Newark water warnings ignored – Politico

Good Thursday morning!

President Trump has been impeached. Rep. Jeff Van Drew is still — at least as of the time I’m writing this — a Democrat. And the Senate will almost certainly not convict the president.

That’s about as deep as my analysis of the impeachment process itself goes. As for New Jersey, note that the other 10 Democratic House members — the ones who aren’t about to become Republicans — voted for impeachment. That includes four in extremely competitive districts — Josh Gottheimer, Andy Kim, Tom Malinowski, Mikie Sherrill.

I think it’s clear that whatever the pitfalls of impeachment are, these members had more to worry about from their own party than they do from the general electorate. Despite their competitiveness, their districts are much different than Van Drew’s, and demographically more anti-Trump. I’m not saying that none of these other swing district members are taking a leap of faith. But they do look at polls.

TIPS: mfriedman@politico.com

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m really disappointed that LeRoy didn’t sit down with people that all were working together before he decided to do this on his own.” — Senate President Steve Sweeney on the state party chairmanship deal, which South Jersey wasn’t a part of. (When was the last time a big brokered deal like this happened without them?)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, Attorney Carla Katz

DAYS MURPHY HAS SPENT OUT OF STATE SINCE BECOMING DGA CHAIR: 2

WHERE’S MURPHY?: In Elizabeth at 11 a.m. to sign the driver’s license bill, followed by “Ask Governor Murphy” on WBGO at 8 p.m.

WARNINGS WARNINGS EVERYWHERE — “Was Newark’s water crisis preventable? Records reveal problems festered for years,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karen Yi: “Before the comparisons to Flint, Michigan, before trucks full of bottled water rumbled through Newark’s streets, before parents rushed to test their kids for lead poisoning, somebody knew there was a problem. A state regulator, alarmed by Newark’s water disinfection practices, warned city officials that residents should boil their water, according to never-before-released letters from 2014 obtained by NJ Advance Media. ’If the monthly operator reports are correct then the water provided … potentially compromised public health,’ the state official wrote, citing five months of water testing. A boil water notice never came, and the problem then wasn’t lead. But the episode was the first of many red flags at the Pequannock treatment plant, which supplies water to 300,000 North Jersey residents. Five years later, Newark found itself consumed by crisis. An NJ Advance Media review of hundreds of pages of previously unreported public records provides the clearest picture yet of the fateful decisions that caused a national lead emergency in New Jersey’s largest city. The records place blame on decision-makers at every level who failed to heed warning signs over the last seven years. They failed to keep the plant in proper working order. They failed to follow the law and skirted state mandates. Worst of all, they failed to keep drinking water safe for hundreds of thousands of residents.”

MR. JONES AND CURRIE — Jones endorses Currie as deal for Democratic state chairman solidifies, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: The fight for control of the Democratic State Committee is officially over. Incumbent Chairman John Currie and Essex County Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones, Currie’s challenger, announced Wednesday they had reached a deal to head off an election and, sources said, avoid a potential court battle over appointment to the state’s legislative redistricting panel. Jones, who just weeks ago was said to have gained the endorsement of enough committee members to beat Currie in a reelection fight, said he was backing out of the race and instead supporting the sitting chairman — an ally of Gov. Phil Murphy — for one more term, ending in June 2021. Vice Chair Peg Schaffer would remain in place for two more terms as part of the agreement. “Throughout this process I have maintained my friendship with Chairman Currie and I consider him to be an example of exactly the kind of leader our party needs,” Jones said in a statement.

—“State chairman deal came because neither side was certain of their count”

EXPUNGE-WORTHY — Murphy signs bills allowing voting rights for parolees, easier expungements, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman and Sam Sutton: Tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who lost their right to vote after criminal convictions will soon be able to cast a ballot again. And many others with criminal offenses will now have an easier time removing them from their records. The two criminal justice measures, passed Monday by the state Legislature, were signed into law Wednesday morning by Gov. Phil Murphy during a ceremony in Newark. “Who hasn’t made a mistake, for crying out loud? Come on,” Murphy said before signing the bills. The new law, which takes effect in three months, restores voting rights to about 80,000 New Jersey residents who are on parole or probation. Murphy on also signed the latest version of a criminal expungement bill, under which the governor will appoint a task force to develop a process for automatically expunging, or otherwise making inaccessible, records of old non-violent offenses.

DELAYED ARRIVAL — “NJ Transit reform report card: Ethics officer role in limbo as board selections stall,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “A full-time chief ethics officer has not yet been hired in accordance with the NJ Transit reform law passed last year. The new role was designed by the Legislature so the chief would report directly to the board, work independently of other agency officials, and create a whistleblower program to provide employees with an outlet to voice concerns or complaints that could be investigated. However, in a so-called Catch-22 scenario, NJ Transit has installed two different acting chiefs since January because ongoing squabbles have prevented a full board from being installed. Until then, a permanent ethics chief will not be selected, officials said.”

