News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Brent Spiner has spoken

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Brent Spiner has spoken

May 04, 2021

Presented by Pre-K Our Way

Good Tuesday morning!

Brent Spiner has made his determinations . Or maybe it was pressure from other states. But with New Jersey's COVID-19 positivity rate steadily decreasing, Gov. Murphy announced a joint plan with New York and Connecticut to lift most capacity restrictions in a couple weeks (after Cuomo beat him to the punch with his own announcement, and a long time after Connecticut).

But the six-foot social distancing rule remains in effect , so the restrictions aren't really entirely lifted. Requiring patrons to stay six feet away from each other, at least those not in the same party, probably means a lot of bars and restaurants won't be able to meet their pre-pandemic capacity limits.

Still, it's probably the biggest loosening of restrictions since they were put in place. So when will New Jersey scrap the six foot social distancing requirements? Murphy punted that responsibility to the CDC, saying the state will drop it when the guidance changes. But you've got to wonder if the CDC will feel the same pressure from the restaurant industry as the governor likely will.

WHERE'S MURPHY — Appearing on Bloomberg TV at 6 p.m. First Lady Tammy Murphy will be at the Asbury Park Senior Center at 12:30 p.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Mercury's Mike DuHaime, Kean University's John Raue

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Although we all deplore the use of racist epithets, the idea that a faculty member or law student cannot quote a published court decision that itself quotes a racial or other otherwise objectionable word as part of the record of the case is problematic and implicates matters of academic freedom and free speech." — Rutgers Law Professor Gary L. Francione on a controversy over a white student's reading out loud of a racial slur while quoting 1993 case law verbatim

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 880 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 876,141. 1,427 hospitalized, 325 in intensive care. 19 more deaths for a total of 25,616 confirmed or probable deaths. 3,112,697 fully vaccinated, or about 33.5 percent of the population.

A message 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

VACCINATIONS — "Some get COVID shots. One who didn't died. The uneven effort to vaccinate NJ's homebound," by The Record's Scott Fallon and Lindy Washburn: "On a weekday morning in late April, a paramedic from St. Joseph's Health arrived at Robin Chowdhury's Paterson home to give him his first dose of Pfizer's COVID vaccine. His father helped the 31-year-old, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sit up in bed for the shot. Eleven days earlier and a few miles to the east, Judy Rostkowski died at her home in Hasbrouck Heights after testing positive for COVID-19 just the day before. Her daughter had spent months searching in vain for someone to administer a vaccine to her 93-year-old homebound mother. 'Had I been able to get this vaccine to my mom in February or March she might still be with us today,' said Jana Thorson, Rostkowski's daughter. Four months after New Jersey's vaccination campaign began, the ability to get doses to thousands of homebound seniors and people with disabilities has been an uneven enterprise, marked by successes and tragic failures."

—"As New Jersey slowly lifts COVID-19 restrictions, some say legal immunity should end, too"

DOCUMENTS — "N.J. undocumented residents apply for driver's licenses for 1st time, but MVC turns some away," by NJ Advance Media's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "Many undocumented residents say being able to apply for a driver's license for the very first time in New Jersey is a dream come true. But for some who went to Motor Vehicle Commission agencies to do just that on Saturday — the day the new driver's license law took effect — it was a dream deferred yet again. Several MVC agencies turned away dozens of undocumented immigrants, advocates told NJ Advance Media. Make the Road New Jersey, a Latino advocacy group in Elizabeth, received dozens of calls to their hotline, mostly about MVC requesting extra documents that weren't required."

SAY CHIESA! — "N.J. spending millions to negotiate abuse lawsuits from women's prison, records show," by NJ Advance Media's Blake Nelson: "The state will likely spend almost $2.8 million on outside lawyers amid several lawsuits alleging abuse behind bars, according to public records. That's on top of nearly $21 million taxpayers will have to pay out if a court ultimately approves a settlement for former prisoners, including more than 20 women who said they were sexually abused at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County … New Jersey retained the outside law firm Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC in 2018, according to retention agreements obtained through a public records request. Additional contracts were drawn up as more women sued."

CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE ASKS STATE AGENCY TO BE LIBERAL — Court rejects Rizzo's appeal after ELEC denies his request for matching funds, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo is not entitled to public campaign financing or a right to participate in publicly sanctioned debates, a state appellate court has ruled. The two-judge panel on Friday upheld the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission's April 22 decision, which denied Rizzo's request for public financing because he submitted a late and deficient application. Rizzo's campaign last week argued that ELEC should have applied a "liberal construction, relaxation, and waiver of regulations" to its application … Rizzo claimed in the release that "the establishment continues to work to ensure our Conservative voices are suppressed." In Friday's decision, Judge Jose L. Fuentes wrote that Rizzo "has not presented any legal or factual basis to disturb the decision reached by ELEC."

0.81 MASTROS — Murphy, sitting on $7.3M, has yet to run a campaign ad ahead of June 8 primary, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has millions to spend in the Democratic primary but no primary opponents against whom to target it. The governor's reelection campaign announced in January that it had raised the maximum it was allowed to under the state's gubernatorial campaign public financing program, with a total of $7.3 million in its coffers. But since kicking off his campaign in October 2020, Murphy, the only governor up for reelection this year, hasn't spent any money on advertising. Murphy, a Democrat, can't roll unused public funds to his general election campaign, so he'll have to spend it ahead of the June 8 primary. That means there will likely be an ad blitz from his campaign during the final weeks of the primary.

THEY WENT TO JARED — "Colorado governor drops out of New Jersey Anti-Murphy event," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "The Democratic governor of Colorado has cancelled his appearance at a virtual event sponsored by a New Jersey-based Republican think tank after facing some pushing from allies of Gov. Phil Murphy. Gov. Jared Polis was scheduled to headline a Garden State Initiative virtual lunch and policy briefing on Tuesday moderated by the group's board chairman, Bob Hugin. The New Jersey Globe has learned that Polis pulled out of the event today after Murphy supporters complained that he was speaking to a group that has staunchly criticized the New Jersey governor's policies. Sources familiar with the event said that Murphy supporters reached out to Polis and convinced him to withdraw his acceptance of the GOP think tank's invitation."

— "Shuttering N.J. women's prison after decades of abuse is one option 'on the table,' top official says"

—" Murphy names first woman to oversee N.J. National Guard, veterans homes after COVID deaths spur big changes"

—Joe Donohue: "Offshore wind power developers have spent almost $4.2 million on lobbying during past decade"

—" Student journalists shouldn't be censored | Opinion"

—New Jersey breweries will give anyone who gets their first shot in May a free beer

—" Two NJ Transit rail unions ask for federal mediators in contract talks"

—"Funding to cover a McGreevey-era debt takes a hit. How state plans to cover the shortfall"

—" Burzichelli clashes with DOC Commish Hicks on overtime numbers"

—"'Excited' NJ restaurants, breweries prepare for no capacity limits by hiring, reorganizing"

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BIDEN TIME

ICE IS MELTING — "ICE jailer in New Jersey Is sued by its landlord, claiming unsafe conditions," by WNYC's Matt Katz: "The owners of a windowless former warehouse that houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees in New Jersey are alleging dangerous conditions at the facility and suing to end its lease, representing another potential victory for activists seeking the end of controversial immigration detention in the state. The lawsuit filed Monday alleges that CoreCivic, the private prison operator that leases the facility and contracts with ICE to hold about 145 asylum seekers and other undocumented immigrants, breached its contract by failing to follow local and federal safety regulations to stop the spread of Covid. The Elizabeth Detention Center has had more Covid cases than other ICE facilities in the region, and both security and medical employees have died. One dozen detainees newly tested positive at the end of April, just as cases statewide were dropping … The suit was filed in Union County by Portview Properties, which is affiliated with Elberon Development Group. Elberon and its politically connected owner, Anne Evans Estabrook, and her son, Dave Gibbons, had been targeted by activists through their philanthropic endeavors."

