| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Tuesday morning! Today supposedly marks the real start of campaign season, but this is more likely to be a week of looking back. Looking back 20 years ago, to 9/11, and the hundreds of New Jerseyans that died that day. And looking back to just five days ago, when Ida's remnants slammed New Jersey. We're in the retrospective phase right now, wondering whether the state's response was adequate. There was obviously nothing New Jersey could do to prevent the rainfall, or to prepare its infrastructure save for billions of dollars and decades of upgrades. The debate right now is whether the Murphy administration could have done more, quicker. Some, including Jack Ciattarelli, are faulting Murphy for not declaring a state of emergency until the storm was well into lashing North Jersey. But that doesn't really have many practical, immediate effects . Would a declaration of emergency have stopped a significant number people from driving? Perhaps, as even Murphy seemed to vaguely acknowledge, he could have closed some roads. But if people didn't heed extremely loud warnings on their phones, it's hard to think a declaration from the governor would have made much of a difference. Nevertheless, Murphy has touted the fact that he declared a state of emergency before New York — initially incorrectly saying he declared it "before anyone else in our neighborhood" — as proof of his administration's readiness. This much is clear: Weather forecasters saw a bad storm coming and warned about flooding and tornadoes. Murphy and State Police Superintendent Pat Callahan did warn about it early Wednesday afternoon during his press conference. But it turned out to be worse than anyone predicted, or perhaps the absolute worst case scenario of a range of forecasts. Even the press, which is not normally known for downplaying severe weather events, didn't capture just how severe this was going to be. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It's unsustainable, but I don't have an answer as to what is the sustainable piece going forward," Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway on the Athletic Department hemorrhaging money and using accounting maneuvers to hide just how bad it is. WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Manville with President Biden to tour storm damage. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Attorney Raj Parikh, former Cumberland Freeholder Lou Magazzu, WBCS 880's Steve Scott, Murphy staffer Eric Martin
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
IDA — Officials fume after their counties are excluded from federal disaster declaration, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Elected officials across North Jersey are livid after several counties that experienced substantial flooding and loss of life from Hurricane Ida were excluded from President Joe Biden's major disaster declaration. "I'm fuming," Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo told POLITICO on Monday morning. At least three Essex County residents were killed by last week's storm. "My residents are going [online], seeing this, trying to apply and trying to get help and not seeing Essex County. That's a joke." Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop called Hudson County's exclusion from the list of disaster-designated counties "crazy/shameful" and that the preliminary estimate for damages to municipal properties already exceeds $35 million, "not including millions in personal damage to homes/businesses."
—Biden declares major disaster in New York, New Jersey — Murphy says he declared state of emergency for Ida first, but Pennsylvania governor beat him DON'T WORRY, THAT BIG 10 TV MONEY IS COMING ANY DAY NOW — "'Unsustainable': How Rutgers athletics quietly racked up $265M in debt," by The Record's Jean Rimbach and Abbott Koloff: "This was the year Rutgers University athletics expected to be on firm financial ground. Instead, the athletic division has been losing more money than ever. And almost half of its $265 million in outstanding debt has not gone toward new buildings — it has instead been used to cover the ever-rising operating costs associated with joining the Big Ten Conference. The university has stepped in, loaning athletics $84 million over the last six years to cover expenses — violating its own policy, which it changed after inquiries from The Record and NorthJersey.com. Rutgers has been reporting those loans as revenue — contrary to NCAA guidelines — artificially inflating the athletic department's earnings and concealing the true budget deficit from the students, their parents and taxpayers who pay the bills, a monthslong analysis of Rutgers financial documents by The Record and NorthJersey.com has found. Much about athletics is cloaked in secrecy — Rutgers couldn't supply its contract with the Big Ten, eventually admitting it doesn't have a copy." RETROSPECTATORS — "The forecast spelled doom. So why wasn't N.J. ready for Ida? " by NJ Advance Media's Adam Clark : "By 10:02 p.m., much of the damage was already done. A devastating tornado destroyed a suburban neighborhood. Busy streets had transformed into treacherous waterways. And a man drowned after being swept into a 36-inch storm sewer pipe before Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night. Hurricane Ida's remnants smacked New Jersey with such intensity — 2 to 3 inches of rainfall per hour in some regions — that many residents were hopelessly trapped in their cars or low-lying homes, despite incessant iPhone alerts and meteorologists warning of historic consequences … Murphy and experts in weather and disaster preparedness agree that the Garden State had too many cars on the road as the storm raged late Wednesday afternoon and evening. Some have asked why more residents did not heed the warnings. Others wonder if state officials could have done more to alert people — and if it would have made a difference — after the deaths of at least 27 New Jerseyans. 