Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 7/31/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “People are desperate to vote for a Republican candidate but there’s a fear there. I deeply believe there is an overwhelming thirst for change. The question is, do people have the confidence to trust in a Republican because our brand has been compromised. I’m the candidate people are going to trust.” – Senator Bramnick
TOP STORY: Bramnick Positioned as the Republican Voters can Trust
The NJDHS and Office on Innovation launched a Disability Information Hub.
For the state’s 1%, annual incomes approach $1M, according to NJ Biz.
New legal protections for the homeless in the state are on hold, according to NJ Spotlight.
A 7-year old is representing South Jersey in the national mullet contest, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Burlington County touted their Farmer’s Market.
Two Middlesex County men were indicted in an alleged investment fraud scheme.
Two resigned from the Sussex County Board of Elections, according to TAPinto.
A Union County employee filed a lawsuit alleging she was demoted for refusing to file unconstitutional warrants, according to TAPinto.
Senator Booker condemned the Bangladeshi security force’s use of violence and force against student protesters.
Former Superior Court Judge Moore is joining O’Toole Scrivo, according to ROI-NJ.
A WalletHub survey ranks the state as having the 8th best early education system in the nation.
ICYMI: Menendez plans to resign, Governor will appoint placeholder; Biden withdrawing, and endorsed Harris, Dems scrambling to advance potential VP picks; Menendez saga still unfolding, Senator says there ‘seems to be an effort to force me into a statement‘, Murphy in position to appoint, Booker would lead expulsion effort; Menendez found guilty and faces a reckoning; Trump injured in assassination attempt; Norcross pleaded not guilty; Sherrill doesn’t want President Biden to run; Menendez verdict will come soon; Murphy signed budget; courts shaping political developments; Critchley, Marino statement on Norcross
GOP gubernatorial primary candidate Senator Bramnick held a fundraiser at his home on Monday, as he seeks to position himself as the candidate GOP voters can trust.
NJ Citizen Action endorsed Rep. Kim for Senate.
GOP Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw launched a digital ad hitting Rep. Kim and VP Harris on border security.
The AAUW NJ urged Governor Murphy to appoint a woman of color to the Senate seat being vacated by Senator Menendez.
Newark Mayor Baraka’s campaign touted a poll showing him as a leading candidate in the gubernatorial primary.
In LD8, Evesham Councilman Freeman will run for Assembly next year in alliance with Jersey City Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate Steve Fulop.
In CD9, Rep. Pascrell will continue to pursue re-election despite a recent health setback, according to Politico NJ.
ICYMI: VP contenders have Jersey ties; Ciattarelli, Spadea spoke at the NJHSR brunch; Baraka came out swinging for Harris; Menendez seat raises questions; NJSPBA endorsed Bashaw; Spadea launched ad hitting Ciattarelli; Bashaw slammed Kim; Sette planned, cancelled fundraiser for commissioner candidates; NJ delegates endorse Harris; Sherrill ahead of the game; SEUI endorsed congressional candidates; Kim tapped Bustamante as political director; Bashaw recommended Menendez replacements; McIver victorious in CD10 primary
Lawmakers heard calls to restrict pornography access.
The state is facing increasing pressure to end investment in fossil fuels, according to NJ Spotlight.
Assemblyman Inganamort renewed his call to fight human trafficking.
Assemblyman Webber spoke at a UN Human Trafficking event.
The Chemistry Council of NJ elected new leadership on their Board of Trustees.
ICYMI: Way appointed Wolkenberg NJDOS COS; Murphy announced departure of Gutierrez-Scacetti; Murphy says he doesn’t think about his legacy; Murphy announced promotions
A recent political chronology of Garden State politics.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Legal publication.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Lobbyist publication.
Former Senator Bob Gordon discusses his career and insights on current events.
In Jersey City, Brandi Warren is joining mayoral candidate McGreevey’s council ticket.
In Hackensack, the ‘Hackensack Unite’ slate announced their candidacies for BOE.
In Asbury Park, the council will discuss key contracts and budget resolutions, according to TAPinto.
In Bernardsville, the Palmer project was blasted by a crowd, according to NJ Hills.
In Branchburg, police are tackling speeding problems, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Bridgewater, residents asked the town to do more to prevent flooding, according to TAPinto.
In Camden, the city is aiming cameras and cash at illegal dumping, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Clayton, an officer fought a firing over a drug test, according to Burlington County Times.
In Clifton, new groups and volunteers are joining the effort to feed people in need, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Fair Lawn, a ex-cop says he faced frequent harassment from a junior officer, according to the Bergen Record.
