| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! It snowed. I’m glad you survived. When I first wrote about Assemblymember Herb Conaway’s bill to require age verification for social media websites and parental permission for kids to use them, I thought it was an interesting proposal that almost certainly wouldn’t go anywhere. I love writing articles about thought-provoking or wacky proposals our legislators dream up or take from their constituents. It’s a Democratic bill that appeared modeled after laws in a couple very red states, including Arkansas, where the law has been blocked by a federal judge. And of course it presents all kinds of questions, both constitutional and how practically feasible such a proposal would be. I was surprised, then, to see the bill move so quickly through committees in both houses. Back in November, the New Jersey ACLU made clear they felt Conaway’s proposal would be unconstitutional. Last week, Planned Parenthood and Garden State Equality launched a campaign against it along with many allies, calling it a “direct threat to the First Amendment” and raising a host of issues, including about LGBTQ+ kids who don’t have supportive parents potentially being cut off from information and mental health support, women seeking abortion information being able to maintain confidentiality, and the need for anonymity of domestic violence victims seeking help.” “Any restrictions to accessing the internet will cut off entire populations – oftentimes the most vulnerable populations – who need access to information,” the groups wrote in a letter. Assemblymember Carol Murphy, Conaway’s erstwhile running mate who’s now running against him in the Democratic primary for the congressional seat being vacated by Andy Kim, also just criticized the bill. This bill won’t make it through lame duck, but the speed it moved amid pushback indicates it’s not necessarily dead for next session. Even if it makes it to the governor, I have my doubts he’d sign it. But it gets to the heart of a big and timely debate about social media’s influence on kids. And forgive me if I’ve said this before, but I’m extraordinarily grateful that in the 1990s I didn’t carry something in my pocket that enabled me to broadcast my teenage dumbassery to the world. In my day, if you wanted infamy, you had to work hard for it. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Bertin Lefkovic, Kevin Ryan, Joe Sgroi QUOTE OF THE DAY: “As I prepare to turn out the lights one final time, it’s my sincere hope that the people are returned to power. The political bosses have had their time, and, if they want to serve, they should get on the ballot and get elected.” — State Sen. Richard Codey, who’s retiring after 50 years in the Legislature — the longest-serving lawmaker in state history. WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
THE PHANTOM CANDIDATE MENACE — "Independent expenditure group that backed phantom candidate tied to Roginsky partner," by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The bank account for a shadowy political group that backed a conservative phantom candidate in a South Jersey Senate race, Jersey Freedom, was opened last year with a $50 check written by Christopher Bastardi, a New York public relations consultant whose business partner is veteran Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky. … Since June, BARO Strategies, the firm Bastardi runs with Roginsky, has been paid $10,000 per month to provide strategic consulting services to Joe Salerno, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd district, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission in November. Jersey Freedom sent a mass email in September slamming Salerno’s opponent, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), for supporting offshore wind turbines while serving in the New Jersey State Senate but opposing it as a congressman. … Bastardi did not respond to an email, text message, and voicemail on Thursday and another voicemail on Friday. … While documents tie Jersey Freedom directly to Bastardi, Roginsky’s name is not mentioned.”
—In a statement to me after this article was published, Roginsky said that “neither I nor my business partner coordinated or was even aware of any messaging by Jersey Freedom related to Rep. Jeff Van Drew. We learned that Jersey Freedom was sending communication about Rep. Van Drew when I received an email about it at the same time as the rest of the general public.” The Globe story also appended an editor’s note after publication with Roginsky's lawyer saying “neither BARO, Bastardi, nor Roginsky drafted, knew about, published or had anything to do with the Jersey Freedom email in question.” SANDY CUNNINGHAM — “Cunningham’s final day in office: The end of an era, but a lasting legacy,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “State Sen. Sandra Cunningham proved to be more than just the wife of a beloved and trailblazing political figure in Hudson County. For the past 16 years, former Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham’s widow has forged a reputation as a pivotal leader on her own. “Sandy,” as she’s known, has represented the state’s 31st District — Bayonne, the southern half of Jersey City and West Hudson — and has a leading voice in higher education, veteran affairs, criminal justice and equity for her constituents. While the past 18 months has seen the political heavyweight withdraw from the public eye due to health issues, the influential senator had already solidified her place in history books for years to come. Monday is the 73-year-old’s final day in office, bringing an end to decades of Glenn and/or Sandy Cunningham having a major say in Hudson County politics.” ‘WADDAYA GONNA DO?’ — “Gov. Phil Murphy signs law to create new grief curriculum in NJ schools,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “Legislation signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday will require school districts to provide instruction on grief as part of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Public schools will now have to provide instruction for students in grades eight through 12, on, at a minimum, the physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms of grief; coping mechanisms and techniques for handling grief and loss; and resources available to students, including in-school support, mental health crisis support and individual and group therapy. … State Sen. Jon Bramnick, the bill’s sponsor, said that it is the first law in the nation that requires teaching of grief and loss in high school health classes. ‘Politicians talk about mental health,’ Bramnick, a Republican, said before describing the bill as an 'important law that explains what young people experience when a tragedy occurs.’” NURSING — “Hundreds of nurses demand safe staffing law at packed Statehouse hearing. ‘This will save lives’,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “Nurses and managers at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick settled a bitter, 120-day strike last month, resulting in a groundbreaking agreement setting limits on the number of patients nurses may be assigned. … Without a law limiting the number of patients, bedside nurses will continue to flee the profession out of exhaustion and the fear of making mistakes, said Debbie White, president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees, the state’s largest healthcare union. ‘It’s as if we are trying to fill a bucket full of holes with water. We pour new nurses in, but they leave once they realize how unsafe it is’ White told the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.” —“Ram new NJ affordable housing plan through lame duck session? Not so fast” —Opinion: “NJ needs parental notification for teen marijuana, alcohol possession” —Mulshine: “The Legislature waters down Governor Murphy’s liquor-license reform“
| | BIDEN TIME | |
—Moran: “Menendez a low rent snake? No way. He’s expensive!”
—“Mikie Sherrill moving NJ-11 congressional office from Parsippany to Livingston” | | LOCAL | |
PETTY STUFF: DESPITE FREE FALLING IN ELECTION, ‘PARENTAL RIGHTS’ MEMBERS WON’T BACK DOWN — “'Petty stuff:' Westwood school board swears in new majority, but bickering continues,” by The Record’s Stephanie Noda: “With tensions still running high in the Westwood Regional School District, community members and the newly elected board president called on colleagues to put aside their disputes. The board held its annual reorganization meeting Thursday night, where four newcomers − Washington Township residents Heather Perin, Loni Azzolina and Jorge Pertuz and Nicole Martin of Westwood − were sworn into office. The four won seats during the November election. The change spelled the end for a parental-rights majority on the nine-member board and is expected to shift the dynamic in the K-12 district serving Westwood and Washington Township. … ‘It’s absolutely disturbing,’ said John Birkner, a former three-term mayor in Westwood. ‘Our educators were slandered by members of this board, three of which still remain. I hope the three that still remain will take a look at the election results because what you saw was a mandate that we won’t tolerate that behavior anymore.’”
MCGREEVEY LOCKS AMERICA’S GOLDEN DOOR — “Where Jersey City 2025 mayoral candidates stand on potential influx of migrants,” by The Jersey Journal’s Mark Koosau: “Jim McGreevey, the former governor, took a tougher stance than Bill O’Dea, a member of the Hudson County Board of Commissioners, and Joyce Watterman, the Jersey City Council president, when he told The Jersey Journal that Jersey City ‘is not equipped, nor is any other city, from New York City to rural communities, with the ability to provide the scope and depth of services’ for migrants who want to settle in. ‘There is a moral and ethical obligation to be compassionate, yet there also needs to be a recognition of capacity’ McGreevey said. O’Dea and Watterman say they are open to welcoming migrants arriving from the nation’s southern border and proposed ideas earlier this week on how, as mayor, they would accommodate the newcomers. O’Dea said he would find housing and medical access for migrants, and utilize case workers and programs from Hudson County, while Watterman said she would also focus on finding housing and provide a path to employment. ‘It’s a significant situation that we can’t ignore,’ O’Dea said.” R.I.P. — “Former [Neptune] mayor, longtime committeeman dies at 79” —“Large crowd gathers for funeral of Newark imam as Muslim leaders call for action” —“Son of former Old Tappan mayor takes over the office” —“Henry Hudson Regional names transitional leaders as three schools merge” —“[South Orange-Maplewood] high school principal placed on unexplained leave” —“[Mercer County] corrections officer indicted on charges of trading drugs for bribes from inmates”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
PIZZA — “Fire heavily damages legendary N.J. pizza shop. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ owner says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeremy Schneider: “Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza, a revered over 100-year-old pizzeria in Elizabeth, was heavily damaged in a fire Saturday morning that apparently started in the ceiling above the restaurant’s signature brick oven, according to the owner. … The blaze was first reported by two residents at around 9:39 a.m., said Ruby Contreras, a spokesperson for the city. First responders were able to get the fire under control but the blaze caused extensive damage to the building, according to officials. … Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza, regarded as one of the best pizza places in New Jersey, opened at its current location on Broad Street in 1957. But the legacy of the family business goes back to 1918, when Lou Santillo, Al’s grandfather, opened the first Santillo’s location about a mile away in Peterstown. … ‘It’s pretty extensive. I mean, it’s really bad,’ Santillo said. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’”
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GOTTHEIMER/MURPHY PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT HIGH PORT AUTHORITY TOLLS — “Happy New Year? Toll hikes for NJ drivers using Port Authority bridges and tunnels to NYC,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “North Jersey drivers, just a friendly reminder: Tolls will go up Sunday on the six Port Authority bridges and tunnels that connect New Jersey to New York City. The 3.7% increase this year — that's 63 cents per ride — was triggered by a rise in inflation, which is the economic indicator used by the bistate Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to determine when to raise tolls. This is its third toll increase for automobile drivers in five years. Here is what to expect: Tolls by mail will rise to $17.63, from $17. Off-peak E-ZPass tolls will rise to $13.38, from $12.75. Peak E-ZPass tolls will rise to $15.38, from $14.75.” —“Trenton Diocese bishop struck by heart attack during pilgrimage; recovering after surgery” —“Kevin Smith is battling to keep his N.J. childhood movie theater afloat” —“Racist taunts at N.J. girls basketball game spark demand for apology as rematch looms”
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