| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Wednesday morning! If you wondered what kind of culture can allow a State Trooper with a giant Hitler Youth slogan tattooed on his neck to stay in the job for years, look no further. A pair of reports commissioned by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office — one by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and one by an outside law firm — paint a disturbing portrait of the State Police, one where internal affairs complaints are weaponized and where horrid remarks go unchallenged. There’s the case where a lieutenant allegedly received an anonymous complaint alleging racist remarks against a senior Black trooper by a friend and, rather than investigating the complaint itself, spent “extraordinary” resources to figure out who authored it, then took action against the author. And there’s the text group chat with several officers about one of their colleagues charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl on a school trip in which he allegedly said he wants to see a picture of the girl “to see what all the hubbub is about.” Nobody in the group chat allegedly reported the comment, and none of the other Troopers in the chat showed up to initial interviews about it. When they did it was with a union-issued lawyer, and they all told “verbatim” stories that attempted to paint the remark in the best possible light. The lieutenant at the center of both those instances, by the way, retired late last year with a nearly $9,000 monthly pension. Those are just two instances, perhaps the most egregious ones, brought up in these lengthy reports. But it just adds to the problems of a police force that has faced decades of controversy and is still recovering from a major racial profiling scandal of the early 2000s. Attorney General Matt Platkin made a lot of recommendations that Superintendent Patrick Callahan agreed to implement. Read more about it here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Paul Moriarty, Samantha Minchello, Al Komjathy, Gene Chebra QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Jersey politics has a certain reputation, but I believe we can change that.” — Andy Kim in a Sopranos-themed ad WHERE’S MURPHY? Out-of-state. ... Acting Gov. Tahesha Way has no public schedule.
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NO COUNTY FOR OLD MEN — ‘A crime thriller with no crime’: NJ power broker Norcross, co-defendants seek indictment dismissal, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross on Tuesday filed a request to dismiss the racketeering indictment brought against him and five co-defendants, arguing that no crimes were committed. The motion is the first substantive legal filing that responds to many of the allegations from the 111-page indictment announced by New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin in June. … Attorneys for Norcross and the other co-defendants argued that even if all the facts mentioned in the indictment are true — and Norcross’ team suggested they do not agree on all the facts — they do not amount to crimes but were just business as usual. Instead of extortion, the filing said, the defendants engaged in “ordinary economic bargaining among sophisticated businessmen.” Instead of official misconduct from government officials, the attorneys argued, there was “only routine politics.” The attorneys also argued that the alleged crimes were past their statute of limitations, necessitating a dismissal. The court filing likened the indictment to a “screenplay for a putative summer blockbuster” but missing “critical plot lines” with a “stale” storyline.
DUDE WHERE’S MY LAW? — “Lawsuit seeks to overturn hemp law regulating delta-8, THC seltzers in New Jersey,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Mike Davis: “Less than two weeks after stringent new regulations on intoxicating hemp products were signed into, a group of six hemp manufacturers, processors and retailers are asking a judge to nullify them. In a federal lawsuit filed against the state on Monday, the businesses argued the new hemp law ‘recriminalize’ the possession, manufacture and transportation of certain hemp products otherwise legal under federal law, causing the plaintiffs ‘immediate, irreparable financial harm.’ The plaintiffs, which include Sicklerville THC seltzer manufacturer LOKI Brands and Springfield retailer Legal Leaf, argue that the hemp law will force businesses to close or lay off employees ‘despite the protections Congress has afforded them.’” THE PINK BOOK — “New NJ legislation would track access to reproductive care in other states,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “New legislation introduced in the state Senate on Monday would create travel advisories regarding reproductive health access in other states, where opportunities are more limited than they are in New Jersey. State Sen. John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, introduced the bill Monday and said he hoped the legislation would provide information about restrictions on reproductive health care in other states. ‘Women are needlessly forced to suffer through traumatic near-death experiences, sometimes bleeding out in hospital parking lots, after being refused routine lifesaving medical care,’ Burzichelli said in a statement.” LD35 — “Paterson allies Wimberly and Sumter battle for LD-35 Senate seat,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Shavonda Sumter and Benjie Wimberly stalwartly presiding over a disparity study belies the disparity between the two of them, presumably, with a state Senate seat aloft and both assembly people eminently qualified and hungry for a promotion. They can’t both occupy the seat surrendered by Nellie Pou as the latter occupies the congressional seat left behind by the late Bill Pascrell. A special convention on the other side of the November 5th election will decide who gets the backing of the LD-35 portion of the Passaic County Democratic Committee led by Chairman John Currie, and the go ahead to fill Pou’s unexpired Senate term. ‘I’ve never been shy about looking for an opportunity to serve my constituents,’ Sumter told InsiderNJ earlier today. ... Said Budget Committee veteran Wimberly, ‘I’m running for the seat.’” —“Lawmakers hear testimony on skyrocketing rent in NJ” —“Better customer service promised in $1.9B contracts to run E-ZPass on N.J. toll roads”
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THERE’S JUST NOT ENOUGH ELEVATORS TO DUCK INTO — “NJ Rep. Tom Kean is running for re-election — and from questions,” by WNYC’s Nancy Solomon: “Trying to cover the re-election campaign of Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey is a bit like reading the children’s book ‘Where’s Waldo?’ Numerous postings on Facebook from the Kean campaign show events in the state's 7th Congressional District, but only after those appearances have been held. His campaign sends out press releases criticizing his Democratic challenger Sue Altman, but none mention any of Kean's upcoming public events. All queries to the campaign go unanswered, including one for this story. Multiple reporters from other outlets said this has also happened to them. … ‘Back about a month ago, I emailed both campaigns and said, ‘Let me know of the public appearances the candidates are making,’ reporter Fred Snowflack of political news site Insider NJ said. Snowflack has covered local politics in the district for more than 30 years. ‘Sue Altman's team got back to me right away,’ he noted. ‘And of course, I never heard anything from Tom Kean, which is par for the course.’”
A LITTLE MORE THAN A NJEA EXECUTIVE SALARY — “Unions, progressive groups launch $500K independent expenditure plan to oust Kean,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “A coalition of labor and grassroots progressive groups has raised over $500,000 to help Democrat Sue Altman unseat Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) in New Jersey’s 7th district, the New Jersey Globe has learned. The New Jersey Education Association, the Communications Workers of America, the Working Families Party, 32BJ SEIU, New Jersey Citizen Action, Make the Road New Jersey, and Blue Wave New Jersey are expected to use the funds to pay for digital ads, direct mail, paid canvassing, and even airplane banners in their bid to flip the 7th district seat.” —“Here's what racist attacks on Haitians in Ohio mean for voting immigrants in New Jersey” —“Progress made with Bergen County town's rat problem thanks in part to residents' efforts” —“NJ’s newest member to Congress brings historic firsts”
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PATERSON FAILS — “NJ will oversee Paterson's troubled building code agency after review found files missing,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “A state investigation has uncovered ‘many discrepancies and missing files’ at the city’s troubled building code enforcement agency, prompting officials in Trenton to take control of the supervision of the municipal office. The investigation was conducted by the New Jersey Office of Regulatory Affairs, said a letter from the state Department of Community Affairs dated Sept. 12. As a result of that probe, the state has assigned two administrators to go to Paterson to oversee the municipal Uniform Construction Code operation starting on Tuesday, the letter said. The two state officials will monitor the daily operations of the UCC office, including the way it issues permits, performs inspections and collects fees, said state spokesperson Lisa Ryan. … Mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration said it welcomes the state intervention. But the mayor’s critics argue that the state’s action is a sign of corruption in city government.”
—“Mayor's lawyer asks court to end state takeover of Paterson police department” FORT LEE — “Rare police killing of Asian American woman has rattled her community,” by The New York Times’ Erin Nolan and Shayla Colon: “The shooting seemed, in some ways, to resemble other police killings of people having mental health crises that have drawn scrutiny in New Jersey and across the country. But in other ways, it was unusual: Asian American women like Ms. Lee, who was Korean American, are rarely killed by officers. And police officers in Fort Lee seldom use lethal force. While the office of the borough clerk and the Fort Lee Police Department both declined to provide information on police killings, data collected by Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit group, shows that Ms. Lee was only the second person fatally shot by officers in Fort Lee since 2013. Grief-stricken after the shooting, which is being investigated by the state attorney general’s office, Ms. Lee’s father has said that he wants the officer who fired the fatal shot, Tony Pickens Jr., to be criminally prosecuted. And other Asian American residents of Fort Lee, where more than 42 percent of the population is Asian, say Ms. Lee’s killing has shattered their sense of security and damaged their trust in the local police.” MCGRIEVANCE — Jersey City mayoral candidate James Solomon, who just kicked off his campaign last week, is going straight at mayoral rival and former Gov. Jim McGreevey over having a fundraiser hosted by Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore — one of the most powerful Republicans in the state, who in 2021 had his federal tax-related criminal convictions pardoned by former President Trump. Solomon’s campaign in a new release compares Gilmore’s association to McGreevey to his association with state Sen. Michael Testa, former Senate President John Bennett, former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien and far-right radio host Bill Spadea. “Jim McGreevey is raising money from an unrepentant Trump-pardoned MAGA acolyte who is determined to beat Kamala Harris and elect a Republican Governor in 2025. Jim McGreevey’s willingness to take money from anyone — but especially from a MAGA party boss — says loudly and clearly that his priority is not changing Jersey City; it’s doing the same old corrupt politics people are sick of,” Solomon Campaign Manager Stuart Thomas said in a press release. I called McGreevey, a Democrat running in the non-partisan race who’s already faced Gilmore criticism and didn’t want to get into it, so he referred me to comments he made here about how he’s known Gilmore 20 years. “I am confident that Mr. Gilmore never voted for me,” McGreevey said. SCHOOL FUNDING — “N.J. elementary school closing after ‘debilitating’ state aid cuts,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nyah Marshall: “A public elementary school in Morris County is closing at the end of the school year due to a ‘debilitating’ loss of state funding, the district announced. Cozy Lake Elementary School, which teaches students in pre-K and kindergarten in Jefferson Township Public Schools, is closing because years of state aid cuts have left the district $3 million short for the 2025-2026 school year, officials said.” —“[Trenton] will pay $3M to man shot, paralyzed by police officer” —“Jury awards $525K to N.J. man who had teeth knocked out at [Monmouth] county jail” —“Non-profit bus agency that provides transit for private schools adds to loan debt again” —“Seniors at [East Orange] high-rise say building is infested with vermin. ‘We need help’” —“Teachers sue Bergen County school district over attempt to revoke their licenses” —“Jersey City Council again debates Pompidou ahead of final 30-year tax break vote” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THIS ONE’S FOR TIPPY — “‘Sopranos’ star pushing for N.J. law to ban sale of dogs in pet shops,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amy Kuperinsky: “Edie Falco has had it with puppy mills and the pet shops who do business with them. The ‘Sopranos’ star appears in a video for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals asking New Jerseyans to support a bill in the state Legislature that would ban the sale of dogs at pet shops. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Brian Stack and state Sen. Raj Mukherji, would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet shops.”
THE EQUIVALENT OF MORE THAN TWO ANONYMOUS $1 MILLION SUPER PAC DONATIONS — “With projected losses of $2.6 million per week by Hudson hospital chain, NJ tightens oversight grip,” by The Jersey Journal’s Teri West: “With CarePoint Health bleeding cash at a projected rate of $2.6 million per week, the state health department has told Hudson County’s largest hospital network it must provide a daily update on the number of patients ‘in the event of a closure or disruption of services.’ The mandate was issued in separate letters to the three CarePoint hospitals – Hoboken University Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City and Bayonne Medical Center — Sept. 20, as the nonprofit network considers options such as Chapter 11 bankruptcy or a merger with another hospital or healthcare chain. The letters are signed by Gene Rosenblum, the director of the state Department of Health’s (DOH) Office of Program Compliance.” IN MY DAY WE CALLED THEM CENTAURS — “Freehold Raceway's closing: What will local horsemen do now?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Stephen Edelson: “After 171 years, Freehold Raceway’s end came by way of a six-sentence statement last Thursday, which noted, ‘the operations of the racetrack cannot continue under existing conditions, and we do not see a plausible way forward.’ It wasn’t a shock to many within the industry, including Meadowlands operator Jeff Gural, who will have the state’s only harness track when Freehold closes on Dec. 28. ‘Truthfully, I’m surprised it took so long,’ Gural said. ‘We’re all losing money on racing and the only thing that keeps the Meadowlands afloat is the revenues from sports betting.’ Freehold will become the 47th U.S. track to close since 2000, and the third in New Jersey.” WITH SOME GOOD NEIGHBORS WEED FARM IS THERE — “3 N.J. neighbors ran 4,000-plant weed production operation in small town,” by NJ Advance Medai’s Jeff Goldman: “Three neighbors in Atlantic County ran ‘sophisticated’ marijuana production facilities out of their homes that contained more than 4,000 plants worth millions of dollars, authorities said. Police raided the properties in Buena, a borough of 4,500 residents near Vineland, on Sept. 16 following a three-month investigation and seized the plants, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.” —“Details of long-awaited Passaic River cleanup plan raise concerns”
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