News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Emergency powers bill fast-tracked

Thursday, June 3, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Emergency powers bill fast-tracked

Jun 03, 2021

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Thursday morning!

After a previous version stalled two weeks ago, a bill to end the public health emergency while preserving many of Gov. Phil Murphy's emergency powers is scheduled for votes in both houses today.

Though a version of the measure had a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this one has been put straight onto second reading. So a massively important bill is about to go straight for a vote without giving the public a chance to weigh in or giving lawmakers a chance to more closely parse it.

Why the rush? The governor signed the latest emergency on May 14. So if he sticks to the plan to not issue another one, this bill has to pass before that order expires in mid-June. And today, it turns out, is the Legislature's last scheduled voting session before that mark.

The timeline is tight. But doesn't it seem like the most important legislation often gets fast-tracked, regardless of time constraints?

Read Sam Sutton's report breaking down the changes between the two versions of the bill.

WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The organizational lines are based on statute and the attorney general and his team have an obligation to defend the law. I'm very much open to a discussion about ballot design, without question, but I do think it's a false premise … to sort of have this notion that there's a bunch of machine politicians on one side, in one line, and a bunch of enlightened candidates of independent mind on other parts of the ballot. There are good people all over these ballots." — Gov. Murphy on Wednesday, referring to a question about the Office of the Attorney General opposing progressives' lawsuit to abolish the county line

TWEET OF THE DAY: @BrandonMcKoy : "I don't wanna get into it bc there's no sense in arguing w/ ppl who insist on being dense about it, but the abject dismissiveness regarding discriminatory impacts of the line re: race & gender by people who really should know & be better is mighty disheartening." (For the record: McKoy told me this tweet wasn't aimed at Murphy).

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 237 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 888,074. 20 more deaths for a total of 26,247 confirmed or probable deaths. 518 hospitalized, 120 in intensive care. 4,259,893 fully-vaccinated, or about 45.9 percent of the population.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember John McKeon, Kivvit's Kristi Marcian

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Tell NJ Lawmakers to Lower Prescription Drug Prices! New Jerseyans shouldn't have to choose between filling life-saving prescription medications or affording food or rent. It is wrong that even in the midst of a pandemic and financial crisis, drug companies increased the prices of more than 1,000 drugs last year. Drugs don't work if people can't afford them. Make your voice heard and tell NJ lawmakers to lower prescription drug prices now! Take action.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

SDA TO SAVE MONEY ON HEAT WITH RECLAIMED ASBESTOS — New report cites SDA's 'spotty' record, including 'shoddy school construction projects,' by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: New Jersey's Schools Development Authority is facing a "diminished" ability to manage public school construction projects, the land it owns and the operations of the agency itself, according to a new report from the State Commission of Investigation … The report, released Wednesday morning, concludes the SDA has a "spotty" record, including contracting processes that "lacked consistency, integrity and a willingness to weed out bad contractors," "wasteful and neglectful" property management that lost the state tens of millions of dollars and left communities blighted, and several "shoddy school construction projects" that created deeply-embedded issues for local districts, students and taxpayers …

The commission's investigators uncovered construction projects managed by the SDA that have been "plagued by repeated, and sometimes avoidable, building-related problems that continue to perplex and run up costs for local districts years after the work is complete and schools opened." In the summer of 2011, when the Egg Harbor City Community Middle School in Atlantic County — a $24.2 million project managed by the SDA — first opened, "there was so much humidity inside the main office that water dripped from the ceiling, the doors swelled and refused to close without force, and the wooden file cabinets warped," the report found.

ANTI-VAXXERS TO REPLACE THEM WITH MAGASITES — New Jersey to shut down its Covid-19 vaccine megasites, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey is shutting out its six vaccination megasites over the next several weeks as the state's efforts shift toward local and community-based efforts, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday. Megasites in Atlantic and Gloucester counties have already stopped taking appointments for residents requiring their first shots and will halt operations June 19 and June 18, respectively. Sites in Bergen, Morris and Middlesex counties will shut down in late June and early July, while Burlington County's megasite is scheduled to administer its last dose on July 23. "For the last five months, these sites have been the backbone of our overall vaccination effort as we built out into every community across the state," Murphy said during a Covid-19 briefing."

NJEA DETERMINES DATES — "N.J. could drop school mask requirements in fall. 'Our minds are open,' Murphy says," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson : "As a national debate rages over whether face coverings are still needed in classrooms to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday he's open-minded about dropping New Jersey's mask requirements in schools by the time the next academic year begins. Asked by NJ Advance Media about that possibility, Murphy said his 'guess' at 'this moment in time' remains that the state will continue to require students and staff to wear masks in the fall. But, he said, 'there is a chance' that could change. 'We put our guidance out — a full, thick booklet — in June of last year for what reopening would look like, and we tweaked it a number of times between June and September,' Murphy said after touring Bergenfield High School with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona."

