| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Thursday morning! Here’s something interesting and, to me as a reporter, a bit terrifying. A new website launched by Allendale School Board member Mat Hernandez is covering hyper-local news with artificial intelligence. It’s called LocalLens. According to the website, everything on it is written by AI. “We don't claim or aim to replace the irreplaceable — comprehensive, in-depth journalism — and instead hope to inform communities of what's happening at a high level and serve as a springboard for journalists to identify stories that warrant more in-depth reporting,” Hernandez recently emailed me. So I took a look at the website and noticed one article that I think the local press would’ve been all over, had they noticed it. The valedictorian of Pascack Valley High School, Kareena Shah, in her speech over a month ago recounted the racism she faced as an Indian-American throughout the school system. A month later, according to our computer overlord, the talk at a local Board of Education meeting wasn’t to get to the bottom of the allegations, but about whether they can and should restrict what students can say in their graduation speeches because the speech upset members of the community. That’s a pretty compelling story — one I couldn’t find anywhere else. And just like a timid human reporter, the computer calls out “the focus on censoring voices rather than acknowledging and addressing the issues” but then chickens out by saying it just “raises questions.” While I’m sure most reporters could’ve written it better, I wouldn’t have known it was AI. So is this a career threat to me? Nothing’s stopping AI from making dumb puns, which is the way I make my living. But I just don’t think it would have the same charm. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We are becoming a psychiatric institution at this point.” — Kim Ansh, the vice president of the Ramapo Indian Hills who ran as a “parental rights” platform, on opposing spending $440,000 for mental health counseling and treatment. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Marc Pfeiffer, Peggy Ackermann, Chris Brown, Julia Fahl, WHERE’S MURPHY? — On his way back to New Jersey. He’s expected to arrive this afternoon. In the evening, he’ll make a “private visit” to pay respects to the late lieutenant governor, as well as meet with her family.
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OLIVER’S LEGACY — New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver's legacy: A progressive champion and 'ideal public servant', by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Daniel Han: During her four years as speaker, from 2010 to 2014, she was perhaps the most powerful progressive in state government while Republican Gov. Chris Christie was governor and centrist Democrat Steve Sweeney was Senate president. As New Jersey's third most powerful elected official, Oliver helped steer the direction of the state — crafting budgets, determining what legislation did or did not get voted on and shaping committee assignments in her chamber. At times, Oliver was the only woman in the room, said former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. “She had to deal with what was sometimes a tough environment in New Jersey to be progressive and move issues forward when she was in that backroom,” Weinberg said. “She functioned in a difficult world and she did it with grace.” While Oliver found common ground with the Christie-led front office — helping usher through landmark reforms on public worker pension and health benefits — she also pushed for causes that hit roadblocks with the Republican governor, such as a marriage equality law, increasing the minimum wage and restoring funding for Planned Parenthood. Those causes, however, would later come to fruition in the Murphy administration.
—“N.J. flags to fly at half-staff to honor the life of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver” TAYLOR SHAM — Lawmakers still haven't detailed more than $1 billion in extra budget spending, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: More than a month after rushing a record-high budget for Gov. Phil Murphy's signature, state Democratic lawmakers have yet to detail an extra $1 billion in taxpayer money they tacked on at the last minute. It's becoming an annual summer exercise for lawmakers in Trenton: Add so-called pet projects to the governor's budget just before the deadline, then leave town without explanation for weeks. Republicans say it is an affront to the taxpayers whose money supports the budget and a violation of the Legislature's own rules created in the wake of bribery scandals to enhance public confidence. Those rules say lawmakers must disclose their requests for additional funding and any conflict of interest. GAS PANIC — Natural gas' future is up in the air, but New Jersey isn't banning gas stoves, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: With all 120 New Jersey legislators on the ballot this fall, a plan by Gov. Phil Murphy to ban gas stoves