| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Ørsted | Good Monday morning! New Jersey last week had the highest rate of COVID cases in the country. Double the national average. It's just another indication of how relentless and stubborn this virus is. And yet despite the "data determines dates" mantra, the governor has not rolled back any of the state's recently loosened restrictions. Murphy is, however, talking about vaccine passports -- and hopes for a more normal summer. And, there should be lots of vaccines coming. Let's hope it doesn't get much worse before it starts getting better. WHERE'S MURPHY — In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conference, then in cyberspace for a 5 p.m. town hall. Media: CNN at 8:30 a.m. CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 2,599 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 764,990. 40 more deaths for a total of 21,659 (and 2,515 probable deaths). 1,206,387 fully vaccinated, or 13.6 percent of the population. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "A f***ing hot nurse, a total JAP, loads a syringe with a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a in the Center for Health Education, Medicine and Dentistry vaccination tent in Lakewood, New Jersey, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021" — A caption that ran in an online Gannett photo gallery HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Murphy aide Awilda Pomales-Diaz, NJ Spotlight founder John Mooney, NJTA's Charles Burton, guy who refused to rig a bid Dominick Pandolfo, Philadelphia Inquirer's Rob Tornoe, ARH's Shannon Warner
| | | | A message from Ørsted: New Jersey has set an ambitious goal to build 7,500 MW of offshore wind energy by 2035 – an ambition Ørsted is proud to share. Our vision is to create a world that runs entirely on green energy and as the world leader in offshore wind, we're here to help position the Garden State at the heart of this new American industry. So, when people think New Jersey, they think offshore wind. Learn more: us.orsted.com/newjersey | | |
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…. ACTUALLY JUST NEVER LEAVE HOME — Murphy floats vaccine passports for New Jersey; RGA fires back, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy floated the possibility of vaccine passports during an appearance on CNBC on Friday, laying the groundwork that the small cards signifying immunity from Covid-19 could be the ticket to a normal summer. "Don't get rid of the card, that's likely to be something valuable," Murphy said, adding that proof of immunization might be necessary to attend sporting events or board a plane. "Laminate it and put it in your wallet." Murphy, a progressive Democrat whose comments drew a quick rebuke from the Republican Governors Association, said his administration would follow whatever guidance is issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but that New Jersey would have its own independent process as well.
THE NOTORIOUS RWA — "She dramatically expanded civil rights investigations in N.J. Next, she could decide cases on top court," by NJ Advance Media's Blake Nelson: "Wainer Apter's tenure directing New Jersey's civil rights office, where she had a profound impact on residents' lives, offers perhaps the best window into her worldview … Wainer Apter's tenure directing New Jersey's ciWhen Wainer Apter took office near the end of 2018, the number of reported bias crimes in the state were rising for the first time in years. They're still surging. The increase is probably partially due to residents feeling more open to discussing abuse, Wainer Apter said. At the same time, "people do feel more comfortable sharing hate than they might have at some point in the past." In response, Wainer Apter initiated at least 150 investigations, according to a spokesman. Only 33 similar reviews were launched during the previous eight years. Investigators also opened and completed more investigations in response to tips from the public after Wainer Apter took office, according to state data.il rights office, where she had a profound impact on residents' lives, offers perhaps the best window into her worldview." HICKS' HOLISTIC APPROACH INCLUDES ESSENTIAL OILS, YOGA — " N.J. Corrections Commissioner refuses to resign after attack at women's prison. Why he believes he's doing a good job," by NJ Advance Media's Sophie Nieto-Munoz : "In an interview with NJ Advance Media — his first since the attack at Edna Mahan — Hicks defended himself, touting his experience and the 'holistic approach' he's taken to implementing change at the corrections department for both inmates and corrections officers. 'You've got the department moving one way and individuals who are not complying with the rules moving another way, and we have to take action,' Hicks, 42, said. 'These are the ways you change a culture, and that doesn't happen overnight. It's possible. It can be done.' Hicks, who placed 32 officers on leave after the attack, would not comment on the pending investigations during the 35-minute interview with NJ Advance Media, which was conducted before Thursday's announcement that four more officers were charged. But he emphasized hurdles in reforming the culture of the prison system and its corrections officers, and said he believes he's moving it in the right direction." ...FOR NOW — Auth will seek reelection to Assembly with party support, avoiding Senate primary with Schepisi , by POLITICO's Daniel Han : Republican Assemblymember Bob Auth will seek reelection to the lower house with party backing, forgoing a "costly" Senate primary against Sen.