Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 11/18/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Life in Jersey has become too damn expensive.” – Rep. Gottheimer launching his gubernatorial candidacy
TOP STORY: The Red-Shift 2024: Bergen County
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Out 100: Power List by Jay Lassiter.
On Friday, Rep. Gottheimer officially launched his campaign for Governor, entering the Democratic gubernatorial primary next year. At his launch, Gottheimer honed in on affordability as a top priority, saying life in the state has become ‘too damn expensive’ and that he’s running to be the ‘lower taxes, lower cost Governor‘ while remaining committed to Democratic values.
This morning, Rep. Sherrill launched her candidacy for Governor, releasing an announcement video.
Governor Murphy applauded $300M in federal funding for NJ Transit improvements.
NJ voters favor social media warning labels.
Trump’s win is a sting for black NJ Democrats, with some saying the party ignored them and has paid a price, according to NJ.com.
A blue envelope can keep NJ autistic drivers safe, according to the Bergen Record.
NJ students are still struggling with post-pandemic learning loss, according to NJ101.5.
A SEPTA strike possibility looms, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Bergen County added 9,000 provisional votes to its overall count, according to the Bergen Record.
The Hudson County prosecutor’s office opened its own DNA lab, according to the Jersey Journal.
The Passaic Valley Water Commission held its first virtual town hall.
Rep. Van Drew condemned proposed tax hikes.
Rep. Pallone urged President Biden to protect coastal waters without active leases from further extraction, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: Democrats lost strength; voters aren’t familiar w/ guv candidates; Murphy addressed the loss of Democratic strength on election day
Usually a Democratic stronghold, Bergen County shifted more red in the general election.
Six Assembly candidates joined Jersey City Mayor Fulop’s Democratic primary slate.
Rep. Gottheimer’s gubernatorial campaign scored a massive 100+ Bergen endorsements, according to NJ Globe.
Jack Ciattarelli is borrowing from the Trump playbook, kicking off a NJ barbershop tour, according to SaveJersey.
In LD21, former Summit GOP Chair Spurr is challenging Assemblywomen Munoz and Matsikoudis in the GOP primary, according to NJ Globe. Munoz and Matsikoudis announced endorsements.
In LD23, Assemblymen DiMaio and Peterson announced their re-election bids. The Somerset GOP is looking to retake an Assembly seat in the primary, according to NJ Globe.
‘Gen Z For New Jersey’ was launched to empower young leaders.
Brittany Wheeler was named Somerset County GOP State Committeewoman, succeeding Janice Fields, according to NJ Globe.
Grassroots Morris groups want Rep. Sherrill to run for Governor, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Sweeney allies see path to victory; guv race taking shape; Baraka allies energized; firefighter unions split over guv race; Dems ready to find themselves; Hispanic Democratic dissatisfaction has grown; Bramnick faces difficult path; Ciattarelli sees advantages; Duarte looking ahead to 2025
Former Governor Christie will celebrate the 15th anniversary of his 2009 gubernatorial victory at Drumthwacket, according to NJ Globe.
Senate Minority Leader Bucco and Senator O’Scanlon called on the Governor to restore municipal aid.
Senate Minority Leader Bucco was honored with the ASAH’s Legislator of the Year Award.
The state is preparing to defend against Trumps deportation agenda.
ICYMI: Guv converged at housing conference; Haytaian passed away; Bramnick bucked his party
In Marlboro, sign-stealing has become an issue post-election.
In Guttenberg, the AG’s Office is investigating a fatal police-involved encounter.
In Atlantic Highlands, residents don’t want a wall to keep out the rising ocean, according to NJ.com.
In Cherry Hill, a school accidentally released the names of students who opted out of sex education, according to NJ.com.
In Lawnside, a racial slur scrawled on a fence prompted a police probe, according to Burlington County Times.
In Parsippany, a new winner emerged in the BOE race, according to TAPinto.
In Phillipsburg, the town will foot the bill on the dismissed indictment against a former councilman, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Roxbury, the population could grow by 5,000 due to affordable housing requirements, according to NJ Hills.
In Southamption, a new mayor was installed non-unanimously after the public left a meeting, raising transparency concerns, according to The Pines Barrens Tribune.
