OPINION: Which Party is Really Stronger on Crime? New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently received criticism from the extreme left of his state party who have blamed him for federal and state losses for highlighting crime too much. They believe that Republicans used the issue, especially cash bail reform, to their advantage. Newsflash: they did. The GOP was unrelenting on that message. But the bigger issue was that even with data and legislative victories, the Democrats do not know how to talk about crime in a way that blunts what could be a Republican strength into a weakness. Crime will always be an election campaign issue—it is in the DNA for Republicans as much as smaller government and lower taxes are. The extremists on the left need to understand that Adams is more in line with not just leadership in the Democratic party but a majority of Americans when it comes to the issue of crime in America. Leadership for Democrats on this issue must be made forcibly by the centrists of the party; if not, they will always be on the losing side of the issue. North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey State Police said they dismantled a $3 million auto theft ring spanning throughout New Jersey and New York last week that had broke into their victims’ homes to steal more than 30 vehicles worth millions of dollars. Authorities arrested Carlos Sanchez, 23, of Newark, at a motel in Avenel, followed by his co-conspirators. Sanchez is charged with being a leader of an auto theft trafficking network, conspiracy to commit theft, and theft by unlawful taking. According to state police, the ring has been held responsible for vehicle thefts in Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Union, Essex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Burlington, Bergen, and Middlesex counties, and New York State. NJ1015.com
Three more New Jersey men, all from South Jersey, have been arrested for allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The FBI arrested David Krauss of Sewell, along with Nicholas Krauss of Pitman and Russell Dodge Jr. of Pedricktown for engaging in the Capitol attack, which injured more than 100 and killed five. NJ.com
Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R-24) announced Nov. 18 that he will not be a candidate for re-election to his Assembly seat in 2023. “After much thoughtful reflection, I have decided that I am at a point in my life where I’m ready to slow it down some,” said Wirths in his statement Nov. 18. “My wife’s health issues have been public for a while now and more recently I had a health scare of my own. When confronted with a profound situation you start to take stock of your life and I’ve come to the conclusion that there are other things I wish to do after my term is complete.” The 57-year-old is the second member of the 24th delegation to announce that he will not seek his re-election next year. Assembly Parker Space in March said that he would not run again, citing business and family issues. North-JerseyNews.com
A roster of potential candidates effectively opened the race for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination over the weekend at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas, testing campaign themes and seeking to distinguish themselves from former President Donald Trump. Serving as the first major platform for others seeking to capitalize on a growing appetite for someone else to lead their party’s tickets, speakers included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The Wall Street Journal
Investigators were continuing to search for the possible motive of a gunman who the authorities said killed at least five people at an L.G.B.T.Q. nightclub in Colorado Springs on Nov. 19 night before being subdued by patrons. At least 25 people were injured in the mayhem, and several remained in serious condition. The city’s police chief, Adrian Vasquez, said that investigators were working to determine who owned the long rifle used in the shooting, as well as the handgun carried by the gunman. A person of the same name and age that is the suspected shooter was arrested by sheriff’s deputies last year after a bomb threat outside Colorado Springs. The New York Times
Operation of New Jersey’s state-run veterans homes should be removed from the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and made part of a new state department of veterans services, said State Sen. Joe Vitale (D-19), chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “We made a promise we would care for [the veterans] at the highest level after they served our country,” said Vitale. “We’re not. We’re failing them. Changing personnel here or there won’t make the difference.” A group of Democratic lawmakers plans to meet Nov. 21 to discuss an overhaul of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and develop a proposal to present to Gov. Phil Murphy. The Record
The deadline to file for the new ANCHOR tax relief program has been extended, and even more people are now eligible. Lawmakers announced Nov. 18 that the application deadline would be extended from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31, 2023 so taxpayers have an extra month to apply and renters who were previously ineligible due to local Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, programs are now eligible to apply as well. Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said in a statement that they will “embark on an aggressive advertising and marketing campaign” to make sure people are aware of the program. New Jersey Herald
A group of New Jersey parents is continuing the fight to bring back virtual options for students who have health problems or other issues that make it difficult to learn in person. New Jersey Parents for Virtual Choice, a grassroots group started during the pandemic, is not asking local schools to return to the days of teachers trying to simultaneously teach kids in the classroom and students online. Instead, the group wants a permanent, free virtual public school program or online charter schools similar to those offered in other states. The group says parents should be able to opt into a virtual school for any reason, including their kids’ health problems, emotional issues, bullying at school or other family circumstances. NJ.com
A new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll found most North Jersey voters oppose the system where primary candidates receive preferential ballot treatment. At least 65% of New Jerseyans (61% of Democrats and 68% of Republicans) believe county-level parties should stay out of the balloting process. Endorsed candidates in New Jersey are placed on the ballot on the “county line” or “party line,” presented in a prime location, generally in one of the first columns or rows. Of New Jersey’s 21 counties, Salem and Sussex counties are the only ones that do not structure primary ballots around candidates backed by the local Democratic or Republican parties. North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey legislative leaders confirmed plans to enshrine the right to an abortion in the State Constitution have been called off at the request of key backers, including Planned Parenthood of New Jersey. Democratic lawmakers had been divided over the measure as some thought a November 2023 ballot referendum would increase voter turnout to increase their chances of holding majorities in both houses of the state legislature next year. But there were enough Democrats uncomfortable with framing the next election around the abortion that leadership was not completely certain the votes were there this year. Additionally, Planned Parenthood and others decided they didn’t want to divert financial resources behind a ballot initiative in a state where Roe v. Wade was already codified into law while they are facing tougher fights in other states. New Jersey Globe
Lawmakers are demanding further investigation at the U.S. Supreme Court and renewing their calls for binding ethics rules for the justices, after allegations that a landmark 2014 contraception decision was prematurely disclosed through a secretive influence campaign by anti-abortion activists. Rev. Robert L. Schenck, an evangelical minister and former anti-abortion leader, said he received advance word of the outcome and the author of the decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, a major case about contraception and the religious rights of corporations. That decision—like the one leaked this Spring, overturning the right to abortion—was written by Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Schenck said he learned the Hobby Lobby details from a donor who had dined with Justice Alito and his wife. Both the justice and the donor denied sharing the information. The New York Times
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) board Nov. 18 approved the project development agreement as agency officials sent the document to the federal government as the agency seeks the green light to start the engineering phase of the $16.1 billion Hudson River tunnels project. Kris Kolluri, CEO of the GDC identified two ways the commission will attempt to do lower costs: using a concept known as “ongoing value engineering,” which is when the engineering team works with the contractor to identify materials and methods of construction to reduce costs and applying for additional, smaller federal grants in addition to the main $6.5 billion Capital Investment Grant officials are hoping to finalize in Spring 2024. The Daily Record
Amid growing concerns about a potential recession, the latest economic reports for New Jersey show continued low unemployment and robust state revenue collections. A long streak of consecutive months with private-sector job growth continued in October, and New Jersey’s unemployment rate remained well below where it was a year ago, according to the latest jobs report released by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. On the revenue side, total state tax collections were up by more than 7% in October compared to the same month last year. NJ Spotlight News
The price of gasoline is continuing to fall in New Jersey as motorists approach Thanksgiving. New Jersey’s statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.80 as of Nov. 21, according to AAA. That is a decline of 11-cents per gallon in the last week. Prices have been steadily falling for the last two-weeks, but some analysts warn we could be in for a reversal due to high demand. NJ1015.com
According to new projections from AAA this year will be the third-busiest Thanksgiving travel season since 2000, with the expectation that the United States will return to 98% of pre-pandemic levels. Approximately 49 million are expected to hit the road, while another 4.5 million take to the skies. Another 1.4 million plan to use buses, trains and ships. News12 New Jersey
Walt Disney Co.’s board of directors on Nov. 20 replaced Chief Executive Bob Chapek with Robert Iger, the company’s former chairman and CEO who left the company at the end of last year. “The board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period,” said Susan Arnold, chairman of Disney’s board, in a statement. “We thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.” The Wall Street Journal
Hoboken is proposing a 21st century makeover for an area in the southeast corner of the city that includes its police headquarters and three municipal garages. The council voted 8-1 last week to designate a section of Hudson Street that includes the police building and its parking lot, between First and Second streets, and nearby Garages B, D and G as an area in need of redevelopment. The Jersey Journal
New Jersey recently put up a $1.1 million down payment on the 2026 World Cup toward the cost of preparing MetLife Stadium for its role in the global sporting event. The money is earmarked for a planned $14.2 million makeover of the field for soccer play that organizers hope will ultimately be paid for by sponsors. NJ.com
And finally…Bergen County native Gregg Berhalter leads the U.S. men’s soccer team at the World Cup in Qatar. The Record
