| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! When you see an internal poll reported in the media, you should always consider that it leaked from the sponsored campaign for a reason. Usually, anyway. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t dismiss them — especially with the dearth of public polling in congressional districts. So that’s why I wrote about this one. A Sue Altman campaign internal poll conducted by the Global strategy Group shows the Democrat two points behind freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Effectively, it shows a statistically tied race considering the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points . It also shows Kamala Harris and Donald Trump running even in the slightly GOP-leaning district. While Altman has had strong fundraising and has been significantly out-spending Kean’s campaign, Republican pro-Kean groups have been outspending Democrats in the district by a lot. According to an analysis by the firm AdImpact that was shared with me, GOP groups have spent or booked about $7.7 million on ads, while Democratic groups have booked $2.7 million. Meanwhile, the Cook Political Report moved the race from “toss-up” to “lean Republican” writing that Altman’s internal poll is “rosier for her than other recent private data” and that other than the the booked spending by House Majority PAC — which could be reallocated, she “isn’t getting any backup” by the outside Democratic groups. (Cook was also “lean R” for the Kean-Malinowski race, which Kean won by 3 points.) Toss-up or lean, this is still a competitive race. We’ll see if national Democrats invest in it. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Jim Holzapfel, Kip Bateman, Carol Cuadrado QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If you want it let’s do it. Ride it, my pony. My saddle is waitin’, come and jump on it. If you want it, let’s do it.” — Rihanna, as lip-synced in a TikTok by Superior Court Judge Gary Wilcox, who yesterday was suspended for three months for his social media conduct WHERE’S MURPHY? Media: “Ask Governor Murphy” at 7 p.m. on your local NPR affiliate |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
TAPPEDOUT — “Political connections of local news owners spur suspicion, distrust,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “As a longtime government gadfly, Jacqueline Hone has become a devout consumer of her elected officials’ social media pages, tired of feeling unheard or getting cut off whenever she’d pipe up at her local municipal meetings in Ridgewood. “Facebook is really the only platform we have to speak without being censored,” she said. But last year, critical comments she and other Ridgewood residents posted on Mayor Paul Vagianos’ Facebook page vanished, and soon after, she was blocked from seeing some posts. A public records request showed a surprising possible culprit — her local news publisher. Jason DeAlessi runs the hyperlocal news site TapInto-Ridgewood. He also runs a digital production firm that says it specializes in ‘political campaigns and more,’ and has promoted plenty of politicians in New Jersey, including Vagianos … As the journalism industry shrinks and mainstream media outlets disappear, some of the websites that have filled the gap are run by politically connected editors and publishers and others with potentially hidden motives — leaving readers to be unwittingly manipulated, experts say.”
SICKTOK — More than a dozen states sue TikTok over alleged deception and harm to children, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: More than a dozen states — including California, New Jersey and New York — announced lawsuits Tuesday against TikTok, claiming the social media giant engages in deceptive business practices to the detriment of childrens' well-being. The legal action comes as social media platforms have been a target of policymakers across the country, who accuse the platforms of accelerating a youth mental health crisis. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for warning labels for social media, similar to warnings that tobacco products have. The lawsuits follow a multi-state investigation from 2022 which probed whether the app violated state consumer protection laws. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, faced a similar lawsuit from New Jersey and other states last year over allegations that the company endangered children’s mental health. EDUCATION — “N.J. falls short after setting ‘ambitious’ goal of hiring more teachers of color,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “In 2022, when 22.5% of newly hired teachers were non-white, former acting state education commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan set a goal to increase the number of racially diverse educators. Allen-McMillan called for 56% of new teachers to be racially diverse by 2025, to better match New Jersey’s student population. The state put taxpayer money behind the idea and funded grants to help colleges turn out