News: Let's talk about sex, Jersey

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Let's talk about sex, Jersey

Dec 22, 2022

Good Thursday morning!

Sex ed is once again a hot political topic, so check out this FDU poll about how New Jerseyans see their sex ed experiences versus a nationwide sample group.

There's a lot of interesting numbers in this poll, but the big picture is that New Jerseyans generally feel more positive about what they learned about sex in middle and high school than the smaller nationwide sample — though the most recent graduates say they felt "indoctrinated" by "woke" teachers at higher numbers than the older group. In any case, New Jereyans were less likely to say they felt that kind of pressure than the respondents from elsewhere.

As long as there's sex ed, there will be people who say it shouldn't be taught. Is it a coincidence that New Jersey has one of the lowest teen birth rates in the nation? I'm guessing it's not, but that other factors are at play as well, like income and abortion access.

It's also worth taking a closer look at the recent outcries. For instance, a lot of people were up in arms about a proposed lesson plan that involved kids learning where certain private parts are, including the clitoris. This is sexualizing children, the argument goes.

But if you don't come into this with the assumption that evil teachers are trying to "groom" children, I can see an argument for why it's important for kids to know their bodies so that they know if they are touched inappropriately. I can also imagine that making it taboo to openly discuss sex fosters a culture of shame in which kids would be more hesitant to report their abuse, or perhaps feel as if it's their fault. Think of it this way: Do you think there was less sexual abuse in your parents' or grandparents' generation, or do you think it was just less likely to be reported and — if it was — more likely to be kept quiet?

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 319

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

WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Scotch Plains at 11 a.m. to sign the new gun carry bill

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Mark DiIonno, Tom Moran, Adam Malamut, Udi Ofer,

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "A wonderful woman named Ms. Kim cuts my hair, and one day, I don't know, about six or eight months ago, she said to me, 'Mr. Murphy, you have no hair, why do you keep coming in here and cutting it? We should let this grow." — Gov. Murphy's explanation of his miraculous hair growth during an interview on Fox 5

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

LONG-TERM CARE — "Veterans Affairs: CEO of Menlo Park veterans home relieved of duties," by News 12: "The CEO of the New Jersey Veterans Home at Menlo Park has been relieved of her duties, News 12 New Jersey has learned. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs confirms that CEO Jennifer Causer was escorted out of the building on Tuesday. Several families told Kane In Your Corner earlier this month that the veterans home was putting their loved ones' lives at risk by failing to provide basic care such as making sure patients were given enough to drink. Medical records showed one resident, Robert Criscuolo, was hospitalized three times for dehydration in the past six months alone. The Murphy administration announced earlier this month that it would be taking bids from private companies to help administer the state-run homes."

FEELING BEARISH — "Shortened season, weather combine to produce low 2022 NJ bear hunt numbers," by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "In the past decade of bear hunts in northwestern New Jersey, the 2022 hunt tallied the fewest black bears killed, including seasons which were shorter. Reasons being offered for why the total of 114 bears killed this year is half the 225 killed in 2018 depend on which side of the bear hunt issue one is viewing the argument. The low numbers are waved around as "proof" there is no need for a hunt by the anti-hunt crowd with stormy and cold weather the reason bears were not out and about given by hunters."

NETFLIX AND PHIL — "Details of new Netflix Studios Monmouth at Former new jersey army base unveiled: $850 million investment, 12 sound stages," by Deadline's ill Goldsmith Jill Goldsmith: "Netflix will pay $55 million for a big parcel of land in New Jersey, then invest $850 million to build a state-of-the-art production studio, according to details of the streamer's bid. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority is expected to approve the project at a meeting this evening. The 289-acre site of Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth, a former army base, would be one of the largest fully integrated production facilities in the world and a very close second to Netflix's biggest U.S. production hub in Albuquerque … NJ Governor Phil Murphy has a veto period, but the pol has been pushing very hard to bring production to the Garden State with tax credits and other incentives"

—"Smaller N.J. adult legal weed businesses can soon get grants as state launches $10M equity program"

—"NJ adds $5M to restaurant meal program to feed the hungry"

—"Murphy signs bill to help N.J. end federal court oversight of once-troubled child welfare system"

—"Solar developers want more time to finish projects"

