News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Ciattarelli asks the right for 'wiggle room'

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Ciattarelli asks the right for 'wiggle room'

Jul 21, 2021

Good Wednesday morning!

We've already been over how Jack Ciattarelli has the unenviable task of appealing to New Jersey's blue-tinted electorate while not alienating a Republican base that's just as conservative and pro-Trump as in red states.

It's a problem New Jersey Republicans always have, albeit one made more pressing by the mainstream GOP's hard right turn in the Trump era. So what's Ciattarelli's solution? One way, apparently, is to get the GOP base in on it.

"I'm never gonna disrespect the base , but you guys got to give me a little wiggle room," Ciattarelli told a conservative audience at a Hunterdon County gun range. "Give me a little wiggle room to spend time going to places Republicans typically don't go. And give me a little wiggle room on how to talk about issues. Because the goal is to win."

It's interesting that Ciattarelli's bringing them in on it. But at the same event, he criticized the state's LGBTQ curriculum law and said "we're not teaching sodomy to 6th graders." That sure doesn't look like following his own advice.

Read more about it here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "In June of this year the Prosecutor was observed and captured in photos and video at a local bar with a female companion who was not his wife. They would both later exit the bar and enter the rear seat of the Prosecutor's tax payer funded law enforcement SUV. The vehicle could then be observed rocking back and forth for a few minutes before the Prosecutor exits the vehicle, now wearing a Fedora Hat." — An anonymous letter alleging then-Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner's misconduct. Tyner resigned Tuesday morning, presumably for crimes against fashion.

TWITER THREAD OF THE DAY: @AndyKimNJ; "Tricia @NewDayForNJ, I am writing to press you to stop saying 'He is not one of us' in campaign attack ads against me. I've heard these hurtful words many times as an Asian American and your use in a campaign for Congress disrespects me and many AAPIs. You and I haven't..."

WHERE'S MURPHY?: In Tenafly for a small business bill signing at 11 a.m.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

COME TO WHERE THE FAVORS ARE — Philip Morris opens its wallet for New Jersey Democrats in advance of 2021 elections, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : A subsidiary of one of the largest cigarette makers in the world pumped nearly $50,000 into New Jersey elections during the second quarter of 2021, including more than $36,000 to campaign committees backing Democrats who had spearheaded efforts to curtail tobacco use in the previous legislative session. Philip Morris USA, which is owned by Altria, gave $18,000 to the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee and $18,500 to the Senate Democratic Majority Committee in June. Separately, the company contributed $11,000 each to the Assembly Republican Victory and Senate Republican Majority committees, according to filings with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

VACCINES — "Black, Latino trust in N.J. public health stops at COVID vaccine, study finds," by NJ Advance Media's Spencer Kent: " Rutgers University researchers interviewed 111 Black and Latino residents from low-income communities in Essex, Middlesex, Passaic and Union counties that were hit hard by the virus. The study — conducted between mid-November 2020 and early February — sought to 'explore the experiences of Black and Latinx communities during the pandemic to better understand their perspectives on COVID-19 mitigation behaviors,' such as mask-wearing, testing and vaccines, the study said. Researchers also learned about logistical barriers that participants faced, including difficulty accessing testing. But vaccine hesitancy stood out as an obstacle … That wariness among people of color can be traced to past atrocities such as the Tuskegee syphilis study and the testing of birth control pills on Puerto Rican women. These widely documented events have contributed to the fear and skepticism that persist today surrounding vaccines and other public health initiatives. 'I think when we went into this, we weren't surprised to hear stories about Tuskegee and other research issues that were concerning to the African American population in particular, but also the Latino population,' [Rutgers Professor Shawna] Hudson said."

PRE-DISTRICTING — Rabner to redistricting commissioners: Try again on the tie-breaker, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : Less than a week after Democrats and Republicans deadlocked on who the independent, tie-breaking member of the congressional redistricting commission should be, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner is asking them to try again. In a letter to the redistricting attorneys representing each party, Rabner asked them to reconvene "and recommend a single consensus choice from both parties." "In the past, the Commission has shown great wisdom by following that path. Its venerable practice has served the public well," Rabner wrote. Rabner asked them for a reply by July 30.

