Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The thought has crossed my mind.” – Bill Spadea on the possibility of running for governor
TOP STORY: Gopal, Dnistrian Trade Shots as they Try to Define Post-Budget Terrain
Parental rights candidates are shaking up state boards of education, according to the Bergen Record.
The NJDOL announced $1.5M in grants to boost access to worker protections and benefits.
First Lady Tammy Murphy reiterated her commitment to continuing her ‘Tammy Murphy’s Tremendous Tuesday Tales’ book reading series.
Atlantic County received $147k to study a centralized emergency dispatch center, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Hunterdon County could save money by selling the waste transfer station, according to MyCentralJersey.
Mercer County Clerk Covello announced the digitization and preservation of over 1M land records.
Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter announced a new photo ID program for county residents.
Senator Booker introduced the ‘PREDICT Act’.
ICYMI: Basic facts are still murky about Port Newark fire, prompts questions; Murphy signed legislation to combat car thefts
NJ101.5 radio host and potential gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea addressed a Skylands Tea Party meeting, imploring the audience to fight ‘woke’ culture and ‘elites’.
Former Governor Christie says he has 40,000 donors for his presidential candidacy, clearing a barrier to qualify for a debate, according to Politico NJ.
In CD7, Roselle Park Mayor Signorello jumped into the Democratic primary to challenge Rep. Kean, ditching his challenge of Senator Menendez, according to NJ.com.
In LD25, Democratic Senate candidate Christine Clarke and Assembly candidate Jonathan Torres were endorsed by Climate Cabinet Action.
ICYMI: Christie soaking up media attention; in LD11, Gopal, Dnistrian define post-budget political terrain; Fulop raised $2.2M for guv campaign; path clear for Ali in fastracked convention; River Edge GOP Chairman Arakelian resigned; NJLCV endorsed legislative candidates; Fulop says ‘organizing early overcomes any obstacle‘; NJEA endorsements; NJGOP mourned passing of Bill Layton
In Dunellen, the town adopted a comprehensive climate resiliency plan.
In Atlantic City, two firehouses were closed, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Camden, former Assemblyman and council candidate Arthur Barclay was charged after hitting a pedestrian, according to Burlington County Times.
In Cedar Grove, an agreement was reached to share emergency rescue services with Montclair, according to TAPinto.
In Franklin Lakes, a zoning decision on Cigna was postponed again, according to the Bergen Record.
In Lawrence, a local judge was accused of being too chummy with police, according to NJ.com.
In Long Hill, Naga is no longer police chief but is still a presence, according to NJ Hills.
In Monroe, the mayor says the town will use state funding to block development, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Montville, the town purchased park land, according to TAPinto.
In Morristown, the council introduced a redevelopment plan for near Green, according to Morristown Green.
In Mount Laurel, changes are coming to the cannabis ordinance, according to TAPinto.
In Newton, the council amended the cannabis ordinance, according to TAPinto.
In Pennsauken, the $27M library complex turned into a court case, according to Burlington County Times.
In Princeton, the town is encouraging ideas to preserve outdoor dining, according to TAPinto.
In Ridgewood, the second phase of the tree survey began, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Scotch Plains, the council advanced a plan for a new first-responder HQ, according to UC Hawk.
In Wanaque, a site was condemned as frustrations mount over a development, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Warren, hate graffiti was removed from a playground, according to NJ Hills.
In Westfield, pay increases are coming for town workers, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: In Parsippany, Barberio prevailed in GOP chair race; in Paterson, Mendez secured Council Presidency; in Mount Olive, Roman supporters and critics attend council meeting; in Parsippany, accusations between county, local GOP; in Bridgewater, Hayes seeking comeback, launched candidacy, Moench lambasted Hayes; in Middletown, BOE enacted parental notification policy
AROUND THE WEB:
New Jersey’s Best Places to Work, 2023
NJBIZ Staff
- The wait is over – NJBIZ is unveiling the 2023 NJBIZ Best Places to Work honorees. Based upon the results of a survey conducted by BridgeTower Media’s Best Companies Group, the 2023 honorees across small (15 – 49 employees), medium (50 – 249 employees) and large (more than 250 employees) employers are determined from none other than their own employees.
Here’s why NJ residents keep moving to Tampa
Judi Franco, NJ1015
- I know you’re tired of hearing about people moving out of New Jersey, but when I read this article on catcountry1073.com and then wrote my own, it occurred to me that there’s something about Tampa. So many articles about where New Jerseyans are fleeing to will mention Tampa as the number one choice of refuge from New Jersey. I thought I’d let you know some of the reasons why.
Cape May’s new “Victorian” promenade arches: What to love, what not to love
Amy S. Rosenberg, Inquirer
- The City of Cape May’s cause was noble. “They tried,” said one woman walking along the promenade under the patriotically draped new arches the other day. She didn’t want to give her name. Others are more appreciative. “I love the way they are bunted,” said Mark Wiedorfer, visiting from Rehoboth Beach. “Some people don’t like anything.” “I like anything retro,” said his friend, Lori Hitchings.
Water quality alerts lifted at 13 New Jersey beaches
Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
- Thirteen Jersey Shore beaches were declared safe for swimming on Wednesday after having high counts of fecal coliform, or bacteria that live in the intestines of animals, discovered earlier in the week. Fecal coliform frequently do not make people sick on their own, but health agencies use them as an indicator that other harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites may be present in water.
Craig Coughlin has a StayNJ windfall to sell to seniors. Will it ever pay off? | Stile
Charles Stile, NorthJersey.com
- No one will ever accuse Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin of being a high-powered salesman. The soft-spoken Middlesex County lawyer talks in a reassuring monotone, with his sentences sometimes falling off into a murmur. There is no “Art of the Deal” Trumpian braggadocio to his pitch, nor the eyepopping “His prices are insane!” hysteria of the Crazy Eddie ads of the 1980s. In the spectrum of salesmen, Coughlin is closer in style and tone to “Blue Bloods” actor Tom Selleck, peddling reverse mortgages on cable TV with a reassuring, basset-hound look.
The next step in fighting child poverty in N.J. | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- The complaints about the state’s 2024 budget still reverberate like crashing cymbals, starting with its secrecy, its backroom deals and its generous benefits for the well-connected. On child poverty, however, there is positive news: The state is doubling the child tax credit, a response to the appalling fact that one out of seven children in New Jersey now live in poverty.
Parental Rights vs. The Government | Scharfenberger
Gerry Scharfenberger, Save Jersey
- There is a frightening trend within New Jersey government whereby more and more legislation being signed into law usurps the authority of parents to raise their children as they see fit. Sometimes it removes the parents from decision-making about things that pertain to their children, other times it withholds information from the parents themselves.
Is new social-impact fund first step to NJ public bank?
John Reitmeyer, NJ Spotlight
- Gov. Phil Murphy and lawmakers have set aside $20 million for a state-run Social Impact Investment Fund to advance what they are deeming “socially beneficial projects” in communities across the state. The new fund will use both public and private investment dollars to advance affordable-housing developments, certain infrastructure-improvement projects, and the construction and maintenance of early childhood education centers, according to a law signed by Murphy late last month.
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