News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Silly goose! Wawa sends House candidate cease-and-desist letter over campaign logo

Friday, September 30, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Silly goose! Wawa sends House candidate cease-and-desist letter over campaign logo

Sep 30, 2022

Presented by NextEra Energy Transmission

When New Jersey politics and Wawa collide, of course I'm here for it.

Earlier this week, I noted on Twitter that 4th District Democratic congressional candidate Matt Jenkins' campaign logo is reminiscent of the Wawa logo.

It turns out Wawa took notice, too. Because they sent Jenkins a cease-and-desist letter from an intellectual property lawyer. The goose image he he uses in the logo, they noted, appears to be identical to the logo Wawa used from 1990 to 2004.

We'll see if Jenkins keeps using the logo. Meanwhile, Wawa's pushback hasn't changed Jenkins' attitude towards the store. "I love Wawa," he told me.

If Jenkins refuses to cease and desist, expect Wawa to file a goose suit. Whether it will fly in court, I have no idea. But Jenkins' chances against 42-year Republican incumbent Chris Smith in November are slim, to say the least. You might even say his goose is already cooked. Sorry.

Take a gander at my article here.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 236

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Dem activist Nina Catrambone. Sunday for NMFonline's Michellene Davis, Bloomberg's Lisa Fleisher, attorney Paul Josephson.

WHERE'S MURPHY? Out-of-state on "personal travel" until Sunday

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "If Wawa allows other uses – such as the use by your campaign – it runs the very real risk that its trademarks will be weakened. As a New Jerseyan, familiar with Wawa's reputation among and relationship with the public, we trust that is not something that you would want to occur." — Attorney Douglas Panzer's letter to Matt Jenkins

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PLAPPROVED — Platkin is permanent New Jersey Attorney General, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Matt Platkin is New Jersey's permanent Attorney General following a vote by the full state Senate on Thursday. Platkin, who has been serving as acting attorney general since February, was confirmed in a 24-10 vote mostly along party lines with Jon Bramnick (R-Union), Vince Polistina (R-Atlantic) and Robert Singer (R-Ocean) also voting in favor. Among his most vocal supporters on the floor Thursday was state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex),who signed off on Platkin's nomination in July after being one of the last holdouts blocking the nomination from moving forward.

STILL SMOKIN' — Senate President Nick Scutari doesn't anticipate legislation to ban indoor casino smoking to advance anytime soon. "I don't see that happening right now," he told reporters during a gaggle when asked if the measure could soon see a committee hearing. Legislation to ban indoor casino smoking, S264 (22R), hit a recent milestone of 22 co-sponsors in the Senate — a majority of lawmakers in the upper chamber and the most movement the bill has seen in over a decade — but has failed to advance. Scutari said over the summer that "at some point, you're gonna see something" on casino smoking, but said the issue was more complicated than just allowing people to smoke indoors. "There's more to it than just: Do I think people should smoke indoors?" he said at the time . "I do not. I don't like smoke. I've never been a smoker. But there are economic things, there are other items at work there. We've got to work with the industry, work with the advocates." — Daniel Han

—"New Jersey Senate President signals concealed carry reform is on the way"

EDUCATION — Murphy to nominate 3 women to state Board of Education, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin : Three women are set to be nominated Thursday to the state Board of Education by Gov. Phil Murphy, POLITICO has learned. Murphy will nominate Mary Bennett, Kwanghee Jung and Claudine Keenan to replace board members Mary Elizabeth Gazi and Mary Beth Berry, as well as board Vice President Andrew Mulvihill, an administration official said. If confirmed by the Senate, the nominees will become three of the 13 total board members who voluntarily serve for six-year terms … Despite being in his second term, these will be Murphy's first nominations to the board. The Democratic governor has been under pressure in recent months to nominate members and do more to shape the political makeup of the board as the national conversation about sex educationcurriculum and diversity and inclusion consumes the election year chatter."

