| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Pre-K Our Way | Good Wednesday morning! Who needs friends in Trenton when you've got enemies? A new super PAC that appears closely aligned with Democratic power broker George Norcross was funded last quarter with $1.25 million from…. the NJEA's super PAC, Garden State Forward. It's the only donor listed for the new group, called American Democratic Majority. We know relations between Norcross and the NJEA — and Gov. Murphy, for that matter — have been on the mend for some time. But this looks like major step of that rapprochement. The new super PAC has sent out mailers for Vic Carstarphen in Camden and is running a TV ad in support of Gordon Johnson's state Senate candidacy in District 37. Norcross, the NJEA and the super PAC staff didn't respond to any of my questions, so I have no idea how big a role it will play in the upcoming elections or what it will focus on. I also don't know why they set up a new super PAC instead of going through General Majority, Norcross' main super PAC. But if the NJEA donation is any indication, this will be a major player in 2021. The news may seem shocking considering how intense the fight between Norcross/Senate President Steve Sweeney and the NJEA has been. Just four years ago the two behemoths had a proxy fight for Sweeney's seat that was the most expensive state legislative election in New Jersey history. But keep in mind that when General Majority first came on the scene in 2013 to protect Democrats' state legislative majorities, the NJEA was its main funder. Read more about it here. WHERE'S MURPHY?: In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conerence HAPPY BIRTHDAY: 1998-1999 prom after-party host Allison Foley, Pascrell staffer Ritzy Moralez-Diaz, Former Assembly candidate Bill Weightman QUOTE OF THE DAY: The data just doesn't seem to jive with what we have ... I don't want to take any honors that may be based on bad data." — Dover Schools Superintendent James McLaughlin, who said U.S. News' ranking of the school in New Jersey's top 100 was probably wrong CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 1,208 newly-reported positive PCR test for a total of 876,925. 45 more deaths for a total of 25,658 confirmed or probably deaths. 1,407 hospitalized, 321 in intensive care. 3,153,594 fully vaccinated, or about 33.9 percent of the population. BE ON THE LOOKOUT: Monmouth plans to release a poll this afternoon on Murphy's approval and reelect numbers. We haven't seen much public polling on the governor lately, so it might be interesting. | | | | 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 | |
PROPERTY TAXES — 4 municipalities sue Murphy over property tax exemptions for nonprofit hospitals, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Four New Jersey municipalities are suing Gov. Phil Murphy over a new law that codified property tax exemptions for nonprofit hospitals, claiming the law is unconstitutional. The lawsuit brought by Elizabeth, Livingston, Plainsboro and Vineland — communities that house nonprofit hospitals — alleges the law violates elements of the New Jersey Constitution that assure properties are assessed "according to the same standard of value." It also claims that by allowing hospitals to continue to engage in for-profit activities on their properties, the law violates constitutional language that clarifies what entities can be exempt from taxation.
COPS — N.J. says it supports police reform. But here are 4 ways it falls behind on basic measures," by NJ Advance Media's S.P. Sullivan: "...An NJ Advance Media review of state policies on everything from stopping motorists over license plate holders to disclosing records of police misconduct shows the Garden State lags in major areas. Police in New Jersey can pull over drivers because a license plate holder from a car dealership slightly covers up the words 'Garden State' on a plate. The attorney general has fought to preserve that right all the way to the state's highest court, despite evidence the practice targets minorities. If you complain about your treatment by an officer, you could wait years to get results, if you ever learn anything at all. Even people who make valid complaints never find out whether the officer faced a slap on the wrist or serious discipline." 'THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS … SOME WOMAN SCREAMING AT ME AND MY FAMILY WHILE WE TRY TO EAT DINNER' — '"Murphy, like Biden, wants to don FDR's cape — and his ambitions — to end COVID," by The Record's Charles Stile: "As President Joe Biden summons the spirit of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with his grandiose, 100-day ambitions, Gov. Phil Murphy wrapped himself Monday in the cape FDR wore at Yalta. 'I want to put this in the context of 1945,' Murphy said, referring to the final year of World War II — when FDR met with Stalin and Churchill to plot the post-war future at the conference in the Crimea. 'We have been at war the past 14 months. We are winning this war.' The former U.S. Ambassador to Germany then added: 'Time to take Berlin and put a stake in the heart of this virus.' It was a clumsy and cringe-inducing comparison of a deadly pathogen that discriminates against no one to an evil, genocidal regime that singled out six million innocent victims for slaughter because of their religious and ethnic heritage. But Murphy's aim was clear Monday as he … cast himself as the crisis commander, leading people in the promised land of a post-pandemic world of concerts and proms and shopping and hoisting boiler makers at Jersey bars." —If you haven't already seen it, I highly recommend this thorough, historically accurate and NSFW dramatization of FDR's time in office. BY 'GOP ESTABLISHMENT' DO YOU MEAN EVERYONE? — "Sources: GOP establishment mildly irritated by — not scared of — Singh," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "InsiderNJ spoke with several GOP leaders from around the state to see if they think the primary race for governor is competitive and they uniformly blandly offered one word: 'No.' Annual