| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by McDonald's | Good Tuesday morning! We all know journalists are overworked. One result of that is that we sometimes don’t follow up on announcements, lawsuits, etc. I think we’re all guilty of it. So Daniel Han, remembering Andy Kim’s 2021 relatively well-covered announcement that he would form a leadership PAC called “In Our Hands” to help Asian-Americans and other candidates of color enter the political arena, decided to follow up. Since Kim filed the paperwork to form the PAC in October 2020, it’s raised just under $112,000. Of that, it’s spent about $85,000, including about $35,700 on donations to other candidates and committees (including $10,000 to the Democratic State Committee) — the bulk of which were made just this past October. Most of the other expenses appear to be day-to-day. Daniel and I didn’t see anything in the reports that appeared related to candidate recruitment or training. That’s not nothing. But contrast it with Kim’s own campaigns. For his Senate campaign alone he reported raising $2.7 million since announcing in September. Raising money for causes and a seat in the House are not the same thing, and we talked to several people who praised Kim’s efforts on this. But the follow-through appears pretty meager for a PAC whose stated aims included establishing a network of regional advisers to find candidates and support them. Read more about it here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There is some disappointment here. How do we lose to Jersey?” — Former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith on the location of the 2026 World Cup final HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Bonnie Watson Coleman, Loretta Weinberg, Brian Hackett, Cedric Hunter, Erin Rice, Chris Slevin WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Newark at 11:15 a.m. to sign an executive order establishing a New Jersey-India Commission. (Since this is in Newark, I Googled and found that, yes, India is a real country.)
| | | | A message from McDonald's: From 2021 to 2022, the McDonald’s System contributed over $830 million to New Jersey’s economy, supporting over 17,000 jobs statewide. McDonald’s presence in local communities throughout New Jersey generated nearly $150 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, providing funding for public schools, infrastructure, parks and more. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in New Jersey and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/nj. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
THE SPORTS AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK NEW JERSEY — “Inside the World Cup 2026 final host city selection: Why New Jersey was picked over Dallas,” by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei and Adam Crafton: “New York City appeared to be the logical choice for a World Cup final from the start, with its massive public transportation system (though one needing improved links to MetLife stadium), a less controversial political climate than Texas and a rich media market in a desirable time zone. The opportunities for commercial activations around some of the most recognizable landmarks in the world had executives salivating. … Yet the region was forced into an underdog role as momentum appeared to grow behind Dallas. Stories emanating from FIFA meetings in London in January appeared to tip the balance in Texas’ favor. Craig Davis, the president and CEO of VisitDallas, the city’s visitors bureau, said on Sunday: ‘We’ve heard gossip from those involved in the bid that the British media first published the Dallas news because FIFA leaked it in an effort to get New York City to up their bid. Not saying that’s true. Just saying there were rumors.’”
BORED MEMBER — “More turnover on NJ Transit board as agency faces fiscal cliff,” by The Record’s Coleen Wilson: “Another NJ Transit board member has left the agency's watchdog panel, the fourth in about a year's time. Sangeeta Doshi, of Cherry Hill, was picked by former Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2020 to be a public representative on the board after a bill was signed into law to reform the agency and specifically its board. … Doshi's term ended Jan. 14, 2024. Senate President Nicholas Scutari has named Anthony Abrantes to replace her. Abrantes, originally from Newark and now a resident of East Hanover, is the assistant executive secretary-treasurer for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Doshi did not respond to requests for comment or publicly say why she did not seek a second term. … Over the last year or so, the original members of symbolic reform have disappeared as the agency hurtles toward financial crises amid questionable spending on a new, expensive headquarters. Some board members have expressed frustration, asking why they haven't been more involved in major decisions at the agency.” BULLYING — “Bullying incidents have quadrupled since 2018. Why can't schools do anything about it?” by The Asbury Park Pres’ Amanda Oglesby: “Across New Jersey, bullying is on the rise, according to a report released in December by the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force. Between 2018 and 2023, bias-based incidents in New Jersey schools quadrupled, according to the report. Under the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, schools are required to act when a student is harassed, intimidated or bullied … Such incidents require school investigations and documentation. If a student commits three HIB incidents, their principal is supposed to create an intervention plan to deter the behavior … But too often, bullying continues unabated. Dr. Stuart Green, founder of the New Jersey Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention, says the state's schools and school officials too often ignore bullying until a tragedy happens.”
