News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: NJ 101.5 hosts stand up for teachers who have sex with students

Monday, September 19, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: NJ 101.5 hosts stand up for teachers who have sex with students

Sep 19, 2022

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Good Monday morning!

Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco, the 101.5 hosts best known for being suspended after calling then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal "Turban Man," have some other opinions they'd like to share.

Both believe that teachers should not be criminally charged for having sex with students if the kids are above the age of consent. In this case, they're referring to a 24-year-old Hamilton teacher who allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old student. (h/t to New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz for drawing attention to this).

"In many cases where this happens with a male teacher, the female student is not some shy wilting flower that was taken advantage of," Malloy wrote. "....Let's not be naïve and pretend that the sexual power of a young woman, or a woman of any age for that matter, is an immensely powerful force in the world."

The ironic thing is that these radio "personalities," and NJ 101.5 more broadly, have sought to whip up panic and paranoia about New Jersey's sex ed curriculum — often using false or misleadingly incomplete information — in part because students will learn how to identify body parts that play a role in human sexuality, or because they'll learn about sexual orientation and gender identity.

Keep in mind that one of the arguments sex ed advocates make to support the teaching of frank lessons is that it will help kids learn what is appropriate adult behavior and what is not.

I would be curious to see a poll question about which would alarm New Jersey parents more: Kids learning about gender identity, or repealing the law that makes it a crime for teachers to have sex with students.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 225

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Inside Climate News' Victoria St. Martin, GOP strategist Chris Russell, former Singer aide Kyle Turk, cannabis consultant Maggie Moran, attorney George Williams, Assembly Dems' Edgardo Cardinali

WHERE'S MURPHY? At Cooper Hospital in Camden at 3 p.m. More on that below.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm not 100 percent there that I will run for governor, but I would say more than likely I'm leaning in that direction." — Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

ODD HOSPITAL BEDFELLOWS — George Norcross, Gov. Phil Murphy and former Gov. Chris Christie will be among the dignitaries at Cooper University Health Care for a "major announcement" (a $2 billion expansion ) this afternoon at 2:45. I'm pretty sure that, despite their history, they'll be all smiles. But I do wonder if the current governor will bring up the state's recent bond upgrades. Also present: Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen, Rep. Donald Norcross, Cooper co-CEOs Kevin O'Dowd and Anthony J. Mazzarelli, and Kelly Ripa. The latter isn't as strange as it sounds. Kelly Ripa's dad is Camden County Clerk Joe Ripa, and she often raises money both for the hospital and the South Jersey Democratic machine.

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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.

BIDEN TIME

A PROBLEM TO SOLVE — "Legislation designed to prevent another Jan. 6 introduced by N.J. congressman," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant : "Legislation aimed at plug loopholes that Donald Trump and his allies sought to use in an unsuccessful effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election has been introduced by a New Jersey congressman. The bill by Rep. Josh Gottheimer would update the 1887 Electoral Count Act to make it clear that the vice president can't reject certified electoral votes and state legislatures can't reject the will of their voters."

ANOTHER ANTIFA MEMBER? — " Toms River man, 59, charged with assaulting cop in Jan. 6 riot at Capitol," by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: " More than 20 months after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a Toms River man is the most recent suspect to be rounded up in the ongoing investigation. Salvatore Vassallo, 59, faces federal charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon and for interfering with an officer during a civil disorder; both are felonies. He also has been charged with five related misdemeanor offenses. Vassallo was arrested in Toms River on Wednesday. He had been an unidentified figure at the scene — No. 338 in 'seeking information' photos — whom the FBI had sought to identify with the public's help. After an initial appearance in federal court in New Jersey, Vassallo was released pending a future court date in Washington, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia."

