| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by McDonald's | Call it a “transition,” as the Murphy campaign does, but the departure of campaign manager Max Glass will certainly be seen as the latest setback for the campaign that has quickly lost the air of inevitability all those early endorsements were intended to signal. “We are extremely grateful for the value and the passion that Max brought to our team and his efforts to stand up this campaign,” campaign spox Alex Altman said in a statement. “We have momentum and a clear path to winning the primary on June 4.” “Momentum” isn't a measurable thing, so there’s no real way to fact check that. But I’d wager that most people watching this race would disagree. The departure, first reported by the New York Times, comes as the first lady has lagged behind Andy Kim since starting her campaign in November and after Kim’s domination of the Monmouth County Democratic convention. The next conventions in Hunterdon and Burlington could be rough as well. Murphy has collected endorsement after endorsement from unions and politicians, but she hasn’t connected with the party base or attracted any real sense of enthusiasm around her candidacy. Nevertheless, two people with knowledge of the campaign’s decisions told me that this won’t represent a big shift in strategy. I don’t really doubt that, because I’m not sure what good strategic options Murphy has. She's deeply connected to New Jersey’s political power structure, and her campaign is relying on that. Reactions to political bossism and nepotism are a big part of why many progressives are going with Kim. Read more from Daniel Han here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I want you to put this in the story. It seems like you don’t want this diner to open, so you’re stirring things up.” — Yaakoub Hijazi, owner of the former Mr. G’s Restaurant in Paterson, when asked why the under-construction diner — heavily-touted by Mayor Andre Sayegh and invested in by the mayor’s former business administrator — has not been issued permits by the city. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Ian Shearn, Jeff Van Drew. Saturday for Johnston Grier, Jon Bramnick, Dale Florio, Laura Lindsey Jones, Trish Zita. WHERE’S MURPHY? — Washington. Acting Gov. Tahesha Way has no public schedule. | | | | 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 | |
VETERANS HOMES — “‘Proud veteran’ spent his last days in a Veterans Home basement while in state care, daughter says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio and Ted Sherman: “Recently widowed and in declining health, Carl Neiper Sr. moved in the summer of 2021 to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, where the retired airman took comfort in the comradery of fellow service members … ‘The veterans’ home was already under a microscope,’ recalled Redo, a nurse and her father’s power of attorney. “We said, ‘Ok, it should be cleaned up by now.’ We thought he was going to get the care he needed.” But six months later, Neiper, 84, was dead — a week after he contracted COVID-19. Redo is now suing the state for its failure to properly care for her father, leading to what her lawsuit described as a “painful and untimely death.” Yet despite a series of settlements the state reached earlier with 190 families who lost loved ones at the Veterans Homes during the pandemic, Redo’s attorneys say New Jersey has refused to even discuss a resolution of this case.”
THE ANTI-GARDEN STATE — “NJ legal weed activists: After three years, why can't we grow marijuana at home?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Mike Davis: “Dozens of cannabis consumers, entrepreneurs and medical marijuana patients gathered on the lawn of the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday morning, chanting for legislators to ‘free the weed, free the people’ and finally pass a law allowing people — especially patients — to grow cannabis at home … New Jersey is one of only four states with legal weed markets that don't allow consumers to grow cannabis at home. And of the 24 states to legalize it, New Jersey is one of only two that doesn't even allow an exception for registered medical marijuana patients … ‘Who knows what can come from it? Who knows the next strain someone might invent?’ said Rob Ryder, owner of the forthcoming Mad Hatter dispensary in Woodbridge. ‘As a company, you should always be afraid of the guy in the garage because he could produce something better — and that might be better for everybody overall. From our standpoint, we say bring it on.’” THE NEW YORK NEW JERSEY SPORTS AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY — “World Cup 2026 gets another $2.5 million in New Jersey taxpayer funding,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Katie Sobko: “Another $2.5 million has been dedicated to the host committee for the 2026 World Cup. During a Thursday morning meeting, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority agreed to advance an additional $2.5 million of taxpayer money to cover the cost of host city obligations for the tournament. The Authority’s board of trustees approved a revolving loan of $5 million for the committee in 2022 using funding provided in the state’s 2023 Fiscal Year budget. The agency was given $30 million at that time for ‘international events.’ This new action brings that total up to $7.5 million now that the committee is using to generate revenue to meet their obligations.” THE PARENTAL RIGHT — “After fiery hearing, bill advances to let NJ teens get counseling without parental consent,” by The Record’s Gene Myers: “The state Senate Health Committee convened a contentious hearing in Trenton Thursday to consider two bills that would lower the age at which New Jersey children can seek mental health treatment. Despite a fiery pushback from parental-rights activists, the committee advanced a measure on a party-line vote to lower the age of consent from 16 to 14 years old … Proponents argued the legislation would be a crucial step toward providing vulnerable teenagers help. They noted rising youth depression and suicide rates in New Jersey and around the country, what many experts have called a mental health crisis. Opponents said lowering the age of consent would undermine parental rights and lead to unintended consequences.” —“South Jersey legislators want 33% cut in gas tax, annual fees for electric cars” —“A brief electoral history of Jon Bramnick” —“Judge to decide if religious Jersey Shore town can close beach on Sunday mornings” —Ciattarelli: “NJ faces significant deficits. We have to spur investments and cut state spending” —Schnall: “Increasing bullying demonstrates why school choice matters in New Jersey” —“NJ law serves as model in workplace discrimination cases, study says” —“MTA must ‘come clean’ about how much NYC congestion toll would rake in ‘on backs’ of families: NJ Rep. Josh Gottheimer” | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
KEANING AND NOTHINGNESS — “The Kean strategy, contextualized,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “He doesn’t appear. But he takes supposedly principled positions. He’s pro-Ukraine. Tough on the border. But Trump doesn’t want the GOP to seal that deal … If Trump’s Tweets made Frelinghuysen’s hair stand on end, Kean’s Tweets read like snow drifts. They don’t connect to anything, and depend on the season, because the GOP’s 2024 government delivery system, hinged on Trump’s ravenous efforts to beat jail and pardon himself, inevitably goes nowhere … [W]hether he loses or wins in the Trump era, the congressman’s method of relying on structural intergenerational politics to justify having no functioning structure, and posting words attached to meaninglessness, simultaneously feeding the MAGA anti-media beast by ceasing to speak, and allowing Trump’s voice to dominate the CD-7 YouTube ad airwaves, while still trying to hook the occasional Somerset County Frelinghuysen era fossil, fearful of Trump, who detests bombast in a man, and certainly putting the principal out of the political upward mobility conversation – makes a uniquely cynical case for nothingness in these troubled and terrifying times.”
—Pizarro: “Whatever the direction, Van Drew can’t escape the specter of Navalny” —Moran: “Ukraine starts to crack, while Republicans recess” SHE’LL LIKELY HAVE A BETTER SHOWING THAN CHRISTIE — “'Disrupt the corrupt': Hackensack woman kicks off presidential campaign with $168,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “Monica Brinson is ready to take her message of uplifting the middle class and fighting political corruption to the highest office in the United States, with a long-shot campaign for the Republican nomination for president. She recently kicked off her campaign at a Newark Republicans’ event, launched her website and began fundraising. So far, Brinson, a substitute teacher from Hackensack, has just 22 of the 1,000 signatures needed to get on the New Jersey primary ballot in June and $168 in her campaign coffers. She knows her odds of success are long, but she said she feels the time is right for a little-known candidate to emerge from a grassroots effort and make change on a national scale. ‘I have known since I was 7 years old, I was going to be president. I felt it in my soul,’ said Brinson, 53.” | | | | A message from McDonald's:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
IN NJ, WINKS AND NODS HAVE SAME LEGAL STANDING AS PERMITS — “Diner that Paterson mayor touted appears to have no construction permits,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Mayor Andre Sayegh has been trumpeting the imminent reopening of a 10th Avenue diner, but renovations have been taking place at the restaurant seemingly without the requisite city construction permits … The property was sold last April, and among the investors is Sayegh’s former business administrator, Vaughn McKoy … City officials earlier this month said they have no records of construction permits issued for the diner’s address. On Tuesday afternoon, a construction worker stood on a plank that stretched across a scaffold, working on the diner’s roof area. Nowhere on the exterior of the building was the work permit that state law says must be posted in a prominent place at the construction site … Sayegh did not respond when a reporter asked Tuesday about the lack of permits and whether city inspectors had issued any summonses.”
