Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 2/18/2020 – InsiderNJ

Read Insider NJ’s key pieces of the past week.

The Treasury reported that January revenue collections for major taxes totaled $4B, up .7% from last January.

Rep. Kim will hold a town hall in Marlton on Monday.

Rep. Gottheimer and Bergen Executive Tedesco announced that eligible veterans will now be able to receive health referrals to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, following its approval by the VA as a CCN provider. Gottheimer held his 47th ‘Cup of Joe with Josh’ event in Ramsey.

Rep. Pascrell raised objections to the DHS announcement that NJ will be less eligible for FY2020 funding in the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and State Homeland Security Program (SHSP).

Rep. Sherrill introduced the ‘Join Long-Term Storage Act’. Sherill’s office delivered more than 4k ‘Valentines for Veterans’.

The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office invited the public to comment on its upcoming accreditation assessment.

Pennacchio wants Trump back in Jersey; Pascrell ripped into Trump’s ‘Fredo’ tweet, Pennacchio doesn’t think its an issue; Murphy teases upcoming budget address; Lassiter, Snowflack win NJPA awards

Acting Morris County GOP Chair Laura Ali wants a crack at a position for a full term, saying she’ll run in June. Ali ascended from being Vice Chair following the resignation of Ron DeFillippis; Rob Zwigard, who ran against DeFilippis in 2018, says he’s contemplating running again for the chairmanship.

The HCDO announced their endorsements in June primary, with District 4 Freeholder Torres not receiving party support; the party is backing Yraidra Aponte-Lipski.

In CD2, the congressional candidates are split on whether they support marijuana legalization, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

In CD3, the GOP primary race between David Richter and Kate Gibbs has turned ugly, according to SaveJersey, with dueling ads blasting each other on the eve of the Ocean County GOP screening. The Asbury Park Press reported that Gibbs was arrested for shoplifting in her 20s. Gibbs won the Ocean County screening contest on Saturday, giving her an advantage over Richter. Gibbs blasted Rep. Kim over the Army’s selection of Fort Knox as its new headquarters instead of Joint Base McGuire, saying he ‘traded his vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker in return for a seat on the House Armed Services Committee — all so he could advocate for the Joint Base. But he couldn’t even do that right’.

In CD4, Democratic candidate Stephanie Schmid endorsed Mike Bloomberg for President.

In CD5, Assemblyman Auth suspended his candidacy for the GOP nomination to take on Rep. Gottheimer, saying he was ‘clearly behind’ in fundraising and making the political rounds compared to the other candidates. Auth’s short-lived candidacy lasted less than a month.

In CD11, GOP candidate Rosemary Becchi was endorsed by House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy.

The Ocean County GOP screening committee, in addition to CD3’s Gibbs, recommended Rik Mehta for Senate, Jeff Van Drew in CD2, Chris Smith in CD4.

The Passaic County Democrats endorsed Cory Booker for Senate, and incumbent Reps. Pascrell, Sherrill, and Gottheimer for re-election.

ICYMI: Rice poised to go to South Carolina for Biden amid Bloomberg ad-valanche; CD2 campaigns clash; Hamm ‘livid’ over Bloomberg candidacy; Sussex Dems internal fight; Avelenda to take helm of NJ Dems as ED, Olasanoye reassigned to Milwaukee following Alonso/Gilbert firing after toxic workplace allegations; Warren wins Hunterdon straw poll; in CD2, Dems competed in Cape May County amid abiding Van Drew anger

In Newark, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced Michael Byrne as parade grand marshal and Eileen McGinley as deputy grand marshal.

In Holmdel, a judge dismissed Mayor Hinds’ lawsuit to overturn a censure in the wake of last year’s turf field scandal, according to NJ.com.

In Hamilton, records show that the township paid $16k for former Mayor Yaede’s defense in the ‘Expungegate’ scandal last year, according to the Trentonian.

In Hopatcong, the township is taking steps to minimize harmful algae blooms in Lake Hopatcong, according to NJ Herald.

In Rumson, the demolition of a massive mansion could signal change for the town, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In Ridgewood, ex-Mayor Arohnson’s ethics case is still pending, according to the Bergen Record.

