| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Ørsted | Good Wednesday morning! Like many Republicans around the country, Jeff Van Drew last year harnessed the "defund the police" slogan used by the left to attack his Democratic opponent, who had offered vague support for some ideas associated with it. There's evidence, at least in other races, that it worked. . But what if Van Drew gets an opponent who is not a member of one of the nation's most famous political dynasties, but a Black political newcomer who as a teenager was shot at and then beaten by police in a case of mistaken identity, and then went on to a decades-long career as a cop? That attack may not fly. Earlier this month, Tim Alexander got some press when he announced his candidacy for Congress in the 2nd District. His website alludes to his story: "Tim was motivated to a lifelong career to bring change to the way law enforcement agencies interacted with the communities after being racially profiled by the police wherein he was shot at, assaulted, and falsely arrested because of misidentification," it says. But the story is one of the most compelling I've ever heard from a candidate. And it happened just after Alexander literally dropped off his grandparents from a funeral parlor where they were planning his father's funeral. You can read about it here. WHERE'S MURPHY?: In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conference CORONAVIRUS TRACKER : 3,429 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 770,980. 61 more deaths for a total of 21,727 (and 2,515 probable deaths). 1,259,736 fully vaccinated, or about 14.2 percent of the population. 2,066 hospitalized, 433 in intensive care. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The fact that we've prolonged this legal process angers the mayor and angers Randy Mastro. They look at me like I'm a little old homeless guy who won't go away." — New York City Homeless advocate Ramone Buford , after Mastro hired private investigators who posed as plumbers to spy on him as part of Mastro's effort to evict homeless people from an Upper West Side hotel. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: IBEW351's Ryan Doran, Beach COS Ivy Rovner | | | | 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 | |
WHERE'S DA SILVA LINING? — School construction talks stall as Murphy urges return to in-person learning, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: "Talks between Gov. Phil Murphy's office and legislative leadership about plans for the nearly-broke Schools Development Authority have stalled, according to the SDA chief. Authority CEO Manuel Da Silva told lawmakers on Tuesday that prior to the pandemic, Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin had been engaged in discussions about the future of the SDA and how to go about funding the agency responsible for construction in some of the state's neediest school districts. When Covid-19 gripped the state, those discussions understandably took a backseat, Da Silva said. Still, as Murphy — who's seeking reelection this year — continues to urge schools across New Jersey to reopen for in-person learning, and has expressed a desire to see all schools operating in classrooms in some form by the fall, conversations about the SDA have not picked up with the same urgency."
TUESDAY NIGHT RWA "Phil Murphy's state Supreme Court nominee reshapes path of 2021 governor's race," by The Record's Charles Stile: "Jack Ciattarelli, the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, blasted [Rachel Wainer] Apter, a former American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, as an 'inexperienced activist who will unfairly legislate from the bench.' The criticism was a rehash of a standard Republican complaint that the state Supreme Court has churned out expensive, socially liberal fiats on affordable housing and public school funding with little regard to cost or legislative or public support. Court nominations and debates about the court's partisan balance rarely emerge as lightning rod issues in governor's races or in legislative contests … Choosing Apter is a way of 'firing up' the progressives and reminding them 'why we need to reelect' Murphy, Rasmussen said. But for Ciattarelli, it's a way of communicating to his base why it's necessary to choose a Republican governor, someone 'who will rebalance the court.' The nomination issue also gives each campaign useful attack fodder. The Murphy campaign pounced on Ciattarelli's remarks as part of an ongoing attempt to join Ciattarelli at the hip with former President Donald Trump, the dethroned president who is widely unpopular in New Jersey." —" Jewish history, and RBG, shaped Rachel Wainer Apter's path to New Jersey's top court" VACCINES — "Stockton Poll: Most NJ residents want COVID-19 vaccine, but minority residents less likely to be vaccinated," by The Press of Atlantic City's Claire Lowe: "The poll of 740 New Jersey adults, published Tuesday by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, shows that while a majority of New Jersey's Black and Hispanic residents want the COVID-19 vaccine, they are getting vaccinated at much lower rates than white and Asian residents Data on race show that 30% of white respondents and 24% of Asian respondents received at least their first COVID-19 vaccine dose while 16% of Black respondents have. Broken down by ethnicity, 27% of non-Hispanics have received at least their first dose compared to 14% of Hispanics. Income seems to also play a role in vaccine accessibility, as those whose income is more than $100,000 a year were more than twice as likely to have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than those who make less than $50,000 annually." ASBURY PARK PRESS —"From the editor: How an offensive caption ended up online and the new checks we put in place," by The Asbury Park Press' Paul D'Ambrosio : "The call came shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday. A photo with an obscene and offensive caption had been published on APP.com, appearing in a photo gallery that accompanied a story about a Lakewood health center administering COVID-19 vaccines. I was shocked and disgusted when I learned it was true. We immediately issued an apology, but I also want to be transparent with you about what happened and what actions we've taken since to ensure it does not happen again … The reporter in question is no longer with the company. He wrote an apology that reads, in part: 'I've prided myself as a man who has been an advocate and supporter of women's rights and cultural sensitivity, but this caption shows that I have plenty of work to do to address my own issues to make sure that my words and actions always treat others with respect.' Here is how that caption got past our safeguards." TRENTON MISOGYNY — "Legislators go back to drawing board on sexual harassment bill after critics raise complaints," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio and Kelly Heyboer: "Groundbreaking legislation introduced two months ago that called for creating an office to investigate sexual harassment during campaigns in New Jersey will get a rewrite, after critics said the bill doesn't go far enough to prevent harm and protect victims from retaliation … The heart of the bill is (S3389) is unlikely to change. It calls for spending $2 million to create the Office on Discrimination and Harassment Prevention inside the nonpartisan Election Law Enforcement Commission, which oversees campaign finance and lobbying laws. The three-person office would investigate claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, as well as develop an anti-sexual harassment policy that campaigns would be required to adopt. But that Office would be guided by a Safe Campaigns Advisory Board, an 11-member body with seven members appointed by the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker. Allowing such influential elected officials to make the majority of appointments is a major red flag, said Tiffany Kaszuba, the former congressional candidate whose experience with stalking and bullying by a campaign volunteer in Monmouth County two years ago provided the impetus for the bill." ANTIFA CLAIMANTS TO BE MOVED TO FRONT OF LINE — " NJ Labor Department promises new help for jobless claimants, following Smith complaint," by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: "The Department of Labor and Workforce Development said it was dropping a cap on the number of unemployment claims troubleshooters could file on behalf of constituents, following a Press article about the limit, to which Smith objected. Smith, whose 4th Congressional District spans parts of Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer counties, had slammed the state policy on unemployment claims that had allowed his office and others to submit only 25 requests every two weeks … On March 19, however, Smith's office said they were told in a conference call with Labor Department officials that the limit had been removed. The state had also instituted a policy allowing just one staff person in each office or agency to be responsible for filing the requests. That was expanded to three staff members on Sunday." —"Unemployment complaints from angry residents still pouring into N.J. congressional offices" ON THE WATER(REDACTED) — " Agency finally releases long-hidden reports citing mob ties and corruption at NY/NJ ports," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Years of critical reports detailing the continued influence of the mob at New York and New Jersey ports that had long been suppressed were released Monday night by the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. The bi-state agency responsible for policing the ports declined comment, but acknowledged the documents had all been posted to its website. The move came just days after NJ Advance Media, which obtained the reports through public records requests, disclosed that they had been kept under wraps under orders of the governor's office in New Jersey, over fears they would drive business to other ports on the East Coast, according to former commission members." IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO BECOME DISILLUSIONED BY THE POLITICAL PROCESS — Rutgers senior gets party backing for Assembly run: 'There's not a strong voice for our generation within Trenton,' by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Nicholas LaBelle is spending his final semester at Rutgers University preparing for two big events: graduation and a run for the New Jersey Legislature. While most ambitious graduating seniors might have their sights set on working on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, the 21-year-old Rutgers student body president is looking to occupy a seat in the General Assembly — and he's got the support of the Democratic Party. "There is not a strong voice for our generation within Trenton," LaBelle, who's pursuing a double major in business analytics and economics, said in an interview. "I think people of all ages are ready for young folks to step up and take the mantle of leadership." — Linden keeps second report on Scutari secret — New Jersey to release data on bias offenses monthly, citing rise in incidents —"Another public worker pension fight is brewing in N.J. Here's why" —"NJ GOP seeks to tie Gov. Murphy to state's COVID nursing home deaths" —"These N.J. residents have been waiting a year for unemployment benefits" —"Will the Legislature follow the lead of Weinberg working group?" —" Police chief: Marijuana laws prevent police officers from performing their duties | Opinion" —Mulshine: "New Jersey's year of living dictatorially" | | | | 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 | |
GOTTHEIMER WILL INVITE PEPPA TO SALT PRESS CONFERENCE TO PUSH IT — "Yellen pledges to work with congress on ways to ease SALT cap," by Bloomberg's Laura Davison: "U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pledged to work with Congress to ease the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions that's been a key area of focus for New York and New Jersey lawmakers in recent years. Yellen noted that the limitation on state and local tax, or SALT, write-offs in President Donald Trump's 2017 tax law caused 'disparate treatment' across taxpayers."
HOPEFULLY HE DOESN'T USE HIS TIME INSIDE TO WRITE A BOOK — Judge detains alleged Capitol rioter who sported Hitler mustache to job at N.J. Navy facility, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney: "A U.S. Army reservist charged with storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 who was subsequently identified by numerous military colleagues at a New Jersey-based naval weapons facility as an overt white supremacist has been ordered detained pending trial. Federal district court Judge Trevor McFadden said he wrestled with whether Timothy Hale-Cusanelli's 'odious' beliefs were enough to justify pretrial detention, given that he isn't charged with committing violence at the Capitol." —"Capitol cop Brian Sicknick and his accused attackers both had N.J. roots and supported Trump" —"DeJoy proposal renews Pascrell's calls for postmaster's ouster" | | | | A message from Ørsted:   | | |
| | LOCAL | |
GET WELL — "Jersey City school president announces cancer diagnosis, says he'll keep working," by The Jersey Journal's Joshua Rosario: "Jersey City Board of Education President Mussab Ali announced Monday night that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The youngest school board member at 24, Ali said he is undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment that could last for a couple of months."
