| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | Good Wednesday morning! It’s been about a month since we learned that Newark had entered into a sister agreement with the United States of Kailasa, a nation whose glorious history is surpassed only by the fact that it never existed. Newark voided the agreement less than a week after holding an event to celebrate it. But it still became an international laughing stock once the news hit Indian media, followed by American media. Now, state Sen. Michael Testa (R-Cumberland) says he wants to avoid the same thing happening to other New Jersey municipalities and local governments. He introduced a bill that would require any sister city arrangement be approved by a new office within the Department of State, where officials will presumably know how to use Google. Realistically, this bill has little to no chance of passing. But here’s something interesting: Testa and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have both seen their names bandied about quite a bit by Trenton insiders as potential respective Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates in 2025. So you can read this bill in that context, though Testa says his political aspirations have nothing to do with it. “The last thing I would want to have happen is for any of the municipalities in my legislative district to suffer from such embarrassment,” Testa said. Baraka called the bill an “overreaciton” and scolded Testa for a “ridiculous attempt to distract people from [Testa’s] poor voting record on the wrong side of workers’ rights, women’s reproductive freedom, diversity, equity, and the environment.” TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Overall, in many respects, the 8,000 devoted public servants who work with me are the Department of Law and Public Safety … They investigate and prosecute lawmakers – lawbreakers, excuse me.” — Attorney General Matt Platkin during a Tuesday budget hearing HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Hal Wirths WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule
| | 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 the state’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. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
REGULATORS, MOUNT UP — “Phil Murphy just upended a national 'model' for regulating campaign finance,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “It was nearly 50 years ago when an embarrassed and outraged New Jersey was determined to crack down on the corrupting influence of campaign cash. It was a time when the state had become a punchline synonymous with corruption. New Jersey’s money- and mob-influenced political infrastructure was the stuff of national magazine exposés and wiretaps … Amid the troubling revelations of Watergate trauma jolting the nation, Republican Gov. William Cahill — whose own party was engulfed in a fundraising scandal during his 1969 campaign — vowed to take the state out of the “wilderness” of unregulated campaign money. The result: The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission was created as a quasi-independent state watchdog over the ebb and flow of campaign cash … The result: The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission was created as a quasi-independent state watchdog over the ebb and flow of campaign cash. … It's a watershed moment, and one that will allow the cash to come gushing into New Jersey's political campaign infrastructure at unprecedented levels”
—“Menendez primary opponent calls out Murphy for supporting Election Transparency Act” THE MEMBERS HAVE GROWN BORED OF EDUCATION — “Critics question attendance rate of N.J. State Board of Education members,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “Students in New Jersey public schools cannot miss more than 18 school days, 10% of the school year, without being considered chronically absent. Yet the absence rate for the 13-member state Board of Education was twice that over the past four years, even when attending meetings that only required joining an online platform. The situation has led some education advocates to question the dedication and efficacy of the board that adopts rules governing the state’s schools and advises on educational policy matters, particularly as the terms of all but two members have expired. According to an NJ Advance Media analysis, three members, Ronald K. Butcher, Arcelio Aponte, and Ernest Lepore, missed more than a quarter of the monthly meetings for the past four years” WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GUESS AS TO THE AUTHOR’S IDENTITY — “Patch settles Lesniak defamation suit, will give up information on third-party author,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Flemington Patch will identify the author of a third-party fraudulent news post to settle a libel and defamation lawsuit filed by former State Sen. Raymond Lesniak after the local news website published a story in January alleging that a murder-for-hire scheme involving political consultant Sean Caddle had renewed interest in the tragic 2019 death of the ex- lawmaker’s wife. … The article inferred that Caddle’s admission that he hired a hitman to murder Michael Galdieri in Jersey City in 2014 had prompted law enforcement officials to reopen their investigation of the death of Salena Carroll Lesniak, suggesting that the former senator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate might have somehow been connected to his wife’s death. That allegation was false. As part of the settlement agreement obtained by the New Jersey Globe, Lesniak will issue a subpoena to Patch seeking the author’s identity. … In what might be just a coincidence, the style of the story resembles other pieces written on the Internet by a controversial ex-political associate of Lesniak who has been at the center of some political controversies.” PLAYING CATSUP — “Proposal to ban disposable cutlery, condiment packets at NJ restaurants,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Briana Vannozzi: “Plastic utensils are in the crosshairs of environmental advocates, who are pushing a bill to ban disposable cutlery and condiment packets, the kind that hold ketchup and mayo, at restaurants in New Jersey. They’d like to see the single-use items go the way of the plastic bag. Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) is sponsoring the bill that would prohibit restaurants from giving out the plastics, unless a customer asks for them. The bill would also require some businesses to use reusable, washable utensils instead and urge all the food establishments to find eco-friendly alternatives.” JUDICIARY — “The time is now to appoint New Jersey’s first APA associate justice,” by Punam P. Alam, Francis W. Yook and Janice V. Arellano: “The disparity between the burgeoning population of APAs in New Jersey and the considerable underrepresentation of this population across various segments of our government is not only confounding but also fundamentally unfair. Despite being the fastest-growing ethnic group in New Jersey, with over one million New Jersey residents identifying as Asian and accounting for approximately 11% of the state’s population, the APA community still awaits representation in New Jersey’s highest judicial body. The Asian Bar and the APA community implore members of the governor’s office and State Senate to finally effectuate the appointment that has been delayed for years if not decades.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | LAW AND TALL ORDER — New price tag for State Police training center: $240 million, by POLTICO's Daniel Han: The Department of Law and Public Safety is projecting the new State Police training center from Gov. Phil Murphy's budget proposal will come at a total price tag of approximately $240 million. Murphy’s budget-in-brief included $120 million for the “first phase” of building the new training center in West Trenton. The nearly quarter-billion dollar figure was revealed in responses from the department to questions from the legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services. —“N.J. to be a ‘safe haven’ for trans people in search of gender-affirming health care” —“Ukrainian president Zelenskyy just met virtually with Murphy, other U.S. governors” —“Lawmakers say bill would lower state health care costs” —“Jersey City lawmakers set to introduce ‘right to counsel’ bill for tenants facing eviction” —“More money set to treat lead poisoning in children” —“South Jersey prison guard suing Murphy over COVID vaccine rules. What the lawsuit claims” —“Aikens, Sarnoski get GOP line in small Warren County portion of 24th district” —"QAnon Assembly candidate back on ballot after judge reconsiders ruling"
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT — Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony charges, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden and Kyle Cheney: Prosecutors in Manhattan say former President Donald Trump orchestrated a sweeping scheme to bury damaging allegations about extramarital affairs — which had been set to emerge before the 2016 presidential election — and then tried to cover it up by falsifying company records. “During and in furtherance of his candidacy for President, the Defendant and others agreed to identify and suppress negative stories about him,” according to charging documents unveiled Tuesday by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 34 felony charges connected to his role in the alleged scheme, a plea that came at the conclusion of an extraordinary trip to the courthouse for the former president.
WHALES — “NOAA: N.J. wind farm may ‘adversely affect,’ not kill whales,’ by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm may ‘adversely affect’ whales and other marine mammals, but its construction, operation, and eventual dismantling will not seriously harm or kill them, a federal scientific agency said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a report Tuesday evaluating an analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of the Ocean Wind I project to be built off the southern New Jersey coast. … NOAA noted that the project includes numerous measures to minimize and monitor adverse effects on whales, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, of which there are less than 350 remaining.” —“Van Drew calls Trump arraignment a witch hunt led by 'half-assed' local DA”
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PATERSON POLICE STILL HAVE NOT SOLVED THE MURDER OF RUSTY IRISH DESPITE VIDEO EVIDENCE — “Paterson police now under control of N.J.’s powerful A.G. Can he fix years of problems, mistrust?” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “When the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office seized control of the Paterson Police Department last week citing “a crisis of confidence in law enforcement” in the state’s third-largest city, local activists burst into cheers. But they’re not celebrating yet. Paterson had been roiled in recent weeks by protests over a controversial police shooting and critics of the 400-member department have heard pledges — from the city, from the county prosecutor, from the feds — to clean it up before. Word of the takeover came so quickly it left local officials scrambling for answers. Critics of the troubled Paterson Police Department said they were cautiously optimistic. The news also surprised criminal justice experts and legal observers, who say the takeover represents a nearly unprecedented flexing of state power, one that will serve as a crucial test for state Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who has pledged to fix the department no matter how long it takes.”
—“NJ AG's control of Paterson police begins to be felt as command duties are shifted” TOMS RIVER — “Here's why NJ environment chief calls Toms River Ciba cleanup 'a very, very good deal',” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “The proposed settlement between the state and BASF that would preserve 1,000 acres of the former Ciba-Geigy Superfund site is ‘a very, very good deal,’ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said. ‘We are conserving land — in this case, clean land — that overlies a high quality groundwater aquifer, forever,’ LaTourette said in a recent interview with the Asbury Park Press, ‘meaning, that the public gets paid back for the injury to its groundwater, forever. … Our point is to preserve the groundwater. That the public could also have access to it, it is an additive, it’s a co-benefit. It doesn’t mean the public has to go to it’ … It would also allow BASF to develop about 250 acres of land along Route 37. Toms River officials, along with environmental groups and activists, have expressed skepticism about the settlement.” DEMOCRACY INACTION — “Bergen County's only May municipal election has no challengers,” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “The only new face on [Lodi’s] May 9 uncontested council ballot will be former Councilman Bruce Masopust, who also served as mayor and borough manager. Masopust is the only change in the borough's 2019 Lodi Pride ticket. He replaces Councilman Albert DiChiara, who is not seeking a new term. Mayor Scott Luna, Deputy Mayor Vincent Martin, and Councilmen Emil Carafa Jr. and Joseph Leto IV are running together seeking new four-year terms with Masopust for five open seats. They were the only candidates to file by the borough's March 6 deadline. It is the only May municipal election in Bergen County this year” ENOUGH TO PAY MONTCLAIR PROPERTY TAXES FOR A YEAR — “Stafford seeks $1.2 million settlement from Montclair, officials say,” by Montclair Local’s Craig Wolf: “Montclair Township Manager Timothy Stafford, suspended and officially on notice that he could lose his job, has issued a stark demand to the township: Pay him $1.2 million and he will step aside, or give him $500,000 and reinstate him. The options offered by Stafford … were relayed to Montclair’s governing body by township attorneys in executive session at the March 14 council meeting … The revelation that the township is contemplating a settlement package for Stafford punctuates a controversy that was ignited last October when the township’s chief financial officer, Padmaja Rao, accused Stafford in a discrimination lawsuit of ‘bullying, verbal abuse and threatening behavior.’ The suit accuses Stafford of creating a hostile work environment for Rao and other women working in township government.” R.I.P. — “Monroe Township Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider, a longtime public servant, dies at 88” —“Jersey City announces right-to-counsel program for tenants; would be funded by fee on developers” —“Newark’s mayor: Non-law enforcement people helped us reduce crime | Opinion” —“NJ spells out what Paterson fine may be if it doesn't reinstate terminated worker”
| | 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.
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CARS — “Ghost tags: Inside New York City’s black market for temporary license plates,” by StreetsblogNYC’s Jesse Coburn: “Trisha Newsome has lived in Bridgeton all her life, and she’s worked across the street from 330 East Commerce Street, but she’s never known what goes on behind its barbed wire fence. Not much seems to happen there, she said. … And yet, 330 East Commerce Street is the most active site of used car sales in the entire state of New Jersey. At least that’s true by one measure: the number of temporary license plates churned out by dealerships registered to the address. Those dealers numbered at least 300 last year, and together they issued more than 45,000 temporary license plates in 2022, data obtained by Streetsblog show. That should mean the dealers sold or leased 45,000 cars. … The illicit temp tag trade has spawned a cohort of motorists in the five boroughs who have relied on paper tags for anonymity while driving without car insurance, skipping out on tolls or sales tax, or breaking the law in more consequential ways.”
ARTISANAL EXPLOSIVES — “Man admits keeping handcrafted bombs at his N.J. home, officials say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nicolas Fernandes: “A man has admitted in court that he was keeping homemade explosive devices at his New Jersey home, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Thomas Petronglo, 64, of Vineland, pleaded guilty to possession of a destructive device and unlawful storage of explosives, prosecutors said.” —“Most NJ seniors want to live their final years at home. It's often not a simple request” —“North Jersey office vacancy hits 14-year high amid uncertain economy, report finds”
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