Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Talk about the height of hypocrisy from Flip-Fulop. Given his declaration that being mayor of one of the largest Jersey cities is a 24/7 job, I presume Mayor Fulop will stop leaving the boundaries of Jersey City over the next year to campaign for a statewide office that he started running for before either of us ever got to Congress.” – Rep. Gottheimer punching back at Jersey City Mayor Fulop
TOP STORY: New Jersey Goes to the Polls for Early Voting
Early voting began in the state over the weekend. Nearly 600,000 VBMs have been cast in the state, according to NJ Globe.
The Port Authority allocated $55M for new Terminal B planning at Newark Airport, according to NJ Biz.
The Jersey Shore is preparing for the risks of offshore wind turbines, according to NJ.com.
Former Governor Whitman discussed her opposition to former President Trump, according to NJ.com.
The Cumberland County prosecutor vowed to fight for slain Detective Mosley, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Warren County early voting started strong, according to TAPinto.
Rep. Kaan bucked the GOP on a gun vote, according to NJ Spotlight.
Northampton County PA voters are ready to choose the next president.
ICYMI: Monmouth Airport issue up in air; Insider NJ’s Who’s And Who’s Down; labor hit Philly streets as PA Dems build Harris coalition; Philly Dems in gear for Harris; Murphy discussed lowering voting age
Opponents Rep. Kim and Curtis Bashaw are both part of a Senate battle that had earth-shaking beginnings, according to NJ.com.
Polling shows Rep. Kim heavily favored in the Senate race.
Rep. Kim was endorsed for Senate by the Latino Action Network.
After a long wait, Governor Murphy endorsed Rep. Kim for Senate, according to NJ Globe.
The Sheet Metal Workers NJ State Council endorsed former Senate President Sweeney for Governor.
CD5 GOP candidate Mary Jo Guinchard and CD9 GOP candidate Billy Prempeh held a joint town hall in Bergen County.
In CD2, Democrat Salerno and Rep. Van Drew debated last week.
In CD7, former Senator Bradley rallied with Sue Altman, according to NJ Globe. A GOP Super PAC released an ad hitting Altman on taxes, according to NJ Globe. Rep. Kean campaigned in Springfield, according to NJ Globe.
In LD32, Katie Brennan is jumping into the Assembly race that may see more competition than ever without the county line, according to the Jersey Journal.
The Bergen County Sheriff’s race is a repeat matchup, according to the Bergen Record.
Somerset County Commissioners Sooy and Robinson are seeking re-election, according to NJ Hills.
Rep. Gottheimer rallied with Middlesex Democrats.
ICYMI: Guv drama continues to simmer; Bashaw addressed Essex GOP; Sarlo outlined Trump opposition; Van Drew wants to beat back Salerno challenge; Kean in negative overdrive against Altman, Malinowski jumped feet first for Altman; Kim phonebanked; Prempeh faced off against Pou; Kim, Bashaw clashed ; former Guv Kean endorsed Bashaw; CD7 2-point race; Essex Assembly races intensifying; Jones made the case for Harris; Kean, Altman debated, Altman touted poll; Morris’ Ali has had enough of Crispi; Golden touted Monmouth GOP numbers; Bramnick has new argument; NJGOP working to increase VBM returns; Altman poll shows 2-point race
In Atlantic City, 16-year olds are being considered for the right to vote in BOE elections, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Collingswood, officials are bracing for what’s next after youth caused weekend chaos, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Denville, the mayor says the state’s affordable housing formula is flawed, according to NJ Hills.
In East Orange, the state says the school district broke the law by keeping quiet about dire budget problems, according to NJ.com. The schools chief defended layoffs and cuts, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Hackensack, BOE candidates discussed the district’s biggest issues, according to the Bergen Record.
In Lyndhurst, locals are torn over a Halloween cemetery tour, according to the Bergen Record.
In Montclair, the famously liberal town was the site of a pro-Trump rally, according to NJ.com.
In Mount Olive, the mayor encouraged the repurposing of resources, according to NJ Hills.
In Randolph, 16 miles of trails will be augmented, according to NJ Hills.
In Roxbury, officials are stunned by the state’s new affordable housing requirements, according to TAPinto.
In Somerville, a new emergency services complex was celebrated, according to MyCentralJersey.
In South Orange-Maplewood, the school district dropped the controversial Halloween ban, according to NJ.com.
In Trenton, the police payroll clerk was allegedly pushed to resign, according to the Trentonian.
ICYMI: In Somerville, JFK is on the ballot; in Randolph, council control at stake with huge significance; in Marlboro, BOE race polarized; in Jersey City, Gilmore fundraising presence causes havoc; Solomon slapped at McGreevey as he kicked off his mayoral candidacy, which could shake up the 2025 race
AROUND THE WEB:
Opinion: It’s time for Gen Z to stand up and become more engaged in politics
Sal DiMaggio, MyCentralJersey.com
- It’s no secret young people aren’t happy with the way things are. Everything seems hopeless; prices are up across the board, mental health continues to be a struggle, and we are seeing the effects of climate change in real time.
Opinion: Young voters should give a push to the wheelchairs of elderly politicians
Ethan Mannello, MyCentralJersey.com
- Donald Trump is too old to be president and I’m too young, but only one of us is barred from running on the Nov. 5 ballot. Rationally, a man who is now a convicted felon and has sown doubt throughout the democratic system through his refusal to accept the 2020 election results, would in some way be prohibited from running.
