News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Cooper gets its tax incentive

Friday, April 23, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Cooper gets its tax incentive

Apr 23, 2021

Presented by Ørsted

Just two years ago, we were at the middle of a massive fight between Gov. Murphy and George Norcross over tax incentives.

It got to the point where Norcross was making threats about Murphy facing a primary opponent.

Well, here we are with the governor facing reelection. He has no primary opponent. And now a frozen tax incentive for Cooper Health System, which Norcross chairs, has been thawed, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It was one of a bunch of companies that saw their tax credits frozen in the wake of the Murphy-appointed commission's report and was the subject of this particularly scathing article. Meanwhile, Norcross' insurance brokerage and its Camden headquarters partner companies have gotten important certifications from the EDA, even though their tax incentives haven't yet been distributed.

I have no evidence, so I'm not suggesting that the governor's recent detente with Norcross has anything to do with this. But it's an amazing contrast from two years ago. And those investigations about the tax credit program, state and federal? We haven't heard of any activity in quite a while.

WHERE'S MURPHY?: At a Toms Rivers supermarket for a vaccination visit at noon, followed by a bridge groundbreaking ceremony in Ship Bottom at 1:15 p.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Junior Achivement of NJ's Christy Biedron, former Assemblymember John Rooney, Gutenberg Mayor Wayne Zitt. Saturday for First Lady's Office's Shannon McGee, Gibbons' David J. Pascrell and his twin brother, Glenn . Sunday for former Division of Civil Rights E.D. Frank Vespa, CLB Partners' Karen Kominsky, Springfield committeemember Alexander Keiser, Pitman Councilmember Matthew Weng

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Chris Christie can't stand it when he doesn't get attention. We just ended a long presidential campaign; we are fighting to get vaccinated; and now he is making news that he wants to run for president. Again. The only thing that Christie is consistent about is that he wants to be president. He first coached President Trump for the debates, then said that the President should be impeached. He says he is opposed to addiction but is working for a company that allegedly targeted minors. He acts like he cares but he is a bully and hostile to everyone in his office. So let's give Chris Christie some attention today. If you think Christie scapegoated Bridget Kelly, intentionally lied, and tried to send her to prison just so he could further his political ambitions... Then donate $50 to Bridget's campaign right now." — A Bridget Kelly fundraising email for her Bergen County Clerk candidacy

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 2,895 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 868,541. 31 more deaths for a total of 25,301 confirmed or presumed. 1,997 hospitalized, 457 in intensive care. 2,631,691 fully vaccinated, or about 29.6 percent of the population.

A message from Ørsted:

Together, we have helped New Jersey progress towards its ambitious renewable energy goals and plant the seeds of green growth. But at Ørsted, we want to go further. With Ocean Wind 2, we can deliver an additional 1,200 MW to power 500,000 New Jersey homes with clean, reliable energy. Building upon our firm roots, we want to grow a healthier Garden State that is sustainable and equitable. Learn more: us.orsted.com/newjersey

WHAT TRENTON MADE

RIZZO AND REPEAT — Rizzo's application for matching funds denied for a 2nd time, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: For Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo, a day late meant more than $700,000 short. On Thursday, the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission for a second time rejected Rizzo's application to receive two-for-one matching funds from the state, saying he missed the April 5 application deadline by a day and that the application had incomplete information that was supplied by his campaign over the next two weeks. The decision also means Rizzo, the pastor of a small Hudson County church who also works in real estate, won't be able to participate in two publicly sanctioned debates. "What we know is that the information as to the amount of money collected was provided a day late ... and the information on the expenditures trickled in over the next two weeks," ELEC Commissioner Stephen Holden said just before he and the agency's two other commissioners voted to deny Rizzo the funding. "Those two things tell us together that as election law enforcement commissioners, the election laws have not been complied with."

