Morning News Digest: May 5, 2011
By Missy Rebovich
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Christie picks Anderson to head Newark Schools
At Science High School, Gov. Chris Christie, Mayor Cory Booker and Acting Education Director Chris Cerf this morning welcomed New Yorker and self-described teacher at heart Cami Anderson as Christie’s selection for superintendent of the Newark Schools System, where 55% of the students graduate from high school and 98% of them have to take college remedial courses. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/47349/christie-picks-anderson-head-newark-schools
Politically hobbled mayor bids farewell to terse McCarthy with super on the horizon
When Garry McCarthy bid farewell to Newark this morning, he hardly mustered Pericles’ funeral oration – and certainly sounded no MacArthur-like notes about returning. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
New Jersey saves $20 million in borrowing costs on $600 million bond sale
What he described as investor enthusiasm for New Jersey transportation bonds allowed the state government to save $20 million in long-term interest costs on a $600 million sale of bonds “for highway and mass transit transportation projects,” state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff said Wednesday. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
Christie refuses to talk about flouting N.J. Supreme Court if it orders more school funding
Gov. Chris Christie flashed with anger today when pressed on his recent remark that he could defy the state’s highest court if it orders him to send more money to public schools. (Gibson and Megerian)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/christie_refuses_to_talk_about.html
Christie honored for Barnegat Bay efforts
Gov. Chris Christie will receive the 2011 “Guardian of Barnegat Bay” award in recognition of his fulfilling campaign pledges to help restore the bay’s ecology, the Barnegat Bay Partnership announced Tuesday. (Moore, Gannett)
http://www.app.com/article/20110504/NJNEWS/305040141/Christie-honored-for-Barnegat-Bay-efforts
N.J. Senate Democrats question Christie budget cuts to low-income health centers
Senate Democrats sharply questioned Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed 10 percent rate cut on government-funded health centers while he expects them to accept new patients after five family planning clinics closed because of last year’s budget cuts. (Livio, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/gov_christie_faces_criticism_f.html
Cami Anderson’s almost untroubled first day as Newark super
For one of the first times since the announcement of the $100 million Facebook gift to Newark schools six months ago, there was a glimmer of optimism and celebration yesterday over the future of New Jersey’s largest school district. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0505/0018/
For next chief of Newark schools, hard choices
As the new superintendent of the Newark schools, Cami Anderson faces the monumental task of rescuing an urban school system that has long been mired in low achievement, high turnover and a culture of failure, despite decades of state intervention. (Hu and Schweber, The New York Times)
Federal appeals court may be Lewis’ only hope
A federal appeals court may be the only hope left for Olympic track star Carl Lewis to run for a New Jersey Senate seat in the Democratic primary. (Burton, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/121302423.html
N.J. Sen. Codey leads call to shut down Newark boarding home following attack on resident
All she wanted was a cigarette.
A resident at a Newark boarding home for the mentally ill stepped outside Monday night for a quick smoke. Hours later, she was found lying unconscious behind the house, beaten beyond recognition and naked from the waist down though not sexually assaulted, according to police. (DeMarco, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/05/nj_sen_codey_leads_call_to_shu.html
House passes Smith’s anti-abortion bill
A Central Jersey lawmaker’s proposal to dramatically tighten the existing ban on federal funding for abortions passed the House on Wednesday. (Chebium, Gannett)
http://www.app.com/article/20110504/NJNEWS/110504021/House-passes-Smith-s-anti-abortion-bill
Polistina challenges Whelan to 17 debates, one in each town in the 2nd District
Republican state Senate candidate Vince Polistina said Wednesday he wants to debate his opponent 17 times, once in every town in the 2nd District, before the November election. (Fletcher, Press of Atlantic City)
Justices hear arguments to decide whether League of Municipalities is a public agency
The New Jersey State League of Municipalities relies on taxpayer dollars to operate, enrolls its employees in the state pension system, and is overseen by a board of politicians to carry out its mission of advocating for all 566 towns to Trenton decision-makers. (Rao, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/121302413.html
Corzine, Frist urge Congress not to cut foreign aid for women and children
Former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, D-N.J., and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., say boosting the health of children in the developing world is in the economic and security interests of the United States. (Roh, Gannett)
Survey finds economic optimism in NJ
