Huttle vs. Johnson gets heated – POLITICO – Politico

Good Thursday morning!

As Assemblymembers Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson competed for Democratic Party support to succeed retiring state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, the senator has remained neutral — at least publicly.

“You’ll have to ask her that question,” Huttle told me when I asked if she believed Weinberg had truly not weighed in, having alleged that party bosses had conspired to pave the way for Johnson to get the nomination.

Weinberg insists she didn’t pick a side. But as Huttle prepares to run off-the-line, without seeking party support, it won’t stay that way. Weinberg told me Wednesday that she will endorse the Bergen County Democratic Organization-backed slate of candidates, from Gov. Murphy on down. That means she’ll back Johnson, because Huttle isn’t even competing for the party nod anymore.

Endorsements often don’t carry much weight. But Weinberg is the most influential progressive state lawmaker in New Jersey. Huttle, in a press conference Wednesday, pointed out that many groups that have often worked closely with Weinberg have endorsed her own candidacy.

“Quite frankly, when you look at the groups already endorsing me and when you look at the entire ticket — when you look at CWA, Citizen Action, Garden State Equality… those are typically the groups that have endorsed Loretta in the past and me and I’m proud to carry her legacy of progressive values in the Senate,” she said.

This is shaping up to be an interesting primary between two Democrats who have been allies for 15 years, and who at least recently have had nearly identical voting records.

WHERE’S MURPHY — In Fair Lawn to talk about school funding at 10 a.m. Media: Hot 97 at 8:10 a.m. with Cannabis Regulatory Commission Chair Dianna Houenou.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 2,661 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 689,944. 2,070 hospitalized, 435 in intensive care. 57 more deaths for a total of 20,746 (and 2,331 probable deaths).

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “New Jersey was America’s medicine chest when we drove cars with tail fins or watched Jay Leno before we fell asleep. The chemical research that was the foundation of New Jersey Big Pharma is not the foundation of the new biotechnology wave of medicine.” — University of Michigan professor Erik Gordon on New Jersey not being at the forefront of the coronavirus vaccine research and development

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Faegre Drinker’s Jeff Jacobson

R.I.P. — “‘Unforgettable and irreplaceable’: Gerry Cardinale, longtime NJ lawmaker, honored in Tenafly,” by The Record’s Terrence T. McDonald: “Gerald Cardinale, the longest-serving Republican state senator in New Jersey history, was remembered as a principled conservative, devoted husband and father and deeply religious man during a funeral Mass in Tenafly on Wednesday. ‘There were other senators, but he was the senator,’ state Superior Court Judge Robert Wilson said during the service. About 100 people gathered inside Our Lady of Mount Carmel church to pay their last respects to Cardinale, who died Saturday at Pascack Valley Hospital at the age of 86.”

THE GRATEFUL DEBT — “Murphy’s state pension fund rescue will be a borrowing bailout,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Murphy’s rescue mission speech failed to note that his proposed, historic $6.4 billion rescue payment was being indirectly financed, like Whitman’s plan, with borrowed money. It is made possible by last year’s $4.4 billion in emergency borrowing to tide New Jersey through the pandemic. Whitman’s borrowing put us into the hole. And Murphy is using borrowed money to bail us out of it. Murphy may have painted himself as the prudent, face-reality fixer — the governor who finally didn’t kick the can down the road. The governor who offered harsh medicine with an upbeat bedside manner. But, in fact, Murphy’s prescription is the same old easy-to-reach, over-the-counter pain killer bringing temporary relief — and debt-payment headaches for our future.”

THE PROOF IS IN MY LIVER — “N.J. residents are drinking and smoking more during the pandemic, and the proof is in Murphy’s new state budget,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “The Murphy administration’s proposed $44.8 billion budget released Tuesday offered a glimpse into how some people channeled their frustrations and stress over stay-at-home orders. They drank and smoked more, according to state revenue collections. The state Treasury anticipates it will collect $42.1 million more in tobacco tax revenue and $25.9 million more in alcohol taxes than it had predicted, according to an outline of Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget. That’s $60 million in unanticipated revenue. ‘Cigarette sales have more than held up during the pandemic, actually halting a decades-long downward trend, in part due to a shift in consumption patterns away from electronic cigarettes and back to regular cigarettes,’ according to Murphy’s ‘budget in brief’ posted on the state website.”

— “NJ Budget 2022: How much is there to deal with COVID-19?”

REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE TO BE RENAMED NJ — “New Jersey’s public television network rebrands from NJTV to NJ PBS,” by NJ PBS: “NJTV, New Jersey’s public media network, announced that it is changing its name to NJ PBS, effective today. ‘Public media has a long, proud history in New Jersey,’ said General Manager John Servidio. ‘This rebranding is another step in its evolution. NJ PBS more clearly identifies and differentiates us from other media in our crowded marketplace. It also better connects our excellent local programming to the national footprint and trust of PBS, America’s Public Broadcasting Service.’”

