News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Big police union stays neutral in gov race

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Big police union stays neutral in gov race

Sep 15, 2021

Presented by A Healthy Future, LLC

Good Wednesday morning!

New Jersey's second biggest police union, the state Fraternal Order of Police is not endorsing in the governor's race

You can read this two ways. One is that a police union typically endorses the incumbent, with the recent exception of backing Barbara Buono over Chris Christie in 2013 over the former governor's pension cuts. Looking at it from that perspective, it's a loss for Murphy.

But Murphy's people were expecting neutrality from the union . While the governor's pension moves put him on the good side of the FOP and the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, it's hard to imagine the union — which backed Trump in 2020 — would endorse someone who marched with George Floyd protesters, whose attorney general fought them to release the names of disciplined cops, and who signed a marijuana law they accused of tying their officers' hands. (Two smaller police unions, representing the State Troopers and Port Authority cops, did back Murphy).

Meanwhile, Jack Ciattarelli has hammered a "law and order" message, blaming Murphy for a spike in shootings, disorderly teens at the shore and the aforementioned weed law. He's pledged not to cut their benefits. So it would seem to be a natural ally of the unions. To look at it from this perspective, the most obvious explanation for the union's refusal to back Ciattarelli is that they don't think he'll win — that they're taking the path of least resistance.

I read it more as the latter, but based on the feedback I got when I wrote as much yesterday, not everyone agrees with me. Read more about it here.

WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Trenton or a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conference

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Following the letter and spirit of the law, the State of New Jersey's Division of Investment, working with its independent consultant, ISS, conducted a review of the actions of Ben & Jerry's and its parent company, Unilever, to determine whether such actions constituted a boycott of Israel or companies operating in Israel or Israeli-controlled territory. Following this review, the division reached a preliminary determination that Unilever's actions did in fact constitute such a boycott and sent a letter to Unilever notifying the company of its provisional determination. Upon final determination, no pension fund assets may be invested in the company, and DOI shall take appropriate action to sell or divest any existing pension fund investments." — Shoaib Khan, acting director of the NJ Division of Investment

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Valerie Vainieri Huttle, AFL-CIO's Michael McCarthy, Delran Councilman Tyler Burrell

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 Frank Pallone: 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

ELECTION LAW ANNULMENT COMMISSION — Activist assails ELEC for deleting dismissed campaign finance complaints from its website, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has for years quietly been disposing of complaints against politicians that it dismissed by deleting them from its website. Now, after an activist whose tips to the commission led to multicount complaints against two South Jersey Democrats noticed those complaints were dismissed with no public justification and little public disclosure, ELEC is taking that policy "under advisement." "Even after dismissed complaints have been taken down from our website, members of the public still are entitled to obtain copies under the Open Public Meetings Act," ELEC Deputy Executive Director Joe Donohue said in a statement. "Given this is the case, and because ELEC generally is committed to the broadest possible disclosure, the policy will be taken under advisement."

INSERT BEAR PUN HERE — "NJ Fish and Game Council approves 'emergency' bear hunt. Will Murphy sign off?" by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "The New Jersey Fish and Game Council unanimously approved an emergency order Tuesday to reestablish a black bear hunt in the state, at least for October, but the order faces an uncertain future since it also needs approval by the officials who stopped the hunt earlier in the year. There was little discussion before the vote by members of the council, who listened to eight speakers during the virtual public portion of the meeting. Seven of the speakers said they favored the emergency bear hunt. Since the state game code already includes a bear hunting season, the emergency action, which would be good for 60 days after approval, could allow an October archery hunt, said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Dave Golden. But he said the order also needs the signatures of Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and Gov. Phil Murphy, who is up for reelection in November."

NJ PLAYBOOK AUTHOR ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR TELETUBBIES — Ciattarelli announces support for Democrat-sponsored telehealth bill, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has introduced a new plank to his health care policy platform backing a telehealth bill that's gone unsigned since it was sent to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk in June. Ciattarelli, a former member of the General Assembly from Somerset County, updated the health policy page of his campaign website recently to say he would "approve a new law — now being blocked by Gov. Murphy — that will improve access to healthcare, including mental health services, through telemedicine or telehealth in which patients, including lower-income workers, are guaranteed the choice of remote or in-person visits and to see a physician." Spokesperson Stami Williams confirmed Ciattarelli was referring to NJ S2559 (20R), sponsored by state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), which cleared both the Assembly and Senate without opposition on the floor.

