Experts get critical on tax incentives – Politico

Good Friday morning!

The state Senate’s special committee to examine tax incentives, having held a hearing in July that was largely a cheer-leading rally for incentives and a forum for gripes about how quickly the Murphy administration is approving them, actually heard from critical voices yesterday.

National experts explained how studies showed tax incentives aren’t often that big a factor in companies’ decisions to relocate, and went into detail about how the programs could be improved. They used facts, figures and studies — which, let’s face it, constitute a contrast from the mostly anecdotal arguments we’ve heard from the business community and other supporters about how necessary these incentives are.

But we’re all still waiting for the main event. George Norcross wants to testify. The committee has some meetings left, including one later this month. As of right now, there’s no word on when that will happen.

Read Katherine Landergan’s story about yesterday’s meeting here.

WHERE’S MURPHY? — On CNBC at 1:30 p.m., followed by a speech at the Parade of Champions for Elmora Troopers in Elizabeth at 3:00 p.m., and in Newark at 5:00 p.m. for the Essex-West Hudson Labor Council parade.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Gov. Chris Christie, ACLU’s Ari Rosmarin, TSA’s Brittany Brammell,

QUOTE OF THE DAY: ““There’s zero chance of this bill going anywhere. … It’s frustrating, but elections sometimes make you make some decisions that might not be as good as they need to be.” — Senate President Stephen Sweeney taking a shot at Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin over the NJEA-backed health benefits bill

DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW OFF SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 248

NOT THE PATH TO PROGRESS — Murphy: Towns, schools to save on health benefits, pension payments, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: Local governments and school districts will save money on health insurance and pension contributions next year, while employees will see their insurance premiums drop, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday. The savings are the result of numerous efficiencies implemented over the past year, the state said. Insurance premiums will decline 2.3 percent for school boards and 3.8 percent for municipalities, reversing a trend of annual increases that have surpassed 10 percent in some years. “Two of the largest drivers of property taxes are health care and pension costs and today those costs are being reined in,” Murphy said in a statement. “The fiscally responsible path we’re putting New Jersey on — a dogged pursuit to lower the cost of health care, collaboration with our public union partners, and bolstering our pension system — is the right one.”

TIME FOR PSEG TO CONSIDER SOME MORE DARK MONEY DONATIONS — “Nuke subsidies under review just months after contentious approval,” by NJ Spotlight’s Tom Johnson: “Less than half a year after the state awarded lucrative ratepayer subsidies to keep three nuclear power plants from closing, regulatory officials are beginning to explore whether the subsidies should be extended, or perhaps reduced. In April, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved roughly $300 million in new annual surcharges on utility customers’ bills to prevent Public Service Enterprise Group from prematurely retiring the Salem I and II units and Hope Creek nuclear plants on Artificial Island in South Jersey. The decision has had huge implications for New Jersey’s long-term energy policy. Controversy over the subsidies led the Legislature to approve the incentives only after approval was tied to a companion bill promoting clean-energy initiatives, including measures to boost energy efficiency, offshore wind, and solar. All of this was done before the administration of Gov. Phil Murphy adopted a new energy master plan, laying out a blueprint to achieve ambitious clean-energy and climate goals.”

*EXCEPT FOR THAT WHOLE CORRUPTION THING — “Governor Murphy praises convicted felon John Lynch as ‘great mayor,’” by New Brunswick Today’s Charlie Kratovil: “The comment came just minutes before Murphy declined to address a personnel change in the important law enforcement role of Middlesex County Prosecutor, a recently-vacated position to which Murphy has not yet nominated anyone … ‘It is impossible, as I introduce the Mayor of New Brunswick, for anyone to assert that anything happening this week, last week, last year, five years ago, ten years ago, fifteen years ago, that he was living off the success of his predecessor, who was also a great Mayor,’ said Murphy, an apparent reference to political boss John Lynch, Jr. … Lynch, who NJ Spotlight declared was the fifth-most corrupt New Jersey politician of all-time, served as Mayor of New Brunswick from 1979 until he handed the position off to his cousin James Cahill in 1991. Cahill has been the Mayor ever since and he still meets with Lynch to talk politics.”

