Do you remember when Gov. Murphy went to political war with the South Jersey Democratic machine? Yes? Well, I hate to break it to you, but that was all in your imagination. On "Ask Governor Murphy" yesterday, host Nancy Solomon asked him about the progressive unease about his detente with George Norcross and company. Here's what he said: "I have never seen it and still don't accept the premise … that we were 'at war' with the machine. You know, rolling the tape back, we had deep concerns based on a comptroller's study about the last generation of tax incentives, and we set up an independent group that did a lot of work on that. And I think that was the genesis of a lot of the buzz that feeds into the premise." That time George Norcross threatened Murphy with a potential primary opponent? Forget it. When all the Norcross allies got together in Camden and told Murphy to stay out of town over going after the tax credit program? Doesn't ring a bell. Or all the off-the-record conversations you know every political reporter in the state had with Murphy's allies? Fake news. I've always said the tax incentive task force's work was substantial and in many cases damning. I've also said that doesn't mean there was nothing political about the decision to form it. And no one should pretend the political fight that dominated much of Murphy's first term was nothing but the press reading into a simple Economic Development Authority audit. WHERE'S MURPHY?: In Asbury Park at 1:45 p.m. to announce a Memorial Day weekend vaccine drive. Media: CNBC at 7:45 a.m., Q104.3 at 8 a.m., KYW at 10:45 a.m., 1010 WINS at 11 a.m., WCBS 880 at 11:15 a.m., WPG at 5 p.m. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "She's now on my shortlist for lieutenant governor." — GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, in an interview yesterday, on his wife Melinda after her fight with Hirsh Singh's campaign manager. CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 340 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 886,902. 24 more deaths for a total of 26,173. 628 hospitalized, 123 in intensive care. 4,157,475 fully-vaccinated, or about 44.8 percent of the population. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rutgers Law's Ronald Chen, Pascrell aide Mark Greenbaum. Saturday for Asm. Mila Jasey, Real estate broker Chapman Vail. Sunday for for former BPU President Jeanne Fox, CAWP's Sue Nemeth. PROGRAMMING NOTE: No New Jersey Playbook on Monday. See you Tuesday. |
JERSEY MOMS — Singh campaign's video of fight between his manager and Ciattarelli's wife backfires, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : Supporters of Republican gubernatorial candidate Hirsh Singh apparently thought they had something damaging on GOP rival Jack Ciattarelli when they posted a video of Ciattarelli's wife, Melinda, engaged in a profanity-infused fight with Singh's campaign manager. "Jack Ciattarelli's wife Melinda Castro goes psycho in the guest lounge at 101.5 Studios in beautiful Ewing New Jersey during the Gubernatorial debate," Singh staffer Nick Catucci wrote when he posted the video online. Castro is Melinda Ciattarelli's maiden name. The video seems to have backfired, as it has led to calls from another GOP candidate that Singh fire campaign manager King Penna, criticism from a Republican women's group and even a call from Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy that the Singh campaign apologize. "Why don't you throw your kids out of the house?" Penna asked. Melinda Ciattarelli shot back that only one of her four grown children, a 23-year-old, still lives at home. Penna said three of them still registered to vote at their home. "One of them just went into the Army. He's in New York now. One of them is in Montclair State. Is that not in New Jersey, you imbecile?" she said. "Doesn't matter. Imbecile? The only imbecile is you," Penna said. "No, you're an arrogant asshole," she said. "Really? Really? You're very lady-like, I can tell," Penna said.
1,000 MASTROS — "NJ's pension funds on track for record high," by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer : "After plummeting at the onset of the pandemic last year, booming investment earnings have helped push the total value of pension fund assets over $90 billion, officials said … The potential record-setting investment performance comes as the state has been ramping up pension contributions in recent years to climb out of a huge hole created by past underfunding. It also comes after Gov. Phil Murphy's administration resisted calls to short state pension payments amid budget problems that were triggered at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the strong investment earnings could ease pressure on the state's annual budget since taxpayers help fund promised retirement benefits over the long run." LD37 — "At LD37 debate, Huttle highlights policy leadership while Johnson leans on support from Governor," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack : "'Governor Murphy supports me!' So proclaimed Gordon Johnson Wednesday night near the end of his League of Women Voters debate with fellow Assembly member Valerie Huttle. It was said a bit out of context. However, more to the point, it quickly demonstrated the parameters of the Johnson-Huttle primary to replace state Sen. Loretta Weinberg in Bergen County's heavily Democratic LD-37. Johnson has the governor, Weinberg herself and various other power brokers on his side. Huttle says she's more capable of thinking for herself and what's more, she initiates legislation. 'I just don't show up to cast my vote,' she said. The point is that while Johnson and Huttle generally have the same progressive voting record, it is Huttle who does most of the dirty work to shape bills and get them approved. The debate was polite, almost dull." FOR VACCINATION PROBLEM, THERE IS A SILVER BULLET SOLUTION: COORS LIGHT — "Other states offer cash prizes to push vaccines. NJ sticks to free beer, state park passes," by The Record's Terrence T. McDonald: "Maryland is luring people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by offering dozens of $40,000 prizes — and one that even totals $400,000. At New York's state-run vaccination sites, you can get a free lottery ticket to win a chance at a $5 million jackpot, while young adults could snag four years of free tuition, room and board at state schools. Ohioans who get vaccinated can score one of five $1 million lottery prizes. Here in New Jersey, getting a vaccine could win you a dinner with Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy. Will the Garden State stop being stingy with its vaccination incentives? Murphy said this week that it's possible, but he offered no specifics." MASK MADNESS — "'Enough is Enough'; NJ GOP lawmakers blast Murphy over remaining mask mandates," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Dean: "With the campaign for governor heating up less than six months before the November election, two Republican Central Jersey state senators have lambasted Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's requirement that children may have to wear masks when they return to school in September and if they attend daycare centers and summer camps. 