| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP New Jersey | Good Friday morning! It looks like there's a new big political player in New Jersey. I've been keeping tabs on a new super PAC called Garden State Rescue that seemed to spring out of nowhere to help Jack Ciattaerlli's gubernatorial bid. Its spending doesn't touch what the NJEA has been doing for Murphy, but it's no slouch — more than $300,000. And so far, all of its money comes from just one man: Richard Kurtz, a real estate developer/manager who, at least at one point, was selling the priciest home in New Jersey . But he had to bring the price way down. The horror! The horror! I called Kurtz's company and left a message but didn't hear back . But his donation history is interesting and ideologically inconsistent. In 2017, he maxed out to Gov. Murphy's primary and general election campaigns, donating $4,300 to each. In 2009, he donated $3,600 to conservative Republican Steve Lonegan's gubernatorial primary campaign. In 2011, he donated $500 to liberal state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and in 2015 $5,000 to liberal Assemblymember Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). He's also made some local candidate donations in Newark and Teaneck. So what would make him go from maxing out to Murphy in 2017 to more than maxing out to Ciattarelli in 2021? I won't speculate, but feel free to do so in emails to me. Read more about this and the Democratic infusion of outspending spending in state legislative races here. WHERE'S MURPHY? In Jersey City for a 10 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony for this. Media: "Ask Governor Murphy" on News 12 at 4 p.m. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "[T]his is a reluctant endorsement, an acknowledgment that Murphy is the best candidate on the ballot, nothing more." — The Star-Ledger editorial board's endorsement of Gov. Murphy POLL OF THE DAY: Emerson College shows a six-point race, Murphy 50 — Ciattarelli 44. The lead narrows to 4 points factoring in leaners. While I've talked to some Democrats who believed the race would narrow into single digits, this is too close for comfort for them. We should get some polling next week that could indicate whether this is actually a very tight race or an anomaly. Caveat: Some prognosticators won't cite Emerson because it uses Amazon Mechanical Turk for crowd sourcing. But it does score an A- rating from 538. So I'll leave it at that. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — CLB's Jon Boguchwal , journalist Hank Kalet. Saturday for Assemblymember Eliana Pintor Marin. Sunday for pollster Patrick Murray, former Ponzio's owner Chris Fifis, Nature Conservancy's Stacy McCormack TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey: AARP New Jersey is calling on candidates to make New Jersey a place where we can safely, affordably, and happily grow older.
50+ voters want lower prescription drug costs, retirement security, affordable housing, accessible transportation, and opportunities for community participation – which improves the quality of life for all New Jerseyans.
Learn where the candidates stand on issues that count for the 50+, and links to state resources on where and how to vote at aarp.org/njvotes. | | |
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
IS MURPHY STILL ALIVE? — "New class of NJ Transit engineers is driving down canceled train numbers," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "As rail cancelations due to lack of a crew to operate trains fell to its lowest level in years, Gov. Phil Murphy presided over the graduation of 14 locomotive engineers Thursday, bringing the ranks to over 400 people to ensure someone is available to run commuter lines. The graduating class came with news commuters have wanted to hear since cancelations due to the lack of engineers were rampant in 2018 and 2019: Canceled trains due to lack of crew members have fallen 38%, and have not exceeded single digits for several months, including September where only 3 of the 479 trains canceled were due to crew availability."
NOW MURPHY HAS AN IOU TO THE IUOE — "Operating Engineers Local 825 endorses Murphy," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "With 12 days until Election Day, Gov. Phil Murphy has won the prized endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, a union that has been highly critical of him over the past few years … The 8,200-member Local 825 is one of the most politically potent unions in the state and has fiercely opposed Murphy on several key issues, most notably the governor's opposition to the PennEast Pipeline project. In part due to Murphy's opposition, that deal is now dead. (Republican Jack Ciattarelli also opposed the pipeline.) In 2019 and again this year, the union used the clip of Murphy saying if tax rates are your issue, we're probably not your state in TV ads supporting Republican candidates for the legislature. But the union appears to have found common ground with Murphy on collective bargaining rights, clean energy and transportation infrastructure investments, and a bid to fight the misclassification of jobs for independent contractors that might otherwise be union jobs." CIATTARELLI: STOP (RAISING TUITION OR IT'S) HAMMER TIME — Ciattarelli pitches using state aid as bargaining chip to lower college tuition , by POLITICO's Daniel Han and Carly Sitrin: "Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli suggested using state aid for public universities as a bargaining chip to get them to lower tuition, while also arguing that direct aid to students is a Band-Aid for college affordability. Asked by a Rutgers University student during a candidates forum Wednesday night in Middlesex County how he would help students pay for college, Ciattarelli said that as governor, he would use his 'hammer' — state aid to public universities — to negotiate with schools." —"Murphy and Ciattarelli both knock Trump for disparaging the late Colin Powell" —"Ciattarelli shows solidarity with the Jewish Community in Lakewood" —" Climate change activists were slow to warm to NJ Gov. Murphy. But they don't like the alternative" —"Taxes are a huge issue in N.J. governor's race. Here's where Murphy, Ciattarelli stand" —" So-called progressive NJ has still only had one woman governor amid a sea of white males" —"Some GOP senators question Singer's ties to Lakewood Vaad" —Mulshine: " Do the public servants serve us — or do we serve them?" —"A Progressive Perspective: Governor shouldn't stay silent on Liberty State Park" | | | | 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 West Wing Playbook, 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 | |
MUY MALINOWSKI — House Ethics Committee continues Malinowski review, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: The House Ethics Committee said Thursday it has found "substantial reason" to believe that Rep. Tom Malinowski failed to properly disclose stock trades and disclosures and voted to continue its review of the matter. Background: A March report from Insider revealed that early in the pandemic, Malinowski (D-N.J.) had failed to disclose dozens of stock trades worth $671,000. The story spurred two conservative groups to ask the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate. Malinowski has since put his assets into a blind trust. What happened Thursday: The House Ethics Committee voted, 5-1, on Thursday to continue its review. A new report from the Office of Congressional Ethics found there is evidence that "there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Malinowski failed to properly disclose stocks that he purchased or sold or failed to properly file PTRs for any of the stock transactions he made."
NARK ON THE PARK — "Pennsylvania and New Jersey could get their first national park," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jason Nark: "Encompassing 70,000 acres of mountains, forest, and the Delaware River, the Water Gap is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the country with more than 4.5 million visitors annually. What's missing, fans of the area say, is the distinction of being named a 'national park,' the crown jewels featured in documentaries and coffee table books, often on the checklist of outdoors enthusiasts from all over the world. Groups like the Sierra Club, in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along with outdoors enthusiasts, are trying to change that, dropping 'national recreation area' for 'national park and preserve.' 'You never hear people say 'I'm going to go see all the national recreation areas in America,;' said John Donahue, who spent 14 years as park superintendent of the Delaware Water Gap. 'This place, basically, already is a national park.' Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York have no national park, the nearest being Shenandoah, 4 hours south of Philadelphia. There's only 9 national parks east of the Mississippi River." —"Soldier with 'Hitler mustache' is first to be thrown out of military after Capitol riot charges" | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey:   | | |
| | LOCAL | |
HUGHES NEWS — "Hughes offers 133 radios to Trenton amid emergency system crisis," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Crisis temporarily averted. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said Thursday that the county is lending Trenton 133 handheld radios — which are compatible with the dispatch system — from the county's backup supply while city officials figure out a long-term solution to their radio-room woes. Trenton's emergency radio system is being shut off Oct. 31 as part of a financial dispute with provider, MPS Communications. The company is threatening to take Trenton to court if council doesn't relent and pay the bill after legislators indefinitely tabled the resolution. The issue came to a head this week as Mayor Reed Gusciora and council president Kathy McBride traded blows over the latter's decision to pull from this week's docket a $3.8 million proposal to purchase new radio equipment as the city hoped to transition over to the county's airwaves. The city planned to use American Rescue Plan funds to pay for the upgrades. Hughes met the squabbling demagogues at the county's Dempster Fire Academy on Thursday morning to broker a cease-fire that gives Trenton officials a six-month window to hammer out their differences. 'It was a miracle,' Hughes said. Hopefully this gets the ball rolling.'"
SOPHIE SCHOLLBOARD — " Ramapo Indian Hills school board candidates tell police that campaign flyer is a fake," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "Fake brochures misrepresenting the candidacies of Ramapo Indian Hills school board candidates Aaron Lorenz and Helen Koulikourdis have been reported to police, they confirmed Wednesday … The 'Rise Up and Vote!' brochures include symbols for LGBT (no Q) Rights, a Black Lives Matter clenched fist, and in Lorenz's case, a red flag denoting the Antifaschistische organization started by the Communist Party of Germany in the1930's … Lorenz's copy extols making America 'less white,' 'abolishing the police,' and the need to 'reprogram our youth to accept and promote racial and gender diversity.' Koulikourdis' falsely calls for mandated vaccines for all students and faculty; implementing diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum; and promoting an 'LGBTQ atmosphere.'" TEENS HOPE PARENTS DON'T REALIZE WHAT THEY CAN SEE ON THEIR SMARTPHONES — "Why some North Hunterdon parents want certain LGBTQ books removed from the school library," by MyCentralJersey's Cheryl Makin: "Saying they believe the books cause 'divisiveness and trauma to the children,' the parents called the novels 'pornographic' and 'perverse.' In addition, the parents called the district 'immoral' and lacking in 'decency.' 'They (the books) are evil, wicked,' said one parent at the meeting." —"Across three NJ school board races, theme unites a group of candidates: 'Parental rights'" —"Garfield schools hire ex-board of education member who resigned in June" OLIVER ORPHANED — "Morris Democrat loses endorsement after revelation that he's a pro-life activist," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "NJ 11th for Change retracted their endorsement of Morris County Commissioner candidate Aaron 'A.J.' Oliver on Wednesday after learning that 'he is actually a vocal anti-choice activist.' 'Oliver did not initially disclose to his running mates that he is anti-choice and later was not forthright that he is intent on advancing those beliefs legislatively, having urged people to call their legislators to lobby against New Jersey's Reproductive Freedom Act,' said Leslie Bockol and Mara Novak, the co-executive directors. Oliver never told his running mates that Democrats for Life of America, a pro-life group, had endorsed him. NJ 11th for Change said they pressed Oliver on his abortion views after seeing a video of Oliver speaking at a DFLA event last December." —"The implications of Oliver's lost endorsement," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "It really wasn't all that long ago when neither party demanded 100 percent agreement on an issue as emotional and personal as abortion. So, we had some pro-choice Republicans and some pro-life Democrats. The accepted view at the time in both parties was that views on abortion were not a deal-breaker. There are, you know, other important issues. Those days are apparently gone." IN MONROE, AN ERA OF BAD FEELINGS — " Township council candidate charged with theft of campaign signs," by NJ Advance Media's Jeff Goldman: "Timothy A. Eosso, 51, of Monroe, was charged Tuesday with theft by unlawful taking, a disorderly person's offense, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement Thursday morning. Eosso swiped the signs in the area of Applegarth Road on Oct. 7, officials said. A longtime Edison firefighter, Eosso is running as a Republican for township council in Monroe's 2nd ward. 'Complete setup,' Eosso said when reached by phone Thursday morning. He declined to discuss the charge … In 2017, Eosso settled his discrimination lawsuit with Edison for $175,000. Eosso accused the Edison fire chief of harassing him and failing to accommodate his medical condition of attention deficit disorder, according to the lawsuit filed in 2014." BAYONNE PURGE — "Former top Davis ally DeMarco submits resignation as Bayonne special redevelopment counsel," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Joe DeMarco, a former top ally to Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, has submitted his resignation as Bayonne special redevelopment counsel in a move sure to spark conversations about next year's election … While Davis does not have a declared challenger for May 2022, Council President Sharon Nadrowski is at the top of that list. Sources with knowledge of the situation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said tensions began to rise between the mayor and DeMarco after the latter took a private meeting with Nadrowski in August. DeMarco is also known to have a cordial relationship with outgoing Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-31), who was kicked off the Democratic line upon Davis' request ahead of the June 8th primary and then ultimately decided not to seek re-election." TINTON FOWLS POULETICS — "Tinton Falls OKs backyard chickens, now needs volunteers for Chicken Advisory Board," by The Asbury Park Press' Dan Radel: "The backyard chicken pilot program was approved. Now the borough needs volunteers to sit on a new Chicken Advisory Board, or CAB, that will oversee it. The six-member board will be responsible for site checks on the chicken coops, developing the written procedures and practices for the raising of chicks and seeing to any complaints. The board seats will be for two years." BECAUSE RESIDENTS DON'T LISTEN TO JAMEL HOLLEY — " Union County, NJ has lowest COVID risk in the entire northeast," by NJ 101.5's Erin Vogt: "Union County is the only county in the entire northeast U.S. as of Wednesday where COVID-19 transmission rates are considered low enough that masks are optional by CDC standards. The low risk designation is based on a seven-day rolling average charted by the Centers for Disease Control … Union County is one of only 52 counties nationwide — and the only in-state — rated low." —"Teacher denies pulling hijab off Muslim student's head, says she was 'gently' trying to get her attention" —"After several delays, Paterson will now equip all city police officers with body cameras" —"Bayonne gives up on plan to buy Marist High School and make it a public school" —"A look at all seven Jersey City at-large city council candidates" —" South Jersey economy on the upswing but faces challenges, analysts say" | | | | 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 | |
—"Muslim attorney says NJ Bar Association diversity seats amount to 'reverse discrimination'"
—"Pay gap for Latinas in NJ among worst in US " —"NJ Transit passenger pulled knife on conductor who asked him to wear mask, cops say" —"NJ Transit to replace $39M in old equipment that can mess up a commuter's ride" —"Phiphen Pictures to build post-production film & TV hub in Englewood Cliffs" | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey: AARP New Jersey is calling on candidates to challenge outdated beliefs about ageist stereotypes, and to make New Jersey a place where we can safely, affordably, and happily grow older.
50+ voters want lower prescription drug costs, financial security in retirement, affordable housing, accessible transportation, walkable neighborhoods, and opportunities for community participation – which improves the quality of life for all New Jerseyans.
The 50+ vote is a vote for all. We count. Our issues count. How we vote counts.
Learn where the candidates stand on issues that count for the 50+, as well as links to state resources on where and how to vote at aarp.org/njvotes. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment