| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Wednesday morning! There’s just one meeting left for the Assembly’s ballot design committee, scheduled for Monday, and ideas of what to expect in the Assembly proposal are just starting to percolate. While there’s no draft of a bill yet, and the ideas haven’t gotten very specific, right now lawmakers are talking about some basic elements of the block ballots. — Bracketing: While the old form of bracketing with Senate candidates to form the “county line” is clearly out the window, lawmakers will likely attempt to preserve the right of candidates for Assembly, county commissioner and other local offices to be able to bracket with their running mates. — Slogans: Lawmakers will likely look to prevent other candidates not endorsed by the party from using ballot slogans that might give the impression they are. This could mean candidates not endorsed by county organizations would be barred from putting “Democratic Party” in their slogans. Lawmakers are cognizant that this can raise First Amendment issues, but one person I spoke to said to just expect them to codify legal precedent. — Petition signatures thresholds: It requires 100 signatures to run for the state Legislature in New Jersey. Expect that and maybe the petition requirement for other offices to increase. — Incumbency: There’s been talk of denoting incumbents on the primary ballot, but it’s not clear how. Asterisks? Bold font? What’s clear is lawmakers want to do something — though I’m told Connecticut’s system of listing party-endorsed candidates at the top and with an asterisk is probably a no-go. Meanwhile, Republicans on the committee in their questioning have suggested eliminating bracketing not just for primary elections, but for the general election as well. I don’t get the sense that Democrats would go along with that. Lawmaker face pretty strict limits on what they can do, as they’ll need to comport with Judge Zahid Quraishi’s decision. And the Senate still hasn't weighed in. Still, critics of New Jersey’s boss-driven political system suspect they’re try to gain any advantage they can. “Anything they’re doing, they’re doing to maintain some favoritism for them, some advantage on the ballot, which means it’s not a fair ballot,” said Rutgers Professor Julia Sass Rubin, whose research was cited in overturning the county line. “The point of the ballot is to have a fair way for voters to indicate their preference.” TIPS? FEEDBACK Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. PROGRAMMING NOTE: I’ll be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but New Jersey Playbook will be back to its normal schedule on Monday. But I’m taking next week off. Playbook will be written by my less pun-happy colleagues. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If I hear one more thing about bird feeders, I’m going to start crying or screaming or something.” — The Animal Protection League’s Angi Metler on the blowback to proposed birdfeeder restrictions HAPPY BIRTHDAY — John DiMaio, Dick Codey, Jon Runyan, Jade Bechelli, Phil Meisner, Bill Orr WHERE’S MURPHY? Leaving New Jersey for “personal travel” until Nov. 30
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DURR, LIKE BACON, DOESN'T BRING HOME BACON — Ed Durr hasn't reported raising money for gov run, says it's because of 2024, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Former state Sen. Ed Durr hasn’t reported raising money yet for his 2025 bid for governor — saying it’s because he “wasn’t focused” on it during the 2024 election cycle. "I did not want to interfere with other candidates running, raising money. So I stayed out of the way," the Republican trucker said in an interview with POLITICO last week. The state’s campaign finance database does not show Durr’s gubernatorial campaign having a fundraising report for the most recent quarter. Out of the four major Republicans running for governor, Durr is the only one that has not qualified for the state’s program to receive matching funds in the primary, putting him at a financial disadvantage early in the race. It puts him in the same financial league as three virtually unknown Republicans who are also running: Roger Bacon, Robert Canfield and Hans Herberg.
NJ MULLS JOINING THE SWING CLUB — “Is New Jersey now a swing state?” by Julia Sass Rubin for The Hill: “The data does not suggest that New Jersey is shifting dramatically to the right. However, a realignment does appear to be taking place that reflects some of the national demographic trends. Trump exceeded his 2020 vote totals in 11 of New Jersey’s 21 counties, while holding constant or declining in the other 10. His largest vote increases were in five of the state’s most Democratic and racially, ethnically and economically diverse counties — Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic and Union — where he saw double-digit growth. This is consistent with the national shift towards Trump among working-class voters of all races and ethnicities. Conversely, Trump performed worse than four years ago in some of the state’s whitest and most Republican counties — Cape May, Hunterdon and Salem. These voting trends predate 2024. In the 2020 election, Trump’s greatest percentage increases in support came from the same heavily Democratic and diverse counties, while Biden’s greatest increases relative to Hillary Clinton were in the state’s most Republican and least diverse counties.”