In Belleville, longtime Councilman Kennedy passed away, according to NorthJersey.com.

In Jersey City, Council President Watterman’s daughter was hired as the Small Business Director at the Economic Development Corporation, according to Hudson County View.

In Montague, the BOE may start charging for public records, according to NJ Herald.

In Paterson, the BOE is weighing board game sales to raise money, according to the Paterson Press. Superintendent Shafer is getting a $19k bonus, according to Paterson Press. The state says the schools need extra classroom space for over 2300 students, according to Paterson Press.

In Garfield, the town extended the wait time for politicians to get local jobs, according to the Bergen Record.

In Englewood Cliffs, a judge approved 600 apartments at the former Unilever campus, according to the Bergen Record.

In Englewood, the schools superintendent filed a complaint over grade-change issues, according to the Bergen Record.

In Roselle, five teachers are appealing salary cuts for excessive tardiness, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Hillsborough, a developer and the town reached an agreement to build 468 homes on the Manville border, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Morristown, dozens of workers protested a new healthplan at the Morristown Post Acute and Nursing Center, according to the Daily Record.

In Bound Brook, the town is looking to tighten security at construction sites following a fire, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Camden, the Parking Authority lost a condemnation fight, according to the Courier Post.

ICYMI: In Paterson, Sayegh endorsed Bloomberg; in Montclair, Spiller, Schmidt, Baskerville vying for mayoralty; in Hamilton, Martin announced new staff; in AC, Dems challenging ballot proposal to change form of government, AC Mayor Small’s Insider NJ Interview, Thomas-Fields looks to make history in the city by becoming the first female mayor; in JC, Thomas appeared in court

The 2020 NJBIZ Power 100

Jeffrey Kanige, NJBIZ

• Attentive readers should notice a difference in this year’s edition of the NJBIZ Power 100 compared to other recent iterations – fewer elected officials, more business leaders. The decision to change the ratio was not meant as a knock on legislators or agency bureaucrats. Their actions are consequential and often significantly alter the business climate in the state and that fact is reflected in these pages. Just check out who occupies the top spot. Again.

One of N.J.’s most powerful people does cable TV play-by-play in his spare time

Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

• It’s one o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, and I’ve just driven up Route 1 in Middlesex County to watch a boys basketball game at Woodbridge High School. Crosstown rival Colonia is visiting. Parents, students, and cheerleaders are clustered in the bleachers.

Coalition seeks signatures against two I-80 projects

Bruce A. Scruton, NJ Herald

• The coalition of citizens working to get information out to the public on the Interstate 80 rock fall mitigation project has launched an online petition drive, along with a letter-writing push, to forward to state Department of Transportation and elected state officials.

Natural gas pipeline proposed in Edison would feed Woodbridge power plant

Mike Deak, Courier News and Home News Tribune

• Texas Eastern has proposed the construction of a 1.5-mile natural gas pipeline extension from its existing pipeline to supply a power plant in the Woodbridge Energy Center.A public meeting on the Middlesex Extension Project is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Courtyard by Marriott, 3105 Woodbridge Ave.

The Democrats’ delegate-selection system has a primary flaw that’s leading them to a stalemate | Mulshine

Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger

• After spending last week following the Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire, I started thinking of their nominating convention. No, not the one the Democrats are having this summer in Milwaukee. The one they had in 1932 in Chicago.

Let us not go back to 1963, when white supremacist propaganda plagued America | Lowry

Bruce Lowry, NorthJersey

• Sometimes it feels like we’re living in the black and white world of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Gov. George C. Wallace is pounding his fist, vowing “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.” Public safety commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor is turning his dogs, billy clubs and hoses upon the African American children of Birmingham, Alabama.

Portal Bridge decay is a problem, but what lies beneath could be even more dangerous

Mike Kelly, NorthJersey

• We all know the danger of settling for a job half-done. Maybe we try to save a few dollars by replacing the leaky faucet in the bathtub but overlook the more complex and expensive problem of the rotting and clogged pipes behind the wall.

GOP’s David Richter defends leap into NJ’s 3rd District congressional race

David Levinsky, Burlington County Times

• Following the 2nd District shakeup, Republican David Richter set off some political dynamite of his own when he leaped into the neighboring 3rd Congressional District, where three Republicans were already competing for the nomination to run against incumbent Democrat Andy Kim.

House Dems unveil infrastructure plan, but is it dead on arrival?

Brenda Flanagan, NJTV

• New Jersey’s in line for hundreds of billions of federal dollars to fix aging airports, roads, rail lines and water systems. But there’s a catch — the proposal from House Democrats in this election year could be dead-in-the-water before it ever gets off the drawing board. Senior Correspondent Brenda Flanagan got a look at the proposed plan.

2nd Congressional District candidates issue policies

Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City

• Democratic 2nd Congressional District primary candidates Brigid Harrison, of Longport, and Amy Kennedy, of Brigantine, issued statements last week on how they would reform election law and provide mental health services.

NJ parole system should promote success rather than punishing failure | Fraser

Ronald Fraser

• State-run parole and probation programs are designed to keep persons convicted of crimes — including a very large number of non-violent crimes — out of prison. But in New Jersey, according to a recent Council of State Governments study, “Confined and Costly: How Supervision Violations are Filling Prisons,” “On any given day 2,698 people (or 14% of the 2018 New Jersey prison population) are behind bars as a result of a probation or parole violation, at an annual cost to the state of $183 million.”

Rutgers’ hiring of Jonathan Holloway through the lens of African American history

Bob Makin, Courier News and Home News Tribune

• The hiring of Northwestern University Provost Jonathan Holloway to be Rutgers’ first non-white president since the university’s inception 254 years ago was a historic moment. Holloway, a former dean at Yale University who was once a football teammate of Sen. Cory Booker’s at Stanford, will take the helm at Rutgers on July 1, when current president Robert Barchi retires.

Are the state’s laws keeping up with the growing medical pot industry?

Briana Vannozzi, NJTV

• Should medical marijuana patients be covered by workers comp? Should insurers of marijuana businesses provide coverage without fear of retaliation? Both measures represent important steps in the growth of the cannabis economy in New Jersey. Senior Correspondent Briana Vannozzi reports on two bills advanced by legislators this week in Trenton.

Automated, once-a-week trash pickup coming to Bordentown

Jarrad Saffren, Burlington County Times

• Bordentown Township has agreed to a three year waste management contract with Central Jersey Waste Services. The contractor uses an articulated trash pick up method that should save the township about $150,000.

Freeholder Gill Talks Guns, Gun Control at Union Baptist Church of Montclair

Steve Maginnis, TAPinto Montclair

• Essex County Freeholder at-Large and Board of Freeholders President Brendan Gill met with members of the Union Baptist Church on Midland Avenue in Montclair and other members of the community to discuss the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in the country.  The February 13 community meeting was part of the Break the Hate series of conversations hosted by the Rev. Campbell Singleton, pastor of the Union Baptist Church.

No question time at Murphy lunch frustrates GOP statehouse officials

PC Robinson, Bernardsville News

• Gov. Phil Murphy’s speech at the Morris County Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Hanover Township on Wednesday left some state legislators seeking answers to questions the governor didn’t take.

Jersey City Council designates Saddlewood and Laurel Courts as redevelopment areas

Mike Montemarano, Hudson County View

• Also at last night’s Jersey City Council meeting, they designated two dead end streets, Saddlewood and Laurel Courts, as “areas in need of redevelopment” amid a heated conflict between 37 residents and a developer who owned a property on one of the cul-de-sacs.

State Lawmakers Move to Halt NYC Homeless Relocation Program

Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight

• New Jersey landlords would not be allowed to accept housing assistance from an out-of-state agency under a bill that cleared a Senate committee Thursday, designed to prevent the future relocations of homeless families from New York City or elsewhere into cities like Newark. A controversial New York City program that prepays landlords for a year’s housing of individuals and families in city shelters came to light last year when Newark officials complained that it had resulted in a number of people living in squalid conditions and verging on homelessness again — this time in Newark — once the year was up.