BILLIONAIRE TO OFFER ONE VACCINE TO POOR RESIDENTS PER ACRE HE'S GRANTED FROM LIBERTY STATE PARK — "In letter to Murphy, Menendez calls on state to expand COVID-19 vaccinations in Hudson ," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "In a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy (D), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez called on the state to expand COVID-19 vaccinations in Hudson County — which currently has the lowest vaccination rate per population in New Jersey … 'I understand that New Jersey uses a COVID-19 vaccine allocation framework that considers a variety of factors including inventory, throughput, disease burden, and equity. However, I respectfully ask your administration to examine this disparity in doses administered per capita and to make certain that Hudson County residents receive an equitable allocation of vaccines.'" CAN'TDEM — "N.J. vetoes controversial proposal to move Camden Finance Department to county control," by WNYC's April Saul: " A step that would have put Camden's city Finance Department on track to be moved under county control has been vetoed by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. On March 9, amid objections from some city residents, Camden City Council approved a resolution authorizing a study to explore moving the department under county auspices through a shared services agreement. The study was expected to take a year and cost the city up to $100,000. The Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the study on March 18. The following day, in a letter to Camden Municipal Clerk Luis Pastoriza, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said that the agreement 'potentially creates unsustainable expenses for Camden, which would only serve to burden a city struggling financially.' She said while the resolution provided for the county to invoice the city each month for the study, no exact costs are mentioned." CAPE YOU MAY NOT — "Cape May to curtail open alcohol containers," by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: "The city has introduced an ordinance banning smoking cannabis in public — a step they see as necessary to keep the stuff off the Washington Street Mall — and officials plan to limit public consumption of alcohol. Last year, the city eased its restrictions on open containers in hopes of helping bars and restaurants hard hit by the pandemic and the sweeping restrictions put in place to contain it. After New Jersey allowed bars and restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails in to-go containers, Cape May offered pedestrians somewhere to go with it, allowing pedestrians to stroll the mall, walk the Promenade and go to the beach with an open container. Now, the city sounds set to rein things in, at least in the city's residential zones." IF YOU'RE THE PERSON WHO COMPLAINED PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER — "She made a free library in front of her home. Oradell says it's not allowed," by The Record's Stephanie Noda: "A 'little free library' on Lotus Avenue that's been the site of book exchanges for almost six months may be headed for an unhappy ending: Borough officials have asked the homeowner who installed it to take it down. The little free library, a red structure that resembles an oversized mailbox but is filled with free books, was placed in front of Tina Musich's Lotus Avenue home around October … 'At least once a week we get compliments for installing our book drop, and it has created a sense of community lacking in the pandemic,' Musich wrote. Musich recently heard from local officials, however, that she is required to remove the library after the borough received a complaint, since it violates zoning laws. So she began a petition on change.org and a social media campaign to persuade the mayor and council to change the law." —"Dougherty, slate launch re-election campaign" —" Former Randolph High School student says district was slow to investigate TikTok bullying" —"'Highly racist view of Caucasians': Hunterdon Central anti-bias training sparks controversy" —" Lehigh Valley, Warren Co. cases illuminate how to respond to public displays of bigotry" —"Hudson County Prosecutor's Office investigating two employees for 'offensive and sickening comments'" —" Republicans allege cover-up of Hughes' encounter with Pa. cops" —"Friday is tie day for Black males in this South Jersey mentoring group" —" Paterson has paid more than $420K in legal fees in a 2012 fatal police shooting case" | | | | 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 | |
PERMANENT BENNIES — "These 'new locals' at the Jersey Shore couldn't be happier. Just don't take their parking spots this summer," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Amy S. Rosenberg: "A year ago, second-home owners were warned to stay away from offseason Shore towns during a pandemic that was threatening to strain local hospitals. They didn't listen, preferring to hole up inside beach homes rather than apartments, ride out the coronavirus lockdown in less populated towns rather than anxious suburbs. Others bought at the Shore for the first time, driving up real estate prices and creating a frenzy of bidding wars. In Ocean County, median sales prices in January and February jumped 38.5% to $360,000 from a year ago, with nearly 500 units sold, a jump of 17.2%, according to statistics compiled by Bright MLS. Some realized that renting year-round in a Shore town is a bargain, and houses a few blocks from the beach could be bought in some towns with mortgages requiring a fraction of what they were paying in rent in big cities. 'Once you step off the hamster wheel of New York,' says Danielle Yatco, the analyst who bought a home in Ventnor, where her mortgage is half what she paid in rent in New York City, and where her sister, Galit Schwarz, also relocated, 'it's hard to go back.'"
—" Season of the rich: Limited supply and strong demand create a tight summer rental market" | | | | 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