News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A newsy debate

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A newsy debate

Sep 29, 2021

Presented by A Healthy Future, LLC

Good Wednesday morning!

Sometimes, I'll admit, the gubernatorial race has seemed a bit of a snooze. But Gov. Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli were fully caffeinated when they met for their first debate yesterday. I was happy to be in Newark for it.

The exchanges were passionate. The retorts were quick. And they both made some news: Ciattarelli by coming out in support of driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and Murphy for pledging not to raise any more taxes in a second term (though he insisted he wasn't making news with that, I don't recall such a pledge and the other reporters I talked to didn't either).

Do I think it moved the needle in the race? Probably not, in part because I didn't catch a serious gaffe by either candidate that will be repeated in TV ads for the next month, though perhaps something slipped by me. While Ciattarelli keyed in on the nursing home deaths under Murphy, I thought he could have done more earlier to needle Murphy on what I think could be his major vulnerabilities: The messes with unemployment benefits and at the Motor Vehicle Commission. Ciattarelli got at those issues, but late and very briefly.

I've been doing this a long time, and I think it's the most lively gubernatorial debate I've covered. Though I'm not sure the audience participation — on behalf and against both candidates — was necessary.

Read my report about it here.

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I felt like I've been gaslit." — The Asbury Park Press' Suzanne Cervenka on Gannett management's alleged efforts to undermine unionization.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Assemblymember/rollerderbier Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, DOH's Marcela Ospina Maziarz, Duane Morris' Sharon Seyler, Quijano COS Seth Levin

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

BILLS, BILLS, BILLS — "Murphy signs bill aimed at increasing diversity among police," by The AP: "New Jersey will aim to increase racial diversity among law enforcement officers under new legislation Gov. Phil Murphy signed Tuesday. The bill passed the Democrat-led Legislature with no opposition in June. The measure requires the state's Civil Service Commission to implement programs to make law enforcement more representative and equitable. Among the measures listed in the bill is a mandate to analyze the racial composition of police agencies in the state, with the goal of identifying those that could benefit from eliminating hiring preferences based on applicants' residency. The bill's sponsors have said they want to be sure that the racial makeup of police forces reflect the demographics of the towns they work in."

ZWICKER WON'T TAKE THE BAIT, MAN — "Zwicker v. Pappas: The fight for Bateman's LD16 Senate seat," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "The Bateman name is held in high esteem in the district thanks to both the retiring incumbent, Kip, and his late father, Ray Bateman. At a Sept. 22 debate, Pappas said his support for a religious exemption to vaccine mandates is precisely the position of Kip Bateman. Zwicker is a fan of Kip Bateman as well. He showed what thoughtful and bipartisan legislation and politics looked like," he said of the retiring senator. That type of thinking probably helped Bateman survive in a district that is growing more Democratic. Republicans are now outnumbered by about 21,000 voters in a district that includes parts of Hunterdon and Somerset counties and one town each in Mercer (Princeton) and Middlesex (South Brunswick). All things being equal, the Democratic registration seems to make Zwicker the favorite. And that's probably why the debate between the two unfolded with Zwicker avoiding attacks and Pappas being the aggressor."

—"Where does Jack Ciattarelli stand on NJ transportation issues? Here's what he told us"

—"McKoy leaving NJPP for role at national think tank"

—"First of many rail unions reaches tentative new contract with NJ Transit"

—Moran: " New York draws a line on vaccines. New Jersey should, too"

—Pizarro: "Murphy versus Sweeney: A pre-debate special (and Ciattarelli)"

HAPPENING TODAY - DON'T MISS THIS PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH REP. GOTTHEIMER AS THE HOUSE PREPARES TO VOTE : President Biden's domestic agenda is on the line, with a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill slated for a House vote on Thursday. However, moderate and progressive Democrats remain at odds over a larger, multitrillion-dollar spending package — with the left even threatening to tank Thursday's vote. Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade for a virtual conversation featuring Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), the leader of the centrists urging his colleagues to take the win Thursday and continue working on the second package in the coming days. REGISTER HERE.

BIDEN TIME

FROM MY COUSINS AT THE NATIONAL PLAYBOOK — President Biden's domestic agenda is on the line this week, with a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill slated for a House vote on Thursday. But moderate and progressive Democrats are still at odds over a larger, multitrillion dollar spending package — with the left even threatening to tank Thursday's vote if the latter isn't finalized by then. Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade today at 11:45 a.m. for a pop-up virtual event featuring Rep. Josh Gottheimer, leader of the centrists urging his colleagues to take the win Thursday and continue working on the second package in the coming days. Register here to watch live: https://bit.ly/3ohdydo

'I AM DEGROOT' — "Ex-prosecutor seeking GOP nod against Sherrill in NJ-11," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Paul DeGroot, Passaic County assistant prosecutor, has entered the race for the Republican nomination for [Congress] in New Jersey's 11th district in a bid to unseat two-term Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair). 'I am excited in the opportunity to bring better government to CD-11 [that] is in line with the majority of residents of the districts,' he said. DeGroot, 55, begins his House bid with a possible base of political support at a Morris County GOP convention that will award the organization line next year: he's the president of the Montville Republican Club."

