Down to the Wire: NJ FY24 Budget Negotiations Continue
Sometimes a picture says a thousand words...
Both Senate and Assembly Budget Committees paused their June 28 meetings near the end of 'business hours.' How late they'll be there working out final details of the spending plan for the new fiscal year slated to start Saturday, July 1 is anybody's guess.
Sometimes a picture says a thousand words...
Both Senate and Assembly Budget Committees paused their June 28 meetings near the end of 'business hours.' How late they'll be there working out final details of the spending plan for the new fiscal year slated to start Saturday, July 1 is anybody's guess.
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BREAKING: NJ State Budget Tops $54.3 Billion 😳
Final details of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget aren't available on the NJ Legislature website as of 10:34 pm EDT on June 28, 2023...but WANJ noticed that the Assembly version of the spending bill number and title is posted online.
A5669 - Appropriates $54,324,277,000 in State funds and $26,144,171,463 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.
*As of 10:51 pm EDT both Senate and Assembly Budget committees are still in recess, purportedly waiting for the final budget draft.
Final details of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget aren't available on the NJ Legislature website as of 10:34 pm EDT on June 28, 2023...but WANJ noticed that the Assembly version of the spending bill number and title is posted online.
A5669 - Appropriates $54,324,277,000 in State funds and $26,144,171,463 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.
*As of 10:51 pm EDT both Senate and Assembly Budget committees are still in recess, purportedly waiting for the final budget draft.
“For far too long, New Jerseyans have tolerated a hackneyed, crazy-quilt approach to lawmaking in Trenton. It’s no way to run a branch of government. All too often it results in poorly worded laws which are ineffective, exploited by those with less than noble intentions, require ‘corrective legislation’ within a short time after being enacted (when all of the problems become apparent) or even prove to be DETRIMENTAL…statements made by members of the legislature, the public and sources familiar with the process frequently describe bill text being drafted, filed and made publicly available in ways that seem to diverge from the official rules.”
Read more: https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/trentons-routine-business-weaponizes
Read more: https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/trentons-routine-business-weaponizes
NJ Office of the Attorney General Releases White Supremacy Report
"It analyzes the strategies white supremacists have used to normalize and mainstream hateful ideologies and inspire people to promote extremist causes. It documents how some white supremacists have engaged in what the FBI has recognized is a decades-long strategy to infiltrate our institutions of public trust, including positions in government and law enforcement, and attempt to misuse their authority to harass, assault, incarcerate, and disenfranchise Black people and other people of color. It outlines the ways in which white supremacist violent extremists and adjacent extremist groups recruit white people, especially young white people. It highlights the critical importance of white people partnering with communities of color to counter, disrupt, and dismantle white supremacy. And it empowers each and every member of our community with best practices to use to counter white supremacy in our day-to-day lives and protect ourselves, our families, and everyone around us from white supremacist radicalization."
"White supremacy encompasses the full spectrum of bias-based behavior – including biased attitudes, acts of bias, and systemic discrimination – that results from a belief in the superiority of white people. White supremacist violent extremism is the willingness to threaten or engage in white supremacy-motivated physical violence and crime. Both white supremacy and white supremacist violent extremism inflict trauma on the many communities they target. White supremacists target not only the Black community, but all communities of color. They target not only the Jewish community, but all faith communities. And they target community members not only based on their race or faith, but also based on their gender and sexuality."
Read the full report:
https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases23/2023-0710_WSR-2023_v14.pdf
"It analyzes the strategies white supremacists have used to normalize and mainstream hateful ideologies and inspire people to promote extremist causes. It documents how some white supremacists have engaged in what the FBI has recognized is a decades-long strategy to infiltrate our institutions of public trust, including positions in government and law enforcement, and attempt to misuse their authority to harass, assault, incarcerate, and disenfranchise Black people and other people of color. It outlines the ways in which white supremacist violent extremists and adjacent extremist groups recruit white people, especially young white people. It highlights the critical importance of white people partnering with communities of color to counter, disrupt, and dismantle white supremacy. And it empowers each and every member of our community with best practices to use to counter white supremacy in our day-to-day lives and protect ourselves, our families, and everyone around us from white supremacist radicalization."
"White supremacy encompasses the full spectrum of bias-based behavior – including biased attitudes, acts of bias, and systemic discrimination – that results from a belief in the superiority of white people. White supremacist violent extremism is the willingness to threaten or engage in white supremacy-motivated physical violence and crime. Both white supremacy and white supremacist violent extremism inflict trauma on the many communities they target. White supremacists target not only the Black community, but all communities of color. They target not only the Jewish community, but all faith communities. And they target community members not only based on their race or faith, but also based on their gender and sexuality."
Read the full report:
https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases23/2023-0710_WSR-2023_v14.pdf
US Dept of Justice Supports Challenge to NJ Law Banning Immigration Detention Center Contracts
NJ moved to enact the controversial law nearly two years ago but a challenge in federal court could result in an injunction barring the closure of the state's only remaining ICE detention center.
"They call the Elizabeth facility “mission critical” because of its proximity to Newark and JFK airports, which offer regular direct flights out of the United States and are “crucial” for removals, the filing says. It also says shutting down the center would lead to the possible release of “dangerous noncitizens.”
"The federal government agrees with CoreCivic’s complaint that the state law violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which bars states from passing laws overriding federal statutes."
(Emphasis added)
https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/07/19/biden-administration-says-closure-of-n-j-ice-detention-center-would-be-catastrophic/
NJ moved to enact the controversial law nearly two years ago but a challenge in federal court could result in an injunction barring the closure of the state's only remaining ICE detention center.
"They call the Elizabeth facility “mission critical” because of its proximity to Newark and JFK airports, which offer regular direct flights out of the United States and are “crucial” for removals, the filing says. It also says shutting down the center would lead to the possible release of “dangerous noncitizens.”
"The federal government agrees with CoreCivic’s complaint that the state law violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which bars states from passing laws overriding federal statutes."
(Emphasis added)
https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/07/19/biden-administration-says-closure-of-n-j-ice-detention-center-would-be-catastrophic/
New Jersey Monitor
Biden administration says closure of ICE detention center in N.J. would be ‘catastrophic’
The federal government agrees with the operator of a N.J. detention center that a state law barring these centers is unconstitutional.
NYC Asylum Seeker Overflow Housing at AC Airport?!
Several federally owned properties, including Atlantic City International Airport which is situated on land leased by the South Jersey Transit Authority from the Federal Aviation Administration, have been proposed for use.
"A spokesperson for the DHS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a representative for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-30/biden-offers-nyc-migrants-11-sites-including-atlantic-city-airport
Several federally owned properties, including Atlantic City International Airport which is situated on land leased by the South Jersey Transit Authority from the Federal Aviation Administration, have been proposed for use.
"A spokesperson for the DHS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a representative for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-30/biden-offers-nyc-migrants-11-sites-including-atlantic-city-airport
Bloomberg.com
Biden Offers Airports in Atlantic City, on Canadian Border to House NYC Migrants
The Biden administration has some suggestions for where New York City can house some of the 60,000 asylum seekers who recently arrived: a remote facility closer to Montreal than Manhattan, a tax office on Long Island and Atlantic City International Airport.
ICYMI: NJ Secretary of State Tahesha Leila Way Sworn in as State's Third Lieutenant Governor
Lt. Governor Way has served in Gov. Phil Murphy's cabinet as head of the Department of State since 2018. Her appointment to this additional role comes at the close of a month long mourning period for the previous officeholder Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver who died in early August.
The lieutenant governor's office was created by an amendment to the NJ Constitution initiated by the state legislature and approved by voters and the governor, effective January 17, 2006. Language in Article V, Section I, paragraph 9. specifies the procedure for filling a vacancy of the office.
Read more: https://njleg.state.nj.us/constitution
Lt. Governor Way has served in Gov. Phil Murphy's cabinet as head of the Department of State since 2018. Her appointment to this additional role comes at the close of a month long mourning period for the previous officeholder Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver who died in early August.
The lieutenant governor's office was created by an amendment to the NJ Constitution initiated by the state legislature and approved by voters and the governor, effective January 17, 2006. Language in Article V, Section I, paragraph 9. specifies the procedure for filling a vacancy of the office.
Read more: https://njleg.state.nj.us/constitution
NJ Congressman Leader in PEPFAR Reauthorization Pushback
U.S. Senate and House members have just over two weeks to agree upon a federal government funding plan and many are challenging the carte blanche approach to financing the international HIV-AIDS program.
