| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | Good Wednesday morning! Steve Fulop is running for governor. Like you didn't know that already. Fulop, whose October-taped January announcement that he would not seek a fourth term as mayor an obvious teaser to his gubernatorial run, made that campaign official with a press release and video Tuesday morning that jarringly begins with a shot of the World Trade Center burning on 9/11, highlighting the young Fulop's decision to leave his job at Goldman Sachs and join the Marines. If you’re surprised by the Fulop news, you don’t pay attention to New Jersey politics — and nobody who reads this newsletter can say that. But I don’t think most people expected Fulop to declare his candidacy so early, with more than two years to go before the Democratic gubernatorial primary. So, why? Now Fulop is constrained to spending just $7.3 million on his primary campaign, since he plans to participate in the public financing program, unless ELEC raises the amount. (A super PAC chaired by Fulop’s wife’s business partner has another $6.2 million in the bank.) My favorite theory so far is that Fulop is trying to get himself established early on as the bona fide progressive in the race. You can see that in the issues Fulop highlights in his kickoff video. Gov. Murphy did something pretty similar during the 2017 primary, starting out with no establishment support until North Jersey Democrats fell in his lap following Fulop’s sudden decision not to run that year. But the wealthy Murphy didn’t take matching funds for the primary, so he wasn’t constrained in his spending. Read more about Fulop’s candidacy here.
| | A message from Alibaba: New Jersey businesses, like local beauty brand Nuria, are among thousands of American companies that sell their products to one billion consumers in China on Alibaba. These sales added $1.2 billion to New Jersey’s GDP and supported over 10,000 jobs and $694 million in wages for New Jersey residents. “We’re very excited about the results we’re seeing in China,” said Josh Ghaim, CEO of Nuria. Learn more about Alibaba’s impact on the U.S. economy. | | | TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “OK. That’s not really a shock, is it?” — Former Senate President Steve Sweeney, a likely candidate for governor, on Fulop’s announcement. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Anthony Bucco, Joe Kyrillos, Matt Marinello, Nick Iacovella WHERE’S MURPHY? Nothing on his public schedule.
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
UNTIL THEY GET THEIR PHIL — “How long could the Rutgers strike last? Labor experts weigh in,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson: “A handful of experts suggested to NJ Advance Media the walkout — which involves 9,000 professors, part-time lecturers, graduate students, and more — might not see a quick ending. Tim Cain, an associate professor at the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education, said his ‘guess’ is this will ‘take a while to resolve.’ William Gould IV, a former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, noted it ‘certainly could go a number of days and weeks unless pressure is brought to bear.’ But experts say two pieces of pressure could help. One is a ticking clock with just three weeks remaining in the spring semester for the university’s 67,000 students — many of whom are set to graduate next month. The other is Murphy, who summoned university and union officials to the Statehouse in Trenton for talks Monday that lasted into the night”
—“Rutgers faculty strike expected to go to third day, as fourth union considers joining in,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “The first-ever faculty strike that shut down most classes at Rutgers University's three New Jersey campuses is expected to enter its third day on Wednesday as talks between three unions and university administrators, now assisted by Gov. Phil Murphy's staff, did not produce a deal on Tuesday. Individuals participating in bargaining discussions on both sides said a major breakthrough that could result in the strike being called off was not likely as of Tuesday afternoon. A fourth union, that of Rutgers Administrators URA-AFT Local 1766, made up of employees who work in academic departments, business, admissions and financial aid offices, dining halls, and in university housing announced on Tuesday that it would "initiate a strike pledge," meaning it will officially begin to gauge interest among its members about joining the faculty and graduate workers' strike.” —“Striking Rutgers workers continue health care services” —“Some of striking Rutgers faculty's demands would help students. These students have their backs” —“As the faculty union strike continues, Rutgers president says protesters disrupted classes” PRISON DEATH — “Family of man who died after alleged assault by jail guards says justice is delayed,’ by New Jersey Monitor’s Jordan Michael Smith: “More than three and a half years after an inmate at a New Jersey prison died following what family members have described as a vicious assault by corrections officers, the state Attorney General’s Office says it has yet to complete