| | | | | |  | | By Daniel Han and Katherine Landergan | Presented by Pre-K Our Way | Good Thursday morning! Gov. Phil Murphy is on a tight deadline for cannabis, with few good options. The state Senate's clean-up bills to sort out penalties for underage pot users fell apart yesterday. Now, Murphy is forced to either sign cannabis legislation sent to him in December — which doesn't include the underage penalties he wants — or veto the measure altogether. Senate President Steve Sweeney has also promised to reject any conditional veto. Oh, and Murphy needs to make a decision by Friday morning or the bill automatically becomes law. Vetoing the legislation would be a bad look for Murphy — who promised to legalize marijuana in his first 100 days in office — as he enters re-election. At the same time, the governor has been stern on keeping penalties for underage users caught with the drug. Both choices have downsides. But the ball's in his court now. Read more from Sam Sutton. WHERE'S MURPHY? At the New Jersey Statewide Traffic Management Center at 9:00 a.m. for a weather-related press conference. CORONAVIRUS TRACKER : 3,786 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 673,108. 92 more deaths for a total of 20,343 (and 2,289 probable deaths). 2,370 hospitalized, 411 in intensive care. 412,118 fully vaccinated. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm glad we're talking about something different than marijuana right now. It's getting old." — Senate President Steve Sweeney, at an event committing to replace and expand the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden. | | | | 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 | | OH YEAH THE BUDGET ADDRESS IS NEXT TUESDAY — Coalition urges Murphy to fully fund NJ Transit through dedicated source, by POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado: A coalition of New Jersey environmental, labor, community and faith groups don't want a repeat of last year's budget when it comes to NJ Transit. Jersey Renews on Wednesday called on Gov. Phil Murphy to fully fund NJ Transit without using money from the Clean Energy Fund or continuing capital-to-operating budget transfers. These demands — familiar from previous budget seasons — were outlined as part of a letter sent to the governor that made the case that the unprecedented pandemic presents an opportunity for the Murphy administration to take similarly unprecedented steps toward creating a budget that prioritizes a healthy economic recovery through green jobs and initiatives. CORONAVIRUS — "Murphy extends health emergency for 12th time, carrying NJ into full year under the order," by The Record's Stacey Barchenger: "Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday extended the state's public health emergency declaration for a 12th time, an action that will carry the state into a full year under the order. The declaration gives the Department of Health expanded powers to respond to the coronavirus and roll out the vaccine, Murphy said. More than 1 million people have gotten the first shot of the two-dose vaccine that was first administered in New Jersey in mid-December. Since then more than 410,000 people have been fully vaccinated against the virus that has claimed more than 20,000 lives in the state. Murphy's goal is to vaccinate 4.7 million New Jerseyans within six months." NOT A LOT OF COLOR TO ADD — "Gov. Phil Murphy: League advisers recommended soccer firm now at center of criminal investigation," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "The soccer company at the center of a criminal investigation into an alleged visa scheme that has swept up Harrison-based Sky Blue FC was recommended by league advisers, Gov. Phil Murphy, a co-owner of the team, said Wednesday. But Murphy did not offer much more insight into how his professional women's club came to work with the company, Global Premier Soccer. He said he learned of many details late last week from a Boston Globe article, which has chronicled the company's collapse and the legal fallout. 'I saw the same press as you all did,' he said. "This was a program that, as I understand it, was recommended to teams by advisers to the league. I don't have a whole lot beyond that to add." UPGRADED — New Jersey commits $250M to replace, upgrade Camden transit center, by POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado: The state of New Jersey is committing $250 million to replace and expand the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday. The overhaul of the station, which opened in May 1989 and serves as a connection point between Philadelphia and South Jersey, is expected to be a multi-year process. NJ Transit will first issue a request for proposals for the preliminary design and engineering work. The design phase will take about nine months. The new facility will feature more space for independent buses and parking, charging stations for electric vehicles and better connections between the PATCO Speedline and the NJ Transit River LINE. Murphy said the state would also explore the possibility of developing housing and retail adjacent to the transit hub. — The Courier-Post: "NJ spending millions to overhaul Camden transit hub. What we know, what questions linger." | | | | 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 | | | | | GOVERNOR'S RACE — "After charges of toxic 2017 campaign, Murphy tries to turn a page — but new allegations emerge," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson and Susan K. Livio: "A source close to the governor told NJ Advance Media that Gill repeatedly has been told 'he would not have a role' in the 2021 campaign. The source, who lacks authorization to reveal private negotiations and requested anonymity, said the discussion with Gill about 2021 was 'raised prior but then formalized in late 2020.' Another source, who is intimately familiar with Murphy's 2021 campaign, disputed the suggestion that Gill was repeatedly told he would not be involved in the upcoming race. The source said Gill was told last year 'the campaign was going in a different direction and Brendan decided he was going to do something else.' Gill, 45, a veteran of high-profile political races and himself an elected Essex County commissioner, said he knew right after Murphy won in 2017 that he did not want to run a statewide election again. He said he shared his intentions with Murphy last fall. Most campaign managers, he noted, don't return in the same capacity in future races. 