| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | It’s not every day that you hear this kind of candor from a politician. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday took up the bill to implement the recommendations of the StayNJ task force. Just two people testified: Ellen Steinberg and Peter Humphreys of the Senior Citizens Council. They laid out many problems they see in the bill, none of which were disputed by senators. Among their concerns: The bill subsidizes affluent seniors, they said, by allowing it for incomes of up to $500,000 — people not eligible for the current programs, ANCHOR and Senior Freeze, which will be phased out. Dates in the bill for StayNJ do not align properly with those two other programs. And after Fiscal Year 2026, there’s no funding to support StayNJ. Other than a brief back-and-forth with committee chair Paul Sarlo — who said this is just a framework “merits” of the program and how to fund it should be debated as a budget matter — not a single senator asked the advocates a question. This program is, of course, being pushed by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. Then came the vote. State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon, a Republican, called the bill a “joke” and a “pile of garbage” that would “generate enough methane to heat New Jersey for the foreseeable future.” He noted that Republicans had predicted StayNJ would “completely explode under its complexity and cost” and said that was quickly happening. He said the program was misleading seniors, because it will never actually be enacted, “certainly not without massive other tax increases.” He called it a “total failure” and the hearing “the beginning of the tip of the iceberg of this program’s total destruction.” Then O’Scanlon, like every other senator on the committee, voted yes. “How can you vote yes after that whole tirade?” Sarlo shot back. “You’re not going to fool me into voting supposedly against property [tax relief] and give a disingenuous campaign opponent a campaign issue that I voted against property tax relief,’ O’Scanlon said. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Annette Chapparo, Upendra Chivukula, Matt O’Keefe, David Russo QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Diners are very intriguing to our friends in Germany.” — New Jersey Travel and Tourism International Marketing Manager Ann Pilcher on pitching state tourism in Europe WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
JUST AUTHFUL — “Inside the mainstreaming of hate: How toxic influencers are pushing N.J. politics to the far right,” by NJ Advance Media’s Spencer Kent: “They gathered at a former daycare center, tucked on a rural road in the Pine Barrens. American flags and Trump signs hung on off-white walls. … An unsettling buffet of conspiracy and grievance followed. … Then a polished man in a fashionable blue suit and black-rimmed glasses strolled to the front of the spacious room. The keynote speaker apologized for being tired that March evening in Shamong before launching into his fundamental issue. Migrants. Specifically, the ‘vermin’ and ‘slime’ coming into the United States. ‘They're bringing in more than crime,’ Dr. Stephen Soloway, a rheumatologist based in Vineland and a longtime friend of former President Donald Trump, told the audience. ‘They're bringing in more than rape. They're bringing in something invisible. They're bringing in diseases.’"
A dozen or so applauded Soloway as state Assemblyman Robert Auth, R-Bergen, and others looked on from the back. The event — billed as a ‘Hands Off My Ballot’ rally open to the public — was hosted by two influential organizations: the America First Republicans of New Jersey and the New Jersey Project. These grassroots groups are part of a loose confederation of far-right influencers that have somehow found an audience in New Jersey, long viewed as a left-leaning bastion of pragmatic politics. And they’ve done it largely using hate speech, bigotry and discord.” WWE SLAMDEMIC — “NJ just earmarked $7M in rescue plan funds for WWE SummerSlam. How much money is left?” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “Another $7 million will be used by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority for what its officials are billing as “marquee entertainment” at MetLife Stadium. A resolution approved by the agency on Thursday allocated $7.125 million to be used to assist MetLife with securing and hosting the WWE SummerSlam in East Rutherford next summer. According to the resolution, the money is part of the American Rescue Plan funding the state received from the federal government during the pandemic. That money can be used to ‘respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.’ The authority expects the event to ‘generate over $80 million in total economic impact for the region,’ according to the resolution.” HOOKED ON PHONEICS — “Officials weigh how to keep cellphones out of students’ hands,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “Within weeks of implementing new restrictions on cellphone use at two Jersey City schools, Superintendent Norma Fernandez noticed the atmosphere within the schools had shifted. Students weren’t just paying more attention in class — they started spending more time together and acting more like kids, according to Fernandez … The district is piloting two methods of keeping phones away from students during the school day. At President Barack Obama Community School, a pre-K-through-eighth-grade school, students put their phones away in lockable magnetic bags called Yondr pouches. And at Academy 1 Middle School, students exchange their phones for laptops, then swap them back at the end of the day. … Two bills introduced last month by Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr. (D-Burlington) would address some of her concerns.” — “Democrats push to lower voting age to 16 for school board races” —Garg: “The Murphy court” —“Did New Jersey just try to nudge a judge for a congestion pricing decision?” —“NJBIZ chats with IUOE Local 825 leader Lalevee” | | BIDEN TIME | |
KEAN’S NO HALLWAY INTERVIEW POLICY IS SO STRICT HE COULDN’T EVEN TELL REPORTERS ABOUT IT FOR 2 YEARS — “Tom Kean Jr.: On SALT, transportation – and his relationship with media,” by ROI-NJ’s Tom Bergeron: “U.S. Representative Tom Kean Jr., (R-7th District) under fire recently for his limited interactions with the media, discussed a variety of issues – including his efforts to benefit New Jersey and actions the nation is taking across the globe – in a recent 20-minute interview with ROI-NJ. No questions were off limits, including those that asked about a recent video that showed him ignoring questions from a reporter covering the N.J. Congressional delegation. ‘It’s extraordinarily important that I have a strong relationship with the press,’ Kean told ROI-NJ. ‘But I do have a long-standing policy that when we’re on government property and when I’m on my constituents’ time, I don’t do hallway interviews.’”
CROSSING THE DELAWARE — “NJ Democrats put laser focus on Pennsylvania battlegrounds. Will it work?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “The duo of New Jersey volunteers, hailing from the liberal bastion of Princeton, found a quiet, blue-collar neighborhood in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, to meet and possibly persuade voters to support Vice President Kamala Harris and the rest of the Keystone State's Democratic ticket. … Yedlin and Lemon are among scores of New Jersey volunteers flocking across the Delaware River to lend some get-out-the-vote muscle in Pennsylvania, which again is emerging as a must-win battleground, in pursuit of the magic number of 270 electoral college votes needed to claim victory on Nov. 5. Volunteers are packing minivans and buses or driving in their own vehicles — Yedlin and Lemon journeyed in his Ford Ranger pickup, fortified with a small tub of Lemon’s homemade chocolate chip cookies … Since Harris is all but certain to win New Jersey — a Republican hasn’t carried the Garden State since George H.W. Bush was elected in 1988 — New Jersey Democrats are channeling their preelection anxiety and desire to have some meaningful role in such a consequential election.” FORECASTERS CHANGE RATING OF NJ SENATE RACE FROM ‘SAFE DEMOCRAT’ TO ‘SAFER DEMOCRAT’ — “Bashaw debate freeze hardly helps in uphill battle,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “If you scan news sites Monday morning, you saw a few headlines similar to this one on Fox News. ‘GOP New Jersey Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw nearly passes out during debate.’ That really wasn’t how Bashaw wanted his first debate with Andy Kim to go. … The New Jersey Senate race already has been a bit under the radar. Democrats hold a more than 900,000 voter registration advantage and Republicans haven’t won a U.S. Senate seat in more than 50 years. Clearly, Bashaw needed a good showing. What he certainly didn’t need was what I saw on one of the New York TV stations last night. The only reference to the debate was Bashaw’s apparent medical issue.” —“N.J. U.S. Senate race: Key takeaways from the first debate between candidates Andy Kim and Curtis Bashaw’” —“Pro-Palestinian NJ marchers demand Israel end war one year after fight with Hamas began” —“Gottheimer commemorates October 7 attacks in new bipartisan resolution” —“NJ’s Palestinians mourn — and protest — deaths in Gaza” —“A year later, Israeli hostage’s father reflects on family’s pain” | | LOCAL | |
IT’S GOOD TO WRITE UP FRIDAY NEWS DUMPS ON MONDAY MORNINGS — “Chief in charge during fatal port Newark ship fire retires,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Matt Kadosh: “The fire chief at the helm during the Port Newark blaze that killed two firefighters in July 2023 has retired – the latest in a series of senior fire department personnel to leave. Rufus L. Jackson, who was subsequently promoted to assistant public safety director, leaves the Newark Public Safety Department after nearly 30 years of service, officials said in a news release on Friday. At his retirement ceremony last week, Jackson said his 29 ½ years serving the city have been among the most rewarding of his life. But there have also been painful moments. … Jackson’s retirement after a nearly three-decade career follows a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city by the families of Acabou and Brooks, a federal investigation into the Port Newark fire and sometimes contentious conversations with the Newark Firefighters Union about department staffing, training and equipment.”
