| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Access to government documents in New Jersey is set to get a little bit harder. Gov. Phil Murphy yesterday signed the controversial bill to overhaul the Open Public Records Act — a bill pushed for by local government lobbying organizations that drew fierce and overwhelming pushback from advocates and the press. Advocates were hoping for a veto, or at least a conditional veto that would take out the most objectionable parts of the bill — most notably the elimination of mandatory “fee shifting” in which governments have to pay the legal fees for those who successfully sue to overturn improper records denials. Instead, the governor issued a “signing statement” justifying his decision to sign it and arguing it would not lead to more corruption. Progressives, who have long counted Murphy as one of their own, are infuriated and are calling this a big blot on his legacy. Some of those activists have also been vowing to make state legislators pay in next year’s primary, when the state’s 80 Assembly seats are up. Read more about it here. This is the latest and probably the most serious development of the anti-transparency trend in New Jersey government. State lawmakers recently eliminated the requirement that they disclose their home addresses on financial disclosure forms. At the same time, they did nothing to address the extremely vague income disclosure parts of those forms, where the highest income category is simply “$50,000 or more.” And recall what happened when lawmakers inserted loopholes into the “Elections Transparency Act” that created a special new category of “independent expenditure groups” with less strict campaign finance disclosure requirements than other groups. South Jersey Democrats took advantage of that loophole to fund a shady super PAC that backed allegedly fake “conservative candidates” and was able to keep its donations secret until well after the election. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Andy was this city kid, from New Jersey, who had this endearing way of getting injured on the ranch.” — Peter Erickson, who was Andy Kim’s roommate at Deep Springs College, which is located on a cattle ranch. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Sangeeta Doshi, Ray Heck WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Trenton at 11 a.m. to speak at New Jersey Realtors Day. (Happy New Jersey Realtors Day to those who observe.)
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TRICKS ARE FOR KIMS! — Sen. Bob Menendez, the incumbent Democrat who started his run for reelection as an independent amid an ongoing corruption trial, said that Rep. Andy Kim has to “stop being a one-trick pony” and going negative on opponents.
Menendez said Kim, who won his party’s nomination this week, first went negative on Tammy Murphy in the Democratic primary, which she withdrew from. This week, Kim said Menendez’s independent run was “about his own self-preservation right now in court,” a comment Menendez batted back on Wednesday. “At some point, you’re going to have to tell people what you’re going to do as a U.S. senator,” Menendez said while leaving the federal courthouse where he’s on trial. Menendez, who is considered a long-shot based on polling, has said he would stack his record against anybody’s. He is most likely to siphon voters from Kim in what would otherwise be a battle for a safe Democratic seat. The trial: Former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal is expected to testify Thursday about interactions with Menendez, who is alleged to have tried to disrupt a state prosecution and investigation in exchange for bribes. — Ry Rivard —“Nadine Arslanian Menendez's insurance claim for totaled Mercedes enters corruption trial” —"Sen. Bob Menendez's wife is excused from court after cancer surgery"
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A WIN FOR THE LITTLE GUY WHO CAN AFFORD THE $15 TUNNEL TOLLS AND $600+ A MONTH TO PARK — Hochul announces ‘indefinite pause’ for controversial New York City toll plan, by POLITICO’s Nick Reisman: A $15 toll plan meant to reduce traffic in Manhattan below 60th Street that has become a political headache for Democrats in New York will be halted indefinitely, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. Hochul in a videotaped message said she would ask top officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to “pause” the implementation of the plan, known as congestion pricing, a reversal of her public support for it … [T]he delay is a bitter development for environmental and mass transit advocates, as well as business leaders who had supported the initial plan … [C]entrist Democratic elected officials in New York and New Jersey — including those in competitive elections this year — had raised alarm over the potential impact of tolling on their constituents driving into midtown Manhattan. On Wednesday, they cheered Hochul’s move.
“Since day one, I’ve fought alongside countless Hudson Valley families against this unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable congestion pricing plan,” said Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat in a battleground Hudson Valley seat who had called for exemptions to the tolls. “Today, I’m proud to say we’ve stopped congestion pricing in its tracks.” Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, one of New Jersey’s most vocal critics of the plan, celebrated it is a victory Wednesday for drivers and the environment. “We know what the effects would have been — not just on people’s wallets. I’m talking about the traffic that would have increased and of course all the pollution that would have plumed into northern New Jersey and the outer boroughs,” he told reporters. “Now our job is to get back to making sure we do what New Jersey and New York do so well, work together.” —“N.J. Politicians Celebrate Hochul’s NYC Congestion Pricing Pause” BACKSHROOM DEAL — Psilocybin bill to drop decriminalization, expungement, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A bill to legalize medical psilocybin is expected to cut decriminalization provisions and expungement for past and prospective convictions related to the drug, according to a draft of the bill reviewed by POLITICO. The bill, NJ S2283 (24R), is scheduled for its first committee hearing in the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee Thursday. … Aside from setting up a board framework for medical psilocybin in the state, the bill currently proposes eliminating prohibitions on use, possession, transportation and home grow of up to four grams of psilocybin for people 21 and older. It also includes measures that would allow for expungement for past and pending cases related to psilocybin possession. Those measures are expected to be taken out of the bill, according to a draft committee substitute, although some of them could appear in separate legislation. The home grow measures in particular could have been difficult to pass in the state Legislature. By comparison, it is still a felony in the state to grow cannabis at home, even though the drug has been available to buy recreationally since 2022. —“N.J. to charge state park entrance fees again after three year hiatus” —“Lawsuit over baby blood samples to resume after settlement talks break down”
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WHAT ABOUT BOB? — “Democrats assess risks of independent Menendez run,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Colleen O’Dea: “If Menendez does remain on the ballot, something he promises he will do once the jury exonerates him, most political observers agree his candidacy will tighten the race between Rep. Andy Kim (D-3rd) and Republican Curtis Bashaw but should not impact the ultimate outcome: an expected Democratic win. ‘He’s completely bottomed out in terms of favorables and his job approval,’ said Ashley Koning, director of the Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics, referring to Menendez. ‘I don’t expect that to change throughout the coming months. So he could potentially chip away some Democratic support … but I don’t think there’s, as of right now, any real damage that can be done, especially when we have a high-profile election at the top of the ballot.’”
META: MAKE EXCUSES FOR TRUMP AGAIN — “GOP seethes over media blaming Trump,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “Don’t blame Trump. Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballot. That was the assessment Tuesday night of a Morris County Republican, granted the privilege to speak anonymously, regarding the defeat of Christine Serrano Glassner. The source said he knows the media will blame Trump, who endorsed Serrano Glassner in early May, but that’s just the way they are. The ‘real’ reasons for Serrano Glassner’s defeat by Curtis Bashaw were pretty basic, according to a number of people at the GOP’s election night party in Parsippany. Let’s start with ‘money, money, money.’ Bashaw spent much more; some loyal Republicans spoke of getting four mailings from him in the last few weeks. Then there was this observation: ‘What good is an endorsement by Trump if no one knows about it?’” —“Republican Curtis Bashaw’s nomination fueling GOP hope in deeply Democratic New Jersey” —Stile: “As Andy Kim and Curtis Bashaw claim NJ primary wins, what will Bob Menendez do?” —Moran: “Andy Kim, on his big win, his GOP opponent, and pressing reform” —“Chomping at the bit: Dems welcome showdown with ‘MAGA extremists’” —“Control of U.S. House may run through NJ’s seesaw 7th District” —“Rep. Menendez reflects on primary: ‘I’m extremely thankful for [voters] confidence’”
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SHORTSIGHTED HILLS — “Richest New Jersey neighborhood dealt blow in cheap-housing spat,” by Bloomberg’s Nacha Cattan: “The wealthy township of Millburn, New Jersey, has lost a key battle in its fight to stop 75 affordable apartments from being built on the town dump. Home to Short Hills, the state’s richest ZIP code, Millburn had bet on convincing a court that the downtown site is toxic and would segregate low-income families from the rest of its residents. Instead, a court-appointed special master is recommending the development go forward as the township had originally planned. Millburn agreed to the site three years ago to satisfy New Jersey requirements for each town to build affordable homes, only to backtrack. Like the rest of the New York City area, Millburn is suffering from one of the worst housing shortages in the US.”
FRESHLY RE-MINTED REPUBLICAN MAYORAL NOMINEE SAL BONACCORSO — “Judge upholds lawsuit by N.J. cop who exposed racism,” by NJ Advance Media’s Riley Yates: “A lawsuit by a former Clark Township police officer who exposed racism at town hall was upheld last week by a Superior Court judge – the latest in a long-running controversy that continues to dog the Union County community. Former Lt. Antonio Manata is suing the township, alleging officials made his life miserable after he secretly recorded Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and police brass using racial slurs that included the n-word. In a ruling Thursday, Judge John Deitch allowed a number of the suit’s claims against township officials to proceed despite a bid by Clark’s attorneys to have them thrown out of court at the preliminary stages. ‘We are pleased with the judge’s decision,’ said Manata’s attorney, E. Carr Cornog III. ‘We look forward to going forward with the essence of Mr. Manata’s claims.’ The litigation comes more than four years after Clark quietly agreed to pay Manata a settlement of more than $400,000 to conceal the explosive recordings he’d made of Bonaccorso, Police Chief Pedro Matos and internal affairs Sgt. Joseph Teston using racial epithets.” WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH KIDS TODAY? — “Teen arrested on attempted murder charge in Ocean City boardwalk stabbing,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeff Goldman: “Authorities have arrested a teenager facing an attempted murder charge in the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy during a fight on the Ocean City boardwalk on Memorial Day weekend. The teen was taken into custody in Pleasantville on Tuesday, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office said. The prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately provide the teen’s age or hometown, only saying police in Hamilton in Atlantic County also helped find the juvenile. … The victim was treated and released from an area hospital.” FEARBOOK — “'Blatant antisemitic' error in East Brunswick yearbook under investigation,” by MyCentralJersey’s Cheryl Makin: “Calling it a ‘blatant antisemitic’ act, Mayor Brad Cohen has demanded answers why the High School yearbook removed the names of some Jewish student club members and ran a photo of Muslims instead. The 2024 version of ‘The Emerald’ published a photo of Muslim students in place of members of the Jewish Student Union with all the Jewish students’ names removed … Cohen said he has many other queries, including if the act constitutes a hate crime. ‘Who signed off on this page? Did this act occur at the publisher end,’ he said.”
| | | | JOIN US ON 6/12 FOR A TALK ON THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY: As air travel soars again, policymakers and airlines are grappling with a series of contemporary challenges to the industry's future. Join POLITICO on June 12 for a topical and timely conversation with government leaders and aviation stakeholders about the state of the airline industry. From what passengers want to what airlines need amid the high demand for air traffic, workers and technology solutions. What can Washington do to ensure passengers and providers are equipped to fly right? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | TOM STALLIN’ —“Atlantic City Housing Authority director testifies on why deadlines were missed,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s: “The Atlantic City Housing Authority has not complied with court orders dating to December 2022 because it had no architectural and engineering firm to prepare plans and bids for replacing the old heating system and gas lines, Executive Director Tom Sahlin testified Wednesday. Many deadlines in the court orders, which Superior Court Judge John C. Porto stressed were agreed to by the authority, were never to be amended .. About 146 tenants of Stanley Holmes Village are suing the authority over health and safety violations that have gone on for years, such as lack of reliable heat and hot water, mold growth, pest infestations and broken appliances.” BERGER COOKED — “Piscataway mayor wins big victory in bid for seventh term,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler won a decisive victory in his bid for a seventh term, defeating progressive Staci Berger by nearly 15 percentage points. Wahler won by 829 votes, 3,274-2,445, against Berger, the president of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. The win came despite the court-ordered office block ballots that Berger had pushed for.” —“Sussex County primary results: Commissioner celebrates win over 'toxic' GOP opponents” —“Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba holds off challengers in Democratic primary” —“Candidate for Passaic County sheriff declares victory in bitter Democratic primary” —“Ocean County primary election results: Toms River mayor passes his first job approval test” —“Brother-in-law of former mayor defeats appointed incumbent in Kearny Town Council primary” —“Monmouth County primary election: Close GOP nod for Howell mayor, Neptune Democrats split” —“Alternate GOP committee slate wins primary in Wyckoff” —“PFAS contamination leads Manchester to plan for new water system” —“4 N.J. school districts cutting more than 60 teachers, staff positions” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
ENGLEWOOD ALWAYS UP TO NO GOOD —“Bergen County car dealership goes viral in video warning about add-on fees,” by The Record’s Amanda Wallace: “New York City-based car buying service is stressing the importance of negotiation, education, and asking questions prior to making a big purchase after its client was presented with over $20,000 in add-ons at a dealership in Englewood. On May 21 and 22, Zach Shefska, CEO of Car Edge, posted on his X page and the Car Edge Instagram page, detailing a situation that arose between a Car Edge customer and the Lexus of Englewood dealership. … ‘We helped a customer purchase a new Lexus. They got a great deal. The finance manager then tried to add $20,000 in insurance products on the final contract. WTF! This is absurd,’ says the post on X, which has since garnered over 420,000 views.”
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