News: $275k job draws just one applicant

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

$275k job draws just one applicant

Dec 21, 2022

Good Wednesday morning!

I know the labor market is still tight out there, but you'd think a $275,000 position that only calls for 35 hours of work a week would attract more than one candidate.

But the job of CEO of Rowan University-Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors to replace Dana Redd attracted just one, according to an OPRA response to a request by someone or something called the South Jersey Media Cooperative. Or, if there were other applicants, the board chose not to share them. The applicant, of course, was Commissioner Jeff Nash, who if he retired today would have a pension of around $15,000 a year but, if he stays in the new job for three years, will see that boosted to about $180,000 a year.

Did anyone actually see the job listing? We can only take the board's word for it that it was posted. But the hiring committee consisted of three men with extremely close ties to the South Jersey Democratic machine: Attorney Bill Tambussi, Gloucester County Democratic Chair Chad Bruner and Cooper Health executive Louis Bezich.

I know this is the way politics works in Jersey, that this is far from unusual. That doesn't mean the media should ignore it. A more cynical reporter might even wonder whether this position was created — at least in part — to boost loyal, high-ranking machine functionaries' pensions ahead of their retirements.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 318

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

WHERE'S MURPHY? — Media: Good Day New York at 9:10 a.m. and "Ask Governor Murphy" on News 12 at 3 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "If you leave the scene and you provide all your information and no one is hurt or injured, I don't think there is a crime there … What are you going to do sit there for four hours? ... He did the right thing. And if it is a crime, then there is something wrong with the law." — Attorney Herman Walz, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, on Jersey City Councilmember James Solomon's citation

PROGRAMMING NOTE — New Jersey Playbook will be off next week, but I'll still be working. I'll be back in your inbox in the new year.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

WE'RE FINALLY A CONTENDER — "The busiest place on the waterfront is no longer in LA, as ships head instead for N.Y. and N.J.," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "The Port of New York and New Jersey in recent months has become the busiest in the nation, surpassing the Port of Los Angeles. 'There definitely has been a shift in cargo from the West Coast,' acknowledged Bethann Rooney, who oversees the port for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where cargo volumes have been soaring to record highs. Whether the port here keeps its bragging rights into the new year as the busiest is in doubt. But the numbers are reflective of major changes in the shipping industry that has turned the transport of everything from toys for Christmas to food for dinner into a giant, ever-changing game of Tetris in the moving of goods from one part of the globe to another where they are needed. For the Port of New York and New Jersey, those changes are bringing billions in new commerce, with the need to move good quickly being colored these days by shipping costs, the threat of labor upheavals, the continuing fallout of the pandemic and efforts to cut risk."

HACKENSACK SENT MURPHY A GOLDEN SACK — "Beer pong, a book from Oprah, cufflinks from Trump, lewd candy among gifts to Phil Murphy," by The Record's Katie Sobko: "A beer pong game and a chocolate penis might sound like gifts exchanged by close friends with a college kid sense of humor, but those are just a few of the hundreds of gifts received by Gov. Phil Murphy since he took office in 2018. While most of the gifts the governor has received during his tenure aren't all that unusual, a few might garner a second glance. Murphy has also accrued a fair share of gifts from notable names, including a set of cufflinks from Donald Trump; Tolkien novels from Stephen Colbert; and books from Oprah Winfrey and Steve Kornacki, the former statehouse reporter who is now a star at NBC News … In addition to the somewhat predictable commemorative plaques and pictures, Murphy has received dozens of shirts, pens and cups"

THE DECEMBRISTS — New Jersey Treasury sanctions 157 businesses with ties to Russia or Belarus, by POLITICO's Daniel Han : The list of businesses was quietly posted to the Treasury's website and has been updated as of Dec. 8. The prohibitions are in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after the invasion, state lawmakers fast-tracked a bill … which would require the state's pension system to divest from businesses if they have ties with Russia or Belarus, as well as bar them from doing business with New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy signed the measure in March. The companies — which include oil, industrial, tech and health care — are cut off from public investments and prohibited from receiving economic subsidies, municipal property tax abatements and payment in lieu of property tax agreements

—"Bill offering protections for temp workers fails to get Senate vote for third time"

—"Code Blue helps NJ homeless when temps drop, but some still get left out in the cold"

—"N.J. Turnpike agrees to pay billions to help fund the Gateway Tunnel"

—"N.J. hunters killed 114 bears during short season"

—"Jessica Ramirez, John Allen will run for Assembly on Hudson Democratic ticket"