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | | A message from McDonald's:   | | | GUNS — “Cops seized N.J. man’s guns during mental health crisis 5 years ago. He wants them back,” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “The man had been drinking heavily, his wife worried he was suicidal, and the emergency room nurse didn’t want to release him unless he temporarily surrendered his guns, according to court records. That was in 2018. He never got them back. More than five years later, a New Jersey appeals court held Monday that police lack the authority to indefinitely seize a person’s firearms and auction them off in such cases. The Wyckoff man, who was not identified because the case involves sealed health records, will get a March hearing to determine what happens to the guns. New Jersey has among the strictest gun control laws in the nation — and one of the lowest rates of gun deaths. But Monday’s decision is at least the second in less than a year in which New Jersey courts found police and prosecutors overstepped their authority in seizing someone’s weapons.” N.J. TO ALLOW CIGARETTE VENDORS INTO CANCER WARDS —“Judge in Borgata/MGM case rules casinos have no duty to stop compulsive gamblers from betting,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Atlantic City’s casinos have no legal obligation to stop compulsive gamblers from betting, a judge ruled, dismissing a lawsuit from a self-described problem gambler who accused the Borgata and its parent company, MGM Resorts International, of plying him with offers to gamble despite knowing about his addiction. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Cox Arleo dismissed a lawsuit on Jan. 31 by Sam Antar against the gambling companies, saying the voluminous rules and regulations governing gambling in New Jersey do not impose a legal duty upon casinos to cut off compulsive gamblers.” —“Why flying into the East Coast for the World Cup final makes more sense than North Texas” —“Voters may get to say no to new natural-gas power plants” —“Can NJ Transit do automatic fare increases without hearing from riders? Experts weigh in” —Opinion: “All I want is for the NJ Transit app to not suck” —“Telemarketers couldn’t conceal name or number on calls under bill advancing in Trenton”
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ANDRE AGONY — “Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh will not challenge Rep. Bill Pascrell for Congress,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Mayor Andre Sayegh has ended his months-long flirtation with challenging 87-year-old Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. for the 9th District congressional seat. Sayegh on Monday afternoon confirmed that he has not submitted candidacy letters seeking party-line endorsements from the Democratic committees in Bergen and Passaic counties. The deadlines for candidates for the Bergen Democratic convention and Passaic screening committee selection process have passed, according to political figures. Sayegh told Paterson Press he won’t be making a bid for Pascrell’s seat in the June Democratic primary. The mayor declined to discuss that decision. He said he was ‘more interested’ in Paterson’s upcoming City Council elections in May. … Some of his supporters conducted a poll in January looking at Sayegh’s chances if he took on the 27-year incumbent, who had once been among his political mentors. But no one has released the results of that polling.”
FETTERMAN’S GOALS VS. MENENDEZ’S GOLDS — “Sen. John Fetterman's NJ obsession has two goals — ousting Menendez, supporting Kim,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “During his 2022 campaign, Fetterman was a deep-blue progressive linked more closely with the Sanders wing of the party. The Sanders-blue populist of 2022 is more blue-collar these days, taking more moderate positions on issues like immigration. … The harsh criticism of Menendez and Fetterman's support of an Obama-era Democrat like Kim also add to the more independent rebranding. Attacking corruption is where Republicans, Democrats and independents can find common ground. In fact, some of the loudest calls for Menendez to resign have come from Democrats. At the same time, Fetterman also maintains his appeal with grassroots progressives who have rallied to Kim’s candidacy because they are angered that Murphy has been granted an unfair advantage through the help of her powerful husband, Gov. Phil Murphy.”
| | | | A message from McDonald's: McDonald’s is an economic engine for the state of New Jersey, contributing over $830 million to our state’s economy, directly employing nearly 13,800 New Jerseyans and supporting an additional 3,200 jobs statewide. It’s also an engine of opportunity: 1 in 8 independent McDonald’s operators in New Jersey began their careers as restaurant crew members, generating wealth for their families and local communities. We are proud to support New Jersey through public schools, parks and more from the nearly $150 million in federal, state and local tax revenue generated by the McDonald’s System’s activities. And thanks to the generosity of McDonald’s customers and owner/operators, the $660,000 raised through Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2022 provided over 6,600 overnight stays for families with children receiving medical care in New Jersey. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in New Jersey and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/nj. | | | BILL BRADLEY — “Bradley opens up about his experience with abortion,” by Roll Call’s Sandhya Raman: “Bill Bradley … has opened up about his personal experience with abortion, both in a new documentary about his life and while speaking to Political Theater Friday. … In his new film ‘Rolling Along,’; Bradley, who sought the presidential nomination in 2000, describes how, in the 1960s while playing for the New York Knicks, a woman he was dating became pregnant unintentionally. The woman, he said, opted to have an abortion – which was illegal and difficult to find at the time. ‘Unbeknownst to me as I was frantically trying to find somebody who could help, she flew from her home in LA to Kansas City, where she apparently found somebody who knew how to do the procedure,’ he said in the film. They largely fell out of touch, but it’s something that he thought about during his political career – though he never disclosed the experience until decades later. … Now in a different political climate, Bradley, who said he has always been in favor of abortion rights despite his roots as an evangelical Christian, has finally opened up.” —“Altman gets endorsement from Vartan, her former primary rival” —"Several of Tammy Murphy’s supposed Monmouth endorsers say they haven’t made any endorsement" —Snowflack: “The bottom line in Kim Versus Murphy for U.S. Senate” —“Where does Tammy Murphy stand on the controversial plan for a power plant in Newark? | Opinion” —“The Campos-Medina plan for the U.S. Senate: ‘Be an advocate’” | | LOCAL | |
COMPROMISE PROPOSAL: ALLOW OCEAN GROVE TO RESTRICT BEACH ACCESS ON SUNDAY MORNING, REQUIRE IT TO PERMIT NUDITY ALL OTHER TIMES — “Church vs. state on Ocean Grove beach: Date set when judge may cut town's religious power,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Michael L. Diamond and Charles Day: “Ocean Grove is in the middle of a showdown with New Jersey over its beach-access policy in a fight that has divided the town, the latest battle in a long history that has seen the Methodist group that owns the land clash with secular state government as it seeks to hang on to what it says is its mission: ‘build and maintain a beautiful seaside community to serve as a place for meditation, reflection and renewal.’ Supporters of the limited beach hours say the rule is part of Ocean Grove's quirks that have made the town an attractive place for visitors seeking sanctuary from the stress of modern life. Critics say it is off-putting to residents and visitors who aren't Methodist — and violates the state's beach access rules. While other moves made by the Camp Meeting Association last year simply irritated its critics, the … Department of Environmental Protection … ordered the Camp Meeting Association to open the beach. … A hearing date for the appeal has been scheduled for April 17, raising the prospects that the issue will be resolved before the beach access closure, and, presumably the protests, are set to begin again Memorial Day weekend.”