GOTT A DEAL HEIMER — "Congress could restore your property tax break with this new proposal, sources say," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant : "A two-year repeal of the Republican tax law's $10,000 cap on how much people deduct in state and local income taxes has emerged as the leading proposal to restoring at least part of a property tax break that has a big impact on New Jersey, two sources involved in the negotiations told NJ Advance Media. The provision would be added to the Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending bill, now working its way through Congress, according to the individuals, speaking on condition of anonymity because a deal has yet to be struck."

—" Afghan refugee and NJ activist recount a harrowing escape, as new life begins in the US"

—"NJEA president: NJ delegation must support Biden's Build Back Better agenda"

—" Five months later, Sue Fulton's Pentagon nomination remains stalled"

LOCAL

MAPLEWOOD — "Neighbors complained about flooding for years before father of 2 drowned. N.J. town blames DEP," by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky: "For years, residents of a flood-prone block in Essex County asked township officials again and again to fix an antiquated drainage system that a neighbor was trying to clear of debris when he died during Hurricane Ida. Responses by the Maplewood Township Committee have included a mitigation project that has repeatedly proved inadequate in heavy rainfall, and a more recent effort that local officials say has been blocked by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The horrific drowning death of 55-year-old Patrick Jeffrey in a network of concrete pipes below township streets on Sept. 1 now has the township eager to renew talks with the DEP for permission to overhaul the drainage system on Maple Terrace. Meanwhile, the township and the DEP have refused to answer questions from NJ Advance Media about the situation."

DEMON TYNER — "Prosecutor retaliated after complaints of mishandled sex crime case, man claims," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Gray: "A South Jersey man has signaled his intention to sue over allegations he was targeted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office after claiming he was the victim of a sex crime and that the office was mishandling his case. The man ... has filed a tort notice ... against the prosecutor's office and several other entities alleging he was the target of malicious prosecution after he complained about former Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner's handling of his allegations against a Galloway Township man. That man was charged in 2019 in two separate cases of knowingly spreading HIV through sexual contact and the man who filed the tort is one the alleged victims … He argued that Tyner disliked him based on past dealings and that both Tyner and ACPO Victim Witness Coordinator Raymond Royster were close with the defendant's father. The victim in this matter went on to allege that: The defendant's family and friends used Tyner's name to intimidate him into dropping the charges, suggesting that Tyner would 'get back at (him) and handle him.' … ACPO retaliated against him for filing the AG complaint by releasing his name to members of the media, even though the identities of victims of sex crimes are not normally released."

SPEARED — "Foreclosure Of Spears' home connected to man charged with running mega mortgage fraud scam," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein : "A property purchased by a Jersey City mayoral candidate is connected to a local man indicted in a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme, but Lewis Spears says he never met the seller and was unaware of the criminal charges filed against Anthony Garvin in 2019. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Garvin plotted a series of short sale flips in Jersey City and other municipalities by using straw borrowers and submitting loan applications using fake pay stubs and tax information to obtain mortgages and multiple Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) loans. Spears purchased the home at 782 Grand Street from Garvin's firm, Merchantman LLC, in March 2010 for $265,000, but after making a $4,800 down payment, he never made any mortgage payments. By the time Bank of America foreclosed on his property, Spears owed them $414,527 – including unpaid property taxes and liens against the property for code violations, according to records filed with the Hudson County Register of Deeds and Mortgages. The Spears campaign has publicly addressed the foreclosure of the uninhabitable house, but said he wasn't aware of Garvin. 'This is my first time ever hearing of this guy, ever,' Spears told the New Jersey Globe."

HOW ABOUT A 'BOOK BURNING BONANZA'? — "N.J. principal scraps decision to eliminate Halloween and Valentine's Day celebrations after backlash," by NJ Advance Media's Brianna Kudisch: "Ebony Lattimer, the new principal of Riverside Elementary School in Princeton, told parents in a letter last Tuesday the school's Halloween parade and celebration and Valentine's Day celebration would be replaced to make them more inclusive, according to Planet Princeton. The Halloween celebration would be replaced with a 'book bonanza' with students dressing up as their favorite book character for a parade. The Valentine's Day celebration would be replaced with 'Upstander Day,' which would 'highlight our students and the Riverside normative culture, as they display the upstander codes of respect, responsibility, safety, and positivity,' the news site reported. Three days later, Lattimer reversed course and said the celebrations would remain, attributing the decision to feedback she received."

