By Terrence T. McDonald | Editor
Good morning!
Anti-data center activists have been urging Gov. Mikie Sherrill to completely halt all data center construction.
Yesterday, she responded with a plan to limit their construction, an idea that won her some plaudits but angered the anti-data center crowd who are seeking a full moratorium.
“AI is driving an explosion in the construction of even bigger centers nationwide. There are real concerns about their impact on our energy bills, our water supply, our quality of life. And there are worries that growth is happening without transparency or concern for our communities,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill’s plan includes requiring data center developers to provide the state with info on their energy and water usage, implementing a statewide standard for agreements between towns and data centers, labor standards for data center workers, and more.
One of the state’s big business lobbying groups praised Sherrill for not putting up the “not welcome” sign for data center developers. Enviro group Food and Water Watch is mad as hell, though, with its state director, Matt Smith, calling the plan a “half-hearted attempt to rein in the increasingly out-of-control data center industry.”
Elections: Nikita Biryukov talked to political observers about the accusations of AI manipulation in the 7th District House race, where Democrat Rebecca Bennett says a shadowy PAC intent on defeating her is using an obviously AI-doctored image of her standing among officers in riot gear. Legislation has been written to ban the use of deepfakes near elections, but it has not advanced in the Statehouse. Over in the 12th District race, Democrat Adam Hamawy told Sophie Nieto-Muñoz that rival Adrian Mapp’s denunciation of Hamawy’s connection to the “blind sheikh” — Hamawy testified for the terrorist cleric’s defense back in the 90s — is “desperate.” “Unfortunately, some of my opponents who have really nothing else to grasp on,” Hamawy said.
World Cup: The Sherrill administration is escalating its war with FIFA, with Attorney General Jen Davenport announcing yesterday that she and New York’s AG are investigating the global soccer governing body’s ticketing practices after consumers have alleged they received crappier seats than they purchased. “New Jersey is excited to host the World Cup and welcome fans from across the globe, but no one should be allowed to exploit New Jersey fans or those coming to our state,” Sherrill said. The governor warred with FIFA over transit costs related to the soccer tournament, and recently FIFA gave away 1,000 discounted World Cup tickets to New Yorkers instead of New Jerseyans. This may not be related to that!
Delaney Hall: Our state’s Democratic leaders and the Trump administration continued their war of words Wednesday over conditions at Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall. Dems say the detainees they spoke to during their tours of the jail say they are being denied medical care and are given congealed milk to drink. Markwayne Mullin, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary, said Sen. Andy Kim (D) and others are spreading lies. “This isn’t a Holiday Inn. Illegal aliens are at this detention facility because they broke our nation’s laws. ICE has arrested brutal criminals in New Jersey, including murders, rapists, sex offenders, child predators, and drug traffickers. They are provided medical treatment, a clean place to sleep, and 3 meals a day plus commissary,” Mullin said. About the Trump admin’s claims that conditions in Delaney Hall are fine, Rep. Rob Menendez (D) said, “You haven't been to Delaney Hall and it shows.” Protesters outside the jail clashed again with ICE agents last night.
Sen. Cory Booker (D) took a tour of Delaney Hall yesterday and, curiously, managed to get in and out without anyone on the outside spotting him, then held a virtual briefing with reporters about his tour instead of, like the other Dems who have visited, speaking to the press directly outside the jail’s gates.
ALSO
NJ defends record on uncovering Medicaid fraud in response to White House criticism, by Lilo Stainton
Thanks for reading Morning Monitor. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.