| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Health Care Association of New Jersey | I know what you’re thinking: New Jersey will never be the same. The conventional wisdom is out the window. The foundations of the state’s power structure have been shaken and nobody knows if they’re sound. Of course I’m referring to the NJEA’s stunning decision to endorse its president, Sean Spiller, for governor. But seriously, it’s been a few days since Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the indictment of South Jersey Democratic boss George Norcross. And politicians' responses have been muted — from both sides of the aisle. Gov. Murphy had this to say: “The charges, the allegations are very serious. They are deeply disturbing. Let there be no doubt about that. Period. Secondly, as I said about Senator Menendez, as disturbing as the allegations might be, this is America. Folks are innocent until proven guilty. And that's the way it should be. And thirdly I will likely have nothing else to say about this given it's an active law enforcement matter.” But notably, Murphy suggested that he’d continue to help raise money for Norcross’ super PAC when asked. “I’ve raised money for Democrats up and down this state and all across this country. And I’ll continue to do so,” he said. Several other Democrats have commented, including 7th Congressional candidate Sue Altman, long a Norcross foe. Andy Kim did, without naming Norcross. Steve Fulop has been aggressively bringing it up, seeking to draw out his likely 2025 gubernatorial rivals Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer. Sherrill later issued a pretty careful statement on the indictment. Gottheimer, by contrast, issued an attack on Fulop for "flip-Fuloping" and in his own statement said "we must always respect the rule of law and hold people accountable" without mentioning Norcross by name. Sen. Cory Booker told POLITICO that “anytime you see public figures getting indicted it's a sad time for our state,” saying he hadn’t read the indictment yet and “ “this is something that should be concerning.” Not exactly scathing. None of this suggests the indictment has done anything to weaken Norcross’ grip on so much of New Jersey politics, even if it’s waned from its peak during Chris Christie’s administration. Where are the Republicans? The lack of comment from prominent figures on the right over the indictment of one of the most powerful Democrats in the state shows that Norcross’ influence and reputation extend beyond the Democratic Party. State Sen. Vince Polistina, who’s been in a public spat with Norcross, was an exception when a caller asked him about it during a radio interview on WOND Wednesday. “They’re alleging that he weaponized government to facilitate private negotiations he was in for himself and his company,” Polistina said. “Everybody is innocent until proven guilty, but if they have tapes of all this stuff and he was trying to utilize the Camden city government to put pressure on developers to facilitate his private negotiations, that is not allowed, that is illegal, that is criminal and he’s going to suffer the consequences.” Meanwhile, it’s business as usual in South Jersey. On Wednesday, without comment, the South Jersey Transportation Authority — where two commissioners were charged Friday with voting against paying a vendor in an alleged Norcross-related retribution scheme — approved a legal services contract for Brown & Connery, home to longtime Norcross attorney and confidante Bill Tambussi, who was also charged in the alleged Norcross “criminal enterprise.” The two charged commissioners, Christopher Milam and Bryan Bush, were absent. Gov. Murphy has final say over the action. Brown & Connery was the only bidder. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at Mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don't want to belabor that today … Today is not what that's all about." — Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen when asked Wednesday about the Norcross indictment during a ceremony to highlight “the removal of a massive pile of toxic soil” that was definitely not intended to be symbolic. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Pearl Gabel, Zach McCue
| | | | A message from Health Care Association of New Jersey: Trenton must stop short-changing nursing home residents and the staff who take care of them. Instead of piling on unfunded mandates, critical resources should be spent on hiring more staff and improving care. Otherwise, more than 9,000 current New Jersey nursing home residents risk losing their homes. Tell your state lawmakers: The state must invest now in the welfare of its aging senior population. It’s not a choice, it’s an obligation. | | | |  | MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL | | WHERE’S MURPHY? — Leaving New Jersey tonight for "personal travel" and returning Sunday. COME MR. SOLIMAN TELL ON MY BEHAVIOR — Former Menendez aide testifies about gamesmanship around NJ’s top federal prosecutor, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: One of Sen. Bob Menendez’s former top aides testified Tuesday that the senator was uniquely focused on a criminal case against a real estate developer now accused of bribing him. Michael Soliman, a key political adviser to the senator for over a decade, said the only criminal case Menendez ever asked him to talk to a prosecutor about involved the developer, Fred Daibes … Soliman testified that on Dec. 17, 2020, Menendez texted him looking to recommend someone other than Sellinger. That’s the day after Sellinger told Menendez he might have to recuse himself from the Daibes case, according to Sellinger, who took the stand before Soliman … It was only months later, after Menendez came to believe that Sellinger would not have to recuse himself, that the senator recommended Sellinger for the U.S. Attorney job, according to prosecutors. In the meantime, Menendez had decided to back Esther Suarez, a local prosecutor, but her candidacy flamed out and Sellinger reentered the picture. Here, Soliman’s testimony conflicted with Sellinger’s about the substance of a key phone call when it was clear Suarez was doomed. According to Sellinger, Sellinger used a call with Soliman to explain the process he might have to go through to recuse himself. According to Solimon, Sellinger was more pointed in the conversation. Soliman testified that Sellinger “wanted me to let the senator know that he checked with [the Department of Justice] and that in fact he did not have to recuse himself from an issue.” —“Adviser testifies about Menendez schemes to bully the press, blame the White House,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “When New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein told Soliman he planned to do a story on the U.S. attorney candidates, Soliman said he and Menendez had several concerns. They worried Suarez would be seen as a diversity hire, a “hot button” issue they wanted to avoid before the election, Soliman testified. And they wanted to divert attention from Suarez, whose negative publicity they worried could taint Menendez, he added. ‘Please try and delay’ the story, the senator urged Soliman in a text sent on the encrypted app Signal. Wildstein agreed to wait, Soliman said, but asked again the next month, after then-U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito’s resignation left the job open. Soliman told jurors he gave Wildstein a list of candidates he said Menendez was considering for the job, including Jamel Semper, a prominent attorney the Black clergy subsequently championed and who later became a federal judge. But the story that Menendez and Sen. Cory Booker were eyeing more than two candidates was wholly false, Soliman testified.” —“Jose Uribe's sentencing set for Oct. 29; Fred Daibes bank fraud trial also scheduled”
| | | | 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.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | | | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | ATTN GEORGE NORCROSS — Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled a wide-ranging clemency plan Wednesday and established an advisory board. Murphy timed the announcement of his executive order to coincide with Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. He said his initiative to issue pardons and commutations is designed to “help address inequities and unfairness in our system of justice in New Jersey.” It’s the first type of clemency action Murphy has taken since becoming governor in 2018. “This new clemency initiative is a cornerstone of our Administration’s efforts to make New Jersey the State of Second Chances,” he said in a statement. “Today, we pledge to take a responsible and equity-driven approach to pardons and commutations that will prioritize the most compelling cases.” The order sets certain categories of offenses that will get “expedited review” for clemency. They include: non-violent convictions; “excessive” trial penalties; and victims of domestic or sexual violence or sex trafficking who are incarcerated for committing a crime against the perpetrator, Murphy said.
The Clemency Advisory Board includes a designee of the state attorney general and five public members. The board will review each clemency application and make recommendations to the governor. THE PEOPLE WANT BIG JOE HENRY — “ELEC will decide if Spadea radio show counts against spending cap,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission will conduct a review to determine if the fair market value of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea remaining on the air as the New Jersey 101.5 morning drive-time radio show will count against the $8.7 million spending cap if he chooses to participate in the state’s public financing program. ‘Until he becomes a legally qualified candidate, Bill will continue to fulfill his employment responsibilities entertaining and informing the local audience on NJ 101.5 airwaves and digital platforms, as he has done for the last nine years,’ the company said in a statement.” —“ELEC approves $8.7 million spending cap for gubernatorial primary” NJ GOV AND LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE DEEP COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY — “Can NJ’s opaque budget-making practices be overhauled?” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “If legislative leaders and the governor stick to past practice, key decisions about the final budget — including the fate of several tax hikes Murphy wants to enact alongside it — will be made behind closed doors, and decided predominately by just the three men who hold the most powerful positions inside the State House. This largely opaque, final stage of New Jersey’s annual budget-making process has drawn heavy criticism in recent years from people representing a wide swath of the political landscape, including conservative Republicans, progressive activists and racial-equity … Among those bringing forward ideas to update the budget process have been Murphy and other recent candidates for governor, as well as policy experts from some of New Jersey’s leading think tanks. Their proposals include calls to establish a “cooling off” period between when a final spending bill is drafted and voted on by the members of key legislative budget committees. Some have also suggested the Legislature itself should have a deadline for the formal introduction of the annual spending bill, just as the governor each year must generally reveal to lawmakers his latest budget vision before the end of February.” THINGS THAT MAKES YOU GO ‘HMM’ — “N.J. Turnpike Authority using eminent domain to acquire Bayonne’s Marist land for $31.1M,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is using eminent domain to acquire the former Marist High School land for $31,100,000, court documents of the proceedings show. A 128-page court filing in Hudson County Superior Court’s Law Division, containing mostly legalese, quietly surfaced on April 15th, indicating that the NJPA would obtain 1241 John F. Kennedy Blvd. via condemnation … In a December 5th, 2023 letter, Maurice Stack, the vice president of Stack, Coolahan & Stack, real property valuation and property tax consulting firm, said the property was purchased for $11.4 million by the LLC on December 17th, 2021.’“My investigation revealed that this conveyance does not reflect the byproduct of an arm’s length; market value transaction deemed instructive for appraisal purposes,’ he wrote … In March of last year, the New Jersey Comptroller’s Office alleged in a lawsuit that the City of Bayonne ignored an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, and later a subpoena, about the Marist High School sale. On February 16th, 2022, the Bayonne City Council approved a redevelopment plan for the Marist High School property.” MICHELLE, MA HELL — “Another summer of hell for riders? NJ Transit, Amtrak repair aging system,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “Michelle D. was one of the thousands of NJ Transit commuters who had an hours-long, hellish journey home recently after wires fell on the tracks a few miles from New York Penn Station … Amid pushing and shoving, she eventually boarded another packed train out of Hoboken — after almost getting smacked in the face by another rider's backpack — only to have it stop at the next station because of a medical emergency. She was at the three-hour mark by then … Over the course of just three days, NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters endured a litany of hours-long, haphazard commutes because of equipment failures along three bridges or tunnels whose average age is 105 and overhead wires, or catenary, that predates the 1950s. Journeying on aging, deteriorated and long-neglected infrastructure to get to and from New York Penn Station has — yet again — become a predictably unpredictable odyssey. And the end isn’t near … NJ Transit and Amtrak customers are trapped in this commuting purgatory for at least another 10 years as the decades-old assets on the notorious 10-mile stretch of rail between Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station slowly get replaced, repaired and reinforced.” —“In a state notorious for political scandal, signs of change emerge” —“‘Are you threatening me?’ Surprise recordings are at the heart of prosecutors’ case against George Norcross” —“Inside the ‘wild’ charges against Dem power broker George Norcross” —"Grand jury indicts CEO of military privatized housing company" —“Indicted Democratic boss has close ties to South Jersey health system” R.I.P. — “Richard Loccke, labor lawyer who secured higher salaries for NJ police, dies at 79” —"The Hudson Tunnel dig commences: A Q&A with Gateway CEO Kris Kolluri” —Cryan and Reynolds-Jackson: “Health care costs are out of control. Here’s how N.J. must respond”
| | | | A message from Health Care Association of New Jersey:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
—“Tim Alexander concedes, won't ask for recount in Democratic congressional primary”
—Why it’s harder to track an indicted [Norcross’s] connections to federal Dems | | LOCAL | |
THE COWARDLY LEÓN — “Newark Superintendent: No alcohol at ‘fun day’ for central office staff,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Matt Kadosh: “Schools Superintendent Roger León on Monday said no alcohol was served at a ‘Superintendent’s Staff Fun Day’ – an event for the district’s top administrators and their staff – held June 1 at an elegant venue in Warren. ‘Taxpayer funds’ did not pay for alcoholic beverages because ‘no alcohol was served,’ León said in a brief phone conversation with TAPinto Newark. When TAPinto Newark asked León why the cost of alcoholic beverages was shown as ‘included’ on a menu with the invoice attached to the school board-approved resolution, his phone connection was lost … While an April 15 contract between the district and the venue shows the cost to the district at $50,238.50 for the June 1 event at Forest Lodge in Warren, a subsequent invoice dated the day of the event puts the cost at $43,813.90, the figure Deering referenced. Under state law, the bid threshold – that is the amount up to which a government agency can purchase goods or services without putting that purchase out to a publicly advertised bid – is $44,000.”
