| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Friday morning! A Democratic congressman just endorsed his party’s nominee for Senate. Normally, that would not be news. But the congressman is Rob Menenedez. And the Senate candidate is Andy Kim — who was first out of the gate to call on former Senator and current dad Bob Menendez to resign shortly after his staggering corruption indictment, and shortly after that announce his run for his seat. “As we shape the future of New Jersey together, Andy is the right candidate for the moment, and I know he will be an incredible public servant for our state,” Menendez said in a written statement, presumingly so he could avoid having to say it through gritted teeth. Rob Menendez, who — let’s be real — wouldn’t have his job without his father’s influence, hadn’t gotten into it publicly with Kim. But he was the only major Democrat not to call for his dad’s resignation. The New Jersey Democratic Party appears to be starting to heal a year-long rift with Kim in which the three-term congressman not only jumped the line to succeed Menendez party machinery be damned, but then went and got rid of the county line Democratic leaders had long depended on to cement their primary dominance. The only question is if and when Gov. Murphy, whose wife Tammy Murphy was vanquished by Kim in the Senate primary before a single vote was cast, stops hinting about it and formally endorses Kim. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’ve never read Project 2025. The first time I’ve ever heard of being supportive of it was when I was accused of supporting it … My focus here is on the things that are important to the people here.” — Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in response to a question at an in-person senior town hall, as recorded by a Democratic tracker HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Chris Christie, Ari Rosmarin, Brittany Bramell Punaro. Saturday for Raj Parikh, Yasmin Brissac, Steve Scott, Eric Martin, Lou Magazzu, Greg Petzold. Sunday for Nancy Munoz, Alex Arnold, Brandon Umba WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
HE PUT ALL THAT GOLD IN THE COAST — Developer convicted of bribing Menendez pleads guilty to bank fraud, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: One of the businesspeople convicted this summer of bribing former Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded guilty Thursday to a separate federal bank fraud charge, continuing a fall from grace for one of New Jersey’s most powerful real estate developers. The developer, Fred Daibes, literally rebuilt Edgewater, New Jersey, turning a once-industrial strip of riverfront properties into a “Gold Coast” of high-rises with million-dollar views of Manhattan. Daibes, an affable former refugee with a rags-to-riches story, remains beloved by allies in Edgewater for his generosity and for the mark he left on the landscape … The bank fraud case, a multi-count indictment filed in 2018, involves another part of 67-year-old Daibes’ once sprawling empire: a bank he once chaired called Mariner’s Bank. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey alleged that between 2008 and 2013, Daibes and others conspired to avoid federally imposed lending limits by having Daibes’ friends and relatives falsely apply for loans in their own names that were, in actuality, for Daibes.
ON THE WATERFRONT — “Longshoremen strike threat for Oct. 1 could disrupt NJ ports at peak shipping season,” by The Record’s James M. O’Neill: “The International Longshoremen’s Association has threatened to strike if a new contract with East Coast port terminal and shipping companies is not ironed out by the time the old contract expires Oct. 1. That would effectively shut down some of the busiest ports in the country, including the Ports of New York and New Jersey, potentially disrupting the delivery of billions of dollars worth of consumer goods during peak shipping season. Leaders of the ILA, based in North Bergen, are looking for a significant pay hike for their members, saying they deserve a share of the profits that shipping and port terminal companies have made as cargo volume remains high after the demand caused during the COVID-19 pandemic … A strike could impact all ports on the East and Gulf coasts, from Maine to Houston, and it would cause a complete work stoppage at the Port of Newark and Elizabeth. HOME RULE — “Senator preparing bill that could mandate school consolidation, shared services,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “A top Senate Democrat is preparing legislation that could force some of New Jersey’s more than 600 school districts to merge or share services in an effort to control ever-rising school costs and the property taxes that pay for them. School consolidation can save districts money by reducing administrative costs as well as those for professional services, like those offered by attorneys and engineers. But Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), the chamber’s education chairman, said state efforts to incentivize mergers had seen little uptake, including in districts with tumbling enrollment and static costs. …‘We can’t operate 600 individual school districts anymore.’” AT LEAST WE CAN AGREE BOTH STATES HAVE BETTER PIZZA THAN MURPHY’S NATIVE MASSACHUSETTS — “‘Fixed it': Northeast governors call out basketball, pizza claims on Connecticut's new welcome signs,” by NBC CT’s Bob Connors: “The new signs greeting drivers entering Connecticut on I-95 and I-84 from New York read "Welcome to Connecticut, Home of the Pizza Capital of the United States." New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy re-posted Lamont's post on X and said ‘You're not even the pizza capital of the tri-state area.’ It's left to be seen if Gov. Lamont plans to answer either of his fellow governors' playful rebukes.” —Nursing home group sues to void New Jersey’s staffing ratio law —“Eight things to watch for as campaign ad season begins” —“Coalition demands end to control of violence intervention funding by AG’s office” | | BIDEN TIME | |
