News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Republican senator joins Murphy administration

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Republican senator joins Murphy administration

Jul 20, 2021

Good Tuesday morning!

Here's something to spice up the summer news doldrums: Republican state Sen. Chris Brown is going to be working for Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

The Murphy administration announced it yesterday. Brown takes the job today as the" Local Government Services as the Senior Advisor for Atlantic City Affairs" — A newly-created position in the DCA that pays $150,000. Brown, a moderate Republican by today's standards, may have been one of just two GOP lawmakers to vote to condemn President Trump after Jan. 6 but it's not like he's a Democrat-lite.

A few of my takes on this:

-It doesn't make Republicans look bullish on ousting Murphy when one of their state senators — albeit one who was already retiring in January — leaves his job early to take a post in an administration that, if Jack Ciattarelli wins, will be out of office in five-and-a-half months.

-There's some irony to this move considering how hard the Murphy campaign is going against Ciattarelli for his comments criticizing LGBTQ curriculum and his allegations that sixth graders are being taught about "sodomy." Recall this Brown quote from a Veteran's Day ceremony last year: "You give somebody who has 14 different genders a Citizen of the Year award and you have other people who have gone and fought, and they wind up not getting that type of recognition." One difference is Brown quickly apologized for it, while Ciattarelli has doubled down.

-Brown is leaving the state Senate, which means Murphy could be giving Atlantic County Republicans the opportunity to fill his seat in the interim with their nominee to replace him, Vince Polistina, who's running for the seat against Assemblymember Vince Mazzo (D-Atlantic). That's likely purely symbolic, as the Senate doesn't plan to go back into session until after the election anyway. And that's if it happens. I don't see what motivation Senate President Steve Sweeney has to swear him in. So even if Mazzeo wins the November election, could Polistina be a two-month interim state senator? I'm asking here — I really don't know the answer.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "My goal is to make Shamong the pot capital of New Jersey." — Shamong Deputy Mayor Michael Di Croce

WHERE'S MURPHY? — No public schedule other than a CNBC appearance at 7:45 a.m.

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

101.5 EAGER TO SHRINK ITS AUDIENCE — Caseloads plummet among vaccinated residents as Delta variant surges in New Jersey, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: The 3,500-odd cases New Jersey has recorded among the fully vaccinated represents less than 1 percent of the more than 420,000 cases the state has tallied this year. And while the state's vaccination drive has pushed down the daily case counts, deaths and hospitalizations, the prevalence of the highly-contagious Delta variant has led to a resurgence within unvaccinated communities. The seven-day rolling average for newly reported cases has more than doubled over the last two weeks. The rate of transmission is now at 1.37 — anything over 1.0 suggests viral spread is accelerating — and the positivity rate on new tests is up to 2.5 percent after hovering between 1 percent and 2 percent for weeks. "New Jersey has seen a 20-percent increase in unvaccinated patients in our hospitals. These hospitalizations are preventable," Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said during Monday's briefing"

I MASKED THE BUS — New Jersey won't require masks when school resumes in the fall, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is preparing the state for a near-pre-pandemic school year in the fall, with all districts expected to operate with full-day, in-person instruction — with no masks required for students or staff. The governor, along with the Department of Education and Department of Health issued new joint recommendations Monday for school reopenings that suggest — but do not mandate — social distancing, daily disinfection, improved ventilation and other familiar Covid-preventative strategies. The indoor mask mandate will be lifted for schools overall, Murphy said, but districts will be able to decide whether to institute their own mask policies. Masking on buses, however, will be mandatory.

—"A violation of the Constitution? Shore students join school anti-mask lawsuit"

—'It's important to use every tool': Pediatrics group urges masks in schools

REBATE MAILING COSTS COULD PAY FOR 773 MORE REBATES — "Rebate checks are in the mail, first time in a decade," by NJ Spotlight's John Reitmeyer: "A decade ago, New Jersey turned a popular state tax-rebate check into a direct credit on tax bills. The reason? The cost of processing and mailing out the checks. Now in an election year, the state is turning back to the postal system to distribute new tax rebates. The Department of Treasury has begun mailing 'Middle Class Tax Rebate' checks to thousands of income-qualified parents who pay taxes in New Jersey. Treasury officials say they are aiming to distribute 100,000 printed checks per week, with the "vast majority" of an estimated 760,000 recipients with dependent children who meet income qualifications expected to receive their checks within six weeks. A total of $319 million was set aside in the 2022 fiscal year spending plan to fund the rebate program, according to budget documents. Treasury officials said last week they expect to spend $386,840 on the paper and postage needed to print and mail the checks … The rebate checks are also being sent out as Murphy, a first-term Democrat, is up for reelection, and in a year when all 120 legislative seats will be on the November ballot."

