| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Friday morning! The port strike is over — no doubt to the relief of Democrats. The International Longshoremen’s Association and the shipping companies reached a tentative deal early yesterday evening, freeing up the ports after just three days and forcing me to reconsider what I had planned to write at the top of this newsletter. I had read that even just a few days’ strike could eventually be noticed, but so far the only trouble I've seen has been some Costco panic buying. It was a perilous situation for Democrats, who showed support for well-paid union members led by Harold Daggett, who drives a luxury car, floats a luxury yacht and lives in a mansion — all while threatening the supply chain a month before the election. Ironically for Democrats, their pro-union policies in this case appear to be working against them politically. (ICYMI, Daggett was so upset over the New York Post showing pictures of his mansion that he had Michael Critchley write a letter). Read more from Ry Rivard and Nick Niedzwiadek. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Bill Matsikoudis, Robin Walton, Mike Mullen. Saturday for Kevin O’Toole, Peter McDonough. Sunday for Sean McLaughlin, Jamie Cryan, Kevin Drennan, Jillian Lynch, Megan Piwowar, Jonathan Savage, Joel Weingarten. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Donald Trump is the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime. His disdain for the sanctity of our Constitution, the sanctity of democracy, the sanctity of the rule of law and the sanctity of the peaceful transfer of power should disqualify him from the office of president ever again. He doesn’t understand the meaning of this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American.” — Local musician Bruce Springsteen WHERE’S MURPHY?: No public schedule | | | | A message from WorkingNJ: Sean Spiller’s mom was a teacher, his dad worked at the Port Authority. As the son of immigrants, Sean Spiller knows real change and strong communities are worth fighting for. An educator, union leader, and former Montclair Mayor, he’s fought for fair pay, affordable housing, and quality education. He has a plan to make New Jersey stronger by building an economy that works for every New Jerseyan. Sean Spiller for Governor. Learn more about Sean. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
JUSTICES SERVE — Phil Murphy just finished reshaping the Supreme Court for a generation, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: With the swearing in this week of John Hoffman to the state Supreme Court, Gov. Phil Murphy ended an extraordinary run of appointments that will leave his imprint on New Jersey’s highest court for decades. Murphy, a Democrat, has put five new justices on the seven-member court since taking office in 2018, a rare achievement for a governor. Republican Gov. Christie Whitman named six justices to the court — one of whom, Jaynee LaVecchia, retired three years ago, giving Murphy the chance to name one of his five picks. "It's been a historic opportunity, a responsibility that we take exceedingly seriously, because you've got some justices in some cases who will be serving in our highest court for literally decades,” Murphy said in an interview. “And that part of our work, barring something unforeseen, in fact, is done." … Murphy’s justices are professionally and demographically diverse. In 2020, for example, he nominated 39-year-old former prosecutor Fabiana Pierre-Louis, making her the first Black female justice and the youngest by 20 years. In 2023, he appointed 45-year-old Michael Noriega as the first public defender on the Supreme Court. “You have a lot of folks every single day who are standing before our judges and juries who have had nowhere else to turn and have had to turn to public defenders to help represent them,” Murphy said. “And having that perspective represented on our highest court, I think, is incredibly important.”
THE NEWARKER — “Ras Baraka, reasonable radical,” by The New Yorker’s Kelefa Sanneh: “No one familiar with Newark would have been surprised by Baraka’s emergence as an eloquent voice of political protest. But some might have been surprised to see how far his voice would take him. In 2014, after Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate, Baraka was elected mayor, promising — like not a few mayors before him — to usher in a new era for Newark. ‘We need a mayor that’s radical,’ he said, in his inauguration speech. As mayor, Baraka still talks like a rabble-rouser, at least some of the time. Earlier this year, at a Martin Luther King, Jr., Day event, he cast doubt on the idea that James Earl Ray was solely responsible for King’s assassination, saying, ‘It’s pretty strange that a petty crook could murder Martin Luther King and find his way all the way to England.’ (Ray was apprehended at Heathrow Airport, two months after the killing.) But his mayoralty has been flexible and data-driven, and by most metrics very successful. He has lured businesses and developers to the city while funding a wide range of local programs and generally keeping activists happy. Perhaps most impressive, Newark was one of the few cities in the country not to see a spike in homicides in 2020, amid protests over the death of George Floyd. Last year, there were just forty-seven murders — still many more per capita than New York, but the fewest in Newark in more than half a century. Baraka has recently expanded his horizons beyond his home town: earlier this year, he announced his candidacy in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election.” A PRINGLE IN TIME — New Jersey weed dispensaries could sell snacks under new proposal, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Cannabis is a well-known appetite stimulant. But New Jerseyans who shop