Amazon not interested in new HQ2 site post-NYC – Politico

By now you’ve read that Amazon has abandoned its plans to build that shiny new headquarters in Long Island City.

Of course, just two rivers and a bay away, New Jersey and Newark are reminding Amazon we’re ready and willing to give it $7 billion in incentives to move here.

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Only one problem: In Amazon’s statement, it indicated that it’s not looking to relocate HQ2 anywhere else: “We do not intend to re-open the HQ2 search at this time. We will proceed as planned in Northern Virginia and Nashville, and we will continue to hire and grow across our 17 corporate offices and tech hubs in the U.S. and Canada.”

That, of course, won’t stop New Jersey officials from pleading for scraps.

WHERE’S MURPHY — At the New Jersey Community Development Corporation in Paterson for a 12:30 p.m. “economic development announcement”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan D. Salant, Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove, NJBIA’s Andrew Musick. Saturday for Somerset Community Action Program’s Steven Nagel. Sunday for The Record’s Curtis Tate (h/t Sandy Smith)

DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW OFF SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 46

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m talking about the entirely legitimate question of whether Donald Trump could be compromised by the Russian government. It’s more than a legitimate question — it’s the natural question that comes to mind every time we learn more about the links between President Trump, his associates, and the Russian government.” — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in a floor speech Thursday

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Monday is President’s Day. And as president of New Jersey Playbook, I will be taking the day off. See you Tuesday.

KING GEORGE III — Anonymous attack emails echo Norcross joke about Murphy, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Dozens of New Jersey’s most powerful political insiders — mostly Democrats and all men — gathered earlier this month for an annual Super Bowl retreat in Puerto Rico, a decades-old tradition under the auspices of the tongue-in-cheek “Jabroni Civic Association” that’s now organized by Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. At the opening dinner on Friday, Feb. 1, during which politicians delivered humorous speeches and send-ups, Democratic power broker George Norcross and several of his associates from South Jersey brought in poster-sized photos of prominent New Jersey leaders and politicians and set them up on tripod easels, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the event. One of the posters was a photo of Murphy, emblazoned with the text “Phony Phil Murphy,” according to one of the sources. The other source recalled the text reading “Phony Phil.” The story came to POLITICO’s attention because one week later, the news organization’s New Jersey reporters received an anonymous email attacking Murphy on the biggest political scandal his administration has faced and directing recipients to an upcoming website with the name PhonyPhilMurphy.com. Read more here

THIS TOOK A VERY LONG TIME — Deal reached to expand statute of limitations for sexual abuse lawsuits, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey victims of sexual abuse may soon have more time to file lawsuits against their alleged abusers. State Sen. Joe Vitale and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) said Thursday that state lawmakers have reached a deal after an effort to remove the statute of limitations entirely on civil sexual abuse cases spent years in legislative limbo. The bill also has the support of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, making its passage into law guaranteed if lawmakers can muster the voters to pass it in the Assembly and Senate. “Victims of sexual abuse, especially those victimized in childhood, deserve to find doors held open for them as they seek justice against their abusers,” Murphy said. Read more here

WILL ALVAREZ BE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN? — “Is Phil Murphy another governor eager for an early exit from NJ?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Yet, Christie’s media omnipresence is not all that good for his successor, Democrat Phil Murphy, as a Monmouth University poll suggested on Tuesday. It found that 46 percent of New Jerseyans feel that Murphy is concerned with his own political future, compared to 33 percent who feel his sole focus is governing the state. In other words, residents believe Murphy is infected with same higher-office bug that consumed Christie (and still does). They view Murphy as a short-timer, eager to get out Trenton as fast as he can. And the poll found that the perception has only deepened over the 10 months, when views on Murphy’s ambitions were more evenly divided … right now, he’s a governor bogged down in the trenches of Trenton, clashing with his entrenched South Jersey foes and fending off an legislative inquiry over the hiring of a top aide accused of sexual assault — hardly the source of national buzz. So why the growing suspicion of Murphy as a short-timer? One reason is that Murphy remains something of a mystery to most voters. He has had some successes, such as signing a pay-equity law and a law that will gradually boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The poll found that 69 percent of residents approved the wage-hike law. But both measures play well to national progressive audiences. They are not Jersey-centric priorities.” Read more here

0.18 MASTROS — State awarded $1.6M in financial aid to over 500 Dreamers in fall 2018, by POLITICO’s Linh Tat: “More than 500 undocumented college students received $1.6 million in state financial aid this fall, the first time they qualified for state grants under a law Gov. Phil Murphy signed last spring, the agency that oversees New Jersey’s financial aid programs announced Wednesday. The state awarded aid to 513 of the 1,209 individuals who completed applications under this aid expansion program for fall 2018. Officials expect the nascent program to grow in future years … The $1.6 million figure announced Wednesday represents all state-funded aid awarded to New Jersey Dreamers for the fall semester. The bulk of it came in the form of Tuition Aid Grants, though some also received aid through the Education Opportunity Fund, NJ STARS or the Governor’s Urban Scholarship program, said Jennifer Azzarano, a spokesperson for HESAA. Assuming each of these recipients continues to qualify for aid and if more students apply for grants this spring semester, it’s possible the amount handed out thus far could more than double by the end of the academic year, Azzarano said. Read more here