BONDS — "The bond market loves New Jersey. Yes, New Jersey ," by Bloomberg's Matthew A. Winkler: " High taxes and living costs along with underfunded borrowing once seemed to explain why New Jersey has been the worst performer in the $3.8 trillion market for state and local government debt during much of the last decade. Then a new governor actually raised taxes and imposed new costs on business — and turned the state's debt into the nation's most desired by investors since he took office in 2018. Now New Jersey is one of only seven states with an improving economy over the last 3 1/2 years, measured by employment, personal income, home prices, tax receipts, mortgage delinquencies and the equity of their companies. It's the only one of those seven with perennial leadership in public education and health care … In contrast to their disdain for state debt during the two terms of Murphy's Republican predecessor, Chris Christie, investors have made New Jersey the most lucrative holding among the five largest municipal borrowers with a total return (income plus appreciation) of 21.7% since the beginning of 2018, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It's crushing California, 16.1%; New York, 15.7%; Texas, 16.2%; Massachusetts, 15.6%; the U.S. average, 16.6%; and the world's average for sovereign debt."

PHIL MURPHY, IN COLORFUL SHIRTS AND ALLBIRDS, EMERGES AS DEM COUTURE WARRIOR — "Jack Ciattarelli, once a career moderate, emerges as a fiery GOP culture warrior," by The Record's Charles Stile: "To his critics, this was Ciattarelli simply privately pandering to hard-line conservatives in his party. But it also revealed a broader anxiety about the realities Ciattarelli is facing in the first New Jersey governor's race of the post-Trump era. Ciattarelli needs the vote of every Republican he can reach if he's to have any chance of prevailing, and that includes conservatives and pro-Trump diehards, voters who normally disdain an establishment guy like Ciattarelli. That reality is underscored by the shrinking number of swing voters — voters who haven't registered with either major party. Infuriated and frightened by former President Donald Trump, many simply signed up as Democrats over the last four years."

RENT — "NJ's landlord-tenant court gets an overhaul as eviction cases pile up," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "New Jersey will handle its growing caseload of evictions differently—and largely virtually—when trials resume on September 1st. A new order issued by the state's Chief Justice Stuart Rabner last week will remake parts of the process, requiring that landlords provide lease agreements and renters submit statements before trial. The changes come as the courts face an avalanche of cases: More than 68,000 evictions have been filed since April 2020 and older cases have languished after trials were suspended due to the pandemic. An "avalanche" of another 194,000 landlord-tenant filings are expected next year after the state's moratorium on lockouts is lifted, experts say."

—"Bruck names leadership team, directs staff to address issues of racial disparity"

—"Oroho suddenly radiates a statewide vibe"

—"Celebration of the life of Candy Straight set for Tuesday"

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BIDEN TIME

PEOPLE'S REPUBLICS OF MONTCLAIR, LAMBERTVILLE CONSIDERED AS SUBSTITUTES — "Move 2022 Winter Olympics out of China, N.J. congressman says. He wants House support," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Legislation to help the U.S. compete with China will include a provision calling for a plan of action to move the 2022 Winter Olympics out of Beijing if Rep. Chris Smith has his way. An amendment by Smith, R-4th Dist., to have the U.S. lead an effort to move what he's dubbed the 'genocide Olympics' failed on a party-line vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. But he said he would try to get the amendment onto the House floor for another vote … The House measure also addresses Chinese actions toward the Uyghurs, a Muslim minority, which the State Department has described as 'genocide'; strengthens ties with Taiwan; and makes it easier for residents of Hong Kong, where China has cracked down on political freedom, to emigrate to the U.S."

MORE ORANGES TO JUICE — Christie nabs role courting big donors for Republican governors group, by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been tapped to co-chair a new fundraising program aimed at helping Republicans in 2022 governor races, a role that will allow him to maintain his national profile as he weighs a 2024 presidential bid. Christie will help to spearhead the Republican Governors Association's Victory 2022 Board, an enterprise devoted to expanding the committee's donor network. He will be joined by Michelle Malek Olson, the finance chair for Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Glenn Youngkin and the daughter of Fred Malek, a major GOP financier who passed away in 2019.

LOCAL

ATLANTIC CITY — "Atlantic City, NJ councilman says he was beaten in ambush over drug vote," by NJ 101.5's Dan Alexander: "A councilman who was assaulted in a parking lot Thursday night, leaving him hospitalized with serious injuries, says the assault was in retaliation for his vote against keeping the city's needle-exchange program. Speaking to reporters from his hospital room on Sunday, 4th Ward Councilman Hossain Morshed, 47, said he was assaulted near the intersection of Florida and Atlantic avenues around 10:45 p.m. after leaving a mosque. Morshed said he was blocked by a car from leaving the parking lot. When Morshed said got out of his car, he was confronted by several men and women carrying guns. One of the attackers spoke to him, he said. 'He said don't go against the drug business. His second sentence was don't go against needle exchange and his third sentence was don't go with Sarkos,' Morshed said. Atlantic City Deputy Police Chief James Sarkos is serving as the interim officer in charge of the department. 'This is the message for Atlantic City. This is the message for Atlantic City police,' Morshed said an attacker told him."

