| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by OxyChem | Good Monday morning! It’s the 22nd anniversary of the worst terror attack in history on American soil, in which 703 New Jerseyans died. Now the news: Here we are, three and a half years after the onset of the pandemic, and nursing home crises are once again in the news. It was a bad enough week to finally see the results of the federal investigation that panned mismanagement of the Paramus and Menlo Park veterans homes where hundreds during Covid’s first wave, and saying they continue to place patients at risk. That report came just after a privately run Princeton nursing home abruptly closed, giving families almost no time to find a new place for their traumatized loved ones to live. A Sunday article by NJ Advance Media begins with this line: “The warning signs had long been obvious.” According to NJ Advance Media, the Department of Health was aware of the home’s financial troubles but was expected the facility to be sold. “When that did not happen, there was no Plan B.” Two day earlier, NJ Spotlight News detailed the “growing questions” about how this happened even though state officials had been so closely monitoring the nursing home. Peoples’ lives should always trump political implications. But now that residents have been relocated, I do wonder if between this and the federal report, the Murphy administration’s record on nursing homes will once again be a salient issue in November. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’ve always looked at a school like a castle. Whoever is in charge, king or queen, sets the rules. The kingdom must follow the rules because if they didn’t, there would be chaos.’ — Bayonne Board of Education President Jodi Casais HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Gary Schaer, Jeh Johnson, Lauren DiFilippo,, Megan DeMarco WHERE’S MURPHY? In New York at 8 a.m. for a 9/11 commemoration ceremony | | | | A message from OxyChem: OxyChem opposes the EPA’s Passaic River Superfund settlement. Over 100 companies released 8 chemicals into the river, but EPA may settle with most of them for only $150 million total. That leaves handful of other companies and NJ taxpayers to cover the rest of the $1.82 billion clean-up cost. OxyChem is the sole company offering to do the clean-up work. Tell the EPA to make all companies pay their fair share. Learn more at PassaicRiverCleanup.com | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
WHERE THERE’S A PHIL THERE’S A WAY — Tahesha Way becomes New Jersey's third lieutenant governor, by POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy: Secretary of State Tahesha Way was sworn in as New Jersey’s third lieutenant governor on Friday morning, an unexpected elevation to one of the state's highest offices after the death of Sheila Oliver last month. “The people of New Jersey have graced me with the opportunity to serve,” Way said prior to her swearing in. “You have placed your faith in me and in doing so you have allowed me to join our great governor in building a stronger and fairer state for every New Jerseyan. The lieutenant governor position also fills a Cabinet post. Oliver led the Department of Community Affairs. Way said she will continue her role as secretary of state. ... In her speech, Way said she is dedicating herself to fighting for ‘forgotten families’ of New Jersey. She highlighted abortion rights, gay marriage and affordable higher education as ‘fundamental freedoms’ she plans to protect.
R.I.P. — “A good man’s passing, and the lesson he leaves behind,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “The sudden death of Joe Fiordaliso, a hero in the fight against climate change in New Jersey, was not just a personal blow to the many of us who knew him. It was a reminder that we’ve grown too cynical about politics and government. Because Fiordaliso, 78, was the epitome of a decent man, a public servant who worked hard, with passion, a gentleman who knew the names of the security guards and office cleaners, who earned the trust of governors in both parties, who floated easily across the toxic partisan chasm that is tearing the country in two. ‘For years, we were pretty much the first call to each other in the morning,’ says Pete Cammarano, a fixture in Trenton who served as chief of staff for Govs. Phil Murphy and Dick Codey. ‘Joe understood that public service is a noble profession, that you weren’t there for your own benefit, you were there for the people.’ You might not believe that, partly because people like me are so often writing about the scoundrels and scandals. But state and local governments in New Jersey are full of honest people with good intentions. When the plane lands safely, we don’t write about it, and that creates a distorted view of reality.” WHAT IF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NEEDS MORE SUVS? — “N.J. budget got huge boost from COVID aid but there’s trouble ahead now that it’s ending,” by NJ Advance Media’s Derek Hall: “Pandemic aid boosted U.S. government grants to every state in fiscal year 2021, lifting the share of states’ revenue coming from federal funds to a record high 36.7% nationally, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center. The federal share of New Jersey’s budget climbed to 29%, the highest level in almost half a century, after COVID aid lifted the amount of federal dollars flowing to the state by more than a third from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2021. The