Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Kim has more of a public record than Murphy and it shows in this early read of voter sentiment, but what this poll really tells us is that the senate race is still an insider’s game at this point.” – Monmouth University polling director Patrick Murray
TOP STORY: Monmouth Poll is Good News for Andy Kim
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Advance publication.
A Monmouth University poll finds First Lady Tammy Murphy with higher name recognition than chief Senate primary rival Rep. Kim, but Kim has higher favorable ratings; Kim also has a higher share of respondents who say they will definitely or probably vote for him.
The Murphy Administration awarded $20M in ARP Firefighter Grants to over 350 fire departments across the state.
Governor Murphy is eying a new fee on warehouse truck traffic, according to NJ Spotlight.
Experts say Senator Menendez’s legal strategy is unlikely to change, according to NJ Spotlight.
Commuters pushed back against NJ Transit fare increases, according to the Bergen Record.
Battleship NJ will get long-awaited repairs, according to NJ Spotlight.
NJ colleges are still feeling the impacts of COVID, according to NJ101.5.
Ocean County Commissioner Sadeghi called for ‘sweeping ethics reforms’ in county government, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Union County wrapped up its homeless count, according to TAPinto.
William Paterson University touted its nursing school growth, according to NJ Spotlight.
Rowan University expects enrollment to double in the next decade, according to the Asbury Park Press.
ICYMI: Senate race promises historic results; Uribe pleaded guilty in Menendez case; Hayden slammed colleagues after censure; Murphy delivered budget address laying out several priorities; Sherrill made case for Ukraine aid; Murphy addressed Drumthwacket confrontation
The Monmouth University poll is good news for Rep. Kim’s Senate candidacy.
A response was filed to Rep. Kim’s lawsuit challenging the county line ballot design.
First Lady Tammy Murphy announced Maggie Moran as her new campaign manager; the announcement comes at a pivotal moment in her campaign, according to Politico NJ.
Rep. Kim’s campaign touted the Monmouth poll as showing a ‘massive advantage’. Kim was endorsed by ‘Council For A Livable World’.
Passaic County Democrats announced the candidates for Sheriff who will be interviewed for support. Former Sheriff Speziale returned fire at the party organization, and called for the end of the county line ballot structure.
A source says the DNC is poised for new NJ appointments.
The Somerset County Democrats mistakenly sent pro-Murphy campaign texts ahead of tonight’s convention, according to Politico NJ.
Senator Menendez isn’t gathering signatures to run for re-election, according to NJ Globe.
GOP Senate primary candidate Curtis Bashaw won the Somerset GOP line, according to SaveJersey.
In CD2, Democratic primary candidate Carolyn Rush was endorsed by Pleasantville Councilman Carmona.
‘Protecting Our Democracy’ launched their first TV ad of the season.
ICYMI: Murphy’s win at Bergen convention conveyed influence of county party; in CD6, Hsu will primary Pallone; Murphy, Kim supporters rallied in Bergen, Tammy Murphy’s much-needed victory, Kim won in Warren County and Sussex County, eyes are now on Somerset; in CD9, Khairullah poised to primary Pascrell; ‘America First Republicans’ touring state; Bergen GOP announced recommendations, Barba bowed out; Speziale off-the-line candidacy kickoff; 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 Berlin, Camden County launched a $1M bridge rehabilitation project.
In Roseland, Goldstein was appointed to the council.
In Hoboken, property owners launched a petition in support of a referendum reforming rent control.
In Atlantic City, a judge will decide the Ward 2 council election challenge in 30 days, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bernards, a anti-crime measure was proposed, according to NJ Hills.
In Chester, the borough adopted an ordinance clarifying home office occupancies, according to NJ Hills.
In Dover, the mayor and a councilwoman clashed over Democrats’ endorsement, according to the Daily Record.
In East Newark, no one is running in next week’s BOE election, according to Hudson County View.
In Hillsborough, the schools chief and union agree on the ‘funding crisis’, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Jersey City, Commissioner O’Dea urged the council to amend the tenant safety rule, according to Hudson County View.
In Long Hill, food trucks are under examination, according to NJ Hills.
In Manalapan, a mailbox fight means residents can’t get their mail delivered, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Paterson, the stage is set for the May municipal elections, according to TAPinto.
In Passaic, the city will build a new school with state funding, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Pemberton, there’s a 20-year effort to build houses in the Pinelands, according to ROI-NJ.
In Piscataway, the budget was introduced, according to TAPinto.
In Roselle Park, an ordinance will be introduced regarding solicitors, according to TAPinto.
In Seaside Heights, a tower plan was supposed to dominate, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Somerville, plans to transform South Bridge Street are in jeopardy, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Teaneck, a Israel real estate pitch prompts fear and debate, according to the Bergen Record.
In Watchung, schools need ‘operational stability’, according to NJ Hills.
In Westfield, a judge ruled in the town’s favor in the One Westfield Plaza lawsuit, according to UC Hawk. Six candidates filed for BOE, according to UC Hawk.
ICYMI: In Perth Amboy, Gonzalez protested Dem screening, GOP announced candidates, 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:
Krystal Knapp, NJ Vindicator
- State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D Bergen and Passaic) is sponsoring a bill that would gut the state’s Open Public Records Act, taking away some of the most important provisions of the law. The law, commonly referred to as OPRA, gives citizens rights to access public information and helps them understand how their government functions.
N.J. politician lied about being a Navy SEAL and must resign, party leaders say
Jackie Roman, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- A bipartisan group of political leaders is calling on a Sussex County commissioner to resign after he was accused of lying about serving as a Navy SEAL.
Op-Ed: A tale of two couples’ taxes
Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, NJ Spotlight
- Would you pay less state income tax if you lived in New York or New Jersey? It’s a good question, but one that defies an easy answer because comparing taxes across two states requires controlling for a host of variables that, in the real world, are never the same.
State’s top watchdog makes his mark during first four years in office
Deborah Howlett, NJ Vindicator
- Kevin Walsh’s awakening came in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on a spring day in 1993. On a break from Catholic University, he was helping to build homes for low-income people in the historic town of Marks, Mississippi, where a generation earlier the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. organized and launched the historic Poor People’s Campaign. The Irish Catholic kid from southern New Jersey was shocked by what he saw while pounding nails.
Mumps outbreak reported in NJ as health officials investigate disease cluster
Scott Fallon, NorthJersey.com
- Health officials are looking to contain a recent outbreak of mumps that spread quickly among members of one New Jersey family, the Department of Health announced Tuesday. Few details were released by the agency. But health officials said the highly contagious disease spread among eight members of a “family cluster” in Hunterdon County. The initial infection may be related to recent international travel, officials said.
These two New Jersey cities are among the noisiest in the country, study says
Manahil Ahmad, NorthJersey.com
- A recent report by Steel Guard Safety reveals that Jersey City and Newark have joined New York City as some of the noisiest cities in the United States. The study found that six out of the top 10 loudest cities are located on the East Coast, with Boston, Philadelphia and Miami also making the list.
South Jersey cosmetology school selected for Beyoncé scholarship fund
Kaitlyn McCormick, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Jana’s Cosmetology Academy was the first-ever Black-owned-and-operated cosmetology school to open its doors in New Jersey. Now, JCA, situated in Camden County, is offering five $10,000 scholarships to students — courtesy of Beyoncé. Atiya Johnson, the academy’s CEO, described the moment she found out about the scholarships as “surreal.”
Longtime New Jersey horse racing announcer who had a role in ‘A Bronx Tale’ movie has died
Bob Jordan, Asbury Park Press
- Larry Lederman, who called races at all of New Jersey racetracks including a tenure of more than 10 years at Freehold Raceway, died Tuesday after a lengthy battle with brain cancer, according to the U.S. Trotting Association. He was 67.
Can voters really tolerate Trump’s alleged crimes? Polls tell a scary story | Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- Political polls can be maddening. Who’s up? Who’s down? And, if it’s only March, who cares? We still have eight months until Election Day. But one footnote in the recent spate of polls to measure support for the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Donald Trump had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with right and wrong. For that reason, it’s worth studying especially now, as Trump steamrolls his way to the Republican presidential nomination.
The Supreme Court is aiding and abetting Donald Trump | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Since Donald Trump lost the 2020 election by 7 million votes, he’s been found to be a rapist, a fraud, an ally of Vladimir Putin, and a saboteur of all efforts to secure the border. And yet, somehow, he’s more popular than ever. If the election were held today, he’d win, every poll shows. And in two recent decisions, the Supreme Court did all it could to clear the runway for another Trump term in office.
N.J. schools flout law intended to prevent bad teachers from getting hired, report says
Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ Monitor
- A state law intended to stop teachers with histories of sexual misconduct or child abuse from finding jobs in other school districts has systemic flaws and is easily manipulated by both child predators and schools avoiding accountability, state investigators say in a new report.
State’s top watchdog makes his mark during first four years in office
Deborah Howlett, NJ Vindicator
- Kevin Walsh’s awakening came in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on a spring day in 1993. On a break from Catholic University, he was helping to build homes for low-income people in the historic town of Marks, Mississippi, where a generation earlier the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. organized and launched the historic Poor People’s Campaign. The Irish Catholic kid from southern New Jersey was shocked by what he saw while pounding nails.
(Visited 489,039 times, 102 visits today)
Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for March 7, 2024 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest news and developments in New Jersey politics and beyond. This daily newsletter is a must-read for anyone interested in staying informed about the latest happenings in the Garden State.
One of the key highlights from today’s briefing is the announcement of a new initiative by Governor Murphy to invest in clean energy infrastructure. The governor unveiled a plan to allocate funding for solar and wind projects, as well as energy efficiency programs, in an effort to combat climate change and create jobs in the renewable energy sector.
In addition to the clean energy initiative, Insider NJ’s briefing also covers updates on legislative proposals, upcoming events, and political appointments. Readers can expect to find in-depth analysis and commentary on a wide range of topics, from healthcare policy to education reform.
The Morning Intelligence Briefing is a valuable resource for political insiders, journalists, and concerned citizens alike. By providing up-to-date information on the latest developments in New Jersey politics, this newsletter helps readers stay informed and engaged in the democratic process.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for March 7, 2024 offers a comprehensive look at the current state of affairs in New Jersey politics. Whether you’re a seasoned political junkie or just looking to stay informed, this daily newsletter is a must-read for anyone interested in the latest news and developments in the Garden State.
