| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | I feel like we’ve been existing in a state of political weightlessness. But apparently gravity still exists in Camden, even if it's slow to take effect. Camden School Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad, who a jury found liable for “extreme and outrageous conduct” after a former student accused him of sexual assault, resigned on Friday. “I think it bears repeating that after my long journey through the legal system I was found innocent of the egregious allegations made against me and exonerated by a jury of my peers,” Muhammad, a Nation of Islam minister who practices polgyamy, wrote in his resignation. “Nevertheless, even with that exoneration in a court of law, I believe I have become a distraction through the blatant misinformation that has been spread by a small group of critics. I believe that my presence is shifting the spotlight away from the incredibly important objectives of educating our students and improving the outcomes for the children in the school district.” Muhammad was referring to the fact that a jury rejected claims that Muhammad sexually assaulted the plaintiff, but still held him and the district liable for the above. And yet he remained atop the advisory board for six months. There was a community outcry. And I did hear hints of a pressure campaign to get him to resign from within the Camden County Democratic machine. But amazingly, they kept it private. While the district’s state-appointed superintendent and state education commissioner called for his resignation, I didn’t notice many local elected officials or state lawmaker who represent Camden say anything publicly. Let me know if I missed anybody. Considering the $2 million settlement over the allegations, the public silence is worth noting. Read more about it here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY —Primo Cruz, Anthony Del Pellegrino, Luke Hornblower QUOTE OF THE DAY:’ “It’s a new era of politics in New Jersey, and our plaintiffs are prepared to continue litigating if necessary.” — Yael Bromberg, an attorney for the anti-county line plaintiffs WHERE’S MURPHY? In Hoboken, to speak at a NJFAST event at Stevens at 10 a.m. | | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is developing the most economically, environmentally, and socially responsible renewable energy solutions for New Jersey. While a misinformation campaign is trying to muddy the waters, the reality is simple. The team is led by purpose-driven professionals with deep roots in environmental science who follow the data and place the environment first. Offshore wind is being developed responsibly, in a way that protects marine life and their habitats. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
WHEN IT COMES TO WNYC, I CAN ONLY ASK ‘WHYY!?’ — “As WNYC Celebrates 100 Years, New York Public Radio Eliminates Dozens of Journalists and Staff,” by Hell Gate’s Max Rivlin-Nadler: “According to sources, as part of that workforce reduction, its newsroom is parting ways with several reporters and editors, including the criminal justice reporter Matt Katz, who took a buyout, and investigative data reporter Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky. It is also severely curtailing the role of New Jersey-based reporter Nancy Solomon, who put in for a buyout but will continue to work part-time for the station.”
WINDMILLS’ FAULT — “N.J. electric bills skyrocketed during the summer heat waves. Here’s what’s being done about it,” by NJ Advance Media’s Eric Conklin: “After a summer of record heat where New Jersey residents saw a spike in their electric bills, there has been bipartisan calls for hearings on why costs were so high and what can be done in the future. New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy previously forecasted ‘moderate' increases in consumer’s electric bills following this year’s Base Generation Services auctions, which provides utility companies with electricity produced outside of New Jersey that is then distributed to customers … These new rates went into effect June 1, board of public utilities officials said. Consumer’s monthly bills were expected to increase an average of 3.6% for Rockland Electric customers, 4.6% for Atlantic City Electric customers, 6.2% for PSE&G customers and 8.6% for Jersey Central Power & Light customers … Between June and July, two of the summer’s hottest months, the Atlantic City Electric’s residential customers used 20% more electricity compared to 2023, Atlantic City Electric said in a statement.” HAZARDOUS CONDITIONAL VETO — “Conditional veto of Hurricane Ida-relief bill vexes residents still struggling to recover,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “Gov. Phil Murphy this week vetoed a bill that would have set foreclosure protections for residents whose homes were ravaged by Hurricane Ida, saying he would sign it only if legislators amend the bill to tighten oversight. The bill would have put Ida-impacted homeowners’ mortgage payments on hold for a year and insulated them from foreclosure during that time — goals Murphy said he supports. But it does not require residents to verify their eligibility nor allow mortgage companies to seek documentation, he noted in a conditional veto statement Thursday … The veto infuriated storm survivors, who say relief remains elusive and their homes are still uninhabitable or not fully fixed three years after the September 2021 storm that killed 30 people in New Jersey and caused billions in damages. ‘I understand wanting to make sure that this goes to people who need it most. Well, that’s exactly what they’re not doing with this CV, because now the people who need it most are not going to get it,’ said Leanna Jones, an Ida survivor from Milford and an organizer with the New Jersey Organizing Project.” — “Sex offenders’ neighbors may get more Megan’s Law notifications, thanks to new ruling” — Opinion: “New Jersey's affordable housing policy needs a complete revamping” | | BIDEN TIME | |
TRUMP — FBI now investigating Florida incident as ‘an attempted assassination’ on Trump, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw and Natalie Allison: Federal authorities are investigating an incident at Donald Trump’s Florida golf club on Sunday as an “attempted assassination,” a potential second attempt on the former president’s life in roughly two months. Shots were fired near Trump, who was unharmed, while he was golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. The Associated Press reported that Secret Service agents spotted an individual with a firearm near Trump’s golf club and opened fire. An AK-style firearm was discovered near the golf course, the AP reported, and the suspect fled the scene before being taken into custody later. It was not immediately clear if the suspect took any shots.