ISSUES EMERGE — "Lawmakers push for tax-break clean-up bill before summer recess," by NJBIZ's Daniel J. Munoz: "State lawmakers are hoping to pass a clean-up bill for a key corporate tax incentive program before they break for summer recess on July 1. The program, known as NJ Emerge, has a yearly budget of $1.1 billion, and is run by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which is in the rulemaking process and hopes to approve the first awards in May under an interim set of rules … For one, the bill and the rules do not adequately address employees of New Jersey companies who are doing their work remotely, be it at home or in another state, according to Pintor-Marin. One issue centers around the 80% rules. The legislation requires employees to spend 80% of their time in New Jersey, or at the office for incentive bonuses tied to certain locations."

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SURE TO FOLLOW SUIT IN CONCRETE WAYS — New Jersey releases its first strategic plan for combating climate change, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday released a draft of the state's first Climate Change Resilience Strategy, a plan intended to set state priorities for combating climate change. Among its 100 recommendations, the Murphy administration is urging local governments and agencies to integrate climate change into local planning, regional transportation, housing and other infrastructure planning, as well as continuing to invest in renewable energy and launching a communications campaign to help New Jerseyans understand climate change.

HEY COLLIGAN MAN — "All eyes on Coughlin as Black leaders press for civilian review board," by InsidernJ's Max Pizarro: "Now with a special urgency in the aftermath of the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, the Legislative Black Caucus wants Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) to post A-4656, which would establish a municipal civilian review board of local police departments — with subpoena power. Now under review, the legislation, sponsored in the upper house by Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-31) and senators Ronald L. Rice and Shirley Turner, evolved out of a Supreme Court decision in the case of the City of Newark's efforts to establish a civilian board to oversee its police department … Coughlin, of course, has the Fraternal Order of Police — the organization that initially filed the lawsuit — in his other ear, opposing the legislation. So a fight's coming."

MURPHY STILL ALIVE — NJ Transit reaches full roster of rail engineers for first time in a decade, by POLITICO's Daniel Han : NJ Transit will have a full roster of rail engineers for the first time in a decade, eliminating a shortage officials say was responsible for countless delays and cancellations in recent years. The breakthrough came Thursday afternoon when nine engineers graduated from their training class, bringing the agency to a total of 393 engineers. At least 390 engineers are needed for a full roster. "For the first time in years, a call-out or a sick day won't collapse into a litany of train cancellations," Murphy said during the graduation ceremony at the Metropark rail station in Iselin. "When we say a train will operate, we'll have the team available to put that train into operation." Although he did not mention him by name, Murphy blamed former Gov. Chris Christie for the dearth of engineers.

JAMEL HOLLEY FOR STATE SENATE: CATCH THE FEVER — "Demand for COVID vaccine drops in NJ, risking goal to get 70% adults vaccinated by summer," by The Record's Scott Fallon and Lindy Washburn: "Demand for COVID-19 vaccines appears to be waning in New Jersey, prompting Gov. Phil Murphy to shift the state's focus to outreach so that enough residents are vaccinated to ensure a return to near normalcy by early summer. The number of vaccinations began to drop last week for the first time since the rollout began in December — a development Murphy said was 'the beginning of a phase where we need to be proactive' to get people vaccinated. Almost 2.6 million New Jerseyans are fully vaccinated, about halfway toward the goal of 4.7 million, or 70% of the state's adult population. That goal is considered key to controlling the virus by reducing the number of people susceptible to it so that it gradually fades away. The decline in daily vaccinations administered is a reversal after months of demand outstripping supply."

ALL YOU NEED IS JUST A LITTLE PATIENTS — "After parents' outcry, N.J. relaxes pandemic lockdown on programs for people with disabilities," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio: "Within the next two weeks, thousands of people with developmental disabilities in New Jersey will be permitted to return to daily skill-building and recreational programs the state closed to control the spread of the pandemic, the state Department of Human Services announced Thursday. The announcement, arriving by email Thursday morning, has been eagerly awaited for months thousands of families and people who provide state services to people with developmental disabilities. Aside from a six-week period in the fall, day programs have been shut since the pandemic began 13 months ago, based on a Health Department formula measuring positive COVID-19 cases per capita by county."

— General Majority raises $630K, repays loans from Norcross and his allies

—"For Earth's sake: Looking back on the career of NJ Sierra Club's Jeff Tittel"

—"Port Authority is still losing big money due to COVID, but there are some signs of hope"

—"Sweeney: Warehouse projects need regional approval"

—"State Bar Association ok's Wainer Apter for Supreme Court seat"

—"Murphy hasn't filled GOP seat on ELEC that's been vacant for 1,371 days"

—" Oliver and Thompson clash over CARES Act funding"

—"NJ unemployment: Tech upgrade would tell you why your claim is delayed"

SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION : Power dynamics are changing in Washington and across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. Our twice-weekly newsletter "The Recast" breaks down how race and identity shape politics and policy in America, and we are recasting how we report on it. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

BIDEN TIME

—Stile: "'Swing district' NJ House Dems — 2022 GOP targets — scramble for cash"

—" N.J. lawmakers urge more prisoner vaccinations at facility devastated by COVID"

A message from Ørsted:

LOCAL

ATLANTIC COUNTY — "AG probe finds evidence of lying, retaliation in Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office," by NJ Advance Media's Rebecca Everett: "For the second time this week, ethics complaints against Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner have been substantiated by investigators in the Attorney General's Office. Three former employees of the prosecutor's office filed internal affairs complaints with the Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability in 2018. After years of investigation, the office found that there was evidence to support six of the 17 allegations against Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner, according to a letter the office sent to the former employees Monday that was provided to NJ Advance Media. The letter says investigators found evidence that Tyner lied at a press conference in an attempt to win the public's trust, misrepresented how forfeiture funds were used, twice failed to recuse himself from conflicted cases, inappropriately acted as the supervisor of his brother, whom he hired, and played a role in a retaliatory move against a whistleblower within his office … The three women, who sued Tyner, Shill and the county in 2019 and maintain Tyner forced them out of their jobs, have called for Tyner's removal. They said in a press release Wednesday that the Attorney General has removed other county prosecutors for far less transgressions."

INFINITECUMBENTS — "These NJ politicians have been in office for decades. Should they hold seats that long?" by The Record's Terrence T. McDonald: "In 1978, the Bee Gees had three of the year's top songs, the highest-grossing film was 'Grease' and Phil Yetter was first elected to the Hampton Township Committee. It's been 43 years and Yetter is still on the governing body of this conservative Sussex County town. Now serving his 14th term, he chalks up his popularity with voters to one thing. 'Honesty,' Yetter said. The sheer longevity of Yetter's reign is rare, but he's among dozens of elected officials across New Jersey in office for more than a quarter-century. James Anzaldi has been Clifton's mayor since 1990. Jim Cahill was first elected New Brunswick's mayor one year later. Since 1993 Chris Bollwage has been mayor of Elizabeth, a city that has had just two mayors in the last 57 years."

LICENSE TO BIKE — "Cops cuffed N.J. teen, confiscated bicycles. How bike laws in other towns compare," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Shea: "Some other towns require licenses, too. In Union, bicycle owners must register their bikes with police, and attach the 'proper registration tag or decal.' In Fair Lawn, bicycles need a license, but the fee has since been repealed. Licensing bicycles does not work, says Debra Kagan, executive director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. She's not sure how many towns have them — the state does have 565 municipalities — but it's not many and there is very little enforcement by police, she said."

