| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Friday morning! Here’s a big thing I’ve learned covering Trenton for too many years: It’s easier to comply with the law when you wrote it. Back in July I told you about a massive loophole in the Elections Transparency Act that allowed independent expenditure groups to forgo filing frequent financial disclosures late in the election, despite it being required for every other type of committee. It doesn’t look like that was an accident. A few months later, the shadowy “Jersey Freedom” showed up and utilized this loophole to promote alleged “phantom candidates” while hiding the source of its funding — a South Jersey Democratic super PAC — until weeks after the election. It wasn’t a surprise that the funding came indirectly from South Jersey Democrats, including George Norcross, but there was no way to actually demonstrate that until it was too late to make a difference. (Republicans in a lawsuit allege Jersey Freedom still managed to violate the law, and that's pending.) Who came up with that loophole? Was it just an accident in drafting? Of course not. While the Elections Transparency Act was Senate President Nick Scutari’s (D-Union) baby, that portion came straight from the South Jersey Democratic delegation, I’m told by officials with knowledge of the bill’s drafting. They pushed for it, and obviously other Democrats consented. Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden), the bill’s top Assembly sponsor, declined to get on the phone with me to talk about it. Vince Polistina, who voted for the Elections Transparency Act, wants to hold hearings and grill people who were involved in Jersey Freedom, then work on amending the law. “I have suggested to some people that we have some hearings and bring some of the people in that exploited some of the loopholes in the Elections Transparency Act,” Polistina said. “I’d like to see some hearings held and get some insight into what they did and why they did it first, and then go back and make some changes.” Read my article here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Pete Genovese is the pepperoni of food reviewers. What a freaking hack.” — An anonymous Pete Genovese hater, according to Pete Genovese PROGRAMMING NOTE: There will be no New Jersey Playbook on Monday, Martin Luther King Day. And I’ll be off the rest of the week, so the POLITICO New Jersey team will be your Playbookers. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Aimee Focaraccio, John Lanza, Eliza McDonald. Saturday for William Sampson, Kevin Rooney, Bruno Tedeschi, Nicole LoPresti, Jason Galanes. Monday for Tom Giblin, Mike Comba, Jeff Carroll, Chris Summerhayes. WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
RAIN AND SUCH — “New storm could bring more major flooding near N.J. rivers, Gov. Murphy warns,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson, Len Melisurgo and Richard Cowen: “Gov. Phil Murphy is urging New Jersey residents to remain on alert ahead of another strong storm system that’s expected to lash the state late Friday into early Saturday and bring more river flooding and a new round of power outages. The new storm won’t be packed with as much moisture as the monster storm that pummeled the state with 3 to 4 inches of rain and 65 mph wind gusts Tuesday night. But, forecasters are calling for 1 to 1.5 inches of rain, with up 2 to inches possible, in areas north and west of Interstate 95. They predict a half inch to 1 inch of rain along the I-95 corridor and points to the south and east.”
—“N.J. weather: Flood watch issued for 16 counties as new storm targets region with heavy rain, strong winds” —Murphy assesses flood damage in Little Falls, says opening flood gates can affect towns A PERIGON OF VIRTUE — “Democratic firm won’t say who hired them at Jersey Freedom,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Blue Perigon, a Democratic digital ad firm, won’t say who hired them to work for Jersey Freedom, a shadowy independent expenditure committee that ran ads supporting a conservative phantom candidate and a Libertarian in South Jersey Senate races last year. Nat Wood, who worked for Gov. Jim Florio’s 1993 re-election campaign, has not responded to two requests to answer questions about Blue Perigon’s role in Jersey Freedom. Those questions were submitted to Wood … Blue Perigon has ties to South Jersey Democrats. The firm was paid $574,000 for digital to help Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) win re-election in 2022, and last year worked for the Camden City Democratic Committee, Gloucester County Surrogate Joseph Chila, and American Democratic Majority, a super PAC tied to South Jersey Democrats.” MAYBE IT’S NOT EASIER TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW IF YOU WROTE IT — New prescription drug council still has no members as state's first deadline rolls by, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The state has missed its first deadline to appoint members to the Drug Affordability Council, a new government board that was a key sticking point in negotiations around prescription drug legislation that Gov. Phil Murphy signed over the summer … Council members as well as alternates were supposed to be appointed 180 days after the bill, A2840 (22R)/NJ S1615 (22R), was signed into law, setting up an early January deadline ... “The Governor’s Office is actively engaging with stakeholders and legislators to identify qualified members who will help advance health care affordability on behalf of the residents of our state through the Prescription Drug Affordability Council,” Murphy spokesperson Natalie Hamilton said in a statement to POLITICO. Chris Aikin, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, said in an email that “We are currently vetting candidates for the Council.” A spokesperson for Senate President Nick Scutari did not immediately respond to a request for comment. J’RECUSE…! — “Congestion pricing lawsuits get new judge after New York senator’s request,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biyrukov: ”District Court Judge Brian Martinotti’s recusal follows a December request from New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat who said Martinotti needed to step aside because of his wife’s links to Gov. Phil Murphy and his status as a Bergen County government official, a status that could make him a party to one of the two suits challenging New York’s tolling plan. Judge Claire Cecchi will now oversee both cases challenging the plan, Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb said Wednesday.” —Govheimer, I mean Gottheimer: “To jump-start Jersey, we need bold action on jobs, taxes and affordability” —“How private school students will gain from new busing legislation” —“How Murphy says he plans to protect NJ residents from crushing medical debt” —“New Jersey is down to about 1 migrant bus arrival a day, Gov. Murphy says” —“Another allegation that a deputy attorney general withheld evidence from a grand jury” | | BIDEN TIME | |
ANDRE AGONY — “Sayegh allies polling potential congressional primary against Pascrell,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Amid speculation that Paterson Mayor André Sayegh could challenge Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) in this year’s Democratic congressional primary, a poll is currently in the field testing messaging on both candidates and assessing a hypothetical matchup between Sayegh, Pascrell, and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-North Haledon). The New Jersey Globe has confirmed that the poll was commissioned by supporters of Sayegh; Sayegh himself declined to comment … But there’s been chatter that Sayegh – currently serving his second term leading Paterson, Pascrell’s hometown and the largest city in his district – might try to deny Pascrell renomination. Sayegh notably declined to rule out that prospect when asked by the Paterson Press in December. Pascrell has also faced some challenges at home recently stemming from the war in Gaza … The poll currently in the field tests a variety of negative messages against the candidates, including a Gaza-related message against Pascrell.”
GWENDOLYN BECK — “Bob Menendez’s ex-girlfriend Gwendolyn Beck took part in orgies with Jeffrey Epstein, victim says,” by The Messenger’s Christopher Gavin: “Embattled New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez's ex-girlfriend allegedly took part in orgies with accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, according to newly unsealed testimony given by a victim of the pedophile financier. Gwendolyn Beck, a former banker and one-time Congressional candidate, was named in a 2016 deposition given by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, court filings released on Tuesday reveal. Giuffre said that while she was not trafficked to Beck, the financial executive was allegedly ‘a part of some of the trafficking.’ ‘She was involved in some of the orgies,’ she said, naming Beck as participant … Beck began dating Menendez, D-N.J., in 2010, and photos of the couple in the Dominican Republic emerged during the senator's 2015 corruption trial on bribery charges that were later dropped following a mistrial. It is unclear whether Menendez, who is now married to Nadine Arslanian, was aware of Beck's connections to Epstein during their relationship.” MEA SULKA — Not so grown up: Chris Christie’s cranky exit, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky and Daniel Han: Chris Christie tried to be the adult in the room. The former New Jersey governor launched his second presidential campaign in June with an uncharacteristic mea culpa for enabling Donald Trump’s rise in 2016 and a belief that Republican voters were ready to move on in 2024. It even seemed like he had shed the righteous anger that he rode to national prominence a decade ago. But as Christie stalled out in New Hampshire … the cracks in this persona started to show in recent weeks. He began snapping at town hall attendees for suggesting he should drop out. He slammed the state’s venerated Republican governor, Chris Sununu, as a “liar” for predicting the end was near for his campaign. And, after spending months chastising his rivals for focusing on each other instead of Trump, Christie began to do the same. It ended on Wednesday with … Christie caught on a hot microphone minutes before announcing his exit from the race, eviscerating the candidate he was ostensibly stepping aside to aid, Nikki Haley, by saying she was “gonna get smoked … “Those of us who survived him in New Jersey know what he’s really like,” said Pat Colligan, the president of the New Jersey Policemen’s Benevolent Association, which feuded with Christie when he was governor.
| | LOCAL | |
CAMDEN — “N.J. school board president sexually abused student for years in 1990s, lawsuit alleges,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matthe Enuco: “The president of Camden’s advisory school board is scheduled to go to court next month after a former student filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting her while he was a teacher in the 1990s. The student, who is not identified in court documents, alleges social studies teacher Don Walker started sexually assaulting her when she was a 14-year-old student in his class at Cooper B. Hatch Middle School in Camden. He continued to sexually assault her for years, even after she and her family moved to another state, the lawsuit alleges. Walker is now known as Wasim Muhammad. He is a longtime Camden school board member, community activist and Nation of Islam minister who was reelected by voters in November. He was also re-elected as board president by the full advisory board earlier this month. The civil case is set to go to trial on Feb. 5, according to court records.”