'My family, role in elected office, and taking the next steps in my career and business all led to that decision,' Gill told NJ Advance Media last month. He added that Murphy remains a 'close personal friend' and 'I will do anything I can to help him get re-elected.'" STATE POLITICS — "Freiman will seek re-election to Assembly seat," by The New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough) will not be a candidate for State Senate in the 16th legislative district and instead will seek a third term in the Assembly. Freiman had been considered a potential contender for the seat of State Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg), who announced last month that he would not be a candidate for re-election to a fifth term this year. 'Throughout my four years as an Assemblyman representing the 16th Legislative District, I have been continually motivated to improve the way we do things in Trenton: to end partisanship, to act more fiscally responsible, to listen to all points of view and to try new approaches rather than repeating missteps,' Freiman said. 'Keeping these goals in mind, I have been earnest in serving my constituents and the state. Today I am announcing my reelection campaign for the Assembly in November 2021 so that I can continue to push forward strategies to improve and unite our state.'" — "Former congressman Mike Pappas will run for State Senate," by The New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Michael Pappas, a former one-term congressman from Somerset County, will be the Republican candidate for State Senate in the 16th legislative district. Pappas has decided to run for the open seat of Republican State Sen. Christopher Bateman, who announced last month that he would not seek re-election to a fifth term. He is now the presumptive nominee after two other candidates, former Rep. Dick Zimmer and former Montgomery Mayor Ted Maciag, withdrew from the race today, party officials told the New Jersey Globe." | | | |   | | |
| | BIDEN TIME | | IMPLOSION — "Former Trump casino where stars played goes out with a bang," by the AP's Wayne Parry: " A spot on the Atlantic City Boardwalk where movie stars, athletes and rock stars used to party — and a future president honed his instincts for bravado and hype — was reduced to a dusty pile of rubble on Wednesday. The former Trump Plaza casino was imploded after falling into such disrepair that chunks of the building began peeling off and crashing to the ground. A series of loud explosions around 9 a.m. rocked the building, which started to collapse in a wave from back to front until it plunged straight down in a giant cloud of dust that enveloped the beach and Boardwalk. Overall, it took the structure less than 20 seconds to implode. 'I got chills,' Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said. 'This is a historic moment. It was exciting.'" — "Watching Trump Go Down," by New York Magazine's Olivia Nuzzi: "Mayor Marty Small positioned himself before a local TV camera, the casino right over his shoulder. Growing up, he said, he'd attended Wrestlemania IV and Wrestlemania V, events the Trump Plaza sponsored in 1988 and 1989, just before its financial decline. Small had been hyping the demolition for weeks, even distributing on social media a flyer that looked more like a movie poster than a press release, with the casino decorated by a flaming stick of dynamite and a ribbon of caution tape. 'TRUMP PLAZA IMPLOSION EVENT,' it read, along with an invitation to 'pull up and watch' across the Chelsea Harbor at Bader Field." | | | | NEW – "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: Power dynamics are changing. "Influence" is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy, and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country, and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Don't miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | |
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | FREE PR ADVICE: DON'T CURSE OUT A REPORTER ON THE RECORD — "Billionaire Clover Health CEO Vivek Garipalli's Expletive-Ridden Tirade," by Forbes' Katie Jennings: "Vivek Garipalli blew in like a Category 5 hurricane last Friday night, unleashing a torrent of expletives to defend his embattled insurance company, Clover Health. 'Look at every single market we're in,' he said in an 8:27 p.m. phone call that lasted for 37 minutes. 'It is the lowest-fucking-cost product in every fucking market. The most fucking flexibility in every fucking market. I'd die on a fucking hill for our consumers. And you're posting a fucking article saying we're not.' Garipalli, the 42-year-old cofounder and CEO of Nashville-based Clover Health, is facing a confluence of existential threats to the insurance business he started in 2014. The Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and influential short-sellers are all digging into Clover's business practices, including how the company incentivizes doctors and patients to buy its insurance and use its technology. Clover issued a lengthy rebuttal in response to the allegations, saying it did not believe it had violated any rules or regulations." NO-SHOW? — "Did ex-senator's sister have no-show Brick school job? Ciesla calls claim 'despicable, '" by the Asbury Park Press' Kathleen Hopkins: Former Brick schools Superintendent Walter Uszenski says in a lawsuit he was targeted with fabricated criminal charges in 2015 for exposing what he claims was a no-show job held by the sister of former state Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla — something the former lawmaker and his sister vehemently deny… In an amended whistleblower lawsuit filed Tuesday by Uszenski against the Brick Board of Education, the former schools chief stated that he was retaliated against by Republican-leaning school board members for exposing what he claims was a $140,000-a-year no-show job Darlene Ciesla held for seven years. Uszenski, hired as Brick's superintendent in June 2012, was ousted from his $177,500-a-year job after he was criminally charged in 2015 in an alleged plot to obtain what prosecutors claimed were unnecessary taxpayer-funded special education services for his grandson… In an interview with the Asbury Park Press, Andrew Ciesla called that allegation "low-class, despicable and egregious." — NJ Advance Media: " N.J. business community: No new taxes. Period. Full stop. | Opinion" — NJ Advance Media: "More than 60 health officials pen urgent letter to Murphy seeking aid for undocumented residents." | | | | 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 | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
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