| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by A Healthy Future, LLC | Good Monday morning! A few years ago, the Republican-turned-Democrat sheriff of Bergen County resigned after being caught on tape making racist comments about Black people and Sikhs. Now, there's another caught-on-tape controversy with the Democrat (at least recently)-turned-Republican candidate for Bergen County Sheriff, Saddle Brook's suspended police chief, Robert Kugler, who, you know, already has some issues. This recording is actually older than the former sheriff's , dating back to a 2013 Saddle Brook council meeting when Kugler was explaining how to recruit officers from nearby cities. "You just have to get acclimated to Saddle Brook. You can take them from the jungles of Paterson or Trenton [or] Newark, and they come to lily-white Saddle Brook and it's probably a little easier," Kugler told the council. "But at the same time we need to tame them down a little bit." To be fair, some people do refer to cities as "concrete jungles." And I didn't hear anyone on the council react to this statement. But using the word "jungles" in reference to heavily Black and Hispanic cities, and then contrasting them to his "lily-white" suburb makes the racial tinge diffcult to ignore. Read more about it here. WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Perth Amboy at 10 a.m. for a new high school groundbreaking ceremony, then Trenton at 1 p.m. for a coronavirus press conference. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We have more problems here in town with live bands playing at some of our restaurants than I think we would with a marijuana establishment." — Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Brick Councilmember Heather DeJong, Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs' Christine Goodman, DHS' Adam Neary, K&L Gates' Dave Catuogno 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 Andy Kim: 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 | |
SWIFT BOATED — "Assembly candidate Claire Swift demands Democratic PAC retract mailer," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "One Assembly candidate in the 2nd Legislative District believes the Democratic Garden State Forward PAC, which has ties to the New Jersey Education Association, has gone too far in its attacks on her record as a deputy attorney general in Atlantic City from 2000 to 2003. Republican Claire Swift's law firm is demanding that Garden State Forward retract a campaign mailer blaming her for the deaths of four children and the 'brutal, prolonged abuse' of 13 in the state's foster care system … The mailer blames Swift in her role as deputy attorney general for failing to protect children from abuses described in an April 15, 2003, New York Times article about cases in which the state's foster care system failed children. The cases described, however, occurred from 1999 to 2002 in North Jersey and other parts of the state but not Atlantic County, where Swift was a deputy attorney general representing the Department of Children and Families in cases involving child abuse and neglect and termination of parental rights."
NO, THE PEOPLE WILL BE BETTER SERVED WITH A GOLF COURSE FOR MILLIONAIRES — " Pesin and Liberty Park allies plead with Murphy, Legislative leadership, to protect state gem," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "It was a gorgeous day this morning, where the nauseating AtroTurf stink of New Jersey politics lingered in the vicinity of the nobility of Lady Liberty, where Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park, looked and sounded more than capable of purifying the legendary park in the face of yet another unwarranted privatization onslaught. Pesin has been at this his entire life, after all, and lately quite a bit more than usual, as the leadership of the New Jersey state Legislature drags its heels on the LSP Protection Act … The local champion of a vital statewide asset expressed his disappointment in the silence to date of Governor Phil Murphy … The counter rally in question consisted of the friends of Florida billionaire Paul Fireman, who has tried to cram a golf course onto the grasslands here amid new mutterings of turf fields as lawmaker leadership insists on leaving the park unprotected." THE REAL CONTROVERSY IS THAT CIATTARELLI GETS HIS COVID POLICY FROM THE GUY WHO INVENTED THE 'HUMORS' THEORY — "Ciattarelli often touts his 'Main Street' business on the campaign, but it was no mom-and-pop operation ," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli calls himself a Main Street businessman; a 'hands-on, roll-up-your sleeves CEO' who built two successful companies. Indeed, one of them, Galen Publishing, was in fact located on W. Main Street. His businesses had little to do with downtown Somerville and Galen was no small-time operation. It was a medical publishing company worth millions … The candidate, though, has not said much about his own business, other than to note that he always met his