Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Of all the fine Democrats who’ve stepped forward to run for governor of New Jersey this year, Mikie stands out for me as the right person for this moment — the person who best embodies the spirit of the 2018 Blue Wave in which we were both elected, and who understands how to make New Jersey part of a Blue Wall of states standing up to Trump.” – Former Rep. Malinowski endorsing Rep. Sherrill for Governor
TOP STORY: Inside the GOP Primary for Governor
Tariffs could help some products to be made in the state, according to NorthJersey.com.
The state launched a rape kit tracking system, according to NJ.com.
NJ Transit is buying old buses as part of a replacement program, according to NJ.com.
The US Attorney announced an investigation into the Governor and AG over immigration enforcement, according to NJ Globe.
Bergen County’s preliminary budget shows a tax increase, according to NorthJersey.com.
Burlington County must halt renovations of its health building after federal cuts, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The county released a report on 2024 election failures, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Senator Booker has a national approval of 65% among Democrats, according to NJ Globe.
Rep. Pou’s first bill advanced, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Booker held a town hall; Sherrill galvanized supporters; Booker made history; Christie considers Habba, gives guv race perspective
The Democratic gubernatorial primary is heating up two months out from Primary Day.
Jack Ciattarelli appears to be the GOP gubernatorial primary frontrunner, as the race heats up.
Former Rep. Malinowski endorsed Rep. Sherrill for Governor.
Progressive groups endorsed Mayor Baraka for Governor.
Six Democratic gubernatorial candidates participated in a forum, according to TAPinto.
In LD4, Democratic Assembly candidate Everett wants towns to have a ‘Department of Social Response’, according to NJ Globe.
In LD39, incorrect endorsements fueled anger in the GOP Assembly primary, according to NJ Globe.
In CD7, Varela raised over $150k, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Ciattarelli envisions coattails; in LD33, Wainstein waging Assembly bid; Booker won’t take sides in guv primary; Fulop formally announced Collum as LG pick to strengthen candidacy
Download and read Insider NJ’s Healthcare Power List publication.
Governor Murphy wants a new tax on phone lines to pay for the 988 crisis hotline, according to NJ Spotlight.
Mayor Fulop says StayNJ eligibility should be scaled back, according to Politico NJ.
Bill Spadea says he’ll replace state education leadership with Moms For Liberty, according to Politico NJ.
The remote work policy for state employees will be permanent, according to NJ.com.
The NJBIA expressed opposition to legislation affecting tipped workers.
In Atlantic City, police say crime is down 11% in the first quarter, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Barnegat, parents want changes after an autistic girl was allegedly tied up, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Dover, funds were approved to pay for a councilman’s legal defense, according to NJ Herald.
In East Windsor, the town will revisit allowing cannabis sales, according to TAPinto.
In Gloucester, officials describe social media posts that led to the indefinite postponement of the Township Day, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Hoboken, ELEC says mayoral candidates can use their council campaign accounts within guidelines, according to Hudson County View. Councilwoman Fisher kicked off her mayoral campaign, according to Hudson County View.
In Holmdel, senior homes are part of a slimmed-down affordable housing plan, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Jersey City, Councilman Solomon outlined his public services plan. A dispute erupted at a council meeting, according to TAPinto. Councilwoman Prinz-Arey stepped down to take a city job, according to NJ Globe.
In Lakewood, middle school violence is rising, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Middle, the budget includes a tax increase, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Montclair, a new superintendent was announced, according to Montclair Local. The council fasttracked street safety, according to Montclair Local.
In Morristown, Mayor Dougherty kicked off his re-election campaign, according to Morristown Green.
In Red Bank, a vote on train station apartments was pushed off, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Ship Bottom, the town will highlight its history all year, according to the Sandpaper.
In Ventnor, fees will increase on the pier, according to Downbeach.
In Vineland, the council will hold a special meeting, according to South Jersey Today.
In Westfield, the BOE election is set for Tuesday, according to UC Hawk. The council approved the capital budget, according to UC Hawk.
AROUND THE WEB:
Jack Ciattarelli will be N.J.’s next governor (unless Trump screws him)
Tom Martello, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- If all goes the way things have played out over the past half century in New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli is your next governor.
