Asked what New Jersey would have done differently if it could have a COVID-19 do-over, Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, “I really would have focused on the resiliency of our nursing homes.”
Governor Phil Murphy quickly jumped in with an add that threw the burden onto the feds.
“I wish the nation had a stockpile sufficient of PPE to meet our needs,” Murphy said.
Governor Phil Murphy this afternoon endorsed Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s advise for protesters who concentrated in Newark this past Saturday.
“If you’re in close promity, you should get tested,” Murphy told reporters today at the War Memorial.
The mayor’s original exhortation:
“If you were downtown at that protest in any capacity, whether you’re a cop, a civilian, whether you were cleaning up, whether you were helping out whether you were part of the clergy, whatever you were doing go get tested immediately,” Baraka said during a Facebook Live.
Read Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 6/3/2020
State Sen. Randy Feenstra defeated incumbent Rep. Steve King in Tuesday’s Republican primary for Iowa’s 4th congressional district, according to the Cook Political Report.
Once a robust ally of Governor Chris Christie, King’s relationship with the New Jerseyan developed in 2009. At that time Christie was preparing to run for governor but “facing scrutiny from a House committee over lucrative contracts to private lawyers to oversee settlements while he was the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey,” according to NorthJersey.com.
“King, who sat on the committee, came to Christie’s defense and called him the future of Republican leadership.”
Activists in Paterson rallied peacefully earlier this evening on the steps of the Free Public Library with a local focus, seeking justice not only for George Floyd but also Jameek Lowery.
“We’re out here to raise our voices for for what is happening in Minneapolis,” said School Board Commissioner Corey Teague (pictured).
But also, he said – “We want justice for Jameek,” he added to cheers. “They’ve had our foot on our neck for too long.”
People’s Organization for Progress (POP) (and U.S. Senate candidate) Founder Larry Hamm also invoked Jameek Lowery in a bulhorn call and return.
“Jameek,” he yelled.
“Lowery!” a large crowd yelled back.
“Jail the killer cops,” Hamm yelled later.
Amid the fallout from Sunday night night property destruction in Trenton, former U.S. Senator Bob Torricelli jousted on Facebook with James Gee, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12).
“When I left the Senate I decided to not only make money but also continue to help people,” The Torch wrote on his Facebook page. “I invested in three abandoned properties in Trenton. They’re now tax paying buildings, with a minority owned restaurant and medical office, that employ local people.
Last night rioters destroyed the bank and damaged other businesses. Who will ever invest or open businesses now? What about the people who work here and use these doctors and other businesses.”
Gee slapped aside Torricielli’s top hat and tails altruism.
“Nearly 50 years of disinvestment in Trenton, concentrated poverty to allow other towns to remain without poverty or without Diversity, and you ask questions about what happened this week?” he wrote. “Who will invest in Trenton? Another guy looking to profit off the City without any concern for its past or future or its place in a society where White people only see White people as people.”
The threads of discord intensified on the thread as insider Gerry Gibbs attempted to referee.
“Thank you for speaking truth to power,” Gibbs told Gee. “As property owner right down the street from the Senator’s building I understand the frustration of the having to deal with the aftermath of these acts …..but I also have a complete understanding of why these acts happen and the constant conditions within our neighborhoods that are getting WORSE not better as time passes.”
He had company.
“Wow, silent about all of this on FB until this post,” wrote Joe Giglio. “Your previous post was about feeding your horses or something. So telling, it’s a good thing you aren’t in office any more.”
Then Mike Drewniak, former spokesman for Governor Chris Chrisie, jumped feet first into the brawl.
“That’s awful, Senator,” he said, opting for terseness in his Trenton Torch takedown. “I remember when you first bought and renovated those spaces. Poor Trenton.”
Read Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 6/2/2020
Hirsh Singh, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, this evening tweeted and posted on Facebook his reaction to President Donald J. Trump’s call for governors to deploy National Guards to “dominate” the streets.
“I agree with President Trump. We are a nation of laws. Law and Order must be restored. We must protect peaceful protestors, law enforcement, businesses, innocent bystanders, and personal property. If Gov. Phil Murphy continues to fail to protect the aforementioned and fails to deploy the National Guard, I support President Donald J. Trump invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 to send in the US Military and Protect America.”
Today was the recount for the Paterson Third Ward seat.
The result was Alex Mendez: 1,598
Bill McKoy: 1,358
Brown: 42
Spencer: 118
Buggs: 298
McKoy picked up eight aditional votes in the loss, Mendez three.
Now McKoy’s challenge goes to the next round of the process.
Based on errors committed by the electors, McKoy said, the incumbent councilman “has reason to believe and does believe, that errors were made in the counting of the votes from each district within the Third Ward of the city of Paterson. Such errors include abnormalities concerning tabulations by each district board and by the Passaic County Board of Elections and/or Board of Canvessers, as well as mistakes in declaring the results of the Election.”
McKoy also says he believes the election contained the improper harvesting of ballots, with between 300 and 1,163 uncounted ballots expressly disqualified by the Board of Elections due to concerns about voter fraud.
John Sette sent out a letter this week inviting members of the New Jersey Republican State Committee to support his campaign to replace Bill Palatucci as National Republican Committeeman.
“Many seasoned New Jersey Republicans agree that, after ten years on the national committee, it’s simply time for Bill to move on,” wrote Setter, former chairman of the Morris County GOP. “Especially in these troubled times, our party needs strong leaders who are dedicated, without distraction, to getting people who share our values elected to public office at home and across the nation.
“I am a businessman who spent the past 40 years working tirelessly toward Republican victories and raising money to get our GOP brothers and sisters elected. When you look over my resume, you should walk away convinced of one thing — my only objective in working on Republican campaigns these many years has been to get Republicans elected. Period.
“I have never sought personal reward; I have never tried to further business interests and I have not used party associations to leverage government appointments. I have worked only to better our party by dedicating my time, money and efforts to nearly every campaign, at every level in my home region of Morris County. From staffing booths to fundraising and contributing, I’ve done it all.
“Not only was I the longest serving chairman of the Morris County GOP, I raised nearly $3 million for our party during my tenure. I also was at Chris Christie’s home with 40 other people the day he kicked off his run for Governor. Chris and I have been friends since 1992, and it was John Inglesino and me who marshaled elected officials in Morris County to gather every Saturday to listen to his detailed plans for New Jersey and our future.
“With a strong, focused team, we got Chris elected twice. I will bring that same dedication to the National Committee, and I would greatly appreciate your support. I look forward to hearing from you. Feel free to contact me at any time at: Sincerely, John Sette.”
