New Jersey

Calabrese seriously considering entering NJ-9 race – New Jersey Globe

Published

1 year ago

August 23, 2024

Calabrese seriously considering entering NJ-9 race – New Jersey Globe

The field for the late Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson)’s congressional seat could grow still larger, with Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (D-Cliffside Park) strongly considering a campaign, the New Jersey Globe has learned.

Calabrese, a 38-year-old assemblyman who comes from a formidable political family in Cliffside Park, spent time discussing his options yesterday with party leaders in the 9th congressional district and will likely make a decision today. Calabrese did not respond to a request for comment from the Globe.

Pascrell died just two days ago, but because state law requires a new Democratic nominee for the November general election be in place by August 29, Democrats in his district are having to move exceedingly fast in the race to succeed him. Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson Democratic county committeemembers are set to meet for a convention next week, likely either on August 27 or August 29.

Three candidates – State Sen. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon), Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-North Haledon), and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Paterson), all of whom represent the same Paterson-based legislative district – have already said they’ll run.

Two other notable names, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur (D-Franklin Lakes) and Paterson Mayor André Sayegh, are looking at the race as well. Zur and Calabrese are emerging as the two main prospective candidates from Bergen County, which makes up a little under half of the seat; they’re also the only two potential white contenders in the plurality-Hispanic seat.

It remains to be seen how Bergen County Democratic committeemembers, who are likely to make up the largest county bloc at the eventual convention, will approach the race. They could support a Bergen candidate like Zur or Calabrese and attempt to win a county-on-county showdown; they could go along with Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie in supporting Sumter; or they could back a different Passaic candidate like Wimberly or Pou.

Whoever wins the convention will immediately advance to the general election; there’s no time to schedule a special election that would involve Democratic primary voters weighing in. In November, the new nominee will face Republican nominee Billy Prempeh, who lost to Pascrell 55%-44% in 2022.

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New Jersey

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

Published

2 hours ago

December 16, 2025

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NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) — New Jersey casino workers, who are pushing to permanently ban smoking in their workplaces, held a rally in Trenton on Monday.

A hearing was held to discuss a lawsuit that aims to close the smoking loophole in the Garden State.

For years, casino workers have been pursuing protections against secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

RELATED | Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers

New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act largely bans indoor smoking, but casinos have a long-standing exemption.

The lawsuit filed last April by the United Auto Workers, which represents dealers at the Bally’s, Caesars and Tropicana casinos.

In August 2024, a judge ruled in favor of the casinos to allow smoking to continue.

“Casino workers are expected to clock in to work every day despite inevitably facing a toxic environment that could cause countless health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and asthma,” said Nancy Erika Smith, the lawyer representing Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and the UAW on Monday.

“We’re asking the court to find the exemption in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act unconstitutional and void it immediately. We hope this case will serve as a precedent for casinos across the country to close their smoking loopholes and stop poisoning their workers,” added Smith.

The casinos have warned that thousands of jobs and millions in gambling revenue and taxes could be lost if smoking was banned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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New Jersey

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

Published

14 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

A teenager was shot to death in Jersey City, a woman was killed in a fiery crash with a dump truck in Ocean County, and a man is in critical condition after an SUV hit him in a Princeton crosswalk.

Here are the headlines from the weekend in New Jersey you may have missed.

Teen Shot Dead In Jersey City Apartment, Prosecutor Says

A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in Jersey City on Friday night, prosecutors said.

Woman Killed In Fiery Head-On Dump Truck Crash In Ocean County

A woman was killed Friday when her van hit a dump truck head-on in Jackson and burst into flames, Jackson police said.

Evelin Villanueva-Detejeda, 43, of Perth Amboy, was killed in the crash that happened about 2 p.m. on Toms River Road (Route 571) near Osprey Place, Sgt. Edward Travisano said.

Six people sustained minor injuries in the collision late Friday afternoon, according to State Police Tpr. Christopher Postorino.

Read more: 11-Vehicle Crash, Overturned Truck Shut Down Turnpike In South Jersey: Police

NJ College Student Abducted From Campus, Sexually Assaulted By Armed Man, Police Say

A Union County man is facing a slew of charges after kidnapping a woman, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

Akram Elsayed, 28, of Roselle, has been arrested after an investigation found that he’d kidnapped a woman and handcuffed her to the door of a car, police said.

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