Booker heads to Mill-e-wah-que – Politico

Good Tuesday morning!

Sen. Cory Booker is in Milwaukee today (pronounced mill-e-wah-que) and he’s hoping that what’s said to be the Algonquin meaning of city’s name — “the good land” — will prove true for his campaign.

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Of course, while I expect Booker will be a regular visitor to Milwaukee, it has seen its share of visitors before, beginning with the French missionaries and explorers who came to trade with the natives in the 1600s. And as the host site of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, it will certainly see many more. What’s more, as more and more Democrats openly embrace the once-politically toxic label of democratic socialism, it’s worth noting that Milwaukee is the only major American city to have elected three socialist mayors.

It remains to be seen if Booker is worthy of Milwaukee Democrats’ support. But does this guy know how to run in a party primary or what? See more here

PROGRAMMING NOTE: If you received New York Playbook yesterday and aren’t signed up for it, sorry for the error. Don’t worry, Andrew Cuomo has not launched a cross-Hudson invasion. Yet.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW OFF SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 113

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He gives this amazing speech about how he cares so much about all the other sea creatures, sea creatures with disabilities, sea creatures who speak a different language and sea creatures who are in need and he ends up winning the election.” — New Jersey reading specialist Carla Heusser Siravo on her new book, “Hugh Manatee for President.”

WHERE’S MURPHY? — At Rutgers New Brunswick for a 10 a.m. speech on gun control, followed by an 11 a.m. at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Guttenberg Mayor Wayne Zitt

DECK TOWN HALL WITH CHECKS FOR HOLLEY — Assemblyman received $30K settlement from hometown over dispute with mayor, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: State Assemblyman Jamel Holley received a $30,000 settlement from his hometown of Roselle after he sued the borough for “malicious prosecution” during a drawn-out dispute between him and the mayor. According to a document obtained by POLITICO, the settlement, paid by the Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund on behalf of the borough, was to be kept “absolutely confidential.” The document does not say what the claims were, but according to court filings, Holley sued Roselle for malicious prosecution after Mayor Christine Dansereau filed an unsuccessful criminal complaint against him alleging harassment. Read more here

THE NUCLEAR OPTION — Nuclear energy’s stealth takeover, by R Street Institute’s Travis Kavulla for POLITICO: For the past several years, I’ve been researching clean-energy regulations at the state level, and a troubling pattern has begun to emerge: In numerous states, companies with large investments in nuclear energy — including Exelon, First Energy, Dominion and PSEG — have lobbied states to reconfigure their clean-power incentives to subsidize existing nuclear plants, rather than the emergent technologies that the laws were intended for. The result is a contagion of subsidies to nuclear power plants that started in Democratic states like Illinois and New York in 2016, spread to Connecticut in 2017 and New Jersey in 2018. Bills to this effect are now being considered by Republican-led chambers in Ohio and Pennsylvania. If those measures pass, nuclear interests will have executed a clean sweep of the six northeastern states that have the largest quantities of nuclear generation … The nuclear subsidy schemes are an elaborate greenwashing that neither returns money to the public nor further reduces carbon emissions. And these are not cheap programs. Read more here

AND WE WANT THEM TO TEACH FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES? “Some NJ districts pile up debt building schools, others are debt-free,” by NJ Spotlight’s Colleen O’Dea: “New Jersey provides several ways to help school districts fund construction projects, but that hasn’t stopped some districts from amassing huge amounts of debt as they construct state-of-the-art facilities, sometimes for relatively small numbers of students. In total, New Jersey public school districts ended the 2016 school year $6.9 billion in debt, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data provided by The Hechinger Report as part of its Districts in Debt series. That amounts to about $5,100 per student. While that sounds like a lot, New Jersey is in better shape than the nation as a whole. School debt in the United States totaled $434 billion in 2016 — the latest year for which complete numbers are available — which averages out to about $8,900 per student, Hechinger reports.” Read more here

MAYBE IF WE GIVE TAX CREDITS TO VOTING MACHINE MANUFACTURERS — “Who will pay to upgrade NJ’s voting technology?” by NJ 101.5’s Michael Symons: “Counties are preparing to adopt the latest in election technology — but progress could depend on whether and when the state pays for the upgrade. As part of their effort to get lawmakers, freeholders and others familiar with what’s available, the New Jersey Association of Election Officials recently held a trade show at the Trenton War Memorial showing off the current state of technology — items common in some states but rare, for now, in New Jersey. Cape May County Clerk Rita Fulginiti said the pace for the updates will depend on state law and state funding.” Read more here

ENVIRONMENT — “Environmental allies of NJ governor say he should do more,” by The AP’s Mike Catalini: “New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy needs to do more to make good on promises to help the environment, a group of environmental groups — many of which endorsed him — said Monday. Nine groups accused the first-term governor and the Democrat-led Legislature of not moving quickly enough on such issues as setting up a dedicated fund for New Jersey Transit and issuing a promised energy master plan. They also call for more funds for the Department of Environmental Protection and halting construction on fossil fuel infrastructure. The news conference was a rebuke of a governor who has campaigned as an unabashed progressive and champion on the environment.” Read more here

