News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Murphy's soccer team named in visa investigation

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Murphy's soccer team named in visa investigation

Feb 16, 2021

Presented by Pre-K Our Way

Good Tuesday morning!

I'm Katherine Landergan and I'll be filling in as your New Jersey Playbook writer this week while Matt Friedman takes some vacation. Our ace intern Daniel Han will also be writing and maybe sprinkling in some Gen Z puns that I won't understand.

Sky Blue FC, the professional soccer team co-owned by Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy, is in the news yet again . The women's soccer team has been named as one of seven professional teams that participated in a visa program that's led to federal charges. Neither of the Murphys have been charged or accused of any wrongdoing. Nor have any employees of Sky Blue.

The charges center on Global Premier Soccer, a national youth sports business that was based in Massachusetts.

From The Boston Globe: "Federal authorities have charged a high-ranking executive of a former Waltham-based national youth sports business as they investigate whether company officials violated immigration laws by allegedly bringing more than 100 foreign soccer coaches into the United States under the pretense they would work as scouts for professional teams, including the now-defunct Boston Breakers."

Brian McDonough, a spokesperson for Sky Blue, said in a statement that "in 2018, Sky Blue personnel became aware of an investigation relating to Global Premier Soccer. The team has not been contacted about the investigation since then and has had no relationship with GPS since 2016."

Even though Murphy hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing, GOP gubernatorial front runner Jack Ciattareli tweeted there was "no surprise" about the story, and tried to link it to Murphy's immigration policies. Could this become a Republican talking point in the governor's race? Or will the issue fizzle out? Stay tuned.

WHERE'S MURPHY? At the Newark Department of Public Works for a "clean energy and green jobs" announcement at 11 a.m.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 1,222 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 666,399. 14 more deaths for a total of 20,220 (and 2,246 probable deaths). 2,408 hospitalized, 513 in intensive care. 369,113 fully vaccinated.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'll never be able to eat an Oreo again." — Councilwoman Cristina Cutrone on Mondelēz Corp.'s decision last week to shut down Nabisco manufacturing plant in Fair Lawn.

A message from Pre-K Our Way:

NJ's pre-k is now in 150+ school districts, with more beginning in early 2021! Despite this remarkable four-year record of achievement, there are 110+ eligible school districts that still wait. Let's reach a total of 200+ districts with NJ's pre-k in 2021. Fund substantial pre-k expansion THIS YEAR! Visit prekourway.org for more info

WHAT TRENTON MADE

LEGALIZE IT: TAKE 100 — N.J. Senate weighing amendments to eliminate fines, drug treatment from underage possession bill, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey Senate lawmakers may amend a new bill that revises penalties for underage possession of marijuana to eliminate language that would subject offenders to fines or court-ordered drug treatment. The bill, NJ S3454 (20R), represents the "last little piece of the puzzle" in New Jersey's Democrat-led effort to legalize cannabis for adult use, bill sponsor Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said at the end of a two-hour Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Monday. The proposed amendments are welcome news to criminal justice and legalization advocates who are seeking changes that would minimize penalties for underage possession, but it's unclear if Gov. Phil Murphy would support the changes.

— "Senate drops new cannabis cleanup bill," by POLITICO's Sam Sutton and Carly Sitrin: Two state senators introduced legislation late Thursday that would revise penalties for underage possession of cannabis, creating a potential pathway for Gov. Phil Murphy to sign the marijuana legalization and decriminalization bills that were sent to his desk almost two months ago. The new compromise proposal, sponsored by Sens. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) and Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) and supported by leadership in the Assembly, could be sent to the governor as early as Thursday. Maybe.

— New Jersey Globe: " Legislative sources expect Murphy to sign marijuana bills despite lasting concerns."

— NJ Advance Media: "N.J. cops have arrested 6,000 people for weed since voters passed ballot question to legalize marijuana."

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE FOR THE MUSICAL THEATRE KIDS — Murphy clears parents to attend high school sporting events, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Friday allowing a limited number of parents and guardians to attend high school and youth sporting events, his office announced. Up to two parents or guardians may attend sporting practices and competitions, contingent that it does not exceed 35 percent of indoor capacity or 150 people indoors. No other spectators will be allowed. The order took effect immediately. … Spectators would have to cooperate with contact tracers if a coronavirus case was connected to an event, Murphy said. School districts would have broad authority to prohibit spectators from attending sporting events, or when to implement the order. The order does not apply to collegiate or professional sports.

