Transport
Everyone reports on the NJ Transit audit, which Governor Murphy released yesterday at a train station in Metuchen. The system’s a mess, but “fixable” Murphy said, while pledging not to let the report collect dust. It’s like he read our minds.
Elsewhere in Transport, the state (and city) did a study a while back on pedestrians and bikes in Atlantic City, and Elinor wrote about it on twitter. Did you know they wanted to put a back path on the beach? (Here’s the report). I don’t know how you feel about the dunes, but the Boardwalk should be on the ocean side of them, like Joe Boardwalk intended when he signed the Magna Carta, creating the first Boardwalk in 1072. Also, it needs to be fifty yards wider.
Norcross
My favorite thing about the George Norcross story in Politico is that Rachel Honig, from the U.S. Attorney’s office, who wrote the letter clearing Norcross (“an extraordinary step”) worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney under Christie (a Norcorss ally) and then worked for Celgene (Bob Hugin’s pharma firm). And her husband also worked for Christie. They all know each other. It’s like the Livingston company softball team took over New Jersey government. I guess that’s what happens when you systematically disenfranchise half the population and the rest of the state moves to New York to trade muni bonds.
Point is they were tapping Norcross’s phones and now they’re not.
In other news, there are plans afoot to better-protect the state’s coastline from sea-level rise and severe storms, and NJ’s fiscal health is pretty bad. For even more news, see below:
Man On Trial In 2016 Fentanyl-Related Death–An Atlantic County man is on trial for the drug-related death of a 27-year old man in 2016. Daniel Parrish, 42, faces nine charges, including strict-liability homicide for allegedly selling the drugs that killed Joey Robinson. breakingac.com
Murphy Prepares To Help Workers Whose Jobs Could Fall To Robots, Technology–More than half of New Jersey’s most common occupations could be automated in less than 20 years, making the job of salesperson, cashier and clerk virtually obsolete and posing a challenge to the state’s economy and workforce. Gov. Phil Murphy is taking a proactive approach to the coming upheaval, creating a task force to study what jobs might wind up being replaced by robots or technology, what the state can do to ensure the loss of these jobs does not lead to widespread unemployment and that New Jersey has enough people trained to take the jobs that will need to be filled in the future. www.njspotlight.com
State To Spend Volkswagen Money On Reducing Emissions–The state plans to use $72 million from a settlement with Volkswagen to reduce smog-forming pollution from vehicles by electrifying parts of the transportation sector. In a draft plan prepared by the state Department of Environmental Protection, funds would be targeted to curbing diesel emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and non-road equipment, particularly in environmental justice communities. www.njspotlight.com
Charter Schools: Where Does Murphy Administration Really Stand?–A perennial subject of education policy in New Jersey, charter schools are about to get yet another review from state policymakers, maybe this time with a twist. State Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet is embarking on a review of the state’s burgeoning charter school movement, with an eye on addressing both performance and budget issues in the schools and their host districts. www.njspotlight.com
Lack Of Planning Has Left Parts Of NJ Without Grocery Stores Nearby–New Jersey has 25 percent fewer supermarkets per capita than the national average, according to the Harvard University Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation. Unfortunately, the Garden State does not live up to is name for many, with 340,000 New Jersey residents living in food deserts. www.nj.com
AC Marathon celebrates 60 years of running, Oct. 20-21–ATLANTIC CITY – Thousands of runners will take to the Boardwalk and streets of Atlantic City Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20-21 for the AmeriHealth New Jersey Atlantic City Marathon and Half Marathon – the biggest running weekend in the South Jersey area presented by AtlantiCare and the G. Larry James Legacy 5K and 10K. www.downbeach.com
NJ Politics Digest: Is State Running a ‘Stealth Moratorium’ on Charter Schools?–He says charter schools represent “an exciting opportunity” to design “innovative ways of helping children reach high levels of academic achievement.” But State Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet also said “no” to every charter school bid in the latest cycle, according to a story on NJSpotlight. observer.com
Veterans advocate Lou Green retires from monthly Hamilton Mall sessions–HAMILTON TOWNSHIP — Lou Green has been stationed at the Hamilton Mall monthly for 18 years to inform veterans of the benefits available to them as well as other valuable information. On Oct. 3, the veteran advocate set up his tables, filled with fliers, registration forms and other paperwork, for the final time. www.pressofatlanticcity.com