MURPHY outlines PARCC phase-out — DEM counties profit from ICE detention centers — ATLANTIC GOP leader …

By Matt Friedman (mfriedman@politico.com; @mattfriedmannj):

Good Wednesday morning!

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2nd District Congressional candidate Seth Grossman has now been disowned by the National Republican Congressional Committee for promoting a racist article from a racist website, and he was sharply criticized by NJ GOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt for calling diversity “crap.”

But Atlantic County GOP Chairman Keith Davis — who has good cross-party relations and has never been known as a partisan flamethrower — is sticking with Grossman, an Atlantic City native.

“You can say many things about Seth Grossman, but the man doesn’t have a racist bone in his body,” Davis said in a statement. “He made a serious error by linking to this horrendous webpage that he has now disavowed. I take him at his word.”

Well, it wasn’t just one article like that he shared. There were many. Regardless, this — plus the NRCC’s reluctance to disavow Grossman until now — shows you that Grossman isn’t exactly a fringe figure in GOP politics. And though Republican leaders know Grossman’s chances of winning the district are slim at best, Democrats say his rhetoric appeals to the GOP base, and GOP party leaders are afraid of alienating it.

“’Serious error‘ my ample posterior,” Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman tweeted. “Keith is a good man and he knows Grossman is a bigot. Publicly he doesn’t want to alienate his far-right base so he can win in November. Sad.“

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Whitman Office of Volunteerism Director Linda Golden

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “That’s one we’re going to observe and stay out of.” — Gov. Phil Murphy on the New York gubernatorial primary

WHAT TRENTON MADE

EDUCATION — Murphy unveils first steps in transition away from PARCC, by POLITICO’s Linh Tat: Students will spend less time taking standardized tests and sit for fewer exams in high school, while test scores will weigh less heavily in teacher and principal evaluations under broad new changes to mandatory state assessments Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled on Tuesday. The changes are the first steps in the administration’s plan to transition away from the controversial state assessment known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC. It may take another couple of years or so to fully phase in future changes, the governor said. Murphy had promised to scrap PARCC on his first day in office, but state Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet told lawmakers in April the state would have to continue administering PARCC for at least one more year because of pre-existing contracts. “While I would have personally liked to have ditched PARCC on day one, that simply wasn’t feasible,” Murphy said. “But we are now on a clear path away from it.” Read the report

LEGAL MARIJUANA MOVEMENT REACHES CRESSENDO — “Marijuana expansion must address needs of disabled,” by Rob Cressen for The Asbury Park Press: “Have you ever heard of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)? Neither had I, until 2011 when I was diagnosed. A progressive disease that affects the autonomic nervous system much like muscular dystrophy, it is characterized by constant and intense pain. For years, doctors threw opioids at the symptoms. At one point, I was on a potent cocktail of Oxycontin, Dilaudid and morphine, and was spending more time in the hospital due to the side effects of the drugs rather than my underlying condition … However, when my doctor introduced me to medical marijuana, it offered a glimmer of hope that my pain could be managed in a way that gave me greater control, and I could have a better quality of life. I was prescribed different strains for different times of the day. One strain allowed me to be alert and focused even while treating the pain, and one helped me sleep at night when the pain tends to be worse. I got part of my life back. But what if you have a condition that benefits from the use of cannabis but isn’t on the state’s approved list of conditions? What if you have mobility challenges that are not related to sickness? What if you can’t drive or leave your house? What if the nearest dispensary is hours away? These are real questions that need to be answered in New Jersey as lawmakers wrangle with rule making around cannabis and the question of legalization for adult use. I strongly believe cannabis should be legalized for adult use. While the state has done a commendable job expanding access to people with conditions like mine, there are many more people with conditions not on “the list” who are being left behind.” Read the op-ed

MURPHY: I’VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF MORE OF A CHARLOTTE THAN A MIRANDA — “Murphy won’t endorse Cuomo,” by New Jersey Globe’s Nikita Biryukov: “Gov. Phil Murphy doesn’t want to wade into New York’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. ‘We’re not getting involved in that,’ Murphy said when asked whether he backs Gov. Andrew Cuomo or his challenger, actress Cynthia Nixon. ‘I’ve never met Ms. Nixon, but I’ve watched her on television as a performer. I have a fair amount of interaction, as you can imagine, with Governor Cuomo, and our teams have a fair amount of interaction together,’ Murphy said. ‘That’s one we’re going to observe and stay out of.’ Murphy has spent his first six months brandishing his progressive credentials, and on many issues he appears to have more in common with Nixon than Cuomo. The two governors are currently in a conflict over their joint control of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.” Read the report

ORGANIZED LABOR — “Straddling Building Trades and CWA conventions, Murphy sizes-up his Sweeney-Coughlin-synchronized ‘to-do’ list,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Governor Phil Murphy came to the seaside ruins of this once thriving international gaming mecca to play the role of ebullient labor lover, straddling inside an hour that public-private sector rift aggressively widened during the era of Governor Chris Christie and always percolating with shades of inter-organizational animosity … But Murphy’s all labor, all the time, he said today, as he regaled both groups.” Read the report

GOOD THING THIS ISN’T COLOMBIA — “New Jersey scores another own goal with ‘horrendous’ tax choices,” by Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff for NJ Spotlight: “If I were asked to make a list of tax policy changes that would do maximum harm to New Jersey’s competitive position and long-term economic vitality, I would have a hard time improving upon the last-minute budget compromise announced on June 30. The months of budget brinksmanship might have been worthwhile had they resulted in a better budget supported by better tax policy. But, alas, once again New Jersey’s leaders took the easy way out while making some of the worst tax policy choices possible.” Read the column

—“NJ ranks last among states for cost of doing business, but other signs are positive” Read the report

** A message from Teach NJS: New Jersey is focused on increasing student safety at New Jersey schools – but not all of them. Security for nonpublic schools is significantly underfunded and the inequity has grown dramatically this year. Let’s fix this disparity. All children are New Jersey’s children and should be safe wherever they go to school. **

THIS MUCH CLOSER TO SOLVING ALL OF NJ’S PROBLEMS — “Hard Rock, Bet365 plan sports betting in New Jersey,” by AP’s Wayne Parry: “Hard Rock has signed a deal with a British online gambling company to offer sports betting as soon as the arrangement is approved by New Jersey gambling regulators. The global hospitality and gambling company owned by Florida’s Seminole Indian tribe has signed a deal with Bet365 to offer sports betting at its new casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Neither company has announced the deal, but its existence was revealed in correspondence from the state Division of Gaming Enforcement.” Read the report

THE PERFECT WAY TO RELATE TO MOST NEW JERSEYANS — “World Cup highlights Phil Murphy’s passion for soccer and sport’s deep base in New Jersey,” by The Record’s NIcholas Pugliese: “Just ahead of the final rounds of the 2018 World Cup, Gov. Phil Murphy sat down for an interview with The Record and NorthJersey.com to discuss his predictions for the last few games, the popularity of soccer in New Jersey and his role in helping to bring the 2026 World Cup to the state. ‘For New Jersey, it’s already a soccer hotbed, but it could take it to another level,’ Murphy said he told a visiting delegation from FIFA about the state hosting key games during the 2026 World Cup, shortly before the organization announced last month that the U.S. will stage the tournament along with Canada and Mexico. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford was included in the countries’ joint bid as the preferred site for the finals, although that decision likely won’t be made until 2020 or 2021.” Read the report

—“NJ schools are segregated, group says; fixing that would force big changes” Read the report

—“Bramnick urges residents to push back against ‘high-density’ housing” Read the report

— Murphy wants $15 minimum wage bill by year’s end Read the report

— Murphy: Middle class won the budget battle, not politicians Read the report

—Murphy defends staff in wake of Norcross criticism Read the report

— DOBI extends deadline for insurers to file rates for Obamacare premiums Read the report

—Gateway builders seeking more input from private industry Read the report

—New Jersey expanding Medicaid coverage to include hepatitis C treatment Read the report

THE TRUMP ERA

JOE DEPORTAITON — “Under Trump, Democratic New Jersey counties cash in on detaining immigrants,” by WNYC’s Matt Katz: “County governments controlled entirely by Democrats in the most liberal parts of New Jersey are making a windfall off of President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement, collecting more than $6 million a month from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain immigrants in its county jails. From January 2015 to March 2018 the amount of ICE money sent to Bergen, Essex and Hudson Counties increased 46 percent, amounting to more than $150 million over that period, according to invoices provided to WNYC by the counties. As many as 2,000 immigrants are in the county jails at any given time pending deportation proceedings. Some stay incarcerated for years. At the Bergen County Correctional Facility, most of the residents are no longer criminals waiting for trial but immigrants waiting for deportation hearings. In Hudson County, about half of the inmates are immigrants. And in Essex County, ICE paid the correctional facility nearly $3 million just for the month of May — nearly double what it was getting each month during the Obama Administration. Local officials view the immigrants as a source of revenue that helps to control property taxes. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who was once described as the ‘Jack Welsh of correctional facilities’ for monetizing inmates, has long promised that the ICE contract would ‘reduce the financial burden on our taxpayers.’” Read the report

— Hugin undecided on Kavanaugh as Menendez and Booker announce opposition” Read the report

—“How the Kavanaugh Pick Impacts the Sherrill-Webber Race” Read the report

—“MacArthur outlines bipartisan package of bills tackling nation’s opioid crisis” Read the report

—“N.J. artist carves gigantic message outside Trump golf course” Read the report

—“Ex-GOP assemblyman endorses Sabrin” Read the report

— Fulop Raises $10K for Dem House Candidates Read the report

LOCAL

FREEHOLDERS AT NEXT MEETING TO DISCUSS BOMBING NORTH KOREA AND HOW MARIJUANA IS MORE ADDICTIVE THAN COCAINE — “Ocean County Jail rocked by allegations of racism, sexual harassment & retaliation in corrections officer’s federal suit,” by Ocean County Politics’ Gavin Rozzi: “Female corrections officers are making serious allegations against supervisors & employees of the Ocean County Corrections Department in a federal lawsuit. The officers claim in court filings that they have faced a hostile work environment and numerous lewd sexual comments & retaliatory actions from their supervisors. The county has denied the allegations in a subsequent filing. Three female Ocean County corrections officers — Sarah Prioli, Elizabeth Clarke and Nicole Horan — are all making very serious allegations against the county jail’s administration, according to documents … Their complaint, filed in New Jersey federal court, names county jail warden Warden Sandra Mueller, Deputy Warden Joseph Valenti, Captain John Haberbush and Captain Joshua Dickinson of the Ocean County Department of Corrections as defendants in the lawsuit … The corrections officers allege that they have been forced to endure “intentionally demeaning and derogatory conduct” from other employees within the county corrections department.” Read the report

YOLIBERTY SAM —“Sam Pesin, ‘tenacious advocate’ for LSP, continues winning streak,” by The Jersey Journal’s Terrence T. McDonald: “Let’s start with the battles Sam Pesin has lost. Pesin, who has spent decades fighting development inside Liberty State Park, could not stop construction of a 9/11 memorial that opened in the park in 2011 (Pesin had argued it would block views of the Hudson River and New York City). And in 1996 the 500-slip Liberty Landing Marina opened along the Morris Canal basin. Now here are the projects Pesin and his army of park advocates successfully halted: an expansion of Liberty National Golf Course made public in January that would have used about 20 acres of the park’s Caven Point peninsula; a 45-acre marina on the park’s southern end proposed in 2016; a 2015 plan for a hotel, restaurant and amphitheater; a commercial water park proposed in 2000; a golf course proposal pitched in 1991 that would have taken up most of the center of the park. The list goes on. And for every one of these plans, Pesin, a preschool teacher who rarely speaks above a whisper and stands all of five-foot-three, was there with his army ready to fight.” Read the report

BRUTAL — “Sayreville man indicted in bias attack that left APP freelancer clinging to life,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Kathleen Hopkins: “Monmouth County grand jury on Monday handed up a six-count indictment against a Sayreville man accused in what prosecutors allege was a racially motivated attack that left a freelance photographer for the Asbury Park Press clinging to life. The indictment charges Jamil S. Hubbard, 25, with the attempted murder of Jerry Wolkowitz, 55, of Freehold, bias intimidation, armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, theft and eluding police. The most serious of the offenses is bias intimidation, which carries a term of imprisonment of 15 to 30 years upon a conviction. Authorities said Wolkowitz was attacked from behind in the parking lot of his apartment complex on Harding Road about 7:15 a.m. on May 1. They allege that Hubbard punched Wolkowitz in the head and face, dragged him and then drove his own car over the victim before stealing Wolkowitz’s automobile. The attack left Wolkowitz unresponsive and on life support at an undisclosed hospital. The indictment alleges that Hubbard targeted Wolkowitz because of his race. Hubbard is black, and Wolkowitz is white. The accused and the victim did not know each other, authorities said.” Read the report

TRUMP’S RIVER — “Toms River councilman switches parties, becomes a Republican,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “Saying, “I can no longer associate myself with the Democratic Party,” Councilman Daniel J. Rodrick abruptly switched parties Tuesday, announcing that’s he’ll become a registered Republican. “It’s become more and more apparent that the Democratic Party is out of touch with middle-class workers and taxpayers,” Rodrick read from a prepared speech at Tuesday night’s Township Council meeting. “And while I will continue to fight overdevelopment, I can no longer associate myself with the Democratic Party.” Rodrick’s switch will leave the Republicans with a 5 to 2 edge on the council … Rodrick cited national and state issues for his decision to switch parties, criticizing ‘Trenton Democrats’ for reducing state school aid to Toms River … Rodrick noted he was a Republican for more than 20 years before he switched party affiliations joined the Democrats’ ticket in 2015.” Read the report

NUTLEY’S HUGE POPULATION OF POLO PLAYERS REJOICE — “Ralph Lauren will move Lyndhurst operations to ex-Roche site, Nutley mayor says,” by The Record’s Owen Proctor: “Global fashion is coming to Nutley. Ralph Lauren Corp. is relocating its Lyndhurst operations to 100 Metro Blvd. at ON3, which is filling in the footprint of pharmaceutical giant Hoffmann La-Roche’s former property along Route 3, in Clifton and Nutley. Property owner Prism Capital Partners announced the Ralph Lauren lease during a recent Nutley Board of Commissioners meeting, Mayor Joseph Scarpelli said. ‘The medical school opened today,’ Scarpelli told The Record and NorthJersey.com on Monday. ‘For us, Ralph Lauren is the next step forward.’ The New York City-based global fashion designer, marketer and distributor is expected to finish its relocation by late 2019 or early 2020, the mayor reported.” Read the report

REMIND ME, WHAT’S NICK SCUTARI’S HOMETOWN? — “Former Linden police chief to become Union County undersheriff,” by MyCentralJersey’s Suzanne Russell: “Retirement from public service doesn’t appear to sit well with former Linden Police Chief Jonathan Parham, who will be sworn in as a Union County undersheriff on Friday. The appointment, announced Tuesday by Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli, comes just more than six months after Parham retired Dec. 31, 2017 from the Linden force after 25 years of service … Parham’s salary as undersheriff was not mentioned in the release. He earned $172,956 per year as Linden police chief and receives a monthly pension of $7,206.50.” Read the report

—“Clifton manufacturer laying off 75 employees as it moves out of state” Read the report

—R.I.P. — “Montclair mourns loss of Terry Demming, 7, son of former council member” Read the report

—“Ex-cop avoids prison for stealing $167K from off-duty jobs program” Read the report

—“Pharma company being sued by Newark gets $40M In state tax credits” Read the report

—“Mayor Andre Sayegh picks former boss as economic development chief for Paterson” Read the report

—“Lawsuit targets strip searches at Camden County Jail” Read the report

—”See Newark cops’ heroic rescue of a 2-year-old girl after drowning” See the video

—“James tapped as East Orange council prez” Read the report

—“Jersey City attorney Hudnut formally sworn in as city’s chief municipal prosecutor” Read the report

—“Everyone who knew her loved her.’ PSE&G played God in ailing grandma’s death, daughter says” Read the report

—“70-year-old N.J. Catholic school forced to shut its doors” Read the report

—“DRPA seeking federal money to reopen Franklin Square Station on PATCO Hi-Speedline” Read the report

EVERYTHING ELSE

SLOW NEWS DAY — ”Former Trentonian reporter indicted for smuggling protected turtles out of New Jersey,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avilucea and Penny Ray: “Former Trentonian reporter David Sommers has found himself caught up in the same type of oddball story he used to crank out for the capital city’s scrappy tabloid newspaper. The feds allege Sommers, 64, of Levittown, may have spent his lifetime outside the newsroom trapping and trafficking thousands of protected diamondback terrapins from New Jersey into Pennsylvania, then hawking them to buyers across the country. Officials say he poached diamondback terrapins and their eggs from coastal marshes in New Jersey and smuggled some of the turtles to Canada in 2014 in a falsely labeled package he claimed contained a $10 book. Sommers allegedly cornered a lucrative part of the illegal black market turtle trade as the terrapins fetch a ‘market value in excess of $350,’ the feds said. He was also indicted for violations of the Lacey Act after allegedly trafficking over 3,500 turtles in interstate commerce, putting his potential terrapin empire at more than $1.2 million.” Read the report

SHH… DON’T TELL SETH GROSSMAN “Diversity in the workplace on the rise in NJ, survey finds,” by NJ 101.5’s David Matthau: “New Jersey is known as a melting pot — one of the most diverse states in the nation. And a new Taft State of Diversity survey finds interaction among people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds in the Garden State is continuing to grow. Krista Jenkins, the director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll, said a survey commissioned by Taft Communications and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association found 88 percent of respondents said they interact at work daily with someone of a different race or ethnicity — compared to 86 percent last year and 83 percent in 2016.” Read the report

MUST… RESIST… MAKING… DIRTY… JOKE — “Fistball: Old and growing international sport comes to New Jersey,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “American sports fans will have a rare opportunity this week to witness the excitement of a growing international sport with an obsessive following that dates back several hundreds of years. Clubs from Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, India and the United States will do battle in the International Fistball Association’s 2018 Under-18 World Championships. The competition runs from Wednesday to Sunday at the Horseshoe Lake municipal recreation complex in Roxbury.” Read the report

—“Lawsuit: Sex assault at Stockton posted online” Read the report

—“Don’t use our drug to execute killer, angry N.J. company tells Nevada” Read the report

FOR MORE political and policy news from New Jersey, check out Politico New Jersey’s home page: http://politi.co/1JiYTDg

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