| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! “No Pay To Play Law!” Those five words were included in the subject line for an email invite to A July 31 fundraiser for Paterson Mayor Andrew Sayegh. Paterson — a city not exactly untouched by corruption — enacted a strict local pay-to-play law in 2011. It was a condition of receiving millions of dollars in “transitional aid” from the state. But the Elections Transparency Act eliminated local pay-to-play laws, holding them only to the state pay-to-play law with a loophole so big you can fit numerous contractors’ dump trucks through it. And so now Paterson effectively has no law restricting contractors from giving to campaigns — something clearly noted on Sayegh's fundraiser invitation. I don’t know if the near-elimination of pay-to-play restrictions in New Jersey will make a huge difference. Many of those contractors already gave indirectly to help elect candidates that were later responsible for giving them contracts, often through PACs and non-profits. Some advocates had long called for a single, statewide comprehensive pay-to-play law instead of the patchwork of local ordinances. But they also called for eliminating the notorious “fair and open” loophole that all but exempted local governments . Now, there’s just one statewide pay-to-play law, but the loophole remains. Sayegh told me that he had no problem with Paterson’s old pay-to-play ordinance. In fact, he authored it as a councilmember. But, he said, “Now that it’s no longer effective, people do need to know.” TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m not surprised at all by the data, nor is any Black person in the state of New Jersey surprised by the data.” — Rev. Charles Boyer on a Northeastern University that found State Police stop Black and Hispanic drivers at far higher rates than their share of the population HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Erica Jedynak Richard Simmons WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Atlantic City for the NGA meeting, then attending the wake of Newark firefighter Augusto “Augir” Acabou
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | CRITICS SLAM NJ TRANSIT FOR ONYX DEAL, URGE AGENCY TO BACDAFUCUP — “NJ Transit signs controversial lease with Onyx for pricey new HQ,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “NJ Transit has signed a controversial lease with Onyx Equities, LLC, to move its headquarters to the 2 Gateway building in Newark, NorthJersey.com has learned. The lease for 407,000 square feet — more than previous estimates — was confirmed by a Q2 real estate report published by commercial real estate firm CBRE, but other information has been minimal. Controversy over the deal has been building since February as reporting from NorthJersey.com has revealed that the Onyx building was the most expensive option on the table, and emails reveal discussion about a possible move to Gateway a year before the agency started to solicit bids. The agency chose the more expensive option even though it faces large fiscal deficits in the next two years. A board member resigned over the lack of transparency with the decision to move.” NJSP — “N.J. State Police pull over minorities at ‘unacceptable’ rate, study finds,” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “A team of independent researchers will monitor the traffic stops of New Jersey state troopers after a study of more than 6 million cases found ‘concerning racial and ethnic disparities’ in who gets stopped by police on Garden State roadways, state authorities said Tuesday … The division of State Police has a long and troubled history of racial profiling complaints and spent more than a decade under federal monitoring, which ended in 2009. … But a preliminary study of a massive trove of enforcement data found disparities have only grown. In 2009, 35% of the motorists troopers stopped by state troopers were Black or Hispanic. That figure has since risen to 46%, far more than their share of the population, the data shows.” CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION: NUMBNUTS. MURPHY ADMINISTRATION: NUTS NUMBERS — “'Not a perfect process': How did two versions of NJ's budget differ?” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “In each chamber of the Legislature, late-night committee meetings saw budget bills introduced and read into the record with a fiscal plan that would spend $54,324,277,000. But by the time Gov. Phil Murphy signed the legislation and made it the “law of the land” less than 48 hours later, that number had grown to $54,357,547,000. A NorthJersey.com review found more than 100 differences between the budget bill approved by committee on June 28 and the version voted on by the full Assembly and state Senate on June 30. … According to Marc Pfeiffer, assistant director of the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University, these ‘short-cuts in the legislative process are not new.’ Pfeiffer said the discrepancies between the two versions of the state budget bill could certainly be seen as disconcerting to New Jersey voters. 'They are not illegal, but when the average citizen reads about them, they appear to be another abuse of the public’s trust of government.'" CATCHING HEAT — "BPU wants to begin ‘decarbonizing’ buildings, despite criticisms," by NJ Spotlight News' Tom Johnson: "The Murphy administration is preparing to adopt a program to electrify the building sector, a move that aims to cut fossil fuel emissions from the second-biggest source of global warming pollution. In one of the state’s most controversial clean-energy strategies, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is scheduled at its bimonthly meeting Wednesday to adopt the initial steps of its building decarbonization policy. The program primarily involves switching space and water heating from fossil fuels to electric heat pumps." —Workers' compensation program still at risk of fraud and abuse, comptroller says —“News organizations across NJ examine segregation in the state’s schools” —“New Jersey attorney general releases report on 'impact of white supremacy' in state” —“Bill to halt residency requirement for N.J. teachers in limbo for the summer”
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DICK GEPHARDT SUPPORT DEFINITELY A GAME CHANGER— “Moderate Party’s fusion voting lawsuit gets more high-profile backers,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “A legal effort by the fledgling New Jersey Moderate Party to bring fusion voting to New Jersey has gained a number of new prominent backers, with a several notable politicians and advocacy groups filing amicus briefs today as the case makes its way through the New Jersey Superior Court. Included among the newly professed supporters of fusion voting, which allows general election candidates to run on multiple party lines, are the ACLU of New Jersey, the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, the libertarian-minded Cato Institute, the New Jersey Libertarian Party, and a bipartisan group of five former members of Congress, one of them being former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri).”
HOMECOMING — “Jill Biden coming to N.J. this week as National Governor’s Association led by Murphy will meet,” by NJ Advance Media’s Derek Hall: “The National Governor’s Association, chaired by Gov. Phil Murphy, is set to begin its annual summer meeting Wednesday in Atlantic City, bringing the yearly conference back to New Jersey for the first time in more than three decades. Governors from 50 states and five territories will join business leaders and federal officials, including First Lady Jill Biden, for two days of public discussions on some of today’s most pressing issues for state leaders.” — “New Jersey lawmakers take aim at flood insurance rate hikes. Here's why” —Snowflack: “Back from the Trump cult: Christie soaks up media attention” | | LOCAL | |
PORT FIRE — “‘The fire is out,’ officials say. Next, an investigation into Port Newark’s deadliest incident in decades,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “The deadly shipboard fire in Port Newark has finally been extinguished after six days and round-the-clock firefighting, officials with the U.S. Coast Guard and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Tuesday … The U.S Coast Guard is now conducting a multi-agency investigation into the blaze, which killed veteran Newark firefighters Augusto ‘Augie’ Acabou, 45, and Wayne ‘Bear’ Brooks Jr., 49, and injured five others from the department. The New York and Elizabeth fire departments, the Coast Guard and other agencies also responded.”
—“Newark firefighters union blasts 'neglect' by city in wake of two deaths,” by The Record’s Liam Quinn: “Firefighters union officials were blunt at a Tuesday press conference. "We want to shine a light on the neglect that the [Newark Fire Department] has endured under [the city's] administration," Newark Firefighters Union President Michael Giunta said Giunta was was joined by Anthony Tarantino, president of the Newark Fire Officers Union, and Edward Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, among other members of the city's firefighter union. The trio said the neglect is a combination of understaffing, regular apparatus failures and inadequate training, and they laid it at the feet of the city's administration. … Mayor Ras Baraka refused many of the claims made at the Tuesday press conference. ‘Statements issued to the media at a time when our fallen heroes have yet to be honored by funeral services, are unconscionable, divisive, and only add insult to the injury that the families and our city is already experiencing,’ Baraka said in a statement.” —Moran:“Did these firefighters have to die? ØRSUIT — “Wind power company sues Cape May County over permitting delay,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Eric Conklin: “The company building a controversial wind farm off New Jersey's coast is suing Cape May County officials for not fulfilling permitting requests and following regulator orders it argues has delayed the project. Ocean Wind 1, owned by Danish-based energy company Ørsted, contends the county, its clerk and its engineer are prolonging the paperwork needed for easements required by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The officials also are not yet granting road opening permits for work in Ocean City, the suit alleges.” MELITOPOBOKEN, BIRTHPLACE OF FRANK SINATROV — “City of Hoboken and Melitopol, Ukraine formalize agreement as ‘sister cities’,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “The City of Hoboken and Melitopol, Ukraine have formalized an agreement, facilitated by the United States Agency of International Development (USAID), as ‘sister cities.’ ‘As Russia continues to wage war on the citizens of Ukraine, it is all the more of a reason to stand with our global neighbors,’ Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.” VAPE MAY COUNTY INCLUDES STONED HERBOR AND HIGHER TOWNSHIP — “Legal weed is on its way to Cape May County,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “Work continues on a Sunset Boulevard property that’s set to become Cape May County’s first legal cannabis dispensary. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved a class 5 retail license for Tomas Nuscis for Shore House Canna LLC in March. The business had originally planned to open its doors by April 20, often described as a weed holiday, and later advertised a June 30 opening. Now, the store hopes to begin serving customers by Labor Day.” HIS POLITICAL MOVES ARE MACHIAVELLIAN — “McGreevey forms civic association to serve communities in Jersey City, Hudson County,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Taking a page out of Brian Stack’s playbook, former Gov. James E. McGreevey has formed the McGreevey Civic Association to provide services to Jersey City and Hudson County residents. The move allows McGreevey to expand his humanitarian footprint in Jersey City while boosting his electoral chances if he runs for Mayor in 2025. ‘The Foundation seeks to build a sense of community, shared responsibility, and healthy values through service to those in need,’ McGreevey said.” CLARK BARRED — “Clark whistleblower sues township as racism scandal reaches third year without resolution,” by NJ Advance Media’s Riley Yates: “A whistleblower who documented racism at Clark’s town hall is suing the Union County township, charging officials have retaliated against him, disrupting his life and preventing him from securing new jobs. Former Lt. Antonio Manata’s lawsuit represents the latest salvo between him and the township, which in 2020 agreed to pay him a settlement of more than $400,000 to conceal secret recordings he made of Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and police brass using racial slurs that included the n-word. The suit, filed June 30 in state Superior Court, alleges the township has since put up roadblocks that cost Manata prospective work as a former law enforcement officer and violated his settlement agreement.” —“Newark probing whether zoning board member violated residency rule” —“Galloway police assumed this woman was doing drugs. Instead, she was having an epileptic seizure” —“Police contacting youth sports groups after charging well-known coach [and Cumberland County Utilities Authority member] with assaulting teen” —“Controversial Hillsborough warehouse proposal drags on as Manville mayor joins critics” —“Marie Hayes named Cape May County surrogate” —“Unarmed man shot in back, paralyzed by Paterson cop sues for $50M” —“The Paterson Police Department will see a massive infusion from NJ's new budget: How much?” —“Drama between [North Wildwood] and N.J. over fixing the shrinking beach intensifies” —“Ink-free Hoboken proposes lifting prohibition on new tattoo parlors for first time since 1998” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
IS ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS-BASED CNBC ANGLING FOR A TAX BREAK? — “New Jersey is 2023′s most-improved state for business, led by a strong economy and housing market,” by CNBC’s Scott Cohn: “First, the good news. The state has received two consecutive credit rating upgrades from Moody’s. In its latest upgrade, in April, the agency cited the state’s ‘solid economic recovery, with job gains leading the region and driving employment above the state’s pre-pandemic peak.’ Now, the bad news. New Jersey still has the nation’s second-worst debt rating, according to Moody’s, just above Illinois. CNBC’s 2023 America’s Top States for Business rankings tell a similar story. New Jersey is this year’s Most Improved State, climbing 23 places to No. 19, and vaulting convincingly into the top half from a 42nd place finish last year. The bad news is that The Garden State is still one of the most expensive states in which to do business (No. 44), and among the least business-friendly (No. 48), according to the CNBC rankings.”
THEIR FIRING WAS 32BS — “American Dream workers, fired after trying to organize union, getting jobs back this week,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “Two cleaning staff at the American Dream Mall who said they were fired for trying to form a union are being given their jobs back this week, according to an attorney for the union. Their reinstatement comes after a decision last week by Kevin McNulty, a federal judge, who handed down his order siding with the two workers and the union, 32BJ, which represents service workers in the state. Both have been offered reinstatement at the employee, HSA Cleaning, and have accepted the offers, according to 32BJ attorney Brent Garren.” — “Bergen man who murdered his family in 1976 is released from prison on parole” —“NJ real estate influencers, radio DJ accused of defrauding almost $2 million from 2 men”
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