| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Thursday morning! When an important official unexpectedly announces his immediate resignation on a Friday afternoon in the summer with only a brief explanation, chances are high there’s a scandal lurking. On Aug. 16, former Rutgers Athletic Director Patrick Hobbs cited his health following a “meeting with my cardiac team.” Of course, one’s health is a perfectly legitimate reason to resign, but for the top official in a growing program to suddenly call it quits without notice? The next day, NJ Advance Media’s Steve Politi became, as far as I can tell, the only person to write what I and I imagine pretty much everyone else was htinking: “So what really happened?” Only last week, two weeks later, did some of the truth start to dribble out. Gymnasts were allegedly complaining about the conduct of their coach, Umme Salim-Beasley, and some claimed their complaints were rebuffed by Hobbs, who took “an unusual interest in the program,” according to NJ Advance Media. Later, the publication reported Hobbs was under investigation by the university for an “inappropriate, consensual relationship.” Now Rutgers has hired former Comptroller Matt Boxer to investigate. I don’t know anything about college athletics, but I know a news dump when I see one. Did Rutgers really think it would stay buried? TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Knock it off.” — FBI Director Christopher Wray on alleged Russian propaganda efforts HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Tom Kean Jr.., Brent Johnson, Nick Fixmer, Eric Houghtaling, Ethan Andersen WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
AFL-MIA — Auto union plans to cut ties with New Jersey AFL-CIO over casino smoking, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The New Jersey affiliates of the United Auto Workers union plan to cut ties from the state's AFL-CIO chapter over casino smoking. During a press conference on Wednesday in response to a judge's ruling in a casino smoking lawsuit, UAW Region 9 Director Daniel Vicente said that the UAW felt that the New Jersey AFL-CIO was “undermining” efforts to ban smoking inside of Atlantic City’s casinos. The UAW represents casino dealers. "I will be pulling the UAW out of the AFL-CIO of New Jersey over this issue," Vicente said. "We pay thousands of dollars to be a part of this organization," he added, "and that organization has been actively undermining our efforts to protect the health and safety of our members." Vicente’s remarks come after a state judge last week allowed smoking to continue in the state’s casinos by dismissing a lawsuit which sought to ban it. The UAW’s local chapter overseeing Atlantic City casino workers and CEASE, a group of casino workers opposed to indoor smoking, filed the lawsuit which named Gov. Phil Murphy and Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston as defendants.
NJ TRANSIT — “Federal board backs NJ Transit in contract dispute with this rail union,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “Members of a Presidential Emergency Board formed to find a solution to a stalemate between NJ Transit and a locomotive engineers union over a new contract sided with the agency that they should get the same raises other rail workers agreed to. The report by the three-member Presidential Emergency Board 251 formed by President Joe Biden in July supported NJ Transit’s contention that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen should accept a contract with the same salary increases other rail unions agreed to, known as pattern bargaining. BLE&T argued that NJ Transit engineers are the lowest paid in the country and accepting the same rate as other rail unions doesn’t take in account the specialized training and knowledge engineers must possess.” IT’S GRC TO ME — Murphy makes new appointments to board that oversees OPRA disputes, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy has directly appointed four members to the state’s Government Records Council, the state entity that oversees public records disputes. Murphy, a Democrat, appointed former GOP state Sen. Chris Brown and legal scholar Ronald Chen to the council. The governor also reappointed current members Steven Ritardi, a partner at Carmagnola & Ritardi, and Robin Berg Tabakin, the current council chair and owner of Technoforce. … The governor is allowed to make the four direct appointments to the council under the controversial law that overhauled the state’s Open Public Records Act. IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED PASCRELL — “Efforts to succeed Sen. Pou already underway,” by NJ Spotlight News’ David Cruz: “The process of replacing Pou in the Senate — something that wouldn’t take place until January — has already begun. And the potential candidates appear to be pretty much the same as those who sought to replace Pascrell: Wimberly, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic) and Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. The 35th District covers six towns in Passaic and Bergen counties, dominated by Paterson, home base for all these potential successors. ‘I think this is Sumter’s presumptive nomination if she wants it,’ said Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. Sumter says it’s too far away to think about succeeding Pou. ‘If that opportunity presents itself, I can’t say yes, I can’t say no that I would not be interested,’ Sumter said.” —“Temp workers prevail after judge denies staffing agencies a ‘second bite at the apple’” —“Sexual assault victims in N.J. get new legal rights to DNA info” —“Cyclists call for change after Gaudreau brothers killed in New Jersey crash” —“New Jersey joins fight against state bans on care for transgender minors” | | BIDEN TIME | |
DEATH AND TAXES — “NJ loses tax-writing advocates role in Congress,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Benjamin J. Hulac: “First to resignation. Then to death. In back-to-back days last month, New Jersey lost its only members of Congress who sat on powerful tax-writing committees, blows to the state known for its high cost of living. Seats on Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over the federal tax code are highly prized, and members scramble to fill those seats when they become vacant. The rush to fill the seats of former Sen. Bob Menendez and the late Rep. Bill Pascrell, both Democrats who helped write tax legislation for years, has begun, and there is no guarantee someone from the New Jersey delegation will get a seat on either the House or Senate tax committees.”