II AC — “Atlantic City to consider ending Class II policing, using funds for full-time officers,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz will introduce a resolution Oct. 23 to end the Class II police officer program and use its funding to staff a smaller number of full-time officers. ‘We have to move quickly and aggressively to get ready for (next) summer,’ Shabazz said during Friday's Clean and Safe Atlantic City meeting. Police Chief James Sarkos said the city is funded to hire 70 Class II officers, which are part-time officers who must go through a similar training process as full-time ones and carry weapons but earn much less and do not qualify for full benefits. It has only been able to find five to fill recent openings — all retired officers who came back as Class IIs, he said. ‘We are having a hard time getting class IIs,’ Sarkos said. ‘There is a lack of interest around the country.’” TINTON FALLS — “Tinton Falls council president's surprising voice; this is what she's doing about it,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “If you've attended a Borough Council meeting, you've likely heard Council President Risa Clay's crackling voice. But she's not hoarse, or dealing with a bout of laryngitis. What she has is more permanent. Clay has spasmodic dysphonia disorder, which effects the ability of the vocal cords to produce sound. … As a local leader, Clay certainly must use her voice a lot. On Oct. 19, she will host a fundraiser walk so that others like her may be able to regain their speaking voices one day.” —“N.J. teacher forced boy to eat lunch outside in winter as punishment, lawsuit says” —“Golfer outrage as tee times snatched up at coveted [Monmouth County] course: ‘It’s ridiculous” —“A year after police killing, Jersey City to start crisis response effort” —“Clifton finally OKs plan to bond for road repairs, new fire equipment” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
AMERICAN WATER LEAK — “American Water, the largest water utility in US, is targeted by a cyberattack,” by The AP’s Bruce Shipkowski: “The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States announced Monday that it was the victim of a cyberattack, prompting the firm to pause billing to customers. New Jersey-based American Water — which provides services to more than 14 million people in 14 states and on 18 military installations — said it became aware of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and immediately took protective steps, including shutting down certain systems. The company does not believe its facilities or operations were impacted by the attack and said staffers were working ‘around the clock’ to investigate the nature and scope of the attack.”
BARF HILLS — “'The Hunt' in Far Hills restores tarnished image: 'This is the way it used to be',” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “For more than a century, the Far Hills Race Meeting has been dedicated to supporting recovery by raising more than $20 million to support health care charities in Central Jersey. Now one of those groups is helping the Far Hills Race Meeting in its recovery. In the previous decade, before the pandemic, the reputation of the event – simply known as ‘The Hunt’ in the Somerset Hills – was tarnished by online publicity spotlighting unbridled drinking during the races and the number of arrests by local police departments for drunk and disorderly behavior. The organizers launched a successful crackdown on the bad behavior, instituted strict rules and increased security to cut down on underage drinking. And though attendance has dropped from 50,000 to 30,000, the problems of the past have faded for the country's most prominent steeplechase with the biggest purses. … To help mark The Hunt's recovery from a damaged reputation and its commitment to responsible behavior, Community in Crisis, a social service agency headquartered in Bernardsville dedicated to preventing substance abuse and promote recovery, has a unique presence at the Oct. 19 races at Moorland Farms – ‘dry tent’ where alcohol is prohibited.” R.I.P. — “Singer Cissy Houston, Grammy winner and mother of Whitney Houston, dies at 91,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amy Kuperinsky: “Singer Cissy Houston, a gospel music legend and foundation of a family of global stars, has died. Houston, 91, who had Alzheimer’s disease, died Monday while in hospice care at home, Pat Houston, her daughter-in-law, told The Associated Press. “‘t saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today!’ she said in a post on Instagram … Houston, born Emily Drinkard, was raised in a Newark family of singers. … The Drinkards’ home base was Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston, a powerhouse singer, would later become choirmaster and minister of music.”
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