WE WILL WE WILL ROUKEMA YOU — “New Jersey is on track for its most diverse congressional delegation ever,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Twenty years ago, New Jersey’s congressional delegation was the domain of white men. Of the 15 people representing the state in Congress, every single one was a man, which had been true since Rep. Marge Roukema (R-Ridgewood) left the delegation in 2003. All but two of those men were white; the two exceptions, Reps. Bob Menendez (D-Union City) and Donald Payne Sr. (D-Newark), were the only two racial minorities to have ever represented the state in Congress. Since then, the state has made substantial strides in congressional diversity, adding multiple women to its (now 14-member) delegation and electing a Black man and a Hispanic man to the U.S. Senate. But this cycle stands to be a watershed moment, with new prospective members who are set to make the congressional delegation taking office in January 2025 the most diverse in the state’s history.” — Snowflack: “Altman Zeroes in on Working Class Rahway” | | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
CRISIS POINT — “Millions in debt, CarePoint Health considers bankruptcy, merger and layoffs,” by The Jersey Journal’s Teri West: “Hudson County’s largest hospital system, which has been hemorrhaging cash for the past two years, is considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy or a merger to keep its three hospitals from closing, officials and sources told The Jersey Journal. At the same time, CarePoint Health informed its employees that layoffs are a distinct possibility. A decision on restructuring will be made by the end of the month but has not been finalized yet, said Justin Drew, CarePoint’s chief of staff and its vice president for marketing, strategy and patient experience. The nonprofit’s millions in debt accrued over the past two years apparently reached a tipping point this week as officials from CarePoint, the state Department of Health, local governments and unions met in one form or another to discuss the coming decision.”
— “McKnight: CarePoint must be transparent about their financial restructuring plans” R.I.P. — “Bernie Platt, former Cherry Hill mayor and funeral home magnate, has died at 90,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Beatrice Forman: “Bernie Platt, 90, originally of West Chester, two-time mayor of Cherry Hill and funeral director of Platt Memorial Chapels — one of the largest funeral homes in South Jersey — died Thursday, Sept. 12, of natural causes at his Cherry Hill home. Though he initially held aspirations of being a veterinarian, Mr. Platt fell into South Jersey politics by way of the funeral home he co-owned on the corner of Haddonfield-Berlin, Evesham, and Somerdale Roads with his wife, Judy, since 1977 … Mr. Platt was responsible for boosting the profile of Cherry Hill into a regionally renowned hub for shopping and sustainability. The vestiges of his time in office are still visible along Haddonfield Road, where he oversaw the $1 billion redevelopments of the Cherry Hill Mall and Garden State Park, which was transformed from an abandoned racetrack into a sprawling complex with luxury rentals, restaurants, and corporate headquarters.” HOPE THE BUYER ISN’T FROM KINNELON — ”Beloved forest at N.J. university should be sold in $65M ‘final offer,’ town says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “There is a deal worth $65.1 million on the table for the purchase of land that gave Drew University its nickname of ‘the University in the Forest,’ Madison officials said. But, Drew officials said the borough’s alleged offer doesn’t tell the whole story. Borough leaders are imploring the private university to accept the deal quickly — or face the potential expiration of public funding that can help pay for the sale. The plan would include selling the 53-acre Drew Forest and nearby parcels. Two sections could be developed into housing and the rest would be preserved under the plan. But school officials are questioning the accuracy of Madison officials’ version of the deal they say is on the table in the long-running and contentious efforts to sell the beloved Morris County forest.” IT’S GONNA BE SUPER FUN — “Polluted Jersey Shore bay could get $151M to finish cleanup,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “Work to clean up a North Jersey Superfund Site — so-called for being toxic and requiring considerable remediation resources — began in 2018 but has yet to ramp up. A newly proposed plan could change that. Federal officials from the Environmental Protection Agency have submitted a ‘consent decree,’ a legally binding agreement, for the ‘Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site’ — one of 114 such sites in New Jersey. The proposal still needs to be advanced by a court after a public comment period that ends in November. If approved, it would require various parties — namely those responsible for polluting spans of the bayshore in and near Old Bridge and Sayreville — to pay $151.1 million to complete the cleanup work.” OCEAN CITY RESIDENTS WONDER ABOUT THE LAND — “Gillian's Wonderland Pier discussion takes over 2nd Ward meeting in Ocean City,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s John Russo: “Concerns over parking, trailers taking up space in the streets and Dumpsters were no match for the might of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and the hold it has had on a community for generations. More than a hundred people showed up at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Eighth Street and West Avenue for a 2nd Ward town hall meeting Saturday morning … After the closing announcement, [developer Eustace] Mita said he had not decided what will happen at the site, promising more information in the coming months. [Mayor Jay] Gillian said Saturday that Mita will take about six months to assess all possible options for what he plans to do with the property before the next steps are taken.” — “‘I believe I’ll see her again,’ says mom 5 years after Dulce Alavez vanished from [Cumberland County] park” — “Bullying lawsuit settled for $200K at [Ocean County] school where another student died by suicide” — “Jersey City prepared to reopen and show off results of $6 million Reservoir 3 project” — “A proposal for 10 warehouses, a hotel, a big-box retailer and 200 homes sparks opposition in Gloucester County” — “When it comes to fight over low-flying helicopters, critics point to Kearny business as public enemy No. 1” — “Notorious [Passaic County] jail is set to be demolished” | | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is developing the most economically, environmentally, and socially responsible renewable energy solutions for New Jersey.
While a misinformation campaign is trying to muddy the waters, the reality is simple.
Atlantic Shores is led by a team of purpose-driven professionals with deep roots in environmental science who believe how the work is done is as important as the work itself. The team knows that progress toward New Jersey's energy future is made by following the data and placing the environment first.
The truth is that offshore wind is being developed responsibly, in a way that supports fishing and fisheries and protects marine life and their habitats. To ensure harmony with the environment, science drives every decision.
The current project is the first phase of a long-term commitment to New Jersey that will help set the standard for the offshore wind industry across the country. Learn more. | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
GARDEN STATE RACEWAY — “Garden State Parkway needs more police, drones to catch dangerous drivers, petition says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “Garden State Parkway drivers have had it with dangerous commutes. 'During each daily commute, I would see several vehicles doing various maneuvers such as speeding at 85+ mph while weaving in and out of lanes, riding the right hand shoulder to get ahead of traffic, lane sweeping, tailgating and then cutting people off to get in front of them,' said Jim Syms of Barnegat. Syms said he’s ‘mad as hell’ and decided to do something about it by creating a Change.org petition on Aug. 24 that has already received support from 800 other frustrated Parkway drivers.”
I HEARD ON SPADEA THAT FOR FEAR OF KINK SHAMING, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANS TO LAUNCH A DOMMARINE — “U.S. fleet welcomes newest USS New Jersey, the first gender-neutral submarine,” by The Record’s David M. Zimmer and Juan Carlos Castillo: “A Saturday ceremony in Sandy Hook Bay welcomed the new USS New Jersey into the U.S. fleet. The first submarine designed to fully integrate male and female sailors, the new ship was commissioned into the U.S. Navy's Submarine Force during a late morning ceremony on Naval Weapons Station Earle's trident-shaped pier off the coast of Middletown. The nearly 4,000 attendees included veterans, sailor's family members, and Navy and government officials. The submarine is very Jersey. It was given the nickname ‘Jersey Girl’ by Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin and its interior spaces were decorated with all things Jersey.” R.I.P. — “Dan Morgenstern, longtime Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies director, dead at 94”
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