We’re back. Kind of. We’re having a discussion in the office about whether the Roundup should be daily or weekly. Want to throw in your two cents? Email us.
The EDA Files
George Norcross has lawyered up – or his company, Conner Strong & Buckelew has – to tell us all that the task force investigating recent EDA credits and grants (many of which went to Norcross-related companies) was “unlawfully constituted” the Inquirer reports. NJ Spotlight reports the lawyers also say the process is “tainted” and political retribution. Meanwhile, top Camden County Democrats said the chair of the taskforce should resign, the Courier Post writes.
Camden is getting a lot of attention, but remember that time the EDA cut a sweet deal for Curtis Bashaw to help him restructure his EDA loans, with no collateral and in return for just his word?
Let’s Talk Incentives
CRDA vice chair Richard Tolson says construction workers being misclassified as contractors is abuse. “The gross, widespread and often crippling injustices imposed on working men and women in the construction industry in our state measure up as significant abuse and perpetuate structural inequality,” he writes in an Op-Ed for the Spotlight. Tolson is well-placed to discuss inequality because he took home compensation of $179,020 as union president last year and his union charges $21 dues a month and $500 ($500!) in initiation fees, which added up to total dues and fee revenue of $4.3 million in 2018. We’d be lying if we said none of that money went on golf. See those details here.
Narcan
A report based on a 2017 survey of New Jersey pharmacies found those wealthier cities were more likely to stock naloxone (Narcan) than those in poorer cities such as Atlantic City. The researchers also found that pharmacies in smaller towns were more likely than pharmacies in densely populated cities to stock the opioid overdose antidote meds. Read more via The Inquirer.
For more South Jersey news headlines:
Whistleblower lawsuit alleges bid-rigging, misconduct and corruption at Camden Parking Authority–A former Camden Parking Authority employee has filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the agency and her former boss, alleging public corruption, bid-rigging and payroll fraud, and saying she faced retaliation for disclosing the wrongdoing. www.philly.com
NJ is home to 35 sites where two PFAS chemicasls top new state limits–Researchers have identified 35 New Jersey sites where drinking-water tests in recent years reveal contamination with two toxic PFAS chemicals exceed limits now being implemented by state officials. Environmental Working Group, a national advocate for stricter limits on the chemicals, compiled PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) testing data from local water systems, an academic survey, and military authorities throughout the country, and presented it in a national map that was first published in July 2018. www.njspotlight.com
Department of corrections pushes to curb sexual abuse at womens prison–New cameras, a revived board of trustees, and posters outlining how to report abuse are among the measures aimed at preventing sexual abuse at the all-women Edna Mahan state prison, amid civil lawsuits and a federal investigation. That’s what New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks told the Assembly Budget Committee. www.njspotlight.com
Head Start operator warns of layoff possibility while waiting on federal grants–Employees at 10 Head Start and Early Head Start program locations in Atlantic and Cape May counties are on notice of possible layoffs on June 30 if long-term federal funding is not renewed by then, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor. www.thedailyjournal.com
Flames engulf Atlantic City home–Flames and heavy smoke poured from a home in Atlantic City Monday night. The fire broke out around 10:40 p.m. on the 100 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue. 6abc.com
Atlantic City’s Ducktown Revitalization public hearing Tuesday–The Planning Board will consider adopting the Ducktown Neighborhood Revitalization Plan during a public hearing Tuesday afternoon. The purpose of the hearing is to receive and consider public comment on the Ducktown revitalization plan as an amendment to the city’s master plan. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Comic Con at the Showboat in Atlantic City postponed–A new comics and pop culture convention scheduled for June at the Showboat Atlantic City has been postponed. A message at the epiccomiccon.com website from the organizers of Epic Comic Con, who are Altered Realty Entertainment, LLC, says the convention, scheduled for June 21 to 23, has been postponed "due to concerns that have come to our attention that would impede on the high level of service and entertainment that our fans, guests, vendors and celebrities have come to expect from us." www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Hispanic residents upset over layoffs at Somers Point schools–Members of the Hispanic community told school board members they feel underrepresented in local schools after the layoff of three full-time teachers, including one Spanish teacher, was approved by the Board of Education last week. “This community is severely under-served and disenfranchised,” said Pedro Santana, treasurer for the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Atlantic City’s oldest public housing to be rehabbed or replaced–The historic public housing communities of Stanley Holmes Village and Buzby Village are about to undergo a massive overhaul, according to the Atlantic City Housing Authority. But it will take more than a decade to complete, and no one will lose a public housing unit or income-based rent, stressed authority Executive Director Tom Hannon. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Lawyers name more accused New Jersey predator priests–Attorneys for a man seeking to force New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic dioceses to release their clergy abuse records have issued their own list of more than 300 priests accused of child sexual abuse. The list includes some South Jersey clergy members whose names were previously undisclosed. www.pressofatlanticcity.com