| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | Good Tuesday morning! In February, one of the owners of Char Steakhouse in Raritan got in touch with a Somerset County Republican official through a mutual friend. It had been two months since the Somerset GOP held their holiday party at the restaurant, only to see their card rejected and promise to pay through other means. Only, attempts to collect went unanswered. “We are hoping to resolve the matter amicably. My brother wants to file a police report but I asked him to hold off. I don’t want any bad press for the GOP,” the owner wrote to a party official through a mutual friend. Eventually, the party paid the bill for the party. But the episode demonstrates just how much the party has fallen since 2017, when it controlled every single county-wide office. Today, it controls none. Several years ago, it consistently had some of the strongest fundraising of any county Republican Party. Today — well, it’s kind of hard to say, because the party hasn’t filed a legally required disclosure report with the Election Law Enforcement Commission in two years. But unpaid bills and late rent don’t pay a great picture. You can’t blame Somerset GOP Chair Tim Howes for the county’s quick shift from Republican to Democrat. You can blame former President Donald Trump for that, or at least for accelerating already existing trends. But for a party that just few years ago ran things, these are pretty shocking developments — especially considering that Howes is an election lawyer. And not filing ELEC reports for two years? I’m kicking myself for missing that. Read more about it here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If you remember, years ago I worked there in the second precinct, and we had a mold condition there and nobody gave a darn and nobody ever got sick and there was never a problem.” — Pro-mold Jersey City Councilmember Richard Boggiano HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Phil Swibinski WHERE’S MURPHY? Heading to Michigan this afternoon for National Governors Association events on “Strengthening Youth Mental Health.” He’ll be back in New Jersey on Thursday.
| | 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. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
CANNABIS REVERSAL COMMISSION — CRC conditionally renews Curaleaf's cannabis licenses in emergency meeting, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The Cannabis Regulatory Commission has reversed course and conditionally renewed Curaleaf’s licenses to sell recreational marijuana in New Jersey. In a last-minute emergency meeting called at noon Monday, the commission voted 4-1 to renew the company's annual licenses for now. A vote last week failed in a surprise vote and would have barred two of Curaleaf’s three New Jersey dispensaries from selling recreational cannabis. By the CRC’s next meeting — which is scheduled for June 1 — Curalef must provide “evidence of good faith efforts to negotiate for collective bargaining agreement at each facility;" testify under oath as to its “activities and tactics;" and produce records required by the board on its intentions to “modify its New Jersey operations,” CRC Chair Dianna Houenou said during the remote meeting. … Curaleaf was represented by former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino of Lowenstein Sandler, one of the most influential law firms in the state, as well as Raj Parikh of Genova Burns — also an influential firm — according to legal documents obtained by POLITICO.
ENVIRONMENT — New Jersey regulators finalize environmental justice rules protecting large swaths from pollution, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey environmental regulators finalized a rule Monday to protect large swaths of the state from power plants and other major sources of pollution. The rule is a long-awaited product of a “holy grail” environmental justice law Gov. Phil Murphy signed in 2020. The rule, which takes effect today, is designed to keep pollution from eight different kinds of heavy industries out of already polluted low-income areas and communities of color. The rule now applies across 3,500 neighborhoods and other communities in 350 municipalities that are now considered “overburdened,” covering places where about half the state’s population lives. … One of the biggest fights has been over the one exemption that would allow the construction of new facilities that disproportionately impact an overburdened community, which is if the project offers a “compelling public interest.” —“Murphy administration uses ‘aggressive’ litigation to seek environmental redress,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Jon Hurdle: “Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has taken an aggressive approach to environmental litigation since taking office in 2018, filing 20 lawsuits claiming compensation from corporations for damage to natural resources. It filed another 52 complaints seeking the cleanup of sites that have polluted overburdened ‘environmental justice’ communities. … It’s a mixed record so far. All but one of the so-called