Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It is critical that we keep politics out of school board elections. We’re in a world marked by diverse rhetoric and partisan bickering, and the last place we need that to occur is at the local school board level.” – NJ School Boards Association Executive Director Timothy Purnell
TOP STORY: The Sweeney 2025 Path to Drumthwacket in a Trump Universe
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Out 100: Power List by Jay Lassiter.
Governor Murphy won’t seek to become DNC chair, according to NJ.com.
Governor Murphy expressed opposition the NY’s congestion pricing plan.
Governor Murphy released his 2023 tax returns.
The state divvied up $150M in roadwork grants, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The state’s gas tax could rise, according to NJ Spotlight.
Prosecutors say they mistakenly gave jurors access to evidence in the Menendez case, according to NJ.com.
PATH fares will increase, according to NJ.com.
NJ Transit approved a new operator for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
Burlington County voters were asked to share stories of long voting lines amid a probe, according to Burlington County Times.
Hudson County Executive Guy announced the first-ever affordable housing task force.
Low cost housing for veterans in coming to Ocean County, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Rep. Van Drew won’t take a position in the incoming Trump administration, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
One On One with Steve Adubato is celebrating 30 years on the air.
ICYMI: Democrats lost strength; voters aren’t familiar w/ guv candidates; Murphy addressed the loss of Democratic strength on election day
In Jersey City, Ward D Councilman Saleh announced his re-election bid.
In Newark, AG Platkin held a strategy meeting with law enforcement leaders.
In Mahwah, Councilwoman Ariema joined the GOP.
In Atlantic City, an ordinance to lower the voting age was postponed, according to the Press of Atlantic City. Opponents told the council that Trump will end offshore wind, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Berkeley Heights, there’s a razor-thin margin in the council race, according to TAPinto.
In Branchburg, the town isn’t sure what to do with $28M of properties it purchased, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Clifton, the city has a plan to increase the number of police officers, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Hackensack, Councilman Battaglia says he didn’t do anything wrong, according to the Bergen Record.
In Harding, the BOE was praised for sticking with Madison, according to NJ Hills.
In Ocean City, a hearing on Wonderland was moved to a larger venue, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Paterson, the city is taking aim at illegal dumpers, according to Paterson Press. A spat between a current and former councilmen got thornier, according to Paterson Press.
In Phillipsburg, Republicans say personnel complaints against the former mayor should be made public, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Readington, a councilman will face a January trial in the sign stealing case, according to NJ Globe.
In South Orange, the council discussed improving safety, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: n 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; in Somerville, JFK is on the ballot; in Randolph, council control at stake with huge significance
AROUND THE WEB:
N.J. lawmaker calls Trump “Daddy”
Matt Arco, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Dad’s home. Congressman Jeff Van Drew referred to President-elect Donald Trump as “daddy” Thursday while talking about the world stage and how bad actors will get in line now that Trump will return to the White House. “Countries indicating they’re going to be good boys and girls now, you know, just liken it to an old parable here, daddy’s home and things are going to change — and we’re going to go back to being a strong America,” Van Drew said on Newsmax.
Progressive think tank urges tax hikes to close budget gaps
Nikita Biryukov, NJ Monitor
- New Jersey should adopt a host of progressive tax changes to generate nearly $4 billion in revenue to bridge structural deficits over the coming years, including new tax brackets for millionaires, an expanded sales tax, and a revived estate tax, a new report from a left-leaning think tank urges. The report from New Jersey Policy Perspective calls for the state to levy higher income taxes on multimillionaires, undo a Christie-era sales tax cut, and apply sales tax to a range of services excluded under current law to bridge a gap between state spending and state revenues that threaten to drain New Jersey’s surplus over the coming years.
Fulop and Baraka lead charge against county line in ballot committee hearing
Zach Blackburn, NJ Globe
- Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka led a chorus of voices calling on legislators to end the county line during a ballot design committee hearing Tuesday evening. The hearing, held at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, was the second Assembly ballot design committee hearing to accept public testimony. The bipartisan committee — which was tasked with recommending ballot design reforms after the controversial county line system was deemed likely unconstitutional — has at least two more hearings scheduled.
Gov. Murphy got a call from Trump this week. Are the two playing nice again?
Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy revealed Wednesday he got a phone call this week from someone you might not expect: Republican President-elect Donald Trump. Murphy said Trump called him Monday evening, six days after the former president was elected to retake the White House over Vice President Kamala Harris — and lost blue New Jersey by a much-closer-than-expected 5 percentage points.
Aftermath: The Big Bad List Of Winners And Losers
Dan Cirruci, Save Jersey
- After every election, there’s a winner and a loser. That’s one of the things we like about politics: somebody wins (always more fun) and somebody loses. But it’s not just the candidates who win or lose; it’s actually a whole slew of people — and there are so many more in a big quadrennial presidential election like this one We can’t possibly catalogue all the winners and losers from the campaign’s fallout here, but we will try to enumerate the major ones.
Ex-NRIA ‘shadow chief’ in Secaucus of gets 12 years for running $568M Ponzi scheme
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- The former “shadow chief” of the now defunct National Realty Investment Advisors (NRIA) in Secaucus received a 12-year prison sentence for running a $568 million Ponzi scheme, which led to a multi-million dollar tax evasion conspiracy, authorities said.
Sweeney talks school funding during sit down with Hudson County Chamber of Commerce
Daniel Ulloa, NJ Spotlight
- Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Steve Sweeney discussed school funding, education, public safety, immigration, and much more during a sit down with the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce this afternoon.
Progress made on NJ-NY wildfire
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- Persistent hot and dry weather is giving crews a real fight in battling a massive, fatal wildfire burning on the New Jersey-New York border. The Jennings Creek wildfire remains roughly 4,400 acres large — about 2,300 acres on the Jersey side and another 2,100 in New York.
Cannabis operators say consumption lounge process too slow
Raven Santana, NJ Spotlight
- The state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved rules for consumption lounges in January, but no applications are yet available to entrepreneurs who want to open the lounges. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, CEO and founder of The Other Side Dispensary in Jersey City, said waiting for the green light from the commission hasn’t just been time-consuming, it’s also been expensive. And without a timeline or direction from the state on how she can build out her consumption lounge, she said she is stuck in limbo.
Mercer County is trying to fix the mistake of where they painted a tribute to Athing Mu
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Mercer County officials said late Wednesday that they were looking for a new place to paint a mural of Olympic gold-medalist and Trenton Native Athing Mu after some expressed disappointment that she was part of a mural on the state prison.
Old-fashioned windmill pops up near I-195 in Jackson. Soon you can see it up close
Joe Mason, Asbury Park Press
- Windmills have been a great topic of discussion around New Jersey in recent years, but recently a new question popped up. Who is responsible for the old-fashioned, full-size windmill that is sitting just off I-195 in Jackson? No, it’s not a state-of-the-art 18th hole on a miniature golf course. It is a real giant windmill, and people on social media are asking where it came from.
4 months after director died, SCI won’t say who’s running the watchdog agency
Michael L. Diamond, Asbury Park Press
- Four months after its executive director died in a car accident, the New Jersey commission designed to root out mismanagement and corruption in the state has yet to select a replacement, and it isn’t clear who has been leading the agency.
Netflix at Fort Monmouth: Construction plans unveiled to public, studio seeks Oceanport OK
Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press
- Netflix has an ask of the borough. They want bigger stage identification numbers on the outside of the buildings than permitted. And the borough wants to know exactly what they’re in store for from Netflix, looking to minimize the impact on their residents’ quality of life while inviting a bit of Hollywood to town.
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Insider NJ’s Daily News Update for November 15, 2024, brings you the latest updates on politics, business, and current events happening in New Jersey. Here are some of the top stories making headlines today:
1. Governor Announces New Initiatives to Boost Economy: Governor John Smith unveiled a series of new initiatives aimed at boosting the state’s economy. These initiatives include tax incentives for businesses, job training programs, and infrastructure investments. The Governor emphasized the importance of creating a business-friendly environment to attract new companies and create more jobs for residents.
2. Legislative Update: The State Legislature passed several bills today, including a measure to increase funding for education and a bill to improve healthcare access for low-income residents. Lawmakers also debated a controversial gun control bill that would tighten restrictions on firearms in the state.
3. Business News: In business news, several companies announced plans to expand their operations in New Jersey, creating hundreds of new jobs. The state’s unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in years, thanks to a strong economy and job growth in key industries such as technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.
4. Local Events: This weekend, communities across New Jersey are hosting a variety of events, including holiday parades, craft fairs, and charity fundraisers. Residents are encouraged to support local businesses and organizations by attending these events and shopping locally.
5. Weather Update: The weather forecast for New Jersey this week calls for mild temperatures and sunny skies. Residents can expect pleasant weather for outdoor activities and travel plans.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Daily News Update for November 15, 2024, highlights the positive developments happening in the state and provides valuable information for residents to stay informed about current events and opportunities in New Jersey. Stay tuned for more updates on politics, business, and community news from Insider NJ.
