| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! Should it be harder for candidates to qualify for the ballot in New Jersey? After watching last week’s messy petition signature challenges regarding two candidates for the special 10th District primary, Democratic State Chair LeRoy Jones thinks the process needs an overhaul. And that should include increasing the number of signatures candidates need to get on the ballot, according to Jones, who’s also the Democratic chair of Essex County. “There’s a propensity for irregularities. And there’s a lot of Lisa McCormicks out there. The process becomes so loose that it can foster malcontent,” Jones said, referring to the perennial candidate whose partner and campaign manager is charged with filing false petitions. Additionally, Jones said, the thresholds were devised at a time when New Jersey’s population was a lot smaller. Statewide, the requirement is 1,000 signatures. For U.S. House seat, 200. For state legislative seats, 100. Neither Jones nor I know when exactly when the current petition threshold was set. The statute does show it was last amended in 1981. Jones said he’s not offering a suggestion as to what the thresholds should be, but he said he hopes legislative leaders take it into consideration as they work on their promised ballot design legislation. I don’t know how hard Jones will push this idea, or whether legislative leaders are on board. But I can imagine any attempt to make it harder to run for office will be controversial, and that some will see it as a way to try to protect the Democratic establishment’s interests in the wake of losing the county line. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “NJ Parental Rights gives our complete endorsement to President Trump endorsed U.S. Senate Candidate CHRISTINE SERRANO GLASSNER For U.S. Senate … We CANNOT let Curtis Bashaw, a Never Trump Republican who donates to Democrats, win. Curtis is married to a man, and he is proud of it.” — A post by the administrator of the Facebook page of Team PYC - Protect Your Children HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Mila Jasey, Chapman Vail WHERE’S MURPHY? — Speaking at the Jersey City Summit for Real Estate Development at 11 a.m. | | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
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PYRAMID SCHEME — Federal prosecutors on Tuesday spent hours showing jurors a daisy chain of correspondence ranging from text messages, emails, calls and voicemails among the defendants in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez.
The correspondence referred to some of the key allegations in the Menendez indictment — specifically that information on the American embassy in Egypt originated with Menendez and ended up with Egyptian officials and also that the senator had a role in ghost-writing letters on behalf of Egypt. Prosecutors did not explain the specifics of the alleged bribery scheme on Tuesday but showing the correspondence itself was designed to show the degrees of connection between the senator, his co-defendants and Egyptian officials. Jurors, for example, saw that Menendez texted his then-girlfriend Nadine on May 7, 2018, the number of Americans and Egyptians who worked at the American embassy in Egypt, which Nadine sent to New Jersey businessperson Wael Hana within minutes of receiving it. Hana then forwarded that message to Ahmed Essam, an employee for Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs, later that day through an encrypted messaging app. FBI Special Agent Michael Coughlin, who has presented the text messages to the jury, is expected to continue his testimony for the next two days, federal prosecutors said. Defense attorneys have not directly responded to the correspondence yet, although an attorney for Hana said during his opening statements that the embassy information was not “classified or otherwise secret” and “easy to obtain.” — Daniel Han | | | | POLITICO invites you to learn more about POLITICO's coverage of politics, policy and power in Albany. Join us on Wednesday, May 29 to connect with fellow New Yorkers over drinks and appetizers. RSVP HERE. | | | | | | | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
FIGHTING TOOTH AND FAIL — NJ settles with Ørsted for fraction of the amount state said it was owed, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey has agreed to accept about one-third of what the Murphy administration claimed was owed by Danish energy company Ørsted after it canceled two projects off the shore. A press release Tuesday about the acceleration of the state’s offshore wind bidding schedule for other projects noted that the state and the Board of Public Utilities reached a settlement with Ørsted in which they “have agreed to release claims against each other arising out of or related to the Ocean Wind Projects,” with the company paying the state $125 million. Following Ørsted’s cancellation of its Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects in late 2023 last fall, Murphy in an Oct. 31 statement said “my administration in partnership with legislative leadership insisted upon important protections that ensure New Jersey will receive $300 million to support the offshore wind sector should Ørsted’s New Jersey projects fail to proceed.” “We’re gonna fight tooth and nail to keep this money,” Murphy told reporters in November. On Tuesday, Murphy's office said he is "pleased" that the state will get $125 million without litigation.
