| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! Polls have closed in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. No, really. In-person early voting ended yesterday, and as of Saturday (no Monday numbers yet), 171,070 people had cast their vote in-person and another 451,523 by mail. Polls will open again in less than 24 hours for traditional in-person voting. On Friday, another public opinion poll — from FDU — showed Gov. Murphy with a nine-point lead over Jack Ciattarelli . That's consistent with other New Jersey-based public polls, which have shown the race at about nine to 11 points in Murphy's favor. But there's an obvious enthusiasm gap right now. There's a palpable anger on the right, much of it expressed at school board meetings, where after months of arguments over mask mandates and Columbus Day, some conversation is now turning to school library book banning over sexual content. And across the board, President Joe Biden's poll numbers have tanked. The question is whether Democrats' existing big advantages in New Jersey can overcome the more energized right, and whether the suburban swing in Democrats' favor will continue. The polling, some of which has shown higher enthusiasm among Republicans, indicates Democrats can overcome it. WHERE'S MURPHY? In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press briefing. Then, in Union City for a 5:15 p.m. canvass launch with Brian Stack. Then South Orange for a 7:30 p.m. rally. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It would be hard to imagine losing when you have a million more registered voters. It's just numbers. It's overwhelmingly on our side . I really believe at the end of the day it's five or six points." — Senate President Steve Sweeney , predicting a Murphy victory at the low end of the public polling, during an interview with David Wildstein. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assembly Dem spox Kevin McArdle, ABC's Samantha DeAlmeida, Cape May Dem Chair Brendan Sciarra . Missed Saturday: U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com | | | | JOIN TUESDAY FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE AIR TRAVEL: As delegates descend on Glasgow for the COP26 global climate summit, reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector will play a critical role in the progress of fighting climate change. Join POLITICO for a deep-dive conversation that will explore the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel, better performance aircraft, and other breakthroughs in to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet broader sustainability goals. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
EVERYBODY'S WORKING ON THE WEEKEND — Ciattarelli, Murphy make final weekend push, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: .Gov. Phil Murphy compared his opponent's potential term in office to a nuclear disaster. Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli warned that voters "won't recognize New Jersey" if the incumbent gets four more years. In the final weekend of the governor's race, both major party candidates traversed the state to deliver their stump speech one last time, make media appearances, rally voters and lash out at the other side. Ciattarelli made a flurry of campaign stops in Ocean County on Saturday morning. It's a Republican stronghold where he needs a large margin of victory. He also visited Burlington and Atlantic counties later that day, as he railed against Murphy's handling of the pandemic, promised to lower taxes and make the state more hospitable to businesses. Murphy traveled from North to South Jersey on Sunday, hosting rallies in Democratic strongholds like Garfield, Elizabeth and Atlantic City, where he touted his liberal bona fides and offered a dark picture of his opponent and his campaign.
TRENTONINGTON, DC — New Jersey's off-year gubernatorial elections can't escape national politics, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : Ahead of a September gubernatorial debate between New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican challenger Gov. Jack Ciattarelli in Newark, Democrats plastered the lamp posts along one the city's busiest thoroughfares with signs reading, "Stop the Trump Team. Vote Murphy." Just before Ciattarelli delivered a speech at a rally in South Jersey with Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, a man wearing a Joe Biden mask stood by the side of a busy highway holding a sign that read, "Let's go Brandon!" — the right's shorthand joke for "f--- Joe Biden." New Jersey's state-level elections, held in the year after the presidential election, have become increasingly nationalized as politicians in Washington look to New Jersey and Virginia — the only two states with off-year gubernatorial races — as bellwethers for the upcoming midterms. That's accelerated in New Jersey, as former President Donald Trump's embrace of culture war politics and racial division have turned the state's once-reliably Republican suburbs Democratic. Even with Trump out of office, the former president remains one of the top targets in the gubernatorial campaign, along with abortion rights and critical race theory, a sign parochial issues are taking a back seat to larger national fights. For Democrats, the hope is that last year's suburban swing against Trump extends to the gubernatorial race. Republicans, meanwhile, are hoping Biden's sinking approval numbers will depress Democratic turnout in deep blue New Jersey and lure some voters back to the GOP. 4.3 MASTROS — Independent spending for gubernatorial election tops $39M, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan : Independent spending for the New Jersey gubernatorial race is "well into record territory," with outside groups pumping more than $39 million into the race, including more than $4 million since Monday. The figures were reported late Friday by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Combined spending by outside groups in the general election now stands at $25.8 million. When the $13.4 million in pre-primary and primary spending is taken into account, the total for the entire election cycle is $39.2 million. The figures are preliminary as more money is likely to be spent in the days leading up to Tuesday's election. Incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is running against Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Public opinion polls show Murphy leading Ciattarelli by between 6 points and 11 points. Murphy is hoping to become the first Democratic governor reelected in New Jersey since Brendan Byrne in 1977 —"Here are some things you might not know about New Jersey governor's races" — "Not crazy about Murphy or Ciattarelli? Here are 3 other candidates running for N.J. governor" —"Our goofy governors" DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS OF TIME — " N.J.'s medical marijuana dispensaries say they could sell legal weed now if the state stops dragging its feet," by NJ Advance Media's Amanda Hoover: "A group representing New Jersey's medical marijuana dispensaries said the companies are ready to start selling weed to the public now — they just need approval from the state. The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association posted on its website that the state's alternative treatment centers have enough cannabis to meet both patient demand and that of a 21-and-older market. The statement contradicts what New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission has said. When awarding new medical marijuana licenses this month, the commission's Executive Director Jeff Brown laid out a familiar situation: a growing number of patients and a medical market that's slow to keep up … The commission will set a start date for legal sales, and has a statutory deadline of mid-February to do so. But there's speculation they might miss it — the commission already blew a deadline to start accepting applications for new cannabis business licenses last month." THE TENTATIVE NAME FOR THE NEW APP FEATURE IS 'JAMEL HOLLEY' — New Jersey soft launches QR codes in vaccine records app, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey took a quiet step to make its Docket application for vaccine records compatible with a program that's becoming the de facto standard for vaccine passports nationwide. On Oct. 23, the Docket app was updated to include SMART Health Cards that offer users another option for providing proof of vaccination, state Department of Health spokeswoman Donna Leusner confirmed to POLITICO on Friday. While Leusner said the cards were made available via a "soft launch to ensure the system is working as expected," New Jersey's exploration of scannable QR codes that are compatible with multiple apps comes as at least 14 other states move forward with the technology. POLITICO first reported on Thursday that New Jersey was among the states making plans to adopt the credentials. —"NJ Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg looks back on her 30-year career ahead of retirement" —" In Parsippany, Murphy encounters an 'unmask our kids' crowd" —"The big election: Will Jack get Berned or have voters had their Phil?" —" New Jersey's do-it-yourself justice system needs fixing | Opinion" | | BIDEN TIME | |
JERSEY TO CONGRESS: KNEECAPPING IS OUR THING — "N.J. aviation research center could lose jobs under proposed changes, lawmakers say," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Proposed Federal Aviation Administration changes to the structure of its aviation research center in Egg Harbor Township could threaten jobs and related economic development programs, New Jersey lawmakers say. U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez told FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in a letter that the restructuring at the William J. Hughes Technical Center could 'jeopardize the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the nation's premier aviation research facility,' which employs 4,000 people and helps spur economic development in the region. And Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., a member of the House Transportation Committee, told his colleagues that the proposal 'would kneecap' the facility … What has gotten the lawmakers' dander up is a proposal to put the center's research, development, testing, and evaluation operations under different officials at FAA headquarters in Washington, rather than a single administrator in Egg Harbor Township who then reports to agency headquarters."
IT'S A TROUBLING DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD — " On Election Eve, a staunch Jersey Republican asks if his party is too extreme," by The Record's Mike Kelly: "Election Day is almost here and Steve Rogers, Republican stalwart, is worried … Steve Rogers who is raising questions about his party is an ex-cop who served as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer in the decade after the 9/11 attacks. He is unabashedly conservative and is a devout Christian who probably makes Mike Pence seem like a backslider. He has also refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 — 'as a matter of personal freedom,' he says. He'll wear a mask, but only if asked … Rogers wonders, for instance, who actually speaks for the party now. Who is crafting its core message? Who is setting its priorities? His answer may shock you in these days when far too many Republicans fear even muttering a whisper of criticism of the party … 'Extremists have taken over the conversation of the Republican Party,' he told me recently." —"What Biden's latest spending proposal means for N.J.," | | | | 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. | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
ORANGE IS THE NEW GREEN — "A crooked place: Corruption has long been pervasive in New Jersey. Was this the state's most corrupt city?" by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "The consultant was to be paid for 'professional services for strategic advisory and operational planning' for the City of Orange. Just what it was for was not exactly clear. But the work did not come cheap. 'Given what is due, I recommend that the total amount owed be submitted,' the consultant messaged the city's business administrator. 'That is 16000 plus 10000 to equal 26000 for Nov n Dec.' The proposal did not sit well with Willis Edwards III, then serving as the city's business administrator and the guy who had retained the consultant. 'Way too much. And unfair... I am in total shock,' he said. Edwards was not looking out for the city's best interests, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. He was seeking to 'dupe' Orange. The city administrator had retained the 'consultant' to write his doctoral dissertation in education, which prosecutors say he plagiarized and passed off as his own work at Seton Hall University. Then, they allege, he had the city pay for it. For the past five years, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been digging deep into the finances of Orange. So far, at least eight people have been charged in connection with allegations that include fraud, conspiracy, phantom construction projects, and in one case, the rip-off of thousands in federal funds intended for a children's literacy program at the public library. Court documents and subpoenas, meanwhile, make it clear that prosecutors have been looking beyond those already charged. From no-show jobs and sweetheart deals, to pay-to-play schemes that reward political contributors with lucrative public contracts, the business of government in New Jersey for some can be a game of opportunity. In the City of Orange, though, the game was taken to another level."
