| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP | Good Thursday morning! New Jersey is the densest state in the nation, with decent public transit. Nevertheless, like almost everywhere in this country, cars dominate. So I bring you news of two interesting new legislative proposals related to automobiles. One I call “Adriana’s Law” in honor of the late Adriana La Cerva, who suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome likely due to stress over her cooperation with federal authorities against the DiMeo crime family. The Democratic-sponsored bill, A5141, would allow those suffering from IBS, Irritable Bowel Disease and Chron’s Disease to get a disabled parking permit. “People living with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn’s Disease often suffer from the debilitating urgency to use a restroom immediately,” the bill reads. Meanwhile in the upper house, Sen. James Holzapfel (R-Ocean) proposed a bill, S3552, appropriating $500 million to pay for 50 percent E-ZPass discounts for drivers who pay tolls at least 35 times a month: $250 million to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and $250 million to the South Jersey Transportation Authority. Given that one’s a Democratic bill and one’s a Republican bill — along with the big price tag on the Republican bill — I think Adriana’s Law has a better chance at becoming law. TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If someone wanders through here looking for ketchup, what are we going to do here?” — Gov. Murphy while standing in a grocery store during a press conference Wednesday WHERE’S MURPHY? In Washington until Sunday for the NGA winter meeting HAPPY BIRTHDAY: James Kennedy, Jeff Tittel, John Baldino, Raphael Chavez-Fernandez, Steve Lieberman | | | | A message from AARP: Many family caregivers in New Jersey struggle to keep their older loved ones at home – and out of costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes – often sacrificing their jobs and tapping into their savings to make it work. Now increases in the cost of gas, food, and housing are making it even more difficult. We need to give family caregivers financial relief. Tell your state lawmakers to pass the Caregiver’s Assistance Act (A1802/S2021) now. We need it. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
OH SNAP — Murphy makes pandemic-era food benefit increase permanent, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jerseyans won’t see their food benefits cut following the expiration of a federal pandemic-era hike. Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed a bill … to permanently increase the state’s minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit — what used to be called food stamps — from $50 to $95. New Jersey families have been receiving at least $95 since April 2021, but the federal supplemental will expire next month. The increase will now be permanent under state law. Murphy said New Jersey is the first state in the nation to make the increase permanent.
LADIES’ PLIGHT — “Retirements are imperiling the legislature’s march towards gender parity,” by New Jerey Globe’s Joey Fox: “With the election of State Sen. Renee Burgess (D-Irvington) last year, the number of women in the New Jersey Legislature reached an all-time high-water mark, with 42 women – more than one-third of the legislature’s 120 members – serving concurrently. But thanks to a recent spate of retirements among female legislators, those numbers might drop once the new legislature is sworn in next year, slowing the progress New Jersey politics has made towards reaching gender parity. ‘The atmosphere in New Jersey has never been welcoming to women in the political environment, particularly if they rise up in any way,’ said former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), a longtime and tireless advocate for women in politics. ‘We’re suffering real losses [this year].’ So far, six women have made clear their intentions to retire from the legislature this year.” | | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, presented by Cisco, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
IN THE WEEDS — “N.J. will allow more legal weed companies to grow cannabis to boost slowly growing market,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “With New Jersey’s legal marijuana market off to slow start, state officials announced Wednesday they would eliminate the cap on the number of companies allowed to grow weed and make $10 million in grants available to people opening a cannabis business who have been convicted of marijuana offenses or come from poor communities. The state Cannabis Regulatory Commission unanimously voted to abolish the 37-license limit on cultivators, a rule that would have expired later this month. New Jersey is nowhere near that number, with just 11 companies that grow both for the medicinal and adult-use market and another six that serve only the medicinal program, Commissioner Maria Del Cid-Kosso said.”
BPU — BPU approves 3 to 7 percent increase in power bills, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Most New Jersey power customers’ bills will go up by 3 to 7 percent starting this summer, the state Board of Public Utilities said Wednesday. In a special meeting, the board approved the results of a recent power supply auction .. Prices were up compared to last year because of extreme energy price volatility, inflation and a credit crunch, though increasing renewable energy requirements were also a factor, said BPU’s consultant, Frank Mossburg, a partner at Bates White. “All of those things lead to less competition and higher prices,” Mossburg said. The largest bill increase is a 6.9 percent rate hike for customers of Rockland Electric Company, which means the average customer’s bill there will go up by $8.24 per month. Rates are going up by 3.3 percent for PSE&G customers, 4.1 percent for Atlantic City Electric customers and 4.8 percent for Jersey Central Power & Light Company. BRICK TOWNSHIP, NOT BRICK CITY — “Catalano will give up Assembly seat to run for mayor of Brick,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Assemblyman John Catalano (R-Brick) will not seek re-election to a third term and instead will seek the Republican nomination for mayor of Brick, the state’s 13th-largest municipality. Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated the popular Democratic mayor, John Ducey, to serve as a Superior Court Judge, which will trigger a special election for the remaining two years of his term. “I’ve lived in Brick half of my life. I raised my daughter here. I have a business here. I’ve always wanted to be mayor,” Catalano told the New Jersey Globe. ‘By being mayor, I can give back to my community. I loved being in the Assembly. Now it’s a new chapter.’ … His running mate, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (R-Toms River), faces a challenge for the Ocean County organization line this year.’” —“Advocates invite Gov. Murphy to ride a NJ Transit bus and experience what riders face” —Ciattarelli: “NJ needs a simpler approach to school funding. Here's how it could work” —“State races to meet expedited deadline to distribute water assistance — or lose it” —“NJ cops will pair up with mental health professionals in dozens of towns” | | BIDEN TIME | |
THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT — “East Palestine train derailment compares to 2012 incident in New Jersey,” by WBKN’s (Ohio) Patty Coller and Jennifer Rodriguez: “The train accident in East Palestine is not the first time that a derailment caused a release of vinyl chloride. It happened in 2012 in Paulsboro, New Jersey. In that case, 20,000 gallons of the chemical were released. On that day on November 30, 28 residents sought medical attention for possible exposure, and the train crew and many emergency responders were also exposed, according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board. This was a spill, not a burnoff such as the East Palestine derailment, but in both instances, there was a release of vinyl chloride into the ground and into the water.”
| | | | A message from AARP:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
ONE WEEK LATER — “No ‘ongoing threat’ as hunt for Sayreville councilwoman’s killer continues, prosecutor says,” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “As the hunt for the killer of Sayreville councilwoman continues a week after Eunice Dwumfour was found shot to death in a car outside her home last week, Middlesex County’s prosecutor called the investigation her department’s “number one priority” and said there was “not an ongoing threat to the community.” Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone offered no specifics and no motive in her first public comments on the killing … The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has twice released statements saying it would not hold a press conference or release additional information, citing the ongoing investigation. It also went to court Tuesday to protect records from the case normally made public — body camera footage, dashboard video, police reports and autopsy reports — telling a judge their release would hinder the investigation. That request was withdrawn on Wednesday afternoon, a day before a hearing was scheduled.”
—“Slain Sayreville councilwoman’s running mate left with sorrow, grief, and many questions” ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER KILLED — “Shooting outside PSE&G corporate office in Franklin leaves one employee dead,” by MyCentralJersey’s Cheryl Makin: “A PSE&G employee, who was also a borough councilman in the Hunterdon County community of Milford, was fatally shot Wednesday morning in the parking lot of the utility’s facility on Weston Canal Road. And, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspected gunman was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a parking lot in Bridgewater. Russell D. Heller, 51, of Milford, was approached outside his vehicle in the PSE&G parking lot at about 7 a.m., by former PSE&G employee Gary T. Curtis, 58, of Washington, Warren County, who then shot him, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said.” SPILLER 2025 — “Montclair council takes first step toward ousting township manager,” by Montclair Local’s Craig Wolf: “Past the midnight hour, following nearly two and a half hours of deliberations in an executive session, the Montclair Township Council voted early Wednesday, Feb. 8, to take the first step toward removing Township Manager Timothy Stafford. The action, on a 5-0 vote, follows a two-month investigation by a law firm hired by the township into allegations contained in a lawsuit from Montclair’s chief financial officer, Padmaja Rao, that Stafford had created a hostile work environment for her and other women working in township government. The resolution, written just moments before the vote was taken, says ‘the Council of the Township of Montclair has determined it is in the best interest of the township to go in a different management direction.’ It gives notice to Stafford that he is subject to removal in 30 days” | | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | |
THIS IS JUST NEW JERSEY ENGLISH — “N.J. teacher under fire after student secretly records her profanity-laced tirade in class,” by NJ Advance Media’s Deion Johnson: “A Sicklerville couple is demanding the termination of one of their son’s teachers at Winslow Township High School after reviewing a profanity-laced tirade he said he secretly recorded of her cursing at students and telling them, among other things, that their class is a zoo every day. The parents, Pastor David and Geneatha Wright, came forward days after the school suspended their son, Jai, 16, for reasons the family said were not disclosed … In a recording obtained by NJ Advance Media, for at least 2 minutes, the teacher goes on an expletive-laden tirade using the f-word multiple times. ‘Knock it the f*** out ‘cause you do not go around behaving like this in front of your parents. Don’t do it in front of me either. Period. Am I understood?’” ‘So, if you’re done the test, please actually put it in the Chromebook cart and plug the s*** in. Stop leaving s*** around.’”