APRIL SHOWERS BRING… RAIN TAX REVENUE — Treasury: Income tax collections lagging, but should recover in April, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: New Jersey tax collections are lagging behind the projected growth rate following a major drop in revenue from income taxes, state officials disclosed Thursday, but they said a recovery is expected in coming months.For the first seven months of the fiscal year, which began July 1, revenues were up 3 percent over the same period last year. The budget is counting on 7.5 percent growth. January tax collections totaled $4.042 billion, up 5.9 percent a year earlier. Income taxes came in at $2.207 billion, down 4.8 percent compared to last January. The decline, state officials said, appears to be the result of behavioral adjustments that occurred in 2017 as Congress and President Donald Trump prepared to change the federal tax code. Read more here

LAKEWOOD ALWAYS UP TO NO GOOD — “Medicaid fraud amnesty: Senator’s bill demands full repayment of benefits,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Stacey Barchenger: “A Jersey Shore senator on Thursday filed a bill requiring the state to collect every penny of welfare benefits paid to fraudsters, the result of an Asbury Park Press investigation that revealed a $2.6 million shortfall in an amnesty program offered in Ocean County. The bill sponsored by Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) also includes a provision to temporarily prohibit people who are granted amnesty from serving in an elected office or as a public employee overseeing the spending of public funds.” Read more here

PECKER PROBLEM — “National Enquirer controversy with Jeff Bezos raising concern in New Jersey,” by The Record’s Dustin Racioppi: “The recent allegations of extortion and blackmail lodged against the National Enquirer by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has raised concerns with a little-known group in Trenton: the State Investment Council. That’s because New Jersey invests in the hedge fund that owns American Media Inc., the publisher of the National Enquirer. And the investment council, which manages $78 billion in public employee pension assets, is expressing concern over the tabloid’s ‘unacceptable conduct’ reported by Bezos last week in a blog post … In a letter sent to the publisher’s hedge fund owner, Chatham Asset Management, this week, the Treasury Department sent an ominous warning ‘reminding them of their responsibilities as fiduciary for the funds’ limited partners.’” Read more here

THE PONIES — Murphy approves $20M annual subsidy for horse racing industry, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday signed a bill providing a $20 million annual subsidy to New Jersey’s horse racing industry, but noted future payments would be subject to the state’s annual budget process. The move, at least temporarily, restores state support years after it had been cut off under former Gov. Chris Christie as he looked to shore up Atlantic City’s casinos. Murphy said the subsidy, which is to be split equally between the thoroughbred industry and the standardbred operations, will support a “a key economic engine” that provides thousands of jobs. Read more here

—“South Jersey residents hit the road to demand rail service” Read more here

— New Jersey lawmakers poised to pass bill naming Gateway group a public agency Read more here

—Bergeron: “N.Y.C.’s loss of Amazon should be N.J.’s lesson: Bashing Big Business, incentives can cost you big businesses” Read more here

— Resolution on PARCC-graduation case ‘imminent,’ ELC says as exit exam bill advances Read more here

— Senate panel advances bill to locate, map lead service lines. Read more here

—“Fox News pundits mock Cory Booker’s vegan stance with burgers and ribs” Read more here

—Mulshine: “Freshman Congressman Andy Kim has to run as soon as he’s seated” Read more here

—“A dangerous chemical has tainted N.J. water for decades and the feds are still dragging their feet” Read more here

—“Doug Steinhardt monitoring Cory Booker travel” Read more here

NEXT YOU’RE GOING TO TELL ME THAT COPS DON’T WRITE EACH OTHER TRAFFIC TICKETS — “An Asbury Park cop was charged with domestic violence in July. The records are gone,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Kala Kachmar and Andrew Ford: “Months after an Asbury Park police officer was arrested on a domestic violence charge at a country club wedding, his case has vanished from the court record, leaving the public to wonder about the details and outcome of the simple assault charge. The case was apparently dismissed in October, according to a summary obtained from the state’s municipal court database that month. But by January, the Asbury Park Press found no trace of the arrest charge or the outcome of the case … McGhee may have had his record expunged, which in the eyes of the law means the charge never happened. But experts say an expungement of court records in less than six months is unheard of in New Jersey.” Read more here

