Murphy calls for Trenton cultural change, Christie watches Bridgegate hearing – Politico

Gov. Phil Murphy wants to “change the culture in Trenton.”

Don’t worry. Your tomato pie and pork roll is safe. Those remarks, made during Murphy’s State of the State speech, referred to pervasive sexism and worse, as well as New Jersey politics’ notorious ethical lapses.

That, anyway, is the big takeaway from yesterday’s speech, which you can read all about here. Good luck with that!

But I keep thinking back to one revealing moment. It was when Murphy, at the halfway point of his first term, said he’d like to think of it more as “a quarter of the way through” his time as governor — a strong suggestion that he’s going to seek reelection, which I think most of us already assumed. Some people in the audience clapped.. But Senate President Steve Sweeney just stared straight ahead.

TIPS: mfriedman@politico.com

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s been a long six years. I hope he had a harder time seeing me than I had seeing him.” — Bridget Kelly on seeing former Gov. Chris Christie during the Supreme Court’s Bridgegate hearing

DAYS MURPHY HAS SPENT OUT OF STATE SINCE BECOMING DGA CHAIR: 11

WHERE’S MURPHY? — At Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School to announce his “Jobs NJ” program. 11 a.m. Then he’ll appear on Bloomberg’s “Balance of Power” at 12:15 p.m., followed by “Ask Governor Murphy” on News 12 at 5 p.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblyman Tom Giblin, House Energy & Commerce Staff Director Jeff Carroll, Bergen Republican Susan Yudin

PROGRAMMING NOTE: NJ Playbook will not be published on Monday Jan. 20. I’ll be back on the normal schedule on Tuesday Jan. 21.

HE WAS WORKING THE ROBES — Supreme Court weighs ‘Bridgegate’ — with Christie in the front row, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: Most of the justices on the U.S. Supreme Court expressed skepticism Tuesday about the federal government’s case in the infamous “Bridgegate” scandal, several of them peppering a Justice Department lawyer with questions as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie watched from the front row. A number of the justices, weighing some dense legal issues that surround the convictions of two former Christie allies, seemed to find merit in the defendants‘ arguments that they did not defraud the government of its “property” by closing off two local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge. “I don’t see how this case works,” Justice Stephen Breyer, a member of the court’s liberal wing, said at one point during the hourlong hearing. Breyer said that what happened was bad — and maybe even a crime — but doubted the statutes involved in the case were properly applied. Other liberal and conservative justices also seemed to struggle with the arguments made by the Justice Department, whose defense of the case rested on the idea that no one involved in the political retribution scheme had the “authority” to realign the lanes at the bridge. Because they didn’t have the authority, the government said, the defendants lied — they claimed to be doing a “traffic study” — in order to take control of the costly resources needed to execute their political punishment scheme.

CHRISTIE AND THE ‘CAN DO CLUB’ — Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie and his son Andrew plan to attend a Bahamas father-and-son outing with Democratic power broker George Norcross, his biggest supporters and some of their sons, according to a January 6 email Norcross sent to those invited of confirmed attendees that I obtained.

This came to my attention because there was some controversy Monday over Norcross’ absence from Joe DiVincenzo’s February Super Bowl retreat in Puerto Rico, and whether it indicated tensions between the two longtime allies after the deal to install LeRoy Jones as Democratic State Chairman this year fell apart. An InsiderNJ piece suggested it did, while a New Jersey Globe post rebutted that with an August email from Norcross that showed he planned his own Bahamas outing for the “Can Do Club” — a term Norcross uses for his inner circle, according to Philadelphia Magazine — during NFL league championship weekend, long before the chairmanship deal blew up.

Chris and Andrew Christie are listed as confirmed attendees, according the email. Others include Norcross’ main political consultant, Steve Ayscue, Mayor David Mayer of Gloucester Township, Camden County Freeholder Jeff Nash, all four Norcross brothers and several of their sons, and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. Norcross spokesman Daniel Fee confirmed Chrisite’s attendance and said the former governor, a Cowboys fan, will represent the “Cowboys contingent” against Jaworski and Norcross, an Eagles fan. “This has been the dynamic for close to a decade — they are all great football fans, all actively dislike the others’ team,” Fee said.

APPARENTLY — “Do NJ politicians need training to stop sexually harassing? Bill would require it,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Susanne Cervenka: “New Jersey would create a system to independently investigate harassment and discrimination in politics and require politicians to undergo anti-harassment training — or face stiff penalties, under a bill that is being introduced Tuesday. The new centralized reporting system comes as New Jersey’s political world has been repeatedly slammed by what some state leaders call a “toxic culture of abuse,” where women have faced everything from being belittled to being raped. State Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, is introducing the legislation along with Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen; state Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Passaic; Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, D-Essex; and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Summit … Gopal said the reporting system would be the first of its kind in the nation.”

THE NEW JERSEYER — “How New Jersey’s Twitter found its “big state energy,” by The New Yorker’s Andrew Marantz: “‘big state energy,’ the State of New Jersey tweeted, apropos of nothing, on December 21st. ‘u up,’ the State of New Jersey tweeted, without punctuation, at 2:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve. ‘Who let New Jersey have a Twitter,’ a guy named Gary wondered, on Twitter, not long ago. ‘your mom,’ the State of New Jersey responded. That one got nearly half a million likes. ‘Everyone assumes it’s some sleazy teen-age dude writing the tweets,’ Pearl Gabel, New Jersey’s digital director, said. ‘Nope!’ Megan Coyne, a digital assistant, said. ‘Just Pearl and me.’ They work in adjoining cubicles, riffing out loud across a gray foam-core barrier. ‘I’m a millennial,’ Gabel, who graduated from college in 2004, said. ‘So what I bring to the table is more the nostalgia, that rap-battle kind of energy.’ ‘I’m Gen Z,’ Coyne, the former president of the Rutgers Democrats, who who graduated last May, said. ‘I’ve been on Twitter since I was thirteen.’”

COUGHLININ’ IT UP — “Protections for Liberty State Park fail amid billionaire’s push to expand golf course into park,” by The Record’s Scott Fallon: “The Fireman family has given more than $400,000 in campaign contributions to New Jersey politicians over the past 10 years including $5,200 to Coughlin in November, according to records filed with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission. They also gave at least $20,800 last year to Democratic candidates for office in Middlesex County, Coughlin’s home county and power base. ‘Mr. Fireman arrogantly ignores that the overwhelming majority for over four decades has clearly and strongly opposed LSP privatization no matter what revenue was promised,’ said Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park.”

LA-GONE-A — “Lagana loses judiciary after caucus scrap,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Mild pushing and shoving in the senate caucus resulted in state Senator Joe Lagana (D-38) getting tossed off the Senate Judiciary Committee and the loss of leadership money.The Paramus-based attorney will have to settle for Labor and Veterans Affairs after he and Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) locked horns over the vaccination bill in the dwindling days of the last session .. .This has been going on for the past three weeks or so and conversations got heated enough for Sweeney to throw Lagana off judiciary but as recently as today a source told InsiderNJ that it might amount to a playful, big brother-little brother tussle.”

SCOUTS’ DISHONOR — “Boy Scouts abused in other states sue in N.J. using untested strategy,” by WHYY’s Nicholas Pugliese: “Former scouts allegedly abused in Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin and Arkansas say they have grounds to sue in New Jersey because the abuse occurred when the Boy Scouts of America was headquartered in the state from 1954 to 1979. Even though the scouts were allegedly assaulted by volunteers and employees in local scouting groups, the staffing and business decisions that failed to protect them originated in the Garden State, said Michael Pfau, an attorney representing the men … The filing cites internal BSA communications on official letterhead with a New Jersey address and phone number. The former scouts — now adults — are suing under a recently enacted New Jersey law that lets victims revive old claims.”

TOP INCOME CATEGORY TO BE REVISED FROM ‘GREATER THAN $50,000’ TO ‘GREATER THAN .0055 MASTROS’ — “Sweeney plans to update legislative financial disclosures,” by New Jersey Globe’s Nikita Biryukov: “Senate President Steve Sweeney said he intends to update financial disclosures for his members. ‘We said we’re going to update ours. We absolutely need to update them. The last time they were updated, it was Senate President [Dick] Codey. So, I’ve been here 12 years. I don’t know when we did it with them, so yea, we’ll modernize it. And we said we would,” he said. ‘I think the Assembly said they were going to do it too.’”

— Murphy reiterates commitment to fighting climate change

—Murphy highlights education accomplishments, makes no mention of segregation lawsuit

—Sweeney now the longest serving Senate president; Assembly swears in 7 new members

—Steinhardt: “Murphy’s policies are killing jobs, tearing families apart and pushing people to leave N.J.”

