Sweeney’s voice vote on anti-Trump help out South Jersey Democrat — and Republicans – Politico
Good Monday morning!
When Senate President Steve Sweeney opted for a voice vote instead of a machine vote on condemning President Trump’s “go back” comments as racist on Thursday, he managed to help out both one of his own South Jersey Democrats as well as a key Republican.
Story Continued Below
Sweeney could have had a roll call vote to put every legislator on record. But by doing it as a simple voice vote, that won’t happen. That means state Sen. Tom Kean (R-Union) — who’s running for Congress against the very anti-Trump Democrat Tom Malinowski — doesn’t have to deal with a pesky record of an abstention or “no” vote in his district, where Trump has fueled a Democratic rise.
But it also means state Sen. Bob Andrzejczak (D-Cape May) didn’t have to cast a vote. He’s the only state senator up for election this year, and his district is pro-Trump. It would not have been an easy vote.
Sweeney and Kean have a tense history. But when the choice is between helping Malinowski by putting Kean in an awkward spot or putting his own South Jersey Democrat in a vulnerable one, it’s not hard to see why Sweeney made this choice.
WHERE’S MURPHY?: India
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Attorney Luke Hornblower, Attorney Primo Cruz. Missed Friday: Guarini Institute Executive Director Ginger Gold-Schnitzer
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You know, it’s like a car dealer, they wanted $5,000, you Jew ‘em down to $4,000 … It’s nothing vicious. The expression has been said millions of times.”” — Trenton Councilman George Muschal on Councilwoman Kathy McBride’s use of the anti-Semitic phrase “Jew her down” during an executive session.
GATEWAY — New Jersey files new funding application for Gateway rail bridge, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: New Jersey officials on Friday filed yet another federal funding application for a long-stalled, $1.6 billion replacement project for Portal Bridge, a century-old railroad crossing that has been the source of major traffic jams on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. After years of delay by the Trump administration, which has repeatedly found both the bridge and related Gateway tunnel project ineligible for grants, NJ Transit — the state’s commuter railroad and the project’s sponsor — said it had addressed several issues raised when the Federal Transit Administration rejected the bridge’s last application. The new paperwork for the Portal North, which would replace a span that carries trains over the Hackensack River in Northern New Jersey, adds a cushion in case there are cost overruns. That had been a primary concern of the FTA when it issued its last rating for the project in March, along with an assertion that the sponsors hadn’t clearly defined where the money would come from.
INDIA TRIP — “Murphy lands in India for big trade mission. He’s the first sitting N.J. gov to visit the country,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “Gov. Phil Murphy landed in India Saturday to kick off a seven-day business mission. He is now the first sitting New Jersey governor to visit this country. Over the week, Murphy will travel to six cities for more than 50 meetings with at least 1,000 people from companies he’d like to lure to the Garden State. But Murphy says the trip will also shine a spotlight on New Jersey’s growing South Asian community.”
—“Murphy’s on a jobs mission in India. But what did we get from his Germany and Israel trip?” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “Last year, the governor spent eight days in Germany [and] Israel to also generate business back home. What exactly, then, did New Jersey get from that trip? In short: Some brick and mortar and about a dozen new jobs. But, people who organized the first mission argue, a strong foundation to grow future partnerships and — hopefully — more jobs. … The most concrete outcome during his trip to Germany was the announcement that the energy company that works in offshore wind development, EnergieBW, would open a Jersey City office. It took longer than expected to get the office open, but the company has a foothold in Jersey City, with about a dozen employees and plans to expand in the future, Lozano said.”
EXPUNGE-WORTHY? — Sweeney, others introduce new expungement bill as talks continue, by Ryan: State Senate President Steve Sweeney and two other Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill last week making broad changes to the way New Jersey processes criminal expungement petitions, a move that comes as they remain engaged in negotiations with the governor’s office over how to proceed with a key criminal justice priority. The legislation, NJ S4154 (18R), introduced on Thursday is not a rejection of the proposal Gov. Phil Murphy made when he conditionally vetoed an earlier proposal, Sweeney’s office said in a statement. The Senate president and the other sponsors, Sens. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) and Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), say they hope to reach a final agreement with the Murphy administration that would “preferably include the revisions contained in the new bill.” “He made some changes in his conditional veto — some we agree with, some we don’t,” Sweeney told reporters on Thursday in Trenton. “That’s why we took some words out that he had added.”