federal share of state budgets is expected to remain elevated through at least 2024, according to Pew’s report. But the significant increase in just two years has prompted concerns among some that New Jersey and other states may find themselves approaching a fiscal cliff once the aid dries up. The U.S. government’s response to the Great Recession in 2008 prompted similar concerns.” ABOUT WHAT THEY CHARGE FOR AN EIGHTH — New Jersey cannabis commission issues $150,000 in penalties to two multi-state operators, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The Cannabis Regulatory Commission issued $150,000 in fines between two multi-state cannabis operators late Friday afternoon. The fines — which were multiples of what the CRC’s professional staff recommended to the commission — were levied against operators TerrAscend for $100,000 and Columbia Care for $50,000. Both have multiple dispensaries in the state and the country. … TerrAscend’s fines stemmed from five violations across all three of its New Jersey dispensaries, which did not have ample supply of medical cannabis for patients. Instead, according to the CRC, TerrAscend encouraged patients to purchase recreational cannabis — which comes at a higher cost than medical weed (operators are supposed to give priority to medicinal cannabis patents over recreational sales). … The fines against Columbia Care stemmed from having a labor peace agreement — which is required as a condition of licensure — lapse for a few days.” — “You’ll soon find weed brownies and THC drinks at New Jersey cannabis dispensaries,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto Munoz: “Weed brownies and THC-infused drinks are coming to dispensaries across New Jersey after the state’s cannabis regulators voted to relax restrictions on edibles Friday, nearly a year and a half after legal recreational marijuana sales started in New Jersey. When the Cannabis Regulatory Commission first drafted rules in August 2021, it opted not to allow the sale of edibles that resemble food, citing difficulties in regulating kitchen environments. At that time, commissioners approved the sale of only non-perishable edibles, like lozenges and gummies. But the commission at its Friday meeting proposed new rules that would allow for an expanded group of edibles to be sold in both the recreational and medical markets.”
| | | | GO INSIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC PLATFORM WITH UNGA PLAYBOOK: The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four city blocks in Manhattan. POLITICO's special edition UNGA Playbook will take you inside this important gathering starting Sept. 17 — revealing newsy nuggets throughout the week and insights into the most pressing issues facing global decision-makers today. Sign up for UNGA Playbook. | | | | | —“While Murphy balks at asylum seekers, these groups are already settling them in NJ” —“The LD 38 GOP: ‘So you’re telling me i’ve got a chance?’” —“5 things to know about Tahesha Way, N.J.’s new Lt. Governor” —“NJ Transit locomotive engineers launch billboard campaign over stalled contract talks” —“After Justice Department report, lawmakers want to take ex-Health Commissioner’s name off building” —“Governor Murphy will conditionally veto bill that lifts brewery event, food restrictions”
| | | | A message from OxyChem:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
SORRY LADIES — “Self-proclaimed N.J. dating coach gets 4 years in prison for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “After a mass of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, authorities said Patrick Stedman — a self-described dating coach for men — livestreamed a video of the riot out to his more than 25,000 followers. On Friday, about three months after Stedman was found guilty on several charges, the Haddonfield man was sentenced to 4 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for his role in the clash. … In a summary of the sentencing Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Stedman, “In his own words, recorded on video later that day, Stedman said he was in the ‘first wave’ that ‘climbed up the back part of the Capitol building’ and ‘broke down the doors.’ Along with two of his followers, Stedman illegally entered the U.S. Capitol shouting, ‘Storming the Capitol!’ and ‘Let’s f****** go!’ as he advanced forward.””
—“A closer look at all 10 of Biden’s federal judicial nominees in N.J. (so far)” —“'They won't tell me': Manalapan mom gets no details on punishment for Navy SEALs death”
| | | | A message from OxyChem: Since the 1890s, the tremendous industrial and economic growth on the Passaic River has come at a great environmental cost. For decades, companies regularly used disposal practices on the Passaic’s shoreline that are no longer acceptable. The EPA declared a 17-mile stretch of the Passaic part of a federal Superfund site, selected a remedy, and identified more than 100 companies as potentially responsible for the clean-up. OxyChem, which EPA acknowledges did not pollute the river, is leading the clean-up.
The EPA identified eight chemicals of concern in the river – Lead, DDT, Dioxin, Mercury, PCBs, Copper, Dieldrin, and PAHs – six of which are not associated with OxyChem or its predecessors. Nevertheless, OxyChem is dedicated to cleaning up the Passaic. But if the other responsible companies don’t step up, New Jersey taxpayers could end up footing the bill. Tell the EPA to hold all 100+ polluting companies accountable.
