(908) 441-8418 AP-GCI0332508-01 Happy New Year WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 z MYCENTRALJERSEY.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK LOOKING AHEAD How NJ’s finances NJ politicos to keep fared in 2010s after Great an eye on in 2020 Recession Ashley Balcerzak NorthJersey.com USA TODAY NETWORK – NEW JERSEY Despite close to 10 years of national economic growth, New Jersey is still feeling the lingering effects of the Great Recession. Governors of the past decade strug- gled to fill gaping budget holes when the money coming in to state coffers dropped dramatically, forcing leaders to put off investments in education and infrastructure, among other needs. “In general, New Jersey has been a state that has lagged behind almost all other states in almost any of the major indices of state fiscal health that we look at,” said Barb Rosewicz with the Pew Charitable Trusts. “Among them, New Jersey is one of the last to finally have gotten revenue back to the pur- (Clockwise from left to right: chasing power before the recession.” Governor Phil Murphy, Rep Meanwhile, Govs. Chris Christie Jeff Van Drew, George and Phil Murphy had to grapple with Norcross and Lieutenant growing debt and pension and health- Governor Sheila Oliverare care liabilities for public workers. Be- among the politicians to cause leaders of the past few decades watch in 2020. didn’t make their payments to the pen- USAY TODAY NETWORK-NEW JERSEY sion fund on time, the amount the AND AP FILE PHOTOS. state owed grew exponentially, and See FINANCES, Page 8A These 12 people will influence state in the next decade Texas gunman Political Stile An ascendant, Trump-angered ac- Meanwhile, the beleaguered state Charles Stile tivism has set the Democratic Party’s Republican Party showed signs of re- who killed two North Jersey Record grassroots aflame. birth in recent months, snagging two USA TODAY NETWORK – N.J. These scattered, defiant voices are seats in the Assembly races while fend- at church served beginning to mobilize and prod the ing off a spirited challenge to the As- sclerotic Democratic Party establish- sembly minority leader, Jon Bramnick. time in NJ after The political forecast in New Jersey ment from the left. Expect the insur- They pulled it off despite the wide- for the New Year and the next decade gents to morph into a permanent oppo- spread hostility to President Donald Linden arrest suggests that the internal fighting be- sition to the party elders in the coming Trump and a rapid rise in Democratic tween the two tribes that define the years. And expect them to be a loud, in- Party registration. The idea of a come- ck Muscavage Democratic Party is unlikely to abate fluential chorus when both parties sit back in the 2020s now seems plausible. Central Jersey Home News Tribune anytime soon. down to redraw the state’s 40 legisla- USA TODAY NETWORK – NEW JERSEY But portents of change abound. tive districts in 2021. See STILE, Page 9A LINDEN – The Texas man who was fatally shot after opening fire at a church Sunday and killing two people LOOKING BACK was previously arrested near the Phil- lips 66 refinery in the city. Keith Thomas Kin- The decade’s most important people in NJ dining nunen was arrested in September 2016 after Esther Davidowitz NorthJersey.com table, tail-to-snout Market; and Vincent Barcelona, a River Linden police found USA TODAY NETWORK – NEW JERSEY movement; the mush- Vale resident and former restaurant him in possession of a rooming of the fast-ca- chef-owner who today runs Vincent .12 gauge shotgun and It's not easy to come up with a list of sual restaurant, and the Barcelona Hospitality, a restaurant ammunition in the area New Jersey's most influential food peo- rapid growth of craft consulting business. Kinnunen of the Phillips 66 refin- ple of the decade. It's especially not breweries and artisanal So, who are the women and men who ery, known as the Bay- easy when you consider how much in- Burke food. made the greatest mark this decade on way Refinery. He was 39 years old at novation and how many changes took But we, food reporters the ever-evolving, ever-expanding, the time. place over the past 10 years. and editors of USA Today Network in ever-luscious dining landscape in New Kinnunen, of River Oaks, Texas, As the New York Times restaurant New Jersey — read our bios at the end of Jersey? Let's dig right in. was fatally shot at the age of 43 by an critic Pete Wells recently noted, this this story — love a good challenge. To armed security officer after he shot decade has seen the rise of Instagram help us with this formidable task, also The Wizard | David Burke and killed two congregants who were and consequently how chefs cook enlisted we turned to two trusted food volunteers of the church’s security (make it Insta-worthy, chef!); the pro- lovers and avid restaurant-goers: Mi- Ventanas, Fort Lee; David Burke at team during a Sunday service at West liferation of small-plates (tapas, any- chael Sinatra, a Hoboken and Asbury Orange Lawn, South Orange; Drifth- Freeway Church of Christ in White Set- one?) and the increase of vegetarian Park resident who is vice president of ouse by David Burke, Sea Bright; and tlement, a town of about 17,000 people and vegan diners (how do you like your communications for restaurants-dis- Nauti Bar in Sea Bright near Fort Worth. Impossible burger, ma'am?). Let's not covery platforms The Infatuation and overlook the explosion of the farm-to- Zagat, and formerly with Whole Foods See DINING, Page 6A See GUNMAN, Page 9A Pay raise Weather Volume 136 | No. 183 Home delivery pricing inside After 20 years in power, Vladimir Putin Starting today NJ minimum wage hits High 41° z Low 24° Subscribe 800-675-8645 coy about his future. 3A $11 an hour. 8A Some sun. Forecast, 2A ©2020 $2.00 QEAJAB-06500v(a)L)a)b)K 6A z WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 z COURIER NEWS Bar & Kitchen, Morristown; David Via- gio in Wayne and Osteria Crescendo in The Mixologist | Jamie Dodge Dining na, executive chef-partner, Heirloom Westwood. Kitchen, Old Bridge (see below); Aish- Nowhere on his menu are such Ital- Reyna's, Barrio Costero and Laylow, Continued from Page 1A ling Stevens and Matt Laurich, execu- ian-American dishes as chicken caccia- Asbury Park tive chef and chef de cusine respective- tore, penne alla vodka, spaghetti and For too long, cocktail culture huddled He may be one of America's most cre- ly, Crystal Springs Resort and Restau- meatballs or garlic bread. Arancini, di in a few corners of the Garden State ative and innovative chefs — he has res- rant Latour, Hamburg; and Randy For- Stefano Stracciatella, salmon oregana- (Cheers, Jersey City! Cheers, Prince- taurants in New York, Washington, Sa- rester, who until recently was chef and to, tagliatelle Bolognese, and tiramisu ton!). But over the past 10 years, it has rasota Springs and Garden City, Long Is- owner of award-winning Osteria Radici panna cotta are. spilled over widely into just about every land. But David Burke, a Fort Lee resi- in Allentown. Felice cures his meats, hand rolls his Jersey region. dent who began his admirable career in Says Bucco about his many promi- pasta, makes most everything from Mixologist Jaime Dodge can take a New Jersey (washing dishes at the Sher- nent proteges: "These talented individ- scratch. In less than four years, he's chunk of credit for New Jersey's new- aton Hotel in his hometown of Hazlet), uals did more to ensure their own suc- shown New Jersey how darn good real found cocktail zeal. The 35-year-old heads five restaurants in New Jersey cess than I or anyone could have ever Italian food can taste. Buon appetito! Long Valley native started his career with plans to add more Jersey spots to done for them. I am humbled to have seven years ago at Circa in High Bridge his portfolio in the years to come. had so many talented people share time The Pizzaiolo | Dan Richer and went on to floor the press and cock- He made food Insta-friendly before in the kitchens I have had the luxury of tail lovers alike with his wildly creative Instagram even existed (seen his bacon overseeing. They own the success, not Owner, Razza Pizza Artiginale, Jer- potent potions at Elements, Princeton's hanging on a miniature clothesline?); he I." Talented and humble: a winning sey City revered fine-dine restaurant, and Mis- has won a handful of James Beard combination in life and the kitchen. Seven years ago, Dan Richer, a Rut- tral, its more casual sister restaurant. awards (including Best Chef New York gers University grad, opened a BYOB Today he heads the drinks programs — twice) and received the coveted Meil- The Restaurateur | Chris Cannon pizza joint in Jersey City — and rede- at three Asbury Park spots: Mexican leurs Ouvriers de France Diplôme fined the art of pizza making. restaurants Reyna's and Barrio Costero d’Honneur (the only American chef to Owner, Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, Says Michael Sinatra of The Infatua- and newly opened cocktail lounge Lay- do so). And now he is slowly growing an Morristown tion: "Outside of sports gambling, Razza low. empire in his home state. "At my age, I Once arguably the predominant res- has maybe become the state’s most suc- The press — and public — have taken don't need to fly all over the world," taurateur in New York City (his portfolio cessful new source of interstate com- notice.