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Sumter Confident of Positive Resolution to LD-35 Collision Course

by Cutting EdgeExplore New JerseyHealth & WellnessNorth JerseyPolitics

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Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-35) trusts the principals in LD-35 will resolve the issues seemingly putting everyone in the Paterson-based district on a Democratic Primary collision course.

Paterson, of course, didn’t perform up to snuff for Democrats in the presidential election, and now the fascinating North Jersey city limps into a gubernatorial year with slate mates Sumter and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-35) at odds over the senate seat left behind by U.S. Rep.-elect Nellie Pou.

“My experience as an elected official going back to 2012 and serving on the Democratic State Committee going back to 2008, does show me that these things tend to work themselves out,” she said. “It’s not yet settled but I am hopeful, and I would be honored [to receive the backing of the Democratic Committee in LD-35].”

Both Sumter and Wimberly appear all in on the senate seat.

Like her colleague, Sumter doesn’t yet have a choice for governor at present, amid more adversarial optics between the Bergen-based U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (whose party chair, Paul Juliano, backs him) and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who seems more likely – according to sources – to grab the backing of Sumter’s chair, Passaic County Democratic Committee Chairman John Currie.

“I like them all,” Sumter told InsiderNJ, when asked about whom she favors to succeed Governor Phil Murphy. “They’re all current servants and truthfully in this climate I’m grateful for them putting themselves out there. It’s not the best climate out there. It’s highly contentious and polarized.”

If Sumter arguably has an edge with party insiders for establishment backing on the strength of Chairman Currie’s friendship (in possibly a test in part of Currie’s strength as chairman currently), an insider did mention that he had heard Wimberly’s name in connection with lieutenant governor. Might he get offered the chance to serve in a cabinet (Sherrill’s, for example) in exchange for bowing out of the senate contest and supporting Sumter for the senate seat? The source made the observation as a purely speculative matter.

For his part, Wimberly shows no sign of taking his eyes off the senate seat, same as Sumter, in a larger atmosphere marked by cutthroat politics.

How did national politics become unglued, InsiderNJ asked the assemblywoman.

“Part of it is [President-elect Donald] Trump’s saturation of the media airwaves with a visceral message of everything being wrong with America versus what is right. On the Democratic side, we have done great work, but we need to connect closer with people, and that is where I am comfortable, in the community.”

Sumter described her disbelief on Election Night and its aftermath.

“I went through the stages of grief,” admitted the assemblywoman.

She attributed Passaic County going to Trump over Kamala Harris in part to a statement made by the Muslim/Palestinian community against the Democratic Part, and in part to Latino males deciding not to support the candidacy of the vice president. “There are smart voters out there, though, because in Passaic County, while Kamala Harris lost, and I would attribute that too to misogyny and sexism, our county commissioners won,” Sumter said.

Regarding her own candidacy for the state senate seat, Sumter said she wants people to remember “that I raised my family in the community. I want to remind them too of the work I do at a nonprofit hospital, in the areas of children’s aid and family services, treating addiction and mental health needs. My life’s work has been of service. I want them to remember that about me, that I do not do this for anything I can gain, but for the people. Legislatively, I want them to remember my work restoring the right to vote to persons on probation and parole, on improving access to healthcare as a member of the healthcare committee, passing New Jersey’s healthcare exchange system, and putting in place full funding and restoration for Paterson schools and Hinchliffe Stadium.”

Sumter said she continues to encounter many in her district who are saddened by the results of the presidential election.

“My faith helps me to stay rooted and love for my neighbor, that’s part of the Ten Commandments,” said the assemblywoman. “My value system sustains me, and while it can be frustrating to be in public life at times, I want to lend my voice in a positive and constructive way. I run into people all the time now, who are teary eyed and scared of the future. What gave me comfort in part was on the Thursday following the last. I was in Eva’s Village sitting next to [former U.S. Rep.] Charlie Rangel. He said America has been through tough times before, especially for black people. We will get through this. We will find comfort in those who share our value system and we will forge ahead. We will fight and we will live. We can’t be hopeless and helpless. He crystallized that for me – that and a good dose of church.”

 

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Unlocking Opportunities: Securing Funding for Trail-Related Projects

by BusinessExplore New JerseyHealth & WellnessPolitics

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June 24th, 2024 by

As the nation’s most densely populated state, New Jersey packs in more people per square mile than anywhere else. Our most vibrant cities and towns include compact, walkable downtowns and active streetscapes—complemented by accessible greenways and trails for recreation, a respite from urban life, and healthy, carbon-free travel. But being the Garden State, we can do so much more. 

New Jerseyans enthusiastically support and want more greenways and trails. The public input process for the new draft Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) included over 15,000 survey responses that identified hiking, walking, and gathering as top priorities, with trails highlighted as one of the most important outdoor amenities. Nonetheless, residents from the SCORP’s public focus groups mentioned several barriers to full participation in outdoor recreation, notably limited transportation options, whereby participants can comfortably travel to outdoor spaces. To overcome these barriers, towns and counties need to comprehensively plan and design trail projects that are safe, accessible, and well-connected. Most communities want to build outdoor recreation and active transportation facilities but lack the funding and resources to make them a reality. 