natural resource damage (NRD) suits remain unresolved, including the most recent one against Dow Chemical and other companies. …. By contrast, the Christie administration didn’t file a single natural resource damage suit, according to the state attorney general’s office.” THE GLENN GRANT, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE SCOTCH — “Top courts official tells lawmakers that vacancies threaten Judiciary’s ability to function,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “In an address before the Assembly Budget Committee today, Administrative Director of the Courts Glenn Grant – arguably the second-most important member of the state judiciary – warned legislators once again about the dire impacts of New Jersey’s judicial vacancy crisis. “For the past three years, the court system has operated with an average of more than 50 vacancies,” Grant told the committee at today’s budget hearing. ‘A year ago, we warned of the need to reduce that number to a manageable level of between 25 and 30. We are no longer headed toward a crisis. We are in the middle of one.’ Right now, Grant said, the judiciary has 58 open judicial positions, representing around 12 percent of its total complement. … Grant estimated that another 22 judges are set to retire before the end of the year, meaning that the crisis could get even worse if more new judges aren’t confirmed.” —“Getting out of a bad situation only gets worse: Long delays for divorce hearings in Hudson County” A DECISION HE MADE AFTER MULLIN IT OVER — “Building Trades leader’s group pushes Democrats to become permanent VBM voters in district where Operating Engineers leader is running,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “A non-profit group led by the head of the state’s building trades union is mounting a grassroots effort to convert Democrats into forever vote-by-mail voters in the 8th legislative district, where a top official of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, Latham Tiver, is the Republican candidate for State Senate. Bill Mullen, the president of the New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council, is also the president of Prosperity First, to filings with the Internal Revenue Service related to the 501(c)4 … The move signals that Mullen and the building trades organization are spending money to boost the electoral chances of Democrat Heather Cooper, an Evesham councilwoman who faces Tiver in the Senate race.” NOW DO JOURNALISTS — “Survey finds deluge of mental health issues among state’s lawyers,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biyrukov: “Mental health, burnout, and substance abuse issues pervade the state’s corps of attorneys, according to a survey released by the New Jersey State Bar Association. One in 10 of the 1,643 lawyers surveyed reported suicidal thoughts — more than twice the national average for U.S. adults recorded by the 2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Health — and 56% reported regular alcohol abuse. ‘Something’s got to give here. We’ve got to do better now that we know better,’ said Jeralyn Lawrence, president of the New Jersey State Bar Association.”
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | —“NJ Transit's customer advocate role remains empty. Could this bill give it new life?”” —“High-stakes legal battle over casino taxation continues” —“State should pony up more for University Hospital reconstruction, advocates say” —“States are passing laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights. Where does NJ stand?” —“State should pony up more for University Hospital reconstruction, advocates say” —Stile: ”Murphy's new labor talking points; 2025 race begins” —Chivukula: “We have a golden opportunity to make sure everyone in New Jersey has broadband” —Richard Smith: “New Jersey DEP’s Liberty State Park plan includes ‘blatant act of racism’” —“$1.5M NJ program offers monthly check-ins, support for people battling addiction” “
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THE DECENNIAL MENENDEZ FEDERAL INVESTIGATION — “NJ Sen. Robert Menendez setting up legal defense fund tied to federal investigation,” by News 4’s Jonathan Dienst, Courtney Copenhagen and Ken Dilanian: “New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez is paying tens of thousands in legal feels and is now setting up a legal defense fund in connection with a federal criminal investigation, according to campaign finance records and a spokesperson for the senator. The new campaign filings come as the senator has been part of the focus of an ongoing corruption investigation being led out of the Southern District of New York. Campaign finance records show Menendez's campaign has spent about $200,000 to pay two law firms as well as a document search company. Sources familiar with the matter have previously said that Menendez has been under criminal investigation in connection with a Weehawken meat company, IS EG Halal, that won an exclusive contract with the government of Egypt. Several sources have said owners of that company have given expensive gifts to the senator’s wife in the past.”