more non-white teaching candidates. But in the past few years, the percentage of diverse new hires has barely budged, hitting 25.4% in 2023-24, according to state statistics.” —“Rowan University is trying to increase male teachers of color in the classroom” SHROOM BILL BECOMES EVEN LESS FUN — Psilocybin bill advances with new certification limits for medical use, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A state Senate committee on Monday narrowed which professions can issue certifications that would be needed as prerequisites for psilocybin services under a bill that would create a legal framework for the drug. The changes were made as the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee released the bill, NJ S2283 (24R), with strong bipartisan support. The measure would allow the drug for medicinal purposes in the state. The bill advanced 9-0 with one abstention. Under changes made Monday, psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional counselors cannot issue certifications that are required for patients to get psilocybin treatment. Those professions were allowed to create the documents needed for psilocybin services in prior versions of the bill. STRONGER, FAIRER, ETC. ETC. — “While US gained jobs, NJ shed them in Q3. See which companies had layoffs,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “New Jersey’s private sector shed 5,358 jobs in the third quarter of 2024 as job gains slowed throughout the state, despite overall positive numbers nationwide. Public filings with the state Department of Labor show that 25 separate companies announced layoffs between July and September this year. In the second quarter — April, May and June — 34 companies announced a combined 4,130 of job cuts. … The Garden State posted job losses three months in a row, according to recent numbers, as economists warn about a slowing labor market going into the 2024 presidential election. Numbers released late last month by the state Labor Department show that New Jersey’s workforce lost 4,400 jobs between July and August this year. The state lost 11,500 jobs between June and July, and 4,200 jobs between May and June, state figures show. … The slowdown comes after a nearly historic pace of hiring.” NJ TRANSIT — “Settlements in fatal NJ Transit train station crash top $22 million,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “Eight years after a NJ Transit Train crashed through a concrete barrier at Hoboken Terminal, killing a woman walking in the station and injuring 108 people on board, NJ Transit has settled all the passenger lawsuits and claims for more than $22 million. … Following the crash, 76 people filed lawsuits, including the family of Fabiola Bitter de Kroon, a young mother who was killed by falling debris in the station during the crash. Another 41 people made claims that NJ Transit settled without going to court. In 2024, the last of those suits were settled. While none of the cases went to trial, settling with the injured passengers who sued was still a drawn out multiyear process with a blizzard of legal filings and motions, said an attorney who represented 10 passengers and a Seton Hall University law professor.” —“12 more N.J. towns sue state over new affordable housing law” —“New Jersey minimum wage will rise to $15.49 on Jan. 1” —“High stakes for NJ amid Penn Station controversy” —“The O’Toole Chronicles: Respect and trust were won during the ILA seaport strike” —“Longshoremen credit Sweeney, O’Toole with ending port strike” —“Push on to add protections for immigrants” | | BIDEN TIME | |
WE’RE NOT SENDING OUR BEST — “This South Jersey man is accused of dragging an officer toward Capitol rioters,” by The Courier-Post’s Jim Walsh: “A South Jersey man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Predrag "Peter" Jovanovic, 64, of Pilesgrove, at one point grabbed an officer’s baton and pulled the officer toward a mob of rioters, the U.S. Department of Justice said in announcing his arrest Friday. Jovanovic attended a rally for supporters of then-President Donald Trump before climbing scaffolding to an inauguration platform outside the Capitol.”
| | LOCAL | |
VIRTRIOLICS — “Looking over their shoulder: Bullied. Harassed. Threatened. How extremism from the right and left imperils local democracy in N.J.,” by NJ Advance Media’s Spencer Kent: “For elected officials, public criticism and maliciousness are baked into the job. But [Montclair Councilmember Peter] Yacobellis and other local leaders say an epidemic of intimidation, harassment and threats is disrupting democracy in New Jersey, imperiling the most fundamental levels of government. Local officials told NJ Advance Media they’ve never seen the vitriol, posturing and bullying so heated and divisive. The surge of abuse — especially since 2020 — has had a chilling and destabilizing effect. It has pushed community leaders out of public service, persuaded them not to run for higher office and scared them into shoring up their home security. And tensions are only rising.”
