Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 11/18/2019 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for 11/18/2019:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I would imagine I will be voting no.” – CD2 Rep. Van Drew on the House’s expected impeachment vote next month
TOP STORY: The Party’s Over: Democratic Forces Brace for the Worst
Here’s a list of political events in Atlantic City this week. Be sure to join Insider NJ for our Power Party (Part III) on Tuesday night and the Millennials & More reception on Wednesday night, co-sponsored by Insider NJ.
Ahead of George Norcross’ testimony this morning before the Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies, the NJ Tax Incentive Task Force submitted proposed questions for him regarding the NJEDA’s tax incentive program. Camden Democrats are organizing a bus drive-up to Trenton for allies of Norcross and the county party to attend the hearing.
A new CNN poll shows Senator Booker garnering 2% in the caucus state of Iowa, with South Bend Mayor Buttigieg surging into first place.
The state’s automatic vote-by-mail law was deemed unconstitutional, according to Burlington County Times.
Rep. Van Drew says he’ll likely vote against impeachment in next month’s expected impeachment vote in the House, unless ‘something new arises’, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Rep. Sherrill brought health care providers from CD11 to Capitol Hill to discuss the opioid epidemic among veterans.
Rep. Pascrell blasted President Trump’s call for South Korea to pay more for US military defense, calling it a ‘shake down’.
Morris County is planning a new $62M courthouse, according to the Daily Record.
ICYMI: Murphy signed executive order establishing the Public Bank Implementation Board; Buttigieg in lead in Iowa, Booker garners 2%; Froonjian responds to LD1 Senate poll, Testa team responded; election proves GOP still has a pulse
Vote in the Insider NJ Poll: Who should Lead the Democratic State Committee?
Read Insider NJ’s Who’s Up and Who’s Down: Week of the Recounts to see where the players stand over the past week in Jersey politics.
NJ Democratic Chairman Currie’s and Vice Chair Schaffer’s campaign ripped into challenger Essex County Dems Chair Leroy Jones and his allies, saying his candidacy is an ‘act of political aggression‘ and that their ‘goal is to tear our party apart’. Senator Cryan, who supports Jones, said that ‘this is not the time to engage in division and not the time to cast aspersions’ and that its ‘time to accept reality and move on to the hard work of electing Democrats’. Brick Township Democratic Club President Reilly endorsed Currie.
CD5 GOP primary candidate Mike Ghassali opened his campaign headquarters in Montvale.
The Somerset County Democratic Black Caucus is accepting applications for its ‘Future Political Leaders Scholarship’s.
The NJ Conservative GOP released a statement calling for new leadership of the Assembly GOP.
ICYMI: Fight of the Week: King v. Mastrangelo; Testa chastised Murphy agenda; in LD2, Dems defeat GOP; in LD25, six candidates jockeying for Assembly seat; Buttigieg coming to NJ; in CD11, a look at Langer’s potential GOP bid; Somerset gone blue, a victory for Schaffer and Murphy, who pointed to Somerset as key battleground; in CD1, Gustafson considering GOP bid; in CD4, Keady jumped into primary; in CD2, Dems gauge primary challenge against Van Drew after inquiry ‘no’ vote, Riley won’t challenge
Here’s what’s on tap under the Gold Dome today and here’s what happened in Trenton on Thursday.
Senator Weinberg says she may reconvene the Brennan-Alvarez Select Committee to hear from at least one witness blocked from testifying by a campaign NDA.
Senator O’Scanlon says that recreational marijuana should be decided by voters in a referendum.
Senate President Sweeney presented former Governor Florio with the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stockton Hughes Center for Public Policy.
Senator Singleton announced a human trafficking awareness initiative along major roadways.
The NJ Cannabusiness Association and several groups will launch the ’94 No More’ initiative as marijuana legalization efforts ramp up.
The ACLU-NJ released a data brief showing that marijuana-related arrests have increased since 2017.
The NJ Outdoor Alliance called on Governor Murphy to reopen state lands for the bear hunt.
ICYMI: Norcross opposes min. wage delay bill; Senate Dems reupped Sweeney; Senate GOP reaffirmed Kean (GOP leadership team); Assembly GOP will continue to be led by Bramnick; Coughlin has another term as Speaker
In Pleasantville, two people were shot during a high school football game when gunfire broke out; Governor Murphy released a statement calling it a ‘stark reminder that no community is immune from gun violence’.
In Edison, the town created a Sewer and Water Utilities and hired a director, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Hawthorne, the uncertified results show GOP Ward 2 council candidate Rayna Laoisa ahead of Democrat Thomas Bushnauskas by 9 votes, according to TAPinto.
In West Milford, the town filed a complaint over the Highlands Act, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Nutley, a BOE member was allegedly assaulted at a parade, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Bernards Township, Janice Fields was elected to the township committee, according to TAPinto.
In Jersey City, the council withdrew legislation that would have removed off-duty cops from traffic detail, according to the Jersey Journal.
In Atlantic City, Ward 5 Democratic candidate Zia was elected following the provisional and VBM count, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Chatham Township, the township will ‘give away’ their municipal building, according to NJ Hills.
In Morristown, Councilwoman Deeb stormed out of a council meeting following a dustup over land cleanup, according to NJ Hills.
In Wildwood, the election winners look towards the future after defeating the incumbents, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Trenton, Mayor Gusciora and city non-profits launched the #TrentonGiving campaign.