Most communities want to build outdoor recreation and active transportation facilities but lack the funding and resources to make them a reality.

A panel titled “Connecting Communities to Capital for Greenways, Trails, and Bike Paths” addressed these issues and priorities at the 2024 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference (NJPRC), sponsored by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association. Panelists brought a broad range of experiences to the discussion and an even greater depth of on-the-ground experience. They included: moderator Olivia Glenn, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Equity, US EPA Region 2; Byron Nicholas, Chief, Division of Planning, Hudson County; Elizabeth Dragon, Assistant Commissioner, Community Investment and Economic Revitalization, NJ Department of Environmental Protection; Laine Rankin, Assistant Commissioner, Local Resources and Community Development, NJ Department of Transportation; and Teri Jover, Borough Administrator and Economic Development Director, Borough of Highland Park.

In her opening remarks, Olivia Glenn emphasized the importance of federal funding for state and local governments to invest in active transportation infrastructure, especially from the Inflation Reduction Act. She highlighted the $4 million awarded to New Jersey’s local, county, and state governments from the EPA’s Government to Government program last year. The funds will be used for government activities in partnership with Community-Based Organizations that result in measurable environmental and public health improvements in overburdened communities. One of the many types of projects the program can fund is urban greenways. Urban greenways provide access to nature and clean transportation corridors while simultaneously reducing the urban heat island effect. Because of their multifaceted benefits, Glenn emphasized the ability for trail-related projects, like urban greenways, to be funded by a wide variety of grant programs, not just transportation ones. 

Teri Jover provided insight into how these types of projects come to fruition at the local level in a municipality. The Highland Park River Greenway was a dream of the Borough’s residents and elected officials for decades. In 2017, the Borough finally developed a one-page description of the Greenway to share with the county and state. At that time, Jover noted that the project needed to be fleshed out in more detail for it to advance. Because of Highland Park’s limited staff capacity and resources, she highlighted the Borough’s inability to afford a consultant despite needing one. Fortunately, Highland Park applied for and received a budgetary grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs to conduct the feasibility studies and topographic surveys needed for the project, which was funded by a one-time earmark from the state legislature. This grant allowed the Borough to conduct the analysis and planning to push the project forward, but Jover acknowledged the need for additional money to construct and then maintain the Greenway. This will be a long-term project, as many greenways are, and, she emphasized the importance of staying committed to these projects until the end. 

Byron Nicholas spoke to the regional perspective and process for advancing trail projects, drawing on his experience with various Greenways in Hudson County. Because Hudson County is the most densely populated county in the state, access to riverfronts and open spaces is limited despite the existence of the Hudson, Hackensack, and Passaic Rivers. Therefore, the county looked at how to improve access to outdoor amenities while providing alternate transportation options. This resulted in the 2022 Hackensack River Greenway plan. The County needed to develop a concept design for the Lincoln Park segment of the Hackensack River Greenway, so they applied for and received a grant of approximately $1.5 million from the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP). The TAP grant funded the preliminary and final designs of the Greenway and the beginning of construction. From this experience, Nicholas emphasized the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with your project partners. He noted that their bi-monthly working group meetings were critical to the project’s success and should be a component of all regional trail projects. 

Hackensack River Greenway

Elizabeth Dragon emphasized the importance of intentional planning for successful trail projects. Effective trail planning includes research, community engagement, and alignment with state and local initiatives. When reviewing grant applications to the Green Acres Program, Dragon noted that the most competitive applications identify the project’s economic, environmental, and community benefits and demonstrate its positive impact on local business, tourism, environmental preservation, and social cohesion. She highlighted the importance of addressing the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s triple bottom line in the grant application: economy, environment, and people. Connecting your trail or greenway project to these priorities and outcomes cannot be overstated. Similarly, Dragon noted the need to identify how the project complements local and state land use plans. The most successful applications are consistent with these plans and their priorities. 

The most competitive grant applications highlight the project’s economic, environmental, and community benefits and identify its positive impact on local business, tourism, environmental preservation, and social cohesion. 

Laine Rankin described the funding opportunities available at the NJ Department of Transportation for trail-related projects. She identified the state’s Bikeways Program and Municipal Aid Program as opportunities for towns and counties to access funding for such projects. Rankin made sure to note that the state’s programs are intended for shovel-ready projects that have already completed the planning and design phases. For example, Montgomery Township received a $360,000 Municipal Aid grant in 2020 to build 1.5 miles of bike lanes and 2.1 miles of new multi-use paths around Skillman Park. On the other hand, Federal programs for trail-related projects, like the Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA), do not have the same shovel-ready requirements. For instance, Burlington County received a $440,000 TASA grant in 2020 to build a portion of the Delaware River Heritage Trail along the Route 130 bypass. Rankin reiterated the importance of knowing what project types each program funds so that towns apply to the most appropriate program for their needs. 

Now, more than ever, New Jersey needs to meet its residents’ wants and needs for greenways and trails that provide equitable mobility and access to nature. The state’s municipalities and counties can make this a reality, but they need to know the appropriate funding programs to do so. Towns interested in trail-related projects should contact their County planning departments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations for further assistance and information.

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Positions in Finance | New Jersey League of Municipalities

by Explore New JerseyPolitics

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Sample Position Descriptions

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Leads financial strategy for the municipality, overseeing the town budget and making suggestions for both short and long term, while considering the risks and aligning with the municipality’s overall goals. The CFO manages all financial activities, including accounting, treasury management, revenue and licensing, capital management, redevelopment finance, purchasing and related support services. 

Tax Assessor

Responsible for maintaining property assessment records and tax map, overseeing defense of tax appeals and property inspections. Often supervise administrative staff and work with the public.

Comptroller

Responsible for overseeing all accounting records, including payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, as well as preparing financial statements. A comptroller must have a thorough understanding of all accounting regulations and procedures. The position may also file federal and state taxes.

=""Typical Education Levels

High School – Master’s Degree

Certifications/Continuing Education

Several licenses are available to those wishing to pursue them in the area of municipal finance. These licenses are issued to those that complete the required coursework, and certification shows a high level of understanding of municipal finance issues and municipal law. Continued courses are required to upkeep these licenses, and benefits include the ability to apply for higher level positions with higher pay ranges. For more details on the below certifications, visit the Professional Certifications page.

Certified Municipal Finance OfficerCertified Qualified Purchasing Agent

Certified Tax AssessorCertified Tax Collector

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Gottheimer Reacts to the Israel-Hezbollah Agreement

by Explore New JerseyPolitics

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Today, November 26, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer released the following statement in response to the negotiated agreement between Israel and Hezbollah:

“The deal announced between Israel and Hezbollah — a U.S.-designated terrorist group — is a critical and positive development. For months, the Biden Administration has been working tirelessly to ensure a deal that incorporates Israel’s security needs while ensuring Hezbollah cannot continue to violate UN resolutions 1701 and 1559. This deal will ultimately allow more than 80,000 residents to safely return home, while allowing Israeli forces to ensure the security of the state of Israel and her citizens. Let’s be clear, Israel did not launch this war and maintains the ability to protect herself if violations occur.

“We can never forget that 416 days ago, the Iranian-backed terrorist group launched a brutal campaign against our greatest democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel. Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah has indiscriminately fired more than 12,800 rockets, mortars, and drones at Israeli cities, residents, and towns.

“This deal shows Hamas that they can be defeated, that their Iranian-backed terrorist allies are abandoning them, and that they must come back to the negotiation table.

“Moving forward, the United States must continue to support Israel in her fight against Iranian-backed forces on multiple fronts. On October 7, Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 individuals, including 46 Americans. We also cannot forget that Hamas terrorists still hold 101 innocent people hostage, including seven Americans and my constituent Edan Alexander. We will not rest until each and every one of them is returned home to their loved ones.”

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Municipal Leaders Claim Public Engagement is Largest Asset to Lead Replacement Efforts

by BusinessCentral JerseyExplore New JerseyPoliticsSouth JerseyTechnology & Tech

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June 24th, 2024 by

By Andrea Jovie Sapal and Deandrah Cameron

“We collectively work towards a future where every resident in New Jersey has access to clean, safe, and lead-free drinking water by fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge through innovation,” declared Richard Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water, as he opened the lead service line replacement session at the 2024 Planning and Redevelopment Conference. This session focused on a critical environmental justice issue that demands our urgent attention—the presence of lead in drinking water in New Jersey. 

Lead service lines (LSLs) account for 75% of all lead in drinking water exposure and are particularly harmful to formula-fed infants and children under six. New Jersey leads the way in LSL replacement with one of the strongest mandates across the country. In 2023 NJ was designated by the Biden Administration as one of four states participating in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s LSL Replacement Accelerator program, in part for NJ’s aggressive approach to service line replacement and emphasis on planning and municipal coordination. Last month, the EPA announced that NJ will receive $123 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The cost estimate for LSL replacement in NJ is roughly $3 billion. 

Although funding is a major issue, engaging customers proves to be the most difficult hurdle. Moderator Richard Calbi stated, “The bulk of the financial burden will fall on water systems, resulting in increased water rates for consumers.” Consumers, i.e. regular households and businesses that pay for water, are the biggest stakeholders and face the burden of paying for their lead lines as water systems design replacement programs. While some programs offer free replacement, most systems will charge a cost. According to one report, a single LSL replacement could cost on average $6000 with high costs over $9,000—accounting for the cost of living differences, unique building or pavement materials, paving requirements, and unique permit fees. Speakers Kouao-eric Ekoue, Superintendent, City of New Brunswick Water Utility; Noemi de la Puente, Principal Engineer, Trenton Water Works; and Stephen Marks, Town Administrator, Town of Kearny shared their expertise on the state and federal partnerships, cost reduction strategies, and community engagement at the “Leading the Way: Cost-Saving Solutions for Coordinating Lead Service Line Replacement with Municipal Projects and Processes” session.

Featured speakers Kouao-eric Ekoue of New Brunswick Water Utility and Noemi de la Puente of Trenton Water Works (TWW) represent two of NJ’s accelerator cities (more below). State support for local assistance is critical for advancing LSL replacement projects. In conjunction with the federal LSL Replacement Accelerator program, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) launched NJ-TAP, an initiative providing enhanced technical assistance for disadvantaged communities to provide safe and reliable drinking water to residents. New Brunswick Water Utility leverages both federal and state programs to assist in changing ordinances, accessing funds through the SRF program and bonds, integrating data validation tools, and self-testing and electronic identification surveys as part of community outreach. On the topic of effective strategies to gain community support, Ekoue stated that his administration is fully involved in the process, emphasizing the importance of municipal engagement early on since without that buy-in, the projects are not going to go anywhere fast. 

