| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey | Good Thursday morning! If vulnerable Democrats’ reactions are any indication, they see alleged attempts to “ban gas stoves” as a politically potent campaign issue. Several Democrats in competitive districts yesterday came out against the BPU’s action at yesterday’s meeting, and state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) and his running mates issued a press release urging the Board of Public Utilities to clarify that it was just voting on voluntary incentives, not a ban. So what did the BPU vote on? For the state’s utilities to offer customers incentives for switching their appliances like gas stoves and hot water heaters to electric. Could that have an affect on utility bills? I would think so. But a ban? “With these new incentives we are encouraging folks to move to energy efficient options,” BPU President Joe Fordaliso said at the meeting. “Notice I said ‘encouraging folks’ — but let’s be quite clear, we are not requiring, not mandating anyone give up their gas stove. … We are not coming for your gas stove, or your local pizza shop’s oven.” This all stems from the Murphy administration’s goal to move away from fossil fuels, including a target he set earlier this year to electrify 400,000 residential buildings and 20,000 commercial buildings by 2030. Eventually there could be mandates on homeowners, but I’m not aware of anything that would ban gas appliances in existing homes. In a press release, state Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen) said that the Department of Community Affairs “is also considering changing building codes to prohibit new natural gas hookups and to require replacement appliances in existing buildings to be fully electric.” The state is working on a “roadmap” do this, but there are no binding regulations in effect or formally proposed. So there’s plenty to debate here, but it’s a lot more nuanced than banning gas stoves. Of course is hard to get across in a political campaign. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I sincerely harbor no disrespect for America or Americans, but I have a policy of not having any national anthems played before my concerts in any country, not even my own, because they have nothing to do with music in general.” — The late Sinead O’Connor during a 1990 concert in New Jersey. Her refusal to play the anthem led to outrage from Frank Sinatra and Gov. Jim Florio mandating the anthem be played at what was then known as the Garden State Arts Center. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Dalin Hackley, Mike Porch WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Kearny at 5 p.m. for a soccer field opening ceremony with some soccer bigwigs
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NOW YOU’RE NOT COOKING WITH GAS — Some say gas stove mandate, others say customer choice as New Jersey moves to electrify buildings, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Amid a political firestorm, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Wednesday gave power companies the option of helping customers switch from gas to electric appliances. The board’s move — called a gas stove mandate by its opponents — was met with attacks from Republicans, South Jersey Democrats and industry groups. It was a significant but more modest attempt to help Gov. Phil Murphy meet his goal of electrifying 400,000 residential buildings and 20,000 commercial buildings by the end 2030. … “It’s disturbing that Gov. Murphy is trying to circumvent the Legislature by having the BPU rubber-stamp his plan to transform how millions of New Jersey homes are powered,” said Sen. Anthony Bucco, leader of state Senate Republicans. … Eric DeGesero, who represents the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey and New Jersey Propane Gas Association, called the board vote a “railroad job,” but even though he has led the campaign against mandates, he acknowledged the board action was not a ban on gas stoves. “This is what I would call the non-mandate mandate,” he said. The board’s action is the first-step in a multi-step process to allow energy companies to use ratepayer money to subsidize customers’ switch from gas appliances to electric.
IF CHRISTIE HAD SIGNED THIS HE WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN ALMOST 2 PERCENT IN THE IOWA CAUCUSES — Murphy signs infamous pig crate ban in New Jersey that Christie rejected, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed a ban on gestational pig crates that former Gov. Chris Christie infamously vetoed a decade ago, a move that critics — comedian Jon Stewart and iconic singer Cher, among them — called a presidential campaign ploy. The ban marks a long-fought victory for animal rights advocates. They’ve sought for more than a decade to outlaw gestational pig crates in New Jersey, though they are not widely used and the Garden State produced just 7,500 pigs in 2022 — well behind the top-ranking Iowa’s production of 23 million hogs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BRING YOUR OWN CONCEALED NUCLEAR WEAPON TO ‘OPPENHEIMER’ — “N.J. drags ‘Barbie’ into court fight over concealed carry gun law,” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “Locked in a legal fight over the state’s concealed carry gun law, New Jersey officials last week filed lengthy legal papers defending tight restrictions on where and how you can carry a gun in the state. They’re seeking to prove there is historic precedent for New Jersey’s famously tough gun laws. So where does Barbie come in? ‘Just as states constitutionally could restrict carrying firearms to a show in 1871 or race-course in 1869, the Second Amendment does not forbid New Jersey from restricting firearms at a Taylor Swift concert or screening or filming of Barbie today,’ Angela Cai, the state’s deputy solicitor general, wrote in a July 21 legal brief. The case is before a federal appeals court after a coalition of gun rights advocates sued over New Jersey’s law enacted last year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision invalidated longtime restrictions on concealed carry, finding they violated the Second Amendment.” —“Retirement of health chief elicits dramatically different responses” —“N.J. public worker pension fund has raked in huge gains so far this year”
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THE SUPREME COURT WILL GIVE THEM A FAIR HERRING — “How NJ herring fishermen could upend federal laws, push power from White House to Congress,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “Several New Jersey commercial herring fishermen say they don't think it's fair that a federal rule forces them to pay over 20% of their earnings to cover the salary of the government's at-sea monitors who ride on their boats. And their case, now going before the U.S. Supreme Court, has a chance of upending the way federal laws are made and shifting power from the White House back to Congress. ... Their case looks to overturn a long-standing precedent set in 1984 in Chevron USA Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council Inc. The decision in that case requires courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of a statute it administers when that statute is ambiguous or leaves a gap for the agency to fill — what is often referred to as Chevron deference, a legal doctrine that requires federal courts to defer to agency interpretations of law, even in the absence of expressed congressional authorization.”
THE HUNTER IS STILL THE HUNTED — Judge declines to approve Hunter Biden plea deal for now, by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan and Josh Gerstein: Hunter Biden’s plea deal hit a roadblock during an unexpectedly contentious federal court hearing Wednesday as prosecutors and Biden’s attorneys initially disagreed about the scope of the agreement and the judge then balked at approving the deal. Tensions grew after a prosecutor said the federal investigation into the president’s son is ongoing. After pressing both sides for details about the plea deal, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika adjourned the hearing so that the two sides could refine and clarify the agreement — under which Biden had planned to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax offenses and likely avoid punishment on a felony gun charge. (Read the text of the proposed plea deal.) —“Norcross wants to raise the federal minimum wage to $17”
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BULLYING — “School will pay over $9M to parents of bullied 12-year-old girl who died by suicide,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kevin Shea: “The Rockaway Township School District will pay $9.1 million to settle the civil lawsuit brought by the parents of Mallory Grossman, the 12-year-old middle schooler who died by suicide in 2017 following repeated cyberbullying by other students. The family’s lawyer, Bruce Nagel, announced the settlement Wednesday, saying the district agreed to it on Tuesday. … It’s the largest settlement of a bullying case in New Jersey history, Nagel said. Mallory’s tragic death made headlines nationwide, and led her parents, Dianne and Set Grossman, to start the anti-bullying foundation, Mallorys Army. Their efforts also led Gov. Phil Murphy to sign a law in 2022 that strengthened the state’s anti-bullying statute.”