LD37 — There’s a short video circulating of Democratic Assembly candidate Alexandra Soriano-Taveras — who’s running with Gordon Johnson — calling for a boycott of businesses on Teaneck’s Cedar Lane during a protest at its municipal building last year. It was posted in the InsiderNJ press release seciton by something calling itself “Teaneck Main Street Alliance,” which has no digital footprint or contact info. Many of the businesses on Cedar Lane are owned by Orthodox Jews. So the implication there is pretty obvious if you’ve been to Teaneck. I reached out to Soriano-Taveras about it. She said the video was taken during a protest over the council refusing to name Council Member Gervonn Romney Rice, who’s Black, as deputy mayor. “It’s not a boycott of Cedar Lane businesses, really. There was much missing in that,” she said. “It was a boycott of the businesses that were supported or owned by those members of the town council who had at no point supported … Gervonne Romney Rice, not our youth who at the time come to the council to ask that the Black Lives Matter mural be painted in town. A council that pushed back on the raising of the LGBTQ flag — and I can go on and on and on.” Of course, Soriano-Taveras specifically singled out Cedar Lane in her comment. She told me that’s not what she really intended to say. She said that prior to that press release, the video had circulated via a fake Twitter account purporting to be her that has since been taken down. (Incidentally, Romney Rice is now running against Soriano-Tavarez for Assembly on Valerie Vainieri Huttle’s slate).

EDUCATION — New Jersey lawmakers introduce bill to let students repeat grade due to pandemic, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: Two New Jersey lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow parents to request that their child be held back a school year due to the ongoing pandemic. Sens. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) and Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) introduced the measure, NJ S3470 (20R), late last week; Senate President Steve Sweeney has previously signaled he supports the effort. “While remote learning has enabled most students to continue their education, it has not been the ideal situation for every student, especially students in low-income districts who lack the equipment or connectivity to even show up to the online classroom,” Turner said in an email.

IT STILL HASN’T KILLED HIM — “No fare increases, but Murphy budget proposal leaves NJ Transit in long-term funding limbo,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “Gov. Phil Murphy told residents during his fiscal year 2022 budget address that ‘New Jersey is done kicking problems down the road. We are solving them.’ Except one: The haphazard, decades-long practice of determining how to fund — and how much to give — NJ Transit on a year-to-year basis continues unabated with no plans this budget cycle to create a dedicated funding stream for the agency. This issue, nor an idea to use new Turnpike Authority funds to help stabilize NJ Transit’s budget, were brought up during Murphy’s 40-minute pre-taped speech on Tuesday. Instead, the governor, who is facing reelection this year, emphasized that he will not be increasing NJ Transit fares for the fourth year in a row.”

ENVIRONMENT — Plan to overhaul DEP’s permitting process ‘a boon to the business community,’ by POLITICO’s Samantha Maldonado: Gov. Phil Murphy’s assurance in his budget address to streamline permitting at the Department of Environmental Protection has raised some concerns, even though the agency insists the changes would not compromise environmental protection. … The budget Murphy unveiled Tuesday proposes doing away “with antiquated permitting rules at the Department of Environmental Protection, and other departments, which will cut government bureaucracy and get projects off the ground quicker.”

NOTICE — The Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics has a Zoom listening session today at 11:30 a.m. Sign up to watch or speak here.

— Long-term care facilities in 7 New Jersey counties can resume indoor visitations

— Assembly committee clears bill to make insulin more affordable

— “Assembly panel advances mandatory minimums bill, setting up floor vote”

— “$50 million to modernize N.J. unemployment claims system advances in Assembly committee”

— “Bill expanding retirement benefits eligibility for police, fire officials advances in Assembly”

— New bill would pilot microgrids that combine energy storage, EV charging infrastructure

— “Yes, you can smoke weed in New Jersey — with some restrictions. You just can’t buy it”

— “Many applauded Murphy for fully funding pension. Bracken thinks that’s a mistake”

— “State moves to fix lax school bus safety system with industry czar post, other action”

— “New Jersey’s next state budget must do more for behavioral health support | Opinion”

UNHAPPY UNHAPPY DEJOY DEJOY — “Pascrell wants Biden to oust USPS board, fire DeJoy,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Rep. Bill Pascrell wants U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the entire postal service Board of Governors — all appointed by former President Donald Trump — gone after reports that they want to end two-day delivery of first-class local mail. “I have heard enough from Mr. DeJoy. Tens of millions of Americans don’t need to hear anything more from Mr. DeJoy except news of his removal, along with the entire Board of Governors,” said Pascrell, who asked Joe Biden to fire everyone last month. Stimulus checks, bill payments, and medications are among the things being held up by the post office, Pascrell said. The U.S. Postal Service has acknowledged that just 38% of mail was delivered on time in 2020.”

TAKE IT UP WITH THE POLITBURO — “Montclair parents sue BOE in federal court to force immediate return to in-person learning,” by The Record’s Julia Martin: “A group of parents has filed a class-action suit against the Board of Education in federal court asking the judge to force the schools to immediately reopen for ‘full-time, in-person instruction, five days a week.’ The plaintiff’s attorney is Keri Avellini, a parent in the South Orange Maplewood school district who recently filed a similar federal case against that district. This is the second suit in Montclair over the district’s ongoing closure to in-person instruction. On Feb. 2, Superintendent Jonathan Ponds announced that the district had sued the teacher’s union, the Montclair Education Association, to force a return to the classroom. On Feb 10, a Superior Court judge in Essex County ruled in favor of the union, saying the district had ‘failed to show how it has complied with [state] health and safety standards.’”

— “South Orange-Maplewood parents rally against teachers union’s refusal to teach in-person”

KEYPORT — “Keyport school board president on ventilator with COVID-19; fundraiser launched,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “It started with a fever and cough. Then came the body aches and headaches, and the loss of taste and smell. On Feb. 15, Ann Marie Panzarelli checked into Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank with COVID-19. Within a day Panzarelli, the president of Keyport’s board of education, was put on a ventilator. That’s how she remains. ‘It happened in a split second,’ Vincent Panzarelli, her son, said of the decline. ‘It was a bad situation.’ … On Monday, colleague Holly Ramsey launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Panzarelli’s family pay the medical expenses that are bound to accrue. Within a day, it had raised more than $10,000 from 230 donors.”

NASTIER THINGS — “‘I’ve seen such nasty things’: Howell mayor wants town ethics committee back,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Alex N. Gecan: “The township should revive its ethics committee, disbanded 18 years ago, to deal with conflicts of interest and conflicts between the public and its officials, Mayor Theresa Berger said Tuesday at the Township Council’s regular meeting. ‘I’ve seen such nasty things to residents, and comments to residents, from people who are in political arenas,’ Berger said. “It’s despicable, and I think it needs to be addressed.””

HA-HA-KUS — “Man robs bank in Ho-Ho-Kus across the street from police department,” by The Record’s Nicholas Katzban: “A daring suspect pulled off a bank robbery directly across the street from the borough police department on Wednesday afternoon, according to Chief Chris Minchin. An unknown man approached a teller inside the Valley National Bank on Sheridan Avenue and passed along a note demanding money, but specifics of what the note said were unknown to Minchin at the time of questioning because the suspect took it with him after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash from the teller’s drawer.”

— “After heated Garfield meeting, school board member wants police presence”

R.I.P. — “[Irvington’s] first Black councilman, a ‘trailblazer,’ dies at 82”

— “Andover nursing home worker died of COVID because of lack of protective gear, lawsuit says”

— “More than 70 towns previously banned weed sales in N.J. See the full list”

— “Legal challenges against Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood continue”

— “Outgoing Hudson Assignment Judge Peter Bariso reflects on 16 years on the bench”

SPRINGSTEEN FINED 0.00006 MASTROS — “Bruce Springsteen’s DWI charge dropped; Boss pleads guilty to alcohol consumption,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Kathleen Hopkins: “Federal prosecutors today said they could not prove drunk and reckless driving charges against Bruce Springsteen, who then pleaded guilty to one more charge against him, consuming alcohol in an enclosed area on Sandy Hook in November. ‘I had two small shots of tequila,’’ the Boss told U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony R. Mautone, who then assessed $540 in fines and penalties on the rock icon. Mautone asked Springsteen how much time he needed to pay the fines. ‘I think I can pay that immediately,’’ Springsteen said, smiling. Questioned during a Zoom hearing by his attorney, Mitchell Ansell, Springsteen, dressed in a dark blazer, dark sweater and button-down shirt, said he consumed the shots around 4 p.m. on Nov. 14 by the lighthouse keeper’s property on Sandy Hook in the Gateway National Recreation Area. He also acknowledged he knew it was illegal to consume alcohol on the federal property, although Mautone pointed out that until two years ago, alcohol consumption was allowed within the confines of the oceanfront park. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Baker cited the results of a breath test Springsteen took at the ranger’s station that day in which his blood-alcohol content was 0.02, well beneath New Jersey’s 0.08 threshold indicating intoxication.”

— “Bruce Springsteen’s Jeep commercial back on after dismissal of DWI charge”

BURLEQUALITY — “Black dancers sue Gloucester City strip club over alleged discrimination,” by The Courier-Post’s Jim Walsh: “Two Black dancers have sued a Gloucester City strip club, alleging they were terminated due to racism. Gloria Fludd and Shakara Fludd, who share an address in Bellmawr, contend they faced a hostile workplace before being fired earlier this month from Cheerleaders, a club on Crescent Boulevard. The lawsuit says the women, who were independent contractors, ’worked hard and performed their jobs well.’ But it also contends the club’s workplace was ‘unfairly harsh toward Black entertainers,’ who make up about 10 percent of the club’s dancers.”

— “One-dose J&J COVID-19 vaccine meets criteria as safe and effective, FDA report finds”