HACKENSACKED — “Hackensack Council drama attributed to racist comments at high school soccer game,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “Councilman Gerard Carroll, who was elected in 2021 and is serving his first term, said he was removed from Mayor John Labrosse’s reelection ticket because he had planned to speak out about another council member's racially charged comments. … Last month, an email was sent to the mayor and council members detailing an incident at a high school soccer game where Councilman Leo Battaglia allegedly made racist comments about the Hackensack High School soccer Coach Shaun Holder, who is Black, and spoke negatively about the players. … The day before the council meeting, Carroll said he told another council member about his plans to address the situation. Hours later, a story appeared on the New Jersey Globe website reporting Labrosse was dropping him from the ticket, with the subheadline: 'Three-term mayor expected to dump' Councilman Gerard Carroll. ‘It needed to be addressed. But they beat me to the punch by throwing me off the ticket,’ Carroll said.” THE STRIFE OF BRIAN — “Hispanic State Parade claims YouTuber ‘hijacked’ event to harass Stack, he disagrees,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Hispanic State Parade President Mayra Dominguez says that YouTuber Leroy Truth ‘hijacked’ Sunday’s event to harass state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack, to which the former expectedly disagrees. … ‘This celebration was hijacked to air a vicious character assassination video against Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack, while also cruelly mocking his partner, fellow Latina Mercedes Joaquin, in a blatant and reprehensible violation of her privacy.’ Dominguez did not go into furt.her detail about what was so offensive about the video in question, nor was any footage available online as of Tuesday evening … Surviving For Justice is an offshoot of Leroy Truth Investigations that was formed early this summer, Truth, whose real name is Leonard Filipowski, told HCV. ‘The focus was mostly on Surviving for Justice, but I also promoted Leroy Truth Investigations a bit when we marched through Union City, but I followed all the proper protocols and procedures and I did nothing to defame or embarrass anyone affiliated with the parade.’ “ —“Paterson student test scores remained well behind the NJ average in 2023. Here's how much” —“Teaneck hires former fire chief to fill deputy township manager post” —“Tempers flare at Cape commissioners meeting over library vote, airport” —“Jersey City Board of Education elections: A look at the seven candidates” —“Police in Moorestown may soon have a new neighbor: a marijuana dispensary” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THE NEXT BRIDGEGATE WILL BE MUCH HARDER TO ORCHESTRATE — “Toll plazas at the George Washington Bridge are slowly disappearing. Here's why,” by The Record’s James M. O’Neill: “A familiar — if not particularly attractive — North Jersey landmark is slowly disappearing from view. The George Washington Bridge toll plazas — where millions of car and truck drivers have stopped to give toll collectors their cash or, later, have their E-ZPasses read — is being dismantled, bit by bit. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the world’s most-traversed bridge, switched to cashless tolling in July of 2022, making the old toll booths and E-ZPass readers obsolete … The demolition of the GWB toll plaza started in March 2023, and is scheduled for completion in 2025.”
WINDMILLS’ FAULT — “Minke whale that washed up on Jersey Shore beach suffered from disease,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeff Goldman: “A minke whale that washed up dead on a Jersey Shore beach on Friday had an infectious disease, officials said. The adult male whale was about 17 feet, 6 inches long had no food in its digestive tract, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center … Lower New York Bay and the Raritan Bay washed ashore in Queens, New York on Saturday. ‘The minke whale that washed ashore on Ft. Tilden beach this morning has been examined,’ according to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. ‘The 23-ft female whale had signs of infectious disease, similar to findings in previous minke whale strandings in the New York Bight.’” AMERICAN WATER. STAY AWAY FROM ME — “American Water has paused billing for customers amid a cyberattack investigation,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Erin McCarthy: "American Water customers are getting a temporary reprieve from water bills as the Camden-based utility investigates a ‘cybersecurity incident.’ The issue was discovered on Thursday, according to a statement from the company, and the nature and scope of the incident — including what, if any, data may have been compromised — are still being investigated by third-party cybersecurity experts and law enforcement. To protect customer’s data, American Water, the country’s largest regulated water and wastewater utility, said it has taken its online customer portal, MyWater, offline until further notice. Late fees and shutoffs will be paused. Its call center also has 'limited functionality,' according to the company.” NORTHERN LIGHTS SEEN IN EVERY TOWN WITH A CANNABIS DISPENSARY — “New Jersey residents report sightings of the Northern Lights all over the state,” by The Record’s Amanda Wallace: “Over the last couple of days, New Jersey's stargazers and night owls had the opportunity to see the spectacular atmospheric display known as the northern lights. … Reports of the lights came from as far north as Sussex County and as far south as Ocean and Cape May counties, according to posts from residents on a Facebook group called New Jersey Astronomy Group. Owen Brown, a student at Sussex County Community College and the owner of an Instagram page called Northern Lights News, had the chance to see the dazzling colors right from his own backyard in Sparta on Sunday and Monday night between 8 pm and 10 pm.” —“'Wild Blue & You': Transgender Shore environmental leader spotlighted in new film” —“Panera settles lawsuit with family of N.J. woman who died after drinking Charged Lemonade” —“Princeton University professor among 2 to win Nobel Prize for AI work” CORRECTION: Yesterday I wrote that the Anchor and Senior Freeze property tax programs would be phased out with the implementation of ANCHOR. They won’t.
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