Gay marriage may soon be actual law in N.J. – Politico
Good Friday morning!
For the first time since 2012, the New Jersey Legislature held a vote on gay marriage. In this case, just the Assembly Judiciary Committee. But it appears the bill, which writes the 2013 Superior Court decision legalizing gay marriage into law, is headed for a quick passage in the lame duck.
The reason: With the right-leaning U.S. Supreme Court appearing poised to gut Roe v. Wade, advocates believe its 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage could be next. (There’s some reason for that).
What’s remarkable is that back when there was a real legislative effort to enact gay marriage in New Jersey a decade or so ago, there was a lot of opposition, by most Republicans and some Democrats. This time, the only dissenting voice was “ex-gay” Rev. Gregory Quinlan, a fringe figure. The bill was approved 4-0 with one Republican, Christopher DePhillips (R-Bergen), voting yes. Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Bergen) was logged into the meeting but was away from his desk for the vote, so I can’t say which way he would’ve voted.
WHERE’S MURPHY? Leaving for a DGA event in New Orleans and returning Saturday
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think your comments are three fries short of a Happy Meal.” — Assemblymember Raj Mukherji to “ex gay” Rev. Greory Quinlan, who said “No one is born gay. The science is zero” and alleged that the Legislature was “endorsing a religion” with the gay marriage bill.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Merdian Health’s Adam Beder, DeAngelo CoS Tyler Honschke, 1868’s Idida Rodriguez, Judiciary spox Maryann Spoto, Gibbons’ Christine Stearns. Saturday for Attorney Benjamin Brickner, Former Emerge NJ E.D. Truscha Quatrone, former Clark Superintendent Ken Knops. Sunday for Lyndhurst GOP Chair Gary Berner, Monroe Councilmember Cody Miller.
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A FEW MEN AT THE REO DINER — “Who decides how NJ’s federal pandemic-relief funding is spent?” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “Lawmakers’ speedy approval last week of nearly $700 million in spending outside the annual budget process has rekindled concerns about how some appropriations are making it to the finish line in Trenton and others aren’t. The new questions about what policies, if any, are in place to govern the spending of the billions in federal funds provided to New Jersey in response to the coronavirus pandemic comes as the state is still dealing with the health crisis, which has killed thousands of residents, upset the state economy and put a heavy strain on some key state agencies. Meanwhile, similar questions are being raised about the handling of more than $1 billion in an account lawmakers created earlier this year to fund major capital projects after New Jersey enjoyed an enormous tax-revenue windfall during the pandemic.”
A DAY AT THE THEATER — “Stage set for another showdown over COVID rules as Assembly plans Monday return to N.J. Statehouse,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “New Jersey’s state Assembly leadership plans to hold in-person committee hearings Monday after ordering a week of virtual meetings because a handful of Republican lawmakers refused to comply with new COVID-19 rules on entering the Statehouse, NJ Advance Media has learned. The decision to return to the Statehouse at the start of the week was made after a regular leadership meeting between Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, and top Democrats in the lower chamber Wednesday afternoon.”
GOD FORBID SOMEONE GETS A LOOK AT POLICE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS — “As fatal police encounters rise, reformers demand change,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DeFilippo: “[More than 500 people died] during encounters with New Jersey law enforcement officers in the past two decades. And even as calls for reform have grown louder, fatal police encounters have crept up in recent years in New Jersey, with at least 27 so far this year. Several bills have been introduced in the Legislature to hold police accountable for missteps they make on the job, bills activists say are critical to reducing fatalities and misconduct that results in injustice and feeds community distrust in police. But legislators have just five weeks left to vote on them before a new legislative session starts. Supporters rallied at the Statehouse in Trenton last week to demand action, but no police reform bills moved during voting sessions that day or since.”
Environmentalists want New Jersey ratepayer advocate to focus less on rates, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: The state Senate‘s top environmental leader and New Jersey’s major environmental groups want to force the state’s ratepayer watchdog to spend less time worrying about higher utility rates. State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), who chairs his chamber’s Environment and Energy Committee, has introduced legislation that would make the state’s Division of the Rate Counsel give more weight to the environmental benefits of utility companies’ proposals. That means environmentally friendly but costly projects and programs could face less scrutiny from the rate counsel’s office.
THE CAMDENNESS OF KING GEORGE III — “Camden is already building back better,” by George Norcross III for The Star-Ledger: “President Biden has rightfully declared that America must ‘build back better’ following the COVID-19 pandemic. Camden should serve as a beacon for the president’s ambitious plans. We have been building back better for a decade and our results show that smart investing from both the public and private sectors, along with strong local leadership, dedicated encouragement from faith leaders and vibrant community involvement, is an excellent recipe for success.”
— Bill to decriminalize spread of HIV and AIDS poised for passage
—“What will a second-term Murphy administration do to end school segregation? | Opinion”
—Senate committee advances bill to provide tax credits for small business
—“Bill aims to protect public transit workers from attacks”
—“Senator votes from vets home to protest NJ Statehouse COVID rules”
—Advocates push offshore wind transmission planning study
—“New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy offers blunt talk about production incentives”
RIZZO IMMEDIATELY ENDORSED BY SHERRILL — “Phil Rizzo seeks GOP nod for Congress to challenge Mikie Sherrill,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Phil Rizzo, a businessman and pastor who finished second in the Republican gubernatorial primary last June, will take on two-term Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) in New Jersey’s 11th district. ‘I’m running for Congress because empowering New Jersey didn’t end with the Governor’s race. Now it means standing up to the federal government and radical, out-of-touch Leftist politicians and unelected bureaucrats trying to tell New Jerseyans how to live our lives Rizzo said … Seven other Republicans are seeking support for the chance to take on Sherrill.”
THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT NEEDS TO CHILL BECAUSE GOTHTEIMER IS APPARENTLY ONE OF THEM — “Fredon Mayor John Flora jumps into Republican primary for 5th Congressional District seat,” by The New Jersey Herald Bruce A. Scruton: “Fredon Mayor John P. Flora on Thursday announced his entry into the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District … Flora, a former township school board member, joins Frank Pallotta as announced candidates for the June primary … ‘I am running because middle-class people like me and my neighbors are not being represented in Congress’ he said in a release announcing his candidacy. ‘Our values are not respected and slowly, but surely, the great nation that is America is slipping away from us.’ … Flora, the owner of a beverage company, said he is particularly concerned about ‘the progressive left’s attempts to shape school curriculums to fit their anti-American narrative.’”
—“96% of N.J. residents would get their full property tax break restored under this Senate plan”
—Sires: “What is Congress going to do about climate change?”
ESSEX COUNTY JAIL — “Violence and the death of one inmate at Newark’s jail reflects a national problem,” by WNYC’s Matt Katz: “Jayshawn Boyd, the man beaten at the jail in September, has a history of mental illness. According to his attorney, Brooke Barnett, he should not have been housed in a unit with those alleged to have committed murder. The last time Boyd, 22, was at the Essex County jail, Barnett said, he showed signs of mental illness, including delusions, and he was sent to a state psychiatric hospital for a prolonged stay. He returned to jail after turning himself in for missing a court date, which violated his probation. Yet at the Essex County jail, Boyd was designated as a low mental health priority, Barnett said. And an intake questionnaire wrongly indicated that he hadn’t previously undergone mental health treatment. Just 10 minutes after moving into his unit, Barnett said, Boyd was attacked. Video of the incident, which first surfaced on Facebook and was recorded by an unknown person, shows seven inmates punching and stomping on Boyd, mostly in the head, even after he lay motionless on the ground. One inmate hit him with a broomstick and objects were dropped on his head, including a bucket filled with cleaning fluid, a water cooler, and a microwave. During the 2-minute video, no jail officers can be seen coming to Boyd’s aid.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY — “Monmouth County has a new firm for lobbying, and it recently hired a top county official’s son,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Suzanne Cervenka: “Monmouth County government has doubled up on its transportation-consulting firepower — hiring a second lobbying firm that employs the son of a top county official — to help secure funding under the newly signed, $1.2 trillion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The county awarded a $118,000 contract on Nov. 22 to NorthStar Strategies of Trenton in addition to a $130,000 contract to its long-time lobbying firm for transportation projects. The contracts were awarded about two months after NorthStar hired Thomas ‘TJ’ Mann, the son of County Administrator Teri O’Connor, as director of government affairs. NorthStar announced Mann’s hire Sept. 16 on the company’s Facebook page. Mann worked for District 12 Assemblyman and former Monmouth County Freeholder Rob Clifton for 10 years before joining NorthStar. It’s not clear if Mann will be working on Monmouth County’s contract.”
THE DON’T GIVE PART OF A PUBLIC PARK TO BILLIONAIRES ACT OF 2021—“Liberty Park protection bill limps through Senate committee,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “The Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced the Liberty State Park Protection Act without recommendation today, using a rarely-seen maneuver to note their discomfort with the bill while nevertheless forwarding it to the Budget and Appropriations Committee … ‘It sounds to me like it’s not baked,’ Smith said of the bill. ‘It’s got some issues that I think Senator Stack and Senator Weinberg and Assemblyman Mukherji and all these officials from Hudson County have to work out.’ Because of the apparent issues with the bill, Smith proposed that the bill be released without recommendation, ‘so that all of the parties can get their act together, because clearly there are issues.’ Smith, State Sen. Kip Bateman (R-Branchburg), and State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) voted to advance the bill, State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa) voted no, and former Gov. Richard Codey (D-Roseland) abstained.”
—“Two years later, Jersey City and Hasidic community ready to move on from Dec. 10 mass shooting”
— “Politics as a favorite recurring metaphor for the Bayonne war”
—“Election Day was weeks ago, but some Bergen candidates are still sweating out results”
—“Ocean County Jail Warden Sandra J. Mueller to retire on Dec. 31 after controversial tenure”
—“Tolls for 5 Jersey Shore bridges to double under proposed 3-year hike”
—“Jackson synagogue for Orthodox Jews approved by zoning board, but safety issues remain”
—“Long Branch OKs cannabis sales, joining these Monmouth towns with legal marijuana sales”
—“Turkish foundation sues Wayne zoning board over denial of school dormitory”
—“‘We need help’: Newark teachers feel strain of staff shortages, survey finds”
—“Journal Squared’s third residential skyscraper underway in Jersey City”
STORM DRAINS — “Storm drains keep swallowing people during floods,” by ProPublica’s Topher Sanders: “On the night of Sept. 1, Dhanush Reddy and his fiancee, Kavya Mandli, were returning home from a North Jersey mall when the remains of Hurricane Ida turned their drive perilous … They felt their own car rattling, and they abandoned it in a nearby lot … They were both suddenly underwater, being pulled toward a large black vacuum that seemed to be guzzling anything and everything into its wide, open mouth. Mandli managed to grab part of a bridge railing, but Reddy clutched only her hand. She shouted for help as she tried to wrest her fiance from the vortex. But it was just too wet, too slippery. Reddy disappeared. Mandli was left holding his empty jacket … Reddy’s body was found the next day in a wooded area, blocks away from where he got pulled in. The engineer and construction project manager was dead at 31 … During the same storm, in the same state, three others died the same way. There’s no official count of how many Americans get pulled into storm drains, pipes or culverts during flood events, but ProPublica identified 35 such cases since 2015 using news accounts and court records. Twenty-one of those people died; nearly half of those lost were children … Despite records of horrific cases that span the country and stretch back decades — and the scientific consensus that climate change will only worsen flooding — federal, state and local government agencies have failed to take simple steps to prevent such tragedies from happening.”
SADDLED WITH EXPENSES — “He wanted to give away his 5-acre estate in Upper Saddle River. Why has he had no luck?” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “For Hillside Avenue resident Roger Wohrle, the offer seemed simple enough: Take my 5 acres, please. The retired interior garden designer, now 82, has been seeking an organization to take over his home upon his death, to be held in trust for some kind of public use. He’s spent 57 years tending the house, greenhouse and bamboo forest that would be included in the gift. But 17 months and several dozen offers later, Wohrle says he has not found anyone to take it, at least not under his conditions. ‘A woman wanted it for her daughter, but when I asked if her daughter could afford $120,000 a year for upkeep, she said no,’ Wohrle said. ‘I even had someone call me from prison offering to take the property if I was willing to leave it to him.’ The house is not for sale, Wohrle emphasizes. He couldn’t bear to move, he said. What he wants is an agreement from some charity or public organization — not a private individual — to assume charge of the property after his death and preserve the two-bedroom home and nearby greenhouse and indoor pool. Intact. In perpetuity.”
R.I.P. — “COVID claims the life of long time South Jersey NJ Transit bus driver”
—“Lee Enterprises Board of Directors unanimously rejects unsolicited proposal from Alden”
—“American Water names Interim boss after injury to top executive”
—“How New Jersey became the birthplace of the U.S. movie industry”
