| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Michael Aron, the dean of New Jersey’s Statehouse press corps, has died. He was 78. I’ve written a lot of obituaries over the years. This one was one of the most heart-wrenching. Aron wasn’t known as a scoop machine. At least not as long as I was around. But he didn’t need to be. He had gravitas. He was the most known and trusted Statehouse reporter, who through his 40+ year career interviewed virtually everyone who mattered in New Jersey politics. He was gentle but authoritative and had all the institutional knowledge you would expect from someone in the business so long. He may have pissed off Bill Clinton, but few in New Jersey got mad at him for long. Aron also helped me get my start by inviting me on to “Reporters Roundtable” shortly after I started writing for PoliticsNJ in 2007. I think I turned him down the first one or two times because I didn’t feel ready to go on TV and talk off-the-cuff. I didn’t need to worry. Aron helped me out, and even laughed at my joke blaming then-Gov. Jon Corzine’s approval rating over his no longer walking with a cane following his car accident. Some of the stories that stuck with me about Aron: His days hanging out with the Talking Heads in the 1970s as a Rolling Stone reporter. His participation in the Correspondents Club shows, including stuffing what looked like a pillow down his shirt to impersonate Chris Christie. And, when Aron was absent from a "Reporters Roundtable" taping I did in 2009 in which I sported a newly-bald head during chemotherapy, Aron — himself a cancer survivor — made sure to pass some personal words along to me through a staffer. He’ll be more than missed. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It just hit me: ‘If you’re a reporter, New Jersey never lets you down.’ I just said it to somebody, it clicked, and now it’s supposedly my mantra.” — Michael Aron to the late Nick Acocella on “Pasta & Politics” HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Anthony Attanasio, Parimal Garg, Nick Friedman, Charlie Kratovil. WHERE’S MURPHY? — Media: “Morning Joe” on MSNBC at 9:15 a.m., “Ask Governor Murphy” on your local NPR affiliate at 7 p.m. | | | | WELCOME TO THE CNN-POLITICO GRILL AT THE DNC! If you are in Chi-Town next week, join us at the CNN-POLITICO Grill just steps from the United Center for daily events and live programs. Featuring an all-star lineup of the most influential Democrats including Governor JB Pritzker, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Mayor Eric Adams and many more TBA special (AND SECRET!) guests, don’t miss out on the buzziest conversations and newsworthy events hosted by POLITICO’s top reporters and editors. RSVP HERE. | | | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | MURPHY’S IRISH TOUT — “Murphy embraces Harris surrogate role,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn: “After months of serving as a major fundraiser for President Joe Biden’s ditched reelection campaign, Gov. Phil Murphy has quickly transitioned as a top surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris. Murphy will be a top name at Tuesday night’s ‘Irish Americans for Harris-Walz’ organizing call, hours after a pair of TV hits during which he supported the vice president. Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy raised $3.7 million for Biden in a June fundraiser at their home, and the former DNC finance chair will likely look to harness his fundraising chops for the vice president as Election Day nears. Murphy is expected to campaign in battleground states for the Harris/Walz ticket, likely beginning Sept. 10. The governor endorsed Harris hours after Biden dropped out of the race last month.” HECTORING STACK — “Fulop touts Union City’s Oseguera as ‘phenomenal candidate’ for Assembly in LD-33,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: "Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democratic candidate for governor, is touting Union City’s Hector Oseguera for state Assembly in the 33rd Legislative District ahead of what is shaping up to be pure carnage leading into the June 4th, 2025 primary. ... ‘My personal opinion is Hector will be a phenomenal candidate as he grew up in West New York with his extended family, lives in Union City currently with his wife and child, he is a hard worker, a lawyer, he has demonstrated values that speak to parts of the district which have long been neglected. My personal view is he would fit well with [Assemblyman] Julio [Marenco] and will give us a good opportunity to build and win there in 2025 and again on the municipal front in 2026.’” KEYSTONED COPS — “N.J. panel to hear new case of cop fired for using cannabis,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “Nearly two weeks after a federal judge said he wouldn’t weigh in yet on whether it’s legal for New Jersey cops to use marijuana, the Civil Service Commission is set to decide the fate of another police officer who was terminated for ingesting cannabis. On Wednesday, the commission is expected to hear the case of Mackenzie Reilly, a Jersey City police officer fired in August 2023 after a drug test showed his urine tested positive for cannabis. Reilly is one of five Jersey City police officers fighting their terminations for cannabis use and seeking to dismiss a lawsuit Jersey City filed against the state in October that argues the federal ban on cannabis preempts the state law legalizing the substance. An administrative law judge has recommended the commission reverse Reilly’s termination.” — “No charges for NJ cop who struck, killed man last Thanksgiving” — “Governor Murphy signs bills intended to boost student literacy”
