Murphy wants EDA board members out – Politico
Good Wednesday morning!
Gov. Murphy has demanded the resignation of at least five members of the EDA, including the four gubernatorial appointees, NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman reports.
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Already, Chairman Laurence Downes has agreed to step downes. I mean down.
We’ll soon find out whether we’re in for a big fight or if the others follow suit. Given the initial resistance to Murphy’s executive director pick for the agency, it’s a possibility. And while I don’t know which five Murphy members has called so far — or, at this point, who is and isn’t a gubernatorial appointee — take a look at the connections some of the board members have. To name a few: State Sen. Paul Sarlo’s brother, Charles; Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole’s law partner and former Christie administration Chief Counsel Thomas Scrivo; Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo’s chief of staff, Phil Alagia; and Fred Dumont, who in addition to being a union official works on Senate President Sweeney’s staff.
If you’ve been watching this closely, you know that the oversight at the EDA is likely to turn into an even bigger story. I’m certain that the alleged Jackson Hewitt lie, the comptroller’s report and the alleged doctoring of records in order to approve tax breaks won’t be the last — or even the biggest — scandals to come out of this.
DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW OFF SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 107
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Let me also invite readers to imagine visiting our state’s wonderful boardwalks with their families if recreational marijuana is ever legalized. Will we still smell the salt air? Will it ever be the same?” — State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex). Does he think people never smoked cigarettes on the boardwalk?
WHERE’S MURPHY?: At the Tropicana in Atlantic City to make an announcement at the “NJ TransAction Conference.” Hard to imagine he’d make a transit-related announcement in Atlantic City that doesn’t involve the rail line to Philadelphia
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Upper Saddle River’s David Verducci, Rutgers University Press’ Micah Kleit
STRIKE STRUCK — Rutgers faculty union announces agreement on new contract, by POLITICO’s Linh Tat: Rutgers University’s faculty union announced late Tuesday that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, staving off what would have been the first strike by faculty and graduate student workers at the state’s largest university. Read more here
#METOO — Weinberg objects to new harassment policy; state says it won’t make the change, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg challenged proposed changes to the state’s workplace discrimination and harassment policies on Tuesday, saying confidentiality language in the regulations could be used to silence victims. But the state Civil Service Commission quickly said that it did not intend to adopt the changes that had been originally proposed and would instead use language that’s been endorsed by Gov. Phil Murphy. Read more here
CHRISTIE WAS SUCH A ‘FIGHTER’ AGAINST CUOMO THAT AS RGA CHAIRMAN HE REFUSED TO HELP HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT — “Congestion pricing is coming to New York. New Jersey wants revenge,” by The New York Times’ Emma G. Fitzsimmons: “Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, a Democrat, said he would fight any effort to double toll drivers using the George Washington Bridge, the world’s busiest span. ‘I won’t stand for it, he told reporters, though he stopped short of summoning what he called a full ‘Jersey attitude’ like other leaders seeking payback. If New Jerseyans expected a more confrontational response, they might be nostalgic for Chris Christie, the hold-no-punches former governor who recently attacked Mr. Murphy for allowing Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York to steamroll New Jersey. ‘Andrew Cuomo is walking all over us across the river with his congestion pricing stuff,’ Mr. Christie, a Republican, said at a recent dinner, adding that Mr. Murphy was ‘not a fighter.’” Read more here
ONLY THREE REPORTED INSTANCES? — “Drivers of state cars really shouldn’t give people the finger. But that’s exactly what happened. At least 3 times,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “A total of 298 complaints were filed through that state vehicle abuse hotline and online complaint website since the beginning of 2018, according to reports obtained by NJ Advance Media through an open records request. Motorists filled with road rage called out public workers who cut them off, blew through red lights or threw trash out the window. Some reported the presence of a state vehicle parked outside a shopping center on a Sunday, when no state business is likely being conducted. And yes, there were at least three complaints by drivers who say they were flipped the bird by somebody behind the wheel of a state-owned vehicle. Of the nearly 300 complaints motorists lodged, only two state workers lost privileges to drive a state car.” Read more here
