| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! After the damning official report on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alleged serial sexual harassment, and following President BIden's lead, Gov. Murphy has called on Cuomo to resign — in a joint statement with the governors of Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island. "We are appalled at the findings of the independent investigation by the New York Attorney General. Governor Cuomo should resign from office," they said. It's a more politically fraught thing for Murphy to call for than his fellow governors. While Pennsylvania and Connecticut also border New York, neither is as intertwined with it as New Jersey. I mean, just think about the Port Authority alone. And the Gateway funding negotiations. This statement came about nine hours from the report's release. It's not like we weren't asking about it. Biden's call for Cuomo's resignation could have forced the governors' hands. And it doesn't look like Cuomo has any plans to resign — though maybe impechment will change that. Recall Murphy also called on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign after that blackface photo surfaced. He's still in office. I hate to "both sides" things, but here I think it's warranted. Murphy may not be winning any political courage awards. But if you're firing off outraged statements about this about this while supporting the past president after he was caught on tape gleefully boasting about sexually assaulting women, do you actually care about combating this behavior or are you more concerned with its political advantages? WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Union City at 11 a.m. to sign the eviction bill HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former Rep. Rob Andrews; Missed Tuesday: Rutgers' Marc Pfeiffer QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Nothing to share on this." — Murphy spox Alyana Alfaro when asked if New Jersey would follow New York's lead in requiring people show proof of vaccination for some indoor activities. |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
HOTLINE RING — Study: State agencies in New Jersey rank last in U.S. for answering calls with a live rep, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: Reaching a live representative from various state agencies during the pandemic has been harder to do in New Jersey than in any other state, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Chicago. The researchers hired 10 assistants to call four government agencies in each state between September 2020 and March of this year. They were told to spend up to 45 minutes per call in an effort to try and reach a live representative. If they were put on hold, they were instructed to remain on the line for 45 minutes before hanging up. Of the 40 calls that were made to four departments in New Jersey — unemployment insurance, SNAP, income tax and Medicaid — a live representative was reached just six times within the allotted time limit, the researchers said. "This was the lowest rate of reaching a live rep of any state in the country," Devin Pope, one of the researchers, said in an email.
MY MONEY WAS ON MIKE PENCE — Ciattarelli, after veering right, makes an appeal to moderates with selection of Allen, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, who mystified the press and political pundits by stressing socially conservative issues after winning the GOP primary in June, is making an appeal to more moderate voters with his choice of former state Sen. Diane Allen for lieutenant governor. As a member of the Legislature, Allen — who before launching a political career was a local celebrity in South Jersey for her decades as a Philadelphia news anchor — opposed the death penalty, was one of just two Republican state senators to vote in favor of same-sex marriage in 2012 and has supported abortion rights. NURSING HOMES — "COVID delta variant spreads in NJ nursing homes as two units at veterans home quarantined," by The Record's Scott Fallon : "The number of COVID outbreaks at New Jersey nursing homes more than doubled over the past two weeks, including one at the devastated Paramus Veterans Memorial Home that has placed a section of the facility under a 14-day quarantine, state officials confirmed Tuesday. The increase in outbreaks comes amid Gov. Phil Murphy's decision this week to mandate vaccines for all public and private health care workers in New Jersey as the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 spreads through the state. The requirement covers employees at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, where the staff vaccination rate is 71% statewide compared to 90% among residents. The Paramus outbreak, however, is due to a 'breakthrough case' — a staff member who was fully vaccinated … The employee had recently returned from a trip to Florida, other staff said." JAMEL HOLLEY DENIED ENTRY TO BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP CO. — New York City to mandate vaccines for indoor restaurants, gyms, performances, by POLITICO's Amanda Eisenberg: Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new policy Tuesday that requires people to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination to dine inside restaurants, work out at a gym, attend a play or go out dancing. The new program to "unlock New York City" will begin Aug. 16, with enforcement set to start Sept. 13, according to City Hall. Enforcement will fall to the city health department and businesses could be fined, though the details still need to be worked out in the coming weeks, the mayor said. "When someone is vaccinated, they can do all the amazing things in New York City," de Blasio said Tuesday. "If you're unvaccinated, unfortunately you will not be able to participate in many things. ... This is crucial, because we know this will encourage a lot more vaccination." De Blasio's announcement marks one of the most aggressive steps taken by an elected official to combat a rise in Covid-19 cases caused by the Delta variant. —"Could N.J. follow NYC with COVID vaccines requirements for indoor activities