| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Friday morning! I've been writing a lot lately about a corruption investigation that appears focused on Democrats . But corruption isn't a partisan issue. And now, via the Asbury Park Press, we learn that the FBI has launched a criminal investigation into Ocean County government. The Ocean County government actually publicized the subpoena, but Erik Larsen reports the feds are focused on an alleged "scheme to offer public employment in the county in exchange for a kickback or other illicit favor." It's been a few years since we had an Ocean County scandal, when longtime former GOP Chair George Gilmore was convicted on felony tax charges, and then early last year pardoned by President Trump. But that case didn't touch on political corruption. Read more from the Asbury Park Press here. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 59 WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: "You may not use my personal cell. You have to call the office." — Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin to David Wildstein HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Kim Eulner, former CamCo GOP Chair Rick DeMichele, former Statehouse reporter Juliet Fletcher, 2020 election conspiracy theory lawyer Howard Kleinhendler. Saturday for Assemblymember Lisa Swain, Essex Commissioner Patricia Sebold. Sunday for Upper Saddle River River BOE member David Verducci, Food Council's Conor Schmiegel 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 | |
4/21? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME — Recreational cannabis sales expected to launch in New Jersey on April 21, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Recreational cannabis sales are expected to begin next week, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday on Twitter. The launch date, scheduled for April 21, marks a major milestone for cannabis legalization efforts and what was one of Murphy's campaign promises when he first ran for governor in 2017. New Jersey is one of 18 states that has allowed recreational cannabis, although that figure includes states such as New York and Connecticut which have not yet launched their recreational markets. "Starting on April 21st, adults ages 21+ will be able to legally purchase cannabis and cannabis products without a medical card," Murphy tweeted. "This is a historic step in our work to create a new cannabis industry."
BACK THE GREEN — "NJ attorney general: Off-duty cops can use legal weed, per marijuana legalization laws," by The Asbury Park Press' Mike Davis: "New Jersey police officers will be allowed to purchase and consume marijuana once it's officially and legally for sale, just like any other potential customer, under the legal weed laws passed last year. On Thursday, acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued a memo alerting police chiefs that law enforcement agencies 'may not take any adverse action against any officers because they do or do not use cannabis off duty,' which was codified in the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act. Police officers are barred from possessing or using marijuana while on the clock, or performing any work while under the influence. 'To be clear, there should be zero tolerance for cannabis use, possession or intoxication while performing the duties of a law enforcement officer,' Platkin said. 'And there should be zero tolerance for unregulated marijuana consumption by officers at any time, on or off duty, while employed in this state.'" HIGH WIRE — "NJ businesses worried about workers showing up high on marijuana ," by NJ 101.5's David Matthau : "After adult-use recreational marijuana was approved by lawmakers, it was decided employers would be required to use Workplace Impairment Recognition Experts, WIREs, as part of their normal drug-testing procedures to determine if an employee was impaired on the job. This is because a regular drug test can detect a false positive. In other words, the presence of marijuana that could have been smoked or consumed several days earlier. Ray Cantor, the vice president of government affairs for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, said the problem is the Cannabis Regulatory Commission has not adopted regulations yet to certify WIREs … 'The law requires that they do a certain thing, do a physical exam with WIREs, but there are no WIREs, so employers are very uncertain right now as to what their rights are.'" CERTAIN BODY PARTS ARE SHAMEFUL AND WE MUST NOT SPEAK OF THEM — "What parents need to know about the new sex ed curriculum stirring controversy in NJ ," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "Some of the new standards are similar to those that were in place since 2014, when Republican Gov. Chris Christie was in office. Take the 10th district Republicans' argument about gender and sex, for example. The 2014 standards say that by the end of second grade students should be able to 'compare and contrast the physical differences and similarities of the genders.' The new standards say second-grade students should 'discuss how individuals make their own choices about how to express themselves' and 'discuss the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior.' By the end of fourth grade, according to the 2014 standards, students should have been able to 'differentiate the physical, social, and emotional changes occurring at puberty and explain why puberty begins and ends at different ages.' In the 2020 standards, students by the end of fifth grade should be able to explain the changes during puberty, common sexual development and the role of hormones, such as masturbation and sexual feelings. They must also understand the relationship between intercourse and reproduction and explain the different ways someone can get pregnant." —" New sex education standards become target in N.J." —New Jersey's unemployment rate drops slightly to 4.2 percent —New Jerseyans, less concerned about Covid, no longer favor mask mandates —Mulshine: " Poll shows Jersey drivers are pumped up over self-service gas" —"Environmentalists urge NJ Transit to halt Kearny gas plant plan" —Steinberg: "Lesniak – A consequential political career, with an autobiography worth the read"
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BECAUSE OF SMITH'S PERSECUTION — "Bob Healey outraises Ian Smith in NJ-3 By 10-1 margin," by New jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Healey has raised $1,039,414 since entering the race last November, including $519,707 during the first quarter of 2022. He has $755,93 remaining in his campaign warchest. Smith, who formally entered the race on February 3, has raised $99,161 and has over $68,000 cash-on-hand. 'Given the obstacles we've faced, like folks being told to back off that were planning to hold fundraisers for Ian, and the general behind-the-scenes bullying, I'm happy with the numbers because people are now pushing back,' said Steve Kush, Smith's strategist."
—" Sandy Hook Fort Hancock redevelopment could be shot down by climate change" —"Tammy Murphy Appears with Mikie Sherrill in Morris " | | LOCAL | |
BLOCKED — "Ocean County Administrator Carl W. Block will not be forced out of his job on June 30," by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: "Ocean County Administrator Carl W. Block will not be forced to retire on June 30, the Board of Commissioners tentatively decided during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday evening. Earlier this year, a majority of commissioners informed Block — in private — that they would not support his reappointment when his current employment contract ends this summer. Block, 70, of Stafford, is the longest-serving county administrator in Ocean's history. A former county clerk and Stafford mayor, he was first appointed in 2010 … On Wednesday, a compromise was reached, said commission Director Jack Kelly. While a majority on the board still want Block to retire sooner rather than later, the five commissioners agreed in executive session that Block would remain on without a contract for an as-yet undetermined transition period, Kelly said."
HARVEY COULD RIVAL MASTRO — "Newark police will remain under federal oversight through 2023," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "Newark's police force will remain under a court-ordered federal monitor through next summer, even as local officials tout major reforms and say they no longer need a highly-paid watchdog, which has cost city taxpayers $7.4 million over the last five years … They also agreed to appoint former state Attorney General Peter Harvey as a federal monitor for five years and capped his payments at $7.4 million. Harvey's job is to ensure Newark keeps its consent decree promises, but his predetermined July 2021 end date has come and gone, and he said the work still isn't done … Harvey said in court records that the pandemic delayed his team's planned audits." NON-SUPER TROOPERS — "NJ troopers free arrested man after arguing with Passaic County jail staff over paperwork," by The Record's Steve Janoski: "Two New Jersey state troopers freed an arrested man outside the Passaic County Jail in February after they argued with corrections officers over his paperwork, forcing the Sheriff's Office to send nearly a dozen officers to find and rearrest the man the next day. Joel Isaac, 22, of Paterson left the jail lobby at about 1 a.m. on Feb. 11, just minutes after the troopers dropped him off in front of the Marshall Street compound in Paterson, according to county incident reports obtained by NorthJersey.com through a public records request. Corrections officers had already told the troopers they couldn't take Isaac, according to the reports. His fingerprints were missing, his paperwork was wrong and the jail's medical staff demanded that Isaac first be taken to the hospital for a psychiatric exam, police sources say. The troopers got angry, according to the reports. And they cut Isaac loose outside the jail's front doors instead. Minutes later, he melted into the Paterson night, disappearing until seven sheriff's officers, a commander and an undersheriff corralled him at a Totowa hotel nearly 16 hours later." SARLOVILLE — " Landowner sues Bergen borough, saying property being unlawfully taken," by The Record's Kaitlyn Kanzler: "The owner of Willow Street Properties is suing Wood-Ridge and its borough engineering firm, Neglia Engineering Associates, and others, accusing them of unlawfully confiscating his property. The property at the end of Willow Street was sold by the borough to Willow Street Properties, LLC (then known as Willow Properties) in August 1990 for $19,000, according to the suit. It had been a 'paper street,' but was vacated as a right of way by the borough in the mid-1970s. Then, in September 2020, the property owner noticed the borough had paved a 24-foot-by-40-foot section of the property for a rear entrance and exit for its Department of Public Works, according to the suit … According to court documents, Willow Street Properties offered to lease the parking area for $600 a month, which was rejected by Wood-Ridge. Then, last December, the council passed a resolution seeking to get a portion of the property via eminent domain rather than 'correct what was recognized as an error by the borough,' the lawsuit states." HER SLOGAN SHOULD BE 'TODAY'S TOM SAWYER' — " Rush may keep Atlantic County slogan Dems called too close to theirs," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "Democratic congressional candidate Carolyn Rush may continue to use her slogan in Atlantic County in spite of the county committee's complaint that it is too similar to its own, according to the New Jersey Secretary of State's Office. Rush, an engineer from Sea Isle City, will run under 'Atlantic County Democratic Organization,' while the official slogan her opponent Tim Alexander will run under is 'Atlantic County Democratic Committee.' A spokesperson for the secretary of state said the law does not prevent people from using slogans that are similar to those of official county committees. The state does, however, prevent candidates from using slogans that have been registered as belonging to others." —"2 principals in Wall Township school district placed on leave" —" In Paterson, a tale of two endorsements" —"Boss thought secretaries were overpaid, Hackensack school employees say in lawsuits "
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ANOTHER KIND OF IMMUNITY — "They lost loved ones to COVID. Can their suits overcome state immunity for nursing homes?" by The Record's Lindy Washburn: "Kim Covello is suing CareOne at Valley and its parent, CareOne Ancillary Holdings — one of five family members of residents who died of COVID at CareOne facilities in Westwood, Cresskill, East Brunswick and Edison to file a lawsuit against the Fort Lee-based chain. Their attorney hopes that a judge in state Superior Court in Bergen County will certify it as a class action. The lawsuit claims that CareOne's lack of safety and preventive measures, as well as its agreement with the state Health Department to accept discharged hospital patients who tested positive for COVID, caused their loved ones to die. The deaths were 'a direct result' of CareOne's 'push to unnecessarily take an influx of COVID-19 patients, despite being unprepared and unequipped to do so safely,' the lawsuit said. A tide of lawsuits is expected against nursing homes and other health care facilities as end of the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in New Jersey courts looms."
IN A TIE, THE GUY FROM JERSEY CITY WINS — "Who reported the suspect? Claims abound ," by The New York Times: "New York City celebrated a new hero on Wednesday: a 21-year-old Syrian who moved to the United States five years ago, speaks five languages and lives in Jersey City. The man, Zach Tahhan, a security camera technician whose name has been spelled in varying ways on social media, said he was working on updating equipment at a shop near St. Marks Place and First Avenue in Manhattan's East Village, when he saw Frank R. James through one of the security cameras … The police have said they received a tip that Mr. James had been in a McDonald's not quite two blocks away, and were searching for him in the area. Two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation said it appeared that Mr. James had called the tip line himself. The police have not yet confirmed whether Mr. Tahhan's action led to Mr. James's arrest … Others are also claiming a role in leading the police to Mr. James, which carries a $50,000 reward. In an interview, Francisco Puebla, manager of Saifee, a hardware and garden store on First Avenue at Seventh Street, took a gentle dig at Mr. Tahhan, whom he had hired to help upgrade the store's security camera system. 'He's all over social media,' Mr. Puebla, 46, said, throwing his arms outward in a gesture apparently signifying bigness. 'But I'm the one who took action.' … A New York portrait painter, Lee Vasu, also said he alerted the police." THIS IS WHY NJ NEEDS BETTER SEX ED STANDARDS — "Models claim Adelphia, two strip clubs used their images without permission," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "Irina Veronina is an actress, stand-up comedian and Playboy's Miss January 2001, the performer's website says. But she's not a patron of the Adelphia Restaurant in Deptford, a lawsuit says. And Veronina has nothing to do with Centerfolds, a Pleasantville strip club that recently closed after the death of an underage patron, another suit declares. The California woman is among 17 models and performers who've brought lawsuits against Adelphia, Centerfolds and Babe's Nola, a strip club in Burlington Township. The suits, with similar language and claims, assert the local businesses 'brazenly and repeatedly' used the models' images without permission on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts." —"Why do people buy illegal guns in N.J.? Researchers hope the answer will help improve public safety" —" Terrorism charge filed against N.J. man accused in antisemitic violent crime spree" —" Ex-NJ Olympian Barisone found not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting at his farm" —"'Very shocking to us': Over a fifth of NJ motorists drive distracted, Rowan study shows" CORRECTION: In yesterday's lede I credited a double-bylined story in The Record about dark money incorrectly. Charles Stile wrote it along with Ashley Balcerzak. I had mistakenly credited Dustin Racioppi instead of Stile. Racioppi is hereby stripped of that credit. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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