| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | I’m not sure what Camden City Council members were expecting when they decided to give local activist Vida Neil an award on Tuesday. The feisty Neil has had a lot of words for a lot of Camden politicians over the years. “She comes to City Council. She tells us, we listen,” Council President Angel Fuentes said while introducing Neil at the ceremony in council chambers. “We respect each other. She’s always for holding all the people accountable” Neil then took the podium and, after a couple minutes of introductory remarks, apologized in advance to Mayor Vic Carstarphen, who stood behind her, for what she was about to say. “You sit up here and you talk about women’s rights, and yet still you select Arthur Barclay to run in Ward 1, who beat a woman,” Neil said. Barclay in 2018 resigned from his Assembly seat weeks after being arrested for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face and breaking her nose. (The charges were dropped because the victim did not show up to court.) Following that, Barclay kept his job with Camden County government and remained in Democratic Party leaders’ good graces, even lunching with George Norcross at Donkey’s. Now, Barclay is poised to return to the Camden council with local Democrats’ support. Neil, who said she helped build Camden’s NAACP back into a force, is also upset at what she sees as local leaders attempting to give control of the organization to Barclay. “Today you announce you’re going to give the chapter to Arthur Barclay. I take this award today and I throw it on the ground,” Neil said. And then she did just that, as police officers and politicians gently attempted to get her away from the podium. “I’m going to make like a banana and split,” She shouted. Watch the video here. Neil in this video and over the years made a lot of allegations about politicians, including Barclay, not living where they claim to live, and, frankly, right now I cannot verify those. But her latest should highlight politicians’ rhetoric vs. actions when it comes to the treatment of women.
| | A message from Alibaba: New Jersey businesses are thriving with Alibaba. Sales from U.S. brands on Alibaba added $1.2 billion to the state’s GDP and supported 10,000 jobs and $694 million in wages for local workers, according to a new study by NDP Analytics. Learn more about Alibaba’s impact on the U.S. economy. | | | TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We've got a guy sitting over there who I think is Greek” — President Biden on Sen. Robert Menendez, who is very proudly Cuban-American HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Jean Stanfield, Fred Madden, Chris DePhillips, George Gore, Zach Silber, Lance Landgraf WHERE’S MURPHY? In Palm Beach, Fla., for a Democratic Governors Association conference until Sunday |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
NEFARIOUS GEORGE — “Hitman in 'vile,' 'depraved' NJ murder-for-hire case sentenced. Here's what he got,” by The Record’s Ashley Balcerzak: “George Bratsenis, one of the two hitmen who pleaded guilty to a New Jersey murder-for-hire plot, was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in federal court in Newark. Bratsenis, 74, was the first to alert authorities to the details behind the mysterious murder of political operative Michael Galdieri, who was found stabbed to death and whose apartment was then set on fire on May 22, 2014. Bratsenis and his partner in a string of armed robberies, Bomani Africa, were paid $15,000 by political consultant Sean Caddle to kill Galdieri, Vazquez said. … 'I just got caught between two people that I thought were friends and everything, and one turned against the other, and disaster struck’ Bratsenis said on Wednesday, leaning against a cane with his wrists shackled. ‘Most heinous crime I ever saw in my life. I still have nightmares about it. ... If there was some way or chance that I could change places with Michael. ... I would fall on the sword. It's a shame what happened.’”
‘SOME OF THOSE THAT WORK FORCES’ — “‘No place for hate’ in State Police, officials say after trooper’s tattoos draw scrutiny,” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “New Jersey’s top law enforcement officials said Wednesday they are committed to rooting out bias and hate among the State Police after pictures of a trooper’s tattoos featuring images associated with white supremacist groups spread online. … ‘While I cannot comment on a matter that is currently under investigation, I can say — in no uncertain terms — that there is no place for hate in the New Jersey State Police or within the ranks of the 38,000 sworn law enforcement officers in New Jersey,’ [Attorney General] Platkin said in a statement to NJ Advance Media. The trooper, Det. Jason Dare, disappeared from a medical facility last week, sparking a search that led authorities to post his pictures online. Some of those included his tattoos on his hands and torso that contained imagery associated with Nazi Germany and modern skinhead groups, including a neck tattoo that said ‘Blood Honor.’ Dare was later found safe, authorities said.”
