News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: County Democratic parties defend the line

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: County Democratic parties defend the line

Aug 23, 2022

Presented by NextEra Energy Transmission

Good Tuesday morning!

In May, a federal judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by progressives challenging the constitutionality of New Jersey's "county line" primary system.

And over the past month, three political parties filed motions to intervene on the side of the defendants, to keep the ballot structure in place: Union County Democrats, Middlesex County Democrats and Camden County Democrats. So it's the county party chaired by Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union), the county party Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) belongs to, and the Camden County Democratic Committee, the leading party of South Jersey Democrats. It's essentially the coalition that controls the legislature. (Camden County Democrats, it should be noted, have pioneered ways to take full advantage of the ballot structure).

I'm told it's a coincidence that those are the three parties that filed. And it makes sense for the political organizations that would be most affected by the lawsuit to intervene. What I don't know is why no Republican county political parties, most of which also derive advantage from the line, haven't sought to intervene. At least not yet.

In the Camden County Democrats' filing, attorney Bill Tambussi said if the lawsuit succeeded it would take away the party's "right to endorse, and freedom to associate, with Democratic candidates for office that best represent CCDC's ideologies and preferences."

New Jersey Working Families Executive Director Sue Altman, whose organization is one of the plaintiffs, said the failure to dismiss the case "scared the Democratic machine into action" and that "they're scrambling to defend an indefensible system." No one I contacted from the three county parties went on the record.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 188

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Passaic for a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony.

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The fact is that the GOP doesn't really have a plan but a political strategy. And it's simply this: Attack the Inflation Reduction Act as a tax-and-spend hammer on the beleaguered middle class, and scare people into believing that squadrons of newly hired Internal Revenue agents will be 'coming after you'" — The Record's Charles Stile

PROGRAMMING NOTE — NJ Playbook will be off next week. I'll return to your inbox on Tuesday, Sept. 6

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

MENLO PARK — "Veterans home employees sue Murphy admin, citing ban on masks at start of COVID pandemic ," by The Record's Scott Fallon: "Dozens of employees of New Jersey's veterans homes that were devastated by COVID-19 are suing the Murphy administration, claiming that a cascading series of poor decisions — including barring masks in the pandemic's earliest days — led to their getting ill and caused one of the nation's highest nursing home death tolls. The plaintiffs in the 41 lawsuits filed this month range from nurses' aides to a physician who treated residents to family members who say they became ill when their relatives brought the virus home from the Menlo Park facility … 'These employees stared COVID down face-to-face and were the epitome of health care heroes,' said Roseland lawyer Paul da Costa, who filed the lawsuits. 'Unfortunately, they were put in a boat without a paddle, facing a storm no one had ever seen before.' Almost 200 residents and two employees at the state-run homes in Paramus and Menlo Park died during the peak of the pandemic in spring 2020 as COVID spread swiftly through the facilities. Documents obtained by The Record and NorthJersey.com over the course of two years revealed serious problems with infection control, staffing levels and distribution of personal protective equipment at Paramus and Menlo Park."

—" Key stats show NJ nursing homes handling COVID-19"

MILLIONS IN PET PROJECTS AND NOT ONE DOG PARK? — " Lawmaker pet projects added millions to the NJ budget. See where the money is going," by The Record's Katie Sobko: "The Edison Jets Pop Warner program will soon get the new $1 million indoor facility it's been hoping for. The same goes for the Metuchen School District, which is getting $2 million for Astroturf at a middle school, and the $3 million East Brunswick wanted for its skating rink and recreation facility. And those are all thanks to Middlesex County's own Sen. Patrick Diegnan. A few municipalities represented by New Jersey's top-ranking lawmakers will also receive an influx of cash for their projects this year. That includes $1.5 million to Linden for capital projects, courtesy of Senate President Nick Scutari, who lives there. Another $6 million is going to the city of Passaic for the expansion of Pulaski Park, and $10 million will go to its parking authority for capital improvements, thanks to Bergen County Sen. Paul Sarlo, the Budget Committee chairman whose legislative district includes Passaic. And Woodbridge is getting $3 million — half for a new special needs facility and half to dredge the marina — at the request of township resident Sen. Joseph Vitale …. It's an annual practice for lawmakers to add items that benefit their specific communities each year in addition to the larger projects that garner attention in June — such as this year's ANCHOR property tax rebate program and fee holidays. It's done with no debate or public scrutiny, even though taxpayers ultimately finance the projects."

NJ HAS MOST OF ELLIS ISLAND, BUT NY STILL HAS HELLISH ISLAND, AKA STATEN — "NY and NJ at war over congestion pricing, but they've been fighting for years. Here's why," by The Record's Colleen Wilson and Thomas Zambito : "Why is it every few years, just when you think everyone's playing nicely, a fight breaks out between New York and New Jersey? … After spending too much time close together — well, you've lived through the pandemic — every now and then, someone's gotta vent. The recent feud between the neighbor states over congestion pricing – the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to charge drivers as much as $23 to travel south of 60th Street – has had plenty of that. 'I'm sick of New York City mooching off us,' U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer … First, a little history. The rivalry between these two geographic frenemies has, through the years, played out in barrooms, sports arenas, state capitols and the U.S. Supreme Court. The nation's highest court was asked to decide who owned Ellis Island in the 1990s. The stakes couldn't have been lower. The winner would get some property tax revenue, more if the land was developed … In 1998, Justice David Souter wrote the 6-3 decision of the court, giving roughly four and a half acres to New York, including much of the immigration building where some 12 million had passed through, many believing they had just landed in New York. The majority — 23 acres of landfill — went to New Jersey."

MAGIC 8 BALL, WHICH HAS BETTER TRACK RECORD, SAYS 'OUTLOOK NOT SO GOOD' — "Murphy's record $50.6B N.J. budget spurs good news from Wall Street," by NJ Advance Media's Derek Hall: "S&P Global Ratings on Friday upgraded New Jersey's credit outlook from stable to positive, marking Wall Street's first stamp of approval for the massive $50.6 billion state budget Gov. Phil Murphy signed on July 1. Included in that budget is another full payment to New Jersey's underfunded public worker pension fund, a key factor in S&P's latest boost to the state's credit outlook. 'The outlook revision follows the second consecutive year the state has budgeted the full annual actuarially determined contribution to its retirement systems,' S&P credit analyst David Hitchcock said in a statement."

—"The race for Rice's Senate seat by the numbers"

—" Random drug testing: NJ cops improve on compliance, but problems remain"

—"How should NJ spend $228.3 million in Ida recovery money? State wants your opinion"

—Former DOH official named to top posts at Planned Parenthood's New Jersey operation

—" Lanza, Pappas mulling challenge to Zwicker for 16th District Senate seat"

—"Warning of crisis, child care advocates ask for federal dollars"

—"Reformers push for Megan's Law changes for juvenile offenders"

—" Bid to ban fossil-fuel investments just one of many"

—Opinion: "Families should be protected against harassment at home"

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.

BIDEN TIME

IRA-TE — "New Jersey GOP candidates rail against inflation. So what's their plan?" by The Record's Charles Stile: "A survey and interviews with several New Jersey House Republican candidates produced a mashup of broad-stroke, focus-group campaign talking points and tired free-market and supply-side nostrums from the Reagan era. To a certain extent, this could be seen as an encouraging sign. Dusted-off nostrums from an earlier time are far preferable to the nationalist MAGA nonsense of the Trump era. And there has been a shift in tenor now that the Republican candidates no longer have to pander solely to the cultists who flex their muscle in the primaries. They are casting themselves as reasonable, bipartisan brokers. Still, the Republicans have yet to formulate a compelling alternative to the Inflation Reduction Act. Like the prospect of gas prices dropping to under $3 a gallon, the GOP counterproposal seems a long way off. "

—"Pascrell vs Prempeh vs Armstrong"

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LOCAL

MAN EQUATES GENITALIA WITH PARAPHERNALIA — "Grandmother to Wayne school board: Sex ed lessons open 'Pandora's box' of issues," by The Record's Philip DeVencentis: "The school board took another step on Thursday toward approving lesson plans that build in the state's new standards for health and physical education, and parents who have long criticized the proposed changes to the curriculum continued to tear into them. But the lesson plans, which cover topics of gender expression, pregnancy and puberty, were in draft form. The K-12 district's administration will accept feedback for the next several days, leading to what is now scheduled for a final vote by the Board of Education on Sept. 8. That did not stop Wendy Limandri, a grandmother and registered nurse, from speaking her mind about the proposed changes this week. 'It's crap,' she exclaimed. 'No one gets to talk to my kid about their body parts — it opens up a Pandora's box.' … Some opponents of the revised curriculum tried to convince Wayne trustees to do the same, and they took to the Scripture to get their points across. Dale Cavanaugh, of Kingston Road, brought his cellphone to the lectern and quoted the holy Gospel, according to Matthew. 'They may have heard of sex before,' he said just moments earlier. 'They may have heard of methamphetamine, heroin and pot, too, but we don't show 'em how to cook meth, shoot up smack or roll a joint. Or do we? Or is that where we're going next?'"

GOOD NEWS FOR NJ 101.5: HE'S AVAILABLE TO BE THEIR NEXT ON-AIR 'PERSONALITY! — "Hamilton BOE candidate who made hateful remarks drops out of race," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Former running mates Stacy Byrne and Monica Quaste denounced the remarks in a statement to The Trentonian, saying they regretted not vetting the ex-attorney and fired realtor before he joined their Traditional Education Advocates slate. 'We deplore, condemn and abhor these vile, hateful, decisive comments and have demanded Nick step down and he has,' the candidates said. 'We sincerely and with heartfelt sympathy apologize to all for not properly vetting our former running mate. In the little time we have known him, Nick has never expressed any hate or vile comments to us … ' Ferrara made some of the posts while employed as a realtor at Smires and Associates, which still popped up in internet searches as being associated with the political candidate. The firm's founder, Edward Smires, told The Trentonian that Ferrara was fired in February, days after he was brought into a meeting and asked whether he authored the Gab posts or had been hacked. After Ferrara confirmed making the remarks, he was asked to resign. 'As I am sure you can imagine, the mood in the room quickly changed,"'Smires said."

SATANISTS, VIEWING IT FROM THE EAST, PLEASED WITH PLANS FOR UPSIDE-DOWN CROSS —" Jersey Shore pier in shape of cross in deeply religious town raises concerns," by NJ Advance Media's Jackie Roman: "Jersey Shore pier in shape of cross in deeply religioA beach pier in Ocean Grove destroyed during Superstorm Sandy is being rebuilt by a local religious organization, but the new shape has some residents concerned it too closely resembles a cross. Members of the small seaside town's LGTBQ+ community and allies are saying the cross crosses a line, but many are afraid to voice their grievances with the Camp Meeting Association, said Douglas Grote, a local resident and retired Presbyterian pastor. The cross-shaped pier feels like 'Christian bullying,' said Grote, who has penned letters to local and state officials asking for intervention. 'I am so deeply concerned.' he said. 'And I am so concerned from my neighbors who are scared and bullied.' … When asked if the pier was purposely redesigned to resemble a Christian cross, seen as a representation of the crucifixion of Jesus, [Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association President Michael] Badger said the design was, 'highly functional, to be in the shape that it's been designed to be.'"

—" Confusion lingers on cancer-causing toxin in Franklin amid conflicting info"

—"Ocean County commissioners avert war over Consumer Affairs appointment"

—"DiVincenzo proposes 'Ronald L. Rice Athletic Complex'"

—" Police investigating antisemitic materials left at Brigantine homes"

R.I.P — "Dorothy Power, Five-Term Middlesex Freeholder, Dies At 90"

—"Four of five Cape May Council seats are up for a vote this fall"

—" Would NJ be lowering standards in order to hire enough teachers?"

— "Ocean County prosecutor sought Toms River election records"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

YOU ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION — "Wawa and QuickChek are NJ staples. Why aren't they found in its biggest cities?" by The Record's Liam Quinn and Lauren Sforza: "[I]you're traveling through any of North Jersey's three biggest cities — Newark, Paterson and Jersey City — you won't find either of these Garden State institutions, which might come as a surprise … The reason for the lack of urban locations, according to Rutgers business professor Arturo Osorio, could be that it isn't in the best interest of either company to invest in major city storefronts. 'Large convenience stores need to assess if there is enough people or the type of customers to be visiting in the area that they are going to,' he said. 'And if there are enough competitors that will take these customers away from them or not.' …Essentially, Wawas and QuickCheks get much of their business from commuters in cars who are stopping for gas and perhaps a quick bite to eat. In cities like Newark, Paterson and Jersey City, residents often rely less on cars and thus don't necessarily need an all-inclusive gas station."

NOT-SO-FAB FIVE YEAR FETTY — "Rapper Fetty Wap faces at least 5 years in prison for drugs ," by The AP: "Rapper Fetty Wap pleaded guilty Monday to a conspiracy drug charge that carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence, admitting that he participated in a massive drug trafficking racket that moved drugs from the West Coast to Long Island. The plea in Central Islip came before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Locke, who had revoked his bond and sent him to jail two weeks ago. After the plea, he was returned to jail to await sentencing, though a date was not immediately set … The "Trap Queen" rapper was initially arrested last October on charges alleging he participated in a conspiracy to smuggle large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs into the New York City area."

—"Ex-N.J. child protection worker charged with attempted sex trafficking"

—" Burlington County youth pastor charged with sexual exploitation of juveniles"

—"NJCU will survive its financial emergency, but its expansion projects may not, experts say "

A message from NextEra Energy Transmission:

NextEra Energy didn't become the world's largest generator of wind and solar power overnight. We've been building and operating large-scale energy projects across North America for decades and powering New Jersey for nearly a quarter-century. Our first solar farm in the Garden State was built in West Deptford. Yet, our contributions have gone far deeper—from counseling local businesses on how to reach clean energy goals and operating battery storage facilities to providing dozens of solar sites on buildings from Cape May to High Point and working to help New Jersey reach its offshore wind goals. We know how to get big, complex projects done on time and on budget. We power homes, neighborhoods, and entire cities, all while putting customers first, prioritizing the environment, and working with local communities to create jobs and limit disruptions. NextEra Energy Transmission is committed to empowering a greener New Jersey.