News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A big union rally to protest benefit hikes, minus the NJEA

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A big union rally to protest benefit hikes, minus the NJEA

Sep 07, 2022

Presented by Anbaric Development Partners

Good Wednesday morning!

On Tuesday, one day before a state commission is expected to vote on public workers' health benefit rate hikes, more than a dozen public worker unions plan a rally at the Statehouse to oppose the changes.

A flyer promoting the rally mentions participants: Among them, the CWA, AFSCME, SEIU, PBA and AFT. But the biggest public workers union in the state, the NJEA, is not included.

Granted, teachers are members of the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), which is expected to see less of a rate hike than the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) other public workers belong to: 15.6 percent for active SEHBP members vs. 24 percent for active SHBP members. And rates decreased for the SEHBP over the two previous years, along with a rate holiday this past February. But it's still a substantial hike.

If you read this newsletter, you're already familiar with the NJEA's close relationship with Gov. Phil Murphy, which makes me and others wonder whether that has anything to do with its reticence. But the NJEA insists it's not being quiet on this issue, referring me to a statement they issued a month ago that decried "lack of information and transparency from the actuaries and the Division of Pensions and Benefits."

In a statement, NJEA spox Steve Bake r told me that they're not participating in the rally because it's aimed at the SHBP increase, not the SEHPB.

"We've been very aggressive on the [State Educators Health Benefits Plan Commission] in demanding information and explanations. We are advocating for our members to have access to their health insurance at the best possible rates, but there is more to doing that that just demanding a lower rate. The fact that we are not participating in a rally, during a school day, regarding rates for a plan that our members are not in does not signal reticence," Baker said.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 214

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Attorney Raj Parikh , former Cumberland Freeholder Lou Magazzu, WBCS 880's Steve Scott, Murphy staffer Eric Martin

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Newark at 1 p.m. to sign legislation establishing a "Black Heritage Trail"

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Taylor ham on a hard roll with some mustard and lettuce. Oh man, I could, I want one now." — Danny DeVito, a Monmouth County native who has taken sides in the great New Jersey processed meat debate, albeit with a strange sandwich.

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.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

CAN'TABIS — "Moldy weed, mystery buyers: N.J. pot sellers ran afoul of state rules," by Bloomberg's Elise Young: "While some of the biggest US marijuana companies were preparing to join New Jersey's newly legal recreational market, several were running afoul of state security and safety rules for their medical-weed operations, documents obtained by Bloomberg show. A cultivation site had 50 jars of marijuana go missing. One medical dispensary had moldy weed on hand. The staff at one store, 'having a hard time with the fractions,' goofed on about a dozen patients' tracking logs … There were a total of 54 alleged violations. Still, the companies with violations — including publicly traded Verano Holdings Corp., Curaleaf Holdings Inc. and Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. — won approval to open recreational-weed shops … In April 2021, an investigator ordered the destruction of 127 pounds (57.6 kilograms) of Verano inventory because some 'may have been swept up from the floor' and contaminated. At roughly $450 per ounce, the waste potentially amounted to more than $900,000"

LABOR — Union member alleges racism, retaliation at Ironworkers local , by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : The former leader of a New Jersey Ironworkers union local allegedly gave plum assignments to white employees over Black employees, used and tolerated racial slurs and retaliated against a union member who complained, according to a complaint from a member that the state Attorney General's Office has decided to pursue. The AG's Division of Civil Rights on Tuesday announced a finding of probable cause that Bloomfield-based Ironworkers Local 11, which until July was headed by business manager Raymond Woodall, violated New Jersey's Law against Discrimination. Woodall was removed from his position in July, when former state Senate President Steve Sweeney — a vice president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers — temporarily took over the union.

OFF THE CHARTERS — "Families left to find new schools as charters are denied permission to expand," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto Munoz: "[M]ost recently, nine of the 17 schools that sought to add additional seats or grades were denied. The moves have left parents scrambling to locate another charter school with no waitlist, find the money for private tuition, or send their children to traditional public schools. Harry Lee, president of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, claims the state Department of Education has denied 70% of expansion requests from the highest performing charter schools in the state since 2018, when Gov. Phil Murphy took office. 'This past round was really devastating,' Lee said. 'It does not make sense. These are the types of decisions that have had devastating impacts on students and upended the lives of many families.' Murphy, a two-term Democrat, has said he is generally supportive of charter schools. But charter school supporters note he has strong support from the statewide teachers union, which says charter schools drain funding from traditional public schools.

—"Is NJ a good place for business? Depends who's asking "

—"Heat waves spur NJ prison watchdog, who says thousands of cells 'dangerously hot'"

— "N.J. cops used baby DNA to crack a sex assault case. But did they cross a line? We asked a molecular biologist"

—" Groups urge Murphy to sign bill aimed at boosting Black home ownership and closing wealth gap"

—"Rutgers student will seek Dancer's Assembly seat"

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

RACE HORSES HAVEN'T DONE WELL IN NJ RECENTLY — "Amtrak hired a 'racehorse' to try speeding up Gateway. But more delays show her challenge," by The Record's Colleen Wilson: "Amtrak hired [Laura Mason] in June 2021 to help the public-private entity improve its project delivery with better planning, cost estimates, risk assessment, scheduling and communication for capital projects across its sprawling 21,000 miles of passenger rail in 46 states and parts of Canada … But just as the agency was positioning itself to embark on the country's biggest infrastructure project, the $14.6 billion first phase of the Gateway program, officials announced that it will be delayed three years and cost about $2 billion more. Delivering that long-awaited set of rail tunnels in the busiest region of the country — on budget and without any more delays after more than a decade of them — is one of the primary challenges Mason faces as Amtrak's vice president of capital delivery. Last week proved it after the Gateway Development Commission said the project is not expected to be completed until 2035."

—Stile: "These issues will drive New Jersey voters to the polls in November's midterms "

—Mulshine: "In Long Branch, Donald Trump brings people together"

— @DanCassino: "Just got a push-to-web poll about the (#nj11) House race. In which they asked who I was going to support for the Senate: Mikie Sherrill or Paul de Groot. #amateurhour"

—" Somerville's Sullivan Ready to Pound Doors for Malinowski"

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

LOCAL

RISKY BUS-INESS — "Where's the bus stop? Hundreds of NJ Transit stops left unmarked in Monmouth, Ocean," by The Asbury Park Press' Olivia Liu: "Robin Dennis of Keansburg was standing in front of McDonagh's Pub and Restaurant in Keyport craning her neck to read every sign in front of the fire-engine-red building. She was looking for a distinct blue-and-orange NJ Transit bus sign. 'There's no sign!' she said … On the bus routes that lace across New Jersey, many stops lack physical bus signs and shelters, leaving people like Dennis uncertain of where to wait for the bus. This is exacerbated by laws that appoint the power of sign and shelter designation to a patchwork of local governments, not NJ Transit … In Monmouth County, 365, or 44%, of the 822 bus stops listed on NJ Transit's MyBus app are unmarked. In Ocean County, 66, or 20%, of the 334 bus stops listed on NJ Transit's MyBus are unmarked … In some municipalities all or most of their bus stops are unmarked .. 'There's a lack of coordination between the agencies and the municipalities to actually flesh out who is responsible for what,' said Talia Crawford, campaign organizer for Tri-State Transportation Campaign"

THEY MUST'VE GOTTEN LOST ON THE WAY TO CLARK — " White supremacists crashed N.J. town's Labor Day parade, mayor says," by Kevin Shea for NJ.com : "Several members of a New Jersey white supremacy organization showed up unannounced for the South Plainfield Labor Day Parade Monday wearing American flag masks and carrying a large banner that called for border closings. The town's mayor Tweeted that the group, the New Jersey European Heritage Association, did not register for the parade, were treated as protesters and are not welcome in town … In addition to American flag masks, the members of the group wore sunglasses to hide their identities. The group is known for posting fliers around New Jersey, and had not posted anything on their social media about the South Plainfield parade as of Tuesday. 'In no way, shape or form did I, the governing body, the parade committee or any other [South Plainfield] group approve of their presence,' Mayor Matthew Anesh said in a Monday evening Tweet, in response to another post."

SOUTH PLAINFIELD — "A year after Hurricane Ida caused flood deaths, officials are starting to address storm drain dangers ," by ProPublica's Topher Sanders: "One community featured in ProPublica's story has apparently not taken any action. ProPublica revisited South Plainfield, New Jersey, where two men were pulled through an underground pipe during Ida, and saw no apparent safety improvements. Middlesex County officials, who are responsible for the maintenance of the pipes, refused to answer questions; they also declined last year … But two other New Jersey communities featured in the story have taken steps to prevent future tragedies."

TRENTON — "Trenton council to clerk: You're not getting legal help on election matter," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "Council deadlocked at a special meeting Tuesday over awarding a pair of law firm contracts for issues related to the upcoming municipal election and the city's $24 million school tax levy. The meeting came the same day as the deadline for candidates to turn in nominating petitions in order for them to appear on the November ballot. In 3-3 ties, legislators rejected a $20,000 contract with the Malamut & Associates law firm to help Trenton Clerk Brandon Garcia with election matters. "I don't really understand why this motion failed," Council President Kathy McBride said of the Malamut contract, adding that Garcia reached out to the AG's office and local superintendent of elections for guidance on whatever the issues were but got no help. "I just hope that you're able to do your best and navigate through this and hold the integrity of the clerk's office to standard." Council also shot down a separate request for attorney Anthony Valenti to appeal a judge's ruling awarding the Trenton school district $24.2 million in city funding required to avoid staff layoffs and maintain after-school programs."

— " Trenton Water Works flack told staffers to deny reporter info on council candidate's home "

GLOUCESTER COUNTY — "First responder dog who died in county vehicle was buried in fire marshal's backyard ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Hours after a Gloucester County first responder dog died in a county-owned vehicle last month – and two days before the prosecutor's office was notified — K9 Ember was buried in the backyard of Fire Marshal Shawn K. Layton's home in Mantua, sources say. Layton and some of his friends, who have not yet been publicly identified, dug a grave for the dog trained to investigate arson incidents, as well as Layton's personal dog who also died in the fire marshal vehicle, according to sources familiar with the incident. A makeshift memorial was also erected that included a ceremonial fire hydrant, flowers, and a mound of top soil, a photograph obtained by the New Jersey Globe shows."

—"N.J. school principal charged with drunken driving no longer overseeing middle school, district says"

—Opinion: " Newark's parents are ready to address their children's learning loss"

—" An Old Bridge cop's 'inappropriate conversation' was recorded. He's suing over his firing"

—"Jersey City to present scaled-back embankment development plan at meeting Wednesday"

—"'Kids First' Hoboken BOE ticket rolls out campaign platform calling for transparency, inclusion"

—" Cresskill welcomes back students after more than two years"

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

SCHOOL TO SUCK IN A NORMAL WAY —"N.J. students head back to class. But will it be a 'normal' school year?" by NJ Advance Media's Tina Kelle y: "The early signs point to a more routine school year, school officials said. Almost all of New Jersey's nearly 600 school districts have dropped masking requirements, students won't be struggling to stay three feet apart, and administrators are hoping to forgo contact tracing and sending notes home detailing the number of new COVID cases."

—" First day of school in N.J.'s largest district includes new teachers and a lingering mask mandate"

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

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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.