| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Thursday morning! Sen. Bob Menendez plans an announcement on whether he’ll run for reelection this week, he told NJ Spotlight. It was either that or leave us guessing until Monday, when petition signatures are due for the Democratic primary. Of course, there’s almost no chance the senator is seeking reelection as a Democrat. ... I’ve written it here before, but to review: Menendez raised almost no money, to my knowledge hasn’t collected petition signatures that are due Monday, has zero support from Democratic leaders and has lost months of campaigning to the candidates who would be his main rivals. The question is whether Menendez makes a full-on announcement about his intentions, or just says he’s not running for the Democratic nomination. NBC News, in a report citing anonymous sources that hasn’t been confirmed anywhere else, said that the senator is considering seeking reelection as an independent. You know I and others have been wondering about that for months. If the senator doesn’t address the prospect of an independent bid in his announcement, then he’s just stating the obvious. If he says he will run as an independent, this general election could wind up being a lot more interesting and stressful for Democrats. And if Menendez declines to run at all, it’s highly likely that the Democratic primary fight will determine who New Jersey’s junior senator will be. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Alright boys, you’re really disrupting the show here.” — DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette to his two dogs, who played while gave an update on the ongoing Newark lead pipe audit from his home. (The actual news: The DEP did 90 service-line excavations from a pool of over 1,300 potential properties and identified 12 with some remaining lead component on the street side of the service line, LaRourette said. He said that “gives me comfort" that it's not a city-wide risk.) WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Camden at 11 a.m. for the Battleship New Jersey departure ceremony
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COAH’S ARC — Murphy signs major affordable housing reform into law, by POLITICO’s Katherine Dailey: New Jersey’s affordable housing system got an overhaul Wednesday, as Gov. Phil Murphy signed a massive reform into law in a ceremony in Perth Amboy. It is a long-awaited policy change on an issue that has been a sticking point through New Jersey's hundreds of municipalities, with disputes over how much housing to build clogging up the courts. The new law codifies a number of changes to the state’s housing system, including defining the methodology by which affordable housing requirements are set and abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), which has been defunct for over two decades. … This new law codifies this methodology, and it transfers the responsibility for publishing obligations to the Department on Community Affairs (DCA). While this responsibility has historically fallen to COAH, since 2015, the courts have managed all affordable housing disputes. COAH has been essentially defunct since 1999, when the council failed to issue a new set of obligations when the second round elapsed.’”
COYOTE FINALLY WINS — Bus company sued by New York City will halt transporting migrants, for now, by POLITICO’s Emily Ngo: The Texas charter bus company sued by New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for the cost of supporting migrants has agreed to halt shuttling people from the southern border to the city and its surrounding areas, court papers revealed Wednesday. Roadrunner Charters Inc. entered into an agreement with Adams’ administration to stop busing migrants to New York City, New Jersey or other places in the vicinity while a case is pending in state Supreme Court in Manhattan. BARAKA CALLS FOR A STRONGER AND FAIRER NEW JERSEY — “Baraka, in talk at FDU, says being mayor of Newark has prepped him to lead N.J.,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Matt Kadosh: “New Jersey education needs to be more equitable, building affordable housing will boost property values, and crime is a consequence of the disproportionate concentration of wealth, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said during a talk at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s campus in Madison on Tuesday, March 19. Baraka, a declared Democrat candidate for New Jersey governor, was outlining his case for leading the state. ‘All the problems that the state has are pronounced in the city of Newark, which makes me a better person to deal with them,’ Baraka said. ‘Because I deal with them at a more extreme rate than other people do.’” —“Baraka: Ballot reform ‘long overdue’” —“Another budget, another funding plea for University Hospital, Newark” —“State argues casino PILOT changes didn't just benefit industry” —“Incarcerated people still waiting on pay raises promised over a year ago”
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
MENENDEZ: DOING THINGS FOR GOLD SINCE SUPER MARIO BROS. — “The burden of being senator Bob Menendez’s famous children,” by The New York Times’ Katherine Rosman and Tracey Tully: “Alicia and Rob Menendez used to be game to talk publicly about their father, joking about his penchant for playing Super Mario Bros., his love of musical theater — ‘Wicked’ is his favorite show, they said in a 2011 campaign ad — and his bragging about being on the varsity bowling team in high school. These days, they are understandably less eager to talk about him. But their desire for privacy is complicated by the fact that they too are public figures who cannot, without sacrificing their own careers, avoid a public spotlight. Rob Menendez, 38, is fighting for political survival in a Democratic primary that falls less than a month after the day his father’s trial is expected to start, May 6. The men share a name, and Senator Menendez has not ruled out running for re-election — leaving open the possibility that both could appear on the same ballot and confuse voters. Alicia Menendez, 40, has been forced to address the charges against her father — and calls for his resignation — on live television.” —Rob Menenedez: “Why I support DEP’s Liberty State Park revitalization plan”
| | | | Easily connect with the right N.Y. State influencers and foster the right relationships to champion your policy priorities. POLITICO Pro. Inside New York. Learn more. | | | | | REVENGE IS A DISH SERVED COLD MEDINA — “Campos-Medina may have lost the conventions, but she decked the Camden henchmen,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “Patricia Campos-Medina is not going to win the Democratic primary for Senate. That’s the reality. But she has unwittingly produced one of the defining images of the ongoing campaign. Thousands across New Jersey – and probably the nation – saw a short video of Campos-Medina trying to enter last week’s Camden County Democratic convention. She is, after all, a candidate. No matter. A team of guys resembling barroom bouncers – one dude in shades – blocked her entrance. So there. So much for democracy. One cannot come up with a more awful image for New Jersey’s Democratic power brokers, most of whom backed First Lady Tammy Murphy as soon as she entered the race last November. Camden, however, is only one part of this puzzle.” THE SHADOW CAMPAIGN — While I’m on the subject of Gottheimer and the gubernatorial campaign, I’ve heard some unfavorable rumblings from some party leaders over a largely unnoticed $50,000 his leadership PAC, Jersey Values, gave to George Norcross’s super PAC, American Representative Majority, last October. Gottheimer, who last year issued statements about fundraising for the Assembly and Senate campaign committees, didn’t publicly mention the two $25,000 donations to Norcross’ super PAC, which, among other races, helped fund the group that promoted alleged phantom candidates in South Jersey. Two leaders I spoke with saw this as Gottheimer trying to play both sides of the fence as he runs around the state — especially in Middlesex, where Democrats have very cold relations with South Jersey right now. They see it as him angling to be South Jersey Dems’ backup should Steve Sweeney’s candidacy fall through. In a statement, Gottheimer adviser Michael Soliman said, “Josh was thrilled to be a part of several big Democratic wins in Jersey last year.” “As he always has, Josh will continue to help Democrats across the state,” Soliman said. “Last year alone, Josh contributed nearly $425,000 to Democrats in counties across New Jersey.” —“This gubernatorial candidate [Gottheimer] is the early frontrunner for 2025” —“US FAA relocating control of Newark, NJ, airspace to reduce congestion” —“Top progressive group endorses Summer Lee, Andy Kim” —“Kiel confirmed to federal judgeship, becoming Biden’s 10th N.J. judge”
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FONTOURNATE SON — Essex County Democrats are backing Amir Jones, an undersheriff in the county and the son of state and county Democratic chairman LeRoy Jones, to be the next county sheriff. The decision was made Wednesday evening among a meeting of Essex County Democratic municipal chairs, and Amir Jones was recommended by retiring Sheriff Armando Fontoura, LeRoy Jones said in an interview. “He's been an exemplary law enforcement officer,” LeRoy Jones said. “He withstood the challenges of Covid, of the George Floyd era and all the other issues that come about in law enforcement. … So take me out of the equation and look at the gentleman on his merits.” Amir Jones oversees the daily operations of the Sheriff's Office's Field Operations Division and worked in almost every sheriff's unit, according to his online bio. The backing of the county party makes Amir Jones the favorite to win the Democratic primary and by extension the general election because of Essex County’s Democratic tilt. The New Jersey Globe first reported Amir Jones’ county party backing. — Daniel Han