BARAKA’S POLITICAL PROSPECTS REVALUATED LOWER — “N.J.’s largest city orders 1st property tax revaluation in 10 years,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Strunsky: “At its July 19 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved Newark’s first revaluation since 2013, before the start of the downtown development boom regarded by some to have started three years later with the construction of a new apartment tower at 1 Center St., developed by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center just across the street. Other large downtown projects have followed, including major rehabilitations of historic skyscrapers from Newark’s previous heydays. The reval will involve all 40,000 of Newark’s residential and commercial properties, requiring visual surveys of each exterior for expansions or other major changes, and access to the interior to look for improvements like additional bathrooms or finished basements that could increase a property’s value.” LICENSE TO THRIVE — “Vendor of Black-owned food products needs license, Paterson officials say,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The city health officer on Monday ordered Shana Manradge to shut down her online shop selling food from Black-owned businesses because she didn’t have a municipal health license. Health Officer Paul Persaud issued the order the same day a feature story about Manradge’s business was published by NorthJersey.com, The Record and the Herald News. Persaud said a city inspector went to Manradge’s home because of an ‘anonymous complaint,’ not because of the news story. … Manradge faces possible summonses and fines if she reopens her business without the city license, officials said. ‘It’s food, and there are laws,’ Persaud said. ‘Her heart can be in the right place, but we have to protect the health of the public.’” SECOND PTA TREASURER CHARGED WITH THEFT IN A WEEK — “Manalapan PTA treasurer accused of stealing more than $12,000,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jenna Calderon: “A Manalapan woman who served as a township elementary school's PTA treasurer has been charged with stealing more than $12,000 of its funds, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Wednesday. Roxanne Blasucci, 44, is charged with third-degree theft by unlawful taking and fourth-degree uttering a forged instrument, Santiago said. Blasucci had served as treasurer of the PTA for Taylor Mills School.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | BREAKING WIND — “Shore communities look to enlist visitors as advocates vs. wind,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian hopes at least some of the visitors will also help oppose planned offshore wind turbines from their home communities. Over the weekend, the city placed new signs on the Boardwalk railings, arguing the proposed wind power projects included too many unknowns to move forward. ‘At what cost?’ read the signs, which include a rendering showing what the windmills may look like when Ørsted's Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 projects are completed. The signs list contact information for state and federal officials. While local communities have been discussing the wind power proposals for years, and news coverage increased dramatically after a series of whale deaths over the winter that wind power critics have blamed on preparation work on the projects, Gillian and other shore town advocates say significant numbers of people in other communities know little about the proposals.” —“Atlantic City Aquarium reopening 'in the near future,' mayor says” — “Monmouth, Ocean counties trying to balance affordable housing and open space” —“Camden educators are on a mission, going door-to-door to register kids for free, full-day preschool” —“What did the new Paterson schools superintendent say about her first 100 days?”
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KAREN NEWS — “This Facebook post blew up over 84 cents of lost change. But what does the restaurant say?” by The Record’s Kara VanDooijeweert: “A woman having brunch at a local Paramus restaurant received $55 in change after paying her bill. By the evening, that same receipt was blowing up on Facebook. The reason? It should've been $55.84. On Friday afternoon, a woman who goes by Terry Cartiern on Facebook posted an image of a receipt she received from Turning Point restaurant on Route 4 in the We Live in Bergen County group. The receipt stated a total of $44.16, to which she paid with a $100 bill. When she was given her change, however, she only received $55 … ‘We thought there was a mistake and questioned the supposed manager," she said, ‘And were informed that they ROUND UP their bills because they do not carry any change in the restaurant and the extra goes to the waitress as part of the tip. REALLY??’ … We called Turning Point Restaurant and spoke to Casey Guillaume, the general manager who was working the floor at the time of the incident. ... ‘When her husband came to the host stand, I thought he was just looking for an explanation," Guillaume said. ‘The server that gave him his change, I learned, was not his server, so she never saw his bill. She was just told to grab change by another server. I told him to give me a second to rectify the situation, but by the time I came back to the host stand — I was in a rush, I had a lot of tables to seat — he was gone.’ Guillaume explained that the restaurant does carry change, at least ‘20 dollars in quarters a day.’”
—“Boy with autism kicked out of N.J. movie theater after using bathroom with mom, lawsuit says” —“Salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef purchased in four states including NJ” —“United will cut 45 flights from Newark airport to fix summer travel mess. Will it help?” —“Yeah those summer storms ruined your picnic. But North Jersey reservoirs are nearly full” —“N.J. racehorse trainer Jason Servis sentenced to four years in federal prison for role in doping scheme”
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