RADIODREAD — "Trenton averts radio shutoff till Dec. 31, as litigation moves forward ," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "There'll be no interference — well, no more than usual. Attorneys for the city of Trenton and MPS Communications agreed to postpone the expected Halloween shutoff of the capital city's emergency radio system through the end of the year. The decision to temporarily halt the expected power-down was announced during a status conference Friday before Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy." HE WON'T LET BAYONNES BY BYGONES — " Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti looks forward to staying in politics, just maybe not as a politician," by The Jersey Journal's Teri West : "Chiaravalloti said he plans to work with opposition campaigns in the Bayonne May election next year, though none have yet been announced. Davis' abandonment of the assemblyman in the primary was just one of several times the mayor made the news this year for controversial decisions. The business administrator sued him and the city for gender-based harassment, he pushed for an eminent domain acquisition of Bayonne Medical Center, and he and City Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski appear to have drifted further and further apart politically.'I do think it's my responsibility as someone who was entrusted by my friends and neighbors to represent them in the past to recognize that the city's heading in the wrong direction,' Chiaravalloti said.'" IF YOU WANNA BE WITH HIM, BABY THERE'S A PRICE TO PAY — "Paterson's Joey Torres: A genie now 'out of that bottle'," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Wearing a bright blue turban, baggy harem pants and a gold-trimmed waistcoat sparkling with imitation gems, the man near the top of a banquet hall staircase greeted the guests at his 63rd birthday party with smiles and hugs. Dressed in the genie costume was Jose 'Joey' Torres, who served 11 years as Paterson's mayor and 13 months in state prison for crimes committed while he was in office … Torres used to hold the Halloween party every year, often as a fundraiser for his political campaign fund. The annual event stopped in 2017, after Torres pleaded guilty to official misconduct for using municipal employees to renovate a family business while on city time. The revival of the Torres birthday tradition this year has fanned speculation in political circles that he may be running for mayor next spring, a possibility that he says he is considering … 'When I was working the crowd, people were telling me what they wanted,' Torres said of what he described as a groundswell of support for him to run for mayor again … As part of his guilty plea, Torres signed a court order in 2017 saying he would be "forever disqualified" from holding public office in New Jersey … But Torres has cited a change in New Jersey law that now allows people with felony convictions to vote as an indication that his candidacy would be viable." EXCUSE ME, BUT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALREADY SPOKEN — "Perth Amboy police were justified in teen's bicycle arrest, prosecutor says," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell : "Perth Amboy police were justified in the arrest of a juvenile and the seizure of bicycles after a group of youths were riding their bikes in an unsafe manner earlier this year, a review by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office found. In a four-page review released Friday, the prosecutor's office said that while a police response is not warranted to address everyday misconduct by juveniles, the response to in this incident was necessary and proper. 'The actions of the Perth Amboy Police Department were justified under the circumstances presented. The officers would have been in dereliction of their duties if they had acted otherwise,' the prosecutor's office said. The review was prompted after Perth Amboy found itself in the national spotlight when an April 17, 2021 video went viral of city police stopping a group of diverse teens riding bicycles in the city and detaining one for riding an unregistered bike … Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone was asked by Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office to review the police's actions." FISHER'S FRIED FISH FREAKS FOE — " The conundrum of fried fish sandwiches and early voting in New Jersey," by The Record's Katie Sobko : "An Englewood eatery is offering Bergen County voters what some considered a great catch for participating in the democratic process. If customers showed that they cast their ballot on Friday or Saturday — presumably by displaying an "I voted" sticker — they were eligible for a free fried fish sandwich at TJ's Southern Gourmet in Englewood. Seems simple enough, right? Maybe not. A state statute called "bribery" says that offering or receiving "money or other valuable consideration" to induce someone to vote or not vote 'shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.' The fried whiting sandwiches being offered by TJ's — and the giveaway's promotion by Teaneck school board member Victoria Fisher who is up for reelection — is cause for concern for some people. That includes Teaneck Councilman Keith Kaplan, who said Friday that he sent information about the fried fish sandwiches to Bergen County Superintendent of Elections Debra Francica and added that he will send it to the state attorney general if needed." —"NJ counties, cities gave out only 25% of COVID rental aid, putting remainder at risk" —"Five of nine Wayne BOE members no-show meeting amid book controversy" —"Individuality drives campaign of New Jersey's only local Green Party candidate" —"Every BOE candidate in Wayne disavows politics in school. Why is the race so political?" —"Mayors pick school board members in [Montclair and Port Republic]. Election could put an end to that" —"[Sayreville] student's 'Black face' social media post is bullying, state agrees" R.I.P. — "Lakewood police captain who died Sunday remembered as 'proud family man,' pro bowler" —"Super PAC spends $50k to bolster HCDO Chair Amy DeGise's Jersey City council-at-large run" —"ELEC: Super PACs once again push Jersey City BOE election spending into six figures" | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
NURSING HOMES — "Federal court serves blow to Andover Subacute, ruling COVID lawsuits belong in state court," by New Jersey Herald's Lori Comstock: "Federal court serves blow to Andover Subacute, ruling COVID lawsuits belong in state court"A federal appeals court served a major setback to the operators of Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation I and II, ruling two COVID-19 lawsuits against them should proceed in state court. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision rejected arguments made by the embattled Sussex County facilities' attorneys who had said the suits belonged in a federal court, citing they were protected under an emergency law that shields them from legal action. The court affirmed an August 2020 decision by a federal judge in the U.S. District Court in Newark. The ruling, issued on Oct. 20, is believed to be the first time a federal court has addressed which court should handle such lawsuits and if nursing homes are covered by the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act."
SHUT UP AND WATCH THE FOOTBALL GAME YOU'RE ALL PAYING FOR — "Rutgers-Camden arts and sciences dean says he was removed from his post," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Susan Snyder: "The dean of Rutgers-Camden's School of Arts and Sciences said this week he was removed from his post by new chancellor Antonio D. Tillis, stunning faculty and staff. 'My involuntary departure is in plain fact a removal from this office, on orders from Chancellor Tillis ..' Howard Marchitello wrote in an email Thursday to faculty. Faculty leaders are speculating that Marchitello's removal may have been in part due to comments he made earlier this month at a faculty meeting about the Camden campus being chronically underfunded and how that played into recent pay equity decisions for faculty. 'Firing a dean in the middle of a semester with no plan in place to replace him, no interim dean in place, is pretty much unheard of,' said Jim Brown, associate professor of English and president of the Rutgers-Camden chapter of the AAUP-AFT union." TRAPPED KINGPIN — "Paterson rapper Fetty Wap was 'kilogram-level' distributor in drug ring, prosecutors say," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz : "Paterson rap star Fetty Wap was ordered held without bail on Long Island Friday for his alleged involvement in what prosecutors called a coast-to-coast drug distribution ring. A New Jersey correctional officer, Anthony Cyntje of Passaic, was among five other defendants also charged, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. The two-time Grammy nominee, whose given name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was arrested at Citi Field in Queens on Thursday during the three-day Rolling Loud hip-hop festival where he was scheduled to perform. He was arraigned in a Central Islip courtroom Friday where his attorney entered a not guilty plea. Maxwell, 30, was one of six defendants arrested over the last month on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, among other controlled substances, according to the indictment." THE LEAGUE — "NWSL agrees to several demands from players in wake of abuse scandals," by The Record's Melanie Anzidei: "The National Women's Soccer League has agreed to the terms issued by the Players Association earlier this month in the wake of allegations that a coach sexually coerced players, the NWSLPA said Friday. The NWSL has agreed to a transparent investigation overseen by a five-person committee that includes two representatives from the Players Association, the group said. The investigation will review instances of inappropriate conduct and aim to identify systemic failures to protect player health and safety, with the goal of later developing evidence-based practices to transform the league into a safer one." — "Two years after opening, here's where American Dream stands now" —"Jon Bon Jovi tests positive for COVID-19, cancels Halloween concert in Miami Beach" —" New Jersey State Police Searching For Woman Who Escaped Edna Mahan Correctional Facility" —"Asbury Park Press won't fight staff vote to unionize" —" After a 2020 COVID Halloween, North Jersey trick-or-treaters go back to knocking on doors"
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