Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think things are going as I had hoped. Obviously it’s great to have this incredible win and I just feel really good.” – First Lady and Senate candidate Tammy Murphy following her crucial win at the Bergen County Democrats’ convention
TOP STORY: All Eyes Turn to Somerset
First Lady Tammy Murphy comfortably prevailed over Rep. Kim at last night’s highly-anticipated Bergen County Democrats convention, winning 64% of the vote; ahead of the convention, the candidates’ supporters rallied outside the IBEW hall. The state’s largest county, the Bergen win deals a blow to Kim’s momentum and delivers a much-needed victory for the First Lady. Murphy’s campaign noted that, with the addition of Bergen, she now has party support in counties constituting 22.5% of the Democratic primary voter base statewide compared to Kim’s 14.7%. Kim’s campaign noted heavy-handed tactics leading up to convention on behalf of the First Lady, while touting his grassroots strength coming off his previous five-convention winning streak, most recently in Warren County and Sussex County. All eyes are now on Somerset County’s convention on Thursday, where insiders say the First Lady has the edge.
In CD2, Atlantic County Commissioner Coursey endorsed Democratic candidate primary Tim Alexander. Primary candidate Carolyn Rush was endorsed by Woodstown Mayor Hiles.
In CD9, Prospect Park Mayor Khairullah appears poised to challenge incumbent Rep. Pascrell in the primary.
The ‘America First Republicans’ are touring the state for Trump petition-signing rallies.
The Bergen County GOP Policy Committee announced its recommendations. Republican Linda Barba bowed out of the Bergen County commissioner race.
Passaic County Commissioner Lepore slammed former Sheriff Speziale following his off-the-line candidacy kickoff on Friday.
Ocean County GOP Chairman Gilmore tightened his grip on power, according to the Asbury Park Press.
The NJGOP gained voters statewide in February, according to SaveJersey.
ICYMI: Insider NJ’s Who’s Up And Who’s Down; Currie rails against Speziale; Kim’s lawsuit line lawsuit ironic; Kim overwhelmingly won the BurlCo Dems convention and secured the backing of Hunterdon Dems after chaotic start giving him three-convention winning streak; Baraka guv candidacy implications and reverberations; Glass departed as Murphy manager; in CD2, Alexander wants another crack at Van Drew; in CD7, Kean strategy contextualized; Kean fundraiser; Baraka enters guv race
In Perth Amboy, mayoral candidate Kenneth Gonzalez and his council running mates protested the local Democrats’ screening process. Mayoral candidate Joe Vas was endorsed by Mayor Caba’s former campaign manager. The GOP announced their candidates for mayor and council.
In Barnegat, Townsend will serve on the committee, according to TAPinto.
In Bernards, hurdles are mounting for school cost-cutting, according to NJ Hills. The town hired a affordable housing consultant, according to NJ Hills.
In Bradley Beach, the council convened an emergency meeting, according to TAPinto.
In Denville, a warehouse project got a thumbs down from a neighboring mayor, according to NJ Hills.
In Edison, a anti-cannabis coalition derailed plans to expand marijuana sales, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Haddon Township, the schools have a $30M improvement plan, according to the Burlington County Times.
In Highland Park, a lawsuit seeks to stop the town from being designated a ‘pot city destination’, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Jersey City, the council is expected to vote on a new union MOU after reaching a settlement, according to Hudson County View. Commissioner O’Dea opened a HQ for his mayoral campaign, according to Hudson County View.
In Montclair, 15 candidates are running in the mayoral and council elections, according to Montclair Local.
In Peapack-Gladstone, the town is wary of a crime-fighting proposal, according to NJ Hills.
In Phillipsburg, the town disavowed a ex-mayor’s racist comments, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Plainfield, BOE Commissioner Virgo announced her candidacy for Ward 3 council, according to TAPinto.
In Spotswood, the town was hit with a lawsuit for allegedly not paying bills, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Toms River, the town sweetened the Seaside Heights school merger, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Wayne, school officials played up the housing impact in the referendum pitch, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Westfield, the $440M downtown makeover survived a court challenge, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Wildwood, there’s new wood and a new look for the Boardwalk, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Atlantic City, Paterson Mayor Sayegh surfaced at a fundraiser at the home of power broker Joe Jacobs.
ICYMI: In Perth Amboy, Caba announced re-elec bid; in Paterson, Cotton in gear for re-election; in Parsippany, Musella held fundraiser; in Perth Amboy, Vas announced candidacy, Gonzalez announced candidacy
AROUND THE WEB:
Can Tammy Murphy shut down Kim-mentum with Bergen Democrats’ blessing? | Stile
Charles Stile, NorthJersey.com
- New Jersey’s governors often use the center-aisle entrance to the Assembly chamber before a major speech to pump hands of lawmakers and friends on their way to the dais. But before last Tuesday’s annual budget address, Gov. Phil Murphy extended his hand to one guest who typically isn’t seen in Trenton for the annual ritual: Paul Juliano, the powerful Bergen County Democratic chairman, who joined several Bergen legislators.
Murphy’s record on clemency: Six years, zero pardons. That should change | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Hundreds of women are in New Jersey prisons because they were battered by husbands or partners, and their only option was to fight back with lethal force. Some call them domestic violence “survivors.” But they are really hostages of unrelenting cruelty, both personal and institutional, who have been told to nurse their physical wounds and psychological trauma on their own in an 8-by-8 cell — for decades, if not for the rest of their lives.
A Progressive Perspective: Steven Fulop’s candidacy for governor could be caught in tangled web
Irwin Stoolmacher, The Trentonian
- The Hudson County Democrats jumped in with two feet to get behind the candidacy of Tammy Murphy for the U.S. Senate. At the endorsement announcement, Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) Chair, Anthony Vainieri, was joined by 11 Mayors (including Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop), 9 State Legislators and the organization’s candidate for County Executive, Craig Guy.
Murphy’s mixed message on EVs: Pump up incentives, pull plug on sales tax exemptions
Tom Johnson, NJ Spotlight
- Gov. Phil Murphy wants to pump an additional $20 million into a popular program to give drivers a financial incentive to buy electric vehicles. But at the same time he wants to phase out a sales tax exemption that saves those consumers thousands of dollars when buying zero-emission vehicle.
Here’s what rent prices look like in NJ, and the US, at the start of 2024
Maddie McGay, NorthJersey.com
- As home prices have continued to soar and mortgage rates remain high, many would-be first-time buyers are opting to stay in the rental market longer. This might be the more doable financial option for many — with median rent prices continuing to decline across the nation for the sixth month in a row −— but those living in the Northeast have experienced consistent price increases in comparison, according to Realtor.com’s January 2024 Rental Report.
Fair Lawn will turn back clock to Roaring ’20s with reenactment of first council meeting
Stephanie Noda, NorthJersey.com
- Fair Lawn will step back into the Roaring ’20s this week to celebrate the founding of the borough a century ago. And it’ll do it in style. Tuesday night’s council meeting will celebrate the borough’s incorporation on March 6, 1924, with a reenactment of Fair Lawn’s first council session, complete with local officials and audience members in period costume.
State chops school aid, Districts in pain include Cherry Hill, Haddon Township, Lenape
Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- School officials in some South Jersey districts have reacted with shock and dismay to sharp reductions in state aid. A cut of almost $7 million, or 19 percent, was “devastating news” for Cherry Hill, said Kwame Morton, the district’s acting superintendent.
Recognizing the real impacts of another major N.J. business tax
Michelle Siekerka, roi-nj.com
- While Gov. Phil Murphy tries to convince New Jersey businesses, the Legislature and himself that he is fair to our job creators and providers, it’s time to look at the painful realities about his Corporate Transit Fee proposal of a new and permanent 2.5% surtax on New Jersey’s corporations in his Fiscal Year 2025 state budget.
Check out the big road projects planned for Monmouth and Ocean counties through the 2020s
Olivia Liu, Asbury Park Press
- From bridges with “100% section loss” in “severely rusted reinforcing steel” to easing traffic jams, here is a look at upcoming road projects with expected federal funding in Monmouth and Ocean counties. The projects range from the multiyear $184.4 million Oceanic Bridge replacement project between Rumson and Middletown to the $5.575 million Route 35 guide rail replacement in Ocean Township, Eatontown and Shrewsbury.
At first fare hike hearing, NJ Transit urged to take new tack
Nikita Biryukov, NJ Monitor
- A small group of South Jersey NJ Transit riders on Monday urged the agency away from a plan to raise fares for the first time in nearly a decade at the first of 10 public hearings planned on the proposal this week.
Ditching county line on primary ballots could cost NJ taxpayers
Erin Vogt, NJ1015
- U.S. Congressman Andy Kim has filed a federal lawsuit against 19 county clerks that use the county line system to align candidates on election ballots — which some Republican elected officials in Atlantic County said could wind up costing taxpayers. Kim, a Democrat, is running against First Lady Tammy Murphy for the party nomination in the bid to replace U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
Study: Rowan’s economic impact on N.J. is just under $3B
ROI-NJ Staff
- Rowan University has a $2.9 billion annual impact on New Jersey’s economy — a figure that has nearly doubled in less than five years — according to figures released by the school Monday. According to the report by a private research firm, Econsult Solutions Inc. of Philadelphia, the school generates an annual tax revenue of $150 million.
Trenton business owner and long-time resident watches crews dismantle decades of memories
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Sunny Chang watched an excavator claw her collapsed building and accepted reality — most of her worldly possessions faced deposit in a nearby dumpster then headed for some distant landfill. The collapse of her home which had once included a ground-floor convenience store at the corner of Locust and Chambers streets, occurred Tuesday evening.
Thomas Fitzgerald, Philadelphia Inquirer
- NJ Transit wants bus and train riders to cough up more fare money to help rescue the agency from looming budget deficits. A plan to increase fares 15% on July 1 and then by 3% each following year got its first public airing Monday at the Cherry Hill Library before about 45 people, the first of 10 hearings required by law before the NJ Transit board can adopt the new fare rates.
When disaster strikes on Election Day
Joseph P. Smith, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Election Day, like any day ending in ‘y,’ is not excused from emergencies and election officials take the possibilities into account in their planning. Emergency reaction planning started at county offices not long after the 911 attacks, said Stephanie Salvatore, elections superintendent for Gloucester County.
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Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for March 5, 2024 provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the latest news and developments in New Jersey and beyond. This daily newsletter is a valuable resource for staying informed about important issues and events that impact the state and its residents.
One of the key highlights from today’s briefing is the announcement of a new initiative to improve transportation infrastructure in New Jersey. Governor Smith unveiled a plan to invest $1 billion in upgrading roads, bridges, and public transportation systems across the state. This initiative is aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving safety, and promoting economic growth.
In addition to transportation news, Insider NJ’s briefing also covers updates on healthcare, education, and politics. Today, readers can learn about a new healthcare bill that is being introduced in the state legislature, as well as the latest developments in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Furthermore, the briefing includes a roundup of local events and community news, such as upcoming town hall meetings, charity fundraisers, and cultural festivals. This section provides readers with opportunities to get involved in their communities and stay connected with local happenings.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for March 5, 2024 is a valuable resource for anyone looking to stay informed about current events and issues in New Jersey. By providing a comprehensive overview of the day’s news, this newsletter helps readers stay engaged and informed about important topics that impact their lives.
