News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: So what about that promised postmortem?

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: So what about that promised postmortem?

Aug 24, 2022

Presented by NextEra Energy Transmission

Good Wednesday morning.

Gov. Phil Murphy still says that a pandemic "postmortem" on the state's pandemic response — a term so appropriate it's almost inappropriate — is still coming. Uh-huh. The thing is, he's been promising that since April 2020.

"There will absolutely be a postmortem," Murphy told reporters yesterday. But, he added, "Unfortunately, we have just under 1,000 People still in the hospital …. It is clearly something that we're living with, which is a good thing. But we're also clearly not out of the woods."

It's not exactly clear from the governor's remarks whether he's suggesting we should wait until New Jersey is "out of the woods" to conduct such an examination, but the governor himself has said it appears Covid is going to be endemic. That would make "out of the woods" a very squishy metric.

New Jersey got hit by the coronavirus early . There were lessons that weren't heeded from other places, but everyone — from the top health officials to nursing staff — was flying near-blind, with not much understanding of how this virus spread or how to treat it. The whole point of a comprehensive investigation into this is to learn from it.

But I've yet to hear any real justification for putting it off so long. The longer it takes, the more the governor gives people reason to believe he's more concerned an investigation will make him look bad than the lessons we can learn from it.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 189

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — NJCOIL's Tom Considine. Missed yesterday: AMG's Brianna Donahue

WHERE'S MURPHY? Media hits: PIX11 at 8:15 a.m. and Fox 29 Philadelphia at 8:45 a.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "[Stacy] Byrne previously told The Trentonian, and [Monica] Quaste posted on her Facebook page that they had no idea [Nick] Ferrara held such views. Yet they have been at those very board meetings where Ferrara has heckled the board, threatened to hold protests at our homes, and in one instance, telling us when he got elected to Congress, he would be back to get us. How could Byrne and Quaste sit through meetings and then claim they had no idea Ferrara was an extremist?" — Hamilton Township School Board members Susan Lombardo and Sue Ferrara (no relation to Nick), in a statement.

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

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NextEra Energy is the world's largest generator of clean, renewable energy from the wind and sun. We have unrivaled experience completing complex, large-scale energy projects, doing them on time and on budget while putting customers first, prioritizing the environment, and working with local communities to create jobs and limit disruptions. It's what we do and what we'll do for New Jersey. That's because NextEra Energy Transmission is committed to empowering a greener New Jersey.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

NICHOLAS FERRARA DIDN'T TESTIFY? — New Jersey Republicans hold 'independent' hearing on sex education, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: New Jersey Senate Republicans held an "independent" virtual hearing Tuesday about sex education and "parental rights" that gave a platform to two national speakers and several outraged parents. The four senators who led the the two-hour hearing did not propose any new legislation nor analyze the specific language of the state's health and physical education standards — which include sex ed. No one from the state Department of Education or Gov. Phil Murphy's administration spoke. The lawmakers at times appeared to repeat misinformation, including that parents would not be able to opt-out of sex education for their children. Since 1980, parents in the state have had a right to opt their children out of sex ed lessons if they choose.

LET'S GET ETHICAL — "Car insurance bills shine spotlight on lawmaker ethics ," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "In New Jersey's part-time Legislature, lawmakers are often involved in legislation related directly to their full-time careers … While vigilant watchdogs might voice concerns about conflicts of interest, lawmakers say their day jobs offer an insider's knowledge that helps them better shape potential policy. But sometimes public policy can lead to financial windfalls. That's why questions are swirling about whether two top lawmakers will financially benefit from a package of bills Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law this month, especially one that will raise minimum car insurance coverage requirements for drivers by as much as four times the prior minimum. Advocates and insurance companies say the change will undoubtedly lead to higher insurance costs for consumers. Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) and Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union), both personal injury attorneys, sponsored that bill, which passed in the waning days of the budget session when hundreds of bills advanced."

HOUSING — " N.J. rental assistance programs failed hundreds of residents. Some are now being evicted," by NJ Advance Media's Karin Price Mueller: "Hundreds of tenants who were approved for the state's rental assistance programs haven't received the payments and in dozens of cases, the missing payments have led to eviction proceedings, renters told NJ Advance Media. Many said they were told their cases were being investigated, but they were given no timeline for a resolution, with some are waiting for longer than a year without answers. Some said the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which manages the programs, confirmed their checks had been mailed to a wrong address, but the funds would have to be recovered before the agency could cut another check. No date ranges were given, nor was there direction on what would happen if the funds couldn't be recovered, tenants said they were told."

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.

WHAT'S CAMPAIGNING? — "Tucker wants Rice's seat, but will wait to see if Democrats want her," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) wants to move up to the State Senate but is waiting to find out if she is the choice of party leaders for the open 28th district seat before she jumps in the race. 'I'm willing to take it if offered,' Tucker said. 'First I'm going to find out if I'm offered it.' The seat will open up at the end of the month when the resignation of State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Newark) becomes effective. The longest serving Black lawmaker in New Jersey history, Rice is retiring on August 31 due to health reasons, ending a nearly 36-year stay in the New Jersey Senate due to health reasons. Tucker, who is in her fifteenth year as an assemblywoman, told the New Jersey Globe that she won't launch her campaign until she has some idea if she will be the choice of Essex Democrats. 'I haven't done anything yet,' she said."

— "Caputo won't seek Rice Senate seat "

—" Timberlake pushes for Murphy to sign foreclosure equity bill"

—"Ex-Superior Court judge lied under oath, special panel says "

—"'Huge strides' on voting in New Jersey in recent years"

—" N.J. promised to free wrongly convicted prisoners, but families say the state is dragging its feet"

—"Solar projects derailed by COVID-19 get a lifeline "

—"Another drug manufacturer agrees to opioid deal"

BIDEN TIME

STUDENT LOANS — Biden closes in on student loan forgiveness plan and extension of repayment pause, by POLITICO's Michael Stratford and Eugene Daniels: The White House is preparing to announce a student loan relief plan as early as Wednesday that would forgive up to $10,000 for some borrowers and further extend the current freeze on loan repayment, according to several people familiar with the plan. The details of the highly anticipated plan remain in flux amid a frenzied, last-minute internal debate over how to structure the policy, the people said.

—Steinberg: " The NBC News Poll: Kean, Jr. can no Longer Avoid the 'threat to democracy'"

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LOCAL

COMMON SENSE DICTATES YOU SHOULD GET RID OF YOUR VOLUNTEER SQUAD TO PAY A RELIGIOUSLY-AFFILIATED PRIVATE SQUAD — "War of the ambulance squads is brewing in Teaneck, and rabbis take sides ," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz : "A private Orthodox Jewish ambulance company has asked the township to stop using its own decades-old volunteer corps service, a move that has drawn a rebuke from 18 local rabbis who support the current emergency responders. In a letter to township officials dated Aug. 1, Steven Kirschner, president of the Bergen Hatzalah Emergency Medical Services, said because the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, or TVAC, has failed to comply with state data filing regulations, local officials need to 'identify an EMS agency that is compliant with state law. Kirschner's letter did not sit well with area rabbis, who responded with a letter of their own. Eighteen rabbis from Teaneck and Bergenfield, in a letter dated Aug. 4, wrote that TVAC's data filing 'has no bearing on patient care, and, in no way, shape or form, justifies the withdrawal of support from our local ambulance corps … Turning emergency services over to private companies would mean residents who call 911 in those municipalities would be charged for ambulance services they now get for free."

THE WHITEST SNOWFLAKES OF MOUNTAIN LAKES — " The soul of the suit in Mountain Lakes," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "This may be an 'overwhelming white community' but that doesn't mean the school district is afraid to teach students about discrimination and civil rights. But now a federal suit is getting in the way. 'This court cannot allow plaintiff to twist the law and frustrate defendants' efforts to fulfill their most basic duty: educate children to become thoughtful, compassionate, and well-rounded citizens.' So says the school district in a brief answering a suit filed in June on behalf of a student identified only as J.L. … The litigation emerging from an affluent borough like Mountain Lakes (est. population: 4,300) is not as provincial as seems. Conservatives nationwide have been galvanized by what they contend is a too 'liberal public school curriculum, especially in regard to sex education and in the case at hand, civil rights … A central – and perhaps contradictory – premise of the action is an apparent belief that talking about, and against, racism and discrimination is, in itself, racist and discriminatory."

MASKNESS — " N.J.'s largest school district still requiring masks as new school year approaches," by NJ Advance Media's Rob Jennings: "With two weeks before classes resume, a requirement for Newark public school students and teachers to continue wearing masks at school to combat the spread of COVID-19 remains in place. However, officials in the state's largest school district haven't ruled out lifting the mask mandate for Newark's nearly 38,000 students and 6,000 staff members before the first day of classes Sept. 6. The district is continuing to take its guidance from the local health department and, as of Monday, had not made any changes, said Nancy Deering, a spokesperson for Newark public schools … Newark is believed to be the only district in New Jersey that required masks in buildings for the entire 2021-2022 school year."