—"As assaulted Atlantic City councilman recovers, some call for State Attorney General to join investigation"

IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S $700K LAWYER THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT? — "Lakewood kids get a fair education, commissioner rules. School vows to appeal decision," by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky: "The state's acting education commissioner has ruled that Lakewood public school students are getting a thorough and efficient education and that the state school funding formula is not unconstitutional as it relates to the district. Friday's decision ends the administrative phase of a case brought seven years ago on behalf of public school families, but allows it to proceed to the Appellate Division of State Superior Court and, their lawyer hopes, the state Supreme Court. 'The Commissioner acknowledged Lakewood's educational shortcomings but pointed out that the deficiencies do not rise to the level of unconstitutional,' Friday's decision by Acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan states. 'Further, the SFRA is constitutional as applied to Lakewood.' The decision, rendered by Allen-McMillan in what's known as the Alcantara v. Hespe case, will be appealed, said Arthur Lang, the Lakewood Public Schools math teacher and attorney who in 2014 filed the original petition to then-Education Commissioner David Hespe on behalf of a group of Lakewood Public Schools parents, including Leonor Alcantara."

LINEAR THINKING — Hudson County Democratic chair questions influence of 'the line', by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Hudson County Democratic Chair Amy DeGise downplayed the importance of the "county line" in a recent interview, saying it doesn't have much effect on who gets elected .... "I don't think having the line or not having the line is going to drastically change who's getting elected," DeGise said … DeGise recently sought to eliminate the party line, but only for presidential candidates in the 2020 primary — demonstrating that Democratic leaders were concerned about the power of a potential rival line. In March 2020, when Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the frontrunner for the nomination, several Hudson County progressive candidates wanted to bracket with him, potentially setting up a rival line to the Hudson County Democratic Organization-backed slate .... Biden soon coalesced the Democratic vote and it became clear the nominating process would be all but over by the time New Jersey voted. DeGise scrapped the plans for an open presidential primary.

BARELY FLIGHT LEGAL — "18-year-old pilot emergency lands plane on Ocean City bridge," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Ellie Rushing and Amy S. Rosenberg: "A small banner plane made an emergency landing on the Ninth Street Bridge in Ocean City, N.J., Monday afternoon. Landon Lucas, an 18-year-old pilot with Paramount Air Service, was flying a banner near Atlantic City's Steel Pier when his plane began experiencing engine trouble, said Doug Bergen, Ocean City's public information officer. Lucas released the banner into the ocean, and attempted to reach the Ocean City Municipal Airport before noticing a gap in traffic in the westbound lanes on the Route 52 Causeway. Lucas landed the plane on the bridge with no damage to himself, motorists, or the plane, Bergen said."

—"Blakeley, burned out from vitriol, stepping away from Trenton politics for now"

—"Former mayor Gwendolyn Faison to lie in state Tuesday, Wednesday"

—"Parties keep popping up at Jersey Shore. Cops say they can't crack down like they used to"

R.I.P. — "Paul Sollami, 7-term Mercer county freeholder, dies at 90"

—"With November elections on the horizon, Bergen County's top elections post still vacant"

—"[Mercer County] wants to spend more to develop parks and recreation while spending less on buying open space"

—"On his 1st day in office, N.J.'s new acting Attorney General targets illegal dumping"

EVERYTHING ELSE

SALSA SHARK PINGED AT FREEHOLD SHOPRITE — "Kevin Smith to film 'Clerks III' in New Jersey this summer. Here's the details," by The Asbury Park Press' Alex Biese: "Kevin Smith is supposed to be here this summer. The Highlands-born filmmaker is returning to his New Jersey roots, both artistically and geographically, with the latest installment in his long-running View Askew interconnected cinematic universe. 'Clerks III,' the upcoming follow-up to his breakthrough 1994 debut film 'Clerks,' will begin production in August, Smith announced Monday via Instagram."

—" Blue Jays returning to Toronto — what happens to Trenton, NJ's Thunder?"

—"One-third of N.J. living in poverty, nonprofit says. Here's how much it costs to live in your county"

—" NJ Transit advances Metropark Station mixed-use development plan"

—"The state of NJ has been nominated for an Emmy for these videos"

—" State reveals why I-295 retaining wall collapsed, but engineering investigation still ongoing"

CORRECTION: Because I can't see past "Ant," I mislabeled Assemblyman Antwan McClellan as "Anthony" in yesterday's birthday list.

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