NJ’s $100K voter education campaign – Politico

Good Friday morning!

The state is rolling out a public education campaign on the primarily vote-by-mail July primary starting today, according to the Division of Elections.

Though this has been in the works for longer than a couple days, it comes after Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter — a Democrat — told an Assembly committee Wednesday that despite an executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy from May that required a public education campaign, none had materialized yet.

According to the spokesperson, Alicia D’Alessandro, there will be a digital campaign, radio and billboard trucks. The slogan is “Vote. Sign. Seal. Return.”

The contract with vendor Marketsmith Inc. for the three-week campaign is for $100,000, D’Alessandro said.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Giving the sacred space to these traitors upon our nation is not just an assault to the ideals of America as a whole, they are a painful, insulting difficult injury being compounded to so many American citizens.” — Sen. Cory Booker on Confederate statues in the Capitol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Vitale staffer Stephanie Albanese, Saturday for Booker aide Zach McCue. Sunday for NJDHS’ Jonathan Chebra, Mt. Laurel Councilman Stephen Steglik, NJDOL’s Tennille McCoy, NJEA’s Beth Schroeder Buonsante

WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Trenton for his daily press conference at 11 a.m. Then in Amtico Square in Trenton at 2 p.m. for an “evironmental justice” announcement, followed by a 4:30 p.m. Juneteenth celebration at Trenton’s Friendship Baptist Church

DUDE, WHERE’S MY LAW? — Assembly passes legislation to decriminalize cannabis; Senate fate remains uncertain, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: The New Jersey Assembly on Thursday passed legislation that would decriminalize possession of as much as two ounces of cannabis, but the bill‘s fate in the upper chamber appears tenuous at best. The bill, NJ A1897 (20R), which passed, 63-10, with five abstentions during a remote voting session, would subject those in possession of up to two ounces of cannabis to a $50 civil penalty. But to be found liable, the state would have to “establish by a preponderance of evidence” that the cannabis wasn’t acquired legally through one of the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries. Companion legislation has not been introduced in the Senate. One of the chamber’s leading proponents of legalizing cannabis said he’d be reluctant to support any decriminalization measure less than five months before voters are scheduled to vote on a ballot question that would pave the way for recreational sales. “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize outright legalization,” Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said in an interview Thursday afternoon.

MOM & POP STORES SHUTTERED BY MALL COMPETITION DECADES AGO TO REMAIN CLOSED — Murphy says New Jersey’s indoor malls can reopen June 29, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday that the nearly 30 indoor shopping malls in New Jersey will be allowed to reopen June 29. “Certainly malls are part of New Jersey culture and lore, I think as much here, if not more so than any American state,” Murphy said during his daily briefing in Trenton. “We want these businesses to get back up and running responsibly and safely.”

EMANCIPATION — “N.J. should have a state holiday for Juneteenth, which commemorates end of slavery, lawmakers say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Samantha Marcus: “New Jersey lawmakers announced Thursday they are are introducing legislation to make Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery, a state holiday. The legislation, which must go through the state Senate, Assembly and be signed by the governor, won’t be in effect by this year’s Juneteenth, which is Friday, but sponsors said ‘residents of New Jersey can dedicate themselves to the spirit and purpose of the bill’ …. Asked Wednesday whether he planned to take a similar action to give state workers a paid holiday, Gov. Phil Murphy said he believes it must be done legislatively.”

PERSONAL PANDEMIC PIZZA — “Amazon, pizza and PPE: What NJ spent $300 million on during coronavirus response,” by The Record’s Dustin Racioppi and Ashley Balcerzak: “In the initial days of the COVID-19 outbreak and as the disease peaked in New Jersey, the state spent more than $1 million for a refrigerated warehouse as a temporary morgue for the dead. It spent $200,000 on food to feed National Guard troops, emergency operations staff and hospital patients — $91,000 at a Vineland pizzeria and another $91,000 at a deli in Tabernacle. Another $40,000 went toward hand sanitizer, which was in such short supply that the state hired two alcohol distilleries to provide it. 02/24/20. That spending was just a sampling of the nearly $300 million spent on COVID-19-related supplies and services since the pandemic first hit New Jersey on March 4. But many of the spending details are unknown because the state has declined to release copies of contracts, saying it would cause ‘severe disruption’ to agencies.’”

UNEMPLOYMENT — “New unemployment call center is up and running, N.J. says, but workers say they still can’t get through,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karin Price Mueller: “The Labor Department’s new call center to handle calls from unemployment applicants is up and running, Gov. Phil Murphy said at his Thursday briefing. The call center was widely anticipated by the thousands of workers who need speak to an agent about their unemployment claims … Scores of workers emailed NJ Advance Media, reporting that they still could not get through on Wednesday and Thursday.”

POLICY REPLACES DONUTS ARE PREFERRED POLICE BREAKFAST — “Policing must evolve after George Floyd killing, NJ cops say. But into what?” by The Record’s Steve Janoski and Richard Cowen: “In the weeks since Floyd’s death, proposed changes that had languished for years are racing ahead. This week, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal ordered New Jersey police forces to release long-secret data on disciplinary actions against cops. The state has promised a review of two-decade-old use-of-force rules and may order all towns to create civilian review boards. But it’s doubtful those efforts alone will genuinely transform police culture, the set of social mores that informally govern the 36,000 officers working in more than 500 New Jersey departments. Those rules aren’t set in Trenton. They’re forged by local chiefs or sheriffs and enforced by police sergeants who drive out to calls and oversee patrol officers. And that culture, in a phrase oft-repeated by experts, eats policy for breakfast.”

GET WELL SOON — “Union City mayor breaks three ribs in fall at City Hall,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “Longtime Union City Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack is resting at home after breaking three ribs in a fall Sunday outside City Hall. “I am in in some pain so I am currently at home, but I am in constant contact with my department directors and offices to ensure the city and district office are running as usual,” Stack said in a statement.”

BACK TO HIS ROOTS — From POLITICO Influence: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has registered to lobby for three more clients: the Atlantic Health System, Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health. He and his former chief of staff, Rich Bagger, will lobby for the three New Jersey health care providers on Medicare reimbursement and the implementation of the $2.1 trillion coronavirus relief law, as well as the follow-up relief bill passed in April, according to disclosure filings. Christie registered as a lobbyist for the first time earlier this month through his firm, Christie 55 Solutions.

—Weinberg crafts bill to further reform NJ Transit board in wake of new capital, strategic plans

—Transportation advocates question how to fill funding gaps in NJ Transit capital plan

—Police traffic stop data would be available to public under new bill

—“NJ lawmakers advance bill to make juries more diverse”

—“N.J.’s education chief to finish school reopening planning before starting new university job”

—“Bill limiting chokeholds by N.J. police clears Assembly”

—Opinion: “N.J. doesn’t have the ability to hold nursing homes accountable for thousands of avoidable deaths”

DACA — Supreme Court rejects Trump effort to end DACA, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Rebecca Rainey: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to end the DACA program, handing a major victory to about 650,000 immigrants — most of whom who entered the U.S. illegally as children more than a decade ago. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s Democratic appointees in a 5-4 decision that found the Trump administration’s move to wind down the Obama-era program for Dreamers lacked a sound legal basis. The decision does not foreclose future moves to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, but it seems unlikely the administration will be able to put in place a new framework to end DACA before November’s presidential election.

—“NJ immigrant group ‘shocked’ by Supreme Court’s DACA decision”

CAUGHT IN A BAD BROMANCE — “What’s up with this Democrat’s bromance with Donald Trump?” by The Daily Beast’s Hunter Woodall, Erin Banco and Asawin Suebsaeng: “As Donald Trump discussed his effort to ‘reopen’ the country in meetings at the White House earlier this month, he turned his attention to an unlikely ally. During one such meeting with top political advisers from his campaign and West Wing, the president touched on how ‘helpful’ New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy—a Democrat—had been lately and joked about how wonderful it would be if he could get Murphy to come over ‘to my side,’ according to an attendee of this strategy meeting. The president cited the example of Rep. Jeff Van Drew … Trump, however, then conceded that Murphy was too liberal for that, and said with a smirk that the Democratic governor would turn on him ‘in a second,’ if conditions were ripe for Murphy … ‘The governor would say he has a relationship with the president. But I think Trump is manipulating Governor Murphy to his benefit. The president has gotten a lot more out of the narrative than Murphy has,’ Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said. Fulop, who considered a run against Murphy for governor in 2016 and previously served in the U.S. Marines, said he thought Murphy’s decision to deploy troops ‘was a mistake.’”