MILLIONS OF VOTERS WAIT WITH BAITED BREATH FOR CHRISTIE'S CHOICE — “Liz Cheney just schooled Chris Christie on political courage,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “Liz Cheney said yesterday that she intends to swallow hard and pull the lever for Kamala Harris in November, making good on her stated belief that Donald Trump is a maniac who has a knife to the throat of our democracy … Can Chris Christie show that same kind of courage, that same patriotism? Like Cheney, he tells us Trump is a low-down hustler who is unfit for office. But unlike Cheney, he has not done all he can to stop him. She’s jumped into the fight. He hasn’t. And let’s remember, he is the Dr. Frankenstein who helped create this monster, the first major Republican to endorse Trump in 2016, and his debate coach in the 2020 campaign. He owes America a debt for that. But so far, he’s been playing it safe”
—“Kim: ‘We’re losing touch of this idea that we’re part of something bigger than all of us’” —Snowflack: “Bashaw, Kim, and Roe v. Wade” —“New Jersey joins fight to defend new rule expanding protections for LGBTQ students” | | LOCAL | |
CAMDEN UPRISING — “Camden Schools superintendent calls for embattled advisory board president Wasim Muhammad to resign,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Melnia Burney: “Camden school Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs and acting state Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer on Thursday joined the growing calls for embattled advisory board president Wasim Muhammad to step down. McCombs broke months of silence about the controversy in a letter to the community saying ‘it would be in the best interest of the state-operated district of Camden City for Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad to voluntarily relinquish his seat.’ Gov. Phil Murphy has called on Muhammad to resign, too, citing the ‘appalling and heinous nature of the allegations,’ and through a spokesperson, he thanked McCombs Thursday for her letter. Community activists also called for Muhammad to resign after he was accused of sexual assault by a former student in a civil case that was settled in June.”
THE AIRING OF THE MCGREEVANCES — “Jersey City Councilman Solomon expected to launch mayoral run later this month,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon is expected to launch his mayoral ran later this month, which would bring the field of candidates up to five already roughly 13-and-a-half months before Election Day … The RSVP page indicates that Solomon will be kicking off “his 2025 election campaign,” which is notable since it does not say re-election. The downtown councilman has been seen as a political force to be reckoned with for years, winning his second term by a margin of approximately 69-31 in 2021, defeating Chief Municipal Prosecutor Jake Hudnut, who ran on Mayor Steven Fulop’s ticket … A progressive Democrat, Solomon has also shown a willingness to take on the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) … Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), Council President Joyce Watterman, and former Board of Education President Mussab Ali have already declared for the non-partisan November 4th, 2025 mayoral race.” YOU DOWN WITH PPB? — “DEP: ‘Lead Components’ Found in 32 of 701 Newark Water Lines Probed,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Matt Kadkosh: “Authorities investigating gaps in the replacements of lead service lines across the city have found 32 of 701 properties investigated so far have “some remaining lead components,” even though both state and local officials said the water treatment process in place protects the public. The 32 lines found to have lead components mark an increase from the 12 lines found to have contained some lead parts, as reported in March, the last time authorities provided a formal update on the investigation of Newark’s nationally heralded water line replacements. Newark Water and Sewer spokesperson Mark Di Ionno said that despite the recent finding, the city’s last water quality reports show there were zero parts per billion, or ppb, of lead in the supply, and that the state is reducing the frequency in which the city must report lead levels.” PATERSON — “Could Paterson school board soon have Latino majority? Backlash over use of 'dominancy',” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The possibility of this November’s election producing a Latino majority on Paterson’s school board is already stirring political controversy with racial undertones. At a Puerto Rican flag-raising ceremony outside City Hall late in August, school board member Eddie Gonzalez urged the crowd to support the three Latino candidates in the upcoming education election. ‘It will be the first time in history that we would have the dominancy as it relates to the city of Paterson,’ Gonzalez said to the cheering audience. But Gonzalez’ use of the word ‘dominancy’ has caused a backlash among some of Paterson’s African American community leaders.” — “Paterson gave police officers comp time to attend Pascrell's funeral while off duty,” ABHOR DAY — “New owners of N.J. wedding venue