like restaurants, gyms?" MORE VACCINE STUFF — "First COVID vaccines climb in NJ; pace up 42% from a month ago," by NJ 101.5's Michael Symons: "The pace of New Jerseyans getting first COVID vaccinations has increased over the last two weeks, as concerns have grown about the Delta variant of the coronavirus. More than 141,000 state residents got first shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the sole shot of the Janssen vaccine between July 20 and Aug. 2, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's the most in a 2-week span since June and up 42% since July 4. Most states have seen increases in vaccine administration, though the biggest jumps are generally in states with lagging vaccination rates. Over those two weeks, 1.6% of New Jersey residents received first COVID vaccine doses, pushing the overall share of the population that's at least partially vaccinated to 66.2%. That's seventh-highest in the country behind Vermont, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island." EVEN MORE VACCINE STUFF — "In Bayonne, Ciattarelli hits Murphy over COVID-19 decisions, says he supports 'vaccine choice'," by Hudson County VIew's John Heinis: "Yesterday, Murphy announced that employees at nursing homes, hospitals, jails, and a number of other healthcare and congregate living facilities would either have to be fully vaccinated or undergo COVID testing once or twice a week starting September 7th. When one attendee, Ramon Hernandez, asked Ciattarelli where he stood on vaccine mandates, he said he didn't support them although he is fully vaccinated and encourages others to do the same since he believes in 'vaccine choice' 'I'm vaccinated, I would suggest that people get vaccinated but I have great respect for vaccine choice. I think it's a personal decision and I don't pass judgement on those that do and those that don't. The courts have determined that employers can make it a condition of employment, vaccination,' he explained." —"11% of highway drivers don't use E-ZPass. State is spending $500K in ads to change that" — " Under NJ eviction bill, renters may lose protections for cases other than not paying rent" —"Dim Democratic hopes in the 1st Legislative District as parties turn sights elsewhere" —" Opinion: NJ's 'moonshot,' the perfect chance to renovate our outdated IT infrastructure" —Coughlin and Burzichelli: "Life should be affordable for older adults who choose to live in New Jersey" | | | | 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 | |
FORMER PRESIDENT. FORMER FORMER FORMER — "Trump N.J. golf club can't use presidential seal now that he's out of office, complaint says," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "A criminal complaint has been filed against Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club, charging the facility with misusing the presidential seal. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group and frequent critic of the former president, filed the complaint with the U.S. Justice Department after an Instagram photo showed the seal on a tee marker at the golf course. Federal law prohibits the use of the seal to give 'a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States,' CREW said in its complaint. Trump lost the Nov. 3 election to Joe Biden. 'Unlawful use of the presidential seal for commercial purposes is no trivial matter, especially when it involves a former president who is actively challenging the legitimacy of the current president,' CREW President Noah Bookbinder said."
NAPOLITA-NO MEANS NO — "Judge Andrew Napolitano out at Fox News following another sexual harassment suit," by The Record's Liam Quinn: "Fox News has 'parted ways' with contributor and former Bergen County judge Andrew Napolitano following another sexual harassment lawsuit. Napolitano was accused of sexual harassment by Fox Business production assistant John Fawcett in a lawsuit filed against the cable news network … In the lawsuit, Fawcett said Napolitano had sexually harassed him in an elevator in 2019. Fawcett also claimed Napolitano had been harassing other younger male employees." FINALLY, A ONE-SEAT RIDE TO… SCRANTON — " New Amtrak routes could be added in N.J. and the Lehigh Valley under infrastructure bill," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "The proposed allocation, which also would provide money to build the Gateway Tunnel under the Hudson River, would enable Amtrak to expand service to places without trains, including two routes from New York through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. One would go through Somerville and connect with Easton and Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to a proposed map of Amtrak services. The other includes stops in Newark, Summit, Morristown and Dover en route to President Joe Biden's native Scranton." —" N.J. man sentenced to 16 months for posting federal judge's address online" | | LOCAL | |
SOC R BLEU! — "Filling Toms River utilities panel brings Republican infighting out into the open," by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: "On the surface, it seemed like a routine piece of township business: appointing someone to a five-year term on the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority. But in a town — and county — where two Republican factions are locked in an ongoing battle for control of the party, the township council's appointment of business owner Philip Brilliant to the post has stirred up a political firestorm. That's mostly due to a letter sent to the council prior to the appointment vote by the official being replaced, longtime commissioner Carmen Memoli. In it, Memoli made a series of allegations, including a claim that he was pressured by Council President Kevin M. Geoghegan, Vice President Maria Maruca and Township Attorney Gregory P. McGuckin to resign from the Toms River Regular Republican Club and as treasurer of SOC R PAC — if he wanted to keep the commissioner's seat. SOC R PAC is short for Southern Ocean County Conservative Republican Political Action Committee, a fundraising committee formed and advised by former GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore."