'In retrospect, it probably would have amped up the attention to declare a state of emergency ahead of time,' said Jeff Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University's Earth Institute." LOCKER ROOM TALK — "Hammering Murphy on women's rights, but voting for Trump. That's the definition of hypocritical," by The Burlington County Times' Phil Gianficaro: "While Murphy deserves to be bashed for ignoring Brennan — I did so in a column in February 2019 — what can't be ignored is how Ciattarelli and Allen admitted they both voted for former PresidentDonald Trump despite his history with women. You know, the Donald Trump accused of groping, raping, kissing, and harassing at least 26 women who have gone public. You know, the Donald Trump, who, in an unearthed "Access Hollywood" tape, was heard on national television boasting about grabbing women's genitals in 2005. You know, the Donald Trump it is apparently OK to vote for despite his contemptible treatment of women. Pound away at Murphy on women, but set aside the hammer when it comes to Trump on women. Ciattarelli and Allen cannot cast themselves as champions of women's rights only when the situation benefits them." —Some New Jersey schools facing flood damage ahead of reopening —" Green gold rush as New Jersey legal weed gets closer" —"Gov. Murphy visits Lodi, surveys Ida damage and seeks federal aid" —Mulshine: " Cooking with gas? Not if Governor Murphy's plan goes through" —"New NJEA president: Our teachers are optimistic about this school year" —" Storm's damage might boost support for more aggressive climate policy, experts hope" —Murphy announces $10M in disaster aid for small businesses impacted by Ida
| | BIDEN TIME | |
SAUDI ARABIA — Biden signs executive order calling for declassification review of 9/11 documents, by POLITICO's Myah Ward: President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday directing the Department of Justice and other government agencies to review documents related to the FBI's 9/11 investigations for potential declassification — fulfilling a campaign promise just days before the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Biden's order requires Attorney General Merrick Garland to release the declassified documents publicly over the next six months … The president's executive order came after nearly 1,800 Americans directly affected by the attacks issued a statement last week, opposing Biden's participation in any memorial events this year unless he upholds his pledge to declassify the documents, evidence they believe may show a connection between Saudi Arabian leaders and the events.
BECAUSE IN THE PREVIOUS VOTES IT WAS ANTIFA PRETENDING TO BE CHRIS SMITH — "Why N.J.'s Chris Smith opposed the new Voting Rights Act after previously supporting it," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "When the Voting Rights Act came up for renewal in 2006 before a Republican-controlled Congress, the entire U.S. Senate and all but 33 House Republicans voted yes. Republican President Gwhen a now Democratic-controlled Congress sought to restore the law, every House Republican voted no, including Smith, R-4th Dist. A spokeswoman for Smith said the bill, HR 4, was very different than the one the lawmaker voted for 15 years earlier. The new bill makes it easier to challenge some of the steps Republican-controlled legislatures have taken to restrict voting in response to former President Donald Trump's baseless charges of a stolen election, such as voter identification laws that studies show make it harder for minorities to vote.eorge W. Bush signed it into law. New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith was a yes vote …" 222 MASTROS — "As NJ's recovery lags, businesses press for a whopping $2 billion in aid," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran: "First thing to know is that the patient is indeed sick, sicker than most. New Jersey's unemployment rate is 7.3 percent, compared to the national average of 5.4 percent. We've recovered fewer than two of three jobs lost during the pandemic, putting us in the nation's basement, the Bottom Ten. And this week, roughly 500,000 households in New Jersey will lose unemployment benefits, shutting off a cash pipeline that has been pumping more than $1 billion a month into our economy … The Chamber of Commerce is pressing Murphy to provide $2 billion in direct aid to businesses, on top of the $750 million the state has provided so far … The $750 million provided so far makes New Jersey the third most generous state. But business leaders say it hasn't come close to meeting the need. 'For every company that got dollars, five did not' Bracken says. And the money came too late, says Michelle Siekerka, head of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, which represents mostly small firms. 'The money should have been disbursed early on, she says." HE PLACED 10TH IN IOWA AND 6TH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT HE'S CATNIP TO THE ACELA-RIDING PUNDIT CLASS — " Is Chris Christie running for president again? Of course he is," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco: "Of course Chris Christie is running for president. No, he didn't declare his candidacy or announce an exploratory committee. He isn't living part-time in New Hampshire like he did when he was still governor of New Jersey. He hasn't even told his old crew to be ready to hit the road again. But make no mistake about it, at this moment in the late summer of 2021, Chris Christie's eyes are fixed on another White House run — even as his name is barely a blip in the early horse race polls, the very mention of it angers his many detractors, and so much has to happen to his party's political landscape to plow a path for him … But Christie and those in his corner truly believe he can emerge again."
| | LOCAL | |
SUEZ CRISIS — "NJ DEP lifts boil water advisory for Jersey City and Hoboken after four days," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has lifted a boil water advisory for Jersey City and Hoboken after four days since quality testing found the water to be safe for drinking … Hoboken's official Twitter page revealed the news just minutes before Suez made the announcement, about 45 minutes after the Mile Square City said they would keep their three water stations open until 10 p.m."
—"New hotel proposed for New York Avenue in Atlantic City" —"Search continues for missing Passaic residents with divers expected to join this week" —"These North Jersey schools were damaged by Ida and remain closed" —"'Nobody's coming in:' Where will Monmouth, Ocean employers find the workers they need?" —"[Plainfield] violated firefighter's civil rights, he claims in lawsuit"
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
R.I.P. — "Actor Michael K. Williams, who led double life in N.J. during height of his fame, found dead," by The AP and NJ Advance Media's Matt Stanmyre: "Actor Michael K. Williams, who as the rogue robber of drug dealers Omar Little on 'The Wire' created one of the most popular characters in television in recent decades, died Monday. Williams was found dead Monday afternoon in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment, New York City police said. He was 54. His death was being investigated as a possible drug overdose, the NYPD said. During the height of his fame, Williams battled addiction and lived a double life some of Newark's most dangerous neighborhoods — doing drugs 'in scary places with scary people' … 'I was playing with fire,' Williams said at the time. 'It was just a matter of time before I got caught and my business ended up on the cover of a tabloid or I went to jail or, worse, I ended up dead. When I look back on it now, I don't know how I didn't end up in a body bag.' Williams got cleaned up after a friend dragged him to the Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, where he met Rev. Ronald Christian. Williams and Christian instantly connected."
'NON-PROFIT' — Horizon executives rake in millions in bonuses as revenues, enrollment swells, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Overall compensation for executives at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey climbed by roughly 20 percent in 2020, with outgoing Chair Kevin Conlin bringing in more than $5.1 million last year. Conlin, who began to transition out of the company last April, reported almost $660,000 more in compensation in 2020 compared with 2019, with the bulk of the difference coming in the form of his annual bonus, according to filings submitted to the state Department of Banking and Insurance. THE HAND YOU'VE BEEN DELTA'D — " Rutgers student says he's being stopped from taking virtual classes because he's not vaccinated," by NJ Advance Media's Karin Price Mueller: "Logan Hollar transferred to Rutgers University in 2020, spending his junior year taking virtual classes from his Sandyston home in Sussex County, more than 70 miles away from the New Brunswick campus. For this school year, as a senior, the psychology major decided to sign up for all virtual classes. He hasn't taken, and doesn't want, the COVID vaccine. 'I'm not in an at-risk age group. I'm healthy and I work out. I don't find COVID to be scary,' said Hollar, 22 … Last spring, Rutgers was the first university in the country to mandate vaccines for students at all of its campuses, but it didn't require them for students in fully remote online degree programs or online-only continuing education programs. Even though Hollar has all virtual classes, he's not part of the online programs that don't have a vaccine requirement." — "The last diving horse and first beauty queen: Atlantic City glances back as Miss America marks its 100th anniversary" —" We asked climate and weather experts what the hell is happening in N.J. Here's what they said"
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