News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Norcross holds a giant post-mortem

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Norcross holds a giant post-mortem

Apr 13, 2022

Good Wednesday morning!

It was all hands on deck for South Jersey Democrats Monday, when boss George Norcross called a meeting in the Camden office tower that houses his insurance brokerage's headquarters.

There's a political shift in the country, and in New Jersey it's reflected in the southern portion of the state, where the middle and working-class white voters the party has courted all these years are following Jeff Van Drew over to the Trump, err… Republican Party. So Norcross called a meeting attended by around 200 elected officials, party officials and operatives to talk about the way forward. To anyone familiar with Norcross, it won't shock you that this involves playing up fiscal conservative messages like spending freezes, as well as emphasizing the vote-by-mail ground game that helped a lot of Democrats, including the governor, who did win last year.

The other big takeaway — and this is no surprise to anyone — is that Norcross' polling and research points to an ugly midterm for Democrats this year.

Read more about it here.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 57

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Atlantic City at 5:30 p.m. for a Chamber of Commerce speech

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "This was a significant research project, clearly necessitated by last year's general election results and the need to reassess our Democrats' objectives and priorities going forward." — George Norcross on the research he shared

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno

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

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

NOBODY SAID WHIPPING UP HYSTERIA WOULDN'T WORK POLITICALLY — Gopal calls on Murphy, DOE to clarify New Jersey's sex ed standards, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Senate Education Chair Vin Gopal is calling on Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Department of Education to "provide clarity" on New Jersey's health and sex education learning standards, amid a growing conservative social media fervor. "Given the amount of misinformation out there and questions coming from parents ... I have formally called on the Department of Education and the Governor's office to provide clarity on all of these items and issue it publicly before any further action is taken on implementation," Gopal wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday morning. Gopal (D-Monmouth) said he has read through the 2020 statewide student learning standards for health and physical education (which includes sex ed) and spoke "in detail" with Acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan. He said he learned that much of what is being spread by right-wing news outlets and on some conservative blogs is not in the state standards. "There is generic language on identifying gender roles and treating all kids, regardless of their gender, with respect," Gopal said. "Anything that is more specific than that is coming from a specific Board of Education locally."

—WaPo: " Conservative media oversell New Jersey's guidelines for teaching gender"

CADDLE CALL — Caddle sentencing moved from June to December , by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: The sentencing date for Sean Caddle, the Democratic political operative who admitted hiring two men to kill a former associate, has been postponed for six months. Caddle was to be sentenced June 7. But according to his case docket, sentencing has been moved to Dec. 7 in U.S. District Court in Newark … Caddle's stunning plea in January, and the revelation that he was cooperating with prosecutors, has put New Jersey's political class on tenterhooks — especially considering Caddle remains on home confinement despite the seriousness of his offense.

BUT IS HE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIGH GRASS PRICES? — "N.J. will 'almost certainly' provide some relief as gas prices soar, Murphy says," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "With the average gas price in New Jersey still more than $4 a gallon, Gov. Phil Murphy says the state will 'almost certainly' provide some sort of relief for residents. Murphy said officials are still trying to figure out' what kind of move will have 'the highest bang for the buck' as officials across the nation search for ways to offset gas prices and other effects of high inflation … 'Clearly, we have got to do something to alleviate this pain,' Murphy added. 'And you can assume we will. I'm not sure it's direct to gas, but I'm virtually certain it's something.' That's the most forthcoming the Democratic governor has been about the state providing gas-price relief."

EDUCATION — "New effort to recruit more men of color as teachers," by WHYY's Tennsyon Donyea: "According to Education Week, only 2% of teachers in America are Black men, despite most of America's students being youth of color; teaching is a woman-dominated profession. New Jersey Department of Education data shows that children of color make up 59% of the state's student body. However, teachers of color only make up 17% of the teacher workforce … This week, the New Jersey Department of Education announced a program in collaboration with Rowan University to recruit more men of color for teaching jobs, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds."

COVERED UP WITH A WHITE SHEET — "State and county are complicit in Clark's cover-up of racism," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran: "Taxpayers in Clark have been billed about $1.5 million so far to meet the terms of a secret legal settlement that covered up flagrant racism on the part of the mayor and senior police officers, along with the clean-up costs. Bad as that is, the loss of money is not the worst of it. In effect, three police officers are being rewarded for their racism and misconduct by drawing down full salaries during suspensions that have lasted nearly two years, so far. The meter is still running. The mayor, Sal Bonaccorso, got his reward, too. His behavior was hidden from voters, who re-elected him without knowing about it, 10 months after he signed this legal settlement that hushed it up … [T]his long cover-up would not be possible without the complicity of the state Attorney General's office and Union County prosecutors. They learned about the misconduct in July of 2020, when they promised to investigate and make their findings public. It's inconceivable that a good-faith investigation would take this long. This is not the crime of the century. It's not a complex international conspiracy. And they had the recordings from the start."

— Polistina: 'I would hope' Atlantic City's casinos are smoke-free within the year

—"Gov. Murphy receives second COVID booster shot as N.J. numbers tick up"

—Wirths: "Affordability is missing (again) from Gov. Murphy's budget"

— " Philadelphia will reinstate COVID mask mandate. Murphy would be 'shocked' if N.J. does it"

—"Many older N.J. voters want to leave the state because of high property taxes, AARP poll shows"

—"Old trains are affecting NJ Transit performance. Help's on the way, but is it soon enough?"

—" Almost a decade after Sandy, NJ Transit begins building a dry place to park trains"

DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today.

BIDEN TIME

CANDIDATE UNABLE TO STAND UP TO THE GRASSROOTS SWELL AROUND ROB MENENDEZ'S CANDIDACY — "Varela removed from ballot in 8th District congressional race after successful HCDO challenge ," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Brian Varela has been removed from the ballot in the 8th District congressional race after a successful challenge from the Hudson County Democratic Organization took nearly two full days in court. 'I wanted to start off by announcing that I will be withdrawing my candidacy for Congress in the 8th District … I will be back and I will be coming back stronger. This is not my last day in this field to make a difference in this world,' Varela said minutes ago after the court determined he had submitted 181 valid signatures, 19 below the threshold to get on the June 7th primary ballot … The 8th District race now has four Democrats running Rob Menendez, a lawyer, Port Authority commissioner, and the son of U.S. Senator Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Rutgers law professor Eugene Mazo – who is also facing a petition challenge – Weehawken teacher Ane Roseborough-Eberhard, and progressive David Ocampo Grajales."

—Snowflack: "The dynamics of Kean v. Malinowski"

LOCAL

TEDESCO TO SUEZ: I WANT TO KNOW, HAVE YOU EVER FORESEEN THE RAIN? — "Bergen blames Suez for flood damage, saying utility should warn of brimming reservoirs," by The Record's Stephanie Noda: "Ilona DeSantis of Ringwood was driving back home on New Milford Avenue after a rainy night when something unthinkable happened: A surge of stormwater rushed toward her car, trapping her inside it on the flooded street. 'It was very frightening,' said DeSantis. 'Now I understand how flash floods happen, because there's nothing — and then it's over your windshield.' … Her experience painted a picture of the intense flooding that the Hackensack River watershed has been experiencing over the past few years. A warming climate is bringing more intense storms. On Monday, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco called on Suez Water to give residents and local officials critical information ahead of flooding in the Hackensack River watershed. 'No one can control the rain that falls from the sky, but what we can control are the actions by those that provide water to their customers,' Tedesco said at a news conference at Van Buskirk Island County Park in Oradell, near the scene of flooding that damaged nearly 100 homes, businesses and borough facilities in New Milford last week. Residents in Oradell, New Milford and River Edge were evacuated, some by boat, after heavy rains on Thursday and Friday."

BARAQUA — " Newark to make $23M upgrade at water treatment plant to prevent future lead exposure," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "Newark is investing $23 million to upgrade an aging water treatment facility that was at the center of its lead contamination problem five years ago. The long-awaited fixes to the Pequannock Water Treatment Plant aim to improve the way the city cleans its water and prevent the type of crisis that thrust Newark into the national spotlight in 2019 when it was forced to distribute bottled water to 14,000 households. The upgrades build on the city's $190 million investment to replace more than 23,000 lead pipes outside of the facility, running under streets into people's homes."

LAKEWOOD — "Man promised 'blood bath' in antisemitic attacks targeting Lakewood Orthodox Jews, cops say," by NJ Advance Media's Noah Cohen: "The man accused of a multi-hour antisemitic crime spree in Ocean County allegedly told family, 'it's going to be a blood bath' and called Jews 'the real devils,' according to police documents obtained by NJ Advance Media."

PINKIN PUTS PROGRESSIVES IN IRE-LAND — "Pinkin on Ireland junket as Piscataway Democrats challenge ballot draw issue," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein : "A slate of Piscataway Democratic council candidates running off-the-line in the June 7 primary are challenging a decision by Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin to not give them a chance to compete with the organization for a preferred ballot position even though they are bracketing with two county commissioner candidates. Yael Bromberg, an attorney representing the 'Democrats for Transparency and Fairness' slate, said she was told by Pinkin last week that the drawing would not include her candidates because they only filed two candidates for four countywide offices. 'Such an interpretation of the statute would not only lead to nonsensical results, as illustrated below, but would be plainly unlawful, and arguably unconstitutional,' Bromberg wrote in a response to the county clerk … New Jersey has no statute defining a full slate to include all open offices to qualify for bracketing and a tier one ballot draw, Bromberg said … Pinkin is inexplicably out of the country during a busy week for county clerks. She is in Ireland as part of a trip of state legislators, even though she gave up her Assembly seat more than fifteen months ago."

THOSE POOR OCEAN-FRONT HOMEOWNERS — " N.J. Shore city opposes plan to bury offshore wind power cables under beach, streets," by NJ Advance Media's Bill Duhart: "The plan to bury power cables from an offshore wind project under a prime stretch of beach in a popular New Jersey Shore town is set to move forward despite objections from the local government and residents. Ørsted, the Danish firm developing the offshore wind project, is seeking an easement from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to put cables under land owned by Ocean City that includes a beachfront with luxury homes, some valued in the millions of dollars. Ocean City officials said they oppose a 2021 New Jersey law that gives wind energy projects approved by the state public utilities board the authority to locate, build, use and maintain wires and associated land-based infrastructure as long as they run underground on public property including streets."

—"Lawsuits claim Cedar Grove senior living facility failed to protect residents from COVID"

—" North Haledon mayor intensifies fight with global nonprofit to save High Mountain star"

—"Integration activists speak at Greater Egg school board meeting "

—"Middlesex County will shutter Johnson Park zoo but keep some animals"

—"Perth Amboy takes big step in $283 million high school project"

—" Howell GOP candidates face challenge after lackadaisical petition drive"

—"Adams fundraises for Baraka"

—"Short-staffed Paterson cops pulled off patrol for 'fire watch' at police headquarters"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BIRD KIND — "More bald eagles, more chances for problems with people," by NJ Spotlight News' Andrew S. Lewis: "The successful nesting documented by the Duke Farms and Three Bridges cameras is reflective of the overall success of New Jersey's bald eagle population, which has rebounded from a single pair in the 1970s and early 1980s to 247 pairs last year, 222 of which laid eggs that resulted in 296 chicks fledged — the most since the state began doing annual nest surveys in 1985. But as bald eagle numbers increase in New Jersey — the nation's most densely populated state — so too does a potential new risk: close encounters with humans. 'We're starting to see them in these uber urban areas,' said Kathy Clark, a zoologist in the Department of Environmental Protection's Endangered and Nongame Species Program who co-authors the state's annual Bald Eagle Report. 'They're nesting in older residential neighborhoods, because, in some cases, they have trees that are very old.'"

—"Why Bracken has made initiative with African American Chamber supporting Black businesses a top priority"

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