Tributes have been pouring in from lawmakers, activists and some of the most powerful people in state government. Among them was Gov. Phil Murphy, who noted this week that Michael’s reporting helped “shape the history of New Jersey for the better.”
Murphy spoke with NJ Spotlight News anchor Briana Vannozzi to share some of his favorite memories.
“This guy was a giant, smart, funny as heck, very fair in a world where there’s not a lot of fairness,” he said. “He was a paramount of fairness. I just love the guy.”
“Early on in my time as governor, immediately after the State of the State or a budget address, we would do a sit-down interview,” he said. “And the first guy we did it with, not surprisingly, was Michael.
“Michael came to me after one of these interviews and he said, ‘Governor, can I get your cell?'” Murphy continued. “‘I promise you I will never abuse it. You have my word.’ . . I said, Michael, here’s my cell. And here’s the story which I’ve never told before. He never used it. He never called me or texted me, because he was very much focused on preserving whatever privacy that I may have had.”
