News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Sally Yates at the gates

Thursday, October 6, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Sally Yates at the gates

Oct 06, 2022

Presented by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Good Thursday morning!

One of the first scandals to hit the nascent Murphy administration in 2018 was a report on the sorry living conditions that the players had to endure at the women's soccer team he owns, formerly called Sky Blue.

Now, a U.S. Soccer Federeation-sponsored investigation report authored by the briefly-Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates is out, and it isn't just a rehash. The report details how the team fired a coach, Christy Holly, over his alleged verbal abuse and relationship with the player. But, as the report says, the club stated the team and Holly had "mutually agreed" to part ways and thanked him. Holly subsequently took a job at another club, and the same alleged pattern of abuse continued.

I can't help but see parallels to 2018, when Katie Brennan's allegations of sexual assault during Murphy's 2017 campaign surfaced. While the allegations themselves don't share much in common, the lack of accountability that followed does. Holly was quietly let go. The man Brennan accused, Al Alvarez, got a high-ranking job in the Murphy administration. In neither case did the allegations follow the alleged perpetrator.

Reporters asked Murphy about this yesterday. He said he was "disgusted by what I've read" and that he hoped the National Women's Soccer League would "get out ahead of this and will put reforms in place… such that stuff like this can never, ever, ever happen again."

But reporters repeatedly pressed Murphy on whether he felt any responsibility for it. "I'm going to stay with what I said," he said.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 242

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Bruce Springsteen is just a cool dude." – Kareem Abdul-Jabar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Cranford Administrator Jamie Cryan, Mercury's Kevin Drennan, Assembly Dems' Jillian Lynch, campaign operative Megan Piwowar, Pennoni's Jonathan Savage, former Assemblymember Joel Weingarten

WHERE'S MURPHY? At Betty McElmon Elementary in Long Branch for an 11:15 am announcement.

A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

WHAT TRENTON MADE

THIS BUD'S FOR WHOM? — "Black members on N.J. cannabis commission dissatisfied with Big Weed social justice promises," by NJ Advance Media's Jelani Gibson: "Now that New Jersey's legal weed market has been open for nearly half a year, some of the forecasted issues seen in other markets are becoming more visible here. Some on the state's five-member governing body, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission or CRC, have made it clear they aren't satisfied with the larger corporations … Another major issue, which New Jersey now faces, is the market being controlled by a collection of big companies, which have operated as alternative treatment centers before the market opened up to non-medical-marijuana patients and adult consumers. These multistate operators, known as MSOs, are making billions of dollars off of a plant that Black and Hispanic people were incarcerated for in the War on Drugs … Out of the five-person commission, the only two Black members, CRC Chair Dianna Houenou and Commissioner Charles Barker, have consistently voted or abstained — the politer equivalent of 'nay' — against expanding some of those companies. Barker has been the most vocal critic on the commission. At a September CRC meeting, he also criticized the companies for their track records on helping medical consumers and union negotiations, concerns inherently intertwined with social equity itself.

OUT OF COMPTROLL — Walsh approaching three years in legislative limbo as acting state comptroller, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Acting New Jersey State Comptroller Kevin Walsh, almost three years into his job, remains unconfirmed by the state Senate. Gov. Phil Murphy first nominated Walsh to the post in January 2020 and re-upped the nomination at the start of his second term in January 2022. … The reason there hasn't been a confirmation vote, according to two people with knowledge of the process, is that state Sens. Jim Beach and Nilsa Cruz-Perez (both D-Camden) have blocked Walsh's confirmation, exercising the unwritten rule of senatorial courtesy.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE, JUST NOT TO EASILY FIND A NON-PARTY ENDORSED CANDIDATE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT — "New Jersey lawmakers want a state Voting Rights Act," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: "New Jersey lawmakers are looking to pass a new set of voting protections as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a case that could see key provisions of the Voting Rights Act gutted. The bill would give the state Division on Civil Rights oversight powers over elections that impinge the ability of people belonging to a protected class — defined here as members of a race, color, or language minority group — to influence an election or elect candidates of their choice. 'I just think it's really important for folks in general,' said Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic), one of the bill's prime Assembly sponsors. 'Voting should be something that is a right for all.'"

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.

STRONGER AND… WHATEVER — "New Jersey records one of nation's biggest spikes in poverty," by NJ 101.5's Michael Symons : "Poverty increased more in New Jersey than nearly all other states between 2019 and 2021, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, which also showed the state's median income dropped by 1.7% in that time. The poverty rate in New Jersey went up by 1.1 percentage points to 10.2% in 2021, according to estimates from the bureau's American Community Survey. Only Hawaii and Maryland registered bigger increases since 2019. (The 2020 data was skipped, as the pandemic interfered with survey responses.)"

— Ground broken for long-stalled Hoboken terminal project"

—"Murphy takes request for congestion pricing study to Biden"

—Educators skeptical of New Jersey's plan to 're-engineer' student mental health program

—" Rabner names replacement for fired attorney ethics chief"

—"Federal report finds bad news for New Jersey economy"

—"NJ set to expand emergency planning for mass shootings"

—" These new proposals will help N.J. small businesses slammed by the pandemic, [Coughlin] says"

—"New Jersey's bag ban is an overwhelming success. Let's keep the momentum going. | Opinion"

BIDEN TIME

THE POLICE ARE GOTTHEIMER'S PROBLEM SOLVERS — "'We're not apologizing': Protesters arrested outside Gottheimer's house plead guilty," by The Record's Liam Quinn: "One year after a dozen protesters were arrested outside Rep. Josh Gottheimer's Wyckoff home, 11 of the 12 pleaded guilty Thursday to borough ordinance violations, a charge akin to a traffic ticket, a courts spokesperson said. But at least one of the defendants said she has no regrets. The official charge to which the 11 pleaded was disturbing the peace, after the group was initially charged with criminal trespassing. The 12th defendant failed to appear in court. The protesters were part of a youth-based climate change activist organization called the Sunrise Movement. On Oct. 18, 2021, a total of 40 protesters gathered outside Gottheimer's house to chant and sing, urging the congressman to help pass President Joe Biden's Build Back Better spending plan. Esther Feldman, a 19-year-old Bergenfield native and one of the 11 who pleaded guilty, said her plea does not mean she is standing down in her activism. 'We're not apologizing, she said … … 'What transpired last year crossed the line of decency and left Josh's family concerned for their safety,' [Gottheimer spokesperson said ... Feldman and the other protesters will each have to pay a $200 fine, but they will not have criminal charges on their records."

—" Post-Roe reversal, most of NJ doesn't trust U.S. Supreme Court: poll"

A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

LOCAL

CLIFTON VOTERS ONLY ACCUSTOMED TO CHOOSING THE DONENESS LEVEL OF HOT DOGS — "Group wants Clifton's elections changed so voters can directly choose a mayor," by The Record's Matt Fagan: "An effort is underway to change the way the city's mayor is elected from the current system established 88 years ago, to a more direct method. Clifton Citizens for Change, a non-partisan, ad hoc group, was formed for the purpose of collecting about 6,000 registered voters' signatures needed to force a referendum that seeks to change the process so voters directly vote for a mayoral candidate. The group is also looking to stagger the elections of members of the City Council. 'After decades of Clifton voters being denied the opportunity to directly elect our mayor, Clifton Citizens for Change thinks it is for voters to make that decision,' James Daley said during the public portion of Tuesday's City Council meeting. Currently, voters elect all members of the City Council every four years, and traditionally, the highest vote-getter is appointed mayor by the elected council members."

TOMMY USED TO WORK ON FULOP — "Hudson County political fixer Bertoli, ex-top Fulop ally, pleads guilty to one tax charge ," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Hudson County political fixer Tom Bertoli, a former top alley of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, pleaded guilty to one tax charge on a Zoom hearing [Wednesday] morning over two years after being indicted on eight different tax-related charges. Bertoli, 65, of Matawan, pleaded guilty to one count of corrupt interference with administration of the Internal Revenue laws, a felony charge, in front of U.S. District Court Judge Brian Martinotti this morning during a virtual hearing that lasted about 45 minutes. The plea agreement says that Bertoli could face anywhere between zero to 18 months in prison along with $1,171,494 restitution to the IRS and other penalties, as well as the possibility of supervised release."

DISTRICT CALLS LAWSUIT A 'TAYLOR SHAM' — "Wayne schools groundskeeper denied promotion because he's not Italian, says lawsuit," by The Record's Philip DeVencentis: "A veteran employee of the K-12 district was blacklisted by management and prevented from advancing in his career because he is not Italian, according to a new lawsuit. Brian Taylor, 51, of Wayne, also claims his participation in union activities has barred him from being promoted to a supervisory role in the district's building services department. The 12-page complaint, filed in state Superior Court in Paterson, alleges the unlawful refusal to promote Taylor will mean he will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in income … John Geppert Jr., an attorney for the school board, said trustees dispute Taylor's claims. 'The district's administrators and the Board of Education have always acted appropriately and in full compliance with all laws in this matter,' he said."

