No parks no recreation – Politico

Good Friday morning! Literally.

Gov. Murphy may have backed down from his decision to require gun stores to close during the crisis, but so far he’s shown no signs of budging on his park closure.

The governor yesterday said state and county parks will remain closed for the duration. And you know he’s serious about it because he threw in a “gosh golly.”

The pushback has come primarily from Republican lawmakers. I haven’t seen any Democrats or environmental groups come out against it, so email me if I missed that.

In much grimmer news, New Jersey’s death toll from coronavirus is well over double the amount we lost on 9/11. Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said yesterday that the latest modeling showed us two or three days from the peak.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’ve never seen anything like this.” — State Sen. Richard Codey, speaking not about his political career but about the volume of demand at his two funeral homes because of coronavirus.

WHERE’S MURPHY?: In Trenton for his daily briefing at 10:30 a.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: AFSCME’s Rudy Orozco, former congressional candidate Roy Cho, Passaic County Administrator Anthony DeNova, Mt. Laurel Councilman Kareem Pritchett, lobbyist Eileen Kean. Saturday for InsiderNJ’s Pete Oneglia, financial manager Mark Meyerowitz, LD6’s Matt Brinn, Hope Mayor Timothy McDonough. Sunday for state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, former Passaic County Freeholder Ed OConnell, Democratic consultant Mickey Quinn, Atlantic Health’s Matt Marinello

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: The latest: 3,748 additional cases for a total of 51,027. 198 more deaths for a total of 1,700.

WE MAY HAVE TO DEVALUE THE MASTRO — Jobless claims continue to soar in New Jersey, with 215K filed last week, by Katherine: Nearly 215,000 New Jerseyans filed for unemployment benefits last week — an all-time record — as massive job losses continued to pile up because of the coronavirus the pandemic, according to new figures released by the state Department of Labor. The numbers released by the state Thursday morning are slightly higher than the nearly 214,000 jobless claims the U.S. Department of Labor reported earlier. The reason for the discrepancy is that New Jersey has more up to date information on the total number of claims filed. In all, the number of New Jerseyans applying for unemployment benefits has now reached nearly 577,000 for the three-week period that began March 15.

—State senators form task force to examine pandemic’s impact on education

—“More than 3,380 long-term care facility residents have tested positive for coronavirus, state says”

—“You can now know how many NJ coronavirus patients are in critical care, discharged”

—“N.J.’s 3 veterans homes have 58 residents with coronavirus, 14 deaths. Combat medics sent to help”

—“At Paramus Veterans Home stricken with coronavirus deaths, a Boy Scout plays a nightly tribute”

THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT MATT TO KEEPING N.J. FUNCTIONING — Murphy: Asymptomatic counsel was tested for Covid-19 because of exposure, by Matt: Matt Platkin, chief counsel to Gov. Phil Murphy, was tested for the coronavirus despite having no symptoms because he had come into contact with people who had tested positive, Murphy said today during his daily briefing. The Murphy administration told reporters on Wednesday that Platkin had tested positive and was asymptomatic. But Murphy has insisted that only New Jerseyans who show symptoms of respiratory illness should be tested. So far, more than 100,000 have. A reporter asked the governor today why Platkin was tested despite not showing symptoms. “Now, why does he get a free pass to do that?” Murphy said. “Because, literally, every single executive order that I’ve written since I’ve been governor and certainly in this period have been written by [Deputy Chief Counsel Parimal Garg], Matt and their colleagues. So we need this guy.”

WHEN THEY MEET AGAIN THERE WILL BE A 45-HOUR BACKLOG OF CEREMONIAL RESOLUTIONS — Senate introduces coronavirus-related bills; remote voting sessions set for Monday, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: The state Senate on Thursday introduced more than two dozen bills and resolutions to help the state cope with the coronavirus pandemic, and lawmakers in the upper house are expected to vote on them during their first-ever remote session on Monday. Within the package are bills to revise requirements for cash assistance benefits, increase support for laid off workers and establish a tax deferral assistance program for small businesses. Monday’s session is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The Assembly has also scheduled an electronic session at 3:30 p.m. on Monday to vote on several coronavirus-related bills.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS TIED TO JOBS AND JOBS ARE TIED TO HEALTH — “Laid-off employees scramble for new health coverage in COVID-19 pandemic,” by NJ Spotlight’s Jon Hurdle: “Some 70% of New Jersey employees get their health insurance through their employer, and so loss of a job often means loss of health coverage, said Maura Collinsgru, health care program director for New Jersey Citizen Action, a liberal advocacy group that provides direct services to low- and moderate- income people. ‘Many people are not aware what they can do or where they can turn if they cannot continue their coverage through their employer, either because it’s no longer available, or it’s unaffordable to them to carry through COBRA,’ she said at a news conference, referring to the federal program that allows people to temporarily continue their coverage by paying both their own premiums and the employer’s.”

—Murphy extends grace periods for those unable to pay insurance premiums

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER TO CHANGE NAME TO CRAIG NOCOUGHIN — “Prison, hefty fines await suspects who cough, spit on cops to spread coronavirus,” by The Record’s Steve Janoski: “New Jersey’s coronavirus outbreak was in its infancy on March 14 when three River Edge police officers responded to a Summit Avenue apartment to quell a domestic dispute … That’s when Bishara-Rhone walked by one of the officers, turned and coughed in his face, Cariddi said. She then smiled and said she had a fever and cough – the symptoms of coronavirus, the chief said. The officer was not wearing a mask or gloves because the virus had not yet spread through the state. Gov. Phil Murphy’s social distancing order was still two days away. In the past, Bishara-Rhone would have been charged with throwing bodily fluid at an officer, a relatively minor offense. But as the coronavirus pandemic rages and the number of similar incidents rises, the state Attorney General’s Office has stepped in and tacked on a second-degree felony charge that could jail people like Bishara-Rhone for five to 10 years.”

OH THE WAIT TO RUN IS ONE YEAR LONG. DUDA. DUDA — “Ousting N.J. party bosses starts at grassroots level,” by Helen Duda for The South Jersey Times: “Citing unprecedented circumstances, the New Jersey Democratic Committee recommended, but did not require, that county committees extend the terms of current committee members by one year. Despite the fact that primary elections for president, Congress and local races are still going forward, party bosses in Atlantic and Cape May speciously argued that having county committee elections this year somehow poses a unique public health risk. The machine’s approach violates the spirit of Executive Order 105, which Gov. Phil Murphy issued to ensure that our election process could continue in a safe and secure way in this unprecedented time. The executive order allowed prospective candidates to gather and submit nomination petitions electronically to allow for proper social distancing. It didn’t, however, cancel the upcoming elections.”

—“Will NJ delay property tax payments due to coronavirus? State finances may get in the way”

—Bergmann: “Was Murphy’s decision to close all state and county parks overkill?”

—“Coronavirus relief fund launched by N.J.’s first lady and celebrities awards its first grants”

—“NJEDA head: NJ’s strongest industries critical to winning war on COVID-19”

—“Op-Ed: New Jersey must keep democracy robust, facilitate voting from home”

—New Jersey ag department: Costs for schools’ spring break meals will be reimbursed

TWEET OF THE DAY #1: @NJGov: “REMINDER: Keep AT LEAST one @GovMurphy of space between yourself and others”

TWEET OF THE DAY #2: @NJGov: “REMINDER: Keep AT LEAST 1.25 Danny Devitos of space between yourself and others”

ICE WON’T RELIEVE THE FEVER — “ICE detainee coronavirus cases grow across the country, New Jersey is the state with the most,” by The Record’s Monsy Alvarado: “The number of immigrants in federal custody that have tested positive for the coronavirus rose this week to 35 across the country, with a majority of the cases found in New Jersey. The updated figures, posted on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website on Thursday, includes 16 in New Jersey, seven in California, six in Pennsylvania, two in Arizona, two in Louisiana, and one in Florida and Michigan. In New Jersey, they include seven cases at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility, two at the Bergen County Jail, five at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, and two at the Essex County jail in Newark. Some of those who have tested positive may no longer be in custody, according to ICE.”

—FEMA test sites will remain in New Jersey through end of May, Murphy says

‘CAUSE NOTHING COMPARES. NOTHING COMPARES… TO FLU (WHICH, TO BE CLEAR, THIS ISN’T) — “Volunteer EMT corps: ‘Nothing compares’ to what they’re seeing in New Jersey town,” by ABC News’ Stephanie Ramos , Katie O’Brien , Josh Margolin and Enjoli Francis: “In Teaneck, New Jersey, volunteer EMTs are constantly answering potential and confirmed COVID-19 calls, sometimes wearing mechanics overalls to protect themselves from being exposed. ‘We have never seen anything like this before ever in our history,’ said Jacob Finkelstein, captain of Teaneck Volunteer Ambulatory Corps. ‘We’ve been around for a long time since 1939. I’ve heard from members who’ve been here through other, similar, situations through AIDS, through SARS. Nothing compares to what we are seeing now in Teaneck.’ ABC News spent a few hours with the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulatory Corps as its members responded to calls in the community.”