-elect Holly Schepisi and focusing on what will likely be a competitive general election in November. "It would have been a costly enterprise to run in the primary," Auth (R-Bergen) told POLITICO, explaining why he chose not to challenge Schepisi for Senate in the 39th Legislative District. Auth is likely to win the party line at the Bergen County Republican convention later this month, reuniting the two longtime running mates on the ticket — albeit with Schepisi (R-Bergen) at the top. Bergen County GOP Chair Jack Zisa, who backed Schepisi over Auth in a special election for state Senate earlier this month, called Auth a "very effective Assemblyman" and supported him for the line. OFF TO THE NON-TOXIC DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION — "Katie Brennan, state official who accused Murphy aide of rape, leaving N.J. government job," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio and Brent Johnson: "Katie Brennan, the state official who publicly accused a former top aide to Gov. Phil Murphy of raping her during Murphy's 2017 campaign, is leaving her New Jersey government job, NJ Advance Media has learned. Brennan, chief of staff at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, is taking a new position in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration, said Brennan's attorney, Kathryn 'Katy' McClure." IS INSIDER TRADING POSSIBLE WHEN IT'S BASEBALL PLAYERS? — " Chris Christie joins New York Mets' board of directors under Cohen," by The AP: "Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has joined the board of directors of the New York Mets … His son Andrew has worked for the team since 2018 and is the Mets' coordinator of international scouting. Jeanne Melino also joined the Mets board under new owner Steve Cohen, and New York said Friday she will be hired by the team as senior vice president of the Amazin' Mets Foundation … Jeanne Melino also joined the Mets board under new owner Steve Cohen." MILLIONAIRES WITH OCEAN VIEWS TO SUDDENLY BECOME BIRD ENTHUSIASTS — "With offshore wind, New Jersey could be launching its biggest job creator 'since the casinos'," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Frank Kummer : "New Jersey is betting big on offshore wind — not just to reduce carbon emissions, but with high hopes of transforming into a dominant player in renewable energy along the East Coast and wresting away manufacturing dominated by Europe. The state's powerful Democrats, unions, and business leaders say their ambition means jobs, lots of them, over the next two decades or longer … The sheer size of one turbine assembly gives a hint at what's to come for New Jersey: A five-inch-thick, 400-foot-long, 2,500-ton steel monopile gets driven into the ocean floor as the foundation. A tower, a rotating nacelle that contains a drive train, and three 305-foot-long blades are attached atop each monopile. When complete, the GE Haliade-X turbine will rise 853 feet above the Atlantic Ocean — roughly as tall as the Two Liberty Place skyscraper in Philadelphia. With one rotation, the turbine can power a home for a day." ENERGY —State court agrees with BPU's decision on nuclear subsidies, by POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado: A state Appellate Court on Friday sided with the Board of Public Utilities on its award of nuclear subsidies to Public Service Enterprise Group. The Division of the Rate Counsel in May 2019 filed a lawsuit challenging the BPU's decision to give PSEG $300 million in zero-emissions certificates, or ZECs, to subsidize its three Salem County nuclear plants. The court on Friday ruled the BPU adhered to the statute in making its decision and was correct for taking into account the financial information it used to inform that decision. The judges also found the arguments by the ratepayer advocate that challenged the nuclear subsidies were "without merit" and declined in their written opinion to discuss the matter. —"Atlantic County GOP endorses Polistina ticket, Grossman vows to run in primary" —2nd GOP hearing on Murphy's 'flawed response' to pandemic targets business closures —"New bill would change N.J. legal weed law that curtails cops from stopping young people with weed, alcohol" —"Without a car, getting a COVID vaccine isn't easy. Here's what advocates say NJ can do to help" | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION : Power dynamics are shifting in Washington and across the country, and more people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is a new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy, and power in America. Get fresh insights, scoops, and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country, and hear from new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out on this new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | |
| | BIDEN TIME | |
SWAMP DRAINED — "Access, influence and pardons: How a set of allies shaped Trump's choices," by The New York Times' Kenneth P. Vogel and Nicholas Confessore: "One hacked the computers of business rivals. One bribed doctors to win referrals for his nursing homes. Another fled the country while he was on trial for his role in a fraud that siphoned $450 million from an insurance company, leading to its collapse. Still another ran a Ponzi scheme that plunged a synagogue into foreclosure. Each won clemency from President Donald J. Trump. They also had something else in common, an investigation by The New York Times found. The efforts to seek clemency for these wealthy or well-connected people benefited from their social, political, or financial ties to a loose collection of lawyers, lobbyists, activists and Orthodox Jewish leaders who had worked with Trump administration officials on criminal justice legislation championed by Jared Kushner."
