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Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! New Jersey state lawmakers' financial disclosure forms have for years been notoriously opaque. Former Gov. Chris Christie even tried pressuring the Legislature to disclose more. The top income bracket, for instance, is “over $50,000.” So you can’t tell if someone’s making $500,000 or $50,001. Soon, those forms could have even less info . Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on Monday both introduced resolutions to change ethics rules so that lawmakers no longer have to disclose the addresses of the property they own. Instead, they would have to provide just a brief description of the properties and where they're located. That in and of itself wouldn’t be a huge change. But Scutari told me that he’s also considering other changes that would lessen disclosure requirements. Scutari, who didn't get specific on that point, cited security reasons ( see Daniel’s Law ), as well as fears of identity theft. It comes on top of legislators looking to overhaul the Open Public Records Act . I’ve been noticing a pretty steady chipping away at government and political transparency. Dark money, for instance, is now an accepted political practice that's been upheld by the courts, which are also making it harder to secure corruption convictions against officials. And some candidates, sensing the decreasing relevance of the increasingly-gutted mainstream media, are turning to friendly outfits that won’t bother asking them a tough question. I actually believe transparency is important to a functioning democracy. Happy Thanksgiving! DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 290 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Fernando Alonso, Mike Ramaglia, Matt Dennis. Thursday for Mary Maples, Fatima Heyward. Friday for Ian Leonard, Phil Rivo. Saturday for Carol Murphy, Jon Runyan, Bill Orr, Phil Meisner, Paul Weborg. Sunday for Dick Codey, John DiMaio, Nick Chiaravalloti, John Mitchell, Jade Bechelli WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This was already a disaster for Jersey City. Now, this Turnpike Extension budget ballooning deserves a spot in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.” — Environment New Jersey’s Doug O’Malley on the Turnpike widening’s $10.7 billion estimate PROGRAMMING NOTE — I’ll be off for the holiday, but I'll be back on Monday. |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO BET, HOW TO BET ON SESAME STREET? — “ 'It's way out of line': With ad spending up 1,000%, sports betting firms entice NJ kids ,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “Four years after New Jersey helped unleash sports betting across the nation, advertising for online gaming is seemingly ubiquitous, with the industry's marketing budget up almost 1,000%. That's generated millions for state coffers, but gambling experts see a darker side: a surge in betting among children and young adults, with smartphones making it easier than ever to place wagers − and lose big.
"'I've gotten many calls , especially during the start of the NFL season,' said Kevin Hackett, a Bergen County therapist who specializes in substance abuse and gambling addiction. 'It's just impacting a lot of people in our community.' Some of his clients have burned through their savings in a betting binge, said Hackett .... Young men and boys make up an increasing number of his patients … State regulators taken notice, though it's not clear what they plan to do about the advertising explosion. ‘It's way out of line,’ said New Jersey Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, who chairs the chamber's Tourism and Gaming Committee.” THE MONEY BURNPIKE — Turnpike expansion price tag doubles to nearly $10.7B, intensifying criticism , by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: The price tag for a controversial expansion of the New Jersey Turnpike near the mouth of the Holland Tunnel has ballooned, deepening criticism of the project among environmentalists and mass transit advocates. The project, which was already one of the most expensive road projects in recent memory, is now expected to cost nearly $10.7 billion, more than double the previous $4.7 billion estimate. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority blamed inflation and rising interest rates for widespread economic forces that have been driving up the costs of other projects. “It is not unreasonable to think that the estimate will change again as supply chain issues normalize over time,” Turnpike Authority spokesperson Tom Feeney said. The new estimate for the project of $10.695 billion was included in a recent budget document — using abbreviations in a spreadsheet on page 48 of a 53-page document — and was highlighted Monday by environmental groups that claimed the rising costs had been “buried.” MENLO PARK — “ Under threat of federal sanctions, Murphy sends infection team to Menlo veterans home ,” by The Record’s Lindy Washburnand Scott Fallon: “On the day the state-run Menlo Park veterans home faced possible federal financial sanctions, Gov. Phil Murphy Tuesday dispatched a ‘mission critical team’ to help fix problems with infection control and management amid an ongoing COVID outbreak. Inspectors found the 328-bed nursing home had placed its residents and staff in ‘immediate jeopardy’ of both a life-threatening illness and potential abuse during an eight-day site visit in August and September. As a result, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed a Nov. 22 deadline for correcting the problems.” TRANSPARENCY — Legislators' financial disclosure forms may soon get a little more vague , by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: The financial disclosure forms state lawmakers are required to fill out every year have long been criticized by open government advocates for being too vague. Soon, they may contain even less information. Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on Monday both introduced resolutions — NJ SCR 122 and NJ ACR166 (22R)— that would no longer require state lawmakers to disclose their home addresses or the addresses of other properties they or their spouses own. Instead, lawmakers would be required to provide a brief description of the property, including the municipality and county where they’re located. SHOPPERS TO CONTINUE BEING MILDLY INCONVENIENCED — ” Lawmakers postpone vote on bill tweaking plastic bag ban ,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: ”The New Jersey Senate pulled a bill paring down the state’s disposable bag ban from its agenda Monday after Democratic senators requested changes that would require a new educational component and exempt food banks from the ban for years. The proposed changes will likely keep the measure from reaching Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk before the year’s end, said Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), the bill’s prime sponsor.” NJEA VS. ASSEMBLY GOP — It took three months, but the Assembly GOP has gotten a YouTube video parodying the NJEA reinstated after the union got it taken off the site by alleging copyright violations. See here for my write up on it last summer . As I wrote back then, though I’m no lawyer, it was clear this video was a parody and thus should be considered fair use of the union’s logo. — New PAC plans to back candidates who 'understand the importance of healthcare accessibility' —“ N.J. traffic deaths are up in 2022 and could surpass last year’s total ” —Mulshine: “ Governor Phil Murphy sees the light on bears - and beers ” —“ N.J. offering $16M in grants to help college students with mental health ” | | | | 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 | |
BLORRIS — “ Democratic congressional candidates carry Morris County, again ,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Morris County Republicans haven’t lost a county election since 1973 — that’s the longest winning streak in New Jersey – but Democratic candidates for Congress who headed the ticket this year carried Morris County with 51% of the vote. This represents the third consecutive federal election cycle where Democratic House candidates carried Morris County, and the second that they swept all federal offices. But that didn’t stop Republicans from easily winning county races.”
SASS MORASS — “ Cory Booker and Jeff Van Drew agree on one thing: Bring back NJ’s sassy highway signs ,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Nick Vadala : “Roadway safety messages with a sassy New Jersey flair began appearing on Garden State roadways last month, but last week they disappeared as suddenly as they arrived. Now, Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), Rep. Donald Norcoss (D., N.J.), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.) and others want to know why. Booker and his colleagues this week expressed concerns over the pulled messages in a letter to Federal Highway Administration acting administrator Stephanie Pollack … ‘These quintessential New Jersey messages have had a significant, positive reception around the state, and have helped to alert in-state and out-of-state motorists to take reasonable precautions,’ the letter reads.” —“ Push for fusion voting in New Jersey didn’t end with Rep. Tom Malinowski’s loss ” — Schumer optimistic on the future of the Gateway tunnel project, | | LOCAL | |
THINGS HAVE BEEN TESTY IN THE SACK — “ Hackensack turns down $2.4M grant to hire 12 firefighters, citing future cost to taxpayers ,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “The city turned down a $2.4 million federal grant that would pay to hire a dozen firefighters, despite pleas from firefighters and lawmakers to accept the money and bolster the department’s ranks. Hackensack officials instead amended the city's grant application on Friday to ask for a smaller award of roughly $1 million that would cover seven fewer firefighters, just before the deadline passed to accept the grant. City officials have said the larger number was applied for in error and that the cost of salaries and benefits for a dozen new firefighters would be a burden on taxpayers after the federal funding runs out in three years.”