NOW THAT TRUMP'S OUT OF OFFICE.. — " Christie lobbying firm cuts ties with all clients in Washington, records show," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Former Gov. Chris Christie, whose lobbying firm was paid $1.3 million last year to represent special interests in the nation's capital, no longer represents any clients in Washington, Senate filings show. Christie 55 Solutions LLC filed termination reports for all of its clients after being paid $180,000 by them during the first three months of 2021. It did not file to represent any new clients .., While there has been no formal announcement, ending his stint as a Washington lobbyist would remove one of line of attack against Christie should he seek the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, which he has not ruled out."

DARK MONEY — "Could looming US Supreme Court ruling upend campaign finance law?" by ELEC's Jeff Brindle for InsiderNJ: "Many campaign finance law pundits have a larger concern, one that goes beyond the immediate question of whether donors to charities in California must be disclosed to the State's Attorney General. Their concern is that the current conservative leaning court might apply the "strict scrutiny" standard as suggested by the plaintiffs and thereby impact campaign finance disclosure laws, possibly leading to a massive increase in 'Dark Money' expenditures by independent groups. According to Center for Responsive Politics, independent groups spent a record of nearly $3 billion in the 2020 federal election. Of that amount, $119 million was done by committees that were able to completely hide their contributors even under current laws. In 2000, only $11 million was spent anonymously in federal elections."

THE BOSS AND THE SLOSHED — "While the Bruce Springsteen arrest got spotlight, Sandy Hook DWIs surged 163% last year," by The Asbury Park Press' Andrew J. Goudsward : "Bruce Springsteen was easily the most prominent person to get hit with a drunken driving charge on a visit to Sandy Hook in 2020. But he was far from the only one. Charges for offenses like driving while intoxicated and drinking alcohol in a closed area more than doubled in the park from 2019 to 2020, according to data from the National Park Service, which runs the federal park that includes Sandy Hook. DWI arrests on Sandy Hook surged 163% last year to 79 incidents, up from 30 in 2019. The park averaged about 26 DWI arrests annually over the previous five years, according to National Park Service data, which was obtained by the Asbury Park Press through a public records request."

—"Don't make Sandy victims repay federal disaster funds: NJ lawmakers"

A message from Pre-K Our Way:

LOCAL

BETTER FIX THOSE WIRES — Paterson teachers union 'shocked' at 'level of disrepair' in school buildings, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: The Paterson teachers union is appealing to the district Board of Education to keep schools closed for the remainder of the academic year, citing what it says are major safety issues with ventilation, sealed windows and building damage. Schools in Paterson — among the largest urban districts in New Jersey — had been set to reopen on Monday for some in-person learning before Superintendent Eileen Shafer said late last month that remote learning would continue "until further notice," citing rising Covid cases in the city. The Paterson Education Association conducted a two-day walk through on April 21 and 22, during which the union documented what it said was unsafe building conditions and evidence that, despite receiving state and federal aid to reopen buildings, "little to no remediation within our school buildings has been completed in the last 13 months." "While we did not expect to find everything in perfect working order, we were shocked at the level of disrepair that awaited us," PEA President John McEntee said in a statement.

SMALL SCUFFLE — "Small accuses Foley's campaign of voter intimidation and harassment ," by The Press of Atlantic City : "Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Monday his supporters were subjected to voter intimidation and harassment Sunday by political organizer Craig Callaway and supporters of Democratic primary opponent Tom Foley. At a news conference Monday, Small apologized for any embarrassment he brings on the city for fighting back briefly. 'They screamed obscenities ... and called us child molester protectors,' Small said at the afternoon press conference. 'It turned physical when (a Foley supporter) pushed me.' Small said he had 'every right as a man' to protect himself and fight back in self defense. However, Foley said his supporter Dionne Garland was filming Small with his cell phone when Small made the first physical contact, swatting the phone out of Garland's hand. That's when Garland lunged toward Small, Foley said."

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU BE FROM... — "Corrupt North Bergen DPW supervisor loses appeal to throw out conviction," by The Jersey Journal's Ron Zeitlinger: "A disgraced North Bergen Department of Public Works supervisor's bid to have his 2015 corruption conviction thrown out was rejected by an appellate court Monday. Troy Bunero, who was convicted of performing political skullduggery and working on his boss' home while on duty, claimed in his appeal that the judge in his first appeal should have held an evidentiary hearing on claims that Bunero's trial attorney provided an ineffective defense. The 54-year-old served a 5-year prison sentence and was released in January, along with his co-defendant, Francis Longo … Nearly nine years later, Wiley is still awaiting sentencing, mostly because he is also a cooperating witness in the prosecution of two other North Bergen employees, Walter Somick and Abraham Garcia. Somick and Garcia are accused of getting paid for low-show/no-show jobs with the township. Somick, the son of North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco's longtime girlfriend Kathy Somick…

THE HILLS HAVE HIGHS — "Hillsborough may ban weed sales, despite strong popularity with township voters," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: "With no comment or explanation, the Township Committee has introduced an ordinance banning the sale of marijuana within the township's borders. The ordinance was introduced by a 4-0 vote with one abstention at the April 27 township committee meeting. Committeeman Jeffrey Wright abstained. Wright wanted to comment on the ordinance, but Mayor Shawn Lipani told Wright and two members of the public to wait until the May 25 public hearing on the ordinance. Though he made no comment at the meeting, Lipani later explained in a news release why he supported the ordinance. 'This ordinance will enable us to evaluate marijuana sales and usage in other communities so we can make an informed judgment on how to approach the same in Hillsborough,' Lipani said … In Hillsborough, the statewide legalization referendum in November was supported by a 15,516-to-8,677 vote, a 64%-to-36% margin."

— "Toms River man accused of painting blue line in support of police charged with making terroristic threats"

— "Four North Jerseyans were part of burglary ring that hit homes across state, Grewal says"

JOIN TODAY FOR A CONVERSATION ON SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER COVID-19: About one in six small businesses in the U.S. closed their doors since the pandemic began. The ones that remained open are getting by with fewer employees after laying off workers or a hiring freeze. What is ahead for small businesses in 2021 as they try to weather the ongoing economic uncertainty? And how does President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package intend to support small-business owners? Join POLITICO for a virtual conversation with White House economic adviser Jared Bernstein and Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, on what small businesses need to survive and thrive beyond the Covid economic crisis. REGISTER HERE.

EVERYTHING ELSE

FIBBER ON THE ROOF — "'Good Jewish boy' or chief 'infiltrator'? NJ man spent years as fake rabbi in Israel, groups say," by The Record's Deena Yellin: "A self-professed 'good Jewish boy from New Jersey,' Rabbi Michael Elkohen had come a long way. In the ultra-Orthodox enclave in Jerusalem where Elkohen now lives, he was often called on to perform marriages, circumcisions and other sacred Jewish rituals. He was even hired to write Torah scrolls, handwritten copies of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, in a task typically reserved for the most devout and highly trained scribes. But for 15 years, Elkohen was apparently living a lie. The father of five with the black hat, beard and side curls was fluent in Judaic texts and traditions but living a double life: Born Michael Elk in Salem County, he was actually a Christian missionary sent to the Holy Land to convert Jews, according to two anti-missionary groups whose accusations have captivated Israelis in recent days. Elk's tale has grabbed headlines across the Jewish state, where religious leaders see a growing trend of covert missionary work by evangelical Christians."

—The New Yorker: "First GameStop, now a Jersey delicatessen"

— "Body of Drew University student who was missing for months found in New York, authorities say"

—"Gun violence soared across N.J. during worst of pandemic. This year looks just as bad"

—Carino: "If Rutgers can host fans for spring football game, why not in-person graduation?"

—"Despite virus, Atlantic City casinos reinvesting millions"

— "New Jersey Becomes 9th State Accepted into AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities"

A message 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