News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: The non-weed related behavior cops don't get fired for

Monday, April 25, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: The non-weed related behavior cops don't get fired for

Apr 25, 2022

Presented by the NJ Board of Public Utilities

Good Monday morning!

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has started a rebellion when it comes to cannabis and cops. His statement that the city will pursue termination of cops who use the substance, even while off-duty, flew in the face of Attorney General Matt Platkin's memo to law enforcement agencies explaining the cannabis law, and it's led to at least several other towns following his lead: Bayonne, Kearny, Weehwaken, maybe even Newark.

I'm not here to tell you there's anything wrong with this debate . The fact that there are no reliable ways to test for whether someone is under the influence of cannabis while on-duty is a problem, both in terms of workplace safety and liability. At the same time, we should recognize that cannabis' effects are really not anywhere as harmful as alcohol, both health-wise and behavior-wise. So we shouldn't treat this as the equivalent of people being drunk on the job.

But there is a glaring inconsistency to Fulop not only saying the city will punish cops who test positive for weed, but that they'll seek to fire them. Consider the case of Jersey City Lieutenant Michael Timmins, who got mad at some guests during a party he hosted in 2019 after consuming six to eight beers. From New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo:

"The party's host got mad at a guest packing leftovers into a cooler to take home. The host threw tomatoes at him — and then went and grabbed a shotgun. 'Today is your day!' he shouted at a few guests as they scurried away. Then he turned the gun in their direction and fired."

Luckily, no one was injured. But unlike his shotgun, Timmins wasn't fired. Just suspended for 90 days. Unbelievable, but true. And thanks to the lack of police disciplinary transparency, it stands to reason there have been many other cases like this that we don't know about.

So imagine if a Jersey City cop smokes half a joint during some off-duty time and tests positive at work a week later. Considering that Timmins wasn't fired, it's harder to defend firing a cop because they tested positive for weed.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 69

WHERE'S MURPHY? Ireland. Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver is in Atlantic City at 11:30 a.m. to address the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "You got a cop outside the weed! And he's cool with it!" — Pennsylvania resident Tanner Pyles while standing in line to buy cannabis at a dispensary in aptly-named Bloomfield

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Springfield committeemember Alexander Keiser, CLB Partners' Karen Kominsky, Former Division of Civil Rights E.D. Frank Vespa, Pitman Councilmember Matthew Weng

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

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

MURPHY DRINKS AN IRISH STOUT BUT IT'S NOT MURPHY'S IRISH STOUT — "Murphy kicks off Ireland trip with cultural visits to Trinity College, Guinness storehouse," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: " Gov. Phil Murphy launched the first leg of his economic development-focused trip to Ireland today with two cultural visits, one to the library of Trinity College Dublin and another to the Guinness Storehouse. The governor's day will conclude at a private dinner with a delegation from the economic development organization Choose NJ; the main announcements and meetings of Murphy's three-day visit will follow in the coming two days. Upon landing in Dublin after spending three days in France, Murphy met with Trinity College Provost and President Linda Doyle, who last year became the university's first female leader in its 430-year history. Murphy, Doyle, and an assemblage of Murphy staff members and Choose NJ representatives viewed the college's library and the Book of Kells, a famed 8th century illuminated manuscript. From there, the delegation traveled to the Guinness Gravity Bar, where Murphy drank a pint of beer emblazoned with the New Jersey state seal and poured a pint of his own with First Lady Tammy Murphy."

— " Gender identity a lightning rod in N.J. sex ed curriculum debate," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: "Avery Heimann knew before they even started school that they were queer. Their classmates caught on to their difference immediately and were not kind. 'From kindergarten to fifth grade, when my parents pulled me out of public school and put me into a private school, it was nonstop bullying,' Heimann remembered. As unwelcome as that experience was, it was also formative. Determined to support others on their same path, Heimann became a sex educator and mental health therapist for LGBTQ adults and children in North and Central Jersey. So Heimann was elated when New Jersey adopted new health and sex ed standards in 2020 that were partly intended to make schools more inclusive to LGBTQ youth by teaching students about gender identity and expression. 'Representation matters, right? Visibility matters,' Heimann said."

PROBLEM SOLVED — "N.J. spending $21M on projects to fight climate change," by The AP: "New Jersey is spending $21 million on projects to help fight climate change, including purchasing electric trucks for some municipalities and handing out grants for projects to restore salt marshes, sea grass beds, forests and other areas. The state Department of Environmental Protection announced a program Thursday to spend $6 million to help communities purchase electric trucks. It will help towns pay for a total of 16 new electric vehicles statewide, including garbage trucks, dump trucks and ambulances. It also includes an electric car sharing project in Jersey City."

—"Climate policy change in the works, lawmaker promises"

—" 13th N.J. recreational weed site delays sales again"

—"Friendly fire: Mask mandates, book bans, and cannabis cops"

—Golden: "Will Murphy heed Scutari?"

—Mulshine: " Offshore wind: The leading birdwatching group doesn't object to wind farms that will kill birds"

CARTOON BREAK - "Weed is legal, now it's time for clemency"

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

ABSENTO — "This N.J. congressman hasn't voted in person all year. Here's why," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Rep. Albio Sires, who is retiring at the end of his current term, hasn't voted in person all year. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. has voted in person more often than any other House member. The New Jersey lawmakers are at the opposite ends when it comes to voting during the coronavirus pandemic. Sires, D-8th Dist., hasn't shown up in person for any of the 125 roll call votes cast since the second session of the 117th Congress began in January. That was the highest among all House members. But he still cast every vote — by proxy. And he asked Pallone, D-6th Dist., to vote for him. So have numerous other lawmakers. In fact, Pallone, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has cast 574 proxy votes, more than any other member. He's the only member of the state's House delegation who has been in the chamber for every vote."

LOCAL

CHIP THROWN OFF THE OLD BLOCK — "Robinson resigns as Morris Democratic chairman," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Morris County Democratic Chairman Chip Robinson will resign next month, setting up a special election within the next few weeks to fill his seat. The leading candidate to replace him is Amalia Duarte, a two-term Mendham Township Committeewoman and a former newspaper reporter … Publicly, Robinson is saying his departure is tied to spend more time at his full-time job."

—" The Robinson disintegration," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack : "When Robinson became chair, the notion of Democrats winning local congressional races was very much a fantasy. There were years when the Dems' congressional candidate in Morris was just a name on the ballot. But now, both members of the House representing the county are Democrats – Sherrill in CD-11 and Malinowski in CD-7. The registration gap also has narrowed to about 17,000 and Democrats have been successful winning municipal seats in once very Republican terrain like the Chathams, Morris Township and Mountain Lakes, although the GOP did regain control of Chatham Township last fall … But recently, all has not been rosy. Robinson, who in 'real life' is an attorney, has been fighting with a one-time ally, Ed Correa in Dover. Correa is seeking reelection to the local governing body without backing from the Morris County Democrats. One of the Democrats' county commission candidates last fall, A.J. Oliver of Morristown, was essentially written out of the party when his pro-life views surfaced. He is now a Republican. That prompted some in the county organization to criticize Robinson for not sufficiently vetting Oliver in the first place. Last year's election was not a good one for Democrats and Morris was no exception. The biggest disappointment was the loss of Democratic Mayor Michael Soriano in Parsippany, the county's largest town."

—"Gurin denies report that she's stepping down as Morris Dem vice chair"

—" Carlson says he won't step down in Morris, mulls run for county chairman"

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE COPS WHO ALSO TOSSED AROUND RACIAL SLURS — "Clark cops vote 'no confidence' in their mayor after racist recordings leak ," by NJ Advance Media's S.P. Sullivan and Riley Yates: "A union representing the majority of police officers in Clark unanimously voted 'no confidenc' in the township's mayor, Sal Bonaccorso, after recordings of him using racial slurs and sexist language surfaced. 'His words reflect an attitude which has no place in our society, and more importantly, no place in a position of leadership nor elected office,' said a statement from the Clark PBA Local #125. NJ Advance Media last month published audio recordings made by a whistleblower who captured Bonaccorso, Police Chief Pedro Matos and internal affairs Sgt. Joseph Teston referring to Black people as 'spooks,' 'shines' and the N-word. The news organization also revealed details of a 2020 settlement that quietly paid that whistleblower, police Lt. Antonio Manata, and his lawyer $400,000 to keep a lid on the scandal. The union statement, released Friday, made no reference to the three Clark police officials who remain suspended with pay as the state Attorney General's Office investigates the Clark Police Department. A union official did not immediately return a request for comment."

THE ONLY COURT CASE HE'LL EVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT — " Alex Mendez prevails in Paterson mayor's ballot case over Andre Sayegh supporters," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Councilman Alex Mendez will be running for mayor on May 10 after a state appellate court ruled in his favor Friday morning, denying an attempt by incumbent Andre Sayegh's supporters to remove him from the ballot. The ruling will allow local election officials to begin printing and sending out about 11,000 mail-in ballots, which had been delayed for almost a month because of the Sayegh side's challenge to Mendez's candidacy. Mendez received significant numbers of votes through mail-in ballots in past elections and has argued that the lawsuit by the Sayegh backers was a campaign tactic to stall the vote-by-mail system that is used by many of Paterson's Latino voters … At issue in the lawsuit was whether Mendez submitted enough valid, voter-signed nominating petitions to meet the requirement of 867 to be placed on the ballot. New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas Brogan had ruled in Mendez's favor on April 8, but the Sayegh side's lawyer, Rajiv Parikh, appealed the decision. Parikh's appeal focused on "duplicates," those voters who signed nominating petitions for Mendez as well as another candidate in the five-person race. Parikh had argued that all duplicate petitions should be disqualified, which would have left Mendez short of the number needed to run for mayor."

PATERSON — "Expert says Jameek Lowery died from force used on him by Paterson cops. NJ doesn't agree," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "A report by a nationally renowned forensic pathologist contradicts the New Jersey medical examiner's findings regarding the January 2019 Paterson police-custody death of Jameek Lowery, according to court records filed last week. Members of Lowery's family have been asserting for more than two years that their medical expert, Dr. Michael Baden, determined Lowery died from force used on him by Paterson cops transporting him from police headquarters to the emergency room at St. Joseph's hospital. But there had been no official public record regarding Baden's report until a series of dueling letters were filed recently in the Lowery family's federal lawsuit against the Paterson Police Department. The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said in August 2019 that Paterson cops struck Lowery when he resisted their attempts to restrain him in an ambulance, but that the state autopsy found that Lowery died because he took illegal drugs that caused a bad reaction with a pre-existing medical condition. Baden examined Lowery's body in 2019, according to court records. Baden's report has been sent to the city's lawyers, but it has not yet been made part of the public court record."

PUTTING THE HIGH IN HIGH RISES — " For Jersey City cannabis dispensary hopefuls, it's a labor of love," by The Jersey Journal's Jake Maher: "With recreational cannabis sales having launched in New Jersey Thursday and the planning board processing license applications as fast as it can, the pieces are moving into place for a strong start to the Jersey City cannabis market. But just who are the people looking to be city cannabis pioneers, and why are they taking the leap into the new form of an old industry? A scan of planning board filings shows most, though not all, are Jersey City residents. Many are already business owners of some sort, converting an existing business into a new cannabis venture. So far 22 businesses either have applied or are waiting for a date on the Jersey City planning board agenda to apply. In addition to approval from Jersey City applicants need a license from the state of New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission which is now hearing applications, though it has not issued a timeline for when a given application will be heard. As for the why, there seem to be as many reasons as there are applicants."

—" Teaneck residents sue over Holy Name expansion, allege conflict of interest with officials"

—"Englewood Cliffs has delayed affordable housing construction long enough, lawsuit alleges"

—"Retired Paterson police chief not qualified to run for Passaic County Sheriff, judges rule"

—" Eatontown Democratic mayoral primary will be contested after judge's rule"

—Video: "Hero Zack Tahhan is honored with a key to Prospect Park "

—"Ballots from 30 districts uncounted in Newark school race; county seeks order unlocking machines"

—"Newark schools may go mask-optional in May if COVID case numbers remain low"

—" Sussex County administrator appointed as new Randolph township manager"

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

MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY CLUSTERF**K — "MCCC names new prez amid infighting with outgoing prez," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea : "Deborah Preston, a former provost and vice president of academic affairs at Raritan Valley Community College, was hired this week as the new president of Mercer County Community College. She becomes the seventh person to lead the institution, replacing outgoing president Jianpang Wang. The college's Board of Trustees announced Preston's appointment at a meeting Thursday. She inked a three-year deal, beginning July 1, that pays her a base salary of $225,000 a year, plus benefits and other incentives … The incoming president steps into the new role amid a messy entanglement between Wang and MCCC Board Chairman Mark Matzen. Matzen is being investigated by an outside firm, LeadGood Consulting of Pennington, over his alleged mistreatment of Wang. Wang, who was hired in 2016 to lead MCCC, broke off contract negotiations and informed school officials that she'd retire when her contract expired in June. In an October 2021 letter to trustees, the outgoing president expressed concern that Matzen's actions would impact her successor unless he was removed as board chairman."

THEN THE STATE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT — " 'It's like a church': Resurrecting New Jersey's Atlantic white cedar ghost forests," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Frank Kummer: "A miles-long, sandy stretch of road dominated by thousands of acres of pitch pine trees suddenly yields the most primeval of scenes in New Jersey's Pinelands — a healthy Atlantic white cedar swamp so thick and cool that the temperature can drop 15 degrees just a few feet within … 'It's like a church when you stare into a cedar forest,' says John Cecil, assistant commissioner of State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites at New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection … Just a mile or two away stands another grove of cedars but stripped of green, like bleached bones, and dying amid a surrounding pond. Cecil is part of a team at the DEP trying to resurrect New Jersey's dying cedar forests, some now so barren they are referred to as ghost forests … New Jersey has about 25,000 acres of still healthy Atlantic white cedar, or roughly one-quarter of the 100,000 acres left of such trees on the Eastern seaboard, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. The species is an evergreen and loves the boggy, wet parts of the Pine Barrens. As recently as the 1990s, the state had 30,000 acres"

—" Will rising seas engulf NJ's history?"

—"On Walk to Freedom, a stop at a South Jersey church where Harriet Tubman may have brought freedom seekers "

—"Wearing masks indoors is 'strongly encouraged' but not required in Philadelphia"

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