would be a heck of an issue for Republicans to use against his fellow Democrats. And one of Republicans' loudest voices trying to reclaim seats has advocated making it one. The governor does want hundreds of thousands of homes to dump gas by the end of the decade and to explore the future of the natural gas industry, but there is no gas stove ban in New Jersey or any mandate that anyone buy an electric appliance instead of a gas one. That didn’t stop howling from Republicans and a few South Jersey Democrats about a move by the state’s utility regulators last week to encourage building “decarbonization,” which generally means retrofitting homes and businesses to switch from natural gas to electric heat. Republicans nationally have made similar claims that President Joe Biden is taking away gas stoves. The Senate Minority Leader, Anthony Bucco, said Murphy's electrification plans show he's willing to move forward "no matter how unpopular they are, regardless of the cost, and without legislative oversight," and his office said the plans "will lead to bans" of stoves and other gas appliances. LOSING ON A PRAYER — “N.J. adopts new rules for equity as critics protest in prayer,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “The state Board of Education on Wednesday narrowly approved revisions to its policy on Managing for Equality and Equity in Education, which had sparked a letter-writing campaign among parents-rights groups and 16 Republican state legislators. The meeting was unusual for the presence of state police officers for security and the prayer circle of about 20 citizens who gathered while the board met in executive session. The board updates each chapter of the administrative code periodically, and the equity rules were set to expire at the end of this month. At issue was the replacement in the state’s administrative code of the word 'equality' with 'equity.' Another concern was who attends separate sex education classes. Under the revisions, school districts may choose to separate sex ed classes, but if they do, it must be according to students’ gender identity, not biological sex.” DEFAME! THIS LAWSUIT WILL LIVE FOREVER — Former New Jersey health official's defamation claim against Murphy dismissed, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: An Appellate panel on Wednesday dismissed former Assistant Health Commissioner Chris Neuwirth’s defamation claim against Gov. Phil Murphy — part of a lengthy lawsuit that's wended through the courts for more than three years. Neuwirth, who filed a whistleblower lawsuit in 2020, claims he was fired for refusing to conduct Covid tests for family members of the governor’s top aide. Neuwirth later added a defamation count against Murphy for public comments in which he insinuated Neuwirth was fired for moonlighting in another job during the height of the pandemic. But the appellate panel made up of Judges Katie Gummer, Carmen Messano and Lisa Rose write that Neuwirth did not meet the “actual malice” standard against Murphy — meaning they had to prove he made the comment about Neuwirth either knowing they were false or with “reckless disregard for the truth.” … The heart of Neuwirth’s lawsuit, which alleges whistleblower retaliation, will continue at the Superior Court level and does not appear to be nearing a trial or settlement, with discovery ongoing. —“Six write-in legislative candidates succeeded in June’s primary election” —“NJ’s new 988 hotline has been so successful so far” —“Battleship New Jersey is headed to the dry dock. Here’s when it will reopen as a museum” —“New Jersey proposed changes to its new nursing home staffing regulations”
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— “Micco drops out of race against Pascrell”
| | LOCAL | |
FOR PETE’S SAKE — “3 Wildwood officials re-indicted on benefits fraud charges; Byron gets probation in separate case,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “Wildwood’s mayor, a former mayor and a city commissioner have been indicted for their allegedly fraudulent participation in the State Health Benefits Program, reinstating charges that had been dismissed without prejudice last month, the state Attorney General's Office said Wednesday. A state grand jury in Trenton returned a 12-count indictment Monday against Mayor Pete Byron, former Mayor Ernest Troiano Jr. and current City Commissioner Steve Mikulski, reinstating charges of official misconduct, theft by unlawful taking, tampering with public records and falsifying or tampering with records. Also on Wednesday Byron was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty to federal tax charges. As part of the sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Karen M. Williams, Byron will pay $7,000 in restitution and $14,000 in fines. … The grand jury’s decision recharges the criminal case after New Jersey Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury Jr., presiding in Cape May County, granted Troiano’s motion to dismiss the indictment June 23, dismissing the case against all three defendants without prejudice.”
