News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Alleged Air DeSantis flight lands in Teterboro

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Alleged Air DeSantis flight lands in Teterboro — without migrants

Sep 21, 2022

Presented by Anbaric Development Partners

Good Wednesday morning!

It looked, briefly, as though New Jersey might be in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' sights for his political gamesmanship with migrants, whether undocumented or asylum-seekers.

A flight, which for most of the day was reported to be headed to an airport near President Biden's home Delaware, ended up going to Teterboro. But when it got there last night, it was empty, save for its crew. WNYC's Louis Hochman kept everyone updated on the flight's progress Wednesday night .

It feels crass to talk about horse race politics with human lives, but here we are. A lot of people on the right are enjoying seeing DeSantis sending asylum seekers to wealthy places in an attempt to rub effette liberals' rhetoric in their own faces. But I doubt Gov. Murphy would have minded if several dozen undocumented immigrants showed up in Bergen County.

Teterboro is not Martha's Vineyard , as easy as it is to mistake the two places. New Jersey has hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants and it wouldn't be a strain on state resources to make arrangements for a few dozen more. DeSantis isn't out to hurt Murphy's image, but rather to burnish his own. He'd get what he wanted by sending the immigrants to a wealthy, Democratic part of North Jersey. But Murphy, who appears to have his own designs on the presidency, would also likely jump at the opportunity to show compassion to a group that had been used as pawns by a potential political rival, and to get his name in the national news.

Here's what Murphy's office told NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "Governor Murphy believes that exploiting vulnerable people for a political stunt by sending them to another state unannounced under false pretenses is reprehensible. Every migrant deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

I wouldn't be surprised if DeSantis or another ambitious Republican sends a plane or busload of migrants to New Jersey.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 227

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

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

This fall, NJBPU will make a decision that will impact the future of NJ's offshore wind industry. The state is poised to continue its leadership upon issuing awards in a first-in-the-nation transmission solicitation. Anbaric submitted solutions designed to work for all New Jerseyans by efficiently delivering clean energy from offshore wind to our homes and businesses, and building those projects with New Jersey labor. Our vision is a win for New Jersey.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Horizon's John Fuller, Passaic County Commissioner Bruce James, comms consultant John Celock

WHERE'S MURPHY? At the Javits Center in New York for a 10:30 a.m. Climate Allance announcement with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Due to a high call volume we are unable to take your call at this time." — The message callers to the state's ANCHOR tax benefit hotline receive.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

MAYBE THEY LIKE BEING PUNISHED — "School districts that don't teach new sex ed standards will be disciplined, state says," by The Record's Mary Ann Koruth: "School districts that refuse to implement New Jersey's new sex education standards can be disciplined, the state warned after pushback from a small number of school boards and county governments. Using the most direct language in months, the state Department of Education said districts that don't implement the changes to the sex and health education portion of the state's learning standards will be subject to "disciplinary action." The state also specified that parents who do not want their children to participate in these classes must write a letter to the principal explaining that the lessons contradict their personal values and beliefs. The statement comes amid continuing criticism from some parents and Republican lawmakers over the state's progressive approach to sex education. The vast majority of the state's 600 or so public school districts have adopted lessons according to the state's standards."

WILL SENATORS GREET SANTIAGO'S NOMINATION WARMLY OR WILL THEY GIVE IT A CHILE RECEPTION? — "Santiago is Murphy's choice as new Monmouth County prosecutor ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein : "Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to nominate Raymond Santiago as the new Monmouth County Prosecutor, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. He will replace Lori Linskey, who has served as acting prosecutor since June 2021 and had been a top contender for the post. 'The governor's office has informed me that that next Monmouth County Prosecutor will be formally nominated this Thursday. Unfortunately, it will not be me,' Linskey said in an e-mail to some of her staff on Monday evening. 'I wanted you to hear this from me first.' … He worked for the Nassau County District Attorney's office and for the Southern District of New York before opening his own law firm in Freehold. Santiago was the Democratic nominee for State Senate in 2011"

FERMENTING DISCONTENT — "Lawmakers prepare to tweak New Jersey's brewery rules," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: "Assembly lawmakers are preparing to reexamine rules set in July that owners say have hamstrung New Jersey's breweries, an undertaking likely to lead to brewery owners butting heads with bar and restaurant owners already invested in costly liquor licenses. 'One of the things that we're going to have to do is look at the things that are impediments to growth, impediments to success,' Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said Monday during a tour of the Flying Fish Brewery in Somerdale. Brewery owners have railed against the restrictions, which also curtailed the advertising breweries can do on social media, since their enactment, charging the restrictions make New Jersey's brewing industry uncompetitive with neighboring states … The event restriction, which limits breweries to 25 on-site events per year with some exceptions, is among the most onerous."