"Failure to renew PEPFAR would bar Congress from increasing its nearly $7 billion yearly budget and could terminate several legal provisions in the program — including a rule that directs at least half of PEPFAR funds toward patient treatment and care. Presidential administrations could continue abiding by those rules or drop them."
Read more.
U.S. Senate and House members have just over two weeks to agree upon a federal government funding plan and many are challenging the carte blanche approach to financing the international HIV-AIDS program.
"Failure to renew PEPFAR would bar Congress from increasing its nearly $7 billion yearly budget and could terminate several legal provisions in the program — including a rule that directs at least half of PEPFAR funds toward patient treatment and care. Presidential administrations could continue abiding by those rules or drop them."
Read more.
POLITICO
George W. Bush wades into PEPFAR fight as deadline nears
Establishment Republicans rally to rescue global HIV-AIDS program.
ICYMI: Take Off Your Team's Jersey So People Can Hear You
What team jersey(s) are you currently wearing: Liberal or Conservative; Gun Rights or Gun Control; Ukraine or Russia; Trump or Biden? If football fans have the tendency to act irrationally at games, how do we expect people to act when feeling like life and liberty are at stake?
View full article on our Substack.
What team jersey(s) are you currently wearing: Liberal or Conservative; Gun Rights or Gun Control; Ukraine or Russia; Trump or Biden? If football fans have the tendency to act irrationally at games, how do we expect people to act when feeling like life and liberty are at stake?
View full article on our Substack.
We Are New Jersey - Citizen Journalism
ICYMI: Take Off Your Team's Jersey So People Can Hear You
Viewing political opposition through the lens of sports fandom can help you communicate more effectively
Hopping Down the 2024 Campaign Trail: Will NJ First Lady Run for US Senate?
Sen. Bob Menendez says he "isn't going anywhere," but the circus around his corruption scandal has quickly devolved into a free-for-all with various names being tossed out as potential candidates for his US Senate seat. While most are current officeholders, reports are circulating that Gov. Phil Murphy's wife, Tammy, could be interested in a run.
"Tammy has the ‘standard credentials’ on paper, but how does that square with her sometimes bizarre real-life presentation? In identity politics the “woman card” is theoretically worth a lot, but her personal background has some elitist tendencies that could be snagged by the “intersectionality” matrix."
Read more: https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/senator-tammy-murphy
Sen. Bob Menendez says he "isn't going anywhere," but the circus around his corruption scandal has quickly devolved into a free-for-all with various names being tossed out as potential candidates for his US Senate seat. While most are current officeholders, reports are circulating that Gov. Phil Murphy's wife, Tammy, could be interested in a run.
"Tammy has the ‘standard credentials’ on paper, but how does that square with her sometimes bizarre real-life presentation? In identity politics the “woman card” is theoretically worth a lot, but her personal background has some elitist tendencies that could be snagged by the “intersectionality” matrix."
Read more: https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/senator-tammy-murphy
Casino Operator, Insurance Giant Await Court Opinion on Covid Closure Coverage Question
"New Jersey’s Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a case lodged by the firm that operates the Ocean Casino Resort, whose suit charges its insurers improperly denied it a business interruption payout on its $50 million policy.
Nationwide, courts have routinely dismissed claims seeking compensation because of government-ordered shutdowns. But business interruption claims rooted in different reasons could spur numerous and hefty awards from insurers in what Ocean called a “generational legal dispute” in its filings."
Read more.
"New Jersey’s Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a case lodged by the firm that operates the Ocean Casino Resort, whose suit charges its insurers improperly denied it a business interruption payout on its $50 million policy.
Nationwide, courts have routinely dismissed claims seeking compensation because of government-ordered shutdowns. But business interruption claims rooted in different reasons could spur numerous and hefty awards from insurers in what Ocean called a “generational legal dispute” in its filings."
Read more.
New Jersey Monitor
New Jersey Supreme Court weighs insurance payouts for COVID closures - New Jersey Monitor
An Atlantic City casino is sparring with its insurers over business interruption claims from 2020.
Breaking: 'Tentative Contract Agreement In Principle' Between New Jersey and State Workers Union
Disclosed details include:
• Across the board raises of 3.5 percent annually
• Changes to the civil service ranges
• Increase the salary guide for many of the State’s lowest paid workers
• Reimbursement rate increases for eye care
• Extra day of bereavement leave yearly
"The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2023 and will run through June 30, 2027."