illegally cut down 246 trees, town says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Chris Sheldon: “The new owners of a longtime wedding and events venue that closed its doors after 66 years in 2023 have been accused of illegally cutting down nearly 250 trees on their property. Charges have been filed in West Orange Municipal Court against the property owners and the tree removal company they used for cutting down the trees without the proper and necessary permits in violation of the West Orange Municipal Tree Ordinance … In total, 246 trees ranging from 4 to 28 feet tall were removed, he said. According to a CBS report, the owners took over in August with plans to rename the venue, previously known as ‘The Manor.’” BUT NOBODY LIVES THERE — “Candidate to run uninhabited N.J. island faces residency lawsuit,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn: “A little-known board managing an uninhabited island between Pennsylvania and New Jersey is at the center of a ballot eligibility lawsuit in Burlington County. Burlington Island Board Manager Joseph Abate sued candidate Carter Patterson on the grounds that Patterson does not meet the one-year residency requirement for local candidates. A judge must now determine whether the residency requirement applies to one of the country’s most obscure and unusual governing bodies … The board legally operates as a sort of school board, with elected officials focusing on providing students with educational experiences while managing the island … Candidates must be residents of Burlington City. The election is on November 4.” —“Judge to determine whether Atlantic City 5th Ward special election will go on as scheduled” —“These Red Bank homeowners fear historic designation will rip away control over their homes” —“Fair Lawn veterans want a monument to honor fallen vietnam soldiers. But it won’t be easy” —“Three lawsuits filed against Long Branch schools over convicted teacher sex assaults” —“Milltown Democrats choose new council candidate” —“Manasquan Inlet shoal dug away; here is how many Olympic pools they could fill with sand” R.I.P. — “Boonton High School reeling from sudden death of beloved vice principal Edward Forman” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
A VICIOUS CYCLE — “For many bicyclists, Gaudreau tragedy highlights an ongoing concern. Will anything change?” by The Courier-Post’s Jim Walsh: “The death-by-auto of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau raises renewed questions about why biking isn't safer in New Jersey … Oldmans Township has no designated bike trails — nor would they likely be welcomed. But as officials here recently looked at future development, they were told that setting up bike lanes would probably require cooperation from Salem County, which owns most roads here …. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, along with other organizations belonging to the New Jersey Vision Zero Alliance, called the Gaudreau deaths ‘avoidable on so many levels.’ … The deaths of the Gaudreaus marked the 16th and 17th bicyclist fatalities this year, based on New Jersey State Police counts. These numbers are running 33% higher than last year.”
SCARLET-FACED KNIGHTS — “Rutgers gymnasts — mulling legal action — welcome investigation, but want coach suspended during probe,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brian Fonseca: “By Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Former Rutgers gymnasts and their parents are “relieved” and “happy” that the University has opened an external investigation into their former program, saying that their allegations — first detailed in an NJ Advance Media investigation — are “finally being noticed.” But they believe the school must — at the least — suspend head coach Umme Salim-Beasley pending the investigation. Salim-Beasley remains the head coach of the gymnastics program with no change to her employment status in the wake of the investigation, a school spokesperson told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday … ‘Her remaining as the coach is only adding a negative impact in the gym and the team,’ one parent of a former gymnast wrote, according to a letter obtained by NJ Advance Media. ‘When is the university going to start protecting these girls?’” SHUT UP AND TELL ME WHERE THE NEXT CHICK-FIL-A IS OPENING — “The day the news died: Mourning WCBS-AM/Newsradio 880,” by Stan Steinreich for Gannett: “I was mourning the loss of Paul Murnane and Wayne Cabot in the mornings, Craig Allen’s weather and Tom Kaminski in the chopper … and yet another death in the local news landscape … Northern New Jersey used to have eight daily newspapers, The Record, The Star-Ledger, The Herald News, The Paterson News, The Hudson Dispatch, The Jersey Journal, the Morristown Daily Record and the New Jersey Herald. While some of these monikers still remain, they work with reduced staffs … When I was covering municipalities in Bergen County, for example, one newspaper used to have one reporter for nearly every two towns, roughly more than 30 journalists plying their trade every single day. That is no longer the case. We can’t just blame large corporations who have rolled up news organizations throughout the country for the demise of local news. Part of the blame must fall to us, the consumers of news.” —“New Jersey says Borgata underpaid its online gambling taxes by $1.1M” —“Man charged in Johnny Gaudreau’s death will remain in custody for at least another week” —“After hostage deaths, NJ dad has a message for son held by Hamas: 'Stay strong. Survive'”
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