Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 12/6/2021 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Instead of holding town halls, talking to small groups or knocking doors — the things campaigns are supposed to do — Sweeney and the South Jersey machine relied on their shrinking base of voters: patronage beneficiaries, county party bosses and building trades unions, who are big political donors and have members who are overwhelmingly white and tend to vote Republican.” – Working Families NJ Executive Director Sue Altman
TOP STORY: Statehouse Theater and the Specter of an Imperiled Roe v. Wade
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,103,202 cases and 25,630 confirmed fatalities (and 169,526 probable cases and 2,827 probable fatalities) as of Sunday (an increase of 3,097 confirmed cases, 542 probable cases, and 5 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.2. There are 6,262,134 people fully vaccinated.
Governor Murphy and NJDOH Commissioner Persichilli announced the identification of the first case of the omicron COVID-19 variant in the state on Friday.
Cape May County named Kevin Lare as permanent administrator, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The AG’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate at the Essex County Correctional Facility.
Rep. Van Drew co-sponsored the ‘Crucial Communism Teaching Act’. Van Drew is seeking a probe of the VA after a veteran set himself on fire on November 2, according to NJ.com.
DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole, and Giblin LLP added thirteen new attorneys.
Former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole passed away, according to Burlington County Times.
ICYMI: GOP lawmakers entered Capitol flouting the Statehouse mandate, Coughlin expressed outrage; Menendez, Booker, Salas laud markup of ‘Daniel Anderle Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021’; Sherrill wants SALT deduction; Murphy: ‘we’re not there yet‘ on lifting student masks; House Dems celebrated Build Back Better passage, with SALT crucial; Holmes’ name in mix for AC prosecutor; Christie ‘definitely thinking about‘ prez run
Governor Murphy signed legislation to expand eligibility for the Child Care and Dependent Tax Credit. Speaker Coughlin lauded the legislation’s passage and signing.
A judge granted a temporary win for the GOP’s opposition to the Statehouse COVID-19 vaccine mandate, scheduling oral arguments for December 13th, according to Politico NJ.
Incoming Senate President Scutari is pushing for election law reform during the lame duck session, according to NJ Monitor.
Protesters descended on the Statehouse to rally for progressive bills, according to NJ Monitor.
The Pinelands Preservation Alliance decried Governor Murphy’s nominees for the Pinelands Commission. NJLVC slammed the nominations as a ‘massive corporate giveaway’.
The NJ Academy of Family Physicians was awarded the 2021 Leadership in State Government Advocacy Award from the AAFP.
The NJAAW released Episode 123 of its ‘Aging Insights’ TV program.
ICYMI: Murphy announced support for gun package; Sierra Club welcomed new director; Scutari named Pou to leadership; Conaway promoted Zupko to COS; GOP on collision course over Statehouse vaccine mandate; Dems’ difficulty in advancing RFA; Senator Testa hired Geist as COS; Murphy appointed Lipman as Rate Counsel director; Lassiter’s interview with Schepisi
In Newark, the East Ward prepares for a three-way election next year with the impending retirement of veteran Councilman Amador; among the candidates are retired Detective Mike Silva, who has the backing of Amador to succeed him, and retired Detective Louis Weber, who has an ally in Mayor Baraka and will run on the mayor’s slate next year.
In Bayonne, as the city heads towards a major election next year, Councilwoman Ashe-Nadrowski is on the verge of announcing her candidacy for mayor, teasing a ‘big announcement’ on Wednesday and filing paperwork to run.
In Jersey City, the GOP endorsed Councilman Boggiano in the run-off election.
In Paterson, Rep. Pascrell secured funding to create a Crime Gun Intelligence Center. Residents say the city is ‘too dangerous‘ as the homicide rate hits record levels, according to Paterson Press. The city is facing a possible 9.75% school tax increase, according to Paterson Press. Mayor Sayegh’s election fund hit a new high, according to Paterson Press.
In Hoboken, the city launched a partnership with Tomorrow.io, a weather and climate app.
In Hammonton, police are criticized for targeting dirt bikers, according to NJ101.5.
In Montclair, BOE member Alfred Davis passed away, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Montville, a recount in the BOE race is still planned, according to NJ Hills.
In Palisades Park, Councilman Lee is suing for a recount after losing by 24 votes, according to the Bergen Record.
In Prospect Park, a lawsuit alleges the town is deliberately delaying the quarry project, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Trenton, Clerk Conlon claims in a union complaint that one of his sexual harassment accusers threatened to murder him and bury his body, according to the Trentonian. Conlin railed against city officials and the press in a meeting rant, according to the Trentonian. Police Director Wilson was confirmed by the council, but not without a fight, according to the Trentonian.
In West New York, former Mayor Roque teased a rematch with Mayor Rodriguez, according to Hudson County View.
