News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: What is New Jersey's largest city?

Thursday, August 12, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: What is New Jersey's largest city?

Aug 12, 2021

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By Matt Friedman

Presented by AARP

Good Thursday morning!

As far as we all know, New Jersey's biggest city is Newark.

We'll find out today whether it gets to keep that status for the next 10 years. Or will Jersey City take its place?

The Census Bureau will release the first detailed population figures today. That's important for redistricting, but it's also meaningful for North Jersey's urban rivalry between Brick City and Chilltown.

Both cities have had a lot of development over the past decade, though it's hard to imagine Newark out-paced Jersey City, where it's just been explosive — especially in its heavily populated downtown. And having lived there for most of 2004 through 2018, I can tell you it seemed plausible that the city was undercounted in the previous census, registering a growth of only about 7,500. By the time I left, the pace was accelerating. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop seems to be eagerly anticipating the data.

Also, how much did Lakewood grow? And will Tavistock — estimated with a population of two in 2019 — remain at the bottom of the heap, or will Pine Valley get the honor of being the least populous town/golf course in the state?

WHERE'S MURPHY? Italy. No public schedule for Oliver.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Murphy aide Jesus Alcázar, Murphy deputy CoS Justin Braz, former blogger Art Gallagher, New Brunswick Assistant Administrator Brandon Goldberg, insurance broker Ryan Graham, Mercer GOP activist Kim Taylor

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'd rather have my kids unmasked in a ventilated, window-open room with a vaccinated teacher than have them masked in a closed room with an unvaccinated teacher." — The Trentonian's Jeff Edelstein on the (so far) lack of a teacher vaccination mandate

A message from AARP:

Americans are sick of paying the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs — more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine. The President, members of Congress in both parties, and the people agree: we must cut drug prices.

By giving Medicare the power to negotiate, we can save hundreds of billions of dollars. Tell Congress: Cut prescription drug prices now.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

NJ SUPREME COURT: SIZE DOES NOT MATTER — "He pocketed a $300 payoff. Should he lose his entire public pension over that?" by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Bennie Anderson took a cash bribe. It wasn't much. The former Jersey City inspector admitted taking a $300 payoff to change the tax description on a house from one zoned for two units, turning it into a three-unit property. He pleaded guilty, was sentenced in federal court to two years of probation, received five months of home confinement and was hit with a $3,000 fine. And then he lost his entire pension. The New Jersey Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the small size of the bribe didn't matter, saying that taking his pension away was not unfair and does note violate the state constitution. In a 5-1 decision‚ with Chief Justice Stuart Rabner not participating, Justice Jaynee LaVecchia wrote that the Legislature had established a public pension was based on the pre-condition of honorable service, and rejected Anderson's contention that taking it away represented a fine."

WOMEN IN OFFICE — "Women legislators hard-pressed to increase their numbers in 2021," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "The New Jersey state legislature, where all four legislative leaders and nearly 60% of all legislators are white men, is a body that has room to grow more diverse. But based on the candidates running this November, the 2021 elections seem unlikely to bring about major demographic changes – with one major exception. If both parties retain all of their current seats — far from a certain event, but a good baseline for a theoretical analysis — the number of women in the legislature will inch upwards from 37 to 38, Black legislators will increase their numbers by one, and openly LGBTQ+ people will continue to be shut out entirely from the statehouse. Asian Americans, however, are poised to dramatically increase their representation in the legislature, going from three members currently to a hypothetical seven in 2022."

NJ TRAGIC — "Third lawsuit in three months filed against NJ Transit as sixth woman alleges sex assault," by The Record's Colleen Wilson: "Another woman has sued NJ Transit, accusing the agency of failing to protect her from a supervisor who she says sexually harassed, assaulted and stalked her on the job. In less than four months, six women have sued NJ Transit over harassment allegations, five have named bus supervisor Kareem Howze. The woman is a bus operator who said Howze followed her to her car, found her on routes and one time 'pulled plaintiff out of the driver's seat of the bus while she resisted and protested, trying to forcibly kiss her on the mouth,' according to the lawsuit filed in Hudson County Superior Court on Monday. Starting January 2020, she complained multiple times about Howze to management and the agency's Equal Employment Opportunity office, which investigates complaints regarding sexual harassment and discrimination, according to the lawsuit."

STATE IS SPENDING ALMOST A FULL MASTRO ON THIS PROGRAM — Oliver signs bill creating pilot program to help youths released from juvenile facilities, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver on Wednesday signed into law a bill that creates a two-year pilot program to help young people released from juvenile facilities integrate back into their communities. The legislation, NJ S2924 (20R) , appropriates $8.4 million over the next two years to the Juvenile Justice Commission to help young people as they are leaving juvenile facilities. The goal is to prevent repeated involvement with the youth justice system. The bill is part of the Juvenile Justice Commission's broader efforts to reform the state's youth policies to focus more on prevention and reintegration, according to the governor's office. The pilot program will target four cities — Camden, Newark, Paterson and Trenton.

