| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good morning! I had a long weekend, so naturally I spent an hour and a half of my Sunday night watching the first and only debate between GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and Democratic challenger Sue Altman. Here’s the part that got the most attention: After Kean talked around a question from The Rebovich Institute’s Micah Rasmussen about whether he would support Trump’s pledge of mass deportations for undocumented immigrants, Altman pressed Kean to answer the question “yes or no.” Kean stared ahead, silent, for about eight awkward seconds. It wasn’t as troubling as Curtis Bashaw’s freeze-up, but it was uncomfortable. You can see why Kean tends to avoid unpredictable town halls and impromptu answers to the press. Kean criticized Altman again and again for “extreme” positions taken by the Working Families Party while she headed up the New Jersey branch. Positions on Israel, the Green New Deal, universal Medicare — and of course a 2020 tweet she made with the hashtag #Defundthepolice, arguably the biggest liability of her campaign. You could often see the contrast between Altman the candidate and Altman the activist, like her answer opposing reparations for Black Americans, which she sought to clarify by talking about breaking the “cycle of poverty.” Altman’s counter was Kean’s support for Donald Trump, which he’s only quietly expressed while also refusing to condemn or criticize the former president’s racist rhetoric on immigration. Notably, Altman hit hardest on abortion, echoing Kamala Harris by saying women are “bleeding out in parking lots right now” and calling out Kean as inconsistent for saying he’s “pro-choice” but agreeing with the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. (“I think it's appropriate to send this decision down to the states,” Kean said. ) But the two actually agree on aliens. The extra-terrestrial kind. During a lightning round with questions from David Wildstein, Kean and Altman both gave a thumbs-up when asked if they believe there’s extraterrestrial life on other planets. But that’s a pretty mainstream position . Considering the size of the universe — hell, even the galaxy — and the estimated number of planets outside our solar system, it stands to reason that some form of life has evolved elsewhere. Wildstein should’ve asked them if they believe in the Jersey Devil. Then again, that might be a question better suited for the 2nd District debate. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com . HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Eric Arpert, Rush Holt, Durwood Pinkett, Mary Kay Roberts QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s like being in New Jersey — you pull up, these guys pump your gas for you.” — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, at a hurricane relief gas distribution site WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule Looking for more 2024 campaign coverage? We’ve just launched a blog at politico.com/2024 . We’ll be posting daily to bring you the latest developments, scoops and analysis for the last three weeks of the campaign. |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | |
ACTING! — ‘He’s taken on everybody in New Jersey’ — and angered the political class, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: When Gov. Phil Murphy was enmeshed in a blood feud in early 2020 with New Jersey’s top political boss, he nominated aggressive civil rights attorney Kevin Walsh as state comptroller. The political landscape in the state has drastically changed in the last 4 1/2 years. Murphy made up with the powerful Democrat George Norcross, but the 51-year-old Walsh hasn’t slowed down. He’s applied the same zeal from his attorney days to hunting down fraud, waste and abuse inside some 2,000 government entities — and angered some of the most powerful people in New Jersey while doing so. He’s accused local chief financial officers of allowing wasteful spending. He uncovered weak oversight of one deeply Democratic county’s Covid-19 vaccine program. Walsh even suggested the governor freeze funding in the home county of the state Senate president, one of the state’s most powerful elected officials. It has all made Walsh an enemy of the political establishment and kept the word 'acting' in front of his title. The state Senate has refused to confirm him so he can have more job security, in no small part because of an ally of Norcross. "He’s taken on everybody in New Jersey," said Adam Gordon, who succeeded Walsh as executive director of Fair Share Housing Center, which often takes municipalities to court to fulfill state-mandated affordable housing obligations. He just doesn’t care.”
