| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! Prospect Park, a Paterson suburb that occupies a half square mile of land, is all over the national news thanks to the Secret Service’s barring of its mayor, Mohamed Khairullah, from a White House Eid al-Fitr event on Monday. The Record’s Hannan Adely first reported this Monday night, and by Tuesday national reporters at a White House briefing asked Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre three times about the snub. But Jean-Pierre didn’t offer any information, repeatedly saying it was under the purview of the Secret Service, which has declined to offer any details about the incident other than to confirm that Khairullah was turned away. The likely reason, according to the Council on Americna-Islamic Relations, is that Khairullah’s name appears to be on a 1.5 million name Federal Terrorist Screening Dataset watchlist. Khairullah told The Record he’s suspected that he’s been on a list since 2019, due to being detained twice at border crossings, but that federal authorities have never given him any information about why he’s been flagged. It’s pretty amazing that an American Citizen — and a mayor at that — can be subjected to such a Kafkaesque and allegedly discriminatory system. Read Daniel Han for the latest on Khairullah here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Some political observers have speculated that [Linden Mayor Derek] Armstead’s success could make him an attractive candidate for Governor in 2025, as Armstead’s continued success in Linden may be attractive to voters looking for a leader who can get things done.” — Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, or at least someone working for him, in a press release. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Dog fur-covered reporter Matt Friedman WHERE’S MURPHY? Media: “Ask Governor Murphy” at 7 p.m. on your local NPR affiliate
| | | | DON’T MISS THE POLITICO ENERGY SUMMIT: A new world energy order is emerging and America’s place in it is at a critical juncture. Join POLITICO on Thursday, May 18 for our first-ever energy summit to explore how the U.S. is positioning itself in a complicated energy future. We’ll explore progress on infrastructure and climate funding dedicated to building a renewable energy economy, Biden’s environmental justice proposals, and so much more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
SHOCKER — Legislature will be asked to help pay for new Rutgers contract, university president says, by POLITICO’s Caroline Petrow-Cohen: Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said Tuesday the Legislature will be asked to pay an unknown sum to help offset the cost of the deal struck with unions following their historic strike. Senate Budget and Appropriations Chair Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) expressed concern over the implications of such spending. “This is going to set a precedent,” he said at Tuesday’s budget hearing. Rutgers faculty ended their week-long strike earlier this month after reaching a tentative deal with the school. The contract, which is expected to be signed shortly, is still subject to change, Holloway said. … “Do you believe dollars are going to need to flow in this budget to help offset the Rutgers settlement with their faculty?” Sarlo asked Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges. While Bridges could not provide a firm answer, Holloway responded affirmatively to the same question later in the hearing.
WHALE TALES — “Their job is to make sure offshore wind boats don’t hit whales. Here’s what they’ve seen at sea,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “At any point during the year, Fritz Smith might be waking up in Hawaii to catch waves off the North Shore, visiting his brother in Denver or skiing in a small New York village. But in mid-April, the 42-year-old was watching the sun rise from a vessel miles off the Atlantic Coast. It was 7 a.m., the time he typically gets out of bed for his shift. Black wraparound sunglasses, binoculars and camera in tow, Smith set off for Day 14 at sea. His job: minimize the vessel’s risk of colliding with a marine mammal. On this voyage to the federal offshore wind lease areas off New Jersey’s coast, environmental data was being collected in anticipation of what will be hundreds of turbines spread out over multiple wind farms, generating 3.7 GW, or enough energy to power more than 2 million homes. … RPS is one of more than a half-dozen companies that provide offshore industries along the Mid-Atlantic with federally-required trained observers, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Their job is to be on watch 24/7 for protected marine species and they have the power to delay or even shut down work if they get too close.” —“Offshore wind sails past regulatory hurdle” ARE NJ TRANSIT COPS TAKING NJ TRANSIT TRAINS TO RESPOND TO CALLS? — “NJ Transit workers allege transit cops are slow to respond to attacks by riders,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “Michelle Schwartz was working as a ticket collector at the NJ Transit train station in Long Branch when she alleges a rider cursed at her and tried to spit at her before punching her, causing her to hit a wall and suffer brain bleed and vision damage. Another crew member called NJ Transit Police after the attack, but it wasn’t until another transit worker followed the suspect and pointed him out to Long Branch cops that he was detained, while transit officers arrived ‘sometime later,’ Schwartz alleges. Schwartz’s story is one of dozens detailed in several recent lawsuits filed by NJ Transit employees, including one filed in federal court Monday