| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! Over the summer, I wrote about how Camden activists began an effort to force companies there to disclose how many city residents worked at their offices, and how city officials eventually agreed to do it. I’ve been meaning to follow up on this, but Nancy Solomon beat me to it. The numbers are fascinating, but they probably won’t shock you. For many of the companies, some of which got hundreds of millions of dollars to relocate offices to Camden, it’s very few. The 76ers practice facility ($82 million tax break): 11 Camden residents. Lockheed Martin ($107 million tax break): 3. American Water Works ($164 million tax break): 7. Conner Strong & Buckelew ($86 million tax break): 6. On the other hand, Eastern Metal Recycling ($132 million tax break) employs 186 residents. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this kind of story. A few years ago, an EDA analysis of 1,098 construction jobs generated by 25 tax break recipients found just 27 of them went to Camden residents. Read more about it here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: “You saw the scenes at CPAC. That room was half-full.” — Chris Christie on Donald Trump’s CPAC speech QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: “CPAC was packed for my speech, you couldn’t get into the building. A special thanks to the area Fire Department for making it work so well. Great job!” — Donald Trump’s response. TOTALLY NOT A CAMPAIGN MAILER OF THE DAY: This Craig Guy campaign ad, uh, I mean Tom DeGise constituent communication HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Josh Gottheimer, Erik Peterson, Diane Allen, Kirk Pflugh, Matt McHale, John Francis Roman, Zachary Fink. WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
PLATKIN: WE’LL GIVE YOU OUR LAW WHEN YOU PRY IT FROM OUR COLD, DEAD HANDS — “New Jersey says it will appeal federal orders blocking N.J.’s new gun law,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “New Jersey officials plan to appeal a federal judge’s orders blocking parts of the state’s new gun law. Attorney General Matt Platkin told federal Judge Renée Marie Bumb he will appeal her two temporary restraining orders allowing guns in places state legislators banned them, including bars, parks, beaches, and libraries — even though such orders aren’t ordinarily appealable, according to a letter Deputy Solicitor General Angela Cai submitted on behalf of Platkin. The appeal threat comes as Bumb is considering whether to issue permanent injunctions in the case, filed by a group of gun rights advocates. Platkin’s letter says the state would withdraw any appeal if Bumb rules on the injunctions or withdraws the temporary restraining orders.”
HATE THE GAME, NOT THE RATEPLAYER — Builder of New Jersey's wind farm looks for more money from ratepayers, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: For months, the Murphy administration has been locked in negotiations with Danish energy giant Orsted about how to keep the state’s first offshore wind farm afloat financially. Details of those fraught negotiations spilled into public view Monday, during a Board of Public Utilities meeting where the five-member board began accepting proposals for more wind farms off the New Jersey coast. But first it’s clear there are questions about how to pay for the first one. In 2019, the state Board of Public Utilities approved Orsted’s plans to put 100 turbines 15 miles off the South Jersey coast. The project, known as Ocean Wind 1, is supposed to be finished in 2025 but has yet to begin construction as Orsted worries it can’t make money from the deal. The project and two other wind farms approved by BPU depend on backing from New Jersey ratepayers. For Ocean Wind 1, the typical residential power bill is expected to increase by about $1.50 per month. Now, though, Orsted is looking to redo part of the the 2019 deal it struck with BPU, citing inflation, interest rates and supply chain issues.” BPU — Murphy looks to remake Board of Public Utilities, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is looking to remake the Board of Public Utilities by replacing three of its five commissioners as his administration enters its final years and his environmental legacy remains up in the air. On Monday, Murphy nominated two new commissioners to replace former state Sen. Bob Gordon, who has been on the board since 2018, and Dianne Solomon, who former Gov. Chris Christie nominated to the board a decade ago. The Democratic governor has been trying since last year to replace Solomon, who is the only member Murphy didn’t nominate or reappoint. But his latest push went public Monday just hours after Solomon has raised questions during a BPU meeting about the Murphy administration’s energy policy on several fronts, including rising costs of offshore wind energy and the governor’s recent push for the BPU to examine the future of the state’s natural gas utilities in a post-gas world.