WAR CHEST AUGMENTATION — New Jersey's 'Big Six' political committees continue fundraising surge, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: The state's "Big Six" political committees are continuing their strongest fundraising in the past decade, according to midyear figures released Tuesday by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. The fundraising is a continuation of what was already a strong first quarter. The state's Democrat and Republican party committees, as well as the four legislative leadership committees, raised a total of $4.8 million and spent $3.5 million during the first six months of the year. The amount raised is the highest since 2007 and is considerably higher than the past three gubernatorial cycles. An increase in fundraising was expected compared with recent years, since the governor's mansion and all 120 seats in the Legislature are on the ballot this year.

CONGRATULATIONS? — "Meet the N.J. residents who won dinner with Gov. Murphy in the vaccination lottery," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "Beth Saunderlin said she and her family already felt lucky they were able to get the then-coveted coronavirus vaccine months ago. 'We thought winning the lottery was getting the vaccine' the 66-year-old retired kindergarten teacher from South Jersey told NJ Advance Media. But that wasn't all she won. The Sauderlins were the victors of the state's contest for a private dinner with Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy — one of the incentives officials unveiled in May to keep driving up New Jersey's COVID-19 vaccination rate … Saunderlin, who lives with her family in Alloway in Salem County, stressed she's not a 'political person' and did not want to discuss l whether she supports Murphy or any particular party. 'I don't want to get into the politics of it,' she said … Saunderlin was joined by her husband Bill and [her son] Gareth ... for dinner Monday night at Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion in Princeton. She said they dined with the Murphys on Jersey tomato salad, Jersey scallops, and deconstructed cheesecake and chatted about their lives and traveling."

RENT — " N.J. court backs Murphy order allowing tenants to use security deposit as rent during COVID crisis," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco: "A court struck a blow to a group of New Jersey landlords Tuesday who argued Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order signed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic that allowed tenants to use their security deposit to make rent payments was unconstitutional. A state [appeals] court sided with the Murphy administration and ruled the governor was within his authority to sign the order under the Disaster Control Act."

—Sponsors chosen for gubernatorial debates

—"N.J. reports 12 COVID deaths, 593 cases. New positive tests keep rising from recent lows"

LG — Ciattarelli won't name his lieutenant governor candidate this week. Rather, expect him to do it in the first several days of August, a source tells me. He has until Aug. 6 at 5 p.m. to make the choice.

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

TRUST ISSUES — "N.J. Rep. Malinowski puts holdings in blind trust following criticism for stock trading," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Rep. Tom Malinowski, under fire for frequent stock trades during the coronavirus pandemic and failing to timely disclose them, received House Ethics Committee approval to put his holdings in a blind trust. While Malinowski, D-7th Dist., said he had no control over how his investment adviser handled his securities account, under the blind trust he won't even know what his financial holdings are. 'I'm going well above what the law requires in setting up a blind trust, but I've come to believe it's what the law should require,' Malinowski told NJ Advance Media. 'There's nothing wrong with being invested in the stock market but when you're a lawmaker, even if you take a totally hands-off approach, the perception of conflicts of interest is inevitable.'"

—"Immigration activists blockade ICE field office in Newark as deportations continue"

LOCAL

TYNE'S UP — "Tyner resigns as Atlantic County prosecutor," by The Press of Atlantic City's Ahmad Austin and Michelle Brunetti Post: "Damon G. Tyner resigned Tuesday from his position as Atlantic County Prosecutor, multiple sources confirmed. Prosecutor, multiple sources confirmed. Tyner submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday, according to an initial report from Harry Hurley of WPG Talk Radio. In the letter, Tyner said, 'I have long said there is a private cost to public service. My family and I have certainly paid that debt.' The resignation took effect 9 a.m. Tuesday. Tyner's five-year term was not due to expire until March 2022. The resignation follows a July 15 letter the Northfield law firm of Burham Douglass sent to members of the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, demanding it rescind an award naming Tyner Prosecutor of the Year. It outlined numerous ethics violations sustained by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, along with new allegations. The law firm said an Atlantic County citizen had recently provided photographs of Tyner using a county vehicle to meet a woman who is not his wife at a bar for hours during the business day, exiting the bar and getting into the back seat of the vehicle with the woman for a sustained time. The citizen, who the letter said also provided video to a news organization, said the woman is an Atlantic County school principal."