MILESTONE — This week marks two years since we learned Hackensack adopted the nickname “The Sack” PATERSON’S FINEST — “ Man was beaten by N.J. police officers in ‘unprovoked’ attack, federal lawsuit says ,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino: “A Paterson man on Monday filed a federal lawsuit against the city and its police department saying he was beaten on the street in an 'unprovoked' police attack and then arrested by officers who lied about the incident in their reports. Osamah Alsaidi, 20, states in court papers police officers in tactical vests were driving in an unmarked car, investigating an unrelated crime about 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2020, when they approached him as he walked along Madison Avenu. The officer who was driving allegedly rolled down the window and repeatedly asked Alsaidi, ‘What did you say?’ … "The officer then allegedly used his vehicle to block Alsaidi from walking any further on Madison Avenue. The officer got out of the car and grabbed Alsaidi by the arms, shoving him against a truck parked on the street, according to the complaint. ‘As plaintiff struggled against this unprovoked police contact,’ another cop allegedly struck Alsaidi several times in the face and body, the suit alleges. While one officer struck Alsaidi, another ‘picked him up, and threw him to the ground,’ the lawsuit says … Two Paterson police officers were charged last year with using unreasonable force and filing a false police report following a state investigation into Alsaidi’s claims” ( Video ) —“ Man was beaten by ‘drunk, anti-Semitic’ cop but [Bordentown] is charging him with a crime ” MCBRIDE AFTER THE FALL — “ Trenton Municipal candidates request DOJ hold another election ,” by The Trentonian’s A.Z. Johnson: “The same day New Jersey election votes were supposed to be certified, several candidates are calling for a new election for the Capital City. Standing outside the Joyce McDade Administration building on South Broad Street, Council President Kathy McBride, joined by at-large candidates Alex Bethea and Waldemar Ronquillo, fellow mayoral candidate Cherie Garrette, and North Ward candidate Divine Allah all expressed their dismay with the ‘failed election.’ The wind-riddled video posted to Divine Allah’s Facebook account begins with the Council President calling for the New Jersey “Department of Justice” to hold another election … It is unclear if any candidate has contacted the OAG or the feds, or retained a lawyer to start the legal process to challenge the election results. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, who won this election with 70% of the vote, according to still unofficial results, said McBride and crew were acting as expected by challenging the results of the election.” —“ Hugin asks attorney general to probe Mercer County election failures ” LITTLE BOXES — “ [Bridgeton] opens tiny homes to released inmates ,” by The Daily Journal’s Joseph P. Smith: “Eight months of work, one change in location, a roundtable of partners later, and in a local industrial park an experiment at addressing homelessness among newly released inmates now is underway. For the next 12 months, inmates can be placed in a half-dozen “tiny homes” in a small, fenced-in community. The Village of Hope is adjacent to a halfway house where some future tenants may have spent time completing their sentences. Their stay at the Village of Hope will be limited to 180 days … Mayor Albert B. Kelly spent much of 2022 pushing to establish the Village of Hope. The program is something he would like to see expanded, statewide and locally. ‘I’m just happy that this dream has come true,’ said Kelly, after inspecting one of the 100-square-foot homes recently. ‘That we’re able to be of assistance to those who are exiting the halfway house, and they don’t have to live on the streets.’”
| | | | 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 . | | | | | IRONBOUND WILL NOT HAVE TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO ‘POOPBOUND’ — “ Local activists log a victory in Newark’s Ironbound ,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Michael Sol Warren: “Ironbound neighborhood activists, it appears, have stopped the sludge. Nearly two years after plans were announced for a controversial sewage-handling facility to be built in Newark, the developer announced last week that it was abandoning the project. Representatives for Aries Clean Technologies informed the Newark Zoning Board of Adjustment that the company would withdraw its application to rezone the property” —“ Colonia High School soil and air tested again in continuing cancer probe ” —“ Remember that recall attempt against Hoboken Councilman Phil Cohen? Now forget it ” —“ NJ Senate confirms new Monmouth County prosecutor in unanimous vote ” —“ Hackensack cop objected to city hiring civilian police director. Now he alleges harassment ” —“ Mantua set to pardon Layton for missed meetings ” R.I.P. — " Bayonne announces passing of second ranking police officer in 10 days, Sgt. Robert Skalski " —“ Asbury Park LGBTQ community honors Club Q shooting victims in Colorado with vigil ” —“ Jersey City signs sister city agreement with Israel’s youngest city ” —“ [Mastrangelo-Neibart] suit settled ”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
—“ NJCU plan: Acting president to leave school by March, after interim boss is named by end of 2022 ”
—“ Man and son charged in stabbing at N.J. ‘TikTok’ motel where police have responded thousands of times ” —“ By age 3, he was playing several instruments. Now, Rowan’s first blind vocal music student is inspiring his classmates ”
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