The buzz about Baraka

From: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook - Wednesday Sep 13,2023 10:56 am

Sep 13, 2023

Presented by OxyChem

Good Wednesday morning!

The buzz that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka may run for governor isn’t new. The buzz that he is soon to kick off his campaign, however, is.

Some political insiders are telling me that, and Max Pizarro also used that word in a column Monday morning.

I called a person politically close to Baraka who confirmed to me that the mayor plans an announcement soon, though he wouldn’t specify how soon. And while he wouldn’t confirm that he would run, he did say there the mayor wouldn’t have some big announcement about not running.

Eventually, I managed to get Baraka on the line.

“I don’t know where you heard that. I don’t have any comments on that,” he said.

I asked if he meant that the rumors are false.

“Just what I said. No comment on any of that,” he said.

Baraka getting into the race would mean the mayors of the state’s two largest cities are both in the race for the Democratic nomination. It would also mean two major candidate from Essex County if Mikie Sherrill gets in the race, as so many believe she will. Baraka should also know that if he does run, people will notice if he doesn't file campaign finance reports.

But of course, depending on what happens with the Menendez probe, there may be another statewide outlet for ambitious politicians.

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s good to see you, my friend.” — U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-7th Dist.) to New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox when asked if he supports the impeachment inquiry.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Ginger Gibson, Matthew Hale, Jamel Holley

WHERE’S MURPHY? At the Trenton War Memorial for Joe Fiordaliso’s memorial service at 11 a.m. Media: “Ask Governor Murphy” on your local NPR affiliate at 7 p.m.

A message from OxyChem:

OxyChem opposes the EPA’s Passaic River Superfund settlement. Over 100 companies released 8 chemicals into the river, but EPA may settle with most of them for only $150 million total. That leaves handful of other companies and NJ taxpayers to cover the rest of the $1.82 billion clean-up cost. OxyChem is the sole company offering to do the clean-up work. Tell the EPA to make all companies pay their fair share. Learn more at PassaicRiverCleanup.com

WHAT TRENTON MADE

D'OH!STOEVSKY — Treasury ‘voluntarily’ suspends Russia, Belarus sanction law amid legal setback, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The state Treasury Department has “voluntarily” suspended enforcement of a law aimed at sanctioning businesses that have ties to Russia or Belarus after the state faced a legal setback from a company that sought to be exempt from the sanctions. The decision to not enforce the law — which was quietly posted to the state Treasury’s website in August — came after a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order barring the state from penalizing Kyocera America over the state’s claims the Japan-based company had Russian ties in violation of the state law. While the temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch only applied to Kyocera America, Treasury said it will “voluntarily” not enforce the entirety of the law — allowing for Russian and Belarus-affiliated businesses to keep contracts with the state and local governments. The state is appealing the court’s decision ... Kirsch’s ruling put the state in the position of potentially opening itself to more litigation from companies that made the sanction list and they could use similar legal arguments that Kyocera America did.

VETERANS HOMES — “True COVID death count at NJ veterans homes may never be known,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Colleen O’Dea: “The state underreported the number of deaths from COVID-19 at two of New Jersey’s state-run veterans homes during the first five months of the pandemic, according to last week’s damning report by federal officials. A comparison of data from the report by the U.S. Department of Justice and data from the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shows New Jersey is still underreporting those deaths. The number of COVID-19 deaths listed on the DMAVA’s website through last Tuesday at the two homes inspected by Justice Department officials — the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home and Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home — was 174. But the Justice Department’s report put the number of COVID-19-related deaths at 190 combined in Paramus and Menlo Park in just the first five months of the pandemic in 2020. That’s 26 more deaths through July 2020 than were being reported by the state up to Sept. 5 this year. It’s unlikely the actual number of deaths will ever be known, due to what the report called ‘limited testing and a failure to systemically track probable COVID deaths.’ The report called the number ‘extraordinarily high.’”

—“NJ lawmakers investigated Bridgegate. Why can't they investigate COVID at veterans homes?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: Despite the high marks Gov. Phil Murphy earned for his steadying approach through the nerve-rattling days of the pandemic, the ongoing crisis at New Jersey veterans homes remains an enormous blot on his resume. The most vulnerable remain that way. So where is the Bridgegate-level legislative outcry? Where are the oversight hearings? Where are the demands for a root-to-branch reform with the cudgel of a subpoena and the help of a hired-gun counsel? We've heard nothing so far from the Democrats who maintain majority rule in the Legislature. Instead, all we've gotten is outrage without a commitment to do anything. Democrats have offered only vague assurances to do something — at least until the issue fades from the headlines again”

—“Calls grow for Legislature to return to Trenton to address report on veterans homes”

BEAR HUNT — “Animal rights group tells members not to back Democrats unless bear hunt is canceled,” by New Jersey Globe’s Ricky Suta: “The League of Humane Voters of New Jersey told New Jerseyans today not to vote for Democrats running for the legislature this year unless they take concrete action to stop the black bear hunt that is proposed to start in October. The group called on Democrats to urge Shawn LaTourette, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, to reject the proposed bear hunt policy that would allow two one-week hunts through 2028, which was approved by the Fish and Game Council earlier this month. ‘If they won’t stand up for the bears, why should we stand up for them,’ asked Jeffrey Tittel, the former Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. If the policy is not rejected, the group is specifically putting Democrats running in the 4th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 36th, and 38th districts on notice. It is not clear whether there is such a large number of single-issue anti-hunt voters that could cause a Democratic legislative candidate to lose.”

GO INSIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC PLATFORM WITH UNGA PLAYBOOK: The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four city blocks in Manhattan. POLITICO's special edition UNGA Playbook will take you inside this important gathering starting Sept. 17 — revealing newsy nuggets throughout the week and insights into the most pressing issues facing global decision-makers today. Sign up for UNGA Playbook.

0.66 MASTROS — Carpenters paid $6M to settle whistleblower lawsuit by state assemblymember, others, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: The Eastern Regional Council of Carpenters reported paying $6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by New Jersey Assemblymember Anthony Verrelli and four other former union employees who alleged they were punished, spied on and then fired for supporting efforts to combat corruption and discrimination in the union. The lawsuit was settled in April and the terms were not disclosed. But in its Labor Organization Annual Report filed with the federal Office of Labor-Management Standards, the union reported paying $5,999,999 for a legal settlement. … The lawsuit alleged Justin Ballantyne "learned that tracking devices were being placed on cars operated by Plaintiff Verrelli and others" close to Ballantyne's father.

—“Platkin avoids New Brunswick freedom of the press case"

—“Former Edna Mahan guard sentenced to five years for witness tampering, sexual contact”

—“Sexual abuse is a form of discrimination, New Jersey Supreme Court rules”

—“Mayors from Burlington City and Mount Holly backing Fulop’s gubernatorial bid”

—“An end to secrecy? New law makes it easier to see how your N.J. tax dollars are spent”

A message from OxyChem:

BIDEN TIME

N.J. DEMOCRATS TO SEND THANK YOU LETTER — McCarthy gambles on Biden impeachment probe as shutdown looms, by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris and Jordain Carney: “House Speaker Kevin McCarthy used a 4-minute Tuesday statement to plunge the House GOP toward an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. But he won’t know until Wednesday if he’s won over his toughest audience: his own members. While announcing that he will move Republicans toward a formal impeachment probe, McCarthy also signaled that he’ll sidestep the biggest challenge he had faced — locking down a majority of Republican votes for one. In a U-turn from his previous pledge to require a vote on the floor, McCarthy said Tuesday that he would be “directing” committees to “to open a formal impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden.”

—“How Donald Trump’s DOJ gave Biden a major assist in the coming impeachment probe”

—“In the race for the 7th Congressional District, Democrats have a big decision ahead of them”

A message from OxyChem:

Since the 1890s, the tremendous industrial and economic growth on the Passaic River has come at a great environmental cost. For decades, companies regularly used disposal practices on the Passaic’s shoreline that are no longer acceptable. The EPA declared a 17-mile stretch of the Passaic part of a federal Superfund site, selected a remedy, and identified more than 100 companies as potentially responsible for the clean-up. OxyChem, which EPA acknowledges did not pollute the river, is leading the clean-up.

The EPA identified eight chemicals of concern in the river – Lead, DDT, Dioxin, Mercury, PCBs, Copper, Dieldrin, and PAHs – six of which are not associated with OxyChem or its predecessors. Nevertheless, OxyChem is dedicated to cleaning up the Passaic. But if the other responsible companies don’t step up, New Jersey taxpayers could end up footing the bill. Tell the EPA to hold all 100+ polluting companies accountable.

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LOCAL

HANOVER'S HANGOVER — "Hanover school board holds emergency meeting, repeals LGBTQ+ policy," by NJ Spotlight News' Joanna Gagis: "The Hanover school board held an emergency school board meeting Monday night amid ongoing litigation with the state attorney general’s office over its controversial LGBTQ+ policy that outs students to their parents. The meeting went late into the night, as parents and educators spoke out on both sides of the issue. While some say the board’s move diffuses what has become a contentious situation, others see it as a quick fix to get out of the lawsuit. Michael Gottesman, founder of the New Jersey Public Education Coalition, said: 'They basically decided that rather than try to come up with a transgender policy that passes legal muster, they’d rather just have no transgender policy at all.'"

AGGRAVATING CULTURE — “Local officials leave millions intended to preserve farmland unspent, auditor finds,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “New Jersey municipalities and counties have failed to spend $50 million in state grants budgeted for farmland preservation, endangering the state’s goal to protect more than a half million acres from development, the state auditor found in a new report. The pace of preservation has been so poky that it will take New Jersey 54 years to hit its 550,000-acre target, Auditor David J. Kaschak found. … The audit comes eight months after New Jersey farmers asked state lawmakers for help, saying competition with farmers in other states, high costs, hungry deer, and a shortage of qualified workers threaten their survival. … Kaschak urged the State Agriculture Development Committee, which oversees the farmland preservation program, to tweak its cost-sharing formula, which hasn’t been updated since 2007, so that farmers have to bear less of a financial burden to participate. He also recommended that the committee redistribute money from municipalities and counties that are slow to spend it to those that spent it all and want more.’”

ALL ABOUT THAT BASF — “Toms River: NJ deal on 16-year-old Ciba-Geigy lawsuit stinks, so we'll keep fighting,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “Toms River leaders don't think the deal the state struck with the company that owns the former Ciba-Geigy Superfund site to end a 16-year-old lawsuit is good enough. And they're willing to spend taxpayer money fighting to change it. That's the message Toms River leaders and environmental organization Save Barnegat Bay are sending to both BASF and the state Department of Environmental Protection after the state approved a settlement with BASF last week that would preserve 1,000 acres of the site. Toms River plans to join with Save Barnegat Bay to fight the settlement, with the township likely to vote soon to allocate money to help pay for the experts the environmental group has hired to dispute DEP's determination of the cost of the natural resource damages Ciba-Geigy caused. The company dumped chemical waste for decades on its nearly 1,400-acre property, as well as the Toms River, which flows along the land's eastern edge.”

PATERSON — “Why did NJ drop 2020 election fraud charges against Paterson councilman's brother?” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “State authorities have quietly wiped away the criminal election fraud charges that the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office filed 39 months ago against Shelim Khalique, brother of a city councilman. The dismissal of the charges against Khalique comes as two related election fraud cases against Paterson Councilmen Michael Jackson and Alex Mendez are moving along toward possible trials. Paterson Press learned that the election case against Khalique was dropped while interviewing him Monday afternoon at the Essex County courthouse, where he and another brother pleaded not guilty to unrelated school bus safety charges. … News of the dismissal on Monday spurred speculation that Khalique may be cooperating with authorities in the other election fraud cases. But Khalique said no one has asked him about any of the other defendants in the election probe. The state also did not impose any requirements that he assist investigators in exchange for the dismissal, he said.”

LOCAL COPS BLAME LEGAL WEED FOR THE DISRUPTION — “Offshore wind opponents delay start of work in Ocean City,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Eric Conklin and Bill Barlow: “Protesters on Tuesday morning blocked the start of work on 35th Street, a project laying the groundwork for power lines traversing the barrier island as part of an offshore wind energy project. At its height, the protest had about 60 people in the street preventing a work crew from J. Fletcher Creamer and Son contractors of Hackensack from starting for the day. Suzanne Hornick, who organized the protest, said the intention was to stop the work for about an hour and then leave the crew to start the project by 9 a.m. ‘They were very kind to us,” she said. “We expressed to them that this isn’t about the workers. They have a job to do.’”

—“6 protesters arrested as onshore testing work for New Jersey wind farm begins”

DEMS: WILL YOU REMEMBER THE 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER? — “Democrats threaten lawsuit over vote-by-mail deadline, Atlantic County hits back,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “The Atlantic County Democratic Committee has warned the mailing house used by the county via letter that mail-in ballots for the Nov. 7 general election must go out by the state deadline of Sept. 23, or the committee may sue, Chairman Michael Suleiman said Tuesday. ‘Today, we've put the county's mail house on notice that there will be consequences if they don't do the right thing and deliver ballots in a timely manner to voters,’ Suleiman said of about 30,000 vote-by-mail ballots. … In response, county Deputy Counsel Anthony Pagano sent a cease-and-desist letter Tuesday to the Democrats, saying it was inappropriate and unacceptable to interfere with a county contractor. … Suleiman said ballots were supposed to begin being mailed by Sept. 24 last fall, but Universal did not get them to the U.S. Postal Service until Sept. 29."

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—“[Upper Saddle River] school district accused of letting bullying case escalate”

—“Just a handful of competitive county elections in N.J. this year”

—“Three Hudson mayors tell McGreevey to run in Jersey City”

—“Ramapo Indian Hills board fell one vote short in effort to remove President Judy Sullivan”

—“Hawthorne High School façade partially collapses and damages cars”

—“Ex-Hoboken Council Pres. Campos has law license reinstated after 3-year suspension”

EVERYTHING ELSE

ONE WAY TO MAKE TRUMP RECONSIDER A MUSLIM BAN — “Will LGBTQ curriculum push Muslims, like conservative Christians, toward Republican Party?” by The Record’s Hannan Adely: “When Muslim and Christian parents lined up at a Jersey City meeting nearly four years ago to decry a new LGBTQ curriculum, their joint protest offered a glimpse of a larger conflict to come. Today, clashes have erupted in school districts across America over LGBTQ education, pitting advocates calling for greater inclusion against groups who say the lessons violate their religious beliefs. In this battle, many Muslims and conservative Christians — once unlikely allies — are working on the same side in a fight that political insiders say could push more Muslims to vote Republican in upcoming elections. For some voters, that could mean aligning with a right wing that has ostracized them, calling for them to be banned from entry to the U.S. and surveilled in their mosques. … At social gatherings, in groups and in talks with community and religious leaders, Muslims are raising an alarm about LGTBQ policies they say infringe on their religious parental rights. They are swapping advice on how to approach schools to ask about opting out of lessons. In these conversations, they also debate whether to support Democrats. ‘With Republicans, sometimes it’s funny,’ said Sayel Kayed, a North Bergen parent. ‘Sometimes you align with their values more than Democrats, but they don’t accept you because they don’t look like you and you are different. Democrats accept you because you are different.’”

—“State aid and $2.8 million in new savings has given NJCU a $7 million surplus, but school plans to remain frugal”

—“Inside the N.J. bar battling Taco Bell over America’s most controversial taco party”

—“N.J. dealership pokes fun at would-be ATV burglars with clown music surveillance video”

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