Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 7/7/2023

Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He doesn’t realize that most New Jersey families live in the real world where cost matters.” – Senator Testa on Governor Murphy

TOP STORY: The Struggling Workers the Powerful Ignore

In Hoboken, Hudson Commissioner Romano endorsed Ward 1 council candidate Rafi Cordova.

In Atlantic City, the council passed the budget following a state ultimatum, according to the Press of Atlantic City. A anti-violence leader was named in sexual harassment lawsuits, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

In Belmar, the town wants to keep Verizon’s 5G poles away from the boardwalk, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In Bernards, bids were rejected for the library upgrade, according to NJ Hills.

In Camden, schools launched a teacher apprenticeship program to tap local talent, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In Edison, a new master plan is being drafted, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Fanwood, the planning board began hearings on Carano Square, according to UC Hawk.

In Ocean Grove, beach-badge parking is squeezed by summer construction, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In Old Bridge, the BOE President was hit with an ethics violation, according to MyCentralJersey.

In Paramus, the mayor suggested folding the Shade Tree Department into the DPW, according to TAPinto.

In Stone Harbor, a $37.7M beach project is nearing completion, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

In Teaneck, residents and the town reached a settlement over the Holy Name lawsuit, according to the Bergen Record.

In Trenton, demolition will soon begin on blighted Sanford Street, one the ‘worst’ in the city, according to the Trentonian.

In West Orange, Mayor McCartney seeks to end lengthy council meetings by closing municipal buildings by 11pm, according to NJ.com.

ICYMI: In Paterson, Mendez secured the Council Presidency; in Mount Olive, Roman supporters and critics attend council meeting; in Parsippany, accusations between county, local GOP; in Bridgewater, Hayes seeking comeback, launched candidacy, Moench lambasted Hayes; in Middletown, BOE enacted parental notification policy

AROUND THE WEB:

I am a product of affirmative action and I am proud of it. | Opinion

Patricia Campos-Medina

• I am a Latina immigrant woman who entered US schools in the last semester of 8th grade in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. I was undeterred and nine months later I was placed out of ESL. By 10th grade, I started taking AP classes and graduated top of my high school class. My parents, hotel housekeepers during the day and office cleaners by night, had no money to pay for SAT prep classes or tutors for AP Algebra; they couldn’t even speak English well enough to help with homework.

21 NJ schools make the list of best colleges in America

Dino Flammia, NJ1015

• New Jersey institutions take up 21 spots on Money Magazine’s 2023 list of the best colleges in the United States. In total, 736 colleges and universities made the list nationwide. For its 2023 list, Money unveiled a star rating system that indicates how likely it is that one’s tuition and time will pay off. Below are the New Jersey higher-ed spots that made this year’s last, from fewest to most stars.

Pickleball fever sweeps New Jersey: Where to ‘dink responsibly’

Sam Elliot, NJ1015

• Hey there, fellow pickleball enthusiasts — are you curious about this exciting sport taking the world by storm? Picture a game that combines the best elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. That’s pickleball for you. You can play pickleball inside or outside on a court similar in size to a badminton court, with a slightly changed tennis net.

Drop in math, English test scores for Newark students, report says

Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight

• Summer school started in Newark this week. The district identified more than 10,000 students in need of extra academic help, much of it stemming from pandemic-era learning loss. A new report out Thursday from Advocates for Children of New Jersey found a drop in math and English language arts test scores for Newark students. Some 19% of third graders met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, compared to 42% of third graders statewide.

‘To know Jax was to love him’: Community mourns sudden death of 7-year-old Andover boy

Kyle Morel, New Jersey Herald

• The Sussex County community is rallying to support the family of an Andover Township boy who died suddenly earlier this week. Jaxon Smith, 7, was found dead in bed by his father Jesse early Monday morning, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help the family cover funeral expenses. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Tom Chesek, scribe of Asbury Park, has died. ‘He spread the word of creative people’

Chris Jordan, Asbury Park Press

• Tom Chesek, whose expansive and colorful reporting illuminated the Jersey Shore music and theater scenes for decades, has died. Chesek, a member of the Asbury Park Historical Society, passed away July 4 at the Stephen Crane House in Asbury Park, where he lived as the caretaker with wife Diana Moore. He was 64, said Don Stine, former president of the APHS.

The worst censorship in American history? That’s just nuts | Moran

Tom Moran, Star-Ledger

• A judge in Louisiana this week banned the federal government from contacting Facebook and Twitter to complain about some of the worst nonsense people post on their sites, saying that those contacts amounted to censorship, even if there was no order to take down the posts.

Following the gobs of money in LSP debate | Jersey Journal editorial

Jersey Journal Editorial

• If you’re looking for some riveting reading this summer, dip into the recent IRS data dump of 2021 filings for organizations claiming tax-exempt status. In particular, check out entities involved with the debate over the future of Liberty State Park. Spoiler alert!

Can the Old Trolley Line Connect Princeton to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail?

Richard K. Rein, TAPinto Princeton

• Among dedicated hikers and bikers and people who just like to get out and casually enjoy the outdoors, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail has become one of the crown jewels in central New Jersey’s inventory of natural resources. The 22-mile, multi-use trail runs through Hopewell and Lawrence townships and hosts more than 100,000 user visits every year. Only five short segments totaling about 2.5 miles remain to be made.

Federal agency warns N.J. smoke shop to stop selling delta-8 candy

Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ Monitor

• A New Jersey-based smoke shop selling gummy candies and chocolate bars infused with delta-8 received a warning from federal officials to stop selling those products immediately. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission issued a warning letter to The Haunted Vapor Room for its misleading packaging and claims about potential medical benefits. Federal officials called out some of The Haunted Vapor Room’s products — delta-8 gummy ropes, chocolate bars, edible cones, and gummies — that are advertised to contain 500 to 600 milligrams of delta-8.

‘Crisis pregnancy’ centers call for transparency in battle over consumer alert

Dana DiFilippo, NJ Monitor

• A coalition of “crisis pregnancy” centers scored a victory this week in their legal fight for documentation they demanded explaining why state officials issued a December consumer alert warning the public about them. Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy directed the Attorney General’s Office to hand over multiple records the consortium requested under the Open Public Records Act and the common law right of access.

Trash drives growing mice crisis in Chambersburg section of Trenton

LA Parker, The Trentonian

• A series of circumstances have moved Chambersburg near tipping point and a significant health crisis. A mice infestation seems imminent as the Fourth of July holiday meant no garbage collection on Tuesday. Trash lined numerous streets in Chambersburg and the near-90 degree heat helped to produce odors that hazed this East Ward community.

How much does the average NJ home cost? Median prices by county

Erin Vogt, NJ1015

• While houses might be staying on the market for a bit longer than a year ago, New Jersey home buyers are still paying above asking prices and houses are still , according to real estate data through late spring. Statewide data compiled by New Jersey Realtors shows that housing affordability has lingered around a more than 30-year low, as the median price for a single-family house was at $465,000 as of May. The highest average above asking — or list price — was Essex County at 105.2% year to date through May.

Sacked ex-employee of Phil and Tammy Murphy’s soccer team speaks out

Matt Rooney, Save Jersey

• We barely clear a quarter without more grimy news from the soccer team (Gotham FC, formerly “Sky Blue FC”) owned by Phil and Tammy Murphy, Save Jerseyans. Back in January, women’s soccer leveled a 2-year suspension again former Gotham FC general manager Alyse LaHue who had previously been fired in 2021. An investigative report alleged that LaHue sent inappropriate texts to a player; one text reportedly said “[y]ou were in my dream last night. Getting a massage” and elaborated about being “[r]arely so well behaved in my dreams.”

These 4 affordable housing initiatives in Paterson are just a start. We will meet the need

Andre Sayegh

• Meeting the need for affordable housing is an issue that my administration has prioritized over the past five years. In fact, since taking office in July 2018, we have launched four projects that will equate to nearly 500 affordable housing units for Paterson residents.

Trenton’s short-term fixes for long-term problems are a start, but not enough

LA Parker, The Trentonian

• An interesting aspect of acronyms for organizations demands letters that avoid embarrassment. So, when Trenton officials announced the Summer Initiative Task Force, well, people realized one added consonant could produce hilarity. Sugar, honey, ice tea, Trenton needed a name change for its new police effort. Reworked as the Summer Enforcement Initiative, the new plan to curb violence included a press conference as officials tossed enough crap against the wall with hopes that something resonated as a potential solution to the criminal behavior that envelopes Trenton.

Our view: Mental health treatment better for some defendants and NJ

Press of Atlantic City

• A decade after New Jersey and five of its counties started diverting some nonviolent offenders into mental health treatment programs, the practice will soon go statewide. The Legislature passed a bipartisan bill on Thursday that will bring mental health diversion to designated northern, central and southern court jurisdictions.

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