—“Legal weed, plastic bag ban, tax breaks and more: What NJ lawmakers failed to get done”

—“‘Huge victory for the homeless’: Legislature alters Code Blue to allow more shelter nights”

—Mulshine: “After he prompted a panic, Gov. Murphy tells residents to go jump in a lake”

IT BEGINS — U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-7th Dist.) — ”I am proud to endorse Joe Biden to be president of the United States. We need a nominee who can calm partisan divisions, unify the country, and, once elected, rebuild our government institutions and leadership in the world. Joe Biden will run the campaign we need to win in November; defend the middle class, and restore decency, honesty, and respect for the rule of law to the White House. He already enjoys diverse support within our party and that he knows how to lift up the voices of all Americans. As a former Assistant Secretary of State, I am also eager to support a nominee with the experience to restore the place of respect America once occupied on the world stage. Joe Biden can do that.”

MOWERING DOWN THE COMPETITION — “Former NHGOP executive director, US State Department official Matt Mowers running for Congress,” by WMUR’s John DiStaso: “Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas has his first high-profile Republican challenger. Former New Hampshire Republican Party executive director and Trump administration State Department official Matt Mowers is running for the 1st District U.S. House seat.”

THE ONION — “Cory Booker drops out of 2020 rat race after falling in love with small-town Iowa life”

—Golden: “Booker bows to reality that ‘peace and love’ didn’t work”

—“Our congressman [Pallone] has an opportunity to help decriminalize marijuana. Will he?”

CHEFF’S SPECIAL — “With arrest of sergeant, what may still be discovered in 3-year FBI probe of Paterson cops?” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “After three years, the FBI’s investigation into corruption in the Paterson police department seemed to have reached its conclusion … But last week authorities suddenly opened a new chapter in the case by charging Sgt. Michael Cheff with conspiring with four of the previously convicted cops, patrol officers whom he had supervised … What happens next in the FBI probe largely will depend on how the case against Cheff plays out, according to lawyers and officials familiar with the probe. There’s a possibility that the charges against Cheff could prompt federal investigators to dig deeper into the Paterson police department, the lawyers and officials said. That will depend on how Cheff decides — or not — to cooperate with investigators and, in turn, on what he tells them, lawyers and officials told Paterson Press.”

—“Paterson city business administrator claims racial discrimination in lawsuit”

CAMDEN — “The youngest member of Camden City Council says a traumatic childhood gave her the skills to lead,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jesenia De Moya Correa: “Felisha Reyes-Morton describes the early years of her life as ‘forced into maturity,’ having to take on a series of big responsibilities she wasn’t prepared for. Born to parents who moved from Puerto Rico to North Camden in the 1960s, she was raised most of her life by a single mother after the drug-related torture slaying of her father when she was a year ol … Then, she remembers the bittersweet moment when her mother, allowed leave from a five-year federal prison sentence for Reyes-Morton’s Sweet Sixteen celebration, had to depart, transforming it to a farewell party. While her grandmother took custody of Reyes-Morton and her younger siblings, the teen acted as the head of her household … These days, Reyes-Morton, 30, the youngest member of Camden City Council (the second-youngest to serve in its history) sees her role in local leadership as holding herself accountable to a community that helped her understand the cultural roots she was sometimes denied as a child.”

A BURDEN ON THE COMMUTERS WHO USE THE TRAMCAR EVERY DAY — “Tram car rates increase as Wildwood braces for minimum wage hike impact,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Colt Shaw: “The nonprofit that operates the yellow trams on the Wildwood Boardwalk wasted no time in responding to the minimum wage hike that went into effect on New Year’s Day. The state minimum wage went up $1 to $11 an hour, and the Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District, in turn, raised the fare for a trip on the tram by 50 cents to $4 … Those increases will cost the nonprofit about $50,000 per year in additional salary payouts, or $250,000 by the time it hits $15 per hour, said Patrick Rosenello, mayor of North Wildwood and director of Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District. Other businesses in Wildwood, many of which rely on temporary workers and the brief upswell of commerce in the summer months, are bracing for impact.”

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS: PUT OUT YOUR DAD — “Sam Springsteen becomes Jersey City firefighter while Bruce Springsteen, Patti look on,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Chris Jordan: “Sam Springsteen, the 25-year old son of Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, is a Jersey City firefighter. Sam was one of 15 new firefighters sworn in the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 14 during a ceremony at City Hall.”

—“Stephanie Bush-Baskette hired as Atlantic City business administrator”

—“NJ sports betting: $4.5 billion wagered in 2019, closing in on Nevada for No. 1”