Good Friday morning! The wait to purchase recreational cannabis from a legal source in New Jersey continues. And if you're currently high on weed you bought off the black — or "gray" — market, it's going to seem even longer. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission yesterday was expected to approve some of the medical dispensaries already opening to begin selling recreational weed to any adult who wants it in a month. But they didn't do that. (They did schedule a special meeting for next month, so maybe they'll get around to it.) It's been more than a year since New Jersey legalized recreational weed . And while I assumed it would take longer than the "plus or minus six months" that Gov. Murphy predicted, I figured by now they'd have it together by now. People are frustrated, no doubt. But not necessarily every pro-pot person. "Legal weed advocate Chris Goldstein tweeted that the big corporations that run the medical dispensaries "will have to wait for an equitable opening day - alongside small biz- for cannabis sales in NJ." Meanwhile, the black market continues to thrive. Read more from Daniel Han here. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 38 WHERE'S MURPHY? In Chatham for a 10 a.m. event to "highlight increased school funding for Legislative District 21" with state Sen. Jon Bramnick and Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "hardscrabble New York City suburb" — The Washington (population density ~11,500 sq. miles) Post's description of Jersey City (population density ~19,800) that angered the New Jersey Twitterati . HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Poughkeepsie Hebrew Day School alum Daniel Kaufman-Berson, state Sen. Bob Smith, former Mukherji aide Claire Wolfe, WCRE's David Spector. Saturday for MBI-Gluckshaw's Danielle Alexander, Royal Printing's Kevin Passante, fundraiser Lauren Dikis, Monroe Republican Harold Kane. Sunday for Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, Lawrence Twp.'s Cathleen Lewis, former Christie staffer Kara Walker, former Weinberg staffer Dylan Hawkins TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com |
STILL ON THE WATERFRONT — Supreme Court saves Waterfront Commission, for now, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard : The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked New Jersey's plans to exit the bi-state agency created to police New York Harbor. The ruling, in response to a New York lawsuit filed last week, halts New Jersey's plans to exit the Waterfront Commission on March 28. The brief order states New Jersey may not leave the commission or terminate the commission's work until the high court can spend more time looking at the case, which could take months or more. What happens next is unclear, but in similar cases involving disputes between states, the court will appoint a special master to take evidence in the cases and hear recommendations.
WHEN YOU CONFESS TO MURDER AND THEN CASUALLY SAY 'TAKE IT EASY' — Second hit man pleads guilty in Caddle murder-for-hire case, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: A second man hired by political operative Sean Caddle to kill a former associate has pleaded guilty in a case that has captivated New Jersey's political class. George Bratsenis, a frail 73-year-old career criminal from Connecticut who already has one murder conviction on his record, admitted during a virtual court hearing Thursday that he traveled to Jersey City on May 22, 2014, to kill Michael Galdieri, a campaign operative who worked with Caddle. Bratsenis also admitted that he and Bomani Africa, who pleaded guilty to the same offense in January, set Galdieri's apartment on fire in an effort to cover up the crime. He then accepted money from Caddle in exchange for the hit. Bratsenis' sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2. He could face life in prison, but according to his plea agreement, prosecutors have recommended that he be sentenced to 10 years to 25 years in prison while acknowledging that Bratsenis can apply for a lighter sentence "based upon his age and medical condition," which according to his attorney includes a cancer diagnosis. "You all have a nice day. Take it easy," Bratsenis said at the conclusion of the 34-minute hearing. PRINCETON PHYSICIST ZWICKER IS TOP RECIPIENT OF DORK MONEY — " Murder-for-hire case spotlights role of dark money in NJ elections. Will Legislature act?" by The Record's Ashley Balcerzak and Charles Stile: "Regarding Caddle's vast knowledge and experience within the shadowy world of dark money, however, Trenton has collectively shrugged. There is no outrage. No calls for reform. No legislative blue-ribbon panels. With the exception of a cleanup bill to replace a law struck down by a federal court two years ago, the scandal has not produced new proposals targeting dark money's growing influence in state and local elections … there is nothing that current laws can do to limit dark money's influence for now. Federal and state dark money groups are legal. 'Dark money is a piece of a fabric that has really degraded the confidence in our elections,' said Sen. Andrew Zwicker, D-Somerset, a supporter of campaign finance reform." —Mulshine: "Jersey City political operative's murder is one for the books" TO MURPHY, ADAMS IS NOT FAMILY — Murphy picks five new members for NJ Transit board, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Gov. Phil Murphy will name five new members to the NJ Transit board, potentially filling all seats for the first time since a 2018 law increased the number of slots to 13. One of the new members, Carlos Medina, head of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, would replace James Adams, one of the few dissenting voices on the board of late. Adams has voted against the agency's budgets and questioned how the agency and the Murphy administration come up with funding plans. Adams' term expired in 2020, but he has been serving as a holdover since then. Murphy's new picks for the board include three nominees who face Senate confirmation. He has faced criticism for not having filled the board. He dismissed that by arguing the public doesn't care how many people are on the board as long as the buses and trains are running. THEY WOULDN'T BE SO LAX IF THEY WERE ALL WEREWOLF HOUSES — "Top New Jersey lawmakers in no rush to have state regulate 'warehouse sprawl' ," by The Record's Daniel Munoz : "Despite complaints about 'warehouse sprawl' from some local communities and environmental groups, leading Democrats and