News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Nothing of note happening in N.J. today

Thursday, April 21, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Nothing of note happening in N.J. today

Apr 21, 2022

Good Thursday morning!

Happy 4/21! It's the first day since the 1930s that you can legally purchase non-medical cannabis in New Jersey, even if it's only available at a small number of dispensaries.

For people who love weed, this is really just symbolically a big deal. They've been getting weed from their dealers or from the "gray market" businesses that have been openly selling it. My guess is that today's customers will feature two main types: Those who just want to experience the novelty of legally buying weed and those who have barely used it, if at all.

To the latter group, I offer some caution, especially with edibles. Edibles are probably the most attractive option for the curious newbies, given their ease of use. Most people laugh about weed's effects, but you should still be careful. Even the most experienced stoners have had terrible experiences with edibles because they ate too much. Take the recommended single dose. Wait to feel it. You will. You do not want to pull a Maureen Dowd . But even if you do, you'll be fine. And you're not a New York Times columnist, so you won't be mocked about it for the rest of your life.

OK, weed advice over. Here's some weed news: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is thumbing his nose at acting Attorney General Matt Platkin's memo to law enforcement that said off-duty cops can't be punished for using legally-purchased cannabis. Fulop said Jersey City will fire cops who test positive , potentially setting up a legal fight between the city and state. Hours later, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis announced a similar policy. The PBA has also weighed in. More on that below.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NONPROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 65

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Elizabeth at 9:30 a.m. for a dispensary tour then in Perth Amboy at 11 a.m. for a train station groundbreaking

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Trump initially tried to end the interview with the words 'That's it!' but remained in his seat to discuss the recent hole-in-one he said he scored while playing golf." — The Washington Post's Donna Cassata

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Gov. Tom Kean, former labor leader Hetty Rosenstein, Scutari COS Tony Teixeira, SJG's Rich DeRose, HSG's Matt Anderson

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

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

ABSTAIN — PBA tells members to hold off using recreational cannabis for now: 'Too many open-ended questions,' by POLITICO's Daniel Han: New Jersey's largest police union is telling its members to hold off on using recreational cannabis — for now. In a memo to members of the Policemen's Benevolent Association, union leaders warned there are too many unanswered questions from the state regarding the use of recreational cannabis by off-duty officers that could result in negative consequences. Sales of recreational cannabis begin Thursday. "If I was an active-duty officer that's going to be in a patrol car the next day or in a prison cell-block in a day or two, I would ask you to please wait." PBA President Pat Colligan said in an interview. "We're not really taking a hard yes or no position. We're just saying we don't want anyone to be the test case. This is really murky ground. ... Let's be careful about it."

MURPHY'S PREFERRED DRUG — Murphy advocates for less restrictive liquor licensing to help spur economic recovery, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: Gov. Phil Murphy wants New Jersey's liquor licensing system to be reformed and less restrictive as businesses are making their way back from the pandemic. Murphy on Tuesday night was asked about liquor license reform during WNYC's "Ask Governor Murphy" program and said the process of awarding licenses to restaurants is something "we really want to see reformed." "Other states have done it, and it's a game changer for main streets for downtown [areas], an absolute game changer," Murphy said. "And coming out of this pandemic, with the economic recovery … we want to put as much jet fuel into that recovery as possible. Getting a smart, sensible, responsible liquor license reform in place is going to be a big chunk of that."

IT'S 'STRONGER & FAIRER' NOT 'STRONGER & FASTER' — "Here's why NJ plan to extend retirement benefits to thousands is stuck in neutral," by The Record's Daniel Munoz: "Three years after New Jersey promised to expand retirement benefits to thousands of Garden State workers, the program remains in limbo, with no set timeline to start nor a firm idea of how many will opt in. Enacted by state legislators and Gov. Phil Murphy in 2019, the New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program was supposed to make IRA-type retirement funds available to state residents who work at private businesses with 25 or more workers. … The state missed the law's original starting date of March 28, 2021, citing the pandemic for the delay. Another March deadline came and went this year, and it's unclear when benefits will be available, said Luis De La Hoz, a member of the state board charged with overseeing the program. His hope is for Secure Choice to be available by January, though even that could be an ambitious timeline."

ID-IOCY — "It's tough for NJ's homeless to get IDs. But to access vital services, they must show IDs," by The Record's Ashley Balcerzak: "For two years Alberto Volpe rotated between crashing on friends' couches, bunking in Newark shelters where he felt unsafe, sleeping on the street, or using his paycheck for a night or two of reprieve in hotels. All the while, he felt trapped in a Kafkaesque nightmare. To receive help with housing or other forms of public assistance, or to collect a paycheck from a new job, he needed his birth certificate and Social Security card, neither of which he had. To obtain those crucial IDs, he needed other documents that proved his identity, which he also didn't possess. And with most public offices closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to reach a live person to ask questions, let alone get help. 'You hit obstacles every turn you get,' said Volpe. … The bureaucracy and hurdles that someone experiencing housing insecurity must clear to access a photo ID, birth certificate or Social Security card can delay the very help needed to pull the individuals out of homelessness, including rental assistance, public housing, welfare and other social service programs."

