Ciatta really?

Dec 13, 2023

Presented by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind

There are 9 million people in New Jersey. So naturally, the state’s first lady and first lady runner-up want to represent it in the Senate.

You may have noticed my excerpt of the Conservative blog Save Jersey’s post that said Melinda Ciattarelli, wife (for now, anyway) of 2021 Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, is considering running for Senate.

I called Steve Kush, her friend and adviser, to see if this was real or if she was engaging in an interesting protest, aka trolling, of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Senate bid. Kush insisted Melinda Ciattarelli is for real and has already called county chairs in Somerset and Gloucester to discuss it. “Either way, she’ll make an announcement at the beginning of the new year.”

Reading between the lines, that sounds like a typical she's-running-but-won't-say-it-officially-yet response.

Most of us don’t know Melinda Ciattarelli. She hasn’t had six years to develop a policy portfolio like Tammy Murphy. She’s best known for getting into an argument with perennial candidate Hirsh Singh campaign manager King Penna during a 2021 Republican debate. Kush said that she helped start and run a medical publishing business with Jack Ciattarelli and also recently sold women’s accessories.

Ultimately, Melinda Ciattarelli has as much right to run as anyone else. I doubt she’ll be embraced by Republican leaders as quickly and readily as the state’s various Democratic machines have gone for Tammy Murphy. I’ve also got to wonder whether it will have any effect on Jack Ciattarelli’s all-but-declared 2025 gubernatorial campaign.

Anyway, I can say from experience that my wife is better than I am at almost everything. Except dumb puns and '90s references. So I don't think she'll be writing this newsletter any time soon.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Donald Norcross, Lenore Jenkins-Beauliere, Gene Lepore, Stephanie Wohlrab

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “”George Norcross is a smart dude … We're the dummies … George Norcross wants total control of Atlantic County and he basically has it.” — Atlantic County GOP Chair Don Purdy on a county commission he expected to award an insurance contract Friday to Norcross’ brokerage. (They wound up tabling it for a future meeting.)

WHERE’S MURPHY? — Media: “Ask Governor Murphy" at 7 p.m. on your local NPR affiliate

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

ELECTIONS OPACITY ACT — More money, less disclosure’: N.J.’s new elections law fails a key test, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: This fall, the longtime New Jersey political boss George Norcross helped a shadowy group called Jersey Freedom split Republican votes to benefit Democrats in some of the most competitive districts in the state. In ads, the organization promoted Republicans who did not actively campaign and whose petitions were circulated by an unsuccessful GOP candidate with reported ties to South Jersey Democrats allied with Norcross. In an only-in-New Jersey twist, the maneuver was possible without knowing who funded it until three weeks after the Nov. 7 election thanks to a new campaign finance law ironically called the Elections Transparency Act. … In New Jersey, the small change to the Elections Transparency Act led to some of the most brazen campaign activities state political veterans have ever seen.

OSIAS ACCUSES PLATKIN OF LOOKING BACK IN ANGER— “Gun shop got ripped off in burglary. Now N.J. is suing ‘reckless’ owner,” by NJ Advance Media’s S.P. Sullivan: “The burglars who stole 20 firearms from a New Jersey gun dealer found the place by searching ‘gun stores in nj’ on a cell phone and breaking a front window, authorities say. By the time the owner of FSS Armory in Morris County discovered the smash-and-grab the next morning, some of the guns had already been used to hold up a Passaic County jewelry store. … Now state officials are suing FSS Armory under a new law meant to hold the gun industry responsible for gun violence, accusing store owner Ross Osias of ‘reckless’ and ‘substandard storage and security practices.’ They say Osias left ‘stacks of guns within easy reach’ by a ground floor window — a habit documented in pictures posted online by the company. … The suit, filed in state Superior Court in Morristown, was one of two actions announced Tuesday by the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office, known as SAFE, which was created last year specifically to sue gunmakers and sellers under the New Jersey’s public nuisance laws.”

WANTED: PATRONAGE HIRE FOR OBSCURE BOARD THAT DOESN’T DO MUCH. SALARY: RIDICULOUSLY HIGH — “Salary ranges required in job listings? New Jersey just took its first step,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “For anyone seeking employment in New Jersey, the compensation question could get a little bit easier, thanks to a bill state lawmakers approved during a Monday committee hearing. The proposed Assembly Bill 3937 requires New Jersey businesses of 10 or more employees to include wage or salary information, or a compensation range, to be included in a job posting, as well as a description of all job benefits. State lawmakers approved the measure, also called a pay transparency law, by a 4-0 vote in the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee during its Monday morning hearing.”

FAINING OUTRAGE — “Auto union boss urges New Jersey lawmakers to pass casino smoking ban,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Shawn Fain, the international president of the United Auto Workers union who recently won large raises for his workers, is taking aim at a new target: New Jersey lawmakers who are delaying votes on a bill to ban smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos. The head of the powerful union, which represents workers at three casinos here, is urging legislators to move the bill forward in a scheduled hearing Thursday, warning that the union will ‘monitor and track’ their votes. … Fain rejected smoking rooms as a solution, calling the suggestion “preposterous,” and said it will oppose any amendment allowing anything less than a total ban on smoking in the casinos.”

A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind:

—“Cost to outfit NJ Transit’s new digs pushes headquarters move over $500 million”

—Departing Gordon says NJ Transit facing 'greatest challenge in the agency’s history'

—Moran: “Why Steve Sweeney could make a great governor”

—“Sweeney now has endorsements from six South Jersey Democratic County chairmen”

—Advocates band together to push for ballot changes in 2024

—“Nokia Bell Labs dumps 'obsolete' suburban office for gleaming 10-story New Brunswick tower”

—“N.J. chips away at massive judge backlog, but many more seats are still unfilled”

—“Edna Mahan inmate's manslaughter sentence reduced due to 'degenerate corrections officers'

BIDEN TIME

WANNA BE A BHALLA, SHOT CALLER— The other Menendez gets a primary challenger for 2024, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced Tuesday he will challenge Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) in the Democratic primary, setting up a showdown in a very blue North Jersey district. The election will test Menendez’s balancing act and whether he can avoid being dragged down by his father, Sen. Bob Menendez, who faces federal charges. … “As our Congressman, I will fight to make healthcare a right for everyone, take on climate change, protect a woman’s right to choose, battle back against hatred, and build an economy that works for all,” he said in a statement. … While Hudson County Democrats abandoned the elder Menendez, the son last week sewed up most of the county's Democratic support. Hudson County Executive-elect Craig Guy, its Democratic chair Anthony Vainieri and all but two of its mayors — Bhalla and Jersey City's Steven Fulop — last week backed Menendez for reelection to his House seat.

—“Rep. Menendez says Bhalla broke campaign finance rules, mayor’s camp responds”

FOR CHRISTIE, A BIG SUNONO — New Hampshire Gov. Sununu to endorse Nikki Haley for president, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky: Sununu — who chose Haley over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — has pledged to put “110 percent” behind his chosen candidate in the run-up to the state’s Jan. 23 primary. In endorsing Haley, Sununu is also breaking with fellow early state Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, who is supporting DeSantis.

A GRIM ASSESSMENT OF GOTTHEIMER — “How the Squad ‘thumbed’ their noses at the status quo,” a book excerpt by Ryan Grim: “In January 2017, he got an invitation to the eightieth birthday party for … Rep. Bill Pascrell … Pascrell was hosting the party-slash-fund-raiser at a favorite hometown bar, Duffy’s, something of a dive on the outskirts of town … Not only was the bar a regular haunt of the local congressional representative, but it was owned by Terry Duffy, a [Passaic County] freeholder. … ‘Are you wearing a bulletproof vest?’ Pascrell asked his first-term colleague. Gottheimer acknowledged that he was, but he went on to say, by way of explanation, that he had been doing a ride-along earlier with the officer and had worn the vest for that. … A round of heckling and wisecracking ensued, drawing the attention of Terry Duffy. The freeholder was not amused and ordered Gottheimer out of his bar. ‘Duffy told him to get the hell out, ‘You’re mocking us,’" Pascrell confirmed to me. I said, ‘He’s not intelligent enough to mock you.’ So, he says to me, ‘Should I leave him in?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, you’re not going to get anything by throwing him the hell out.’”

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LOCAL

OUT OF COMPTROLL — “Thousands in payments to top county officials flouted law, N.J. comptroller says ,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “Bibi Taylor does well as the director of finance for Union County. She receives an annual salary of more than $175,000. But she gets paid much more than that. She also received thousands in stipends to provide financial management and project management services for the Union County Improvement Authority. And thousands more in tuition reimbursements, a state watchdog said on Tuesday. In a letter issued by the Office of the State Comptroller, the agency claimed Taylor and two other top Union County officials were paid a total of $417,772 in extra stipends or tuition reimbursement between 2019 and 2022 without following the public process required by law. … None were identified by name. But Taylor is the finance director and the county has acknowledged that she had received additional stipends and tuition reimbursements. Ed Oatman has been the Union County manager since 2018. It was unclear who the comptroller referenced as the county’s head of public works, a position now held by an acting director. … The county, in a length response, said the comptroller’s office is misinterpreting the law.”

JUDGE TO SAMUEL JACKSON: ‘I’VE HAD IT WITH THESE MOTHERF—G CHALLENGES TO THIS MOTHERF—G ELECTION!’ — “Judge tells Salem County to certify Penns Grove election,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Salem County election officials are now cleared to certify the election results in Penns Grove, where incumbent LaDaena Thomas mounted a successful write-in campaign in last month’s general election. Superior Court Judge Benjamin Morgan lifted his own order preventing the Salem County Board of Elections from finalizing the election after an attorney representing the Republican candidate, Louis Pasquale, suggested that Thomas was ineligible to serve. Pasquale’s attorney, Samuel D. Jackson, argued that Thomas was ineligible to serve as mayor because she pleaded guilty to third-degree theft of service charge 23 years ago and was still on probation at the time she registered to vote. Her attorneys, Scott Salmon and Timothy Downs, had presented evidence that her probation had ended. … Morgan also disqualified Jackson and his law firm, the Lento Law Group, from representing Pasquale after Salmon argued that the firm had previously represented Thomas in a big to expunge her prior conviction.’"

THE END OF AN EWAH — “Sheraton Mahwah gets closing date after town OKs plan to replace it with 2 warehouses,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brianna Kudisch: “An iconic 22-story hotel in Bergen County will officially close its doors this week after township officials approved plans to build two massive warehouses in its place. The Sheraton Mahwah Hotel will have its last operational day Thursday, Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki told NJ Advance Media. The hotel will close its doors for the last time at the end of the day. … Crossroads Developers Associates owns the 142-acre property and is listed as the applicant on a proposal to build two large warehouses on the site after the hotel is demolished.”

— “Why are there conflicting accounts of NYPD captain’s domestic violence case in Paterson?”

—Parker: “Trenton’s abandoned hotel is a major piece of revitalizing the city”

—“Passaic prosecutor faces another fight with law enforcement union”

EVERYTHING ELSE

RUTGERS — “Rutgers suspends Palestinian student group,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “Rutgers has suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine New Brunswick chapter, pending an investigation of reports that it disrupted classes and meals and vandalized Rutgers Business School during one of the group’s recent events. … Rutgers joins Columbia and George Washington Universities in temporarily suspending the organization, founded in Berkeley, California. Its national steering committee is comprised of anonymous students, according to The New York Times. Last month, Brandeis banned it permanently, saying the group supports Hamas.

—Biden DOE investigating alleged discrimination at Rutgers University, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: The Biden administration has opened an ethnic discrimination investigation at Rutgers University, making it one of the latest schools under federal scrutiny since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. The U.S. Department of Education opened the investigation Monday, adding the public university in New Jersey to its list of schools under federal scrutiny. Like many other universities, Rutgers has faced criticism in recent weeks for its response to antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. … The DOE’s list said the location of the Rutgers investigation is Newark, where the university has a campus. But it did not specify the nature of the investigation

GEORGE WASHINGTON SAT IN TRAFFIC HERE — “Bergen County has been a shopping hub since Colonial times. Here's the history,” by The Record’s David M. Zimmer: “With its proximity to New York Harbor, Bergen County has been a shopping mecca for centuries. In Colonial times, the fashion pipeline more often than not ran from New Bridge Landing on the Hackensack River. There, the Zabriskie Store, the mini-mall of Bergen County in that era, offered everything from home hardware to handkerchiefs. Among its more well-stocked items in 1793, according to Bergen County Historical Society records, was fabric.”

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