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | NJ IS HISTORICALLY KNOWN FOR ITS DEEPLY ETHICAL POLITICIANS — “Scarinci: Keep the party line,” by Donald Scarinci for New Jersey Globe: “‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ New Jersey has never elected a candidate like Rep. George Santos. The party selection system prevents it and safeguards the voting public against candidates like George Santos while creating accountability by county political party leaders to pick the candidates that best represent the party values of the people in their county. Some people think New Jersey should abolish the so-called ‘party-line’ ballots used in New Jersey primary elections. While the rationale behind the latest bill introduced in the state legislature is understandably populist, the proposed changes would result in weaker, un-vetted candidates and undermine the efforts of party leaders to present a unified party message.” WILSON’S LEGACY GOES BUST — Woodrow Wilson bust to be left out of new Statehouse, by POLITICO’s Dusti Racioppi: Gov. Phil Murphy plans to move into the Statehouse soon after a lengthy renovation — but his predecessor Woodrow Wilson, who promoted racist policies, will not follow, according to the state Treasury Department. The bronze bust of Wilson — the only governor from New Jersey to become president — had been a fixture of the Statehouse for years, a sentinel that stood beneath the Capitol rotunda outside the governor’s office. The statue has been in storage since the renovations began in 2017, and a Treasury official said that’s where the likeness of the 34th governor will stay. “The bust was put in the State Museum storage facility when the building was cleared out,” spokesperson Darryl Isherwood said in an emailed statement. “Due to the multiple, new space constraints created by the renovation the bust will remain in storage. Mothballing the bust is, intentionally or not, the latest, multi-year step in removing Wilson from his hallowed place in New Jersey history. —“Sweeney inclined to pass on Senate return, possibly setting up bid by Burzichelli” —McKnight gets party nod to succeed Cunningham — “NJ state budget: This is why Democrats 'do not want drama'” —“The 10 biggest winners and losers in N.J.’s school aid funding this year” | | BIDEN TIME | |
TIK TOKHEIMER — “Gottheimer calls for ban on TikTok,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Brianna Vannozzi: “U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th) is the latest federal lawmaker pushing legislation that would give President Joe Biden power to ban the TikTok app in the United States. At an event outside the Bergen County Justice Center Monday, Gottheimer railed against the Chinese-owned company for threats TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party pose to the safety of children, data and national security by collecting non-public data on American users. TikTok admitted to gaining remote access to that data and recently settled a class-action lawsuit for harvesting personal data of Americans without their consent, including that of children age 13 and younger.”
—“N.J. Senator Menendez co-launches bill to give ATF, FBI gun tracking power” —“EPA orders OxyChem to plan Passaic River cleanup” | | LOCAL | |
GEORGE’S RIVER — “Which side will win Toms River Republican club battle?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “It was two years ago that Toms River Republicans were locked in the midst of a bitter battle over which of two organizations would be the township's official GOP club. In 2023, history is repeating itself in Toms River; the schism that has plagued the party in the past two years has shown no signs of healing. In fact, as the two sides approach a showdown at [Wednesday's] Ocean County GOP convention, the chasm between them seems to be growing. Tomorrow the Ocean County Republican Council is expected to vote on whether Republicans for Toms River will maintain its position as the official township club, or if the Toms River Regular Republican Club, replaced in 2021 after more 40 years as the official organization, will win back its designation. It's expected to be a close contest … Ocean County GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore said the Regular Republicans -- of which he has long been a member -- should never have been decertified in the first place.”
