Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 4/11/2022 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He’s raised taxes by $5 billion and his claim of having embraced tax relief amounts to little more than putting lipstick on a pig.” – Senator O’Scanlon taking issue with Governor Murphy’s ANCHOR property tax rebate program
TOP STORY: The Culture Wars Descend on the Streets of Mendham
The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be on break for the remainder of the week, and will be back on Monday, April 18th.
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,911,538 cases and 30,292 confirmed fatalities (and 304,147 probable cases and 3,006 probable fatalities) as of Sunday (an increase of 1,536 confirmed cases, 335 probable cases, 1 lab-confirmed fatalities, and 0 hospital-reported fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.19. There are 366 total hospitalizations, with 38 in intensive care units. There are 6,830,812 people fully vaccinated.
Insider NJ’s Christine Sloan interviews NJ restauranteur David Burk about the future of dining following the pandemic, and what the state can do to assist struggling small business.
The state’s COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, spurred by the BA.2 variant, according to the Bergen Record.
NJ schools saw a drop in enrollment during the last school year, according to the Bergen Record.
A lawsuit alleges Rutgers created ‘fake jobs’ for graduates to boost MBA rankings, according to NJ.com.
A former Clark Township police officer alleges he was retaliated against by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office in the racist recordings case, according to NJ.com.
Rep. Pallone tested positive for COVID-19, according to NJ.com.
ICYMI: Murphy, State Police confirmed shooting incident at American Dream Mall; Stockton poll finds minority voters more moderate than Dems overall; Monmouth poll finds residents prefer to keep Dems in Congress by small edge, but Biden continues to be underwater; Murphy earns majority approval rating but most say he wouldn’t make a good Prez; Murphy delivered the keynote address at St. Peter’s; state launches NJ FinLit; NJOHSP unveiled disinformation portal; Bon Jovi and Murphys joining forces to help Ukraine; Menendez rallied with local leaders in Hillside for Brown Jackson; Booker defended Brown Jackson; Kim connects with key constituency; Sherrill visited Picatinny; Essex’s Richardson discusses labor movement, Newark politics; US Atty announced Civil Rights Division; Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds 1/3 want to leave state; Van Drew upbraided Murphy over early prison releases; NJ filed legal brief opposing Waterfront Commission; majority of residents aren’t happy w/ direction of the state
Read Insider NJ’s Who’s Up And Who’s Down to see where the players stand in Jersey politics over the past week.
Read Insider NJ’s 2022 primary elections primer to see where things stand right now in the primary season.
In CD7, the NJ Right To Life PAC endorsed Assemblyman Peterson in the GOP primary.
Listen to Activista Rise Up! with host Dr. Patricia Campos Medina and ACLU-NJ strategist Alejandra Sorta.
ICYMI: Garces hosting ‘Discussion on Empowering Different Abilities‘summit; appeals court reinstated bribery charges against O’Donnell; ELEC reprimanded and fined Muniz; filing deadline brings candidates, and also candidate slogans; Cabana asks Mastrangelo to refrain using name on campaign lit; Insider NJ’s Who’s Up And Who’s Down; in CD11, Sherrill formally launched campaign, Bramnick is all in with Selen, DeGroot filed petitions for primary; Hunterdon GOP endorsed Rich, Lanza, Brown’; Morris Dems selected candidates for commissioner; in CD4, Francisco dropped out and joined forces with Crispi; in CD5, at least 2 will remain in primary; in CD3, Hendler filed lawsuit against Mercer Dems alleging convention denial; in CD7, Malinowski held a town hall; Bratsenis pleaded guilty in murder-for-hire case; in CD5, Pallotta soldiering on, despite losing Bergen convention; in CD11, Casha ended bid, following loss at Morris convention
In Mendham, the culture wars descended on the streets, as demonstrators rallied outside the high school in support of LGBTQ rights, and specifically inclusion in schools and school curriculum.
In Bayonne, Council President Ashe Nadrowski fired another salvo at Mayor Davis, focusing on redevelopment. The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council endorsed Team Davis. In Ward 3, Franco blitzed LaPelusa over the Chiappone health benefits controversy, according to Hudson County View.
In Newark, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council endorsed Mayor Baraka.
In Atlantic City, casinos are eying better days and starting more projects, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The library is a ‘hub‘ for the state’s new digital-literacy program, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bound Brook, Alvin Freeman was named the new schools superintendent, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Bridgewater, the group ‘Rise Against Hate’ filed an OPRA lawsuit against the town, according to TAPinto.
In Clark Township, the state took over the probe of local government after racist recordings emerged, according to NJ.com.
In Clifton, a police and health substation was opened in Botany, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Edgewater Park, a new police chief was appointed, according to Burlington County Times.
In Hasbrouck Heights, four candidates are running in the primaries, according to TAPinto.
In Hoboken, Councilman Ramos vowed to continue fighting for a new rec center, according to TAPinto. Some pols remain skeptical of the new municipal complex proposal, according to the Jersey Journal.
In Lakewood, Governor Murphy condemned several violent criminal attacks, including the stabbing of an Orthodox Jewish man. Tenant complaints are on the rise as landlords increase rents, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Maplewood, two cannabis applications were heard, according to TAPinto.
In Newton, a cannabis store was approved, according to TAPinto.
In Paterson, a judge appeared skeptical of the argument to void voters to signed multiple petitions, and ultimately ruled that Councilman Mendez will remain on the ballot in the mayoral race, according to Paterson Times.. Mayoral candidates presented plans to address surging crime, according to Paterson Press.
In Pemberton, a judge ruled in favor of police officers in a overtime lawsuit, according to Burlington County Times.
In Phillipsburg, officials say miscommunication over designs and permitting has pushed the pool’s opening to next year, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Teaneck, schools superintendent Irving will step down, according to the Bergen Record.
In Trenton, Trenton Animals Rock was locked out of the animal shelter after the council refused to extend its contract, according to the Trentonian.
In Watchung, a councilman revealed an investigation after a recusal, according to NJ Hills.
In Wayne, the budget was introduced, according to TAPinto.
In West Caldwell, the town continues to investigate flooding causes, according to TAPinto.
In Wood-Ridge, four candidates are running in the primaries, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: In Paterson, Murphy endorsed Sayegh; in Newark, the Firefighters issued endorsements, West Ward council candidates Kelly and Onyema tangled over mayor’s affections, James and Kelly continued to clash following forum, Booker endorsed McIver; in Red Bank, Dem committee being challenged; in Paterson, Torres’ endorsement of Mendez solidifies alliance; in Dover, Correa filed petitions after Dems pulled support, fielding commission challengers; in Rahway, Scutari endorsed Giaccobe; in Englewood Cliffs, borough will accept Ukrainian refugees; in Rahway, upswing could be lifeline for Malinowski; in Newark, Crump running unopposed for a full term, John Sharpe James offered his thoughts on city politics; in Newark, Rountree rallied with airport workers; in Newark, White’s South Ward candidacy tossed on challenge, East Ward’s Campos says he has key factor that rivals lack; in Dover, Robinson supports Ruiz over Correa in Ward 3 primary; in Newark, Bankston says ‘we need a political beast‘ in South Ward; in Newark, Jones pursuing South Ward candidacy; in Newark, James seeking comeback in West Ward; in Newark, McCray seeking Central Ward seat
AROUND THE WEB:
‘Sitting on a time bomb’: Mobile home residents at risk in red-hot housing market
Ariana Figuero, NJ Monitor
- Jon Zang walks his dog several times a day in his mobile home community in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania. It’s quiet, as most of his neighbors are at work. But he often wonders how many more walks he and his bulldog mix, Ladybug, will have down the streets of the place he’s called home for 21 years. “We’re literally sitting on a time bomb that we’re sure is going to go off at some point, but we don’t know when,” Zang said.
Frank Pallone’s stuck in the middle on oil | Mulshine
Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger
- I don’t envy Frank Pallone.
Ownership of Carnegie Center reverts to Atlantic City
Nanette LoBiondo Galloway, Downbeach
- Stockton University has formally returned ownership of the Carnegie Center to the City of Atlantic City. The historic Carnegie Library, built in 1904, served as the city’s library until the library moved to a more modern facility in 1985. The Casino Reinvestment and Development Authority acquired the then abandoned building in the 1990s and spent several million dollars to restore it.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann, For lehighvalleylive.com
- A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with autism and other special needs has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Phillipsburg.