THE ANGER PROPERTY TAX CREDIT — "Callers to the ANCHOR property tax benefit hotline in N.J. say they can't get through ," by NJ Advance Media's Karin Price Mueller: "Callers to the state's help number for the new ANCHOR property savings benefit say they aren't able to get through. Residents say they have tried to call both the information number and the enrollment number 'at all times of the day and night,' but they haven't been able to get past the recorded messages. "Due to a high call volume we are unable to take your call at this time," is the message you receive when you call the state's ANCHOR information number at (888) 238-1233."

MUCHO QUESO — "Chipotle to pay $7.7M to N.J. in 'groundbreaking' case over child labor law violations, state says," by NJ Advance Medai's Karin Price Mueller: "Chipotle Mexican Grill will pay New Jersey $7.7 million to settle "alleged widespread and persistent violations" of the state's child labor laws, the state said Tuesday. New Jersey, calling the settlement 'groundbreaking,' said Chipotle agreed to what the state calls a 'far-reaching compliance plan' to make sure the franchise doesn't break state laws in the future, the Labor Department and the Attorney General's office said. The settlement comes after a 2020 Labor Department audit that found approximately 30,660 alleged violations related to minors working at Chipotle locations across New Jersey, the state said."

JOIN THURSDAY FOR A GLOBAL INSIDER INTERVIEW : From climate change to public health emergencies and a gloomy global economic outlook, the world continues to deal with overlapping crises. How do we best confront all of these issues? Join POLITICO Live on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. EDT for a virtual conversation with Global Insider author Ryan Heath, featuring World Bank President David Malpass, to explore what it will take to restore global stability and avoid a prolonged recession. REGISTER HERE.

HEALTH — "COVID starkly showed how underfunded NJ public health is. This plan aims to change that," by The Record's Lindy Washburn : The COVID-19 pandemic showed how understaffed and underfunded New Jersey's public health workforce is, as state, county and local workers strained to stand up testing sites, trace the contacts of infected people, track disease trends, educate the public about vaccines, immunize as many as possible and distribute therapeutics quickly and fairly … Now the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will provide $1 million to Acenda Integrated Health, a Glassboro-based non-profit organization, to develop a public health institute to help recruit and train New Jersey's public health workers, collect and analyze health data and set policy for the future.

TOP CONTENDER: TIGER WOODS — New Jersey looking to hire master planner for Liberty State Park, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Three months after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a bill to redevelop Liberty State Park in Jersey City, his administration is looking for someone to plan the overhaul. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection put out a bid request on Tuesday for consultants who want to do the next master plan for the state's most visited park.

—" We Already Know How to Address Affordable Housing – Revisiting New Jersey's Dysfunctional Past Does Nothing to Advance the Issue | Opinion"

—"Building Trades pledge support of Sweeney for governor"

—"Deadline nears for 17,000 more immigrants to get $2,000 checks from NJ's excluded workers fund"

— New Jersey details litany of health problems residents likely to face because of climate change

—"New law aims to improve water, utility affordability in requiring public reporting "

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

BIDEN TIME

SOMETHING A PARTY SAYS WHEN IT'S NOT IN POWER — "Healey's fake promise on a balanced budget," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran : "Bob Healey, the Republican candidate challenging Congressman Andy Kim in the 3rd District, fervently supports a Constitutional Amendment requiring a balanced budget in Washington every year. But if you want to know how he would balance the budget, you're out of luck, because he won't say. Would he cut Social Security and Medicare? Would he raise taxes on the middle-class? Would he cut infrastructure spending, like the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River? New Jersey is coping with a flood of cowardice from Republican candidates who are refusing to answer basic questions like this, even as early voting approaches. They are all in the same tough spot, trying to straddle the chasm between the Trump voters who dominate their party, and the centrists they need to win a general election. And in all four swing districts, their weapon of choice is silence."

—"Healey praises McCarthy, but won't commit to backing him for leader"

—"Kim tries to keep 'blue wave' going in 3rd District"

—Mulshine: " Donald Trump is selling Republicans down the river - the Delaware River"

—"NJ reacts with caution to Biden's declaration that pandemic 'over'"

LOCAL

OLMO! OLMO! OLMO MO MO MO MO! — "Paramus administrator's auto repairs are under investigation. Here's what we know ," by The Record's Stephanie Noda: "The borough has opened an investigation into municipal Administrator Hector Olmo after a councilwoman said town employees may have been asked to fix his personal car during work hours. The allegations were raised by Councilwoman MariaElena Bellinger, a Democrat running for mayor in the November election, during the Sept. 6 council meeting. Bellinger said she had heard that the repairs were done in the borough garage and questioned the legality of such work … Olmo responded to Bellinger's inquiry during the meeting, saying the work was "not on borough time." He added later that he believed it was a "practice that has been done in the past." After Olmo's reply, Bellinger asked for a formal investigation into whether that was legal. In an interview, Mayor Richard LaBarbiera, a Democrat who is stepping down after this year, said it was the first time he'd heard of such a practice."

