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Presented by AARP New Jersey: Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP New Jersey | Good Thursday morning! Former President Donald Trump’s long-expected announcement that he’s running again in 2024, following a lackluster Republican midterm showing blamed partly on the candidates he endorsed, got a mixed reception — at best — among national Republicans. That also goes for New Jersey. While Democrat-turned-Republican Jeff Van Drew — the only member of the state’s House delegation to vote in favor of Trump's efforts to thwart the democratic process — has already endorsed Trump , at least one of Trump’s 2020 New Jersey co-chairs isn’t ready to back him. State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) told me he’s completely focused on helping Republicans in the state Senate this year, when he believes they have a real shot at a majority for the first time in more than 20 years. He said he’s not likely to endorse in the 2024 primary before that election. Pennacchio’s former Trump co-chair , Michael Testa, didn’t respond to my inquiry. And what about Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore, who was able to return to power this year thanks to Trump’s 2021 pardon of his tax-related convictions? He declined to comment. Maybe Trump will once again have the party coalescing behind him. But right now, a lot of Republicans are open to backing someone else. Maybe a Florida man who doesn’t have a summer residence in Bedminster. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 284 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY — State Sen. Nick Sacco, former Assemblymember BettyLou DeCroce WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Atlantic City to speak at The League at noon. Media: Harry Hurley at 3:05 p.m. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s one of the very few cities that is very well suited to me. Everyone thinks it's London, Paris or New York, but I didn’t come from that side.” — Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on Atlantic City | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey: Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist older loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. That’s a huge burden. But NJ lawmakers can give family caregivers the relief they need by supporting the Caregiver’s Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021). | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
PARAMESS — “ Exec who blew the whistle on NJ COVID deaths at vets home says key flaws remain ,” by The Record’s Lindy Washburn and Scott Fallon: “On April 8, 2020, using his pseudonym and an encrypted email service based in Switzerland, he contacted NorthJersey.com to report what he was seeing. ‘Nearly 40 resident deaths since March 25,’ he wrote. ‘Ten more residents positive, 47 waiting test results ... The public needs to know. I am on the inside. I will keep you posted.’ The first story of the deaths at the New Jersey Memorial Veterans Home at Paramus, based on information from ‘vetkeeper’ and other sources, broke that evening … Now ‘vetkeepe’ has decided to reveal his identity and say more about the veterans home.
"He is Dave Ofshinsky, former business manager and, for a brief period, assistant CEO for non-clinical affairs at the Paramus home, where he worked for 5½ years. He says he is doing so out of frustration at what has not happened since that initial COVID crisis.” —“ NJ veterans home whistle-blower: Systemic problems endure after COVID-19 deaths ” R.I.P. — “ Lucinda Florio, former first lady of New Jersey, dies at 75 ,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Former First Lady Lucinda Florio, a former public school teacher who worked alongside her late husband, Jim Florio, with grace and dignity and scored her own victories as an advocate of improving literacy in New Jersey, died today. She was 75. Her death comes just 52 days after the death her husband.” NEEDLES — Persichilli envisions harm reduction centers in every New Jersey county , by POLITICO’s Daniel Han : New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Wednesday that she envisions harm reduction centers — also known as needle exchanges — being placed in every county, which would effectively be a major expansion of the life-saving but controversial programs. “We really feel very strongly that harm reduction centers should be available in every county, in every high risk municipality, and that we should work aggressively, not only to bring them up, but to bring people to care,” Persichilli said during an event at the New Jersey League of Municipalities' annual conference. I THOUGHT ‘THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES’ WAS A MARVEL MOVIE — “ Local leaders meet as tax bills rise, costs grow ,” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “The municipal officials dealing with efforts to control New Jersey’s record-high property taxes are meeting in Atlantic City this week to discuss pressing issues like inflation and the rising costs of benefits for public workers. The annual conference organized by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities comes as the average New Jersey property-tax bill has risen to nearly $9,300, despite recent efforts at the state level to control growth.” OPRA’S ON — OPRA reform in crosshairs of top lawmakers , by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Daniel Han: Top Democratic and Republican lawmakers agree New Jersey's public records law needs to be revamped. What they would do to change the Open Public Records Law, which was last overhauled 20 years ago, is unclear. But, they argue, records requests are being misused for commercial purposes and otherwise creating a burdensome nuisance for local officials across the state. “It's time to have a happy birthday party and tell OPRA to grow up,” Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said Wednesday at the annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities' annual conference. Coughlin said he and Assembly minority leader John DiMaio (R-Warren) talked last week about changing the law and that any changes would be done with a "rock solid commitment to make sure people have access to records.” LAUFING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK — Former Carpenters benefits manager avoids prison time for embezzlement , by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: George Laufenberg, the former benefits manager for the Carpenters union in New Jersey and New York, will avoid prison time after pleading guilty to embezzlement and making false statements. Laufenberg, who also served as a commissioner on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation and six months of home confinement and fined $20,000, Matt Reilly, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, said. He is also barred for any association with a union or benefit plan, Riley said. NOT A NICE NUMBER OF VACANCIES — “ Six months after chief justice’s dire warning, court vacancies loom large ,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “Nearly six months after New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner issued a dire warning about a shortage of judges within the courts, Gov. Phil Murphy and lawmakers in the Senate have managed to cut court vacancies by just six. Sixty-nine empty seats remain on the Superior Court, a judiciary spokesperson told the New Jersey Monitor, down from 75 on the day of Rabner’s May speech. At least four judges are expected to retire before the end of 2022. ‘It makes you wonder what on earth is happening in Trenton. How can we be still looking at 68 to 70-something vacancies on the trial court?’ said Jeralyn Lawrence, president of the New Jersey State Bar Association” —“ NJ in-school mental health program gets temporary reprieve due to outcry ” —“ Amid steep rate hikes, advocates push NJ Legislature to curb hospital prices ” —“ North Jersey hospitals show safety improvements, says watchdog study ” —“ Pappas enters race to challenge Zwicker ” | | | | POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP . | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
TRIAL BALLOON POPPED: A couple days ago, Tara Palmieri of Puck News reported that Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th Dist.) was being recruited for Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair. Some were hoping to recruit Sherrill, she acknowledged in a statement, but she doesn’t want it. Her statement: “While I was honored to have my colleagues approach me, I am not running for chair of the DCCC. I know how critical the DCCC is to recapturing the House majority in 2024. As a former red-to-blue candidate and Frontline member, I also know how important it is to understand the experiences of Frontline members and I stand ready to help and support our next chair.”
CD2 — “ No charges filed against woman seen hanging stuffed toys in nooses near Black candidate’s campaign sign, citing ‘behavioral health issues’ ,” by CNN’s Sharif Paget: “The woman was identified as a 36-year-old resident of Rio Grande, the section of Middle Township where the incident took place, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Middle Township Police Department Chief Christopher Leusner said, according to a statement released by the prosecutor’s office Tuesday. The woman’s family indicated that she ‘is suffering from behavioral health issues and that she was treated in the recent past for such health issues,’ the statement said, citing Sutherland.” —“ How did candidates with N.J. ties do in other states? ” —Snowflack: “ Trump announcement boomerangs on NJ Dems’ Atlantic City revelry ” —“ N.J.’s Republican congressmen pick McCarthy in vote on House leadership ” —Watch; “ NJ party leaders consider a Biden-Trump rematch ” — Gateway projects among the first to get funding in latest FRA inventory | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
CUMBERLAND COUNT — “ Voting machines set incorrectly, hard-to-find polling places: Local officials want better ,” by The Daily Journal’s Joseph P. Smith — “Employees of Dominion Voting Systems, with whom the county contracts for machines, reset many machines to be in line with Daylight Saving Time. However, ... the machines automatically had made that adjustment. So, she said, the human intervention was not needed and effectively canceled what the machines had done. The result was many machines not being operable until 7 a.m., instead of 6 a.m.”
VAUGHN BABY VAUGHN — “ Provisional ballots are all that are left for Mercer County election ,” by The Trentonian’s John Berry: “With just provisional ballots left to be counted, some winners emerge. The Capital City will get a second term from Mayor Reed Gusciora, while fresh numbers also point towards solidifying other previously reported results.” —“ Ballots from more NJ towns turned up in voting machines. No one's explained how they went missing ” —“ Final vote tallies underway ” —“ Ringwood man, 22, charged with hunting, firearms offenses in shooting of bear cubs ” —“ More high-rises, more people. So why did Hackensack reject money for 12 more firefighters? ” —“ North Bergen Housing Authority reneged on $400K settlement, whistleblower claims in new court doc ” —“ Most Atlantic City department heads missing from first meeting to track municipal problems ” —“ Tourist helicopter plan would take away our right to a peaceful Liberty State Park | Opinion ” | | | | GO INSIDE THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO is featuring a special edition of our “Future Pulse” newsletter at the 2022 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit from Dec. 6 to 8. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of health industry leaders and innovators solving the biggest global health issues to ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE . | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
— “ A statue of a slave owner? Princeton could remove ‘distraction’ from campus ,” by NJ Advance Media’s Adam Clark: “John Witherspoon, the former university president, standing 10-feet tall and memorialized in cast bronze, towering over students from his perch atop a 7-foot base. Witherspoon, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was so revered the Princeton community named a street and a middle school after him. But the clergyman, who died in 1794, also owned slaves who worked on his 500-acre farm. Now his statue’s days might be numbered.”
FEDS: ‘STOP TRYING TO BE MEGAN COYNE. SHE’S WITH US NOW’ — “ ‘This ain’t Thunder Road’: N.J.’s highway safety messages were too sassy for the feds ,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Kevin Riordan: “The digital alerts that debuted on Garden State highway signs last month may have displayed a bit too much Jersey attitude. As of Wednesday afternoon, messages such as ‘Get your head out of your apps’ and ‘mash potatoes — not your head’ are no longer visible on the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s network of 215 permanent digital alert signs throughout the state.” THE SEA ISN’T THE ONLY THING RISING — “ Fiscal headwinds challenge offshore projects ,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Tom Johnson: “The offshore wind industry is facing new scrutiny as some initial proposals to build big wind farms off coastal waters are running into unforeseen fiscal challenges driven by high inflation, rising interest rates and continued constraints in the supply chain. Those factors have led one company to ask to renegotiate its contract to build a 1,200-megawatt offshore wind farm in Massachusetts, a bid so far rejected by regulators there. They have also spurred Public Service Enterprise Group to reconsider its 25% investment in Ørsted’s 1,100-MW project to be built 15 miles off the Atlantic City coast.” —“ Ocean City fights offshore wind cable planned to run under beach, through town ” —“ [Paterson] man will get new trial after Miranda rights violations, state Supreme Court rules ” —“ Golden Gays drag troupe celebrates sitcom legends in New Jersey ” | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey: Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. Many take on debt or tap into savings to make sure their loved ones get the care they need. That’s a huge burden. And their sacrifices save the state and taxpayers money by keeping their loved ones out of costly nursing home facilities. New Jersey family caregivers provide more than $13 billion a year in unpaid care. It’s past time to give them some financial relief. NJ lawmakers can take action by supporting the Caregiver’s Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). This bill would provide a modest tax credit for family caregivers who pay for expensive care out of their own pockets. Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021). | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
