| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Thursday morning! You’ve probably heard of the “courtesy cards” police unions print for law enforcement family members, friends and supporters. And you’ve probably assumed the recipients use to try to get out of driving penalties. Here’s a shocker: It looks like you were right. Acting Comptroller Matt Walsh — still “acting” because he made political bosses mad — reviewed 501 videos of State Police traffic stops that resulted in no fine or other enforcement actions during 10 days in December 2022 — a particularly high time for traffic fatalities. In those stops, drivers or passengers used their cards — or badges, or touted connections with law enforcement officers — about 27 percent of the time. These weren’t all minor infractions. One video shows a man pulled over doing 90, swerving all over the place and admitting to drinking two alcoholic beverages being given a stern talking to, but ultimately a pass after he presented the courtesy card given to him by his law enforcement officer “best friend.” “If you didn’t have this, we’d be going a whole different way,” the trooper tells him, thus validating all of our assumptions. Another woman pulled over allegedly going over 100 miles per hour— enough for potential huge penalties and a license suspension — was let go after she mentioned her dad was a police lieutenant, according to a video. These cards have been around for a very long time, and this is not unique to New Jersey. Does it make it any less infuriating? First, there’s the two-tiered system of justice. But I think, more importantly, is the fact that drivers are sometimes let go for being reckless without any consequences. Think they’ll drive like angels after getting away with it? Read the comptroller's report here. TIPS? FEEDBACK Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This is just people trying to take over. I’m not here to bitch because they’re Jewish. I’m here to bitch because I want the snack bar.” — Loch Arbor beachgoer Cindy Sharer on the controversy ripping apart the town over a snack bar becoming a high-end Kosher restaurant catering to the Syrian Orthodox Jewish community. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Pamela Lampitt, Carla Katz WHERE’S MURPHY? Media: "Ask Governor Murphy" on News 12 at 4 p.m.
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PATERSON FAILS — Court says state overstepped legal limits in Paterson police takeover, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A state appellate panel has ruled that Attorney General Matt Platkin’s takeover of the Paterson Police Department was outside the boundaries of the law and is ordering the state to relinquish control of the police department to local officials. The court decision said that Paterson Police Chief Engelbert Ribeiro be reassigned to the police department and is a win for local officials who sued the state to regain control of the police department after the state took control of it in early 2023. “As a twice duly elected Mayor of Paterson, I have always maintained that the Attorney General’s takeover was both illegal and unconstitutional,” Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said in a statement. … The state has three days to appeal to the state Supreme Court and there will be a stay pending until the higher court makes a decision. Platkin has already vowed to make an appeal that the "supersession" was legal. “For decades, supersession has allowed both Attorneys General and County Prosecutors to directly manage law enforcement agencies when the circumstances call for it — as they did in Paterson when our office stepped in following a fundamental breakdown of community trust,” Platkin said in a statement. HIGH ROLLERS — “After months of ‘radio silence,’ A.C.’s empty cannabis lounges inch closer to opening,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Henry Savage: “Nearly a year ago, the N.J. Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved regulations allowing cannabis lounges in dispensaries, prompting many owners to invest in the necessary space. Since then, owners say the commission has offered little guidance on when the application process would begin, leaving them in limbo. ‘Unfortunately, it’s been like pure radio silence,” [dispensary owner[ Spencer Belz said. That silence broke last Thursday, when the Cannabis Regulatory Commission unveiled a timeline for applications, starting as early as January, depending on the type of business. … Jon Cohn, owner of High Rollers dispensary in the Claridge Hotel, said he’s invested nearly $1 million into a sprawling lounge, complete with leather booths, a “bud bar,” and upscale interior decor in a former casino room. That investment includes thousands of dollars in rental fees. ‘Disappointment and frustration are the two words I would use to describe the situation. There’s at least a little bit of positivity in the fact that we now have a timeline,’ Cohn said."