Read more.
Disclosed details include:
• Across the board raises of 3.5 percent annually
• Changes to the civil service ranges
• Increase the salary guide for many of the State’s lowest paid workers
• Reimbursement rate increases for eye care
• Extra day of bereavement leave yearly
"The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2023 and will run through June 30, 2027."
Read more.
www.nj.gov
Governor Phil Murphy
The official website of the 56th Governor of New Jersey State, Phil Murphy.
EXCLUSIVE - Citizen Asks for Election Report Detailed in Investigation Findings; Monmouth County Can't Produce It
Did the voting system vendor, Election Systems & Software (ES&S,) or the Clerk of Elections find the mistake? No, a concerned citizen did.
NJ, Where is the missing Media Status Report?!
Read full article.
Did the voting system vendor, Election Systems & Software (ES&S,) or the Clerk of Elections find the mistake? No, a concerned citizen did.
NJ, Where is the missing Media Status Report?!
Read full article.
We Are New Jersey - Citizen Journalism
EXCLUSIVE - Citizen Asks for Election Report Detailed in Investigation Findings; Monmouth County Can't Produce It
A pattern is emerging in NJ - a blame game between election vendors and local officials when things go wrong, with no accountability or change. Want to change that? Start asking for the receipts.
Refuse to Participate in the Media's Religious War
They will feed your fear with lies and then demonize you for acting on it. Refuse to participate in the warfare cloaked with “piety” they want to bring to our streets.
Choosing pro-Palestine or pro-Israel allows you to dehumanize the people caught in the middle. Refuse to participate in the bloodlust against innocents.
Read more.
They will feed your fear with lies and then demonize you for acting on it. Refuse to participate in the warfare cloaked with “piety” they want to bring to our streets.
Choosing pro-Palestine or pro-Israel allows you to dehumanize the people caught in the middle. Refuse to participate in the bloodlust against innocents.
Read more.
We Are New Jersey - Citizen Journalism
Op-Ed: Refuse to Participate in the Media's Religious War
In the latest sick game of pick a team, American media's nonstop violent footage and emotional stories about Hamas, Iran and Israel are just the next stage of a plan to incite rage and hate at home
Confidential Mediation to Commence in 2018 NJ School Segregation Case
"Over the next several weeks, mediation sessions between all the parties involved, including intervening defendants that represent charter schools, will take place. The first one is planned for Nov. 21.
Former New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry T. Albin, who retired earlier this year, will act as the mediator during these discussions."
"The mediation will address issues of liability, remedies, and a process to “ensure that all interested persons and organizations,” whether part of the litigation or not, “have the opportunity to meaningfully participate,” wrote Lawrence Lustberg, of Gibbons Law, the co-counsel for the plaintiffs, in his motion.
“If successful, this mediation process holds the promise of saving the people of New Jersey and the courts of this state from years of complex, highly charged litigation,” Lustberg stated."
Read more.
"Over the next several weeks, mediation sessions between all the parties involved, including intervening defendants that represent charter schools, will take place. The first one is planned for Nov. 21.
Former New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry T. Albin, who retired earlier this year, will act as the mediator during these discussions."
"The mediation will address issues of liability, remedies, and a process to “ensure that all interested persons and organizations,” whether part of the litigation or not, “have the opportunity to meaningfully participate,” wrote Lawrence Lustberg, of Gibbons Law, the co-counsel for the plaintiffs, in his motion.
“If successful, this mediation process holds the promise of saving the people of New Jersey and the courts of this state from years of complex, highly charged litigation,” Lustberg stated."
Read more.
Chalkbeat
New Jersey school segregation case enter mediation in hopes of avoiding long court battle
The coalition of advocates and families who filed the lawsuit against the state, along with intervening parties, including charter schools, have all agreed to meet to discuss remedies. The first meeting is planned for Nov. 21.
Hudson County Ballot Design Mishap?
NJ's 2023 Election results are scheduled to be certified by the state next week.
Will this long-time third party candidate challenge the certification based on what appears to be a gross oversight by election officials responsible for preparing ballots?
