News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: The mayor of Clark still hasn't resigned

Monday, April 4, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: The mayor of Clark still hasn't resigned

Apr 04, 2022

Good Monday morning!

Can Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, caught on tape allegedly using racial slurs — yes, including that one — really stay in office?

It's been almost a week since NJ Advance Media published the article and, while there have been calls for the mayor's resignation from some local Democrats, a local NAACP leader and Gov. Phil Murphy , I haven't seen all that many calls for his resignation. And that's strange, because Bonaccorso hasn't actually denied it's him on tape using the N-word and other slurs. Why else would the town pay $400,000 to cover the whole thing up? Speaking of which, will the council face political repercussions for agreeing to do that? Probably not, but in what world is that OK?

I know Clark is a small town that's very heavily white and Republican. But you cannot expect public officials who hold the hateful beliefs (allegedly) espoused by Bonaccorso to fairly administer his responsibilities. The same goes for the two suspended cops who were also (allegedly) caught on tape saying racist things. This isn't about "wokeness." This is about fitness for office.

I used the word "allegedly" a lot in this intro. That's because I can't prove the voice is his. But let's be realistic here. What are the odds that someone had the talent and resources to doctor that kind of recording for a small town mayor?

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 48

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "WHEREAS, New Jersey drivers are famous for their skills, enthusiasm and expressive hand gestures; NOW, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this state, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following: 1. The state bird is hereby changed from the American Goldfinch to the Middle Finger." — Gov. Murphy's very real April 1 executive order

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Turnpike Commissioner Ron Gravino

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

WHAT TRENTON MADE

ACTUAL FACT: THERE HAS BEEN A DELAY IN LAUNCHING RECREATIONAL CANNABIS — CRC chair: 'I wouldn't say there has been a delay' in launching recreational cannabis, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: The chair of the state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission pushed back Friday on complaints there's been a delay in starting recreational sales in New Jersey, warning that states that have rushed the process have seen supply shortages at first launch. "I wouldn't say there has been a delay," CRC Chair Dianna Houenou said on NJ Spotlight News' Reporters Roundtable. "I think New Jersey has been making strong progress." Houenou said New Jersey has been moving at about "average pace" compared to other states in launching sales of adult-use cannabis.

HEADLINE AFTER SALES COMMENCE: 'THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SNACKS FOR EVERYONE' — "There's not enough marijuana for everyone," by David Knowlton for The Star-Ledger: "Last week, New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission delayed approving the request of eight medicinal marijuana dispensaries eager to start selling cannabis to the adult recreational market. Outrage followed … But the commission and its executive director, Jeff Brown, are putting medicinal cannabis patients first. That is absolutely the right way to proceed. There must be enough cannabis in New Jersey for people with illnesses before sales open to the recreational market. Brown says we are 100,000 pounds short of having enough supply for both recreational and medicinal users. If this is accurate, the market is clearly not ready for recreational sales. The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed in 2010 so people with serious illnesses could get access to this ancient botanical. These are people with cancer, ALS, epilepsy, and many other serious disorders and illnesses."

—"N.Y. proposes $200M social equity fund to help minority businesses sell weed. What about N.J.?"

—"In N.J's legal weed market, a Black female owner focuses on heritage and hope"

WRONG. IT SHOULD HAVE A LONGER JUGHANDLE — Lawmakers' plan to change high school start times should have longer on-ramp, superintendent says, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: One New Jersey school superintendent is urging lawmakers to consider the challenges of moving school start times, as a bill to shift educational schedules for high schools across the state moves through the Legislature. Hamilton Township School District Superintendent Scott Rocco sent a letter to lawmakers this week offering his cautious support for Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin's proposal, NJ A3816 (22R), which would push statewide high school start times to no earlier than 8:30 a.m. beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. "I don't think anybody is in opposition to the concept of a later start time," Rocco said in an interview Friday, but added that lawmakers should add a longer on-ramp to the legislation to give school leaders time to budget and coordinate the change.

