News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Lisa McCormick is the new Kanye West

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Lisa McCormick is the new Kanye West

Apr 13, 2021

Presented by Pre-K Our Way

Good Tuesday morning!

Whenever I note that Lisa McCormick got almost 40 percent of the vote in the 2018 Democratic Senate primary, I interpret it as protest votes against Sen. Bob Menendez, who had just survived a corruption trial the previous year. Still, McCormick or her partner, James Devine, sometimes emailed me and other reporters to complain that we dismissed the result as a fluke.

The thing is, a legitimate candidate for statewide office shouldn't have a problem collecting 1,000 petition signatures. The Democratic State Committee alleged that McCormick's entire petition to run for governor this year was full of signatures of people who didn't sign it and even a deceased resident, according to a press release Friday, and that the vast majority of people who signed her petition had last names that started with A or B, "a statistical anomaly at best." The party is also calling for a criminal investigation. A judge will decide today whether she stays on the ballot.

But this raises another question about a different former un-serious candidate. The Kanye West presidential campaign's petition signatures submitted last year were just as egregious as McCormick's. Page after page were obviously forged . But while Democratic attorney (and now Assembly candidate) Scott Salmon successfully challenged the West signatures and referred them to the attorney general, the Democratic State Committee let Salmon have it and didn't publicly call for a criminal investigation.

My guess was that it was politically more difficult for the Democratic Party to seek to remove a Black celebrity from the ballot than a white perennial candidate who has annoyed lots of powerful people over the years. But Democratic State Committee spokesperson Phil Swibinski said in a statement that the party was already getting ready to challenge West's signatures and discussing it with the Biden campaign when Salmon filed his challenge. "Upon reviewing that filing we determined that no additional action by NJDSC was necessary and that the most likely outcome would be Mr. West being removed from the ballot due to the many obvious deficiencies in his petitions," Swibinski said. "Had Mr. Salmon not filed his challenge immediately it is likely that NJDSC would have gotten involved in order to protect the sanctity of the electoral process, just like we are doing now by exposing Lisa McCormick's defective and potentially fraudulent petitions."

WHERE'S MURPHY — In Paramus to sign child care legislation, then in cyberspace for a 5 p.m. Tufts University speech

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Missed Monday: State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, Former State Sen. Joe Kyrillos

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I don't know if these people have ever heard the gospel. Not only are they in bondage to their sin, but they are in bondage to religion." — GOP gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo on Catholics.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 2,079 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 839,114. 27 more deaths for a total of 22,323 (and 2,573 probable deaths). 2,261 hospitalized, 448 in intensive care. 2,192,021 fully vaccinated, or about 24.7 percent of the population.

A messsage from Pre-K Our Way:

Thanks, Governor and Legislature! Pre-k expansion funding's been in every recent state budget! Working families in 150+ school districts have pre-k expansion – but families in 110+ districts still wait. They're waiting in rural, suburban and suburban communities – from east to west, north to south. Continue substantial pre-k expansion THIS YEAR! Visit prekourway.org

WHAT TRENTON MADE

WEED COMMISSION'S LOGO DOESN'T EVEN FEATURE WEED — "NJ Cannabis Commission gets going, picks vice chair, logo," by The AP's Mike Catalini: " New Jersey's new Cannabis Regulatory Commission on Monday inched toward setting up the recreational marijuana market, holding its first meeting, at which it picked a vice chair and a logo. The five-member commission met remotely, kicking off what Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has said could be a six-month period until recreational marijuana hits the market. Chair Diana Houenou said it will take several weeks for staff to be hired and procedures to be developed. The commission voted to confirm commissioner Sam Delgado, a former Verizon executive, as vice chair. The panel also voted to approve a logo, which features the letters NJ in shades of blue, with the geographic shape of the state embedded between the letters and over top a gold sunburst. Surrounding that are the words New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, as well as 'Equity' and 'Safety.'"

