News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: $14 billion incentive program ready for Murphy's signature

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: $14 billion incentive program ready for Murphy's signature

Dec 22, 2020

Good Tuesday morning!

The virtual lame duck came to an end yesterday. In a few short days, the Legislature tackled marijuana legalization, a reorganization of the state's largest health insurer and last -- but definitely not least -- a $14.3 billion tax incentive bill.

The $14.3 billion price tag comes from an Office of Legislative Services fiscal note on the measure. According to New Jersey Policy Perspective's Sheila Reynertson, the cost analysis came out 10 minutes before the Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill.

So, it may have taken years and a landslide referendum to legalize marijuana. And a bill to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences that had enjoyed widespread support has been held up for months because of Sen. Sacco's official misconduct amendment.

But when the governor and Legislature really want to move something fast, they manage to get it done.

WHERE'S MURPHY? At Paulsboro Marine Terminal at noon for an announcement. Media: Fox 5 at 8:10 a.m., NJTV at 6 p.m.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 3,186 newly-reported cases for a total of 435,763. 29 more deaths for a total of 16,315 (and 1,908 probable deaths).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno, attorney Adam Malamut, The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran, Princeton's Udi Ofer

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Definitely the pizza. Having lived outside of New Jersey, I just think that the pizza in other states does not compare. I am a big fan of trying different places throughout the state. A particular favorite of mine is Santillo's in Elizabeth. And I like pizza plain. I'm old school." — Gov. Murphy's chief counsel, Parimal Garg, on his favorite thing about New Jersey.

'WHAT DID I JUST WATCH' VIDEO OF THE DAY — I somehow missed this last week, but so did almost everyone else. The first episode of Assemblymember Clinton Calabrese's new web series "Where Clint?' deserves more than the 80 views it had when I wrote this blurb.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITION PLAYBOOK, SUBSCRIBE TODAY: A new year is quickly approaching. Inauguration Day is right around the corner. President-elect Joe Biden's staffing decisions are sending clear-cut signals about his priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to the new administration and one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news daily and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

PERSICHILLI: THIS TOPIC NEEDS SOME INTRODUCTION — State officials play defense after missing deadline delaying vaccine rollout at long-term care centers, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey's failure to meet a federal deadline that would have allowed the state to begin vaccinating residents at long-term care facilities this week is forcing Gov. Phil Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli to play defense in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic. The state missed the Dec. 7 deadline to provide the federal government with relevant data on its long-term care facilities, pushing back the vaccine rollout for some of the state's most vulnerable residents to Dec. 28 at the earliest. During the governor's regular Covid-19 briefing on Monday, Persichilli dedicated the bulk of her report to the complicated reporting and information technology constraints that led to the missed deadline.

—"Fewer COVID-19 vaccine doses for NJ in next two weeks due to changed federal shipping plan?"

DO NOT USE FORCE UNLESS YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN CUT INTO PIECES — " N.J. cops will only be able to use deadly force as an 'absolute last resort' under major changes to policy," by NJ Advance Media's Blake Nelson and S.P. Sullivan: "New Jersey police will soon have new guidelines on when they can hit, chase or shoot suspects under rules announced Monday by the state attorney general's office, the first overhaul of the state's use-of-force policy in two decades. The rules prohibit cops from using force to speed up an arrest, ban using police dogs on suspects who are only resisting arrest and require departments to review every incident where force was used— all changes meant to protect the sanctity of human life. The rules apply to the state's more than 38,000 officers and will take effect a year from now, on Dec. 31, 2021, but training will begin earlier. 'We are committed to making New Jersey a national leader in policing reform, and today's actions deliver on that promise,' state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement."

'SOMEHOW I MANAGE' — Mollie Binotto to serve as campaign manager for Phil Murphy's reelection bid, by POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday named Democratic strategist Mollie Binotto to serve as campaign manager for his 2021 reelection bid. "Mollie is a veteran of local, state, and national campaigns, with two cycles of New Jersey political experience, and I know she brings the right mix of experience, skills, and vision to the role," Murphy said in a statement. "I know Mollie has the determination and drive to lead a successful reelection effort and help Sheila and I continue our important work into a second term." Binotto will begin her new role on Jan. 15.

DOOMSDAY — "The MTA has a 'doomsday' plan if it doesn't get more federal money. Why doesn't NJ Transit?," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "Transit agencies across the nation, including those in New York and Philadelphia, are warning of serious service cuts and reduction in major projects if more federal coronavirus aid fails to materialize to make up for revenue shortfalls caused by the coronavirus … But will NJ Transit riders face similar cuts? Right now, the agency doesn't have a 'doomsday plan' if the federal government fails to allocate $1.2 billion in a second round of CARES Act funding. Ridership and revenue plummeted due to the coronavirus at transit systems across the country. While NJ Transit has enough money from the first $1.4 billion CARES Act grant to last until June, experts interviewed worry NJ Transit will ultimately face the same issues the MTA is facing now."

MASK ERA — "Videos from prominent NJ GOP members offer split-screen vision of pandemic reality," by The Record's Charles Stile: "One bluntly confronts and warns about COVID-19's danger; the other ignores it. First, we have COVID-19 survivor Chris Christie, the former governor turned mask-wearing evangelist, appearing in a 30-second public service announcement, pleading with mask deniers to wear one … On the opposite side of the spectrum is Douglas Steinhardt, the unabashed conservative Republican candidate for governor, striding through a two-minute, 30-second introductory campaign video in a brown barn jacket, toting a gun and rambling along in his pickup on a tour of his hometown Warren County turf. Steinhardt, a lawyer and former Republican state chairman, doesn't mention or allude to the pandemic, and doesn't wear a mask while appearing 10 times in the video with clusters of family, neighbors and colleagues in close proximity in diners, on sidewalks, in an office and on a park bench. And everyone he talks to, with the exception of one woman, appears without a face covering."

RESIDENTS OUTRAGED TO HAVE TO WAIT TWO MORE MONTHS TO NOT VOTE IN THESE ELECTIONS — "Upcoming N.J. local elections delayed under new executive order by Gov. Murphy ," by NJ Advance Media's Alex Napoliello: "Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday announced an executive order that will push back some of New Jersey's upcoming local elections at the beginning of 2021. The order includes fire district elections in February, special school races in March and all other elections for filling vacancies or municipal questions. These elections will now be held on April 20 to coincide with regular school board elections, Murphy said."

IF PSEG DOESN'T GET ITS PAYMENTS SOON IT CAN'T FUND DARK MONEY GROUPS — " NJ overdue utility bills skyrocket with COVID shutoff ban; hundreds of millions owed," by The Asbury Park Press' David P. Willis : "Back in March, with state officials worried about the effect of the pandemic as people lost jobs and were forced to stay at home, New Jersey's electric, natural gas and water utilities agreed to not pursue collections or shut off service to customers who had delinquent accounts. By August, more than 444,000 residential electric and gas customers were 90 days or more past due, with an average balance of $602, up from $428 from the same period last year, according to a coalition of consumer groups, citing state figures. It amounted to a total of $267 million in overdue charges, a 78% increase over the 90-day amounts at the same time last year. Later in the summer, utilities began to offer 12- to 24-month payment agreements to help people pay their back bills. But with the moratorium set to expire on Oct. 15, Gov. Phil Murphy asked the utilities to once again suspend shutoffs and collections, this time until March 15. In a filing, the state Division of Rate Counsel said: 'Anecdotal reports suggest a rapidly worsening situation.'"

—"Rice: Scutari owes apology to state's residents"

—"Gov. Murphy defends $14 billion tax break program"

—"As N.J. moves closer to legalizing weed, activists call on Murphy to offer pardons"

—10 New Jersey school districts to split $10M to launch or expand pre-K programs

—"Razzoli running for Senate seat in LD12"

— New Jersey floats emissions rules modeled after California's

—New York, New Jersey absent from regional transportation emissions deal, for now,

—Snowflack: " Hugin's lurking presence in the GOP race for governor"

—"2020 New Jersey Globe Year In Review"

TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now.

TRUMP ERA

STEPIENING UP — Top Trump brass launch campaign firm, by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: Three top officials on President Donald Trump's reelection effort are going into business together to help Republicans navigate the post-Trump world. Bill Stepien, Justin Clark, and Nick Trainer are relaunching National Public Affairs, a political consulting shop that will aid the president as he decides which 2022 races to engage in, as well as bolster pro-Trump candidates and advise the party's campaign committees ... The Trump aides have begun talking with potential clients and have fielded calls from prospective statewide candidates, including in Pennsylvania, where there will be competitive races for Senate and governor. The firm has signed on with former New Jersey GOP Chair Doug Steinhardt, a candidate in the state's 2021 governor's race. Stepien once oversaw former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's political operation."

TRANSIT — Regional transit operators poised to get federal aid, but fiscal worries remain, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio and Erin Durkin: After months of uncertainty, transit operators in New York and New Jersey are poised to collectively get billions in aid to plug deficits brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic — but the influx is likely only a Band-Aid for what could be years of fallout. Congress is set to approve a $900 billion coronavirus rescue package Monday, which would provide New York with $4.2 billion in transit aid — most of which will go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. New York-area airports would also get roughly $100 million under money set aside for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The final text also includes $655 million for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

THIS AGAIN — "Chris Christie says he won't rule out 2024 White House bid — even if Trump runs again," by The Phildadelphia Inquirer's Andrew Seidman: "Even as President Donald Trump refuses to concede to President-elect Joe Biden and continues to falsely claim the election was rigged against him, other Republican White House aspirants are quietly starting to look ahead to the 2024 race. Or, in the case of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, perhaps not so quietly. Christie on Monday signaled his interest in a potential 2024 campaign during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, suggesting even another Trump campaign wouldn't necessarily keep Christie out of the race. 'If President Trump decides to run in 2024, are you ruling out running against him?' Hewitt asked. 'I would not. No,' Christie said, adding: 'I would not rule it out, Hugh.'"

—Manahan: "Chris Christie doesn't give a spit about you. He's probably smirking behind that coronavirus mask"

LOCAL

WILDAING OUT — "Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz concedes runoff election to Councilman Helmin Caba," by The Courier-News' Suzanne Russell: "Councilman Helmin Caba will become the city's new mayor on New Year's Day. Mayor Wilda Diaz, who has served in office for the past 12 years, called Caba on Friday to congratulate him on winning the Dec. 15 runoff election. 'While Junior Iglesia and Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez and I did not see the outcome we were hoping for, we respect the will of the voters and thank each of you for exercising your right to vote,' Diaz said in a Facebook post. 'I wish nothing but success for Mayor-Elect Caba and his incoming administration and commit to helping see a smooth transition.'"

NO LONGER BOGG-ED DOWN — "Jersey City Ward C Councilman Boggiano is 7th incumbent that will run on Fulop's slate," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Jersey City Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano, at one point considered a staunch political nemesis of Mayor Steven Fulop, is the 7th incumbent that will be a part of the mayor's re-election bid next November … 'I've never met another public official who is as tenacious a defender of his neighborhood and what makes it special than Rich Boggiano, and I'm excited to have him officially join our team and strengthen our ticket heading into next year's election,' Fulop said in a statement … While Boggiano was long considered a sure fire no vote on the council against the Fulop administration, the mayor's campaign points out that, in recent memory, Boggiano and Fulop were on the same side on regulating AirBnb, as well as veterans and public safety issue."

THERE ARE NO MISSING BALLOTS. THEY'RE JUST TEMPORARILY UNFOUND — "Who won in Paterson's 3rd Ward? They are still recounting the ballots," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Election workers conducting the recount in the tumultuous 3rd Ward City Council race are scrambling to track down Paterson ballots that apparently were misplaced in storage bins for other municipalities, officials said. The competing camps for the candidates — Alex Mendez and William McKoy — had expected the recount to be completed over the weekend in a race Mendez won by nine votes out of more than 9,000 ballots … Campaign operatives said all but several dozen ballots were recounted on Saturday, leaving Mendez with a lead of about 15 votes … The recount will resume once election workers find the rest of the 3rd Ward ballots, said Keith Furlong, a county spokesman. 'There are no missing ballots,' Furlong asserted."

CAMDEN'S RISING BUT THE PRICES STAY LOW — "Dollar General opens at site of former CVS in downtown Camden," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "A long-vacant store in the shadow of City Hall has a new occupant, but not everyone's pleased with the development. Dollar General has opened at the former site of a CVS pharmacy on the 500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard."

NOT NEW JERSEY. MONTCLAIR — "Living With Karens A white woman calls the police on her Black neighbors. Six months later, they still share a property line"

—" Deal may resurrect former Playboy Club into revenue generator for Vernon"

—"Judge tosses lawsuit contesting Sayreville's 2019 mayoral election"

—" Bids to implode Trump Plaza top $53,000"

—"Cape May names new police chief, while council members spar over decision-making process"

—" Year after fire, Franklin Lakes church arsonist found not guilty by reason of insanity"

EVERYTHING ELSE

NURSING HOMES — "An investment firm snapped up nursing homes during the pandemic. Chaos followed," by The Washington Post's Rebecca Tab and Rachel Chason: "An investment firm has bought more than 20 nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to disruptions at multiple facilities that weakened care for vulnerable residents amid the worst health crisis in generations, interviews and documents show. From April through July, the New Jersey-based Portopiccolo Group — which buys troubled nursing homes and tries to make them profitable — paid hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire facilities in Maryland, Virginia and elsewhere. The purchases drew scant scrutiny from regulators despite poor safety records at dozens of the company's other nursing homes, including hefty fines for infection-control lapses and shortages of staff."

LURED HERE BY A TAX BREAK IN THE NJ ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT OF 2020 — "Cops alarmed over new NJ motorcycle gang. Boss says, 'I try to be friends with everybody'," by The Asbury Park Press' Ken Serrano: "It was a dispute over stolen drugs, guns and money — and a 31-year-old mother of three paid the price. Three prospective members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club … kidnapped them and drove the two to a cemetery where they executed the woman, shooting her eight times … It's crimes like these that have New Jersey authorities troubled over the Mongols sudden presence in the state. Members wearing the words New Jersey spelled out on a 'bottom rocker' — the curved, bottom piece of a club's colors on the back of a vest — started appearing in social media posts in October … Mongol's international President Dave 'Lil Dave' Santillan said his club did not come to New Jersey to stir up trouble. 'We don't have any issues, and there never will be in New Jersey,' Santillian, 50, said in the phone interview, speaking from California, where the Mongols are based. 'Like, we're good with everybody. I try to be friends with everybody,' Santillan said"

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