In Long Hill, the removal of the stormwater maintenance permit fee was proposed, according to NJ Hills.
In Ocean City, a historic movie theater returned to the boardwalk, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Pohatcong, a proposed apartment complex raised neighborhood concerns, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Secaucus, former Jersey City BOE member Lyons will run for BOE, according to NJ.com.
In Spotswood, appeals were filed after a judge blocked the release of bodycam footage, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Warren, the BOE is mulling a school cell phone policy, according to NJ Hills.
ICYMI: In Union City, an ongoing battle; in Union City, residents reacted to Menendez conviction; in Newark, Speight announced candidacy for Central Ward; in Wayne, debate popped up
In a guest column on Insider NJ, former Senator Kenny writes ‘‘A Republic — if You can Keep it’‘
In a guest column on Insider NJ, Christina Christodoulou writes ‘To Preserve Social Unity, Stop Dehumanizing Others‘
Insider NJ columnist Alan Joel Steinberg writes ‘Yes, I will Continue to Call Trump a Fascist Threat to Democracy. Because He is.‘
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘An RNC Field Guide from Inside and Outside the Armed Compound‘
Insider NJ columnist Tom Barrett writes ‘Mikie Sherrill is Right‘
Insider NJ columnist Andrew Leven writes ‘The Wrong Questions Are Providing the Wrong Answers‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- Hackensack Meridian Health and Monmouth University announced a transformative strategic affiliation that will increase health care educational opportunities – and on-campus heath care access – for students at the West Long Branch school.
DOE finds Trenton School District did not comply with certain disability regulations
Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight
- Following a complaint by Disability Rights New Jersey, the state Department of Education opened an investigation into the Trenton School District and found it was not compliant with state regulations or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Education Department is now requiring the district to create a corrective action plan.
Shopping for back to school supplies? We’ve got tips on how to save in NJ
Daniel Munoz, NorthJersey.com
- Back-to-school shopping season is here already, and by some estimates American families are expected to spend as much as $874 on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics. More than three in four parents, or 70%, feel that schools are asking them to buy too much during the back-to-school season, according to a new study by personal finance website WalletHub.
Charges dismissed against Atlantic City organizer in 2020 expressway protest
Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City
- Community activist Steve Young said Tuesday all charges related to his participation in a July 4, 2020, protest that blocked the Atlantic City Expressway and other roads were dismissed Monday by a judge in the Atlantic County Central Municipal Court.
He was supposed to help crime victims. Instead, he sexually harassed, exploited them, they allege.
Ted Sherman, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- They were emotionally fragile. One was dealing with the trauma of a son shot and killed in Irvington and needed counseling.
For the Senate vacancy, this is Murphy’s best option | Opinion
Alex Zdan
- Someone above the fray of politics is needed in the U.S. Senate, in order for New Jersey to begin wiping away the stain of Bob Menendez’s 16 corruption convictions.
Residents shocked by fatal police shooting in Fort Lee apartment building
Lucas Frau, NorthJersey.com
- Lingering questions remain after Fort Lee police fatally shot a woman in an apartment building while responding to a report of a mental health crisis early Sunday. Residents who live at The Pinnacle, where the shooting occurred, were shocked by the news.
As ‘Thin Blue Line’ frays, ‘Thin Red Line’ envelops Supreme Court | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal
- The “Thin Blue Line,” an old tradition, is fraying badly while a new tradition we might call “The Thin Red Line” is growing stronger.
The election reform that New Jersey needs | Opinion
Sam Wang and David Daley
- Fans of a free political market in New Jersey may be feeling an unfamiliar sensation: hope. Not just because of the heat of national politics, but because of shifting political ground in the Garden State. A bill authored by state Senator Andrew Zwicker can build on that hope by giving democracy here a fresh start.
Op-Ed: NJ clemency review process is ‘a potent model for national change’
Jessica Jackson, Erin Haney, NJ Spotlight
- Gov. Phil Murphy recently enacted ambitious and transformative, yet commonsense, criminal justice reforms at a time when many other states, especially left-of-center “blue” states, and the federal government are stuck on this issue.
Trash troubles in Trenton need constant attention and effort
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- A collection of trash on the even number side of the street Monday found three discarded flyers that announced a city-wide clean up for the month of August. Saturdays in August will be dedicated to removal of large debris and yard waste. Residents are asked to put furniture and yard waste before 7 a.m. on the Saturday designated for the ward they live in.
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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Roofing In Brighton
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So….about those 56 machines in Bergen… <<>>
Murphy running for President is LAUGHABLE. Nased on what??
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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.
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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.