Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You hit the ground running, I hope the people of New Jersey and America know that. This man got to work before Day 1.” – Alabama Senator Britt praising Senator Helmy as his tenure comes to an end
TOP STORY: It Happened in Hudson: After Prez Debacle, Can They Restart Engine in Time for Guv?
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Power publication.
The brief but busy reign of Senator Helmy is coming to an end, according to Politico NJ.
President-elect Trump nominated Charles Kushner to be Ambassador to France, according to NJ.com.
Former Senator Menendez is seeking a new trial, according to NJ.com.
The settlements in line lawsuits are mostly completed, according to NJ Globe.
Advocates say there isn’t enough information about Amazon workers who died at a NJ warehouse, according to NJ.com.
A NJ wildlife refuge is caring for animal forest fire survivors, according to NJ Spotlight.
South Jersey cranberry farms are thriving despite a dry spell, according to Burlington County Times.
Newark Airport plane repair workers rallied for a new contract, according to MyCentralJersey.
Atlantic County still hasn’t certified election results, according to NJ Globe.
Cumberland County settled a $3M lawsuit with a energy developer, according to Burlington County Times.
ICYMI: Gottheimer launched campaign for Governor; Sherrill launched candidacy for Governor; Democrats lost strength; voters aren’t familiar w/ guv candidates; Murphy addressed the loss of Democratic strength
After a closer-than-expected presidential margin in Hudson County, all eyes turn to the 2025 gubernatorial race.
As the GOP gubernatorial primary intensifies, Senator Bramnick is putting his punches together.
A closely divided House means tough choices ahead for Dems running for Governor, according to NJ Monitor.
Republican vying for Governor are wrangling over Trump, according to NJ Spotlight.
The Paramus GOP endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for Governor, according to NJ Globe.
Jersey City Councilman Gilmore endorsed Mayor Baraka for Governor, according to NJ Globe.
Mayor Fulop and Rep. Sherrill tangled over a veterans benefits vote, according to Hudson County View.
Mike Crispi says there’s ‘no clear authentic MAGA candidate’ in the GOP gubernatorial primary, according to SaveJersey.
Former Corzine operative Christy Jackson passed away, according to NJ Globe.
The late LG Oliver’s mother Jennie Oliver passed away, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Sumter confident of resolution to LD35 Senate collision course; Pallotta eying Assembly candidacy; Fulop’s palpitating moves; insiders tried to make sense of the presidential election; Auth playing long game; guv candidates converged at League, Sherrill made the rounds, Sweeney flexed political muscle; Bergen shifted more red; more Assembly candidates joined Fulop slate; Sweeney allies see path to victory; guv race taking shape; Baraka allies energized; firefighter unions split over guv race; Dems ready to find themselves; Hispanic Democratic dissatisfaction has grown; Bramnick faces difficult path; Ciattarelli sees advantages; Duarte looking ahead to 2025
In Newark, former Council President Mildred Crump passed away at age 86.
In Atlantic City, there’s a new work program for the homeless, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Avalon, the decision on Hereford Inlet sand was lauded, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bayonne, the new operator for Hudson Regional Health promises a new day, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Bloomfield, a new mayor and councilwoman were sworn-in, according to TAPinto.
In Cherry Hill, a landmark building will be torn down, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Clark, a judge may have inadvertently interfered with the mayoral election, according to NJ Globe.
In Hoboken, City Hall suffered a ransomware attack, according to Hudson County View. A preliminary deal was reached to increase the number of police officers, according to Hudson County View.
In Jamesburg, Spillane was tapped as the new mayor, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Jersey City, the council voted for a closed public safety session over lingering concerns, according to Hudson County View.
In Lawnside, racist graffiti prompted a clear and measured response, according to NJ.com.
In Maplewood, the Democrats on the committee elected a mayor and deputy mayor with drama, according to TAPinto. The mayoral dispute over a Sherrill endorsement is now an issue in the gubernatorial race, according to NJ Globe.
In Montclair, CFO Rao received a rice notice, according to TAPinto.
