News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Redistricting commissioners close in on a deal

Friday, February 18, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Redistricting commissioners close in on a deal

Feb 18, 2022

Good Friday morning!

Could we see a Brian Stack vs. Nick Sacco Democratic primary next year?

It's possible. Even likely. The scenario emerged Tuesday into Wednesday as the redistricting commission met and hammered out a compromise deal between the two sides — something tiebreaker Philip Carchman has been getting the partisan commissioners to work towards. It would also allow him to be in the unenviable position that congressional tiebreaker John Wallace found himself in — and ridiculed for his reasoning — when he selected the Democratic congressional map.

By the time I went to bed late last night, the two sides had largely finalized a consensus map and, last I checked, were waiting for Carchman to review it. There's a commission meeting scheduled in the Statehouse today to formalize the maps' adoption, though there are several backup meetings scheduled for next week as well.

Stack vs. Sacco would be a hell of a primary if it comes to it. The two neighbors' interests have often butted up against each other. They both run formidable political machines. And Democratic politics in Hudson County are, notoriously brutal. This would be an outcome of Democrats' abandonment splitting Jersey City three ways, which limited their options in fast-growing Hudson County.

There's also a district that pits Sen. Nia Gill vs. Dick Codey . That's a tough one for Democrats. Codey's popular and has been around (almost) literally forever, but does a party that boasts of diversity back a white man against a Black woman?

If this winds up being the map, many of the state's competitive districts would probably inch more favorably toward Republicans, giving them a shot at a majority if they have a very good year. For Democrats, that means working a little harder to hold their majorities. For Republicans, it may not be an automatic ticket to the majority, but it would presumably be a better map than the one they currently have.

While a deal was close last night, there were some angry lawmakers out there. So things can always change. Stay tuned.

Read more from me here and from Joey Fox, who's done a great job covering redistricting for New Jersey Globe.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The utter lack of any detail at all makes these reports useless and toothless." — ACLU-NJ Attorney Karen Thompson on how the state reports major police disciplinary cases.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 4

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — NJEA's Brian Rock, LD38 aide Jason Bergman. Saturday for Assemblymember Sadaf Jaffer. Sunday for Jewish Federation of MetroWest's CEO Dov Ben-Shimon

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule

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

WHAT TRENTON MADE

MORE THAN 30 YEARS LATER, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR 'COP ROCK' CONTINUE TO GO UNPUNISHED — "Nearly 400 New Jersey cops faced major discipline last year," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DeFilippo, Nikita Biryukov and Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "Burlington County Correctional Sgt. Matthew Peer channeled his inner Hulk Hogan when he leaped off a metal table onto inmates to break up a jail fight. Newark Police Officer Tigee Pagan let a civilian drive his police car 'in an unsafe manner' and posted a video of the illicit joy ride to Instagram. Jersey City Police Officer Marvin Leggitts left his loaded gun in a McDonald's bathroom in Hillside. The three were among 389 law enforcement officers who faced major discipline in New Jersey last year, according to data the Office of the Attorney General released Thursday. Nearly three-quarters of those disciplined, including the three officers above, weren't fired for their misconduct and instead got suspensions, demotions, or other punishment — a trend reformers say shows why more transparency is needed … At least 15 officers were punished for drunk driving. At least 20 officers were repeat offenders, racking up more than one major discipline offense last year. At least seven officers were disciplined for domestic violence offenses."

NJ LEADS — You've got mail — and a lead pipeline , by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Nearly 200,000 New Jersey residents will soon get warning letters that their home is served by a lead pipeline. The notices, to be sent out by state water suppliers, come as a result of a 2021 law that required about 600 of the state's largest public water systems to figure out how many pipelines made with the toxic metal were still in the ground. The state's water systems have identified 186,830 pipelines likely to have lead in them and another 1,084,258 pipelines of unknown make. The pipelines involved are known as service lines, the smaller pipes that bring water onto customers' property and into their homes from water mains.

N.J. POLITICIANS ALREADY FACE A PAPER BAG BAN — "Murphy open to stock trading regulations for state politicians," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "As the United States Congress debates whether to enact a ban on stock trading among its members, Gov. Phil Murphy said [Wednesday] that while he has no specific proposal to do something similar in New Jersey, he isn't opposed to the idea. 'Would I be open minded to something like that? The answer is probably yes,' Murphy said. 'It seems to me like Congress is going in the right direction, it feels like that's the right thing to do.' The proposed congressional ban … comes partially in response to reports of a number of congresspeople — among them Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) — who failed to properly disclose their stock trading activity."

—" Assembly Speaker: We've fought for New Jersey's middle-class families for 1,500 days"

—" Murphy administration warns $40M N.J. fund for immigrants is running out of time, money"

—"Disabled veterans decry spotty transportation services"

—"N.J. puts $10M in federal aid in fund to help residents facing foreclosure amid COVID, Murphy says "

—"NJ 4th grade student takes her plea against mask mandates to Gov. Phil Murphy: 'I am only a kid once"

—" Mayor [Kranjac]: Veterans deserve an apology from Murphy"

—"Workers need help facing uncertain future, task force says"

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.

BIDEN TIME

NURSING HOMES — "Resident's lives at extreme risk, feds say, as they threaten to essentially shut down troubled N.J. nursing home," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Federal regulators are threatening to cut off the troubled Woodland Behavioral Health and Nursing Center in Andover from all Medicaid and Medicare funding in two weeks, in the wake of a damning report citing the nursing home for health care violations that threatened the lives and safety of the more than 450 residents who live there. Those violations placed residents in 'immediate jeopardy' for what was called a substandard quality of care, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, based on multiple deficiencies that officials said were at the most serious level of findings. In a Feb. 9th letter to nursing home administrators, CMS officials said the facility was not in compliance with federal requirements to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid program, giving them three weeks to correct the problems … A termination of federal funding would effectively shut down the facility in Sussex County, one of the largest nursing homes in New Jersey."

DUNN SHUNS RUN — "Dunn decides against congressional run ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Mendham), who had been publicly considering a campaign for Congress for the last month, announced today that she will not run for the 11th congressional district against Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) this year. 'I will not be a candidate for Congress in 2022,' Dunn said in a statement. 'The enormity of support and encouragement for me to enter the race for CD-11 has been incredibly humbling and inspiring. I weighed this decision heavily, as I do with every action I take as a public servant and the assemblywoman for District 25.' Dunn added that while she would have relished the opportunity to 'speak truth to power' in Washington D.C., she felt her voice was also important in the state legislature."

SALT IN THE WOUND — "A lingering piece of bad news for 2022 Democrats," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "There was a sense of deja vu, but then again political issues have a tendency to linger. The six Republicans seeking the party's nod in CD-11 were assembled Wednesday night before a group of Chatham Republicans in nearby Long Hill Township and the talk turned to affordability and taxes. That swung things around to the need to eliminate the $10,000 federal income tax cap on state and local tax deductions, or SALT. All six candidates agreed. The discussion was quite similar to gatherings of a different type four years ago. Around this time in the run-up to the 2018 midterm election, multiple Democrats seeking the party's congressional nod took turns lambasting the SALT cap and calling for its removal. Now it's 2022 and the cap is still around."

—"Robert Menendez, Jr. briefed on Greece, Cyprus in congressional campaign"

LOCAL

NOT WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE — "Black teen restrained by police in NJ mall fight video hires George Floyd's family lawyer," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell: "A nationally recognized civil rights attorney who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin has been retained to represent the family of Z'Kye Husain, a Black teen who was detained by police at the Bridgewater Commons last weekend. Ben Crump, who has gained prominence representing the families of Black men and women killed by police throughout the United States, has agreed to represent Husain, a Black eighth grade student who was forcefully detained by Bridgewater police last weekend following a fight with another teen at the mall that was captured on a now viral video … Crump said the video has prompted questions about the officers' actions in pinning the Black teen but not using any force on the white teen who was also involved in the incident. 'Z'Kye was defending a younger friend in the 7th grade who was being bullied by a much older 11th grader when this incident unfolded. Z'Kye, an 8th grader, was noble to defend his friend from bullies; however, it is evident that officers immediately assumed that because of the color of Z'Kye's skin, him acting nobly was not event in the realm of possibility. This video says it all,' Crump said in the press release."