—“Video featuring women in thongs in N.J. high school gym leaves board members ‘disgusted’” MARTINI THROWS THE BOOKLET AT THOMAS — “Ex-Jersey City official Sudhan Thomas gets 2-month sentence for embezzlement,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Former Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas, who also served as the acting executive director of the now defunct Jersey City Employment and Training Program, received a two-month prison sentence yesterday for embezzlement and fraud. Sudhan Thomas, 48, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty in June 2023 before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to embezzling funds from JCETP, an organization that received federal funds, and wire fraud for embezzling money from his 2016 Jersey City BOE campaign. Martini issued the sentence yesterday, which is two months concurrently, along with two years supervised release and $123,008 in restitution, according to court documents. The other 24 counts were dismissed on a government motion.” DIFRANCHISEMENT — “DiFrancesco defeats Howes for Somerset GOP chair,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Tracy DiFrancesco, the Watchung GOP municipal chair and daughter of former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco, unseated two-term incumbent Tim Howes in the race for Somerset County Republican chair. DiFrancesco won 222-140, a 61%-39% margin. She was boosted by allies of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman and Somerset County freeholder. Howes becomes the third incumbent county chair to lose this week after Carlos Santos ousted Glenn Mortimer in Union and Adam Wingate took out Jacci Vigilante in Gloucester. — “Atlantic City Councilman Zia testifies he lives apart from wife, who lives in Egg Harbor Township,” —“ [Baraka] to speak at Paris conference on homelessness” —“What might be built on the Sheraton Crossroads site? Mahwah planning board makes a ruling” —“South Jersey dials up pressure on Philly 'boom car' parties” —“[Cumberland County] jail guard acquitted in death by suicide of inmate”
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SEASQUATCH EATS MISBEHAVING TEENS — “Up close and personal with the Wildwood Seasquatch,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “The Wildwood Seasquatch is explaining itself. ‘I’m on a much lower plane than these historic mascots,’ he says, with unexpected humility, referring to Philly’s legendary hierarchy of undefinable mascots: Gritty, the Phanatic, and, maybe even, Swoop. ‘All the mascots out there are definitely influences,’ Seasquatch says. An odd combination of Gritty, Big Foot, and if Lucy the Elephant was a guy in a costume running around Margate, the Wildwood Seasquatch is trying to go viral … (The local businessman behind the Seasquatch doesn’t want to be identified publicly because, he says, he’s not doing it to promote his own business. He says he and a colleague thought of the idea of bringing a series of Big Foot ‘could it be real’ type sightings to Wildwood to bring attention and fun to the place, and the colleague just went out and bought the costume.)”
| | | | A message from Health Care Association of New Jersey: Trenton must stop short-changing nursing home residents.
Nursing homes require additional staff, and those staff deserve living wages.
To support more staffing hours, state payment rates need to rise.
State lawmakers and regulators need to stop piling on unfunded mandates that drain critical resources that should instead be spent on hiring more staff and improving care.
If they don’t, more than 9,000 current New Jersey nursing home residents risk losing their homes.
Tell your state lawmakers: The state must invest now in the welfare of its aging senior population.
It’s not a choice, it’s an obligation. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
