8 days out – POLITICO – Politico

Good Monday morning!

We’re at the stage of the governor’s race where people are asking: Is it really tight?

Former President Barack Obama was in town Friday. President Joe Biden is in New Jersey today for a technically official visit. Jack Ciattarelli supporters say that’s a sign Gov. Murphy’s worried. But there’s very little objective data to go on. The Rebovich Institute has been keeping tabs on vote-by-mail responses (and early voting), and Democrats and Republicans are returning them at fairly even rates (With thousands more by Democrats, which is to be expected given the party’s embrace of mail-in voting and the Republicans’ turn against them.) And there’s that Emerson poll from last week that showed a six point race.

So all eyes are on Monmouth University Polling Institute, which is expected to release a new poll on the race soon. Monmouth’s last one, from September, had Murphy up by 13 points over Ciattarelli. If this shows a tight race, I think you’ll start seeing some Democratic panic.

When Chris Christie beat Jon Corzine in 2009, he had good relations with some very powerful Democratic bosses. If the relations between Murphy and Democratic leaders are more stressed than usual, they’ve managed to hide it.

There is also evidence presented by Ciattarelli that dogs — or at least one dog — doesn’t like Murphy. This certainly does not bode well for the incumbent, who apparently failed to ply influential pups with treats the same way he showered county Democratic committees with money ahead of his 2017 campaign.

WHERE’S MURPHY? In the Meadowlands for a 1:30 p.m. event with President Biden promoting the infrastructure package. Media: MSNBC at 7:45 a.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He will almost certainly win a second term in Drumthwacket, but we don’t have to help.” — A Jersey Journal’s editorial urging readers to not vote for anyone for governor

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — SOS spox Alicia D’Alessandro, Bordentown Twp. Committeeman Eric Holliday

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at [email protected]

‘IF YOU LIKE YOUR GOVERNOR YOU CAN KEEP HIM’ — Obama, stumping for Murphy, calls on New Jersey voters to make the ‘right choice,’ by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: Former President Barack Obama railed against the “politics of meanness” on Saturday as he stumped for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy with just days to go before Election Day. “We are at a turning point right now. There’s a mood out there. There’s a politics of meanness, division and conflict,” Obama said at Weequahic Park in Newark. “I’ll tell you that’s the path to ruin.” Murphy brought in Obama, his highest profile surrogate to date, as New Jersey embarked on the first day of early-in person voting. Obama made the case for New Jerseyans to vote early. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of state residents have already submitted mail-in ballots.

VOTERS TOLD THEY CAN SAVE HUNDREDS ON THEIR CAR INSURANCE WITH PROGRESSIVE — “N.J. governor race tests Murphy’s progressive politics,” by The AP’s Mike Catalini: “Paid sick leave. Taxpayer-funded community college. A phased-in $15 minimum wage. New Jersey has taken a decidedly liberal shift under first-term Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, increasing income taxes on the wealthy, expanding voting rights and tightening the state’s already restrictive gun laws. It’s a notable change from his predecessor. … The race has national implications, though it has gotten less attention than Virginia’s high-profile governor’s contest. A loss for Murphy would be shocking in a state that Biden won over Republican Donald Trump by nearly 16 points last year. It would also raise questions about whether moderate voters repelled by Trump were returning to the Republican Party now that the former president is no longer in office.”

—“Should Murphy be worried? Race against Ciattarelli tightening, gov says: I’m running a ‘paranoid’ campaign,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco and Brent Johnson: “Many political observers are still expecting Murphy to become the first Democratic New Jersey governor since Brendan Byrne in the 1970s to win re-election. Still, Murphy himself admits he’s running’“a paranoid race,’ taking nothing for granted. And a number of factors suggest the contest has gotten more urgent as it enters its final week … Mike DuHaime, Christie’s chief strategist for both of his gubernatorial victories, said all hope is not lost for Ciattarelli to pull off an upset. ‘Republicans have grown more optimistic over time,’ DuHaime said. He argued that the “national mood” has deteriorated for Biden and Democrats in the wake of the United States’ controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan and tense spending negotiations in Congress. ‘And the Murphy campaign didn’t put Jack away early like they could have’ … Murphy’s supporters, however, aren’t sweating it, at least not publicly. State Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, a former governor and longtime Murphy supporter, cited polling that shows a majority of New Jerseyans approve of Murphy’s handling of COVID-19. ‘I’ve said it a million times: It’s about the pandemic, it’s about the pandemic, it’s about the pandemic,’ Codey said.”

—“Murphy declines to comment on Jersey Journal editorial asking voters to sit out gov’s race”

ANY ANTI-VACCINE LAWMAKERS OUT THERE? — New Statehouse vaccine requirement likely coming, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey officials are preparing to enact a vaccine requirement at the Statehouse complex in Trenton that may effectively apply to every lawmaker. The State Capitol Joint Management Commission, which has jurisdiction over the complex, plans to vote on “approval of a State House vaccination policy” on Tuesday, according to a notice of its upcoming meeting. The eight-member commission is made up of four Murphy administration officials as well as one representative each from the Senate and Assembly Democratic and Republican caucuses. The agenda does not include details of the proposed policy. Legislative leaders are not expected to try to deny members who refuse to comply with the mandate from voting, which would potentially raise constitutional issues, but they may set up ways those lawmakers can vote remotely.

—More than 6 million New Jerseyans fully vaccinated

THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC MUST BE UNITED! — Montclair’s future a hot topic at New Jersey redistricting hearing, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey redistricting commissioners on Saturday heard competing visions for the future representation of Montclair — a liberal bastion in Essex County currently split between two congressional districts — during their first hearing that featured public input. The town of about 38,000 is represented by two Democrats: Mikie Sherrill in the 11th District and Donald Payne in the 10th District. Mark Lurinsky, a CPA and Democratic activist, said that just as Montclair adopted a magnet school system so housing segregation didn’t lead to school segregation for the town’s relatively diverse population, it should see its population combined into one congressional district. That district, he said, should be the 11th — an affluent suburban swing district.

NOT QUITE NICE — “NJ gains back 68% of jobs lost during pandemic,” by NJBIZ’s Daniel J. Munoz: “New Jersey added another 21,500 jobs to its workforce in September, marking a total of 488,100 positions that have been recovered since the worst of the COVID-19 recession in March and April last year, according to data gathered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and released by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The total represents 68% of the jobs lost due to the pandemic. Last month, the state logged an unemployment rate of 7.1%, remaining above the 7% mark for much of the year. That rate is among the highest in the nation — in the top five as of August along with New York while nearby states such as Connecticut also come close.”

—“NJ labor shortage: Young workers gain power, thanks to retiring boomers, and it may last”

CABANNABIS — “Who will control legal marijuana sales in N.J.? Local players or big companies?” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Harold Brubaker: “Manuel Caban is a lifelong Camden resident who was arrested twice for marijuana offenses and a decade ago spent 30 days and then a year in prison for dealing. That, he figures, makes him an ideal candidate for a license to sell cannabis now that New Jersey has legalized it with a focus on giving individuals who suffered under cannabis prohibition a solid path into the industry. “I’m not a bad kid. I just got caught up selling weed,” said Caban, 38, who now runs a small catering business and intends to apply for a license to open a cannabis store in the city with two Camden friends, who also grew up poor in rough neighborhoods. Other states that have legalized recreational cannabis in recent years, such as Illinois and Massachusetts, have been trying to make such amends for people with marijuana convictions, as well as for people of color and women. But so far those efforts, in an industry expected to generate $24 billion in sales this year, have had only limited success, said Tahir Johnson, a Trenton native and director of social equity and inclusion at the United States Cannabis Council, a Washington group that lobbies nationally for cannabis legalization.”

AS NJ BOASTS OF REVENUE FROM MAKING AN ADDICTIVE GAMBLING HABIT EASIER, GROWING ONE PLANT IS STILL A FELONY — “Legal weed is real in NJ — but so should be home cultivation,” by Jim Higdon for Gannett: “Who stands to benefit from keeping homegrown cannabis illegal in New Jersey? Although there are no such allegations being made in the Garden State, there have been reports of marijuana businesses advocating for a ban on homegrown cannabis to protect their own interests in other states, from New York to Michigan. Law enforcement is also interested in keeping homegrown cannabis illegal. That could be because police often use the smell of cannabis as a reason to search a home without a warrant … When homegrown cannabis is made legal, law enforcement will lose that ability because the smell will no longer indicate that a crime is being committed. That puts police groups and marijuana businesses on the same side of the issue in a Baptist-bootlegger compromise to maintain the last remaining vestiges of prohibition. And that’s a mess.”

—“Gov. Murphy proposes $100 million investment in urban parks”

—“Murphy touts value of New Jersey lifestyle as payoff for higher costs”

—“NJ elections: Democrats seek to flip GOP 30-year grip on 30th District”

—“NJ Transit’s board has 4 vacancies. Commuters ask when they’ll be filled”

“Heading toward Retirement, Weinberg Fights for Lower Healthcare Costs”

—Mulshine: “Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli both pine for the Lakewood vote”

—“Murphy reps seek to ease NJ business fears on clean energy costs”

SOURCES INSIST ON ANONYMITY ABOUT SUCH SENSITIVE INFORMATION —“Biden to use N.J. trip to kick off construction of new Portal Bridge, sources say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan S. Salant: “President Joe Biden will officially kick off construction of the new Portal Bridge when he visits New Jersey on Monday, NJ Advance Media has learned. While there won’t be a traditional ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels in the ground, Biden will announce that construction will get underway to replace the aging structure, according to sources familiar with the planning, speaking on condition of anonymity as to not get ahead of the president’s visit. “

HACKNOTSACKED — “Two Hackensack cops implicated in warrantless search can’t be fired, court rules,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “Four years of legal wrangling over the fates of Hackensack officers accused of a warrantless search seemingly came to an end Thursday, when the appellate court said two officers should not have been fired, but upheld the city’s decision to fire a third. The Civil Service Commission earlier this year imposed a six-month suspension for Hackensack police officers Rocco Duardo and Victor Vazquez and terminated the employment of Officer Mark Gutierrez. The city had sought to fire all three, while the officers fought for lesser penalties. Vazquez sued the city in June demanding to be reinstated. Judges Clarkson Fisher, Heidi Willis Currier and Patrick DeAlmeida of the state Superior Court Appellate Division said in affirming the suspensions that ‘although we might differ regarding the right sanction, it is not our role to substitute our own views’ … Officers Justin de la Bruyere, Duardo, Gutierrez and Vazquez entered a third-floor apartment at 64 Prospect Ave. in Hackensack without first obtaining a warrant. Gutierrez filed a report later saying they were there investigating the potential sale of an illegal firearm and entered the apartment only after a resident of the building said there may have been an unattended child inside. The city suspended the officers in May 2017 after an internal affairs investigation determined the officers had concocted the report of the unattended child as a pretext to enter the apartment.”

IT’S ALMOST AS IF SOCIAL MEDIA IS BAD FOR NUANCE AND UNDERSTANDING — “Online furor over a student’s hijab engulfs a liberal town,” by The New York Times’ Tracey Tully: “The second-grader said her teacher in Maplewood, N.J., had begun to pull off a hijab she wears as an observant Muslim, exposing her hair and prompting her to hold on to the head covering, the family’s lawyer said. The girl’s mother recounted the story on Facebook. Then, an Olympic medalist who fences in a hijab and lives in the same New Jersey school district denounced the incident on Instagram, where she has 384,000 followers … Fundamental facts surrounding the Oct. 6 interaction remained in dispute, but Reddit and Instagram were awash in opinions. New Jersey’s governor weighed in on Twitter, and a statewide Islamic group demanded the teacher’s “immediate firing.” It was the fifth week of school. The teacher, Tamar Herman, has said that she brushed back the girl’s hooded sweatshirt because it was covering her eyes, unaware the girl was not wearing her usual hijab underneath … But the seconds-long interaction between a white teacher and a Black student was already firmly in the grip of an online maw, underscoring the extraordinary power of social media to quickly pass judgment, with little regard for accuracy or fallout.”

DISTRICT THAT PAYS ITS LAWYER $1 MILLION HAS TROUBLE FINDING SAFE BUS DRIVERS – “Serious school bus crash in Lakewood, 5th in a month,” by Patch’s Karen Wall: “There were two crashes involving school buses in Lakewood on Thursday, bringing the total to at least five school bus crashes in the town in just over a month. In a crash shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, Shulem Ekstein, 37, was cited for careless driving after he made a left turn in his 2019 Ford Expedition in front of a 2020 Dodge Challenger driven by Moshe Wasserman, Lakewood Police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said Friday morning … The crash Thursday night was the second of the day, and fifth involving a school bus since mid-September, when a school bus wound up perched on another vehicle.”

R.I.P. — “Firefighter, 89, who was ‘heart and soul’ of department dies after responding to crash,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amanda Hoover: “A New Jersey fire department is grieving the loss of an 89-year-old firefighter affectionately known as ‘Pop’ who died Saturday morning after responding to a car crash. Nicholas Prioli suffered a medical emergency while walking home from the firehouse, said Chief Timothy Carson, head of the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Station 55. He had returned with other firefighters after responding to a car crash, but stayed back alone and later tried to walk home … Prioli was the department’s safety officer and treasurer, and an honorary chief. He served alongside his grandson, an assistant chief in the firehouse. Prioli continued to complete difficult trainings even as he aged, including one that required him to escape a building on a rope head first”

—“Muschal says Trenton on ‘suicide’ mission with backup radios”

—“Paterson schools hire extra security firms, look to ‘fill the gaps’ amid surge of violence”

—Kelly: “How did [Paterson] score one of NJ’s top vaccination rates?”

—“Parents’ group files ethics complaint against Nutley school board president”

—“A few Cape May County races look like hot contests”

—“Longtime Atlantic County judge Henry “Bud” Broome dies”

—“Op-Ed: Amy DeGise ‘has proven herself to be an ally and friend of regular people’”

R.I.P. — “Bob Rudolph, giant among journalists during 35+ years at Star-Ledger, dies at 75,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Robert C. Rudolph, a legendary Star-Ledger reporter who covered the federal courthouse and criminal justice issues, died on October 20. He was 75 and died after a brief illness. Rudolph worked for the Star-Ledger from about 1969 until his retirement at the end of 2005 and is among the most consequential journalists in New Jersey history. For decades, he dominated news coverage of organized crime in New Jersey and played a major role in building a circulation following the demise of the Newark Evening News in 1972 that made the Star-Ledger that state’s leading newspaper”

HIGHER ED — “One N.J.’s oldest colleges may shut down. Here’s how things fell apart,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kelly Heyboer: “Standing before her campus last week, Marcheta Evans knew what she was about to do was incredibly risky. But she did it anyway. The Bloomfield College president faced a town hall meeting of students and faculty and let all of the school’s secrets out. The 153-year-old private college is in serious financial trouble, she told the crowd. It doesn’t have enough money to start the 2022-2023 school year unless a donor or another college steps in to save it … Campus officials are banking that Bloomfield’s unique feature — as New Jersey’s only four-year private college that serves predominantly Black and Hispanic students — will help save it. They are betting another college or network of schools, either in New Jersey or elsewhere, and private philanthropic groups with similar missions will invest in keeping the school alive. But first Bloomfield College will have to open up its books to potential partners and show how everything fell so far, so fast. The college’s finances are private, but publicly-available federal tax returns show Bloomfield has been teetering on the brink of financial disaster for years. With enrollment falling over the last decade, the school has been spending more than it has been taking in.”

—Moran: “At Princeton, an inspiring defense of free speech”

—“This N.J. re-enactor highlights little-known history. Now, his face is on display”