TODAY’S SPEZIALE — “Speziale, former Passaic County sheriff, may run to fill seat again after Berdnik's death,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Jerry Speziale, with $478,000 in his campaign war chest, has signaled he may run in the Democratic Party primary for Passaic County sheriff. Speziale, who was sheriff from 2002 to 2010, would be vying for the office that became vacant when his successor, Richard Berdnik, died last month from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a restaurant bathroom. Speziale has been Paterson's public safety director since 2014. He filed papers earlier this month with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission establishing his campaign fund for the primary. —“Ciattarelli ally joins race to challenge Mortimer in Union County” —“[North Wildwood] denied appeal to make emergency repairs to save vanishing beach” —“Lack of diversity questioned in Newark Fire Department recruitment” —Video: “Controversy over police response in Union City: Did cops break the law?” —“Bergen County names new acting chief of detectives after previous chief's retirement” —“Sudhan Thomas, ex-Jersey City BOE pres. & JCETP acting ED, has sentencing pushed” —“N.J. county pays $1.5 million in ‘tragic death’ of 12-year-old boy” —“NJPAC tax deal for developer L+M ok’d amid concern over other Newark project” —“NJ denies charter school from entering Jersey City, blocks expansion of another for third time” | | | | Don’t sleep on it. Get breaking New York policy from POLITICO Pro—the platform that never sleeps—and use our Legislative Tracker to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
ACTUAL FAKE NEWS — “Interlaken construction company denies claim by 'X' post regarding Middle East work,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Mason: “A Deal police car sat outside a home in Monmouth County Thursday. Other than that, there was very little activity outside the house belonging to Mike and Andrea Kakiashvili, who run a local construction company … Their business, Blue Creek Construction, was accused this week – on social media platform ‘X’ – to being tied to a project in Gaza … ‘Blue Creek Construction just became aware of a post that was shared on social media using our business logo without our permission. We are not operating in the Middle East, we do not support genocide. We are a small family-owned company in New Jersey.’ … The post that prompted it came from the ‘X’ account of Younis Tirawi, who identifies as ‘Journalist | Palestinian Affairs.’ … Tirawi posted this on Monday: ‘Coming soon … The luxury neighborhood of Michael Mansions! luxury buildings on the seafront (formerly Gaza). Initiatives and construction M.K-N.J. BLUE CREEK CONSTRUCTION’ … an expert in the field determined it wasn't a real post.”
IAN SMITH’S RUNNING MATE AND SOULMATE — “Drunk driving ex-candidate wants story of her arrest removed,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “A former candidate for Burlington County commissioner demanded the story of her 2022 drunk driving arrest removed from the New Jersey Globe and threatened to take action if it wasn’t taken down. 'I know people,' she said. 'I don’t want this to end badly for you.' Seven weeks before the 2022 primary, Gallagher was charged with drunk driving after she blew a .21 blood alcohol content on a breathalyzer test – more than twice the legal limit … Gallagher pled guilty to a DWI on December 19 and was forced to use an interlock device for three months and twelve hours in an intoxicated driving program … She sought the GOP nomination for county office in 2022 on a ticket with Ian Smith, but lost the primary to Jeffrey Fortune by twelve percentage points.” —“[Jefferson Washington Township Hospital] hospital ordered to pay $3M to family of woman who died of flesh-eating bacteria” | | | | 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. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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