News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: George Gilmore's latest move

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: George Gilmore's latest move

Apr 06, 2021

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Good Tuesday morning!

Former Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore, who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump following criminal federal tax convictions, has a new mission: Help get matching funds for a far-right long shot gubernatorial candidate.

Radio personality/professional troll Bill Spadea made the announcement while emceeing a gubernatorial campaign fundraiser for Pastor Phil Rizzo, who among other things claims masks make you sick and taunted former Gov. Chris Christie with a donut emoji.

"We are certainly blessed to have the power of George Gilmore in the corner getting Phil over that finish line so he can get to the matching funds and take Jack Ciattarelli to task," Spadea said at the event.

Gilmore, once one of the most powerful Republicans in the state, can still raise money. But Gilmore lost a good deal of influence in an intra-party fight when the Ocean County Republicans voted to de-certify the Toms River Republican club tied to him in favor of one allied with the current chair, Frank Holman III.

So what's the aim in helping Rizzo qualify for taxpayer funds? I'm not sure. Jack Ciattarelli has wrapped up GOP establishment support and is heavily favored in the primary. He has the luxury of using the pre-June months to attack Gov. Murphy rather than focus on Republican rivals. Another Republican candidate raising $490,000 to qualify for public campaign financing probably wouldn't cost Ciattarelli the nomination, but it might require him to spend some of his finite resources on the primary.

Read more here.

WHERE'S MURPHY — Newark Penn Station at 11 a.m. for a NJ Transit event, then Elizabeth for a noon vaccine site visit. Media: NBC Nightly News at 6:30 p.m.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 2,471 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 817,464. 15 more deaths for a total of 22,801 (and 2,578 probably deaths). 2,292 hospitalized, 484 in intensive care.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — R&J's Scott Marioni

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm sorry the server gets screwed on this. Don't kick paying customers out after 90 minutes." — An unnamed customer who stiffed a server on a tip over a 90-minute table limit.

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

VACCINATION SITE SECURITY GUARDS TOLD TO LOOK OUT FOR FLORIDA CONGRESSMEN — All New Jerseyans 16 and over will be eligible for Covid vaccine starting April 19, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that all New Jersey residents 16 and older will become eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccination starting April 19. "We are going to make our most aggressive push yet to meet our vaccination goals," Murphy said during his regular briefing in Trenton. "That's about 12 days ahead of our initial target that had been May." Details: Monday's announcement marks a major step forward in New Jersey's vaccination efforts. People 55 and older — along with other groups — became eligible for the vaccine on Monday. Lowering the age of eligibility to 16 puts New Jersey in line with other states, such as Michigan and Florida, that have taken similar steps. New York will open eligibility to 16-year-olds starting April 6.

HEALTH — Lawmakers signal willingness to reexamine liability shields as health systems stabilize, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : New Jersey lawmakers are considering rescinding a liability shield granted to hospital systems and long-term care facilities in the early days of the pandemic. With Covid-19 hospitalizations holding at a fraction of where they stood during the first wave last spring and outbreaks at nursing homes fading, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have told POLITICO in recent weeks it may be time to reconsider legislation, NJ S2333 (20R), that was hastily passed a year ago to protect health care providers and health systems from civil and criminal claims involving the virus.

VAX GAP — "NJ still hasn't bridged the racial gap in COVID vaccination. Here's what's going wrong," by The Record's Monsy Alvarado: "It's a problem New Jersey still hasn't solved. Months into efforts to get the vaccine to hard-hit communities, the state has made some progress — but immunization rates among communities of color still fall well short of those groups' share of the population. Community leaders and health experts cite a litany of obstacles: vaccine shortages, mistrust of the medical establishment, limited internet access and working-class jobs that don't allow time to hunt for appointments online or travel across the state to get a vaccine, the way more affluent New Jerseyans can do … As of Thursday, 5% of the 4.4 million doses distributed in the state had gone to Black recipients, according to state Health Department figures Another 8% went to Latinos, 8% to Asians and 59% to those identifying as white. Assessing the numbers is complicated, because 11% of recipients are classified as 'other' and another 10% as 'unknown.' According to census estimates, about 14% of the state population in 2019 was Black, 10% was Asian and 21% described themselves as Hispanic or Latino, a category that includes multiple races. Two-thirds of state residents were white, though that drops to 54% for non-Hispanic or Latino whites."

IF THIS VAN'S A-ROCKIN', SOMEONE'S HAVING A TERRIBLE REACTION TO THE VACCINE AND THE ANTI-VAXXERS WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG — "The slow rollout of NJ's vaccine vans," by NJ Spotlight's Lilo H. Stainton: "Mobile vaccine sites — as in vans — have long been part of New Jersey's plan to dispense COVID-19 vaccines. For at least six months, public health officials have been considering how these vans could expand vaccine access in underserved communities around the state. But the state's rollout of the program seems stuck in low gear. The state Department of Health placed an order in November for three customized vans, according to department officials; the vehicles, which were delivered in mid-March, are now being registered with the state's Motor Vehicle Commission. Gov. Phil Murphy has said it could be several weeks before they hit New Jersey's streets. 'We've got the vans. We ordered them. It took a while to get them; we have them,' Murphy said at a pandemic media briefing in late March."

WHO AUTH-ORIZED THIS? — "Ruth Dugan, candidate for NJ Senate, alleges mail tampering by Auth's brother," by InsiderNJ's Jay Lassiter: "Ruth Dugan, the Democrat running for Senate in NJ's 39th legislative district is calling for an investigation into mail tampering at the Westwood Post Office. After learning that several of her donors had their checked sent back marked 'return to sender,' Ms. Dugan visited the Westwood Post Office to sort things out in person. Ms. Dugan was told by a post office employee that this particular mail box number 'does not exist,' a worrying surprise to anyone counting on the PO Box for fundraising purposes … The employee, a Mr. Auth per his name tag, is the brother of incumbent Assemblyman Robert Auth who's running for reelection against Ms. Dugan's ticket. Ms. Dugan's campaign told InsiderNJ that the post office subsequently issued a formal apology but no other explanation. They blamed 'clerk error' in their apology, leaving Ms. Dugan a first time candidate, with more questions than answers."

MO MASTROS — "N.J. tax revenue, already up $3B, could be even higher, budget analysts say," by NJ Advance Media's Samantha Marcus : "New Jersey's revenues during this fiscal year and next may be even better than the flush-with-cash prediction Gov. Phil Murphy made his February budget proposal, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services obtained by NJ Advance Media. New Jersey's legislative budget analysts are forecasting the state will collect roughly $550 million more than Murphy's projections over the two fiscal years, including by $428 million this year and $125 million in the next. OLS will present its report to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Tuesday."

—"'Discriminatory human rights issue': Families tell NJ to reopen day programs for disabled"

—"Mohin Patel, slate launch bids in 18th district against Diegnan, incumbent assemblymen"

—Wildstein: "I'm not afraid of Tom Moran or The Star-Ledger's 'Poor Man's Mastro Report"

—Quijano: "Airport workers deserve health care. Governor, we look forward to you signing the bill"

—"Mastrangelo enters race for atate Assembly In the 26th"

—"Democrat Lisa McCormick says she filed to run for Governor"

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BIDEN TIME

ON THE WATERFRONT — "In unexpected move, U.S. Supreme Court asks Justice Dept. to weigh in on battle involving N.J. and mob watchdog," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman : "The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, in an unexpected move, called for the U.S. Solicitor General to step into the long-running legal battle by New Jersey to kill the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor — a bi-state agency created more than 65 years ago to police the region's ports. In its order, the court sought briefs to hear 'the views of the United States,' in a case that argues New Jersey should not be able to walk away from a federally approved interstate compact. The state wants to withdraw from the commission and turn over its policing role to the New Jersey State Police. The case before the justices so far has been on very narrow grounds, dealing with whether the commission could seek legal intervention to save itself. But instead of ruling on whether to take the case, the high court instead asked the office that represents the federal government before the Supreme Court for its opinion on the complex issues in the case. Waterfront Commission officials declined comment, but some legal experts questioned whether New Jersey can implement what they believe is an unconstitutional statute."

LOCAL

ATLANTIC CITY'S SUCH A FOOD DESERT THAT EVEN THE SANDS LEFT — "Atlantic City supermarket remains in predevelopment stage," by The Press of Atlantic City's Molly Shelly: "More than two years after the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority began its quest to bring a supermarket back to the resort, the project is seemingly at a standstill. City officials have cited the pandemic and the slow-turning wheels of government as reasons for the delay. 'It is painfully slow, but moving things through government can often be slow,' said Matt Doherty, CRDA's executive director. 'We are committed to making it a reality. ... This is a necessary project. Atlantic City is a food desert.'"

EVERY TIME A TEACHER'S UNION MEMBER SWEARS THEY HAVE TO PUT A DOLLAR INTO PHIL MURPHY'S 501C4 — "N.J. teachers' union head mouthed swearword at parent during virtual meeting. Now she's apologizing," by NJ Advance Media's Carolina Fasset: "The president of a teachers' union for a Hunterdon County school district has apologized for saying muted profanities in response to a parent's comments during a virtual Board of Education meeting held earlier this year. Kelly Hill, president of the Clinton Township Education Association, appeared to say the expletives 'a**' and 'a**hole' while onscreen but muted during a virtual board meeting held on Feb. 22. The incident happened as a parent from the district said they supported the school district returning to in-person instruction five days per week. 'There are several districts around us that are going or already in those five day half-days,' the parent said during the meeting. 'Why would Clinton not be there already?' After the parent made their comments, Hill mouthed an expletive."

FOR PARSIPPANY PD, IT'S LEMANNA FROM HELL — "Sergeant sues, says Parsippany police covered up violations and enforced ticket quotas," by The Daily Record'ss Lori Comstock: "Six years ago, Parsippany Sgt. Matthew LaManna says, he overheard colleagues discussing a crash involving another sergeant's daughter. A lieutenant, LaManna says, told officers to conceal that the teen had been on her phone so her father's insurance premiums wouldn't suffer. In a lawsuit filed last month, LaManna describes himself as 'an officer who refused to look the other way.' The veteran cop claims he uncovered much that he was ordered to overlook during 14 years on Morris County's largest police force. In the suit, filed in state Superior Court, LaManna accuses the department of running a quota system to pump up criminal arrests and summonses. Officers hushed up violations by fellow cops and their relatives and ignored abuses of overtime and sick pay, he says. Because LaManna spoke up, according to the complaint, he has been denied promotions and favorable shifts for years."

BARBERIO AT THE GATE —"Barberio mounts comeback bid in Parsippany," by New Jersey Globe's Daivd Wildstein: "Former Parsippany Mayor Jamie Barberio filed nominating petitions to seek the GOP mayoral nomination, setting up a potential rematch with the Democrat who ousted him four years ago, Michael Soriano. Barberio must still win the primary against former Council President Louis Valori, the Parsippany Republican Municipal Chairman. Soriano ousted the two-term Republican by 832 votes in 2017, 53%-47%. Barberio must still win the primary against former Council President Louis Valori, the Parsippany Republican Municipal Chairman."

WAS HE SNIFFING IT, TOO? — "Toms River man charged with painting mystery blue line accused of shoplifting the paint," by The Asbury Park Press' Ken Serrano and Erik Larsen: "The township man accused of painting a 4-inch blue line down the center of Hooper Avenue March 30 has drawn an additional charge for allegedly shoplifting 11 cans of blue paint from a Home Depot used to paint the line. David Giordano, 43, was also issued summonses Friday for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. It was the third in a series of recent events involving Giordano, who township police say has an extensive record of encounters with police in Toms River."

SILVER LININGS SCHOOLBOOK — " How did COVID-19 impact South Jersey school districts' debt?" by The Courier-Post's Carly Q. Romalino: "As vaccines roll out and the climate feels more hopeful, some school districts are finding unexpected fiscal silver linings have emerged in their budgets … 'One good thing that has come out of this, with the interest rates being so low, districts have been able to finance debt restructuring,' Moorestown Township Public Schools Business Administrator James Heiser said … In addition, districts that asked tax payers to authorize bonds in referendums in late 2019 and the early weeks of 2020, have had actual bids for work come in lower, according to Deptford Township Schools spokesman Sal Randazzo. 'The cost to taxpayers went down from what was initially projected simply because of the interest rates we were able to get on the bonds,' Randazzo explained, adding some contractor prices were lower, too, as companies were eager to work."

—"COVID is surging in [Keyport]. Cases have doubled since Christmas"

—" Somerset Democrats let slogan lapse, and GOP now owns it"

—"Why Atlantic City's minority neighborhoods are also its most flooded"

—" Lawsuits mount against Waldwick schools claiming teacher stalked, abused students in '80s"

—"Bayonne PAL being sued over alleged sexual abuse by basketball coach over 50 years ago"

—" Waterway cleanup proposed in three South Jersey towns tied to Sherwin-Williams Superfund"

—"Trenton Police vlogger says 'crooked' Maxwell beat him for filming brother's arrest in 2019"

—" Ex-Trenton union leader arrested in alleged stolen property sting"

—"All Jersey City employees will return to their offices starting in May"

R.I.P. — " 'One of the good ones:' Phillipsburg cop dies in motorcycle crash"

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

—"N.J. has a racial gap in home ownership. Step one to fix that? More Black realtors, group says"

—" Ben Stiller at Bell Works: How Lakewood entrepreneur brought Hollywood to Holmdel"

—"For New Jersey's economy, a life science job boom could be a boon | Opinion"

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