payroll and hired fellow New Jerseyans, while repeatedly describing his endeavors in interviews as 'Main Street businesses.' What his company did was produce continuing education materials for major universities — much of it funded by millions in grants from some of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical industry, records show … It's not unusual for continuing education credits mandated by many professional organizations to be underwritten by companies. However, critics say relationships can present a conflict and may be little more than surreptitious marketing tools used by the drug companies." WILL ADDIE GO? — " Can Republicans beat the state senator who spurned them?" by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox : "To the shock of New Jersey's political observers, Addiego announced in January 2019 that she was switching parties from Republican to Democrat, giving Democrats their largest Senate majority since the early 1980s … Meanwhile, Republicans cried foul, and quickly began strategizing for how to take down the traitor in their midst. They held both Assembly seats in 2019 despite spirited Democratic campaigns to flip them – and despite the increasingly Democratic nature of Burlington County. The sum of these many moving parts will finally come to a head this November, with Republicans fielding Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield (R-Westampton) in what is widely regarded as the "marquee" legislative race of the year. Only one candidate will emerge victorious: the party loyalist turned party switcher, or her former political ally turned political rival. Has New Jersey legislative politics ever been quite so cinematic?" YEAH, WELL WHAT DO THEY KNOW? — "Masks for 2-year-olds? Here's what experts say about new controversial Murphy move," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco: " Gov. Phil Murphy last week ordered those who work at child care centers be vaccinated or face mandatory regular testing, and that all workers, visitors and children two years and older mask up inside the centers. He immediately faced criticism from his Republican gubernatorial rival Jack Ciattarelli, Republican lawmakers and even some who operate child care centers. Despite the backlash, experts say it's the right thing to do to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 'I get the frustration. I get the unhappiness. I'm tired of wearing the mask,' said Dr. Lawrence Kleinman, a pediatrician and a professor and vice-chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. 'But there are a lot of things I do that I don't want to do because the consequences are meaningful.'" BECAUSE THE PENSION SYSTEM IS NOW FULLY FIXED — Murphy gives prosecutors a pension upgrade, by POLITICO's Matt Friedma n: New Jersey prosecutors hired after 2010 are now eligible for more generous pensions. Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed into law a bill, NJ S3780 (20R), that allows prosecutors who were hired after 2010 to enroll in the prosecutors part of the Public Employees Retirement System. The prosecutors part of PERS was created in 2002 but closed to new hires as of May 2010. Those hired after that date were placed in the regular PERS. Under the new law, prosecutors won't have to purchase any credits to move into the upgraded pension tier. — " Democratic state senators must be vaccinated by Oct. 18" —"Friendly Fire: The border crisis, Murphy's big lead, and SALT tax redux" —Mulshine: " State regulators take a big bite out of the marijuana market" —"Can't get an appointment at MVC? NJ senator's suggests solution" —" Gov. Murphy signs bill allocating $10 million for North Jersey lakes hit by algae blooms"
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| | BIDEN TIME | |
HE'LL GO HIGH BUT HE WON'T GET HIGH —"After GOP goes low on police reform, Booker goes high. Again," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran: "Sen. Cory Booker's most ambitious project yet as a U.S. Senator ended in failure last week when his Republican negotiating partner and friend, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, turned down a compromise on police reform and lobbed insults, laced with falsehoods. 'Democrats literally led by liberal elites have made a bad calculation and it's costing lives,' Scott said … 'It all turned to ash,' Booker says. 'And we were right at the goal line.' You might think Booker would be furious at a moment like this -- if you don't know Booker. He's instead preaching the gospel of love and forgiveness … 'Tim and I talked today,' Booker told me. 'He has been a very good friend and partner in getting things done. We all are mountain ranges. We have peaks and valleys. This place is a pressure-cooker. None of us are as nuanced as we should be.' Booker meditates regularly, never drinks alcohol or smokes, never eats meat, and is playing the game of life on a high spiritual plain. I am not so encumbered, so please allow me to throw a few flaming spears on his behalf."
GOP TO SEND MAILERS FEATURING ALL OF THEM AS AOC ALLIES ANYWAY — " The battle between Jersey moderates and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez flavors the SALT debate," by The Record's Charles Stile: "New Jersey members, like Rep. Josh Gottheimer of the 5th Congressional District in northern New Jersey, Montclair's Rep. Mikie Sherrill of the 11th Congressional District, and Rep. Tom Malinowski of the 7th Congressional District in Central Jersey, have adopted some version of 'No SALT, No Deal,' meaning that they will not support President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion social safety program unless the cap is lifted. Their threat is not to be taken lightly. Democrats, who are planning to push the package through the reconciliation process that averts a Republican filibuster, have only three votes to spare in the House. The tension between AOC's progressives and the New Jersey moderates is a microcosm of a rift within the Democratic Party that could scuttle the fate of Biden's plan. Yet, there appears to be some softening from both sides of the debate." —"Congress may restore your property tax break, but just for a little while, N.J. congressman says" — These Republicans helped craft the infrastructure bill. They might not vote for it | | | |   | | |
| | LOCAL | |
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ONLY AVAILABLE ON PAY-PER-VIEW — "Point Pleasant Beach mayor, councilman almost fight at council meeting," by The Asbury Park Press' Mike Davis: "Mayor Paul Kanitra and Councilman Bob Santanello almost came to blows at a Tuesday council meeting after a disagreement over borough spending turned ugly. The immediate issue was a council resolution for emergency appropriations, allowing the borough to spend more money than was originally budgeted for water and sewer, engineering and design and legal services, which Santanello said was an example of the borough spending too much taxpayer money … 'Bob, you've been trying to craft this insane narrative,' Kanitra responded, before being interrupted by Santanello. Kanitra then asked Borough Administrator Christine Hanlon how commonplace a resolution increasing maximum contract amounts was. She was barely able to reply before Kanitra, 42, and Santanello, 60, began shouting at each other and pointing fingers, while Councilman Andy Cortes — seated between the two — simply buried his head in his palms. Cortes would later have to rise and separate the two until a Point Pleasant Beach police officer intervened. In an interview, Kanitra said Santanello shoved him twice. Santanello said he only bumped Kanitra while the two men were in each other's faces."
" Housing prices were already too high for many Newark residents. Then the investors came," by NJ Advance Media's Payton Guion: "The Urban League is one of many groups working to maintain a supply of affordable housing in Newark, a city where home prices and rents easily outstrip most residents' ability to pay. That disparity has recently led to dire warnings if more affordable housing is not made available. Newark is short more than 16,000 affordable units, according to one report this year from Rutgers University. And now a new obstacle has emerged. A red-hot COVID-19 housing market and heavy investor activity has driven up prices to previously inconceivable levels in Brick City. Fraser said she's seen more and more investors turning to Newark real estate with eye-opening cash offers, which she said complicates her efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing. 'They're targeting long-term residents, people who have lived in Newark for decades,' said Fraser, the Urban League's president and CEO, of the investors. 'You can hear the sucking sound of the wealth coming out of those neighborhoods ... because of those predatory buyers. There's no regulation around that.' … Prices have spiked 113% from a low of $175,000 in early 2014. During that same period, the typical price of houses in New Jersey rose about 40%." OFFICERS NEEDED TO DEAL WITH A NEW GENERATION OF SMOOTHER CRIMINALS — "Paterson councilman calls for hiring 100 special police officers," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Councilman Michael Jackson is proposing that Paterson create about 100 part-time 'special police officer' positions, a plan that could produce the largest expansion of the city's law enforcement force in more than a decade. The 'class 2' special officers would be authorized to carry guns and have full law enforcement powers, while working about 20 hours per week, under Jackson's plan. The special officers would be paid between $20 and $35 per hour." LANCING THE BOYLE — " Bayonne Director of Municipal Services Boyle resigns as police probe potentially illegal cell phone recording," by Hudson County View's John Heinis : "Bayonne Director of Municipal Services Tim Boyle has resigned as police have opened an investigation into a potentially illegal cell phone recording from earlier [Friday]. In an email obtained by HCV, Business Administrator Melissa Mathews told the Law Department this morning that Boyle had been caught 'illegally recording a conversation he was not a part of in the city's building department.' New Jersey is a single party consent state, meaning that recording a conversation is legal as long as the person recording is a part of it. 'The entire buildings [sic] department is a witness to this and I have photos of his phone recording. In addition as I was walking to hand it over to the law department I ran into Tim and handed him the phone acknowledging that I was aware he was recording and that it was illegal,' Mathews wrote." —"Hudson, Union Counties move forward with reentry program to phase out ICE deal at Kearny jail" —" 'Left in the dark': Newark schools won't share COVID data with families and teachers" —"[Cape May] Council rebukes Bezaire" —" Jersey City school board holds off on requiring vaccinated employees to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing" —"N.J. school districts continue to change their bell schedules — and frustrate parents — to cope with the bus shortage" —" Judge rejects democrats bid to seat Witherspoon as Interim Atlantic commissioner" —"Recycling revenues have roared back for New Jersey towns. Here's why" —" 'We're going to be in litigation very shortly': Howell 100-unit development could quadruple"
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| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
'....AND WE HAVE BETTER PIZZA!' — New York hears from New Jersey on congestion pricing, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard : New Jersey residents got a chance to comment Friday on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to charge drivers taking their cars into lower Manhattan. Unsurprisingly, some people were unhappy. The Zoom hearing was the second of many hearings planned for the coming months and the first aimed at gathering input from New Jersey residents. It provided a sample of public sentiment from the sort of person who could spend an hour in front of a webcam in the middle of a workday to talk about a new tolling system for Manhattan's central business district, an area that is basically most of Manhattan below Central Park. Some comments came from the usual suspects. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) spoke against fees that could force some of his North Jersey constituents to pay as much as $23 a day more to get to work. Zoe Baldwin, a representative from the Regional Plan Association, which supports the congestion pricing plan, spoke in favor.
MOORISHTOWN — "She bought her dream home. Then a 'sovereign citizen' changed the locks," by The New York Times' Sarah Maslin Nir: "The official-looking letters started arriving soon after Shanetta Little bought the cute Tudor house on Ivy Street in Newark. Bearing a golden seal, in aureate legalistic language, the documents claimed that an obscure 18th-century treaty gave the sender rights to claim her new house as his own. She dismissed the letters as a hoax. And so it was with surprise that Ms. Little found herself in her yard on Ivy Street on a June afternoon as a police SWAT team negotiated with a man who had broken in, changed her locks and hung a red and green flag in its window … Known as the Moorish sovereign citizen movement, and loosely based around a theory that Black people are foreign citizens bound only by arcane legal systems, it encourages followers to violate existent laws in the name of empowerment. Experts say it lures marginalized people to its ranks with the false promise that they are above the law … This past summer the Moorish movement exploded into public view, after Ms. Little posted viral TikTok accounts of her ordeal and when the police pulled over members of a militant offshoot of the group on a Massachusetts highway." YOU HAVE TO STOP MAKING YOUR SNOW WITH KEROSENE — " Fire breaks out at the American Dream mall ski slope, but no injuries reported," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman and Josh Solomon: "fire broke out in the pre-dawn hours at the American Dream Mall on Saturday, long before the sprawling complex in the Meadowlands opened, but was quickly contained as firefighters for the Meadowlands and from surrounding communities converged on the site. The three-alarm smokey blaze began in the area of the Big SNOW ski slope. Firefighters from an on-site fire brigade serving the Sports Complex and the American Dream were joined by companies from East Rutherford, Wood-Ridge and other surrounding communities to fight a fire that spread briefly to the exterior of the building" DON'T LISTEN TO JAMEL HOLLEY — "Man whose unvaccinated friend died of COVID says minds of anti-vaxxers can't be changed," by The Burlington County Times' Phil Gianficaro: "Preston Zeller got the shot. And then a second shot. And when they wave him in for a booster shot, he'll get that shot. Know why? Well, let Preston tell you. 'Don't wanna die like my friend Perk died, see?' the Willingboro resident explained. 'He didn't get the shot. Wouldn't trust the science, as they say. Perk listened to all the wrong people, and watched too much of the wrong TV. Said he was scared of what it might do to him. Scared they rushed the vaccine through. Scared there wasn't enough testing.' … In a world with still far too many Perks, be a Preston. We're coming up on 680,000 COVID deaths in America during the pandemic, as the delta variant lingers and spreads. More than 27,200 deaths in New Jersey. More than 51,000 infections and counting in Burlington County, and more than 900 deaths. Including Perk." —"A N.J. nurse made a friend in the ICU. Watching her die convinced her to get vaccinated" —" Brace yourselves, New Jersey: Another COVID winter is coming" —"Student accuses Rowan University officials of harassment, discrimination in federal suit" —" Three limos. A TV camera. A parade. Englewood stops for a beloved dog's last party" —"Man allegedly kidnapped by Jay Mazini charged with taking bribe to recant statement" | | A message from A Healthy Future, LLC: If Congressman Andy Kim 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 Kim hears your voice today. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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