Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 12/4/2019 – InsiderNJ

CD4 Democrat Tiffany Kaszuba dropped out of the primary yesterday, saying in a statement that Monmouth Democratic leadership ‘has begun to sew doubt among members of the party about my character and mental health’ and that she had made a complaint to Chairman Brown and Senator Gopal regarding her campaign manager Bill Robinson, who had previously resigned from the party committee, saying his ‘behavior had become increasingly disturbing’. Brown and Gopal responded, saying they hired outside counsel to launch a full investigation, which is ongoing, and that they take ‘every allegation’ and complaint ‘extremely seriously’.

In CD11, GOP primary candidate Larry Casha’s onetime nemesis Jay Webber has pledged his assistance next year, according to the candidate; Casha believes he has a starting gate advantage, saying that ‘Mikie hasn’t really done anything’ about the SALT deduction cap.

In CD1, Rep. Norcross was endorsed by the Panned Parenthood Action Fund.

In CD3, the Burlington County Young Republicans endorsed GOP candidate Kate Gibbs.

In CD10, Democratic primary candidate John Flora released a statement highlighting his pledge that he would would meet with voters more than fundraise.

NJ Democratic Chairman Currie is framing the chair’s battle as a fight against George Norcross, sending out a flyer to committee members with a photo of Norcross saying ‘is this who we want in control of our Demcoratic Party?’, according to Politico NJ.

ICYMI: Mehta confident he’s GOP’s best bet to beat Booker; Toto running for AC freeholder; SJPD elected leadership team; Booker released a new ad; in CD2, two more names emerge for potential primary, Harrison mulling potential run, as Dems consider options, Kennedy won’t run against Van Drew; in CD9, Lewis will fundraise for Pascrell

In Linden, Councilwoman Rhashonna Cosby has written a book called ‘Plantation Politics’ about her experiences in local politics, telling Insider NJ that ‘its all a game’ and that ‘politics is more power struggling than progress‘.

In Long Branch, Google will hold a free ‘Grow with Google‘ digital skills workshop today.

In East Rutherford, Norwood, Creskill, and Old Tappan, the Bergen county recount hasn’t changed the results, with Wallington still undecided, according to the Bergen Record.

In Sayreville, the mayoral election recount requested by Rittenhouse is set for tomorrow, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Paterson, Councilwoman Mimm’s nephew was hired at the DPW, according to Paterson Times. Mayor Sayegh faces backlash over the botched sewer reforms, according to Paterson Times.

In Moorestown, the school district proposed a $26M upgrade, according to the Courier Post.

In Bedminster, a rare letter from George Washington is on display, according to NJ Hills.

ICYMI: In Bridgewater, Pappas will serve as administrator; in Hoboken, Raia sentenced to 3-months; in Jersey City, Pesin a chief advocate for Liberty State Park; Murphy admin announced $161.25M in muni aid; in Boonton, Cabana will take job as administrator

Meet the pebble in George Norcross’s shoe: A Q&A with Sue Altman

Star Ledger Staff

• Sue Altman, the progressive activist who was recently dragged out of a Senate hearing room by State Police, became the head of NJ Working Families Alliance just seven months ago, but has made a big splash already. She’s been relentless in her pursuit of George Norcross, the political boss from South Jersey, especially over what she sees as his abuse of the state’s tax incentive program in Camden.

It’s time for Congressman Chris Smith to put country over party

Asbury Park Press

• Rep. Chris Smith has refused to condemn President Trump’s abuse of power, and opposes the impeachment inquiry. His last chance to be on the right side of history and the Constitution is fast approaching. Trump withheld military aid from Ukraine unless it investigated his political rivals and propagated a nonsensical Russian conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, attacked the 2016 election. Smith has accepted this without protest.

Murphy looks to avoid Christie model as he becomes DGA chairman

Ryan Hutchins, Politico

• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, set to take over this week as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, may ignore one of the traditional roles of the post: hitting the road to support fellow gubernatorial candidates.

Meet the women behind NJ’s tongue-in-cheek Twitter account. And no, they’re not interns

Terrence T. McDonald, NorthJersey.com

• On the day before Thanksgiving, New York government’s official Twitter account warned motorists about an impending snowstorm, Pennsylvania’s wished Pittsburgh a happy 261th birthday and New Jersey’s made a butt joke.

Ocean Resort’s female CEO is one of a kind among AC casinos (updated)

Daniel J. Munoz, njbiz.com

• Ocean Casino Resort announced it would hire Terry Glebocki as its chief executive officer, making her the only current female CEO at any of Atlantic City’s nine casinos. “It’s a very exciting time to be [at] the helm of the property. I look forward to working with the management team and all our team members to continue to meet property goals,” Glebocki said in the Tuesday morning announcement.

Guarini gives $10M, which comes with $5M match, for LSC’s SciTech Scity project

John Heinis, Hudson County View

• Former U.S. Rep. Frank Guarini has donated $10 million towards the Liberty Science Center’s SciTech Scity project, which was matched with a $5 million contribution from LSC Board Co-Chair David Barry.

Van Drew bill would lower out-of-pocket health care costs

Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City

• U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, D-2nd, said Tuesday he has introduced legislation to make health care more affordable through the Affordable Care Act. The measure would reverse a Trump administration rule that made fewer Americans eligible for the ACA’s premium tax credits, his office said Tuesday.

‘Post-it posse:’ It might sound cute, but is this New Jersey woman already swaying elections?

Amy S. Rosenberg, Philadelphia Inquirer

• How do you tell a story like this without it becoming — oh, sure — a women’s story? Especially when you walk in and there she is, Uyen Khuong, arguably a political force in New Jersey, behind the stove, cooking pho? Monday is soup day for Khuong’s three teenage children, and no interview or photo shoot, no text from any number of the top New Jersey politicians she communicates with, no Trenton crisis over an overturned vote-by-mail law, not even the multiple Post-it notes stuck to a Mac and hungering for attention, will stop the forces of the Mom schedule.

Can Booker’s ‘Love’ Ad Woo Enough Voters to Win a Place in Next Democratic Debate?

Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight

• With less than 10 days to boost his polling numbers to qualify for the next Democratic presidential debate, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker has released his first ads. He may also get a bounce from ads that a New Jersey super PAC began airing at about the same time.

How Booker would spend $100B boosting historically black colleges and universities

Juan Perez, Jr., Politico

• Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday added a $100 billion proposal for historically black colleges and universities to his presidential campaign platform, making him the latest 2020 candidate to advertise HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions as part of plans for the U.S. higher education system.

Students to host climate strike in Princeton on Friday, Dec. 6

Krystal Knapp, Planet Princeton

• Students in the Princeton Public Schools will join with other students in Mercer County to host a climate strike on Hinds Plaza from noon to 3:30 on Dec. 6.

Voting Rights Advocate Ron Pierce Imagines a New Jersey Where Inmates Run the Asylum

M.E. Cagnassola, TAPinto.net

• Speaking before the New Jersey General Assembly in Trenton on Nov. 25, Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris) called upon his fellow legislators to consider a particular idiom ahead of a vote on a bill to restore voting rights to people on parole and probation upon release.