| | | | You read POLITICO for trusted reporting. Now follow every twist of the lame duck session with Inside Congress. We track the committee meetings, hallway conversations, and leadership signals that show where crucial year-end deals are heading. Subscribe now. | | | | | A 0.03 MAMMAMASTRO SALARY — “Mammano will succeed Juliano as Sports Authority CEO” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Nick Mammano, a veteran Democratic staffer and political operative, will replace Paul Juliano as the president and CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Juliano is retiring at the end of this year, but will remain in his post as Bergen County Democratic chairman. The authority commissioners will meet tomorrow and are expected to approve Mammano to a one-year contract at a salary of $280,000. He will start on January 1. Mammano was a vice president at Mercury Public Affairs before becoming chief of staff at the Sports Authority in 2023. He spent eight years as chief of staff to State Sen. Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus).” GOOD FAITH IS TEMPORARILY SHUTTING DOWN A POLICY FOR PURELY POLITICAL REASONS BEFORE AN ELECTION — “NY gov. accuses Murphy of ‘bad faith’ bargaining over congestion pricing lawsuit,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “With 18 days before a controversial plan to charge $9 to enter lower Manhattan starts, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said her New Jersey counterpart is negotiating in 'bad faith' in an effort to settle New Jersey’s lawsuit to stop it. Speaking at a Wednesday MTA press conference, Hochul said Gov. Phil Murphy was negotiating in ‘bad faith’ in brokering a settlement between the two states to end a lawsuit brought in July 2023 to overturn the federal approval that allowed congestion pricing to proceed.” —“Who will be New Jersey’s next governor? It’s wide open” —“Lawmaker urges action on antisemitism bill stalled for months” —“A NJ Transit rail strike could be coming soon. Here are the key dates” —“NJ issues guidance on accommodations for workers who are pregnant, breastfeeding” —“BPU begins process to consider 8% increase in Atlantic City Electric rates” —“New Jersey making it easier for problem gamblers to ban themselves from casinos”
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MR. SMITH GOES TO LA LA LAND — “NJ Congressman disputes White House claim that drones were not following Coast Guard ship,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Lisa Robyn Kruse and Jenna Calderon: “Coast Guard personnel who reported that 12 to 30 drones were trailing their ship in waters off Ocean County were actually seeing aircraft heading into JFK Airport, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said Tuesday. That assertion was dismissed by Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, who said he interviewed the “highly trained” Coast Guard personnel who saw the drones. ‘He’s profoundly uninformed, or else he just doesn’t know.’ Smith said of Kirby. ... Smith had said during a congressional hearing that more than a dozen drones followed a 47-foot Coast Guard boat, while law enforcement tracked another 50 drones coming onto land from the ocean at Island Beach State Park. In an interview on Fox News Tuesday, Kirby made a point to dismiss the Coast Guard account … We did the forensics on that,” Kirby said. “It turns out it was air traffic going into JFK International Airport, and not drones at all.” Smith said the Coast Guard officers recounted to him how their boat was followed by 12 to 30 drones, which had wingspans of 4 to 8 feet, were 100 feet away from the boat and flashed their lights on and off at the ship.”
A CONSPIRACY OF SINUS — Biden administration’s drone solution? A commission on ‘congestion’, by POLITICO’s Oriana Pawlyk: The Biden administration is still struggling to offer a coherent response to drone hysteria. For days, the president’s appointees kept silent as buzz about alleged mystery drones escalated in states such as New Jersey. Then they offered vague assurances that whatever the lights in the sky are, there is no sign that they are dangerous or operating illegally — and that many aren’t drones at all, but rather just planes and helicopters. Most recently, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby floated the idea of creating a commission to study “congestion” in America’s skies. But people familiar with the U.S. aviation system say they can’t figure out what that proposal means, or how it would address people’s worries about what’s hovering around their homes. … . It’s also provided plenty of opportunities for embarrassment for some of the people who have reported seeing the drones — such as former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has faced accusations that he was spooked by the constellation Orion.” JEFF VAN DREW, WEARING HOT DOG SUIT, VOWS TO FIND THOSE RESPONSIBLE — “FAA says laser strikes on aircraft in New Jersey soar after reported drone sightings,” by Reuters’ David Sheparson: “Reported sightings of drones over New Jersey have prompted a spike in the number of people in the state pointing lasers at airplanes flying overhead, which is illegal and can be dangerous, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA said reports are up 269% to 59 in the first half of December, compared with eight in the same period last year. Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety issue and a violation of federal law. U.S. agencies have repeatedly said the spike in drone sightings does not pose national security risks and appear to be mostly aircraft, stars or hobbyist drones.” —Video: “CNN visits makeshift war room tracking New Jersey drone sightings” —“Could New Jersey’s federal district court soon get the chance to expand?” —“Andy Kim talks about his six years in the House in an exit interview with David Wildstein” —“[Adeel Mangi] says his path to federal judge post was derailed by 'organized smear campaign'” —“DACA renewals surge over Trump deportation threats” —“The Garden State can address Trump's plans for mass deportation. This is how”
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WITLESS TAMPERING — “Atlantic City Mayor Small indicted on witness tampering charge in child abuse case,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s John O’Connor: “The city's mayor, who is accused of abusing his teenage daughter, was indicted Tuesday on a separate witness tampering charge after he allegedly told her to lie about a previous head injury she sustained, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. Marty Small Sr., 50, allegedly asked his daughter Sept. 15 to ‘do him a favor and twist up’ the story she told law enforcement about the abuse allegations, according to the affidavit of probable cause. ‘Specifically, he asked her to state she tripped and fell in her room when her head was injured,’ the affidavit states. The referenced incident occurred Jan. 13, when Small allegedly hit his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness, the Prosecutor's Office said. ‘It is very unusual for discussions between parents and their children to be of any interest whatsoever to a county prosecutor,’ Ed Jacobs, Small's attorney, said in a statement. ‘This indictment proves the old adage: 'A grand jury can indict a ham sandwich.' This is especially true when the indictment is good for grabbing a headline.’”
