| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Good Wednesday morning! When Walter Somick and Abraham Garcia were indicted on four felony counts over alleged low show/no show jobs in North Bergen's Department of Public Works all the way back in 2015, the Attorney General's Office issued a press release about it. This would, years later, lead to a big controversy in Trenton. Somick is the son of state Senator/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco's longtime girlfriend. And when the Legislature was considering a bill to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for drug and property crimes, an amendment was quietly inserted at Sacco's behest to also eliminate them for official misconduct — the most serious crime Somick and Garcia were charged with. That led to a long standoff between Gov. Murphy and the Legislature. But thanks to the Jersey Journal, we learned yesterday that the two men's cases were resolved after seven years. There was no press release about it. Somick will serve a year in jail after pleading guilty to one fourth-degree count of tampering with public records, while Garcia will get to participate in a pre-trial intervention program that will wipe his record clean if he completes it. This comes as Sacco's Senate career is winding down. He's not seeking reelection after the redistricting commission put him in a district with state Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson). And I've just got to wonder: Why, aside from my negligence in failing to check, are we just hearing about this now? DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SA WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 241 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: "F---" — Joe Pesci, at least 272 times in movies throughout his career, according to a script survey that found him to have used the F word more than any other actor. However, all but 31 of Pesci's F bombs were dropped in just one movie: Casino. WHERE'S MURPHY? In Hoboken at 11 am for a transit announcement HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Port Authority Chair Keivn O'Toole | | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Efforts to make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable state took a major step forward with Acenda Integrated Health receiving funding from RWJF to serve as the "incubator" organization to launch the state's first public health institute. The institute will promote health equity in New Jersey, where public health infrastructure and systems are strained by a lack of funding and capacity. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
MENTAL HEALTH — "Murphy's brand new plan to address rising mental illness in N.J. schools already facing a backlash," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livi o: With the pandemic contributing to the rising rates of depression and anxiety among kids, the Murphy administration has announced a statewide plan that would make mental wellness a priority in the classroom and identify and refer students in need of counseling services outside their school. But in launching the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Network, the state would end a popular youth services program in June that has operated in 90 school districts since 1988. This program's fierce defenders who helped protect it when the administration proposed cutting its funding two years ago are enlisting student graduates and lawmakers to preserve it once again … Christine Norbut Beyer, the commissioner for the Department of Children and Families, which would run the proposed network, says New Jersey could do so much better. The existing school based program serves only 25,000 to 30,000 students, about 2% of the entire 1.3 million school population, she said."
A RESOLUTION BUT NO RESOLUTION — "Resolution signals NJ's ire over congestion pricing ," by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitemeyer: "New York's plan to charge motorists a "congestion toll" when they enter Manhattan's central business district has drawn a strong and bipartisan rebuke from New Jersey lawmakers. In a 72-0 vote, members of the Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution Monday that formally opposes the plan to make New York City the first in the nation to implement what's commonly referred to as congestion pricing. Adopting the resolution without any debate is largely a symbolic action since the congestion-pricing plan — which is intended to reduce traffic and improve air quality in Manhattan's central business district — is moving forward under a law passed in New York several years ago." GET WELL SOON — "Cunningham undergoing tests at Jersey City hospital, creating uncertainty over political future," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: " Senate President Pro-Tempore Sandra Cunningham was taken by ambulance to Jersey City Medical Center this morning for treatment of a non-life threatening health issue that presents a question as to whether she will be able to complete her current term in the New Jersey Senate … The 72-year-old Cunningham, a Democratic state senator since 2007, has been dealing with some personal health issues and was not in Trenton last week for a short voting session. She did not participate remotely even that option was made available to her …" — Murphy signs child tax credit fix —"N.J. schools must notify parents when they lock kids in padded 'quiet rooms,' proposed law says" —"Bill would exclude juveniles from N.J.'s three-strikes law" —" Bag ban fix will get its own tweaks, Assembly sponsor says" —"N.J. weed rules on workers suspected of being high on the job will be hazy for a while, lawyers say" —"NJ Transit debuts a $10M electric bus fleet, paid for using polluter fines" | | | | JOIN NEXT WEDNESDAY FOR A TALK ON U.S.