SAFETY NOT RISING — "'I'm afraid for my life': Safety is scarce for many in Camden's senior housing," by NJ Spotlight News' April Saul: "Only a few senior facilities in Camden have security guards. Throughout the city, elderly residents have reported being left to fend off intruders, whether the nonresidents entered through a malfunctioning door, or the actions of a careless tenant. The interlopers can be deadly. Last year, two tenants perished and two others were critically injured jumping from the third floor in a fire at Camden's Cra-West apartments, which was not senior housing. An intruder, who entered through a front door residents said had been broken for weeks, was arrested for allegedly starting the blaze. Even when they don't confront trespassers directly, tenants still feel their presence."

UNION COUNTY — "Union County told to stop work on big building project, after being accused of 'gamesmanship'," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Earlier this month a state appellate court issued a ruling that found a major Bergen County redevelopment project had improperly skirted New Jersey public bidding requirements, bringing an immediate halt to a major $80 million renovation of the historic Bergen County Justice Center. But in the wake of that ruling, Union County officials last week quickly paid out nearly $1.5 million to push ahead on a planned $145 million government complex — as if racing the clock before they faced similar legal sanctions. Now, the massive Union County project, like the one in Bergen, has been stopped in its tracks as well. On Monday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order barring further work on the proposed new, multi-million-dollar county administration building in Elizabeth, pending a hearing in August as to whether permanent restraints should be issued."

POLICE TO BLAME MARIJUANA LAW FOR 2001 SLAYING OF JACKIE APRILE JR. — "Boonton council approves retail, wholesale cannabis sales in limited commercial zone," by The Daily Record's William Westhove: "Legal cannabis sales — retail and wholesale — are coming to town. The town council voted, 7-1, Monday to approve those select operations, restricting them to the commercial zone along Myrtle Avenue (Route 202). Council members approved the ordinance after a brief public discussion in which about six of the 40 people in attendance voiced their opinions about the measure."

—NYT: "She hates Biden. Some of her neighbors hate the way she shows it"

—"Morelli claims discrimination in explosive lawsuit against Trenton's McBride, Vaughn"

—"The FBI is probing possible hate-crime charges in the Mount Laurel racial harassment case, residents say"

—"Jobs 'thrown into chaos': Union leaders oppose plan to close Bergen health center"

—"Largest public opposition in recent memory halts Stafford police gun range plans"

—"State grand jury votes not to file charges against Secaucus cops involved in fatal standoff"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

UNVACCINATED AND UNEMPLOYED — "No COVID-19 vaccine, no job: RWJBarnabas ends employment of six unvaccinated employees," by The Record's Lindy Washburn: "Six supervisory employees of RWJBarnabas Health, one of the largest health care systems in the state, have lost their jobs because they did not get vaccinated against COVID-19. Now the hospital system says it will expand its vaccine mandate from supervisory-level employees to 'all staff and physicians.' It employs more than 35,000 people, with 9,000 affiliated doctors. Plans are to be announced in the coming days. Those in a supervisory role and higher had until June 30 to comply with the May mandate, unless they obtained a medical or religious exemption or a deferral. Two weeks after that deadline, 99.7% of eligible employees — 2,979 — were fully vaccinated or had obtained the necessary exemption, the health system said in a statement."

HE WAS A POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE DONUTS — "A man failed workplace drug test days after N.J. legalized weed and was fired. Now he's suing," by NJ Advance Media's Amanda Hoover: "New Jersey's top court ruled last year that employers cannot fire medical marijuana patients who use cannabis in their free time. The new marijuana legalization law will extend these protections to those 21 and older, but whether or not that provision applies to workers now has been debated. Paul Myers, 53, filed the lawsuit in state Superior Court in Burlington County last month. He alleges National DCP, a supply chain company that services Dunkin' Donuts franchises, broke the law when firing him from its Westampton facility earlier this year."

—New Jersey cracks down on crypto firm BlockFi for illegal securities sales

—"Burlington Stores names new president and chief operating officer"

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