HAPPENING TODAY — Murphy to create new statewide office to oversee climate, green economy initiatives, by POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado: A new statewide office in New Jersey will aim to ensure a transition to a robust and just clean energy economy. Gov. Phil Murphy will sign an executive order on Tuesday to create an Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy to oversee clean energy transition and climate change mitigation strategies while prioritizing economic and environmental justice. Jane Cohen, the governor's senior policy adviser on environment, will serve as office's executive director. It will act as a hub to align all of the state's various clean energy and green economy initiatives, with an eye towards job growth and training and advocating for New Jersey at the federal level.

OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT — "Should public corruption mean automatic jail time? Senator wants to change the rules in NJ," by The Record's Terrence T. McDonald: "A county inspector who took cash bribes to delete code violations. A mayor who embezzled tens of thousands from political campaigns. A fire chief who drove drunk in a car he stole. Three cases in three different parts of New Jersey with one thing in common: each defendant was charged with official misconduct, the state's criminal charge for public corruption. It's not often used — about 60 people have been charged with it in the last two years — but the penalty is severe and mandatory. If convicted of official misconduct, the punishment is a minimum of five years behind bars. 'The official misconduct charge is a brutal charge,' said defense attorney Paul Faugno."

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL — Murphy announced several members of his 2021 re-election campaign on Friday, with staffers hailing from New Jersey and national politics. The team includes Jackie Burns as Deputy Campaign Manager; Burns served as the former communications director for Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D - N.J.) since her 2018 run. Miguel Arreola as Research Director; Arreola was the former regional research director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where he researched competitive House races in six southern states. Kaitlin Demchuk as Digital Director; Demchuk was the former content director for Sen. Mark Kelly's (D - Ariz.) 2020 run for congress. Read the full list of names on The New Jersey Globe.

— "N.J. has new candidate for governor as pastor of Hoboken church seeks GOP nod to take on Murphy," by NJ Advance Media's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "The pastor of a Hoboken church announced Monday he's launching a run for governor, seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, in November. Phillip Rizzo, a Morris County native, has filed paperwork with the Division of Elections to establish the campaign and will be facing at least two other Republicans in the June primaries. 'New Jersey has been met with some intense challenges that have tested our optimism and we're left wondering if life will ever get back to normal,' Rizzo said. 'But when I look at our future, I'm hopeful because New Jerseyans are some of the toughest, most resilient people on the planet. I'm confident that with the right leadership, these dark days can quickly become a distant memory. We're not just going to heal — we're going to fight.'"

— New Jersey Globe: "Ciattarelli Looks To Expand Outreach To Black Voters."

FROM THE OPINION PAGES — " Murphy must own Edna Mahan — before the Feds do," by The Star Ledger's Editorial Board: "Gov. Murphy says he was "sickened" by the most recent act of barbarity at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, yet there is mounting evidence that he is barely engaged as the beatings and sexual assaults persist, undeterred on his watch. The latest rake-step is his administration's decision to ignore the four-alarm email sent by four lawmakers last Aug. 4 about Sgt. Amir Bethea, who was once transferred out of the women's prison and had, as Prison Watch noted, a reputation as a serial abuser. The liaison at the Department of Corrections, Deputy Commissioner Karin Burke, assured the legislators that the matter would receive 'appropriate review and investigation.'"

— "Abuse at NJ women's prison is the scandal Phil Murphy can't brush off," by The Record's Charles Stile: Gov. Phil Murphy has been adept at containing scandal and controversy within his administration. He has a simple, corporate crisis-management strategy: Express shock and disgust about the latest revelation, hire a consultant or panel to investigate the issue, have them write a report, call for reform — and move on. Murphy's short-attention-span critics — and a bored public — will lose interest. It's a tidy, slow-motion way to douse a raging firestorm. Yet there is nothing tidy about the unfolding scandal at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Union Township, Hunterdon County — the sole prison for women in New Jersey. Nor can it be easily whitewashed by another report that will gather mold on a shelf in the State Library with stacks of others.

BAD BROMANCE? — Bromance with Trump could doom NJ gubernatorial candidate, by The Star Ledger's Tom Moran: "Jack Ciattarelli, the former Assemblyman, is almost certain to win the Republican nomination for governor this year, given that his main rival, former state GOP chairman Doug Steinhardt, quit the race. But he'll take his fight to Gov. Phil Murphy bearing a tremendous weight, as if running a race in lead boots. The problem is Donald Trump. To fend off the challenge from Steinhardt, a fanatic Trump supporter, Ciattarelli had to dance for the party base. After condemning Trump in 2016, he flipped as shamelessly as Sen. Lindsey Graham did, endorsing Trump, speaking at a 'Stop the Steal' rally in December, and even deflecting blame for the deadly riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6."

