| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by the NJ Board of Public Utilities | Good Friday morning! Yesterday, New Jersey Globe reported that the Princeton Gerrymandering Project's Sam Wang is under internal investigation by the university over various allegations, including data manipulation. There had been complaints during the process, including by at least one Democrat, that Wang — who was an adviser to congressional redistricting tie-breaker John Wallace Jr. — surreptitiously favored Democrats during the process. If the allegations against Wang are substantiated , the congressional redistricting process was tainted. He was the person Wallace relied on for data. So if he was found to manipulate data in other contexts, it's reasonable to investigate whether he did the same in New Jersey. Now Doug Steinhardt, who led the Republican redistricting team, is calling for the commission to reconvene. That would be unprecedented , and I don't know of anything in the law or constitution that either permits or prohibits reconvening the commission. But the chances of this development overturning the Democratic-drawn congressional district map that Wallace voted for, at least for this year's election, are probably not great unless Democrats prioritize procedural fairness over partisan advantage. Republicans raised Wang's alleged bias , among many other things, in their lawsuit challenging the map. But the state Supreme Court ruled that its only concern is whether the map itself is unlawful — not the fairness of the process of how it was drawn. This is unlikely to change that. But Republicans never filed a federal lawsuit against the map, so perhaps that legal avenue is open. It's probably tempting for some on the left to shrug this news off , since in most states redistricting is a nakedly partisan process that often favors Republicans. But if you believe that partisan gerrymandering is a problem, you should take this seriously, even if it could be to your own party's detriment. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 73 WHERE'S MURPHY? In Marlborough for a 10:15 a.m. announcement with Acting AG Matt Platkin, Platkin and New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. Fritz Frage and Mayor Jonathan Hornik. Then in Hopewell for a 12:15 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Basically, it boggles my mind that we had two municipalities that are essentially just golf courses with a few homes on them." — Camden County Commission Director Lou Cappelli on Pine Valley and Tavistock HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Armato aide Rich DiCriscio, PSEG's Brendan Deal, Atlantic City Council President George Tibbett. Saturday for Assemblymember Roy Freiman. Sunday for state Sen. Michael Testa, former state Sen. Bob Andrzejczak, Singleton COS Jennifer Aydjian, DCF's Jason Butkowski, Mosquera staffer John Saban, freelance video producer Tim Stollery, attorney Thomas Segreto, Kean U's Karl Weiskopf. Missed yesterday: CIANI's Tracy Schoenberg TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com NEED MORE PLAYBOOK? — Sign up here for NJ Playbook PM and get more news in your inbox care of POLITICO's Jonathan Custodio, minus the snarky headlines |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
IT RHYMES WITH DOLORES — New Jersey Republicans use Senate budget hearing to pepper state schools official with questions about sex ed concerns, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: " The material that has been deemed salacious is not affiliated with the Department of Education," Acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan said, referring to controversial videos and sample lesson plans that have been circulating on social media and in local parent groups. The state DOE's website does not link to the lesson plans or videos directly, but does include a link to the Rutgers University-affiliated Answer organization, which partnered with Advocates for Youth, the progressive sex-ed group, to produce two of the controversial videos. To parents' concerns about curriculum in their local schools they fear may be inappropriate, Allen-McMillan said those should be dealt with on a local level. In all, the Senate spent some 22 minutes on back and forth about sex ed and curriculum standards including one instance in which Testa protested a sample lesson plan recommended teaching second-graders about the location of the clitoris. The exchange inadvertently introduced the female anatomy to children in attendance or listening online as part of the statehouse's "Take Your Child to Work Day."