IN ATTEMPT TO CONNECT WITH YOUTH, MURPHY DECLARES SNEAKERS 'ON FLEEK' — "At Atlantic City sneaker store for small-biz week, Murphy defends upcoming unemployment tax hike," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post : "Sneaker collectors are a diverse group, and the owners of Swapz AC have no trouble finding people interested in the collectibles they sell, or those wanting to buy 10-year-old Nikes for hundreds to thousands of dollars, store co-owner Ed Wilson said Tuesday. Wilson, 35, and three co-owners gave Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor Marty Small Sr. a tour of their store Tuesday for National Small Business Week … Small businesses in New Jersey were hit hard by the pandemic, Murphy said, but he stressed the state has provided more direct aid to them than any other state but California and New York. That's one reason he has decided not to use some of the state's $6.2 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to replenish the state's Unemployment Trust Fund, he said. Instead, an increase in the unemployment tax on businesses will hit next month. 'I'm not closing the door on anything,' Murphy said. 'I want to get the biggest bang for the buck.'"

—Snowflack: "The timely constitutional amendments proposed by DeCroce"

—" Back to school with new NJEA president: Tackling COVID safety, teacher pay, politics"

—"N.J. approves new cannabis grow site, but 24 other weed business licenses continue to languish"

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

AUSTIN KA-BOB — Menendez skewers Austin no-show at Afghan testimony, by POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio: Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez on Tuesday threatened to subpoena Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after the Pentagon chief declined to appear at a hearing on the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan. The New Jersey Democrat suggested that he could oppose Pentagon nominees based on Austin's no-show at Tuesday's hearing, which featured testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "A full accounting of the U.S. response to this crisis is not complete without the Pentagon — especially when it comes to understanding the complete collapse of the U.S. trained and funded Afghan military," Menendez said.

TO JOE D'S PUERTO RICO SUPER BOWL RETREAT — "Where will detainees go as another county rejects ICE?" by NJ Spotlight News' Monsy Alvarado: "William O'Dea, a commissioner on the Hudson County Board of County Commissioners, who has opposed the agreement that pays the county to house the detainees, thanked DeGise for his letter. But O'Dea said he fears that the remaining detainees could be transferred to other facilities far from their attorneys, family and friends. That happened to some detainees who were held at the Essex County jail when that facility shut down its ICE operations in August. 'Our work is not done yet though we need to focus on helping get the detainees released or expediting their hearing process to ensure that ICE does not try to vindictively transfer them far away,' he said … Ellen Pachnanda, attorney-in-charge of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project at Brooklyn Defender Services … said they plan to petition ICE to release those being held in Hudson County. … She said if ICE detainees are transferred out of state, they won't be able to receive the legal representation they get now."

IN SHORT, LABOR UNIONS LIKE THINGS THAT EMPLOY THEIR MEMBERS — "Biden's infrastructure bill is a boon for labor unions," by Governing's Jake Blumgart: "[Greg] Lalevee is enthusing about his union's good fortune as Congress finally pays attention to infrastructure. 'When President Biden announced his plans, for us to hear that — it was nirvana,' says Lalevee, business manager of New Jersey's Operating Engineers Local 825… Lalevee is not saying this from the position of a Democratic partisan. Unlike many labor leaders in America, he plays both sides of the fence. Local 825's training center was the site of an endorsement rally for Republican Gov. Chris Christie's re-election in 2013 and for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2017. For Lalevee, and many of his allies in the New Jersey building trades, it's a question of who has the power to help their members keep working. The head of Local 825 is a gregarious and well-liked fixture of New Jersey politics. He's also part of an increasingly tenuous tradition in the building trades union movement. In the Northeast and Midwest, these unions often allied with moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats alike to advance the interests of their members and the industries that employed them. 'Infrastructure has never been a partisan issue,' says Lalevee."

—" NJ businesses not thrilled with the president's vaccine mandate"

—Mulshine: "Chris Christie says 'Nuts!' to another Trump candidacy"

LOCAL

TRANSPARENCY — "APP sues Monmouth County over denial of public records, check register," by The Asbury Park Press' Mike Davis: "The Asbury Park Press has filed a lawsuit against Monmouth County after county officials refused to release public records unless the Press paid more than $11,000, according to the complaint. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Monmouth County Superior Court, claims that county officials improperly denied the Press' Open Public Records Act requests for a copy of the county's check register, including all payees and vendors. 'The Press is fighting for the public's right to know how close to $2 billion of their tax dollars have been spent over the last five years,' Asbury Park Press Executive Editor Paul D'Ambrosio said. 'If we don't do it, who will?' The county first denied Press reporter Susanne Cervenka's request for the check register data in April, claiming that the data could not be provided in spreadsheet format and placing a $10,600 'special service charge' on the process of reviewing and redacting what county counsel Michael Fitzgerald estimated were 22,000 entries from 2016 to present. But prior to 2016, the county turned over check register data without incident or imposing a special service charge, according to the lawsuit."

YUDIN PROMISES TO GET INTO THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF THOMAS' RECORD — " Ex-Bergen GOP chairman launches write-in campaign for Township Committee in Wyckoff," by the Record's Masha A. Stoltz: "Bob Yudin, the former chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization Committee, will mount a write-in campaign seeking Thomas Madigan's seat in the Nov. 2 Township Committee election. 'Tom Madigan does not deserve to hold elective office at any level, and he should not be allowed to run unopposed,' Yudin wrote in the announcement on his Facebook page. He said Madigan was attempting a 'coup d'etat' of the Board of Education. A separate message on Yudin's Facebook page criticizes four Township Committee members for their unexpected Aug. 25 vote to move the Board of Education election from November to April."

PISSED THAT AWAY — "Judge orders Piscataway council to drop competing ballot questions," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biyrukov: "A Superior Court judge has ruled Piscataway's council 'interfered with and subverted' state law governing local referendums when it approved two ballot questions for November that competed with public questions placed on the ballot by local petition drives … The local petition drives separately sought two binding public questions on November's ballot, one asking voters whether the township council should livestream its meetings and the other seeking approval for Piscataway to create a division of emergency medical services. After the petitions gained enough signatures to appear on the ballot, the council approved two additional questions, these nonbinding, that would have told voters livestreaming meetings would cost $575,100 and creating the new emergency medical services division would cost $643,683. These proposed public questions were derided by critics as bids to scare voters off both plans. It is unclear how the township reached those figures."

USE OF FARCE — "Englewood cop charged with DWI fought with police and refused Breathalyzer, report shows," by The Record's Katie Sobko: "Englewood police Lt. Gregory Martin was at Teaneck police headquarters in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 1. Not as a cop, but as a suspect. The 52-year-old reportedly had been asleep behind the wheel of his idling SUV in the middle of a Teaneck intersection. With bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath, he declined a Breathalyzer, and he slurred his speech while refusing his Miranda warning, according to a Teaneck police report. He was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Martin's behavior took a turn for the worse at headquarters while Teaneck officers were putting away his personal items to take him to a cell. Accusing the arresting officers of ruining his life, he bent over and ran head-first into a washing machine,knocking himself unconscious, police said."

—"Statue of [Newark's] 1st Black mayor was crumbling. This new bronze one replaces it"

—" Englewood Cliffs Council fires administrator, attorneys at meeting held without mayor"

—"NJ COVID rent relief is going where it's most needed. Which ZIP codes received the most?"

—"27 maintenance workers lost their jobs and benefits in Moorestown Public Schools. Their union is fighting to get them back"

—"Judge orders unapproved Orthodox Jewish high school in Brick temporarily closed"

—"School bus with 15 on board crashes into car in Lakewood, NJ"

—"Edison mayoral candidates to debate in virtual forum"

—" [Trenton] sets deadline for its 1,300 employees to get vaccinated"

R.I.P. — "Camden County police officer loses battle against cancer"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

MORAL POVERTY DEFINITELY INCREASED — "Despite pandemic, poverty in NJ declined for 7th straight year," by NJ 101.5's Michael Symons: "The SPM in New Jersey has now declined for four straight poverty reports. After rising from 15.1% as a three-year average in 2015 to 15.3% in 2016, it has gone to 15.1% in 2017, 14% in 2018 and 12.5% in 2019. The official poverty rate has declined in seven straight years since reaching 11.1% in 2014. It went to 10.8% in 2015, 10.7% in 2016, 9.7% in 2017, 9.1% in 2018 and 8.2% in 2019. Neither poverty rate is considered to be a good measurement of poverty in New Jersey due to the high costs in the state, particularly for housing."

—" Jersey drivers have three shots to give their opinion about NYC congestion pricing plan"

—"Hispanic families say N.J. schools can improve translation services, especially amid COVID"

—" N.J.'s pork roll-eating championship to feature hot dog king Joey Chestnut"

—"Hasbro plans to open arcade at American Dream drawing on popular toys and games"

—" Mob bust targets N.J. man charged as underboss of crime family"

A message from A Healthy Future, LLC:

If Congressman Frank Pallone 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 Pallone hears your voice today.