Republicans told an industry group Wednesday that they're in no rush to advance statewide regulations. A proposal to require more study before projects can go forward was 'not an effective way to provide for the construction' of warehouses, whose development has become 'a critical element of our economy,' state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, told a meeting of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks in Edison. State Senate President Nicholas Scutari, meanwhile, indicated he had no plans to move the legislation and top Republicans said warehouse decisions were better left to local officials." —Report: Wages for warehouse, delivery workers have not kept pace with industry's growth A RATIONALE AS GENUINE AS A SOCCER PLAYERS' DIVE — " N.J. using federal COVID funds to help lure World Cup. Here's the explanation from Gov. Murphy," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson : "A report by the Associated Press on Wednesday revealed that New Jersey — a state run by Gov. Phil Murphy, a self-described soccer fanatic — has allocated $15 million of the billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 aid it received to improve its bid to host the 2026 World Cup … But Murphy's office said Thursday getting the World Cup — one of the globe's premiere sporting events — to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford would give a jolt to New Jersey's tourism and hospitality industries, which were battered by the pandemic. 'Revitalizing and investing in industries that were negatively impacted by COVID-19 is an important part of the State Fiscal Recovery Fund,' Alyana Alfaro, a spokeswoman for the Democratic governor, said in a statement to NJ Advance Media." GOOD GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES JUST HAD TO GREASE THE LEGISLATIVE WHEELS A LITTLE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN — Lawmakers approve expansion of bribery law to include candidates for office , by POLITICO's Daniel O'Connor: A bill that would expand New Jersey's bribery laws to include candidates for office is on its way to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk after both houses of the Legislature approved the measure without opposition on Thursday. The bill, NJ S510 (22R), would potentially close a loophole that has allowed candidates for office to accept bribes with the promise of official favors if elected. The bill expands the definition of "public servant" in the state's bribery statute to include "any person who is a candidate for public office … whose activities are subject to regulatory oversight by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, and any person elected but who has not yet assumed office." —"Cohort of acting commissioners in Murphy administration reduced by one" — Legislature approves raises for poll workers —"Most residents say N.J. is a good place to live, but a third want to leave, poll shows" —Greenwald: "The dream of owning a home in New Jersey shouldn't be a fantasy" —" Bill to give Atlantic City a cut of New Jersey's sports betting tax revenue advances" —"10 fisheries in N.J. may have wrongly received millions in COVID money, state watchdog says "
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LEADING FROM BEHIND — "MUA won't beat deadline to get lead water lines out of Jersey City schools," by The Jersey Journal's Joshua Rosario: "The initial deadline of 2020 came and went. And now the Jersey City agency tasked with remediating all the lead lines in Jersey City schools says it won't meet its self-imposed end-of-2022 deadline to provide students drinkable water. Jersey City Municipality Utilities Authority Executive Director Jose Cunha blamed the supply chain issues associated with the coronavirus pandemic for the delays in getting the necessary parts and equipment to complete the project. Cunha said the MUA is four months behind as it nears completion of the third of four phases in the 29-school plan, which would bring the number of schools remediated to 15."
STOLEN VALERA — "Paterson election fraud case against Councilman Alex Mendez centers on two voters," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Despite headlines about hundreds of bogus mail-in ballots, the state's most serious election fraud charge against Councilman Alex Mendez seems to hinge on voter registration forms for just two people. The name of one of those two voters — 47-year-old Walter Valera — was made public for the first time last Friday in court records that judicial officials released to Paterson Press. Mendez's lawyer, Paul Brickfield, filed subpoenas in July 2021 seeking public documents containing examples of Valera's signature — records the councilman's attorney maintained would shed light on whether Valera signed the voter registration form cited in the indictment." —"Paterson election ballots on hold as Sayegh supporters try to oust Mendez" —" Paterson school board trims school tax increase to 11%" THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC — "Historic rent control agreement reached between Montclair tenants and property owners ," by The Record's Jullia Martin: "After two years of contentious rhetoric and legal maneuvering, Montclair's tenants and property owners have settled on wording for a revised rent control ordinance, Mayor Sean Spiller announced Thursday. The agreement came at the 11th hour, after negotiations broke down last fall and the town council voted last week to put the original ordinance to a voter referendum. The new law, which replaces the ordinance adopted by the council in the spring of 2020, calls for an immediate 6% allowable increase, and a maximum of up to 4% every 12 months after that, with a maximum increase of 2.5% for seniors. It will include two- and three-family homes unless they are owner-occupied." —"Ashe-Nadrowski & Davis trade leather over 1,250-unit MOTBY project heading to planning board" —" Formerly homeless mentor is one of 7 candidates in Newark's April 19 school election" — "Former Holmdel schools superintendent accused of sexual harassment " —'Ocean County reports surveillance footage of ballot drop box in Brick has been 'lost'" —" Agreement will end coal-burning at two South Jersey power plants" —"Two warehouses the size of nine football fields proposed in Hillsborough " —"Hoboken council prohibits all smoking in parks, prevents cannabis licenses at Marine View" —"Trenton council hires part-time clerk, councilman accuses bloggers of phone-tapping"
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