| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Tuesday morning! An interesting recent FDU poll found that New Jerseyans under 30 are significantly more progressive than voters overall, but aren't more likely to be Democrats. The former finding is far from shocking, but the latter part is pretty interesting. I've noticed over the years that the state's lawmakers and political bosses are often Democrats but not progressives. At least on hot-button social issues. Consider how the Legislature couldn't pass cannabis legalization legislatively, instead punting the question to voters. And even after 68 percent voted to legalize it, they still had trouble passing enabling legislation. Or think back to early 2010, when Democrats who control the Legislature couldn't pass same-sex marriage before a Republican took office as governor because of dissension within their ranks, delaying the effort for years. I think much of this has to do with the advanced age of many Democratic lawmakers. On economic issues, I think New Jersey has long been more progressive. At least through the courts on education funding and housing policy. And the Democrat-led Legislature didn't have much trouble passing things like paid family leave. Another fascinating development is that Gov. Murphy , who ran as a progressive and governed as one early on, has recently taken some stances that put him on the opposite side of the movement. Take the proposed expansion of the Jersey Turnpike in Hudson County, his "tough on crime" stance on auto theft and, of course, his reinstatement of the bear hunt. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 317 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com WHERE'S MURPHY? — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I am a Sussex County judge, and to the extent that it's relevant, I'm tenured and I'm ten months away from retirement." — Judge David J. Weaver, a Democrat, rejecting a request by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo for a change of venue in the Morris County GOP's small claims lawsuit against him because, Rizzo claims, Morris County Republicans hold some sway over judicial nominations. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Holly Schepisi, Shama Haider, Mike Frassinelli, John Froonjian, Cyndy Gallenthin, Jennifer Vail
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IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE PORKMAS — "One NJ Republican has had it with coal-filled stockings. Can he change things?" by The Record's Charles Stile: "It's safe to say that state Sen. Michael Testa hasn't received many invitations to holiday parties from his Democratic Party colleagues in the legislature this season. After all, what Democrats in control of the Legislature would want to listen to a Republican policy Scrooge from Vineland crabbing about generous, multimillion-dollar 'Christmas tree' grants? Those grants — more commonly known as political pork — were doled out by Democratic Party leaders and "Santa Murphy" as part of the mammoth $51 billion state budget enacted in June. Almost all of that loot went to districts represented by Democratic lawmakers … Testa, whose seat as a freshman senator on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has given him a close look at how billions of taxpayer dollars flow through Trenton, has offered a seemingly clear, direct reform: Abolish the system in which the top legislative leaders and the governor arbitrarily reward their allies with funding for pet projects and replace it with a competitive, merit-based system in which grants are dispensed on a basis of need — rather than one based on connections."
I WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY WOMEN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN NJ CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR — "2022 was another bad year for New Jersey women in politics," by Jean Sinzdak for The Star-Ledger: "Every year, we at the Center for American Women and Politics, a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, release our County Report Card detailing women's representation as mayors, county commissioners and town council members in the 21 counties of New Jersey. With the release of our 2022 County Report Card, we're feeling winter doldrums more than holiday cheer. For the first time in five years, women in New Jersey have actually lost ground as mayors in the state, down by eight seats across the state and now holding only 17% of mayoralties, compared to 18% in 2021 … It's time for the women of New Jersey to make demands on the political power brokers in the state. Women are just 23.8% of county party chairs. That, foremost, must change." STEINED THROUGH THE HARDT, AND YOU'RE SENATE — Doug Steinhardt was sworn in to the state Senate yesterday to become the newest member of the Legislature. Steinhardt — the Warren County Republican chairman and a former state GOP chairman and 2021 gubernatorial candidate — took over for former state Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren), who left office to become the Warren County Surrogate. A conservative Republican, Steinhardt will represent one of New Jersey's reddest districts which includes parts of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties. Notable attendees to view Steinhardt's swearing-in included Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and longtime New Jersey GOP operative/2020 Donald Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien. — Daniel Han —Steinhardt: "Let's make New Jersey safer and more affordable" TURNPIKE — "Can a $10 billion highway fix one of New Jersey's worst traffic jams?" by The New York Times' Tracey Tully and Patrick McGeehan: "The cost of a contentious New Jersey highway-widening project has now leaped to a breathtaking height: $10.7 billion. That is more than $1 billion for each mile of traffic-choked turnpike from Newark Liberty International Airport, past Bayonne and through Jersey City toward Lower Manhattan … But as the project nears its first hurdle in obtaining the necessary permits, it has become a lightning rod for criticism over whether making room for more cars and trucks in one of the most polluted corners of the country is a smart use of limited funds. "Opponents argue that widening the turnpike will only invite additional traffic, worsening backups and the idling of vehicles on the approach to the Holland Tunnel, which is not being expanded … The one person with clear power to stop or alter the project, Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, first ran for office vowing to fix the state's neglected mass-transit system and to combat climate change." DARK MONEY — " A statewide mailer to Democrats has people buzzing over a possible start to governor's race," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Democratic county committee members across New Jersey began receiving a postcard last week that possibly marks the start of the 2025 gubernatorial campaign, although it comes from a 501(c)(4) issue advocacy group launched in October by New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller. The group, Protecting our Democracy, appears to be gathering email addresses through an online survey that asks respondents to identify which issues they believed to be important in the 2022 midterms: protecting democracy, inflation, criminal justice reform, abortion rights, voting rights, climate change, and education. Spiller, the mayor of Montclair and the head of the state's largest public employee union, is viewed a potential candidate for governor." —"Senate confirms 4 to NJ transportation boards. Are any of them actual commuters?" —"Major legislative package addressing carjacking approved by Senate committee" —"$56M contract approved to design proposed Camden-Gloucester light rail line" —"Lawmakers revive plan to overhaul N.J. campaign finance laws. New version is a bit weaker" —"Mother wants answers about son's injuries at Woodbine residential facility" | | | | 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 | | KRILL COULD FACE A VERY SERIOUS PUNISHMENT: INGESTION BY A BLUE WHALE — "N.J. man helped rioters overrun police in front of Capitol on Jan. 6, feds say," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Shea: "A Mantua Township man battled with a line of police officers trying to hold off rioters in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, federal authorities allege. Peter Krill Jr., 54, of Sewell, was charged earlier this month with six crimes for his alleged actions on Jan. 6. Two are felonies: assaulting, resisting, or impeding police, and civil disorder. The other four accuse him of illegally entering the Capitol. Authorities say Krill, at about 1:30 p.m. that day, grabbed a metal barricade and pulled it from police officers, allowing others to push into the officers, before they were forced back behind the barricade. Police body cameras recorded the act, the FBI says in court papers say." —Jan. 6 committee formally accuses Donald Trump of 4 crimes —Supreme Court sets date for Waterfront Commission arguments —"Judge whose son was slain by litigant joins Menendez, Booker to praise judicial security bill" | | LOCAL | |
PATERSON BRAWLS — "Paterson school board targets City Council in looming battle over education budget," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Board of Education members publicly lambasted the City Council last week for not responding to multiple requests for a meeting about Paterson's school budget. One board member accused council members of spreading 'propaganda.' Another said council members were giving residents 'misinformation.' A third called the council's president 'incompetent.' The criticism flowed during Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting as a showdown looms between Paterson's two elected governing bodies over a council proposal that would allow city residents to vote every year on the city's school budget."