NJ TO ONLY ALLOW SALE OF NICOTINE PRODUCTS WHOSE DEATH-CAUSING PROPERTIES ARE NOT IN DOUBT — “There’s talk of banning vaping in N.J. What can be done?” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “Senate President Stephen Sweeney has called for legislation see a phased-in ban on electronic smoking devices, including nicotine cartridges and containers, as well as all other vapor products. Gov. Phil Murphy has announced the creation of a task force to study the dangers of vaping, and come back with regulatory and legislative recommendations within three weeks. But can the state actually act to impose such a ban? According to legal experts, it can. ‘State and local governments have that authority,’ said Mark D. Meaney at the Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul. He noted that e-cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products and that while the federal government keeps jurisdiction over issues such as labeling, marketing and disclosure of ingredients, state and local governments have the right to impose sales restrictions.”
—State lawmakers see momentum for vaping crackdown after Trump ban
—Mulshine: “Outlawing vape sales will just lead to more risks with black-market products”
—“LD21 flashpoint: Brindle ‘disappointed’ by Bramnick and Kean”
—“What commuters need to know after NJ Transit board meeting
—Kelly: “New Jersey’s big idea to impose gun control: Follow the money”
PERHAPS ONE CAN SUCCEED KELLYANNE CONWAY AS BLUEBERRY PAGEANT PRINCESS — “Unaccompanied immigrant children land in South Jersey towns as the Juntos shelter program expands,” by Philly Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “Bienvenidos A Juntos una gran familia. Welcome to Juntos, a great family. The chalk-on-pavement welcome is about the only indication that the former Atlantic County Youth Shelter is now home to Juntos, an expanding program in South Jersey that provides shelter to unaccompanied children who have crossed the southern border into the United States. Run by the nonprofit Center for Family Services (CFS) and funded by the federal government, the Juntos (Spanish for together) program is also operating shelters in Woodbury and Burlington, in addition to the one in Northfield, which has been housing up to 20 unaccompanied migrant children for about six months, according to a local official.”
JERRY SCANLAN IS THE REAL VICTIM IN ALL THIS — “‘Did you meet with terrorists?’ NJ mayor says officers questioned him at airport, took his phone,” by The Record’s Hannan Adely: “Muslim Americans say they’ve been singled out, detained and interrogated at airports — and elected officials are no exception. Mohamed Khairullah, the long-time mayor of Prospect Park, said he was held for three hours at JFK International Airport last month, questioned about whether he knew any terrorists and forced to hand over his phone. `It was definitely a hurtful moment where I’m thinking in my mind that this is not the America that I know,’ said Khairuallh, a public-school administrator. ‘I am very familiar with our laws and Constitution, and everything that was going on there was a violation.’ Khairullah’s story mirrors that of many travelers, who believe they are singled out because of their faith when they are pulled aside for secondary screenings and searches. … Agents told him they’d have to keep the phone, Khairullah said. They held it for 12 days until a lawyer from the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations intervened and helped get it back.”
REPORTERS ARE SO ANNOYING. USING THEIR NAMES AND REPORTING FACTS. WHY CAN’T PEOPLE GET THEIR NEWS FROM ANONYMOUS BLOGS THAT MAYORS LIE ABOUT NOT RUNNING? — “Mayor Yaede claims she has ’emergency,’ avoids questions about Hamilton Spotlight denials,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avilucea: “Mayor Kelly Yaede only wanted to talk about what she wanted to talk about. That was the senior center. And when the conversation turned to questions about her criminal case, the mayor quickly ended the phone call, claiming an emergency suddenly came up. ‘This is about the senior center, Isaac,’ she said in her first interview with The Trentonian since Mercer County Angelo Onofri filed charges against her Sept 3. … Not much of an interview, Yaede quickly hung up the phone when The Trentonian attempted to get an explanation from her about why she and her campaign manager Dan Scharfenberger repeatedly claimed they were not behind the now-infamous Hamilton Spotlight blog that published GOP challenger David Henderson’s expunged criminal records.”
“Hunterdon County Freeholder John Lanza charged with DWI,” by The Courier-News’ Mike Deak: “Hunterdon County Freeholder John Lanza has been charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. Lanza, 43, who is running in November for his third term on the freeholder board, said he is pleading not guilty to the charges. Lanza, in a statement, said he is ‘confident that this matter will be resolved fairly in the courts.’ … Lanza, a Flemington-based attorney, said he is taking temporary leave from his post as municipal prosecutor in the Joint Municipal Court of East Amwell and Delaware, pending the disposition of the charges.”
0.55 MASTRO WINDFALL — “Painting that hung in NJ library since 1943 sells for millions,” by The Daily Record’s Jessie Gomez: “Indians Attacking a Wagon Train’ hung in the Dover library’s reading room for more than 60 years. The thousands of residents who walked by the framed oil painting had no way of knowing it would one day be sold for millions. The 1863 Emanuel Leutze painting, donated to the library by his family in 1943, sold last year for almost $5 million. The library, in serious need of cash for books and repairs, may just be saved by the unexpected windfall, said its director and board members.”
