| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! Bruce Springsteen has used New Jersey’s generous farmland tax assessment. So has Jon Bon Jovi. And Donald Trump. And Christie Whitman. And pretty much any rich person with some extra land. One of the proposals mentioned by Gov. Phil Murphy in his state of the state speech was to reform New Jersey’s farmland tax assessment — huge tax breaks on land that’s easy to qualify for, and thus often taken advantage of by the wealthiest New Jerseyans. “Farmers” just have to show they’ve made an average of at least $1,000 on selling goods from the land to qualify. They must own at least five acres of land — something only accessible to rich people in much of the state. “If our state’s law enforcement officers, veterans, nurses, and other working people are paying their fair share — so, too, should those at the top of the economic ladder,” Murphy said after recognizing Mendham resident Jack Curtis, who pushed for it. As Curtis pointed out to Tom Moran, there are well over 100 “farmers” in Mendham. We all know that they aren’t really farmers. Murphy called on the Legislature to “eliminate this flaw once and for all” and called for the Legislature to pass this Republican-led proposal. But consider me skeptical. High-profile controversies over the farmland tax assessment have popped up for decades. The first year I covered New Jersey politics, I watched state Sen. Ellen Karcher lose reelection on the back of a controversy over her own farmland assessment. And yes, the Legislature did something about it. Barely. Six years later, they passed a bill to raise the threshold of farm goods sold to qualify for the break $500 to $1,000. The bill Murphy is backing, as currently written, doesn’t do a ton. It creates a commission to study farmland assessments that meets continually. But Pennacchio says they’re in discussions to amend it to raise the threshold of goods sold from $1,000 to $4,000 and to increase penalties for violating it. “The fact that the governor wants to get behind it now, you never know,” Pennacchio told me of the bill’s chances. If this ever does pass, I’ll have to follow up to see how aggressively it’s being enforced. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Susan Yudin, Jeff Carroll. Missed yesterday: P. Kenneth Burns WHERE’S MURPHY?.No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You don’t get nearly the credit that you deserve. God bless you.” — Gov. Phil Murphy to First Lady Tammy Murphy during his State of the State speech, referring to his proposal for full paid 12-week parental leave for state employees that came out of the First Lady’s Nurture NJ Initiative PERSONAL NOTE: Thanks to Dustin and Madison for helming New Jersey Playbook on Monday and Tuesday. I’m working intermittently this week due to a death in the family. So I might miss your emails and calls. But because of this, I’m actually in New Jersey until the weekend. If you see me walking my massive dog around Princeton, please say hi. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
JUST SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM AND YOU’LL BE FINE — New Jersey’s Phil Murphy looks to partner with Trump in final year as governor, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy previewed his final-year agenda on Tuesday during his annual State of the State address, seeking to protect his clean energy agenda, stockpile the abortion pill and clamp down on phones in schools while extending an olive branch to the incoming Trump administration. In one key way, Murphy is ending his time in office similar to how it started: Alongside a Donald Trump presidency. The New Jersey Democrat started his governorship in 2018, in the early phase of the Trump administration. But while Murphy often clashed with federal officials in the Trump era, he has developed among the strongest relationships by a Democrat with the GOP president. “I will never back away from partnering with the Trump Administration where our priorities align,” Murphy said in his speech before state lawmakers, state officials and lobbyists. “But just as importantly, I will never back down from defending our New Jersey values — if and when they are tested.” It’s a line of cooperation other blue state governors have echoed.