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SENATOR-ELECT ADMITS TIES TO PHILADELPHIA, AFTER THE ELECTION — “Andy Kim on his Philly-area roots, Trump’s Cabinet, and Democrats’ next steps,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Julia Terruso: “When Andy Kim won the New Jersey Senate seat this year, he became the first South Jerseyan headed to the chamber since World War II. He’s also the most Philly-adjacent. With Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) and Sen.-elect Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) both living in Western Pennsylvania, Kim’s Moorestown home — about 15 miles outside the city — puts him much more directly in the middle of the Philadelphia experience. ‘I mean, look, I basically grew up there, you know, an avid Phillies and Eagles fan, now taking my kids to Sixers games,’ Kim said in an interview last week in Washington. … In a break from voting and packing up his House office to move to the Senate side of the Capitol, Kim talked about the inter-connectedness of the Philadelphia region and what he thinks voters, in both states are looking for after widespread Democratic defeats this year.”
FLUOR RIDA PROMISES FLUORIDE LEVELS WILL HIT THE FLOOR — “Kennedy’s plan to ban fluoride meaningless in NJ?” by NJ Spotlight News’ Lilo H. Stainton and Benjamin J. Hulac: “When he was raising his children in a South Jersey community that had no fluoride in its water, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) — a former dentist — said he gave them fluoride tablets along with a slate of vitamins. Fluoride changes the molecular structure of teeth and makes them ‘at least fifty percent more resistant to decay,’ Van Drew said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News after Election Day. … His support for fluoride shows Van Drew — a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump — differs on at least one point with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has advocated for a ban on the use in public water of fluoride, which he considers a toxin, voicing his concerns about its impact on human bone, brain development and the endocrine system … Regardless of what Kennedy recommends, experts note that local or municipal leaders — not federal officials — make decisions about adding fluoride to public water systems. State health leaders say that local control is part of why New Jersey — with its love for home rule — is 49th among the states for its percentage of fluoride-treated water, at just over 16%, versus a national average of 72%, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only in Hawaii, with 8.5%, do fewer people have access to fluoridated water.” NADINE MENENDEZ — Nadine Menendez has asked the federal judge in her corruption case to delay her trial again while she seeks treatment for cancer. She was scheduled to stand trial alongside her husband, former Sen. Bob Menendez, this summer, but had to delay it because of her diagnosis. In the meantime, Bob Menendez was found guilty on counts of corruption that included allegations of taking bribes and acting as an unregistered agent of foreign governments. He resigned this summer. Now, a doctor for Nadine Menendez says she can’t stand trial given her condition. “I have been asked to assess whether I believe medically it would be possible to begin trial January or February,” Dr. Stephanie Cohen wrote to the judge. “While there is no physical impairment to her being able to appear … I can say in my experience that most women cannot focus on non-breast related issues in their lives until the completion procedure is finished and most will delay even minor events such as vacations, celebrations, even job changes until it is done.” Menendez is charged with bribery and extortion. — Dustin Racioppi —“Preparing for Trump’s threatened deportations”
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YOUR GOVERNING BODY IS A WONDERLAND — “The Wonderland Pier hotel developer faced detractors at a packed public hearing in Ocean City,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “Since Gillian’s Wonderland Pier shut down in October, there has been a steady stream of outraged voices among Ocean City loyalists. Even after developer Eustace Mita said his “Icona in Wonderland” hotel plan would save Gillian’s historic carousel and landmark Ferris wheel, his detractors have kept up an outraged chorus to “Save Wonderland.” On Monday night, they packed the offseason Shore town’s library auditorium to overflowing, with many more watching remotely, at a regularly scheduled Third Ward meeting hosted by City Council member Jody Levchuk. The star attraction, beyond a host of plans outlined by Levchuk including beach replenishment, new tennis courts, and bayside dredging, was Mita: He and his team lined the room with photos of hotels that had closed over the years, and gave his best pitch for a $135 million-to-$150 million hotel to replace the beloved 95-year-old Gillian’s: Icona in Wonderland.”
THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT A BURRITO BOWL — “Extra special delivery: South Jersey police find weed wrapped in Uber Eats burrito meal,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Rordigo Torrejon: “South Jersey police found a dank surprise in an Uber Eats delivery, discovering more than an ounce of weed instead of a tasty burrito. With a side of soup. A driver working for Uber Eats picked up a burrito delivery in Lindenwold and noticed a strong marijuana odor coming from the bag while en route to Glassboro, Washington Township Police said in a Facebook post Monday. The driver pulled over and called the police, who arrived and unwrapped the foil only to find more than an ounce of marijuana buds, police said.” —“Minister told he can't help Lakewood poor without permit, and town hasn't responded to him” —Snowflack: “A familiar name resurfaces in Morristown” —“Hudson County sending Hoboken $100K to help fund Church Square Park security cameras” —“Paterson DPW supervisor got 30-day suspension after crashing city truck in Morris County” —“Final phase of Port Monmouth flood wall project: Completion date and cost” —“Van Drew renews call for federal takeover of Atlantic City Housing Authority” —“'Doing the hard work' paying off in Atlantic City's Chelsea neighborhood”
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AMAZON — “Workplace safety advocates sue for records in three Amazon deaths,” by The Washington Post’s Caroline O’Donovan: “Safety advocates are suing the federal workplace safety regulator in an attempt to reveal more details about three fatalities at Amazon warehouses during a summer 2022 heat wave in New Jersey. The complaint filed Tuesday against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the agency has failed to respond to public records requests seeking documents about the incidents. OSHA investigated all three deaths, as the agency is required to do for all workplace fatalities. It ruled in at least one case that the death was not work-related and has not issued citations for any of the incidents. Daniel Schlademan, an activist with Warehouse Life, the campaign behind the suit, is seeking inspection records and other documents from OSHA, including video of the incidents. His suit alleges that co-workers and family members of some of the workers who died have questioned Amazon’s response to the episodes.”
WINDMILLS’ FAULT — “Meet Tom, a beloved wild turkey who stops traffic and terrorizes a South Jersey community,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Melanie Burney: “When traffic suddenly stops on a busy stretch of Clements Bridge Road in Deptford, honking motorists may find an unusual culprit: Tom, a wild turkey, who has become a beloved fixture in the South Jersey community, despite his antics. The feathered beast has taken up residence in the suburban Gloucester County town where the habitat and plentiful supply of food from neighbors make ideal living conditions. Neighbors believe the bird has been around for several years. After near-extinction nearly a century ago, the wild turkey has made a comeback in New Jersey, with about 20,000 birds statewide, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. … The turkey regularly shows up at DHY Motorsports, where employees put corn out for him and hang toys in the trees to give him something to peck rather than cars. They rush outside to shoo him from the roadway and protect him from getting struck by motorists. ‘He’s a menace,’ receptionist Kristin Coryell said with a chuckle. ‘We absolutely love him.’ … New Jersey’s wild turkey population was once nearly extinct, largely as development destroyed their natural habitat, Sloan said. The state started an intensive restoration project in 1977” SALT — “Severe drought causing saltwater to creep up the Delaware River, a major drinking water source,” by The Associated Press: “Salty ocean water is creeping up the Delaware River, the source for much of the drinking water for Philadelphia and millions of other people, brought on by severe drought conditions and sea level rise, and prompting officials to tap reservoirs to push the unpotable tide back downstream. Officials say drinking water isn’t imminently at risk yet, but they’re monitoring the effects of the drought on the river and studying options for the future in case further droughts sap the area. … The Delaware River provides drinking water for some 14 million people, including most of Philadelphia but also parts of New Jersey and New York. Still, the line is south of those intakes and below the level it traveled in the 1960s during record drought conditions.” WAREHOUSES — “Workplace safety advocates sue for records in three Amazon deaths,” by The Washington Post’s Caroline O’Donovan: "Safety advocates are suing the federal workplace safety regulator in an attempt to reveal more details about three fatalities at Amazon warehouses during a summer 2022 heat wave in New Jersey. The complaint filed Tuesday against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the agency has failed to respond to public records requests seeking documents about the incidents. OSHA investigated all three deaths, as the agency is required to do for all workplace fatalities. It ruled in at least one case that the death was not work-related and has not issued citations for any of the incidents. Daniel Schlademan, an activist with Warehouse Life, the campaign behind the suit, is seeking inspection records and other documents from OSHA, including video of the incidents. His suit alleges that co-workers and family members of some of the workers who died have questioned Amazon’s response to the episodes." —“HRH officially takes over Bayonne Medical Center as next step for Hudson Health System” —“What will that surgery cost? Group says NJ hospitals aren't posting prices correctly” —“Wharton State Forest vehicle road map finalized; motormen say it's too restrictive”
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