President Joe Biden on the Front Lawn of the White House signed into law the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that he and North Jersey lawmakers hailed as a game changer to moving New Jersey and the nation in the 21st century and beyond. “It’s hard to overstate how large of a win this legislation is for families across NJ-11. For years, I’ve listened to the stories of hellish commutes that disrupt daily life and lived those disruptions myself,” said Rep. Mikie Sherrill on Nov. 15. “(From) the Gateway Tunnel Project and the Lackawanna Cutoff, ensuring our drinking water is safe from PFAS and lead pipes, creating good-paying union jobs that will fuel our economy, and investing in our children’s future and our global competitive edge—this legislation will benefit families in innumerable ways for decades to come.” North-JerseyNews.com
Federal financing to build the $11.6 billion Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River could be in place by the end of 2022, with construction possibly starting 2023. “We are looking to enter into engineering next year and hope to get a (federal) full funding grant by December and a Summer of 2023 start,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, Gateway Development Corporation co-chairwoman. The cost stands at $9.8 billion for new tunnel construction, and $1.8 billion to rehabilitate the old tunnels. Construction of new tunnels and rehabilitation of the existing tunnels is estimated to be completed in 2035. NJ.com
The White House is prepared to invest billions of dollars to expand U.S. manufacturing capacity for vaccines, with the goal of producing at least one billion doses a year beginning in the second half of 2022. The investment is the first step in a new plan for the government to partner with industry to address immediate vaccine needs overseas and domestically and to prepare for future pandemics. The New York Times
The federal deadline for those who work in these healthcare facilities and have held out until now is Dec. 6 to get the first dose of a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. An estimated 8,900 long-term care workers in New Jersey remain unvaccinated, as do an unknown number of employees of home health agencies, dialysis centers and residential health care facilities. Some 2,300 staff members at Atlantic Health System and a few hundred at other hospitals that have allowed frequent COVID testing as a vaccination alternative also will be affected. The Daily Record
New Jersey reported another 1,305 COVID-19 cases and 24 confirmed deaths on Nov. 16 as the statewide rate of transmission continues to increase above the key benchmark that indicates the outbreak is once again expanding. The Garden State’s seven-day average for confirmed positive tests increased to 1,418, up about 31% from a week ago and 9% from a month ago. The state’s transmission rate increased to 1.08 after being 1.04 the day before. NJ.com
Gov. Phil Murphy announced a series of climate actions Nov. 10 to secure New Jersey’s clean energy future, speeding up his previously announced timeline. Murphy established a greenhouse gas reduction target of 50% below 2006 levels by 2030, with an additional target of 80% by 2050. New Jersey had established a goal of transitioning 75% of medium-duty vehicles within the state and 50% of heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission power by 2050. “We must meet the devastating impacts of global warming and climate change, with bold intentional action,” said Murphy speaking at the Mount Olive Solar Field in Morris County. “While we can’t turn back the clock, we also can’t keep hitting snooze. Now is the time for bold action.” North-JerseyNews.com
U.S. Senators battled over rising gasoline prices and urged action on the high cost of energy—including by increasing production of coal, oil and gas. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) questioned if mandates to limit production of fossil fuels would lead to carbon reductions, instead favoring advances in technology like carbon sequestration, the process of capturing and storing carbon. Republicans on the committee sought to blame the Biden administration for inflation that has included rising gasoline prices. Stephen Nalley, the acting administrator for the U.S. Energy Information Administration, said the price increases were a result of an economic recovery after a pandemic-caused downturn as demand for energy rebounded before production. New Jersey Monitor
President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of China have agreed to explore talks on arms control, a day after the two used a virtual meeting to emphasize the need to avoid conflict on regional security and economic matters. The two leaders met for three hours, holding firm to their positions on a range of issues, including Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal
Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett, who had trailed by 11 votes since last week, has now won re-election to a fourth term after provisional ballots were counted on Nov. 16. Republicans have flipped one seat on the Passaic County Commission but Democrats held the other two seats as well as the office of Passaic County Surrogate. After trailing on election night, Democratic incumbents Sandi Lazzara and Bartlett now lead the six-candidate field for county commissioner with 52,552 and 51,515 votes, or 17.1% and 16.8%, respectively. Republican Nick Gallo, a Totowa landscaper, is in third with 51,155 and 16.7% of the vote. New Jersey Globe
Jack Ciattarelli probably won’t be the only Republican who ran for governor in 2021 to reprise the role in 2025. Phil Rizzo, who finished second in the June primary with 26% of the vote to Ciattarelli’s 49%, said on Twitter within hours of Ciattarelli’s concession to expect “a spirited 2025 primary.” The candidate who finished third in the primary, Hirsh Singh, didn’t say he’ll run again but said Murphy’s win over Ciattarelli shows that more moderate Republicans need to give way to more conservative candidates. NJ1015.com
New Jersey CPAs cited reducing property taxes and auditing state agencies for overspending and waste as the highest priorities for Gov. Phil Murphy’s new term and what action plans are needed. According to the survey, many respondents said that, because New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation, residents—especially retirees and young professionals—are leaving to live in more tax-friendly states. Lower taxes would encourage those finishing college to return and establish roots by being able to purchase a home. Survey respondents called for decoupling school taxes from property taxes, consolidation of services among towns as well as changing the school funding formula. ROI-NJ
New Jersey State lawmakers are moving through the Senate a bill aimed at making state revenue forecasts more reliable and accurate. The legislation would establish a five-member, joint legislative and executive branch New Jersey Revenue Advisory Board to provide consensus revenue forecasting. “Accurate revenue forecasts are vital to the budget process,” said Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho (R-24). “Policymakers depend on the forecasts, and more dependable projections will help minimize unanticipated budgetary problems. With the creation of the Revenue Advisory Board, New Jersey’s finances will be more predictable and manageable.” North-JerseyNews.com
The state is going to provide colleges $400 million in grants to upgrade and build facilities next year, announced Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 16. Public and private colleges will be able to apply for funding for projects between January and March of 2022, with details to be finalized later. The state expects to make funding awards in late 2022, pending legislative approval. The money will come from four bond programs, which last awarded funds six years ago. NJ Spotlight News
Employees of the Refresco bottling factory and community groups rallied outside the facility to demand better working conditions and recognition of their union. Factory workers at the Wharton plant recently filed a series of federal complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to report health and safety violations at the plant. After the workers voted to form a union, the company filed a legal appeal against the move. New Jersey Herald
The Hoboken City Council introduced an ordinance that would increase the salaries for elected officials and salary ranges of the top directors and a few positions in the city government. The mayor’s increase would go into effect following the election of a new mayor, while the City Council raises would not go into effect until 2022. Despite the increases for top officials, no other positions in the city government, including various lower paid officials and municipal workers, would get any salary increases. Hudson Reporter
Paterson has spent nearly $10 million on overtime in 2021, surpassing by more than $3 million the total for any other year during the past decade. Struggling with relentless street crime and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Department has spent $4.8 million in overtime, the Fire Department $3.0 million, the Public Works Department $1.3 million and health and human services $464,000 as officials acknowledged that this year’s overtime bill likely will be the highest in Paterson’s history. The Record
And finally….Ramapo High School Football Coach Drew Gibbs’ sudden death drew eulogies from Gov. Phil Murphy, Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano, colleagues and competitors. The Record
