News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: What's wrong with 'flip flops'?

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: What's wrong with 'flip flops'?

Oct 05, 2021

Presented by the Consumer Action Network

Good Tuesday morning!

I don't think "flip-flopping" is a bad thing. Circumstances change. Opinions evolve and sometimes we're all better for it.

So I'm not sure why Jack Ciattarelli insists that his current stance on allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses is not a reversal of his previous position.

At last week's debate, Ciattarelli called the law a "great security measure."

"They're here. They're not going anywhere. Let's know who they are. Let's give them a driver's license," he said.

But as NJ 101.5's Michael Symons pointed out, while Ciatarelli may have noted the benefits of the program in a May Republican primary debate, he concluded by saying "at the same time, I would end the program."

But Ciattarelli insists that's not the case. "That's not what I said," he told POLITICO's Daniel Han Monday. "What I said is the people of New Jersey get infuriated when those who follow the rules have to go to the back of the line."

Unless Ciattarelli still believes in ending the program — and his statement from the recent debate strongly suggests the opposite — his recent debate statements are a change of position. Why not just acknowledge it and move on?

WHERE'S MURPHY? In cyberspace for a virtual age discrimination bill signing at 10:30 a.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: "Let me f***ing tell you, I am the one who is in charge here. Not you. I'll come at you like a Marine. You have no business down there. Who gave you permission to be there in the first place?'" — Allegedly Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, according to 9/11 Memorial Committee co-chairs John Guarini and Gary Nye, who allege that Fulop strong-armed them out of the event.

QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: "[A] disaster and an embarrassment every year." — Jersey City spox Kimberly Wallace Scalcione on their previous ceremonies.

PODCAST OF THE DAY — New Jersey is the World, hosted by Jersey native and aficionado Chris Gethard, and featuring me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Port Authority Chair Keivn O'Toole

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

NJ 101.5 ONLY HAS SO MANY JOB OPENINGS — "Some feared vaccine mandate would cause exodus of NJ health workers. Here's what happened," by The Record's Lindy Washburn: " Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order for New Jersey is less strict than New York's: It has allowed frequent COVID testing as an option for those who chose not to get vaccinated by Sept. 7. But most hospital systems and many nursing homes have imposed their own 'vaccinate-or-out' policies. Deadlines vary, with most over the next six weeks. The pressure is working. Only a small percentage of health workers in New Jersey appear likely to lose their jobs because they refuse to get a COVID vaccine and have not obtained a religious or medical exemption. They're getting vaccinated instead. And many vaccine-hesitant employees who initially opted for testing have eventually chosen vaccination instead. New Jersey has about 650,000 health care workers, although those who work in private offices are not covered by the state mandate."

— Health chair: Senate may wait to push vaccine exemption bill, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman and Sam Sutton : New Jersey lawmakers may hold off until the next legislative session begins in January to restart efforts aimed at eliminating religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements, according to a Senate Democrat with a big stake in the fight. "It's evolving, because there will be some nuance to this, but the legislation that would permit only medical exemptions as a permission of opting out of childhood vaccines will likely be heard in the new year," said state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex), who chairs the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. But state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg is still pushing to do it during the lame-duck session. The bill, NJ S903 (20R), stalled in the Senate after coming up one vote short at the end of the last legislative session in January 2020 amid raucous protests from anti-vaccination activists. The companion bill in the Assembly passed.

FUTURE'S MADE OF VIRTUAL PEDAGOGY — Ciattarelli would create remote learning option if governor: 'I'm all about providing choices,' by POLITICO's Daniel Han and Carly Sitrin: Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said Monday he would immediately create a virtual learning option for students if he were elected governor. "I'm not someone who believes virtual learning works best, but there are a great many parents that want a virtual learning option," he told POLITICO during a campaign stop in Saddle Brook. "I think it's the governor's job to give them that option. I'm all about providing choices." The statement is a shift in tone from Ciattarelli, who previously opposed Gov. Phil Murphy's decision to provide virtual learning options for districts last academic year.

SOME LIGHT MORNING READING — "A century after the 1920s, white extremism lingers below the surface of NJ politics," by The Record's Charles Stile: "It was a short, seemingly innocuous observation, buried deep in a Trenton Times report of a Sept. 1, 1924, Ku Klux Klan parade in Hamilton Township. 'Many of the cars in the line carried 'Kean for Senator cards,' the paper reported. 'There were no other political posters.' That detail would trigger a firestorm that engulfed Hamilton F. Kean, who was locked in a Republican primary battle that September against incumbent U.S. Sen. Walter E. Edge … Edge would cruise to an easy victory, winning 57% of the vote. Newspapers interpreted Kean's loss as a major blow to both the Anti-Saloon League — a national group that crusaded for Prohibition and sided with Kean — and the Klan, which sought to expand its political clout by aligning with the defenders of Prohibition. But the nearly century-old episode resonates, to a certain extent, in this year's race for governor. Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee, finds himself deflecting charges that he, too, is in league with the right-wing, nativist forces that have taken hold of the GOP during the Donald J. Trump era."

HOSPITALS — " New N.J. law gives unfair tax break to non-profit hospitals making millions, lawsuit says," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio : "Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law earlier this year that was supposed to resolve a years-old clash between nonprofit hospitals worth billions of dollars and the communities in which they are located that get little or no property tax dollars from them. But instead of ending the fight, the law itself has become the target of a lawsuit. Local officials, backed by consumer advocacy groups, argue the law should be struck down because it gives lucrative nonprofit hospitals an unconstitutional tax break at the expense of everyone else's taxes. A hearing in state Superior Court in Mercer County is scheduled for Nov. 19, according to court records … After years of failed attempts, state legislators in December voted on a compromise piece of legislation that required nonprofit hospitals to make "community service" payments to the host municipality every year and preserve hospitals' tax-exempt status … But the law failed to sway opponents. In April, Vineland, Livingston, Elizabeth, and Plainsboro filed suit against the law, saying the state must enforce tax laws uniformly, according to the state constitution."

MURPHY FINALLY BONDS WITH THE LEGISLATURE — " Fund to repay NJ's loans goes unused while debt grows," by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer : "New Jersey is awash in debt, and earlier this year Gov. Phil Murphy and lawmakers put billions of dollars in a special fund to accelerate efforts to pay off some of the state's many bonds. But several months later, none of that money has been used to help reduce New Jersey's bottom line. With no outward signs of progress on debt reduction from the Murphy administration, Republicans, currently in the minority in both houses of the Legislature, have started sounding alarms about the administration's handling of the state's new debt-relief account … In a recent letter sent to Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio, Sen. Steve Oroho and Assemblyman Hal Wirths, both Republicans from Sussex County, questioned why the debt-relief funds 'have sat unused' for three months. 'In the meantime, expensive bonded state debt that could have been retired continues to rack up interest costs,' the two lawmakers wrote. Asked by NJ Spotlight News for a response, Department of Treasury officials said work on the new debt-relief initiative is well underway. Consultants have been hired and documents are being drafted, all to advance the goal of reducing how much the state must pay each year to service its hefty debt burden."

THE RIGHT TO BAKE FOLLOWS THE RIGHT TO GET BAKED — "NJ home bakers waiting for one final step before they can sell cookies, cakes and more," by The Asbury Park Press' Gabriela L. Laracca: " After the state's Public Health Council reviewed a ruling from the Department of Health in July, officially legalizing homemade baked goods sales, bakers have been waiting for the moment which occurred on Monday, when the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law published the ruling.… The only step left between bakers selling their homemade baked goods legally is the Department of Health updating their website to feature the 'cottage food license' application, which should happen by the end of October."

#1 IS… YOU GUESSED IT: AVOCADO TOAST — " Insider NJ's 2021 Insider 100: Millennials publication"

—"Resident dies from COVID at NJ veterans home for first time in months"

—" Business owners question whether state-backed return-to-work bonuses and training wages will alleviate the labor shortage"

—"New Jersey Globe announces state Senate debate schedule"

— " Two Vinces vie for Atlantic County Senate seat"

— "Murphy says regulating Thanksgiving is 'out of bounds"

—" N.J. seeks to delay whistleblower lawsuit until after election, as filings reveal subpoena in case"

—"N.J. activist to march 67 miles to Trenton to call on lawmakers to pass police review board bill"