—" They called it 'The God Squad.' How a brazen band of cops operated in this N.J. suburb"

—"Paterson seeks to borrow $10.5M for infrastructure — sending the city's debt to $129M"

—" Suspended Wyckoff principal doesn't have to be reinstated during investigation, says judge"

—"Piscataway councilwoman joins Middlesex Board of Commissioners, replacing Kenneth Armwood"

—" Toms River Regional plans five days a week of in-person instruction, starting May 3"

—"Garfield native who represented George Floyd family saw history repeat itself"

—" Peter J. MIller receives royal sendoff after 31 years as EHT administrator"

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

SEC QUESTIONED QUALITY OF SAUSAGE, EGG & CHEESE — "SEC questioned Paulsboro's Hometown deli as it lined up stock sale," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Erin Arvedlund and Jason Nark: "When the parent company of a South Jersey deli was selling more shares amid a boom in its stock last year, the firm drew the attention of federal regulators. The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission asked some pointed questions of the parent firm for Your Hometown Deli in Gloucester County, regulatory filings show. Among the questions it asked of a firm whose stock is worth more than $100 million: Could the business continue to be 'a going concern'? Other records show something else: A company hired as a consultant for the deli business has employed a stockbroker barred from the industry in 2008 after he failed to pay a $1.1 million arbitration award … The stockbroker, James T. Patten, 61, also ran a New Jersey brokerage that was expelled from the securities industry in the late 1980s. The consulting firm is in part owned by the father of the board chairman of the deli's parent company."

TURNS OUT IT WASN'T VERY GOOD — "Small town deli, valued at $100M and owned by Paulsboro coach, is delisted from over the counter trading," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Hometown International, the operator of just a single deli in Paulsboro owned by the town's champion wrestling coach that inexplicably has been valued at more than $100 million, has been delisted from the financial market where its stock was traded. OTC Markets Group, the over-the-counter exchange, said Thursday it had also determined that a 'public interest concern' existed for Hometown International, and added a so-called designation of 'Caveat Emptor,' the Latin phrase that means 'buyer beware.' … In a statement, OTC Markets Group said the company 'does not meet the requirements' of its market and removed Hometown from its trading platform 'effective immediately.' Officials said it may not reapply for at least 90 days."

—Genovese: "I ate lunch at N.J. deli supposedly worth $100 million. Here's my 2 cents,"

DON'T DO THIS IF YOU WANNA BUY THE WESTFIELD WATCHER HOUSE — " Buyers in hot NJ housing market send 'love letters' to sellers, but are they legal?" by The Asbury Park Press' Michael L. Diamond : "Homebuyers have been inundating sellers with emotional letters, explaining what the house would mean to them and giving them a foot in the door, even if they don't have the highest offer. But now Jersey Shore Realtors are taking a closer look at the practice, worried that letters will convince owners to sell homes to people like them — and run afoul of fair housing laws. 'The fear is that people are going to make decisions based on issues that they're not supposed to know about, like familial status and religion,' said Wendy Smith, president of the Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors, a trade group. 'So when (buyers) put these beautiful letters together — and believe me, I've seen many, many of them — I think it just puts the sellers in a predicament that they probably shouldn't be in.' Buyers locked in bidding wars often will include personal letters in their offers, heart-tugging tales of what the home means to them. The appeals can give sellers one more item to consider beyond the terms and price before deciding whom to choose."

—"Philly developer has big plans for Atlantic City's Showboat"

—"NJ sees a few rare 'breakthrough' COVID cases in those fully vaccinated against virus"

—"After 88 years, 'offensive' N.J. college newspaper name gets an edit"

—"COVID didn't just kill in NJ, it challenged our mental health: There's help though"

A message from Ørsted:

From building the world's first offshore wind farm to becoming the global leader, offshore wind is what we do. It's what brought Ørsted and New Jersey together.

With Ocean Wind 2, we can continue to help New Jersey deliver on its goal of powering more than 3.2 million homes with offshore wind by 2035 - building a hub for this new American industry, while mitigating the effects of climate change.

By bringing an additional $1 billion of in-state spending through Ocean Wind 2, we will invest in new facilities, harness homegrown talent, and further support local communities and businesses. Ørsted is committed to growing a Garden State that is green all the way to its roots – that values equity, creates new opportunities and embraces diversity.

Learn more: us.orsted.com/newjersey