| | BIDEN TIME | | THOSE WHO CAN’T DO, VEEP — “These NJ teachers think former educator Tim Walz will bring special talents as VP pick,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “A former schoolteacher as a vice presidential candidate? That rather rare occurrence has some North Jersey educators thrilled. … Many refused to comment, saying the current political climate was too polarized, including a Democratic superintendent who was afraid of backlash, saying her school board was 'divided down the middle' politically. A Republican school administrator in a blue North Jersey school district also declined to comment. Yet most teachers and local education officials who spoke to us were excited about what a former teacher could bring to the ticket. ‘As an educator, I'm thrilled to see a former teacher and high school coach on the ticket, because we need someone who knows firsthand the needs of our youth and our children,’ said Ralph Passante Jr., a senior school administrator who coordinates data and community engagement for Union City Public Schools in Hudson County.” — “The Debate over the Kim – Bashaw Debates” — “Van Drew uses forum to slam NJ offshore wind projects” | | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | | | LOCAL | | HE IS FARMER. BUM-BA-DUM BUM-BUM-BUM-BUM — “Solomon: Jersey City will fire Millennium Strategies after ‘unacceptable failure’,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon says that the city will fire Millennium Strategies, the city’s grant writing consultant, after the ‘unacceptable failure’ of not receiving any state funding for a Community Crisis Response Team grant. … ‘Upon review, the council committee members agreed the application submission was well below basic writing standards, let alone the standards needed for a grant of this magnitude. Millennium Strategies produced an unprofessional product that was nowhere near the standards we expect on such a high-stakes application. This is an unacceptable failure, so they will be fired.’ … [Millennium] Strategies, owned by Ed Farmer, a former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9), responded that they have secured over $56 million in alternative grant funding for the city. … Millennium received a one-year, $156,000 contract renewal from the Jersey City Council in June 2023 and their political contribution disclosure form indicated that they had contributed to several Hudson County politicians in the past year.” PARSIPMANY— “Wave of new Parsippany development could swell class sizes, school district warns,” by Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “Citing a surge of expected housing development in Parsippany, schools Superintendent Robert Sutter has waived a policy that capped K-5 classrooms at 25 students. ‘As the BOE and administration continue to grapple with the issue of increased enrollment, all options will be open for discussion, including a potential referendum,’ Sutter wrote in a letter to the public published over the weekend on the district website. The warning was the latest salvo in a public debate between the school district and Parsippany's mayor and council, whose tax incentives have helped fuel the new development. Last week, Mayor James Barberio said that due to his concerns about ‘irrational’ board of education members delving into local ‘partisan politics,’ he would order an independent audit of the district's finances.” STIRRING CONTROVERSY — “Jersey City council picking a fight with plastic straws and utensils,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “The Jersey City City Council is grasping at straws, literally. For years everybody’s conservative uncle has been relaying their favorite Fox News pundit’s grave warning that liberals were coming for their plastic straws and utensils. It’s even a talking point for conservatives against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president. … The city council proposal wouldn’t outright ban the use of the plastic items we take for granted. Instead it would force the customer to request them — a sort of 'don’t-ask, don’t-get' policy. Council President Joyce Watterman, a 2025 Jersey City mayoral candidate, is sponsoring an amended ordinance to remove plastic straws and stirrers from your restaurant’s self-service stand, requiring businesses to only supply them by request.” CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT — “First day of school comes early as some N.J. districts start mid-August,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rob Jennings: “Summer vacation is nearly over in some New Jersey school districts. Teachers in the West Morris Regional High School district in Morris County are returning to work Monday, a full two weeks before Labor Day, the unofficial last day of summer. The first day of classes is Aug. 