The incisive Amy Rosenberg reports on Sheila Oliver, who could be the most powerful official in Atlantic City after being named head of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs by the next governor. Oliver was elected lt. governor November 7.
Read Amy R.’s story to discover Ms. Oliver’s views on water-privatization, the state takeover and the millions of dollars being paid to Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi. Also, what’s Don Guardian think of Sheila O.? Frank Gilliam seemed less keen to discuss.
New Jersey’s schools are “among the most segregated in the nation,” NJ Spotlight reports. Nearly 10% of the state’s students attend “apartheid schools.”
In related news, The Philly Inquirer interviews “Civilian 1” who’s at the center of a civil-rights case against the former chief of the Bordentown Township police.
In more related news, nobody wants to run for school board in New Jersey apparently, and you could have got elected just by emailing a few of your friends.
Governor-elect Phil Murphy is at a press conference with Donald Norcross and Steve Sweeney today, Politico reports.
In the rest of the headlines from the weekend and this morning, the Pine Barrens Tribune has more (and rather more important) details on the ongoing mess at Pinelands Regional High School, and the NJSpotlight takes a look at whether the arbitration cap for cops and firefighters will be extended in the lame duck session. All that and more below:
Pinelands Protection also about Culture, History–The 1.1 million-acre Pinelands National Reserve may be the largest body of open space between Boston and Richmond, but it has a long history of human habitation. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Will Arbitration Cap For Cops, Firefighters Be Extended In Lame Duck?–For the past six years, salary raises for local police officers and firefighters have, in some instances, been kept to 2 percent, for the most part, due to a state law that is set to expire December 31. With New Jersey’s high property-tax bills once again front of mind, municipal officials hope that should be enough incentive to extend the cap during the last lame-duck legislative session of Gov Chris Christie’s tenure. www.njspotlight.com
The List: Where Did The Library-Bond Issue Garner The Least Support?–New Jersey voters typically are generous when asked to spend public money on statewide projects that benefit the masses, whether it’s to preserve open space, build higher-education facilities, or repair dams. This year proved no exception, with voters easily approving a public question to spend $125 million to modernize and expand public libraries throughout the state. www.njspotlight.com
Acting Bordentown Twp. Police Chief Reaches Out To NAACP Leaders–Bordentown Township’s new top law enforcement officer told a civil rights group Thursday night that the police department has made a “360-degree” turn and enacted sweeping changes following the arrest of the former police chief of the Burlington County community on hate crime and civil rights violation charges. Acting Chief Brian Pesce met for more than an hour with the Southern Burlington County NAACP chapter and community leaders at Bethel A.M.E, Church in Moorestown. www.philly.com