GOOD THING THEY GOT RID OF THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION — “Documents show lavish spending on pay, benefits for officials at dockworkers union ,” by Jeff Pillets for New Jersey Monitor: “The three-day dockworker strike that threatened to stall the American economy was a dramatic victory for 45,000 East Coast longshoremen, who now stand to collect 60% pay hikes by 2030 … In 2023 alone, thirty top executives with the union classified under its headquarters in North Bergen — including 25 vice presidents with annual pay reaching $554,000 each — were paid more than $9 million in salary and other compensation, according to U.S. Department of Labor reports reviewed by the New Jersey Monitor … "The reports show that several top union officials are paid for holding multiple executive positions simultaneously, including high-paying posts as 'emeriti' for past service in union locals. Many family members of leading executives have found a place on ILA’s payroll, which last year was funded by $38 million in union member dues and other fees. The union last year even employed a former member who served prison time after a federal fraud conviction. ILA President Harold J. Daggett, a friend and political ally of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, received more than $855,261 in compensation last year for his leadership duties. The federal filings show Daggett was paid an additional $194,155 as 'president emeritus' of ILA Local 1804-1. Daggett’s son Dennis was paid $785,877 last year for his dual leadership roles of Local 1804-1 president and ILA executive vice president. Another Daggett son, John Daggett, was paid $642,631 for two executive positions, vice president of the ILA Atlantic Coast District and vice president of Local 1804-1. Daggett’s daughter, Lisa Daggett Bess, made $210,383 as the union’s 'political affairs director.'” IT’S A TOLERANT WORKPLACE, AS LONG AS THE TOLERANCE IS OF NAZI NECK TATTOOS — “ NJ NAACP, activists call for sweeping changes to State Police,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Ted Goldberg: “Two weeks after state Attorney General Matt Platkin announced large reforms to the New Jersey State Police, the state’s chapter of the NAACP and other local leaders are calling for more changes, including the removal of Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan. In late September, Platkin released two reports that displayed, in his words, 'troubling conduct and systemic problems' within the agency in regards to discrimination faced by troopers and by civilians. Richard Smith, president of the NAACP NJ State Conference, said Gov. Phil Murphy should remove Callahan, who has led the force for seven years. ‘The colonel has been living in a dirty house for a long time,’ said Smith. ‘It should not take somebody from the street. If you know your house is dirty, you know it needs to be cleaned. I should not have to come to your house and give you recommendations on how to clean up the filth that you got in your house.’” NEW YORK NEW JERSEY TRANSIT — “ NJ Transit takes major step forward with its plans to move fans to the 2026 World Cup finals,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “ NJ Transit has approved construction of a proposed ‘transitway’ system to move tens of thousands of World Cup soccer finals fans in 2026, but did not reveal its cost. The contract to build a 7-mile bus rapid transit system was awarded Thursday night by a unanimous vote without using the normal process of taking bids and awarding a contract to the lowest responsible bidder. It was presented to the board and the public without a price tag for construction. Instead, the contract with Anselmi & DeCicco was awarded using a ‘Procurement By Exception’ policy to build the project between Secaucus junction rail station and MetLife stadium dubbed ‘Transitway.’ Despite some criticism by public speakers, NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett said going through the regular procurement process would have taken a year before construction started, bringing a completion date perilously close to the 2026 World Cup finals.” NJ TRANSIT TRAINS WON’T SEEM CROWDED TO MAN WITH TRANSIT EXPERIENCE IN BANGLADESH — “ High hopes for NJ Transit’s new customer advocate,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Brenda Flanagan: “Commuters waiting for their New Jersey Transit train Friday welcomed news that the agency finally hired a new customer advocate after four years of delay and said they’re tired of excuses after this latest ‘summer of hell’ for users of NJ Transit. French-born Franck Beaumin, the new customer advocate, has a mass transit background and experience in Bangladesh and Boston. His salary: $175,000 a year. Beaumin wasn’t available for interviews when his appointment was announced at an NJ Transit board meeting Thursday night.” — “Operator killed, 23 others injured after NJ Transit train strikes fallen tree in Mansfield Twp,” by 6ABC: “One person is dead and 16 others are injured after a train accident Monday morning in Mansfield Township, New Jersey. It happened just after 6 a.m. on the New Jersey River Line Light Rail track near US 130. The train was traveling southbound from Trenton when it struck a tree just north of Roebling Station. The train operator was killed, according to officials. The train had 42 customers on board at the time of the incident. Of the passengers, 23 sustained non-life-threatening injuries, which are said to be mostly minor. The other 19 were accommodated by a bus.” — Assembly announces bipartisan committee to tackle ballot design — “ NJ black bear hunt [resumed] on Monday. Why the bear population is still surging” — State pauses enforcement of hemp law following court ruling — “ Taking the shock out of electric bills” | | BIDEN TIME | |
RUSSIA, IF YOU'RE LISTENING... — “Opinion: Scion of NJ's moderate GOP, Tom Kean Jr. is all in on Donald Trump,” by The Record’s Charles Stile : “Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. reminded us last week that once you're on Team Trump — even without wearing a MAGA hat or spewing the worst of Trump's hateful rhetoric — there is no escaping him. You are either all in or against him. There's no middle ground. And in an appearance before NorthJersey.com and The Record's editorial board last week, the scion of New Jersey’s moderate Republican political family said he is all in on former President Donald Trump. Take, for example, the subject of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kean, who is running for reelection for a second term in the 7th Congressional District against Democrat Susan Altman, argued with a monotone voice — and a straight face — that Trump would be tougher on Putin than the Biden administration has been and, he implied, than Vice President Kamala Harris would be. ‘We need to stand up against an empowered Putin,’ Kean said, after listing in broad strokes some of the reasons behind his support for a second Trump administration. If you’re rubbing your eyes in disbelief or maybe asking whether he was referring to someone else, let me assure you — yes, Kean was talking about the same ‘tough’ Trump who secretly shipped COVID-19 tests to Putin for his personal use in the early days of the pandemic, when supplies in the U.S. were scarce, according to a new book by Bob Woodward.”
— How the hurricanes could impact voting, according to a post-Sandy official [Kim Guadagno] — “NJ 7th District: We met with Tom Kean Jr. and Sue Altman. Here's what they said” — “ A Haddonfield influencer is expected to leave prison soon after Capitol riot sentencing” — “Who pays when politicians tie crime to certain groups, stoke fears? ” | | | LOCAL | |
THE SCARED CROOKED PROGRAM — A Democratic boss is in prison. He still has 2 public school jobs, by The New York Times' Tracey Tully: "Anthony Salters, the powerful and well-connected chairman of the Democratic Party in Hillside, N.J., pleaded guilty in January to federal tax fraud. Three months later, Hillside’s school district hired him for a newly created, $80,000 job teaching homebound students. He was sentenced in August to six months in prison, federal records show. But that did not stop the school district from giving Mr. Salters, 62, a second job: club adviser at a middle school. There is no possibility that the district was unaware Mr. Salters had admitted to willfully failing to file taxes; his criminal defense lawyer, Raymond Hamlin, is also the school board’s lawyer ... [Senate President Nicholas] Scutari said he was unaware that Mr. Salters was in prison. As for the teaching position, he said, 'If he’s incarcerated, I think it would make it pretty difficult to do the job.'"
NOT A PURDY PICTURE — “Northfield Mayor Chau faces demands he resign from head of his own party ,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “The head of the Atlantic County Republicans is calling for the resignation of Mayor Erland Chau, who survived similar calls in 2021 after an emotional outburst at a City Council meeting. Chau was charged last week with allegedly threatening a woman with a starter pistol in the parking lot of Mainland Regional High School, where the retired teacher had taught for 45 years. She had blocked his car in while he was trying to exit a parking spot. ‘He needs to concentrate on himself and his health,’ Atlantic County Republican Chair Don Purdy said Monday. ‘What he did is unacceptable by anyone.’” HACKENSACKED — “Hackensack councilman to step down after alleged racial comments at soccer game,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “Councilman Leo Battaglia is stepping down from the City Council in the wake of accusations that he made racial comments about a coach at a high school soccer game. In an emailed statement Friday evening, Battaglia said he visited the homes of Mayor John Labrosse and Deputy Mayor Kathy Canestrino earlier that day with two witnesses of the incident to clarify what had occurred. ‘I am pleased to share that they now understand and believe my account,’ he said. ‘However, due to pressure from the African American community and political opponents, they have decided not to support me going forward and have folded under that pressure.’ … The Bergen County Branch of the NAACP planned an event Monday at noon at Mount Olive Baptist Church on Central Avenue to demand the ‘immediate removal’ of Battaglia … The incident occurred last month at a soccer game in Paramus where Battaglia allegedly made racist comments about Hackensack High School soccer coach Shaun Holder, who is Black, and spoke negatively about the players … In the fallout from the incident at the soccer game, Councilman Gerard Carroll was dropped from Labrosse’s reelection ticket. Carroll, who is the only Black member of the council, said his removal from the slate came because he had planned to speak out about the racially charged comments. Labrosse and Canestrino have said Carroll planned to publicly call the entire council racist.” THESE GUYS GOT BALLS — “Fulop praises Sacco’s leadership at mayor’s ball; Sacco says Fulop’s the next gov,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop praised North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco’s leadership at his annual mayor’s ball last night, shortly before the man of the hour said his fellow Hudson County mayor will be the next governor of New Jersey. ‘I want to point out that in these times where it appears that the county is fragmented, you have the majority of mayors of Hudson County here tonight with Nick Sacco,’ Fulop said to applause at The Venetian catering hall in Garfield last night … While the Hudson County Democratic Organization backed Fulop under Anthony Vainieri’s leadership, his successor, Craig Guy, also the county executive, did not. Instead, he joined state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, and West New York Mayor Albio Sires in supporting U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) for governor. Expectedly, none of them attended yesterday, with the event kicking off just minutes after the Hudson County Board of Commissioners replaced North Bergen Commissioner Hugo Cabrera on the volunteer county schools of technology board.” SCRAPPY UTILITY COMPANY TAKES ON BIG GIRL SCOUT — “ A pending $143 million sewer sale in South Jersey has ignited a battle of lawn signs and campaign ads ahead of Election Day,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Fallon Roth: “When Gloucester Township residents make their way to the polls on Nov. 5, like the rest of the country, they’ll cast their votes in the pivotal presidential and Congressional elections. But another item on the ballot is taking over lawn signs and campaign ads in the South Jersey township: whether the municipality should sell its public sewage utility to New Jersey American Water for a resounding $143 million. The referendum has initiated a grassroots group to take action in the form of Teamsters-backed lawn signs, a website, a podcast, a Facebook group, and residents making their own signs and fliers, all urging votes against the sale. Even the local Girl Scouts troop is on their side. In response, New Jersey American Water has launched its own campaign, spending more than $830,000 on mailers; paid canvassing; and digital, outdoor, and some television advertising in favor of privatizing the utility currently overseen by the township.” — “Paterson school district hires official who was embroiled in litigation in California ” — “Sunday was last call for Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in Ocean City. Here’s what the final day felt like” — “Measles case confirmed in Monmouth County; see where the person went” — “ DEP will not attend Upper Township meeting on mercury contamination” | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | |
THE HUDSON JOBS TERMINATOR — “NJ Journalists Claim They Were Replaced With AI Reporters,” by Patch’s Caren Lissner: “Eighteen months after the owners of the 40-year-old Hudson Reporter laid off all of the editors and reporters at their only North Jersey news chain, the publication has come back to life with a staff that has some doubting their pedigree and others doubting whether they exist … [S]ome of the new biographies and bylines contain questionable information, including a claim that one reporter had a master's degree in education policy from Columbia University, a claim called into question by a spokesperson for the graduate Teacher's College.”
PIPESMOKERS LOCAL 420 — “Battle for unionization breaks out at large N.J. cannabis company,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jelani Gibson: “A conflict over unionization is taking place at one of the state’s largest cannabis dispensaries, Green Thumb Industries. The United Food and Commercial Worker Local 360 union, one of the state’s primary cannabis unions, is being challenged by the National Right to Work Foundation, which opposes compulsory union membership. The foundation claims the setup is unfair to employees who do not want to be a part of a union and represents a monopoly for the union. The challenge is playing out with the National Labor Relations Board and is technically not happening through the cannabis company.” — “Authorities ID accused carjacker who slashed officer’s face in GW Bridge attack” — “ Why would a 57-year-old history teacher dye his hair pink? Jackson Liberty students know” — “Bon Jovi endorses Kamala Harris with a band song, a first for group: 'The truth matters' ” | | | | 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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