| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Friday morning! Last I checked nobody was hurt by a tornado, so that's good. Today is the deadline state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner set for Democrats and Republicans to try to come together on a congressional redistricting tie-breaker. How's it going? Well, considering that the two parties can't even agree on who can be considered, not very well. Democrats proposed a third choice: former Chief Justice Deborah Poritz . That would be a non-starter for Republicans, but they're not even letting it get that far. They note that in a deadlock, the state constitution only allows the court to pick one of their two choices — so they don't think there's any wiggle room to negotiate a candidate who's not John Wallace Jr. (Democratic pick) or Marina Corodemus (Republican pick). And in an email to Democrats late Wednesday, GOP redistricting chair Doug Steinhardt disparaged Wallace's political connections. So that doesn't really sound like they're very open to considering him. Neither side stands to benefit from totally disregarding Rabner's wishes, so it would be reasonable to expect at least a half-hearted negotiating session. But when the two sides can't agree on procedure, let alone candidates, it's not looking good for a last-minute deal. Sorry, Justice Rabner. It's looking like your court is going to have to pick. Read more about it here. Read more about it here. WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Toms River at noon to tour the "Toms River Field of Dreams Recreational Complex for Individuals with Special Needs." Media: CNN at 8 a.m. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Good for Shake Shack" — State Sen. Loretta Winberge presumably about the burger chain's founder, Danny Meyer, saying he'll require his company's restaurants' indoor diners to show proof of vaccination. (Shake Shack is not included in this policy.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY — GSE's Christian Fuscarino, Middlesex Dem Chair Kevin McCabe. Sunday for state Sen. Sam Thompson, former Bergen Sheriff Leo McGuire. Sunday for former Assemblymember John Amodeo, Atlantic Dem Chair Michael Suleiman.
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
OFFICIAL MISCONDUCTOR — "Murphy-appointed NJ Transit board member arrested in insurance fraud scheme," by The Record's Liam Quinn and Colleen Wilson: "A Gov. Phil Murphy-appointed member of New Jersey Transit's Board of Directors was arrested in connection with a nearly $900,000 insurance fraud scheme, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. David Rasmussen was appointed by Murphy and approved by the state Senate to a newly created position on the agency's board of directors in January 2020 as a non-voting member representing one of the rail unions. He was charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and theft by deception. 'The Governor is extremely disturbed by the charges against David Rasmussen, which represent a serious breach of the public trust. The Governor expects that Mr. Rasmussen will immediately resign from the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors,' Michael Zhadanovsky, a spokesman for the Murphy administration, wrote in an email. In addition, Rasmussen's wife, Suzanne, 52, and her nephew Raymond Giovannone, 33, both of Woodbridge, were each arrested and charged with the same two crimes, the prosecutor's office said. The prosecutor's office alleged the scheme used the information of ten NJ Transit employees to get doctors to write unnecessary prescriptions after telemedicine visits in an attempt to defraud NJ State Blue Cross/Blue Shield which provides health insurance coverage to state employees."
PERMANENT PANDEMIC — New Jersey reports more than 1,000 Covid cases for first time since May, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey on Thursday reported 1,017 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases, the most since since May 1 and a sign the state's public health woes are worsening despite a comparatively strong vaccination rate. Hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19 increased to 480, a 56 percent jump from where they stood at the start of the month, and the rate of transmission has climbed to a level that suggests viral spread is accelerating. Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday warned that new Covid-19-related restrictions, including a mask mandate, could be in store if the state's public health metrics don't improve. Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli have "strongly recommended" that residents wear masks in public indoor areas regardless of vaccination status, matching the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations. IT MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT IT WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM! — New Jersey Republicans struggle to find cohesion on vaccines as Covid cases mount, by Sam : New Jersey Republicans are stuck between a shot and a virus. As national Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana reverse course and take up the flag for lagging immunization efforts, New Jersey's GOP leaders have struggled to present a cohesive front in messaging their support for bringing up the state's vaccination rate. cases mount. "It's impossible to deny that some members of the [state] Republican Party have not been effective messengers," Sen. Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said in an interview. "I don't know how much consequence there is to that, but to not admit it is to be disingenuous." —"COVID-19 infections, deaths growing in vaccinated people" CIATTARELLI TO RELOCATE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS TO PARAMUS IKEA — "The New Jersey Republican political Stockholm syndrome — and Jack Ciattarelli ," by InsiderNJ's Alan Steinberg: "The NJGOP, limited by the ideological constraints of its Trumpist captors has no significant meaningful and persuasive outreach message to voters who are unaffiliated or Democratic. This dooms the Republicans to continuing defeats in all forthcoming statewide elections in the Garden State. Recently, in speaking to a conservative crowd in Hunterdon County, Ciattarelli appealed to the audience to 'give me a little wiggle room' to make such appeals to unaffiliated and Democratic voters. His actions and positions, however, on cultural issues involving vaccines and the LGBTQ community are so far out of the mainstream that he will need more than a 'little wiggle room' to persuade centrist voters that he is not a troglodyte reactionary." TAKE IT SCHEPEASY — GOP incumbents in 39th District unite after year marked by infighting, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Republican incumbents in North Jersey's 39th Legislative District are uniting after a year of political infighting. State Sen. Holly Schepisi and Assemblymembers Bob Auth and DeAnne DeFuccio lavished praise upon one another in a joint campaign announcement, bringing an end to a year marked with special elections and dueling alliances among the three. "I have seen firsthand how hard both Bob and DeAnne work and their commitment to doing what is right," Schepisi said in the statement. "I am proud to call them my teammates in the legislature and in this November's election." The trio said in their statement that their campaigns will focus on taxes and being a "strong, fiscally conservative voice" in the Statehouse. —Mulshine: "Electric skateboards and scooters: All those new vehicles have us on the road to chaos" —"Just had a baby in N.J.? You can soon get a free house call from a nurse under new law" —"Murphy, Ciattarelli to square off in 1st gubernatorial debate Sept. 28. Here are the details" | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | BIDEN TIME | |
BILL TEXT: 'EXCEPT MATT FRIEDMAN' — "Menendez joins bicameral effort to reintroduce bill to make harming a journalist a federal crime," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has joined a bicameral effort that also includes Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif, 15) to reintroduce a bill to make threatening or harming a journalist a federal crime. 'The increasing threats and acts of violence against journalists are deeply alarming, and they need greater protection in order to do their jobs safely. Our democracy and the American people rely on a free and independent press — a strong Fourth Estate — to keep the public informed and hold those in power accountable,' Menendez said in a statement."
—"Big infrastructure bill could be good news for Gateway Tunnel project crucial to N.J." | | LOCAL | |
MCBRIDE AND PREJUDICE — "Grandmother alleged Trenton council prez called cops on kids' birthday party," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "An upset grandmother wants to see 'miserable-a**' council president Kathy McBride bounced from office. Kara Ingram and her family were having a birthday party for her 5-year-old grandson, Andrew, at Laurel Avenue Park on Monday when city officials arrived to break up the good-natured festivities. She was told by a park ranger and police officer that, because she didn't have a permit and insurance to operate a bouncy house and water slide for the kids at the city park, she'd be ticketed if they'd didn't come down. Incensed over the cops getting involved, Ingram directed a profanity-laced Facebook Live tirade against McBride, claiming the council president, who lives across the street from the park, orchestrated the crackdown … McBride denied calling the cops."
RISLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT — "Atlantic commissioner recount tackles about 19,000 of 142,000 ballots in first day," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post : "It's a court-ordered attempt to prove who won the second of two at-large seats last November. Was it incumbent Republican John Risley or Democratic challenger Celeste Fernandez, both of Egg Harbor Township? The two were separated by just 0.03% of the vote. The board has not yet counted the under- and overvotes, but Board of Elections Chairperson Lynn Caterson said she looked at every one of them and saw a pattern. "The main problem I saw with these ballots ... was the voter using a check mark rather than filling in the bubble," Caterson said. 'An amazing number of voters did not read/follow the instructions on the ballot about filing in the bubble.' ... Check marks would not be recognized by the scanning machine as votes and would be considered undervotes." DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY FIDELITY — "Mount Holly official used covid stimulus funds to pay his wife," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "The president of Main Street Mount Holly used $7,000 from a federal CARES ACT grant to pay his wife to administer a $157,297 Main Street New Jersey COVID-19 Relief grant despite an apparent rule that bans family members from profiting. Joseph Lamberti, who runs the local economic development group, picked his wife, Christi, to handle administrative issues involving the grant. She is a medical secretary at Virtua Health, according to her LinkedIn page. The hiring of Christi Lamberti came despite a certification to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which approved the application, that 'members of our organization's governing body nor members of their families will receive any direct or indirect personal or monetary gain from the funding of this grant.'" FENCES MENDEZED — "Paterson election challenge over, with Mendez solidifying council seat," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein : "Former Paterson City Councilman William McKoy has dropped his legal challenge to a November special election, with incumbent Alex Mendez prevailing in a fourteen-month battle over the Third Ward council seat. Mendez had defeated McKoy in a May 2020 election by 245 votes, but Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposella ruled those alleged improprieties — the state attorney general charged Mendez with voter fraud — made it impossible to determine the real winner. He barred Mendez from being sworn in and ordered a new election in November. In the do-over election, Mendez initially led McKoy by 14 votes and finally won by 9. He took his council seat last year. On Thursday, attorneys for the two candidates — along with Deputy Attorney General Eric Reid — filed a notice of dismissal with the courts." —"Police supervisor hit me with chopsticks, bullied, harassed me for years, [Palisades Park] cop says in lawsuit" —" [Westfield] used covid relief money to buy thousands of tote bags — and never gave them out" —"Egg Harbor Township Committee adopts rules to allow cannabis businesses" —"An indie venue is coming to life in Atlantic City from a team with Johnny Brenda's cred" —"Will NJ students have to mask up in the fall? Here's what Shore officials told us" —"Montclair police officer under bias investigation for 'China 19' comment on Facebook" | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
CARDINAL SIN — "Ex-Cardinal McCarrick faces criminal charges for first time in case dating back to 1970s in Massachusetts," by NJ Advance Media's Kelly Heyboer and Ted Sherman: "Disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy during a wedding reception in the 1970s — the first time the ex-Catholic Church official has ever faced criminal charges after years of allegations of sexual misconduct. McCarrick, who spent years as the Archbishop of Newark and Archbishop of Washington, D.C., was charged Wednesday with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in a criminal complaint filed by Wellesley Police in Dedham District Court, a spokesman for the local district attorney said Thursday. The defrocked cardinal is the highest-ranking Catholic Church official ever charged with sexually abusing a minor in the U.S."
THE ANSWER: TAKING PEOPLES' MONEY — "How casinos across the region are rebounding after COVID shuttered their doors," by Gannett's Joseph Spector and Dustin Racioppi: "Casinos across the region are breaking new records for revenue as bettors return to slot machines and table games amid pent-up demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, records show. Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey all posted surprisingly strong growth in recent months, and New York casinos were creeping back to pre-pandemic wagering — a major boost to the states' economy and tourism during the critical summer season … The states operate in the nation's most competitive gambling market and was near saturation even before the pandemic, making the return after COVID a particularly critical time for casinos in Atlantic City, the New York City area, across Pennsylvania and down the East Coast. And so far, so good." EXECUTIVES HOPE PATIENTS COME AFTER CONFUSING IT WITH MORRISTOWN MEDICAL CENTER — "Cooper University Health Care is a big buyer at Moorestown Mall," by The Courier-Post's Jim Clerk's Office. "A planned health care center at Moorestown Mall has already provided a cash infusion to the shopping center's owner. Cooper University Health Care paid $10.1 million for a former Sears store that is to hold medical offices at the Route 38 complex, according to records posted online by the Burlington County mall's owner, Philadelphia-based PREIT." WHO WILL SAVE YOUR S…TORE? — " Fort Monmouth gives up 'jewel,' now pitches mega site dreams beyond homes and stores," by The Asbury Park Press' Dan Radel: "Parcel B, often called the 'gateway' or 'jewel' of Fort Monmouth's properties, has been taken off the market, and a new vision likely means the end of the parcel being sold as it is. The state agency redeveloping the former U.S. Army base has tried numerous times to sell the parcel and is reevaluating the uses for the large tract located at the Main Gate entrance off Route 35 in Eatontown. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, or FMERA, terminated public bidding for the property on July 21 and is now wrapping Parcel B into a 289-acre 'mega-site' that lies in Eatontown and Oceanport and will require more collaboration from local municipalities." —"Enrollment fell at many colleges in 2020. Things were different at Lakewood's BMG yeshiva" —"SJI names Orsen first female president"
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