MUNIZIPAL MADNESS — "The Vainieri era of the HCDO – Closer to some, and more distant to one," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "It didn't help [Anthony] Vainieri that his first big stumbling block came in the form of a scandal involving his predecessor, but they're using that event too to polish up the chrome on the somewhat revamped, Vainieri-led organization. One somewhat significant development is the transition away from Joey Muniz on HCDO matters. Close to state Senator (and North Bergen Mayor) Nick Sacco, Muniz had a wide berth during the HCDO … Those days are over, said three sources in (mild) Hudson rebuild mode. Vaineri and Muniz had a bit of a collision a few months ago, taking their grievances to the always reliably phlegmatic Sacco. Sacco protects Muniz, but in the time since Vainieri became chair he reasserts loyalty to the party, which Vainieri leads. To that end, Vainieri doesn't want Muniz speaking for the HCDO anymore."

THE HIPPOCRATIC OAF — "Police body cam footage provides glimpse into weapons cache found at Secaucus hospital," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Police body camera footage provides a glimpse into the weapon cache found at Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus last month, discovered when law enforcement responded to a bomb threat that proved to be unfounded … During a safety sweep of the hospital, the bomb detection canine gave a positive indication on an unlocked closet within an office. Upon entering the closet, police discovered a large cache of rifles, shotguns and handguns, along with assorted ammunition for the firearms. A total of 11 handguns of various calibers, and 27 rifles/shotguns were discovered. A Kriss Vector .45 caliber semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine was also recovered and determined to be an assault rifle. Earlier this month, Reuven Alonalayoff, 46, of Elmwood Park, was charged with possession of an assault firearm and two counts of possession of a high capacity magazine."

NO MENTION OF WHICH MOVING SERVICE HE HIRED —"Bound Brook Mayor Bob Fazen is resigning," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: " Fazen announced in a Facebook post on Monday morning that he is resigning Sept. 2. He and his wife Lynn, who also has been active in the community, will be leaving their Watchung Road home and moving to their condo in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Fazen, who has been mayor since 2014, has overseen the transformation of Bound Brook, the oldest town in Somerset County, into one of the fastest-growing communities in the state with a revitalized downtown, a goal that had frustrated borough officials for decades."

—" Police chiefs back [Passaic County] prosecutor in squabble with cops over new rule"

—" Insider NJ Special Edition: An examination of the county party organizations"

—"If Netflix doesn't win Fort Monmouth Mega Parcel, what would rival developers build?"

—"Lawyer says it's 'common knowledge' that dog died in fire marshal's vehicle"

—Opinion: " In Ocean Grove, a surprise gift of a cross-shaped pier is truly unwanted"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

THEY WEREN'T A BLUE CHIP STOCK, BUT THEY MAY HAVE HAD BLUE CHIPS IN STOCK — "That mysterious New Jersey deli once owned by a publicly traded company is closed, regulatory filing shows ," by CNBC's Jack Stebbins: "The small, money-losing New Jersey deli that was once the sole asset of a publicly traded company with a bizarre market capitalization of $100 million has been sold and closed, according to a regulatory filing. Your Hometown Deli in Paulsboro, New Jersey, had been 'temporarily closed' on June 19 while its management sought a new buyer, Makamer Holdings said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission … Makamer, a bioplastics startup, merged with the deli's owner, Hometown International, earlier this year. 'After carefully evaluating its prospects, the Company's new management has determined to sell Your Hometown Deli and its assets and focus on the business operations of Makamer as the Company's business going forward,' the regulatory filing said. 'The delicatessen ceased its operation following the merger,"'it said. The phone number of the deli, which had just $25,004 in sales 2021, was out of service Monday when CNBC called it … Hometown International was previously headed by Paul Morina, a Paulsboro high school principal and wrestling coach in Paulsboro."

ANDIT'SOVER — " Last of Woodland's residents leave as embattled Andover nursing home shutters," by The New Jersey Herald's Lori Comstock: "[O]ver two years since 17 bodies were found piled in a morgue meant to hold a few, the former Andover Subacute II, later renamed Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center, has closed its doors and the last of its residents have found new places to call home. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Health confirmed there are no longer occupants inside the sprawling facility on Mulford Road, which at one time offered 543 beds for those with Alzheimer's and dementia as well as other mental and physical disabilities."

—" Atlantic City's casinos second-quarter earnings fall; 5 lag pre-pandemic level"

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.