Good Friday morning!
What’s happening with state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson)?
Rumors have been rampant yesterday all through New Jersey. Right here’s what I do know primarily based by myself reporting.
Cunningham crashed into some parked automobiles yesterday morning, her confidant Joe Cardwell informed me. She was not significantly injured, then went to Jersey Metropolis Medical Middle and was examined, he mentioned. Examined for what? He didn’t know.
Two newish native information websites — Real Garden State and Jersey City Times — reported that Cunningham was arrested for DWI, whereas her allies have recommended it was as an alternative a medical episode. Since then, two extra established native information websites — Hudson County View and The Jersey Journal — each confirmed a minimum of some elements of their articles. Whereas I had a supply telling me that she has been arrested as nicely, no one’s confirmed it on the file. However here’s a photo. And For what it’s value, Cunningham has one driving whereas intoxicated offense on her file from 2005, in line with an old Hudson Reporter article.
DWIs are politically survivable, particularly in locations like Hudson County, the place voters have seen plenty of dangerous habits from their elected officers. It turns into loads worse if politicians attempt to pull rank, or if their allies attempt to intervene, because the Actual Backyard State report suggests. That’s why it’s vital that we get the police report and physique digicam footage of this incident out there for public view rapidly. We shouldn’t need to depend on nameless sources once we’re speaking in regards to the arrest of a state senator. Come on. Let’s see it.
WHERE’S MURPHY: In Union Metropolis for an occasion touting the brand new Johnson & Johnson vaccine at 10 a.m. Then in Woodland Park for one more vaccine occasion at 11:30 a.m. Media: The Dean Obeidallah Present on SiriusXM at 7:30 p.m.
CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 2,605 newly-reported constructive PCR tsets for whole of 712,585. 42 extra deaths or a complete of 21,094 (and a pair of,397 possible deaths). 1,900 hospitalized, 376 in intensive care. 759,638 totally vaccinated, or about 8.6 p.c of the inhabitants.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m proud that now we have come collectively at this significant time within the state’s historical past to place the pursuits of Bergen and Passaic County residents first.” — Assemblymember Holly Schepisi on her temporary re-alliance with running mate Bob Auth, who simply dropped his problem to her state Senate candidacy. The 2 have been sniping at each other pretty harshly simply the opposite day. By final evening, Auth had reconsidered as soon as once more and decided he would run for Senate after all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Saturday for AMG’s Sonia Das, Highland Park Councilmember Stephany Kim-Chohan. Sunday for LiUNA’s Steve Gardner, former Camden Mayor Dana Redd. Missed yesterday: Assemblymember Clinton Calabrese, PSEG’s Matt Rose, Camden Councilmember Felisha Reyes-Morton, NJPFA President Steve McConlogue, Ocean County Dem’s Robyn Gedrich, Princeton Companions’ Tom Sullivan.
HEY KIDS, YOUR WINDOW IS GETTING SMALLER — From a press launch: ”Senate Majority Convention Chief Vin Gopal, Senator Joe Lagana, Senator Daybreak Addiego, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joann Downey might be introducing laws to the New Jersey Legislature that may amend P.L.2021, c.25. The brand new laws would require parental notification upon the primary violation of underage possession or consumption of alcohol, hashish merchandise, marijuana or cannabis for people beneath the age of 18. Because the legislation stands, parental notification is at the moment solely required on the second incident. Senator Gopal and Meeting Members Houghtaling and Downey (D-Monmouth) mentioned in a joint assertion, ‘Whereas New Jersey has made leisure Marijuana authorized within the state of New Jersey, it’s nonetheless unlawful for minors to own or devour it. If a minor is caught with these substances, we would like their mother and father to learn about it instantly. The State cares a couple of youngster’s wellbeing, and we wish to take each step doable to make the primary offense the one offense. Conserving mother and father concerned in these issues will assist do exactly that.’”
—“New underage weed, drinking laws ‘infringe’ on parental rights, say Morris County police”
EDNA MAHAN — “Inmates at N.J.’s women’s prison filed thousands of complaints in recent months, new data shows,” by NJ Advance Media’s Blake Nelson: “Inmates in New Jersey’s girls’s jail formally raised issues about circumstances behind bars 1000’s of instances in latest months, a brand new report mentioned, the very best fee within the state. Employees on the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility have been additionally repeatedly late responding to these complaints, and no different jail had a better share of delays, in line with New Jersey’s Workplace of the Corrections Ombudsperson, an unbiased watchdog. Greater than 120 grievances hadn’t even been opened throughout a latest audit of the Hunterdon County facility, which is already the main target of a legal probe, an unbiased investigation and a federal report about alleged abuse. Girls in Edna Mahan filed almost 3,900 grievances throughout the Corrections Division’s Inmate Treatment System throughout a 12-month interval. That’s a median of greater than 7 grievances per inmate, in line with knowledge from the ombudsperson’s workplace and the Corrections Division.”
VETERANS HOMES — “NJ names new CEOs at veterans homes ravaged by COVID. Here are the new hires,” by The File’s Stacey Barchenger: “Jennifer Causer, a nursing dwelling administrator, will quickly start as CEO of the house in Menlo Park, and Timothy Doyle Jr. will lead the house in Paramus starting Monday, a spokesperson for the Division of Army and Veterans Affairs confirmed Thursday. Scott Mueller, a former assistant CEO at Menlo Park, would return to his job there later this month, in line with the spokesperson. The administration shook up management on the properties within the fall after going through intense scrutiny over mismanagement that allowed the virus to unfold … some critics are elevating concern in regards to the new leaders at Menlo Park, particularly about Causer’s {qualifications} and that Mueller is returning to a job he had whereas the virus took maintain. ‘I’ve mentioned from the start, once we realized in regards to the poor management at Menlo Park and at Paramus, for that matter, that after they have been changed the subsequent chief of the ability ought to have a major healthcare background,’ Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex and chairman of the Senate Well being Committee, mentioned in an interview.”
11.1 MASTROS — New Jersey’s $100M in new money for higher ed may be highest in the nation, officials say, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed funding of almost $100 million in new cash for universities and school college students is among the many highest within the nation, in line with New Jersey larger schooling officers. “I might hazard a guess that there are only a few states, if any others, which might be investing $100 million in new funds in larger schooling this 12 months,” Secretary of Increased Schooling Brian Bridges mentioned throughout a digital assembly Thursday. Bridges couched his assertion with an acknowledgment that some governors are nonetheless working by means of their price range proposal course of however mentioned he’s requested the nationwide Schooling Fee of the States to verify his suspicions.
RAGA — RGA looking to tie Cuomo, Murphy together on nursing homes, other scandals, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Republicans are hoping the stench of scandal from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will waft throughout the Hudson River and engulf New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy as he seeks reelection this 12 months. The Republican Governors Affiliation has despatched Murphy’s administration a public data request searching for exchanges between the 2 Democratic governors and their staffs “concerning nursing properties and long-term care services.” “Final month, it was revealed that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo lied to the American folks in the course of the COVID-19 disaster. Governor Cuomo and his workers tried to cowl up the precise variety of those that died due to his insurance policies,” RGA Govt Director Dave Rexrode wrote within the request. “On March 31, 2020, the New Jersey Division of Well being issued a directive that mirrored Governor Cuomo’s mandate in New York by ordering nursing properties and long-term care services to confess untested COVID-19 sufferers and prohibiting a denial of admission primarily based solely on a confirmed prognosis of COVID-19, amongst different failures.”
MEMBERS TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE WITH FREE HYDROXYCHOLOROQUINE — “NJ Republicans to probe Murphy’s COVID response without Democrats on board. What’s at stake,” by The File’s Stacey Barchenge and Dustin Racioppi: “As Republican lawmakers forge forward with hearings to analyze the Murphy administration’s response to the coronavirus, they’ll achieve this with out the cooperation of the Legislature’s majority occasion. And the Murphy administration has rejected makes an attempt by Republicans to have high officers seem earlier than the panel. The dearth of cooperation from Democrats weakens the Republican effort to supply legislative oversight following a 12 months wherein Gov. Phil Murphy has led primarily by means of govt order. Assist from Senate President Stephen Sweeney to probe the administration’s response to the virus that killed greater than 21,000 New Jerseyans has disappeared. No Democrats are anticipated to affix the panel of seven Republicans who will start hearings on Friday, doing so exterior the scope of the Legislature and with restricted energy to compel testimony.”
