PolitickerNJ News Digest: Sept. 11th

It's Friday in New Jersey, where the week is ending, but political hijinks just seem to keep going.

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It’s Friday in New Jersey, where the week is ending, but political hijinks just seem to keep going.

Dominican Gala Proves Vibrant Political Destination
As the overarching sound of Andrea Bocelli’s considerable tenor conquered (apparently) lovesickness with stoicism in the grand hallway, New Jersey’s elegantly attired Dominican community and assorted guests packed the Venetian tonight for the New Jersey Dominican Parade Annual Gala.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Russomanno: Hypocrite and Sore Loser
The never ending in-fighting within the Edison Democratic Party has reached a new level. In a September 1 PolitickerNJ article authored by Anthony Russomanno, Mayor Thomas Lankey’s Constituent Relations Administrator, he chastises Edison Police Officer for taking a picture with outspoken GOP candidate Donald Trump at the Barclays Golf Tournament.
Marc A. Krauss,PolitickerNJ Read more

AC Councilman Hits Back at Christie
Following colorful comments by Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday evening’s “Ask The Governor” program about the Atlantic City City Council, one member of city council fired back hard this morning on Hurley In The Morning.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Fonseca Hires on with Fajardo Team for Elizabeth Board of Ed Contest
It gets more intense with each passing day.
Veteran political operative Pablo Fonseca has hired on with Rafael Fajardo and Tony Monteiro’s group in Elizabeth as a campaign consultant.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Dep. Director of Hudson Correctional Facility Gets 21 Months
The deputy director of the Hudson County Correctional Facility was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for illegally wiretapping his co-workers and another individual, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

After Approval of Camden Tax Incentives, NJPP Warns of Mounting Risk
New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority approved a new $253 million million tax incentive for metal recycling company EMR Eastern LLC, which is hoping to spearhead a new project within the city of Camden. Though the project will have to meet certain criteria set by the EDA over a number of years in order to receive the funds, advocacy group New Jersey Policy Perspective is arguing that the benefit to the company will outweigh the state’s most likely return on investment.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more

Cumberland Freeholders Adamant on Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented
Following Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi and his 2015 running mate Cumberland County Freeholder Jim Sauro’s public call for residents to voice their opposition to the board’s resolution on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, members of the board say they are unmoved. The resolution urged the legislature to consider allowing driver’s licenses for undocumented workers, with Sauro being the sole opposing vote.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more

Stockton Study: Vast Difference Between Composition of State Legislature and NJ
The New Jersey State Legislature does not resemble the statewide constituency it represents, according to research published today by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Opinion: Sen. Booker: Please read Alan Dershowitz and also study the Oster conspiracy of 1938
Dear Senator Booker: During my tenure as Regional Administrator of Region 2 EPA, you were serving as mayor of Newark. You and I worked closely and effectively together on environmental issues affecting Newark and were full of praise for each other.
Alan Steinberg, PolitickerNJ Read more

Weinberg Challenges Cuomo, Wants to Know Why Legislative Oversight out of Port Bill
From her perch on the Legislative Oversight Committee, state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) directly challenged Governor Andrew Cuomo about why New York removed what she identified as a vital provision for Port Authority reform.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Ranking Republican Kyrillos Calls Port Reform Bill ‘a Pretty Good Product’
At a hearing this morning by the Legislative Oversight Committee, ranking Republican state Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-13) said the proposed S-3066, a bill reforming the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, would be an obstacle to a bill already on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Independent Monroe Mayor Candidate Hopes to ‘Take Money Out’ of Local Politics
In Monroe, independent candidate for mayor Ken Chiarella is hoping to “buck the two-party” system and make reforms in the town where his family has lived for over 100 years.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Opinion:“Profiles in Courage” against the Iran Deal
In response to the proposed agreement with Iran, only four Senate Democrats—Schumer, Cardin, Manchin, and Menendez– have stood up to President Barak Obama’s policy of appeasement. This time, that policy threatens the existence of America’s greatest ally in the Middle East, as well as the spiritual home of more than half the planet.
Donald Scarinci, PolitickerNJ Read more

Campbell to Seek Council Seat in Plainfield
Former New Jersey Assembly candidate and lifelong Plainfield resident John Campbell Jr. will announce his candidacy for Plainfield City Council on the steps of City Hall on Friday, September 11 at 1 p.m
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more

10 Traits New Jersey’s Next Governor Needs, According to Sen. Lesniak
As the guest speaker at the Union County Democratic Committee’s speaker series on Wednesday, state Sen. Ray Lesniak described the kind of governor he thinks New Jersey needs after Governor Chris Christie’s term ends.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read more

Revealed: The Secret Origin of the Feud Between Chris Christie and NYPD
The law-and-order governor of New Jersey and the largest police force in America used to be mad love. But now we get bad blood. And it dates back four years to the day.
Ken Kurson, The Observer Read more

Christie makes it on main stage at second 2016 Republican debate
Gov. Chris Christie cleared another hurdle in his presidential campaign by making the cut for the main stage at the second Republican debate of the 2016 presidential race, CNN announced Thursday night.
Matt Arco, NJ.com Read more

Taxpayers could foot $25k in legal bills after council vs. mayor lawsuit settled
The legal battle between Washington Township’s council and its administration appears to be over, with taxpayers set to cover the bills, after the council approved an agreement Wednesday night that settles the outstanding lawsuit over its solicitor position.
Michelle Caffrey, NJ.com Read more

N.J.’s Booker and Watson Coleman seek to help ex-convicts find government work
Legislation introduced Thursday in both houses of Congress and by members of both parties — including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman — would make it easier for people released from prison to find work in the federal government or with its contractors.
Jonathan D. Salant, NJ.com Read more

Trump’s extremism fuels his rise, Democratic Party chair says
Businessman Donald Trump became the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination because of his extremist views on issues such as immigration, the chair of the Democratic National Committee said Thursday.
Jonathan D. Salant, NJ.com Read more

Senate Legislative Committee Hears Testimony on Proposed Port Authority Reform
Senators at this legislative hearing complain New York lawmakers approved a Port Authority reform bill with no legislative oversight. But one New Jersey senator says Garden State lawmakers still have oversight authority and should adopt NY’s bill — otherwise reform efforts could drag on for a few more years.
Michael Hill, NJTV News Read more

Judge sides with Lakewood school monitor
An Administrative Law judge has rejected a motion from the Board of Education to override a veto by its state monitor, who prevented the board from reappointing an educational firm popular with parents in the Orthodox Jewish community whose children attend private schools.
Erik Larsen, Asbury Park Press Read more

Opinion: Bridge scandal far from over
Gov. Chris Christie wants the world to believe that the George Washington Bridge scandal is over, that his innocence has been proven over and over again, that all of his critics owe him an apology for daring to even insinuate that he might be connected somehow to the politically motivated lane closures at the bridge in 2013.
But this isn’t over yet. That’s the message from Democratic legislators who continue to fan the bridge flames, and we happen to agree. There is much more of this story to be told.
Asbury Park Press Read more

Problems at United could stall GWB probe, $1.5B PATH extension plan
Turmoil at one of the largest airlines in the world, United Continental Holdings, could jam up a legislative investigation into the George Washington Bridge scandal and a $1.5 billion plan to add rail service between lower Manhattan and Newark Airport.
Salvador Rizzo and Dustin Racioppi, The Record Read more

Smith nominated to serve as UN representative for third time
The dean of New Jersey’s congressional delegation has been nominated for a third stint representing the United States in the United Nations General Assembly.
David Levinsky, Burlington County Times Read more

Menendez: Prosecutors ‘preoccupied with sex’
Sen. Bob Menendez accused federal prosecutors Thursday night of being “preoccupied with sex,” leaking damaging information to the media, and presenting false testimony and faulty instructions to a grand jury.
Jonathan Tamari, Philadelphia Inquirer Read more

Feds Drop Studies of Cancer Risks Near Nuclear Plants, Including Oyster Creek
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday said it has ended a yet-to-be completed study begun five years ago to assess cancer risks near U.S. nuclear facilities, including the Oyster Creek plant in Lacey Township.
Tom Johnson, NJSpotlight Read more

 

PolitickerNJ News Digest: Sept. 11th