In Stafford, the schools superintendent was charged with a DUI, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Swedesboro, a $23M apartment complex proposal promises to bring new vitality to the town, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Upper Township, employees disagree on morale, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Wayne, a tax appeal was settled with the former Toys R Us site, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: n Howell, GOP won election; in Marlboro, voters elected split BOE ticket; in Hoboken, Councilwoman Giattino passed away; in Howell, little unity w/in GOP; in Marlboro, tensions rising in the BOE race; in Somerville, JFK is on the ballot; in Randolph, council control at stake with huge significance
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Dari Kotzker writes ‘Blue Wife, Red Husband: LMT Household at the Heart of the Battleground‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Liz DeBeer writes ‘What Motivates Progressives to Write Postcards‘
Insider NJ columnist Andrew Leven ‘An Aspect of the Harris/Trump Economic Plans That Isn’t Being Discussed, But Should Be‘
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘More Helene Fallout: When Local News is All that Matters‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Gottheimer’s bid for governor comes with big plans to cut taxes
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer prides himself as being a Jersey guy – someone who loves Bruce and bagels, the Shore, the state’s diversity and its great schools. He also prides himself on being a straight talker, an elected official who actually listens to his constituents. So, as he announced his intention to run for governor Friday at the Runway Diner in South Hackensack, he said the biggest focus of his campaign will be an issue everyone can rally around: Making New Jersey more affordable. “Jersey has become too damn expensive,” he said. “We pay too much in taxes and too much just to live.
Hochul’s blunders on congestion pricing | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Kathy Hochul, an unpopular governor who has never been mistaken for a skilled politician, has given the green light for congestion pricing in lower Manhattan, a plan that could be implemented as soon as Jan. 5. If you value cleaner air, traffic reduction, the revival of a crumbling, century-old subway system and a new fleet of electric buses, you know this makes sense, and we have often praised congestion pricing as a smart strategy that has worked to cut pollution and relieve congestion from London to Singapore.
Give Trump this much: He warned us | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- In April, a poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College found that about half of American voters agreed with this statement: “People who are offended by Donald Trump take his words too seriously.” So, when he promised to use the Department of Justice to prosecute “the enemy within” and named several prominent Democrats as his intended targets, lots of people shrugged it off.
Gov. Murphy doubled his income last year. Here are the details.
Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy made about $1.4 million in income last year, doubling their earnings from the year before, when their stock portfolio took a nosedive, according to partial tax returns and a tax summary the governor’s office released Thursday. Murphy and his wife, who file their returns jointly, also paid about $598,000 in state and federal taxes, according to the documents, which cover 2023, the governor’s sixth year in office.
‘Drill, drill, drill’: New energy council signals Trump to prioritize energy production
Jacob Fischler, NJ Monitor
- President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement Friday afternoon that his pick for Interior secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, would also coordinate a new council on energy policy is a sign the incoming administration will make energy production a core part of its domestic policy. Few details of the new National Energy Council were available Friday, as activists and lawmakers processed the surprise 4 p.m. Eastern announcement. But the move likely reflects a focus by Trump and his next administration on energy production, including fossil fuels.
Carstarphen: Dissecting the next four years for urban America
Vic Carstarphen
- Camden is a city of neighborhoods, built on the backs of the most resilient residents in the nation. As the results from the general election sink in and creep further behind us, I am now looking into the future with my colleagues in the state’s other urban areas. We are focusing on what another Donald Trump presidency will look like for the cities made up of mostly Black and brown people and what the policies will be during the coming tenure of the President-Elect.
Transit CEOs questioned about ‘summer of hell’
Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight
- State lawmakers questioned the CEOs of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Thursday, asking them to explain the transit debacles of this summer, when hundreds of canceled trains and infrastructure failures left thousands of rail riders fuming. “We just had another summer of hell on NJ Transit. And despite all that money, the rider experience continues to be deplorable. Just ask my constituents,” Assemblyman Chris DePhillips (R-Bergen) said at a hearing of the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Just accepting status quo means no progress
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- The it-is-what-it-is insight causes significant loathing. Despite its trite accuracy, please, allow this indulgence. The New Jersey State Prison is what it is, a place in Trenton that houses a fraternity of murderers, rapists, rapists-murderers, serial killers, etc. A Who’s Who of killers reside inside the New Jersey State Prison aka the most notorious adult care.
‘Ghost Bridge’ Visible in Empty Oak Ridge Resevoir
Jennifer Dericks, TAPinto Newton
- While New Jersey is enduring an historic drought, the moonscape of the empty reservoir visible from Route 23 is primarily due to the Newark Watershed lowering the water level to perform maintenance on the dam and gatehouse located off Oak Ridge Road, watershed officials said. Typically covered by water, a stone bridge with three arches has emerged and is attracting the attention of area residents. Dubbed the “Ghost Bridge” it was originally part of the villages that were sacrificed in the 1890’s to create the reservoir.