ALMOST ENOUGH FOR AN OUNCE AT A MEDICAL DISPENSARY — Top cannabis execs donated the maximum to Murphy as New Jersey launches adult use, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : Top executives at one of the largest cannabis businesses in the country contributed more than $20,000 to Gov. Phil Murphy's reelection campaign as New Jersey launches an adult use marketplace, according to campaign finance records. Verano Holdings' co-founders George Archos and Sam Dorf maxed out their contributions, with each signing $4,900 checks to Murphy's campaign on Christmas Eve 2020 — one week after lawmakers sent legislation to the famously pro-cannabis governor to legalize the drug for adult use. Marla and Steven Dorf, who list their respective occupations as attorneys with the company, also each gave the maximum contribution on Dec. 24, 2020. Separately, Darren Weiss, Verano's chief counsel and chief legal officer, contributed $500 to the campaign.

KEEP DOING AC — Oliver: Atlantic City should remain under state control for '4 to 5 years', by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan and Daniel Han: Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver told lawmakers on Monday that she expects state control of Atlantic City will extend four or five years beyond the planned exit date of this year. "We've been there coming up on five years in November," said Oliver, who serves as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, which oversees Atlantic City. "I believe another four to five years in Atlantic City and I think Atlantic City will be on good footing." … Assemblymember Vince Mazzeo (D-Atlantic) and a second legislative source said there have been talks with Oliver about extending the state's oversight role past this year through new legislation. "As we hopefully get beyond this pandemic you'll see better days," Mazzeo said

BODY CAMS — "Every N.J. cop must wear body cams by June. Here's the plan to cover the costs," by NJ Advance Media's Joe Atmonavage: "Every police department in New Jersey will be required to have body cameras by June, a costly endeavor that many towns haven't implemented because of the price tag. But there are less expensive ways to launch camera programs before the deadline, according to a group charged with supporting the new state mandate. The Interagency Working Group on Body Worn Cameras — a panel created by Gov. Phil Murphy — released its recommendations last week for how the state and local agencies can reduce the initial and ongoing costs. With less than two months remaining, the group recommended against a single statewide storage system. It urged departments and the state to 'aggressively negotiate' with vendors for an increased volume discount based on statewide purchasing for the cameras and storage. And it suggested departments purchase cloud-based storage, as opposed to physical storage, which can be more costly. Murphy welcomed the recommendations."

THE STRUGGLE TO CHANGE DISCLOSURE FORMS FROM UNHELPFUL TO SLIGHTLY LESS UNHELPFUL — "Plan to improve legislators financial disclosure now stalled for nearly 15 months ," by New Jersey Globe's Nikita Biryukov: "Sweeney last January said he intended to raise the reported income thresholds. Under current rules, state lawmakers report income using brackets of less than $10,000, between $10,000 and $24,999, Between $25,000 and $49,999 or greater than $50,000. Members of the Assembly and Senate are paid an annual salary of $49,000. Lawmakers are required to disclose their finances under the legislative code of ethics, not by statute. While state law requires the legislature adopt a code of ethics, it does not specify that code include provisions on financial disclosure. Sweeney in late March said discussion were ongoing. 'I'm still talking to the Assembly about it,' he said in a press gaggle following a voting session on March 25. 'You're not talking about a whole lot. You're talking about raising the brackets, you know what I mean?'"

TAXES — Murphy plans to continue time-honored NJ tradition: Shortchanging recipients of Homestead tax relief, by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: "Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are making a case for halting the state's long-running practice of using fine print in the annual budget to shortchange thousands of New Jersey homeowners who receive Homestead property-tax relief benefits. A recent NJ Spotlight News story highlighted how Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 would continue to use outdated property-tax bills to calculate Homestead benefits, and thus shortchange eligible homeowners, collectively, by millions of dollars. Murphy, a Democrat running for reelection in November, has proposed doing so even as his overall budget would increase state spending by roughly 10% year-over-year to a record total of nearly $45 billion."

