News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: 2022: The year of two districts?

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: 2022: The year of two districts?

Sep 21, 2021

Presented by A Healthy Future, LLC

Good Tuesday morning!

In March, when the new state legislative district map is ready, which district will a New Jersey lawmaker represent: The one they currently occupy, or the one they'll know they have to run in?

A consequence of the delayed Census data — and voters' decision to amend the state Constitution to put redistricting off until March of 2022 — means state lawmakers will know what their new districts will look like 15 months before the June 2023 primary.

Lawmakers say that won't be a problem. After all, they help constituents in other districts all the time. But could this mean turf wars between sitting lawmakers in towns that are changing districts? Will towns get short shrift in the budget process because a lawmaker is moving districts in 2024 ? Will this create a class of lame duck lawmakers for nearly their entire terms? I explore some of the potential ramifications here.

WHERE'S MURPHY? — No public schedule other than an appearance on News 12's "Ask Governor Murphy" at 2:30 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I think there's a habit that's sort of in our midst that God willing these kids are a part of. They see it, internalize it.." — Gov. Phil Murphy on getting two-year-olds to wear masks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Horizon's John Fuller, Passaic County Commissioner Bruce James, comms consultant John Celock,

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com

A message from A Healthy Future, LLC:

Some members of Congress want to fund a partisan $3.5 trillion spending plan on the backs of Medicare patients. Their plan would repeal a safeguard in Medicare protecting seniors and those with disabilities, cutting off access to life-saving medicines. Tell Congressman Tom Malinowski: Oppose cutting Medicare to pay for the $3.5 trillion spending plan. Stop the government from pulling needed prescription drugs from the market. Sign the petition.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

TWO-YEAR-OLDS GREET THE NEWS MORE MATURELY THAN 101.5 HOSTS — New Jersey imposes masking, vaccine-or-test requirements for day cares, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : New Jersey is adding day cares to the list of facilities whose workers must get vaccinated against Covid-19 or submit to weekly testing. A new executive order gives workers at thousands of child care facilities across the state until Nov. 1 to comply, Gov. Phil Murphy said during his regular Covid-19 briefing on Monday. The parameters of the order are consistent with requirements imposed earlier this year on workforces at health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, as well as schools, correctional facilities and state agencies. Separately, Murphy said the order "clarifies" masking requirements at day care facilities, requiring that employees, children and anyone over the age of 2 wear a face covering starting Sept. 24.

FOR WHOM THE TOLLS BILL — "How will NJ pay for Hudson tunnel? Tolls," by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: "The latest finance plan for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River makes it clear that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority — and not the state's mass-transit agency — will cover the state's contribution to the long-sought project. The updated finance plan for what's known as the Hudson Tunnel Project, released late last month, says the New Jersey Turnpike Authority will be responsible for New Jersey's share of the tunnel project, now estimated to be $1.6 billion … The updated finance plan for the tunnel project formalizes the undoing of an agreement that former Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York announced several years ago. That plan called for New Jersey's contribution to the tunnel project to be funded with increased fares from New Jersey Transit riders. It was immediately panned at the time by then-incoming New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who has refused to increase rider fares since taking office in early 2018."

STATISTICS — "N.J. school districts report hundreds of COVID cases. Why state figures seem much lower," by NJ Advance Media's Rob Jennings: "Nearly 7% of Robbinsville school district's student population — a total of 220 kids — were quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 as of the end of last week. That, and the 30 positive cases — 22 at the high school — were enough to convince the school district and local health officials to briefly switch the high school to remote learning. Those are among the hundreds of positive COVID-19 cases in schools already this year, according to a search NJ Advance Media conducted of about a dozen district websites that list a breakdown on the local level. But the full scope of how many students or staff throughout the state have COVID-19 isn't publicized on the state's dashboards and school districts aren't required to provide detailed information to the public, like Robbinsville and some other districts are doing."