SINCE JOEY TORRES CAN'T RUN BECAUSE OF HIS CONVICTION, VOTERS CAN ELECT THE NEXT WORST THING — "Alex Mendez raising money for his legal defense fund, says he'll run for Paterson mayor," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Councilman Alex Mendez — who is facing a pending election fraud indictment — held a fund-raising event for his legal defense at The Brownstone banquet hall on Sunday night during which he announced his plans to run for mayor. The councilman billed the gathering as an 'End of Summer Party' in a flyer posted on his Facebook page, but the fine print told attendees to make checks payable to 'Legal Trust Fund of Alex Mendez.' The 'suggested donation' ranged from $100 to $1,000, according to the flyer. Mendez, who repeatedly has declared his innocence in the voting fraud case, said more than 100 people attended the event on Sunday."

RAW DEAL — "More public sand for Jersey Shore town with access issues," by The AP's Wayne Parry : "U.S. Rep Frank Pallone Jr., a Democrat, said Monday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct beach replenishment in three towns in November, including Deal. The federal government is paying 65%, or $17 million, of the $26 million project. Beach access advocates say Deal has one of the worst records of any Jersey Shore town when it comes to requirements that the state's beaches be open and accessible to all. And there is an explicit requirement that towns that accept publicly paid-for sand as part of beach replenishment comply with public beach access rules, including providing adequate public parking within a reasonable distance. Deal has tried numerous times to enact laws that would allow only residents of some streets closest to the beach to park there during the summer, and it is being sued by a coastal advocacy group fighting its sale to a neighboring homeowner of a street end used by surfers and others to get onto the beach."

FAIRFIELD — "Fairfield superintendent charged with raping family friend," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea : "A school chief with a troubled criminal history is accused of raping a family friend last year while she slept on his couch, records show. Michael Knox, 51, the superintendent of Fairfield Township Schools, was charged with second-degree sexual assault after police said he took advantage of a family friend who drove him home after he got 'heavily intoxicated' at a party in Ewing Township on Oct. 3, 2020. The rape occurred early the morning of Oct. 4 while the victim slept on Knox's living room couch, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Trentonian. A spokesman for the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said the case is pending presentation to a grand jury. The superintendent's first appearance in Burlington County Superior Court is scheduled for Oct. 4. No attorney information was listed for Knox, court officials said."

—"Man claims Monmouth County jail officers broke his teeth, made him wear pink jumpsuit"

—" Weehawken 3rd Ward Councilman Raul Gonzalez stepping down Friday to pursue new job"

—"Paterson Board of Education member Corey Teague warned about special education advocacy"

—" Amador announces he is not running again in the Ironbound"

—"[Elizabeth] mayor, HUD official tour apartments where 4 died during Ida, lay out next steps for desperate residents"

—" No one wants to be a crossing guard, so Ridgewood turns to national search firm for help"

BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.

EVERYTHING ELSE

YOU DOWN WITH PPE? — "Bringing it in: The state is making slow progress in its drive to produce more PPE at home," by NJBIZ's Daniel J. Munoz: "In May, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order in conjunction with the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island to coordinate the purchase of medical supplies and PPE – for a combined $5 billion – so the states would not have to barter and compete against each other. One problem was that the supply chain from China — which provided a large quantity of the materials — had collapsed, leaving many manufacturers, hospitals and public health departments scrounging for equipment … Last year's approach was largely an emergency triage system, Cahn said. States coordinated to get PPE where it was most needed, while manufacturers switched to PPE. 'We got a baseball uniform maker to create masks and gowns out of baseball uniforms,' Chafe said. But memories are short. With the supply chains between China back online, many are simply 'chasing the lowest-cost product,' Chafe said. 'The risk that we take in returning to that is what if it happens again,' he warned. 'It's just the good fortune of having been able to cobble together the supply chain that saved us this past time.' But the barriers to building a robust domestic manufacturing sector are well-known. The obstacles have plagued the nation for generations as factories closed or moved overseas."

TRUMP PLEDGES TO APPOINT NJ 101.5 HOSTS AS JUDGES IF ELECTED IN 2024 — "Rutgers' vaccine mandate will stay in place for now, judge rules," by NJ Advance Media's Payton Guion: "A New Jersey federal judge on Monday declined to overrule the vaccine mandate at Rutgers University, saying such a ruling could harm the public. District court Judge Zahid N. Quraishi tossed out a request for a temporary restraining order from several Rutgers students and the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, according to a report from Law360. This effort stems from a lawsuit filed in August that claimed the Rutgers mandate is illegal and unconstitutional, and is not authorized by any federal or state law. The lawsuit named as defendants the university, its board of governors, the university's school of biomedical and health sciences, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway and Brian Strom, the executive vice president of the Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences."

— "New Jersey City University faculty signals 'no confidence' vote in school's president"

—" 5 students sue TCNJ over COVID-19 vax mandate"

—"Youth suicide in NJ — LGBTQ youth at much greater risk, stats show"

—" Steven Van Zandt has long been the guy behind the guy. Now he's finally telling his story"

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.