SOMEHOW PHANTOM CANDIDATES NEVER HAD THIS CHALLENGE — South Jersey progressives sue to get on the ballot, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Thirteen South Jersey progressive candidates seeking to challenge establishment Democrats in the primary this year claim in a newly filed lawsuit that they were kicked off the ballot in four counties because of the county clerks’ technological incompetence. The candidates, who are seeking county-level offices in Cape May, Camden, Cumberland and Gloucester counties, say their campaign consultant, Dave Parano, collected more than the required 100 online signatures for each of them and properly submitted the nominating petitions. However, the lawsuit states, the clerks in each county “had a lack of adequate technology software and hardware and/or … failed to possess adequate knowledge about how to extract files, have each claimed that they did not receive Parano’s full submissions on behalf of the candidates.”

MAYBE STATE CAN STEP IN, OF COURSE AFTER HOLTEC GETS ITS TAX INCENTIVE — “Trenton gives students laptops for online learning during coronavirus, hopes feds will reimburse the cost,” by NJ Advance Media’s Michael Mancuso: “The mayor said the computers — Chromebooks — were ordered in bulk specifically for the online learning schools across New Jersey were forced into implementing last month as the coronavirus bore down on the country. ‘Hopefully FEMA will reimburse us, some day,’ Gusciora said.”

JUST LIKE A PRAYER. YOU KNOW WE DON’T WANT YOU THERE — “Come to prayer vigil at N.J. hospital and we’ll arrest you, cops say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino: “The police chief of a small borough in Salem County says he will arrest anyone who gathers for a planned prayer vigil outside the local hospital where staff members have been tending to coronavirus patients. Residents in Elmer and surrounding areas had planned to gather at 6 p.m. on Monday in front of the Inspira Medical Center on Front Street to show their appreciation for hospital workers. But Elmer Police Chief Patrick Byran has nixed the idea. The hospital doesn’t want the public gathering outside, either. ‘I’m sympathetic to their cause and I wholeheartedly respect what they want to do,’ said Bryan, 55, whose daughter works in the hospital’s emergency room. ‘But this is not the time.’”

WHEN YOU CAN’T WALK THE THIN BLUE LINE — “Four Newark police hit another car after barhopping on duty, prosecutor says,” by The Record’s Nicholas Katzban: “Four members of the Newark Police Department were issued summons after falsifying records to hide they that drank at bars around the city while on duty and later got into a car accident, acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said in a statement. ‘Not only did these officers barhop around the City of Newark while on duty and in full uniform, but they lied in an attempt to cover it up,’ Stephens wrote in a prepared statement … Lt. Norberto Soares, 42, of Kenilworth, and officers Erik Blount, 33, of Newark, and Tashia Jones, 35, of Newark, were charged with tampering with public records. Additionally, Officer Michael Chirico, 55, of Newark was charged with driving under the influence after he allegedly drove himself and the other three officers the wrong way down University Avenue, hitting a car with a woman and four children inside.”

—“Kearny said $1.8 million isn’t enough for 104 acres taken by the NJSEA. An appeals court ruled it is”

—“Shooting continues despite Trenton curfew imposed by Mayor Reed Gusciora”

—“Vandals destroy historic buildings in DWG, steal toilet paper, sanitizer”

—“Gibbs: Tie expanded VBMs to voter ID”

— “NJ town halls scramble to move operations online after abrupt closures from coronavirus”

BURIED — “Overwhelmed N.J. funeral homes are in crisis as coronavirus deaths surge,” by NJ Advance Media’s Alex Napoliello: “At Perry’s Funeral Home in Newark, maximum storage capacity is 35 bodies. As of Sunday, the home had 40 — the extras needed to be moved to an offsite facility. ‘The phones are ringing off the hook,’ manager Sam Arnold said. ‘The staff is overwhelmed.’ Like many funeral homes in North Jersey, Arnold’s business is now in crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic, as the industry scrambles to keep pace with a spiking Garden State death toll. COVID-19-related fatalities have surpassed 1,000 in barely a month, hospitals are overloaded with bodies awaiting pick-up and crematoriums are backlogged, business owners say. ‘It’s taxing everyone — my manager is working double time, triple time,’ says Richard Codey, the ex-governor and current state senator, who owns a pair of funeral homes in Caldwell and Boonton.”

—“Refueling an N.J. nuclear plant means 1,000 extra workers. That changes during a pandemic”

—“Eric LeGrand knows the coronavirus might kill him. He hasn’t left his house in 28 days”