1,222.2 MASTROS — "Jack Ciattarelli has proposed slashing billions in NJ spending. Do the numbers add up?" by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "The Republican challenger to incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has proposed sweeping changes to New Jersey's finances, from cutting spending by as much as $11 billion to reforming school funding to slashing corporate taxes … There's a big unanswered question, though: How would Ciattarelli do that without making deep cuts to balance the budget, as the state constitution requires? Ciattarelli, an accountant by trade, said he believes a mix of 'responsible' budget cuts and fostering a 'dynamic' economy over several years would make the math work … 'I think we just need to reprioritize our spending in Trenton,' Ciattarelli said last week at a news conference in Weehawken to lay out tax reform plans. 'As easy as it's been for Phil Murphy to increase spending by $11 billion in four years, I believe we can decrease it.'"

FAUSTINO FERNANDEZ-VIZSLA — "Business owner can get names, addresses of dog owners, N.J. top court rules," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: "In a win for advocates of governmental transparency, the New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday sided with a dog-fence vendor who fought for the names and addresses of Jersey City dog owners, declaring such information is public record regardless of who asks and why. Justice Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina rejected Jersey City's argument that businesses shouldn't be allowed to use New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) to glean information for commercial purposes, saying a business owner has the same rights to the records as anyone else. Fernandez-Vina added that dog owners who continually expose their dogs to the public cannot claim that dog ownership is a private undertaking. 'Owning a dog is, inherently, a public endeavor,' he wrote."

THE ANTI-TRUMP STRATEGY MIGHT STOP WORKING IF THE GOP WASN'T STILL BEHOLDEN TO HIM —Stile: "NJ voting rights are not in danger, but Phil Murphy still says he'll protect them," by The Record's Charles Stile: "New Jersey is not on the front lines in the battle over voting rights. So why is Murphy sounding like it is? The answer lies in Murphy's broad reelection strategy. He is wrapping himself in a halo of progressivism, casting himself as the champion of voting rights, strong gun laws and clean energy … But in promising a thematic sequel to his first term, Murphy has avoided making any grand promises or advancing any platform for the next four years. And in doing so, he has allowed Ciattarelli to keep a focus on serious and legitimate questions about Murphy's first-term record … That's similar to the strategy California Gov. Gavin Newsom employed in successfully vanquishing a Republican recall effort last week. Newsom and his allies repeatedly warned that a new, ominous era of Trumpism would take hold if he was bounced from office."

—"Independent investigation needed into NJ Transit flood gate incident during Ida, legislators say"

—" Judge swap delays party line suit, but decision still likely months away"

—"Almeida will replace McKenzie as deputy chief counsel"

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

PROTEST VS. PIZZA — "Protest outside Gottheimer office carries bigger implications as Dems debate spending bill," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: " The Democrats' 'civil war' came today to this 'idyllic' Bergen County town. As Josh Gottheimer spent the morning touring downtown businesses with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, about 100 protesters demonstrated outside his nearby district office, condemning the Democratic congressman for not supporting Joe Biden's economic agenda strongly enough. 'We're so sorry we have to ask our Democratic congressman to back our Democratic president,' said Arati Kreibich, who unsuccessfully challenged Gottheimer from the left in the 2020 primary. She called the need for that 'surreal.' When it was pointed out that Kreibich ran last year, some yelled out, 'run again.' Just a few blocks away, Gottheimer and Raimondo were visiting businesses and eating pizza, all of which was aimed at drumming up support and demonstrating the need for a $1 trillion-plus infrastructure bill."

DARK MONEY FOR THE GAETZWAY PROJECT — "This $100,000 donation by Matt Gaetz raises all the eyebrows," by The Daily Beast's Roger Sollenberger: " On the day Donald Trump's second impeachment trial began in the Senate, the campaign for embattled Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)—reportedly under federal investigation since the summer for alleged sex crimes with an underage teen—made by far its largest ever political contribution: $100,000 to a mysterious nonprofit created to defend the then-president … The group, 'Right Direction America,' is a nonprofit launched in December 2019 by Trump ally and former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) as a 501(c)4—a so-called "dark money" social welfare organization which doesn't have to disclose its donors but cannot participate primarily in political activity. Christie billed the group as a vehicle to drum up public support for Trump during his first impeachment trial in the Senate. But that's not why the Gaetz campaign says it donated to Right Direction America. A campaign spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the organization supports former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who two weeks prior to the Gaetz donation had announced her 2022 campaign for governor of Arkansas … But there's no public record of RDA supporting Sanders for governor, and there isn't activity of any kind since August 2020 … Christie—who is rumored to be considering a 2024 presidential bid—left the group on Dec. 31, according to a Christie spokesperson."

—"Menendez vows new push for unauthorized immigrants to stay in U.S. after budget plan blocked"

—"The (full!) InsiderNJ interview with Congresswoman Watson Coleman"

—"Federal law enforcement officer from N.J. arrested at Capitol rally won't be charged"

LOCAL

DON'T CONTEMPT FATE — "Paterson's Joey Torres says he may run for mayor in 2022," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Bumper stickers touting Torres' candidacy for mayor in 2022 have begun circulating in Paterson and a group that calls itself 'The Friends of Mayor Torres' is selling $75 tickets for a banquet hall event celebrating his 63rd birthday next month. 'There's a group of people who want me to run,' Torres said in an interview on Monday morning. 'They're gauging the community to see if there's support.' Torres served about 13 months in state prison after pleading guilty in September 2017 to official misconduct for having municipal public works department employees do renovations on a family business while they were paid overtime by the city. The plea agreement Torres signed said he was permanently disqualified from holding public office and that he would be charged with contempt of court 'if he makes any future application for public employment.' But Torres on Monday noted that his voting rights have been restored and said he saw no reason why he couldn't run for mayor and serve in the position if elected. 'Why not?' he said."

A SIGN THAT THINGS ARE GOING GREAT — "N.J. jail warden resigns before hearing on unsanitary conditions, COVID protocols ," by NJ Advance Media's Bill Duhart: "Cumberland County Jail Warden Charles Warren resigned before a federal court hearing Monday in which a judge had threatened to impose fines if the county continued to 'ignore my orders' to correct health and safety protocols for COVID-19. Warren's resignation was confirmed by the county late Monday afternoon with a statement. It said it had accepted his resignation and had appointed Stanley Field, its chief information security officer and a retired state police captain, interim jail operations director."

JERSEY CITY — "Jersey City to reopen rental aid applications after HuffPost report," by The Huffington Post's Amanda Terkel: "On Friday, Mayor Steven Fulop (D) personally emailed a constituent, who asked not to be named in this story and who had written to the mayor about their need for rental assistance. Fulop replied that while the city currently limits aid to people living in owner-occupied buildings with fewer than five units, the eligibility will soon be expanded to larger buildings, including ones where the owner does not live on-site."

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM THE DEMON WEED — " 4 charged after investigators raid illegal marijuana dispensary, authorities say," by NJ Advance Media's Chris Sheldon: "Four people were charged last week after investigators raided an illegal marijuana dispensary in Garfield, authorities said. Investigators in the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Garfield Police Department said a storefront business called THC JARZ, located at 517 River Road, was operating the illegal operation and was selling recreational marijuana and various THC products to the general public, according to a joint release from the agencies."

R.I.P. — "Trenton musical icon Sarah Dash dead at 76," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Sarah Dash, the acclaimed Trenton native songwriter, actress and co-founder of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles, died Monday in Trenton. She was 76 years old. Her death was unexpected and the cause was unknown, although she had complained to family that she was not feeling well in the days before her passing, Mayor Reed Gusciora said. 'She was superstar in her own right,' Gusciora said. 'She could have gone anywhere after her fame and success and she chose to come back to her roots in Trenton.' Her hit 1974 song "Lady Marmalade" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003."

R.I.P. — "N.J. city stunned by death of beloved, community-minded Starbucks manager," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Shea: "In many ways, Stephanie Campfield was the Trenton Starbucks. She not only managed the retail operation of the coffee shop at East Front and South Warren streets, but embraced and spearheaded the store's given mission of becoming a community partner. She was at numerous events in the city, from art openings to youth breakfasts, where she'd bring along jugs of coffee and treats, to pitching in personally at a bevy of other events, like neighborhood cleanups and other civic-minded get-togethers."

