Legend
Sonny Lea, an Atlantic City Legend, died after a car crash Monday. He was 83. Lynda Cohen has the story.
Sex Assault Investigation
The state legislature has formed a committee to investigate sexual assault allegations against a former high-level Phil Murphy staffer. It will look at government hiring practices in general as well.
Union Whistleblower
A former high-ranking official in the regional carpenters union, John Ballantyne, is alleging all kinds of high-ranking funnybusiness took place in his organization, up to and including “self-dealing and corruption,” per this Politico story. Ballantyne has filed a whistleblower lawsuit.
Astute newsreaders may recall Ballantyne was the executive secretary-treasurer of the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, which was abruptly dissolved in May, a move that was “widely interpreted” as way to bounce Ballantyne at the time, as Max Pizarro put it.
Ballantyne was, allegedly, reportedly, on the wrong side of George Norcross and Bill Mullen, of the Building Trades union. Ballantyne supported Tim Sullivan to head the EDA, while Mullen did not.
Not for nothing, but Mullen’s union also endorsed Tom MacArthur–the millionaire insurance exec who wants to take away my children’s healthcare–against Andy Kim in the 3rd congressional district race (that was within a few points in the last two polls).
If Andy Kim loses because of these sclerotic union turds, I’m going to sic the Jersey Devil on their whole corrupt machinery. I have his cell #.
Tree City
Also, read our fun coverage of the tree-planting ceremony yesterday in Uptown Park!
For more feats of journalism from across the region, see below:
OP-ED: NEW JERSEY’S OPIOID STRATEGY IS MISSING AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT–Throughout my career, I have closely studied prescription drug use and misuse, particularly relating to opioids. As director, medical science liaison, and medical affairs at the large New Jersey-based company, Quest Diagnostics, the nature of our current opioid epidemic is particularly disturbing, and it’s hitting much too close to home. www.njspotlight.com
Inside the ‘very awkward’ South Jersey congressional race between former friends Jeff Van Drew and Seth Grossman–WILDWOOD, N.J. — Jeff Van Drew has told the wedding story from the night before and wants it told again. It pretty much sums up the weird but true, dizzying and unexpectedly personal campaign in which this smooth South Jersey pol is reaching for the Second District Congressional ring against — of all people! — Seth Grossman, his longtime friend. www2.philly.com
Ventnor walk to benefit The Arc of Atlantic County programs–VENTNOR — The Arc of Atlantic County invites members of the community to join them for the 16th annual Step Up For The Arc Walk on Saturday, Oct. 20. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Endangered eatery reopened. People flocked. And yes, the burgers are good enough to eat at 6 a.m.–It is 5:40 a.m. on a Tuesday, and the sun has not made its trek across the Millville horizon. It's chilly out, and the breeze is blowing. www.nj.com
Longport residents advised to be ‘vigilant’ and call exterminator if they see rats–LONGPORT – After local residents killed 26 rats in a one-block radius near 30th Avenue, Mayor Nicholas Russo posted a letter on the borough’s website on Oct. 12 informing residents what they should do if they see rats in the neighborhood. www.downbeach.com