—Ciattarelli to get another $750K in public matching funds

—"Ciattarelli attacks Rizzo over taxes, Catholic comments"

— "NJ isn't saving money for a rainy day, despite COVID surplus. Here's why"

—"The 2021 reemergence of the county party chairs"

—"Murphy signs $15 million in federal aid for small businesses, non-profits struggling with COVID crisis"

—"Get ready to pay more: Toll hikes in effect on 7 bridges connecting New Jersey, Pennsylvania"

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BIDEN TIME

ANNE MILLIGRAM — "Biden picks former New Jersey attorney general to lead DEA," by The Washington Post's Dan Diamond and Devlin Barrett: "President Biden has selected Anne Milgram, a former state attorney general, prosecutor and longtime advocate for reform of the criminal justice system, to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, the White House announced on Monday. Milgram, who once declared, 'there's no system that is more old-school and broken and problematic than the criminal justice system,' currently works as a lawyer in private practice, and as a law professor and podcaster … The DEA has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since the Obama administration. Former president Donald Trump relied on several acting administrators to steer the roughly $3 billion agency … Milgram has long been a proponent of using more detailed crime data to shape targeted law enforcement policies and practices, such as trying to focus on bigger players in the illegal drug supply chain, rather than low-level street arrests."

ARE THEY WORTH THEIR SALT? — "NJ Democrats face put up-or-shut-up moment on SALT deductions as midterms loom," by The Record's Charles Stile: "Sherrill and other New Jersey Democrats are facing pressure to deliver on their oft-repeated promise to dismantle the SALT cap — former President Donald Trump's stick-in-the-eye gesture to the wealthy, blue states that fiercely opposed his presidency. Armed with Democratic majorities in both houses — albeit thin ones — and with Joe Biden in the Oval Office, it's now put-up-or-shut-up time for Democrats, especially those in competitive districts … 'This is certainly a line in the sand for many of us that we are going to fight — with every fiber in our body,' Gottheimer said."

TRADE IT FOR THE STATUE OF LIBERTY — "They're screwing Jersey:' Lawmakers ask feds to put brakes on NYC congestion tolls," by NJ 101.5's Dan Alexander: "Two Democratic congressmen from New Jersey are calling on federal transportation officials to protect state commuters from the 'double taxing' of a proposed congestion pricing plan on the George Washington Bridge … U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. 5th District, pointed out that the plan would not affect commuters coming into Manhattan on the Henry Hudson Bridge even though its further north than the GWB. 'They are going after Jersey. They are protecting New York drivers and screwing Jersey,' Gottheimer said. 'New York City wants to blow up our historical cooperation and hit every hard-working, middle class worker with an additional $14 congestion tax on top of the already unaffordable $15 toll every time they go over the George Washington Bridge and into Manhattan,' he said."

A messsage from Pre-K Our Way:

LOCAL

FULOP FOR MAYOR OF DEAL — "Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop wades into a battle over public space — in Narragansett, Rhode Island," by The Jersey Journal's Peter D'Auria: "Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is no stranger to taking a stand on controversial issues. But usually, that controversy takes place in Jersey City — not Narragansett, Rhode Island. Since the beginning of 2021, Fulop has called in to two meetings of the Narragansett town council to oppose a controversial plan to add public parking spots to Point Judith, the upscale waterfront neighborhood where he owns a summer house. Rhode Island law requires all the state's beaches to be open to the public, and for decades, surfers have flocked to Point Judith in search of waves reputed to be some of New England's best. In an effort to preserve that beach access, the Narragansett town council is considering opening residential streets in Point Judith for public parking. But that proposal has angered some neighborhood property owners, who have called into council meetings to complain of congestion and crowds of visiting surfers. One of those property owners is Steve Fulop. 'As the homeowner there, there isn't a week that goes by where we don't have countless surfers stripping down and changing on the street,' Fulop said at a Jan. 4 town council meeting. 'There isn't a day that goes by that there aren't countless trespassers walking across my property at all times.'"