its investigation of the episode and present the case to a grand jury. The family of the man who died, Darrell Smith, accuses authorities of covering up the attack and fears the guards will escape any accountability. For the authorities, it is an ‘out of sight, out of mind type of thing,’ said Elizabeth McNair, Smith’s sister. ‘I just feel like they’re dragging their feet, that they’re hiding stuff, they’re trying to cover up stuff,’ McNair said.” ATLANTIC CITY’S WHOLESOME REPUTATION RISKS RUIN — “Cannabis consumption lounges on the way to Atlantic City,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “City officials have backed cannabis as an important new industry, creating a Green Zone redevelopment area where cannabis businesses are a permitted use, including consumption lounges. In a recent interview, [Agri-Kind founder Jon] Cohn said both will depend on Atlantic City’s stream of tourists. He also outlined a bullish vision of cannabis in the city. …The public comment period on the state rules for consumption lounges recently closed.” PARKED AT MCCAY — “Fifteen months after senate confirmation, new judge won’t take office over pension issue,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Jill S. Mayer was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in January 2022, but fifteen months later, she has still not taken the oath of office. That’s because she’s still looking for a way to take her $127,000 annual pension that came from nearly 27 years in the attorney general’s office while also receiving a $175,000-per-year judicial salary. The state Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) has already turned Mayer down three times, telling her she can’t collect a government pension and a judicial salary simultaneously. She has hired an influential lawyer, William Tambussi, to appeal that decision. Mayer knew about the pension issue even before her Senate confirmation process but chose to go ahead with it anyway. … In the meantime, the 54-year-old Mayer has joined a politically powerful South Jersey law firm, Parker McCay, while squatting on a judgeship the state judiciary no longer considers to be vacant.” — “New Jersey receives yet another credit rating upgrade,” by NJBIZ’s Matthew Fazelpoor: “The Garden State’s hot streak with credit ratings agencies continued April 10 when Fitch Ratings raised the state’s issuer rating from A to A+, just days after Moody’s Investors Services elevated the state’s general obligation bond rating. Monday’s credit rating upgrade is the second from Fitch in the past seven months and marks New Jersey’s fifth increase from all agencies in just over a year. In its rationale for boosting the rating, Fitch cited the state’s recent full pension payment and the focus on reducing the state’s bonded debt through the Debt Defeasance and Avoidance fund.” —“NJ debates proposal to include salary info with job postings”
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
—Snowflack: “Sherrill and Bucco join forces on the banks of the Whippany”
| | LOCAL | |
THE WITCHER — “Judge who alleged bias against Latinos in N.J. municipal court says he’s stepping down,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “Municipal Judge Jason Witcher — whose concerns about alleged discrimination against Latino defendants in his courtroom last year led to statewide reforms — announced this week he will retire from the bench this summer. Witcher’s announcement follows a high-profile clash with state judiciary officials over his bias allegations along with his claims that he was retaliated against by court officials for whistleblowing. … ‘Courage is costly and over the past few months I have paid a heavy personal price for standing on my principles,’ Witcher said in a statement announcing his retirement. ‘This is a difficult decision, an emotional decision, but the best decision for me and my family.’ Witcher said he will step down from the bench after 13 years of service on Aug. 1.”
NEWARK — “Newark requires all landlords to turn over their contact info as city cracks down on neglected rentals,” by NJ Advance Media’s Camille Furst: “Newark’s municipal council passed an ordinance last week that will require all rental properties to register with the city — a measure that the mayor said would build transparency and accountability between landlords and tenants. The ordinance will require property owners to submit a form with contact information for both the landlord and tenants, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement. The contact information will help the city remedy code violations and address property neglect, Baraka said. … The legislation is part of the city’s strategy ‘to counter corporate investors who buy up owner-occupied homes, convert them to rentals, and then fail to maintain them,’ Baraka said.”
| | A message from Alibaba: Alibaba helps American businesses succeed globally. In 2022, $66 billion worth of U.S. products were sold on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms, a nearly 10% increase over 2021. From household names to emerging small businesses, thousands of American companies sell products to over one billion consumers in China on Alibaba.
