Did anything happen while I was gone?

Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day
Jul 29, 2024 View in browser
 
New Jersey Playbook

By Matt Friedman

Good Monday morning!

In case you didn’t notice that my colleagues wrote New Jersey Playbook last week, I was on vacation. I didn’t pay attention to the news. So I’m excited to get back into things. Will President Biden be able to pull off an upset reelection? Will the disgraced Sen. Menendez ever loosen his grip on his Senate seat? Will a metal band ever play the Olympic opening ceremonies?

A week, as they say, is an eternity in politics. Last week was a particularly long eternity. I feel like Rip Van Winkle, and not just because I live in that fabled land of upstate New York.

I know you don’t read me for national politics analysis, but here’s some anyway: Democrats felt like they were looking at certain defeat when I shut down my computer for a week. JD Vance was Trump’s ingenious pick to pump up white working class male voter turnout in swing rust belt states. But now Democrats have a Gen X woman as their all-but-certain nominee, and she can probably do a lot more than an octogenarian male nominee to highlight abortion and reproductive rights that proved a far more effective issue for Democrats in 2022 than almost anyone predicted. Vance’s comments on banning abortion nationwide, suggesting punishing people who don’t have children and denigrating women politicians who don’t have biological offspring could bring questions of bedroom intrusion to the fore — something that threatens to repel all but the most socially conservative voters. This is an entirely different race than it was a week ago.

At this point, I have seen no reports that indicate that Gov. Murphy and Sen. Booker are under serious consideration for the Harris ticket. But a different Jersey guy is. While Mark Kelly may live in and represent Arizona, contrary to popular belief, he is not originally from space. In fact, he was born and raised in The Oranges. Between him and Doug Emhoff, we could have both a vice president and first gentleman from the Garden State. And that means … well, probably nothing.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Michael Pagan, Martin Nock, Jeff Morris, Jo Ann Povia, Allison Derman, Bill Pascoe

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The warehouse looks beautiful.” — Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen on a warehouse under construction on a blighted stretch of Admiral Wilson Boulevard, a site for which a supermarket was once planned.

WHERE’S MURPHY? — Italy

 

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MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL


I AM THE FLAW — “Menendez and the curse of corruption in Hudson County,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “How did the young man who risked his life to help the FBI clean up Union City morph into the corrupt old man we know today, with cash and gold bars hidden in a closet? Why does this happen so often in Hudson County? Maybe it’s something in the water. Maybe it’s a curse. But I’m guessing it’s history, a mindset passed down from one machine politician to the next, one that tends to thrive in Democratic strongholds, but especially in Hudson … This year, more than any other, New Jersey voters have revolted against the county machines that tried to win favor with Gov. Phil Murphy by supporting the Senate campaign of First Lady Tammy Murphy … But the machines are corrosive in another way: They protect bad actors like Menendez. They supported him for years and only ditched him when the jury voted to convict, when the fight was over. ‘Once you’re in the club, you stay in the club, and they take care of each other,’ says James Solomon, a councilman in Jersey City and a likely candidate for mayor next year. ‘The machines are very much a self-perpetuating mechanism. There’s a sense of entitlement — we’re here to protect our interests.’”

‘APPROPRIATE ACTION’ — “NJ Transit worker files sexual harassment complaint after years of alleged abuse by boss,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “On the first day of her job maintaining signals for NJ Transit, Mariah Cruz said her boss warned her that she was one of the few women in the department — and could experience some problems … That supervisor, Bobby Jones, Jr., ended up being the very cause of the problems he had warned about, Cruz alleges. She filed a complaint with NJ Transit’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action office, detailing more than a dozen alleged incidents between 2018 and 2023 … After a five-month investigation, including interviews with multiple witnesses, Cruz said she received a letter from NJ Transit substantiating her claim that Jones violated the agency’s sexual harassment policy, and that ‘appropriate action’ was taken. Jones remains employed by the agency … In the last three years, NorthJersey.com has reported on 11 lawsuits involving 20 male and female NJ Transit employees across rail, bus and police departments who have filed cases — some of which were settled — accusing coworkers of sexual harassment, sexual assault, racism and retaliation. The 20 plaintiffs also accused NJ Transit of doing little or nothing to protect them.”