statewide (or districtwide) candidate Hirsh Singh told The Daily Caller earlier this week that he is ahead in the Republican contest. No one believes him … 'He's a talented guy," Ciattarelli told InsiderNJ in the 2017 Republican primary … 'He's got a bright future.' … Four years later, Singh has failed congressional and senate bids under his belt and is in the closing weeks of a gubernatorial effort that has irritated some of New Jersey's gray-bearded establishment … Word has gotten back to several upper echelon players in the party that Singh has blanketed too many people into the RINO category, and they want to punish him. Singh probably feels that he has them on the run. He doesn't." — 'The pressure is on the governor,' top lawmaker says after NJ.com report shows powerful state boards lack women" —" Does business community have voice in big decisions?" —"Who could be Ciattarelli's running mate? Here's a possible short list" —" 'I'm going to an event': Coughlin won't commit to passing civilian review board bill" —"To boost Juliano, McCabe hosts fundraiser for Johnson" —" Praise for census, worries about early voting" —"Legislation would give students with disabilities an extra year before 'the cliff'" —" Murphy's risk on his gun package: Appearing slickly opportunistic" —"Interview: State senator who wants to enable NJ residents to grow their own weed" | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. 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 | |
—"Atlantic County man accused of role in Capitol riot"
—"Donald Trump left a SALT mine for the Democrats" —"COVID exposed issues plaguing essential workers. Now let's fix them, lawmakers say" | | | | A message from Pre-K Our Way:   | | |
| | LOCAL | |
MAN WHO WANTS TO BOMB NORTH KOREA LIKES SOME OF THE KIM JONG UN'S METHODS — "OC Commissioner Vicari wants to use COVID rescue dollars to start his own newspaper," by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: "Ocean County Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari wants to use the next round of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds to start up a countywide newspaper to publish his press releases … 'I suggested perhaps — with the CARES Act money — that we can do a local paper paid for by that funding,' Vicari said. 'Therefore, we can give (residents) the public information that is so necessary.' Vicari has often expressed his frustration with the local media for not printing all of his outspoken views on issues that range from advocating for the bombing of North Korea to the environmental threat posed by face masks … Vicari, a former Toms River mayor and Berkeley schools superintendent, has long complained that he does not get enough media coverage and has expressed his frustration in recent weeks that Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy gets too much."
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN — "Who will succeed Gramiccioni as Monmouth County prosecutor?" by The Asbury Park Press' Kathleen Hopkins: "Various sources in the Jersey Shore's legal community with knowledge of the appointment process mention three names believed to be in the running to succeed Gramiccioni. They are: Robert A. Honecker Jr., a longtime, former career prosecutor who served in the upper echelons of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office before going into private practice as a criminal defense attorney; Lori Linskey, who is Gramiccioni's second in command as first assistant prosecutor; and Raymond Santiago, a seasoned criminal defense and immigration attorney. Santiago's name is mentioned most frequently by sources who say he appears to have political support and is widely regarded as fair and personable." ORANGE CONSIDERS BANNING GREEN — "N.J. town is trying to ban marijuana sales, but residents are fighting the move," by NJ Advance Media's Tennyso Donyea: "In March, the Orange City Council took a preliminary vote, 4-2, in favor of an ordinance that would ban recreational marijuana sales within its borders. The vote, which happened following the first reading of the ordinance, drew the ire of many in the community, including several business owners who are preparing to open recreational marijuana operations in the predominately Black township. The ordinance would need to be passed again at a second reading to become law. 'For an applicant, such as ourselves, who did everything correctly ... if a town then pulls its support, do we then become free agents, essentially?' said Travis Ally, co-owner of 93iD. 93iD plans on operating a fully integrated marijuana company, from 'seed to sale,' its owners Levi Holmes and Ally told NJ Advance Media Saturday. According to the owners, the company already spent about $500,000 to secure its facility located at 95-123 Freeway Drive, totaling 125,000 square feet. It would be one of the largest marijuana facilities in the region, the owners said. Both owners of 93iD are Black." THE THICK WHITE HEAD — " 'Thin blue line' suspect arrested again — this time over threatening videos, prosecutor says," by The Asbury Park Press' Andrew J. Goudsward : "The township man accused of painting a pro-police 'thin blue line' down the center of Hooper Avenue — and shoplifting the paint to perform the unauthorized paint job — is now facing new charges over YouTube videos he allegedly posted threatening to turn Toms River Town Hall and the Ocean County Justice Complex 'upside down,' authorities said. David Giordano, 36, of Toms River, was charged with making terroristic threats and false public alarm over the videos, which included footage from a 2004 incident in which a man used a homemade armored bulldozer to demolish public buildings in a Colorado town, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a news release." BLAME THE STRESS OF WORKING THE MEAN STREETS OF HOPEWELL — "N.J. town fires officer, suspends another over post calling Black Lives Matter protesters 'terrorists'," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Shea: "Hopewell Township has fired a police officer who described Black Lives Matter protesters