Plane carrying N.J. congressman clipped by another aircraft on airport taxiway
Nicolas Fernandes, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- A plane carrying U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and other members of Congress was clipped by another plane on Thursday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Newark lawsuit aims to ‘cripple’ immigrant enforcement, prison company alleges
Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ Monitor
- A major private prison company wants a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Newark over the company’s planned new immigration jail, framing the case as a politically charged attempt to sidestep federal authority. In a 37-page court filing made public Wednesday, prison firm Geo Group argues that Newark’s legal challenge can’t move forward without U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a party, since the federal agency has a contract with Geo Group to house immigrant detainees at the proposed jail.
McGreevey: Overspending — A Way of Life in Jersey City
NJ Globe
- According to a review of the 2021-2023 audited financial statements, the 2024 municipal budget, and other City documents, Jersey City’s finances are in serious disarray. Over the past three years, the municipal/property tax rate has risen by 51.4%, reflecting a lack of control over spending.
This Atlantic City casino hasn’t seen a gambler in over 11 years
Chris Coleman, NJ1015
- The year was 2014: a nationwide ban on the sale of incandescent light bulbs started, Jimmy Fallon began hosting “The Tonight Show” in New York City, and the new One World Trade Center building opened in New York City. Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, a decades-old casino shut its doors. And over 11 years later, the old Atlantic Club Casino remains a dark and dismal stain on Atlantic City’s skyline. At least for now.
Phillipsburg fire destroys former planning official’s home
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann, For lehighvalleylive.com
- A fire ripped through the home of a former Phillipsburg planning official early Thursday, leaving the residence uninhabitable. Phillipsburg Fire Chief Rich Hay said flames ignited just after 4:15 a.m. in the 200 block of Morris Street. Former Phillipsburg Planning Board member Bernard Rooney got out safely, Hay said. Rooney was the only one home, Fay said.
Homeless people at Newark Penn to get new attention
Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight
- A wide-ranging effort is soon to be launched to address the rising numbers of homeless individuals in and around Newark Penn Station in downtown Newark. “Gateway to Hope brings a multi-disciplinary medical outreach team directly into the station, providing on the spot care, and helping people access critical support,” said Fran O’Connor, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation
Trenton honors fallen soldiers in event commemorating the end of the Civil War
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Mercer County Cemetery, the final resting place of nearly 200 Civil War veterans, hosted commemoration services for the 160th anniversary marking the end of the Civil War. The event in Trenton attracted approximately 75 guests. Later, guests visited the Locust Hill African Cemetery for a wreath presentation that acknowledged Black soldiers who died during Civil War action.
Amer Rabee’s death brings the Israel-Gaza conflict to NJ again. Can it stop? | Opinion
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- The long and tragic list of the dead from the seemingly endless Israeli-Palestinian war has a new face. His name is Amer Mohammed Saada Rabee. He was born in America, the son of Palestinian immigrants. He spent his first years in the Bergen County township of Saddle Brook before his parents returned to the West Bank.
LBI Residents Give Voice to Hands Off Movement
Gina G. Scala, The Sand Paper
- Against the backdrop of a misty Saturday in April and with a national stand against President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk taking place across the country, more than 1,500 participants found their way to the front of the Veterans Administration Center in Toms River to deliver a message: The federal government needs to keep its hands to itself.
We have to put a stop to New Jersey’s health care corporate welfare | Opinion
Scott Garrett
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This phrase rings true in both life and politics.Consider the recently established Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by Elon Musk, as an example. This agency has been assigned the role of identifying waste, fraud and abuse within federal government operations.
Conservation school warns budget cut would ‘devastate’ student programs
Dana DiFilippo, NJ Monitor
- Near the brook that feeds Lake Wapalanne, the city kids teeter and trip over mossy rocks on their way through the woods to collect water samples. They’ll test for dissolved oxygen, nitrates, acidity, and more, but they’ll also test their grit as they navigate nature 75 miles from their New Brunswick high school. The mud sucks the sneaker off one teen’s foot, leaving his classmates cackling. Another student pirouettes at the water’s edge to avoid falling in.
‘They told me I would never live on my own,’ says advocate pushing back on disabilities funding cut
Trenton Journal
- Her wheelchair mobility van broke down on the way to the State House, but Tamika Cheek made it to Trenton in time to share her life story – and move the Assembly budget committee chairwoman to tears. Cheek, 47, grew up “fighting” for independence, she said, after a childhood choking incident cut off her oxygen and left her dependent on a wheelchair. For years, she was rejected by people who dismissed her abilities.
First trans NJ school board president denies being sex worker
Rick Rickman, NJ1015
- The former local school board president who is now running for a seat on the Town Council is denying that she is a sex worker after online profiles featuring her racy photos came to light. Daniella Mendez — who was Miss Gay NJ in 2016 — is the first trans woman elected to a board of education seat in New Jersey.
Sound the alarms, cue the confetti — ROI-NJ’s Influencers: Women in Business list is here.
ROI-NJ Staff
- Compiling this list? Brutal. Intense. Not for the faint of heart. But neither is doing business in Jersey — and these women own it. They’re visionaries. Dealmakers. Disruptors. The ones who don’t just show up — they change the game. And we’re beyond excited to celebrate every one of them.
Habba unfazed by N.J. State Police memo attempting to thwart Trump immigration efforts
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- The New Jersey State Police are directing troopers to NOT cooperate with federal law enforcement in intercepting illegal aliens, Save Jerseyans, according to a bombshell new email memo released by the GOP gubernatorial campaign of Jack Ciattarelli.
Which town has the lowest property taxes in Warren County?
Katie Kausch, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- New Jersey might be known for its sky-high property taxes, but there are still some towns where you can catch a break. New Jersey’s average homeowner paid a record $10,095 in property taxes last year. But, in some counties the lowest tax bill is less than one-quarter of that amount.
John Mooney, NJ Spotlight
- Key questions for Valerie Mielke, deputy commissioner in the Department of Human Services.
Big blow to program that helps poorer residents pay energy bills
Benjamin J. Hulac, NJ Spotlight
- The federal program that helps hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in New Jersey stay cool during the summer and warm during the winter is at risk due to widespread layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Every member of the LIHEAP staff was laid off last week, according to Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, who placed the number of lost jobs at “about 25.”
In Cape May, Coast Guard members talk about their mission, and the future
Bill Barlow, Press of Atlantic City
- At home port, the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Angela McShan stands ready to “Give ‘em the beans.” “That’s our phrase,” said Lt. Junior Grade Joseph Roth, the executive officer of the McShan.
What Morris County towns had the highest and lowest property tax rates in 2024?
Kyle Morel, Morristown Daily Record
- Taxes are a constant source of aggravation for many Americans, and perhaps no residents have a greater reason to be annoyed than New Jerseyans. The Garden State has the highest property tax rate in the country, according to a recent report from WalletHub. But in a state with a diverse mix of urban and rural areas, there is naturally some discrepancy when it comes to the amount each resident pays annually.
Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for April 11, 2025
Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for April 11, 2025, is packed with the latest news and updates on politics, business, and current events in New Jersey. This daily briefing is a must-read for anyone looking to stay informed and up-to-date on what’s happening in the Garden State.
One of the top stories in today’s briefing is the announcement of a new initiative by Governor Smith to improve infrastructure in the state. The governor has proposed a comprehensive plan to invest in roads, bridges, and public transportation systems to ensure that New Jersey remains competitive and attractive to businesses and residents alike. This initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs and stimulate economic growth in the state.
In other news, a major corporation has announced plans to open a new headquarters in New Jersey, bringing hundreds of high-paying jobs to the state. This is seen as a major win for Governor Smith’s administration, which has been working tirelessly to attract businesses and investment to New Jersey.
On the political front, there are reports of a heated debate in the state legislature over a proposed bill to increase funding for education. Supporters argue that investing in education is crucial for the future success of New Jersey, while opponents raise concerns about the cost and potential impact on taxpayers. This story is sure to continue to develop in the coming days.
In addition to these top stories, Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing also includes updates on local events, community initiatives, and other important news happening across the state. Whether you’re a business owner, politician, or concerned citizen, this daily briefing is an invaluable resource for staying informed and engaged with what’s happening in New Jersey.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for April 11, 2025, provides a comprehensive overview of the most important news and developments in New Jersey. From infrastructure improvements to economic growth to political debates, this briefing covers it all. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis from Insider NJ as the day unfolds.