at licensed cannabis dispensaries and want to be prepared for the inevitable onset of the munchies have to visit a convenience store or supermarket as well, because cannabis retailers are barred from selling food and drink. That could change under a proposal sponsored by New Jersey’s most powerful lawmaker. Legislation introduced Monday by Senate President Nick Scutari would allow licensed cannabis retailers to stock non-intoxicating food and drink. — “Bill would let people bar themselves from entering cannabis shops” TURF WAR — “Stop funding artificial turf, N.J. legislator tells the DEP,” by NJ Advance Media’s Richard Cowen: “One New Jersey legislator has called on the Department of Environmental Protection to stop using Green Acres money to install artificial turf, amid concerns about the potentially harmful effects of synthetic grass. A resolution introduced by Sen. Raj Mukherji, D-Jersey City, says the DEP funneled $10 million to municipalities for artificial turf projects in 2023, despite evidence that synthetic surfaces are much hotter than natural grass and contain polyfluoroalkyls, the so-called ‘forever chemicals' called PFAS that leach into the groundwater and have been linked to cancer.” THE VART OF POLITICS — “George Norcross’ codefendant accused prosecutors of misleading a grand jury in racketeering case,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Seidman: “Attorney William Tambussi’s defense team said in a court filing that prosecutors knowingly misled grand jurors about the lawyer’s work for Camden’s redevelopment agency in order to create the impression that he’d hijacked the public entity to further Norcross’ business interests. Norcross is accused of using threats and intimidation, as well as exerting control over government entities, to obtain valuable waterfront property in Camden. ‘The AG made it look like Tambussi was directing a public agency ... to take obviously incorrect legal positions to benefit George Norcross,’ attorney Lee Vartan and others wrote in a Sept. 26 court filing. ‘But the AG knew he was not. Tambussi’s law firm was researching a legal question at the direction of a client for the benefit of the client.’” — “Asm. Schaer: N.J. is ready for a geriatric parole law | Opinion” — “PATH fails riders again with new weekend service cut | Opinion” | | BIDEN TIME | |
FAREGREWELL — “SEC enforcement chief Gurbir Grewal plans mid-October exit,” by Bloomberg’s Nicola White: “Gurbir Grewal, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s top enforcement official, is leaving the agency after helping to lead a crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry and Wall Street’s use of off-channel communications. Since his arrival at the SEC in 2021, Grewal has been in charge of the agency’s 1,300 enforcement attorneys as they brought hundreds of cases against firms and finance professionals. He was a regular speaker at industry conferences, frequently warning lawyers and auditors about their responsibility to protect investors. ‘Every day, he has thought about how to best protect investors and help ensure market participants comply with our time-tested securities laws,’ SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement … Grewal is leaving the agency for an attorney position in private practice, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t yet been made public.”
33 PERCENTERS — “Stockton poll finds third of NJ voters still doubt 2020 election results,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “One-third of New Jersey voters remain skeptical about the fairness of President Joe Biden's election victory in 2020, according to a poll released Thursday by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. The top issues cited by voters in this year’s election are the economy or inflation (33%), followed by border security (13%), abortion rights (12%), foreign policy and preserving democracy (tied at 5%). About 24% of New Jersey voters disagreed strongly and 9% disagreed somewhat that the 2020 election for president was fair and secure. ‘The poll goes to show that years after Jan. 6 and the election turmoil of 2020, election distrust is pretty much baked in among a certain group of voters,’ said Alyssa Maurice, the center’s director of research. ‘Despite the lack of evidence of widespread fraud, this skepticism is not budging.’” — “Iris Delgado named N.J. state director of Harris/Walz campaign” — “Sky-high bills or offshore whirls? A South Jersey power struggle: Joe Salerno” — “About 1.2 million New Jersey residents at risk from flooding: federal report” | | | | A message from WorkingNJ:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
MIS-LEAD-ING — “Company hired to replace dangerous lead pipes in Newark faked $10.2M in work, feds say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeff Goldman: “A company hired to replace 18,000 dangerous lead water pipes in Newark but billed the city for $10.2 million while using misleading photographs, federal authorities announced Thursday. The CEO of JAS Group Enterprise and a company foreperson have been each been charged criminally with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. CEO Michael Sawyer, 57, of Burlington, and his employee Latronia Sanders, 55, of Roselle, are due in court Thursday. JAS received a contract worth $10,209,870 to complete work at up to 1,500 sites, according to charging documents. Hired by the city in 2019 for the Newark Lead Service Line Replacement, JAS instead didn’t bother to do the job, federal authorities said. Instead of removing the lead pipes and installing copper ones, JAS allegedly submitted photos that represented the work was done or unnecessary, authorities said. In spots where copper pipes were already installed, the company said it had installed them after taking out lead ones, authorities said.”