—Gopal and Mehrotra: " New Jersey needs to learn from the abortion horrors in Texas"

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

ENVIRONMENT — EPA has a new plan for cleaning up the Passaic River, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized an interim plan for removing legacy industrial pollution from a 9-mile stretch of the Passaic River, one of the largest and most expensive Superfund sites in the country.EPA officials, including Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, and members of New Jersey's congressional delegation hailed the plan, but also acknowledged the cleanup is taking too long. "We know we can't turn around a century of pollution overnight," McCabe said during a Monday morning call with reporters. The EPA's plan is to build a treatment plant, dredge or seal contaminated sections of the river, process the dredged pollution and ship the dredged waste to authorized disposal sites around the country.

A message from the Consumer Action Network:

LOCAL

TRENTON SCI-ISM — "Mayor Reed Gusciora facing no-confidence vote over state probe," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Council on Thursday will consider a resolution to expel the third-year mayor, who is fresh off bruising revelations that state authorities are investigating his administration's alleged corrupt procurement practices. Councilwoman Robin Vaughn signaled weeks ago that she'd call on Gusciora to step down, citing escalating gunplay in Trenton, which tallied a record 40 homicides last year under ex-police director Sheilah Coley … The unsigned resolution points to recent developments in Trenton: a whistleblower lawsuit filed last month by Ben Delisle, the city's former housing and economic director, that city officials said attracted the attention of the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. In recent weeks, the city has been hit with at least two subpoenas from state authorities, regarding allegations of corruption in the city's 'abandoned property abatement program' and construction of a telecommunications tower on South Broad Street that Gusciora claimed predated his administration … Vaughn, the ghostwriter, says Gusciora's needs to resign in the "best interests" of Trentonians … Gusciora, who survived a previous recall effort after he was caught on tape hurling insults at Vaughn during a coronavirus call last year, called the resolution 'garbage' and said he won't step aside … Three of the city's seven legislators said they'll vote against the measure … Last week, city officials said that the AG's Office was the agency that issued the subpoenas … It appears that at least one of the subpoenas, which was recently obtained from a source, was served by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI)."

CITIZENS FOR STRENGTH AND SECURITY… OF BAYONNE? — "DC-based super PAC comes out against Bayonne mayor with 'Dirty Davis' website, attack ad," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "A Washington, D.C.-based super PAC has come out against Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis with a new website and attack ad referring to him as 'Dirty Davis.' … The 30-second digital ad, which is the only video uploaded to the Mockingbird Strategies YouTube page, says that Davis' administration has allowed and/or caused dirty streets, behavior, and politics … The ad was paid for by the Citizens for Strength & Security Fund, which was registered out of DC in 2011 and had been dormant since 2013. No one answered an office line linked to their address back in 2011 on Monday … When Mockingbird Strategies was reached over the phone, they said that 'we were just contracted out from them' and had no additional information to provide."

TIME FOR SOME SHORT MEMORIES IN BERGEN COUNTY — "With Bridgegate at center stage, race for humdrum Bergen County post heats up," by The New Jersey Monitor's Dana DeFilippo: "Kelly isn't shy to share how tough life was after the scandal broke and Christie fired her. A single mother of four, she couldn't land a job. She and her family went into hiding from the press camped out on her Ramsey lawn. She was on the receiving end of threats, she said. 'I couldn't sleep for seven years. I still have nightmares,' she said ... But she agreed to run — her first-ever bid for elected office — because she needs to work. She was a part-time consultant for a bit before the pandemic, but said she hasn't held a full-time job since 2013 largely because "every job application asks about prior convictions." She's on Medicaid and relies on family and friends to help pay her living expenses. More, though, she said she just really digs the government. 'I was working for one of the most powerful governors in the country, but for me, it was never about the celebrity. I'm just a nerd who would get chills every time I pulled up to the Statehouse, with its gold dome, because that is where life happens,' Kelly said. 'I liked being the playmaker. I liked getting people answers. I just loved figuring out government.'"

MARIO WORLD IS BECOMING MORE LIKE SUPER SMASH BROS. — " Englewood Cliffs GOP wins court OK to fill council seat, then rejects all the nominees," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz : "In an unusual show of bipartisan unity, four council members have refused to second any of the three Republicans nominated to fill a vacant council seat. The need for an appointee was created Thursday morning when Superior Court Judge Robert Wilson ruled that former council President William Woo's resignation was effective Sept. 2 rather than Aug. 31. A resignation after the Aug. 31 November ballot deadline allows the seat to be filled by appointment, rather than election. At a council meeting Thursday evening, Republican Councilman Ramon Ferro nominated three candidates in succession by teleconference: Fran Corea, Maria Villari and Kinga Zamecki. However, fellow Republicans Mark Park and Tim Koutroubas sat silently with Democrats Glen Luciano and David Di Gregorio, each time Mayor Mario Kranjac called for a second to a nomination. 'There are no seconds,' Kranjac told Ferro after the third nominee. 'And I would say very few Republicans on the council at this moment.'"

—"ACLU-NJ to judge: Reject DeGise bid for permanent restraining order against ICE protesters"

HAPPENING THURSDAY – POLITICO'S FIRST EVER DEFENSE FORUM : President Joe Biden is making critical shifts in the Pentagon's priorities, including fully withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, scaling back U.S. military presence across the Middle East and rethinking the positioning of military forces around the world to focus more on China. Join POLITICO on Oct. 7 for our inaugural defense forum to talk to the decision makers in the White House, Congress, military, and defense industry who are reshaping American power abroad and redefining military readiness for the future of warfare. REGISTER HERE.

EVERYTHING ELSE

NOT A DELAWARE SHELL COMPANY? — CarePoint Health announces intention to convert to nonprofit, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : Five years after its owners used a network of shell companies to siphon more than $150 million from their three hospitals, CarePoint Health says it's going nonprofit. The Hudson County-based company announced Monday that its owners and affiliates, led by Clover Health CEO Vivek Garipalli and James Lawler, will transfer their interests in Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City and Hoboken University Medical Center to a new nonprofit entity controlled by CarePoint CEO and physician Achintya Moulick.

'THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS' SAY DRIVERS WHO PAY $400+ A MONTH TO PARK IN MIDTOWN — "Which NJ commuters will be affected by congestion pricing? What a new analysis found," by The Record's Colleen Wilson: "As outcry over the proposed congestion pricing program grows louder, a recent analysis by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign found that only a fraction of New Jersey-to-New York commuters would likely pay the additional tolls. On average when comparing data from the 21 legislative districts analyzed, 1.6% of commuters drive from New Jersey into the lower Manhattan "Central Business District," whereas around 77% take public transportation, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2011-2016 American Community Survey. The highest percentage of driving commuters was 3.6% in District 34, which includes Passaic and Essex counties. The lowest was 0.6% in District 21, which includes Union and Somerset counties. 'We crunched this data, and it revealed to us that there is more panic in the discussion than warranted in terms of impacts on New Jersey drivers,' said Felicia Park-Rogers."

THE FBI RECOGNIZES INSPECTOR GADGET FOR HIS WORK ON THE CASE — "Inside the criminal life of the 83-year-old mob underboss from N.J. known as the 'Claw'," by NJ Advance Media's Joe Atmonavage: "Accused mob underboss Benjamin Castellazzo is known as the "Claw" because he gets his hands on everything. It started in the 1950s when he was convicted for hijacking a carpeting truck and continued in the decades since. But when he appeared before a federal judge in New York in 2013 to be sentenced as the underboss of the Colombo crime family on a racketeering charge, which included extortion over a pizza sauce recipe of a famed Brooklyn pizzeria, Castellazzo said he was done with the life of crime ... He was released from federal prison in 2015, but the feds came calling once again last month.Castellazzo, now 83, was indicted once again as the underboss of the Colombo crime family on a number of charges related to its long-running scheme to take control of a New York City-based labor union … It's a world that Castellazzo, a longtime Manahawkin resident, has long been a part of, according to court documents from numerous convictions related to his life in the underworld."

—"Bergen man claims Ben & Jerry's parent company fired him for taking off Jewish holidays"

—"Facing another year of remote learning, families at flooded Cresskill school plead for aid"

—"Chris Brown's former chief of staff joins Ørsted"

—" PennEast opponents say community activism was key to beating pipeline"

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.