| | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Gov. Phil Murphy, Rep. Josh Gottheimer and countless other New Jersey politicians may have gotten what they wanted. And they can thank President, or uh, King Trump for it. Yes, literally thank him. “I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Duffy for their efforts to halt the current congestion pricing program in Manhattan’s Central Business District,” Murphy said in a statement Wednesday. The Trump administration on Wednesday moved to stop congestion pricing by rescinding federal approval. “I share the president’s concerns about the impacts to working class Americans who now have an additional financial burden to account for in their daily lives,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. After all, how do you expect these working class drivers from New Jersey to pay $6 every day on top of the $16 to cross the Hudson and the $600 a month to park? Duffy cited Murphy’s opposition to congestion pricing in the letter. While much of the initial news coverage said the move “killed” congestion pricing, that’s not necessarily the case. The MTA went right to court to keep the program in place. “They never cared about how the tax would hurt Jersey families — they just needed the cash to pay for the MTA’s woeful mismanagement,” Gottheimer, perhaps the program’s most vocal opponent and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, said in a statement. Polls show congestion pricing unpopular in New Jersey but popular in New York City — at least since its launch. But I wonder how loud Murphy and Gottheimer really want to celebrate this. Trump’s decision to come down on a state-enacted policy probably won’t be limited to congestion pricing, and there are New Jersey laws that are very much in conflict with Trump’s agenda. Read more about it here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Dov Ben-Shimon, David Cohen WHERE’S MURPHY? Leaving for Washington for the National Governors Association. Returning to New Jersey on Sunday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “So much for states’ rights. This decision is a direct attack on public transit that will hurt commuters across the region and on both sides of the Hudson. We’ve seen firsthand that congestion pricing works at reducing traffic in Jersey City and Hoboken, making our streets safer and our air cleaner.” — Democratic Assembly candidate Katie Brennan, who was the only New Jersey politician I saw to come out strongly against the Trump administration’s congestion pricing move. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com
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SEGRELITIGATION — “Talks collapse, school desegregation case will go back to court,” by NJ spotlight News’ Hannah Gross: “With no agreement on how to integrate New Jersey schools, the lawsuit brought by a coalition of advocates and families will return to court after almost a year and a half of closed-door, mediated talks. A status report filed Tuesday said the parties did not come up with a settlement and will return the matter to trial court by April 15. According to the status report, ‘it no longer appears likely that further mediation will be constructive.’ In statements, attorneys representing the plaintiffs and a spokesperson for the state said they worked hard to reach an agreement and remain committed to providing a high-quality education for all the state’s students. ‘We are greatly disappointed with the collapse of the mediation,’ said Javier Robles, president of the Latino Action Network, a plaintiff in the case. “We will continue to pursue every option to end the disgraceful legacy of segregation in ‘ew Jersey schools. This is a generational struggle, and we will do our part.’”
A HILL TO DEI ON — “NJ school districts at a loss: Feds say drop diversity efforts, but NJ requires them,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “The Trump administration’s effort to eradicate identity and race-related initiatives in public education has local school leaders wondering how this will play out in New Jersey — since these topics have been taught and discussed in the classroom for years. The most recent directive, a letter from the Division of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education sent Friday, gives schools and colleges 14 days to comply with a directive to end what the Trump administration calls ‘discriminatory’ practices related to ‘diversity, equity and inclusion,’ or DEI, initiatives. That conflicts with a New Jersey law that has required schools since the 2021-22 academic year to “incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12. … Few superintendents contacted for this story responded to a request for comment on the letter. Two people said they expected lawsuits to challenge the letter. ‘I would only say at this time that we look for more specific guidance that the notice indicates will be coming on what this means for pre-K to 12 education,’ said Richard Bozza, who heads the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.” —“Give N.J. school districts $3M to ban cellphones in class, Murphy says” TONY SOPRANO IS THE ORIGINAL CONSERVATION VOTER — Sherrill backs Murphy’s 2035 clean energy goal, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat running for governor, said Wednesday that she supports Gov. Phil Murphy’s clean energy goal for the state by 2035 — suggesting a continuation of one of Murphy’s marquee environmental initiatives. Sherrill expressed support for reaching 100 percent clean energy over the next decade while taking questions from reporters after being endorsed by the state’s League of Conservation Voters, one of the state’s leading environmental groups. She also said she’d take a different approach from Murphy on two other issues — requiring zero-emission vehicles by 2035, which environmentalists want, and expanding the New Jersey Turnpike, which environmental groups generally oppose. It offered her clearest vision to date on what her environmental agenda would look like. —“Sherrill wins Mercer Democratic convention with 56%,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn and David Wildstein: “Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) won the Mercer County Democratic convention tonight on the first ballot, defeating Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, 224-133, a 55%-33% victory. New Jersey Education Association President and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller finished third with 47 votes (12%). That makes her the endorsed candidate of the county Democratic organization in her bid to become the next governor of New Jersey. Three other candidates — Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), and former Senate President Steve Sweeney — declined to participate in the Mercer convention." —“Top animal rights group backs Fulop for governor” —“Gottheimer will skip conventions with predetermined outcomes”
| | | | We’ve re-imagined and expanded our Inside Congress newsletter to give you unmatched reporting on Capitol Hill politics and policy -- and we'll get it to your inbox even earlier. Subscribe today. | | | | | 22.2 MASTROS — State loaned local health benefits fund more than $200 million in two months, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The state-run program that covers health care benefits for public sector employees transferred $228 million from its state employee portion to its local government portion in a roughly two-month period, according to records obtained by POLITICO. he accounting maneuver stems from a fast-tracked law introduced by top Legislative Democrats and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in late October … which allows for the transfer between the state employee portion to the local government employee portion of the State Health Benefits Program. … The local government part of the SHBP has faced declining enrollment amid increased rates. Local governments that have healthier workforces can also leave the program for more affordable private sector health insurance options while local governments that use more health care remain in the SHBP. ENGENDERING CONTROVERSY — “NJSIAA not changing transgender policy for NJ high school sports despite Trump order,” by The Record’s Darren Cooper: “New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association legal counsel Steve Goodell affirmed the organization's transgender policy during Wednesday’s Executive Committee meeting, indicating there will be no immediate changes at this time. This came despite President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that threatens to rescind funds from educational programs that allow transgender women and girls to compete in women's and girls' sports. The NJSIAA policy, originally adopted in 2009 and amended in 2017, allows transgender athletes to compete in either the gender they identify with or the gender they were assigned at birth, but not both, and does not allow an athlete to switch sport genders during a season. The policy also has a provision allowing schools to challenge the ability of a transgender athlete to compete if they feel the competition is adversely impacted. ‘We have had no hearings, no controversies,’ Goodell said. ‘No one has brought to our attention any transgender students. Our policy was designed to be consistent with state law.’ Goodell said that should a challenge come forth, it would be ‘between the school, student and state … the NJSIAA would not get involved in that dispute.’” WOULD HE HAVE TO SLAY STAYNJ? — Sweeney pushes for checks to NJ’s middle class to counter Trump, by POLITICO’s Madison Fernandez: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Sweeney wants New Jersey to dole out $1 billion to offset what the former Senate president calls a “Trump tax.” Sweeney on Wednesday urged outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Legislature to send a one-time $400 check to every household with an income that does not exceed $150,000 — a benefit that his campaign said would “help working people pay for Trump’s higher prices.” The large field of Democrats running to succeed Murphy are using the early days of the new Trump administration as campaign fodder, and have sought to provide a contrast to what is going on federally in an effort to pick up support ahead of the June primary. Democrats are eager to take on Trump over affordability, a main message of his campaign that helped propel him to another term. —“Property taxes in NJ are still the nation's most expensive. See country's lowest taxes” —“Meadowlands Racetrack to get extra $1.6M from state to boost race days” —“Horizon-Hackensack Meridian hospital fight: What can keep consumers from getting shafted?” | | TRUMP ERA | |
—“Kim, Booker express discomfort with actions of Trump officials they voted for”
—“Pallone warns of Medicaid cuts under Republican budget plan” —“Egg Harbor Township teacher accused of posting threat against Trump to resign” | | LOCAL | |
THE NEW POLLUTION — “Construction can start on power plant in one of N.J.’s most polluted cities, regulators say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “Construction can begin on a much-debated gas-fired power plant in the largest city in New Jersey already vulnerable to significant air pollution, state regulators confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. Families and environmental advocates say the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s plant proposal in Newark would be just one more emitter in a city where one in four children are diagnosed with asthma. An array of government officials, including Newark’s mayor and the governor’s wife, have opposed the facility’s expansion plans. Conversely, officials at the state Department of Environmental Protection say what they call a “limited-use emergency backup generating station” would provide reserve power during major outages like those that resulted from Superstorm Sandy in 2012.”