Murphy celebrates “a full week of declining numbers” then says “status quo of lockdown will remain until new cases and fatalities decrease.” So, which of Murphy’s statements is accurate? He said 2 opposite things in a single paragraph of speaking.
He;s “vacationing” at his villa in Italy, while Covid surges and the state is paralyzed by “remote work”…………translation: NO WORK
That is what happens in practicality when they are “suspending their disbelief” (HR Clinton) in real numbers and going on predictive models to make decisions. And then after doing that, they vote with “feelings.”
lmao imagine supporting lockdowns after the largest mass death event in american history and calling that a feeling driven conclusion? maga chuds never fail to disappoint
keeping up with the news
OK
What I — and most of the women I know who are passionate about cosmetics —like about make up isn’t that the right gloss can make your lips poutier or that false lashes can make your eyes more doe-like. Rather, it’s how women can communicate messages and express ourselves through makeup. Certainly it’s not our single factor of communication, but it’s one of many forms of expression that allow us to showcase our individual styles.
keeping up with the news
Longmont Tree Service
Roofing In Brighton
Roofing Colorado Springs
So….about those 56 machines in Bergen… <<>>
Murphy running for President is LAUGHABLE. Nased on what??
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Increasing Use of Cosmetic Products & Their Side Effects
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very informative thank you so much
Murphy doesn’t want to be the president, he wants to be a state trooper.
Nice article! thanks for sharing the post!
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lETS NOT FORGET that during the pandemic Donald Trump sent the MERCY, a fully equipped, COVID prepared Hospital ship to save lives of victims and healthcare workers . But Murphy in his wisdom would rather send Patients back to nursing homes that were ill-equipped to treat these patients so they could die , rather than utilize a life-saving gift and be like NY governor Cuomo, another anti-Trump
tool.
Your blog is a haven of positivity in a sometimes chaotic online world.
Your exquisitely curated blog epitomizes erudition, captivating readers with its intellectually stimulating content and profound philosophical insights.
Gun owners don’t have to talk about guns because they know that they have to come out and vote to protect their constitutional right to bear arms. The Supreme court decision has affirmed that right and somehow our “leaders” haven’t learned how to read.
NJ is one of the most corrupt and racist places to live. There’s “0” accountability for the criminal acts, corruption, and unfair treatment of the people of this state. It starts with our governor who cares less for truth and honesty. Continue to ruin the lives of the citizens of this state.
How about those unintended consequences.
New Jersey mandating that all cars being sold by 2035 be electric is telling us what we can or cannot buy with our own money. There will always be gasoline powered vehicles because of the power produced by internal combustion compared to the power produced by batteries; which is to say the more power the bigger the battery to the point of rediculousness. My thought is that if the state wants fewer gas powered vehicles on the road it should create a mass transit electric powered system that would emphasize convenience for commuters and everyday shoppers. Of course that would mean vehicles weighing tons more because of the size of batteries and that creates a whole other question of where to dispose of them (also for elelectric car batteries), since they are composed of highly toxic materials that can’t be burnt or buried. These are unintended consequences no- one is willing to grapple with until its too late. I think by 2035 th he electric car fantasy will go the same way the offshore wind farm has gone.
Stephen Brickman
206 Stonehenge Dr
Phillipsburg,NJ 08865
Stephen.Brickman@gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone
The military serving in the Middle East represents every state in the Union. Those are our sons and daughters, Moms and Dads and yet we are very little to protect them, or REALLY retaliate when they’re attacked. Governor Murphy is the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, and past chair of the National Governors Association and yet you never hear him mention about any requests either organization makes to Biden to be more aggressive about protecting our kids in harms way. It’s as though it doesn’t seem to matter to them. No wonder we look so weak to the rest of the world.
Teaneck property taxes pays for the school budget. Teaneck High School students walk out. Is a Hamas military shuffle march property tax bill included?
I’m a conservative and I do believe life begins at conception but the problem is that each mother is responsible for that life and it is in the realm of her mental and physical health that she will either bring it to term or abort it. This should not be a political decision and should not be be dictated by thousand of strangers. The Supreme Court turned it over to the states but it still remains personal for the mother and her family.
I don’t think it should be an “agenda item” for any political party. A state medical society may want to impose a time frame within which an abortion can occur but even that may be subject to the mother’s doctor’s discretion.
I say just quit discussing it and leave it up to the mother a father.
Voting should be based on understanding what’s actually happening and knowing who would make life safer and more livable. The only way to do that is to get both sides of the information remembering there are always two sides to a story. Mainstream media in my area includes the Star Ledger and the Easton Express. If you look at the bylines of the opinions you will find writers from the Washington Post and Bloomberg, both notoriously on the left. Even the political cartoons are a dead giveaway. CNN and CNBC are also left leaning. So what are the options for getting opinions and news from the right? Fortunately cable news has Fox, which is near center, and Newsmax, and NewsNation which are full right. Watching these even just occasionally will show a much broader picture and give the reader more information with which to make an informed voting decision. And remember you DONT have to vote party if you feel there’s a wiser choice.
The governor signed off on having Narcan available in all schools grades 9 through 12. But what about the idea
of having Narcan available in ALL SCHOOLS in New Jersey?
How’s his for an idea? Uncover the identities of the un-elected advisors to Pres. Biden, and publish their names. That way there is actually someone to blame when we lose valuable lives from unanswered attacks by terrorist organizations. We know Biden isn’t making these decisions on his own. My guess is that these advisors will quit the team rather than take the heat for poor decisions, revealing a big weakness in this administration. It might lead to improvements to the decision-making process.
Note to Concealed Carry permit holders: make sure you subscribe to one of the insurance companies that specialize in CCP, ie: US LAW SHIELD. If you ever have to fire your weapon , that has to be the first phone call you make. The second is 911, the third is your family. With so many new permit holders there will probably be an increase in discharges until word gets out that it’s actually unsafe for criminals to be in New Jersey and crime will take a nosedive.
Now unless you have a conviction in your background you can get that CCP and really defend yourself and your family. And more women are applying which is great for family defense. The stats that record gun violence will have to be re-organized into guns used for crime and guns used to prevent crime. A lot of get-always here because sometimes just brandishing a firearm is enough to stop a crime. But it should be reported anyway..
The liability limits for taxi cabs are extreme starting July 1. It was a plan in place through the insurance banking committee and it was abruptly changed with an amendment. The guys are barely making a living today and you’ve increased their insurance. What’s fair is fair and this is not it was an incremental increase, which was fair, and was removed by the governor please refer back to the original plan
Iowa gets it right. What better school security is there than trained, armed teachers with concealed carry permits. You wonder what parents and local government officials when they oppose this idea. Apparently they would rather wait for some demented individual, either a student or maybe an ex student pulls out a handgun of his backpack , or a long gun out of a duffel and starts firing do they can call it in and wait for help to show up. This move would save many lives and I would heartily endorse this idea nationwide. Of course I’m just an average gun owner who believes that our kids are our most valuable asset and need real protection.
The problem with the Line is that there is no vetting process. Whoever pays the most and/or is specifically unqualified and therefore relegated to the status of puppet is who the county bosses support and threaten the committee members to support. My opponent said on-air that he will do whatever they tell him. What kind of leadership is that. I have 8-10 organizations endorsing me to his zero. I have served many statewide for almost 4 years while he has never helped anyone but himself. No-brainer who is qualified, and they know it. That’s why they are getting nasty and vile while I continue to take the high road.
With the mainstream media touting the current president and suddenly discovers he’s been lying to us all about how supportive he is of Israel when it is reported he is receiving BIG donations from Soros and Rockefellers , both proven anti-American donors, to become pro Palestinian and Pro Hamas and Anti Israel by holding up ammunition shipments to Israel. And solidly answering the question of why he never goes directly against Iran. Is the MSM party to this also. How can the general public now know who and what to trust. They warn us how terrible a trump administration will be as if they have totally forgotten how good we had it under Trump. All I can say is put on your big boy pants and tell us how it really is.
Studies show that recreational cannabis is responsible a 10% increase in motor vehicle accident deaths. These studies show that cannabis impairs driving ability and driving while high is common among regular users. Since cannabis is still an illegal drug, insurance companies are within their rights to deny coverage in for an accident ruled a DUI due to cannabis. However a state that approved its recreational use should be held accountable for any and all the consequences of that DUI. States are more interested in the money they make but they should accept the responsibility for having approved the use of recreational cannabis.
Could you please fix your “bay blood spots “ typo. It sounds like a horror movie. Although “baby blood spots” isn’t much better. Maybe there’s a clearer and less distressing turn of phrase for all of our sensitive readers, lol. Please and thank you.