MCIVER TO MAKE NEW VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM OUT OF STAPLER, COFFEE MUG — “Newark bid to lower voting age won’t take effect this year,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds in Newark will not be able to vote in the upcoming April school board elections because election officials can’t have systems in place to accommodate the special voter registration in time. Newark officials were told last week that the Statewide Voter Registration System isn’t built to have partial voter registration. … City Council President LaMonica McIver, who championed the ordinance as empowering young Newark residents, said she was disappointed it won’t be ready for this year but wasn’t shocked. ‘This is new. We knew this was a possibility,’ McIver said. ‘I understand there is a process.’” HE’S JUST ONE CALL AWAY — “Post arrest, Craig Callaway will speak at Liberty and Prosperity event, organizer says,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “Atlantic City's Craig Callaway, the get-out-the-vote expert arrested Thursday and charged with fraud related to his handling of mail-in ballots in the 2022 general election, will still speak at Liberty & Prosperity's annual fundraiser, its founder said Friday. Attorney and former Republican Congressional candidate Seth Grossman said on Friday that he has spoken to Callaway since the arrest, and Callaway confirmed he will attend the Feb. 17 event. ‘The reason he was invited in the first place is with the presidential election coming up, a large number of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen (from President Donald Trump),’ Grossman said. ‘Our members should be aware how the mail-in ballot messenger system works, and why it should be abolished,’ Grossman said. ‘Callaway's method would explain that ... how they gather ballots and put them in at the end.’” —“Judge reopens record on Viana Bailey election challenge in wake of Callaway arrest” THE HUDSON COUNTY HANDSHAKE — “YouTuber files tort claim against Union City over ‘assault,’ signaling lawsuit coming,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “A YouTuber that has frequented Union City for the past couple months has filed a tort claim against the City of Union City over an ‘assault’ that he says caused embarrassment, fear, and anxiety. … [Leonard] Filipowski, who has produced YouTube videos focusing on the 1st Amendment and police misconduct mostly in New York and Connecticut since the end of 2020, and is better known by his stage name: LeRoy Truth Investigations. He has been a frequent critic of state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack since mid-December and tensions seemingly boiled over at the January 23rd board of commissioners meeting. The incident in question, which occurred shortly after the meeting ended, has thus far only been shown in a short Instagram reel that shows Mercado, the board of education secretary, grabbing at Filipowski’s phone, which was being used to film, before the video cuts.” —“Court to hear emergency appeal from North Wildwood on bulkheads” —“Passaic County Sheriff's Office layoffs not set in stone, union president says” —“Former Ocean County College president defends Egypt travel; calls school’s future ‘gloomy’” —“Alex Mendez's wife just launched a financial firm, as he's facing election fraud charges” —“Who killed Uggie? The most popular man in Newark was murdered in cold blood. Years later, the case is unsolved“ —“Driver who killed 2 at Wildwood car rally faces 25 years in prison under plea deal” —“Jersey City settles defamation suit by retired deputy police chief, wife for $57K, two other lawsuits for $212K” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
A SHI DEAL — “Rutgers extends football stadium naming rights deal with SHI: Here are details,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brian Fonseca: “Rutgers football’s home venue will not be changing its name any time soon. The school signed a four-year extension to its naming rights agreement with New Jersey-based IT solutions provider SHI International last month, multiple people with knowledge of the deal told NJ Advance Media. The new contract, which was signed on January 19 and obtained by NJ Advance Media via an open public records request, will run through June of 2029, with a two-year option on SHI’s side to extend it through June of 2031. The deal will pay Rutgers Athletics a total of $11.2 million over the next six years, starting at $1.55 million in the 2024 fiscal year, increasing by an average of $120,000 each year and culminating with a $2.15 payout in FY29, per the contract.”
— Class action against J&J could transform how health benefits are administered —“Dog that rode NJ Transit train solo from South Orange to Hoboken is now home” — “The battle over NJ hospital prices: Will more transparency lead to lower bills?”
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