Learn more at PassaicRiverCleanup.com | | | | | LOCAL | |
NO RUSTY IRISH? — “What did National Park Service divers find in the waters below Paterson's Great Falls?” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “It seemed like a magic trick straight from a David Copperfield television special: For the past three days, Paterson’s 77-foot-high waterfall disappeared. The waters that normally spill from the upper section of the Passaic River to the lower portion were diverted through the historic hydroelectric plant, allowing scuba divers to do something that had never been done — survey underwater at the bottom of the Great Falls. ‘I realized the assets we have in the park system — including an archaeological dive team,’ said Darren Boch, the national park’s superintendent, who went diving with the crew. ‘We want to have a better understanding of what’s under the falls and how deep it is.’ In searching the bottom of the falls, the divers retrieved two firearms — one that is so rusted it was hard to identify the model. … Gunderson said that given the age of the city and the importance of the waterfall to its founding, he was surprised to find so few artifacts.”
IT’S A BAD SIGN WHEN THE GAS TERMINAL BLOWS BEFORE IT’S EVEN BUILT — “Another blow to plan for LNG export terminal in South Jersey,” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Hurdle: “The plan to build New Jersey’s first liquefied natural gas export terminal at Gibbstown on the Delaware River was dealt another blow when a federal agency suspended a rule that would have allowed the fuel to be shipped there by rail. The project has suffered repeated setbacks. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration blocked the Trump-era rule that lifted a long-standing national ban on the transport of LNG by rail. The rule would have allowed the fuel to be shipped by train, as planned by the developer New Fortress Energy, from a town in northeast Pennsylvania to a planned terminal at the Gloucester County town where it would be loaded onto ocean-going tankers and sent overseas. But the agency last week suspended the rule until it writes a substitute, or until June 30, 2025, whichever comes first. The decision is the latest blow to the plan, which has been fiercely opposed by activists on the grounds that the highly explosive cargo would endanger public safety in cities such as Camden and Philadelphia through which LNG trains would pass.” PENSIONED SAFETY DIRECTOR — “Recently retired West New York deputy police chief appointed public safety director,” by The Jersey Journal’s Teri West: “West New York has appointed a recently retired deputy police chief as its new public safety director. Alejandro DeRojas was unanimously approved for the role at a special city commissioners meeting Wednesday. He retired from the police department in January. The city did not respond to questions about what his new salary will be. DeRojas receives an annual pension of $161,184.48, according to the state Department of the Treasury. It is common for West New York to hire retired cops for the role of public safety director. Mark Flores was appointed in 2019 after retiring two years earlier as a captain. He was hired at a $100,000 annual salary as director. Preceding him, Robert Antolos held the position for several years while collecting a pension for his 30 years in the police force.”
| | | | Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here. | | | | | PECA CHEWED OUT— “Jersey City Council takes 1st step to cancel 20-year tax break for Amazon warehouse,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “The Jersey City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to cancel a 20-year tax break for the owner of the Amazon warehouse due to violations of their project employment and contracting agreement (PECA). The measure was approved unanimously (9-0) last night without any discussion from the council, which is standard procedure on first reading. While the property opened in December 2020, Jersey City Office of Tax Abatement and Compliance Coordinator of Monitoring and Evaluation John Rusciano said in a December 9th, 2022 letter that the facility was in default of the PECA agreement. The letter continues that the goal having of 51 percent of their work force made of up Jersey City residents has not been met (51 percent of which must be minorities), and therefore, the default notice will not be withdrawn.” R.I.P. — “Tony Carabelli, 12-Term Mercer County freeholder, dies at 88” —“Jersey City Council hears more frustration over killing of Andrew Washington” —“Ocean City reports $6 million in beach tag sales” —“Westwood superintendent Jill Mortimer announces plans to retire”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
GATOR AIDED — “Alligator captured in Piscataway after weekslong search,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “The alligator has been captured. The reptile, which has kept residents in neighboring Middlesex Borough in suspense over the past two weeks, was captured at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday in the roadway near 438 Second Ave. A citizen called police after spotting the alligator, and multiple patrol units responded to the scene, according to the township. Police officers were able to "subdue" the alligator and lasso a leash around its 3- to 4-foot body. Like all suspects nabbed on the streets of Piscataway, the wily reptile was put into a patrol car and taken to police headquarters where it was secured in a cell, police said … [DEP Lt. Sean] McManus said the alligator will eventually be adopted by an area zoo or animal sanctuary.”
—“Tiny bank called Republic First faces test of depositors’ faith” —“How do you stop gun violence? Unique N.J. program focuses on victims still in the hospital” —“My husband and I moved from New Jersey to rural West Virginia. Healthcare access is so bad we moved back to New Jersey”
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