| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind | Good Monday morning! Lawmakers, Cabinet members, judges, future governors and staff could be in for a pay raise, according to New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein. Discussions of the measures are in their “early stages,” he wrote Friday. I think this is a legitimate issue: $49,000 is a small salary considering how much work goes into being a state legislator. And you could certainly argue that it keeps people of limited means who might make great representatives from running, as opposed to the people there who are already wealthy lawyers or are so politically connected that they get much higher publicly funded salaries anyway, whether directly or indirectly. But I have to take issue with the way a state legislator, granted anonymity, took umbrage at the media for “griping” about pay raises. “These guys, who complain that their newspapers don’t pay reporters enough, are they’re first ones to gripe about government people getting raises,” the legislator said. “... Sometimes I want to tell them to shut the fuck up.” That’s a straw man. I went through the newspaper clips the last time the Legislature did this for their own salaries and the governor, in 2000, and the coverage was fair. The stories I saw pretty much all noted the legitimate arguments in favor of a raise and the fact that it had been a decade since the last raise. Even the Star-Ledger Editorial Board came out in favor of the raises in an editorial creatively named “Yes to pay raises.” For a more recent example, look at the New Jersey press corps’ coverage of the 2018 raises for judges and prosecutors. Previous attempted backroom deals that tried to pair some pay increases with a lot more controversial stuff, like allowing the governor to profit from a book and hurting newspapers, are another matter altogether. Maybe you could find some bad press. My search wasn’t exhaustive. But it looks to me the media isn’t the stoker of backlash, maybe save for curmudgeonly talk radio. It’s politicians themselves. One of the most caustic criticisms I saw in coverage of the 2000 vote was from then-Mercer County Executive Robert Prunetti, who was quoted at the very bottom of an AP article calling it “a slap in the face to property taxpayers in this state who should have a say regarding the salaries of their local officials." Or look across the river in New York, where in 2016 a proposal to raise salaries saw “many challengers saying legislators don’t deserve more money following a wave of corruption arrests.” Officials voting themselves pay raises presents an easy opportunity for candidates to hit opponents with outrage-bait advertising that lacks nuance. It’s just part of the win-at-any-cost style that’s so common in campaigns. And if you’re a legislator complaining about your $135,000 in legislative staff funding, did you speak up when a legislative leader played political games with supplemental staff money? To the extent I think the idea of pay raises deserves criticism, it’s the attempt to shove it through at the last minute. If the policy is genuinely needed, why not argue for it on its merits and give the public a decent chance to weigh in? TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Maria Del Cid, Christopher Gagliardi, Cullen McAuliffe, Dorian Stanley QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The idea of losing jobs is bullshit …The world is not gonna fall.” — State Sen. Richard Codey on the lame duck collapse of the casino smoking ban WHERE’S MURPHY? — At Princeton University at 11 a.m. for a “major announcement”
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Atlantic Shores is generating cleaner air, cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and a healthier, more sustainable future for all New Jerseyans. Led by a team with deep roots in environmental science, the company's first project will decrease polluting greenhouse gases by 4 million tons every year. Plus, Atlantic Shores is investing $50 million in community partnerships like New Jersey's Research and Monitoring Initiative to support the responsible management of marine and coastal resources. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
VAAD MEDICINE — Orthodox Jewish PAC that seeks public funding for religious schools helped NJ Dems in elections, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: During the month of October, a new PAC funded by Orthodox Jewish donors raised $220,000. The PAC, Teach NJ, which is associated with an advocacy group of the same name, then donated almost exclusively to Democrats. Campaign finance reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission show spending included targeted emails and robocalls to Orthodox Jewish communities in a few key state legislative districts that encouraged them to vote for Democrats, seemingly with a long-sought education goal in mind. … Teach NJ says it boosted Jewish turnout in Jewish districts. The PAC is part of increasing political mobilization by New Jersey’s growing Orthodox Jewish community, which has already established political dominance in Lakewood, the state’s fastest-growing town. Though community members are generally socially conservative and tend to align with Republicans on many issues, their political efforts have recently focused heavily on helping Democrats who dominate the state, gaining a foothold to advocate for school funding policies that are anathema to other major Democratic constituencies — most notably the state’s biggest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association.