LARUE S**TLIST " Council candidates rally for Trenton clerk's dismissal," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Matthew Conlon had three strikes, and now Jeannine LaRue's baseball cap was on backward. The lobbyist and mother of Mercer County commissioner Sam Frisby said her longtime partner put her hat on backward whenever she meant business. 'To the council in the city of Trenton, my cap is turned around,' said the diminutive LaRue, also a domestic violence survivor along with her son. LaRue was joined by about a half-dozen speakers, many of them council candidates running in the upcoming election, who gathered outside of the clerk's office to demand that officials oust Conlon from his $122K position, following allegations of sexual misconduct and toxic workplace."

LITERAL CANCEL CULTURE — "NJ mayor cancels Netflix actor's reading time for kids at public library," by NJ 101.5's Dan Alexander: "Actor Timothy Ware-Hill said he was uninvited from reading virtually to children for Black History Month at a Bergen County public library because of pressure from the public and police union. Police, however, denied that they pressured public officials to uninvite the actor. The mayor has since taken responsibility for getting the actor's appearance canceled, calling it a 'distraction.' The Peabody Award winner said on the podcast Higher Learning that the Montvale Diversity and Inclusion Committee extended an invitation for him to read a children's book called 'The Sweet Smell of Roses' by Angela Johnson. It's about two young black girls to see a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

MASKNESS — "Paterson schools to keep COVID mask mandate after statewide requirement ends," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "The Paterson school district's 25,000 students and 4,000 employees will be required to continue wearing masks at least until early May, city education officials announced Wednesday night. The decision will extend the mandate two months beyond the March 7 date on which Gov. Phil Murphy has decided to lift his statewide requirement … Shafer said Paterson's municipal health office recommended that the mask mandate stay in effect. The superintendent also cited a district survey taken this week in which 2,208 employees and parents — or 63% of those who responded — said they wanted masks to be mandatory."

MODERN-DAY SLAVERY — "Moorestown couple face forced-labor charges," by The Courier-Post's Jim Wals h: "Moorestown woman is accused of taking the passports from two people who were in the country illegally, then coercing them to provide labor and other services. Bolaji Bolarinwa, 47, allegedly 'knew that both victims had entered the United States illegally and harbored them from detection for her own financial gain,' according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey. Bolarinwa also 'abused and threatened abuse of legal process' against the alleged victims, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement. It also alleged her spouse, 65-year-old Isiaka Bolarinwa, 'participated in the scheme and financially benefited from the victims' forced labor.'"

—"Archdiocese to end mask mandate at more than 70 N.J. Catholic schools"

—" Jersey City MUA says they will replace all the city's lead service lines in the next 10 years"

—"With Fisher lawsuit lingering, Hoboken council votes to increase union donation limits, again"

—"[Atlantic City] cop found not guilty in K-9 attack case that resulted in $3 million civil settlement"

—" 'Your business is not welcome here': Hunterdon residents oppose marijuana farm proposal"

—"Two undersheriffs leave Bergen County Sheriff's Office, signaling leadership shakeup"

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 our West Wing Playbook newsletter, 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.

EVERYTHING ELSE

UFCW LOCAL 420 — "N.J. weed workers moving full steam ahead to unionize despite delay in cannabis market," by NJ Advance Media's Suzette Parmley: " Union fever is spreading like wildfire among the state's cannabis workers even though the adult use recreational market has yet to open up. The workers prepping for that day say they want careers, not just jobs, and that's spurring union drives throughout New Jersey. Earlier this month nearly two dozen budtenders … at Ascend Montclair Dispensary signed a new three-year contract offering health benefits and wage increases. But they won't be the only ones for long, predict those who are leading the charge to get cannabis workers unionized. 'From budtenders to cultivators, to trimmers — cannabis workers will be pursuing union representation not only in New Jersey, but around the nation,' said Hugh Giordano, cannabis representative of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360, which represents a large majority of cultivation and dispensary workers in the state."

— "Judges side with transgender man in protecting privacy of name changes"

—"WHYY has lost at least half its journalists. Many complain about pay, morale and lack of innovation"

—"Travel nurses have rescued N.J. hospitals. But have they come at too high a price? "

—"Police rule out foul play in death of N.J. college student who fell down trash chute"

Follow us on Twitter