Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 2/11/2022 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “By the time we’re at the midterms, we’ll hopefully not be wearing these.” – Rep. Gottheimer referring to facemasks
TOP STORY: Crispi Wants to take Down ‘D.C. Insider’ Smith
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,849,171 cases and 29,323 confirmed fatalities (and 290,408 probable cases and 2,937 probable fatalities) as of Thursday (an increase of 2,654 confirmed cases, 697 probable cases, 81 lab-confirmed fatalities, and 16 hospital-reported fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is .5. There are 1,641 total hospitalizations, with 322 in intensive care units. There are 6,670,568 people fully vaccinated.
Governor Murphy signed an executive order extending the public health emergency for an additional 30 days; Murphy had announced the extension on Monday while also announcing the lifting of the school mask mandate in March.
Governor Murphy is waving off presidential speculation even as it builds, according to NJ Spotlight.
The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office announced the 26th annual Citizens Police Academy.
A proposed Ocean County Judicial Complex addition has ballooned to $70M, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Passaic County rejected a $4M settlement in Tishell Jackson’s lawsuit, according to NorthJersey.com.
Senator Menendez is pushing for greater equity in homeownership.
Rep. Norcross and the Labor Caucus urged the Senate to pass the PRO Act.
Rep. Kim held a town hall.
Rep. Pascrell announced $15.4M to establish a electric vehicle charging network in the state.
ICYMI: Former NJSEA CEO Mulcahy passed away; Murphy announced that school mask mandate to be lifted on March 7th, public health emergency to be extended; Murphy nominated Platkin for AG; Harris visiting NJ; Murphy’s ‘jaw hit floor‘ over Caddle murder-for-hire; Kuhl passed away
The five GOP Morris County commissioner candidates are making the rounds ahead of the June primary.
Jersey City is represented in 7 of 9 Hudson County districts following last month’s county redistricting, according to Hudson County View.
ICYMI: Following the public release of the legislative apportionment map proposals earlier this week, the Apportionment Commission held a public hearing yesterday, with numerous speakers offering criticism on various elements of the proposals. LD27 Senator Codey expressed misgivings about removing the Morris towns currently in the district and adding Irvington and Hillside, making the case that the district should extend further into West Essex County. LD28 Assemblyman Caputo, whose district includes the city, said that if Codey doesn’t want the city moved into his district, ‘I do‘, adding ‘I love Irvington‘. Irvington Mayor Vauss said that redistricting the city would be ‘inappropriate‘ since it has more shared concerns and issues with the LD28 municipalities than LD27’s.
Crispi looking to take down Smith; Maeder announced candidacy for Somerset Clerk; Murphy allies launched PAC; Insider NJ’s Fights of the Week; in CD11, GOP’s ongoing intra-party slog; Barba announced candidacy for Bergen County Executive; in LD26, Barranco not worried about potential changes; in CD3, lockdown critic Smith announced candidacy
In Jersey City, Mayor Fulop joined HUD’s ‘House America’ initiative to address homelessness. Mayor Fulop says that dividing the city into three legislative districts violates the state constitution, according to Hudson County View.
In South Orange, the Essex County Fire Chiefs Association expressed opposition to the South Orange-Maplewood fire department merger.
In Piscataway, Democratic council primary candidates Johnson and Berger decried the new ward maps as gerrymandered.
In Atlantic City, the council removed MUA Chairman Devlin from his post, according to the Press of Atlantic City; Devlin is mulling further legal action, according to the Press of Atlantic City..
In Cedar Grove, the establishment of a Joint Flood Control Board with Verona was approved, according to TAPinto.
In Franklin (Sussex), the town lowered speed limits and wants Sussex County to follow suit, according to NJ Herald.
In Hamilton (Atlantic), the township appointed a new administrator, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Hoboken, a March return is eyed for in-person return to council meetings, according to TAPinto. The city hired a firm to design the new DPW facility, according to TAPinto.
In Howell, an anti-Semitism case over a proposed yeshiva has cost $500k in legal fees, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Mahwah, a resident wants a tainted well closed and bottled water subsidized, according to the Bergen Record.
In Montclair, some say the agreement for firefighters in Glen Ridge puts an unfair burden on the taxpayers, according to NorthJersey.com.
In New Providence, the council discussed pending sign ordinance revisions, according to TAPinto.
In Park Ridge, the appointment of Senator Schepisi as rate counsel has stirred controversy, according to the Bergen Record.
In Paterson, Mayor Sayegh is courting the council for $9.5M for sewers and public safety, according to Paterson Press.
In Red Bank, The split council rejected the mayor’s choice to fill a council vacancy, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Springfield, the town sold the Sarah Bailey Civic Center for $2.48M, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: In Parsippany, former Mayor Priore passed away; in Randolph, BOE controversy over Rosh Hashanah; in Irvington, Vauss announced re-election; in Newark, CWA endorsed Baraka; in Bayonne, Davis tapped Weimmer for Ward 2; in Newark, Osborne picked up petitions; in North Hunterdon-Voorhees, parents express opposition to LGBTQ books; in Newark, Brown discusses candidacy
AROUND THE WEB:
Freehold, Marlboro, NJ school board critics draw Nazi comparisons
Townsquare Staff
- Two separate board of education meetings in Monmouth County this week devolved into distraction as two anti-mask adults refused to wear masks during public comments and compared COVID pandemic protocol to Nazi tactics. The disruptions came a day after Gov. Phil Murphy announced the statewide school mask mandate would end the first week of March.
Wordle 235: N.J. Gov. Murphy is playing, too — and admits his wife is better
Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Even Gov. Phil Murphy has gotten in on the Wordle craze. But apparently, his wife is better at the popular internet word game. Just like countless people do every day on social media, First Lady Tammy Murphy has been posting her Wordle scores on Twitter of late.
Jonathan D. Salant, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Prominent New Jersey Republicans criticized their national party for calling the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection “legitimate political discourse” and censuring the two House GOP members helping to investigate the riot.
NJ Transit names veteran executive its head of rail operations
Linda Lindner, ROI NJ
- James Sincaglia was named senior vice president and general manager of rail operations by New Jersey Transit‘s board of directors this week. Sincaglia is a career employee with more than 26 years of service with the corporation.
Jersey City Council narrowly votes to table 2nd reading of Morris Canal Manor amendments
Daniel Ulloa, Hudson County View
- With Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore leading the charge, the Jersey City Council narrowly voted to table the second reading of the Morris Canal Manor amendments at last night’s meeting.
Poll shows many parents in no rush to vaccinate youngest kids
Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight
- Gov. Phil Murphy is dropping the school mask mandate — and partly banking on more children getting vaccinated to raise COVID-19 immunity rates in classrooms. In a recent survey, called COVID States Project, researchers found about 59% of parents with children ages five to 11 felt confident they would get them vaccinated but only 54% of parents with kids under age five were of the same mind — assuming Pfizer’s two-dose regimen for the youngest children wins emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Melanie Burney, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Struggling to fill vacancies, the Camden school district plans to search abroad to hire teachers for its bilingual and English as a Second Language classes for the 2022-23 school year. “We have to do something different,” said Superintendent Katrina McCombs. “Yes, we are desperate.”
The politics of NJ’s school mask mandate
Eric Scott, NJ1015
- Gov. Phil Murphy has long said data and science, not politics, have been the drivers of his pandemic policies. A closer look at the timing of some of his decisions may cause many to question that.
Murphy’s punt on school segregation to face court scrutiny | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- It might surprise Gov. Phil Murphy’s progressive allies to know that he has been fighting like a wildcat to defend school segregation in court, fending off a lawsuit pushed by a broad coalition of civil rights activists who compare his behavior to Southern segregationists during the Civil Rights movement.
These days, Donald Trump’s condition is no laughing matter | Mulshine
Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger
- When most people get COVID-19 they lose their sense of smell. With Donald Trump, something much worse happened.
Senate hearing expected on same-day voter registration
Nikita Biryukov, NJ Monitor
- New Jersey lawmakers intend to hold a hearing on legislation that would allow residents to register to vote on Election Day, but it’s still unclear when — or if — the proposal will see a committee vote. The bill is scheduled to come up for a discussion-only hearing at the Senate State Government, Wagering, and Tourism Committee’s March 3 meeting, said Sen. James Beach (D-Camden), the panel’s chairman.
These New Jersey candidates and parents are fighting the mandates
Bill Spadea, NJ1015
- My friend Phil Rizzo who is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district is leading the charge to rally opposition candidates across New Jersey’s 12 congressional districts. The stance is simple. End the mandates. Never again allow the government to pick winners and losers. Every worker putting food on the table is essential. Kids are not pawns in a political game.
Monmouth, Morris, Middlesex center of final redistricting hearing
Michael Symons, NJ1015
- Monday’s release of draft redistricting maps sparked enough interest in a Wednesday hearing that an overflow session will be needed Friday, with Apportionment Commission members getting a final earful about the changes they should make or avoid in drawing a final map.
(Visited 382,312 times, 68 visits today)