—"NJ legal weed is flying off the shelves. Here's what that means for the future"

—"NJ Transit reform report card, part 5: The ghost of Christmas past, the customer advocate"

—"MVC to undo pandemic-era change at some locations. Lawmakers say it's not enough"

—"N.J. could soon guarantee severance pay for workers in mass layoffs"

—New Jersey Department of Education releases detailed standardized test results

POLITICO AT CES 2023 : We are bringing a special edition of our Digital Future Daily newsletter to Las Vegas to cover CES 2023. The newsletter will take you inside the largest and most influential technology event on the planet, featuring every major and emerging industry in the technology ecosystem gathered in one place. The newsletter runs from Jan. 5-7 and will focus on the public policy related aspects of the event. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of CES 2023.

BIDEN TIME

—"Watch: Trump's tax documents wheeled in ahead of House Ways and Means meeting"

—Proposed $150M deal not likely to settle Lower Passaic Superfund cleanup

LOCAL

POLITIFACT RATING: PANTS ON FIRE! — "Inside prank that left Gloucester City firefighter with burnt pants, another without a job," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: " Syrup in a firefighter's boot; vinegar in a fire station's coffee. Food fights at a firehouse. And a station bed wrapped in plastic, then heaped with random items. Pranks like these, while technically prohibited by a "zero-tolerance" policy, have commonly gone unpunished at Gloucester City's fire house, according to a recent court ruling. But an 18-year member of the department found himself in a fight for his job after a prank that officials said endangered another firefighter. Christopher Oliver set fire to a paper napkin, then held it to the buttocks of a firefighter who was washing dishes at the King Street facility in November 2021, says a ruling by Administrative Law Judge Christopher Tuohy. The flame did not burn the prank's victim, Charles Sanderson IV, but it damaged his fire-resistant pants. And it led city officials to terminate Oliver, effective Dec. 21, 2021. But Oliver appealed the city's penalty as excessive, describing pranks as 'the lifeblood of the department and embedded in station life,' according to his testimony before Tuohy."

BELMARRED — "Ex-Belmar First Aid Squad member sues after arrest over $56 in gas for ambulance," by The Asbury Park Press' Kathleen Hopkins : "A longtime member of the now-defunct Belmar First Aid Squad claims in a lawsuit he was falsely arrested for using the borough's municipal gasoline pump to put $56 worth of fuel into an ambulance just after the squad's disbandment in 2021. Stephen T. Hines claims in the lawsuit, filed last week in Superior Court in Monmouth County, that his arrest Nov. 30, 2021, on theft and official misconduct charges was in retaliation for the independent, nonprofit first aid squad disbanding and refusing to sell its property to the borough. The arrest came almost eight months after Hines put the gasoline into an ambulance that was being donated to a volunteer fire company in upstate New York … 'Rather than bill (the squad) for the fuel or ask plaintiff or any other (squad) members for the outstanding $56 on the account, defendants waited more than seven months to have plaintiff arrested and maliciously prosecuted for official misconduct and theft, the charges carrying a mandatory 2-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole,' the suit said … The county prosecutor's office immediately dismissed the charges against Hines on Jan. 28, 2022 … [A]former Belmar police officer visited HInes' home to relay a message from the mayor that if Hines 'went to talk to [Mayor Mark] Walsifer, Walsifer would make it (the pending criminal charges) go away,' the suit alleges."

THE COURTS — "No evidence found so far of anti-Latino bias in municipal court scheduling, N.J. judiciary says," by Matt Gray for NJ.com: "An ongoing investigation into claims of discrimination in the scheduling of Latino defendants in a South Jersey municipal court has so far revealed no signs of unfair treatment, state judiciary officials said Tuesday. Earlier this month, Millville Municipal Court Judge Jason Witcher called out alleged discrimination in how Latino defendants were treated in that court. He said most defendants with Latino sounding names were required to appear for court appearances in-person, while others were given the option of virtual appearances conducted online … Administrative Office of the Courts spokesman Pete McAleer said the judiciary is reviewing Millville court case files and court calendars dating back to February 2022 … 'To this point, the investigation has revealed that individuals with Hispanic/ Latino surnames have appeared for both virtual and in-person appearances in the Millville Municipal Court and continue to be scheduled for both,' McAleer said."

