Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 11/5/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We’re thrilled that so many chose to show up and cast their ballots over the 9-day early voting period.” – NJ Secretary of State Tahesha Way on the nearly 2M voters who have already cast their ballots
TOP STORY: CD-7 Flashpoint: Heading Down to the Wire with Kean v. Altman
On the chance you weren’t aware, today is Election Day, with the presidency, Senate, House, county and local races up for grabs.
More than 1.9M New Jerseyans have voted already, according to NJ Monitor.
NJ PBS and NJ Spotlight will offer comprehensive and multiplatform election night coverage.
Multiple storylines are coming to a historic inflection point in this election.
Election winners are unlikely to be named early, despite widespread early voting, according to Burlington County Times.
Residents will elect the first new Senator since 2013, but few House seats are in play in the state, according to NJ Monitor.
Just about everyone is feeling election stress, according to NJ Spotlight.
Here are some common questions about voting, according to NJ Globe.
Immigration is central in the election, according to NJ Spotlight.
See the early voting turnout by county, according to NJ101.5.
Atlantic County awarded a $14M contract built the second NARTP building, according to Downbeach.
Monmouth County led the way with in-person early voting this year.
CarePoint Health filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Hudson County View.
ICYMI: NJ warming up to early voting.
Former President Trump says he has a chance to win the state, according to SaveJersey.
The presidency will set the table for the 2025 gubernatorial race, according to Politico NJ.
Senator Helmy stumped for VP Harris in Michigan, according to NJ Globe.
In CD7, it’s down to the wire for Rep. Kean and challenger Altman. Democrats are narrowly up in advance voting, according to NJ Globe.
In CD11, slain Capitol Officer Sicknick’s brother slammed the GOP candidate, according to NJ Globe.
Senator Booker discusses the election, according to NJ Spotlight.
Seven Morris County races to watch, according to the Daily Record.
ICYMI: NJ volunteers headed to PA; Kim heads into final stretch; Pou won’t change civil tone; Casha all in for Trump; Bashaw signed ‘Moms For Liberty’ pledge; FDU poll shows Kim decisively beating Bashaw; Kim in campaign overdrive; poll shows Kim heavily favored
2025 gubernatorial candidates converged at a housing conference.
The ABC-NJ announced Andrew LeFavre as their new Director of Government Affairs.
McKoy was named acting CEO of the Gateway Development Corporation, according to ROI-NJ.
Legal marijuana prices could go up if the tax increases, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Former Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian passed away.
ICYMI: Bramnick bucked his party
In Asbury Park, a community input session will be held on the municipal energy master plan, according to TAPinto.
In Atlantic City, the city will remain under state supervision for at least another year, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The mayor was charged with witness tampering in the alleged child abuse case, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bound Brook, a redevelopment plan was rejected, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Clinton Township, a third cop is suing the department, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Downe, a wildfire was contained, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Egg Harbor Township, a suitcase left by a ballot box prompted the bomb sqaud, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Jersey City, official discussed hiring a new BA, according to Hudson County View.
In Paterson, former Mayor Rooney passed away, according to Paterson Press. A 40-year veteran of the police department will be the new head officer, according to Paterson Press.
In Paramus, the planning board is reviewing the billboard ordinance, according to TAPinto.
In Paulsboro, the mayor says massive offshore wind monopiles are being scrapped at a wind port, according to NJ.com.
In Plainfied, Wyatt will challenge Mayor Mapp again, according to NJ Globe.
In Readington, officials questioned affordable housing quotas, according to TAPinto. Political eavesdropping targets responded to charges, according to NJ Hills.
In Sayreville, the defense wants evidence tossed in the Dwumfour murder case, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Scotch Plains, the Aaa bond rating was maintained, according to TAPinto.
In Toms River, the town is suing the banished first aid squad over 24k gallons of gas, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Vineland, a new fire chief was tapped, according to the Courier Post.
In Wayne, quarry rules were updated, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: 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:
Principled Republicans saved us in 2020. We need them again now. | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Four years ago, American democracy was rescued by principled Republicans who had the guts to resist Donald Trump. Mike Pence refused to block certification of the results on Jan. 6. Brad Raffensperger refused to “find” 11,000 votes in Georgia. And Republican judges across the country, including some appointed by Trump, rejected every bogus claim of conspiracy. We’re going to need that gang to step up again if we hope to have a clean election that is accepted as legitimate across the political spectrum. So, please, save one of your prayers for them.
‘Election Day is not results day’: Get ready for a wait to find out who’s president
Ariana Figueroa, NJ Monitor
- Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Monday hopscotched across swing states and prepared for what could be an exceedingly tense election night watch as the 2024 presidential election sped to a close. So far, more than 80.6 million Americans have voted, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
Harris, Trump supporters ‘live in their own worlds’
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Monitor
- The latest round of swing-state polling shows the presidential race is far too close to call with no clear advantage for Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump in any of the seven battleground states.
Op-Ed: New Jersey’s sentencing laws are broken
Joseph Krakora, NJ Spotlight
- New Jersey’s criminal sentencing laws are broken and in need of reform. They rely too heavily on mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions and limitations on parole. They give prosecutors too much power at the expense of judicial discretion to fashion fair sentences.
Still have your New Jersey mail-in ballot? Here are your options
Lori Comstock, Newton New Jersey Herald
- Mail-in voting is a great convenience afforded to American voters, but with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you might have forgotten it’s still sitting on the kitchen counter.
A record 25% to 35% of registered voters already cast ballots by Election Day
Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City
- The Atlantic County Board of Elections has received 17,820 vote-by-mail ballots cast so far, and 37,699 people voted early by machine, elections officials said Monday. That’s more than 55,000 of about 206,000 registered voters in the county who had already cast ballots before Election Day.
Melanie Burney, Philadelphia Inquirer
- When New Jersey relaxed the law in 2019 for child sexual abuse victims to file civil lawsuits against their predators, it opened a floodgate of legal cases. Hundreds of victims who had been unable to bring a claim against their abusers because the statute of limitations had expired came forward.
Two versions of reality are playing out in N.J. We are a world apart, election polling shows.
Riley Yates, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- They’re divided. They’re distrustful. They’re wondering what they will do if the other side wins. And none of that is good for democracy, political analysts worry. As New Jersey voters cast ballots for president in this superheated election, they are worlds apart, according to new polling by Rutgers-Eagleton in partnership with NJ Advance Media.
Here’s how NJ.com, The Star-Ledger covers Election Day
Enrique Lavín, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Election Day is one of the most meaningful events for news journalists.
See how North Jersey towns voted in 2016, 2020 elections with our interactive maps
Lori Comstock, NorthJersey.com
- New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the nation, but it typically leans Democrat in presidential elections. But take a peek at North Jersey, with its rural farmland and towns to the far western corner with just a handful of residents — looking at you Walpack — and bustling cities to the east, with exploding populations in Newark and Paterson, and the state’s diversity is stark. So unsurprisingly, so is the political landscape.
Do you live among Democrats or Republicans? How N.J. counties break red and blue for big election.
Jelani Gibson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Election Day is almost here, and it’s time to take our pre-election look at how many Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters are registered in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.
Averting another MAGA catastrophe: Vote for Altman, Kim and Harris | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Below is a recap of the endorsements made by the Star-Ledger in this election cycle, which were guided by a familiar principle: Donald Trump is a seminal menace – as a president, a candidate, a citizen, and a human being – and to encourage him in any way will further debase American democracy. The prospect of a GOP majority in either chamber of Congress is problematic, because there is no abyss that most Republicans won’t follow Trump into.
Katherine Rodriguez, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Election Day 2024, which falls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 this year, is a state holiday. New Jersey voters can start heading to the polls when they open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
As presidential campaign rockets toward end, 7 big things that happened this weekend
Ariana Figueroa, Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt, NJ Monitor
- On the final frantic Sunday of the presidential race, while Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a Black church service in Michigan, former President Donald Trump told supporters at a Pennsylvania rally that he “shouldn’t have left” the White House after he lost the 2020 presidential election. At a campaign rally at an airplane tarmac in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Trump again perpetuated the falsehood that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him and claimed that this year’s election would also be stolen because election results could take a while to be counted.
The O’Toole Chronicles: Election Day Etiquette
Kevin O’Toole, NJ Globe
- Many of you will wake up tomorrow morning and realize that months, perhaps years, of planning and preparation are about to come to an end – good or bad. As a candidate on Election Day, what do you do? You’ve gone from knocking on doors, dialing for dollars, meet and greets to now waiting 14 hours (or longer thanks to some changes in vote counting) for democracy to decide your fate. It is no longer in your control. There’s nothing more YOU can do. What a strange feeling. Let’s explore this a bit.
Presenting the 2024 NJBIZ Commercial Real Estate Power List
NJBIZ
- New Jersey’s commercial real estate market has been generating heat and headlines for several years now. The industrial sector, in particular, has been white hot with the continuing growth of e-commerce and online shopping – even in the face of a NIMBY backlash against warehouses.
A presidential campaign unlike any other ends on Tuesday. Here’s how we got here
Associated Press
- It may take days to know the final result, which could be just another surprise in a campaign that’s been full of them.
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
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keeping up with the news
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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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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.