— “Decision to disband police chaplain program roils Montclair” — “Wayne school board votes 'no confidence' in trustee. He says he's being silenced” —“Fed report ripping Trenton Police Department was unfair, unions say” —“Palisades Park blames former employees for police trailer investigation debacle” —“Nursing home operators slammed by NJ report also run these two Ocean County facilities” —“Bradley Beach cop sues over pay, says chief called his Coast Guard duty 'vacation'” —“Bullies harassed girl until she attempted suicide, [Prospect Park] mom says in lawsuit” —“Atlantic City Aquarium to reopen early next year, mayor says” —“[Franklin Township] middle school wrestling coach caught with child pornography, officials say”
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TOM’S CANCER — “Group says New Jersey toxic waste dumping caused $1B in harm, calls settlement inadequate’,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Years of toxic waste dumping in a Jersey Shore community where childhood cancer rates rose caused at least $1 billion in damage to natural resources, according to an environmental group trying to overturn a settlement between New Jersey and the corporate successor to the firm that did the polluting. Save Barnegat Bay and the township of Toms River are suing to overturn a deal between the state and German chemical company BASF under which the firm will pay $500,000 and carry out nine environmental remediation projects at the site of the former Ciba-Geigy Chemical Corporation plant. That site became one of America's worst toxic waste dumps and led to widespread concern over the prevalence of childhood cancer cases in and around Toms River. Save Barnegat Bay says the settlement is woefully inadequate and does not take into account the scope and full nature of the pollution.” —“Jersey Shore town saw child cancer cases rise, now residents say another injustice is happening” —“Are NJ’s toxic military burn pits about to be curbed?” LOCH ABHOR — “Food fight: The inside story of how $13 fries at the beach tore a tiny Jersey Shore town apart,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karin Price Mueller: “On a warm and windy night in July 2023, more than 200 people descended on Loch Arbour, a well-to-do Jersey Shore enclave famed for its sandy beach and multimillion-dollar homes, for a village meeting. They were furious about a snack bar. The gathering was so large it didn’t fit in the municipal building, forcing everyone to convene on the beach. And under a darkening summer sky, the village was reduced to vitriol, shouting and increasingly troubling accusations … ‘My grandchildren will not be buying the costly french fries,’ a resident complained. … Then several people said the eatery wasn’t welcoming. ‘(The snack bar) was supposed to be set up for everyone but it doesn’t feel that it was …’’ said one attendee. … On and on it went, until a mic drop moment: One would-be customer claimed the restaurant refused to seat her. And there it was, out in the open. This outrage wasn’t about french fries at all. Was a group of Syrian Sephardic Jewish businesspeople and homeowners discriminating against people who were not part of their religious community? Or was that summer’s makeover of the snack bar being greeted with undercurrents of xenophobia and antisemitism? … For the last 18 months, the two groups have waged a knock-down, drag-out fight over the beach’s only business, the dinky little food shack that’s way smaller than the average Wawa.” —“N.J.’s largest hospital system mandates masks again as infections rise” —“North Bergen’s portion of Hudson Tunnel project now more than 50% complete” —“James Devine, on probation, accused of stiffing a vendor for his new yoga studio”
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