“7 cops getting nearly $4M to settle sexual harassment lawsuit against former police chief,” by NJ Advance Media’s Paige Gross: “Seven current and former Princeton Police Officers will receive nearly $4 million from the town to settle a years-long sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit was approved this week. Two will get sums over $1 million. Officers filed the suit in September 2013, shortly after then-chief David Dudeck was forced to leave the department after allegations of administrative misconduct. The suit alleges that Dudeck was `patently abusive and created a hostile work environment at the Princeton Police Department, with such acts of gender discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, disability discrimination and sexual harassment.‘” Read more here

—“Ticket-fixing judge faces disbarment; NJ board cites ‘shocking abuse’” Read more here

—“Englewood Cliffs police chief retires with $587,000 settlement”Read more here

—“‘Repugnant’ town fired gay cop and his boyfriend for ‘budget’ reasons, then replaced them both, men allege” Read more here

CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH TEENS SMOKE MARIJUANA? — “NJ marijuana legalization: ‘The bad outweighs the good’ says Barnegat mayor,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby: “Barnegat Mayor Alfonso Cirulli is taking an anti-pot petition to churches and residents throughout the township to garner support. Last week, the Township Committee also passed a resolution opposing legalization of recreational use. Cirulli said he worried marijuana legalization would trigger more illegal drug use of substances such as opiates in the township and endanger children’s health. ‘It’s going to be a problem,’ said the mayor, who is a retired school administrator. ‘Underage kids are going to get a hold of this stuff.’” Read more here

ARMSTEAD WRESTLING — “Linden political feud between Scutari, Armstead ramps up over council seat, retro pay,” by The Courier-News’ Suzanne Russell: “Recently Scutari, D-22nd District, as the Linden Democratic chair, named and swore in Paul Coates to fill the vacant 8th Ward City Council seat, even though the council had previously voted to leave the seat empty until the November general election. Armstead said Coates, 44, is a barber and bail bondsman … The political swipes at Armstead don’t end there. In a New Jersey Senate Democrats news release Wednesday, Scutari targeted Armstead in introducing legislation to prohibit retroactive salary increases for elected officials. In the news release, Scutari said the basis for the legislation is Linden Mayor Derek Armstead who retroactively raised his salary from $73,425 to $100,000, a 36-percent retroactive pay raise, which resulted in Armstead receiving a taxpayer-funded bonus check of more than $25,000 for work he had already completed. ‘It’s a greedy maneuver. The taxpayers should not stand for it,’ said Scutari, adding state legislators can’t give themselves retroactive pay increases.” Read more here

INACTION PARK — “A huge mountain of dirt is tearing apart this N.J. town and no one can stop it from growing,” by NJ Advance Media’s Michael Sol Warren: “The trucks come seven days a week, neighbors say, in the light of day and in the dark of night. Loaded with dirt, construction debris, rebar and who knows what other unknown waste, they travel on narrow, windy roads and dump their dirty cargo on a private piece of property in Vernon Township, in the most rural part of the state. Over the past 10 years in the far northern part of the state, a new `mountain‘ has slowly taken shape: a sprawling waste pile that now consumes two acres and rises seven stories tall. It’s a towering plateau of dirt and fill in the middle of a secluded neighborhood. No one can say what exactly is in the pile or if it poses a danger to the community. But when it rains, the waste turns to mud and spills its mysterious brew onto neighboring properties, potentially polluting the groundwater that feeds wells, critics claim. But despite pressure from residents, local officials and a congressman, no local, county or state officials have been able to stop the trucks from coming and dumping their waste.” Read more here

—“NJ marijuana: Union County College will start cannabis program” Read more here

—“Records show top Paterson officials bypassed tracking system for work hours” Read more here

—“$1 toll hike will fund major capital upgrades on Delaware Memorial Bridge” Read more here

—Lassiter: “Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly’s poor leadership leads to another scandal” Read more here

SHAME SHAME SHAME — “Woman gave her purse a seat on a crowded train. NJ Transit and social media gave her a smack down,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “Who deserves a seat on a crowded NJ Transit commuter train, a handbag or passengers who are standing? A woman refused to take her bag off a seat on a crowded NJ Transit train Wednesday, and got a social media spanking after angry commuters posted videos of her standing her ground — or rather, her seat. The incident happened on a Trenton-bound Northeast Corridor line train Wednesday evening, which was delayed 25 minutes `due to police activity,‘ an official alert said. The unidentified woman can be seen in the video refusing to move her bag after a conductor and other passengers ask her to, looking at her phone, and dismissing the request to put her bag on an overhead rack. Other passengers can be heard saying the train was ‘standing room only.’” Read more here

—Edelstein: “The central Jersey ‘debate’ ends right here, right now” Read more here

—“N.J. principal has been on ‘Ellen’ and is getting love from Sen. Booker, all thanks to washing machines” Read more here