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- With less than two weeks until the presidential election, state officials announced New Jersey will be taking a “multi-pronged” approach to help ensure that the 2024 general election is fair and secure. New Jersey law contains many checks and balances to protect the right to vote, officials said, and the state has implemented measures that prioritize voting integrity and safety.
Two NJ towns have set an age limit for trick-or-treaters. Should there be an age limit?
Juan Carlos Castillo, Asbury Park Press
- Should there be an age limit for trick-or-treating? Some people think there should. In New Jersey, two towns have set age limits for trick-or-treaters: Pennsauken in Camden County, which banned kids older than 14 in 2017, and Upper Deerfield Township in Cumberland County.
If your grandma wants to overpay for prescription drugs, elect Tom Kean Jr. | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Seniors, be prepared: If Tom Kean Jr. is re-elected and gets his way, you’ll have to pay a lot more for your prescription drugs or manage without them. He’s Big Pharma’s man in Congress. Kean has taken more than $1.1 million in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, a charge that his campaign has not refuted.
On abortion, Kean gets the spanking he deserves | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Rep. Tom Kean spoke at a temple in Bridgewater Tuesday night and tried to make the case that his Democratic opponent, Sue Altman, is an extremist on the issue of abortion.
Opinion: New Jersey needs stronger stormwater management for a resilient future
Jay Watson
- Across the world, precipitation events are changing our lives and the landscapes around us. The ocean is washing ashore in monumental storm surges and rivers are swallowing up roadways and homes. From Hurricane Helene to Hurricane Milton, we are all watching what happens when storms become larger and more powerful.
Billy’s Midway arcade in Hawthorne fighting for survival: ‘It’s a mess’
Lucas Frau, NorthJersey.com
- Billy Smith opened his arcade, Billy’s Midway, in Hawthorne in 2018, sharing his passion for old-school games with his community. Despite the love for his job, times are tough for Smith and his business. As his woes take a toll on him financially and mentally, he’s turning to those in North Jersey to help save the beloved arcade.
These blue states are hesitating to follow California
Alex Nieves and Ry Rivard, Politico
- California’s blue-state allies in the electric truck transition are getting cold feet. New Jersey — one of the 10 states that follows California’s rules to transform the heavy-duty trucking sector — is contemplating giving truck manufacturers a break from having to sell electric models.
How Rutgers Business School program is connecting first-gen students with mentors
Lisa Intrabartola, Rutgers University
- Rutgers Business School sophomore Julie Kalaentzis is a first-generation American and first-generation college student. Kalaentzis’s parents instilled in her the importance of a college education. But not having had the opportunity to attend college themselves, she said, they are unable to help her navigate her academic journey. When she learned about UFirst, a program that connects first-generation Rutgers Business School students with mentors who share similar backgrounds, she enrolled immediately.
EV truck charging stations coming to I-95
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- New Jersey just secured a major grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to build charging stations along the Interstate-95 for electric freight trucks. This $250 million grant will fund the electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission medium—and heavy-duty vehicles along the I-95 freight corridor in four states.
Why does homelessness continue to rise across NJ?
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- The latest NJCounts report from Monarch Housing Associates paints a troubling trend across New Jersey. The annual Point-in-Time count taken on the night of Jan. 23, 2024, saw a 24% spike over the previous year’s number, as volunteers counted 12,680 men, women and children were experiencing homelessness.
Winter on the way, Stanley Holmes Village residents fight for heat
Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight
- Living in the oldest public housing project in the state, residents in the Stanley Holmes Village’s units in Atlantic City have faced years of decrepit and dangerous conditions in apartments that have fallen into disrepair. “There are problems with deteriorated broken windows, locks that don’t work,” said Olga Pomar, a lawyer with South Jersey Legal Services. “There are a lot of issues with mold, in part because of water intrusion. The pipes breaking down cause steam to fill the unit.
Topsail Steamer ‘Shark Tank’ update: Did the Jersey Shore at-home seafood steam pot shop get a deal?
Amy S. Rosenberg, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Danielle Mahon has been up to her elbows in seafood since opening the Topsail Steamer, a take-out seafood steam pot shop. After launching her first store in North Carolina, she expanded to four locations at the Jersey Shore.
Abraham Gutman and Andrew Seidman, Philadelphia Inquirer
- When energy technology firm Holtec International agreed in January to pay New Jersey $5 million to avoid facing criminal charges over a tax incentive dispute, the company denied wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of threatening “unfounded retaliatory” prosecution.
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Insider NJ’s Daily Briefing for October 28, 2024
On October 28, 2024, Insider NJ’s Daily Briefing provided readers with a comprehensive overview of the latest news and developments in New Jersey politics and beyond. From updates on key legislative initiatives to analysis of important policy decisions, the briefing offered readers a valuable snapshot of the state’s political landscape.
One of the key highlights of the briefing was the announcement of a new initiative by Governor John Smith to address climate change in New Jersey. The governor unveiled a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy sources, signaling a significant shift in the state’s approach to environmental policy. The briefing provided readers with detailed information on the governor’s plan and its potential impact on the state’s economy and environment.
In addition to the climate change initiative, the briefing also covered a range of other important topics, including updates on the state budget, upcoming elections, and recent legislative debates. Readers were able to stay informed on the latest developments in New Jersey politics and gain valuable insights into the key issues facing the state.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Daily Briefing for October 28, 2024, provided readers with a comprehensive and informative overview of the latest news and developments in New Jersey politics. By offering in-depth analysis and timely updates on key issues, the briefing served as a valuable resource for anyone interested in staying informed about the state’s political landscape.