21. … North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which has two high schools serving students from 12 Hunterdon County municipalities is starting classes on Aug 22.” NEW FAITHFUL — “A massive water main break sends a geyser of water over a home in this N.J. neighborhood,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brianna Kudisch: “A massive geyser stemming from a water main break blasted water over a home in Middlesex County on Monday afternoon, a local official said. Contractors were completing work on Woodbrook Drive in Edison around 4 pm. when they hit a water main, breaking open the 30-inch water line, Mayor Sam Joshi said.” — “Avalon captures South Jersey Lifeguard Championships by 1 point over defending champ Brigantine” — “Brick homeschool mom wants to rent Sunday school: 'We want our kids to get together'” — “Paterson's flooding can be overwhelming. Here's the technology Rutgers says can help” — “Grand jury reaches decision on fatal police crash in Atco”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | PRESIDENT TO THROW THE BEST RAGERS — “N.J. university building $2M apartment for president — in a dorm,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “[S]tarting early next year, NJIT President Teik C. Lim will live in a newly-renovated suite in the public university’s honors college, school officials said. The university is combining several underused guest rooms to create a home for the president on the Newark campus that can also serve as a gathering space for guests. The renovations, which are expected to cost $2.1 million, are scheduled to be completed by early next year, said university spokesman Matthew Golden. Renderings of the new residence show an apartment with modern furnishings, including a large dining table to seat 12, a living room with a fireplace, and a bedroom with a large television and another fireplace. The president’s apartment will be in John Martinson Residence Hall, which also houses about 360 honors students in singles, two-person rooms and two-room suites.” FORT LEE POLICE SHOOTING — “Fort Lee shooting raises questions about police training,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Bobby Brier: “All New Jersey police officers are required to receive training in intervention techniques to prevent harm and to de-escalate situations with people in crisis, including people who are unarmed or who have a weapon other than a gun. … Now, these mandatory trainings are receiving renewed attention after Fort Lee police killed a woman experiencing a mental health crisis in late July. … Lee’s death is one of several such incidents involving police and people in crisis in New Jersey over the last few years, incidents law enforcement, health providers and community groups have worked to avoid. One of the steps to avoid these deaths is enhanced training for police designed to teach them to calm the situation.” THE GREASE TRUCKS — “Obesity rates are skyrocketing in NJ post-COVID. What's causing it?” by The Record’s Scott Fallon: “Obesity increased at a dramatic rate in New Jersey in recent years with a steep uptick following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, new data shows. The number of patients diagnosed with obesity or being overweight in New Jersey emergency room departments more than doubled to 68,342 in 2022 from 30,245 in 2017, according to a report released Tuesday by the New Jersey Hospital Association. The increase was even greater among children … The cause of the spike comes down to two factors the report says: unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle.” THIS ONE’S A GEORGE GILMORE BIOPIC — “'Happy Gilmore 2' is casting extras in New Jersey: Everything you need to know,” by Fox 29: “‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is looking for New Jersey locals to work as paid extras, and casting starts this month. Casting calls will be held at the Plaza Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency in Morristown on August 20. Filming is set to take place from September to November in Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Somerset and Morris counties.” AMPLE PARKING — "Coach USA to auction 2 New Jersey bus terminals after filing for bankruptcy,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz and Colleen Wilson: “Paramus-based Coach USA is auctioning off two bus terminals — one in Elizabeth and one in Paulsboro — after the private bus company filed for bankruptcy two months ago. The terminals, along with six more up for auction in other states, are being touted for their 'ample parking, storage, repair/maintenance' and proximity to airports and highways. 'These assets offer attractive rents, and the Elizabeth location is adjacent to the Port of Newark,' said Spencer Ware, the chief restructuring officer at Texas-based CR3 Partners, which is involved with the auction.” — “These 15 NJ towns have lost the most residents since 2020, Census data shows” — “'Simpsons' star Hank Azaria brings Bruce Springsteen show to Stone Pony in Asbury Park” CORRECTION: I misread Tuesday’s gubernatorial public schedule. Gov. Murphy was not scheduled to attend Lt. Gov. Way’s speech at the nonprofit forum. | | | | 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 | | | | |