as 'terrorists' and will suspend and demote another for replying to a comment on the Facebook post. The fired officer, Sara Erwin, and Sgt. Mandy Gray, who will be suspended for six months, are exemplary and decorated officers with 'absolutely no disciplinary history,' their lawyer Frank Crivelli said Monday evening … Appeals are already underway in Superior Court for both, he said. That action will ague a number of things, including First Amendment issues … Erwin made the post in question in June 2020. It said: 'Last night as I left for work I had my two kids crying for me not to go to work. I don't think I've ever felt the way I did last night. And then I watched people I know and others I care about going into harms way. I love my police family like my own. So when you share posts and things on Facebook I'd really appreciate if you'd THINK before doing so. I've seen so many black lives matter [sic] hashtags in these posts. Just to let you know — they are terrorists. They hate me. They hate my uniform. They don't care if I die.'" RUSSOPHOBIA — " Hoboken to vote on measure that would fine electeds if they block constituents on social media," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "The Hoboken City Council will vote on the first reading of an ordinance that would fine elected officials up to $500 for each person they block on their social media feeds, putting in question what role the governing body should play in relation to the 1st Amendment … [Phil] Cohen said that the ordinance was introduced in response to 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco blocking people on Twitter who questioned his travels while renting his home on Airbnb … In response, DeFusco, a potential mayoral candidate, said that his social media is not taxpayer funded and that he only blocked 'a small handful of people' who engage in abusive behavior. ' … Unfortunately, some of my political opponents have decided to abuse the page and use it to post false, personal attacks about me in an attempt to bully me and my supporters, and in those cases, I have blocked a small handful of people who are being abusive.'" —"Wayne teachers' union leader sues school board, official, alleging slander" —" Borough clerk sues Bogota, saying she was punished for refusing to break the law" —"Where does your town stand on marijuana? A town-by-town guide of South Jersey municipalities" —" Sussex-Wantage School District asks state to investigate teachers' unemployment claims" —"Trenton Public Schools reopen doors for first time since March 2020" —" Passaic County sues Horizon for $8.7M in dispute over out-of-network costs" —"HRH blisters Davis over eminent domain plan for Bayonne hospital, claims it will cost $100M" —" LD26 flashpoint: 'The Insiders' Club'" | | | | DON'T MISS OUT ON OUR NEW PLAYBOOK DEEP DIVE PODCAST: Washington is full of whispers, colorful characters and little-known back stories that even D.C. insiders might not know. Playbook Deep Dive is a new, weekly podcast that pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the power. From Congress and the White House to bar stools and backrooms, POLITICO's top reporters and Playbook authors bring you the most compelling and confounding stories that explain what's really going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | |
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
NOT WORTH 11.1 MASTROS — "Paulsboro deli operator disavows the value of its stock," by The Courier-Pot's Jim Walsh: "A deli operator better known for its stock price than its cheesesteaks has disavowed its jaw-dropping market value. Hometown International Inc. 'is aware of no basis to support the company's stock price, based upon its revenue or assets,' the firm said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Hometown, which owns a modest deli in this blue-collar borough, drew widespread attention last month when a hedge fund operator noted its stock was valued at about $100 million … In its SEC filing Friday, Hometown said it 'disavows the price of its publicly quoted stock' on the over-the-counter markets."
INFRASHUCKER WEEK —"South Jersey seafood processor steamed over setback to using new clam-shucking method," by The Daily Journal's Joseph P. Smith: "When a seafood processor tried to replace human clam shuckers with a mechanical system the result was melted ceiling tiles and light fixtures. Now, Cape May Foods is suing two local firms hired to design, manufacture, and install a ventilation system meant to remove heat generated by the infrared-based shucking system. Cape May Foods, off Gorton Road, has relied on human shuckers for more than 60 years. Last year, the firm sought to switch to Infrashucker, an infrared system that 'mechanically opens the clam shell and efficiently detaches clam meat from its shell,' according to a lawsuit filed in February. STS Sheet Metal Inc. and Captive Aire Inc., installed the ventilation system around March 2020 and had its test run about two months later, the lawsuit states. It reportedly did not go well. 'Within minutes of the start of the test, the STS/Captive Aire exhaust system failed to ventilate the heat produced by the Infrashucker,' the lawsuit states." JAMEL COLLIE ENCOURAGES YOU TO GET VACCINATED — "Dogs are helping calm some nervous NJ residents getting vaccinated," by NJ 101.5's David Matthau: "Michael Litterer, the director of prevention and recovery at the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery, said through the Hope and Healing program for COVID-19 support, emotional support staff and therapy dogs are on hand to provide comfort and support to those being vaccinated. He said the dogs wear special vests so people know it's okay to come up and say hello." —" 'Excited' NJ restaurants, breweries prepare for no capacity limits by hiring, reorganizing" —"N.J. restaurant owner banks on dining surge, offers $15 an hour to recruit workers" —" NJ's Indian community sends aid as India's COVID-19 crisis worsens" | | | | 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.
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