FAMILY COULDN'T CASH CHECK BECAUSE CODEY SIGNED IT 'THE GOV' — "A grandfather, and a former NJ governor helped a Hardyston teen get life-saving surgery," by NJ Advance Media's Kyle Morrel: "James Post had never heard of Sen. Richard Codey when he approached him at a Sussex County restaurant four months ago. He only knew that he was a politician who, given his status, might be able to help his granddaughter, Jessica Riley, receive the scoliosis surgery she needed. Post's instincts and persistence paid off, as the former New Jersey governor and current senator in the state's 27th District paved the way for Riley's surgery on May 26. On Wednesday, in a small ceremony at Codey's office in Livingston, the senator presented the family with a personal check that covered the remaining cost of the medical procedure … surgery, to be performed at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick would cost about $140,000."

THE WATERFRONT EMISSION — 10 new EV trucks at Port Newark just a start, officials hope, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard : The trucks heading in and out of Port Newark each day are known both for what they bring out — boatloads of goods bound for our doorsteps — as well as what they leave behind: toxic air and invisible gases that cause climate change. On Wednesday, as scores of trucks snaked in and out of the port, a small change was underway. Top officials from the port, as well as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, unveiled a fleet of 10 electric trucks, the first sign of what many environmentalists hope will eventually lead to an all-electric trucking fleet. "In no way do we look at these 10 trucks, BYD electric trucks, as the finish line," said Sam Ruda, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's director of port operations. BYD is the Chinese heavy-duty truck maker partly owned by Warren Buffett.

— "All eyes on Lakewood to see how exploding population numbers will effect redistricting"

— Steinberg: " Boy was I wrong about Ciattarelli's running mate"

— "Reverse statewide school mask requirement, [Wall Township] urges Gov. Murphy. 'It's a home rule issue'"

— " State Senate should reconvene to work on COVID issues, not just to swear him in, Polistina says"

— Murphy campaign says 100 percent of staff vaccinated, though shots not yet required

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.

REMAP ROAD MAP

Redistricting sprint begins with major census data drop, by POLITICO's Ally Mutnick and Zach Montellaro: The Census Bureau's long-awaited release of redistricting data Thursday will unleash a torrent of new state political maps in the weeks and months to come, starting with the handful of states pressed against early fall deadlines to enact new district boundaries. Altogether, the maps could tilt control of Congress for the next decade, but they'll come out one by one at first. Strategists from both parties predict that some states will finalize maps as soon as September and that roughly half of the states will set their new lines by the end of the year. The rest will follow in the first few months of 2022.

BIDEN TIME

ZOMBIE SPAWN SEESAW ARTICLE OF THE DAY — "Malinowski v. Kean part II: Welcome to the worst contest of all time," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "Now, both sides continue to bludgeon away, the GOP especially animated, because of the stock story and his relative lack of relationships in the shark tank of New Jersey politics, compared to the rest of the delegation, Malinowski looks vulnerable heading toward the 2022 Biden midterm election. It says a lot about the ill health of New Jersey's political condition that this contest — already in full swing, like a child's seesaw commandeered by zombie spawn — is actually a sequel to an already bewilderingly bad 2020 shove-down, which a mud-slung Malinowski won by about 5,000 votes over a reinforced concrete-protected Kean. One would hope redistricting — ironically a notably anti-democratic two-party procedure — would put the people of the district out of their agony."

ONLY TRUST POLLS WITH A SAMPLE SIZE OF JAMEL HOLLEY — Poll: Majorities support vaccine, mask mandates — but not Republicans, by POLITICO's Marc Caputo: A majority of voters support mandatory coronavirus vaccines and indoor mask-wearing requirements, according to a new Morning Consult/POLITICO poll that shows opposition to the requirements is chiefly limited to Republicans. The survey also found that about half of all voters blame the new wave of infections that have sent numbers spiking equally on the unvaccinated and on political leaders opposed to mask-wearing and social-distancing mandates. About one-fifth of voters said neither is responsible; 14 percent blamed the unvaccinated solely and another 7 percent targeted the politicians.

THE ONLY FALCO I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT GETTING HIRED IS EDIE — "Fisher, Giattino call on AG, DCA to probe Bhalla's recent Hoboken job offer to Falco," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Hoboken Councilwomen Tiffanie Fisher and Jen Giattino are calling on the state Attorney General's Office, as well as the Department of Community Affairs, to probe Mayor Ravi Bhalla's recent job offer to Councilwoman-at-Large Vanessa Falco ... On Thursday, Bhalla announced that Falco had been tapped to be the director of the city's new division of housing, a job with an annual salary of $87,500, come January in lieu of seeking re-election this November, as HCV first reported. Fisher and Giattino cite three state statutes they feel this offer violated: provisions requiring compliance by local government officers and employees, official misconduct, and an offer of unlawful benefit to a public servant for official behavior."