— "Confusing school mask mandates aren't our fault. We need consistency, N.J. superintendents say"

NJ TRANSIT — " Four women sue NJ Transit, saying agency knew of bus supervisor's sexual assault history," by The Record's Colleen Wilson: "Four female NJ Transit employees are suing the agency, accusing it of creating a hostile work environment by protecting their supervisor, who they say sexually harassed and assaulted them. The four women, who are bus drivers and work out of the Greenville garage in Jersey City, allege that their supervisor, Kareem Howze, 'sexually harassed, stalked, and/or sexually assaulted each plaintiff,' according to the lawsuit filed in Hudson County. They also accuse the agency of '[concealing and/or helping] to conceal Kareem Howze's violent and/or sexually predatory history before and/or during his employment with NJT,' the lawsuit said … Two of the women who filed the lawsuit made formal complaints to the agency in December 2020 and two others followed suit in February 2021, but Howze remained employed, according to the suit."

— "State Democrats attack Ciattarelli over campaign video featuring anti-vaccine candidate"

— " Off-line Holley tries to target Cryan's Democratic primary soft underbelly"

— "N.J. still doesn't collect data on sexual orientation, gender identity. Here's why that's a problem"

— DiMaso: " C'mon Gov. Murphy, admit you were wrong to borrow billions"

— "Is it a bribe? Ex-NJ assemblyman accused of taking bag of cash urges court to toss charge"

— " Voting groups ask to join case fighting county lines in NJ primary"

— "Murphy primary campaign spending dwarfs GOP rivals'"

— " Johnson says Englewood developer bundled campaign contributions while seeking local approvals"

— "Johnson knocks on voters' doors in his hometown"

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BIDEN TIME

BACK THE WHO? — "At least 20 Republican senators didn't meet with the Sicknick family," by The Washington Post's Jacqueline Alemany: "Before Senate Republicans blocked the creation of a bipartisan commission to investigate the events of Jan. 6, Gladys Sicknick, the mother of late U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick — who lost his life shortly after defending the Capitol that day — requested meetings with every GOP senator to advocate for the proposal. At least 20 Republican senators did not meet with Sicknick's mother, according to a list obtained by The Washington Post. Asked why they were not able to meet with Gladys Sicknick, who was accompanied by her son's former partner, Sandra Garza, several of the offices cited scheduling issues."

LOCAL

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS — "Camden elections are usually formalities. 2 mayoral challengers are trying to make this one a race," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Allison Steele: "[Elton] Custis, a 39-year-old school board member seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor in Tuesday's primary, lamented that Camden typically elects leaders hand-picked by the powerful South Jersey Democratic establishment. This year, that's Vic Carstarphen, a former city council member who was sworn in as mayor last month following the resignation of Mayor Frank Moran … Carstarphen, a Camden High School basketball star-turned-coach who joined council last year, is well-known and widely liked. Custis and Reyes-Morton speak highly of him while attacking how he became mayor. In an interview, Carstarphen sidestepped questions about that process, saying, 'everything happened fast.' … 'The people that are quote-unquote disenchanted, I want to work with them, too,' Carstarphen said. 'Let's do something together instead of pointing fingers. I know I got to work hard.' Council members threw their support behind Carstarphen before Moran even announced his resignation. Reyes-Morton, 32, said she got a call from a Democratic strategist seeking her endorsement for Carstarphen just minutes after the Inquirer first reported Morgan's coming resignation."

— " Camden mayor's race pits 3 challengers against the Democratic machine"

— "Camden gets federal grant to develop new energy-efficient housing"

STUCK IN THE MIDDLESEX WITH YOU — " In Edison, Bhagia the statewide face of the resistance," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "As mayoral candidate Sam Joshi blankets … Edison with reminders of his powerful backers from within the upper echelons of the Democratic Party, the allies of rival Mahesh Bhagia pray for an insurrection. Not many candidates can beat the coveted Democratic Party line in this state, and Joshi and the Middlesex County Democratic Committee know the particular strength of that bond in a gubernatorial election year. So does Bhagia, the meticulous and well-organized chairman of the local Edison Democratic Organization, infamously bigfooted by its countywide counterpart against the backdrop of bigger power plays with, conceivably, inner party sanctum consequences. The Joshi Campaign relied on numerous heavyweights in the closing weeks of its mayoral bid to underscore Joshi's party alliances.

"Most significantly, a grinning, backslapping Governor Phil Murphy — himself on the line in the June 8th Democratic Primary — campaigned for Joshi. Murphy's fascination with Edison extends beyond merely his own craving for a prescribed power boost from Middlesex County, in the forward constellation of significant political counties in New Jersey. His political minders see Middlesex as part of a larger statewide strategy to potentially relieve the governor — and the party — from the longstanding iron grip of South Jersey dependency."