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | PARENTAL LEFTS — “3 North Jersey school districts reverse bids to jettison transgender student safeguards,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth and Stephanie Noda: “Facing community backlash, fresh votes from newly elected board members — and the possibility of a state legal challenge — three North Jersey school districts on Monday walked back efforts to abolish policies intended to protect transgender K-12 students. The Westwood Regional School District's newly elected school board majority reversed a December decision that had abolished policy 5756, a state guideline that treats LGBTQ+ students' status as confidential information between school and student. And after three board meetings over 13 days in Fort Lee, the board tabled — then abandoned — an effort to rewrite a similar policy by striking it from the agenda. … The Wyckoff school board … also unanimously voted on Monday to table a resolution that would have abolished policy 5756." SPEZIALE ELECTION — “Speziale smacks Passaic Democrats for picking a Republican,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Less than one month before becoming a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Passaic County sheriff, Thomas Adamo was a registered Republican. … Former Sheriff Jerry Speziale, who is mounting an off-the-line campaign against Adamo to reclaim the post he held from 2002 to 2010, is making Adamo’s recent party switch a campaign issue. … ‘Passaic County Democrats deserve an explanation from John Currie about why he betrayed the party by endorsing a Republican like Thomas Adamo for Sheriff,’ said Sofia Quintanar, a spokesperson for the Speziale campaign. Records show that Adamo, the son of a former three-term Republican freeholder, voted in 11 of 29 GOP primaries between 1995 and 2023, missing the last four.” THE NEWS LEFT LINKIN PARK RESIDENTS NUMB — “'Disgusted and embarrassed': Layoffs loom as Lincoln Park schools face budget crisis,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “Rumor became reality in the borough Tuesday night as school board officials confirmed the news spreading around town for days: A drastic budget deficit will require layoffs and other cuts for the 2024-2025 school year. More than 200 residents and teachers packed the auditorium for the board's meeting at Lincoln Park Middle School, where Board of Education Vice President Todd Henches acknowledged the fiscal distress … The specific amount of the shortfall was not revealed by district officials, but one resident during a public comment period cited social media rumors ranging from ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars to $2 million.’" JERSEY CITY — “$1B Jersey City school budget OK’d and Morris and Barkouch ‘reelected,’ but ousted president plans appeal,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “It’s settled, for now. DeJon Morris is Jersey City’s new school board president. In the first meeting of the board since the Feb. 29 meeting devolved in chaos, members gave initial approval to the $1 billion 2024-25 school budget and also reaffirmed the removal of the leadership team of Natalia Ioffe and Noemi Velazquez and the installation of Morris and Younass Barkouch as the new leaders.” THE STRIFE OF BRIAN — “Life without Menendez: Brian blows his Stack, Sacco, and other Hudson heartbreaks,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “What remains are the twin smokestacks of political power in Menendez’s home county of Hudson, one actually named Stack, mayor of Union City, and the other named Sacco, mayor of neighboring North Bergen. Those smokestacks, mostly spewing their own separate chimneys of ashes and dust for 25 years, have now merged into a single raging political inferno. Ok, maybe that’s a little heavy-handed. It’s more like coconut hurling in a primate cage. No one ever really gets hurt. But there’s a lot of shrieking, strutting, and chest-thumping.” —“Spotswood mayor trying to trample residents' constitutional rights, court papers charge” —“Palisades Park replaces fired borough administrator with interim hire at $100 per hour” —“How did Paterson schools work with 989 new students who speak limited English?” —“Is Toms River merger worth it if that means Seaside Heights school is doomed?” —“Newcomer Abed Thabatah challenges incumbent Al Abdelaziz in 6th Ward Paterson council race” —“Former Fort Lee students say school failed to protect them from abuse by teacher” —“Hoboken Mayor Bhalla highlights affordability & sustainability in 5th State of the City” —“Missing elevator sends grandma down shaft at [Jersey City] apartment building” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THE TYPE OF DONUTS POLICE DON’T LIKE — “Perth Amboy police ID'ing more suspects in Route 35 street takeover,” by MyCentralJersey’s Suzanne Russell: A Plainfield man has been arrested and a vehicle seized following the Sunday evening street takeover at the heavily traveled intersection of Smith Street and Convery Boulevard that stopped traffic in all directions as two vehicles performed stunts. Deyvi Navarette-Menjivar, 21, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and interference of transportation, a third-degree crime. … Illegal car rallies, also known as street takeovers, involve groups gathered at an intersection or in a parking lot to show off their vehicles and driving abilities by revving engines and performing maneuvers such ‘donuts,’ ‘burnouts’ and other illegal vehicle stunts, similar to those depicted in scenes from the ‘Fast & Furious movies.”
—“February Revenue Shows Atlantic City Casinos Stumbling As Online Gambling Takes Over As King’ —“Atlantic City Airshow will happen this year thanks to a $300K boost” —“CRDA rejects plan for cannabis dispensary in former Atlantic City restaurant” —“MacKenzie Scott donates $8M to 5 N.J. nonprofits” —Sean Kean: “Manasquan boys basketball: A ref's bad call should not set a bad precedent for NJ sports”
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