—“Staffing at NJ nursing homes lags looming federal standards” —“NJ medical marijuana patients are fleeing in droves. Here's 3 ways to woo them back” —“Early voting begins Wednesday as House, Senate primaries loom” —“80 NJ Transit train stations aren't accessible to the disabled. Money is on the way” | | BIDEN TIME | |
SENATORIAL CURTISY — “NJ's GOP Senate primary pits power of Trump against the county line. Who will win?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Michael J. Donohue, the Cape May County Republican Party chairman, traveled last Tuesday to a hotel ballroom in the heart of Trump Land, New Jersey, to extol the virtues and promise of Curtis Bashaw, a Cape May hotelier and the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate … ‘Look, his opponent got a nice endorsement, God bless her,’’ Donohue told the crowd. … about Trump’s full-throated blessing of Serrano Glassner at his May 11 rally in Wildwood. ‘She's a one-trick pony. It's all she's got. She's got nothing else. She's not talking about issues.’ … But Trump’s fulsome endorsement – and a swipe at Bashaw as a ‘Christie guy’ – has created what one prominent Bashaw-backer described as a ‘wrench’ in an otherwise smooth glide to the GOP nomination. … It has created a frisson of concern within the establishment ranks that have rallied behind Bashaw. ‘I think I'd be lying to you if I said that President Trump's endorsement didn't have any effect,’’ said Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cumberland, who is chairman of Bashaw’s campaign.”
THE PORK ROLL CALL — “The federal funding that lawmakers brought to New Jersey,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Benjamin J. Hulac: “NJ Spotlight News reviewed all the earmarks New Jersey members obtained since earmarks returned to Congress and found Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) and Frank Pallone (D-6th) received significantly more than their House colleagues and nearly as much as the state’s senators, Democrats Cory Booker and Bob Menendez. … Overall, the state’s delegation to Congress obtained about $838 million over the three federal budget cycles since earmarks returned three years ago, money spread out across 12 congressional districts, two Senate offices, dozens of federal programs and 655 total projects. Van Drew, who consistently votes against federal funding legislation — the only bills that contain earmarks — received $92.3 million in earmarks, while Pallone received $83.6 million. A senior House Democrat, Pallone is a reliable yes vote for funding bills. The next closest House member was Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th), who received $46.7 million. … Large U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects dominate the list of New Jersey earmarks, topped by a $32 million earmark Van Drew and Sens. Booker and Menendez secured to fund dredging and other water projects in Ocean County.” THERE’S THE BEEF — “Bob Menendez is blowing campaign gold on lawyers—and pricey steaks,” by The Daily Beast’s William Bredderman: “Fighting to keep himself out of prison has cost Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) a lot—but not his appetite, campaign finance records show. The embattled Democrat, now on trial for allegations he accepted gold bars and envelopes of cash from New Jersey businessmen in exchange for favors for them and their patrons in Egypt and Qatar, spent $2 million on legal fees in April, the latest filings show. … But these swelling expenses, and the anemic $95,538.86 the campaign has raised so far this year, hasn’t kept the senator from dining on his donors’ dime: his New Millennium Political Action Committee has picked up eight checks totalling $7,012.51 this year at Morton’s Steakhouse in D.C., a favorite Menendez hangout where the filet mignon starts at $56 and the tomahawks top out at $139.” —“NJ Rep. Pascrell sees primary challenge from Khairullah, spotlighting their stances on Gaza war” —“Bhalla takes aim at the Menendezes over ‘No Foreign Emoluments’ bill” —“If Bob Menendez runs as an independent, here’s what you need to know” —“All on the Line: InsiderNJ’s June 4th races to watch” —“Silence In election statutes muddles Democratic delegate slates in Monmouth, Ocean” —Snowflack: "Kim Teams up with Altmam" —Henne: “Offshore wind does not kill whales, President Trump. It's a viable energy alternative” | | LOCAL | |
ANARCHY IN THE CAPE MAY — “Wildwood mayor blames 'punk' juveniles for Boardwalk issues over holiday weekend,” by The Press of Atlantic City: “An angry mayor blamed mobs of ‘punk’ juveniles for forcing the city to shut down its Boardwalk over Memorial Day weekend. Appearing on Philadelphia talk radio station WPHT-AM 1210 on Tuesday, Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. described the chaos that broke out Sunday on the Boardwalk, leading to a state of emergency and a call for help from neighboring police departments to quell rowdy crowds, which he said ‘could have overrun the police.’ Speaking to host Dom Giordano, Troiano blamed the crowds and took aim at what he described as social media culture, a lack of civility and respect. ‘It’s this mentality that ‘I got my phone, I got my camera, let's create an incident, let’s be an influencer,’ Troiano said Tuesday on the radio.”
—“Following stabbing, Jersey Shore official says unruly teens won’t be allowed to ‘steal summer’” —“Gov. downplays reports of chaotic Memorial Day weekend at the Jersey Shore” DEADBEAT MALL — “Meadowlands towns say American Dream owes them at least $13M,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “Go to the American Dream mall in East Rutherford and you’ll see thousands of guests. … But the sprawling $5 billion retail and entertainment complex, built with more than $1 billion of state aid on prime state-owned real estate at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, isn’t technically fully "open," and won't be until it's 100% leased. That’s an argument the mall owners have made — according to officials from neighboring towns — to avoid paying more than $13 million in negotiated payments to local Meadowlands communities surrounding American Dream, owned by Triple Five. … The mall is 86% leased, according to recent public filings.” TOMS RIVEN — “Toms River mayor has made enemies. Now he faces big election test in bitter GOP primary,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “After a brutal GOP primary and general election campaign in 2023, this year's Republican primary race is a more low-key affair. Competing for a one-year unexpired term representing Toms River's Ward 2 are former Councilman Kevin M. Geoghegan, 58, a retired Toms River police sergeant, and political newcomer William Byrne, who is also retired, and spent his career in the trucking industry. Byrne, 82, a past president of the Holiday City Silverton adult community, is allied with Mayor Daniel Rodrick, while Geoghegan clashed frequently with Rodrick when they were both members of the Township Council.” SEASIDE NIGHTS — “After busy weekend, Seaside Heights implements curfew for minors,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Mason: “It took one "summer" weekend of 2024 for Seaside Heights to make some changes. The town has decided to implement a curfew for anyone under 18 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The curfew is in effect through Labor Day. The ruling comes after police reported problems on the boardwalk Saturday night. Police received a phone call about a possible gunshot, but police found no evidence of that. There was a large crowd of teens seen running on the boardwalk.” DEJON WANTS YOU DEGONE — “Jersey City BOE president clears audience completely after woman refuses removal,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Jersey City Board of Education President Dejon Morris cleared the audience completely after a woman refused to be removed at Wednesday’s meeting. … Morris then asked if the board needed to read the preamble again, to which [Elizabeth] Perry, who has a gender discrimination lawsuit against the district, shouted back that he should read it. Nonetheless, the meeting essentially came to a halt as audience members remained at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, also known as Public School No. 11, located at 886 Bergen Ave. … At least one of Morris’ colleagues were not impressed with the way the situation was being handled. At least one of Morris’ colleagues ‘She has every right to be upset. You cleared the room because one person had an outburst. Now we have a disruption because of this,’ stated Trustee Younass Barkouch.” —“Peter Yacobellis answers questions about his Montclair council campaign finances” —“What the truck?! North Bergen urges Gateway Tunnel officials to keep hundreds of trucks off busy roadway” —“Jersey City sued by federal government over $9,300 debt” —“Attorney for Atlantic City principal believes official misconduct case will be dismissed” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | HEALTH CARE — “Nurses threaten to strike at 3 NJ hospitals. Here's why,” by The Record’s Scott Fallon: “About 3,000 nurses have voted to authorize a strike at three New Jersey hospitals — Englewood Health, Hackensack Meridian's Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen and Cooper University Health Care in Camden — as they battle for mandatory staffing ratios to be placed in their contracts, union officials announced Tuesday. Nurses at each hospital have been demanding enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios to cut down on work overloads that they say have been chasing their colleagues out of the profession. ‘This is a non-starter for us,’ said Debbie White, a nurse and president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees union. ‘Members will do whatever is necessary to get this into our contracts.’” JUST THE NEWS TIP — “Napoleon’s one-and-a-half inch long penis last known to be in the possession of NJ urologist’s daughter,” by The New York Post’s Dean Balsamini: “Here is a short history lesson. French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte died 203 years ago May 5, but his legendarily petite privates were last known to be in the hands of an Englewood, NJ, resident. The penis belonged to Evan Lattimer, whose renowned urologist dad beat out stiff competition at a Paris auction in 1977 to buy the organ for $3,000. … Evan Lattimer, now 75, declined to comment on the famous French member of the family when reached by The Post.” —Opinion: “Rutgers forsakes its students. Again” —“Court approves Cape Regional, Cooper University Health merger”
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