—" Solomon plan calls for tripling amount of Jersey City affordable homes, stronger tenant protections"

—"School bus driver shortage for vendors is impacting Jersey City BOE, officials says"

—" New prosecutor in [Salem County] brings 20 years of experience. And she's a local"

—"Passaic County weighs shuttering aging jail once called 'affront to human decency'"

—" Middletown BOE finds lead in the water at 12 out of 16 district schools"

—"Washington Township committeeman quits GOP over party leadership squabble"

—" Will N.J. hospitals face a nursing shortage under vaccine mandates? They already are"

JOIN THURSDAY FOR A WOMEN RULE CONVERSATION ON ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY: Sexual assault in the military has been an issue for years, and political leaders are taking steps to address it. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) proposed bipartisan legislation to overhaul military sexual assault policies, but still face opposition. Join Women Rule for a virtual interview featuring Sens. Ernst and Gillibrand, who will discuss their legislative push and what it will take to end sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military. REGISTER HERE.

EVERYTHING ELSE

RESERVED FOR FOOTBALL COACH BONUS — "Special report: Rutgers yet to spend most of $365 million in pandemic aid," by The Daily Targum's Chloe Tai , Hayley Slusser and Madison McGay : "Rutgers has yet to utilize the bulk of $365 million in emergency coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic grants it received from the federal and state government during the past 18 months. The slow rollout of this massive government aid took place even as the University proclaimed a fiscal crisis, laid off hundreds of workers, ordered a freeze on non-essential spending and even as top off … As of June 30: Rutgers had distributed only $50 million of some $128 million in federal monies earmarked for individual student emergency grants. It had spent less than half of the $237 million in federal and state emergency aid allotted for its own institutional use — an amount far bigger than the $97 million deficit the University reported last year. University officials have been less transparent than other schools on criteria for deciding the amount of emergency grants students can receive — and some Rutgers students have been dissatisfied with what they were given. In addition, officials have provided constantly shifting — even contradictory — accounts of how the University used its institutional aid, both in reports to government monitors and in responses to questions from the Targum."

HOUSING — " 'Nothing rapid about it:' NJ renters struggle to find housing even with COVID relief," by The Record's Ashley Balcerzak: "Jennie Spencer was elated — and wanted to share the good news. After spending the past six months at the Morris County homeless shelter, Spencer now saw a path to a real home for herself and her infant daughter. She had just been approved for a new federal program designed to speed access to rental units for the homeless … Even though she had qualified for a COVID-19 relief program called 'rapid rehousing,' which provides money to pay rent, Spencer remained at the Homeless Solutions shelter in Morristown … In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented amount of relief poured out of Washington designed to help renters quickly secure affordable housing instead of languishing in the close quarters of shelters and on years-long waiting lists. But New Jerseyans such as Spencer who finally secured public helpto cover rent still aren't finding properties where they can use the assistance … In Spencer's case, landlords likely have been scared off by the red flags that show up on her background checks. And the rapid rehousing program Spencer qualified for doesn't come with an official-looking voucher or certificate. She has to repeatedly explain to landlords how the relief program works — and why they should participate."

MENTAL HEALTH — "Rise in psychiatric cases forces hospital to explore alternatives," by NJ Spotlight's Lilo H. Stainton : "Hospitals and urgent-care clinics around New Jersey are caring for a growing number of patients experiencing acute anxiety, drug overdoses, suicidal thoughts and other psychiatric crises, a trend experts believe is driven largely by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the patients are children. Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, which has the state's largest inpatient psychiatric program, is busier than it has been in more than a decade, officials said. The hospital's 17-bed pediatric program is also packed most weeks. 'Over the last few months that unit has been filled to capacity more often than not,' Deb Visconi, New Bridge's president and CEO, told NJ Spotlight News. . 'And it's not surprising, when you think about what's happened in our society over the last year and a half — especially to the children.'"

—"[Rowan University] failed to take my sex assault allegations seriously, blamed me, student says in lawsuit"

—" The taller, wider, new Wittpenn Bridge is opening soon, officials say"

A message from A Healthy Future, LLC:

If Congressman Tom Malinowski and Congress cut Medicare to pay for the $3.5 trillion spending plan, the government could refuse to cover life-saving medicines and prevent breakthrough therapies for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, or diabetes. What about a vaccine for the next pandemic? This is a prescription for disaster. We can't let the government play doctor. We can't give government bureaucrats the authority to deny access to needed prescription medicines and ration care as a way of "saving money" to fund their multi-trillion-dollar wish list. Sign the petition and make sure Congressman Malinowski hears your voice today.