THE POLITICAL VIEWS OF A DICK — "F-bomb, bird flipping anti-Biden flags outside house near N.J. school infuriate neighbors," by NJ Advance Media's Avalon Zoppo: "Anti-President Joe Biden flags prominently featuring profanity hanging outside a Roselle Park home have caught the attention of local code enforcement after residents complained, noting the proximity of the residence to a local school. Borough officials began receiving complaints Friday about the display, which includes a photo of Donald Trump raising both middle fingers and the words 'F--- Biden' below, said Mayor Joseph Signorello. Three of the six flags include the F-bomb. The property is close to a nearby elementary school and children regularly walk past it, he said. Signorello said the homeowner was asked to remove the display because it goes against a borough ordinance that prohibits residents from displaying 'obscene materials.' … The homeowner, Andrea Dick, said she doesn't plan to remove the flags, which she put up recently and which she considers protected under free speech. She denied there is an ordinance banning the display of obscene materials, though it can be found on the borough's website."

SETH GROSSMAN TEMPORARILY DEPRIVED OF CAMPAIGN ISSUE — "Columbus Day is safe in Jersey City schools — for now ," by NJ Advance Media's Joshua Rosario : "Christopher Columbus will continue to rule the second Monday in October in Jersey City schools. The Jersey City Board of Education chose not to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day or Italian Heritage Day in the school year calendar for 2021-2022 at its May 27 meeting. BOE President Mussab Ali said Wednesday there needs to be more discussion with Jersey City's Italian-American community before a decision is made about the now-controversial holiday. He said Columbus Day is more about Italian heritage than it is about Columbus, the man. 'We felt we hadn't done enough reaching out and enough conversations with Italian-Americans to even have the conversation of changing it to Italian Heritage Day (or Indigenous Peoples Day),' Ali said."

— "3 controversial Jersey City teachers no longer with the school district, officials say"

THAT'S TOO MUCH TO PAY PEOPLE WHO GUARD PEOPLES' LIVES — " These 2 Jersey Shore towns couldn't hire lifeguards so they hiked pay to $20 an hour," by NJ Advance Media's Josh Axelrod: "Stone Harbor's 2019 lifeguard tryouts were a bust. Of the patrol's 20 openings, only 15 people came out — and a handful of those applicants couldn't manage the half-mile ocean swim and 7-minute mile run along Stone Harbor's powdery soft sand. Guard positions have gotten more and more difficult to fill over the years. So, something had to give. 'You really can't have a job that's that physically demanding and have it be the same pay as say working at an ice cream store in town…' Stone Harbor Beach Patrol Captain Sandy Bosacco told NJ Advance Media. 'The consequences are a lot different if you make a mistake.' Last year, Stone Harbor and its Seven Mile Island neighbor Avalon increased starting pay for guards from $12.50 to nearly $20 an hour."

GENERAL FLYNN HAPPY TO OBLIGE — "Alarmist Conlon asks Mercer County election officials to call in National Guard for primary," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Send in the troops! City clerk Matthew Conlon sent out an alarmist email last week to Mercer County election officials suggesting that the city enlist the help of the National Guard to offset a shortage of poll workers for the June 8 primary. Conlon on Friday emailed members of the Mercer County Board of Elections saying there weren't 'anywhere near enough' poll workers to staff the city's 46 election districts and 26 polling locations, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Trentonian."

— " Internal Affairs Units in Hudson disciplined 36 cops, including 3 terminations, in 2020"

— "Ex-[Deptford] parks department worker gets $300K settlement in racial discrimination suit"

— " Atlantic City school board member moves to disqualify solicitor in lawsuit against him"

— "At Palestinian community center in Clifton, a 'shaken' staff copes with violent threats"

— " Edison school board member running for Senate wants mandatory psych tests for teachers"

— "Piscataway school board member censured for signing Democratic flyer"

— " In big step toward normalcy, Paterson teachers return to classrooms without students"

— "Parsippany slashes emergency loan needed to balance budget deficit"

— " 'Mob' pummeled, choked, kicked [Newark] cops trying to make arrest, union says"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

WELCOME…TO JURASSIC ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK — "A Minke whale skull was discovered at Island Beach State Park," by The Asbury Park Press' Amanda Oglesby: "No pterodactyl fossil washed ashore in Island Beach State Park this week, despite speculation from more than 1,000 Facebook users who commented on a photo of a massive skull in the sand. Instead, it was a minke whale skull, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Island Beach State Park's Facebook page, where a photo of the massive bone went viral this week … The skull found Monday is part of the remains of another minke whale that stranded and died last year … Though volunteers bury the carcasses deep enough in the sand that beachgoers are unaware the dead whales are there, powerful storms can uncover the remains."

— "JCP&L warns customers of possible sticker shock from higher electric bills"

— "Holtec employee splashed with radioactive water in Oyster Creek cask accident"

— "NJ man may have experienced rare COVID vaccine reaction that caused heart inflammation"

A message from AARP New Jersey: