NJ Dems’ internal fight moves from redistricting to state chairmanship – Politico

Good Friday morning!

Democratic State Chairman John Currie’s term isn’t up for another year, but his reelection fight began this week.

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Currie announced yesterday that he’ll seek another term. This is no surprise. Two days ago, Essex County Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones acknowledged to the New Jersey Globe that he’ll run “if drafted,” which of course means he’s running. We’re already seeing the usual factions form around each side, with county chairs announcing their support for each other in statements and South Jersey’s county chairs all coming out for Jones at ones in their trademark monolith style. Again, this is for an election a year away.

What is interesting about this is that some people interpreted legislative Democrats’ attempt to ram the redistricting amendment through the Legislature as a sign that they didn’t have the committee votes to oust Currie. Or perhaps that was just Plan A. This is obviously about who gets to appoint the next redistricting commissioners, at least in part. But it’s remarkable that the Democrats are so fractured that the Sweeney-Norcross-Coughlin wing of the party is trying to oust the state chairman supported by their own governor. Then again, remember when the many of those same Democrats denied the party’s’ own 2013 nominee her traditional right to pick the state chair?

There will be plenty of internecine Democratic fights between now and then, whether on marijuana, the minimum wage or the state budget. With that much time, it’s possible this fight will be resolved in some way before it comes to a head.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Have a good Christmas. New Jersey Playbook will not publish from Dec. 24 to Jan 1. I’ll be back in your inbox Jan. 2.

WHERE’S MURPHY? Headed to Africa for vacation

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Blue Jersey’s Rosalie Efthim Missed yesterday: Malinowski field organizer Ryan Berger

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “When Camden County gets mad at somebody, we’re all mad at somebody.” — An unnamed Atlantic City local on why the local power structure backed Frank Gilliam for mayor

FLEETWOOD MURPH: DON’T STOP THINKING ABOUT NEW TAXES — Sweeney tells Murphy no new taxes — ‘period, full stop’, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: Senate President Steve Sweeney on Thursday said he will not consider any new tax proposals sought by Gov. Phil Murphy and openly mocked his fellow Democrat for suggesting otherwise, using one of Murphy’s favorite idioms to make his point. Sweeney, who clashed with Murphy for months last year over the governor’s proposals to raise taxes on millionaires and roll back a cut in the sales tax, said in a statement that “tax increases are not part of the solution” to New Jersey’s fiscal problems. “Until we make the desperately-needed structural reforms to government spending and fiscal practices, we will not consider tax increases,” Sweeney said. “Left unaddressed, we won’t have the resources or the ability to address the needs of the people of New Jersey or invest in the programs and services that can expand economic opportunities. Period, full stop.” Those last three words are among Murphy’s go-to phrases when making an emphatic point, as he did on Wednesday when he was asked if he would consider proposing new tax hikes when he delivers his next budget to lawmakers in March. Read more here

THEY JUST DISCOVERED SEXUAL ABUSE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH — “Bill to amend NJ statute of limitations for sex abuse victims gains backing,” by The Record’s Deena Yellin: “For nearly 20 years, state Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, has been pushing a bill that would offer victims of sexual abuse more time to bring civil claims against their abusers and the institution that may have enabled the abuse … The legislation has previously stalled because of a lack of support and, Vitale said, protests from church lobbyists. Now, in the aftermath of the explosive Pennsylvania grand jury report, his bill has gained enough traction to win approval in the Senate and Assembly, Vitale said. The Pennsylvania report found that the church had covered up the sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by 300 priests, including four who served in New Jersey. It also found that the church did not allow victims to obtain justice. ‘It was a game changer. A lot of people came up to me and said, ‘I want to sign your bill.’ Some were pretty devout Catholics,’ Vitale said.” Read more here

IT JUST TAKES COUGHLIN THIS LONG TO FORM AN OPINION — “Why undocumented immigrants face long wait for driver’s licenses in Democratic NJ,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Next year, all 80 seats of the Assembly will be up for election on the November ballot. Most political observers expect Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, who is responsible for the Assembly Democratic campaign, to stay clear of any proposals like undocumented driver’s licenses — they smack of controversy and potentially make his members easy targets for Republican attack ads. Assembly elections are also typically low-turnout contests, and Democratic strategists see no advantage of pushing an issue that could help rile up the Republican base, which is already simmering over Murphy’s campaign pledge to make New Jersey a ‘sanctuary state’ and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal’s recent directive limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration officers.” Read more here

NJ TRANSIT — Murphy approves first management changes to NJ Transit since its founding, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday signed a bipartisan bill that will reshape the management of NJ Transit for the first time since its founding in 1979, making good on a promise to add transparency and oversight to the long-troubled operator of the state’s commuter rail and bus system. The measure, NJ S630 (18R), would expand the agency’s board of directors, create new transparency requirements, improve procurement procedures and install a top official who would be responsible for advocating on behalf of riders. The legislation is the end result of a 15-month legislative inquiry and an audit by the Murphy administration — and Murphy said it was made better by a willingness to work together. Read more here

IT’S ALMOST AS IF THE BILL WAS WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR PSEG — PSEG is the only company to apply for nuclear subsidies, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio: PSEG Nuclear, a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group, has filed applications for nuclear subsidies for each of its nuclear plants in New Jersey — Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek. No other electric distribution companies applied for the nuclear subsidy, said Peter Peretzman, a spokesperson for the Board of Public Utilities. Exelon filed supplemental information for both Salem plants as the co-owner of those nuclear generating facilities. All three nuclear facilities are located in Salem. If they are all awarded subsidies, it would cost the state an estimated $300 million annually. The amount of information requested by the BPU, the state agency that will ultimately decide whether to approve the subsidy, was enough for all three applications to fill nearly 200 boxes, Peretzman said. Read more here

—“Governor Phil Murphy’s guys are the gang that couldn’t fire straight | Mulshine” Read more here

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—Lassiter: “A Wholesale Rejection of Sweeney/Greenwald’s Worst Idea Yet™” Read more here

—“What these 2 N.J. political insiders say about bizarre twists in Murphy staffer rape scandal, Trump’s unsurprising AG pick” Read more here

THERE’S NOTHING THE ANTI-SUPER PAC BOOKER CAN DO TO STOP THE SILICON VALLEY TITANS HE’S COURTED FOR 12 YEARS FROM THROWING MONEY AT HIM — “Cory Booker Isn’t Yet Running for President. But a Supporter is Launching a Super PAC to Back Him,” by The New York Times’ Shane Goldmacher and Kenneth P. Vogel: “A prominent donor plans to raise $10 million in the coming months for a new super PAC to boost Senator Cory Booker’s expected presidential campaign — marking the first infusion of big money into the Democratic primary and setting the stage for a reckoning within the party over the role of super PACs. Steve Phillips, an influential San Francisco-based Democratic donor and activist, said he would formally file paperwork on Thursday to create the pro-Booker super PAC, Dream United. Mr. Booker, who represents New Jersey, has yet to announce whether he is running, let alone whether he would welcome super PAC support. A first well-funded super PAC of 2020 could aid Mr. Booker in amplifying his message in what is expected to be a historically crowded field, and it speaks to the depth of his support from potential financiers. But such support could also backfire as the grass-roots base of the party is increasingly calling to curtail the political influence of the wealthy. Mr. Phillips said he had already collected $4 million in commitments. And he suggested he would continue collecting money regardless of whether Mr. Booker wanted his support.” Read more here

—“Menendez decries Senate’s failure to pass flood insurance program” Read more here

— “Pallone to Chair House Energy & Commerce Committee” Read more here

—“N.J. sues Trump admin over seismic testing” Read more here

SAME GROUPS TO FUND $1M SUPER PAC AD EXPLAINING HOW NORCROSS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT “How New Jersey power brokers bankrolled the election of Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “The election of Frank M. Gilliam Jr. as Mayor of Atlantic City probably hasn’t worked out the way a lot of powerful people hoped. It was, in tried and true Atlantic City fashion, a bad bet. Gilliam’s allies were distancing themselves before the election was officially certified … How did Frank Gilliam raise more than $261,000 for his campaign and get the benefit of a SuperPac, Our Atlantic City, that raised another $229,000 and ultimately paid Craig Callaway, Atlantic City’s influential vote-by-mail wrangler, $80,180 on his and other Democrats’ behalf? How was it that New Jersey’s power brokers — top Democrats, unions, online gaming companies, moribund Boardwalk landholders, the company that owns the Claridge and vacant Atlantic Club, and, crucially, the Callaways — rally around this candidate for a position the state had, through its takeover, rendered essentially powerless? … In this case, with Trenton upset with Guardian and his ally in the fight, City Council President Marty Small Sr., strings got pulled from power centers, including Camden County-based power broker George Norcross III and Sweeney, who both wield influence over the electrical and iron workers unions and had long advanced agendas in Atlantic City.” Read more here

TOO BAD THERE AREN’T ANY PATRONAGE JOBS TO CUT — “Paterson: State aid decision forces city to craft layoff plans,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The mayor’s staff has begun preparing layoff plans involving firefighters and civilian employees after city officials said they learned this week that Paterson will get much less state aid than it had requested. Facing a $12 million budget shortfall, city officials said they began holding meetings over the last couple of days with municipal labor union leaders and rank-and-file employees to discuss the possibility of delaying workers’ paychecks as a way to minimize or avert layoffs.” Read more here

LODI RESIDENTS UPSET ABOUT BREAK WITH TRADITION, NOT THAT THE PEOPLE THEY NEED RUN INTO BURNING BUILDINGS FEEL TOO TIRED TO WALK AROUND TOWN — “After attention on social media reached a fever pitch, plans to change the traditional Santa ride were shelved faster than a holiday elf … The change in plans was announced about a week ago, but it became the buzz around town after someone posted it on Facebook, Dowson said. Dowson said the other two companies in Lodi had never changed their plans, but that the districts that operate out of the Lodi fire headquarters had made the decision to set up four locations so that residents could come to them. ‘It’s a lot of walking up and down, and we are getting older,’ Dowson said. ‘I’m 68. We start at 10 in the morning and are still out there some years at 7 or 8 at night. Last year someone said that we had walked 13½ miles handing out lollipops.’” Read more here

AFTER MIDNIGHT, WE’RE WON’T TAKE THE STATUE DOWN — “Post-midnight, Jersey City council ends nine-month Polish statue mess. Finally,” by The Jersey Journal’s Terrence T. McDonald: “The Katyn statue controversy, which spanned nine months, was the focus of hours of clamorous public debate and caused a bit of an international incident between the mayor and the Polish Senate president, finally come to an end on Thursday at 1:16 a.m. when the City Council voted to … keep the statue exactly where it’s been for nearly 30 years. It was the second time Mayor Steve Fulop’s now-scuttled plan to relocate the monument kept council members on the dais past midnight: a hearing at their June 13 meeting did not end until nearly 3 a.m. City officials were exhausted when the statue discussion began early Thursday, six hours after the council meeting began, and their frustration showed.” Read more here

NEWARK’S SOLUTION FOR LEAD IN THE WATER? MERCURY — “Newark contracts with PR firm for $225k to help with lead messaging,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Rebecca Panico: “The city will spend up to $225,500 to hire a public relations firm to help disperse information to the media and residents concerning elevated lead levels in water and combat the social media blitz from a group suing Newark over the issue. City council [Wednesday] night approved the six-month contract with Mercury Public Affairs, which has offices in Trenton and Westfield. The contract circumvented state public bidding laws since the city deemed it an ‘extraordinary unspecifiable service.” Read more here

HAMILTON STILL A GOOD SHOW —“Infighting escalates within Hamilton Mayor Yaede’s administration,” by The Trentonian’s Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman: “Talk about infighting. High level officials within Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede’s administration are feuding over fiscal matters, with charges of illegality and unethical conduct being alleged. Meanwhile, Hamilton Council is questioning why the mayor’s brother-in-law, Richard J. Mulrine, is continuing to work as Hamilton’s assistant director of finance when a township ordinance prohibits elected municipal officials from employing immediate family members. Hamilton Business Administrator Dave Kenny has served Hamilton Chief Financial Officer John Barrett with administrative charges accusing the CFO of dishonesty and “reckless” job performance, The Trentonian has learned.” Read more here

HOWELL’S CHRISTMAS SCOWL— “Howell homeless camp: Just before Christmas, town might toss homeless,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Kala Kachmar: “Relations between the Howell homeless camp and the township appear to be souring. The township was threatening to ‘eject’ the people living at the homeless camp on town property if they had not vacated by Thursday, Dec. 20. In June, when the town auctioned the $1.6 million land on which the homeless are living, camp residents were told they would have to leave. Now, six months later, township officials are growing impatient while an attorney for the camp negotiates with the soon-to-be owner for compensation. In a letter to Destiny’s Bridge, the nonprofit that backs the camp, township attorney Joe Clark called the situation a ‘stalemate ’and said the camp’s residents don’t have any ‘third-party rights’ to the land.” Read more here

—“Lyndhurst OKs $395,000 for retiring police chief after 5-month negotiation” Read more here

—“Kushner Cos. ‘in contract’ to buy Lower Broadway in Long Branch” Read more here

—“Open government advocate suing to have monitor oversee Rockaway Township” Read more here

—“Vernon approves settlement with Mountain Creek” Read more here

HIS SENTENCE IS 20 DAYS LONGER THAN DAVID SAMSON’S — “Why is New Jersey sending Bill Crain to jail?” by The Record’s Mike Kelly: “On Sunday, Bill Crain will celebrate his 75th birthday. Ten days later — at 9 a.m. on Jan. 2 — he plans to show up at the Sussex County jail in Newton to begin serving a 20-day sentence. His crime? Crain walked across a road. As Congress and the White House hash out details of legislation to dramatically reform the federal system of sentencing criminals to prison, it’s worth considering the question of why New Jersey is sending a 75-year-old man to jail for such a silly reason … What got Crain in trouble in Sussex County is partially linked to his sanctuary work with farm animals. He regularly shows up in Sussex County to protest bear hunts … chanted slogans and held placards. The hunters tried to ignore them. Then Crain walked into the Fredon-Springdale Road. This was a no-no.” Read more here

FOX: NO NEED FOR HEARING ON WHAT HAPPENED TO HEN HOUSE “Exelon: No need for hearing on how Oyster Creek closing hits Lacey,” by Patricia Miller for the Times-Beacon: “Should Lacey and area environmentalists have a separate hearing to address their concerns on how Oyster Creek’s eventual closure will affect Lacey and New Jersey? ‘No,’ officials from Exelon Corp. — the nuclear plant’s owners — said in a Dec. 3 letter to the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.” Read more here

HEALTH — “Zero new HIV cases in New Jersey? Rutgers, health department say it’s possible by 2025,” by The Record’s Catherine Carrera: “Rutgers University and the New Jersey Department of Health want people in New Jersey to know: someone with HIV can live a full, healthy life with no chance of sexually transmitting the virus if they take their medications as prescribed. With more awareness of that fact — along with access to treatment and advances in research — health officials hope to eliminate new cases of HIV in the state by 2025.” Read more here

—“NJ jobs: Shore manufacturers scramble to high schools to find workers” Read more here

—“Ex-WFAN host Craig Carton’s mansion to sell for $1M, less than half original price” Read more here

—“Why this Orthodox Jewish woman is taking on the comments section” Read more here

—“Online internet access gaps narrow for poorer, older and less educated NJ residents” Read more here