| | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Working New Jersey | Good Thursday morning! For the first time since Covid hit, the “Walk to Washington” is back today with “more networking — and fewer speeches,” according to the Chamber of Commerce. The nearly century-old event, like the League of Municipalities convention, was long notorious for carousing and influence-peddling on the train between Newark and Washington, but it was widely embraced as a New Jersey tradition. In the 1990s, a “60 Minutes” expose did nothing to stop it. Of course, the Chamber — like the League — always downplayed the wildness. It wasn’t just coronavirus that ground the train’s wheels to a halt. It was the #MeToo movement, and stories from NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio and Kelly Heyboer about women in New Jersey politics, about how they were groped, harassed and propositioned on the ride. The 2020 train ride was far calmer, with many fewer people packing the train amid the lingering bad publicity and the coronavirus closing in. The Chamber banned hard alcohol and instituted a code of conduct, along with a hotline to report harassment. Those measures — yes, including the hard alcohol ban — remain in place, according to New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Tom Bracken. But this year, Bracken said, they have a “record-setting” 1,200 people signed up to ride. Most of the major gubernatorial candidates, save for Steve Fulop and Ed Durr, plan to at least be at the Washington dinner, if not on the train. “The wild culture was more myth than reality, but it is strictly a huge networking opportunity. All the old ‘baggage’ is gone, and it’s safe, let me put it that way,” Bracken said. It seems to me, based on a president elected despite being found liable for sexual abuse, Pete Hegseth being confirmed as Defense secretary despite the allegations against him, and the general tone and tenor of our politics and pop culture, the #MeToo era is over, or, at the very least, diminished. Hopefully that doesn’t embolden any walkers. WHERE’S MURPHY? In Washington at 3:30 p.m., where he'll hold a news conference after a private meeting with the New Jersey congressional delegation. Then at the Omni Shoreham Hotel at 6:30 p.m. for the "Walk to Washington" dinner HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Bonnie Watson Coleman, Loretta Weinberg, Erin Brian Hackett, Chris Slevin QUOTE OF THE DAY #1:: “God damn it, shut down the city. We are at war. Any time a person can pay $250 million into a campaign and they be given access — full access — to the Department of Treasury of the United State of America, we are at war! ” — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver at Tuesday’s anti-DOGE rally QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: “Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) unleashed another despicable call for violence” — A White House statement on Wednesday TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com
| | | | A message from Working New Jersey: Sean Spiller has a proven track record of defending our progressive values. As Montclair Mayor, he capped rent increases. As the President of NJEA, he won a pay raise for educators. New Jersey needs a Governor who will take action for every working family – and Sean Spiller will do it. Support Sean Spiller for Governor. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
GOTAHELPER — There’s a new super PAC in town to play in the 2025 gubernatorial race. A group called Affordable New Jersey is running ads promote U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer’s campaign for governor. It's a $1 million buy, according to AdImpact.
The ad, “Crazy Expensive” touches on Gottheimer’s main campaign themes of lowering taxes. At one point, Gottheimer even talks directly to the camera next to the address of his campaign’s website. It’s indistinguishable from a campaign ad. But of course there’s fine print at the end of the ad saying it wasn’t made with the cooperation or consent of any campaign. There’s nothing abnormal about super PAC ads being indistinguishable from campaign ads. But forgive me if I’m repeating myself here: I’d like to know who’s paying for it. Is it from Gottheimer’s $20.7 million House campaign fund? Affordable New Jersey was formed Jan. 28, according to filings with the state Department of Treasury and the IRS. It filed with ELEC on Tuesday as an independent expenditure committee. I think it’s important to reiterate this point: The Elections Transparency Act that Gov. Murphy signed in 2023 allows independent expenditure committees to keep their donors and expenditures secret until just 11 days before the primary (If Gottheimer’s campaign fund donated, we should know when it files its next quarterly report with the Federal Election Commission in mid-April). But nothing's stopping them from disclosing their donors sooner. I've asked if they will. EXXONERATED — Mercer County Superior Court Judge Doug Hurd tossed New Jersey’s lawsuit against oil companies alleging they deceived the public about climate change and should pay up. The Wednesday decision, citing both state and federal reasons the lawsuit’s claims don’t work, is the latest setback for blue states and cities that have sued oil companies over climate change. The case was filed in fall 2022 by the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Consumer Affairs. “The New Jersey Superior Court’s decision joins the growing and nearly unanimous consensus among both federal and states courts across the country,” Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., an attorney for Chevron, said in a statement. “These types of claims are precluded and preempted by federal law and must be dismissed under clear U.S. Supreme Court precedent.”
New Jersey is planning an appeal. “The trial court’s decision is wrong, and inconsistent with decisions in other states, and we are appealing immediately,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement. “We will not let companies get away with putting profit above public safety.” In its suit, New Jersey rehashed evidence that fossil fuel companies obfuscated the role of their products in a changing climate. The lawsuit also alleged that the state suffers unique damages. The lawsuit named Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other major oil companies, as well as the American Petroleum Institute, the industry trade group. — Ry Rivard | | | | 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. | | | | | BIG ON TRANSUBSTANTIATION, NOT SO MUCH ON TRANSPARENCY — “NJ Catholic diocese used secret court hearing to block investigation of clergy sex abuse,” by The Record’s Deena Yellin: “When New Jersey's attorney general announced an investigation into decades of alleged sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, survivors in the state hoped they would finally see the public reckoning they had long sought. Nearly seven years have passed since then, but there's been little sign the Attorney General's Office is close to finishing the probe. The agency has been tight-lipped about its progress, if any, despite receiving hundreds of tips from alleged victims. Court documents obtained by The Record and NorthJersey.com offer one explanation for the delay: One of New Jersey's five Catholic dioceses succeeded in quashing a key part of the investigation at a secret hearing almost two years ago. Those documents, which have not been publicly reported before, show that the Diocese of Camden challenged the state's authority to empanel a special grand jury to lead the inquiry. That inquiry was supposed to end with a comprehensive report documenting individual abusers as well as any broader coverup by the church. … The ruling at the Mercer County Courthouse was ordered sealed at the request of the diocese. It was upheld a year later by a state appeals court, though that court also denied a motion to keep the decision private. Until recently, however, the legal maneuverings were not widely known outside the circle of lawyers involved.” THE COUNTY, LIKE THE RIVER, FLOWS BOTH WAYS — Hudson County Democrats abandon Gottheimer for Sherrill, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Hudson County Democrats have abandoned Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s campaign for governor, going instead with rival Rep. Mikie Sherrill. In a statement released Wednesday, the Hudson County Democratic organization announced the flip, which was anticipated for several months. Following November’s disturbing election outcome that returned Donald Trump to the White House we immediately determined that it was more important than ever to make sure we were listening to Democratic voices throughout the county in helping to set the direction for the party,” read a statement from several party leaders. — “China-linked firm gets EZ pass contract in New Jersey, former senator calls it 'worse' than TikTok”” —“Attorney for Atlantic City principal claims she's being used to convict mayor, schools superintendent” —“Former state senator brings 'stop the bear hunt' arguments to NJ appeals court” —“NJ lawmakers move to decriminalize underage casino gambling” —“Gubernatorial hopefuls give low marks to NJ Transit” —“Two major NJ Turnpike widening projects move forward at opposite ends of the state”
| | | | A message from Working New Jersey:  
| | | | | TRUMP ERA | |
IMAGINARY IMMIGRANTS ARE IN EVEN MORE PERIL THAN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS — Phil Murphy hands Republicans an attack line with immigrant housing gaffe, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Daniel Han: Murphy’s office has worked all week to clean up the comments, which he made during a weekend interview with a left-wing group. A spokesperson for the governor said Murphy never extended the offer to the person and that the person in question is a legal resident …Still, the garage anecdote is likely to stand high on the list of Murphy-isms that have handed easy wins to his political enemies. Perhaps missed in the hubbub over the garage comment was the point he was making, that Democrats and other Trump opponents “cannot stop fighting” like “tired” Germans a century ago did before the Nazis came to power. Murphy was a former ambassador to Germany during the Obama administration …
Some of the governor’s sayings have come back to hurt him politically. During his 2021 reelection campaign, Ciattarelli’s first TV ad began by throwing Murphy’s admission about the state’s high taxes back at him. The governor had once said “we’re probably not your state” for one-issue voters who cared most about taxes, though Murphy was trying to make a point that the state’s taxes may be high but that it provides good services. And when he first came to office, Murphy said he aspired to make New Jersey the “California of the East” following a call with California’s then-Gov. Jerry Brown. As California’s problems got more and more national attention, the remark was also weaponized against Murphy, particularly his environmental agenda that was meant to mirror and match California’s. During a pandemic-era interview with Tucker Carlson, Murphy said he “wasn’t thinking of the Bill of Rights” when drafting lockdown measures. Murphy cited the need to limit in-person gatherings and concerns that such gatherings could spread Covid-19. —Stile: “Gov. Phil Murphy has tried to play it safe with Trump. He just blew it”
| | | | A message from Working New Jersey: Sean Spiller has a proven track record of defending our progressive values. A former educator and son of immigrants, he knows what working families need. That's why, as Montclair Mayor, he capped rent increases to make housing more affordable. And as the President of NJEA, he won a pay raise for educators. New Jersey needs a Governor who will take action for every working family – and Sean Spiller will do it. Support Sean Spiller for Governor. | | |
| | LOCAL | |
LET THE EAGLE SNORE — “More N.J. school districts announce delayed openings after Super Bowl,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rob Jennings: “At least two additional South Jersey school districts are calling an audible in support of the Philadelphia Eagles by ordering a two-hour delayed opening the morning after the Super Bowl. Cumberland Regional High School in Cumberland County and the Camden County Technical School District are making the scheduled change to allow students and staff to sleep in the morning after the Super Bowl on Monday. They join three other K-12 school districts in Camden County — Gloucester City, Haddon Heights and Pennsauken — that previously announced similar delayed openings to allow fans to cheer for the Philadelphia Eagles …Cumberland Regional High School posted to its website that the ‘Super Bowl is the most watched event in America annually, and this year our beloved BIRDS are competing for the championship.’”
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION IS SO PASSAI — “Hundreds of immigrants expected to march in N.J. city amid ICE crackdown,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Strunsky: “Immigrants’ rights advocates will hold a march Saturday in the City of Passaic amid a crackdown that the Trump Administration says targets undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes. ‘Hundreds of immigrant families will lead a march through the immigrant-rich city of Passaic, NJ to protest recent ICE raids and arrests and to call for protections for immigrants statewide,’ stated an announcement Tuesday by the nonprofit immigrants’ rights group Make the Road New Jersey. … Passaic Mayor Hector Lora … said he supports ICE’s targeted arrest of violent criminals, just as he supports his own or other police departments’ criminal enforcement measures, regardless of the suspect’s immigration status. ‘I don’t understand why any reasonable leader of the immigrant community would oppose that,’ he said.” TO ATTRACT GEN Z, ‘DO AC’ HAS BEEN DROPPED FOR ‘CELIBATE AC’ — “Atlantic City unveils new tourism campaigns,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Wayne Parry: “Celebrations and memories will be central to the resort's efforts to promote itself to visitors this year. Visit Atlantic City unveiled two spring and summer marketing campaigns Wednesday: ‘Where Celebrations Live On’ and ‘Create Memory-Making Moments.’ The group announced at its annual meeting that it has merged its marketing efforts with those of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and brought the’"DO AC’ brand under the unified ‘Visit Atlantic City’ name. ‘Uniting the DO AC and Visit Atlantic City brands under one umbrella marks a pivotal moment for Atlantic City,’ said Gary Musich, president and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. ‘The move allows us to speak as a stronger, united voice, streamlining our efforts in amplifying Atlantic City’s appeal as a premier destination for leisure and business travelers.’”
| | | | A new era in Washington calls for sharper insights. Get faster policy scoops, more congressional coverage, and a re-imagined newsletter under the leadership of Jack Blanchard. Subscribe to our Playbook Newsletter today. | | | | | MINOR THREAT — “Newark activists demand oversight over voter registration drives for city minors,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Nicole Zanchelli: “Parents and community activists have requested intervention from the New Jersey Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in the ongoing voter registration drives for Newark teens who will be 16 years old by the April 15 school board election. … Concerns have been raised by a handful of Newarkers over the process's transparency and the absence of parental involvement in this major civic engagement initiative.” CONTEMPT FOR RESIDENTS — “Atlantic City Housing Authority residents describe harms from living without heat, hot water,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “Residents of Stanley Holmes Village described living without heat and hot water for much of the past three years Wednesday during a hearing before Superior Court Judge John C. Porto. ‘I boiled my water (to bathe),’ said Ravina Scott, who said she has lived in the village for 10 years. ‘You have to layer up, sleep layered up, put a hat or coat on or scarves ... turn on the oven for heat.’ … It was a continuation of a Dec. 13 hearing on whether the Atlantic City Housing Authority should be held in continuing contempt of court for failing to replace the heating system at Stanley Holmes Village by Oct. 1, as Porto ordered last year.” —“[Gloucester County] discriminated against me because I’m Black and Republican, ex-sheriff claims” —“'You had to be everyone's friend': Aberdeen mayor stepping aside after four terms of growth” —“Residents Blast Conditions at 50 Greenwood in Montclair” —“Atlantic City unveils new tourism campaigns” —“Democrat Rev. Collins Days to run for Atlantic County commissioner” —“Solomon admin would include Jersey City inspector general with subpoena power” —“Jersey City public employees union president endorses McGreevey for mayor” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
NJ TB — “Tuberculosis is making a comeback, experts warn. Why N.J. is at a higher risk,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “Since 2020, the United States has seen an increase in reported TB cases, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey is experiencing a similar increase in cases and has a TB incidence rate above the national average. While TB isn’t a widespread threat in the U.S., public health experts are warning it remains one of the top causes of death worldwide and public awareness is key to prevent illness. … The higher rates in New Jersey are not entirely surprising. TB rates tend to be higher in big cities and coastal states, especially ones with a large foreign-born population, said Lardizabal. Within the U.S., over 88% of TB cases occur in racial and ethnic minorities, according to the CDC.”
—“National Women’s Soccer League agrees to $5 million settlement over past mistreatment of players” —“NJ approves Newark charter school request to add grade level, blocks another school’s expansion”
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