IT'S ONLY BIG GOVERNMENT WHEN IT HELPS OTHERS — "N.J. farmer charged in Capitol attack got paycheck protection loan for business, records show," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Shea: "Ezekiel 'Zeke' Stecher, of Mantua Township, was charged recently with five crimes related to the riot, including assault on a federal officer and violently entering the Capitol. He is the principal of Stecher Farms, LLC, on Bridgeton Pike (Route 45), in the Sewell part of Mantua. The business received $190,080 in April 2020 through the paycheck program, commonly referred to as PPP, according to multiple listings of companies that received the federal funds, including NJ Advance Media." DENTIST WHO TRIED TO CANCEL MILLIONS OF VOTES TALKS ABOUT 'FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY' — "Van Drew calls for removing fencing around D.C. Capitol," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "U.S. Representative Jeff Van Drew introduced the Fencing Removal and Ending Encampment (FREE) Resolution last week, demanding the immediate removal of razor wiring installed around the Capitol campus and the return home of National Guard troops now deployed to Washington, D.C. 'The U.S. Capitol is a standing testament to the freedom and democracy we uniquely enjoy as Americans,' Van Drew said in a statement. 'By putting armed guardsmen and razor wire between our citizens and the heart of our government we are, in effect, separating America from Americans.' He was joined by 38 colleagues as co-sponsors, his office said in a press release." —"Army reservist from N.J. charged in Capitol attack wants out of jail pending trial" | | | | A message from Ørsted:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
DEEP SHI — "Attorney general issues subpoena for Edison racist flyer records," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "The New Jersey Attorney General's office today subpoenaed Edison Township for documents related to an anonymous racist flyer in the 2017 election and empaneled a grand jury to determine if anyone will be charged. The New Jersey Globe has obtained a copy of the subpoena. The subpoena follows calls by local officials, including Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey, Council President Robert Diehl, Councilman Sammy Joshi and Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Franklin) for state prosecutors to identify the culprit behind what has become a 40-month-old cold case. On a tape obtained by the New Jersey Globe, Councilman Ajay Patil said he witnessed Satish Poondi, a partner at the Wilentz law firm, assembling that racist mailer at the home of the Democratic Municipal Chairman, Mahesh Bhagia, in 2017. Bhagia is now the pick of the local Democratic organization as their candidate for mayor."
—"Hoboken electeds call on AG to investigate 'terrorism' flyer in light of Edison probe" 'BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT — " Bergen commissioner takes job with politically connected architecture firm," by The Record's Terrence T. McDonald: "Ramon Hache, who took office as a Bergen County commissioner in January, is now working for an architectural firm that does extensive work on public projects in Bergen County and statewide. Hache, a former Ridgewood mayor, was hired by DMR Architects for the Hasbrouck Heights firm's 'growing business development practice area,' the firm announced in a press release. His title is director of business development." HUGHES NEWS — "Police report: Hughes said he was racing in 'Paris' after abandoning county vehicle on Pa. Turnpike," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea : "Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said he was involved in a 'race' with four others in Paris, France, during an odd exchange with Pennsylvania State Police last summer after a trooper discovered Hughes' county-assigned vehicle abandoned along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, records show. Hughes was not charged with driving under the influence and was hospitalized after authorities spoke by phone with his wife and learned he suffered from a medical condition that caused confusion, according to a police report obtained by The Trentonian. The Democratic kingmaker's June 1, 2020, encounter with police … is only coming to light now … Hughes told the officer that he had run out of gas, but the trooper noticed that the county executive seemed "very confused" as they spoke, according to the report. Hughes commented about racing around Paris, which led the trooper to call the county executive's wife … In a phone interview with The Trentonian on Saturday, Hughes said he didn't remember his interaction with the police officer. He acknowledged that he had an adverse reaction while driving to medication to treat trigeminal neuralgia, a rare nerve disorder that causes shooting facial pain. He said he was hospitalized overnight before being released." NEWARK — "Newark officials launch investigation after shipment of COVID-19 vaccines deemed 'unusable'," by TapIntoNewark's Tom Wiedmann: "The city is investigating the handling of 300 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses that could not be used because they were not refrigerated in a timely fashion, Newark's Department of Health and Community Wellness Director Dr. Mark Wade, said. The city is also making some changes in how it handles the vaccines once they are delivered. 