Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 3/10/2021 – InsiderNJ

Follow Insider NJ’s COVID-19 Information Update Center and Insider NJ’s County COVID-19 Data Center.

The statewide COVID-19 count stands at 726,395 cases and 21,238 fatalities (and 92,647 probable cases and 2,397 probable fatalities) as of Tuesday; the viral transmission rate is 1.05. There have been 2,5358,570 COVID-19 vaccinations administered.

Governor Murphy signed legislation establishing March 9th of each year as ‘COVID-19 Heroes Day’ and signed the ‘New Jersey Jersey Foreclosure Prevention Act’.

The NJDOL announced $3M in grants for degree apprenticeship programs.

An Amtrak employee was charged with stealing and selling over $50k worth of chainsaws and chainsaw parts.

The Bergen County Clerk’s Office highlighted its past year operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passaic County Commissioners adopted the 2021 budget.

Sussex County leaders will discuss a ‘pro-respect’ resolution, according to NJ Herald.

Senator Menendez applauded the American Rescue Plans’ investment in housing counseling assistance for struggling renters and homeowners.

Rep. Norcross was re-appointed House Assistant Majority Whip.

Kean University launched an Urban Policy Institute.

Rutgers AAUP-AFT praised the university’s board of directors vote on divestment in fossil fuels.

The NJSIAA will hold a senior gymnastics showcase in April.

A WalletHub study ranks New Jersey as the state with the 10th highest taxes.

Riker Danzig filed a emergent motion for relief on behalf of Bloom Medicinals of PA.

Climate Change and Preserving Clean Air for Vulnerable Communities (Sponsored Content)

ICYMI: Justice LaVecchia announced retirement; Insider NJ key pieces; Murphy visited Hudson vaccine center; Malinowski under fire for failing to disclose stock trades; Murphy ‘can’t fathom‘ complete reopening now

ELEC reported that lobbying expenditures hit a record $105M last year, with spending jumping 3.4% over 2019.

The Senate Education Committee approved school regionalization legislation.

Senator Vitale and Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle introduced a bill package to increase access to harm reduction services.

Senator Testa and Assemblymen Simonsen and McLellan introduced the ‘Fairness in Women’s Sports Act’.

Senator O’Scanlon criticized the Murphy Administration not following neighboring states in increasing indoor dining capacities.

Assemblywoman Dunn investigated a shuttered state career center as evidence of a ‘broken’ unemploymnt system.

Advocates fear Governor Murphy’s plan to divert $20M of affordable housing funds, according to NJ Spotlight.

The NJRHA and DoorDash announced the winners of grants for independent restaurants in the state.

Fight For Freelancers NJ urged the state’s federal legislators to vote against the PRO Act.

ICYMI: Murphy open to fixing weed laws; Murphy signed ‘LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights’; Murphy took action on legislation; Sweeney, Weinberg will intro legislation to eliminate and replace Board of Chiropractors; former Senator Barnes passed away; Cryan discusses primary, redistricting

In Jersey City, Mayor Fulop announced that recreation and youth development programs will safely resume. The council is set for its first vote on affordable housing compliance, according to Hudson County View. Property owners urged the council to hold off on extending rent hike freezes, according to the Jersey Journal.

In Camden, the Center for Environmental Transformation applauded the NJDEP’s extension of the public comment period on GP Gypsum’s Clean Air Act operating permit.

In Plainfield, mayoral primary candidate Richard Wyatt will kick off his campaign with a press conference on Monday.

In South Orange-Maplewood, the Education Association released a statement on the school district’s withdrawal from mediation.

In Bernardsville, a tree-cutting dispute is going to mediation, according to NJ Hills.

In Buena Vista, two Republicans are running for township committee, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

In Bogota, an officer was suspended for five months without pay following an internal investigation, according to the Bergen Record.

In Bridgewater, the town increased the contract for snow removal, according to TAPinto.

In Harding, the mayor says that local stores seem to be the best avenue for COVID-19 vaccinations, according to NJ Hills.

In Madison, the town is facing commercial tax revenue losses, according to NJ Hills.

In Margate, the town extended outdoor dining permits through October, according to Downbeach.

In Middletown, the town wants to cover acres with solar panels, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In Morristown, a developer is suing the township again, according to the Daily Record.

In Ocean Township, a lawsuit alleges that a pregnant police officer was discriminated against, according to Burlington County Times.

In Paramus, the council is returning to in-person meetings later this month, according to TAPinto.

In Paterson, the city collected its first taxes on medical marijuana, according to Paterson Press. The council shelved the Sayegh Administration’s plan for usage fees for fields, according to Paterson Times.

In Pleasantville, officials rallied for the removal of the state fiscal monitor, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

In Princeton, Bob Bruschi will return to serve as administrator, according to Planet Princeton.

In Trenton, Manale is out as Mayor Gusciora’s Chief of Staff, according to the Trentonian.