PIPELINES — DEP tells PennEast its application is incomplete and ‘deficient’, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio: The state Department of Environmental Protection told PennEast this week that its application to begin construction on a controversial pipeline is incomplete and “deficient” in some areas, and is giving the developer 30 days to address the issues or risk closing the application. In a letter Wednesday, the DEP said several items are needed to deem the application complete, including more information on a survey PennEast said it did to assess historic architectural properties along the pipeline’s route. Kingwood Township also said in an Aug. 27 letter that it had not received a complete copy of the permit application.

—More low-income kids get after-school meals, but not enough

—“Murphy administration announces $54 million investment in child care”

—“NJ Fines Online Fantasy-Sports Site for Breaking Privacy and Licensing Rules

—”Fourth ‘Summer of Hell’ looms next year, but Penn Station disruption this fall minimal.”

—“What Trump administration’s changes to Endangered Species Act could mean for New Jersey”

—“Booker says nuclear power should play a role in fighting climate change”

YOU DOWN WITH K-YAEDE? YEAH YOU KNOW ME — “Hamilton GOP chairman Dennis Pone: Party sticking with ‘terrific’ Mayor Kelly Yaede despite ‘traffic ticket’ charge,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avilucea: “The GOP is still down with Kelly Yaede. Hamilton Township Republican Committee chairman Dennis Pone said the party continues to stand with the allegedly naughty-by-nature township mayor after she was charged with having a hand in the release of her political foe’s expunged criminal records. Pone dismissed any chance the township GOP replaces Yaede as their candidate to square off against Jeff Martin in the general election. ‘Kelly and Dan are charged with a disorderly [persons offense] punishable by a $200 fine. The equivalent of a traffic ticket!’ Pone texted The Trentonian on Wednesday. ‘Big difference, if it is even true.’”

NEWARK HISTORY — “Newark before the comeback: A city marked by white flight, poor policy,” by NJ Spotlight’s Colleen O’Dea: “Many view the 1967 riots, alternatively called a rebellion, in Newark as the city’s low point, prompting whites to flee in droves for the neighboring suburbs. But the phenomenon called white flight started much earlier and the reasons behind it were more numerous and complex than simple racism. People started moving out of the state’s largest city in earnest after World War II. New Jersey’s suburbs were growing and advertisements were portraying them as idyllic places with more space and grassy lawns that were easy to get to by automobile. The U.S. government made it easy for veterans to get a mortgage. As blacks moved from the South into cities like Newark, real estate agents stoked fears that homes would lose their value, prompting whites to sell and move out. ‘Redlining’ discouraged whites from moving into cities and kept blacks from moving out. … For these reasons, and some others, Newark went from being one of the largest cities in the nation — 14th most populous in the U.S. in 1910 — and New Jersey’s economic driver to a struggling urban area with a high crime rate, failing schools and deep poverty in the span of just a few decades.”

WHY SHOULDN’T A PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM CONTROL DRINKING WATER? — “Edison sweetens deal to lease water system as residents weigh public control,” by NJ Advance Media’s Michael Sol Warren: “Last-minute political drama is flaring up in Edison, where the mayor has introduced a new plan just a week before a special election will be held to determine the future of water in New Jersey’s fifth-largest town. Amid ongoing controversy over the town’s plan to lease part of its drinking water system and all of its sewer system to an equity firm-backed private utility, Mayor Thomas Lankey on Tuesday announced a new version of the proposed deal. Under the new terms, the lease locks Edison into a shorter commitment and secures $30 million in funding for upgrades to the town’s schools. Lankey touted the new proposal in a press release, but multiple local officials told NJ Advance Media they were caught off guard by the announcement, and opponents of the lease slammed the move as little more than a last-ditch political effort to sway people from supporting an ordinance that would have the town run its own utilities.”

WAITING FOR BILL SPADEA TO DEFEND THEM — “Cops don disguises, trash cars of man who filed complaint against them, prosecutor says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Alex Napoliello: “Two Asbury Park police officers donned disguises to exact revenge on a citizen who filed a complaint against them by slashing the tires on two of his vehicles, authorities announced Wednesday. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office charged officers Stephen Martinsen, 29, and Thomas Dowling, 26, both of Asbury Park, with conspiracy, criminal mischief and weapons offenses. The officers are accused of vandalizing two vehicles in Ocean Grove and Asbury Park early on Sept. 3, authorities said … Authorities said the two officers wore disguises when they rode their bikes to the vehicles, smashed out windows and slashed all the tires. The victim, Ernest Mignoli, is an outspoken critic of Asbury Park and its police department.”

THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE LAWYER IS GETTING PAID $600,000 — “Lakewood school board member quits: ‘I cannot and will not be part of this’,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Gustavo Martinez: “Calling himself a man of integrity, Heriberto Rodríguez has — once again — quit his seat on the Lakewood Board of Education, just days before the start of the new school year. In a resignation letter to board President Moshe Bender, Rodriguez cited frustration over the district’s perennial financial woes. He wrote that by sitting on the board he strongly feels he is “misleading the students, faculty and community in saying, ‘everything is OK and will get better.’

THE NEXT BEST THING TO WINNING AN ELECTION — “Montclair gun-rights advocates want a mural across from teens’ anti-gun violence mural,” by The Record’s Julia Martin: “A group of activists is asking to paint a pro-gun mural on an NJ Transit underpass as a counterpoint to a mural with an anti-violence message recently created by a pair of teens. The Montclair Republican Club, which is vocal in its support of the 2nd Amendment’s right to bear arms, said it plans to ask NJ Transit for permission to paint their pro-gun rights mural facing the teens’ “Never Again” mural, which they see as “overtly political.””

THE SHORE — “Wildwood’s boardwalk is crumbling and tram cars have to be detoured,” by NJ Advance Media’s Chris Franklin: “The iconic Wildwood tram cars are shortening their travel routes for the rest of the season due to damage found on the Wildwood boardwalk — about a week after Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a measure that would have allocated $56 million in state funds for the Jersey Shore town to repair the aging infrastructure.”

HOBOKEN — “Hoboken takes steps to prevent ferry maintenance, refueling site on waterfront,” by WABC — “Hoboken is moving ahead with a plan to acquire some prime waterfront property. New York Waterway says it needs the dock for its ferries, but the city wants the land for itself. Residents gathered at city hall Wednesday night to encourage the City Council to take steps to stop the planned New York Waterway terminal and refueling depot from being built on a site adjacent to the park. The area sits next to a playground and has breathtaking views of Manhattan.”

SHE NARROWLY BEAT OUT RIVAL CANDIDATE TUDHAN SHOMAS — “Jersey City Employment and Training Program hires new executive director,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: ”The Jersey City Employment Training Program officially has its third executive director in the past nine months. The autonomous agency’s board of directors has unanimously voted Katrice Thomas as its new leader, after former board chairman Sudhan Thomas and served as interim director between January and July … no relation to Sudhan Thomas.”

—“Ambrosino hits Camden Dems over Norcross-Barclay meeting”

—Mulshine: “Parade panic in South Plainfield: the terrorists have succeeded in scaring public officials, if not the public,”

—“Freeholders to look at Scanlan, trustees issue”

— “Elizabeth Public Schools employee among four charged with scamming free lunch program”

—“Facebook still a gray area in transparency of public officials”

—“Trenton water director steps down, Mayor Gusciora says he ‘weathered storm’”

—“Trenton councilman doesn’t know how council ‘sleeps at night’ over proposed $10K salary bumps”

—“Struggling all-volunteer [Princeton] fire department will spend $800K to hire full-timers”

—“Case of ex-mayor accused of voter fraud postponed”

FORMER NJ SECRETARY OF STATE — “Pastor of one of Central Jersey’s largest churches is stepping down,” by NJ Advance Media’s Olivia Rizzo: “The leader of one of Central Jersey’s largest churches is stepping down after 30 years of service to the community. Rev. DeForest Soaries, Jr. announced that he will be retiring from his post at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens next year. The church is now in the process of looking for its next senior pastor.”

SUCK IT, IOWA! — “New Jersey cornstalk with 29 cobs sets Guinness world record,” by The Courier-Post’s Sheri Bakery: “A cornstalk that was planted by accident has now shattered a Guinness world record. The record belongs to Matt Jacovelli, a Deptford retiree who noticed the unusually abundant cornstalk over the summer. ‘I started counting and got up to 12, 13 and 14 cobs and couldn’t believe it,’ he said. The final tally was 29 cobs, verified by Rutgers agricultural agent Michelle Infante-Casella on Aug. 30. Jacovelli submitted the official count to Guinness, and received a quick ruling. On Thursday, he learned he now holds the Guinness record for ‘most corn cobs on a single plant.’”