COPS — “Why didn’t NJ attorney general convene grand jury in Paterson cop shooting?” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The Attorney General’s office said Paterson police officer Jerry Moravek’s shooting of a fleeing suspect in the back was such an “exceptional” case that state authorities filed charges against the cop without going to a grand jury. The AG’s office normally lets grand juries decide whether to file charges against cops in the “vast majority” of incidents in which officers cause deaths or serious injuries, said spokesperson Sharon Lauchaire. But, she said, prosecutors also have the option to file charges by complaint without a grand jury. ‘Based on the facts uncovered during our investigation and the laws of the State of New Jersey, we exercised our discretion as prosecutors and charged Jerry Moravek by criminal complaint,’ Lauchaire said … Moravek has been charged with aggravated assault and official misconduct in the June 11, 2020 foot chase in which the man he shot, 28-year-old Khalif Cooper, was rendered unable to walk.” R.I.P. — “Jersey City kindergarten teacher found dead in shallow grave in Kearny,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “A kindergarten teacher at a Jersey City charter school has been found dead in a shallow grave, authorities said Wednesday. The body of Luz Hernandez, 33, a mother of three, was located Tuesday in the area of area of Central Avenue and Third Street in Kearny, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Hernandez was reported missing by school officials Monday when she didn’t show up for work at the BelovED Charter School. It is believed that she may have been missing since Saturday.” —“Student death prompts walkout at Central Regional HS, claims of widespread bullying” —“'Perfect storm': Jackson begs for help as private school bus costs soar by millions” —“Female police officer sues Wayne, alleging gender discrimination and retaliation” —“DiVincenzo opposes bid to ban LGBTQ+ books in Glen Ridge” —“Meet the man blazing a trail in Carteret politics” —“After losing GOP support for re-election, Phillipsburg mayor will switch parties, again” —“Amid a hit-and-run epidemic, Amy DeGise must resign | Opinion” —“Trenton High School locked down after video of student with a gun” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
SHOOTINGS AND LAWSUITS: THE TRUE AMERICAN DREAM — “Former American Dream employee says he was scapegoated for shooting at mall,” by The Record’s Kaitlyn Kanzler: “A former dispatch sergeant at American Dream filed a whistleblower suit against parent company Triple Five Group and two of its directors, accusing them of firing him when he pointed out their inadequacies after a shooting at the megamall in early April. The shooting occurred after a sleight-of-hand betting game in the mall's parking garage. Jonathan Silva claims he was wrongfully fired after the shooting, saying he was blamed for delaying the mall's lockdown.”
TIMELESS TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN FORT LEE — “Surprise! N.J. has the nation’s worst traffic jam. Again. And it’s gotten worse,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “New Jersey motorists know that heading toward the George Washington Bridge is living life in the slow lane. In fact, it’s the slowest lane in America. For the fifth consecutive year, the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 4 in Fort Lee on the way to the bridge was rated the nation’s worst bottleneck by the trucking industry’s American Transportation Research Institute. Traffic going through the area traveled even slower than it did a year earlier, the report said.” —“NJ's Syrian American mayors urge help earthquake victims” | | | | A message from AARP: Every day, thousands of people in New Jersey care for their spouses, aging parents, or other loved ones – helping them live at home instead of costly nursing homes. This saves New Jersey – and taxpayers – money since nursing home care is mostly paid for by the state, through Medicaid; yet, family caregivers pay out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends 26% of their income on caregiving activities, assisting with everything from bathing and dressing to medical appointments and transportation – often while juggling a job too. With inflation making everything more expensive, too many families are struggling to make it all work. That’s why we need state legislators to make family caregiving more affordable in New Jersey. The Caregiver’s Assistance Act (A1802/S2021) would provide a modest tax credit for families who take on caregiving expenses. It’s crucial financial relief that family caregivers have earned. Tell state lawmakers, support (A1802/S2021). | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
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