ICYMI: In Newark, ELEC finalized its decision on Baraka case; in Belleville, Melham announced his intention to seek re-election; in Newark, Bridgeforth considers the terrain, political establishment attention on West Ward; in Paterson, Sayegh’s wide-ranging interview, w/ Insider NJ; in Bayonne, city heads into election mode; in Newark, Diaz announced mayoral run; in Chatham, Abbot withdrew challenge; in Newark, Baraka considered infrastructure bill; in Paterson, Torres imbroglio continues; in Newark, Montague will run for mayor, heading into significant election year, including politically volatile Central Ward
AROUND THE WEB:
Richard Codey and Herb Conaway
- For more than a year and a half, COVID-19 has shaped our lives, canceling plans, separating us from friends and families, upending livelihoods and causing feelings of grief, stress, and anxiety. While the emergency phase of the pandemic is now largely over and life is beginning to return to normal, there’s no question that the crisis will continue to have long-term repercussions on the mental and behavioral health of New Jerseyans.
Trenton Republicans stand firm over the right to infect others | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Republicans in the Assembly gained six seats in the November election, cutting the Democratic advantage in half, and stirring talk of a comeback after their long years in the wilderness.
Trump’s positive COVID test was bad news, not fake news | Mulshine
Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger
- When I recently reviewed Chris Christie’s new book “Republican Rescue,” I had no idea it was a whodunit.
CDC’s plan to track omicron variant may be ‘too little, too late’
Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight
- A CDC surveillance system designed to track the explosively contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus “may be too little, too late,” according to one researcher. International travelers leaving U.S. Customs at Newark Liberty International Airport can walk down the ramp and over to a table in Terminal B where free COVID-19 tests are offered for people arriving from certain cities and countries.
Every Vote Counts, but Does Every Vote Get Counted?
Al Sullivan, TAPinto Bayonne
- Bayonne resident Karen M Tylutki was shocked when her completed ballot came back on Dec. 1. As former vice chair of the Bayonne Democratic Committee, Tylutki is “no novice” when it comes to voting, she told TAPinto Bayonne, and did everything properly for the mail-in ballot.
Watch as GOP assemblymen refuse to show vaccination records to state police
John Mooney, NJ Spotlight
- What makes this 18-minute video so compelling is that it’s an extraordinary departure from the usual tedium of State House deliberations. Shot by NJ Spotlight News’ Kevin Phalon, it follows a group of Republican assemblymen yesterday as they defied vaccination protocols — if not outright orders — and pushed their way into the Assembly chamber.
Warren, Watchung voters face Dec. 14 school referendums
New Jersey Sentinel
- Voters in Warren Township and Watchung will go to the polls next Tuesday, Dec. 14 to decide the fate of referendums that would fund school improvements in the respective towns.
Kean tells Morris Chamber, lame duck or not, he continues fighting for affordability, transparency
New Jersey Hills
- State Sen. Tom Kean Jr., R-Union/Somerset/Morris, may be a lame duck but he’ll be ruffling feathers all the way up to the end of his term this month.
The ultimate promoter: Tom Cosentino, 59, head of Garden State Wine Growers Association
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- Jack Tomasello remembers Tom Cosentino as more than just a guy who loved great wine. “He loved people,” Tomasello said. “Whether it was dealing with lobbyists and legislators, big wineries or small wineries or, really, just anyone who wanted to know about wine, Tom had the patience and the personality to get people together and gets things done.”
Van Drew blasts Murphy, says N.J. State House scenes “reminiscent of Communist China”
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Following Democrat attempts to use the State Police to bar Republican legislators from the N.J. State House, Congressman Jeff Van Drew unloaded on Governor Phil Murphy for the “shocking images” coming out of Trenton. “Governor Murphy took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of New Jersey which is crystal clear in denying him the authority to prevent duly elected legislators from being seated on the floor of their respective chambers,” said Van Drew (R, NJ-02) in a statement.
At ‘Liberty Village,’ 11,000 Afghan evacuees prepare to confront a New Jersey winter
Jeff Gammage, Philadelphia Inquirer
- In the last four days about 4,500 jackets have been distributed to the Afghan men, women, and children housed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in South Jersey. Fleece and sweatpants were being given out Thursday, soldiers plucking garments from huge cardboard boxes and handing them across tables to families now readying for low temperatures. A shipment of more than 18,000 sweatshirts and sweaters was due to arrive within hours.
Toms River Regional honors Nobel Peace Prize winner, former superintendent
Jean Mikle, Asbury Park Press
- A downtown building owned by Toms River Regional schools will be named after former superintendent Albert J. Dietrich, while High School North’s auditorium will be named after North graduate and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa. The Board of Education unanimously approved naming the facilities at a recent meeting. The building at 54 Washington St., which houses the district’s central registration office as well as an employee health center, will be named after Dietrich.
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