| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! During the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District, notorious Democratic operative Craig Callaway was on Amy Kennedy's side, helping her win the line in crucial Atlantic County thanks to his family's grip on the Atlantic City Democratic Committee. Now, Callaway — who has convictions for bribery and blackmail under his belt — is working for Democrat-turned-Republican Jeff Van Drew, whose latest campaign finance report shows a $50,000 payment to Callaway's LLC. This confirms a rumor that's been swirling around Atlantic County since at least September. When I asked Callaway on Sept. 18 whether he was working for Van Drew, he said unequivocally that he was not. "I'm working for the Democratic Party… from Biden on down, pretty much," he said. That turned out to be a lie, as the Van Drew payment to him is dated Sept. 8. I could never find a payment Kennedy made to Callaway, though he's not known to work for free. I'm not going to pretend to guess how significant Callaway's help will be to Van Drew. He's known for his extremely controversial mail-in ballot operation — but in elections where most of the vote is in person. How much of a difference his operation can make when almost everybody is voting by mail, I can't say. Either way, Kennedy would have a hard time hitting Van Drew for working with someone whose help she accepted just a few months ago. Still, when you're running as a Republican who has pledged "undying support" to President Trump, who's spent months ranting about alleged voter fraud through mail-in ballots, hiring Callaway shows how little Van Drew either believes in the president's position or cares about it. WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Trenton for a coronavirus press conference at 1 p.m. Media: "Ask Governor Murphy" on News 12 at 7 p.m. CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 1,282 newly-diagnosed cases for a total of 220,013. Nineteen more deaths for a total of 14,422 (not counting 1,789 probable deaths) QUOTE OF THE DAY: " Stop perpetuating mask skepticism with irresponsible and false statements like '85% of the people wearing masks catch' the disease. You should be setting an example by wearing a mask in public at all times, not peeling off the mask in defiance on the White House balcony. Symbolism is important part of leadership in a crisis. It's why I wore a blue fleece and old sneakers throughout Superstorm Sandy." — What former Gov. Chris Christie COULD have said to President Trump after he spent a week in the ICU with COVID0-19, according to Charlie Stile. ELECTIONLAND: POLITICO is partnering with Electionland, a ProPublica project that works with newsrooms to track voting issues around the country. The Electionland project covers problems that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots during the 2020 elections. We're part of a coalition of newsrooms around the country that are investigating issues related to voter registration, pandemic-related changes to voting, the shift to vote-by-mail, cybersecurity, voter education, misinformation, and more. Tell us here if you're having trouble voting. |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
R.I.P. BIG STEVE — Hugely influential Newark power broker Steve Adubato Sr. dies at 87, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Steve Adubato Sr., a Democratic power broker from Newark who mentored prominent politicians from both parties for decades and served as a political bridge between the city's dwindling Italian-American and its ascendant Black and Hispanic communities, died late Tuesday. He was 87. Adubato, who often went by the name "Big Steve," was a teacher in Newark's public schools in the early 1960s, when he started in politics. He rose to prominence in Newark's North Ward during those racially strife-torn times, wresting control of a political machine from Anthony Imperiale, a race-baiting former Assemblyman who, during the city's 1967 riots, led armed patrols of the city's Italian-American neighborhood. As white residents fled for the suburbs, Adubato stayed put in Newark. In 1970, he backed the mayoral campaign of Kenneth Gibson over Italian-American incumbent Hugh Addonizio, helping Gibson become the city's first Black mayor. The city has only elected Black mayors since.
NEWS YOU PUT OUT ON A FRIDAY — Murphy to replace leaders of veterans homes where Covid killed nearly 200 residents, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: After months of public outcry, new leadership will be coming to the New Jersey veterans homes that were the site of two of the deadliest outbreaks of the coronavirus in the state. Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday announced new administrators will be named at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes at Paramus and Menlo Park as part of a broader shakeup of a department that was scorched for its handling of Covid-19. An estimated 190 residents at the two facilities have died of Covid-19, representing roughly a third of their population. Within the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which oversees both homes as well as a third in Vineland, Murphy is elevating Lisa J. Hou to interim adjutant general and commissioner, replacing Major General Jemal Beale … Allegations of mismanagement and infection control failures, reported widely in both the Record and The Wall Street Journal, dogged both facilities since the spring. 3-0 DECISION AGAINST THE FIVE-O — Appellate division upholds Grewal directive to ID officers disciplined for misconduct, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : Attorney General Gurbir Grewal's order to release the names of law enforcement officers who have been disciplined for major misconduct was upheld Friday by the appellate division of the state Superior Court. "Today's decision marks a new day for police transparency and accountability in New Jersey," Grewal said in a statement. "It is time to stop protecting the few to the detriment of the many, and it is time to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve." New Jersey has a long history of shielding the records of officers who have engaged in dubious or illegal conduct. Grewal has announced major reforms in the hopes of rebuilding community trust, but he's also fought efforts to empower a Civilian Complaint Review Board in Newark with the ability to subpoena records and has opposed legislation — since signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy — that requires the AG's office to investigate officer-involved shootings. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JOINT EFFORT? — " N.J. legal weed campaign was supposed to hit us with a huge media blitz. What happened?" by NJ Advance Media's Amanda Hoover: "When New Jersey lawmakers decided to ask voters if marijuana should be legal for people over 21 late last year, many predicted it would spawn a huge public media campaign that would compete with the scrap for president in the Garden State … But while marijuana ballot question has drawn $1.3 million in fundraising so far, that's not a lot of green for a referendum some thought would set records in the Garden State. And the big media blitz everyone was expecting simply hasn't happened. Seventeen previous legal weed questions around the country saw an average $8.3 million spent, and similar questions in three other states have seen more funding than the Garden State already." THE NJ LEGISLATURE, WHERE A BILL TO IMPROVE DANA REDD'S PENSION CAN MOVE AT WARP SPEED BUT EVICTION RELIEF STALLS — "Another 6,000 evictions filed in N.J. court last month as rent relief bill stalls," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "Nearly 6,000 evictions were filed in New Jersey's courts last month, pushing the statewide total of landlord-tenant cases since April to 32,000. While the state's moratorium on anyone getting locked out of their home lasts through the end of year, landlords are still allowed to start the process in court. Records show about a third of September's filings are from Essex County alone … In the meantime, a bill that would give renters more time to make their monthly payments when the moratorium lifts, remains stalled in the New Jersey State Senate." —"N.J.'s mail-in ballot tracking system is glitchy, voters say. Here's how you can deal with it" | | | | THIS WEEK - NEW EPISODES OF POLITICO'S GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS PODCAST : The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, but many of those issues exploded over the past year. Are world leaders and political actors up to the task of solving them? Is the private sector? Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, unpacks the roadblocks to smart policy decisions and examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. Subscribe now for Season Two, launching Oct. 21. | | | | | | | TRUMP ERA | |
IT'S ALMOST AS IF CHRISTIE'S BLUNT STYLE HAS ALWAYS HAD NO MORE SUBSTANCE BEHIND IT THAN ANY OTHER POLITICIAN'S RHETORIC — "Chris Christie had a chance to criticize Trump on COVID-19 response. He failed," by The Record's Charles Stile: "Not long after his harrowing journey from the 'safe zone' of the White House to the intensive care unit at Morristown Medical Center, COVID-19 survivor Chris Christie reappeared on television, preaching the gospel of mask wearing … But Christie, the renowned truth-teller who has his own crass-but-effective style of making public service announcements — 'Get the hell off the beach,' he railed against sun bathers heedless of an oncoming hurricane in 2011 — offered no such blunt assessment about Trump's repeated and reckless resistance to face coverings … This was a teachable moment, a chance for Christie to roil the news cycle with a bold, fierce statement that had the potential to save lives, regardless of the political consequences or his relationship with Trump. And Christie whiffed ….He failed to use his bully pulpit of political celebrity to confront or possibly condemn the president with his famed blunt talk."
—Gupta on Christie statement: I wish he'd said it before AS OF 9/30 DEMOCRATS IN TOP 3 DISTRICTS HAD SPENT 0.99 MASTROS — Democratic candidates in N.J.'s top 3 House races are outspending Republicans 3-1, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Democrats in New Jersey's three most competitive U.S. House districts spent three times what their Republican opponents did and raised twice as much, newly-released campaign finance reports covering a period from July 1 to September 30 show. New Jersey's most competitive House races are in South Jersey's 2nd and 3rd Districts and Central Jersey's 7th District. The three Democrats in those districts raised a combined $6 million from July through September, spent $8.9 million and as of Sept. 30 had $4.1 million on hand. Their Republican counterparts raised $2.8 million, spent $3 million and have $1.2 million in the bank. So-called "independent expenditures" groups — mainly Democratic and Republican super PACs — have also spent about $13 million in those three districts since, mostly since September. And while Democratic outside groups have a major spending advantage in the districts, it's not as lopsided as the candidates' fundraising. VAN LIFE — "Van Drew's romance with Trump is blowing up in his face," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran: "He's losing the race now, and it's the party switch that's hurting him, painting him as a man who traded in his principles to save his neck in a district that voted for Trump in 2016 by 5 points. 'The switch paints him as an opportunist,' says Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University poll. 'It's backfiring on him.' … In Van Drew's telling, his party shift was an act of courage and principle … But was it principle or politics? I talked to Van Drew after the impeachment vote, just before the party switch, and he explained his vote then as a political necessity, saying he may have lost his seat if he voted in favor … That was in December, before the pandemic, in a period when Trump's approval rating was climbing towards its all-time high of 47 percent in March. So, pardon my skepticism, but it sounds like Van Drew was doing exactly what Sweeney says he's always done – holding up his finger, and going where the wind was blowing, even when it took him straight into Trump's lap." —"Nation's eyes on Van Drew, Kennedy race" —"Women dominating N.J. vote-by-mail so far, analysis shows" —"N.J. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill quarantining again due to coronavirus" | | LOCAL | |
POLITICALLY POTENT UNPOTABLES – "Jersey City delayed telling residents to boil water after positive E. coli test, records show," by The Record's Terrence T. McDonald: "After being notified of test results showing E. coli in Jersey City's drinking water in August, city officials appeared to wait 12 hours to issue a boil water advisory, records obtained by NorthJersey.com reveal. Steve Fulop, the city's mayor, has claimed the city warned residents to boil their water the same day the E. coli tests were delivered to him. But records show he was one of four Jersey City officials who received an email the night before with a subject line reading 'E. Coli Positive Results At Christ Hospital.' Fulop spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione declined to explain the delay, but insisted the city acted "immediately."
MORALES AT AN ALL TIME LOW — "Alleged coverup probed after Saddle Brook officer leads Ridgefield PD on high-speed chase," by The Daily Voice's Jerry DeMarco: "A Saddle Brook police officer was suspended without pay and two of his colleagues suspended with pay Thursday following a reckless high-speed chase and alleged subsequent coverup. Saddle Brook Officer Andres Morales, 28, was off duty when a uniformed officer in Ridgefield tried to stop his speeding BMW on Broad Avenue 2:35 a.m. Oct. 3. Morales kept going, however … Morales at one point stopped before flooring the accelerator again, hitting speeds of more than 100 miles an hour, authorities said. The stop allowed the Ridgefield officer to get the car's license plate number. The officer broke off the chase and an alert was broadcast … Reports indicate that Morales refused to get out of the car but eventually relented after several other responders arrived -- among them, a Saddle Brook patrol officer and New Jersey State Police trooper. Morales was released at the scene, authorities said." GREAT JOB GETTING CRIME DOWN — "Already 'richly compensated' Trenton Police bosses get more money under new contract," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "So much for defunding the police. City police brass members — many already hauling in more each year than the mayor — are getting handsome pay bumps as part of a new contract. Mayor Reed Gusciora said this helps the city retain veteran police leadership. 'I understand the scrutiny of police these days, but with that said, I don't think the Trenton Police can afford to not be competitive in retaining senior police leadership,' said Gusciora, who still hadn't signed the contract … Under police director Sheilah Coley's watch, the capital city has already experienced 32 murders this year." RAW DEAL — "Part of the Brooklyn covid-19 uptick traces to Deal, N.J.," by The Wall Street Journal's Paul Berger: "The coronavirus cases started ticking up in July among a tightknit community of Sephardic Jews summering at the Jersey Shore. By October, the cases had contributed to the virus's spread 60 miles north in Brooklyn, N.Y., where health officials scrambled to prevent a second wave of infection." THANK YOU FOR DEIGNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU LIVE IN N.J. — "They loved N.Y.C. but lived in Jersey. The pandemic changed that," by The New York Times' Ashley Fetters: "Clearly, residents of Jersey City and Hoboken have been staying at home. Many are reckoning with the fact that they are now full-time New Jerseyans. Some have adapted by moving into more spacious apartments with access to the outdoors; some have moved farther west into the suburbs; and many more ... have simply stayed put, recommitting themselves to the neighborhoods they used to ignore. Hoboken, for example, has seen increased interest in local volunteer efforts. 'There has been a tremendous outpouring of people who want to help,' especially with efforts to combat food insecurity during the pandemic, said Ravinder S. Bhalla, the mayor of Hoboken." THE STREETS ARE PAVED WITH GOLD STOLEN FROM THE DEAD — "A convicted funeral director stole from poor families. Now, Paterson is naming a street after him," by The Paterson Times' Jayed Rahman: "Manuel E. Martinez was convicted for stealing tens of thousands of dollars that was supposed to cover funeral expenses for poor families. Now, members of the City Council have passed a measure to name a street after the deceased funeral director. Councilman Luis Velez convinced his colleagues to pass a measure to name the intersection of Market Street and 20th Avenue to 'Martinez Way.' His measure states the naming is to mark the third anniversary of Martinez's death and 50th anniversary of him being in business in Paterson … 'I was not aware of that, said Velez … Martinez stole $56,150 in funds that were to go towards paying for funerals for indigent families" —"Montclair petition to overturn rent control measures falls short of signatures" —"Camden schools get $740K federal grant to prevent violence" | | | | GLOBAL PULSE, GLOBAL PURPOSE: At a high-stakes moment when global health has become a household concern, it is pivotal to keep up with the politics and policy driving change. Global Pulse connects leaders, policymakers and advocates to the people and politics driving global health. Join the conversation and subscribe today for this new weekly newsletter. | | | | |
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
COULD TOAST BE TOAST? — "N.J. restaurants fear winter will be catastrophic as outdoor dining disappears," by NJ Advance Media's Jeremy Schneider: "Columbus Day typically spells big bucks for Toast ... But not in 2020. Blustery weather ruined the day's outdoor dining — precious, profitable seats owner Amy Russo has used to make ends meet since June — and with windows kept open (per the state's COVID-19 guidelines), rain blew into the dining room. One customer at the Asbury Park location got wet enough that he walked out on his check. If he wanted to be rained on, he would have sat outside, the man yelled at Russo. 'It sucks, that's how it's going,' Russo told NJ Advance Media. 'If this weather is indicative of what we're going to be up against for the winter, it's not going to go well.' Outdoor dining was challenging enough during the summer, when the weather more or less cooperated, helping to reinvigorate a dining scene made dormant by coronavirus restrictions. But New Jersey patrons will not be able dine al fresco much longer. Temperatures are dropping and many restaurants have begun to make contingency plans, knowing all too well the state's current indoor capacity allowance of 25% will not get them through the winter."
HACKENSACK URGED TO CHANGE NAME TO HACKY SACK — " N.J. farmers planted hemp for the first time this year. Here's how one fared with the cash crop," by NJ Advance Media's Amanda Hoover: "As the state eyes marijuana legalization via a ballot question this November, the promise and struggles of hemp farming have become secondary to New Jersey's race to become the first state in the region to offer legal marijuana. That industry is expected to bring hundreds of millions in tax revenue as well as new jobs … While some planted hemp in previous years under a pilot program, none went in the ground in New Jersey until this spring, when the state Department of Agriculture began to license various growers and processors … But hemp does look and smell like marijuana. Federal and state governments have introduced strict regulations to ensure no weed goes in the ground disguised as legal hemp. Those rules have made growing hemp a challenge for farmers; some had to destroy crops that tested over the limits for THC content, a devastating blow during harvest." | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment