Gopal, Spadea and Gilmore

From: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook - Wednesday Feb 01,2023 11:55 am

Feb 01, 2023

Good Wednesday morning!

New Jersey politics can make strange bedfellows. Here’s a couple examples.

On Monday night, state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) hosted a get together at an Asbury Park bar with far-right radio personality Bill Spadea and about 30 to 40 others. Gopal is a mainstream Democrat but Spadea, who’s been teasing a potential run for office, is an extremist conspiracy theorist. He’s a Trump booster who has aired lies about the election and Covid and repeated pro-Russia talking points about Ukraine, etc. Etc.

Why? Gopal says it was just an informal get together to talk to people across the political spectrum. OK, but consider this: In the fall, Gopal, Gov. Murphy and Murphy Chief of Staff George Helmy met at a Red Bank diner with Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore, who had just returned to power a couple months prior thanks, ultimately, to a pardon from President Trump.

Gilmore and Spadea both supported Phil Rizzo for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2021. They also have in common a disdain for Monmouth County GOP Chair Shaun Golden, who’s seeking candidates to take on Gopal, who’s potentially one of the most vulnerable Democratic senators this year.

Read more about it here.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 361

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1962, at 12:30 p.m. while riding in a motorcade in Dallas during a campaign visit …. Yesterday, the N.J. General Assembly thoughtlessly passed a resolution naming Nov. 22 after the Korean food dish Kimchi.” — Asemblymember Brian Bergen (R-Morris) in a Jan. 27 letter to Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) urging him to instead pass a resolution naming Jan. 13 as Korean American Day.

WHERE’S MURPHY? At the nonprofit “Light up your World” in Marlton for a 11:30 a.m. announcement

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Winnie Comfort, Diane Lattuca Pennacchio

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

BOONTON CLOSER TO BECOMING NJ’S NEW CAPITAL CITY — “Bucco locks up Senate Republican leader post to succeed Oroho,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “One day after Steve Oroho’s surprise announcement that he would not seek re-election this year, Anthony M. Bucco appears to have secured the votes to become the next Republican leader of the New Jersey State Senate .... Bucco’s most likely challenger, Michael Testa, Jr. (R-Vineland), has decided not to become a candidate and will back Bucco.”

MAYOR: THE BRIDGE ISN’T TOO OLD BUT THE SENATOR IS — “Mayor Henry to run for LD-12 Senate seat,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry plans to run in the Republican Primary for the seat currently occupied by state Senator Sam Thompson (R-12). A fighter who has told allies in Middlesex that he intends to run again, Thompson has served in the senate since 2012.”

(VE)TOEING THE LINE: State Sen. Shirley Turner came out for abolishing the “party line” earlier this month. This week, she made good for it. On Monday, Turner introduce a bill to prohibit the practice. Synopsis: “The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the placement of primary election candidates on the ballot used in the election onto political party lines or onto a particular row or in a column that indicates endorsement by a particular political party or a faction of a particular political party. Nothing in this bill would prohibit two or more candidates who are members of the same political party and are seeking the same office party or public office from being grouped or bracketed together in a primary election.”

The bill comes amid an ongoing lawsuit challenging the line’s constitutionality. I wouldn’t bet that this bill will go anywhere, but it’s interesting to see a longtime Democratic senator — one who has benefitted from the line for decades — introducing legislation against it.

THE GUNDEN STATE — Federal judge blocks New Jersey law that allows state to sue gun industry, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a New Jersey law that allows the state Attorney General to sue the gun industry if it endangers public safety through its sales or marketing practices. U.S. District Judge Zahid Nisar Quraishi, an appointee of President Joe Biden, issued the preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law. In his 20-page opinion, Quraishi, sitting in Trenton, said the New Jersey law appeared to be at odds with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005, a federal law that shields the gun industry from lawsuits when their products are used during the commission of a crime.

The order comes one day after another federal judge blocked a separate New Jersey law that addressed restrictions on concealed carry in New Jersey. The law blocked Tuesday was the centerpiece of Gov. Phil Murphy’s third package of gun control laws.

CHEVY SUBURBANS — “Murphy says using COVID funds to buy SUVs to carry state officials was not ‘illegitimate’”, by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson: “Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday defended his administration’s decision to use half a million dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid to buy eight SUVS to carry him and other officials around New Jersey, saying he doesn’t believe it was an ‘illegitimate' expense. The $522,783 purchase drew blowback last week from some Republican lawmakers who questioned whether that was a proper use of the funds, with one calling it ‘despicable.’

"Asked during a television interview Tuesday to explain the decision, Murphy said he 'has no choice' because the State Police’s executive protection unit is tasked with transporting all New Jersey governors and other top state officials to events. He then suggested this gave the state the chance to pay for the vehicles with one-time federal money instead of state money that can be spent elsewhere."

BAD GANNETT NEWS— “From disguised sources to courageous patients: My 30 years on the health care beat,” by The Record’s Lindy Washburn: “Many years ago, I walked into The Record’s newsroom on River Street in Hackensack to try out for a job. I was young, two years into my journalism career and newly arrived from the Associated Press bureau in Honolulu. I got the job. A few years later, after covering municipal beats in Bergen and Passaic counties, I moved up to the health care beat, which had been vacated by a reporter who went on maternity leave and didn’t come back. It has been the perfect fit for me. Now, after more than 30 years covering health care in New Jersey, I’ve taken a buyout. The time has come for me to say goodbye to daily journalism at NorthJersey.com and to the readers whose feedback and ideas have helped shape my reporting.”

—“8th dead whale to wash up around N.J. likely killed by a vessel, preliminary exam shows”

— “Veterans homes would have to separate COVID patients under proposed N.J. law as outbreak continues”

—“N.J. civil rights division probing claim of anti-Latino bias in municipal court, judiciary says”

—“Ex-Malinowski aide is top candidate from Jaffer’s Assembly seat”

—“Republican Clinton councilman launches Assembly bid in LD16”

—“Fight brewing over Board of Ed nominee’s Senate hearing”

BIDEN TIME

GATEWAY — Biden says Hudson River Tunnel project is finally full steam ahead, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio Dunn: President Joe Biden arrived in Manhattan Tuesday to deliver a message that elected leaders in New York and New Jersey have waited more than a decade to hear — the Gateway Program to improve the century-old rail link under the Hudson River is finally full steam ahead. Biden visited the rail yard on Manhattan’s west side to formally announce a nearly $300 million grant for the decades-long project to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson and repair the existing one that suffered significant damage in 2012 from Hurricane Sandy …the president’s visit Tuesday was particularly symbolic for the New York and New Jersey politicians in attendance who have witnessed the $16 billion endeavor suffer several delays over the years. Biden's trip showed that after repeated setbacks, the critical infrastructure project finally has federal backing— even if it's still years in the making.

—“Biden touts Gateway Tunnel funding. Did he just plunge into campaign mode?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “It was a visit laden with 2024 messaging and attack lines. Schumer, serving as emcee — and campaign attack dog — trashed former President Donald Trump as a transactional thug who sabotaged the project during his lone term. Schumer also reached back in time to Trump's erstwhile Republican enabler, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whom he assailed for killing the Gateway's predecessor project, the Access to the Region's Core, in 2010 … Schumer called Christie's ‘one of the worst decisions that any governor on either side of the Hudson has made. We had to start all over again.’”

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LOCAL

IF YOU PAY THEM THEY WILL COME — “School district offering $7,500 signing bonuses hired 149 teachers in 4 months,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rob Jennings: “The Paterson public school district has hired 149 teachers since authorizing $7,500 signing bonuses to new hires last fall, officials said. However, school officials still need to fill a high number of staffing vacancies in New Jersey’s third-largest city, days after the district reached a tentative, 5-year contract agreement with the Paterson teachers’ union. There were 152 unfilled teaching jobs as of last Thursday, according to district spokesperson Paul Brubaker. The district is still offering the $7,500 hiring bonuses.”

THE TOXIC AVENGERS — “N.J. Shore town where child cancer rose blasts deal over polluted site,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “New Jersey has reached a settlement with the site's current owner, BASF Corp., to address damage to natural resources at the site. And residents of Toms River, where 'cancer cluster' is part of the local vocabulary and bottled water is the only type many will drink, are not happy with the deal, describing it as woefully insufficient."

—“Locals want WiFi, food and jobs when South Jersey transit hub gets $250M makeover”

—“Englewood school district begins new superintendent search after death of administrator”

—“Why is PVWC shutting off water at homes with unpaid bills?”

—“Ramapo Indian Hills trustees question school board president on ethics charge”

EVERYTHING ELSE

THE CHURCH — “NJ priest serving life sentence for rape has died. But trauma continues for his victims,” by The Record’s Deena Yellin: “A former New Jersey priest who was serving a life sentence in Massachusetts for raping a child has died, authorities said. Romano Ferraro admitted during a Parole Board hearing to sexually abusing 'numerous' children and has prompted lawsuits by alleged victims in New Jersey, New York, Missouri and Florida. He served in Catholic parishes in Middlesex County during the 1980s and was eventually removed from the priesthood in 2011.”

LANTERNFLIES CONDEMN HER — “Yale honors Black girl who was reported to police as she sprayed lanternflies,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Timothy Bella: “When Bobbi Wilson learned about the spotted lanternfly, the 9-year-old hoped to curb the damage the invasive species causes to trees by spraying her New Jersey neighborhood with a homemade solution of water, dish soap and apple cider vinegar. But not long after Bobbi, who is Black, started spraying last October, she was approached by police officers who began questioning her. The officers were responding to a report from her next-door neighbor … Months after police questioned Bobbi, Yale University honored the young scientist known as 'Bobbi Wonder' for her efforts to eradicate spotted lanternflies in her hometown of Caldwell, N.J.”

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