THING IS, VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN GET A CARRY PERMIT — “Why having a gun in New Jersey could soon cost 20 times as much,” by The New York Times’ Nicholas Corasaniti: “Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey wants to put the state at the forefront of a movement to raise fees on gun permits in order to expand efforts to tackle gun violence and reduce the flow of illegal firearms. Though New Jersey has strict gun control laws, its firearms fees have not changed since the mid-1960s, making it a bargain for gun owners. A firearm identification card costs $5, while a permit to own a firearm is $2. A permit to carry a gun costs $20. New York City, which also has stringent gun laws, charges $340 to apply for a permit to own and carry a gun. Mr. Murphy, a Democrat, has proposed fees that would be among the highest in the country. An identification card would cost $100, an owner’s permit would be $50 and a carry permit $400.” Read more here

—O’Toole: “At the Port Authority, every day is Earth Day. Here’s what that means” Read more here

—“State’s new-look energy plan is delayed, now expected in December” Read more here

—“Giblin to serve as cabinet secretary for Murphy” Read more here

—“Decline in recidivism rate attributed in part to residential treatment programs” Read more here

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO FORCE MAHWAH TO BUILD A WAWA. NOW. — “The Ramapough Lenape Indians accuse Mahwah, N.J., of using zoning rules to violate their religious freedom,’ by The New York Times’ Sarah Maslin Nir: “A knee-high pile of rocks sits in a far corner of a gated community set among rolling hills known as the Polo Club. To the Ramapough Lenape Nation, which owns a patch of land in the gated community and piled the stones here, it’s an altar. To the Township of Mahwah, the 15-foot-long mound is a violation of town code. And since 2017, the town has regularly issued flurries of citations: for the rock pile, for a collection of fallen trees tipped upright and arranged in a circle, and for using a residentially zoned plot for religious use, even when no one is there … But in this case, the federal government — often a tribe’s adversary — has come to the Ramapoughs’ aid. The federal Justice Department filed a letter last month expressing its support for the tribe, suggesting that the tribe had cause to believe that the town’s behavior has ‘significantly chilled Ramapough’s use of the land for religious purposes’ in violation of federal protections. The Justice Department letter comes on the heels of a ruling in Trenton that clarified the Ramapoughs’ status as a state-recognized tribe.” Read more here

IMMIGRATION — “Are NJ, Northeast too full for more immigrants, as Trump says?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Mike Davis: “While President Donald Trump has argued that the country is too ‘full’ to accept any more immigrants, experts contend that the Northeast would become a ghost town without immigrant growth. New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware make up some of the nation’s most dense and diverse areas, with huge immigrant populations that have grown at an exponential clip compared with the total population: New Jersey: The 2 million immigrants in the state is the fifth most in the U.S. and represents about 23 percent of the total state population. The number of immigrants grew by 11.4 percent from 2010 to 2017, while the total population grew to over 9 million, up just over 3 percent … ‘You don’t get economic growth if you don’t have population growth,’ said Rutgers University Professor James Hughes, dean emeritus of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. ‘And if we didn’t have international migration, we’d be losing population. It’s keeping the state on a growth path — but it’s very modest growth.’” Read more here

IN NEWARK THIS WOULD MEAN PUTTING A LIVE POWER LINE IN THE PASSAIC — “Presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker hosting fish fry in Lowcountry,” by WSAV’s Molly Curley: “HAMPTON, S.C. (WSAV) – Another presidential hopeful is heading to the Lowcountry. According to his campaign website, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is hosting a ‘Meet and Greet Fish Fry‘ on Friday in Hampton County.” Read more here

— SALT deduction cap blamed for lower blue-state boost from tax cut Read more here

—“It will be devastating for N.J. if the Supreme Court allows Trump to weaponize the Census, congressman says” Read more here

—“Advocates rally against census citizenship question ahead of Supreme Court hearings” Read more here

NEWARK MAKES TRENTON TAKES — “Trailblazing police director from Newark poised to become first woman to lead Trenton police,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amanda Hoover: “Sheilah Coley, the first African-American woman to direct the Newark and East Orange police departments, is poised to take on another barrier-breaking role: becoming the first woman to lead the Trenton Police Department. The nomination, announced Monday by Mayor Reed Gusciora, will be the fifth person in the position since the mayor took office in July.” Read more here

DO THEY GET ANNUAL TRIPS TO PUERTO RICO? — “Dozens of ICE Detainees Have Been Placed on Suicide Watch in a New Jersey Facility,” by Documented’s Lea Ceasrine: “Immigrants detained in Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey say they are not receiving adequate mental health care, according to complaints obtained by Documented. The detainees say they are not receiving proper psychiatric medication and do not have adequate access to mental health professionals.” Read more here

