Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day | | | | By Matt Friedman | Good Tuesday morning! I’m almost finished reading “The Pine Barrens,” an excellent 1968non-fiction book by native Princetonian John McPhee. So when a source tipped me off to news related to the Pinelands Commission, I was more receptive than usual. Former state Sen. Nicholas Asselta, a Republican from the 1st District, is set to be tapped by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners today for a seat on the Pinelands Commission, according to the board’s agenda. He would fill in for the few months left in former commissioner Jane Jannarone’s term. Asselta is also a former BPU commissioner. What’s kind of funny is that Asselta, at least until fairly recently, was an executive at South State, a highway, paving and utility construction company. That’s according to the 2019 financial disclosure form he filed as a trustee for Cumberland County College. I couldn’t reach Asselta yesterday, and a receptionist for the company did not believe he still worked there. Asselta in 2013 was also hired to run the New Jersey operations of Aqua America, a water company. Jeff Tittel, the longtime New Jersey environmental activist with the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, said he “worked pretty well” with Asselta when he served in the Senate and that he “quietly was good” on some environmental issues. But Titttel said Pinelands appointees often have connections to industry instead of backgrounds in environmental conservation. “The concern I have is that instead of having people on the Pinelands whose primary focus is the Pines and have a background in political conservation and the environment, we keep putting more politically-connecting people,” he said. “I’m not picking on Asselta — all of them.” DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 353 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It has come to my attention that, as part of this morning’s Dunkin’ Cruiser event, staff members received a $5.00 gift card. Although this was a kind gesture, acceptance of the gift card would run afoul of the State’s ethical standards; therefore, I regret to inform you that the Dunkin Donuts gift cards must be returned.” — Kathryn Whalen, director of the state Department of Education’s school ethics office, in a Jan. 18 email to all employees. (h/t Carly Sitrin) WHERE’S MURPHY? In Santa Monica for a 4:10 p.m. EST NGA mental health event, including a discussion with Gov. Gavin Newsom. Nothing public for Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Chris Estevez, Jim Kehoe, Caridad Salicrup
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REGISTER HERE. | | | | | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | ALL HAT NO CADDLE —“A year later, still no answers in the bizarre murder-for-hire ordered by N.J. political consultant,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “A year after admitting to his role in the grisly contract killing of a former associate, political consultant Sean Caddle sits at home these days facing eviction from his rented Sussex County condo, awaiting sentencing while under 24-hour electronic monitoring and strict travel restrictions. Last week, meanwhile, he publicly confirmed for the first time what his lawyer has already disclosed in open court — that he is cooperating with the government … "Twelve months after last appearing in federal court to plead guilty to the murder-for-hire charges that thrust him unexpectedly into the spotlight, there has also been no indication as to when one of the strangest and deadly politically-tied crimes ever seen in New Jersey might finally play out. Caddle, 45, remains inexplicably free on a $1 million bond while awaiting a sentencing date that has been repeatedly delayed, with no expectation that he will face a judge anytime soon. And that delay — along with the unusual cooperation deal revealed in court filings that will allow him to avoid spending the rest of his life behind bars — has many speculating that there is still another shoe yet to drop.” IF TAXES ARE YOUR ISSUE, THEN MAYBE NEW JERSEY COULD BE YOUR STATE — “Once the progressive hero of NJ, Phil Murphy now sounds like a tax-cutting centrist,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Remember the left-of-center Phil Murphy, the champion of tax hikes whose class warfare rhetoric warmed the hearts of New Jersey's long-ignored progressives? … Don't expect to hear that version anytime soon, or to see Murphy palling around with Bernie Sanders' son on the campaign trial this year. The new Phil Murphy 2023 model that will be unveiled at next month's budget address veers to the right of center. "In an interview last week, Murphy offered a clear 'no new taxes' pledge for the next fiscal year (without a 'read my lips' taunt); vowed to make 'significant' tax cuts; agreed to let die a surcharge on corporations; and touted the generous rebate checks heading to voter mailboxes later this year. … [F]or Democrats running to retain an almost two-decade dominance of the Legislature in November, the scope of the tax relief is less important than the political benefits it brings to the campaign trail.” —Golden: “Progressives’ pushback may benefit Murphy” ENERGY — Clean energy master plan delay: Gov. Phil Murphy delayed work on a new clean energy master plan. The decision, announced by his office late last week, means the administration won’t update one of its guiding climate change documents until at least 2024, more than a year behind schedule. The last energy master plan was released in January 2020 and outlined ways to meet the governor’s campaign promise of 100 percent clean energy by 2050. Murphy’s delay doesn’t stop New Jersey’s work on clean energy policy, but it does move the debate from inside the administration to the Legislature. The Senate Environment and Energy Committee is working on a major energy bill that it will unveil in coming weeks. The committee’s chair, Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), said the draft bill will be available for the public in about two weeks and “will change the energy world in New Jersey.” Some industry and labor groups see Murphy’s delay and lawmaker involvement as a victory in an election year where all state senators and members of the Assembly will be on the ballot. In a statement announcing the delay of the clean energy master plan update, Murphy said the next plan would work to “better capture economic costs and benefits,” a nod to his own administration’s uncertainty about how clean energy will affect customer bills. — Ry Rivard THEY DIDN’T COUNT ON MEDIA INTEREST — “NJ informs some Sandy survivors they owe thousands of dollars in back interest on ‘interest free’ forbearances,” by News 12 NJ’s Walt Kane: “Thousands of homeowners who survived Superstorm Sandy took advantage of the state’s forbearance program, which state officials said would give them interest-free extensions. Five years later, a Kane In Your Corner investigation finds some of those homeowners are being charged tens of thousands of dollars in back interest, and the state isn’t supporting them.” SOME WILL VOTE FOR OWEN HENRY THINKING HE’S A CHOCOLATE BAR — “Some GOP officials want 87-year-old Senator to retire,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Some Republican leaders are quietly voicing an opinion that the oldest member of the New Jersey Legislature, 87-year-old State Sen. Samuel Thompson (R-Old Bridge), should not seek re-election, with Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry emerging as the leading candidate for the seat, the New Jersey Globe has learned from multiple sources speaking on the condition of anonymity. The preference for GOP insiders is that Thompson leave on his own accord without facing a primary. But Thompson doesn’t appear ready to retire and isn’t aware of discussions regarding his political future. ‘I haven’t heard a word of it,’ he said. I am seeking re-election. I will be running and I will be re-elected. I have no doubt.’” —“N.J. Transportation Trust Fund to save $95M by refinancing debt” —“Your mail-in ballot in N.J. may soon include pre-paid postage” | | BIDEN TIME | | OLIVIA NEWSY — “'Be prepared': Olivia Nuzzi soared from ambitious Middletown teen to tussles with Trump,' by The Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “Art Gallagher was running a popular Jersey Shore politics blog, 'More Monmouth Musings,” when he came across another local blogger whose work raised an eyebrow. He didn’t know anything about Olivia Nuzzi … ‘I was shocked — she was like 16,’ he recalled. … Thirteen years later Nuzzi has become a force in political journalism, a 30-year-old rising star with New York Magazine whose exclusive and sometimes jarring interviews with Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and others have shaped national discourse.
"Everybody comes from somewhere, and Nuzzi’s origin story is a reminder for would-be mentors of the virtue of giving someone a chance ... On paper, in retrospect, Gallagher seems an unlikely champion. He’s conservative — he currently handles publicity for Toms River’s Republican mayor, Mo Hill — and Nuzzi has held up an unflattering mirror to Trump’s inner circle. Her 2019 piece about her meeting with Giuliani described the former New York City mayor as drooling onto his sweater, with an unzipped fly and three cell phones he hardly could operate.” SHE’S A ROMNEY AGAIN? — “Chris Christie pal backs Ronna Romney foe for RNC chair,” by The New York Post’s Carl Campanile: “An ally of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, is backing insurgent Harmeet Dhillon to be the next head of the Republican National Committee. ‘I’ve decided to support Harmeet Dhillon for RNC Chair. I’m tired of losing,’ Bill Palatucci told The Post Friday. Dhillon, a California attorney and chairwoman of the Republican National Lawyers Association, has emerged as the chief challenger to the current RNC chairwoman, Ronna Romney McDaniel.” —“Biden coming to NYC next week to tout funding for Gateway Tunnel, a crucial project for N.J.” —“Hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans could lose Medicaid coverage soon” | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | LOCAL | | DEGISE CASE — “Amy DeGise's hit-and-run case heads to NJ court that specializes in plea deals,” by WNYC’s Nancy Solomon: “Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise will make her first — and possibly only — court appearance Tuesday in last summer’s alleged hit-and-run with a bicyclist. She’ll be before a court that’s designed to dispose of cases quickly. DeGise, 36, is connected to the political power structure in Hudson County, and the case was moved to Essex county to avoid conflicts of interest. She’ll appear in what’s known as the remand court, a special court meant to help clear a backlog of cases.”
PHIL RIZZO 2025: THE SKILLS TO NOT PAY THE BILLS — “The Rizzo rift,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “There probably has never been so much fighting over a bill of $1,500. And the battle is far from over. The trial between Phil Rizzo and the Morris County Republican Committee was set to resume Monday, but was postponed until Feb. 6 because, according to the court, the plaintiff’s attorney was ill … You get the impression he may be running again. His Facebook page says “Rizzo for N.J. Governor,” is responsible for its content. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Rizzo is fighting so strenuously over relatively speaking, a rather small expense. He likes to portray himself as a lonely man fighting corrupt politicians. This means, naturally, the Democrats, but also mainstream Republicans. What better way to do that than to fight one of New Jersey’s largest Republican committees over a bill?” APOTECARY — “Camden pharmacy to open first-of-its-kind marijuana dispensary,” by The Courier-Post’s Phaedra Trethan: “Bell Pharmacy has been serving Camden's Parkside neighborhood since 1931, the city's oldest continually operating independent pharmacy … marijuana had yet to be federally banned, so pharmacies like Bell sold cannabis products … Bell will soon begin selling marijuana and cannabis products again: Once it receives state approval, Anthony Minniti and his sister and Bell co-owner Marian Morton will begin offering medicinal marijuana through the pharmacy's existing storefront; in a renovated two-story building adjacent to the pharmacy, Camden Apothecary will sell cannabis and marijuana products meant for recreational users.” —CarePoint settles lawsuit with Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority —“Judge may have infuenced Bergen mayor’s race, candidate says” R.I.P. — “Local radio personality David Spatz dies” —"MSTA director blasts ‘travesty’ of Hoboken rent control changes ahead of 1st public meeting" —Al Sullivan: “The death of a newspaper icon” —“Eid should be a school holiday, Muslim parents say as N.J. district weighs calendar change”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | THEY NEVER HAD THE MAKINGS OF VARSITY ATHLETES — “What's behind New Jersey's drop in high school sports participation?” by The Record’s Darren Cooper: “According to data compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations, high school sports participation across the country last school year hit its lowest mark since the 2007-08 school year. in New Jersey, several popular sports have seen participation drop by more than 10 percent in the last five years. Some have seen even steeper declines in the last 10 years … No one wants to decry this generation of high school students, they’ve already lived through enough. But it’s clear that a major reason why New Jersey kids aren’t going out for high school sports is the power in their pockets and in their hands.” —POLITICO Pro Q&A: New Jersey City University interim president Andrés Acebo
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