'We have revised our delivery and assessment procedures and protocols, which will be tightly monitored to prevent this from happening again,' Wade said." WHYKOFF? — " Assistant principal returns in Wyckoff but mystery remains over departure, other principal," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "One sentence at the end of a multi-topic email to Eisenhower Middle School parents announced the return of Assistant Principal Christopher Giordano to the district Wednesday … The status of the Eisenhower school administrators has been cloaked in mystery. According to parents, they disappeared without explanation in January while the district was engaged in remote learning. Questions and statements of support for the men at the February and March Board of Education meetings went largely unanswered, with Francin saying that personnel issues could not be discussed in public." SLEEPLESS CITY — "Paterson DPW supervisors worked 95 straight hours during storm. Some officials are suspicious," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Six supervisors in Paterson's public works department were paid for working 95 or more consecutive hours — almost the equivalent of 24 hours a day for four days in a row — during the massive snowstorm that hit the region six weeks ago, city records show. Those extended shifts resulted in substantial overtime hours for the supervisors. Deputy public works director Manny Ojeda, for example, put in for 134 hours of overtime for the eight days from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7, which amounted to 16.75 overtime hours per day, city payroll records show. The department's other deputy director, Steve Howe, submitted time sheets for 113 hours of overtime during those eight days, the records show. The six supervisors were among 26 public works employees — including 17 who drove salt or plow trucks during the storm — whose overtime requisition forms show they put in for 71 or more straight hours of work." —"Religious divorce in Lakewood: When a private affair becomes a public protest" —" Paterson schools could reopen in May for in-person classes pending meeting results" —Kelly: "Paterson a national testing ground — and challenge — for police reform" —" Brick schools prepare for $5.3M state funding cut, layoffs" —"Hamilton Mayor Martin appoints new CFO as local GOP accuses him of fiscal 'mismanagement'" | | | | Did you know that POLITICO Pro has coverage and tools at the state level? All the state legislative and regulatory tracking, budget documents, state agency contact information, and everything else you need to stay ahead of state policy movement integrate into our smart and customizable platform. Learn more and become a Pro today. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
ON THE WATERFRONT — "Mob influence and corruption persist at NY/NJ ports, claim long-hidden reports," NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman : "The reports present a damning portrait of an insular workforce, all-but-inaccessible to women, and deeply racially segregated. They detail high-paying jobs, some with salaries in excess of $400,000 a year, that only went to those with the right connections. And they allege the continued influence of the mob on the waterfront of one of the nation's busiest ports. But for eight years, the reports were kept under wraps, claim former members of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, over fears by New Jersey officials that they would be bad for business at the port, which stretches from Newark, Elizabeth, and Bayonne to Staten Island and Brooklyn."
—"Homelessness in N.J. increased before pandemic, annual count shows" — State reports spring enrollment down at New Jersey's 2- and 4-year colleges —"This school for students with autism stayed open during pandemic and had no COVID cases" —"N.J. Jewish newspaper apologizes for joking about shooting Arabs" | | | | A message from Ørsted: There's no better way to boost the Garden State's economy than with clean energy. New Jersey has planted the seeds for change with ambitious renewable energy goals, and we're here to help it flourish.
Ørsted, the global leader in offshore wind, is already developing the state's first offshore wind farm which will power half a million New Jersey homes. This local experience combined with a global track record makes Ørsted the perfect partner to help New Jersey deliver on its goal of powering more than 3.2 million homes with offshore wind by 2035.
The state's investments into offshore wind take on new importance following the COVID-19 economic crisis. Ørsted is ready to invest in New Jersey's economy and our future – building a hub for the new American offshore wind industry, while mitigating the effects of climate change.
Let's continue to grow the Garden State together.
Learn more: us.orsted.com/newjersey | | | | | | | 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