CIBA SITE SHOULD BE OCCUPIED BY CHEEBA BUSINESS — "Toms River pans proposed state settlement for Ciba Superfund site," by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: "Toms River leaders are expressing opposition to a proposed state settlement that would set aside 1,000 acres of the former Ciba-Geigy Corp. Superfund site for open space, saying development should be banned on the entire 1,255-acre parcel. Toms River should receive the 250 acres that are not slated to be preserved under the settlement of litigation between current property owner BASF and the state Department of Environmental Protection, Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr. and the Township Council contend. Township officials fear BASF could have development plans for that land. Hill said the township would like to ensure that the land is kept undeveloped and said BASF should not be able to profit from any redevelopment at the site." MORE PEOPLE DIED IN STALINGRAD THAN THE CURRENT POPULATIONS OF MIDDLESEX AND MERCER COUNTIES COMBINED — "The Democrats' Stalingradification of Mercer: Contextualizations and implications," by InsiderNJ: "It's not really about Mercer, of course, and even less about [Brian] Hughes and [Dan] Benson, respectively the scion of a respected family dynasty and progressive alternative to an otherwise pretty Building and Trades-heavy legislative slate. It's more about the Middlesex County Democratic Committee, that mechanical octopus of power still burgeoning even on the heels of a string of massive wins, and an accumulation of the most senate seats, among all the connective tissue, a team in ascendancy, in short, under the leadership of County Chairman Kevin McCabe, amassed behind Benson. On the other side – and not without some heavy irony, given the presence with Hughes of veteran independent representatives like … [T]he explosion of Mercer as a proxy fistfight for bigger wars … gives the state a Battle of Stalingrad set-piece to test everyone's dust-gathering catapults and trebuchets." —L.A. Parker: "Benson county exec notice sizzled then fizzled quickly" —Snowflack: "Morris GOP v. Rizzo: The excruciation of the century" —"[Elizabeth] drops rule limiting rent increases to $20 a year" —"Jersey City BOE worker files gender discrimination suit claiming she's 'drastically underpaid'" —"Former Fort Lee school security coordinator claims retaliation in lawsuit" —"Here's why former Wayne health official has sued township for nearly $40K in back pay" | | | | 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 | |
THE BISHOPRICK — "Bishop from N.J. ripped off parishioner, businessman, feds say," by NJ Advance Media's Jeff Goldman: "A Brooklyn bishop who lives in New Jersey stole money from a parishioner and a businessman, federal prosecutors allege. Lamor Whitehead, 45, of Paramus, is charged with wire fraud, making false statements and extortion, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said Monday. "His campaign of fraud and deceit stops now," said Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. Whitehead convinced one of his parishioners to invest about $90,000 of her retirement savings with him, authorities said. But, instead of investing the money, he allegedly spent it on luxury goods and for personal use. Separately, Whitehead "bullied" $5,000 out of a business man and tried to talk the same man into lending him $500,000 in exchange for getting favors from New York City government officials, prosecutors said. Whitehead, though, knew he wouldn't be able to get the businessman special treatment, the indictment said."
JERSEY SHORE SHOCKINGLY NOT EXEMPT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE — "Climate change is coming for the Jersey Shore, retiring coastal expert warns," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Frank Kummer: "On a dock overlooking a coil of Nacote Creek in Atlantic County last week, Stewart Farrell, director of Stockton University's Coastal Research Center, gave an impromptu master class on barrier islands, ancient geology, crab traps, coastal law, the Delaware Bayshore, and bulkheads .... Farrell, 80 … is retiring early next month after 51 years … Farrell has witnessed the impact of sea level rise from the bottom of the ocean up. 'It's real,' he said … Dealing with rising seas has already cost New Jersey hundreds of millions to install resilient infrastructure that can handle increasing amounts of high tide flooding and storm surges, he said. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 was a wakeup call for people in New Jersey to finally start caring, Farrell said." 'BUT HE WAS GOOD TO HIS MOTHER' — "Alleged Philly-South Jersey mob underboss gets prison term for conspiracy charges," by The Courier-Post's Jimm Walsh: "The alleged underboss of the Philadelphia-South Jersey mob has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in multiple conspiracies, authorities say. Steven Mazzone, 59, of Philadelphia, conspired to engage in extortion, illegal gambling, drug dealing, and loansharking, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia … In a conversation recorded in 2015, Mazzone discussed efforts to extort bookmakers and loan sharks in the Atlantic City area, the statement said. 'We got to get a hold back on Atlantic City, buddy! That's what I want.' he said, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In seeking a lower sentence, a defense attorney said Mazzone was charged for activities between 2015 and 2017, but since 2018 has been the live-in caregiver for his 82-year-old mother." —"Freshman enrollment still below pre-pandemic levels at most of N.J.'s 4-year colleges" —"Georgian Court University finances recovering, but will that boost enrollment, salaries?"
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