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

Anbaric believes in New Jersey's vision for a carbon-free future. That's why Anbaric leveraged our experience and unique perspective into our Boardwalk Power Link portfolio, a range of transmission projects designed to accelerate industry growth, increase resiliency, and lower ratepayer impact.

We have the expertise to back our bold bid package and help New Jersey meet its clean energy goals. Our vision will develop large-scale transmission systems while enhancing the communities in which we work by investing in job creation, economic development, ratepayer protection, and community giving initiatives.

As a clean energy leader with established roots in New Jersey, our projects are thoughtfully designed to provide a Jersey-first investment focused on the future. Our expertise has led to meaningful labor partnerships to develop our Boardwalk Power Link projects and ensure family-sustaining jobs for years to come. Learn more about how Anbaric plans to deliver a new era for offshore wind.

PATERSON — "A 'monumental' leadership change looms for this Paterson housing agency. What it means," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Irma Gorham, the head of the Paterson Housing Authority, will be retiring from her $206,811 job later this year as the city agency continues to undergo major changes in its leadership. Gorham's retirement was announced by the authority's chairwoman, Paula Alford, during the housing commissioners' meeting on Monday … The housing authority has about 50 employees and an annual budget of about $45 million. The agency oversees more than 1,300 apartments for families and senior citizens in nine different complexes and administers about 3,200 federal housing vouchers. 'This is monumental,' Paterson housing commissioner Bob Guarasci said of Gorham's retirement. "She has led the agency for more than 20 years and has accomplished a great deal.""

—"Union calls for [Middletown] sewerage authority leaders to resign after N.J. worker dies in manhole"

—" Is Toms River's hot real estate market getting chilled by inspection law?"

—" Judge's order a win for both sides in Drew U. vs. Madison affordable housing case"

—"Court upholds firing of [Newark] police officer who posted sex act online"

—"Galloway authorizes new marijuana standards"

—" Advocates for family of man shot and killed by Englewood police demand transparency"

—"Hoboken Planning Board goes past 1 a.m. during fourth Story Dispensary hearing "

EVERYTHING ELSE

GOTTA KEEP THOSE POOLS CLEAN — "Qualco chemical plant lacked federal oversight at time of giant Passaic fire," by The Record's Scott Fallon: "Despite housing millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals, the Passaic chlorine plant that was almost engulfed in a massive fire earlier this year was not required to register its stockpile with the federal government or develop a special safety plan, according to a report released Tuesday by a watchdog group. The Qualco chlorine plant falls outside the purview of the Environmental Protection Agency's Risk Management Plan and its most recent revisions designed to prevent chemical disasters like the one that nearly unfolded in January. 'A stronger rule is needed to ensure that hazards are removed, or we will continue to see more chemical disasters,' said Steve Taylor, a director at Coming Clean"

DON'T MISS - MILKEN INSTITUTE ASIA SUMMIT : Go inside the 9th annual Milken Institute Asia Summit, taking place from September 28-30, with a special edition of POLITICO's Global Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive coverage and insights from this important gathering. Stay up to speed with daily updates from the summit, which brings together more than 1,200 of the world's most influential leaders from business, government, finance, technology, and academia. Don't miss out, subscribe today.

FOR SHAME. THIS MAN BILKED THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT'S NEVER BILKED ANYONE — "Former employee bilked N.J. car dealership out of $1.3M, prosecutor alleges," by NJ Advance Media's Chris Sheldon : "A former employee of a Toms River car dealership was arrested Monday after he was accused of stealing $1.3 million from the business, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday. The office said it was contacted in October 2021 by the unidentified dealership alleging a former employee — 37-year-old Beachwood resident Martin D'Amato, who was in charge of digital advertising — ran a fake billing scheme. D'Amato was authorized to hire freelance advertising and marketing companies to promote the dealership, officials said."

—"New Jersey's local newspapers are on the brink. Here's how you can help | Opinion"

—" Newark airport ranks worst for flight delays through first half of 2022"

—"A new Moorestown Mall is taking shape as medical and residential projects get underway, developers say"

—Vezza: "New Jersey's local newspapers are on the brink. Here's how you can help"

—" George Floyd's attorney urges Murphy to investigate alleged racism at N.J. hospital"

Follow us on Twitter