Read how American businesses are succeeding with Alibaba. | | | MOSQUE STABBING — “Paterson mosque stabbing suspect planned attack, intended to kill imam, police say,” by The Record’s Liam Quinn and Joe Malinconico: “The man accused of stabbing an imam during prayer at a Paterson mosque told authorities he had planned to kill the victim, police alleged in an affidavit of probable cause. Serif Zorba, 32, was one of about 200 worshippers praying at Omar Mosque on Getty Avenue early Sunday morning when authorities say he stabbed at the imam, Sayed Elnakib, 65, in the back. According to the affidavit, obtained by The Record and NorthJersey.com, Zorba subsequently told police that the night before the incident he had devised a plan to kill the imam, allegedly saying he disagreed with the mosque and its leader collecting money in the ‘name of Islam.’ Elnakib was taken to St. Joseph's University Medical Center and is in stable condition and expected to recover.” MAYORS CLUB — We asked 50 mayors: What keeps you up at night? by POLITICO: Being a mayor means being a manager, a problem-solver, a coach, an inspirational speaker, a people person and a punching bag. Anything and everything going on in town can wind up on your desk. And while you may have allies on your city council or in your state legislature, a mayor is the one most accountable to everyday people when something goes awry. The 50 mayors we will survey throughout 2023 represent big cities and small towns, but many face the same challenges: recovering from Covid-era business shutdowns and remote schooling, stubborn spikes in crime, growing homelessness and a mounting affordability crisis Sam Joshi, 33, Edison Township: "The families of Edison are critically important to me. What keeps me up at night as mayor is making sure that I’m doing everything possible to ensure that our families futures are safe, fair and their financial stability is certain."
| | | | 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. | | | | | —“Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez's election fraud case will stretch into summer” — “'This needed to be done': Jackson council weighing new regulations for houses of worship” —“Hoboken Mayor Bhalla asks Bozzuto Group to reconsider ‘unconscionable’ rent hikes” —“A free pharmacy in Red Bank is a year old. How's it doing?” —Snowflack: “The flap in Rockaway” —“Hoboken Mayor Bhalla asks Bozzuto Group to reconsider ‘unconscionable’ rent hikes” —“Officials, widow plead for more suicide prevention fencing on Bayonne Bridge”
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
BAD NEWS: PEOPLE ARE BLOWING LESS MONEY — “Post-COVID woe: Atlantic City casino earns fell 4.6% in ’22,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Three years after the coronavirus pandemic erupted, Atlantic City’s casinos are collectively struggling to get back to where they were before COVID-19 in terms of profitability. Figures released Monday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show that the city’s nine casinos collectively had a gross operating profit of $731.2 million in 2022. That was down 4.6% from the $766.8 million profit they made in 2021. And only four had an operating profit that was higher than what they reported in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic broke out.”
DUMPSTER FYRE FEST — “Billy McFarland, N.J. Fyre Fest guy, promises ‘Fyre Fest II’ ... again,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amy Kuperinsky: “Billy McFarland won’t give up his music festival dream. Not after spending years in prison for fraud, not after two documentaries explaining how his planned 2017 festival fell apart ... or never came together in the first place. ‘Fyre Festival II is finally happening,’ McFarland tweeted Sunday, using the flame emoji. ‘Tell me why you should be invited.’ McFarland’s promise isn’t a new one. Back in 2019, when he was still in prison, he vowed to return with a new Fyre Fest.” —“[Bloomfield College] waiting for 6 key approvals before it can merge with Montclair State, officials say”
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