Trump dominates Menendez-Hugin debate

“Hugin showcases independence.” That’s the headline of a press release Republican GOP Senate candidate Bob Hugin’s campaign put out after last night’s debate with Sen. Menendez.

By “independence,“ the campaign really means from one person, when it comes down to it: President Donald Trump. But Menendez was there to remind viewers every time that Hugin distanced himself from President Trump that Hugin had donated six figures to help Trump get elected and served as a delegate for him at the 2016 convention.

Hugin, of course, went after Menendez on his corruption trial. Moderators brought up the prostitution ads. And Menendez brought up the controversial drug pricing of Melgen’s former pharmaceutical company, Celgene.

But it just kept coming back to Trump. And that’s what this election, apparently, is about.

You can read my story on the debate here.

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Bergen County spox Alicia D’Alessandro, Bordentown Twp Committeeman Eric Holiday

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You can’t in 60 minutes change what you’ve been for 60 years” — Bob Menendez to Bob Hugin

CHILD DEATHS — “Health inspectors recorded multiple infection control, patient safety deficiencies at Wanaque before deaths,” by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: “Weeks before seven children died in an adenovirus outbreak at Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, health inspectors uncovered multiple deficiencies in the center’s processes for controlling and containing infection, according to a report obtained by POLITICO through an open records request. The health inspector’s report of the facility that provides long-term care for children and adults was completed Aug. 20, roughly three weeks before New Jersey’s Department of Health received the first report of a respiratory illness at the facility … Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex), who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens, has already raised the possibility that the Legislature could conduct hearings into what caused the outbreak or on whether Wanaque failed to properly contain its spread. The Health Department’s investigation into the adenovirus outbreak is ongoing.” Read the report

—State halts new admissions at Wanaque facility where 7 children died Read the report

—“8 basic questions about the deadly N.J. adenovirus outbreak and where it spread” Read the report

—“Mother of child who died at NJ facility wasn’t told about virus outbreak for weeks” Read the report

—“Governor holds briefing after 7 children die from adenovirus” Read the report

STEVE SWEENEY CONTINUES TO TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THIS — Lawmakers will have subpoena power for investigation of sex assault allegations, by POLITICO’s Linh Tat: Lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly will vote on concurrent resolutions Monday to create the New Jersey Legislative Select Oversight Committee to review hiring practices for public employees and governmental procedures for handling allegations of sexual assault, abuse and harassment, the state’s two top legislative leaders announced today. The identical resolutions call for a 15-member bipartisan committee to review the matters, in response to revelations that Albert J. Alvarez, a former aide to Gov. Phil Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign, was hired to work for the administration after members of the governor’s transition team learned of allegations Alvarez had sexually assaulted a woman. The resolutions grant subpoena power to the committee, though subpoenas must be approved by both committee co-chairs, the vice-chairs, state Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “While we hope there will be no need to invoke the power, we thought it best to reserve the right to issue subpoenas in the unlikely event it is necessary for the committee to take that course of action,” Sweeney and Coughlin said in a statement. Read the report

—“Panel investigating former Phil Murphy aide sexual assault allegation to be mostly women,” by The Record’s Dustin Racioppi: “The legislative panel investigating Gov. Phil Murphy’s hiring practices after an allegation of sexual assault against a Murphy hire will be made up of mostly women after Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin announced his chamber’s membership Tuesday. Coughlin, D-Middlesex, named nine members to the select committee — all but one of them female. That brings the panel’s membership to 15 lawmakers, 12 of them women.” Read the report

DEVELOPING SCHOOLS DOESN’T COME CHEAP — “Alvarez got big raise just before resigning,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The New Jersey Schools Development Authority gave Al Alvarez 20% raise weeks before he abruptly resigned amidst allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman during the 2017 gubernatorial campaign, according to a state government source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Alvarez’s salary jumped from $140,000 to $170,000 on September 15, a little more than two weeks before his resignation.” Read the report

—“Lawmakers Want to Ease Burden of Fuel-Tax Increase for School Districts” Read the report

—“Janus decision impact likely minimal in NJ: Union growth to continue” Read the op-ed

— “11 things to know about Phil Murphy’s sprint across Israel and Germany”Read the report here.

PROMOTION ALERT — Jonathan Chebra, formerly director of government relations for the New Jersey Hospital Association, is now the association’s senior director of federal affairs. Many of you can thank Chebra for alerting me to your birthdays.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 2020 — “Potential 2020 presidential hopeful Sen. Cory Booker headed to NH later this month,” by WMUR’s John DiStaso: “New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker has been to three of the four early voting states in the 2020 presidential nominating process during this midterm election campaign, and later this month, he plans to visit the fourth — New Hampshire. Booker, viewed as an potential top tier contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in less than two years, has scheduled a visit to the first-in-the-nation primary state. While his full schedule has yet to be disclosed, WMUR has confirmed that Booker on Oct. 28 will headline a get-out-the-vote event at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, organized by the New Hampshire Young Democrats. Booker’s appearance at the event was confirmed to WMUR by NHYD president Lucas Meyer. The Young Democrats invited Booker, 49, to the state, and he accepted.” Read the report

CD11 — “New Jersey GOP congressional candidate receives letter threatening his family,” by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: “New Jersey Republican congressional candidate Jay Webber received a threatening letter that mentioned his children and urged him to drop out of the race, his campaign said Wednesday. ‘What the f— is wrong with you … scumbag?’ the typed letter, addressed to ‘Jay,’ states. ‘You BETTER hope that you don’t win! Or else. How many kids do you have… 7? Unlucky 7. What is what we think of you. Time to get out of politics.’ The letter and a ripped up ‘Webber for Congress’ campaign sign were sent to the candidate’s place of business, his campaign said. Law enforcement officials are investigating. ‘Criticizing a candidate on the issues is part of politics. Threatening my children is not,’ Webber tweeted on Wednesday … [Opponent Mikie] Sherrill condemned the threats against Webber. ‘This is absolutely appalling,’ she said in a statement.” Read the report

—“The man running to be my next Congressman is a threat to my son” Read the op-ed

HE CAME HERE AT AGE 3 — “New Jersey ‘Dreamer’ deported to Albania months after his parents’ removal,” by The Record’s Monsy Alvarado: “A 21-year-old Clifton man who had been shielded from deportation under a program for undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children has been deported to Albania, joining his parents who were sent back earlier this year. Mikel Pukri, a Clifton High School graduate who came to the United States when he was 3, was deported last month, immigration officials said Tuesday. His deportation came after he spent several months in detention in the Essex County Jail as he fought his immigration case … In March, when immigration officials were deporting Vitor Pukri, his wife, who had been released with an ankle bracelet, and Mikel Pukri went to Newark Liberty International Airport to say goodbye, according to Sally Pillay, program director for First Friends of New Jersey and New York. But some sort of altercation erupted, according to law enforcement officials. Neta Pukri was taken into custody and charged with assault, disorderly conduct, hindering and obstruction for allegedly interfering with federal law enforcement agents. She was deported in June. A few days later, Mikel Pukri, who left the airport, surrendered to police, and was also charged and detained.” Read the report

NEW JERSEY’S LONG NIGHTMARE IS OVER — “’Super pooper’ case: Kenilworth ex-school chief pleads guilty in Holmdel,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Alex Gecan: “Thomas W. Tramaglini, former superintendent of Kenilworth Public Schools, has pleaded guilty to relieving himself at the Holmdel High School athletic field, court records show. He admitted to one municipal ordinance violation, public defecation, on Oct. 24, according to court records. The other two charges in the case — littering and lewdness — were dismissed. He paid a $500 fine plus court costs and fees. Holmdel police first charged Tramaglini May 1 after a school resource officer (SRO) and school staff members began staking out the high school’s athletic field. School staff and coaches had complained to the SRO ‘that they were finding human feces’ at or near the track and football field ‘on a daily basis,’ according to a prepared statement from police at the time. Tramaglini’s attorney, Matthew Adams, disputed any such characterization of his client. ‘Today’s facts are contrary to the narrative that was spun about this person that was supposedly a serial offender doing things on the open track, so in a way, yes, I do disagree with your reporting,’ Adams said in a phone interview with the Asbury Park Press. Adams said Tramaglini suffered from a ‘medical emergency’ the day of the incident, one ‘documented by Mr. Tramaglini’s physician’ Tramaglini had dealt with it under the bleachers, obscured from public view and ‘cleaned up after himself,’ Adams claimed.” Read the report

SOUNDS POSITIVELY MACHIAVELLIAN — “McGreevey in crosshairs in Jersey City,” by The Jersey Journal’s Terrence T. McDonald: “Trouble is brewing for former Gov. Jim McGreevey. The ex-governor, who is executive director of the autonomous Jersey City Employment & Training Program, is clashing with allies of Mayor Steve Fulop about McGreevey’s management of the nonprofit, which provides job training and prisoner re-entry services. The scrutiny has McGreevey’s supporters nervous that City Hall may attempt to curtail his power or fire him. This all comes amid a dramatically altered landscape for McGreevey here in Jersey City. In 2013, Fulop helped resurrect McGreevey’s career by tapping him to run JCETP and use it to create a city re-entry program, one Fulop said would become a national model for how governments treat ex-prisoners. Today, the relationship between the two men is non-existent, sources close to them say.” Read the report

THIS IS THE KIND OF S**T M********ERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR — Jersey City Public Schools enter new era with return to local control, by POLITICO’s Linh Tat: Nearly three decades after becoming the first district in New Jersey to be taken over by the state, Jersey City Public Schools on Thursday will begin a new era with the return of full local control. State and local school officials approved a two-year transition plan earlier this month, with an effective date of Oct. 25. While the state will continue to monitor the Hudson County district to ensure it meets benchmark goals over the next couple of years, many consider implementation of the transition plan as the date for when local control is restored. “There is substantial evidence that the district has the adequate programs, policies, and personnel in place to ensure that demonstrated progress is sustained,” state Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet wrote in a letter to Jersey City schools Superintendent Marcia Lyles, adding that he believes the district is “prepared to assume this duty.” Read the report