New Jersey’s ten federal LSL Replacement Accelerator cities include: 

  • Blackwood 
  • Camden
  • Clementon
  • East Newark
  • Harrison 
  • Keansburg
  • Keyport
  • New Brunswick
  • Trenton
  • Ventnor City

LSL replacement can be challenging for water systems that serve multiple municipalities where program planning looks different for each locality. This type of coordination and cross-collaboration requires ingenuity; moderator Rich Calbi noted, ”We must explore innovative strategies and best practices to help municipalities navigate these challenges effectively and alleviate the burdens placed on residents as we work toward compliance with this vital mandate”. The City of Trenton serves five municipalities: Trenton, Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence, and Hopewell, each requiring a unique approach. 

Trenton Water Works’ engineer Noemi de la Puente discussed challenges and potential solutions around the Three Ps: Paving, Policing, and Permitting. Each municipality has different paving jurisdictions, and without coordination, replacements could be unnecessarily costly. In 2022, when de la Puente inherited the program from her predecessor, she asked, “How are we going to reshape the TWW LSL replacement program overall at a rate that isn’t expensive?”. Some potential cost-saving solutions de la Puente is looking to explore include streamlining the hyperlocal permitting process by coordinating LSL replacement plans with paving projects associated with sewer maintenance plans, main replacements, and other paving projects across jurisdictions. Since funding is a challenge, de la Puenta emphasizes that partnering with these projects would allow the leverage of Clean Water State Revolving and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds as well as funds allocated through the NJ-Moves program for paving projects. To date, de la Puente mentions needing a total of 961 permits totaling $111,476, concluding that these fees could be significantly lower with coordinating across programs.

De la Puente stressed that the strongest collaboration TWW can form is with their customers because they require access to 62,000 basements to identify lead service lines. The faster they can identify the inventory, the quicker they can complete the project. “If I [knew] my entire inventory next week, the rest of my lead service line replacement project will go much more smoothly,” concluded de la Puente. 

If I [knew] my entire inventory next week, the rest of my lead service line replacement project will go much more smoothly. 

—Noemi de la Puente of Trenton Water Works

The Town of Kearny also utilized an ordinance to develop a free and mandatory program coupled with a cost reduction that includes combining the town’s resurfacing program with its LSL replacement program. However, Marks expressed that it won’t happen all at once “Given the density of digging test pits every 25 to 40 or 50 feet, it made the most sense for the town of Kearny to incorporate the lead service line replacement into the road resurfacing program. The town has a moratorium on digging up any streets that have been paved within the last five years, so we’re actually focused on all the streets that haven’t been paved on the outer end of 10 to 15 years or more.” This means depending on when the road was last paved, customers may have to wait years before the replacements are scheduled to begin. To mitigate this, the Mayor and Council also passed supplementary ordinances to reimburse all customers who coordinate their own replacement should they decide to move ahead of the town’s schedule. 

“100% of the census tract for the Town of Kearny is considered overburdened by the state of New Jersey,” and about half (46%) of the town is considered low-moderate income

—Stephen Marks, Town of Kearny

Overburdened communities often struggle to pay cost shares. Town of Kearny Administrator Stephen Marks highlighted that “100% of the census tract for the Town of Kearny is considered overburdened by the state of New Jersey,” and about half (46%) of the town is considered low-moderate income. The Town of Kearny also utilized funding through the Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) as an alternative source of funding through which a portion of the town became eligible based on census tract and income level. Marks explained that funding is a constant challenge and that municipalities are constantly deciding between the lengthy SRF process that may offer the potential for principal forgiveness or choosing to engage in the private market which could be more costly but quicker. In response to the notice of the $123 million in federal funding, Marks stated that municipalities have a decision to make as regards timeliness and meeting the 2031 goal. For example, he explained that an $8 million project is a trade-off between a “six-month” I-Bank application process with the hope of possible principal forgiveness compared to self-financing through the private market where there is no principal forgiveness but saves time. In addition to funding and coordination Marks also shared similar challenges to his fellow panelists around property access, expressing that residents typically do not want the town accessing basements or private spaces especially where they potentially have an unpermitted conversion of the basements.

The overlapping theme among the municipal leaders was that community engagement is extremely important, especially in overburdened communities where customers face a number of challenges, including cost sharing for LSL replacement. Partnerships with community groups and local leaders play a pivotal role in the successful replacement of LSLs and facilitating coordination between different jurisdictions and projects. The ultimate objective of achieving lead-free drinking water necessitates a multi sector approach that offers cost-effective solutions. Cooperation among various local, regional, and state leaders is crucial for effective implementation. The Primer for Mayors outlines ten efficient measures for LSL replacement and guides municipal officials on how to initiate this process in their community. This Jersey Water Works resource is a prime example of an initiative that supports all municipalities by providing the necessary tools and strategies for effectively replacing lead service lines. By July 10, 2024, water systems must submit their updated annual inventories and LSL progress reports. This increased transparency and communication are crucial steps towards addressing the ongoing issue of lead in drinking water. 

