Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 8/22/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don’t doubt for a second that Congressman Pascrell would be telling his party, ‘just win, baby.’” – Rider’s Micah Rasmussen
TOP STORY: Rest in Peace, Congressman Bill Pascrell
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. passed away yesterday morning following an extended hospitalization. The 87-year old, a veteran, served in the House for nearly three decades, and previously served as Paterson mayor and Assemblyman. A feisty campaigner who excelled at political organizing, Pascrell beat back a primary challenge in 2012 – widely regarded as one of the most contentious intra-party battles in state history – following redistricting.
Here are the details of the memorial service for the late Michael Aron.
With Menendez gone from the Senate, the Senate ethics panel ended a probe of his misconduct, according to NJ Monitor.
NJ cities and towns are battling increased bouts of heavy flooding, according to NJ Spotlight.
Former Governor Christie shares his memories of the late Michael Aron, according to NJ Spotlight.
Estates and golf courses are getting tax breaks meant for NJ farms, according to NJ Herald.
A Cape May County bridge reopened, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Rep. Kean proposed legislation to reimburse local governments for presidential visits, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: NJ Transit fare holiday; Murphy selected Helmy for Senate, Nov. election winner will be appointed after certification; Aron passed away, was dean of press corps
GOP gubernatorial primary candidate Jack Ciattarelli held a town hall in Teaneck, joined by GOP Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw and CD5 GOP candidate Mary Jo Guinchard.
PA Governor Shapiro addressed the NJ delegation yesterday morning. Senator Booker memorialized Rep. Pascrell in his speech. Rep. Kim gave a DNC speech, saying its time for a ‘new generation’ of leadership, according to Politico NJ. NJ political strategists discussed the convention, according to NJ Spotlight.
Rep. Watson Coleman says she’s ‘grateful to God‘ to see VP Harris accept the Democratic nomination, according to NJ.com.
In CD2, Rep. Van Drew faces a labor-backed threat in Democratic candidate Salerno.
In CD9, district Democratic county committee members will convene to select a replacement for the late Rep. Pascrell, according to the Bergen Record. Democrats face a close deadline, according to NJ Spotlight.
ELEC reports that county party coffers keep expanding.
ICYMI: Murphy addressed NJ delegation at DNC; Jones led delegation in casting votes for Harris; Emhoff shout out to NJ; Dems enthused; Kim revved up campaign; Kim, Bashaw to participate in three debates; Sacco slammed Stack, who fired back
The state will require that all rape kits are tested, according to NJ.com.
ICYMI: Lawmakers heard calls to restrict pornography access
Former Rep. Rothman released his autobiography.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Policymakers publication.
Compliance Corner: Navigating ELEC Investigations and Complaints
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.
In Atlantic City, the city celebrated the grand opening of the merged municipal court with Pleasantville.
In Asbury Park, water treatment is getting vital fixes, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Bedminster, Trump supporters say the local GOP is ‘standing in the way of patriots’, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Bridgewater, an official’s Olympic praise descended into a transgender screed, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Camden, a new law sets the process and fees for honorary namings of streets and buildings, according to TAPinto.
In Cape May, Mayor Mullock will seek another term, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In East Brunswick, the Route 18 redevelopment project is entering a new phase, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Ewing, a redevelopment plan was approved, according to the Trentonian.
In Florham Park, many residents object to a senior housing proposal, according to NJ Hills.
In Jackson, a Orthodox school was denied, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Montclair, the planning board tackled affordable housing issues, according to TAPinto.
In Newton, new rules on e-bikes and scooters are being drafted, according to NJ Herald.
In Passaic, downtown parking will soon be improved, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Readington, officials spoke to JCP&L about recent power outages, according to TAPinto.
In Saddle River, a deer culling deal resumed, according to the Bergen Record.
In Toms River, the departing police chief was praised for better ties with the Orthodox community, according to the Asbury Park Press.
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
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘America’s ER Code Blue‘
Insider NJ columnist Alan Joel Steinberg writes ‘Hubert Humphrey: The creator of the Harris-Walz “Politics of Joy.” The lead Jersey practitioner: former Governor Dick Hughes‘
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 Tom Barrett writes ‘Mikie Sherrill is Right‘
Insider NJ columnist Andrew Leven writes ‘The Wrong Questions Are Providing the Wrong Answers‘
AROUND THE WEB:
We mourn Bill Pascrell Jr., Paterson’s champion who devoted life to American democracy
New Jersey Editorial Board
- Paterson has lost a giant. And so has New Jersey. A relentless promoter of his native Silk City, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. simply loved Paterson. He was certain of its eventual renaissance and he was devoted to it like no other. At 87, he died Wednesday.
Social media tributes pour in for NJ Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr.
Manahil Ahmad, NorthJersey.com
- Rep. Bill Pascrell, a longtime Democrat who served the Paterson area in Congress for nearly 30 years, died Wednesday at the age of 87, his family confirmed. Government officials from all over the country expressed their condolences ad shared their memories with Pascrell.
These were the causes dear to the late Rep. Bill Pascrell’s heart
David M. Zimmer, NorthJersey.com
- A native son of Paterson, the late Bill Pascrell Jr. spent more than 27 years in Congress after decades of involvement in New Jersey politics. During that span, Pascrell championed a series of causes meant to promote fairness, create opportunity and ensure justice for all.
A look at Bill Pascrell’s life from growing up in Paterson to decades in Congress
Amanda Wallace, NorthJersey.com
- Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democrat who represented the Paterson area in Congress for nearly three decades, died Wednesday morning, his family confirmed. He was 87 years old. According to his family’s statement on X, formerly Twitter, Pascrell lived his entire life in Paterson and had an “unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served.”
County Prosecutor’s Office detects no criminal activity from deleted emails investigation
Nicole Zanchelli, NJ Hills
- No evidence of criminal activity has been found by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, in connection to deleted emails on the township’s computer server, allegedly from two former Township Committee members.
Is the goal to retire in NJ? Bankrate weighs in
Jill Croce, NJ1015
- We all dream of retirement, but to get there, it’s no small feat. But once the milestone is achieved, where makes the most sense to settle down? Bankrate takes the guesswork out of the equation — they assembled a ranking of the best and worst states for retirement. The different categories considered: well-being, affordability, weather, crime and health care.
In Middlesex, planned destination athletic complex is another reason county is step ahead
Charles Tomaro
- Located within the heart of our state, and with more than 860,000 calling our community home, Middlesex County has set itself apart as the most diverse county in New Jersey. Middlesex includes numerous Fortune 500 companies, three of our nation’s top universities and world-class health care and research facilities where innovation and productivity thrive. We are the birthplace of college football, the incandescent light bulb and even duct tape.
Rutgers suspends Palestinian student group that led campus protests
Deena Yellin, NorthJersey.com
- Rutgers University has issued a one-year suspension for one of the groups that led spring protests against the war in Gaza and a four-day encampment on its New Brunswick campus. The New Brunswick chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine has been banned from participating in campus activities for the coming academic year, after the university said it violated terms of an earlier probation, said an e-mailed statement from Rutgers.
Safe for swimming: NJ bacteria advisories lifted at 6 Jersey Shore beaches
Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
- Six beaches have been declared safe for swimming on Wednesday, after initially testing high for fecal bacteria contamination earlier this week. The latest test results showed that bacteria counts fell back under New Jersey’s safe swimming standards at beaches in Long Branch, Deal, Pine Beach, Seaside Heights, Barnegat Light and Lavallette, which were under swim advisories on Tuesday.
Belmar surfer tackled, arrested over beach tags on video
Joe Mason, Jenna Calderón, Erik Larsen, Asbury Park Press
- It started out as a beach tag check. It turned into an altercation that has social media users irate. In a statement, Belmar Police Chief Tina M. Scott said the department is aware of the video circulating on social media. Liam Mahoney, 28, of Junction City, California, was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and he was also issued a ticket for violating the municipal ordinance for not having a beach badge, Scott said.
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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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.
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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.
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!!