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 4/5 FOR THE 2023 RECAST POWER LIST: America’s demographics and power dynamics are changing — and POLITICO is recasting how it covers the intersection of race, identity, politics and policy. Join us for a conversation on the themes of the 2023 Recast Power List that will examine America’s decision-making tables, who gets to sit at them, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | PATERSON TAKEOVER — “‘We are in crisis.’ State takeover of N.J. police department leaves city reeling,” by NJ Advance Media’s Richard Cowen and Deion Johnson: “A day after the state Attorney General’s Office seized control of Paterson’s police operations, city officials, residents and activists said they were surprised by the move, and although some agreed with the takeover, almost all said it’s not enough to mend the severely strained relationship between the department and the community. ‘This was a good move by the AG’s office,’ Paterson activist Akkheem L. Dunham said during a protest Tuesday that began outside city hall and spilled into a heated council meeting. ‘But I’m calling for federal intervention,’ he said, adding, ‘more needs to be done.’ … Council members, when they weren’t arguing with each other at Tuesday’s packed meeting, expressed surprise at Platkin’s decision to remove the newly-sworn police Chief Englebert Ribeiro and shift operation of the department to the state. ‘Too many back room deals going on,”’Councilwoman Lilisa Mimms said. Mimms said she had no idea how long the state would be in control or what the objectives are, ‘because nobody said anything to us.’” IT’S LADIES’ PLIGHT, AND THE FEELING’S WRONG – “Why women are unlikely to increase their State House representation this year,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Colleen O’Dea: “The large turnover in the New Jersey Legislature is not likely to mean more women will become lawmakers in a state where more than half of the state’s population are women. Of the 258 Democrats and Republicans who filed to run in the June primary elections for state Senate and Assembly seats — all 120 are on the ballot this year — just 96, or 37%, are women. That’s only slightly larger than the 35% of current lawmakers who are female. And it’s unlikely that all the candidates who are women will win, particularly given some of them will likely face each other in the November election and some are likely to be in districts where it will be nearly impossible for them to win given their party affiliation and the political leaning of voters.” —“New VBM law forces some unaffiliated voters to pick their party by April 12 — and maybe forces judges to move faster” —“The beginning of the end of cash toll collection in N.J. kicks off next month” —“A look at the 13 legislative districts hosting contested primaries in 2023” —“Senator [Cryan] calls timing of Bed Bath & Beyond layoffs ‘a disgrace’”
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | |
| | BIDEN TIME | |
MORE OF A GATED COMMUNITY HALL — “The Kean version of a town hall,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “One of the persistent Democratic criticisms of Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr. has been his reluctance to interact with the public —unfiltered … Now that he’s in Congress, a group called ‘Tuesdays with Tom Kean Jr.’ is continuing to dog him online and sometimes in person. One of their points is that Kean should meet constituents in a public setting. This week, Kean did just that — sort of. The congressman’s Facebook page on Wednesday included a message saying that more than “2,700 residents from six counties joined our telephone town hall last night. I answered a dozen questions and administered poll questions to hear from you directly on key issues. … All this is well and good, but there is some mystery here. Just who was invited to the town hall? The congressman’s Facebook page said nothing about the telephone town hall until it was over. As for his congressional website, the latest press release was on March 21 about an art competition. Many critics, commenting on Kean’s social media pages, complained that the town hall was not publicized in advance.”
THE TOM TOM CLUB — “Malinowski is tweeting like he’s still running against Kean,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “On Twitter, the former swing-district congressman has maintained a steady presence praising Democratic accomplishments in Washington and attacking congressional Republicans. Yesterday he went further, criticizing the man who beat him last year, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), for the supposed inaccessibility of his town halls. 'Telephone town halls are a great way to communicate, if you call out to a broad cross section of constituents,’ Malinowski tweeted in response to a post from Kean about a recent town hall. … The fact that Malinowski is tweeting on the subject once again is a sign that he’s contemplating a comeback campaign.”
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
T-SHIRTS FOR SALE ON BOARDWALK APPARENTLY NOT THE MOST DISTASTEFUL THING IN WILDWOOD — “Grand jury returns 12-count indictment against 2 Wildwood officials, ex-mayor,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “A grand jury has returned a 12-count indictment against two current city officials and a former mayor alleging they claimed state health benefits for which they were ineligible, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said Wednesday. The announcement is the latest legal woe for Mayor Pete Byron, who pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax fraud Friday. Also listed in the grand jury indictment are former Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and current city Commissioner Steve Mikulski, meaning two-thirds of the three-person Wildwood Board of Commissioners are under indictment. All three have pleaded not guilty in front of Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr.”
THE SAME SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT PAYS ITS LAWYER A $600K ANNUAL RETAINER? — “Leaky ceilings, mold, hot rooms: Lakewood students beg board for help,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Juan Carlos Castillo: “Sometimes Maria Torres, a Lakewood High School junior with a 3.9 grade point average, doesn’t look forward to her math class. The classroom has such a strong mold odor that it gives her headaches, she says. Then there’s her Spanish language class. The classroom is so hot, she says, that one student was overcome by the heat. The ceiling also leaks: She’s counted more than 40 dark spots on the ceiling where water drips. … Torres, an aspiring orthodontist, was one of more than a dozen high school students that showed up at last week’s Board of Education meeting asking for better learning conditions, and a more responsive administration to fix the ongoing problems. “Lakewood doesn’t teach to its ability and it’s affecting us tremendously,” said Torres. … Last January, the board was the last in the Press coverage area to return to in-person meetings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, it has not advertised the locations of its meetings to the public or press. … Moreover, there are nine vacant teaching positions at the school.” GLASS CITY — “Plan for Newark’s tallest building clears hurdle amid complexity and controversy,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Strunsky: “A 45-story glass apartment tower that would be the tallest building in Newark cleared a procedural hurdle Monday amid a complex and controversial approval process that could transform the skyline of New Jersey’s largest city. The Newark Central Planning Board on Monday memorialized its Feb. 6 approval of the proposed Arc Tower, a 344-unit rental complex that would rise 520 feet from a quarter-acre lot on the northwest corner of Broad Street and Central Avenue. … Historic preservationists and community activists oppose the project, which they say is out of character with the shorter, mostly brick and masonry structures of the surrounding Military Park Commons Historic District.” VETERANS OF FORGED WRITINGS — “Official-looking Bergen County letter on veterans 'handouts' is fake, officials warn,” by The Record’s Kristie Cattafi: “A letter calling out veterans for relying too much on ‘government handouts’ sent to veterans by the director of the Bergen County Division of Veterans Services is a fake, county officials say. VFWs and American Legions were among the organizations that received the letter, dated March 13, on Division of Veterans Services letterhead, County Administrator Thomas Duch posted on social media. The official-looking letter "is an absolute fraud" and an investigation by the county has been initiated to find the source, Duch said. … The one-page phony letter contains five paragraphs peppered with spelling and grammatical errors and accuses the county executive of being too generous toward veterans.” EYE ON THE TIGER — “Will Tiger Woods, Mike Trout golf course win where other promised projects failed?” by The Daily Journal’s Joseph P. Smith: “The East Vineland golf course project dangled in public this month appears positioned for success given the resources of its principals, landowner/developer John Ruga and baseball star Mike Trout and design input from golfer Tiger Woods' company. … But creating an entertainment destination in the city’s greener spaces is not a new idea. In fact, it’s a long drive from being even the most ambitious.” REBECCA PETERSEN REBECCA PETERSEN REBECCA PETERSEN — “N.J. school board member suspected of transphobic tweets files ‘mob rule’ ethics complaint,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “A Hunterdon County school board member suspected of authoring transphobic tweets has filed an ethics complaint against the board president and vice president, alleging their probe into the controversial Twitter account behind the posts is an ‘unethical pursuit’ infringing on protected free speech. The complaint filed by Rebecca Petersen of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board of Education accuses board President Lisa Hughes and Vice President Dorothea Kellogg of launching, ‘a dystopian search for the identity of the anonymous Tweeter’ whose anonymity is protected by the U.S. Constitution, said attorney Ron Berutti, who is representing Petersen and her husband, John.’”
| | A message from Alibaba: Three months was all it took for New Jersey-based Nuria Beauty to open an online storefront on Alibaba and outpace their domestic retail sales. With access to over one billion consumers on Alibaba, Nuria has achieved great success and brand awareness in China. “We’re very excited about the results we’re seeing on Alibaba. There is no ceiling in China,” said Josh Ghaim, CEO of Nuria.
Read how American businesses are succeeding with Alibaba. | | | I CHASED HIM OUT — “Ocean City’s superintendent to lead Pennsylvania school district,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “Less than a year after concluding an extensive search for a new superintendent, the city’s school district will have to do it again, as current Superintendent Matt Friedman is leaving the district for a job in Pennsylvania. The Quakertown Community School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, approved Friedman as its new superintendent at a special meeting Tuesday evening.” —“Wall school board meeting changes aimed at countering 'contentious behavior'” —“Democrats split in Edison as eight vie for four council seats” —“Rendo must seek GOP mayoral nod In Woodcliff lake as a write in after petitions fall short” —“[Riverside] mayor switches political parties. Here's what it means to the town” —“Sea Isle City has adopted a curfew for teens and a backpack ban for its promenade and beaches” —“Red Bank has no limit on legal weed stores. Here's why that could change very soon” —“Industrial waterfront property in Bayonne to transition to new use for first time in decades” —“Cherry Hill school board plans a national search to replace Superintendent Joseph Meloche” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
—“Transfer of two CarePoint Health hospitals to nonprofit entity approved; third remains under review”
—“Inside ‘Ted Lasso’ with N.J. writer-producer who grew up loving soccer” —“N.J. woman admits to lying to investors in multi-million dollar cryptocurrency scam”
| | | | 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 | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment