News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A peek at the Christie Institute's finances

Monday, April 5, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A peek at the Christie Institute's finances

Apr 05, 2021

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Good Monday morning!

Like a lot of things with Chris Christie, there's plenty of money involved with his non-profit, the Christie Institute for Public Policy, which occasionally hosts notable political figures for discussions with the former New Jersey governor.

Sam Sutton took a peak at the Institute's tax info and found it raised $513,000 (~1/18 mastro) in 2019 alone.

How was that money spent? Because of how long it takes for Form 990s to be made available to the public, we don't have a clue at this point. When those forms do become available, hopefully we'll get answers to some questions: Has it endowed its promised law student scholarships yet? How much is it paying its staff, including executive director Michele Brown, a Christie confidant who for years after serving in his administration held very lucrative quasi-public sector jobs at Choose New Jersey and Horizon?

Read more from Sam Sutton here.

WHERE'S MURPHY — In Trenton for a 2:30 p.m. coronavirus press conference.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 3,284 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 815,007. 11 more deaths for a total of 22,069 (and 2,568 probable deaths). 2,223 hospitalized, 443 in intensive care. 1,772,456 fully vaccinated — about 20 percent of the population.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Hal Wirths

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "If we truly want to legalize cannabis--which is what the voters of New Jersey did overwhelmingly, [by] 67 percent -- then home-grown has to be a part of that. Right now the fact that there's jail time for home-grown is crazy." — State Sen. Vin Gopal

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

STATES THAT ALREADY LEGALIZED ARE MAD MAX-STYLE HELLSCAPES — State lawmakers warm up to weed legalization, by POLITICO's Mona Zhang, Paul Demko, Shannon Young, Natalie Fertig and Sam Sutton : State legislatures have been slow to catch up to the marijuana legalization trend, which has largely played out at the ballot box. That's changing this year. Virginia's Legislature passed a recreational legalization bill in February, becoming the first Southern state to fully embrace weed. This week, lawmakers in New York and New Mexico legalized weed for adults, after years of failed efforts. New Jersey lawmakers also passed legislation implementing a voter-approved legalization amendment. And more conservative states like Kansas and Alabama are moving medical marijuana legalization bills forward. "The sky hasn't fallen in those states that have legalized," said Karen O'Keefe, director of state policies for legalization advocacy organization Marijuana Policy Project. "It doesn't hurt that these laws generate a lot of economic growth in the way of new jobs, new small businesses and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue that states could really use as they recover from Covid."

REGULATORS! MOUNT UP — Clock about to start ticking toward sale of legal weed in New Jersey, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : The clock is about to start ticking toward the start of legal sale of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. After a lengthy delay, Gov. Phil Murphy next week plans to formally appoint members to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, a five-member panel charged with regulating the fledgling market, Alyana Alfaro Post, a spokesperson for the governor's office, confirmed Friday. Alfaro Post said the commission's first meeting will be announced soon. Murphy has already announced who the members will be but has not submitted the appointments. WNYC reporter Matt Katz first tweeted the news of the appointments.

EVICTIONS — "N.J. announces new measures to protect tenants from illegal lockouts during eviction moratorium," by NJ Advance Media's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "Hundreds of New Jersey tenants have been illegally locked out of their home during the coronavirus pandemic, despite the eviction moratorium that remains in place through mid-June. Now, more than a year after Gov. Phil Murphy signed the executive order enacting the moratorium, the Attorney General's office has released new guidelines for law enforcement agencies to help restore tenants to their homes. 'The directive outlines clear and easy steps for law enforcement officers to follow. By issuing this directive and educating the public this evening, we can reduce the number of illegal evictions in this state,' Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said during a webinar Tuesday night attended by housing advocacy groups and housing lawyers."

THE LINE — "N.J.'s hottest primary race could challenge the state's long tradition of backroom party politics," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio and Brent Johnson: "This year, though, Democratic state Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson are adversaries. The longtime running mates are now running against each other for the state Senate seat longtime lawmaker Loretta Weinberg is retiring from in January … The race is also a referendum on an arcane political structure you'll only find in New Jersey, one that gives county leaders power to influence who will be chosen to run with the party's support. The majority of those party leaders have been and continue to be white men … In other states, office-seekers simply run in the primary election, and whoever wins represents the party in the general election. But not so in New Jersey, where party leaders act as gatekeepers, said Debbie Walsh, director for the Center for American Women and Politics at Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University. 'This is the challenge in New Jersey that is not common in other states: There are hurdles to get on the ballot before you even hit the primary,' Walsh said."

—Moran: "A case of real misconduct, or an attack on the free press?"

—O'Toole: "It is time to deliver on the promise of America"

—"Friendly Fire: Biden's big build, Murphy's polls, and the weed race"

—" Before COVID, we commuted by train and bus more than the rest of the U.S., Census says"

JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: 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 our 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 important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

BIDEN TIME

SALTY LANGUAGE — Newsom, Murphy, Cuomo push Biden to end SALT cap, by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats are renewing their push to repeal a Trump-era change that hammered high-tax blue states: a cap on state and local tax deductions. In a Friday letter to President Joe Biden, the governors reiterated longstanding critiques of the so-called "SALT cap" included in a 2017 tax overhaul, estimating that Californians are paying an additional $12 billion in taxes annually as a result. "Like so many of President Trump's efforts, capping SALT deductions was based on politics, not logic or good government. This assault disproportionately targeted Democratic-run states, increasing taxes on hardworking families," the letter said. Six Democratic governors besides Newsom signed the letter, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Hawaii Gov. David Ige, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown."

ENJOY YOUR HONEYMOON — "Newlyweds stopped at NJ port from taking cargo ship to join ISIS, prosecutors say," by The AP: "A newlywed husband and wife intent on fighting for the Islamic State group were arrested Thursday at Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal as they attempted to board a cargo ship that an undercover law enforcement officer said would take them to Yemen, prosecutors said. James Bradley, 20, and Arwa Muthana, 29, were taken into custody on the gangplank at in New Jersey, prosecutors said. They were charged in federal court in Manhattan with attempting and conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization."

LOCAL

STICKING IT TO LE MANS — "Dems wants answers over Hughes' Princeton crash; GOP says Dems feigning ignorance," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Come clean or come before us. Accident-prone Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes faces an interparty inquisition if he continues ducking and dodging questions about repeated interactions with police in county-issued vehicles. Samuel Frisby, the chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, told The Trentonian on Friday that he and colleagues are tired of finding out about Hughes' driving escapades from the newspaper. He said if commissioners don't get answers from the administration, they may summon Hughes to appear before the board. 'We want to be able to get to the bottom of things,' he said. 'If we have to go that route, nothing says we won't.' Hughes faces increasing pressure to explain himself following revelations that he was involved in two incidents with law enforcement over a three-year span."

KHAN YOU DIG IT? — "Custis running for mayor of Camden, with Khan's and progressives' support," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "Camden School Advisory Board Member Elton Custis will run for mayor of the city as the anti-establishment candidate, with the backing of local pastor and community activist Amir Khan. 'Elton Custis is the best person on this planet to unite people and create one Camden,' said Khan, a former mayoral candidate who continues to buck the local party machine. 'Elton brings people together, and he has been bring people together for two decades. He is a man with an absolute passion for serving the people of Camden.' The 39-year old ran against the machine to win his School Board seat, and is ready to run in the primary with Khan and other progressives behind him."

—"Mayoral candidate Custis vows to defy voter suppression in Camden"

YOU'LL BE SHOCKED BY WHICH UNION IS USING DONUTS TO… ACTUALLY NO YOU WON'T — "Porras-Field v. Dougherty: the Morristown Democratic primary for mayor," by InsiderNJ's Fred Slowflack: " Mayor Tim Dougherty, a 12-year incumbent seeking a new term, says success in town government comes down to the basics. Are the streets in good condition, is the garbage being picked up, do people visit and invest, is there much crime? By that measuring stick, Dougherty feels he's in fine shape for a new term beginning with the June 8 Democratic primary. But in a jarring juxtaposition, a mobile billboard appeared a few days ago just off the historic town Green trashing the mayor and making his wife's recent legal troubles a campaign issue. 'Dunkin Dougherty,' it said in Dunkin Donuts motif. The display included a coffee cup … Mary Dougherty, the mayor's wife, just pleaded guilty in a corruption case that began in 2018 when she reportedly accepted $10,000 in cash in a paper coffee cup from a man seeking legal work …. The moving billboard is buttressed by a website and Facebook page under the generic name of Morristown Watch. Besides his wife's case, both sites take aim at the mayor for cutting deals with developers and an ongoing feud with the PBA. Town police are working without a contract, which in truth, is not that extraordinary. Esperanza Porras-Field is challenging Dougherty in the primary."

—" Secret's out: Police union is behind 'corruption' truck driving around Morristown"

BAYONNE — "Bayonne BA files gender discrimination suit, claims abuse of public office allegations were ignored," by Hudson County View's John Heinis : "Bayonne Business Administrator Melissa Mathews has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit claiming that several of her male colleagues repeatedly harassed her, also alleging that claims of abuse of public office were ignored. The 11-page, six-count suit, filed in Hudson County Superior Court yesterday, names the city, Mayor Jimmy Davis, and five other high-ranking local officials as defendants. The majority of her claims center around Director of Municipal Service Tim Boyle and Assistant Business Administrator Mark Bonamo, who she alleges created a hostile work environment based on her gender."

R.I.P. — "N.J. boardwalk is not safe, says son of merchant who died after clash with armed preteen," by NJ Advance Media's Avalon Zoppo: "Forty years ago, Mehmood Ansari immigrated from Pakistan to Atlantic City and eventually opened a shop on the boardwalk - City Souvenirs. The 66-year-old father worked hard, morning and night, and was 'always smiling,' says his son Asif Ansari. On Thursday night, tragedy struck inside the store. Mehmood collapsed and died shortly after being robbed by a knife-wielding 12-year-old boy during a confrontation with multiple juveniles who were rampaging through the store, authorities said."

—" Feds: Paramus man spent COVID relief loans on Versace, Gucci and Las Vegas gondola trip"

—"Piscataway councilwoman expected to seek Armwood county commissioner seat"

—"Englewood Cliffs asks court to reject new recommendations in affordable housing case"

—"Cumberland prosecutor picks new head detective"

—" Turkish nonprofit wants to open private school with 87-bed dorm in Wayne. Here's the plan"

—"N.J. man charged with bias crime after changing sign at trail in Pine Barrens to offensive message, cops say"

—" Mullane: Preserving a Mansfield battlefield where skirmish let Washington win at Trenton"

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

THAT'S ONE KIND OF EASTER EGG HUNT — "NJ tells residents to destroy Spotted Lanternfly egg masses to help halt invasive species," by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "Residents of New Jersey's western border counties are asked to be on the lookout for egg masses of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect that can be a danger to agricultural interests as well as homeowners. 'As the temperatures begin to warm, and more people are outside on their own properties we are asking them to look for and destroy Spotted Lanternfly egg masses,' Agriculture Secretary Doublas S. Fisher said … The eggs normally hatch toward the end of April and in early May."

MINE HILL CRAFT — " Gamers are re-creating all of N.J. in Minecraft, down to every pothole and jug-handle," by NJ Advance Media's Avalon Zoppo: "Since last spring, 20-year-old James Brodowski has spent hours designing and building the streets of his hometown, Cranford, on the popular video game Minecraft. He is among more than 1,100 players who have joined together to re-create the Garden State inside the game, every jug-handle and pothole between Cape May and Jersey City. 'New Jersey feels very unique in terms of architecture and road layout. It's pretty cool to see that represented in a video game….' said Brodowski, a student a Monmouth University."

I CAN FEEL WEED COMING THANKS TO AYR TONIGHT — "Ayr to purchase Garden State Dispensary for $101M," by NBIZ's Gabrielle Saulsbery: "Canadian cannabis company Ayr Wellness Inc. will purchase Garden State Dispensary – with retail locations in Woodbridge, Eatontown and Union – for $101 million, following a letter of intent previously announced on Dec. 22, 2020. The companies announced their purchase agreement on March 29. In a deal expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, Ayr will purchase 100% of the equity interests of GSD, one of the 12 existing vertical license holders in New Jersey and one of the state's original six alternative treatment centers."

A message from Uber Driver Stories:

When Olivia was diagnosed with MS in 2017, it became clear to her that having a regular job would no longer be possible.

"I drive with Uber because I love to drive," she says. "It just puts the MS far out of my head. There's no way I could work a regular 9-5."

With Uber, Olivia can choose when, where, and how long she wants to drive. This flexibility lets Olivia be there for her daughter and for her own health needs.

If she's not feeling well, or her daughter needs her, she doesn't have to worry about asking her boss or requesting time off—she can take the time she needs to focus on herself and her family.

To see more stories like Olivia's, click here.

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