—New Jersey is inching closer to ending federal oversight of its child welfare system

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BIDEN TIME

BILL COMES DUE — "The consequences of Congressman Pascrell raising hell," by InsiderNJ's Max Pizarro: "U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, never cultivated an image. He just is obstinately that guy – Paterson born and bred – determined to hold an unwieldy system to account, whether in the case of federal law enforcement abusing deferred prosecution agreements for corporate-connected pals; a dormant, nothing-to-see-here IRS office, or the President of the United States, in this case Donald Trump, taking advantage of what Pascrell routinely deride as an unjust two-tiered tax system. Last night, on the heels of a six-year rail by Pascrell, a Ways and Means Committee report revealed that Trump – who refused transparency in the face of repeated efforts by the committee to determine his earnings and taxes – declared negative income in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 on his federal tax returns, and that he paid a total of $1,500 in income taxes for the years 2016 and 2017."

—"Trump's income taxes were often paltry, newly released documents show"

—"Biden picks top Port Authority lawyer, Superior Court judge, as federal judges in N.J."

LOCAL

BUS-TED — "The Paterson City Council president's two brothers face charges in bus company scheme," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Two brothers of City Council President Shahin Khalique were arrested by the State Police this week on charges accusing them of getting government contracts for a family school bus company under false pretenses, according to criminal complaints. One of the brothers, Shelim Khalique, 53, already had been accused of election fraud in Paterson's 2020 city council races and faced criminal charges involving a different bus company, A-1 Elegant Tours. Court records on the newest complaints said Shelim Khalique has been accused of committing additional bus company crimes, between June 2021 and December 2022. The original charges against him were still pending when the new crimes allegedly happened.The newest charges, filed on Tuesday, said Shelim Khalique gave "guidance and assistance" to his brother, Jwel Khalique, who is 43, in a conspiracy to get lucrative school busing contracts for Jwel Khalique's company, American Star Transportation … The criminal charges filed against the two Khalique brothers did not identify the school districts involved in the investigation."

THE STORY THICKENS — "Hoboken condo assoc. reveals email from Mukherji in quest to stop Story, files new suit," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "The 51-53 14th Street Condominium Association, Inc. has included a new email from Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33) to several involved with Story Dispensary as part of their quest to stop the project, which occurred shortly before a new lawsuit was filed. 'Please find enclosed LOI signed by the Vedadi Group ... Mukherji wrote in a January 17th email to Drew Nussbaum, the co-owner of 51-53 14th St. along with Jaclyn Fulop – the wife of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop ... Also cc'ed on the email are Lee Vartan, the attorney representing Story, Aaron Epstein, an attorney who has identified himself as a consultant for the project, and Jason Vedadi, the CEO of Story Companies LLC who is subleasing the first floor of the building to the dispensary ... Epstein was previously a lawyer at CannTech Companies, a business where Mukherji serves as the CEO ... Mukherji told HCV today that he was just helping connect friends for business purposes, as well as that he had no financial stake in Story or the building, as well as that he turned down the opportunity to serve as counsel in the matter."

THE GOTTHEIMER AND PALLOTTA SIGNS DETRACT FROM THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF ROUTE 17 — "Mahwah proposes banning signs on public property," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "Election signs along public roads may become a thing of the past if a proposal is approved at a special Township Council session Wednesday at 6 p.m. A proposal to ban non-commercial signs — political ones and others, like message signs — in public rights of way is up for a hearing at the meeting — and it could get as far as a vote. 'After this most recent election, many residents spoke to me about the sheer number of signs littering the township for almost three months,' said Councilman Robert Ferguson. 'This ordinance was crafted to address their concerns and align Mahwah's code with neighboring towns.' … Scott McDowell, a spokesman for the New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the Mahwah ordinance 'has to do with signs on public property, which doesn't raise the same civil liberties concerns because the government has discretion to regulate signs on its own property.''

NOTHINGBURGER OF THE MONTH — "Fulop defends Jersey City councilman who was ticketed after leaving note at scene of fender-bender," by The Jersey Journal's Joshua Rosario : "Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is defending the city councilman who was issued multiple tickets for a minor crash over the weekend. The mayor on Tuesday told The Jersey Journal that Downtown Councilman James Solomon did what any "normal person would probably" do after he left a note when his vehicle scraped the bumper of a parked car while he was attempting to park Saturday. Solomon's note, left on the car's windshield, included contact information and an apology. So he was surprised when he was issued three summons by Jersey City police — for failure to report an accident, leaving the scene and having an unregistered vehicle."

BAIO OFFERS TO PUT CHARLES IN CHARGE OF MENDHAM — "The mess in Mendham," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack : "Tom Baio was in his 'deputy mayor's' seat Tuesday evening peering out at a crowded room. This was for the most part, not an overly friendly group. Various speakers in the room – and over zoom – told Baio his time was up – politically speaking, 'Shame on you Tom Baio,' said one woman at the start of the meeting… When the votes were counted last month for the township committee, Baio had lost reelection by two votes to Democrat Lauren Spirig. A recount was held, which is understandable when the results are that close. The recount gave Spirig another vote; so now she won by three votes … Morris County Republicans issued a release saying they would challenge the election. Why? The assertion was that 29 people voted who do not live in the township."

CADIGAN IS LOSING HIS FAVORITE GAME — "Fellow cop saw [Wall] police sergeant steal $75K of PBA money, authorities say," by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrinio: "At least one fellow police officer gave a statement to investigators saying he 'personally observed' a Wall Township sergeant stealing $75,000 from the local chapter of the Police Benevolent Association union, according to charging documents. James R. Cadigan, a PBA member, was charged by a summons Friday with second-degree theft by unlawful taking after investigators discovered money had been missing from charity events held from Oct. 1, 2018, to Nov. 4, according to an affidavit of probable cause."

—"Clifton residents livid about council bucking tradition in mayor's race. They may not appoint the winner"

—"Trenton's North Ward run-off election now tied at 425"

—"ELEC slaps former Paterson councilman with a complaint"

—"Boonton council rejects retail cannabis zone shift at marathon meeting"

—"First day of revived mask mandate in Passaic School District"

—"In reversal after lawsuit, Wayne zoning board OKs Turkish nonprofit's school dormitory"

—"Ocean County Commissioner Vicari expected to be made director for 2023"

—"Mega-warehouse plan voted down in N.J. town as mayor worries about possible lawsuit"

—"[Hamilton] teacher gave vodka, vape pens, cannabis oil to 13-year-old student, cops say"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

SETON HELL — "Law school employees embezzled nearly $1 million, financial review finds," by The Setonian's Daniel O'Connor: "An investigation into financial irregularities at Seton Hall Law uncovered a 'series' of embezzlement schemes that cost the University nearly a million dollars, the chair of the Board of Regents said Wednesday. The investigation did not publicly name the administrators implicated or any details of the schemes, instead accusing 'a small number of trusted, long-time employees' of the school. 'Over the course of several years, these employees misappropriated funds of the school in excess of $975,000,' Board chair Kevin Marino's statement said … In a letter to the Seton Hall Law community, interim Dean Kip Cornwell said the school could now focus on building its reputation."

FD ADIEU — FDU president resigns, citing demands of school's new strategic plan, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Fairleigh Dickinson University President Christopher Capuano announced his sudden resignation on Wednesday. According to a note authored by Capuano and an accompanying letter from FDU Board of Trustees Chair Robert Zatta, Capuano will be stepping down at the end of December and University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Avaltroni will become interim president beginning Jan. 1.

IF WE CAN'T TRUST MEN WHO MAKE A SHOW OF THROWING MONEY AROUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHO CAN WE TRUST? — "Influencer Jay Mazini found fame on social media. Did he use that fame to swindle millions?" by The Record's Hannan Adely: "The videos catapulted Mazini to fame. Blending the hip-hop styling and witticisms of DJ Khaled and the expensive stunts of MrBeast — both social media icons — Mazini quickly gained a million Instagram followers. He spun this fame to grow his Mazini Italy clothing line, an online stock trading academy and a bitcoin buying spree — all of which came crashing down after buyers accused him of running scams … But what happened next shocked even Mazini's toughest critics — and landed him in jail."

—"Double jeopardy Did N.J. pay a killer $5M? Or did it twice charge an innocent man with a cold-blooded murder?"

—"Video shows NJ Transit driver getting stomped before pulling gun on teen attackers"

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