CLICK FOR A PIC OF HOW I FEEL ABOUT WINTER 2021: "After taking a look at the forecast next week, even the snow man has had enough #winter #StormWatch #NJwx @News12NJ." — @DaveCurren

GET TRANSITION PLAYBOOK TO 100K: In three months, our scoop-filled Transition Playbook newsletter has grown from zero to more than 90,000 subscribers. Find out what's really happening inside the West Wing, who really has the ear of the president, and what's about to happen, before it occurs. Transition Playbook chronicles the people, policies, and emerging power centers of the Biden administration. Don't miss out, subscribe today. And once you do, we'd be grateful if you could spread the word to your friends and colleagues, or, even better, post about Transition Playbook on Facebook or Twitter using this link: politico.com/newsletters/transition-playbook

BIDEN TIME

COMMITTEE CHAIRS — "President Biden's climate agenda will depend on this powerful N.J. congressman," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. spent his first years as chairman of a powerful House committee largely playing defense against President Donald Trump's efforts to expand oil drilling. Now he'll get to lead an offense with President Joe Biden calling the plays. Pallone's House Energy and Commerce Committee is Ground Zero for Biden's efforts to deliver an economy with net-zero emissions by 2050, including moving to renewable energy from fossil fuels, and to reduce health care costs by strengthening the existing law."

— Sen. Cory Booker (D- N.J.) will chair the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, his office announced over the weekend. The role allows him to pursue criminal justice reform, which has been a centerpiece of his political career. "Our nation's broken criminal justice system is a stain on the soul of our country, the result of decades of failed policies that have broken apart families and communities and have not made us safer," Booker said in a statement. "The burden of this broken system has been disproportionately and dramatically borne by Black and brown Americans, and the poor." The subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Justice Department's Criminal Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Prisons and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

— Business Insider: "Democrats are quietly cutting ties with megadonor Martin Elling, a fallen McKinsey & Company star embroiled in an opioid drug consulting scandal."

EVERYTHING ELSE

SPOILER ALERT: IT'S BAD — "Chat Box: COVID-19's impact on female employment," by David Cruz for NJ Spotlight News: "The U.S. Labor Department reported that the U.S. lost 140,000 jobs in December 2020 — all of which were once held by women, while men gained 15,000 jobs in the same period. Sue Altman, NJ Working Families state director; Anna Maria Tejada of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, and Bill Rodgers, chief economist at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, say that COVID-19's impact on the hospitality, retail and other industries has resulted in many women being out of work. 'The effect of the pandemic has been the worst-felt by women, but particularly women of color. The jobs that have been lost during this pandemic have been the jobs that those women occupy, and that's a big problem,' Altman said."

MENTAL HEALTH — "Suicide deaths in N.J. likely fell in 2020, defying fears amid the coronavirus pandemic," by NJ Advance Media's Riley Yates: "Suicides in New Jersey likely fell in 2020, despite widespread fears that the stresses of the coronavirus pandemic would cause more people to take their own lives. Preliminary state data recorded 636 deaths by suicide last year, down from 757 in 2018 and 723 in 2019. And while 2020′s figures are expected to rise as more suicide investigations are completed, they suggest that the strain of the past year did not translate into a rash of new suicides, as many worried it would. That deaths would instead decline is counterintuitive, considering the deep impact of COVID-19, which has altered life in countless ways, robbing many youths of their schools, many workers of their livelihoods and many seniors of warm interactions with their children and grandchildren. Yet experts highlight that suicide is preventable and that the factors driving it are complex, personal and little understood. They note that even as the pandemic brought isolation and financial hardship to many residents, it also brought a newfound emphasis on the importance of taking care of one's self."

— News 12: "' You are not alone.' 2 New Jersey women start support group after losing spouses to COVID."

— NJ.com: "Don't forget: Landlords are people, too | Opinion."

A message from Pre-K Our Way:

In four years, there has been statewide, bipartisan support for funding pre-k expansion. NJ's pre-k is now in 150+ school districts, with more beginning in early 2021! Despite this remarkable record of achievement, there are 110+ eligible school districts that still wait.

There are eligible districts in every county. They're in rural, suburban and urban communities, and they're located across New Jersey, from east to west – and north to south. You either live in an eligible school district or you live near at least one. There are 3- and 4-year-olds still waiting for NJ's pre-k in each of these 110+ communities.

Substantial funding for NJ's pre-k will provide a strong start to a lifetime of learning for more of our children – and immediate support for their working families.

Let's reach a total of 200+ districts with NJ's pre-k – there are 110+ communities waiting. Fund substantial pre-k expansion THIS YEAR!

Visit prekourway.org for more info

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