TRUTH INCENTIVES — “Many Camden employers failed to file city reports required by law,” by TAPIntoCamden’s Neill Borowski: “The Carstarphen Administration is discussing enforcement action against the dozens of employers operating in the city who failed to file a first-half 2024 employment report, as required by city law. Employers who did not file can be fined, according to the law. The deadline for the latest semi-annual report was August 1. Only 20 employers submitted their reports, according to documents on file with the City Clerk's office. ‘Absolutely not a surprise for me,’ Antoinette Miles, state director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, said of the companies that did not comply with the law … Conner Strong & Buckelew, the insurance firm where political boss George E. Norcross III is on leave as executive chairman as he battles a state Attorney General indictment, added 66 total employees in the year, an increase of 16% that took the total employed in the city to 471. However, the firm added substantially to the number of Camden residents employed: it had employed only four residents in June 2023, but now employs 26. About 6% of its workforce now lives in Camden.” I DON’T WANT THE SITE TO GROW UP, I’M A TOYS R US NIMBY — “Wayne on brink of housing settlement with owner of former Toys R Us headquarters,” by The Record’s Philip DeVencentis: “The largest developable property in the township, and perhaps in all of North Jersey, will likely be rezoned this month under an ordinance establishing new standards for heights of buildings, housing density and permitted uses. Negotiations lasted five years with the owner of the former headquarters of Toys R Us, but those redevelopment talks have finally ended as officials now face a court order to get the deal done. The Township Council, in a vote of 6-2, passed the 30-page ordinance on its first reading this week. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16 … One of the key objectives, from the perspective of the township, was achieved. No structure will be within 100 feet of the Lions Head Lake and Pines Lake neighborhoods, which flank the west side of the 192.3-acre property. In fact, much of the woods will remain open space.” YOU BETTER CALL TYRONE — “City will pay $225K to 3 women who said supervisor repeatedly asked for sex,” by Kevin Shea for NJ.com: “The City of Trenton is settling lawsuits filed by three women who alleged a supervisor in the public works department sexually harassed them each on multiple occasions. Pamela Bush-Allen will receive $100,000, Patricia Peters $75,000 and Shanda Williams, $50,000, according to court filings in their cases … The three women gave similar accounts of being repeatedly propositioned for sex from Tyrone Gee, while he was a supervisor in the solid waste division. Gee also made sexual, suggestive or highly personal comments to each, sometimes while flashing large wads of cash, insinuating he’d pay them for sex, according to the suits each filed .. Gee’s status with the city is unknown.” — “At tourism conference, a call for a cleaner and safer Atlantic City” — “Atlantic City High School principal pleads not guilty to official misconduct charges” — “'Blond stupid squad': Saddle River woman cop sues department, borough for discrimination” — “Following turbulent years, changes, Hackensack PD partners with feds to assess its future” — Snowflack: “School board collision comes to Marlboro” — “DEP urged to block proposed Newark power plant” — “Op-Ed: McGreevey wants to build 1k affordable units in Jersey City, not the Pompidou” — “Elizabeth BOE finalizes football coach's removal, but court battle may lie ahead” | | | | A message from WorkingNJ: Sean Spiller’s mom was a teacher, his dad worked at the Port Authority. As the son of immigrants, Sean Spiller knows real change and strong communities are worth fighting for.
An educator, union leader, and former Montclair Mayor, he’s fought for fair pay, affordable housing, and quality education. He has a plan to make New Jersey stronger by building an economy that works for every New Jerseyan.
Sean Spiller for Governor.
Learn more about Sean. | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
RUDOLPH THE RED-EYED REINDEER — ”N.J. woman had 25 lbs. of pot wrapped as Christmas gifts on Spirit flight, feds say,” by NJ Advance Media's Jeff Goldman: “A 23-year-old New Jersey woman tried to smuggle nearly 25 pounds of marijuana in Christmas wrapping paper on a Spirit Airlines flight last week to the U.S. Virgin Islands, federal officials said. A K-9 signaled to Customs and Border Protection agents that a checked bag contained drugs when the flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida landed in St. Croix on Sept. 27, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Virgin Islands said Tuesday.”
— “[Princeton] University won’t ditch ‘grandiose’ statue of slave-owning president. But it might move it” — “NJ hospitals stop widespread drug testing of mothers and newborns” — “Ex-caseworker for N.J. Child Protection division indicted on sex assault charges” | | | | 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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