TRENTON-MADE — "New Jersey has become an exporter of candidates," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein : "New Jersey makes and the world takes, at least when it comes to raising candidates and then exporting them to other states. This year in Pennsylvania, two Republican statewide candidates are Jersey Boys: Dr. Mehmet Oz grew up in New Jersey and despite moving to run for the U.S. Senate last year, remains a registered voter at his family home in Cliffside Park; and gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano grew up in Hightstown – his mother and grandmother both held local public office – and he voted in New Jersey through 2010. Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, the retired astronaut who is seeking re-election in Arizona, grew up in West Orange. Herschel Walker, the GOP U.S. Senate candidate in Georgia, lived in Verona in the 1980s and 1990s while playing professional football. The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in North Carolina, former state Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley, lived in New Brunswick for four years while attending Rutgers University in the 1980s."

THE ADS — "2022 ad watch: Inflation attacks sharpen while Trump extremism gets debut in NJ midterms ,"by The Record's Charles Stile : "Congressional candidates running in this fall's midterms have sharpened their television and social media attacks over the past week as the race begins in earnest — and as increasingly popular mail-in voting will begin Sept. 24. That early start has brought new intensity to the September phase of the campaign. What used to be the early going has become the middle innings of a must-win playoff game. Republicans who have cast themselves as inflation fighters strolling down supermarket aisles are now framing soaring prices as a result of Democratic Party waste and pork-barrel corruption. Their Democratic rivals, meanwhile, are weaponizing the image of former President Donald Trump as they paint their GOP challengers as future foot soldiers in the service of MAGA extremism."

—"Three takeaways from n.j.'s early congressional ads"

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LOCAL

BED AND BREAKING THE LAW — "Jersey City cites homeowner advertising 'ultimate' bed and breakfast, spa and event space," by The Jersey Journal's Ron Zeitlinger: "A one-family home on a quiet Jersey City street tucked between Kennedy Boulevard and West Side Avenue has been cited as an illegal bed-and-breakfast, Airbnb, spa and commercial event venue space, city officials said … The property is operated by SG&A, an LLC owned by Stacy Garvin, who says he is working with the city officials to comply with city regulations. He said many of the issues are the result of not being aware of rules and regulations regarding the opening and operating of the business, called BathHaus … The BathHaus website advertises 'the capacity to lodge and host up to 24 guests" and '150-200 guests for events inclusive of our outdoor space. Ideal for brunches / art exhibitions / birthday parties. .... casino parties / private spa and yoga sessions and more.'"

CHECK BACK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO HIS PENSION — "Veteran cop who misused police resources will lose $168K job, officials say," by NJ Advance Media's Chris Sheldon: "A Freehold Township Police lieutenant admitted Friday that he illegally accessed information from a police computer database for personal use, authorities said. John Todd, 58, a 27-year veteran of the department, pleaded guilty to computer theft, according to a statement from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. An investigation by the agency revealed that on Feb. 23, Todd contacted a police dispatcher asking for personal information about an unidentified person from the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), the office said. The CJIS exists strictly for law-enforcement purposes. Todd then passed the information along to a third party, who was not a police officer, investigators said. No other details about Todd's actions were released by the office.

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Join POLITICO Live on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to dive into how federal regulators, members of Congress, and the White House are seeking to write the rules on digital currencies, including stablecoins. The panel will also cover the tax implications of crypto, which could be an impediment to broader adoption and the geopolitical factors that the U.S. is considering as it begins to draw regulatory frameworks for crypto. REGISTER HERE.

EVERYTHING ELSE

SECAUCUS NO EVIL — Moshe knew of cache of guns found at Hudson Regional Hospital, police report says, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Hudson Regional Hospital owner and chair Yan Moshe allegedly knew about the cache of firearms that were discovered inside the hospital marketing director's unlocked office closet in July, according to a police report obtained by POLITICO. Secaucus police discovered 11 handguns and 27 long guns during a search of the hospital on July 18 after a bomb threat had been called in. The threat was later determined to be a hoax. Reuven Alonalayoff, the hospital's marketing director, was arrested and charged in August with one count of illegal possession of an assault firearm and two counts of possession of a high-capacity magazine. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Galis-Menendez in Hudson County at 9 a.m. Monday. According to the police report, a secretary at the hospital told authorities Moshe was aware the weapons were being stored on site. According to the employee, Moshe, Alonalayoff and cleaning staff had access to the room where the guns were kept, according to the report.

JERSEY DEVIL — " Creepy local legend turned gay icon: Why queer people of Pinelands love the Jersey Devil," by The Courier-Post's Aedy Miller: "For Americana songwriter Jessye DeSilva, the Jersey Devil serves as a double metaphor for growing up queer in South Jersey. In their song 'The Devil in New Jersey,'DeSilva, who is in their 30s, compares the creature's desire for safety while being persecuted to getting outed as a teenager in Vincentown … Themes of familial exile, persecution on religious grounds, staying out of sight for safety. It's no wonder DeSilva and many other queer people empathize with folkloric creatures, or cryptids, such as Mothman, a humanoid creature in West Virginia folklore; Bigfoot, or our own JD."

YOU MAY SOON NO LONGER KNOW YOUR FELLOW COMMUTERS' PREFERRED DEODORANT BRANDS — "Longer trains are coming as the first of 72 new PATH rail cars arrives," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "The first of 72 new blue and silver PATH rail cars — which were ordered in 2017 and 2018 and are part of a fleet that will make longer trains possible — arrived in Port Newark Sunday, as more workers resume commuting back to offices. The first two cars were unloaded after being transported by ship from Japan and were trucked to Kawasaki's Yonkers, New York facility for finishing work and testing. The new cars will increase the current fleet of PA-5 cars by 20%, officials said … The added cars will allow PATH to run longer, nine-car trains on the Newark-World Trade Center Line in conjunction with a project to lengthen platforms in five New Jersey stations, expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Both are part of the larger $1 billion PATH Improvement Plan announced on June 20, 2019"

DO NOT DRINK THIS WATER. IT WILL NOT GIVE YOU SUPERPOWERS — "Radioactive water release from Oyster Creek nuclear plant concerns environmentalists," by The Asbury Park Press' Lauren Oglesby: "Water with "low-level" amounts of radiation recently was discharged from the defunct Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which oversees radiation-related activity at the plant. Holtec International released about 24,000 gallons of water from the facility as part of its ongoing decommissioning activities, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said in an email. The water was slowly released starting Sept. 7 and took two days to complete, he said … The water releases are regulated by both the NRC and the federal Environmental Protection Agency in order to protect the public, he said. Staff at the power plant have performed such releases of low-level radioactive water throughout the facility's operating life, said Sheehan and Holtec spokesman Joseph Delmar … Janet Tauro, New Jersey chair of the environmental organization Clean Water Action, said the water release signaled a lack of transparency on the part of Holtec. 'The public was not alerted to when the releases would occur,' said Tauro, who learned about the release while researching Holtec's decommissioning work at the defunct Pilgrim Power Station in Massachusetts. 'They (Ocean County residents) weren't given the opportunity to ask questions.'"

THE BENCH — "Criminal complaint lodged against judge after litigant rushed to hospital," by Above the Law's Joe Patrice: "There appears to be a criminal complaint against New Jersey Judge Daniel R. Lindemann for assault. According to a document filed by one of the litigants before him, this complaint has been referred to a neighboring county … and has already been assigned to a judge in that courthouse. That matter is still pending, but stems from a series of incidents, the most serious of which ended with a litigant representing herself taken to the emergency room after the judge's interrogation triggered the litigant's heart condition forcing her to pass out and be taken by EMTs to the emergency room amid fears of severe organ failure … Yet, Judge Lindemann seems committed to forging ahead with a trial next week … The AG's office is potentially intervening in the matter! But the court wants to do the trial before the AG investigation concludes? I'm struggling to imagine a district judge moving forward with a civil trial after the DOJ indicated that it was investigating whether one side's actions amounted to crimes. That's just batty."

—" Racial slur on student's door at Rowan University leads to charges against two men"

—"Holmdel committeeman gives up seat, quits re-election run"

—POLITICO Pro Q&A: Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell

R.I.P. — "Anne Moreau Thomas, former newspaper columnist, dies at 92 "

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