Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 5/24/2024
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We made a choice. That choice was to engage our students through dialogue as our first option instead of police actions. We saw what transpired on other universities and sought a different way.” – Rutgers President Holloway taking heat and criticism from Congress over the handling of the pro-Gaza encampment
TOP STORY: Passaic County Flashpoint: Adamo v. Speziale with Time Ticking Down
The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be off on Monday in observance of Memorial Day, and will return on Tuesday, May 28th.
Governor Murphy sent a scathing letter to Amtrak after a nightmare rush hour commute, according to NJ.com.
BOE elections could get younger voters, according to NJ Spotlight.
Atlantic County primary ballots could be delayed, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Essex County Commissioner Gill expressed support for the corporate transit tax.
Hudson County Sheriff Schillari will seek re-election next year, according to Hudson County View.
Senator Booker introduced the ‘SUPPORT Rx Act’. Booker introduced the ‘Families Over Fees Act’.
ICYMI: Thousands gathered for Trump rally, Van Drew welcomed Trump, who said ‘we’re going to win’ NJ, will ‘shut down deadly sanctuary cities‘ made endorsement of Serrano Glassner; Fulop celebrates reservoir trail
The Star-Ledger endorsed Rep. Kim in the Democratic Senate primary.
In CD10, the ballot access fight is likely over, according to Politico NJ.
The Passaic County Democratic sheriff’s candidates are clashing as time tick down to primary day. Passaic County Democrats launched a TV ad for their candidates. Paterson Mayor Sayegh has remained silent as Police Director Speziale runs in the primary, according to Paterson Press. Wayne Councilwoman Ritter endorsed Adamo.
Stateside Affairs won a silver Stevie Award.
ICYMI: Trump endorsement spices up GOP Senate primary; Durr looks to recapture magic; in CD3, Dems debated; Crispi’s star rising; Dem Senate candidates debated; Ocean GOP backing Bashaw; Sherrill took aggressive approach to Trump rally; in CD10, contenders filed to run; CD10 names, Armstead collecting signatures; Vainieri endorsed Guy for HCDO chair; Fulop held town hall; Glassner looking to pull Bashaw into fight; as Passaic intensifies, Speziale endorsed by Fulop; Murphy addressed campus unrest; Malinowski eying chair of Hunterdon Dems; Fulop launching down-ballot effort
Senator Bramnick seeks changes in cash transfer law after a snafu cost his campaign $36k, according to NJ Monitor.
Senator O’Scanlon urged an investigation into ‘shockingly high’ school salaries, according to NJ.com.
ICYMI: Senate passed OPRA legislation, boos and jeers greeted vote
An Insider NJ movie review of ‘Civil War’.
Veteran defense attorney Joe Hayden shared his personal recounting of the Bill Musto trial.
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Advance and Insider NJ’s 2024 African-American List
Alleged voter fraud is under investigation in three Shore towns, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Bloomfield, Essex County Democratic female leaders endorsed Councilwoman Mundell for mayor.
In Bayonne, the mayor says it time to replace the Turnpike bridge over Newark Bay, according to NJ.com.
In Clifton, the final ON3 redevelopment plan was revealed, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Dunellen, the town is implementing an aquatic pollution tool, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Glen Rock, residents are critical of the response to a park shooting, according to the Bergen Record.
In Millburn, residents rejected a Papermill playhouse bond ordinance, according to TAPinto.
In Mount Laurel, all hope may not be lost in the effort to preserve Sunnyside Farm, according to TAPinto.
In Parsippany, the budget was narrowly approved, according to TAPinto.
In Tabernacle, the former deputy mayor says she was bullied into resigning, according to the Philadelpehia Inquirer.
In Wayne, $4M will be spent on a new community center, according to NorthJersey.com.
In West Orange, residents expressed concern about proposed garbage collection changes, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: In White, warehouse five-year fight over; in Paterson, Mendez declared victory; Velez won; Abdelaziz won; in Montclair, Baskerville won mayoralty; in Orange, Mayor Warren secured re-election; in Irvington, Vauss’ allies swept; guide to municipal elections; in Annandale, ongoing book battle; in New Brunswick, freedom of press case may go to state SC; in Roxbury, BOE decision to rescind transgender protections
Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘Afghani Family Who Helped U.S. Uplifted by FDU’s Global Reach‘ and ‘Wildwood Proves Trump Maga Fever Still Raging‘ and ‘Gaza’s Fate Looms Large in NJ Dems June Primary Debate‘
Insider NJ columnist Carl Golden writes ‘‘Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game!?’‘
Insider NJ columnist former Senator Bernard Kenny writes ‘America 2024: A Matter of Life and Death‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Is NJ college tuition too high? The national debate continues
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- It’s college graduation season. The tuition price debate continues to rage.
We quizzed New Jerseyans about history and civics. Here’s what we’ve learned | Opinion
Susan Haig, Radhika Iyengar, Emily Quaye, and Marian Glenn
- Trustees from CivicStory, a nonprofit news site that encourages citizens to transform their communities, recently laid out the aims of our 10-question survey on history and civics.