A BILLION DOLLARS IN CORPORATE TAX BREAKS AND NO SUPERMARKET TO SHOW FOR IT — “Supermarkets aren’t the only answer to food insecurity in Camden,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Kevin Riordan: “At least three proposals to build a supermarket in Camden have been floated since 1990, only to fall apart. Pathmark, the city’s last suburban-style chain grocery store, closed in 2013. Nearly all of Camden ranks first among the 50 top ‘food deserts,’ according to a 2022 state analysis, despite the independently owned Save A Lot discount supermarket that has operated in the Pathmark … The EDA began taking applications in December for a $40 million Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Program to encourage development of major supermarkets … As many as 65% of the city’s residents experience some degree of food insecurity, according to a 2020 report by the 26-member Camden Food Access Work Group … While supermarkets have left the city, neighborhood stores such as Litwin Food Market in North Camden endure. They’re also where many local residents, like Alexis Freas, do their grocery shopping.” THE FISCAL CLIFTON — “Layoffs, cuts on the table for Clifton as it faces a tough budget year,” by The Record’s Matt Fagan: “Cuts and layoffs are being discussed as the city faces a challenging budgetary year with expenses exceeding the state-mandated 2.5% cap on spending increases. Making things more difficult is the fact that the city did not adopt a provision to bank unused budget cap space last year, leaving it no wiggle room this year. The city will have to increase revenue, cut spending or lay off employees, officials said.” PROBLEM SOLVED — “Hoboken establishes new department to wage its own war against climate change,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “People are always complaining about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it. Until now, sort of. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla Thursday announced the creation of a new Department of Climate Action and Innovation ‘to address the urgent challenges of climate change,’ officials in the flood-prone city said in a news release …The new department won’t divert the storm clouds to Jersey City or Weehawken, but it will work on key initiatives like fleet electrification, building energy-efficiency, open space development, reduction of heat islands, urban tree canopy expansion, zero waste initiative implementation and stormwater and coastal flood risk management, city officials said.” R.I.P. — “Toms River's 'Miss Liberty,' Sondra Fortunato, self-made New Jersey beauty queen, has died,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jenna Calderon: “Sondra Fortunato, the self-promotional beauty queen known for multiple titles such as ‘Miss Liberty,’ who for years brought extravagant outfits, voluminous blonde hair and an eternal smile to the Jersey Shore, has passed away after battling illness. Fortunato died at age 75 … Ogden has requested a permit from the township for a Miss Liberty Day Parade on April 19, where he said he will have all of Fortunato's signs to give out to the public for free … [I]f you live in the Garden State, chances are you probably saw her driving around in her cardboard sign-covered car at one point or another. —“Jersey City Council OKs measure enabling $175 fine for cars that park in bike lanes” —“Bloomfield to appoint new mayor as Michael Venezia assumes role in state assembly” —“Quietly and cautiously, Jersey City moves forward with plan to create 911 mental health response program” —“CFO of low-income [Long Branch] high rise stole more than $1.6M from employer, investigators say” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
MCCARRICK NOT COMPETENT — “Former cardinal is ruled not competent to stand trial in sex abuse case,” by The New York Times’ Ruth Graham: “The criminal case against a former cardinal who was once one of the most prominent and revered Catholic leaders in the country was suspended Wednesday, possibly ending efforts to prosecute him on sex abuse charges. Theodore McCarrick, the highest-ranking Catholic official in the nation to be criminally prosecuted on charges of sexual abuse, was found not competent to stand trial … Mr. McCarrick is 93, and his lawyers say he suffers from dementia … Mr. McCarrick had faced similar charges in Massachusetts, but a judge there ruled in August that he was not competent to stand trial. That, plus Wednesday’s suspension, disappointed victims and their supporters who wanted to see Mr. McCarrick face criminal consequences … Mr. McCarrick moved from leading the small Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., to become the archbishop of Newark, where he led a large public mass for Pope John Paul II in 1995.”
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