GROVER CLEVELAND GOT A WHOLE WEEK — ‘Bruce Springsteen Day’ resolution approved by New Jersey Senate committee, by Matt: Regardless of his latest run-in with the legislation, New Jersey lawmakers didn’t hesitate Thursday to honor “The Boss.“ A decision designating Sept. 23 — the musician’s birthday — as “Bruce Springsteen Day” in New Jersey was authorised by the Senate‘s State Authorities, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. The vote on the decision, NJ SJR45 (20R), which has but to advance within the Meeting, was unanimous and there was no debate, in line with state Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex), a member of the committee. POLITICO was unable to entry a video feed of the assembly, which was carried out just about.
—“A year into the pandemic, is New Jersey finally turning the corner on COVID-19?”
—“Move to dump Chiaravalloti could help progressives end organization lines”
—“The Hudson political test for Bayonne’s mayor Jimmy Davis”
—“Fitzpatrick to run for Assembly with Armato on Mazzeo slate”
—“GSI panel: Legacy issues hurt N.J.’s ability to compete moving forward”
—“New funding for land preservation in Highlands, New Jersey’s ‘golden goose’”
—“Opinion: NJ’s children are living in a tale of two states”
—“Rights of LGBTQ residents in nursing homes will be protected under new N.J. law”
MUY MAL-INOWSKI — “Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski, a champion for transparency, failed to disclose dozens of stock transactions worth at least $671,000 in apparent violation of federal law,” by Enterprise Insider’s Dave Levinthal: “Authorities transparency has been a cornerstone of Rep. Tom Malinowski’s congressional tenure. However the two-term New Jersey Democrat didn’t publicly disclose dozens of private inventory trades, an obvious violation of the federal STOCK Act, in line with an Insider overview of US Home monetary paperwork and interviews with Malinowski’s congressional workplace. Malinowski’s inventory trades in 2020 included greater than two-dozen purchases and gross sales in the course of the first a number of weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with a five-page spreadsheet Malinowski’s workplace supplied Insider on Wednesday after a reporter requested about his inventory exercise. The spreadsheet incorporates inventory commerce data that doesn’t seem publicly on the US Home’s web site, as required by legislation. Malinowski’s inventory commerce frequency peaked in March 2020, because the COVID-19 pandemic gripped america and precipitated the inventory market to plummet. One inventory sale in March 2020 concerned the shares of a medical diagnostic firm that manufactures COVID-19 checks, the spreadsheet signifies.”
MEALS READY TO… EEK! — “Rep. Chris Smith asks Pelosi to investigate ‘tainted’ food allegedly harming NJ National Guard members,” by ABC Information’ Rosa Sanchez: “New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith has requested Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi to analyze after a minimum of 30 New Jersey Nationwide Guard members allegedly obtained sick over the past month from consuming the meals they have been supplied whereas deployed to guard the U.S. Capitol. In a letter Wednesday, Smith informed Pelosi that a number of Nationwide Guard members in numerous states, together with New Jersey, ‘have turn into unwell as a consequence of tainted and unhealthy meals from a private-sector vendor.’ ‘Some have even reported vomiting within the Senate parking zone,’ he wrote. ‘Alarmingly, the troopers have famous receiving virtually fully uncooked meat, a few of which, in line with press studies, even contained items of shaved metallic.’ Smith requested that the corporate in command of catering the meals be dismissed and changed with a brand new supplier, ‘instantly.’”
DUMBASS CHARGED WITH DUMBASSERY — South Jersey man accused of QAnon vandalism at ‘America’s Stonehenge’,” by The AP: “Police have made an arrest following a 15-month-long investigation into vandalism at a gaggle of rock configurations in New Hampshire referred to as ‘America’s Stonehenge.’ Mark Russo, 51, of Swedesboro, has been charged with one depend of felony legal mischief, accused of defacing the stone in Salem in September 2019. A lawyer entered a not responsible plea on his behalf Tuesday. Police mentioned the rock pill appeared to have been broken by an influence device. It was carved with ‘WWG1WGA’ and ‘IAMMARK.’ Police mentioned the primary stands for `The place We Go One, We Go All,’ a motto affiliated with the QAnon conspiracy concept … Police arrested Russo after discovering photos of the stone and Russo on-line and linking to him an ‘iammark’ Twitter account with a reference to ‘a number of enhancements’ made to the positioning.”
—“Booker pushing new policing bill in Senate as House responds to George Floyd killing”
EVERYBODY’S FRIENDS IN PAL PARK — “Palisades Park report details official’s $68K expense report, alleges ‘startling failure’,” by The File’s Terence T. McDonald: “Palisades Park’s elected leaders stay mum a couple of new state comptroller’s report alleging a ‘startling failure’ by borough officers to guard taxpayer {dollars}. The report is a 56-page doc launched Tuesday crammed with claims of widespread fiscal mismanagement. The six-member council comes beneath fireplace particularly for approving a $67,784 expense report from Enterprise Administrator Dave Lorenzo in December 2017 despite the fact that, in line with the report, Lorenzo solely had paperwork that accounted for lower than half that quantity. Lorenzo’s request ought to have set off ‘alarm bells’’ with borough officers, the comptroller’s report mentioned, however was authorised the identical day it was made.”
SMOOTH CRIMINALS — “Indictments of Paterson councilmen Michael Jackson, Alex Mendez ‘no surprise’ to residents,” by The Paterson Press’ Ed Rumley: “From one finish of the town to the opposite, Paterson residents reacted to information that two Councilmen have been indicted on voting fraud costs with a collective shrug of a resignation befitting individuals who have come to anticipate the worst from these they’re alleged to belief. ‘I’m not shocked, to let you know the reality,’ mentioned 49-year-old Ed Beesley … Beesley talked about Frank X. Graves, who had been Paterson’s mayor approach again within the Nineteen Seventies, for instance of an elected official folks seemed as much as … The previous twenty years have produced a Rogues gallery of convicted elected officers from the town, a gaggle that features two mayors (Martin Barnes and Jose ‘Joey’ Torres), a state Assemblyman (Alfred Steele), a councilman (Anthony Davis), and a college board member (Chauncey Brown). Along with the political scandals, Paterson additionally has endured latest corruption within the police division that resulted in federal authorities convicting seven crooked cops.”
FECAL MATTERS — “The big poop debate: Proposed waste plant causes outcry in Newark,” by Patch’s Eric Kiefer: “Why does Aries Clear Vitality wish to construct its new therapy plant in Newark close to the Passaic River? The reason being easy, a spokesperson for the Tennessee-based firm says: They’re simply following the feces. An environmental standoff has been constructing over the previous few weeks in New Jersey’s largest metropolis, the place a proposed waste therapy facility is drawing fireplace from native residents.”
RAW DEAL — “Deal OKs beachfront $1M land sale plan despite public access objections,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “What’s subsequent, now that the borough has authorised a controversial deal to surrender rights to municipal land on the beachfront with a view to promote it to a non-public property proprietor for $1 million? Open area and public seaside entry activists opposed the choice, which the borough’s commissioners voted 3-0 to approve on Wednesday. Residents additionally claimed the sale worth of $1 million is much under the market fee for beachfront land, particularly in a COVID-induced actual property market the place costs have soared.”
—“Monmouth commissioners say they’ll get no raises. So why is extra $30K in budget?”
—“Passaic clergy get vaccines to send a message to their flocks”
—“Hoboken police investigating ‘racist posts’ made in chat feature during council meeting”
—“Locals mayors to discuss holding unsanctioned basketball tournament in protest of NJSIAA”
—“Decision says South Jersey teacher’s N-word discussion not enough to keep him out of class”
—“N.J. police sergeant charged with ‘wielding a wine bottle’ at woman, pushing her out of home”
—“State wants to give 43 acres to gun club in exchange for larger piece of wetlands”