OWNERS OF FOR-PROFIT HOSPITALS TO CONTINUE CREATING SHELL COMPANIES TO MAKE ANONYMOUS $1M DONATIONS — Legislation requiring more transparency from for-profit hospitals nears final passage, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: For-profit hospitals may soon have to open their books to the public, giving lawmakers and the public more insight into how they transact with consulting firms, management companies and joint ventures controlled by the same owners or investors. Three days after advancing out of two critical committees in the Senate and Assembly, both houses voted Monday to approve a three-bill package that would require for-profit hospitals to disclose more information about their finances and transactions with related parties. The Senate, however, made technical amendments to the legislation. Those still need to be taken up by the Assembly before the bill can go to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk.

—“Holley claims Murphy playing politics on voting rights bill signing”

—“Debate to continue over NJ bill rewriting rules for freelance workers, contractors”

—“Lawmakers require NJ Transit to study one-seat rides to NYC on Raritan Valley Line”

—“Finally, N.J. has outlawed the ‘Gay Panic Defense,’ professor says”

—Office cleaners vote to authorize strike

NJ BRINGS ITS TRADITIONS TO THE MIDWEST — “Top 2020 DNC Host Committee execs double-dipping with New Jersey political work,” by The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Daniel Bice: “Two officials leading the supposedly nonpartisan Host Committee tasked with raising $70 million for the event have been double-dipping by getting paid on the side by the New Jersey Democratic Party. Such partisan work is barred by the committee’s employee handbook, which is now being rewritten. And we’re not talking small change, according to federal election filings. Since arriving here in late May — shortly after Milwaukee was chosen to hold the convention — Adam Alonso, chief of staff for the Host Committee, has been paid $65,000 via his consulting firm by the New Jersey Democratic Party. He has received as much as $17,500 a month to advise New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Liz Gilbert, president of the Host Committee, has been paid $5,000 through her consulting firm by the New Jersey state party since September, when she was named to lead the Milwaukee convention effort. Also helping out is another New Jersey politico, Democratic Party spokesman Philip Swibinski. His PR company is now managing the Host Committee’s website and email platform. The New Jersey Democratic Party paid his firm $12,000 in October.”

MACHINE SUPPORT FOR BRIGID IS RIGID — Senate President Steve Sweeney and six of the eight Democratic county chairs endorsed Brigid Harrison for Congress last, a whole four days after news broke that Jeff Van Drew is about to become a Republican. “Brigid will be a strong candidate and a very effective member of Congress who will fight for the Democratic principles and priorities that will best serve the needs of the Congressional District, South Jersey, the State of New Jersey and the country. We will give Brigid our full support to gain the party’s nomination and to win in a general election that is so important to the country’s future. We’re going to fight for Brigid because we know she will fight for South Jersey and for the people of the 2nd District,” the statement read. There are several other potential candidates out there, but this puts the machine squarely behind Harrison. The statement was signed by the Democratic chairs of Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties. Not on the statement: Atlantic and Ocean Counties. Recall Harrison, a professor at Montclair State, in May wrote a pro-George Norcross op-ed about Camden tax incentives, and more recently hosted Norcross as part of her “Salon series.” (Harrison also hosted members of the progressive group NJ 11th for Change this month.)

—“Former Van Drew staffers land in Pallone world”

OBVIOUSLY ANTI-SEMITIC COMMENTS DOWNGRADED TO ‘CONTROVERSIAL’ — “Calls for Jersey City BOE member to resign intensify, while some come to her defense,” by The Jersey Journal’s Patrick Villanova: “Calls for the resignation of Jersey City Board of Education Trustee Joan Terrell-Paige intensified Wednesday, following controversial comments she made about the city’s Jewish community in the wake of last week’s deadly attack on a kosher supermarket. But Terrell-Paige, who is black, also received varying levels of support from some in Jersey City’s black community … ‘The Hudson County Democratic Black Caucus does not condone hatred towards any group,’ the group said in a statement. ‘While we do not agree with the delivery of the statement made by Ms. Terrell-Paige, we believe that her statement has heightened awareness around issues that must be addressed and should be a topic of a larger conversation by two communities that have already and must always continue to coexist harmoniously.’ The statement is attributed to state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight, Freeholder Jerry Walker, and Jersey City Council members Joyce Watterman, Denise Ridley, and Jermaine Robinson … Carolyn Oliver Fair, the executive director of the North Jersey Chapter of the National Action Network, defiantly said both Murphy and Fulop need to shut their mouths.’”

