WHO’S UP
Iris Delgado
Veteran respected Democratic Party leader Delgado of Middlesex will serve as Political Director for the Harris-Walz 2024. Delgado will lead the national campaign’s efforts to organize volunteer capacity and enthusiasm in-state to support operations across the country- especially neighboring battleground Pennsylvania.
ILA Dockworkers
Labor reporter – and InsiderNJ columnist breaks it down thus for Salon:
“Seventy-two hours after tens of thousands of members of the International Longshoremen’s
Association walked off their jobs on the docks from Maine to Texas they were back to work — with a 62 percent wage hike. The last time this workforce went on strike was in 1977 — and it took seven weeks to reach a settlement.
“The ILA had initially pressed for a 77 percent increase in wages. Union members have a base salary of just over $80,000, but that can reach the low six figures depending on how much overtime they work. It’s dangerous work. The new wage scale puts East Coast dock workers on par with their West Coast counterparts, who inked a new contract last year.”
Laura Ali
As reported by InsiderNJ Columnist Fred Snowflack, the GOP on Monday night picked the chair of the Morris County Republican Party to preside over all 21 county Republican chairs. Ali is now the Republican “boss of the bosses.” The vote was unanimous.
Jennifer Beck (pictured, top)
Tapped to serve on the New Jersey Racing Commission, the respected former state senator from Monmouth County will take on the responsibility of regulating horse racing, overseeing wagering, and ensuring the integrity of the sport. When it comes to integrity, they picked the right person for the job. Both in the Assembly and the Senate, the tough-minded, substantive Beck served the state with distinction.
Phil Sellinger
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the State of New Jersey acted on a tip that the company hired by the
city of Newark to replace lead pipes instead intentionally left lead pipes in the ground. Said Sellinger, “By causing misleading photographs and verification forms to be submitted, Michael Sawyer and Latronia Sanders (see below) concealed that they intentionally did not replace lead pipes and defrauded Newark by collecting payment for work they did not properly perform. Today, we begin the process of holding them accountable.”
REMAINS TO BE SEEN
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
Running for governor, Mayor Baraka will have the spotlight on him now as he works with the state in response to the lead remediation crisis of the lead crisis 0 yes, you read that correctly – in his beloved home city of Newark.
WHO’S Down
Michael Sawyer and Latronia Sanders
Feds this week arrested the chief executive officer of a construction company and a foreperson for the company for their roles in an alleged conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the Newark Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Sawyer, 57, of Burlington, and Sanders, aka “Tee,” 55, of Roselle, are each charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Newark
It’s another terrible story for a long-beleaguered tough city. According to ABC News, “From 2017 to 2019, periodic testing of Newark’s drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection showed lead levels that were among the highest of any major city in the United States.” So much for justly and competently addressing the problem. Said Newark FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado this week: “The business, along with others, were paid to replace the water service lines because any amount of lead exposure is detrimental to people’s health, particularly for children. We allege the subjects in this investigation knew they were not replacing the lead pipes, and then passed off misleading photos to conceal the ones they left in the ground. We are asking anyone who sees something or knows something they want to report to please call FBI Newark at 973-792-3000. We will hold accountable anyone who sees a payday in ripping off governmental agencies entrusted to protect the communities they serve.”
Camden
The resignation of Wasim Muhammad after a jury found that he “recklessly and intentionally committed extreme and outrageous conduct” against a former student 30 years ago, has the South Jersey city in an ongoing uproar, with students and parents feeling unprotected.
Donald Trump
The Republicans’ candidate for president was “reportedly caught on tape turning the grieving widow of
a man who died at one of his rallies into a source of amusement for his uber-wealthy dinner guests,” according to a report in The Guardian.
The recording, obtained by The Guardian, apparently comes from a private meal Trump held Aug. 10 in Aspen, Colorado. In it, the Republican presidential nominee reportedly recalled a meeting with the wife of Corey Comperatore, the man who was killed by shots fired at Trump by Thomas Crooks at a Pennsylvania rally in July.
“So they’re going to get millions of dollars but the woman, the wife, this beautiful woman, I handed her the check—we handed her the check—and she said, ‘This is so nice, and I appreciate it, but I’d much rather have my husband.’ Now I know some of the women in this room wouldn’t say the same,” Trump reportedly said. “At least four couples here would have been thrilled, actually.”
Not convinced of this man’s lack of fitness for office.
How about this, courtesy of Special Counsel Jack Smith:
Though a months-long congressional investigation and the indictment itself have chronicled in stark detail Trump’s efforts to undo the election, the filing cites previously unknown accounts offered by Trump’s closest aides to paint a portrait of an “increasingly desperate” president who while losing his grip on the White House “used deceit to target every stage of the electoral process.”
“So what?” the filing quotes Trump as telling an aide after being advised that his vice president, Mike Pence, had been rushed to a secure location after a crowd of violent Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to try to prevent the counting of electoral votes.
Trump is not only an embarrassment but a serious threat, and patriotic Americans – decent people – on Nov. 5th need to vote to make sure he doesn’t get back to the White House. As a friend noted to me this week, “I can understand people who voted for him for two elections, and I can forgive them. But post Jan. 6th, to vote for him is to be un-American.” Amen.
Tim Walz
In his lone debate performance this week, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate did not forcefully make his case for the illegitimacy of the GOP ticket topped by convicted felon Donald Trump. Walz’s job was not to go to the forum and enthuse on the benefits of a robust civic debate, but to totally expose the untenability of the opposition. That’s what Kamala Harris did in her own showdown with Trump. The vice president needed a better showing from her own VP choice. Here’s the InsiderNJ reaction from ward leaders in Pennsylvania a day after the debate:
Walz… didn’t impress any of his fellow Democrats, who would have preferred more combativeness. This is Philadelphia, after all, home to the late great Smokin’ Joe Frazier, who fought out of a crouch and threw a left hook that could take your head off. The ward heelers and leaders didn’t see that kind of mindset with Walz, and it left some of the older timers feeling like they had personally taken the steady pileup of Vance’s slippery punishment.
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InsiderNJ’s Weekly Political Rankings: Week of Sept. 30th
InsiderNJ, a leading source for political news and analysis in New Jersey, has released its weekly political rankings for the week of September 30th. These rankings provide a snapshot of the current political landscape in the state, highlighting key players and trends that are shaping the political environment.
According to InsiderNJ’s rankings, Governor Phil Murphy continues to hold the top spot as the most influential political figure in New Jersey. Murphy, who is up for re-election next year, has been praised for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to improve the state’s economy. However, he faces challenges from within his own party, as some Democrats have criticized his leadership style and policy decisions.
In second place is Senate President Steve Sweeney, who is also facing re-election next year. Sweeney has been a key player in shaping New Jersey’s legislative agenda and has worked closely with Governor Murphy on a number of key issues. However, he faces a tough re-election battle against Republican challenger Edward Durr, who has been gaining momentum in recent weeks.
Rounding out the top three is Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, who has been praised for his leadership in the Assembly and his ability to work across party lines to get things done. Coughlin has been a key player in advancing Governor Murphy’s agenda in the legislature and is seen as a potential future gubernatorial candidate.
Other notable figures in InsiderNJ’s rankings include Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, who has been a key player in the Murphy administration, and State Senator Vin Gopal, who has been gaining attention for his efforts to reform New Jersey’s political system.
Overall, InsiderNJ’s rankings provide a valuable insight into the current political landscape in New Jersey and highlight the key players and trends that are shaping the state’s political future. As the 2022 elections draw closer, these rankings will continue to be an important tool for understanding the dynamics of New Jersey politics.