—“NJ Democrats block vote on bill to curb Gov. Murphy’s power during coronavirus outbreak”

CORONAVIRUS LEADS TO GOVERNMENT CUTS — “Prosecutor shuts down N.J. police department’s makeshift barbershop, launches investigation,” by NJ Advance Media’s Katie Kausch: “The makeshift barbershop set up inside the Woodbridge Township police department is closed for business, after the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office stepped in. Woodbridge Township Police director Robert Hubner was told to end the practice of inviting a barber into the sally port to give officers and civilian employees haircuts as soon as his office became aware of it, Acting Prosecutor Christopher L. C. Kuberiet said in a statement Wednesday night … Woodbridge Township officials previously said that federal Cares Act funding was used to pay for the first round of haircuts, but on Thursday, Woodbridge spokesman John Hagerty said that wasn’t correct. ‘The payment of $1,605 came from the Woodbridge Police Department’s line account for outside services and vendors that we were going to submit as part of our reimbursement to the CARES Act with the county,’ Hagarty said.”

PROTECTING FROM SANDWORMS — “Jersey Shore town denies violations in sand dune work,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “A Jersey Shore town denies it illegally destroyed sand dunes and wetlands, saying it acted to repair erosion that had wiped out parts of the dunes. In responses released Thursday by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, North Wildwood disputes the agency’s claim that it destroyed 8 acres of mature, well-established dunes as part of oceanfront development without legally required permits and approvals from the agency. The agency also claims North Wildwood installed an oceanfront bulkhead without required permits or the engineering reviews conducted by the agency to ensure public safety and environmental protection.”

NEWARK — “Coronavirus slows consent decree police reforms in Newark, federal monitor says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rebecca Panico: “The coronavirus pandemic has delayed a timeline for reforms in the Newark Police Department (NPD) that were laid out in a 2016 consent decree, according to a report from a federal monitor who oversees compliance.”

A WORLD APART — “Neptune police report: Committee harassed chief to replace him with Black officer,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Austin Bogues: “The township’s police oversight committee contributed to a hostile work environment and harassed the chief of police, James M. Hunt Jr., according to conclusions made in a report from a law firm hired by the township. The report concludes that “the actions were based on a motivation to replace him with an African-American.” The report, written by Parsippany-based attorney Ellen O’Connell, said the police committee that oversees the township’s police department undermined the chief’s authority and promoted a Black police captain to deputy chief as part of a goal to promote an African American to the chief position.The Asbury Park Press obtained a copy of the report, which is is dated April 24 … The report is the latest in a line of problems for the township and police department that has included allegations of repeated sexual harassment and internal feuds over control of the department.”

TAKE CARE, TDP — “Trenton Police director Sheilah Coley to sue city, officials for Muschal’s disrespect,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avliucea: “R.E.S.P.E.C.T. The city of Trenton is about to find out what it means to Trenton Police Director Sheilah Coley. The embattled police director promised to file a defamation lawsuit against the city and officials like South Ward George Muschal who she claims have tried undermining her leadership at TPD since she took over last year. The police director said the lawsuit should be filed Friday. Her pronouncement comes after she said she was ‘viciously’ attacked during an executive session Thursday to discuss a settlement with fired TDP cop Lino Rosario.”

—“Jersey City police officers to undergo de-escalation training”

—“[West Orange] mayor wants town to ban police use of tear gas, rubber bullets”

—“Donohue seeks return to Cape May GOP chair post”

—“Former Belleville cop claims in lawsuit he was ‘resented’ at work for being a veteran”

—“City police used excessive force against Paterson family, federal civil rights suit claims”

—“Perth Amboy Councilman, Democrat Chairman to Run for Mayor”

—“Dueling petitions debate removal of Columbus bust in Parsippany”

—“Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May opens virtually on Juneteenth”

—“[Camden] district to rename Woodrow Wilson school, citing former president’s ‘racist values’”

—“Ocean County approves $56.8M social services complex in Toms River”

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK — “Suburban New Jersey homes headed for biggest price increase since 2005,” by Bloomberg’s Oshrat Carmiel: “Pandemic-weary New Yorkers, eager to escape the confines of city living, may push up suburban New Jersey home prices by the most in 16 years. That’s the forecast by real estate consultancy Otteau Valuation Group for four counties close to New York City: Bergen, Essex, Union and Middlesex. The firm sees a dip in single-family home prices this year, followed by a 6% jump in 2021, the biggest annual increase since 2005. ‘This looks like the 1970s, which was a time when people were leaving the cities,’ Jeffrey Otteau, president of the firm, said in an interview. ‘You had tremendous growth in places like Long Island and Westchester County, at the expense of the Manhattan economy.’”