-CHINA AND XI JINPING'S NEW ERA: President Xi Jinping will consolidate control of the ruling Chinese Communist Party later this month by engineering a third term as China's paramount leader, solidifying his rule until at least 2027. Join POLITICO Live for a virtual conversation hosted by Phelim Kine, author of POLITICO's China Watcher newsletter, to unpack what it means for U.S.-China relations. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
KEANY THE ELDER — "With all respect to the elder Kean…," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack : "The former governor said such a stance could be "unproductive," but then asserted the problem has to do with a single journalist, the editorial page editor of the Star Ledger, Tom Moran. Friction between politicians and individual journalists is common. But with all due respect to the elder Kean, that's not the story here. Kean Jr. seems to be doing all he can to avoid speaking to just about all New Jersey reporters. It is understood this may not be a big issue, or any issue at all, to average voters. And it fits neatly with today's Republican narrative. If reporters get annoyed at the candidate, it's just the unfair and biased media acting up. At the same time, should not a man running for Congress – there are only 435 of such people in a country of 330 million – answer questions from reporters? Most candidates running for school board and town council have no problem doing that."
—Snowflack: "Amid political sniping, Kim strives to be different" PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME JOIN TIKTOK — "In search of younger audiences, New Jersey politics heads to TikTok," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: [S]tudent volunteers on Sherrill's campaign started the TikTok students4mikie this summer. Branching out from a similar Instagram account that's been around since the 2020 election, the TikTok account posts short clips praising Sherrill and imploring viewers to vote, often via memes or pop culture. One recent video, for example, quotes Friends' Phoebe Buffay while urging people to apply for absentee ballots: 'Boyfriends and girlfriends are gonna come and go, but this is for life!' … The type of content on each account varies widely. Some politicians, like Democratic congressional candidates Tim Alexander and Matt Jenkins, largely post unedited videos of themselves talking about key issues. Others, like Republican candidates Frank Pallotta and Billy Prempeh, are more savvy to the platform and mix up direct politics with funnier videos that fit the app's music-centered language. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes)'s account has posted just one TikTok since being created over the summer, but it's one of the best anywhere: the congressman sitting in his office, 'trying to Congress,' as a viral pajama-clad cartoon man named Horace dances on his desk. But by far the most successful account is U.S. Senator Cory Booker's" —" Dems lost more voter registration ground in September – But not in key districts" | | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:   | | | | | LOCAL | | FOX IN THE HENHOUSE —"When school superintendents market surveillance cameras ," by Vice's Aaron Gordon: "On April 1, Michael Fox, a respected superintendent of Demarest School District in Bergen County, New Jersey, emailed Dave Sleppin, his counterpart at nearby Fairview Public Schools, with a glowing recommendation for a security camera company called Verkada. It sells security cameras, vape detectors, and other equipment, and recently raised $205 million at a valuation of $3.2 billion … Alone, the email reads like a friendly recommendation from one colleague to another. But Fox sent a very similar glowing message to dozens of superintendents in the county, and did so in coordination with sales reps for Verkada—a company known among school administrators largely for its aggressive and relentless promotion of itself through marketing spam … Between April and August of this year, according to emails reviewed by Motherboard, Fox and [Bergen County Office of the Inspector General Chief Inspector Jerry] Dargan made a coordinated effort with Verkada staff to sell Verkada products to local school systems" PISCOUTOFTHEWAY — " Piscataway Police Chief Thomas Mosier, facing multiple lawsuits, quietly retires," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell: "Following multiple lawsuits filed against him this year, township Police Chief Thomas Mosier retired Friday after 33 years of service. Unlike most law enforcement agencies which often mark retirements with celebrations posted on social media, there was no mention of Mosier's retirement on the Piscataway Police Department's or the township's Facebook pages … Mosier, who state records show earned a salary of $217,000, has been named as a defendant in lawsuits filed by