—Moran: "Murphy's sexist mistreatment of Roginsky is backfiring"

—" Gov. Murphy: Same-day voter registration protects the sacred right to vote"

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BIDEN TIME

NEW JERSEY'S MOST ACCOMPLISHED CASTNER — "Georgette Castner confirmed as U.S. District Judge for N.J.," by NJ Advance Media's Suzette Parmley: "The U.S. Senate confirmed long time South Jersey attorney Georgette Castner to serve on New Jersey's federal bench on Thursday. At 42, Castner becomes the youngest member of the state's district court, filling a seat that's been vacant since 2019 and bringing its gender breakdown to nine women and seven men. The U.S. Senate voted 52-47 in favor of President Joe Biden's nominee, largely along party lines with a handful of Republicans supporting the former litigator and aide to former Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, now Trenton mayor, from 2001-2003 … Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, the immediate past Chair of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, said Castner brings distinctive qualities to the district court. 'Judge Georgette Castner has a unique blend of youth, experience and extraordinary intellect,' Scutari said in a text to NJ Advance Media on Saturday. 'I couldn't be happier for Judge Castner and her husband Bill and their entire family as she becomes the next United States District Court judge for New Jersey.'"

—" Booker aims for 4/20 to drop a new legal weed bill"

—"'Chicken or egg?' Nonprofit will take Superfund site if EPA agrees to remediate it"

—" Bramnick all in with Selen in CD-11"

LOCAL

SAMPSIS — "'Edison is in my blood': Mayor marking first 100 days in office and says more work to do," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell: "Samip 'Sam' Joshi, who became the township's youngest and first South Asian mayor at the beginning of the year, believes he was born to be mayor. 'I'm going to say yes. It's in my blood, Edison is in my blood, it's who I am' said Joshi, who grew up not far from the North Edison Branch Public Library and J.P. Stevens High School, where he was involved in the Model U.N. program. Even then he had his sights on one day becoming mayor … As Joshi gets ready to mark his first 100 days in office, two campaign pledges, spearheaded by residents protests, are already being fulfilled. The township will buy the South Edison property where a developer wanted to build a massive warehouse and a developer will drop plans to build 23 townhouses on the site of the former Charlie Brown's restaurant on Plainfield Road. Joshi, however has reversed course on his push for a Township Council ward system, which he had supported during the campaign."

MOVING FROM SUSSEX TO WARREN WILL BE A MASSIVE CULTURE SHOCK — "County commissioner to step down at rescheduled meeting ," by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "Sussex County Commissioner Sylvia Petillo is expected to step down at the next meeting of the board on April 6 …. Petillo, who is in the final year of her second, three-year term, is selling her home in Hopatcong and will be moving with her husband, Ron, to a second home they own in Allamuchy, Warren County. The board's agenda for Wednesday shows there will be a tribute to Petillo at the start of the meeting."

THE ANTI-SEMITES FORGOT WHICH RELIGION THEY WERE TOLD TO HATE — "Swastikas spray-painted outside Quaker cemetery in Haddonfield," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeremy Roebuck : "Police are investigating two swastikas found spray-painted Friday outside a Quaker cemetery in Haddonfield. Members of the Haddonfield Friends Meeting discovered the antisemitic graffiti Friday on two trees on either side of the entrance to the graveyard, which faces the religious organization's meetinghouse near North Haddon Avenue and Lake Street, a spokesperson for the group said. Quakerism is a Christian religious denomination. 'Even though we are Quakers, there are times when we cannot and should not be silent,' Dave Austin, clerk for the Haddonfield Friends Meeting, said in a statement"

SWING TOWN MAY BE INTO SWAPPING PARTIES — "In one of New Jersey's swingiest towns, a mayoral challenger emerges," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "In One Of New Jersey's Swingiest Towns, A MaNew Providence was a solidly Republican town, until it wasn't. The Union County borough, which is in the state's upper echelons of both income and educational attainment, used to vote for Republicans up and down the ballot, from staunch conservatives like former President George W. Bush to New Jerseyan moderates like former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. Then, in 2016, a switch flipped. After having voted for Mitt Romney by nine points over Barack Obama four years earlier, New Providence gave Hillary Clinton a striking 12-point victory, and it's voted for an increasing number of national and local Democrats in the years since, including Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) and Gov. Phil Murphy in close races. This year, with the borough's mayoralty and two council seats up for election, Democrats will test whether they can replicate that success on a local level."

IF HE HAD SAID IT IN VEGAS NO ONE WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT — "Montclair police officer suspended for allegedly using racial slur ," by The Record's Julia Martin: "Montclair police officer has been suspended for allegedly using a racial epithet, the police department confirmed Thursday. 'It came to my attention that an officer allegedly used a racial slur while in Atlantic City,' said Police Chief Todd Conforti. 'An investigation was immediately launched, and the officer has been suspended at this time.' He did not name the officer.

BECAUSE OTHER 'WARS' ON SOCIETAL ISSUES HAVE WORKED OUT WELL — " 'War on learning loss': Newark Teachers Union calls for citywide effort to catch students up," by Chalkbeat's Patrick Wall: "Newark must launch a 'war on learning loss,' the city teachers union said this week, calling for a citywide campaign to support students who suffered devastating academic setbacks during the pandemic. The union's call to action follows the release of mid-year test scores showing the vast majority of students in the state's largest district are not on track to meet grade-level standards in math or reading this school year. Just 2% of fourth graders are projected to meet expectations on state math tests this spring, February assessments showed. The union, which represents more than 6,200 district employees, said teachers and other school staffers have worked tirelessly to help students recover from two years of disrupted learning and upheaval in their homes and communities. But even as educators race to help students regain lost ground and despite widespread staff shortages and exhaustion, some city leaders and residents seem oblivious to the mounting academic crisis, said John Abeigon, president of the Newark Teachers Union. 'Where is the sense of urgency with the learning loss?' he asked. 'It could go on for a generation if it's not addressed now.'"

NORMALLY YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR YOUR FLAK VEST TO SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES — "Paterson chief gets flak for celebrating with cops who left city's struggling police force," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "As the city struggles to fill vacancies in its Police Department, Chief Ibrahim 'Mike' Baycora this week participated in a swearing-in ceremony for three cops who left Paterson to join the force in North Arlington. Baycora's many critics say the chief should be working to retain officers in Paterson's understaffed department and that his trip to Bergen County reflects his lack of concern for public safety in Paterson. 'It sends the wrong message,' said Lt. Mason Maher, president of the union that represents Paterson's superior officers. 'When the chief goes to a swearing-in like that, it says you can go ahead and jump ship.'"

R.I.P. — "Robert Bowser, East Orange mayor for four terms, dies at 85," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Robert L. Bowser, who served as the mayor of East Orange for sixteen years and fought to reduce crime in his city, died on Saturday. He was 85. Bowser won his first term in 1997 after defeating Freeholder Sheila Oliver by just 52 votes in the Democratic primary … Bowser had served as director of public works for East Orange, as an engineer and planner for the Newark Public School System, and as a traffic engineer for Montclair. He was a licensed land surveyor and the president of Bowser Engineers & Associates."

—" No decisions yet in court over lawsuits over Paterson's May 10 election"

—" Howell's police chief retires suddenly amidst feuds with officers' union, township"

—"Council prez demands Trenton Police director resign over shooting of unarmed Black man"

—"Candidates collide at Newark West Ward debate"

—" Paterson's Palestinian community to get street designation"

—"Jersey City rallies with pride in celebration of Saint Peter's March Madness run"

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

HATE REPORT — "Bias incidents in NJ hit record high in 2021 with big increases against Asian, transgender people," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "Bias incidents in New Jersey increased by almost a third last year compared to 2020, new numbers from the state Attorney General's Office show. Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin said there were 1,871 incidents of harassment, assault or other forms of intimidation against people because of their race, ethnicity, religion or gender identity in 2021 — mirroring a rise in hate and bias incidents nationally. He attributed the increase to better ways of reporting bias — which can now be done electronically — and divisive rhetoric … Preliminary 2021 numbers show Asian and transgender people saw the biggest spikes in targeted incidents, with increases of 87% and 171%, respectively, from 2020."

2024 GOP RECRUIT TO CHALLENGE ANDY KIM? — "Man in GoFundMe scam gets 27-month federal prison sentence," by The AP: "A New Jersey man who conspired with his then-girlfriend to cook up a feel-good story about a helpful homeless man and then used the lie to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations online was sentenced in federal court Friday to more than two years in prison. Mark D'Amico will also have to serve three years probation once he completes his 27-month term. He also must pay restitution and undergo gambling, drug and mental health counseling. Before being sentenced, D'Amico told U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman that he was a changed man, devoted to his family. 'The person that did the things that led us here no longer exists,' D'Amico said."

LITTLE PHARMA — "Pharmacies allegedly repackaged, sold COVID-19 test kits meant for hospitals and clinics," by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo Stainton: "As demand for COVID-19 screenings soared with the recent omicron surge this past winter, a handful of New Jersey pharmacies illegally opted to sell — at possibly inflated prices — professional tests kits for unapproved use at home, according to state regulators. In some cases, the kits were simply repackaged in plastic bags accompanied by photocopied instructions and sold retail, authorities said."

—" He saw the future: Hackensack artist painted Will Smith's outburst years prior to Oscars"

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