News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Christie's raising money for N.J. Republicans, but not Ciattarelli

Friday, October 15, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Christie's raising money for N.J. Republicans, but not Ciattarelli

Oct 15, 2021

Presented by the Consumer Action Network

Good Friday morning!

Chris Christie is still a draw in New Jersey politics . At least when it comes to money. He's got a fundraiser with Jon Bramnick later this month and on Tuesday night headlined one for the Senate Republicans'' fundraising arm (co-hosted by the three senators running for minority leader). And he's done several others for Republican lawmakers or legislative candidates in recent months.

But a common theme with all these events Christie has been doing is that they're fundraisers — events usually reserved for just a paying audience and no press.

Also of note is who Christie hasn't raised money for: The man hoping to be the next Republican governor, Jack Ciattarelli. Christie and his wife Mary Pat, however, have donated to Ciattarelli: $2,600 each. That's the max you can give to a legislative candidate, but you can give up to $4,900 to gubernatorial candidates.

Read more about it here.

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Woodbridge for a 2:30 p.m. Route 9 groundbreaking ceremony

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Who's Mengele? … I didn't know any of these people at all. It's not even one I knew from my Jewish Studies class at college." — Monroe GOP mayoral candidate Steve Martin, who claims his Facebook account that posted memes comparing Democrats to Nazis was hacked.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Ciattarelli campaign manager Eric Arpert, former Rep. Rush Holt, Atlantic City's Durwood Pinkett, Riker Danzig's Mary Kay Roberts. Saturday for Regional Planning Associations' Zoe Baldwin, LD38 Assembly COS Matt Bonasia, Publicitics' Henry de Koninck, Merchantville Councilman Dan Sperrazza. Sunday for Democratic consultant Sean Darcy, Tammy Murphy COS Stephanie Lagos, Camden County's Digna Townsend.

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

A message from the Consumer Action Network:

New Jersey families deserve access to health care that works best for them. The state legislature unanimously passed a bill that would allow patients to keep seeing their providers in a way that works best for them. The bill requires that doctors and nurses keep getting paid fairly, just as they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell Gov. Phil Murphy: Sign the telehealth bill today. Make your voice heard.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

RABBLE RABBLE, YOUR DEBATE'S A MESS — "Crowds booed Murphy, heckled Ciattarelli at N.J. governor debates. Is it time to dump the audience?" by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson and Matt Arco: "During the first debate … people on social media wondered whether alcohol was partially to blame. The second debate, held Tuesday at Rowan University in Glassboro and broadcast on NJ PBS, was maybe even more boisterous. One Murphy supporter shouted 'Four more years!' numerous times. And when Murphy said during his closing statement that New Jersey shouldn't stand with 'confederate flags and white supremacists and a pack of lies,' Ciattarelli backers burst into a chorus of jeers … All of it left some longtime New Jersey politicos wondering: Is it time to do away with live audiences at these debates? 'It was a disgrace,' state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, R-Union, said of Tuesday's crowd. 'I couldn't listen to the answers because people were screaming. If you're gonna scream and yell, clear the audience.' Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling and an assistant research professor at Rutgers University, having an audience as vocal as these 'detracts from the point of the evening, which is supposed to be a substantive policy debate.'"

—Mulshine: " Can Phil Murphy win with cliches; or will Jack Ciattarelli get the last laugh?"

RACIAL PROFILING — "NJ leaders recall times they faced racial profiling by law enforcement," from The Record : "A Black state assemblywoman, approached by a trooper at a Garden State Parkway rest stop, felt targeted and uncomfortable when the trooper accused her of littering, though there was no trash around her car. That woman went on to become New Jersey's first Black lieutenant governor. A Black New Jersey assemblyman recounted the humiliation he felt after a trooper pulled him over without giving a reason. Behind the wheel of a high-end rental car, the lawmaker was on his way to Trenton, where he led the charge to pass legislation preventing racial profiling. Now, he leads the state's dominant Democratic party. A Black Superior Court of New Jersey judge — and formerly the director of Newark's Police and Fire Departments — described being falsely accused of shoplifting at the Mall in Short Hills."

THE RECORD DECLARES BURLINGTON COUNTY CENTRAL JERSEY — "Asian Americans surge into state politics, pushing back against hate," by The Record's Mary Chao: "If elected to the state Assembly, [Karlito] Almeda 'would not only be the first Filipino, I would be the youngest and the poorest,' he joked on Saturday. Alameda is among a new crop of Asian Americans seeking elective office for the first time this year in the Garden State, adding an unprecedented dose of diversity to local and state politics. Inspired by a rise of hate crimes that followed slurs about the 'China virus,' more Asian candidates are shedding a cultural reluctance to make waves and stepping up … Ellen Park, an Englewood Cliffs attorney, is running for state Assembly in Bergen County's 37th District, a safe Democratic district that's likely to make her the first Korean American woman to serve in the Legislature … Park's Democratic running mate is Shama Haider, who is of Pakistani descent."

DEVELOPING FAT SANDWICH INNOVATIONS — "'The Hub' is coming to N.J. The research center will have no rival, Murphy says," by NJ Advance Media's Spencer Kent: "The project known as 'The Hub' — massive in size and cost — aims to bring New Jersey researchers from across sectors under a single roof. This 'roof' will be a gigantic complex built in New Brunswick's downtown on the site of the former Ferren Mall. On Thursday, after years of planning, ground was finally broken, at least ceremonially. Gov. Phil Murphy, local and state officials, hospital CEOs, Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway and others gathered at the future site of the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Hub — the first phase of an even more sprawling plan. But on Thursday, officials celebrated the 550,000-square-foot facility that seeks to make the state a leader in medical learning, research and innovation. The project will be built across from the New Brunswick train station with a price tag of $665 million."

IT: STATE HAS BEEN PENNYWISE — "IT chief warns about dangers of state's archaic technology," by The New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "New Jersey's technology infrastructure is in desperate need of repairs, with critical state agencies that oversee unemployment insurance and motor vehicle services relying on archaic systems that are at risk of failing at any point and sending the state into disarray for weeks, according to a new report released by the state. 'All these legacy systems are supporting critical state functions, and the failure of any one of them would have immediate detrimental impacts on resident-facing services. Worse, the ability to quickly recover from a failure is in doubt as the aging infrastructure is more difficult to support and institutional expertise on the legacy systems is dwindling,' reads the Oct. 1 report. Written by Chief Technology Officer Christopher Rein, the 14-page report criticizes previous governors for their lack of attention to infrastructure needs. It also stresses the priorities Gov. Phil Murphy and future state officials should make to drag the state into the 21st Century."

—A guy from Barstool Sports got into a Twitter fight with the Turnpike and its spox over whether AAA tow drivers are allowed on it (they apparently are not, despite the Tunrpike's initial tweet). It's entertaining.

—"Murphy once again seen maskless at indoor campaign event"

—"What Tuesday's debate says about state of NJ governor's race"

—"Donnelly re-elected FMBA president"

—"Kaufman, one half of influential Kaufman Zita Group, announces retirement"

—" NJ man charged with threatening Gov. Murphy over his unemployment claim"

THE MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE 2021 IS HERE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from one of the largest and most influential gatherings of experts reinventing finance, health, technology, philanthropy, industry and media. Don't miss a thing from the 24th annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, from Oct. 17 to 20. Can't make it? We've got you covered. Planning to attend? Enhance your #MIGlobal experience and subscribe today.

BIDEN TIME

SOMETHING MEXICO ACTUALLY IS PAYING FOR — "Ex-Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen registers as foreign agent," by Legistorm's Keturah Hetrick: "Retired Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), former chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has signed on as a foreign agent to Mexico. Greenberg Traurig recently disclosed Frelinghuysen's addition to the law firm's existing contract with the Secretariat of Economy, Mexico's economic department. Frelinghuysen's work involves tracking implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and outreach to U.S. government officials, media and 'other opinion leaders' on U.S.-Mexico relations. Frelinghuysen, who served in Congress from 1995–2019, joined Greenberg Traurig last year and counts Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba among his lobbying clients."