SWIMMING POOL NEWS — “Co-ed restrictions at condo community swimming pool in Lakewood were discriminatory, appeals court rules,” by NJ Advance Media’s Paige Gross: “An appeals court ruled today that a condo community that was setting separate swimming hours for its male and female residents was in fact discriminating against women, in violation of the Fair Housing Act, court documents show. The original lawsuit dates back to September 2016, when A Country Place condo community in Lakewood changed its rules for its outdoor swimming pool to cater to the Orthodox Jewish beliefs of a majority of its residents.” Read more here

BUT WHERE WILL THE RICH PEOPLE LIVE? — “Island outside poor N.J. city could have had luxury homes. Now, it’ll be a nature preserve,” by NJ Advance Media’s Bill Duhart: “The eagle has landed. This is not only a code phrase in a cheesy spy movie but a fact near a 300-acre island on the Delaware River border between New Jersey and Philadelphia that is scheduled to become a protected nature reserve within the next three years. A bald eagle nest discovered here 15 years ago helped launch the plan to convert this former petroleum storage facility into a protected wildlife area. But the process of how that happens is still evolving.” Read more here

NEW JERSEY’S FAVORITE WHITMAN — “Whitman@200: What does Walt mean to Camden?” by The Courier-Post’s Phaedra Trethan: “Camden, Walt Whitman said, brought him ‘blessed returns.‘ The poet, writer and American icon, during his life and in the many years since his death, has returned those blessings. His words are etched in the stone of Camden’s City Hall, and his earthly remains are interred in its most famous cemetery. His likeness is all over Camden, from the ‘City Invincible’ mural on the Admiral Wilson Boulevard to the bust in the lobby at City Hall. The only home he ever owned is carefully preserved, a downtown landmark that draws visitors to Camden from around the world. And his imprint, his influence and his legacy are still strong in the city where he spent most of his final two decades. That legacy will be celebrated in Camden, Philadelphia and elsewhere with a series of events marking Whitman’s 200th birthday.” Read more here

BAYONNE TO SHAOLIN — “Commuter gondola plan gets off ground, but Bayonne says it’s being left out of the loop,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “Staten Island officials are serious about building a gondola between the New York borough and Bayonne, and they are bringing their New Jersey neighbor along for the ride. At a business conference last week, Staten Island officials unveiled the results of a study of a gondola plan, which would cut down on the commute time for Staten Islanders getting into Manhattan, the Staten Island Advance reported … That’s all news to Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, who said in a statement that he learned of the April 16 conference second-hand and has ‘heard nothing directly from Staten Island about the gondola issue’ since contributing $10,000 in 2018 for a feasibility study that was reported as costing $212,000.” Read more here

—“Monmouth County Police Academy renovation costs skyrocket to $57M” Read more here

—“Toms River municipal budget has no tax increase; councilman votes against it anyway” Read more here

—“Atlantic City mayor headed to court over lawsuit that says he owes nightclub manager $5K” Read more here

—“Jersey Shore town illegally hiked beachfront parking fees to pay for post-Sandy repairs” Read more here

—“Jersey Shore town won’t follow Yankees or Flyers. Kate Smith’s ‘God Bless America’ to play on boardwalk despite racial controversy” Read more here

THE CHURCH — “NJ clergy sexual abuse victims say church compensation program isn’t enough,” by The Courier-News’ Nick Muscavage: “On Feb. 11, the state’s five Catholic dioceses announced the creation of the statewide Independent Victim Compensation Program to pay eligible victims who were sexually abused by clergy of the Roman Catholic Church while minors … The program, however, prohibits claims of clergy sexual abuse by members of a religious order, who do not answer to the Archdiocese of Newark or the Dioceses of Metuchen, Camden, Trenton or Paterson … Religious brothers, unlike diocesan priests, vowed their lives independently from diocesan priesthood. They can work at diocesan properties and can become priests within their religious order. If they are ordained as priests, they oftentimes dress the same as diocesan priests and can preside over mass and offer sacraments.” Read more here

HE’S AHEAD OF BOOKER IN THE POLLS — “SJ teacher’s children’s book ‘Hugh Manatee for President’ encourages empathy, compassion,” by The Courier-Post’s Celeste E. Whittaker: “Carla Heusser Siravo’s book was born from her journal entries during her time as a reading specialist at a charter school in Camden. ‘Hugh Manatee for President’, which was released on March 1 by Indigo River Publishing, is the story of a manatee, who wants to run for the big school election, but doesn’t have the confidence. Siravo, now an elementary reading specialist in Haddon Township, taught at Mastery Cramer Hill Elementary for five years after being placed there through Teach for America.” Read more here

R.I.P. — “200 strangers show up at funeral for N.J. veteran who died alone” Read more here

—“NJ is no. 1 for drug-related juvenile arrests” Read more here

—“’RHONJ’ Joe Giudice’s daughter asks President Trump to stop his deportation” Read more here