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN RED REPUBLICANS AND BLUE DEMOCRATS IS PURPLE HAYES — "Hayes turns heads at Somerset Dems' holiday fiesta," by InsiderNJ: "The presence of former Bridgewater Mayor Dan Hayes at the Somerset Democrats' Christmas party earlier this month filled some of those in attendance with nefarious schemes of packing the stockings of Bridgewater Republicans with coal. Less than rip-snorting production GOP numbers in Bridgewater in this past election have Democrats in heat-seeking mode when it comes to Somerset's big, multi-neighborhood, wraparound town. Word is that Hayes – defeated in his quest for a third term (2,769 to 1,606, a 27-percent margin) by rival Republican Matt Moench – could be on the prowl for a comeback next year – as a Democrat."

—"Does Edison need a public advocate? Mayor, councilman disagree"

—"Former [Keansburg] cop gets 4 years in prison for attempted sexual assault of unconscious woman"

—"Ciesla slated to lead Warren County Commission"

—"Jersey City Councilwoman DeGise has pre-trial hearing for hit-and-run set for Jan. 10th"

—"Progressive activist Eleana Little announces bid for Hudson County executive"

—"Jersey City officials tout big drops in murders, shootings; 6 lesser crimes see increases"

A NEW POLITICO PODCAST: POLITICO Tech is an authoritative insider briefing on the politics and policy of technology. From crypto and the metaverse to cybersecurity and AI, we explore the who, what and how of policy shaping future industries. We're kicking off with a series exploring darknet marketplaces, the virtual platforms that enable actors from all corners of the online world to traffic illicit goods. As malware and cybercrime attacks become increasingly frequent, regulators and law enforcement agencies work different angles to shut these platforms down, but new, often more unassailable marketplaces pop up. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY.

EVERYTHING ELSE

PHIL RIZZO 2025 RUNNING MATE VIBES — "'Bling Bishop' Lamor Whitehead holed up in NJ McMansion after federal fraud charges," by The New York Post's Kevin Sheehan and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon: "Controversial Brooklyn Bishop Lamor Whitehead was holed up in a gaudy New Jersey McMansion Tuesday, one day after getting slammed with federal charges for allegedly scamming a member of his congregation. Whitehead, 44, briefly emerged from the sprawling, two-story brick house to tell a Post reporter to scram — and yelled out 'Not guilty!' when pressed about the allegations lodged by Manhattan federal prosecutors Monday. 'Everybody who got arrested is not guilty,' said Whitehead, who was sporting designer clothes, including Gucci shoes and a large belt, also by the luxury label. 'OK, brother?'"

IN CAMDEN COUNTY, 'HIS MASTER'S VOICE' USUALLY MEANS A PHONE CALL FROM GEORGE NORCROSS — "Victor Records owner hopes to entomb the bones of iconic 'Nipper' in the city that made the dog famous," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Kevin Riordan: "The image of a cute little mutt named Nipper, cocking his head to hear 'His Master's Voice' emanate from a vintage record player, once belonged to a Camden company that for much of the 20th century made the music, radios, phonographs, and TVs that helped introduce America and the world to new forms of home entertainment. In 2014, an entrepreneur and musician who was born and lives in Camden started buying up the rights to Nipper … And now Graham Alexander owns some of Nipper's bones, too … A team excavated the spot where the dog was said to have been buried in a garden at Kingston upon Thames, Southwest London, England; the remains were identified as belonging to a mixed breed canine. 'I'm confident the bones are Nipper's,' said Alexander, who is raising money to build a memorial garden on the Victor Vault property, where he will inter them. He hopes to eventually create a more substantial memorial in Camden"

MOOMORA — "Marmora cow remains at large," by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: "A recently story about the cow, which has been loose since the summer and named Mootilda by a neighbor who has been feeding her, drew a strong reaction from readers who called and emailed with suggestions for where the cow could be taken, or offers to adopt her. There had already been some attempts to corral the animal. On Monday, there was another plan to fence Mootilda in, but the cow was a no-show."

THE WEDDING STINGER — " Couples outraged as N.J. wedding venue changes color scheme. 'Please say this is a joke,' by NJ Advance Media's Karin Price Mueller: "The spacious room at The Madison Hotel in Morristown, which featured a gold and white color scheme, was going to debut in 'early 2023' with black- or dark gray-painted walls and a blue carpet, according to photos posted by the hotel on Instagram and Facebook. But for some brides and grooms who had booked the space months ago, the news was less than exciting. 'We booked the Ballroom for its gorgeous gold accents, more neutral tones, and loved the aesthetic when we saw it in person,' one bride said on Instagram."

—"Correctional officer admits attacking handcuffed prisoner, lying about it, officials say"

—"Face recognition tech gets Girl Scout mom booted from Rockettes Show — Due to where she works"

Follow us on Twitter