WAS THIS JOB BY BERGER WELL DONE? — "Howell mayor's firm gave COVID vaccines to residents and cops. Was it legal?" by The Asbury Park Press' Alex N. Gecan: "The township attorney wants the state's Local Finance Board to weigh in on whether Mayor Theresa Berger violated local government ethics laws by providing township police officers and residents COVID-19 vaccines through her nonprofit medical organization. 'This isn't about stopping vaccines in Howell. This is making sure that we account for potential liability,' Township Attorney Joseph Clark told the Asbury Park Press in a phone interview. 'I'd rather make sure we have all our ducks in a row, and get people vaccinated.' Lakewood-based Ocean Health Initiatives, of which Berger is president and CEO and which has locations throughout the Jersey Shore, organized vaccine doses in Howell in January, February and March through the township's Office of Emergency Management … Berger, a Democrat, herself raised the issue at a Township Council meeting in March, insisting she was receiving no benefit related to the vaccinations. But Clark said at that meeting he still wanted guidance from the state panel since OHI may bill individuals or insurers — including the township's insurers — for the injections, and those billings go into the same pool of money that pays Berger's salary from the health care provider."

WHEN TRUMP SUPPORTERS DON'T LIKE PIPELINES — "Biden administration should 'get on board' with pipeline opposition: Hunterdon official," by MyCentralJersey: "A Hunterdon official has again voiced displeasure with President Joe Biden's administration's backing of PennEast in the legal battle to build a natural gas pipeline through the county. Commissioner Director Susan J. Soloway voiced support at last week's meeting for state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal's brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in opposition to PennEast's efforts to use eminent domain to build the pipeline. She called for the Biden administration to 'get on board' with New Jersey. 'Attorney General Grewal's brief is very clear in its statement to the court that there is no constitutional exception to sovereign immunity for eminent domain lawsuits,' said Soloway, who previously called for the Biden administration to reverse its support of the pipeline's effort to use eminent domain."

— "N.J. school district needed substitutes, so it doubled their pay. The move worked"

—" Mount Laurel company that tests hemp gets approval for marijuana testing"

—"N.J. man sues [Bergen] prosecutors who seized $111K 7 years ago but never charged him with a crime"

—" Former Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly earns $283k payout for unused time"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

100 MASTROS — "Retaining wall collapse in South Jersey could further delay a $900 million fix of a regional traffic nightmare," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Thomas Fitzgerald: "For years, the mash-up of concrete spaghetti where Interstates 295 and 76 and Route 42 meet in Camden County has been the region's great idler of traffic. Now, the late-March collapse of a retaining wall may push back the expected 2028 completion of the $900 million project to untangle the mess. 'Realistically, we have to accept there's going to be some lost time,' Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, the New Jersey transportation commissioner, said last week during a Zoom town-hall meeting with elected leaders and hundreds of area residents who have borne the burden of seemingly endless construction."

— "Rowan and Stockton will not require students to have the COVID-19 vaccine before returning to campus"

—"NJ store is helping families stay clothed free of charge"

R.I.P. — "Farewell to Joseph Siravo, Tony Soprano's dad"

— "Nils Lofgren thinks Springsteen's DWI was 'a set up,' talks 'Letter to You' and E Street return"

A messsage from Pre-K Our Way:

Thanks to the Governor and Legislature, there's been pre-k expansion funding in every recent state budget! That's enabled NJ to expand pre-k for working families into 150+ school districts.

However, families in 110+ eligible districts still wait in rural, suburban and urban communities, and from east to west – and north to south.

The proposed FY2022 budget would continue to recognize pre-k expansion as a priority for now, and for our future. We agree with former Governor Tom Kean, "There are a few priority reforms we need to make to improve education in our state. One of our highest priorities should be the availability of quality pre-k programs for all of our children. These programs offer our best hope for future success in school and life."

Let's maintain pre-k expansion as a statewide priority. Continue substantial pre-k expansion in the coming year for New Jersey, and especially for its working families.

Visit prekourway.org