THE KASSEL DOCTRINE — " State judge who told parties he had 'no expertise in family law' faces discipline," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: "A Camden County Superior Court judge is in hot water over a temporary assignment in the vicinage's family division. The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct filed a formal complaint Tuesday against Judge Michael J. Kassel, saying he violated court rules and impinged on the judiciary's integrity by failing to familiarize himself with family law, complaining about his temporary assignment, and repeatedly telling parties he lacked the expertise to adjudicate their cases. Kassel, who has been a judge for 20 years, was assigned to Camden County's family division once a week for roughly two months, from April to June 2021."

— "Pregnancy & equity at Edna Mahan. The woman at the center of the prison controversy explains it all. | An Opinion Q&A"

— " 'People's Hearing' presses for federal aid — and more say"

— " I'll keep wearing a mask on trains, planes and buses. Doctors told me why I should. | Opinion"

BIDEN TIME

MIDNIGHT CALLBOY — "Rizzo faces FCC complaint for after-midnight robocall," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "A 12:14 AM robocall from Republican congressional candidate Phil Rizzo has left at least one resident of New Jersey's 7th district infuriated. 'It is midnight,' said Caitlin, whose last name is being withheld by the New Jersey Globe to protect her privacy. 'Why the fuck is the NJ GOP leaving me transphobic voicemails?' The robocall offers a message, seemingly in Rizzo's voice, attacking the front-runner in the race, former Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. … Caitlin said she has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. … Rizzo's robocall fails to identify who is paying for the call. That's something required by the FCC."

— "Warden at Epstein jail who led Fort Dix quietly retires amid federal probe"

— " Cook Political Report moves NJ-3 to likely Democratic"

— "N.J. man charged with federal hate crimes after antisemitic attacks in Lakewood"

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LOCAL

SANITATION AND (ALLEGED) POLITICAL CORRUPTION: A MOST NEW JERSEY STORY — "Mayor's foe was the only person to get Paterson sanitation tickets in entire week," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "The pair of sanitation tickets that mayoral candidate Alex Mendez received two years ago were the only ones issued for those offenses throughout Paterson for an entire week, according to city records. Mendez, now a councilman running for mayor, has claimed the recycling and garbage receptacle summonses represented selective enforcement against him by Mayor Andre Sayegh's administration. Paterson Press filed a public records request for all such summons issued by city inspectors during the week in 2020 from Monday, Feb. 10, through Friday, Feb. 15, which was the period when Mendez was cited. The city's response contained just two tickets for the week in question: the ones against Mendez. Paterson has 159,000 residents and about 23,000 properties."

NO LONGER A MCBRIDESMAID — "Trenton council VP resigns, citing broken relationship with McBride," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Marge Caldwell-Wilson resigned Tuesday as vice president of Trenton council, citing irreconcilable differences with president Kathy McBride and her desire to focus on the concerns of constituents. The North Ward councilwoman called her time as a member of this legislative body 'tumultuous' and chastised colleagues for being indecorous toward each other and blowing off council meeting rules. She claimed communications with McBride 'ceased to exist,' but she did not elaborate on what caused their relationship to sour. 'I can no longer serve as vice president of this council,' Caldwell-Wilson said during civic comment. Caldwell-Wilson told colleagues who are 'anxious' to fill her spot that this was their chance to vie for the vacant vice presidency and to 'go for it.'"

— "Trenton councilman wants meetings back in-person, mayor says it'd cut down chaos"

UNBELIEVABLE. WHO STILL USES CD-ROMS? — "Passaic prosecutor punished staffer who wouldn't process 'inappropriate' photos, suit says," by The Record's Steve Janoski: "Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes allegedly froze out and retaliated against a media specialist in her office who twice refused to process compact discs that contained inappropriate pictures of her and her husband, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in state Superior Court. The specialist, Henry Hernandez of Clifton, claims in his suit that the retaliation worsened during the COVID-19 crisis. His bosses disregarded his medical issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems, and refused to install plastic desk barriers in his unit, the lawsuit said. They also unjustly docked his pay, isolated him by banning visitors to his office and ignored his concerns about being reinfected with the virus after he recovered from the sickness in December 2021, according to court papers. … When he opened the disc on his computer, Hernandez claims he saw Valdes and her husband in 'various stages of undress,' the suit said."

HOWELL: BEST CANDIDATES OF MY GENERATION DESTROYED BY MADNESS, STARVING HYSTERICAL NAKED… — " Howell candidates already at each other's throats with lawsuits, antisemitism allegations," by The Asbury Park Press' Alex N. Gecan: "It took only days for the township's primary season to disintegrate into finger-pointing, name-calling, accusations of bigotry and, finally, a lawsuit. Four Republicans are jockeying for three ballot positions, three of them with the backing of the township's party establishment. That Republican organization has accused the fourth candidate of being unfit for office, inciting violence and not collecting sufficient signatures to become a candidate. A local Democrat, meanwhile, has filed a civil suit challenging the eligibility of two of the Republican establishment's candidates."

GREETINGS FROM ASSBURY PARK — "Asbury Park cops who responded to half-naked football coach incident disciplined," by The Asbury Park Pres' Ken Serrano : "City police disciplined officers who violated police body camera policy during a response in November to Asbury Park High School involving now-fired football coach Nicholas Famularo, who was found partially clothed and showing 'altered behavior,' police said. Department spokesman Sgt. Michael Casey said a few officers were found to have disregarded the department's policy regarding body cameras, which follows state attorney general guidelines. He declined to name the officers, say how many there were or how they violated the policy, citing the confidentiality of internal affairs investigations.

"It appears, however, that the body cameras were turned off shortly after police encountered the half-naked coach. … In the reports filed by the first responding officer, Islam Joshua, and another officer called to back him up, William Whitley, the officers say they knew Famularo. … The reports indicate a woman walked toward officers from the direction of the stadium with Famularo's jacket, keys and cellphone. … The officers later found human feces on a rug in the locker room, vomit on several jerseys and what appeared to be Famularo's pants and sneakers nearby, according to the reports."

PAPA JOHN'S NEXT DOOR CAN'T WAIT — "Atlantic City approves its first retail cannabis shop in old pawnshop," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Amy S. Rosenberg: "An old pawnshop on Pacific Avenue is on track to become Atlantic City's first legal retail cannabis shop after getting zoning approval Tuesday from the state's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. The CRDA, which regulates zoning in the city's Tourism District, unanimously approved an application from Sonraj LLC, to open a class 5 micro dispensary at 2415 Pacific Ave., directly behind Boardwalk Hall, a long-vacant property."

SMALL MAYOR, BIG RAISES — " Atlantic City workers to get $7,500 raises under 2022 budget, mayor says," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "City workers will get substantial raises and the minimum full-time annual salary will increase to $31,000 under a proposed $218.6 million budget, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Tuesday. It amounts to an annual increase of about $7,500 per employee, with a $4,500 raise starting July 1 and another $3,000 starting Jan. 1, 2023, Small said during a news conference in Council Chambers at City Hall with dozens of applauding city workers in the audience. The proposed budget also will lower the municipal property tax rate, Small said. No exact details on the proposed rate were provided at the news conference."

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — "Police chief in N.J. town on leave after domestic violence charge," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Gray: "A police chief in South Jersey has been placed on administrative leave after he was charged in a domestic violence incident, according to public documents and officials. Joshua M. Moline, chief of Woodbury Heights Police Department, was charged with simple assault this week in connection with an off-duty incident that occurred March 19 in Woolwich Township in Gloucester County. Township police responded to a residence around 11 p.m. that night for a dispute. Moline, who lives in Woolwich, is accused of causing injury to someone's neck, according to a summons issued Monday."

— "Atlantic City visitor trend still climbing, SJTA data shows"

— " NJ comptroller: Monmouth County skipped bidding rules in landfill plant contract"

— "Firefighter, [Vineland] end discrimination lawsuit out of court with $275,000 payment"

— "After 3rd fundraiser, 'The Real Rocky' Chuck Wepner has bronze statue coming to Bayonne"

— " Why N.J.'s 1st medical marijuana dispensary won't be selling legal weed Thursday"

— "A roundup of Tuesday's school board election results "

— "Judge to rule on Union County Dem slate that fell one signature short of getting on ballot"

EVERYTHING ELSE

LABOR — "Union files for election at Bayonne Amazon warehouse," by The Jersey Journal's Jake Maher: "A labor union has filed for an election at an Amazon warehouse in Bayonne, setting Hudson County as the scene for the newest confrontation between Amazon and organized labor. The International Brotherhood of Trade Unions (IBOTU) Local 713 filed the petition with the National Labor Relations Board on April 13 requesting an election to be held on May 4."

— " Sussex prosecutors dismiss charges against Missouri man in 2010 botched kidnapping"

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