Good Thursday morning! "A center for ants?!" That's how one famous South Jerseyan, Derek Zoolander, responded to the unveiling of a miniature model of his eponymous " Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too." Now another famous South Jerseyan gets their turn. The Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy was announced yesterday. It will be housed at Rowan University. Unfortunately, there was no miniature model for Sweeney to smash. A top staffer of the former Senate president, Mark Magyar, will be the center's founding director. Not long after his shocking defeat in November, Sweeney privately told people he plans to run for governor in 2025. And creating a think tank is a well-trodden path to political office. But unlike the think tank Gov. Phil Murphy set up in 2014, this one gets some public funds. While Sweeney is the unpaid chair of the advisory board, its director will get a salary. Some Sweeney critics have expressed their distaste for having this at a university. But Rowan said it was going to create a policy center focused on New Jersey issues anyway. I guess you could just see this as an extension of ELEC's gubernatorial campaign public financing program. Read more from Katherine Landergan. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NONPROFIT SHOULD ITS DISCLOSE DONORS: 17 WHERE'S MURPHY? In Fair Lawn for an 11 a.m. "announcement" he's decided to break somewhere other than here QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We are a state built on the contributions of those who came here in search of safe harbor after leaving desperate situations, and we will extend a warm and sincere welcome to Ukrainians displaced by this senseless invasion." — Gov. Murphy in a letter to the president HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Gottheimer aide Hadar Arazi . Missed yesterday: Cheesequake usurper John Francis Bongiovi Jr. TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com
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BONDS. PHIL BONDS. — "New Jersey wins its first credit-rating upgrade since 2005," by Bloomberg's Stacie Sherman: "Moody's Investors Service upgraded the Garden State's general obligation bonds to A2 from A3, and the state's related subject-to-appropriation bond ratings also by one notch, to A3 from Baa1 for bonds financing essential-purpose projects and to Baa1 from Baa2 for bonds financing less-essential projects. Upgrades have been nonexistent for New Jersey for years amid a long history of pension underfunding and benefit increases by Governor Phil Murphy's predecessors from both parties. Since July, four credit-rating companies have said the likelihood of a higher rating is improving after Murphy made the first full pension contribution in 25 years, built a surplus and reduced health-benefits spending." CAVE MAN — Murphy, in reversal, pushes back booster deadline for health care workers, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday extended the deadline for health care workers to get their Covid-19 booster shots until April, a reversal from his recent remarks that he would not budge from the Feb. 28 deadline he originally mandated. The new executive order comes amid calls from the health care industry to extend Monday's deadline. Health care workers subject to the federal Covid-19 primary series vaccine mandate now have until April 11 to get their booster shots or within three weeks of becoming eligible, whichever is later. …The original Feb. 28 deadline had been a point of contention between the governor's office and trade groups representing industries covered by the mandate." JOSH GOVHEIMER? — "Is Josh Gottheimer running for New Jersey governor? He may be testing the waters," by The Record's Charles Stile: "Gottheimer's role in the [NIck Scutari fundraiser] was hard to ignore. He served as the 'special guest' along with Paul Juliano, the Bergen Democratic party chairman. Gottheimer's aide, Marina Pearce, was the point person for guests to notify their intentions to attend. Through a spokesman, Gottheimer brushed aside the speculation — without dismissing it entirely. 'I'm focused on one thing — fighting for the families of the Fifth District,' Gottheimer said. 'That includes lowering taxes and health care costs, fighting crime and standing by our veterans and first responders. The Senate president is a friend and a key ally in that fight and I was honored to join Chairman Juliano in supporting him." — "Four US lawmakers or their spouses personally invested in Russian companies: documents" MOM-AND-POT — " When I buy my first joint in N.J., I want it to come from a small business not corporate cartels," by Chris Goldstein for The Star-Ledger: "[N]ational brands that hold most of New Jersey's medical marijuana permits have been trying to pressure Gov. Phil Murphy and the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to begin sales. This corporate cartel wants to set a quick deadline and 'flip the switch' to adult-use products. That could give them a huge advantage over New Jersey small businesses. Consumers like me are happy to wait for some of the promised 'equity' with legalization. We've been able to access what we need for decades already under prohibition. Our traditional sources, thankfully, didn't disappear when the new laws were signed. In fact, we're hoping that our local weed dealers can find some way to become completely legit. There's a real chance, too. … New Jersey should avoid launching cannabis sales out of a select handful of storefronts. Millions of residents who voted for legalization want to see thousands of product options, including craft cannabis." SCHOOL SEGREGATION — "N.J.'s school segregation lawsuit returns to court this week ," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "A lawsuit hinging on a study that found New Jersey schools are some of the most segregated in the country will return to the courtroom this week, with plaintiffs hoping for a major shift in state policies regulating where children attend school. The lawsuit claims New Jersey's requirement that public school students attend schools in the towns where they live — towns that in some cases have high levels of racial isolation — results in schools that are also heavily segregated, with many overwhelmingly white or overwhelmingly non-white … After years of delays, a hearing is scheduled for Thursday at state Superior Court in Mercer County that could precede a trial. Retired Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein launched the legal fight on behalf of the New Jersey Coalition for Diverse and Inclusive Schools, a nonprofit representing more than 20 organizations seeking to change the structure of New Jersey's schools." — "N.J. joining multi-state probe into TikTok and it's a whole vibe " — "Pietrykoski joins Port Authority staff in senior position" — " Wayne attorney would be first Muslim woman to serve on state Superior Court bench" — " NJ MVC went from dreaded visit to 'easy' online services after COVID. Here's what's next" — "In New Jersey, gerrymandering isn't the problem | Opinion"
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POLAND TO BECOME NJ POL LAND — "Point Pleasant Beach mayor headed to Poland-Ukraine border to help refugees," by The Asbury Park Press' Mike Davis : "Mayor Paul Kanitra will fly to Poland tonight and head to its eastern border, where he intends to work with aid groups to assist refugees fleeing Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian invasion. Kanitra, 42, already reserved a passenger van to make the trek to Medyka, a village on the Poland-Ukraine border, and offer free transportation to refugees looking to get to train stations, bus depots and airports. He also plans on volunteering with aid groups in the area. In an interview, Kanitra said he'd already filled four suitcases with diapers, toiletries, first aid equipment and winter clothing donated by businesses in downtown Point Pleasant Beach. He was inspired to make the trip because of the Jersey Shore's summer workers. Every summer, thousands of students — many from eastern and central Europe — travel to the United States on J-1 visas." SALT FOUND IN WATER OF ATLANTIC COUNTY'S NAMESAKE — "Lead detected in drinking water at almost all Atlantic County school systems tested, study shows ," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Frank Kummer: "Lead has been found in drinking water faucets and fountains in 92% of schools in Atlantic County that provided testing data to New Jersey, and that is 'just the tip of the toxic iceberg' for schools throughout the state, according to an analysis released Wednesday by two environmental groups. The analysis conducted by the nonprofits Environment New Jersey and the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality looked at lead testing data from 66 schools in all 25 school districts in Atlantic County. … Annette Giaquinto, Galloway's superintendent of schools, disputed that specific finding, though she had not viewed the full report." TAWANA BRAWL-EY — "Rally for teen handcuffed after N.J. mall fight interrupted by local Black activists," by NJ Advance Media's Josh Solomon: "A press conference and rally organized by civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump in support of a Black teen who was cuffed by Bridgewater police officers after a fist fight at a mall was interrupted before it even began on Wednesday, shouted down by local Black activists who called the two leaders opportunists. The interruption was so extreme that Crump and the teen's family moved inside the police station of the very department they're protesting in order to make their statement. Outside, local activists continued to rally, protesting both the police and the national attention the incident has received. An announcement promoting the rally said Sharpton would attend, but he had not arrived shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday." HIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING AS WELL AS HIS DRIVING — "Sharpe James will need a judge to ok his return to public office," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James is probably headed to court after the city clerk refused to accept his petitions to seek an at-large Newark City Council seat. City Clerk Kenneth Louis cited a 2008 court order that permanently barred James from holding public office following a criminal conviction that led to the former mayor serving 18 months