Reclassifying marihuana from CI to any other category will involve Pharmacy because by law only a Pharmacist with a DEA license can purchase or sell any drug with a CII to CV
Classification. (CI is exempt because it’s heroine or any other drug with no medical purpose). This is a National problem because it is all under the DEA. And since marihuana is a hallucinogen among other things it requires control. The whole weed issue has put the cart before the horse and really requires reining in to have it conform
to the legal requirements. (Sorry Mr. Weedman). And recreational use will get the biggest hit because it will require a prescription
for medicinal use, but that cuts out the recreational aspect. Maybe in the future Pharmacists may be able to prescribe it but not yet. And how many physicians and Nurse Practitioners will want to be involved in the weed industry, I wonder? Lots of questions and few answers so far.
Changing the regulations to allow Optometrists to perform surgery is foolhardy and dangerous. Their training is doing vision tests and prescribing the correct glasses to improve vision. Only an MD in ophthalmology should be the one to do eye surgery.
That’s like asking the fellow filling your gas tank to fix a ball joint suspension.
This is not the answer to a shortage of ophthalmologists
Can’t seem to access the Steinberg column on Sam Alito, Sr. on your website. Suggestions?
Stop complaining about taxes ,our schools , our crime, ,after all folks we keep voting in the same Democrat party politicians each time .
For instance who would think that every Democrat who represents us in congress would vote for men playing in woman sports ,but they did , ask yourself are you the kind of a person who would kill ( sorry to use that word kill but hard not to since the law is that is a human being and if the mother is murdered it’s a double homicide ) a baby up to the moment of birth sorry to tell you that is the law in New Jersey.
So stop complaining your part of the problem.
NOTE TO SENIORS
I was 85 when I got my Carry permit. If you want to protect yourself and your family you are never too old to carry. As log as you can pass the test at the range, which is pretty simple, and you have a handgun you can handle (which is why I purchased a Walther CCP M2 PLUS which is easy to rack) and you have no police record or mental health problems, you can qualify. Of course you need to get a Federal weapons ID card, if you don’t already have one. We are targets because we are older and look easy. Well surprise , surprise. The more folks that are carrying the less crime because the bad guys wont know if you are armed and might not try something. By the way
it doesn’t matter- male or female!!
Great article, thanks for keeping us informed!
Assemblyman Schaer’s Bill to define antisemitism for New Jersey residents and to be able to react to it is great. But what about our kids going off to college, especially the Jewish kids. They should have a means to know what schools have active anti-Jewish protests, and/or pro-Palestinian demonstration allowed on and off campus. They should be able to feel safe wherever they go, and not have their studies interrupted by what I consider this unlawful activity. Are there websites with this kind of information posted?
Concerns about Jan 6 violence
The simple solution to allay the concerns of the Jan.6 violence happening again is to make sure the election is run in an honest and above board manner, which must include voter I.D. via a totally transparent system. Otherwise I’m betting all bets are off.
(The state’s voting system is secure, according to NJ Spotlight.)
This was without doubt one of the most farcical articles perhaps ever written. To give you an idea just how corrupt and lawless the voting system is, in 2021 Governor Murphy deviously ousted the Bergen County Superintendent of Elections with over 30+ years of experience (coerced and strongarmed into early retirement) in order to then deliberately and deviously insert Loretta Weinberg’s Chief of Staff who, had absolutely NO previous election experience whatsoever.
This was all masterfully formulated and then executed just several weeks prior to the Gubernatorial primary. But of course there was nothing nefarious regarding such an abrupt change.
Although Bergen County is not the largest County in New Jersey it is however home to the most registered voters of which the vast majority are also Democrats.
Keep in mind The Superintendent of Elections Office is also in charge of voter “registrations” – polls books, voting machines and of course – investigating any and all reports of voter fraud.
Murphy’s intentions had been to leave the position vacant until “after” the Gubernatorial Election in November but the media exposed his chicanery and he was forced to fill and announce his personal “appointment” immediately and how all of this came to light.
The former Superintendent of Elections was also a Republican and certainly would’ve never voluntarily retired “prematurely” but just prior to a major election. Her integrity was legendary throughout the entire County.
But of course there was nothing to Murphy’s sudden lead change “in the middle of the night” in Bergen County after the polls had already closed.
Murphy was and still remains loathed and despised by all because of his despotic actions and stance on the Covid lockdowns. He knew there was no other way he could ever beat Ciattarelli and never did. But certainly not legally nor ever legitimately. But keep believing “the voting system in NJ” is actually secure.