| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Rise Light & Power | Good Wednesday morning! Gov. Phil Murphy signed seven new gun laws yesterday before flying to his Italian villa. But while New Jersey is adding firearm redistricts , the real question is how many of those — and New Jersey's many other gun ownership regulations — survive the courts. Last week, the Supreme Court vacated a Third Circuit decision upholding New Jersey's 10-round magazine capacity limit. The Supreme Court remanded it to the appellate court, as there's a new standard to consider gun control laws as outlined by Justice Thomas in his decision that concealed carry is a constitutional right: Determining whether they're " consistent with this Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation." It's a strong indication that that law could be overturned. And on Thursday, a gun rights group challenged New Jersey's assault weapons ban. Another law endangered under the new standard? Polls show high support for gun laws in New Jersey, but that's no matter. The Supreme Court, by forcing New Jersey to allow concealed carry, has already pushed the state's gun laws closer to red states. There's no reason to believe it will end there. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 140 WHERE'S MURPHY? Italy QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I thought I should've picked up one of her children and beaten her and her husband with one of the kids. That's how mad I was." — NJ 101.5 host Dennis Malloy's thoughts about a woman who criticized his daughter for leaving a path at a national park to hug a tree HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Photographer Tim Larsen TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com | | | | A message from Rise Light & Power: The Clear Choice for NJ Clean Energy — What would advance New Jersey as a national leader in the fight against climate change and repurpose a decades-old brownfield? Transforming the site of a former coal plant into a gateway for offshore wind with strong community support. That's the Outerbridge Renewable Connector , an "extension cord" connecting clean offshore wind energy to New Jersey's power grid. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
THIRD TIME'S A CHARGE — Murphy signs third major package of gun bills: 'These are not going to be our last words,' by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed into law his third major package of bills designed to strengthen New Jersey's already strict gun laws, fulfilling a campaign promise to get the stalled legislation passed and suggesting additional measures would be coming soon."These are not going to be our last words on gun safety," Murphy said during a bill signing event in Metuchen, alongside Senate President Nick Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and other lawmakers and gun control advocates. "We cannot walk away from here today, none of us, thinking our job is done. Because it is not."
GATEWAY TO GATEWAY — "Light in the tunnels: States Agree to fund stalled Hudson River project," by The New York Times' Patrick McGeeghan: "For the last 20 years, the plan to dig new train tunnels under the Hudson River — among the most ambitious and important transportation projects in the country — has been repeatedly tripped up by political wrangling. So when the governors of New York and New Jersey agreed on Tuesday to split evenly their share of the $14 billion first phase of the project — known as Gateway — the announcement struck a familiar note. After all, two different governors had reached a similar agreement in 2015, when Chris Christie was New Jersey's chief executive and Andrew M. Cuomo was still in charge in Albany. To say that progress on the tunnels has been slow since then would be an understatement. While the actual digging of the tunnels is still at least more than a year away, the announcement on Tuesday was a sign that Gateway might finally be moving forward."
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | CAMPAIGN FINANCE — Scutari says he'll try again in the fall to pass massive campaign finance bill, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Legislation to rewrite New Jersey's campaign finance laws that stalled last week could make a comeback in the fall, Senate President Nick Scutari said Tuesday. "We're going to bring it back up in the fall and I think it will pass," Scutari said in a phone interview. The Elections Transparency Act would make massive changes to New Jersey's campaign finance laws. CALL J.G. WENTWORTH — " NJ's property tax rebates needed now, Murphy says. But checks may not come soon," by The Record's Katie Sobko: "For three months, Gov. Phil Murphy and other top Democrats have hailed the new ANCHOR property tax program as 'historic and direct' relief to 2 million homes at a time of inflation and record-high gas prices. "Those households will get money right back into their pockets, money that right now they need," Murphy said Thursday before signing a $50.6 billion state budget supporting his plan. But those in need of relief may not feel it any time soon. The Treasury Department said payments will go out by May 2023 — six months before elections in which all 120 legislative seats are on the ballot and Democrats will try to hold their majorities in each chamber. Republican lawmakers who voted against the budget criticized the rebates as "gimmicks" that won't reach households until next year, while residents struggle with inflation and rising costs to live, such as $5 a gallon gas. Asked by a reporter Thursday about the delay in the ANCHOR rebates, Murphy said questioning the timing looks at the program as 'a glass half-empty.'" LEAD PAINT: DELICIOUS BUT DEADLY — "N.J. aims to protect kids from lead paint poisoning with $170M plan to safeguard thousands of homes," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio: "The newly-adopted state budget commits $170 million to remove lead paint from thousands of older homes, a decision community advocates hailed as 'the beginning of the end for lead paint poisoning in New Jersey.' There are an estimated 250,000 homes in New Jersey and 29 million nationwide that are contaminated by lead paint. People ingest lead as paint ages and flakes off into dust. It poses the greatest harm to children, who can suffer brain damage, slowing their development and causing learning disabilities and behavior problems. Nearly 4,000 children tested positive for elevated lead levels in their blood during the fiscal year that ended in June 2019, according to the state Department of Health." THEIR WEBSITES WERE MADE WITH GEOCITIES — "Six N.J. municipal websites tell marriage license applicants they must be of opposite sex," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "Excited to start their lives together after getting engaged in October, Jesselly De La Cruz and Virginia Orozco took the first step toward marriage: getting a license from their town hall. But their excitement faded when they saw the language on Fairview Borough's website, which says two people must be of the opposite sex to get married. Orozco and De La Cruz are women … The episode in Fairview, a borough in southern Bergen County, sparked De La Cruz, director of the Latino Action Network Foundation, and her team to review language on websites in all New Jersey municipalities … The websites of Fairview, New Hanover, Hanover, South Toms River, and Estelle Manor all incorrectly cite that marriage licenses are available only to opposite-sex couples, and direct same-sex couples to seek civil unions. None of the towns responded to requests for comment." PATERSON TO REOPEN SHUTTERED MILLS THANKS TO INFLUX OF CHILD LABOR — "Teens in N.J. will now be able to work longer hours as Murphy signs law ," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "Some teenagers are now permitted to work longer hours during the busy summer months in New Jersey under a bipartisan bill Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Tuesday as employers in the state continue to face staffing issues. The law (A422) allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work up to 50 hours a week and up to 10 hours a day during the summer months in the Garden State. It makes permanent a 2021 expansion of working hours in the state." — " Testa vows to help microbreweries after new ABC restrictions" —"N.J. Supreme Court: 'High-crime area' not enough cause for police stop and frisk " —"It's summer recess for the N.J. Legislature too, leaving some bills in legislative limbo" —"State funding for University Hospital rebuild falls short, advocates say"
| | | | A message from Rise Light & Power:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | —Stile: "Abortion ruling may throw a 'lifeline' to vulnerable Democrats in midterms" —"Chairman Jones 'disappointed' with Kean"
| | LOCAL | | MORRISTOWN APPROPRIATES $4,200 FOR 'GEORGE WASHINGTON SMOKED WEED HERE' HISTORICAL MARKER — "[Morristown] is latest example of why local weed businesses can't compete with out-of-state companies ," by NJ Advance Media's Jelani Gibson: "In Morristown, one local businesses is calling foul play, alleging that the municipality favored an out-of-state operator with deep pockets to the detriment of other New Jersey applicants … Due to the way the cannabis law was written by legislators, the approving state entity, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, has little jurisdiction over the way the municipalities select applicants … The applicant putting forward the allegations to Morristown, Donna Mastrantonio, said the town scored applicants arbitrarily and put in requirements that would have made it difficult for most small and conditional license applicants to compete. "Conditional license applicants are a type of applicant that are supposed to be given priority status once they make it to the state approval level. The municipal selection of Massachusetts-based Uma Flowers is at the center of the dispute. The company asserted they were the most qualified … In a scoring sheet provided by Mastrantonio, some of the requirements included requiring applicants to have experience with banking in the cannabis industry and a letter from a financial institution stating awareness of the activities. Other listed requirements included experience in supporting or conducting clinical research and previous experience in highly regulated industries. The requirements create a landscape where only cannabis companies that have already been operating would beat out applicants trying to start their business for the first time, Mastrantonio said." IT'S GOOD TO BE IN THE SPEAKER'S DISTRICT — "Carteret gets $8M more in state funds for ferry terminal project," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell: "The borough is receiving $8 million in direct state funding for the Carteret Intermodal Ferry Terminal building project under the 2023 state budget. The funding was announced Thursday by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-19th district and Carteret Mayor Daniel J. Reiman … The funds in the state budget were approved by the legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy on June 30. The funding is in addition to $7.75 million in the state fiscal year 2022 budget for Phase I of the project, which includes waterside docking, slips and upland improvements.' WORKERS IN THE STUDENT UNION OF UNION COLLEGE OF UNION COUNTY MAY UNIONIZE — "Union County College's new name has been announced," by NJ 101.5's Jen Ursilio: "Union County College has officially changed its name. It's now known as Union College of Union County, New Jersey. The change was approved by both the college's Board of Trustees and Board of Governors at a meeting last month. 