—"Christie Whitman's anti-Trump Republican group just endorsed these N.J. Democrats"

CONSTRUCTION MAGNATE DEMANDS SUBTLE DISDAIN — "Highway builder Joseph Sanzari sues North Jersey town after house project goes awry," by The Record's Stephanie Noda: "Joseph Sanzari says he was stymied by Washington Township officials for eight months as he sought to build a single-family home. Sanzari, in a lawsuit filed Oct. 4 in Superior Court in Bergen County, alleges town officials delayed and failed to provide permits for a home on Fern Street, and showed 'obvious disdain' for him during the process, despite his construction bona fides. Sanzari filed the lawsuit with Lorraine Rubino, the owner of the home … The lawsuit also claims that Francese, the township's electrical subcode inspector, made 'degrading comments' about Sanzari in the presence of other people … Francese also made 'highly inappropriate and unprofessional comments about Plaintiff Sanzari and his finances,' the lawsuit says."

0.08 MASTROS TOO MANY — "Paterson council rejects consultants' $742K contract for COVID-19 relief funds," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "The City Council on Tuesday night voted down the mayor's plan to award a $742,000 contract to politically connected consultants to work on Paterson's plans for using funding from a federal COVID-19 relief program. Council critics argued that the city already had employees capable of handling the $63.7 million that Paterson will be getting from the American Rescue Plan, and they asserted that Mayor Andre Sayegh was repaying political favors by awarding the lucrative consulting contract to the companies. But Sayegh's business administrator, Kathleen Long, said the city needed the consultants to ensure that Paterson complies with the federal government's funding requirements to avoid forfeiting any of the aid. The cost of the consulting work, Long said, would be covered by the money from the federal government … The failed council resolution would have awarded a contract to handle the federal funding to NW Financial Group, a Hoboken-based firm that state records say handled $4.9 million in government contracts in 2020 … New Jersey campaign finance reports say NW Financial made $39,500 in political contributions in 2020, with most of those donations going to Democratic candidates for the New Jersey Legislature, including all three members of Paterson's delegation."

ATTENTION LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES: ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS ISN'T UP TO SPEED — "Law on prisoners ruins Haledon's attempt to get extra Manchester Regional school board seat," by The Record's Philip DeVencentis : "A state law concerning the counting of prisoners has spoiled an attempt by the borough to pick up an extra seat on the Manchester Regional school board. The borough believes that it should have the greatest say on the Board of Education because new census data show it has the largest population of the high school's sending towns, which also include North Haledon and Prospect Park. Officials sued the Passaic County clerk and county superintendent of schools to ensure that the school board's composition was adjusted before voters hit the polls next month. But the borough's chance of prevailing was obliterated hours before the last hearing in the case. The state Attorney General's Office informed the court of recently passed legislation that requires the incarcerated to be counted using their street addresses for congressional redistricting and reapportionment of regional school boards … The law is so new that no one on Haledon's side was even aware of it, [attorney Charles Rabolli] said."

MONNOUTH COUNTY — "Mayors denounce flier urging residents to unite against church's sale, potential influx of Orthodox Jews," by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky : "Elected officials in Monmouth County are denouncing an anonymous flier that called on residents to unite against what it said was a potential move by members of Lakewood's Orthodox Jewish community into Upper Freehold Township. 'I think it's sickening,' Upper Freehold Mayor LoriSue H. Mount told NJ Advance Media, referring to the message of the flier, which was circulated in the area last month … The language of the flier lacked the kind of pejoratives characteristic of so much hate speech. But its message urging neighbors to keep out Orthodox Jews was unambiguous. 'Dear Fellow Allentown/Cream Ridge Neighbors,' the flier opens … 'It has come to my attention that the Emley's Hill Methodist Church located on Emleys Hill Road in Cream Ridge is for sale and is currently being looked at by the Orthodox Jewish community from Lakewood,' the flier continues … The flier was accurate in stating that the church was for sale … But the broker, Valerie Vargas, said Wednesday that it went under contract a week ago, and that the buyer was an Upper Freehold resident, not a member of Lakewood's Orthodox Jewish community."

