Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 8/9/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Every New Jersey taxpayer is financing Stack’s political machine. This isn’t just political patronage, it reeks of outright corruption.” – North Bergen Mayor Sacco slamming Union City Mayor/Senator Stack
“Instead of Nick Sacco being the lazy state senator that he was, he should have been advocating for his constituents while I was advocating for my entire district.” – Stack firing back at Sacco
TOP STORY: Hudson County Conflagration: Sacco Versus Stack
COVID is spreading faster this summer in the state, according to the Bergen Record.
Acting Governor Way directed flags to half-staff in honor of the late former Justice Coleman.
The DCA awarded grants for school district regionalization.
The NJDOH recognized National Breastfeeding Month.
NJ Transit will take over 20 bus routes after Coach USA declared bankruptcy, according to NJ.com.
Historic Allaire Village reopened after a money crunch, according to the Asbury Park Press.
NJ Transit police are being investigated for allegedly padding overtime, according to the Bergen Record.
New Jersey kids are the least underprivileged, according to the Asbury Park Press.
J-1 visa holders are back working at the Shore at pre-pandemic levels, according to NJ Spotlight.
Rep. Gottheimer introduced the ‘Public and Private Sector Ransomware Response Coordination Act’.
ICYMI: Harris/Walz kicked off their debut; Gottheimer wants action on gun bills; 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
North Bergen Mayor Sacco slammed Mayor/Senator Stack on state aid that he says ‘fuels’ Stack’s political machine, and blistering Stack’s ‘delusional paranoia’. Stack fired back at Sacco, calling him ‘lazy’ during his tenure in the Senate.
Senator Booker hasn’t spoken to Senator Menendez but has discussed replacements with Governor Murphy, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Allies urged Guv to appoint Campos Medina to Senate; Durr laced into Whitman; Kim, Dems mobilized; Bashaw touts himself as centrist; in CD10, district has some of state’s poorest zip codes; Fulop campaign announced two Assembly candidates; Whitman endorsing VP Harris; PFANJ endorsed candidates; Bramnick seeks to position himself as trusted GOP candidate; Freeman will run in LD8 w/ Fulop; 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
Acting Governor Way signed legislation strengthening protections for immigrant workers.
The embattled public integrity unit in the AG’s Office has sparked concerns about its effectiveness in getting convictions, according to NJ Globe.
Changes to the school aid were supposed to ease property taxes, according to NJ Spotlight.
Focus NJ expanded their workforce development and training resource.
ICYMI: Lawmakers heard calls to restrict pornography access
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A recent political chronology of Garden State politics.
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In Burlington Township, new residential communities are on their way, according to Burlington County Times.
In Clifton, councilmembers’ ongoing seating feud delayed a meeting, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Flemington, the town is debating sign fees, according to TAPinto.
In Freehold, a developer drew plans for 400 apartments, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Hackensack, a former teacher’s lawsuit alleges she was fired for being pregnant, according to the Bergen Record.
In Longport, rat issues are being addressed, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Margate, the town will sell a tract of land next to a beachfront bulkhead, according to Downbeach.
In Morristown, the council potentially eased the path for cannabis dispensaries, according to Morristown Green.
In Newark, the council condemned Project 2025, according to TAPinto.
In Oakland, Ramapo Indian Hills hired a superintendent, according to the Bergen Record.
In Plainfield, a marijuana dispensary may replace a church, according to MyCentralJersey. The Union Clerk decided that the BOE VP is eligible for re-election, according to TAPinto.
In Phillipsburg, West Nile virus is on the rise, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Princeton, the state wants to confiscate a domesticated deer from a farm where it has been living for five years since the death of its mother, according to Planet Princeton.
In South River, a GOP candidate filled a council vacancy, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Toms River, the mayor wiped out an apartment plan, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Wayne, the YMCA delivered layoff notices to 155 employees, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Weymouth, residents of Oaks of Weymouth say manufactured homes were not properly installed or inspected, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Woodlynne, the Camden Police are expanding services to the town, according to Burlington County Times.
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 ‘While Harris hires the best message team in politics, Jim Margolis and David Plouffe, three core issues are causing a Trump-Vance meltdown‘
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:
There is more to state Department of Community Affairs than just Atlantic City takeover
Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City
- The state Department of Community Affairs is well known here, as its Division of Local Government Services oversees the state takeover of the city. But Commissioner Jacqueline Suarez and some of her staff made it clear Thursday that the department does more than just keep an eye on the resort — a lot more.
NJ watchdog says residents with disabilities face ongoing abuse and neglect
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- New Jersey’s Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families is making an urgent plea on behalf of the state’s most vulnerable residents. In a new report from the office paints a stark picture of systemic faults and policies that have failed far too many people. A lack of oversight enabled continued abuse at state-run homes, the report says. Along with too few supports, residents and their families are blocked in getting help by walls of bureaucracy.
Hearings soon in two lawsuits over unreleased report on racial issues at Newark school
Jessie Gómez, Chalkbeat Newark
- Nearly two years after allegations of racial harassment at the Newark School of Global Studies first surfaced, two lawsuits demanding the release of a report analyzing the cultural dynamics at the school are scheduled to be heard in court.
Catch us if you can, DRPA lawyers taunt | Editorial
South Jersey Times Editorial Board
- The headline said it plainly: “Tolls on 4 bridges over Delaware River set to increase to $6.” Although hitting commuters in the wallet is fair game for criticism, editorially speaking, we ignored it. Why? 1) The Delaware River Port Authority had kept cash tolls at $5 for 13 years, so a $1 increase starting Sept. 1 is an inflation-defying feat.
Walz is anti-elite gamble Harris needed to make. Democrats make play for center – Kelly
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- Tim Walz seemed like he had walked into a surprise party for someone else as he appeared on stage the other night in Philadelphia as the vice presidential running mate to Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. He smiled broadly. He doubled over in laughter. He clapped. He led cheers. He yelled “wow” again and again and again. But Walz should hardly be viewed as a surprise — or a party crasher. In fact, members of the Democratic Party ought to pay close attention to what is happening right before their eyes. Walz is the kind of Democrat who has long been missing from their party’s leadership.
Where did the Legislature dispatch pork spending in New Jersey’s 2025 state budget?
Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com
- Six weeks after New Jersey’s 2025 fiscal plan was signed into law, the last piece of the puzzle was made public. Details on the special line-item requests, commonly called pork spending, were made public by the Legislature this week.
Springsteen’s just the beginning: ‘Jersey Sound’ documentary unpacks our music history
Jim Beckerman, NorthJersey.com
- Think Bruce is where the Jersey Sound begins and ends? You don’t know the half of it. In fact, you don’t know the half of the half. Springsteen is just one small part of the Asbury scene. Asbury is just a small part of the Jersey rock scene. And rock is just a small part of the Jersey music scene — past, present, and future.
Bad review on Google, Yelp? Here’s what to do about it
Hannan Adely, NorthJersey.com
- As tensions flare over war in Gaza, local businesses have felt the sting of bad reviews motivated by politics rather than purchases. Online, people who have never visited an establishment or bought its product may have heard that the owner or employee made an anti-Palestinian or anti-Israeli remark, or that they supported or raised funds for one side or another. They turn their anger to online reviews on sites like Yelp, Google and TripAdvisor. Reviews can contain insults or slurs and be untrue or exaggerated.
Youth Activists Descend on Bridgewater to Make a Difference as Elections Approach
Audrey Blumberg, TAPinto.net
- A bus of youth activists made its latest stop in Bridgewater Aug. 5 to make a difference as this year’s elections approach. The national Tour to Save Democracy bus tour stopped at the Green Knoll Grill to speak to guests as it makes its way around the country to the most vulnerable Republican districts to try and flip them blue. The tour began in San Antonio July 12, and is continuing through Aug. 8, with about 20 stops in total.
NJ is the 5th safest in the U.S. for student drivers
Judi Franco, NJ1015
- As much as we always feel that New Jersey roadways can be filled with peril, the news is not all that bad. Especially when it comes to new drivers. A new ranking has identified the safest and riskiest states for student drivers and highlights the most affected counties in each. The number of fatal crashes was scaled against local populations to get a rate per 100,000 residents.
New Jersey accent in the top 3 of the most difficult in the U.S.
Dennis Malloy, NJ1015
- Right off the bat, I’m calling BS. In a recent survey of the most difficult accents for AI to understand, the New Jersey accent ranks third. First of all, there is no ONE Jersey accent. There is a tiny sliver of New Jersey that sounds like a mild New York City accent. That can be heard in Hudson County and that’s about it. The biggest chunk of the state would be Central Jersey and there is not much of an accent there at all.
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- Hackensack Meridian Health is announcing Thursday morning that it is growing its relationship with PLEZi Nutrition, the company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama that is on a mission to create higher standards for how the U.S. makes and markets food and beverages for kids. HMH, always a trend-setter, is becoming the first health system in the country to do so.
Bridgewater quarry owner sells construction materials for $1.2 billion
Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey.com
- Stavola, owner of the Chimney Rock quarry off Route 22 and asphalt plants throughout Central Jersey, has agreed to sell its construction materials business to a national corporation for $1.2 billion.
How does New Jersey rank in personal spending? See which states are ahead of us.
Charles Daye, Asbury Park Press
- Which states have the highest personal spending? New Jersey outranks even mighty neighboring New York. Maybe that proves our pizza is superior. Personal consumption expenditures are a measure of consumer spending, whether that spending is on cars, food, housing or health care. PCE includes how much is spent on goods and services, and the value of those goods and services, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. PCE figures can affect decisions about business offerings, hiring and investments.
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.
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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!!