in a federal prison, the New Jersey Globe has learned. But James believes that the order was invalidated by a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the corruption conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. At his sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge William Martini noted that Newark didn't lose any money as a result of James pulling strings to help a woman, Tamika Riley, but unkempt and empty properties from the city and then resell them a profit. Martini, in a stiff rebuke to then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, said that James didn't personally profit by the deal. … James will need to ask a judge to throw out the 2008 order and instead allow James to run." PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION ADVISORY: EXPLICIT CONTENT — " Wall school board cancels livestreamed meetings, blames offensive, language, profanity," by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp : "Board of Education meetings will no longer be live streamed, according to school officials who said they will be recorded and posted later, possibly with editing to the content if it is deemed offensive. Board President Ralph Addonizio said the move was made following Tuesday night's meeting where several attendees used profanity and what was deemed offensive language. 'That kind of behavior is not allowed at a public meeting, that is not the way to have a conversation,' Addonizio said. 'We are still recording it, it is going to go up.'" CAMDEN — "As Camden reimagines downtown streets, what will the impact be?" by The Courier-Post's Phaedra Trethan: "The planned reconfiguration would make each street, now one-way roads where cars sometimes speed toward the waterfront (Market) or out of the city (Federal), into two-way, two-lane streets. Bike lanes would be added, and improvements will be made to lighting, crosswalks and other pedestrian features. Rosemari Hicks, who owns a coffeeshop and a co-working space on Market Street, led a coalition of business owners who lobbied for the changes, arguing against other proposals they said would further entrench many downtown visitors' and workers' get-in-and-get-out habits. 'I'm glad (the county) listened to the community, to our advocacy,' she said as she sipped coffee in Nuanced Cafe. 'It shows what can happen when the community, the businesses and government all work together.'" HOW DO YOU VOTE: YAYO OR NAYO? — "Trenton council prez McBride, never arrested, was indicted in 1986 for slinging coke," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "State authorities charged McBride along with co-conspirator Lamar Mingo in an "undercover street buy" in Trenton on June 10, 1986. They were indicted on three counts that included possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, records show Few details were available about the case in court records obtained by The Trentonian through a public records : request. Mercer County prosecutors dismissed the charges six years later, saying there was no point pursuing the case against McBride. She was never arrested or answered to the charges in court, as prosecutors said cops were "fruitless" in attempts to bring her to justice, records show. McBride Indictment by The Trentonian on Scribd Today, the records may explain why McBride, a popular motherly figure in Trenton who is considered a perennial potential threat to unseat Mayor Reed Gusciora in the upcoming November election, refused to consider city clerk Matthew Conlon's brush with the law when she was confronted with it a year ago." THE PARANOIA AND LACK OF FOCUS IS SUPPOSED TO COME *AFTER* YOU SMOKE IT — " Hoboken may tighten cannabis zoning as councilwoman regrets approving original blueprint," by The Jersey Journal's Teri West: "After an application and preliminary approval of dispensary in North Hoboken sparked an uproar, councilmembers and the mayor are now drafting ways to tighten up the city's marijuana regulations. Those changes may include limiting the number of retail dispensaries to six citywide, prohibiting them within 750 feet of a school and requiring notice to neighbors ahead of a Cannabis Review Board meeting about potential dispensary near their home. The application that set all of this in motion is for a dispensary on 14th and Hudson Streets in the former location of Hudson Tavern. It's at the base of a residential building owned by an LLC affiliated with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop's wife Jaclyn. And it sits in the second ward, led by Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher. She didn't realize legislation she had approved last year would allow dispensaries in part of her ward, and she admitted she regrets not paying closer attention at the time." — "Newark is knocking down eyesores to help create 16,000 new, affordable housing units for residents " — "What's at stake in Friday's Morris County Republican convention" — " Newark's response to pandemic housing crisis is a 'success story,' study says" — "Jersey City Public Schools to make masks optional next week" — "3rd man headed to prison for role in N.J. riot that lit cop cars on fire, damaged stores"
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