GREAT. NOW HOW IS NEWARK SUPPOSED TO FIND ANOTHER LAW FIRM WITH CLAWS? — "Law firm involved in Newark school district's effort to claw back state street school drops out of case ," by TAPIntoNewark's Tom Wiedmann and Mark J. Bonamo: "A top New Jersey law firm hired by the Newark school district to claw back two school buildings that had previously been sold has dropped out of the case. The unusual move came three days after TAPinto Newark started asking questions about the firm's legal invoices as well as its relationship with the general counsel of Newark's schools, Brenda Liss. The law firm, Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti, raked in at least $435,000 in legal fees on a building that the district sold in 2019 for $650,000."

ATLANTIC CITY'S CONTROVERSIAL PROPERTY EXCHANGE PROGRAM — "Oops, we weren't supposed to sell that property, city says of contested parcel in auction," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: " It's a good thing a bidder complained that someone else was given too much time to outbid him during the city's Sept. 14 online auction of city-owned real estate, and City Council held off on accepting high bids at its September meeting. The property at 822 Lexington Ave. that was the subject of the complaint was not really owned by the city, Solicitor Mike Perugini said during a special meeting Tuesday night. Council voted to accept all other high bids, but not the one for the contested property. 'There is a long history with the property. ... Back in 2015 a church made application to become exempt, and succeeded in tax court,' Perugini said. But somehow it remained on the city's taxable list and racked up unpaid city taxes … Perugini said the city didn't realize its mistake until recently and after a final foreclosure judgment had been entered … So this goes back to 2015?' asked Councilwoman LaToya Dunston, 'So it took seven years to catch up with the fact that the property should have been tax exempt?'"

—" The pros and cons of Atlantic City's nonpartisan election ballot question"

—"NJ DEP to provide administrative oversight to Trenton Water Works, according to state legislators"

—"Jersey Shore town may soon launch system to identify abandoned boats"

—" With deal at standstill, Hoboken again looks to eminent domain to acquire Union Dry Dock"

—"Warehouse proposals in Hillsborough exceed 1 million square feet "

—"Linden taps familiar face for interim schools superintendent"

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

PUTIN ATTACKS — "Facebook page hack may impact huge N.J. holiday lights display, homeowner says," by NJ Advance Media's Jackie Roman: "This is the time of year when Brandon Gress usually begins ramping up activity on his Facebook page for The Gress House Holiday Light Spectacular — a massive holiday display with over 300,000 lights at his Union Beach home that raises money for charity. But this year, the Gress House Holiday page is unusually silent as Gress fights to regain access to his Facebook accounts after a hacking in September.

JASON WILL RETURN TO WEARING A BAG OVER HIS HEAD ONCE THE LEGISLATURE TWEAKS THE BAG BAN — " Friday the 13th's Camp Crystal Lake is an active Boy Scout camp in New Jersey. You can take a tour, if you can get tickets," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jason Nark: "Most of Friday the 13th, a classic horror film released in 1980, was filmed at Camp NoBeBoSco, a Boy Scout camp site about 100 miles north of Philadelphia, in Warren County. The 387-acre camp opened in 1927, making it the oldest continuously run Boy Scout camp in New Jersey. Every summer, hundreds of kids make their way here, learning how to shoot a bow or paddle a canoe. Many know about Jason, the hockey-masked killer who, according to the original film, drowned in the lake there as a boy … Trespassing fans of the film became a larger issue as the internet and social media expanded, so in 2011, the Boy Scouts followed the lead of many museums and historic buildings: They embraced a little horror. Crystal Lake Tours have been a surprise fund-raising boost for the Boy Scouts. Tickets range from $89 for a short tour to $159 per person for the extended tour, and all of them sell quickly."

—"Inside the university program to find and document South Jersey's Holocaust survivors"

—"Annual count finds N.J. homelessness inching up, with racial disparities persisting"

— Brookdale Community College sells Hazlet campus, mulls changes at others

CORRECTIONS: Yesterday I linked to a Jersey Journal article that said Walter Somick, son of state Sen./North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco's longtime girlfriend, was sentenced to 364 days in jail and 18-months probation. That article has since been corrected and now says the 364 days was a suspended sentence.

In Tuesday's edition, most likely due to a worn keyboard, I misspelled The Record reporter Melanie Anzidei's first name as "Meanie." I don't regret the error. I'm still laughing about it.

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."