| | | | |  | | By Dustin Racioppi | | Presented by |  | | | Good Wednesday morning! A state Assembly panel this week wrapped up public hearings on a new ballot design to replace the state’s “county line” that’s given local party leaders unique influence. But what about the Senate? After all, Senate President Nick Scutari signed onto a joint statement with legislative leaders in March saying they would work “to ensure public trust in a transparent and democratic process” to consider any changes. That came amid the intense scrutiny of the county line during the U.S. Senate primary, when a federal judge heard arguments that it was unconstitutional — and soon ruled that way, dooming it for the future. “We are committed to beginning a public process on ballot design in New Jersey, including a thorough and thoughtful review of other states, as well as a process that involves input from the public,” the lawmakers’ statement said. Nearly nine months later, that hasn’t happened in the upper chamber. It doesn’t sound imminent, either. Two people familiar with Senate deliberations told me that they are reviewing the court decision that scrapped the line in the June Democratic primary and various proposals to respond to it. As reported in Playbook last week, some ideas on the table are grouping running mates and denoting incumbents. Not much time is left. Primary ballots get printed in early April, two months before the election. Of course, lawmakers can move quickly, and most county clerks have entered into settlements to do away with the county line. But the progress in Trenton so far has left a lot to be desired among advocates. They’ve expressed concern about the timing of the Assembly hearings being held around the presidential election and they suspect lawmakers will do what they can to preserve power while complying with the judge’s ruling. Antoinette Miles, state director of the New Jersey’s Working Families Party, which brought the initial lawsuit against the county line a few years ago, said she gives the Assembly “an ‘A’ for effort and probably a ‘C+’ for execution.” She wondered where the Senate has been for much of the year, but speculated it may have something to do with who is up for election in 2025. “The Senate certainly remains to be a mystery,” she said. “I do think that the honest politics of it is that the Assembly is on the ballot next year and the Senate is not. So I think the lack of urgency on their part does stem from that.” QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don't want to give away all my secrets, but there are avenues.” — Ed Durr, Republican candidate for governor, when asked for specifics on his idea to eliminate property taxes. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at dracioppi@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Parker Space, Pauline Hecht, Gordon MacInnes WHERE’S MURPHY?: No public schedule.
| | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson: We’re restoring the true meaning of healthcare— Championing and supporting nurses on the frontline of delivering quality patient care. See how we’re connecting the best of Health&Care for every patient and provider. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | LIBRARIANS STRIKE BACK — Murphy to sign book ban response bill next week, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign into law the Freedom to Read Act next Monday, according to two people familiar with the matter. The bill signing is set to be in Princeton, which is in Democratic Sen. Andrew Zwicker’s district. Zwicker authored the bill in the Senate. The two people who know details of the signing were granted anonymity to discuss planning ahead of a formal event. The legislation is in response to book ban efforts and would set up a uniform process to challenge books from library shelves and prevent works from being prohibited solely due to “origin, background, or views” of the book or its author. Librarians would also be given civil and criminal immunity for book curation. TAXPAYERS WILL SAVE TRUCKLOADS OF MONEY — Durr wants to eliminate sales and property taxes, POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Candidates for elected office often promise to lower — or hold the line — on taxes.Now one GOP candidate for governor is pitching something even further: A wholesale elimination of some taxes that are key for funding the government. Former state Sen. Ed Durr — who served one term after beating New Jersey's longest-serving Senate president in a massive upset — wants to eliminate the state sales tax and property taxes for homeowners as governor. Durr said he was open to doing so for businesses too. “I definitely would look to see to ending property tax. If we can come up with a solution — and I have a couple of ideas my team and I are discussing to see if it's possible — I would like to see the end of it,” he said in an interview. “I'm tired of seeing homeowners losing their homes because they end up retiring and they get their Social Security but it's not enough to pay their property tax.”
| | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson:   | | | H2WOE — “Water woes boil over in New Jersey’s capital, with revelation of monitoring lapse,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “Residents of Trenton and its suburbs received a letter last week from their local water utility that informed them an employee had been fired for falsifying drinking water data for 15 months — meaning the water went unmonitored for contaminants for over a year. The news might otherwise have earned a shrug from the 200,000-plus customers of Trenton Water Works, long used to the mismanagement, money problems, and staffing shortages that have made the utility frequent headline fodder. But the letter came two years after the state assumed oversight of the utility in New Jersey’s capital city and just a month after state environmental officials blasted its “serious … continued noncompliance” with the state’s Safe Drinking Water Act — and levied a $235,000 penalty.” CRISP TEASE — Conservative podcaster floats gubernatorial trial balloon, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: “Conservative podcaster Mike Crispi is floating a trial balloon for governor. Crispi said on social media Monday that he has received outreach asking him to run for governor. “The Crispi team is exploring Mike’s next steps, fed up with insider deals driven by personal gain and weak Republican leadership,” Crispi adviser Giancarlo Ghione said in a statement. “The current field lacks true outsiders, dominated by perennial candidates or candidates controlled by insiders known for cutting deals with Governor Murphy and Democrats. The era of Republicans in safe counties prioritizing their own benefit over the party’s is over.” — “Dismantling of two New Jersey human trafficking rings leads to charges against seven, AG says”
| | | | REGISTER NOW: As the 118th Congress ends, major decisions loom, including healthcare appropriations. Key focus: site neutrality. Can aligning hospital and clinic costs cut federal spending, reflect physician costs, and lower patient expenses? Join policymakers and providers to discuss. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | ANDY KIM TAKING THE HELM-Y: New Jersey Sen. George Helmy stepping down to make way for Andy Kim, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Sen. George Helmy (D-N.J.) will step down on Sunday to allow Sen.-elect Andy Kim to serve the rest of his term. “It has been the honor of a lifetime representing the people of New Jersey in the Senate and I am eternally grateful to [Gov. Phil] Murphy for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Helmy said in a statement. “Looking back on my now 85 days and counting in this office, I am proud of the work my team and I have been able to accomplish.” ... Kim is expected to be sworn in Dec. 9. BOOKER BATTING CLEANUP — Sen. Cory Booker has been named to a leadership slot in the Democratic caucus. He’ll become chair of the Strategic Communications Committee in the 119th Congress convening in January, when Democrats will be in the minority. It’s the fourth highest-ranking position in the caucus, behind leader Chuck Schumer, whip Dick Durbin and steering and policy committee chair Amy Klobuchar. “In this position, I’m excited to help lead our Caucus’ communication and messaging strategy, ensuring the accomplishments and priorities of Senate Democrats are heard loud and clear across the county,” Booker said in a statement. “I look forward to using creative strategies and new technology and platforms to speak directly to the American people.” — Dustin Racioppi
| | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson: At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured; treatments are smarter and less invasive; and solutions are personal. We are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow. We combine our science and technology with our determination to create a powerful force for care… and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more. | | | MORE TRUMP RALLIES IN WILDWOOD? — “Van Drew in line for influence in next Trump administration,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Benjamin J. Hulac: “Six years ago, Jeff Van Drew was a state senator who ran for Congress as a Democrat from South Jersey. Today, Van Drew is a Republican, has the ear of President-elect Donald Trump and says he turned down a chance to lead a federal department — a significant leap in prominence from state-level political player to steadfast ally of the next commander in chief. Trump offered Van Drew 'multiple' positions within his incoming administration, the congressman said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News after Election Day.”
| | LOCAL | | AMERICAN NIGHTMARE — “American Dream mall says East Rutherford owes it $183M. Here's why,” by NorthJersey.com’s Daniel Munoz: “The developers behind American Dream — a $5 billion megamall in the Meadowlands — are arguing in court records that they have overpaid the borough of East Rutherford by $183 million in negotiated property tax payments and are entitled to a refund. American Dream’s appeal of the property tax value is nothing new. The mall’s developers, Ameream, have filed appeals every year since opening in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the latest documents, made public on Nov. 21, detail the extent to which the mall says it overpaid the borough. The mall was built using more than $1 billion in state and local subsidies.” PARTY BLOOPER — “Newark Taxpayers Will Foot the Bill for Inappropriate Party,” by TAPInto Newark’s Sam Haut: “A June staff party that included a rock wall, a claw machine and a hula-hoop contest was an inappropriate way to spend taxpayer money intended for educating Newark children and will have to be returned, an investigation has found. The school district revealed the investigation of “Superintendent's Fun Day” by the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance at its Nov. 26 board meeting and said it had been ordered to repay the state’s portion of the costs, leaving Newark taxpayers to cover the party.” TROUTRAGEOUS — “Jersey City tenants claim landlord used dead fish to force them out,” by Gothamist’s Mike Hayes: “A group of Jersey City tenants living in rent controlled apartments claim their landlord’s employees placed rancid smelling fish in a vacant unit earlier this year as part of an effort to force them out of the building so the owner could raise the rent. When the odor became too much to bear, the tenants at 336 New York Ave. called the fire department. Anna Bassett, who has lived in the building for 14 years, captured a video reviewed by Gothamist of firefighters breaking down the door to the vacant apartment next to hers in March. “Oh! Right here! This damn fish!” one firefighter said.” — “10 years and $42 million later, North Wildwood ends battle over its eroding beaches”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | THE RETIRED LIFE OF BRIAN — Atlantic Health CEO to retire, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Atlantic Health System President and CEO Brian Gragnolati plans to retire, the health system’s board announced Tuesday. Gragnolati will continue to be the top executive as the Board of Trustees continues its search, the announcement said. Once a replacement is found, they will serve as a “special advisor” to the board. RACE OF SPADES — “Raceway Park's wild history revealed by long-hidden photos, movies: 'A motorhead's dream',” by the Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “Growing up with free rein in Raceway Park, the iconic drag strip in the Englishtown section of Old Bridge that was founded by his family, Richard “Napp” Napoliello thought he’d seen it all. Then came Sept. 3, 1977, when more than 100,000 fans descended on the 300-acre property to witness a Grateful Dead concert there. “My father gave me an onstage pass,” Napoliello said. “I get on a backhoe and I drive backstage with all these helicopters flying out all these OD victims (Old Bridge Airport borders Raceway Park to the south). I got up on stage with Jerry Garcia playing and I have pants with stripes and a Raceway Park shirt.” The drag strip, then in its 13th season, was at the peak of its powers as a free-living motorhead paradise, with folks camped out across the grounds for Labor Day weekend.”
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