Georgette Castner sworn in as youngest female U.S. District Court judge in N.J. history
ROI NJ
- Georgette Castner, a highly regarded litigator and former partner at Montgomery McCracken, was sworn in Thursday as the youngest female federal judge in the 232-year history of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Castner, 42, whose appointment was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week, was sworn in by Chief Judge Freda Wolfson during a private ceremony at the federal courthouse in Trenton. It is a lifetime appointment.
NJ’s LGBTQ curriculum still faces hurdles 3 years after it was mandated
Tennyson Donyea, NJ Spotlight
- In 2019, New Jersey enacted a measure that required public schools to implement an LGBTQ curriculum for students in grades 5 through 12, becoming the second U.S. state to do so after California. However, advocates said many school districts still face challenges in rolling out the new curriculum.
Atlantic City metro area has second largest annual decrease in home flipping rates, per report
Christopher Doyle, Press of Atlantic City
- The Atlantic City metropolitan statistical area saw the second largest decrease in home-flipping rates in the country in 2021, according to a report issued by ATTOM, a real estate data curator.
NJ Transit pulls commuter buses from Philly’s Greyhound terminal, citing dangerous space crunch
Thomas Fitzgerald, Philadelphia Inquirer
- NJ Transit has rerouted five bus lines serving Center City Philadelphia because of “unsafe” conditions caused by traffic flow changes at the Greyhound terminal where its buses picked up and dropped off passengers.
Somerset County Park Commission joins NJ war on plastic waste. Here’s how
Mike Deak, My Central Jersey
- Golf courses are an oasis of green space and the Somerset County Park Commission wants its courses to remain that way. The commission announced it will no longer distribute plastic water bottles at its golf courses – Green Knoll, Neshanic Valley, Spooky Brook, Quail Brook and Warrenbrook – as part of the movement to remove plastic from the waste stream.
At last, commuters will see construction of a new Portal Bridge from their train windows
Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Construction to replace the infrastructure that everyone hates — the cranky Portal Bridge that carries hundreds of NJ Transit and Amtrak trains over the Hackensack River — has been given the green light to start.
How to write the history of Trump’s presidency? NJ historian takes first step — Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- One of the quandaries for presidential historians is that they sometimes have to actually speak to a president. If that president happens to be Donald J. Trump, they face an ever-widening spectrum of challenges, from spin and whining to exaggeration and outright falsehood.
‘Let’s Go Brand*n’ Can Be NJ Candidate’s Slogan, but ‘FJB’ Not OK
- A perennial candidate can use a thinly-veiled version of a slogan meant as a slur to President Joe Biden on a primary ballot this June, as long as he removes three letters that are an acronym of the slogan’s true meaning, according to the New Jersey Division of Elections.
‘No man is left behind’: Brick veteran died alone, but here’s why his funeral was packed
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press
- After the bugler finished playing “Taps,” Dawn Tabish stood up to address a room full of mourners. She looked astonished. “The fact that you all came out is immensely, unbelievably wonderful,” she said. “I don’t have the words.”
Is the labor shortage another ‘new normal’? Experts weigh in
Jenna Intersimone, MyCentralJersey.com
- Forget a “Help Wanted” sign in the window; Tina Dalamaras, owner of Kitchen American Grill in the Whitehouse Station section of Readington, is wearing it. You can often find her in an apron at her new restaurant, which opened March 21. “My husband and I will put on whatever hat is needed to get the job done, whatever it takes,” Dalamaras said. “If we need a dishwasher, we jump in and we’re dishwashers. If we need a server, we do that.”
Tiny South Jersey church preserves its history after replacing 142-year-old steeple
Anthony V. Coppola, Vineland Daily Journal
- Stories passed down for generations tell a tale of mariners using a prominent landmark erected 142 years ago to make their way home from the Delaware Bay up the Maurice River to Mauricetown. That marker is the 100-foot steeple that has towered atop the Mauricetown United Methodist Church since it was constructed in 1880.
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