SEAN PAUL'S LESS FAMOUS COUSIN, SCOTT — " The collision in politics of disparate worlds," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "Scott Paul is both a musician and a Democratic candidate for Sussex County commissioner. Those two seemingly disparate worlds are now colliding. Republican Dawn Fantasia, one of two GOP incumbents seeking reelection to the five-member board, this week presented a review of both Paul's campaign platform and his music. Headlined 'When words fail, music speaks,' Fantasia termed the lyrics of a Paul creation, 'Never Get Boring,' as vile and disgusting and degrading women as nothing more than 'plaything' for men … The samples below suffice: 'Listen up, I told ya, I'm a killer, I'm a soldier. And the lady of your dreams, I got her chillin' on my sofa. And she came so hard, Now the b***h is in a coma. 'Lately I been feelin' so high, If I ever come down I'm soaring. Fell asleep in some p***y last night, I woke up in some p***y this morning. And even though it happens all the time It don't never get boring … Paul said in response that he was initially 'flattered' by the attention Fantasia is giving his video. He said it came out about a year ago and that he never tried to hide its existence … Paul also noted that GOP candidate Carney had a recent problem of his own with unpleasant verbiage, namely referring to a woman as a 'bitch' in a text message. 'I used coarse language,' Carney said in apologizing for the text at the debate."

—"'Somebody made a mistake.' Mother in disbelief after [Hillsborough] police fatally shoot son"

—"Newark schools face complaints about 'horrible' meals amid food, labor shortages"

—"Paterson schools want to hire 183 teachers to reduce overcrowded classes"

—"Paterson schools adding off-duty police officers amid security guard shortage"

—"Little Silver schools' Superintendent Michael Ettore departs unexpectedly"

—"What's inside that big box on Camden's Waterfront?"

—" Marlboro mayor wants Santiago for prosecutor"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

LITTLE CAESARS VS. BIG CAESARS — "Sale of half Ocean casino to Detroit Ilitch group approved" by The AP's Wayne Parry: "New Jersey gambling regulators on Thursday approved the sale of half of Atlantic City's Ocean Casino Resort to the Ilitch organization, which owns professional sports teams, a nationwide pizza chain and a casino in Detroit. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission approved the sale, under which Ilitch will acquire 50% of the casino for $175 million … Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers baseball and Red Wings hockey teams, the Little Caesars pizza chain, and Detroit's MotorCity Casino Hotel. The sale was announced in April."

HEALTH CARE — New East Orange General owners prepare to go it alone as New Jersey hospitals consolidate, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Independent standalone hospitals are increasingly rare in North Jersey, but after five years under the for-profit umbrella of Prospect Medical Holdings, the new owners of East Orange General Hospital are about to make a go of it. Hospital CEO Paige Dworak, who joined an ownership group led by Ben Klein in its $6.2 million bid to take over the facility earlier this year, said the hospital's newfound independence will allow it "to make changes quick." "There's no parent entity where you need to get consensus," Dworak said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. That will make East Orange an anomaly in North Jersey. While Dworak and Klein are awaiting final approval from the state Department of Health, their application cleared a major hurdle last week when the State Health Planning Board signed off on the deal.

JUST AFTER LEGALIZING IT. COINCIDENCE? — "Are you happy living in the Garden State? New Jersey ranks 3rd for happiness in new study," by News 12: "New Jersey has been ranked the third happiest state in the United States to live in. Hawaii came in at No. 1, followed by Connecticut at No. 2 … The full-service medication access company, Nicerx, published its findings of the happiest states in the country using life expectancy, mean household income, homicides, safety, poverty rate and adults with serious mental illness as its methodology."

—"Bill Cosby drugged, raped woman at Atlantic City hotel decades ago, lawsuit says"

—" 'Now people know what animal rights are': Book reveals Atlantic City diving horse history"

—"Man sues Frelinghuysen School, claims failure to protect him from sex abuse decades ago"

—" Five accused of scamming more than $1M at Atlantic City casinos"

—"Community investment would protect public more than over-policing, report says"

—" N.J. hospitals have potent COVID treatments. But some doctors aren't aware"

A message from the Consumer Action Network:

The COVID-19 pandemic proved that expanding access to care is critical for reaching medically underserved communities and making sure overburdened health systems can meet the needs of New Jersey families. That includes telehealth visits for low-income individuals, people of color, and others who have difficulty getting to a physical facility for their care. It's clear that New Jersey families deserve to have access to health care that works best for them. The state legislature has already unanimously passed a bill that would make this a reality, it's time for Gov. Phil Murphy to sign the bill into law. No state has vetoed a bill supporting expanded access to telehealth services since the pandemic began. New Jersey should not be the first. Tell Gov. Murphy: Sign the telehealth bill today. Make your voice heard.