ROCKY RHODES — “Manager of Paterson school bus companies admits using unqualified drivers,” by The Record’s Joe Malinconico and Colleen Wilson: “Henry Rhodes, the manager of two city school transportation companies, pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he put children’s safety at risk by hiring unqualified bus drivers, including some with criminal records. Rhodes, 59, of Paterson, also admitted getting lucrative student busing contracts for the companies by giving school districts bogus information about the company’s drivers’ credentials. The guilty plea came almost three years after the first set of charges were filed against Rhodes and Shelim Khalique, the brother of a Paterson city councilman, who is the owner of one of the companies, A-1 Elegant.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | CORPORAL PUNISHMENT? — “Monmouth has spent $13.2M on company that fouled up vote count; will it seek punishment?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “Election Systems & Software spokesperson said the problem that caused the double-count in six Monmouth County polling districts last year has been fixed. Meanwhile, the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners hasn't said if it will seek financial damages from ES&S, which supplied the voting machines, software and technical support for the 2022 general election. The error resulted in changing the outcome of the Ocean Township Board of Education three months after the election and after the candidate in question had already taken his seat.” BARAKA PROTESTS BANK’S REDLINING OF THE UNITED STATES OF KAILASA — “After redlining case, Newark mayor wants conditions placed on Lakeland Bank’s merger plans,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Strunsky: “Five months after Lakeland Bank promised federal prosecutors it would stop redlining Newark’s Black and Latino neighborhoods, the mayor and consumer advocates are calling on banking regulators to make Lakeland’s promise a condition of approval in its proposed merger with Jersey City-based Provident Bank.” SIMPSONS MINOR CHARACTER KEARNEY ZZYZWICZ IS FRONTRUNNER TO SUCCEED HIM — “Santos is up for a judgeship, which could mean the first new mayor of Kearny in 24 Years,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Kearny may get its first new mayor in nearly 24 years if Gov. Phil Murphy nominates Alberto Santos as a Superior Court Judge. Santos is under active consideration for a judgeship, the New Jersey Globe has learned, but has not yet reached the stage where a background check has been conducted Murphy has agreed to name Santos, assuming background checks and approvals from the Hudson County Bar Association come through, and the Hudson County senators are already on board, according to sources familiar with the nomination process.” —Moran: “Paterson cops turn down help, then shoot a man dead. Why?” —“Morris County commissioners hold taxes steady. Here's how $343.5M budget would be spent” —“East Brunswick adds Muslim holiday to school calendar” —Snowflack: “Checking in on the new GOP council in East Hanover” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
SENIORS — “How can NJ seniors afford care if they're too rich for Medicaid, but still lack funds?” by The Record’s Lindy Washburn and Scott Fallon: “The glossy ads for new senior living communities in New Jersey feature healthy retirees enjoying pickleball or chatting with friends in their restaurant-style dining room. But the picture is far different for the elderly middle class, who face a challenge paying for the care they need. Researchers call them “the forgotten middle.” They are too wealthy to qualify for public assistance programs that pay for long-term care at home or in a facility — but they lack the savings and income from pensions and Social Security to pay for care themselves. In suburban New Jersey, they often are house-rich and income poor. More than half of retired New Jersey seniors — 52% — lacked enough income in 2019 to meet their basic monthly expenses and stay in their communities as they aged without relying on public assistance, gifts or loans, a state analysis found.”
COPS COMMITTED MISCONDUCT BY NOT PLAYING MUSIC ON BOOM BOXES, REFUSING TO SLOWLY TAKE OFF UNIFORMS — “Club owner, family charged with prostitution plan to sue cops for alleged misconduct,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeff Goldman: “The owner of a Sayreville strip club, her husband and the couple’s three adult children plan to sue the borough’s police department for arresting and searching the family before they were charged with money laundering and prostitution. An attorney representing the Acciardi family, Jeffrey A. Bronster, said Tuesday he filed a notice of tort claim against the borough, a necessary step to filing a lawsuit against a municipality. —“N.J. university’s police chief refused to promote minorities, lawsuit says”
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