In Mount Holly, a judge seems ready to order a runoff, according to NJ Globe.
In North Wildwood, the town settled litigation with the state over beach erosion, but there’s a catch, according to NJ.com.
In Nutley, BOE write-ins could be a glimpse into who’s running next year, according to TAPinto.
In Palisades Park, an employee who was out of work over the mold issue was terminated, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Phillipsburg, Main Street will be paved and milled next year, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Plainfield, the town was named to the state’s Main Street program, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Summit, NJ Transit unveiled a transit art project.
In Wayne, the schools chief will retire, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: In Morristown, familiar name resurfacing; in Marlboro, sign-stealing an issue; in Howell, GOP won election; in Marlboro, voters elected split BOE ticket; in Hoboken, Councilwoman Giattino passed away; in Howell, little unity w/in GOP; in Marlboro, tensions rising in the BOE race
AROUND THE WEB:
Seniors could take a hit in Trenton budget crisis | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Gov. Phil Murphy ordered a hiring freeze last week, and a pay freeze, and he’s asked department heads to prepare for tough times next year by shrinking their budgets by 5 percent. He can’t say he wasn’t warned. The latest alarm came two years ago, when a bipartisan think tank stuffed with experts who have managed past budgets told him that he was racing towards a brick wall. He shrugged it off and kept his foot on the gas.
‘They can kill your kid’: Manalapan mom fears no punishment after son’s Navy SEALs death
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press
- In late October, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Inspector General issued a report heralding improvements in Navy SEAL training after the February 2022 death of Manalapan native Kyle Mullen, who succumbed to untreated pneumonia hours after completing the notorious “Hell Week” portion of SEAL candidacy. The report also warned that still more needs to be done to provide an acceptable level of medical care to SEAL candidates undergoing the grueling ordeal.
A MAGA judge for N.J.? You can thank Democrats | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Looks like Sen. Chuck Schumer let the bigots get away with it: The Majority Leader just brokered a deal that sold out President Biden’s Muslim American judicial pick from New Jersey for a pittance. After the man endured one of the ugliest and most disingenuous smear campaigns in recent history – in which Republicans and their dark money allies spent nearly a year casting Adeel Mangi, a respected corporate lawyer from Jersey City, as a terrorist-loving, cop-hating flamethrower – his nomination now appears dead. But that’s not all.
Hudson’s new justice complex was built to wow | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For the Jersey Journal
- It’s grandiose. It’s gigantic. It’s all grey, white and glass.
Santa’s a busy man in South Jersey: 13 Christmas festivals and events coming your way
Celeste E. Whittaker, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Where has this year gone? Christmas is right around the corner and the cold weather has moved on in. South Jersey is seemingly a festival headquarters year-round, as there’s always plenty to do.
Is There Anything to be Thankful for in National Politics? Yes, Says Princeton Professor Sam Wang
TAPinto Princeton Staff
- Sam Wang first made his name as a Princeton professor in the field of neuroscience, co-authoring the books “Welcome to Your Brain” and “Welcome to Your Child’s Brain.” More recently he has also applied his analytical skills to the political process, establishing the Princeton Election Consortium, which analyzes national elections and identifies elections in which voters and political supporters can maximize their impact. A few years later, in 2014, he founded the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, a website that helps identify gerrymandered election districts using several statistical tests.
Just Jersey: The Small Business Saturday super store
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- If you ever wondered whether the ‘Small Business Saturday’ initiative was more than just a marketing slogan — whether it actually had a bottom-line impact on business — ask the owners of the most unique store in the state.
LISTEN: Rooney handicaps N.J. Election 2025 (and a possible surprise candidate?)
Save Jersey
- Election 2024 is over and Election 2025 is well underway… On Tuesday, Matt Rooney joined The Dom Giordano Program to provide an overview of the race, both parties’ primaries, and discuss a possible surprise on the GOP side of the ledger…
Minimal response to DOJ report underscores Trenton’s lack of leadership
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- City of Trenton council members have produced an abundance of opinions about a Department of Justice report that depicted a out of control city police force. Incredibly, most published material delivers no solution to our police problem.
Coffee rights over constitutional rights for politicians
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- In March, Starbucks decided to close a community store in downtown Trenton. The experiment to design and construct store models in urban areas, coffee shops that embraced the individual culture and had proved successful in black and brown enclaves of Harlem, New York and Crenshaw, Los Angeles, produced no sustainable success in New Jersey’s capital city.
‘Fruitful fields and healthful skies’: Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation | Opinion
USA TODAY Network Atlantic Group Editorial Board
- At the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving proclamation to encourage Americans “in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer.” Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving each year since.
Rev. Amos Caley
- Each Thanksgiving, a photo op positions a governor or president alongside a turkey or two to bestow a “pardon,” as millions of Americans sit down to devour their turkey brethren. Pardoning a turkey may be staged as a light-hearted bit of whimsy, but when more turkeys are pardoned than people, the exercise becomes a cruel joke for the many New Jerseyans who are or have been incarcerated. Executive pardons have a long history, allowing presidents and governors to pardon people for punishments they have received.
Health center gets $1M to help incarcerated people in N.J. prepare for reentry
Jackie Roman, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- A nonprofit health clinic in South Jersey has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to provide medical services — including for chronic conditions, mental health, and substance use disorders — to incarcerated people preparing to return home.
‘Labor of love’: Mall Christmas displays, Santa visits remain cherished tradition for many
Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Well before Santa Claus arrived at the Deptford Mall, his helpers were at work — building a colorful home for the big guy with gigantic gift boxes, oversized ornaments and sparkling snowflakes. “My one grandson says I work for Santa Claus,” said David Iepson, whose South Jersey firm designs and installs holiday displays for multiple shopping centers. But the exhibits, such as the whimsical toy shop at the Deptford center, do more than create a cozy setting for photos of children with Santa.
Op-Ed: New Jersey’s deadliest bug isn’t an insect
Debbie Hart
- A record 384 New Jersey residents contracted a deadly fungal pathogen last year. The fungus, Candida auris, kills about a third of its victims. And it’s just one of many drug-resistant superbugs wreaking havoc across the Garden State — and across the entire world, for that matter. Antibiotic resistance contributes to roughly 170,000 U.S. deaths annually, and the toll grows each year.
Portal North Bridge reaches key milestone
Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight
- Workers are preparing to move a massive arched span into place on the new Portal North Bridge on the Hackensack River. “Those spans are approximately 400 feet long, 85 feet tall, and about 55 feet wide,” said project manager Dan Payea with Skanska Group, “and we’ll be sliding it into position tomorrow, where it’ll sit in its final resting place on the pier.”
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On December 2, 2024, Insider NJ provided its daily news update, covering a range of important topics and events happening in New Jersey and beyond. Here are some of the key highlights from the day’s news:
1. COVID-19 Update: The daily news update included the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic, including updates on case numbers, vaccination rates, and any new public health measures being implemented in the state. This information is crucial for residents to stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.
2. Political News: Insider NJ’s daily news update also covered political news, including updates on local elections, legislative developments, and any important policy decisions being made by state officials. This information is essential for residents to stay informed about the political landscape in New Jersey and how it may impact their lives.
3. Business and Economy: The daily news update included information on the state of the economy in New Jersey, including updates on job growth, business openings and closures, and any other economic developments affecting residents. This information is important for residents to stay informed about the state of the economy and how it may impact their financial well-being.
4. Community Events: Insider NJ’s daily news update also highlighted any upcoming community events or activities happening in New Jersey, such as festivals, fundraisers, or other local gatherings. This information is important for residents looking to get involved in their community and stay connected with their neighbors.
Overall, Insider NJ’s daily news update on December 2, 2024, provided a comprehensive overview of the day’s most important news and events, helping residents stay informed and engaged with what’s happening in their state. It serves as a valuable resource for staying up-to-date on current events and making informed decisions about their lives.