OUT IN TIME TO GET A JOB IN THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION — “Mayor’s ex-campaign treasurer embezzled $220K. Now he’s going to prison,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karen Yi: “Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s former campaign treasurer was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison on Wednesday after admitting he embezzled more than $220,000 in campaign funds by cashing forged checks. Under a plea agreement negotiated with the U.S. Attorney’ s Office in March, Frederick Murphy Jr., 56, of Bloomfield, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion charges in relation to campaign work. Murphy also admitted he underreported $199,000 in fraudulently obtained funds on his personal income tax returns, cheating the government of $54,000. Standing before U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares and surrounded by two dozen community supporters, Murphy said he was sorry.” Read the report

NO RELATION, I HOPE — “Franklin police arrest serial diaper dumper after yearlong chase,” by The Vineland Daily Journal’s Sheri Berkery: “Get a load of this. A Newfield man who has been dumping bags of diapers at township intersections for the past year has been caught. William Friedman, 68, was spotted making his drop around 3:15 a.m. Sunday, police said. He was processed and issued multiple township ordinances. Police could count on Friedman to be regular. ‘He would do it at least three times a week at different intersections,’ said Lt. Matthew DeCesari of the Franklin Township Police Department. ‘He would do it a couple of months in one area and then move to a different intersection. We could never get a time down’.” Read the report

ONCE I HAD A PICNIC AND IT WAS A GAS. SOON FOUND OUT PARK WAS FULL OF GLASS — “Middletown backs off as neighbors, including Debbie Harry, fight park plan,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Russ Zimmer: “Public pressure has sidelined a proposal to create two soccer fields at Stevenson Park. Maybe. The relatively untouched tract of land sits between two retirement communities, which for now serve as the twin headquarters of a spirited defense to keep the park the way it is … The opposition, made up of mostly retirees and other neighbors but also the singer for the seminal pop-punk band Blondie, denies that this is simply a case of ‘not in my backyard.’ … ‘As an environmentalist, I’m very interested in making sure that green spaces are left to function in our modern world,’ said Debbie Harry, the singer-songwriter best known as co-founder of Blondie. Harry’s West Front Street property abuts the woods of Stevenson Park. ‘My dogs love it’ she said. ‘We walk around back there.’” Read the report

HOLMDEL TO FOLLOW SUIT WITH TRAMAGLINI STREET — “Trenton council may backtrack on renaming street honoring family of pastor with ‘checkered’ past,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avilucea: “The legislative body was left scrambling to try to undo a major misstep after it was exposed it unanimously voted to approve renaming a stretch of Brinton Avenue to Brinson Memorial Drive. The renaming of the city street was sponsored by at-large councilman Santiago Rodriguez to honor Pastor Charles B. Brinson’s parents, Eldest Charles and Tardy Brinson … Pastor Charles Brinson, the leader of Brinson Memorial Church sitting on the 200 block of Brinton Avenue, repeatedly insisted the street name change is meant to commemorate his parents and not him. He has been pitching city leaders on the idea of permanently renaming a stretch of Brinton Avenue between Parkway and Oakland avenues in his parents’ honor since at least 2016. But Brinson has a checkered past that includes allegations that he sexually assaulted a young teenager in 2008 and a federal conviction related to a three-decade-old money-for-marriage citizenship scam the feds described in an indictment as an end-around immigration laws.” Read the report

—“Teacher, a union rep, charged with trashing elementary school” Read the report

—“With Election Day nearing, few Hoboken officials taking a stance on runoff question” Read the report

—“Trump signs opioids law a year after Chris Christie commission called for action” Read the report

—“Wanaque widow wants stricter laws for drivers who injure pedestrians” Read the report

—“Englewood seeks to join lawsuit against Leonia’s road closures” Read the report

A BLAT ON THE SKYLINE — “Bart Blatstein wants to turn Showboat tower in Atlantic City into apartments,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “The former casino that Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein bought and reopened in 2016 as a non-casino hotel may soon have one of its towers converted into an apartment building. Showboat presented its application at a hearing Thursday before the land use department of New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, seeking approval to convert one of its three towers, the 20-story tower closest to Pacific Avenue, into 264 apartment units, a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units. That would leave Showboat with 1,000 hotel rooms.” Read the report

—“Tropicana expected to open its sportsbook within days” Read the report

—“Long-distance commuter bus to NYC gets canned after almost no one gets aboard” Read the report

—“Army employee admits $150,000 Picatinny kickback scheme” Read the report

—“The Situation gets more time to report to prison in tax case” Read the report

CORRECTION: I made a typo in yesterday’s edition on the Hugin-Menendez Eagleton poll. As it said in the story linked to, it was 51 percent Menendez to 46 percent Hugin.