BEAUTY IS IN THE NOSTRILS OF THE BEHOLDER — " Neighbors say marijuana cultivation plant in New Jersey causing a stink," by ABC 7's Toni Yates: "A marijuana cultivation plant in [Readington] is causing a stir for people who live nearby because of the odor. The smell is coming from the old shuttered Walmart. The building is now home to a medical and adult use marijuana production site, owned by Verano holdings. Those who drive along a short stretch of Route 22 through Reading are bound to catch a quick whiff. But those who live in the area say in one of the well-manicured homesteads on Ridge Road -a quick whiff is out of the question." —"Where's the music? Brian Donohue probes source of silence at famous 'Sinatra House'" —"Paralyzed Ocean Grove teen lifeguard pushes toward goal: 'I want to be back on that bench'" —"Ocean, Bally's plan to build beach bars, concert venues" —"[Paulsboro] councilwoman stared down moving train to get bridge built. It should be named after her, resident says" | | | | 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 | |
TRENTON-MADE — "Trenton native Athing Mu wins gold for U.S. in women's 800 meters," by The AP: "Athing Mu has won the 800-meter gold medal for the United States in her first Olympics after leading almost from start to finish. Mu was never seriously challenged down the home straight as she strode away to win in 1 minute, 55.21 seconds."
—"Jessica Springsteen, daughter of Bruce, fails to make individual Olympics jumping final" TRIPLE PLAY — "Rare set of identical triplets born at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania," by ABC 6's Alicia Vitarelli: "Three beautiful, healthy newborn girls are one in a million. Technically, they're more like one in 200 million … you can imagine the surprise when the Gloucester Township, New Jersey couple found out they were about be a family of seven. 'My right eye went this way, my left eye went this way,' said dad, Mark Bodrog. 'I kind of walked in circles for about 20 minutes. I mean, what do you do when you hear 'triplets?'' 'We were both surprised for sure,' said mom, Gabriela Mosquera. Turns out, they're a very rare set of identical triplets. 'They're from the same egg, sharing the same placenta with three separate amniotic sacs,' said Bodgrog. 'It's so rare. There are hardly any case studies on it.'" IT OWES ME A STORE IN MAHWAH — "Does Wawa owe you money? Some 22 million to get gift cards and cash in data breach settlement," by The Bucks County Courier Times' James McGinnis: "The largest convenience store chain in greater Philadelphia has agreed to distribute gift cards and cash payments to millions of customers affected by a data breach in 2019. U.S. District Court Judge Gene E.K. Pratter on Friday approved a preliminary agreement on a class action lawsuit suit with '22 million potential class members.' Parties in the settlement include 'all residents of the United States who used a credit or debit card at a Wawa location between March 4, 2019 and December 12, 2019.' So, basically anyone in Philly and its suburbs. Under the order, Wawa will give $5 gift cards to customers who 'attest that they spent at least some time monitoring their payment card' as a result of the data breach. You can get a $15 Wawa gift card, if you had a fraudulent charge on your card after making a purchase at a Wawa during the data breach." —"BeiGene to build manufacturing, clinical R&D center (and create hundreds of jobs) in Hopewell"
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