HEALYWOOD — “Hello Hollywood: Jersey City will soon be home to NJ’s largest movie production studio complex,” by The Record’s Shayla Brown: “A warehouse-turned-production studio will allow Jersey City to woo filmmakers and give traditional local sites such as New York, Brooklyn and Harlem, some competition. Jersey City will be home to New Jersey’s largest movie production studio complex when the transformation of the Canal Crossing warehouse is completed, said Mayor Steven Fulop. Caven Point Studios is expected to be ready in spring 2020, according to Criterion Group, LLC, the real estate developer behind the project. The complex is 135,000 square feet in total with 70,000 square feet of it is going to three sound stages. The size will allow it to produce large scale projects, according to Criterion Group Principal Shibber Khan.”
SOUP FOR YOU — “Soup kitchens in Atlantic City adjust to life without Sister Jean’s,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Colt Shaw: “On a Thursday in August, sitting in the gym at the back of the Salvation Army on Texas Avenue, Jeff Litton ate a heaping plate of chicken, rice, green beans, carrots and a roll. The 60-year-old, who sleeps most nights on the beach or the Boardwalk, started eating lunch there when Sister Jean’s Kitchen closed last winter. ‘They treated us great, just like they do here,’ Litton said. Litton is one of dozens of people who began frequenting other soup kitchens in the city after Sister Jean’s closed. Leaders at the Salvation Army and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, situated on Bacharach Boulevard beside the Convention Center, said they’ve seen an increase in the number of people lining up for meals.”
NJ STATE GOVERNMENT TO THE RESCUE! NOW THE CASINO OWNED BY THE HOUSTON ROCKETS’ BILLIONAIRE OWNER CAN TAKE NBA BETS — “New Jersey to allow Golden Nugget to take most NBA bets,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “New Jersey’s governor has signed a bill allowing Atlantic City’s Golden Nugget casino to accept bets on most National Basketball Association games. Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the casino — and also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets. When New Jersey lawmakers legalized sports betting last year, a provision in the law banned team owners from placing or accepting bets on any games involving their sport. It was directly aimed at the Golden Nugget and enacted over protests that Nevada regulators allow Fertitta’s casinos to take bets on pro basketball games as long as they don’t involve the Rockets.”
—“Judge sues NJ police over ‘retaliation, racism’”
—“Indicted N.J. elections official accused of paying workers to clean mom’s attic, running OT scheme”
—“Hoboken will try to enforce pay-to-play laws, which won’t be altered until after November”
—“Denville principal sentenced to two years of probation for child abuse”
—“Princeton supervisor charged with accepting bribes in illegal dumping case”
—“Perth Amboy City Council cuts assistant prosecutor, four other jobs sparking mayor’s ire”
—“Bordentown police chief charged with hate crimes and saying blacks are ‘like ISIS’ heads to trial”
—“Censure recommended for Camden municipal court judge Jones-Tucker”
—”Long-running saga of [Hillside’s] demoted police chief ends with big payout for former top cop”
—“Ex-superintendent planning to sue Pleasantville, citing retaliation”
—“These highways are lifelines for Jersey Shore towns. But they flood regularly, so now what?”
EVENTION — “Wildwood deck collapse injures more than 20; one victim flown by medevac,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tom Avril: “Two decks collapsed on a three-story building in Wildwood on Saturday, injuring at least 22 people in a pile of wreckage on the next-to-last weekend of summer. Twenty-one people were taken to Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May Court House, one of whom was then flown to a trauma center by air ambulance, hospital spokesperson Susan Staeger said. … The Shore town was full of firefighters attending the New Jersey Firemen’s Convention. Among the victims were at least six firefighters and family members from the Branchville, N.J. fire department in Sussex County, according to the county fire chiefs association.”
THERE’S ALREADY A CAMDEN COUNTY TOWNSHIP NAMED AFTER JASON — “‘Friday the 13th’ actors help to cut ribbon and introduce new Friday the 13th Museum,” by The New Jersey Herald’s Jennifer Jean Miller: “Hundreds of ‘Friday the 13th’ franchise film faithfuls flocked to downtown Blairstown on Friday the 13th itself for the ribbon cutting to the new Friday the 13th Museum, which opened in Blairstown, the township where the first of the famous slasher films was made four decades ago. Ari Lehman who played Jason Voorhees — the film series’ villian — when he was in his teens, cut the ribbon to officially open the museum, along with C.J. Graham who played Jason in ‘Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives’ and Jason Brooks, who played Jason in the Friday the 13th fan-funded film ‘Vengeance.’”
—“NJ state trooper attacked during traffic stop in Hackensack”
