| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! The national culture wars are hitting New Jersey , focused on the state's learning standards, developed in 2020, and two laws requiring that students learn about the contributions of LGBTQ people (among other groups) to society and the "diversity of gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities, and religious tolerance." Just last week, Fox News' website wrote two articles based on one sample lesson plan in Westfield, and Rep. Jeff Van Drew got in on it. School curriculum standards are, of course, a legitimate policy debate. But now, with so much attention focused on the new Florida law and mainstream society's increased acceptance of gay and trans people, what the standards and laws actually say is typically lost amid the heated rhetoric and cherry-picked examples of the most radical things partisans can find in any one of New Jersey's nearly 600 school districts. Also usually unmentioned is the fact that parents have a right to opt their children out of these lessons. I hope to do more reporting on this soon, but take a look at my article from last summer to get a good idea of what the standards and laws actually say versus how they're being distorted by people using them to inflame the Republican base. But I want to address one piece of rhetoric that I think is dangerous. Lately, commentators on the right are characterizing these standards and laws as "indoctrination" or, arguably worse still, "grooming." That's playing on an age-old anti-gay trope that there's a compulsion among non-heterosexual people to convert vulnerable children to their sexual orientation. Nevermind that some of the organizations that have had the worst sexual abuse scandals have historically been anti-gay. Do you really need me to name them? New Jersey is a populous, complicated state. I think it's realistic that if you look hard enough you can find some lesson plans in a few of the state's thousands of schools that tread into controversial territory. But if your main problem is that you don't believe children should learn acceptance of LGBTQ people in school, you should argue that point instead of suggesting some sinister conspiracy. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 55 WHERE'S MURPHY? In Moorestown at 11 a.m. to talk about affordable housing. Media: "Ask Governor Murphy" at 6 p.m. on News 12. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "You knew which towns you weren't allowed in, and which towns didn't want you there … You wanted to avoid Clark at all costs, because you knew as a Black person driving through Clark you'd be targeted." — Rev. Charles Boyer, who grew up in nearby Plainfield in the 1970s and 80s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Rob Karabinchak, Dem operative Mickey Quinn, InsiderNJ's Pete Oneglia, Hope Mayor Tim McDonough, West Orange Republican Mark Meyerowitz, LD6's Matt Brinn TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
AT THIS POINT, WHY NOT JUST WAIT NINE DAYS? — 'N.J. legal weed market could finally get the OK on Monday. Or not," by NJ Advance Media's Suzette Parmley: "When the Cannabis Regulatory Commission met late last month, those closely watching New Jersey's push toward legal weed thought history would be made and the stage would be set for sales to begin sometime this spring. Instead, the panel rejected eight applications from medical marijuana dispensaries — formally known as alternative treatment centers — to also sell adult recreational cannabis. On Monday, the commission will convene again in a special meeting, with the start of recreational sales, an item on the agenda, at center stage once again. Those closely following the process — from operators to Trenton lobbyists and lawyers dealing with the business of cannabis — believe something will happen at the meeting. This time, however, nobody is making any predictions."
DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE ROCKS THAT WE'VE DROPPED — "NJ DOT told to remove rocks it dropped into the Delaware River," by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "A work crew removed rocks from the Delaware River this week that were dumped there by the state Department of Transportation when it completed some work alongside Route 80 in the Delaware Water Gap. Two federal agencies agreed last week that the DOT had not obtained the proper permits for the work and was required to remove the rocks. The violation was 'small and minor' and was 'resolved voluntarily,' said Mike Leggirro, the enforcement officer for the Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District. The rocks and the DOT's work were brought to the attention of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area by local resident and activist Tara Mezzanotte, who inquired into whether the state highway agency had obtained the proper permits to dump the rocks from the National Park Service." REGULATORS, MOUNT UP — Murphy picks 2 new utility regulators, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated two new members to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities — Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, a former Republican lawmaker from Burlington County, and Zenon Christodoulou, the vice chair of the Somerset County Democratic Party. If confirmed by the Senate, they will replace Commissioners Dianne Solomon and Upendra Chivukula, who were put on the board by former Gov. Chris Christie. BA.2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO — " Another pandemic surge? Spurred by the BA.2 variant, NJ's COVID numbers begin to creep up," by The Record's Scott Fallon: "Dr. Schubert Perotte began his week at Jersey City Medical Center with news that every hospital administrator wants to hear: There were zero admitted COVID patients. He prays it stays that way, but knows it probably won't last. Key COVID metrics, including cases and hospitalizations, have slowly begun to rise in the past week statewide as the highly contagious BA.2 variant has solidified itself as the dominant strain in New Jersey. 'These new variants seem to spring up more than we'd like them to,' said Perotte, chair of emergency medicine at the Hudson County hospital. 'Their ability to spread has gotten better and better, and they're more efficient. It's harder for us to guard against them.' Public health officials don't expect to see a surge as severe as the one from the delta variant last summer or the omicron variant." —"Restoring cost-of-living pension hikes for N.J. public workers gets new life as inflation soars" —"NJ schools saw significant drop in student enrollment. Here's what we know" —" Govs. Whitman & Florio: New Jersey's water infrastructure is in bad shape | Opinion" | | | | 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 | |
ACTUAL CANDIDATES: 'SHE'S NOT ONE OF US' — "Bubble candidate Tricia Flanagan faces removal from GOP House primary ballot," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Tricia Flanagan has more than 70,000 followers on Twitter, but just 243 people signed her petition to get on the ballot for the June Republican primary in New Jersey's 4th district. Now she's facing a challenge after an attorney connected to rival Mike Crispi's campaign alleges that as many as 101 the signatures on her petition are invalid. Flanagan needs 200 legitimate signatures to be on the ballot and it will be up to a judge to decide if she's a real candidate. Lisa Natale-Contessa, a former Toms River school board candidate, is challenging the petitions of Flanagan and another perennial candidate, Robert Shapiro … In her challenge filed with the Secretary of State's office, she claims that Flanagan's petition signers include non-registered voters, voters who live in a different congressional district, registered Democrats, and voters who signed other petitions, including Crispi."
—"N.J. minority voters tend to be more moderate than Democrats as a whole, poll shows" —"Rep. Frank Pallone tests positive for COVID-19, says symptoms are 'mild'"
| | BIDEN TIME | | COLONIA — "A mystery in Colonia: 94 people from 1 N.J. high school developed brain tumors. The question is why?" by NJ Advance Media's Matthew Stanmyre: "One in a billion. Those were the odds Al and Michele Lupiano were told they had drawn. It was August 2021, and Michele had finally seen a doctor about the hearing loss and headaches that had plagued her for years. An MRI determined she had a rare brain tumor called an acoustic neuroma — the exact same tumor her husband was diagnosed with 22 years earlier. Her neurologist was flabbergasted. In 40 years of medicine, he had never heard of a married couple who shared the diagnosis. The odds got even longer. Because the same exact day as Michele's harrowing diagnosis, Al's younger sister, Angela DeCillis, was also diagnosed with a brain tumor, this one terminal glioblastoma. Three relatives with no known genetic or environmental predispositions, all from the Woodbridge Township and Colonia area, and all with rare brain tumors ... Lupiano soon learned these diagnoses bore an unnerving similarity to a baffling tragedy that had befallen another Colonia family. Fourteen years earlier, sisters Janice Wisinski and Cheryl Black were diagnosed with rare cancerous brain tumors literally eight days apart. Like the Lupianos and DeCillis, Black and Wisinski were from the Colonia area … That's when a chilling realization gripped Al Lupiano. All five of these people had graduated from Colonia High, a public school built in 1967 that draws its 1,300 students from Colonia and parts of Woodbridge Township. It seemed to be the only common thread they shared ... As of Thursday, the number of cases identified is 94, according to Lupiano. All either taught, worked or attended Colonia High." DO THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST NJ 101.5 LISTERNSHIP? — "Why this coastal county has the highest covid death rate in its state ," by The New York Times' Tracey Tully and Shlomo Schorr: " A large share of its residents have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus, and its Covid-19 death rate is the highest in the state. The county has recorded 459 virus-related deaths for every 100,000 residents, state data show. This outpaces fatality levels in every other county in New Jersey … Explanations for the high number of deaths in Ocean County range, and include the large percentage of residents older than 85 and low vaccination rates among people 65 and under, a factor that some studies show is most closely tied to partisan politics. The county also has a large and growing Orthodox Jewish population, who were hit hard during the first wave of the pandemic and whose vaccination rates are far lower than statewide averages … 'At this stage of the game, whoever made the decision to get it has gotten it,' John G. Ducey, the longtime Democratic mayor of Brick … said about the vaccine. 'A lot of people who are not in favor of getting the vaccine make it on a political judgment,' he said, adding, 'They don't want an invasion of their bodies.' … The county's low vaccination rates do not apply to all age groups. Among people over 65, who are considered most vulnerable to severe disease, 88 percent are vaccinated, just six percentage points lower than the statewide rate." LAKEWOOD HATE CRIMES — "Lakewood violent crime spree leads to Manchester man charged with attempted murder, bias," by The Asbury Park Press' Kathleen Hopkins: "A 27-year-old Manchester man is in the Ocean County Jail, charged with attempted murder, carjacking, bias intimidation and other crimes in a violent crime spree in Lakewood and Jackson that left four people injured in separate incidents, authorities said. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said a consortium of law enforcement agencies worked throughout the day and into the night Friday to identify and arrest Dion Marsh in connection with the series of crimes … Marsh is charged with three counts of attempted murder, carjacking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and three counts of bias intimidation. 'The bias charges are based on statements "The bias charges are based on statements he made to detectives after his arrest,'' Billhimer said, declining to elaborate.e made to detectives after his arrest,'''Billhimer said, declining to elaborate." THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION — "Jackson school board member indicted on charges of cyber harassment, invasion of privacy ," by The Asbury Park Press' Ken Serrano and Mike Davis : "A township school board member has been indicted on charges of cyber harassment and invasion of privacy for allegedly posting nude or sexual images of an unnamed victim online or through social media. The two-count indictment against Tara Rivera was issued on March 30 in Superior Court, Monmouth County. Rivera, 47, was first elected to a three-year term on the school board in 2017 and won reelection in 2020. A mother of two, she served as board president in 2021 and currently serves as vice president of the Ocean County School Boards Association. According to the indictment, Rivera committed the crime of cyber harassment by 'knowingly sending, commenting or requesting lewd indecent or obscene material (about a person only identified as J.D.) with the intent to emotionally harm (a person only identified as N.K.) or place N.K. in fear of physical or emotional harm.'" CLARKKK — "N.J. town grapples with history of racism after leaders' slurs surface in secret recordings ," by NJ Advance Media's S.P. Sullivan, Riley Yates and Deion Johnson: "On March 30, NJ Advance Media published audio recordings made by a police whistleblower that capture the mayor and police leaders referring to Black people as 'spooks,' 'shines' and the N-word. The news organization also revealed the details of a secret 2020 settlement that paid the whistleblower, former police Lt. Antonio Manata, and his attorney $400,000 to keep a lid on the scandal. The revelations were the latest in a series of controversies in the small Union County town that has long had a reputation among Black people as a racist place. From a cross-burning in the 1980s, controversies over white-only hiring practices in the 1990s, and fights over public housing in the 2000s, current and former residents say the town has grappled with its reputation as 'ClarKKK,' an ugly nickname reflecting a feeling among minorities that they aren't welcome … The image persists. Speaking with a Black reporter, some residents and visitors to the shopping center, warned him not to stick around the town after dark, saying times haven't changed all that much." PATERSON — " Councilman Alex Mendez wins lawsuit over Paterson mayor's race, but appeal looms," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconcio: "Mayor Andre Sayegh's allies failed on Friday to convince a judge to disqualify Councilman Alex Mendez from Paterson's May 10 mayoral election. But Sayegh's side is considering appeals that seem likely to drag the legal battle over Mendez's candidacy into next week. The case – along with another challenge filed by Sayegh backers against Aslan Goow's candidacy – has stalled the distribution of mail-in ballots, which state law says were supposed to be sent out two weeks ago. 'Quite frankly, at some point we have to move on, because we have to get the ballots printed,' said New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas Brogan. 'I'm wondering who does the delay benefit, if anyone.'" —"How Paterson's five mayoral candidates would attack city's surging crime rate" —Snowflack: " The culture wars descend on the streets of Mendham" —"Hoboken council approves Ferrante as public safety director, $29k pay raise for police chief " —"Lakewood tenant complaints on the rise as landlords increase rent" —" Teaneck Superintendent of Schools Christopher Irving is stepping down in June" —" Trenton Animals Rock locked out of shelter after council rejects contract extension" —"From the Hudson to the Hackensack, Jersey City experiencing another growth spurt" | | | | INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
WHAT ARE BUSES BUT WINGLESS JETS? — "'Wingless flights' coming to Atlantic City airport could be next big thing in aviation," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "'We don't think of ourselves as an airport shuttle but as an extension of the airline's network. We are just using an airplane that doesn't fly,' David Sunde, 30, who founded the company in 2018 with Ben Munson, 35, said Friday. His company's service is booked on aa.com as a leg of the American Airlines journey, and buses are boarded on the tarmac like a flight would be. Once regulatory approvals come through from the federal government, American clients will not only check bags and check in at ACY, but will also go through Transportation Security Administration checks at the smaller airport, Sunde said. They will board a bus at a gate on a tarmac, just like they are boarding a flight, and be taken directly to the gate at PHL. A spokesperson for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which runs the airport, said the agency has shared information on its incentive program with American Airlines, 'for their review and consideration,' but did not say whether the company will receive any incentive payments or credits."
DUNKIN DO NOTS — " How hot is too hot? Man sues over burns from spilled coffee at North Jersey Dunkin'," by The Record's Kaitlyn Kanzler: "A New Jersey couple is suing Dunkin' after the husband claims he received second- and third-degree burns when coffee spilled in his lap. Evan Arlington and his wife Stephanie Arlington-Macias filed a lawsuit Monday, claiming the cups of hot coffee they ordered from the Minnisink Road location in Totowa were too hot. In the lawsuit, Arlington alleges he was severely burned from the coffee. Arlington's attorney, William L. Gold said the temperature of the coffee is still subject to discovery and he has not determined how hot it actually was. The suit claims that Dunkin' was 'negligent in the preparation, sale and service' of the coffee to Arlington." —"NJ Transit pulls commuter buses from Philly's Greyhound terminal, citing dangerous space crunch" —" NJ's education, legislation & community programs are superior for children with autism" —" Rutgers neurosurgeon stripped of top posts, much of $2.2M salary, amid 'ghost surgery' allegations" —"'No man is left behind': Brick veteran died alone, but here's why his funeral was packed" —"State police: Man seriously injured in shooting at American Dream mall" — "'Sitting on a time bomb': Mobile home residents at risk in red-hot housing market"
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