officers under his command in the police department. The most recent lawsuit was filed by officer Michael Paiano who was hired by the Piscataway Police Department in July 2005, and alleges he was passed over for a promotion due to his age. The lawsuit was filed in May at which time Paiano was 50 years old." DOES IA STAND FOR 'INACTION'? — "'Not being done correctly': Advocates question these Paterson police procedures," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: " The percentage of Internal Affairs complaints confirmed against Paterson police officers increased after the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office began overseeing the departmental investigations of city cops. Authorities sustained 11 out of 38 complaints against city police officers — or 29% — for cases closed between May 2021 and December 2021, which were the first eight months of the prosecutor's oversight of Paterson IA … In comparison, the annual rate of Paterson IA complaints confirmed in the five years before the prosecutor's oversight ranged from 17% to 23% … 'I think those are very significant numbers,' said Paterson activist Ernest Rucker. 'When you see an increase like that, it means that something is not being done correctly.' Paterson Black Lives Matter leader Zellie Thomas said his group has always questioned the legitimacy of the Police Department's in-house IA investigations. 'So we're not surprised if the numbers of sustained cases are going up,' Thomas said. The Prosecutor's Office announced last Friday that it would end its oversight of the city's IA operations, saying changes that were made during its 17-month review would produce 'more robust and detailed' investigations of complaints against city cops." R.I.P. — "Basketball standout, 16, is shot and killed in New Jersey" —" Lawsuit against Ramapo Indian Hills parents by appliances store gets political" —"Bergen County executive candidates to square off in debate, but not before some contention" —"Seastreak ferry increases fares for trips to NYC, blames rising costs" —" These NJ school districts will ask voters to OK construction projects. Here's the cost" —"Busing issues still plague some Jersey Shore schools even as they ease elsewhere" | | | | 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. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
GUN HO — "The surprising details behind New Jersey's rise in gun sales," by The Courier-Post's Aedy Miller: "Since the Supreme Court [concealed carry] decision, Little Bob's has been inundated with people seeking to take the firearms familiarity qualification test at the store's indoor range, according to co-owner Wayne Viden, 54. He said that the store has had to start opening on Sundays just for qualifications. There have even been days where the store has processed more than 100 people. 'I think concealed carry is going to get more people in the range more,' said co-owner Wendy Copenhaver, 59. 'Because I think a huge percentage of those people are extremely serious about wanting to stay up with this. This is not just a one-time thing for them.' Eugene Davis, co-owner of the Pennsauken gun club and retailer Anubis Arms, has also been flooded with inquiries about concealed carry trainings … Since June, New Jersey firearm sales have ticked slightly upward at a similar rate to the end of summer 2020, according to estimates based on the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System by The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom reporting on gun violence"
MASK REQUIRED IN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE TALK THE LEAST AND SOFTEST — " Mask mandate requiring face coverings in Rutgers University libraries temporarily reinstated," by News 12: "Rutgers University officials are reversing course when it comes to lifting its mask mandate. Faculty unions at the university were not happy with last week's decision to, in most situations, lift the mandate on campus. So, after appealing, the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission has temporarily reinstated part of the mask mandate that requires wearing face coverings in university libraries. Individual faculty members may also require face coverings be worn in indoor teaching spaces." —" Homeless veteran who admitted role in GoFundMe scam sentenced to probation" | | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Efforts to make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable state took a major step forward with Acenda Integrated Health receiving funding from RWJF to serve as the "incubator" organization to launch the state's first public health institute.
The institute will promote collaboration and build capacity in New Jersey, where public health infrastructure and systems are stretched thin. It will play a key role in a reimagined public health system in the state. Today, 33 states are served by a public health institute; New Jersey's would be the first to have health equity as a founding priority.
"Dedicated advocates, community members, and partners in state government have worked hard for this moment to arrive," said RWJF's Maisha Simmons. "Everyone in New Jersey should be able to live the healthiest life possible – and a establishing a public health institute is a critical step on that path." | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment