to the Atlantic City Press.

Make The Road Action endorsed Bernie Sanders for president.

ICYMI: Joe D. formally endorsed Murphy, exposing rupture and adding insult to party chair deal precluding Sweeney/Norcross, source says Sweeney ‘more dangerous than ever‘ for Murphy, since ‘everything can die in the Senate‘; in CD2, Richter fights against the shifting sands; in CD4, forum turned into intense challenge for Keady; in CD7, Malinowski kicked off re-election; Somerset’s Levine hopes to withstand wave that handed county control to Dems; Dunn to become ‘former’; Morris GOP convention for Darling seat, at least 4 vying; in CD7, Malinowski’s potential showdown w/ Kean

In Bayonne, former Assemblyman and mayoral candidate Jason O’Donnell made his first court appearance after being indicted by the AG’s Office for allegedly taking bribes, according to Hudson County View.

In Atlantic City, former BOE President Hannah Dixon passed away, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The petition effort to hold a referendum to change the city’s form of government appears to be moving forward again, according to NJ.com.

In Hamilton, Mayor Martin appointed T. Missy Balmir as the interim business administrator.

In Toms River, council members vowed to support the school district in its fight for state aid, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In Hoboken, the city will consider a resolution calling on elected official at every level to reunify migrant families, end migrant detention, and afford due process in immigration cases.

In Westfield, an investigation found that a partisan tweet claiming to be from the ‘Downtown Westfield Corp’ Twitter account was fabricated, according to TAPinto.

In Jersey City, Mayor Fulop promoted three police officers to detective. Kristin Zadroga-Hart penned an op-ed opposing the BOE change proposal, saying there’s ‘too much riding on this to leave it to chance’.

In Bergenfield, Franklin Montero was appointed the first Latino municipal judge in the town’s history.

In Bridgewater, the planning board reorganized with six new members.

In Paterson, the city is spending over $160k on auditing the police department, according to Paterson Times. The state says the BOE is heading toward local control, according to Paterson Press.

In Hackensack, the city was awarded the Veteran Friendly Certification by the NJ Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

In Palisades Park, the town settled a lawsuit with a police officer, according to the Bergen Record.

In Irvington, a RentCafe report finds the average rent has increased 20% over the past year.

ICYMI: In Jersey City, debate intensifies over BOE proposal; in Paterson, Jackson seeking re-election; in East Hanover, O’Donnell bowed out as attorney, and wasn’t re-appointed in Mt. Arlington following AG’s five indictments of officials

Matt Friedman, Politico

• Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to attend a father-and-son outing in the Bahamas this weekend organized by South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross.

Michael Aron, NJTV

• Doug Steinhardt, the chair of New Jersey’s Republican Party, reacted to Murphy’s State of the State address saying it was a “grim day for New Jersey’s middle class.” He spoke with Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron about Murphy’s priorities, the state’s “spending problem” and the possibility of a gubernatorial run in 2021.

Briana Vannozzi, NJTV

• Amid the post-mortems the day after Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his State of the State speech was criticism leveled by female legislators of his call to change “the pernicious sexism and abuse” that afflicts women in government across the state.

John Best, lehighvalleylive.com

• A proposed warehouse development that has caused controversy in Warren County meets all zoning and regulatory requirements, according to the developer’s engineer.

Claire Lowe, Press of Atlantic City

• Cape May County school districts losing funding due to a 2018 law are banding together to file an Open Public Records Act request to the state to gain insight into how education aid is distributed.

Abbott Koloff, NorthJersey.com

• Four men from other states are using a new New Jersey rule to sue the Boy Scouts of America, alleging that Scout leaders sexually abused them as children — even though the alleged abuse took place in other parts of the country.

John Reitmeyer, NJ Spotlight

• With a potential bid for reelection looming in less than two years, Gov. Phil Murphy used his State of the State address on Tuesday to highlight some of his administration’s biggest achievements, such as increasing the minimum wage, boosting K-12 education aid and tackling climate change.

Tom Moran, Star-Ledger

• Good news for Republicans in New Jersey! Gov. Phil Murphy just made it clear that he intends to do almost nothing to contain taxes and spending this year, breathing new life into Republican ambitions to take back the governorship in 2021, and ensuring that his epic battle with more conservative Democrats will continue.

Gianluca D’Elia, Burlington County Times

• Generation Z is making its voice heard in government and politics. These Moorestown students say their mock primary election is proof.

Daniel J. Munoz, njbiz.com

• Gov. Phil Murphy’s second annual State of the State address on Jan. 14 struck a business-as-usual tone with many of those within the statewide business community. The exception, of course, was Murphy’s promise to overhaul the “culture” in Trenton, which he said prioritized “well-connected and entrenched special interests” and a culture of “misogyny” that allowed for widely pervasive sexual harassment against women in New Jersey politics.

Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City

• Former White House Counsel Don McGahn, the Brigantine native who defied a subpeoena related to the House impeachment vote of President Donald J. Trump, will speak to the Stockton University students, staff and other invitees later this month.

Eric Obernauer, NJ Herald

• The Board of Education is seeking to form a citizens’ committee to look into the possibility of a bond referendum to finance facilities repairs and replacements at the district’s six schools.