— Kids with Covid-19 are swamping children's hospitals as schools reopen

— "Proposed bill would penalize NYC for congestion pricing plan"

— "Cory Booker goes viral ridiculing 'scurrilous accusation' that Democrats want to defund police"

— DOL sets next steps for improving state unemployment systems

LOCAL

CUMBERLAND COUNTY — "Judge 'dumbfounded' wrong disinfectant could let Delta variant sweep through county jail," by The Vineland Daily Journal's Joseph P. Smith: "The rapidly spreading COVID-19 Delta variant is a dire and immediate threat to Cumberland County Jail inmates and staff due to ongoing flaws in its pandemic management practices, a report just filed in U.S. District Court in Camden states. The findings upset Judge Noel Hillman, who lectured county attorney Gregory Zeff at a hearing last week that he now believes 'that the jail just doesn't care.' A prime concern ... is that one of two cleaning liquids the jail relies on for disinfection actually cannot kill the COVID-19 virus, or any other viruses or bacteria. A related issue is restricted access to cleaning supplies. Attorney William J. Hughes Jr., appointed by the court in May to independently evaluate health conditions, also warns that the threat to the jail is worsened because the vaccination rate among inmates is 'alarming low.'"

A MANASQUANDERED OPPORTUNITY — "Cresitello Out; Dougherty to run rnopposed in Morristown general," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "Donald Cresitello's mayoral comeback seems to have hit a dead-end. A state appeals court Tuesday brusquely dismissed Cresitello's challenge to a lower court ruling that said he didn't live in Morristown. The courts agree that election law should be liberally construed to assure widespread participation, but there are limits — one of which is living where you want to run. Cresitello, who is no fan of current mayor Tim Dougherty, filed nominating petitions in June to challenge Dougherty this November as an independent. It was Doughery who beat Cresitello, who was then the incumbent mayor, in the 2009 Democratic primary. But the Morris County Clerk's Office said Cresitello's petition was invalid because of residency questions. A candidate must be a resident for at least one year prior to an election and the evidence suggested Cresitello lived in Manasquan."

— "Deadline to name legislative redistricting tiebreaker is unclear"

— " Another town [Teaneck] poised to join others moving local elections to November"

— "Asbury Park library director, facing variety of issues, suspended for alleged insubordination"

— " Howell Council approves $8.77 million in bonds, $6 million in leases"

— "Mayor breaks tie to keep cannabis sales out of Northfield, at least for now"

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

PENNEAST — "PennEast was suing 70 property owners to get land to build its natural gas pipeline. This week it suddenly stopped, citing regulatory and legal hurdles," by The Allentown's Morning Call's Peter Hall: "On the heels of a legal victory that toppled a major obstacle, PennEast Pipeline Co. said it would halt the acquisition of property needed to build its planned 116-mile natural gas pipeline that would cut across the Lehigh Valley, saying the timeline for construction of the project is uncertain. Attorney Tony Corby of Hershey said it was a surprise Monday when a company attorney said in a teleconference with a judge that PennEast would dismiss condemnation lawsuits in federal court to obtain the right of way to build the pipeline across private properties. Corby's firm represents 18 of the more than 70 private property owners who have been sued in U.S. district courts in Pennsylvania for pipeline easements on their land."

LANDLORDS — "'It's extortion.' Many N.J. landlords face drastic decisions as unpaid rent balloons," by NJ Advance Medi'as Payton Guion : "Many small landlords like Fletcher, who own a property or two and rely on rental income to get by, have been bled financially during the pandemic, advocates for property owners say. Federal and state protections have helped renters remain in their homes as businesses shut down, waves of employees lost jobs and thousands struggled to make ends meet. But those same policies mean many landlords have gone without rental income for a year and a half, yet are still responsible for their mortgages and bills. While those protections have prevented mass evictions and an unprecedented housing crisis, they've left the landlords who can least afford it billions of dollars short in rent."

STUDENT COULD READ ABOUT THEM IN THE HISTORY BOOKS IF THEY COULD FIND THE BOOKS — "'It's sad to see.' School libraries are increasingly eliminated," by The New Jersey Herald's Kyle Morel : "School libraries and school librarians are increasingly being eliminated as a cost-saving measure … After 22 years as the Fredon Township School librarian, [Betty[ Picone shifted to teach social studies and basic skills classes when the district did away with the traditional library curriculum three years ago. She retired last January after 25 years with the district. 'It's sad to see that libraries are not treated the way that they should be,' Picone said. 'I just feel sad that so many children are not allowed to experience it.' … As many as one-fifth of all districts in the state did not have a certified school library media specialist on staff as of the 2018-19 school year, said New Jersey Association of Shool Librarians' Presiden Beth Thomas … Thomas said these schools are in violation of New Jersey's administrative code."

— "Doin' it Jersey-style: Internet dance & music craze has roots in the Garden State"

— " NJ restaurant requires proof of vaccination, gets threatening phone calls"

— "New database maps African American cemeteries in New Jersey"

A message from AARP:

It's outrageous that Americans pay more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine. And these unfair prices keep going up. Even during the pandemic and financial crisis, the prices of more than 1,000 drugs were increased. It's time for the President and Congress to cut prescription drug prices.

Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from using its buying power to negotiate with drug companies to get lower prices for people. This must change. Giving Medicare the power to negotiate will save hundreds of billions of dollars.

And the American people agree. In a recent AARP survey of Americans 50+, a vast majority supported allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, including 88% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans.

Tell Congress: Act now to lower prescription drug prices. Let Medicare negotiate.