JERSEY GIRLS PUMP GAZPROM — “Pro-Russia propagandist unmasked as New Jersey tropical fish seller,” by The Telegraph’s David Millward: “To her devoted followers, ‘Donbas Devushka’ — or Donbas Girl — is a Russian Jew from the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk, who has faithfully broadcast Kremlin propaganda for months. But in reality, she is Sarah Bils, a 37-year-old divorcee from New Jersey and a U.S. Navy veteran who served as an aviation electronics technician at Whitby Island in Washington State. Donbas Devushka emerged after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year. She built up a sizable social media following on Twitter, Telegram and YouTube, emerging as the face of Russian propaganda, raising money and selling merchandise for the Russian cause. … According to public information records, she was born in Vorhees, New Jersey and enlisted with the US Navy in November 2009. … According to the Wall Street Journal, the Donbas Devushka Telegram account played a key role in the dissemination of intelligence documents allegedly leaked by Airman First Class Jack Teixeira, by reposting them onto an array of obscure online chat rooms. However, Ms. Bils denied being personally involved.” (Note: "Vorhees" in the report above presumably is "Voorhees Township.") —“Demand jumps at food banks after federal emergency SNAP benefits end” —“Sen. Menendez urges State Department to speed up passport processing times”
| | 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 Chinese 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. | | | | | LOCAL | |
THE SKILLS TO PISS OFF BILL — “Analysis: How does chaos in Paterson affect Andre Sayegh's political future?” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “For a while, Sayegh had seemed the heir apparent if the current congressional incumbent, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., decided to end his more than two-decade stint in the House of Representatives, insiders said. Sayegh’s second term as mayor was supposed to be a victory lap as he prepared for his next job in Washington, D.C., strategists said. But the past six weeks have brought turmoil to Paterson, with public outrage after the police fatal shooting of Najee Seabrooks and the subsequent takeover of the city’s Police Department by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Those events, political insiders said, may have canceled Sayegh’s congressional plans and complicated his efforts to govern Paterson during the remaining three years of his mayoral term. ‘Now isn't the time for politics,’ Sayegh said when asked what impact his city’s recent troubles have had on his political future.
Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, who political strategists say looms as Sayegh’s rival for Congress if Pascrell ever decided to retire, said he has not thought about the mayor’s political status. ‘I’m more concerned about our community,’ Wimberly said. ‘I have never seen our city in such political disarray.’” … Sayegh made the mistake of being too open about the fact that he desired the seat held by the 86-year-old Pascrell, seen as an elder statesman in Democratic Party circles, insiders said. Sayegh’s eagerness offended and angered Pascrell’s inner circle, insiders said." BAYPHONEY — “Bayonne Police Department TikTok is a fraudulent account, police chief says,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “A TikTok account with about 18,900 followers depicting themselves as the Bayonne Police Department is fraudulent, Police Chief Robert Geisler said. … The Bayonne PD also indicated that the officers on the account, which has nearly a million likes despite only posting six videos, are not members of the department. … They also said that “it appears an egregious song was dubbed on previously recorded TikTok videos from the Police Officers’ accounts.” —“Paterson weekends continue to be filled with gunshots” —“Two South Jersey towns are privatizing their EMS, and layoffs are coming. Who will run it?” —“4 [Allendale] police officers settle suit they filed after cop with alleged political ties was promoted to chief” —Snowflack: “Cirillo says voters bewildered by Sires’ politics”
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BURNS ON BURNS — “A changing climate is contributing to longer wildfire seasons in NJ, experts say,” by WHYY’s P. Kenneth Burns: “The Jimmy’s Waterhole wildfire in Manchester Township, Ocean County — which destroyed more than 3,800 acres and caused residents from about 170 homes to evacuate — sparked last Monday afternoon just as New Jersey entered peak wildfire season. Experts say climate change is a factor contributing to longer wildfire seasons. ‘Typically, we wouldn’t mark spring wildfire season until about March 15,’ Greg McLaughlin, administrator and chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said. ‘And then that usually ends when that deciduous vegetation leaves out fully and is full of moisture. That’s about the middle of May. But we’re starting to see fires happening in the early part of March, even in mid-February.’ McLaughlin adds that his agency had seen wildfires into late June and early July.”
—“After he lost his life-saving dog, Berkeley rallies to get teen with autism a new one” —“Dead dolphin washes up on Jersey Shore beach” —“Ex-Cardinal McCarrick charged with sexually abusing teenager in Wisconsin” —“Worse than the spotted lanternfly? A new disease is killing beech trees in Pa. and N.J.” —“Former UFC pro among two in Neptune charged with burglary, theft of $200K in jewelry”
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