Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:   QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Eliminating the county line system in New Jersey is just the first step in reform, and until there are real competitive primary elections we will continue to see the kind of entitlement mentality in Trenton and local offices that leads to harmful policy choices like trying to gut OPRA, move backwards on campaign finance, and stand by the county bosses.” – Steve Fulop   TOP STORY: Congressman Payne has Died     Congressman Donald Payne Jr. passed away yesterday after suffering a cardiac episode sever ..read more

MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA’S STATEMENT “Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. carried his devotion to the residents of Newark from his first teenage involvement as founder of the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats, through his service as President of our Municipal Council, to his acclaimed advocacy for New Jersey as Representative in Congress. His dogged determination to win appropriations to win federal funding for the Gateway Project resulted in a $900 million appropriation to upgrade and refashion the infrastructure connecting downtown New York City to the heart of Newark, and reinvigorate the great ..read more

When Robert Menendez Jr. ran for Congress in 2022, the mayor of Hoboken, Ravi Bhalla, was in his corner. “Not only did he endorse me, he campaigned for me,” Menendez said in a phone conversation Wednesday morning. But now? This year, Bhalla is challenging Menendez’ renomination in the June 4 Democratic primary. What changed? The question is facetious. Last fall’s indictment of the congressman’s father has turned Hudson County’s political landscape upside down. A most obvious result of that is Bhalla’s challenge to the younger Menendez in CD-8, which  ..read more

Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. of Newark has died. Elected to the seat formerly held by his father in 2012, Mr. Payne was known for his commitment to public service, his gravitas, his love of Newark, and his ready smile.  A former Newark City councilman and former Essex County Commissioner, Mr. Payne affectionately went by the nickname “Choppy.” On April 9th, his office issued the following statement: “Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. suffered a cardiac episode based on complications from his diabetes during the weekend. He was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Currently, he is r ..read more

Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:   QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Funding for NJ Transit has been a recurring issue in New Jersey. Ticket fees are never going to be enough to support the system, but people who don’t use NJ Transit just don’t see a reason why they should have to pay for it.” – FDU Poll Director Dan Cassino   TOP STORY: Fortress Passaic: Remember the Adamo     New Jersey tops the list of states with the most pedestrian fatalities.   A FDU poll finds a majority of residents support increased fees for electric vehicles.   The Treasury releas ..read more

CLIFTON – Thomas Adamo has no trouble explaining why he should be Passaic County sheriff. “I am the best person for the job,” Adamo says. Not only has he climbed the ranks of the sheriff’s office to become Chief of Law Enforcement, Adamo says it’s a family thing. He talks about his father and his brothers who have been police officers in the county. “The Adamos have served with professionalism and distinction for the last 50 years,” he said. The venue for this presentation was a “Meet and Greet” for Adamo on Monday night at Agave Cantina Mexicana on Piaget Avenue. Adamo said he initially expec ..read more

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy today announced his endorsement of Chief Thomas Adamo for Passaic County Sheriff. Alongside his endorsement of Chief Adamo, Governor Murphy endorsed incumbent Passaic County Commissioners Sandi Lazzara and John Bartlett for re-election and Rodney De Vore for the County Commission Board. “Chief  Adamo is a leader with the experience and integrity to honor the late Sheriff Richard Berdnik’s legacy,” said Governor Murphy. “His dedication to law enforcement and his commitment to the people of Passaic County is exactl ..read more

Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:   QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’d love to see the governor and the governor’s office get louder on this. I’d love to see him play a more active role in this. We’re two years in and constituents have had trouble getting affordable, accessible, legal cannabis.” – Senator Gopal on home grow cannabis cultivation   TOP STORY: Sherrill and Krickus Bond over Ukraine     The state is investing millions in ‘crisis response teams’, according to NJ Spotlight.   The number of certified home health aides continues to decrease in the sta ..read more

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced today that a state grand jury has returned a new indictment against former Wildwood Mayor Peter J. Byron, accusing him of abusing his official position to request a job from a city attorney, then failing to pay state taxes on his earnings from that position for years. A new seven-count indictment was filed on April 16, 2024, against Byron, 68, of Wildwood, New Jersey, who resigned from office in September 2023. He has been accused of the following new offenses: ·    ..read more

ASBURY PARK, NJ – April 22, 2024 – Moxie Strategies, a national boutique public affairs firm, launches today with esteemed public affairs executive Maggie Moran at the helm, and a dynamic lineup of industry leaders. Maggie Moran, Jeannine Frisby LaRue, Pearl Gabel, Hira Shaikh, and Joe Libutti – veteran practitioners from diverse backgrounds – have joined forces to bring a fresh perspective to the traditional agency model with unique depth to create bold impact. Moxie’s dynamic leadership of women, minorities, LGBTQIA, and other professionals will tackle pressing challenges and ..read more