PSEG: IF THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN, OUR NUCLEAR PLANTS, LIKE OUR POLITICAL DONATIONS, WILL GO DARK — State utility regulator faces ‘profound decision’ on nuclear subsidies, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio: The state Board of Public Utilities is expected to decide Thursday if New Jersey utility customers should shell out as much as $300 million to keep the state’s nuclear industry afloat — a decision people in the energy world say will be among the agency’s most important in decades. The ruling comes after years of debate between a divided environmental lobby, state lawmakers, regulators, business groups and PSEG — the Newark-based energy giant that controls all of the state’s nuclear assets. The company has been lobbying for years for the $300 million credit, without which it says it will have to shutter the plants that generate nearly half of the state’s electricity. Such a move, the company argues, would dramatically increase New Jersey’s reliance on natural gas and significantly boost greenhouse gas emissions. But the subsidy has united environmental advocates, business groups and fiscal watchdogs in opposition. Read more here
HEALTH CARE — “N.J.’s only public hospital is ‘desperate’ for cash to ease its overcrowded ER and needs Murphy’s help, lawmakers say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “The emergency department at University Hospital in Newark is “simply inadequate” and “is in desperate need of a renovation” state lawmakers said Monday, urging Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration to approve the hospital’s request for $10 million. Members of the state Assembly Budget Committee worriedly quizzed top Health Department officials on the status stability of New Jersey’s only public hospital, which is also the state’s largest charity care provider for uninsured patients.” Read more here
GILMORE — Jurors in Gilmore trial deadlocked on at least 1 count, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: Jurors indicated Tuesday that they were deadlocked on at least one count in the tax evasion trial of Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore. After nearly a full day of deliberations, jury members sent a cryptic note to Judge Anne Thompson asking how long they should continue deliberating if they cannot come to an agreement on all of the counts. “There are great stands and no movement of making final decisions,“ the note read. Thompson dismissed the jurors shortly before 5 p.m., and then worked to craft a statement that she will send back to them Wednesday morning. She said she will instruct the jury that they can deliver a verdict on some counts and not others. But Thompson said that the deliberation has not been long considering the complexity of this case. Read more here
R.I.P. —“James Ahearn, New Jersey journalist for seven decades, dies at 88,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “James F. Ahearn, a legendary and respected New Jersey reporter and editor, died on Saturday. He was 88. Ahearn launched his journalism career as a wire service reporter with United Press International in Boston. UPI sent him to Trenton in 1959 to cover New Jersey state government and politics. The (Bergen) Record opened their first full-time Trenton bureau in January 1961 and recruited Ahearn to run it. Ahearn’ presence allowed the fabled Robert Comstock to focus as The Record’s chief political reporter without the encumbrances of covering state government and public policy. Gov. Robert Meyner delivered his State of the State address on Ahearn’s first day with the Record.” Read more here
—“Sweeney Romances Essex on his ‘Path to Progress’ Tour, then Codey Shows Up” Read more here
—“Sweeney introduces ‘Path to Progress’ plan to business community” Read more here
— Audit calls on DOE to provide more oversight of school district monitors Read more here
JUST DON’T ASK HIM ABOUT DONALD TRUMP. HE WON’T ANSWER. — Tom Kean Jr. targets socialism in congressional campaign kickoff, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: With one of the most well-known names in New Jersey politics, a long list of fundraising contacts and a record of nearly two decades in Trenton, state Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. will attempt to return a House seat to GOP control after it went blue last year. At an American Legion Hall in suburban Clark in Union County, Kean formally announced that he’ll seek the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, a former diplomat and Obama administration official who last year ousted longtime incumbent Leonard Lance in New Jersey’s 7th District amid a wave of anti-Donald Trump sentiment. Kean is framing his run as a battle between traditional American capitalism versus the open embrace of socialism by some high-profile Democratic freshmen in the House, while ignoring his own party’s move to the right in the Trump era. Read more here
13,222 MASTROS — “$119 Billion plan to protect NY/NJ from another Sandy raises concerns over impact, cost,” by The Record’s Scott Fallon: “Despite its enormous price tag and concerns about its environmental impact, the federal government is still considering a project to build a series of barriers to protect New York and North Jersey from storm surges like the one from Superstorm Sandy in 2012 that devastated the region. The proposals — including a 6-mile series of tide gates and sea walls from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point, Queens — have generated so much criticism that a national environmental group on Tuesday named the Hudson River the second-most-threatened waterway in the U.S. because of the potential project … Details on the proposals are contained in a 136-page report that estimates the four barrier proposals of varying complexity and scope would cost from $32 billion, for a series of surge gates in area rivers, to $119 billion, for the 6-mile barrier.” Read more here