THE BOLSHEVIK DEVOLUTION — “Rancor and dissent eclipse 'musical chairs' in Montclair's top office,” by The Record’s Nicholas Katzban: “As an imbroglio over the appointment of a new township manager entered its second month, yet another council meeting was marred by rancor and dissent, with absent officials, accusations lobbied across the dais and two members storming out before a vote could be taken on yet another short-term appointment to the township's highest unelected position. As Tuesday night's special council meeting began, Municipal Clerk Angelese Bermúdez Nieves distributed a copy of a resolution to appoint Michael LaPolla, a former executive at the NJ Turnpike Authority, to the role of Township Manager effective Aug. 14 through the end of the year. The measure passed with just four votes from all remaining council members after councilmen Bob Russo and David Cummings stormed out of the meeting, having voiced frustrations ― not with the appointee ― but the process, which both officials alleged had been tainted by smokeroom deals and resolutions introduced at the eleventh hour.” CANDIDATES PETITION COUNTY TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO ‘SUSABSTINENCE’ — “Sussex County to see 12 contested school board races, 92 total candidates in November,” New Jersey Herald’s Kyle Morel: “An unofficial list of candidates released Monday by the county clerk's office includes 12 contested races in 22 districts, more than double the total from last year, when just five districts saw battles for seats in the general election. In all, 92 candidates are running for 71 open seats, an increase from the 85 who campaigned last year for 79 spots. It's the third straight election cycle in New Jersey to see heightened competition for school boards and comes amid a backlash from the right over the teaching of sex, gender, race and history in U.S. schools. School board elections in New Jersey are technically nonpartisan, but many candidates branded themselves as ‘conservative’ in Monday's filings.” PATERSON DEALING COLLECTIVE — “Paterson Healing Collective advocate listed as a fugitive in a federal gang case,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Paterson Healing Collective member Terrance Drakeford is now listed as one of the 10 most wanted fugitives in the city after being accused of being part of a drug-dealing street gang. Drakeford was one of 26 alleged UpTop gang members charged with crimes at the end of June, said press releases issued by the United States attorney and the Passaic County prosecutor. Most of those suspects were arrested then. But Drakeford was one of those who had not yet been apprehended. … Drakeford was part of a contingent of Healing Collective members who went to California to receive an award for their work just days before the charges against him came to light.” FIREMAN IS LITERALLY PLAYING 3D CHESS — “Billionaire-backed group that spent thousands on lobbying offers to donate chess tables to Liberty State Park,” by The Jersey Journal’s Mark Koosau: “A billionaire-backed nonprofit group that has spent tens of thousands of dollars on lobbying for a massive overhaul of Liberty State Park now wants to foot the bill for a far-less gaudy donation to the park — concrete chess tables. … PPF officials did not comment on how many tables they would donate or how much the donation would be worth. A typical table costs between $1,745 to $1,943, according to multiple online shopping sites, with additional costs added for stools. The offer marks the first time that PPF — which has focused on lobbying for large-scale facilities like a 5,000-seat multi-use stadium, a track and field complex and a 250,000-square-foot community center with ice hockey, an Olympic-size swimming and diving pool, fitness center and community spaces — has offered to directly donate to the park. It also comes after a Jersey Journal report revealed that the group was wholly funded $1.1 million by Fireman in 2021 and spent most of its money on a $100,000 salary for Hurley, a Hall of Fame basketball coach, and thousands more on lobbying and public relations firms.” BERGEN COUNTY PETITIONS FOR STATE LEMON-AID — “Lemons spilled all over Route 17 as crash close lanes for 'extended time'” by The Record’s Joshua Jongsma, Tariq Zehawi and Emma Ferschweiler: “The Wednesday commute got off to a sour note on Route 17 as a tractor-trailer crash caused lemons to spill all over the highway. A citrusy smell remained in the air as the tractor crashed on the northbound side leaving all lanes closed and Mahwah EMS warning the highway would remain shut for an ‘extended time.’ Dozens if not hundreds of lemons rolled along the road as the damaged trailer could be seen along the divider.” —“After a 40% boost in aid from NJ, will Paterson property taxes rise?” — “Bergen County police captain claims his department ignored multiple safety issues?” —“Camden County police adding some 'zoom' to its surveillance resources” —“Hillsborough's 'rammed-through' warehouse ordinance challenged in court” —“Atlantic County commissioner candidate involved in fatal crash in June” —“'Rock star' Edward Aldarelli unanimously appointed Edison's new school superintendent” R.I.P. — “Boonton mourns former council member, a 'selfless' champion for preservation, LGBTQ rights” R.I.P. — “Baby M legal scholar and Monmouth's first female judge dies at 92” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THEY’LL JUST HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS — “Extreme weather and low staffing: NJ firefighters face series of new challenges,” by The Record’s Liam Quinn: “When two firefighters died in a fire that ripped through a massive cargo ship docked at Port Newark in July, it served as a sobering reminder of the extreme difficulties that departments across New Jersey face. In addition to sparking investigations and questions into what happened during the Port Newark fire, the deaths of Augusto "Augie" Acabou and Wayne "Bear" Brooks Jr. underscored the strain on many departments that suffer from smaller and smaller staffs, exacerbated by a brutal stretch of hot weather. ... The number of firefighters in the United States has been decreasing in previous years, and the same seems to be true in New Jersey. Anthony Tarantino, a Newark fire captain who has been with the department for more than 34 years, said at the July 11 press conference that the ideal number for every firehouse is one captain and five or six firefighters, citing National Fire Protection Association standards. He said that number is currently one or two firefighters for most of the Newark Fire Department. The same is true in other New Jersey departments.’”
—“A year after Revolutionary War soldiers from 1777 were found in a N.J. field, questions remain”
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