alleging the agency’s police officers don’t act quickly enough to calls from conductors and that the agency has failed to protect crew members from “belligerent” passengers even after repeated calls for more protections.” DRINKING THE AMAZON — “'Unsuitable': Warehouses to be prohibited from these NJ drinking water source areas,” by The Record’s David M. Zimmer: “A new policy unveiled in late April by the state's Highlands Council will prohibit warehouses from large swaths of North Jersey. The independent state agency's policy sets new standards and "no-go" zones for distribution and fulfillment centers in northwest Highlands communities conforming to the Regional Master Plan. The council has also established requirements for warehouse construction in areas of concentrated development or in need of redevelopment in the nearly 860,000-acre Highlands region. … The new standards come as the region's seven counties face high demand for warehousing due to the proliferation of online shopping and their location in the middle of a vast transportation and goods distribution network, according to council documents. As warehousing has grown, so has the opposition.” ELECTIONS — “Fusion Voting lawsuit will continue after appellate division denies request for dismissal,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “A lawsuit over ‘fusion voting,’ in which the same candidate can appear on the ballot under multiple parties, will continue after the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division denied efforts today to either dismiss the case or transfer it to the Law Division. … In a brief two-page opinion, Appellate Chief Judge Carmen Messano rejected their motions, writing that the appellate division is the right place to adjudicate such matters. ‘Regardless of whether the Secretary could have or should have considered appellants’ constitutional claims in this matter, the law is clear that we may and should consider such constitutional arguments on appeal,' he wrote. With the 2022 elections long over – and Malinowski now a former congressman after losing to now-Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) – the actual subject of the lawsuit is a moot point. But if fusion voting were to be legalized in New Jersey, it could substantially change the political landscape for minor political parties in the state.”
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGSITER HERE. | | | | | R.I.P. — “Joe Gonzalez, longtime Assembly GOP executive director, dies at 86” (Services Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 11:00 AM. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Princeton Junction) —“Inability of Murphy, Senate to speed judicial appointments is ‘appalling’” —“Lawyers in Lakewood school funding case urge N.J. education chief to impose a deadline on herself” —“Price tag of Gateway Tunnel’s concrete box under Hudson Yards is $692M” —“Advocates want more state oversight of university finances” —“Dems have voter registration edge in 30 of 40 legislative districts” —“New Jersey’s groundbreaking fair housing model must be safeguarded and strengthened | Opinion” —“New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy proposes additional $10 million in funding for firefighter grant program” | | BIDEN TIME | |
WHO SAYS NJ ISN’T BUSINESS-FRIENDLY? — “New Jersey is the new hot spot for big businesses to go broke,” by Bloomberg’s Amelia Pollard and Jonathan Randles: “Well-known companies in financial trouble are increasingly seeking bankruptcy protection in New Jersey, upending a decades-old norm of firms filing in neighboring jurisdictions Manhattan and Delaware. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and David’s Bridal LLC both sought Chapter 11 protection last month in Newark and Trenton, New Jersey, respectively. A former chemical maker that’s affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. filed there last week. And Jersey City-based BlockFi Inc. did the same last year, along with a wave of retailers during the pandemic. Perhaps most notably, Johnson & Johnson’s legal saga over talc lawsuits is also playing out in Trenton. … New Jersey’s rise as a bankruptcy venue also has something to do with predictability. A spate of judges retired from the courts in Manhattan and Delaware in recent years, taking their long track records with them.”
—“After 32 years as Clifton’s mayor, Anzaldi joins Pascrell’s congressional staff” —“Senate confirms Farbiarz, Kirsch As Federal Judges” | | LOCAL | |
THE ROGUE GARDEN STATE — “Rogue garden in Middle Township will need to be relocated,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “It may sometimes be easier to receive forgiveness than permission, but Jim Chew promises he’ll get the permission first next time. Chew, who describes himself as an advocate for the homeless of Rio Grande, recently started a community garden on Route 47. He has already planted tomatoes and zinnia, with a plan to give the produce to the homeless, and the flowers as well. … On Monday morning, he had a call from the state Department of Transportation, saying he would need to remove the garden or it would be destroyed. He told the Township Committee Monday evening that someone from the township complained to the state. ‘Who in his right mind would oppose wildflowers growing along the highway? They actually plant them along the Garden State Parkway,’ Chew said. “Who in their right mind prefers weeds, thorns and crabgrass over beneficial flowers? We live in an insane, upside-down, perverted and perhaps hateful world.’ Mayor Tim Donohue said the township did not complain, it notified the DOT that the garden was being planted in the DOT’s right of way.”
STAFFORD SUDDENLY AIRBRUSHED OUT OF PHOTOS WITH SPILLER — “8 months and 3 lawsuits later, Montclair ousts town manager,” by The Record’s Julia Martin: “The Montclair town council voted Friday morning to fire town manager Tim Stafford, who was put on paid leave in October, when the first of three lawsuits accusing him of wrongdoing was filed. The vote was 5-0. Mayor Sean Spiller and Deputy Mayor Bill Hurlock were absent. … For some residents at the meeting, the blame lies with Spiller, whose "strong support of Stafford and his incompetence and poor judgment, whether out of fear or collusion, is nonetheless telling.' ” SADDLED WITH THE NON-RICH RIVER — “Saddle River affordable housing plan OK'd. Here's what judge said of residents' objections,” by The Record’s Masha A. Stoltz: “The borough's affordable housing plan, long opposed by residents, has received final approval in a Superior Court ruling. Judge Gregg Padovano's 39-page ruling comes after 19 hearings over 14 months that ended in December 2021. In comparison, the February 2021 hearing to approve neighboring Upper Saddle River's settlement agreement took 45 minutes. … The ruling comes as Saddle River awaits a May 9 court ruling on a complaint filed by residents against the borough concerning the proposed purchase of a 2-acre single-family home property at 331 Mill Road. … Residents argued that affordable housing should not be placed next to single-family neighborhoods. Since 95% of the borough is zoned for minimum-2-acre single-family homes, Padovano said such an argument would excuse the borough from building any affordable housing.” I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU BE FROM, BUT I CANNOT VOTE EARLY SON — “Early voting in West New York municipal election, but not North Bergen,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “West New York voters who did not cast their ballots by mail and can’t make it to the polls on May 9 for the municipal election of five town commissioners can vote this weekend at two locations in the town, Hudson County election officials said. … North Bergen voters will also go to the polls to elect five township commissioners in the municipal election, but on no other days than May 9. The township has decided against participating in the three-day early in-person voting period. The early in-person voting period was introduced in 2022, and it’s mandatory for all municipalities in the primary and general elections. Other elections are optional.” SOME TOWNS HAVE BUSIER COPS THAN OTHERS — “Holmdel grads warned to stop 'senior assassin' water gun prank,” by Patch’s Pat McDaniel: “The Police Department says Holmdel High School seniors playing the game are assigned to “assassinate” another student outside of school grounds by sneaking up on them and shooting them with the water gun. Police have received calls recently describing how youth are showing up at homes of their targets, sometimes waiting hours for them to come outside, to spray them. But what seems like a harmless rite of passage is not advisable when, like many towns in the state, car thefts and break-ins are on residents' minds. … To avoid a dangerous situation, Holmdel police are urging students to stop playing the game immediately.” —“Op-Ed: How are restoring habitat, trails and 61 acres for outdoor sports racist?” —“Advocacy group calls for DOJ to consider consent decree for Paterson Police Department” —“Asbury Park school staff in limbo as possible layoffs loom” —“Atlantic County clerk agrees to use first-class mail for mail-in ballots” —“Hoboken landlords could bring rent-controlled units to pre-pandemic rates under proposed legislation” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
MONDELEZ GETS EXCLUSIVE COOKIE EXPORT RIGHTS TO EGYPT — “$50M Morris County lab devoted to 'cutting-edge' cookies is NJ's latest innovation,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “How many people know that one of the world's most popular and widely available cookies − the Oreo − is a part of Garden State history? The first pack of the beloved sandwich cookie was sold in Hoboken in 1912. The Oreo-Jersey connection was renewed Monday as executives of Mondelēz International were joined by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, Rep. Mikie Sherrill and local officials to cut the ribbon on the international snack-maker's $50 million research and development center on Route 10 in Whippany. … The property is now staffed with about 50 R&D specialists to develop new snacks, flavors and varieties, taking them from conception to mass production.”
—“Complaints mount after Bamboozle Festival’s cancellation, ticketing company speaks out” —“Students plan protest to rally support for N.J.’s oldest college Africana Studies program”
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