News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Murphy' ratings tick up

Thursday, September 29, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Murphy' ratings tick up

Sep 29, 2022

Presented by NextEra Energy Transmission

Good Thursday morning!

Things have seemed politically volatile since Gov. Murphy won reelection by just a three-point margin almost a year ago. By March of 2022, Murphy's approval rating was split and his favorability rating was actually upside down in a Rutgers-Eagleton poll.

Rutgers is out with a new poll today and it shows the governor's approval rating has ticked up to 54 percent, from 49 percent in March. More notable, perhaps, is that his disapproval rating went down substantially, from 46 percent in March to 37 percent in today's poll. Murphy's favorability rating, which in March was underwater at 33 percent favorable to 38 percent unfavorable, is in today's poll 47 percent favorable to 33 percent unfavorable.

I'm not sure what accounts for those fairly dramatic swings. But it coincides with an increase in residents' views of the state of the state, with 48 percent saying it's headed in the right direction and 45 percent the wrong track. In March, 38 percent chose "right direction" and 52 percent chose "wrong track."

The state Legislature's midterms are more than a year away , but if Republicans hope to make big gains like they did in 2021, these aren't the kinds of numbers they'll need. But you don't need me to tell you how much can change in a year, and this is, of course, just one poll.

Read the full poll here.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 235

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — POLITICO's Ryan Hutchins, Former Assemblymember/rollerderbier Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, Thomas Edison U's Marcela Ospina Maziarz, Duane Morris' Sharon Seyler, AFL-CIO's Seth Levin

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I feel like one of those bands from the '70s touring without our original members." — Gov. Phil Murphy at the ceremony renaming the Department of Health building after Health Commissioner Judy Perscihilli with State Police Superintendent Pat Callahan absent

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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

FLORIO MEMORIAL SERVICE — A "Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Governor James Florio" will take place Monday at 2 p.m. at the Dennis Flyer Theater at Lincoln Hall at Camden County College's Blackwood Campus. See the invitation here.

THE FIX IS IN — "Tax credit fix in the works," by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: "State lawmakers have officially launched a redo of their effort to establish a child tax credit in New Jersey. Under legislation scheduled to go before the Senate on Thursday, households earning up to $80,000 annually with children under six years old would be able to collect tax credits next year when they file their tax returns for 2022. The bill is needed to fix what appears to have been a mistake made in late June as a new state budget and dozens of other bills were rushed to the finish line in Trenton with little time for a thorough, public review. During the flurry of activity, a last-minute amendment to the child tax credit legislation changed the effective date of the new tax break to the 2023 tax year."

HOUSING – "NJ has a law that could create more affordable housing. Why isn't it enforced?" by The Record's Ashley Balcerzak : "New Jersey isn't taking full advantage of a tool at its disposal to build more affordable housing in the state, the nonprofit Fair Share Housing Center argues in a report released Wednesday. Under amendments to the state's Fair Housing Act passed in July of 2008, New Jersey requires that 20% of newly-built units be reserved for low- and moderate-income families if the development is financed with state funds or on property owned by the state. Fair Share argues in its report, "Untapped Resources," that "little has been done to implement and enforce this provision," and outlined examples of developments that should have this affordable set-aside, which would offer lower rents for families making below the median income of their communities, typically allowing them to spend one-third of their monthly paychecks on housing costs."

POWER CITY — BPU overrides Ocean City, making way for New Jersey's first offshore wind power line, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard : New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities approved a controversial request Wednesday to aid construction of the state's first offshore wind farm. The BPU unanimously used powers given to it by a 2021 law to override local objections and allow PSEG and Danish energy giant Ørsted to seize land and rights-of-way in Ocean City the companies need for a power line.

EDNA MAHAN — " 14 officers indicted in attacks at NJ's scandal-ridden Edna Mahan women's prison," by WNYC's Karen Yi: "Fourteen correction officers at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey have been indicted on charges they forcibly removed several inmates from cells last year, attacked them — punching one nearly 30 times — and then tried to cover it up. A state grand jury Tuesday handed up the indictments on charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, tampering with public records and aggravated assault. State officials said the attack happened in January 2021, when officers used excessive force to remove prisoners from their cells in a process called extraction that is only supposed to be used if inmates refuse orders to leave their cells on their own or pose a danger to themselves or others … The indictment says officers conducted the extractions "with the purpose of punishing, intimidating, or terrorizing one or more inmates." Investigators said those involved also failed to report the incident and submitted false information on what happened."

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STATE ABC PUTS BURDENSOME NEW RULES ON TOILET WINERIES — "Inflation hits inmates' wallets, even as their wages have flatlined," by NJ Spotlight News' Dana DiFilippo : "The first time Paul Whittaker was incarcerated in New Jersey, he worked behind bars as a teacher's assistant. He made $2 a day. Last year, when a parole violation landed him back in prison, he was assigned the "job" of staying in his locked cell all day and keeping it clean. Daily pay: $1.20. If inmate wages in New Jersey seem abysmal, their stagnation is even more so — they haven't changed since 2001. Inflation, though, has averaged 2% a year in the two decades since then, spiking to over 8% this summer. The state Department of Corrections, consequently, hiked prices in prison commissaries, the only place incarcerated people can buy basic necessities and food …Department of Corrections spokesman Daniel Sperrazza said officials are considering bumping up prison wages — not because of inflation, but because the demand for specialized skills behind bars has grown. He didn't have a timeline for when a pay bump might happen. Sperrazza blamed increased supply costs for the average price of commissary items climbing 11% over last year'

IF MURPHY DECLARES THE PANDEMIC OVER HIS APPROVAL RATING AUTOMATICALLY DROPS 20 POINTS — " Persichilli, Murphy both hesitant to declare pandemic over," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "President Joe Biden said last week that'"the pandemic is over,' but two of New Jersey's top leaders on Covid – Gov. Phil Murphy and Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli – are both reluctant to agree with such a sweeping statement. 'We're certainly going in the right direction,' Persichilli said today when asked about Biden's declaration. 'I still keep a very close eye on cases, and I'm still concerned that severe disease and hospitalizations and deaths are too high to say it's over over.' Persichilli added that the new Covid booster could bring about a more definitive end to the pandemic. 'I really want people to get that new vaccine,' she said. 'If we can get enough people vaccinated with the bivalent vaccine, I think it will be over.'"

FINGER ON THE TRIGGER — Murphy teases 'imminent' gun-free zone legislation, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin : Gov. Phil Murphy said during a radio interview Tuesday night that he believes legislation banning firearms in public spaces is "imminent," and will be moving through the Statehouse in the "next month or two." "This is one I can't do by executive order. I need legislation," Murphy said during an appearance on WNYC's "Ask Governor Murphy." He said he met with legislative leaders earlier Tuesday and "I'm confident this ball will be rolling." According to Murphy, the legislation would ban guns from "churches, places of entertainment" and other "soft targets," including all private property where a property owner hasn't "explicitly" said otherwise. Murphy has previously said he wants to bar guns from private property across New Jersey, including public transit, places that serve alcohol, hospitals, day care centers, stadiums and government buildings.

—"Prompted by lifeguard deaths, Labor Dept. issues 73 violations to beach patrols statewide"

—"Judy Persichilli, face of NJ's COVID-19 response, now has a building in her name"

FLASHBACK — " Sweeney Way? Fuggedaboutit! New Jersey lawmaker wants to ban naming public facilities after living officials"

—" State seeks stay of judge's decision striking down PILOT amendments"

—"New bill would limit police use of DNA collected from newborn blood screening"

—Sommer: "Gov. Jim Florio was our advocate. We're so fortunate to have had him fight for us"

BIDEN TIME

1.4 MASTROS — DOJ announced proposed $13M redlining settlement with New Jersey bank, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Federal prosecutors and a New Jersey bank have reached a proposed $13 million settlement over allegations the bank redlined minority neighborhoods in North Jersey, denying predominantly Black and Hispanic residents the chance to qualify for home loans, prosecutors announced Wednesday. News of the consent order comes a day after the bank, New Milford-based Lakeland Bank, announced its impending merger with Jersey City-based Provident Financial Services. According to Phil Sellinger, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Lakeland Bank engaged in "systematic and intentional discrimination" against minority communities. All of its 40 branches, he said, are located in predominantly white suburbs, while the bank "in effect drew a red line" around Newark and other minority-majority communities.

SAFE SUSSEX — "Gottheimer tries to shore up Sussex County," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "On the drive north to this historic Sussex County town, one sees an enormous sign alongside Route 206 for Josh Gottheimer. The congressman's name is in huge letters and the punchline is "'ersey Values, Lower Taxes.' Sussex is Republican terrain, so large sign or not, Gottheimer is unlikely to win the Sussex part of CD-5. But on this day, Gottheimer sought to put the nuts and bolts of campaign politics aside for a bit. He convened a press conference just off the Newton Green to announce a $500,000 federal grant to Sussex County to buy five, new buses to benefit seniors, the disabled and veterans"

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LOCAL

SO NOW NEW JERSEY-STYLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS A CRIME? — "Ex-Newark Housing Authority official sentenced to 2 years in prison for embezzling $594k ," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "A former Newark Housing Authority official has been sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling $594,425, using agency funds to purchase 1,509 electronic devices and reselling them online, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced. Venancio Diaz, 57, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti in Newark federal court in March to an information charging him with committing theft from an agency receiving federal funds … Diaz also previously consented to a $594,425 money judgment, forfeiting the monies he obtained as a result of his illegal scheme, and also agreed to forfeit electronic devices belonging to NHA that were seized by law enforcement or otherwise in his possession, including 27 cellular telephones.'

IN THIS CONTEXT, PERHAPS 'SCAPEGOAT' ISN'T THE BEST CHOICE OF WORDS — "Woodcliff Lake teacher suing over suspension after Hitler lesson, 'discriminatory acts'," by The Record's Stephanie Noda: "A Woodcliff Lake history teacher who was indefinitely suspended is suing the school district, claiming he was a scapegoat for a World War II poster project that some parents claim made students uncomfortable … Robert Welsh, a history teacher in the school district's middle school, sued the district over his 'discriminatory suspension' after a lesson about World War II and the rise of Adolf Hitler … The lesson in question involved a poster project, in which seventh-grade students would draw a 'political cartoon or propaganda-type poster, illustrating the perspective of World War II.' The students could decide whether to write from the perspective of the totalitarian government, the U.S. or other neutral countries during the early stages of the war … Welsh is claiming he was used as the 'perfect scapegoat' for the parent complaints about the lesson, since he identifies as a 'socially conservative Christian, in a community with a large Jewish population.' He said the HIB allegation was actually part of a 'series of discriminatory acts' against him on the 'basis of his religion and creed.'"

HAPPENING NOW - 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.

CARTERWOOD — "Is a film and TV studio coming to Carteret? Here's everything we know," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell: " The borough may go a little Hollywood. As part of a $1 billion redevelopment of a portion of the Carteret waterfront, 12 film and TV production studios with a hotel are proposed for part of the former DuPont property near the ferry terminal, according to Mayor Dan Reiman. J. Bezzone Inc., of Shrewsbury, is scheduled to appear before the Carteret Planning Board at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for preliminary site plan approval to build a 1.3 million-square-foot mixed-use, vertically stacked studio called Carteret Stages, on a site off Roosevelt Avenue in the Chrome Waterfront Redevelopment Zone … Reiman noted there are other studio projects proposed for sites at Fort Monmouth, in Bayonne, Harrison and Newark, but the most similar in terms of a stacked design is the film studio in Long Island City that actor Robert De Niro is behind."

LAKEWOOD — "Stubborn blaze that damaged Lakewood school under investigation ," by Asbury Park Press' Ken Serrano: "The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is investigating a fire that damaged a school in Lakewood early Tuesday morning, officials said. Firefighters went to the Mesivta Tiferes School at 420 Cross Street at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, Lakewood police said … The Ocean County Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. The marshal's office referred calls to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office who it said was also investigating."

—"Paterson schools: 51 people applied to replace Eileen Shafer. Here's what's next"

—" Phase III of Stockton's Atlantic City development in early stages, developer says"

—"South Jersey cop accused of abusing his badge acquitted of most charges at trial "

— "Ramapough Lenape chief: National park would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization"

EVERYTHING ELSE

—"NJ governor reacts after Rutgers Jewish fraternity egged during Rosh Hashanah"

—"The murky and mysterious Pinelands: New mini-documentary explores NJ natural marvel"

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.