"Pablo Olivera, a perennial candidate who has run for office fourteen times, filed to run as the Labour Party candidate. He was listed on the ballot in the Essex County portion of the district, but not in Harrison and East Newark."
Read more.
NJ's 2023 Election results are scheduled to be certified by the state next week.
Will this long-time third party candidate challenge the certification based on what appears to be a gross oversight by election officials responsible for preparing ballots?
"Pablo Olivera, a perennial candidate who has run for office fourteen times, filed to run as the Labour Party candidate. He was listed on the ballot in the Essex County portion of the district, but not in Harrison and East Newark."
Read more.
New Jersey Globe
Independent Senate candidate left off ballot in Hudson portion of 29th district - New Jersey Globe
An independent candidate for State Senate in the 29th district was left off the ballot entirely in two Hudson County towns, which could impact the
When will they stop lying about January 6th?
They were detaining us in the building due to a curfew that was enacted inside DC for 6pm. I still have trouble processing that people were locked into a hotel against their will en masse in the United States of America.
Read full post.
They were detaining us in the building due to a curfew that was enacted inside DC for 6pm. I still have trouble processing that people were locked into a hotel against their will en masse in the United States of America.
Read full post.
We Are New Jersey - Citizen Journalism
When will they stop lying about January 6th?
The regime is trotting out their favorite scare tactic to interfere with another election
CISA Bound: NJ Assistant Secretary of State/Division of Elections Director to Assume Federal Cybersecurity Position
This career election administration official from North Jersey is climbing the bureaucratic ladder to new heights in 2024 as Primary Election season kicks off around the US.
"She spent more than six years as the Deputy Bergen County Clerk before joining Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration in 2018.
On Zyriek Enriquez’s watch, the Department of State completed the 2020 Census, ran a 2020 presidential primary, and general elections conducted almost entirely through vote-by-mail ballots during a global pandemic, and modernized election systems to make them operate more efficiently and securely."
Read more.
This career election administration official from North Jersey is climbing the bureaucratic ladder to new heights in 2024 as Primary Election season kicks off around the US.
"She spent more than six years as the Deputy Bergen County Clerk before joining Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration in 2018.
On Zyriek Enriquez’s watch, the Department of State completed the 2020 Census, ran a 2020 presidential primary, and general elections conducted almost entirely through vote-by-mail ballots during a global pandemic, and modernized election systems to make them operate more efficiently and securely."
Read more.
New Jersey Globe
Top N.J. election official taking U.S. Homeland Security post - New Jersey Globe
Assistant New Jersey Secretary of State Lauren Zyriek Enriquez, the highly-respected acting director of the New Jersey Division of Elections, will depart
🚨Resist the Election Year Trap: College Protests are an Operation
Refuse to pick a side and use critical thinking to root out
the forces that continue to perpetuate bloody conflicts from the safety of their board
rooms. Let’s stand firmly together on the common ground of humanity.
https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/resist-the-election-year-trap-college
Refuse to pick a side and use critical thinking to root out
the forces that continue to perpetuate bloody conflicts from the safety of their board
rooms. Let’s stand firmly together on the common ground of humanity.
https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/resist-the-election-year-trap-college
We Are New Jersey - Citizen Journalism
Resist the Election Year Trap: College Protests are an Operation
Big donor money and NGOs fuel the latest showdown
Education at a Crossroads in Jackson, NJ: The S2 Funding
Formula Controversy
During the public forum, emotions ran high. Parents and students spent over two hours passionately discussing how the potential loss of crucial educational programs would affect their lives, with many moved to tears. These testimonials highlighted not just the
financial numbers but the human costs of the current funding crisis.
Read full article: https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/education-at-a-crossroads-in-jackson
Formula Controversy
During the public forum, emotions ran high. Parents and students spent over two hours passionately discussing how the potential loss of crucial educational programs would affect their lives, with many moved to tears. These testimonials highlighted not just the
financial numbers but the human costs of the current funding crisis.
Read full article: https://wearenewjersey.substack.com/p/education-at-a-crossroads-in-jackson
Substack
Education at a Crossroads in Jackson, NJ: The S2 Funding Formula Controversy
Last Tuesday, residents of Jackson, New Jersey, gathered in a pivotal Board of Education meeting to confront the severe implications of the school district's $30 million budget shortfall for the 2024/25 school year.