—“Structural deficit is issue as Murphy paints ‘rosy picture,’ GOP leader warns’” —“New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s 2025 agenda: School cellphone bans, full-day kindergarten, and more” —“Teachers union leader wants more details on proposed school phone ban” —“After dry season fueled wildfires, Murphy says N.J. needs harder push toward clean energy” SCUTARI TO HIDE A SLEEPING PILL IN RAW HAMBURGER MEAT FOR WATCHDOGS — “Scutari wants to look into consolidating watchdog agencies,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn: “After Gov. Phil Murphy’s State of the State address on Tuesday, Scutari said he read the news about Williams Brewer in the newspaper and was not notified of her hiring or firing. “I think what we have is a lot of watchdogs, a lot of them,” Scutari told reporters Tuesday. ‘We have ELEC, SCI, we have comptroller, the attorney general’s office … county prosecutors. I mean one of these days we’re going to have to look at consolidation of those efforts.’ Scutari said he has “some concern” about a lack of vigilance from the watchdog agency — he said he met with a commissioner about the matter on Tuesday but noted there wasn’t an immediate solution. … Scutari said he thinks the Legislature should do more to improve oversight. He told reporters he had considered using his authority as Senate president to override the senatorial courtesy that is preventing the confirmation of acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh.” PLATKERSON — “PBA, ACLU take sides in state takeover of Paterson Police Department,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Prominent and powerful statewide organizations and individuals filed legal briefs with the New Jersey Supreme Court on Friday taking sides in the battle for control of the Paterson Police Department. The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association called Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s takeover of the city department an “arbitrary exercise of unchecked power” and an ‘unbridled intervention into local affairs without any statutory authority.’ But the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said the state intervention was needed in Paterson to address the ‘systematic failures’ and ‘pervasive patterns of abuse and the lack of internal accountability’ that created community distrust toward city police officers. Those dueling arguments were submitted to the Supreme Court as it considers Platkin’s request for a review of last month’s appellate panel ruling that said his office's takeover had no basis in state law.” —“Key issues for NJ in Murphy’s final year in office” —“Q&A: How has congestion pricing worked in London?” —“North Jersey mom fights for tougher penalties for probationary license violations” —“Bill to curb packaging waste stalls again after critics, supporters seek changes” —“Bill to raise nominating petition signatures faces delay in Senate” | | BIDEN TIME | |
BUT WINDMILLS WILL KNOCK DOWN IRANIAN DRONES — “New Jersey offshore wind industry faces new lawsuit and Trump executive order,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby: “A federal lawsuit and a planned executive order from Donald Trump are two of the latest attempts to block New Jersey's offshore wind plans. The anti-offshore wind organization Save LBI recently sued a group of federal agencies and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a company preparing to build New Jersey's first offshore wind power project. The industry faces another threat. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, (R-2nd) who represents southern New Jersey, announced he was helping Trump draft an executive order that would halt offshore wind work along the East Coast. … Two organizations, Save The East Coast and Defend Our Beaches, also launched their own challenge against Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind. The groups collected a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to block the project's power cables from making landfall in Atlantic City.”
—“Andy Kim took on New Jersey’s broken politics. America is next” —“What will happen to Donald Trump’s New Jersey liquor licenses after his punishment-free sentencing in hush money case?” —“Religious leaders gather in Newark to support immigrants fearing mass deportation” | | LOCAL | |
HE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO CAMPAIGN FOR SPADEA — “The joys of watching a corrupt racist leave public life,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “It’s bad manners to dance and slap high-fives to celebrate an old man’s shame and misfortune. As a boy raised in the teaching of the Catholic Church, I was taught that we should try to love one another, and to forgive human frailty. But let’s make an exception for Sal Bonaccorso, the racist sleazebag and thief who was just thrown out of office as mayor of Clark. The destiny of his soul may be up to higher powers, but here on Earth we have standards of basic decency that need to be upheld … The voters of Clark, to their everlasting shame, re-elected him to a seventh term in November in a landslide, reinforcing the old joke that you spell Clark like this: C-L-A-R-KKK. It’s worth noting, too, that New Jersey’s Republican Party failed to police its own flock, allowing him to remain on the ballot. Union County Republicans endorsed him. What tripped up Bonaccorso was petty corruption, unrelated to all this. Perhaps it’s true that a person’s character will out, eventually.”
FOOL’S GOLD — “Newly elected Lakewood school board member changes his mind,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “When the Board of Education swore in its newly elected members for 2025, one person was missing. He’d apparently changed his mind. “Due to personal reasons, I will not be able to fill my position on the board,” Shraga Gold wrote in a short note to the board just a day before the Jan. 8 reorganization meeting. ‘Please accept this letter effective immediately.’ Gold had won his first seat on the board along with incumbents Moshe Bender and Heriberto Rodriguez in November. … Gold did not respond to requests for comment on his decision. Campbell said state law requires the board to choose a replacement to fill the three-year term that will end in December 2027.” —“Lakewood school board votes to sue state, and overrides move to block consultant hire” CRUELPOINT — “CarePoint Health takes away employees' accrued paid time off; unions vow fight,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “CarePoint Health, millions of dollars in debt, told employees at its three Hudson County hospitals it is taking away all of their accrued paid time off (PTO) and capping future PTO, according to an employee memo obtained by The Jersey Journal. ‘After thorough consideration, we have made the difficult decision to eliminate certain benefit accruals earned prior to CarePoint and pre-petition accruals,’ a letter to employees by CarePoint’s human resources department. … Last week there were layoffs at all three hospitals, sources told the Journal. CarePoint officials declined to say how many employees were laid off.” DUNG GIOVANNI — “Custodian admits to tainting kids’ food with feces, urine at N.J. school,” by Matt Gray for NJ.com: “A former Cumberland County school custodian accused of tainting cafeteria food and utensils with urine, feces and bleach faces eight years in prison after pleading guilty in the case on Monday. Giovanni A. Impellizzeri, 27, of Vineland, was working at Elizabeth F. Moore School in Upper Deerfield in 2023 when prosecutors alleged he urinated in mixing bowls, rubbed his genitals and anus on bread, sprayed bleach in a container of cucumbers and boasted about putting feces in food. Under questioning from attorneys in court Monday, Impellizzeri admitted to his actions in the school. He also admitted his intent was to harm children. He faces sentencing in March.” A BEACON OF BLIGHT — “25-story office tower added to $250M Camden redevelopment project,” by The Philadelphia Business Journal’s Paul Schwedelson: “The public-private partnership behind the redevelopment of Camden's Walter Rand Transportation Center is taking the project to new heights, announcing plans to add the largest office tower in South Jersey. Master developer Gilbane and property owner NJ Transit said Monday they plan to build a 25-story, 500,000-square-foot office building between Federal Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at the transportation hub. The office tower, named the Beacon Building, is the newest addition to the redevelopment project, for which New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy committed more than $250 million in funding three years ago.” —“Piscataway superintendent leaving to head district in Philadelphia [suburbs]” —“Allegations of theft at Westfield Recreation Commission” —“Morristown High teacher fired after 'aggressive, violent' incident with student” —“Former Franklin school bus aide guilty of child endangerment in death of handicapped child” —“[Middletown] police officer suspended after being accused of sex assault, source says” —“Former Newark mayoral opponents Ras J. Baraka and Shavar Jeffries see eye to eye” —“[Montclair] teacher threatened to kill principal in school shooting, cops say” —L.A. Parker “Antisemitic remarks made by Trenton official are ignored to fill cabinet vacancy” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THE COWARDLY LEON — “Leaked draft: Global Studies unreleased report found students endured anti-Black racism,” by Chalkbeat’s Jessie Gomez: “Newark Public Schools leaders failed to ‘quickly and consistently’ respond to racist and bigoted incidents against Black students and teachers at a city school designed to embrace world cultures, according to a draft of a scathing report that district officials have sought to keep private. A copy of the 39-page draft, obtained by Chalkbeat Newark, details harrowing examples of how Black students and teachers at the Newark School of Global Studies were ‘subjected to acts of anti-Blackness and anti-Black racism.’ The review also highlighted how the school’s response failed to address the problems, and in some cases, magnified racial issues … A mix of Global Studies parents, students, teachers, some board members, and community advocates have been calling on Superintendent Roger León to release the full report on the high school and address the problems. León promised students he would fix the problems at the school but he has not said what changes or efforts have been made at Global Studies, one of the district’s top magnet schools.”
DELAYBES — “Bank fraud sentencing for North Jersey developer Fred Daibes rescheduled. What's next,” by The Record’s Kristie Cattafi: “A North Jersey developer who was found guilty of bribery, fraud and obstruction of justice alongside Sen. Bob Menendez will have his sentencing for a separate federal banking case rescheduled. After years of postponements and a plea agreement that was tossed out after he was charged in connection with the Menendez case, Fred Daibes pleaded guilty this past September to one of the original 14 counts in a federal indictment that alleged he circumvented loans through a bank he founded and later led as chairman. His sentencing was originally scheduled for Jan. 23, a week before his Jan. 29 Menendez-related bribery and corruption sentencing. On Monday, Judge Susan Wigenton changed Daibes' bank sentencing to March 6 at 3:30 p.m. in Newark, saying ‘last-minute adjournment requests will not be considered.’” —“Feds award $1.9 billion loan to Port Authority for new Manhattan bus terminal” —“N.J. loses winter ferry service to the Statue of Liberty, again” —“Driver sentenced to probation in N.J. crash that killed 10-year-old girl”
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