—@RasJBaraka: “Newark is not a dumping ground. Our residents deserve clean air, healthy families, and a future built on green energy, not more pollution. Enough is enough. Newark - and the State of New Jersey - deserves better.” INZELBUCKS — “Lakewood schools unique among New Jersey districts when it comes to borrowing state cash,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “Lakewood School district’s loan record is unique among Garden State districts, with only a few borrowing funds from the state and at levels far below Lakewood. With the latest $65 million loan, Lakewood Schools will have borrowed $280 million in taxpayer funds since 2014 and paid back $81 million. That will leave a debt of nearly $200 million at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Each loan is interest-free but must be paid off in 10 years. Jackson Schools took a state loan in 2023 for $10.2 million and tried again last year but were rejected.“ BIRD FLU? — “More dead birds spotted in Monmouth and Ocean as towns wait on results of bird flu tests,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Dan Radel: “Last week the Asbury Park Press reported on two dozen dead geese in Allentown. Since then, the press has learned of two more locations that wild birds have been found dead: along the Shark River in Neptune and also along the beach in Lavallette. Fear of bird flu has caused officials to have a number of the wild fowl tested for the H5N1 strain of the avian flu, but no results have come back yet. After a report of dead birds on the Shark River, the Asbury Park Press went there on Tuesday and observed three deceased swans and two dead geese.” —“[Carlstadt] employee claims he was targeted for being a political adversary” —“Should West Milford have a nonpartisan, ward-based government? A group thinks so” R.I.P. — “Paterson police sergeant who led cancer fundraising efforts has died from the disease” —“[Bogota] police employee settles sexual assault, harassment lawsuit for $250K” —“I was punished for reporting police academy misconduct, [Bergen County] detective says in lawsuit” —“Paterson city council fills 6th Ward seat with first Palestinian American” —“Charges filed in alleged bias attack against pro-Palestinian protester from Bergen” —“Vijay Chaudhuri, Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s chief of staff, departing Hoboken City Hall” —“Solomon wants PATH to Newark Airport & fighting Turnpike expansion in Jersey City” —“Old Bridge school board member cleared of ethics violations for social media posts” —“Ex-code enforcement official admits stealing from [Beachwood]” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | GIMME SHETLER — “Cape May County’s last bridge toll collector inspires Springsteen-esque song,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “He’s the last bridge toll collector in Cape May County, stationed above Townsends Inlet until E-ZPass takes over April 1. And now, in addition to this Inquirer story, the unassuming bearded Rick Shetler has inspired a song. The Springsteen-esque song was written and performed — no not by Bruce himself — but by Billy Aronson, a Doylestown-based musician whose day job is delivering coffee to offices. … Aronson heard the story being discussed on WHYY’s Studio 2 podcast while working the roads of Bucks County delivering coffee and water to offices (also a job with a precarious future). “This is like the perfect Bruce Springsteen song,” Studio 2′s Avi Wolfman-Arent told cohost Cherri Gregg. ‘You know like, ‘The last toll collector … last toll collector on the county line …’” —“Thousands watch as legendary ocean liner leaves Philadelphia for last voyage” —“Vandal put human feces in baptismal font at N.J. church, officials say” —“N.J. teacher ‘manipulated’ family while secretly having baby with 13-year-old boy, his sister says”
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