ISN’T IT IRONIC? — “Ex-N.J. police chief wants conviction overturned in bias case, claims racial bullying among jurors,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino: “Former Bordentown Police Chief Frank Nucera is seeking to have his conviction on charges he lied to federal investigators overturned by arguing that white members of the jury have made sworn statements saying they were bullied by black jurors into rendering the verdict in the alleged hate-crime case. Four members of the jury, which convicted Nucera of lying but could not agree on bias charges accusing him of hitting a handcuffed black teenager, now say they regret convicting the ex-cop of anything, according to a motion filed Tuesday by Nucera’s attorney in U.S. District Court in Camden … In a highly-publicized case, prosecutors accused Nucera, 62, of striking Timothy Stroye, a handcuffed black teen from Trenton, as he was being led out to a patrol car at the Ramada Inn on Route 206 in Bordentown.”

DEAR POLITICIANS: PLEASE FOLLOW HIS LEAD AND PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING — “I won’t help you, but I’ll take a job, losing mayor tells his replacement,” by NJ Advance Media’s Chris Franklin: “A South Jersey mayor refused to have a transition meeting with his replacement and instead said he’d only meet with her if they could talk about him getting a municipal job. According to emails obtained by NJ Advance Media, an exchange was made between Penns Grove Municipal Clerk Sharon Williams and Penns Grove Mayor-Elect LaDeana Thomas that shows current Democrat Mayor John Washington rejected an invite from Thomas for a transition meeting — unless there was a chance for him to talk about getting a job in the Salem County town.”

MIDDLESEX — “Indicted Middlesex Borough Mayor Ronald DiMura resigns,” by The Courier-News’ Mike Deak: “The question from a resident at Tuesday’s borough council meeting was simple: Does Ronald DiMura still have keys to Borough Hall? DiMura, who was indicted by a state grand jury Monday on charges of theft and official misconduct for allegedly stealing approximately $190,000 from various local political campaigns and using a local charity he runs to launder the money, resigned from office on Wednesday, two weeks before his four-year term will expire. DiMura, defeated for re-election last month by Council President John Madden, did not attend the council meeting. Madden, in announcing DiMura’s resignation, said that if the charges against DiMura are proven in court, ‘his blatant abuse of power, disregard for the law, and violation of the public trust should be punished to the fullest extent possible.’”

—“Englewood mayor, an immigration attorney, representing widow of Jersey City attack victim”

—“Ex-Pleasantville principal pleads guilty to possession of child pornography”

—“CRDA, LiveNation agree to 3-year, $1.8M deal for Atlantic City beach concerts”

—“Passaic land swap could become a land purchase as council introduces redevelopment plan”

—“Prison reentry plan at Paterson library prompts special City Council meeting”

—“Jersey City to join lawsuit against New York City over homeless relocation program”

AHMED AND DANGEROUS — “N.J. man whose phone number was found on Jersey City shooter is a weapons dealer, feds allege in court,” by NJ Advance Media’s Joe Atmonovage: “Ahmed A-Hady, 35, appeared in Newark federal court for a second time Wednesday since being charged as a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm after authorities recovered six rifles, five handguns and one shotgun during a search of a Keyport pawn shop that he lives above and his father operates. Authorities searched the Keyport pawn shop and A-Hady’s residence after finding his phone number in the pocket of one of the shooters from the mass shooting in Jersey City last week. On Wednesday, as the government again argued A-Hady should be denied bail, assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kearney told the judge ‘this was not a routine matter.’ Kearney said the government now has evidence that A-Hady sells AR-15 style assault rifles.”

PIANO TUNERS LOCAL 412 TO STRIKE IN SYMPATHY — Office cleaners vote to authorize strike, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: Thousands of workers who clean office buildings throughout New Jersey have voted to authorize a strike in the new year if they are unable to secure a new contract by Dec. 31. The union 32BJ SEIU, which represents the workers, has been in negotiations since October with a group representing commercial building owners and cleaning contractors. If they are unable to reach an agreement by the end of the year, more than 500 buildings in New Jersey, including several PATH stations, could be affected. Kevin Brown, 32BJ SEIU vice president and New Jersey state director, said a strike is a “last resort,” but that workers are prepared to take the action.

HE’S RIGHT, YOU KNOW — “Chris Gethard’s ‘Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese’ album a comedic NJ tribute,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Alex Biese: “The West Orange-native comedian’s new album, ‘Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese: A Comedic Tribute to New Jersey,’ arrives via New Brunswick-based Don Giovanni Records on Wednesday, Dec. 18 … Gethard said the decision to create a Garden State-inspired set followed last year’s cancellation of ‘The Chris Gethard Show’ … Gethard recorded ‘Taylor Ham’ live at the Asbury Park Brewery earlier this year, and his discussion of the meaty, contentious topic that gives the album its title earned him some immediate hostility from the Central Jersey crowd in attendance … ‘I knew someone was going to try to fight me,’ said Gethard. ‘And I tell you, that exact moment is why I still have such a great allegiance towards New Jersey, and why I still love people from New Jersey so much.’”