News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Will the Legislature pass gas.. pumping reform?

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Will the Legislature pass gas.. pumping reform?

Mar 02, 2022

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Wednesday morning!

As someone who learned to drive in New York, New Jerseyans' aversion to pumping their own gas — including my wife's — bemuses me. I don't like waiting for the attendant, and I always feel obligated to tip them.

The brave state lawmakers who have sought to repeal the 73-year-old ban on self-serve in the past have been shouted down by irrational New Jerseyans hopped up on too much processed pork. But now, there's a new effort.

Could it actually happen? Last time, it got immediately shut down by Senate President Steve Sweeney. But now he's relegated to think tanking and setting up his political comeback. Current Senate President Nick Scutari didn't respond to a question about the proposal.

Sal Risalvato , executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store and Automotive Association — the same group that pushed for the self-serve ban all those years ago — thinks there's been a sea change. Sure, polling in the last decade showed huge support for keeping the ban — over 70 percent of women. But increasing gas prices and labor shortages are making the prospect more attractive, and lawmakers aren't scared of broaching it anymore, he said. He estimates that driver would save "at least" 15 cents per gallon on self-serve.

So I conducted my own poll. My born-and-bred Jersey wife Emily groaned when I told her about the plan and asked why legislators didn't have anything better to do. The poll was conducted on March 1, 2021 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 100 percent and a 0 percent marital confidence level.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 16

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Ultimate is designated as the State sport of New Jersey." — A bill proposed by state Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex). Ultimate refers to Ultimate Frisbee, which was first played at Columbia High School in Maplewood. Zwicker also gave us our official state reptile: The bog turtle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Inky reporter Christian Hetrick

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

A message from AARP New Jersey:

New Jersey residents are concerned they won't be able to afford the medicines they need in the future; yet, prescription drug prices continue to rise faster than inflation. It's time to act and pass S329/A1747, which establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This board is responsible for investigating high drug prices and recommending action to lower costs for consumers. No one should have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for their prescriptions. Take action now.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

WITH A GARROTE? — Murphy unveils plan to choke off Waterfront Commission's money and power, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday outlined a new plan to halt action at the Waterfront Commission, the bi-state agency created to fight crime around New York Harbor. A 2018 New Jersey law calls on the state to exit the commission and put the New Jersey State Police in charge of fighting organized crime on the New Jersey side of the water. That law was tied up in court until late last year because of a lawsuit filed by the Waterfront Commission. Murphy now wants to move ahead with the exit plan despite objections from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. In the latest tit-for-tat letter, Murphy's counsel Parimal Garg said New Jersey is going to force the commission's work to grind to a halt, even if the agency and New York won't acknowledge New Jersey's plans to leave by the end of March.

AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC MINORITY — "New legislative district map may shore up GOP in South"

YOUR HEART IS THROUGH, YOU'RE PALE AND A CON-FIDANT — "NJ prisons have a geriatric problem," by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: "Almost 500 people incarcerated in New Jersey are age 65 or older. Some have diabetes, heart disease, COPD, cancer, kidney failure, among other medical problems, as well as a host of mental health issues. Dozens die in prison each year. The New Jersey State Parole Board does not appear to take age into consideration when deciding whether to release inmates. A review by NJ Spotlight News of inmates 65 and older found dozens likely denied parole at least once. Many have been denied parole multiple times, that analysis showed. One 70-year-old inmate convicted of murder who has been incarcerated for nearly half a century has been turned down 11 times. Advocates and experts say prisons were not designed for elderly inmates and are not equipped to handle their special needs."

"New legislative district map may shore up GOP in South Jersey," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: " State Sen. Vince Polistina is happy with the new state legislative district map, which includes redrawn boundaries for the 40 districts that elect state senators and Assembly members. 'I'm excited to have Galloway and Port Republic back because I grew up in Galloway and there are many reasons why it's natural for them to be part of the district,' Polistina, R-Atlantic, said Friday … John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, said the new map likely benefits Republicans overall. Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, agreed the result is more competitive and that will help Republicans. 'It's a truly fair map,' Testa said of the commission's product. 'There were some really good people on both sides engaged in intellectual honesty about the map.'"

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE BUDGET CRUNCH TO DO THIS "2 counties tried to skirt N.J. public bidding laws. Now the Legislature may make it legal ," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Efforts by two counties to evade the state's bidding laws on projects involving tens of millions in public funding are now the focus of a bill quietly introduced in the state Senate that would make legal what the courts have so far declared to be illegal. The legislation — being pushed through the Legislature on the sponsorship of powerful Bergen County Democrat Paul Sarlo, who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee — would clear the way for county improvement authorities to essentially award no-bid deals to favored contractors. Under the measure, counties would be able to ignore the bidding requirements of New Jersey's Local Public Contracts Law by declaring any major construction proposal a 'redevelopment project,' according to policy experts who examined the legislation. While the bill does not make any mention of what may have inspired it, the sparsely worded, 4-page act was put into play after Sarlo's home county of Bergen along with Union County each lost separate court fights over claims that each had improperly sought to evade New Jersey public bidding requirements."

—" 86 N.J. cops fired, nearly 400 received 'major discipline' last year, report shows"

—"Murphy says N.J. stands with Ukraine against 'thug' Putin at somber prayer vigil "

—"Retired NJ Supreme Court Justice Fernandez-Vina joins Parker McCay "

—" Benjie Wimberly: More work awaits in America's racial reckoning"

—" Your N.J. drivers license could not be suspended for unpaid parking tickets under new plan"

—"New driving law quietly debuts Tuesday. Here are the new passing rules for N.J. drivers"

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BIDEN TIME

—Biden pledges to confront and control crises surrounding his presidency

NO AMNESTY FOR RAT TAILS AND BOWL CUTS — " GOP blocks hair style discrimination bill proposed after N.J. wrestler forced to cut dreadlocks," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "House Republicans on Monday blocked legislation making it a federal crime to discriminate against someone because of his or her hair style or texture. While the measure received the support of a majority of lawmakers, it failed to get the two-thirds vote needed to pass under an expedited measure usually reserved for non-controversial bills. Monday's tally does not mean that the bill is dead but rather it will have to return to the House floor under regular rules and will be able to pass with a simple majority. The vote was 235-188, with only 15 Republicans supporting the bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist. Both of New Jersey's Republicans, Reps. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., and Chris Smith, R-4th Dist., voted against their New Jersey colleague's legislation … Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who led the floor fight against the bill, said existing civil rights laws already prohibit such discrimination. 'Democrats are prioritizing this legislation, a bill to prohibit conduct already unlawful under our law, for political messaging reasons,' he said during the debate."

— Booker introduces anti-lynching bill in Senate as House passes legislation

LOCAL

MENDEZ TO RECOUP LOST MONEY BY SELLING TOTALLY AUTHENTIC LOUIS VUITTON BAG HE BOUGHT AT A DEEP DISCOUNT IN CHINATOWN — "Paterson: Alex Mendez's Range Rover bought with stolen title being investigated ," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Councilman and mayoral candidate Alex Mendez says he recently paid a man in Brooklyn $25,000 in cash for a 2016 Range Rover and later learned the vehicle's certificate of title had been stolen in Georgia. Mendez said he tapped into his personal savings to buy the SUV, which he said he planned to use for transporting people working on his election campaign. But now, he said, he won't be able to keep the Range Rover because of the stolen title. He said he learned about the title problem when he tried to register the vehicle on Feb. 17 at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office in Newton … . The councilman said during the public meeting that he was a victim of a scam being investigated by the state agency. 'I'm fighting to get my money back that I worked so hard for,' Mendez said. In his police report, Mendez said he found the vehicle advertised for sale on social media. He said in the report that he contacted someone named Nicholas Williams and drove to Avenue N in Brooklyn to make the purchase on Feb. 11. He said he met someone named Terrance Cliff, 'who was responsible for the vehicle.'"

MAILING IT IN — " Paterson campaign worker indicted in election fraud case," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "A campaign worker in Paterson's 2020 City Council elections has become the third person indicted on voting fraud charges — a case in which two current mayoral candidates are the primary targets. Abu Razyen, 24, of Prospect Park was indicted on two third-degree crimes: fraud in casting mail-in votes and unauthorized possession of ballots. The indictment says Razyen, who was working on Councilman Shahin Khalique's successful 2nd Ward campaign that year, broke New Jersey's laws that limit to three the number of mail-in ballots someone may handle. The announcement by acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said video showed Razyen handling far more than three mail-in ballots."

CONLON OUT — "Trenton cancels 2nd meeting in clerk Conlon's absence," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea : "Council's regular Tuesday conference session is off as legislators continue looking for a replacement for missing-in-action city clerk Matthew Conlon. Council president Kathy McBride said by text that Thursday's voting session is going forward with the docket from the Feb. 17 meeting. She didn't respond to follow-up questions about who'll preside over the meeting. The Feb. 17 meeting was canceled after Conlon bailed from the Feb. 15 conference session and went out on medical leave. He sparred with South Ward councilman George Muschal over his job performance before walking out of the conference session, claiming to suffer from kidney stones. Mayor Reed Gusciora called the upcoming meeting a 'combo' docket that's intended to keep the city from falling too far behind on business. Officials are still looking for a fill-in for Conlon, who is out indefinitely, and asked for state officials' help finding a replacement."

R.I.P. — "Lacey Mayor Nick Juliano dies at 63 ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Lacey Mayor Nicholas Juliano died [Tuesday] morning after a short battle with a highly aggressive cancer. He was 63. 'Nick was an integral part of the Township and cared deeply for his community,' the township said on its website. A Republican, Juliano was elected to the township committee in 2014 … 'Mayor Juliano was a man of great character. He was a kind, well-spoken man who was all about helping his community. Nick was admired by all and loved by so many. He worked tirelessly for his constituents. He valued the local community groups, the veteran's organizations and the emergency service squads for their devotion to Lacey,' the municipal statement said … Juliano owned an auto parts store for 40 years and later became operations manager for Spirits Unlimited."

WHEN YOU'VE LOST NEWARK, YOU'VE LOST NORILSK — "After Russian invasion of Ukraine, Newark council will vote to suspend licenses of Lukoil gas stations," by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky: "The Newark City Council will officially weigh in on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday to suspend the licenses of local Lukoil service stations. The stations are part of a network in 11 northeastern U.S. states operated by Manhattan-based Lukoil North America, a subsidiary of PJSC Lukoil in Moscow, one of the world's largest oil companies. There are at least two Lukoil stations in Newark, both of them on McCarter Highway. Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. said he would introduce a resolution to rescind the station's licenses at Wednesday's noon council meeting … Ramos said he was aware that the license suspensions could hurt workers at the Lukoil stations, possibly Newark residents, even though they were unlikely to have anything to do with the conflict in Eastern Europe."

HEY WAIT A SECOND. THOSE NAMES SOUND FAMILIAR — "Potential Hoboken cannabis business at old tavern lights up feud between Bhalla & Fisher," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Tom Brennan, the former tavern owner, claimed that property buyers Drew Nussbaum and Jacklyn Fulop, of the Exchange Physical Therapy Group — who have a location across the street — had committed to making the building a physical therapy location and the residents were unaware of the dispensary proposal until two days before the meeting. 'Where is the fairness, where is the transparency? This whole thing just seems to be conducted in a really questionable manner … This is the direct community that this will be adversely affecting: these people have chosen 51-53 to be their home so.'"

CAMDEN SMOKE RISING — "Fire at EMR scrapyard sends smoke plume into Camden neighborhood," by The Courier-Post's Phaedra Trethan : "A fire at a South Camden scrapyard broke out at around 2 p.m. Monday sent plumes of black smoke into the sky and alarmed residents who still recall evacuations prompted by a fire at another EMR facility last year … In January 2021, a pile of 'fluff,' industrial recycling waste, caught fire at a nearby EMR facility, sending toxic smoke into the air and prompting the evacuation of homes and schools in the Waterfront South neighborhood. In that fire's aftermath, the recycling firm's leadership met with residents and stakeholders, vowing to be a better neighbor."

MAHWIJUANA — "Proposed Mahwah cannabis shop on Route 17 hits roadblock," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "The Township Planning Board voted 5-3 that an ordinance proposing to allow a cannabis retail store on Route 17 was inconsistent with its master plan. The overarching concern was that the proposed location of the store at 231 Route 17 North is within 400 feet of two nursery schools and a house of worship. Also, the proposed location at the Ramapo Avenue exit is within 400 feet of the Mahwah High School campus. The planning board recommendation was that cannabis retailers be located no closer than 1,000 feet to such facilities."

— " Gloucester County Clerk will run again"

—"What to know about Ocean County's coming $480 million budget proposal"

—"Cedar Grove Board of Ed apologizes, calls silence after racial slur a 'missed opportunity'"

—" Randolph BOE member failed to report $45,000 payments, prompts state hearing"

—"North Caldwell Democrats ready to poach one, maybe two Republicans "

—"'We have their back': Toms River aims to help small businesses hurt by COVID, inflation"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

HEALTH CARE — "RWJBarnabas CEO Ostrowsky to retire," by NJ BIZ's Dawn Furnas: "After leading RWJBarnabas Health for more than 30 years, Barry Ostrowsky will retire on Dec. 31, 2022, but will continue to serve as CEO until then. The RWJBarnabas board of trustees announced March 1 it had voted unanimously to appoint Mark Manigan — currently chief strategy and business development officer — as president of RWJBarnabas Health, effective immediately. Manigan will report directly to Ostrowsky and will assume the role of president and CEO for the system on Jan. 1, 2023."

—" We need to stop New Jersey's bank closure crisis | Opinion"

A message from AARP New Jersey:

More than two out of three New Jersey voters 50 and older are concerned they won't be able to afford the medicines they need in the future; yet, prescription drug prices continue to rise faster than inflation. In just the first month of 2022, Pharma raised prices on 554 drugs, and 183 drugs were hiked by over $100! Now is the time to act and pass S329/A1747 to establish a New Jersey Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This board would be responsible for investigating high drug prices and recommending action to lower costs for consumers. Eighty-two percent of older NJ voters support the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. They know that no one should have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for the prescriptions they need. Tell NJ lawmakers: lower prescription drug prices now!