'While children have been allowed to play sports, including wrestling, football, and soccer, without masks for months, they will be forced to wear masks while playing outside at camp under old rules in place since last summer,' Sen. Michael Doherty, R-Warren, said in a statement. 'That makes absolutely no sense.' 'This was an unforced error by the Governor,' Sen. Kip Bateman, R-Somerset, said in a statement. 'The masks are on; the masks are off. Most don't need a mask, but some, including children, do. New Jersey residents have been enduring this for 14 months. They are confused, frustrated and fed up.'" THE AUDITOR — State audit gives EDA strong marks on its handling of pandemic relief funds, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: The New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which came under fire two years ago for a lack of oversight in its handling of the state's tax incentive program, had "adequate controls" when it allocated pandemic relief funds to businesses across the state, according to an audit released Thursday. The audit, conducted by the Office of the State Auditor, examined $9.6 million in loans and $210.6 million in grants that were awarded to nearly 43,000 businesses across the state between April 13, 2020, and Feb. 17, 2021. IF THEY DON'T EXEMPT NJ, AT LEAST NJ WILL BE SCREWED BY ONE OF ITS OWN COMPANIES — Port Authority approves initial tolling contracts for congestion pricing, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday approved new contracts for its electronic tolling services, which will allow for the implementation of a congestion pricing scheme that New York is currently pursuing. The Port Authority board awarded the system contract to New Jersey-based company Conduent, which will be responsible for toll and payment processing, image review and violations processing and license plate identification. It awarded two operations contracts to Faneuil and TransCore, which will provide customer-facing services like tag distribution. All three contracts will last nine years, with two opportunities for two-year extensions, at a total cost of roughly $113 million. —"Where is NJ on police and prison reform?" —"End mask mandate for schools by September. It's contradictory, [Mount Oliver] superintendent says" —Mulshine: "Give voters a say on Governor Murphy's emergency powers" DEFAME! I'M GONNE SUE FOREVER! — "Murphy and GOP lawmaker accused of defamation in new filing by fired top health official," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "A former assistant health commissioner who was fired after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is accusing Gov. Phil Murphy and a Republican lawmaker of defamation for 'false statements' they made in public about him holding a second job, according to court papers. In a new motion in his whistleblower lawsuit against Murphy and the state, the former assistant commissioner, Christopher Neuwirth, said through his attorneys that Murphy and Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips were given opportunities to apologize and retract their comments, but did not. Murphy, a Democrat, and DePhillips, a Republican from Bergen County, had 'perpetuated' the narrative that Neuwirth held a second job while serving as an assistant commissioner leading the state's emergency response to COVID-19." CARPENTERS — The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters endorsed Gov. Phil Murphy yesterday. "Governor Murphy has been an advocate for the issues our workers care about, including the all-too-[common] issues of wage theft, worker misclassification, payroll fraud, and tax fraud in the construction industry," said Executive-Secretary Treasurer William C. Sproule in a statement. It shouldn't be shocking that a big union would endorse a Democrat who's the heavy frontrunner, but it's just the latest sign that the Murphy-South Jersey detente is progressing smoothly (even if, according to the governor, a rift never existed). —"Remote learning let some NJ kids log in from around the globe. Is that a sign of the future?" —Edelstein: "New Jersey needs more of Melinda Ciattarelli" —"Grossman's shameful post-Bridgeton rant" —"As COVID in Sussex County continues to dip, commissioners request over $27M in funds" —" Ban on ICE detention facilities in NJ advancing in Legislature" |
DISTRICT THAT PAYS ITS LAWYER $700K TO LAY OFF STAFF — Some New Jersey school districts laying off educators as possible teacher shortage looms, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Many states are churning out innovative policies in response to a worsening teacher shortage that could reach a full-blown crisis next fall, but in New Jersey, several districts are laying educators off by the dozens. Non-renewal notices have gone out to at least 14 elementary school teachers — including a Teacher of the Year recipient — in Union Township, 11 educators in Glen Rock (though that number has been disputed by the Board of Education), 36 staff members in Lakewood and 70 staffers in Toms River. Librarians are also reporting firings, with one district eliminating the position of school library media specialist for all of its schools.
OOPS SORRY ABOUT THAT — "Accounting lapse: NJ town's COVID-19 deaths understated for several months," by The Record's Philip DeVencentis: "The number of people from the borough who died from complications of COVID-19 was more than twice as many as the public was led to believe for an entire year. The deaths of 47 residents have now been attributed to the virus, but for several months the figure provided by officials did not surpass 21. Mayor Richard Goldberg said the issue was likely caused by a simple lapse in reporting the fatalities from hospitals to the state Department of Health, or between the state and borough. 'Somewhere, there was a breakdown,' the mayor said on Tuesday." WE MUST PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF ROUTE 206 — "'Prudent and careful' Hillsborough bans recreational marijuana sales," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: "Because the state has yet to establish regulations, the Township Committee adopted an ordinance Tuesday to ban the sale of recreational marijuana here. Township officials, however, emphasized the township could reverse course at any time. The 4-1 vote came after slightly more than an hour of public comments on the ordinance." —"Study points to big drop in Black teachers in Camden" —"Judge orders mediation in transgender rant beer toss case" —"State officials working on a transition plan for vaccine mega site in Atlantic City" —"Neptune spending up to $10K to investigate what's going on in public works department" —"Jersey City needs sensible development | Opinion" —"As COVID in Sussex County continues to dip, commissioners request over $27M in funds" —Ambrose: " In the age of George Floyd, the Newark PD has become a beacon" |
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