ENERGY — New Jersey's clean energy bill dead for lame duck, sponsor says, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey’s nation-leading clean energy legislation is dead this year, but there is a plan to get it done early in 2024. A bill to put the state on the path to get 100 percent of its electricity from zero-carbon sources by 2035 — the most aggressive clean energy goal of any large state — stalled last month and won't get a vote this year. “It’s not ready," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), who chairs the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. But, he said, “it will be one of the first things we do in the next session." It's the second significant piece of legislation that had been expected to see movement in lame duck but won't. WHO NEEDS LUNGS WHEN YOU’VE GOT GILL-MORE — “Why N.J. has failed to ban indoor smoking in the last place it’s allowed,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson: “In recent weeks, the Casino Association of New Jersey, the industry’s lobby, ramped up discussions with some lawmakers about potential changes. Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, a co-sponsor who represents Atlantic City, said in a radio interview Thursday that while he has no direct knowledge, there are ‘some people who have interests with casinos that are unelected that, you know, perhaps had some ability to sway some legislators’ minds.’ … One legislative source said the slowdown is thanks to a ‘combination’ of many significant people’ saying now is not the time for a full ban. That includes George Norcross III … and his brother, Phil Norcross, an attorney whose firm lobbies on behalf of the Casino Association, according to multiple sources. … Sources say there has also been pushback on the Republican side from George Gilmore, the powerful Ocean County GOP leader who works for Phil Norcross’ firm. … George Norcross denied being involved in discussions on the bill, telling NJ Advance Media: ‘I’ve not spoken to a single person on this subject matter.’ Norcross also noted questions about his involvement are “ironic” because he just celebrated 25 years of having given up smoking.” MURPHY’S FUTURE BOOK TO BE TITLED ‘THE CONGESTION’ — MTA says NJ misled and mischaracterized congestion pricing plan, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration used “misleading attacks in the press and threats of litigation” rather than the proper channels to object to congestion pricing, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority told a federal court Friday. In its lengthiest legal response to a New Jersey lawsuit aimed at blocking new tolls, the MTA argued that New Jersey resorted to “revisionist history” in its lawsuit, which alleges in part that the state didn’t have enough chances to weigh in on the tolling plan … “What New Jersey mischaracterizes as a rushed-through rubber stamp actually comprised an exhaustive, four-year long review with extensive and repeated stakeholder outreach and public engagement, and painstaking responses to comments,” the MTA said in court papers. JUDICIARY —“An odd campaign is underway — and it’s from within the Judiciary,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “A peculiar political campaign of sorts is being waged among Superior Court Judges in Essex County for a position that will open up next year: presiding judge of the Civil Division. The incumbent, Thomas M. Moore, plans to retire in 2024, and two civil court judges, Mayra Tarantino and Grace Spencer, want the job, the New Jersey Globe has learned. The architect of the competition, several Essex judges who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed, is Robert Gardner, a judge since 2008 and a former executive director of the Essex County Republican Committee. Gardner is Tarantino’s de facto campaign manager.” —Stile: “Can Steve Sweeney make the big lift needed for 2025? NJ Dems will have to decide” —“Bill that alters school budget votes for some NJ districts advances”
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
—“Breaking down the county-by-county battle between Andy Kim And Tammy Murphy” —“Hochul aide [Katie Brenan] says NJ first lady Tammy Murphy unfit to be senator over alleged mishandling of 2018 rape claim” — Donald Trump gets “worse and worse by the day,” Chris Christie says —Editorial: “The truth about Tammy Murphy: Her core claim is bogus”
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is generating cleaner air, cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, and a healthier, more sustainable future for all New Jerseyans.
Led by a team of purpose-driven professionals with deep roots in environmental science, the company's first project will result in a reduction of 4 million tons of greenhouse gases every year, which is equivalent to pulling 770,000 cars off the road.
Plus, Atlantic Shores is investing $50 million in community development partnerships like New Jersey's Research and Monitoring Initiative to support the responsible management of marine and coastal resources.
The Atlantic Shores team is committed to helping New Jersey reach its clean energy goals and improving the environment for communities throughout the state. Learn more about the current project, which is just the first phase of a long-term commitment to making New Jersey a national leader in clean energy. | | | | | LOCAL | |
NOT SURE I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU AND JULIO DID DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD — “Liquor, sex products, jewelry and even Home Depot: Audit shows questionable spending by Jersey City union,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “More than $400,000 in dues paid to one of Jersey City’s largest public employee unions was spent on liquor, hotel stays, truck and car parts, male grooming, access to a sex health website and lucrative stipends to union officers, an audit has found. A 53-page report on the spending by Local 246 during 2021 and 2022 was requested by new union leaders after they found the accounts had been drained … The spending and payments — 95% of which appears illegitimate, according to the union’s attorney — are under investigation by the Jersey City Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit. The audit was performed by KRS CPAs of Paramus. … [Former Union President Julio] Cordero, who was president throughout 2021 and even in 2022 after he was fired from his city job, told The Jersey Journal is was the only person at the time with access to the two accounts. He says the accounts may have been hacked, because he’s surprised to hear about the lavish spending — which included purchases from GetMeGiddy.com (which sells sexual health products) and the male grooming company Manscaped.”
R.I.P. — “Tom Pollando, embattled former Democratic chair, dies,” by TapInto Raritan Bay: “Tom Pollando, the former Democratic chair in Sayreville indicted in March on corruption charges, died last evening, Thursday, Dec. 14. … The traditional bunting was affixed to the front of Borough Hall earlier today in honor of Pollando's service as a councilman and longtime community volunteer. … Over the course of an investigation in July and August of last year, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office conducted electronic surveillance of the XXXV Gentlemen’s Club (Club 35) in Sayreville. Detectives claim they observed Pollando accept several thousands of dollars in cash and heard him claiming that he would attempt to use his political clout to influence an ongoing criminal case.” SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION — “NJ awards up to $400 million tax break in waterfront development off Garden State Parkway,” by MyCentralJersey’s Susan Loyer: “The Riverton development in Sayreville, perhaps the largest redevelopment project on the East Coast, will be receiving no more than a $400 million tax break from the state. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) on Thursday awarded the tax credits for the $2.5 billion mixed-used development on the banks of the Raritan River by the Garden State Parkway.” DODGE GETS OUT OF MORRISTOWN — “A generous Rockefeller descendant moves from Morristown to Newark,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Strunsky: “The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is one of New Jersey’s oldest and best-known philanthropic organizations, founded in Morristown half a century ago with an $85 million bequest from the Rockefeller family heiress near her Morris County estate. Now, 49 years and $500 million in grants later, the Dodge Foundation is moving its headquarters to Newark, a place very different from its founding location but one that’s been the focus of some of its work to promote racial justice.” COUNTER PROPOSAL: FRANKLIN LAKES SHOULD BE RENAMED 'RICKI LAKES' —“Franklin Lakes elementary school board abolishes transgender policy,” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “The borough's grade school Board of Education voted 5-4 on Thursday to abolish its transgender policy. The district was joined that day by Westwood, which took similar action. On the other hand, the Roxbury Board of Education, which also took a similar vote on Monday, voted to stick with the state guidelines − at least for now, the board said. … [Trustee Scott] Loia, who said he does not ‘buy into this gender nonsense,’ emphasized his concern has to do with parents' rights.” —“New Jersey Turnpike expansion hits another snag as Princeton formally opposes it” —“Hackensack officers express no confidence in police director as city extends his contract” —“Tommy DeVito’s hometown is booming with N.J. pride — and special deals on chicken cutlets” —“Matt O’Donnell settles lawsuit with Holmdel” —“'Words can light fires that kill': Jewish leaders blast antisemitic rhetoric in Jackson” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
NURSE STRIKE — “RWJ New Brunswick nurses officially agree to new contract,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “Nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick have ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. ‘We are pleased with the outcome of today’s vote and look forward to welcoming our nurses back home,’ hospital president Alan Lee said in a statement late Friday afternoon … The contract, Lee continued, provides compensation ‘that reflects the value of the role of the RWJUH nurse on the care team.’ … The nurses had been on strike since Aug. 4, citing issues such as safe staffing levels related to patient-to-nurse ratios and removing any penalties for nurses who call out sick as the key issues to walking off the job. The deal raises wages, caps insurance costs and provides safe staffing ratios for the nurses, according to a press release from USW 4‐200.” WYATT DERP — “Driver who hit N.J. school bus was heavily armed and shooting vehicles, prosecutor says,” by LeHighValleyLive’s Kurt Bresswein: “The driver who crashed into a school bus Tuesday in Phillipsburg was fleeing from police after allegedly shooting three vehicles in Warren County, investigators revealed Friday. Suspect Brett M. Wyatt Jr., a 28-year-old Phillipsburg area resident, was armed with three guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, authorities alleged based on a search of his vehicle. The school bus was carrying nearly two dozen children, some of whom were treated for minor injuries, police said.” I WANNA DRIVE WITH SOMEBODY — “Garden State Parkway rest stop dedicated to singer Whitney Houston,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Shannon King: “The New Jersey Hall of Fame joined with the estate of singer Whitney Houston, elected officials and the public Thursday to unveil the newly renamed Vauxhall Service Area on the Garden State Parkway. At the brand-new service area near milepost 142 in Union, visitors got their first look at a large image of Houston, a short biography of her accomplishments and a display of her platinum record for the song ‘I Will Always Love You.’” —“Suspended Rutgers Palestinian group, its future uncertain, gains advocates”
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