Which beaches are going to be guarded at the Jersey Shore this weekend?
Isaac Linsk, Press of Atlantic City
- Memorial Day weekend serves as the unofficial start of summer. Here is a breakdown of the guarded beaches in South Jersey this weekend.
Officials showcase updated jobless-benefits system
John Reitmeyer, NJ Spotlight
- During the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic — when many New Jersey residents suffered untimely job losses — accessing jobless benefits proved difficult due to an outdated and overwhelmed unemployment system. Since then, state officials, with the help of federal grants, have completely overhauled the unemployment application process, work that includes making applications available in a more mobile-friendly format.
The lucky ones: A tale of two vets, at Morris County 2024 Memorial Day Observance
Kevin Coughlin, Morristown Green
- Derek Oates and August Caccavone consider themselves lucky. They survived. Oates, 40, survived convoys in Baghdad in 2004 while manning a .50-caliber machine gun on Humvees…and a turbulent return to civilian life. Caccavone, 98, survived Christmas Eve 1944 in Bastogne, during the Battle of the Bulge, in a foxhole so cold he prayed for the devil to take him because “that’s where it’s hot.”
In Warren County, a place to cope with searing loss
Bobby Brier, NJ Spotlight
- In 2014, Jocelyn and Addison Aquilino of Marlton lost their father, Jim, to suicide. Two years later, their mother signed them up for a bereavement camp in Warren County to help the girls cope with his death and to meet other kids who had also lost a loved one to suicide.
Op-Ed: Recognizing the value of school libraries and librarians
Jen Nelson, NJ Spotlight
- I had the pleasure recently of attending my daughter-in-law’s master’s degree graduation ceremony and coincidentally realized that NJ Spotlight News had run a feature on literacy (The Change Project: Literacy Issues). As I reflect on literacy and graduation, I’m reminded of how much difference an individual can make to success in education as well as career and life more generally.
Kaboom had too much energy for his 3 owners. But he’s a great fit for Morris’ bomb squad
William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record
- It’s a comeback tail for the ages. Surrendered three times to a local animal shelter, Kaboom, a feisty black Lab-retriever mix, faced an uncertain future. But a chance encounter with a Morris County sheriff’s officer has led to a new life with the K-9 squad − and newfound fame as the county’s top dog. On Saturday, Kaboom will march proudly in Morris Plains’ annual Memorial Day parade, one of the biggest in the area.
Getting lead out of Trenton demands inspection of houses
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- This column requests acceptance that local non-profit Isles, Inc. exists as a leading and trustworthy authority on issues regarding lead. According to the respected organization that advocates for lead abatement measures, New Jersey logs 4,500 new cases of childhood lead poisoning each year and about 225,000 young kids in the state have been poisoned by lead since 2000.
Guest Op-Ed: I believe in Trenton’s revitalization
Willard Stanback
- Successful city revitalization “must be multifaceted and encompass improvements to the cities’ physical environments, their economic bases, and the social and economic conditions of their residents” (Regenerating America’s Legacy Cities | Lincoln Institute of Land Policy – May 2013). Now, maybe more than ever before, I have hopes for what this revitalized Trenton can look like.
Flag seen flying at Jan. 6 insurrection reportedly spotted at Justice Alito’s LBI vacation home
Nick Vadala, Press of Atlantic City
- A controversial flag flown by rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was reportedly displayed at the New Jersey beach vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. An “Appeal to Heaven” flag was spotted at Alito’s Long Beach Island residence in July and September last year, according to the New York Times. The banner, also referred to as the “Pine Tree flag,” was photographed at the house on four occasions during those months, and it appears on a Google Street View capture of the home from August, the Times reported.
Rutgers president at House hearing on antisemitism defends negotiating with protesters
Mary Ann Koruth, NorthJersey.com
- Emphasizing “dialogue and education” — and his own personal experience with discrimination as the son and grandson of African Americans — Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway told House Republicans on Thursday at a hearing on antisemitism that only “civil discourse” could help during “polarized” times.
UBS latest bank to announce NJ job cuts as finance sector shrinks
Daniel Munoz, NorthJersey.com
- Swiss bank UBS is laying off 51 employees at its Weehawken office, public records show, as New Jersey’s banking and finance sectors more broadly grapple with tightening budgets amid uncertain economic times.
How South Jersey chamber made traditional Day of Service into regionwide effort
ROI-NJ Staff
- This great day was a long time coming. In 2020, when the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey saw its first leadership change in 25 years, one of the organization’s new priorities was assuring it was giving back to the community. That came with a shift in its mission, vision, strategic priorities and a renewed focus on recruiting nonprofits and other community-based organizations to its membership base.
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
Longmont Tree Service
Roofing In Brighton
Roofing Colorado Springs
So….about those 56 machines in Bergen… <<>>
Murphy running for President is LAUGHABLE. Nased on what??
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Increasing Use of Cosmetic Products & Their Side Effects
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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.