In Paterson, Rep. Pascrell applauded the awarding a $100k Opportunity Zone grant to the city. BOE member Capers was re-elected following the provisional and VBM count, according to Paterson Press.
In Newark, the Institute for Social Justice will hold a community conversation on the police division’s compliance with the consent decree.
In Rutherford, Mayor-elect Nunziato and Councilmen Mullahey and Goldsack released a statement thanking voters for their victory on Election Day.
In Bedminster, the school district settled a discrimination lawsuit for barring a student’s service dog, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Sayreville, Democrat Kilpatrick defeated Rittenhouse for the mayoralty by 3 votes, according to MyCentralJersey (*Friday’s MIB incorrectly stated 33 votes).
In Lumberton, Ryan won committee seat, dealing a blow to Earlen; in Roxbury and Mt. Arlington, consolidation commission disbanded; in Roselle, Atkins filed complaint against Dansereau; in Hamilton, Schirmer called on Pone to step down; in Dover, Blackman won mayoral race following acrimonious battle; in Hamilton, Martin announced transition co-chairs; in JC, BOE power crisis
AROUND THE WEB:
We’ve got some real questions for Norcross on the EDA scandal | Opinion
Keith Errol Benson
- George Norcross, the unelected political boss at the center of New Jersey’s unfolding tax credit scandal, is set to tell his side of the story Monday before a friendly audience of political allies who stack a state Senate committee in Trenton.
Murphy’s retreat on women’s gag orders is a fake | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Phil Murphy knows that if he wants to be remembered as a progressive governor who fought for the rights of women, he’ll have to clean the stain left by the Katie Brennan scandal by allowing women who worked on his campaign to speak freely.
Exclusive: Amazon lawsuit highlights gap between workplace rules and medical marijuana law
Brenda Flanagan, NJTV
- A lawsuit filed in Middlesex County by a former Amazon employee is the latest development highlighting an emerging disconnect in workplace law: the clash between companies that have zero-tolerance drug policies and the state’s recognition of marijuana as a legitimate medical remedy for a host of maladies.
Sandyston-Walpack school chief to step down
Eric Obernauer, NJ Herald
- One month after Sandyston-Walpack School Superintendent Jeanne Apryasz appeared well on her way to getting a hoped-for salary increase, she now says she’ll resign her position and retire Feb. 15, 2020.
South Jersey residents divided over impeachment hearings, but most find them hard to follow
Colt Shaw, Press of Atlantic City
- When he has a customer in his chair, barber Abdullah Anderson tries to keep political conversation to a minimum. It can, and often will, unravel.
An Interview with Congressional Candidate John Novak on the Issues
Stephanie A. Faughnan, TAPinto Barnegat
- Earlier this week, Barnegat’s next mayor shared the signs leading to his decision to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman Andy Kim. In an exclusive interview with TAPintoBarnegat/Waretown, Republican John Novak also provided some insight as far as his credentials, goals and opinions.
Congressman Smith: Braedon Bradforth’s death was 100% preventable
Art Gallagher, More Monmouth Musings
- Congressman Chris Smith said that the independent report into the death of 19 year Braedon Bradforth was “utterly heartbreaking” as the report concluded the the tragedy was 100% preventable.
Glen Rock Provisional, Mail-In Ballots Confirm Gilbreath, Dill Victory
Rebecca Greene, TAPinto Fair Lawn/Glen Rock
- Teresa Gilbreath and Rob Dill have become council members-elect, according to vote tallies listed on the Bergen County Clerk’s “unoffical” Nov. 5 election results page, including vote-by-mail and provisional ballot totals.
NJ transit board members don’t even use it. That’s gotta change, top Dems say.
Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Top legislative Democrats said it’s time for a do-over of Gov. Phil Murphy’s nominees to NJ Transit’s Board of Directors in favor of transit experts and people who currently ride the buses and trains.
NJ has a plan to ID and replace lead pipes throughout the state in 10 years
Stacey Barchenger, Trenton Bureau
- New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday advanced a plan to identify and replace lead pipes lurking under homes and businesses in New Jersey, as well as measures to better track and identify the pipes that can be a threat to children.
Historic building, once part of Riegelsville paper mill, under threat of repossession by Pohatcong
Caroline Fassett, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- An historic building is currently facing the threat of being repossessed by the town in which it is located — unless a new purchaser comes forward and invests in the property’s continued preservation.
Op-Ed: Time’s Running Short to Address NJ’s Flawed Approach to Elections
Lee Keough, NJ Spotlight
- For those tired of New Jersey’s lopsided election results and lack of candidate choice — take heart. Things could look very different in 2021, the next time New Jersey will have a state-level election.
NJ Transit again in the stocks, this time over pace of progress on improvements
Brenda Flanagan, NJTV
- The scene at the legislative hearing at the Hoboken train station Wednesday evening was all too familiar for NJ Transit riders: Once again they had a chance to bemoan the service they get from the state’s mass transit system, with its aging equipment, persistent delays and frequent cancellations.
Revenue, economic variety critical to Atlantic City self-rule
David Danzis, Press of Atlantic City
- Diversification of Atlantic City’s economy and the stabilization of its ratable base are keys to the city returning to local sovereignty, but so are increasing revenue streams, particularly from revenue generated by the resort’s primary economic driver.
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