2020 — “Cory Booker talks new tax credit plan during Iowa visit,” by The Washington Post’s Elana Schor and Alexandra Jaffe: “Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker on Monday proposed a significant expansion of the earned income tax credit that he said would lower the annual tax bill for almost half of American taxpayers. The senator from New Jersey, who recently launched a national tour aimed at boosting his 2020 presidential bid, touted the plan during a campaign event in Iowa as creating a tax code ‘that reflects our values.’ … Booker would pay for his expanded tax credit by taxing capital gains income at the same rate as other income. His campaign, citing the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, projects the policy would benefit 154 million Americans.” Read more here
WERE THERE ANY CORPORATE PAC CONTRIBUTIONS IN HIS SENATE ACCOUNT? — “Here’s where Booker is getting the money for his presidential campaign,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan D. Salant: “The biggest contributor to Cory Booker’s presidential campaign was his Senate committee. During the latest fund-raising cycle, Booker, D-N.J., transferred $2.7 million from his Senate account to his presidential campaign committee. Including the $5.1 million he previously announced raising, that gave him a total of $7.9 million for the two months since announcing his candidacy, according to Federal Election Commission filings released Monday.” Read more here
—“Gottheimer rails against Trump tax reform, but H&R Block says tax liability fell in NJ” Read more here
—“Pascrell confident in Dems’ strategy to obtain Trump tax returns” Read more here
A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME IF GILMORE DOESN’T WALK? — “Toms River Republican wars: three candidates for mayor fight over party’s future,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “A fracture in the local Republican organization has led to a three-way GOP primary fight featuring candidate slates headed by a former Ocean County prosecutor and two incumbent councilmen. Former Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, 69, was selected as the GOP mayoral candidate last month by Toms River’s Regular Republican Organization. Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher, 86, who has held the mayor’s post since 2008, chose not to seek re-election. Coronato is being challenged by two councilmen: long-time incumbent Maurice B. “Mo” Hill Jr., 71, and Daniel T. Rodrick, 43, who was elected to the council as a Democrat in 2017 but switched to the GOP last year.” Read more here
MAYBE BORROW AGAINST DANA REDD’S FUTURE PENSION? — “Camden activists on a mission to Trenton to seek more funding for city’s schools,” by The Philadelphia Inquire’s Melanie Burney: “Camden activists began a three-day march Monday to Trenton to meet with lawmakers to demand more funding for the city’s traditional public school system to avoid layoffs and school shutdowns to close a $27 million budget deficit. After a brief rally and prayer in downtown Camden, Keith Benson, president of the Camden Education Association, began the first leg of the march to Trenton. He walked about 13 miles to Beverly.” Read more here
—“Many positive signs in Atlantic City casino market” Read more here
—“Lakewood yeshiva BMG eyes Woodlake golf course for new campus” Read more here
—“Baraka: ‘A new youth prison not happening in Newark’” Read more here
—“A progressive perspective: the dysfunctional Trenton municipal government” Read more here
—“Ex-Trenton Police dispatchers sue after losing jobs for ‘boycotting’ illegal comp-time program” Read more here
—“Local pastors, activists spar with Jersey City over affordable housing” Read more here
—“Ocean Grove fire: Firefighters posed for pictures while businesses burned” Read more here
—“Atlantic City GOP picks slate for city council, freeholders” Read more here
—”After East Brunswick fight, Muslim parents worry for their children” Read more here
—“Dome lights still dark at Camden’s Adventure Aquarium” Read more here
—“A tearful goodbye to a town hero who died trying to save a boy an ocean away, the funeral of Dr. Derrick Nelson” Read more here
NEW MURPHY ADMINISTRATION JOB RECRUIT? — “FB post leads officer to man who allegedly harassed a seal,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “Video on Facebook led a conservation officer to a man who allegedly disturbed a seal and caused it to jump off a North Cape May jetty to get away. According to the Department of Environmental Protections’ Bureau of Law Enforcement, Officer Brian Tomlin conducted an investigation last month after being tipped off to the video post. In the video, the man appeared to approach within a few feet of the seal and began calling it like someone would a dog, according to the bureau. The seal became agitated and jumped off the jetty onto the solid ground about 4 feet below to get back into the water.” Read more here
APPARENTLY THE BAN ON CASHLESS STORES DOES NOT APPLY — “Bridge connecting New Jersey, Staten Island to go cashless,” by The AP: “Another major bridge in the New York City area is going cashless. The electronic tolling system will debut at the Outerbridge Crossing connecting Staten Island with Perth Amboy, New Jersey next Wednesday. The Bayonne Bridge went cashless in 2017, and the Goethals Bridge connecting Elizabeth, New Jersey and Staten Island is scheduled to go cashless this fall.” Read more here
—“Inaugural class of NJ Journalism Hall of Fame to be inducted” Read more here
—“Paralyzed in arrest, stuck in hospital bed — judge still wants him in court” Read more here
—“N.J. real estate agency, apartment owner refused to rent to anyone who wasn’t Korean, state AG alleges” Read more here