—“Immigration policy a key election issue in New Jersey races” —“New York Times journalist Peter Baker to discuss 2024 election at Stockton University” —“Delayed train? [Gottheimer] thinks you should get your money back” | | LOCAL | |
WENONAH: NO RIDERS — “2 towns reach out to voters to gauge interest in stalled $2B N.J. rail project,” by Bill Duhart for NJ.com: “Two ballot questions this fall will measure support for a proposed $2 billion South Jersey regional light rail line. Citizen-led petitions garnered enough signatures to put the questions on ballots in Brooklawn and Glassboro. Four other towns on the the 18-mile, 14-stop Glassboro-Camden light rail line have already passed referendums opposing it. A resolution passed in Wenonah in 2022, after voters voiced opposition to the proposed rail line, said the project will ‘negatively impact the peace and quiet enjoyment of residents.’ ‘People of the Borough of Wenonah … overwhelmingly voted against both the GCL and a proposed stop, with 73% voting ‘NO’ against the construction of the rail and 65% voting ‘NO’ against the location of the stop within the Borough of Wenonah,’ the resolution stated.”
UN JUST BELIEVABLE — “Toms River homeless advocates fear mayor is trying to squeeze out warming center, camps,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “A warming center for the homeless at Riverwood Park is in jeopardy following a dispute between Mayor Daniel Rodrick and local nonprofit Just Believe, the group that has been operating the Code Blue shelter. Paul Hulse, chief executive officer of Just Believe, sparred with Rodrick at the Aug. 28 council meeting, at which the mayor accused Hulse of being ‘very unprofessional.’ ‘You organized dozens of people to come here, and never came to talk to me,’ Rodrick said to Hulse. He was referring to several employees and volunteers of Just Believe, who, along with at least one person who is homeless, came to speak at the meeting about the importance of the warming center. … After the meeting, the mayor accused Just Believe of making ‘false claims on politically motivated media pages that we were shutting them down.’ He also claimed without evidence that Just Believe was running a homeless shelter at the Riverwood Park building, although no people without homes have stayed at the building since Code Blue ended in March.” DECK TOWN HALL WITH SPATS, MOUNT HOLLY — “Spat over Mount Holly ballot slogan sparks lawsuit,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn: “On June 5, Casey Carty, Jason Fajgier, and Bjana Swinson filed to run for Mount Holly’s Council under the slogan ‘Mount Holly United’ in the township’s non-partisan municipal election. The trio had been using the slogan in some form since January, and over the course of the year had purchased domain names, T-shirts, and campaign literature that featured the slogan. … Unbeknownst to the candidates, three other Burlington County residents filed a different type of document about a month later: the incorporation of a company called the ‘Mount Holly United Corporation.’ In a lawsuit now before the Superior Court of New Jersey, the candidates allege that the founding of the Mount Holly United Corporation was just the first step in a “dirty trick” to block them from using the ‘Mount Holly United’ slogan on the ballot.” PATENTE OFFENSIVE — “Raritan Borough sued for $100M after rejecting redevelopment plan for 'decrepit' mall,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “The borough is being sued for $100 million over the rejection of a redevelopment plan for the ‘dilapidated and decrepit’ Raritan Mall at the intersection of Route 206 and Orlando Drive. Raritan Mall LLC filed the lawsuit Aug. 30 in Somerset County Superior Court claiming that the July 16 6-0 vote against the development plan, which called for 276 apartments and approximately 31,000 square feet of retail space, was illegal because Councilman Michael Patente, who had recused himself from an earlier vote because of a conflict, participated in the July 16 vote.” THEY CAN HAVE THE TAX BREAK UNDER ONE CONDITION: THEY INCLUDE NJ IN THEIR NAME AND SUBTRACT 7 — “Camden mayor: 76ers move would be ‘generational investment’ in city,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Ted Goldberg: “When news broke that the 76ers were considering leaving Philadelphia to play their home games in Camden, many believed the NBA team was bluffing, looking for leverage as they weighed their future options. But Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen is taking the possibility seriously, calling the possible move to South Jersey a “generational investment” in his community. ‘We control what we can control,’ the mayor said. “‘ try not to get involved with, you know, the emotions of it all. I have a job to do every day and that’s to try to make our city a better place and work with all the different entities involved and stakeholders in our community.’ New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority has made a serious pitch to the Sixers; up to $800 million in tax incentives if they build an arena and mixed-use development on a state-owned plot of land that used to house a prison, $500 in special purpose bonds, and free (or nearly free) use of said land.” —“The 76ers are using N.J. to make Philly jealous. We’re sick of this game. | Opinion” STATE OF THE ART FACTORY — “Paterson's Art Factory owner, facing foreclosure, files for bankruptcy,’ by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Facing foreclosure, the owner of The Art Factory — a complex of 19th-century mill buildings near the Great Falls now used for weddings and other banquet hall events — filed for bankruptcy in August. Mayor Andre Sayegh, who held his first inaugural ball at The Art Factory in 2018, touted the eclectic arts and events business as an important part of the Great Falls area’s revitalization during his early years in office. The bankruptcy filing comes as the owner of The Art Factory, David Garsia, said his four party halls are supposed to host about 160 weddings and other ‘upcoming’ events in the near future. … Court papers indicate Garsia plans to continue operations during the bankruptcy." KEYSTONED COPS — “Fulop defends Jersey City’s robust cannabis market while opposing police usage,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop defended his position of having a robust recreational cannabis market while simultaneously opposing police usage of the drug during a short interview today. Fulop was asked about the situation by this reporter following a Hudson County Chamber of Commerce discussion about his run for governor. ‘We’re letting the free market decide the number of dispensaries. Most of the other municipalities have created an arbitrary cap not based on population, based on one person’s decision. It creates a political environment we’re trying to avoid,’ Fulop explained. … Fulop is still maintaining his position that allowing the police to consume cannabis off-duty violates federal law since marijuana remains a Schedule I narcotic, a position he announced at a presser in October. “Federal law prohibits police officers or prohibits anyone who tests positive for a Schedule 1 drug to carry a firearm. Us providing a firearm and allowing a person to test positive is counter to federal law. That’s the problem. If the federal law is changed, we’re comfortable with that,” he explained.” —“[Mount Oliver] finds E. coli in water systems, issues boil advisory” —“N.J. school district locking kids out of their laptops as early as 9 p.m. again this year” —“Developer of overdue trades school in Newark gets break on late penalties” —“[Trenton’s] longest serving, and most popular, police officer has retired after 38 years” —“Summit councilwoman resigns” —“Superfund listing proposed for Trenton neighborhood tainted by lead” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
MASS MIGRATION — “Healey selects former N.J. State Police lieutenant colonel to lead Mass. State Police,” by The Boston Globe’s Sean Cotter: “Governor Maura Healey has selected retired New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble to serve as the next leader of the Massachusetts State Police, the first ever from outside the department’s ranks, at a time that critics have called for reforms following multiple scandals. The 51-year-old Noble, a Rhode Island native who worked as a summer police officer on Nantucket early in his career, according to the governor’s office, will assume control of the department in October. In a statement Wednesday, Healey praised Noble for ‘delivering results on some of the most pressing issues facing law enforcement.’ ‘He is a principled, respected leader who is widely praised for his integrity, compassion and ability to bring people together,’ Healey said. … Noble graduated from Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, R.I., before attending Seton Hall University. His LinkedIn page says he served as a New Jersey state trooper from 1995 through January 2022, rising to second in command of the department before his retirement”
—“Historic [East Point] lighthouse faces imminent closure for the second time in 3 years” —“Shore residents indicted in multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme: Feds”
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