To learn more about Jersey Water Works and the Lead in Drinking Water Taskforce, join us at the July 17th membership meeting in person. Registration is free, attendees do not need to be a member of the collaborative to attend. Register today! For more information contact Jersey Water Works  (infoatjerseywaterworksdotorg)  .

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Library Science | New Jersey League of Municipalities

by Explore New JerseyPolitics

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Sample Position Descriptions

Librarian

Responsible for managing and delivering library services and resources to the community. This role oversees library operations and curating collections. A librarian also provides assistance to library patrons and plans and organizes community programs and events.

Circulation Manager

Oversees the daily operations of the library’s circulation department, ensuring efficient and effective management of library materials and services. This role involves supervising staff, managing circulation processes, and enhancing user experiences.

=""Typical Education Levels

High School – Master’s Degrees

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Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 11/27/2024

by BusinessDinersExplore New JerseyHealth & WellnessNorth JerseyPoliticsShopping

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Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The reasons for that is that the Democratic leadership in the state party have largely been complacent for a long time and haven’t focused on building any infrastructure and because the state party has viewed New Jersey as reliably blue.” – Jersey City Mayor Fulop

 

TOP STORY: Sumter Confident of Positive Resolution to LD-35 Collision Course

 

Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence Briefing

 

The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be off tomorrow and Friday, and will return on Monday. We wish all of our readers a Happy Thanksgiving and holiday weekend.

 

Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Power publication.

 

More than 2M New Jerseyans will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

 

An attorney for Nadine Menendez is seeking a trial delay over a January 6th case conflict, according to NJ Monitor.

 

The state ranks 49th for fluoride-treated water, according to NJ Spotlight.

 

A plan to force residents to bring in their birdfeeders is ruffling feathers, according to NJ.com.

 

The Wharton State Forest vehicle roadmap was finalized but motorists say its too restrictive, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

 

Senator-elect Kim discusses his Philly roots, Trump’s Cabinet, and next steps for Democrats, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

Garden State Equality commended Republican Mike DuHaime for speaking out against the House GOP’s bathroom access restrictions.

 

Moxie Strategies expanded its team and geography.

 

ICYMI: Gottheimer launched campaign for Governor; Sherrill launched candidacy for Governor; Democrats lost strength; voters aren’t familiar w/ guv candidates; Murphy addressed the loss of Democratic strength

 

Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence Briefing

 

The GOP smells blood in the gubernatorial race, according to the Hill.

 

In LD35, Assemblywoman Sumter is confident of a positive resolution to the collision course for the Senate seat.

 

In LD36, Republican Musto launched an Assembly bid, according to NJ Globe.

 

In LD39, Pallotta is eying an Assembly candidacy in the GOP primary.

 

Bill Spadea slammed Jack Ciattarelli for not mirroring Trump’s immigration views, according to NJ Globe.

 

Rep. Gottheimer launched his first digital ad for his gubernatorial campaign. Gottheimer gave $37k to the HCDO ahead of the party’s potential switch to Sherrill, according to Hudson County View.

 

‘Door-to-Door Democracy’ endorsed Rep. Sherrill for Governor.

 

Former Senator Durr hasn’t raised any money for his gubernatorial bid, according to Politico NJ.

 

ICYMI: Fulop’s palpitating moves; insiders tried to make sense of the presidential election; Auth playing long game; guv candidates converged at League, Sherrill made the rounds, Sweeney flexed political muscle; Bergen shifted more red; more Assembly candidates joined Fulop slate; Sweeney allies see path to victory; guv race taking shape; Baraka allies energized; firefighter unions split over guv race; Dems ready to find themselves; Hispanic Democratic dissatisfaction has grown; Bramnick faces difficult path; Ciattarelli sees advantages; Duarte looking ahead to 2025

 

Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence Briefing

 

Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence Briefing

Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence Briefing

 

In Hoboken, Hudson Executive Guy and Chair Romano called on the commissioners to approve public safety upgrades funding for the city.

 

In Atlantic City, the ‘hard work is paying off‘ in the Chelsea neighborhood, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

 

In Edison, the council banned the American flag and other ‘props’ at meetings, according to MyCentralJersey.

 

In Hasbrouck Heights, GOP officials endorsed Ciattarelli for Governor, according to NJ Globe.

 

In Lakewood, the town hasn’t responded to a minister seeking a permit to help the poor, according to the Asbury Park Press.

 

In Little Falls, officials are taking action to comply with new flooding guidelines, according to TAPinto.

 

In Maplewood, Democrats pulled their support of the mayoral candidate after she refused to endorse Rep. Sherrill for Governor, according to NJ Globe.

 

In Morris Plains, residents continue to push back against a proposed McDonald’s, according to NJ Hills.

 

In Nutley, the town has a new trash collection scheme, according to TAPinto.

 

In Ocean City, residents spoke out against Bible study on school time, according to the Press of Atlantic City. There was a packed turnout for a public glimpse of Wonderland hotel plans, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

 

ICYMI: In Morristown, familiar name resurfacing; in Marlboro, sign-stealing an issue; in Howell, GOP won election; in Marlboro, voters elected split BOE ticket; in Hoboken, Councilwoman Giattino passed away; in Howell, little unity w/in GOP; in Marlboro, tensions rising in the BOE race

 

 

AROUND THE WEB:

 

ICE explores expanding NJ immigrant detention facilities, potentially adding 600 beds

Jeff Gammage, The Philadelphia Inquirer

 

  • ICE is exploring proposals to expand its capacity to detain immigrants in New Jersey, potentially adding 600 beds in at least two facilities, according to information provided through a lawsuit filed by the ACLU.

 

After 30-hour trip on the Hudson, the first arch for NJ Transit’s rail bridge is in place

James M. O’Neill, NorthJersey.com

 

  • The first of three giant arches that will support a new railroad bridge over the Hackensack River has been moved into place at the construction site, and NJ Transit and Amtrak officials gave the media a tour of the arch Tuesday. The arches will help support the new Portal North Bridge spanning the Hackensack between Kearny and Secaucus, replacing the 114-year old Portal Bridge, a swing bridge that often gets stuck, causing frustrating delays for Amtrak and NJ Transit riders.

 

What will that surgery cost? Group says NJ hospitals aren’t posting prices correctly

Scott Fallon, NorthJersey.com

 

  • The push in recent years to require hospitals to post their prices online had a simple but profound goal: Patients could shop around for the first time, forcing competition among health care providers and ultimately lowering costs or at least keeping them stable.

 

Gov. Murphy’s congestion pricing vendetta harms New Jerseyans | Opinion

Charles Komanoff

 

  • A week after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul exhumed the nation’s first congestion pricing program, opposition to the toll plan from the suburbs continues unabated. A lawsuit in federal court by Phil Murphy, one of nine court cases seeking to block the program, is considered opponents’ best shot at holding up the tolls before president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

 

Mass deportation will have a greater impact than backers bargained for | Quigley

Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal

 

  • How you ever done something or ordered something that seemed like a good idea at the time but turned to be not at all what you expected? Recently l ordered a beautiful summer dress to wear to a special event. When it arrived I was shocked to find it had no back. The online photo showed a high-necked front but didn’t reveal it dipped to the waist in back.

 

See what Monmouth’s Mall demolition looks like – November 2024

Matt Brandt, NJ1015

 

  • It’s been a while since we’ve thought about the Monmouth Mall. The reason for that, however, is pretty obvious. The property is being completely transformed. It is, however, a smart move. As time goes by, shopping habits change, and so does the type of shopping experience we prefer. But it goes even deeper than that. How and where people hang out also changes over time. Today, in particular, people tend to prefer open-air environments as opposed to being enclosed. And that’s one of the reasons why the Monmouth Mall is undergoing the changes it is.

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New Jersey’s Housing Landscape: The Mount Laurel Doctrine and the Search for the Missing Middle

by Explore New JerseyFilm & TVLaw & OrderPoliticsShopping

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July 30th, 2024 by

The rising costs of housing in New Jersey are affecting everyone, especially individuals and households at the lower end of the income spectrum. New Jersey’s unique Mount Laurel doctrine is meant to address the need for housing for lower-income households, but it also indirectly has a major effect on the supply of market-rate multi-family units in the process. The process by which towns satisfy their affordable housing obligations does not guarantee a full range of housing options for a full range of household types and incomes. The Mount Laurel requirements ought to serve as a prompt for towns to think holistically about their housing supply in general—how much and what types of housing will they need to accommodate the needs of future residents?

Panelists in the session “Knowing the Numbers: Housing Allocation, Patterns of Development and the Future of Housing” at the 2024 Planning and Redevelopment Conference discussed the current state of affairs in housing in New Jersey, for affordable housing and beyond. Moderator Creigh Rahenkamp, Principal of CRA, LLC, and Tim Evans, Research Director at New Jersey Future, gave background about the housing supply in general, and Katherine Payne, Director of Land Use, Fair Share Housing Center; Graham Petto, Principal, Topology; and David Kinsey, Partner, Kinsey & Hand talked about what to expect from the latest changes to the state’s system of incentivizing affordable housing. Panelists all agreed that the Mount Laurel system is necessary but not sufficient to provide the full range of housing options that New Jersey’s future population will need.

 “Mount Laurel” and Affordable Housing

The Mount Laurel doctrine refers to a series of New Jersey Supreme Court decisions that direct municipalities to provide their “fair share” of the regional need for low- and moderate-income housing. For many years, enforcement of the requirements was the responsibility of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), but the Council was effectively dissolved in 2015 when the Court deemed it ineffective and handed enforcement authority back to the judicial system. Payne cited her organization’s 2023 report Dismantling Exclusionary Zoning: New Jersey’s Blueprint for Overcoming Segregation to point out that the annual production of affordable units increased substantially after 2015 under the subsequent more rigorous court oversight. (She pointed out that the vast majority of affordable housing is produced in the form of multifamily housing.) The report also found that most of the overall growth in multifamily housing (primarily apartments) over the same time period has been achieved in inclusionary Mount Laurel projects, projects that contain both income-restricted and market-rate units, to the extent that 81% of all multifamily units built since 2015 were built in connection with the Mount Laurel process. Reinforcing this relationship, Evans cited data showing certificates of occupancy (COs) for multifamily housing rising in the post-COAH era (see Figure 1 ) to the point where multifamily units now account for more than half of all housing production. “This shift in permitting activity is being driven by Mount Laurel-associated re-zonings,” Payne said.

Production of multifamily housing has increased steadily in the post-COAH era. More than 4 out of 5 multifamily units built since 2015 are associated with Mount Laurel projects, either as affordable units or as market-rate units that are part of mixed-income projects.

 

Administration of the Mount Laurel process has recently undergone another significant change with the passage of new legislation, in the form of Assembly Bill 4/Senate Bill 50 this year. Among other things, the legislation sets up an oversight mechanism within the executive branch and directs the Department of Community Affairs to implement a methodology for determining municipal affordable housing obligations, based on three factors—income capacity, non-residential property valuation, and developable land. While the rules will take time to create, Petto said municipalities can and should get started now in preparing plans for compliance, including thinking about where in town the Mount Laurel units will be located and how to earn extra credit for certain types and locations. Kinsey mentioned that the legislation allows for bonus credits for such features as proximity to public transportation, special-needs or supportive housing, and redevelopment of a retail, office, or commercial site.

Redevelopment as the New Paradigm

Many new Mount Laurel units will be constructed in redevelopment areas, if the overall pattern of population growth in recent years is any indication. Evans showed that most of the state’s housing growth over the last decade and a half has been happening in already-built-out areas (see Figure 2 ).

Redevelopment is the new normal: An increasing share of New Jersey’s housing growth has been happening in already-built places.

It is clear that “built-out” does not necessarily mean “full,” and that redevelopment areas offer plenty of opportunities for municipalities to create more housing, both for Mount Laurel and market-rate. As such, the new legislation requires municipalities to develop plans for “conversion or redevelopment of unused or underutilized property, including existing structures if necessary, to assure the achievement of the municipality’s fair share” of affordable housing.

The “Missing Middle” Is Still Missing

Payne reminded listeners that the Mount Laurel doctrine originally arose when the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that municipalities cannot practice “exclusionary zoning,” by which they effectively exclude lower-income households by writing their zoning codes to allow nothing but single-family detached homes, which are less affordable to households of modest means. Such zoning is still very common: “About 75% of land in major US cities is zoned exclusively for single-family housing, which has implications for access to opportunity,” Payne said.

While the Mount Laurel process was set up to ensure the provision of housing for lower-income households, it does not address other types of housing that are left out by exclusionary zoning and are thus in short supply. The wide array of housing options between single-family detached units on one end of the scale and large apartment buildings on the other are often called the “missing middle,” because many places simply don’t plan for them. This includes options like duplexes, triplexes, small apartment buildings, apartments above stores, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), a category that itself includes small, separate units that are attached to or on the same property as a larger unit, like above-garage apartments or “in-law suites.” Evans illustrated how housing units in 2-, 3-, and 4-unit buildings have declined as a share of total housing units, from 30% of all units in 1950 to half that share as of 2021 (see Figure 3 ). Kinsey further noted that the number of units in structures with 2 to 4 units has actually decreased in absolute terms, dropping from about 514,000 in 1970 to about 490,000 in 2020.

“Missing middle” housing options in buildings with 2 to 4 units have declined dramatically since 1950 as a share of total housing units.

Another conference session, “We’re Missing Middle Housing in New Jersey: How to Fix It,” was devoted entirely to these missing options and strategies to bring them back. One of the speakers in that session, Karla Georges of the national American Planning Association, identified states where “missing middle” housing bills have passed, including Washington, Colorado (HB1316 and HB1175, and Arizona. Kinsey mentioned one modest New Jersey effort, bill S2347 currently being considered by the legislature, that would authorize ADUs statewide. Meanwhile, some New Jersey municipalities have legalized ADUs on their own, without waiting for statewide legislation.

In any event, while New Jersey is ahead of most of the rest of the country in having the Mount Laurel doctrine and its supporting legislation, this is insufficient as a mechanism for ensuring the production of a full range of housing types, without which people will continue to migrate out of New Jersey in search of cheaper options. As New Urbanist pioneer Peter Calthorpe has observed at the national level, “We cannot build this country on subsidized housing. We’re never going to get the end result. We have to create the context, the policies, and the zoning that make middle housing viable and located in the right locations.” New Jersey now needs to follow the lead of other states in exploring strategies to break the stranglehold of single-family zoning, so that households of all incomes can afford to call New Jersey home.

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Public Works | New Jersey League of Municipalities

by Explore New JerseyPolitics

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Sample Position Descriptions

Director of Public Works

A management role responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating functions of the Public Works Department. Public Works provides services such as road and bridge maintenance and construction, snow removal, infrastructure projects, maintenance of stormwater systems, and fixing utility issues. The Director is responsible for the administration, budgeting, and supervision of this department.

Laborer

This hands-on position is often responsible for buildings and grounds maintenance, grass cutting, operating a variety of motor vehicles, including dump trucks and other equipment, snow and ice removal, leaf collection, repairing potholes, and maintaining stormwater systems. Emergency overtime work is sometimes needed.

=""Typical Education Levels

High School – Bachelor’s Degree

Certifications/Continuing Education

Certified Public Works Manager

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It Happened in Hudson: After Prez Debacle, Can They Restart Engine in Time for Guv?

by ArtCentral JerseyExplore New JerseyNorth JerseyPolitics

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Every college philosophy student inevitably encounters that showdown for the soul of the 19th Century between Hegel and Kierkegaard, although Hegel would argue there is no such thing as the soul, much less the soul of a century. When the materialism of the former would almost surely prevail, the student would find himself leaning again toward the Dane and some compelling reason to follow his Leap of Faith. So, it went: Hegel and Kierkegaard, Kierkegaard and Hegel, their rivalry of the mind persistent in the ongoing afterlife of ideas.

If such a place actually exists, it doesn’t reside in Hudson, decidedly the domain of Stack versus Sacco, Sacco versus Stack, their political rivalry less a material consequence of Hegel (and even less Kierkegaard) and probably more in line with the school of Thomas Hobbes, for “the state of society cannot be secure unless at the disposal of an absolute sovereign.” Sons of Hobbes, then, their mind games of two decades have kept them mostly intent on maintaining an edge in the political annals of North Hudson, the rough Hudson equivalent of Hegel and Kierkegaard.

Both state Senator/Mayor Brian P. Stack (D-33) of Union City and North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco derived from a school whereby two seats were better than one, and like the titans before them, they occupied two at a time, namely mayor and state senator, embodying the late period of dual office holding, which enabled a local elected official to simultaneously serve as a lawmaker in Trenton, in the name of “best representing the people.” Widely publicly derided before dispensed with, dual office holding served as a supposed example of power overreach. But in the years since, as a few bosses who do not hold elected office became more powerful, wielded control from the shadows, and overlorded elected officials who lacked any particular amassed power, politics watchers make a case for the value of stacked (pun intended) offices to empower those who actually put their names before the people on a ballot.

North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco
North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco (Picture by Al Sullivan).

 

Grandfathered in, Stack (pictured, top) and Sacco would labor together, side by side in mutual muscle-flexing North Hudson mode, until 2021 redistricting – arguably engineered by those sympathetic to Stack – retired Sacco as a Trenton presence with a map that broke up his legislative district, leaving him to consolidate his local empire only, while Stack carried on as Hudson’s last walking duopoly of the senator-mayor variety. Following ten years of cutthroat politics back and forth between North Bergen (Sacco) and Union City Stack), the years leading up to redistricting proved mostly amiable. Then Stack won and Sacco lost, and the rivalry resumed, Sacco leveraging with a vengeance solely from the local level. If the days of Frank Hague deciding national elections for Democrats died in the 1930s, only very marginal wins for Kamala Harris in North Bergen and Union City, with Latinos in Hudson going for Donald Trump, proved, perhaps, transcendent regional politics producing a national-level vacuum, or at least vacuity.

In such a time, with Democrats widely in despair and disarray, it looked like the perfect opportunity for Hudson to use the springboard of its own friction and make another play for statewide relevance. If the days of Augie Torres HCDO unity seemed but a memory, the two bosses appeared happy to play a Mad Max-like game of chicken over next year’s gubernatorial contest and Jersey City mayor’s race, with Sacco allies a little more collectively coy, delighting in early Stack moves that – at the very least – appear to have made matters more politically complex for Stack, and for the county.

Partly in anyone but Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop mode, Stack indicated an early preference for U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer in the 2025 Democratic Primary, but few followed him with any particular committed zest. Sacco, of course, let that endorsement hang out there, as he did Stack’s backing of former Governor James McGreevey (ironically, another of the last dual office holding guys from Woodbridge, bucking for a comeback) for Jersey City Mayor. As McGreevey tried to gain traction, Sacco was even seen enjoying the cozying up of Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea, McGreevey’s rival, and taking pleasure in publicly flirting over dinner.

Of course, Fulop running for governor threw a wrench, because he appeared to have the conviction of running against the establishment, while coming out of the most established political county, and that gave more license to Stack and Sacco to zigzag in the vicinity of others with a better shot at power. It’s pretty unresolved. In the words of one Hudson insider, “both sides are trying to put the toothpaste in the tube” at the moment regarding mayor and governor, seeking more time and – with apologies to Augie Torres – some semblance of political intelligence if not the unity of the millennium’s second decade.

“Nobody in Hudson wants a war,” the source added, acknowledging Hudson County Executive Craig Guy desperately playing footsy with all sides, even as U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill gained traction out of the gate of her gubernatorial announcement in other key counties, while Gottheimer allies considered what a path would look like if they too, like Fulop, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, could make a case (but for Bergen, where his own party chair backs him) for a boss conglomerate contributing little more than institutional corrosion. Then again, if Stack backed one ticket, Sacco – at least at this moment – appeared content to go in another direction. Old philosophers persistently at odds. By the end of it, without resolution, if the two remain intent on opposing sides, one of them could be he who makes the case against a supposedly worn-out establishment, personally representing that dwindled footprint of bossism, organizationally leading an insurrection – not with Fulop but with a Fulop-like message – against The Man.

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