In Wayne, more developers will have a say in affordable housing, according to NorthJersey.com.

ICYMI: In Camden, Kahn exploring running for mayor following impending resignation of Moran; in Trenton, Blakely says politics have become toxic; in Edison, Shah urged MCDO to allow open primary; in Bordentown, Sciortino announced candidacy for commissioner; in Phillipsburg, Warren County Dems rebuked McVey’s sexist remark; in Plainfield, Mapp kicked off re-election; in Paterson, Jackson, Mendez indicted on voter fraud charges; in JC, Bing announced candidacy for Ward C; in AC, Small awarded the line in primary; in Parsippany, Martin joined Valori’s ticket as race intensifies in early days

Top Official Ousted Over Covid-19 Deaths at Veterans Nursing Homes Remained on N.J. Payroll for Months

Christopher Weaver, Wall Street Journal

• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ousted a top state official in mid-October as part of a reckoning over the Covid-19 crisis at the state’s nursing homes for veterans, but the official was never fired, state records show. Rather, Maj. Gen. Jemal Beale, the former commissioner of the state’s military and veterans agency, was allowed to resign on Jan. 1 of this year despite Mr. Murphy announcing on Oct. 16 that Gen. Beale was being replaced “effective immediately,” according to personnel records and state officials.

Q&A with Joe Kelley: N.J. Economic Recovery Act is big ($14B), but it’s geared toward SMBs

Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com

• Joe Kelley is glad to get the question. Expects it. Is ready for it. Feels it’s the No. 1 thing he hears when people talk about the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law in January. So, here goes: How can the governor, who railed against the largesse of incentive awards under his predecessor, Chris Christie, sign on for a package of incentives that appears to be even bigger in offerings — as the Act’s potential $14 billion in awards suggests?

Bet on the Ronald, not the Donald, for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination | Mulshine

Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger

• Here’s a fun political trivia question: Who was the last president before Donald Trump to lose the White House, the Senate and the House? The answer: Herbert Hoover. And at least he could blame his loss on a Depression that started the year he took office. It was Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator from Louisiana, who popularized that observation about The Donald. He did so the day before Trump’s speech last week at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

NJ has been more relaxed about social distancing. Here’s why that has experts worried

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com

• New Jersey residents wear masks and avoid crowded places more than people in almost every other state. They are less resistant to getting vaccinated against COVID-19, according to recent surveys. But adherence to public health precautions is weakening — and experts say that’s a worrisome trend. More people visited bars and restaurants, rode public transportation and spent time in the same room with others outside their household, as cases of coronavirus infection decreased last month, according to researchers at Rutgers and three other universities.

Barnegat Officials: Parents Need to Know This About New Marijuana Laws

Stephanie A. Faughnan, TAPinto.net

• The Barnegat Township Committee stated their opposition before New Jersey voters even decided to legalize recreational marijuana. And the newly passed cannabis legislation has at least one committee member up in arms. “This committee and the police department work very hard to keep Barnegat safe, crime-free, and especially protect our children,” said Deputy Mayor Al Cirulli. “Yet, we have a governor and a democratically controlled legislature working against us.”

Pandemic stalls, delays some development projects, but spurs others

Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is painfully clear in a rising number of infections and deaths here. But it’s also evident in things that are not rising — like a planned $39.6-million office building near the city’s Waterfront.

The challenge is on to vaccinate New Jersey’s teachers

Raven Santana, NJ Spotlight

• More than 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered statewide and those numbers are expected to jump significantly with more supply in the pipeline and pharmacies like CVS expanding their rollout. Gov. Phil Murphy announced recently that among those who will be eligible March 15 will be teachers.

Queen Latifah returns home to Newark to get COVID vaccine, encourage others to do the same

Nicholas Katzban, NorthJersey.com

• In a shot at increasing awareness of the vaccine’s safety and to encourage city residents, Essex County held an event Tuesday night at the local county college, with Queen Latifah accepting a dose of the Moderna vaccine in her hometown.

Morris Township hotel hearing scuttled…again

Kevin Coughlin, Morristown Green

• Morris Township neighbors worrying about a 225-room hotel going up in their backyard have nothing to fear. The public hearings can’t even get off the ground. Township officials had to pull the plug about an hour into a special meeting on Tuesday night, because the municipality’s Zoom site could not handle the traffic.

Jersey City rec supervisor alleges former director discriminated against him, called him ‘a fat f***’

John Heinis, Hudson County View

• A Jersey City Department of Recreation supervisor is alleging that a former director discriminated against him, calling him names like “a fat f***,” and giving him unfavorable assignments in hopes of making him resign.

Franklin can call suspended cop as witness in disciplinary hearing, NJ Supreme Court rules

Lori Comstock, New Jersey Herald

• A Franklin police lieutenant suspended for allegedly misusing steroids will have to testify at his own disciplinary hearing as a witness for the borough, after a ruling Monday by the New Jersey Supreme Court.