AS PART OF DEAL, THE LETTER 'O' IN NEW JERSEY WILL HENCEFORTH BE WRITTEN THE DANISH WAY — Ørsted becomes first tenant at New Jersey wind port, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard and Katherine Landergan: Gov. Phil Murphy said that the developer of the state's first offshore wind farm, Ørsted, formalized an agreement to be the first tenant at the New Jersey "wind port" in Lower Alloways Creek. The move was expected but the agreement formalizes a major piece of the state's hopes that offshore wind projects will also provide local jobs. "This is New Jersey's, 'If you build it, they will come' moment," he said. IMMIGRATION — " NJ immigrant fund distributes $18M, but thousands who suffered COVID-related economic harm await help," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "Six months after New Jersey launched a fund for immigrants excluded from other forms of pandemic aid, only about 20% of applicants have received their checks, and thousands more are awaiting approval, state officials said. The state Department of Human Services, which is overseeing the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund, said $18.1 million has been distributed to about 8,000 applicants. Another 28,000 applications are pending review or missing paperwork, DHS spokeswoman Eva Loayza-McBride said. Four hundred were denied … Applicants have to prove they were excluded from federal COVID aid and unemployment benefits, show their income is below $55,000, and provide proof of identity. More than 35,000 applications were submitted between October and the end of February, when the program closed. But Loayza-McBride said most applications were filed once the state loosened the rules and no longer required applicants to prove they were impacted by COVID-19." PORT AUTHORITY — "Despite great first quarter, Port Authority on track to lose $3B in revenues ," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs : "Port Authority officials had good news to report about the bi-state authority's financial performance in the first quarter of 2022 — revenues were higher than projected and many facilities have seen use bounce back to almost pre-pandemic levels this month. But it won't be enough to offset the larger $3 billion revenue loss incurred since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2020, officials said. In two cases, the Port of New Jersey and New York continued to smash records, moving a whopping 150% more cargo than it did in the first quarter of 2019. Bridge and tunnel traffic approached 2019 levels in the first quarter of 2022 and in one instance exceeded that traffic volume." —"Now over half-dozen NJ police departments say no off-duty pot use" —" Donnelly will head up Kivvit's New Jersey operations" —"Turnpike Authority eyes fixing 11 bridges that take commuters to, from the Holland Tunnel " —"NJ Transit says no to having trains with a mask-only section" —" Bill would require more drug testing for bus drivers"
| | | | Top Headlines. Insights. Issues that Matter. News moves fast in the Garden State. Want to make sense of it all? NJ PBS's Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz offers an insiders' view on the stories that are making headlines in Trenton and throughout the Garden State. Hear from the key players making news and the journalists reporting on them and the issues that matter to you, your community, your business, your state. Saturdays at 6pm; Sundays at 10am on NJ PBS. Learn more. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
—"USPS sued by NJ, 15 other states to buy electric vehicles"
| | | | A message from the NJ Board of Public Utilities:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
NO-BID CONTRACTS — "County violated state law in awarding of $80M contract, N.J. Supreme Court rules," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Bergen County circumvented public bidding laws when it awarded an $80 million contract to renovate the county's historic courthouse through a no-bid contract, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The decision, which will stop the massive project from going forward for now, could have wider implications. A similar dispute continues in Union County over claims that officials there also skirted public bidding laws in the proposed construction of a $123.8 million government complex in Elizabeth … 'Governmental entities and contractors must know that end-runs around the Local Public Contracts Law are not permissible or enforceable,' wrote Justice Barry Albin … Attorney Greg Trif of Morristown, who represents Dobco, the Wayne-based construction and development company that brought the lawsuit against the county, said they were pleased with the ruling affirming the Bergen county could not evade public bidding laws, and that 'no county can do so in the future.'"
RESIDENTS URGED NO TO CRY OVER IT — " Milky liquid flowing through N.J. city's waterways not harmful, but its source is unknown, mayor says," by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino: "A milky substance with the consistency of paint that flowed Wednesday through the waterways in a Passaic County city is not harmful. But officials aren't sure where it came from. 'The substance was determined to not pose any immediate danger – neither to the residents in the air through vapor or to the wildlife in the area,' Passaic Mayor Hector Lora told NJ Advance Media on Thursday … Inspectors with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection tested the water, finding a PH Level of 6. Lora said a PH of 7 is closer to normal for the water. But the DEP found the water to be free of toxins, including petroleum and other harmful substances, the mayor said. 'It was not solvent, it was not inert, and it wasn't reactive to the water,' Lora said … Lora said the substance that caused the water's color to change likely came from a chemical called 'diatomaceous earth,' which is used in pool filtration systems." BOOK BANNING — "Book-banning, anti-sex-education email angers Ramsey parents ," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "An anonymous message challenging the school district's book choices that was emailed to students' families set off a contentious school board meeting Tuesday night. Some of the district families wanted to know where the sender had acquired their email addresses, calling it a security breach, and others took issue with the book-banning message. 'This is the most emotionally charged meeting I've attended since I've been here,' said President Laura Behrmann … At least 28 speakers commented on the email, received on April 21 by many families, which was signed by 'Ramsey Parents Union.' School officials said there is no such group in the borough. The email questioned the inclusion of the book 'Lawn Boy' in a school library, and expressed opposition to state-mandated sex education. Speakers' comments indicated the email was not distributed community-wide. One family told NorthJersey.com and The Record the email was sent only to the Republican parent in the home." DEFINITELY 'FOR PERSONAL REASONS' — "Hillsborough schools superintendent resigns after problematic financial audit ," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: "The school board will consider making changes after an audit found 'multiple' areas of concern in the district's financial operations. The district's finances have come under scrutiny since former Business Administrator Mahmoud resigned in December. Two days later Superintendent Lisa Antunes began a leave of absence. The school board accepted Antunes' resignation effective May 1 at Monday's meeting. In her letter of resignation, Board President Paul Marini said, Antunes said she was leaving the district 'for personal reasons' and will be pursuing 'other professional opportunities.' Board members made no other comment about Antunes' departure. Details of the settlement between Antunes and the district were not disclosed." JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE A JUDGE — "State judge admits mistakes in response to formal complaint," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "A state judge facing a formal complaint over his courtroom behavior has acknowledged he 'failed' the parties before him. Superior Court Judge Michael Kassel also said he 'regrets' his repeated comments from the bench about his lack of experience during a temporary role in Family Court. And the judge described as 'inappropriate' his criticisms of an assignment that had him hear family division cases one day a week over nine weeks in 2021. Litigants and lawyers in his courtroom 'had the right to expect a judge they were appearing before was fully capable of performing his role' Kassel said Wednesday in answering a complaint from a judicial disciplinary committee. But Kassel denied allegations of willful misconduct and that he had failed to act on the appearance of a conflict of interest." —"Opponents of Newark power plant far outnumber supporters, at least in public" —"Camden County plans to spend $100 million to overhaul its park system and add a 34-mile trail" —" Cumberland commissioners reject move to give sheriff jail control" —"Bayonne mayoral challengers decide to skip second debate in response to snub" —"Phillipsburg, NJ cop distributed child porn on Kik app, prosecutor says" —" Jersey City Planning Board rejects Exchange Place Redevelopment Plan"
| | | | JOIN US ON 4/29 FOR A WOMEN RULE DISCUSSION ON WOMEN IN TECH : Women, particularly women of color and women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, have historically been locked out of the tech world. But this new tech revolution could be an opportunity for women to get in on the ground floor of a new chapter. Join POLITICO for an in-depth panel discussion on the future of women in tech and how to make sure women are both participating in this fast-moving era and have access to all it offers. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
LOCO 420 CYPRESS HILL CHAPTER — "South Jersey unions moving to meet demand for representation in cannabis industry," by The Burlington County Times' Ahmad Austin Jr.: "With the cannabis industry slowly but surely coming into its own across the state and country, workers have expressed the desire for the benefits and fair treatment that often come with union representation. One of the most recent examples in the region came when United Food and Commercial Workers 152 announced it had agreed to represent more than 60 employees from The Botanist, a dispensary with sites in Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County. It's the first cannabis company Local 152 will represent, but far from a first for UFCW. Local 360, another union branch based in Berlin, represents employees from a number of cannabis sites, including Garden State Dispensary … Aiding in these unionization is a requirement by the state for cannabis companies to sign Labor Peace Agreements. These contracts essentially mean that if a large company wants a license to operate their cannabis business in the state, it cannot oppose the organization of a union by its employees."
—"Documentary: How an Exxon executive from NJ was kidnapped in his driveway 30 years ago "
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