SETTLE IT IN WEEHAWKEN — "NY bill threatens new $50 fee to NJ drivers as congestion pricing feud heats up," by WNYC's Stephen Nessen: "Lawmakers from New York and New Jersey are locked in a legislative battle over ticketing Garden State drivers. The tit-for-tat legislation, which has not been signed into law by either state, comes amid an escalating war of words over the congestion pricing plan to toll drivers who enter Manhattan below 60th Street. New Jersey lawmakers fired the first shot last June when their state Senate unanimously passed a bill to block the state's Motor Vehicle Commission from sharing driver info with other states, like New York. If implemented, the New Jersey bill could undermine congestion pricing, which would toll drivers using E-Z Pass readers and cameras. The New Jersey General Assembly has not voted on the legislation. In response, New York lawmakers in both chambers introduced bills this month to charge drivers from New Jersey a $50 fee for coming from a 'non-cooperative' state. '"It's my hope that the very prospect of this legislation might convince some New Jersey politicians to come to their senses,' said state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. 'There's going to have to be a price to pay if my bill passes.'"

FINALLY, MORE FINANCIAL SECTOR MONEY IN POLITICS — " N.J. Bank trade groups may now make political contributions, 3rd Circuit rules," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Banking trade groups can make campaign contributions after the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that a state law prohibiting banks from providing financial support to candidates did not apply to trade groups. 'Trade associations are less likely to pose a risk of quid pro quo corruption because their member banks have varying interests, whereas individual banks have uniform interests,' the three-judge panel found. But the New Jersey Bankers Association, which is seeking to make independent expenditures and contributions, did not have standing to challenge the law on behalf of individuals banks."

WILL THEY TAKE OFF FROM TETERBORO? — "Gov. Phil Murphy to send 135 National Guard members to Florida," by News 12: "Gov. Phil Murphy has announced that 135 National Guard members are being sent to Florida. This comes after reports of the state's first responders struggling due to flooding in areas such as Fort Meyers Beach and Naples."

BOUND BROOK IS NOW MORRIS TOWN — "Bound Brook selects new mayor," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: "David Morris has been selected as the borough's new mayor. Morris replaces Bob Fazen, a Republican who resigned Sept. 2 because he was moving out of town. Morris was unanimously selected by the Borough Council to fill the remainder of Fazen's term, which expires at the end of 2023."

—VIDEO: "Sen. Jon Bramnick and Phil Rizzo on state of New Jersey's Republican Party "

— "Burgess sworn in as Senate returns for the fall"

—" Tax credits could replace senior freeze rebates"

—"Lawmakers want to study goal of zero traffic deaths by 2035 "

—"NJ extends deadline for immigrant workers to prove they're eligible for $2,000 COVID aid"

—"Lawmakers advance bills to expand menstrual equity and health"

—" Coughlin advocates for his signature issue — food insecurity and hunger — at White House conference"

—"Revive bill to expand access to abortion in N.J., activists demand in Statehouse rally"

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BE AFRAID BEACUSE EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET YOUR FAMILY — "Pallotta on the Democrats: 'They're coming after our kids'," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "Pallotta said this will be a "turnout election" (aren't they all?) and that Republicans and conservative leaning independents need to vote. He said the GOP is right on the key issues, citing high inflation, rising crime and lack of border control. Then he added, "They're coming after our kids, they're coming after our children." This was a reference to new sex ed standards in public schools that conservatives have criticized as inappropriate. Republicans have raised the issue of public school curriculum in general all over the country with some success. It remains a strong Republican talking point despite an obvious problem in this race – Congress has virtually nothing to do with public school curriculum."

—"Battle over sex education erupts in race for NJ's 7th Congressional District"

—Hennelly: " CWA enters CD-2 fray for Alexander"

LOCAL

A message from NextEra Energy Transmission:

SEEKING TO STOP WILD GATHERINGS, WILDWOOD CONSIDERS CHANGING NAME TO 'WOOD' — "Wildwood officials say they didn't foresee how bad fatal H2oi car rally would get ," by NJ Advance Media's Nyah Marshall: "The mayor and police chief of Wildwood said there was no way the city could have prepared for how out of control the deadly H2oi pop-up car rally would get. The rally, which took over the streets in Wildwood last weekend, resulted in the deaths of two people, and left two others with serious injuries. Mayor Pete Byron and Police Chief Robert Regalbuto spoke during Wednesday's Board of Commissioners meeting, which drew well over a dozen members of the public. Many questioned what plans had been put in place once city officials knew of the rally, and referenced the chaos the rally brought to Ocean City, Maryland, in past years before it moved to New Jersey. 'So what happened on Saturday night, there wasn't any way we could ever have foreseen that happening. We felt that we had more than adequate enough coverage to protect our citizens until that happened because there's no way we never could have known,' Byron said to Regalbuto during the meeting. 'Is that fair enough to say?'"

THIS CASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HEARD IN SALEM COUNTY — " No 'political witch hunt': What Mendez losing ruling in Paterson election fraud case means," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "A state Superior Court judge on Thursday morning rejected Alex Mendez's attempt to argue that the criminal election fraud charges against him stem from a "political witch hunt" orchestrated by Mayor Andre Sayegh. In denying Mendez's "selective prosecution" defense, Judge Sohail Mohammed determined that the councilman failed to provide any proof that he was targeted for investigation because of his opposition to Sayegh. "Evidence must be more than mere speculation," Mohammed said during his ruling. The judge also denied Mendez's effort to force Sayegh to release emails and other correspondence between him, his staff and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office about the case."

HERE WE GO — "Clifton schools ask community to select days off for holidays or shorter school year," by The Record's Matt Fagan: "The city's Board of Education is taking a long, hard look at its calendar and the impact the many religious holidays are having on the length of the school year … School officials are very proud of the district's diversity and say it's a great aspect of the city's schools. They are quick to say there are about 60 different languages spoken by students and their families in their homes. But, with that level of diversity comes many requests for days off to celebrate religious holidays … 'It's getting to be too many,' school trustee Dana Beltran said. 'It's been going to almost July.' As a result, the city's school board is considering the elimination of religious holidays from the school calendar."

— "Area leaders call for state takeover of Trenton Water Works"

—"2 N.J. cops charged after fight in Ocean City, Maryland, officials say "

—"'Intentional' fire set near reporter's s home in Lakewood, NJ"

—" Holmdel picks new township committeeman with just two members voting"

—"Joining statewide trend, Newark animal shelter dramatically cuts cat and dog kills "

—"Sex, diversity, 'divisive' books are focus of Parsippany school board candidate forum"

— "Teaneck Democrat Committee resolution touches off nationwide Hindu protest"

—"Holmdel picks new township committeeman with just two members voting "

—"Hoboken looks to add police press assistant, but objectors concerned about spending, not transparency"

EVERYTHING ELSE

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$29 MILLION IN WAGERS — "Suit: MGM paid problem gambler to not report online glitches," by The AP's Wayne Parry: "— A New York City man is suing an Atlantic City casino, its parent company and its online betting partner, alleging he was repeatedly disconnected while gambling online and was given payments to prevent him from reporting the malfunctions to New Jersey gambling regulators during a nine-month span in which he wagered over $29 million. Sam Antar says he is a compulsive gambler — a fact he says was well-known to defendants in the case including Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, MGM Resorts International and its online partner Entain. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state Superior Court in Middlesex County, Antar accuses the defendants of fraud, racketeering and other transgressions"

BRICKEAPOLIS — "NJ official eyed for chief in city where George Floyd died," by The AP: "Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Thursday that he is nominating a former public safety director from Newark, New Jersey, as his top pick for the city's next police chief, at a time when the department is struggling with depleted staffing and the uncertainty of an ongoing federal investigation following the killing of George Floyd. If confirmed by the City Council, Brian O'Hara, deputy mayor of Newark, would be taking over a department that some city leaders and community members had sought to abolish in recent years, and he would lead the agency through court-ordered changes that are expected as the result of the Department of Justice's ongoing probe into policing practices."

MAYBE SOMEDAY HE'LL WRITE A SONG OF HIS OWN — "Bruce Springsteen to release album of soul covers 'Only the Strong Survive': 'I loved making it'," by The Asbury Park Press: "Bruce Springsteen was born to sing. A new Springsteen album, 'Only the Strong Survive,' due Friday, Nov. 11, will have the Boss singing soul music classics and rarities. A single, 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do),' was released on Thursday, Sept. 29, with an accompanying performance video directed by Point Pleasant native and long-time collaborator Thom Zimny."

—" Longtime Fairleigh Dickinson soccer coach sues university over scholarship dispute"

—"After 35 years, WHYY's Marty Moss-Coane to leave 'Radio Times'"

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.