'Adopting the name of Union College moves us into the future, to showcase our academic excellence and national recognition,' said Union College President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin." RESIDENTS WHO HAVE TROUBLE FINDING PARKING IN SHORE TOWNS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DRIVE TO DEAL, WHERE THEY MAY ALSO HONK FREELY — " Parking in shore towns taking a new turn," by The Press of Atlantic City's Selena Vazquez: "Residents familiar with the shore towns here say finding parking on weekends or on big summer holidays is a motorized game of musical chairs. One weekends, side streets quick fill up with crawling cars as motorists circle the block waiting for a departing vehicle. In Atlantic City, where millions of tourists visit the casinos annually, parking is plentiful, if pricey. But south of the casino resort, Downbeach residents, visitors and officials have accepted the fact that their communities never have enough parking for everyone … In a neighboring Ventnor at a city council meeting last month, several residents also complained about parking problems in different variations." —"Bank hasn't sought to collect judgment, but Gilmore says he's reached a settlement on defaulted loan" —" Hoboken moving forward on plan to work with HCIA to build $192.5M municipal complex" —" Delay in selling South Hunterdon school bonds could cost millions: superintendent" | | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
I DON'T WANNA FILL UP, I'M AN OBSOLETE WORKPLACE. THERE'S A MILLION COOLER PLACES THAT YOU CAN WORK IN — "Lonely last days in the suburban office park," by The New York Times' Emily Badger: "The wooded campus that once housed the global headquarters of Toys "R" Us in Wayne, N.J., is 85 percent vacant today. On a weekday, the parking spots for 1,900 cars are mostly empty … Today suburban office parks have drawn far less attention than downtown offices that are also threatened by remote wok … 'The most obvious are the empty parking lots,' said Louis Greenwald, the majority leader of the New Jersey General Assembly, who has proposed legislation making it easier to reinvent these places. Of other signs, he said: 'The worst and the most depressing are that these buildings fall into disrepair pretty quickly when they're not occupied. So you see facades that are damaged. You see weeds in the community lawns that are unkept. Unclean windows.' … In their prime, suburban office parks offered a modern alternative to cramped office towers, and easy car access when mass transit was faltering. They promised, in the place of seemingly noisy, congested, unpredictable downtowns, a quiet space to sit in a cubicle and concentrate. That tranquil ideal, however, might be described differently today. "You're in the middle of nowhere here," said David DeConde, the real estate development lead with Point View Wayne Properties, which purchased the Toys "R" Us campus in 2019 amid the company's bankruptcy."
THE JERSEY DEVIL CONSIDERS GOING DOWN TO GEORGIA — "Georgia police department coming to N.J. this week to recruit new officers," by NJ Advance Media's Amethyst Martine: "Alpharetta police officers are coming to the Garden State looking to hire police officers to join their department in Georgia at a unique hiring event. The department is coming to Hasbrouck Heights High School on July 7 and 8, where applicants can go through most of the process to become an officer … Alpharetta police Capt. Jakai Braithwaite, a New Jersey native, came up with the idea. 'I wanted to think above the box and do something unique and unprecedented,' Braithwaite said. Pat Colligan, president of the the New Jersey State Policeman's Benevolent Association, said that policing agencies are recruiting in ways like never before." —"Forgotten heroes Overlooked and underpaid, N.J. EMTs run to help others. But who helps them?" —" Mountainside hospital sued by widow of celebrity chef" —"Wanted: Hundreds of canoes and kayaks to break a world record in New Jersey " —"Costco gas stations in N.J. will be for members only starting [Tuesday]" | | | | A message from Rise Light & Power: The Outerbridge Renewable Connector (Outerbridge) – a proposal before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities – would enable the state to harness offshore wind energy by repurposing an abandoned brownfield, revitalizing an industrial-zoned waterfront, and supporting the local and state economy without impacting our beaches.
Outerbridge, proposed by Rise Light & Power, would be an underground electrical transmission project functioning as an "extension cord" and connecting energy generated by offshore wind farms to New Jersey's power grid. Outerbridge would support New Jersey's economic growth and resilience strategy. It is projected to deliver clean energy to 1.4 million homes and generate more than $1 billion in economic activity.
The project would minimize community disruption, protect environmentally sensitive areas and repurpose the past to power the future. Outerbridge would play a key role addressing the health and economic dangers of climate change while protecting the Jersey Shore we know and love. | | | | | | | 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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