More than half of business executives responding to a recent New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce survey said they expect their company’s revenue to jump in the next 12 months, but only half as many envision hiring more employees in that time. (Symons, Gannett)
New Jersey tourism industry tries to climb back
Visitors to Cape May County shelled out 5.4 percent more last year than they did the year before. (Urgo, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/121302163.html
Casino revenue is up slightly, but jobs decline
After two bad years in which gamblers either stayed home or held onto their wallets more tightly, the nation’s casinos began to slowly rebound last year, with revenue increasing slightly even as the number of jobs declined. (The Associated Press)
Camden must repay U.S. for failed housing projects
Just when they thought they had addressed all of this fiscal year’s financial woes, Camden officials have to hand over $290,000 to the federal government for five failed affordable-housing projects from the 1990s. (Vargas, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Group wants New Jersey out of greenhouse gas pact, asks Whelan to withdraw support
The New Jersey free-market advocacy group Americans for Prosperity said Wednesday it has launched a campaign to convince Democratic state Sen. Jim Whelan to withdraw support for a greenhouse gas agreement. (Fletcher, Press of Atlantic City)
Citizen advisory committee for DRPA holds first meeting
The Delaware River Port Authority’s newly constituted citizens advisory committee adopted bylaws and elected officers Wednesday at its first public meeting. (Stilwell, Gannett)
Monmouth Park negotiations ‘cautiously optimistic’
It is not yet four years since a horse named Curlin broke through a crowded field on a wet and muddy track to win the Breeder’s Cup at Monmouth Park in Oceanport. (Method, Gannett)
Fishing registry fines face criticism
Recreational fishing advocates who won a fight to keep saltwater fishing free in New Jersey got a surprise this week, with new state rules that decree a $300 fine for those who don’t sign up for the new registry of ocean anglers. (Moore, Gannett)
Yet another roadblock for New Jersey’s three new power plants
Although they have not made much of a public fuss, the state’s four electric utilities apparently are as unhappy with New Jersey’s efforts to develop three new power plants as are many others in the energy sector. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0504/2110/
Camden City Council unanimously approves new Cramer Hill plan
Five years after Camden City officials gave up the fight on a $1.2 billion redevelopment plan that would have displaced 1,100 families in Cramer Hill, a less intense reincarnation was passed by City Council Wednesday evening. (Vargas, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
States use tax breaks in war for jobs
New Jersey is granting Panasonic (PC) a $102.4 million tax credit to move its North American headquarters—nine miles. The incentives, announced on Apr. 20, will help defray the cost of leasing a new high-rise office tower to be built in Newark to replace Panasonic’s digs in Secaucus, which the Japanese electronics maker has outgrown. (Niquette, Bloomberg)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_20/b4228029534552.htm
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State rating downgrade does little to discourage investors
The state’s $600 million transportation bond offering brought to market Tuesday by J.P Morgan sold out in just a day as the recent rating downgrade by Moody’s did not scare investors off the deal. (Isherwood, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47369/state-rating-downgrade-does-little-discourage-investors
Swiss bank UBS AG agrees to pay over $90M in multi-state settlement over bond derivatives scheme
The state Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday that the multi-national Swiss bank UBS AG will pay $90.8 million under a multi-state settlement for its involvement in a nationwide scheme to rig bids and engage in other anti-competitive conduct in connection with the sale of municipal bond derivatives to state agencies, municipalities, school districts and not-for-profit entities who issued municipal bonds. (Staff, State Street Wire)
ACLU sues FBI, Justice over racial, ethnic profiling data
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Jersey today sued the FBI and Department of Justice for records related to the FBI’s use of race and ethnicity in conducting assessments and investigations of local communities in New Jersey. (Staff, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47364/aclu-sues-fbi-over-racial-ethnic-profiling-data
Electronic health record grant awarded
The Christie Administration today announced the first grant awards to a group of New Jersey hospitals and clinics to implement a statewide program to provide an electronic health record for all New Jerseyans. (Staff, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47361/electronic-health-record-grants-awarded
From the Back Room
3rd Circuit Lewis drama
The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals this morning heard pro and con arguments in Philadelphia from Carl Lewis’ attorneys and the legal team representing the Burlco GOP, but has not yet rendered a decision in the case. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/3rd-circuit-lewis-drama
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