— “AG appoints acting [Mercer County] prosecutor with background in domestic violence” 

— “Bramnick promises Commuter Czar with an office on the train” 

— “Supreme Court won’t decide case on disclosure of public email lists” 

— “NJ looks for ideas on how to use two prisons set to close” 

— “Governor Phil Murphy, iconic Jersey mascots celebrate National New Jersey Day” 

CARTOON BREAK — “Murphy tries to stick it to Andy Kim,” by Drew Sheneman

BIDEN TIME


SALMON STILL MAD OVER LOSS OF ROE — “Judge likely to decide by Monday if N.J. sore loser law applies to Kennedy,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Mercer County Assignment Judge Robert Lougy expects to have a decision by Monday morning on whether independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. may remain on the New Jersey ballot under the state’s Sore Loser Law. Prominent election lawyer Scott Salmon has challenged Kennedy’s eligibility, saying that he clearly challenged Joe Biden in the Democratic primary first before changing his mind and mounting an independent bid. ‘If you try to obtain the party’s nomination for office, and for whatever reason, you are unsuccessful in doing so, your petition to appear as an independent candidate in the election is invalid. That’s the difference,’ Salmon said.”

— “NJ, other coastal communities get $575M to guard against climate disasters” 

— “Some young first-time NJ voters say Kamala Harris's age makes a difference” 

LOCAL


A THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT SOMETHING OR OTHER — “One of N.J.’s largest school districts kept kids with disabilities out of the classroom, state says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “Students with disabilities returning to Trenton Public Schools from youth detention centers faced barriers and delays to returning to the classroom that lasted from weeks to years, according to a state investigation. A report by the state Department of Education released earlier this week ‘substantiates and confirms’ issues the advocacy group Disability Rights NJ raised in a complaint filed May 14, officials said … The agency’s complaint against Trenton Public Schools alleged students with disabilities returning from out-of-home placements, including detention centers, faced barriers and delays while trying to get back in the classroom, according to the Department of Education’s report. Some students received no education at all as they waited weeks or years to go back to school, the report says.”

ROBBINSVILLE — “Ex-town admin says she was sexually harassed. Mayor says her lawsuit’s a ‘money grab’,” by Kevin Shea for NJ.com: “The former Robbinsville township administrator has filed a civil lawsuit claiming she was forced out of her job after reporting a councilman’s sexual harassment and questioning a dubious hire by the mayor. Joy Tozzi … alleges two years of issues relating to former Township Council President Ron Witt and Mayor Dave Fried, the latter who fired her and then humiliated her in public, the whistleblower action alleges. Fried fired back to NJ Advance Media, saying Tozzi was the issue in Robbinsville and maintains she resigned her post … The suit alleges Witt has sexually harassed multiple township employees — Tozzi included — and 'used the police force as his personal taxi service during his many episodes of intoxication.' Witt called Tozzi 'DG,' short for 'Diamond Girl,' which alluded to 'the supposed shape of a woman’s private area,' which Witt explained to Tozzi, the suit charges.”

IT’S A NICE DAY FOR A FIGHT WEDDING — “Brownstone owner says Paterson councilman owes money on his wedding bill,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Councilman Luis Velez faces a theft of services complaint for allegedly not paying in full for his wedding last August at The Brownstone banquet hall. The Brownstone co-owner Albert Manzo filed the complaint against Velez in Paterson municipal court [last] Monday … Velez on Monday told Paterson Press he had paid The Brownstone the $15,000 fee he had agreed upon with Manzo’s brother, Thomas. But the councilman said Albert Manzo instead was charging him $19,000 for the event, adding that The Brownstone did not give him the service he had been promised … Albert Manzo acknowledged that his brother Thomas agreed to charge Velez $15,000 for a wedding with 200 guests, which he described as ‘an extraordinary, wonderful price’ akin to a friends and family discount. But Albert Manzo said Velez ended up with 270 guests at his wedding and had to be charged extra under the ‘per person’ price … Thomas Manzo, The Brownstone's other co-owner, was found guilty in June for his role in the assault of his ex-wife's new husband.”

JACKSON — “Jackson School District must close elementary school due to $18M budget gap, NJ state says,” by News 12’s Tom Krosnowski: “The New Jersey Department of Education is forcing the Jackson School District to sell a 60-year-old elementary school amid more cuts. The final decision came a month after it first seemed inevitable. ‘It was a full week before we heard anything, which really held us back for planning purposes,’ said Superintendent Nicole Pormilli. ‘It was a surprise how long it took.’ The only way out of an $18 million budget deficit involved closing the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School and reducing staff by 70 — a plan the local board of education opposed. Although a last-minute $2.5 million in state aid will save the courtesy busing program, the cuts will be felt elsewhere.”

TEEN NIGHT NOW OPEN TO COOL, NON-CREEPY ADULTS — “Jersey Shore town’s ban on ‘teen nights’ sparks legal battle with popular bar,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nyah Marshall: “A Jersey Shore town’s ban on teen-only events has sparked a heated legal battle in federal court after the new rules threatened to end a bar’s popular weekly summer parties on Long Beach Island. The owner of the Marlin Restaurant & Bar in Beach Haven filed a lawsuit against the borough in June after the town enacted the ban on ‘teen nights.’ … A New Jersey federal court judge decided earlier this month not to rule on the lawsuit the Marlin filed against Beach Haven and instead sent it back to Ocean County Superior Court. While it awaits a ruling, the Marlin is continuing its biweekly, alcohol-free events. However, instead of being exclusively for teenagers, the events have been rebranded and are now open to people of all ages, according to court documents.”

KEYSTONED COPS — “Jersey City ordered to reinstate cannabis cops or face $100 daily fines,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “Forgive us if this one sounds familiar: Jersey City has been ordered by a state hearing board to reinstate police officers who were fired for legal cannabis use. The city remains winless in its quixotic quest to bar police officers from using cannabis while off-duty after Wednesday’s identical rulings in the cases of Norhan Mansour and Omar Polanco, among the first officers to be disciplined by the city for testing positive for the drug that was legalized in 2020 ... But this story comes with a slight twist. The Civil Service Commission ordered the city to reinstate the officers with back pay, benefits, seniority and reasonable counsel fees within 30 days or face a daily fine of $100 and a maximum of $10,000.”

#1 WITH A MULLET — “Meet the 7-year-old repping South Jersey in the USA Kids Mullet Championship,” by The Courier-Post’s Kaitlyn McCormick: “Mikey Williams says he's well-known around his hometown of Marlton. Mom, Brittany Williams, says people are always stopping him to compliment his hairstyle. The 7-year-old is known as the kid with the mullet. Or, thanks to his football coach, ‘Mikey Mullet.’ That's right, a mullet. The 1980s hair trend has been on the rise in the past few years, and now Mikey Williams and his mullet are representing Marlton in the Kids Mullet Championship. Online voters made him the 32nd of 33 kids to move into the second round of competition.”

“[Fort Lee] police responding to mental health call shoot and kill woman: AG” 

R.I.P. — “Former Central Ward councilman, champion for Newark dies at 81” 

— “Judge won't stop investigation into Montclair firefighters who are suing township” 

— “[Trenton] cop was fired, then acquitted in federal court. Can he be a police officer again?” 

— “Hoboken now has an honorary bird. This group wants to get the common tern its own nesting platform” 

— “The Truth of Stack versus LeRoy Truth

 

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EVERYTHING ELSE


STEALIN' HALL — “3 ex-employees of N.J. law school admit stealing $1.3M from university,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matthew Enuco: “Three former employees of Seton Hall Law School have pleaded guilty to a $1.3 million scheme to defraud the university, authorities said. The trio admitted to a wide-ranging scam that included asking vendors to pay them directly, purchasing hundreds of thousands dollars worth of gift cards and forming a shell company to bill the university for services never rendered, U.S. District Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday. Teresina DeAlmeida, 59, of Warren and Rose Martins, 44, of East Hanover pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in Newark federal court Friday. Silvia Cardoso, 61, of Warren, pleaded guilty to the same charge on Thursday, Sellinger said.”

ECONOMIC ANXIETY — “Over 200 boaters parade through Cape May County waters to support Donald Trump,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s John Russo: “Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, resident Doug Nardelli organized the first boat parade of the summer in South Jersey to support Trump. At least 200 boats made their way from Ocean City about 32 miles south to Cape May. Sunday's parade theme was pro-law enforcement, pro-Republican party and supporting the former president's candidacy, Nardelli said. ‘I feel our ex-president was wrong done by our current administration,’ said Nardelli, 54. ‘I want everyone to come together and get America back to the way it should be because it seems things are going the wrong way.’”

— “Down the Shore, it feels like everybody has a street-legal golf cart. Here’s how much they’re paying for them

— “Ex-law firm CFO who gave himself a 6-figure raise sentenced to prison” 

— “'My bill is $782????' Why electricity costs have soared for some NJ customers” 

— “N.J. man finds $40K in unclaimed money for Catholic diocese, churches” 

 

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