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Presented by Alibaba: Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | Good Thursday morning! Craig Guy, all but certain to to be the next Hudson County executive, saw his blood alcohol level test at 0.14 percent — nearly twice the legal limit — when he was arrested for DUI in October 2019. At the time, he was driving a county-issued vehicle on the Turnpike. I got video of the traffic stop and the report through a public records request. As you may recall, Guy was found not guilty two years later when the State Trooper who conducted the stop did not show up to court. Guy had hired an expert who cast doubt on the field sobriety test and breath test, including the claim that Guy had a Halls lozenge in his mouth shortly before blowing that 0.14. You can read more about that and watch excerpts of the video here. But I want to say how glad I am that most if not all New Jersey police now have body cameras. Because at the time of this arrest, these State Troopers didn't. The records available are all from the police car's dash cam. And that meant that much of Guy’s arrest was not in view, and the audio is awful — especially with trucks rushing by. . For instance, we don’t get to see Guy’s field sobriety test, since it was conducted in front of a car that blocked the view. And we don’t hear most of what Guy is saying to the Trooper. Did he ask for “courtesy” at one point? Sounds like it to me, but the audio quality is so bad I can’t be sure. All I can tell you is that the Trooper responded “Sir, I — No, I’m on camera, sir.’ It’s only been four years since Guy’s DUI arrest, but we’ve come a long way since then in terms of transparency in police interactions. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I must share with you that my English teachers would not have been very impressed with what they have seen in writing. I think they call it nonfiction. Yeah, nonfiction, which means it's not real.” — Newark schools Superintendent Roger Leon at a Board of Education meeting Monday, responding to a Star-Ledger editorial about school officials who attended a recent conference in San Diego. (Leon corrected himself about 30 minutes later.) POLL OF THE DAY — Stockton: 73 percent of New Jerseyans support maximum age limits for elected officials, and 69 percent for Supreme Court justices (it didn’t specify federal or state, which already has a 70-year-old age limit). Eighty percent support term limits for Congress and 81 percent for the state Legislature. Full poll here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Crystal Pruitt WHERE’S MURPHY? In Newark at 10 a.m. for the Blue Mass for law enforcement
| | A message from Alibaba: U.S. companies sold $66 billion worth of goods last year through Alibaba’s global online marketplace, including New Jersey-based companies Nuria and Phyto-C. These sales are helping local businesses grow and having a major economic impact – adding $1.2 billion to New Jersey’s economy, supporting 10,000 local jobs and $694 million in wages. Learn more about how Alibaba is positively impacting New Jersey’s economy. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
ØRSDEAD — Democrats try to save face — and hold onto cash — after canceled New Jersey wind projects, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration is claiming victory in defeat after a Danish energy company pulled the plug on two major offshore wind projects in the state, the cornerstone of the Democratic governor’s clean energy agenda. Murphy and his allies say the demise of those two projects is a setback but the company, Orsted, now owes the state $300 million because it backed out. The claim that the company will pay up — made by the governor and Democratic leaders of the state Senate and Assembly — may help state leaders save face just days before legislative elections in New Jersey. Democrats are trying to hold onto their majorities amid Republican attacks over wind power and energy costs. But getting the money from Orsted is not a sure thing. Instead, a fresh dispute with Orsted over some or all of the $300 million could add insult to injury for Murphy and the state’s Democrats.
— Offshore wind company pulls out of New Jersey projects, a setback to Biden's green agenda —“Offshore wind cancellation a blow to Murphy agenda as Dems face heated elections” ACTING, BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH CAMPAIGN FINANCE DRAMA — ELEC has a new acting director after Brindle retires, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Joe Donohue, a veteran Election Law Enforcement Commission staffer and former newspaper reporter, is the agency's acting executive director following the retirement of Jeff Brindle. Donohue has been with the commission since 2009 and as deputy director played a key role in the agency's analyses and public campaign finance reports. He will remain as acting executive director as the commission searches for a replacement, commission chair Thomas Prol said in a statement. Brindle had been with ELEC since 1985 and took over the executive director position in 2009. The final months of Brindle’s tenure were overshadowed by efforts from the Murphy administration seeking to oust him from his job, which stemmed from an alleged anti-gay remark he made. Brindle claimed he was targeted for his opposition to so-called “dark money” in politics. VAAD NEWS — “Lakewood Vaad backs Orthodox Democrat for Assembly seat,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “The Vaad, Lakewood’s influential Orthodox leadership group, has offered a change in its coveted endorsements, backing Democratic challenger Rabbi Avi Schnall in the 30th legislative Assembly race. The move marks a shift for the Vaad that has routinely supported three Republicans in the state district that stretches from Lakewood and Point Pleasant to the south, Wall Township to the east and north to Farmingdale. ‘This is a unique experience,’ said Rabbi Zev Weisberg, spokesman for the Vaad. ‘We went a little bit out of our element here.’ Schnall, a powerful leader in the township’s Orthodox community, jumped into the race for the 30th Assembly District just weeks ago, a move observers saw as a way to boost the Jewish community’s voice in Trenton .. The Vaad did endorse Republican State senator Robert Singer, a former Lakewood mayor, and Republican Assemblyman Sean Kean, in the same district. But instead of backing Republican Assemblyman Edward Thomson, as they did two years ago, the Vaad has come out for Schnall.”
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | —“NJ Transit bus ridership has bounced back post-COVID better than train use. Here's why” —“Gov. Phil Murphy announces first phase of NJ women’s prison closure has been completed” —“Drugs, violence, missing property are common complaints in New Jersey prisons, monitor says” —“In competitive 38th District, Democrats tout achievements while Republicans pose questions” —“Most Anchor benefits have been paid, NJ officials say” —“How can NJ Transit avoid a fiscal cliff? Attract riders like Taylor Swift is in town, report says” —“The NHL is trying to follow Taylor Swift's lead by selling out MetLife Stadium multiple times”
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | Biden's Beltway | |
CLASSIFIRED— “Menendez defends attending classified Ukraine briefing despite being accused of improperly assisting a foreign government,” by CNN’s Manu Raju and Morgan Rimmer: “Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who has been indicted on federal corruption charges including allegations of improperly assisting the government of Egypt, attended a classified briefing on Ukraine Wednesday morning, raising concerns among some of his colleagues who believe that he should no longer be a senator or have security credentials. The New Jersey Democrat grew defensive when approached by CNN on why he attended this briefing amid concerns about his continued service in the chamber and after he previously did not attend an Israel briefing, following a conversation he had with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. ‘First of all, you’re wrong about that. He didn’t say ‘You can’t go’ and he didn’t not let me,’ he said.”
MURPHY’S FLAW— “Tammy Murphy, N.J. governor’s wife, prepares to run for Menendez’s seat,” by The New York Times’ Tracey Tully: “Ms. Murphy, 58, has quickly stepped into that looming void. She is assembling a campaign team, alerting prominent political leaders about her interest in running and polling voters, according to interviews with more than two dozen state and national Democratic officials, strategists and people close to the Murphys. If elected, she would be New Jersey’s first female senator and the only governor’s spouse ever sent directly to the U.S. Senate by voters, according to the U.S. Senate Historical Office. … Ms. Murphy’s supporters are already taking pre-emptory aim at the notion that her work raising four children and as an active first lady with varied philanthropic efforts has not prepared her to run for Senate. ‘Think about how many other people have stepped into Washington, D.C., without any experience at that level,’ said Peg Schaffer, the Democratic chairwoman in Somerset County, N.J., who traveled with the governor and Ms. Murphy to Asia last month on a state-led trade mission. … Ms. Murphy voted regularly in Republican primaries, Monmouth County election records show. … Ms. Murphy said during her husband’s first campaign that she had been raised in a conservative community in Virginia Beach, Va., and she acknowledged voting as a Republican until souring on the party over her concerns about the environment, gun violence and access to abortion.” —“Andy Kim defeats Tammy Murphy in early progressive endorsement vote” —“Princeton University grad sentenced to prison for Jan. 6 actions”
| | A message from Alibaba: New Jersey businesses, like Nuria and Phyto-C, are taking their businesses global by selling to consumers on Alibaba’s online marketplace.
“Our company experienced a 600% increase in revenue since selling on Alibaba,” Dr. Eddie Omar, CEO of Phyto-C, said. “Our partnership with Alibaba played a significant role in spurring the recent expansion of our manufacturing facilities. As a small business, none of this would have been possible without Alibaba.”
By partnering with Alibaba, American companies sold $66 billion worth of products globally last year. The impact of these sales reaches far beyond Main Street.
In New Jersey, sales of American products on Alibaba added $1.2 billion to the state economy in a single year, supporting 10,000 local jobs and $694 million in wages for local workers. Learn more about Alibaba’s positive impact on New Jersey’s economy. | | | | | LOCAL | |
TIME FOR SOME CANCER IN FORT LEE — “Bergen officials sue to block NYC congestion pricing, calling it 'cancer-causing' tax,” by The Record’s Coleen Wilson: “With the loud, bustling George Washington Bridge as a backdrop, elected officials from many levels in Bergen County announced a new lawsuit this week in yet another attempt to undo New York's controversial congestion pricing plan. Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich and Richard Galler, a borough resident with asthma, said in court documents that their health could become impaired from increased traffic on the George Washington Bridge and that they will be inconvenienced by the rerouting because of the congestion pricing tolls planned for Manhattan below 60th Street.”
OH HAL NO! — “Atlantic City starts installing $5 million security camera network with AI capability,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “The 1,000 public safety cameras that are being installed in neighborhoods citywide won’t just take pictures and capture videos. They also will help police track down suspects through artificial intelligence, city officials said during a news conference Wednesday. … Police can search for all videos that include, for example, a man with blonde hair, black hair or no hair, a person wearing shorts or a particular pair of shoes. … What it cannot do is search by race, said police Chief James Sarkos. ‘It does not do race or facial recognition,’ Sarkos said, in a nod to privacy concerns. ‘It searches by other attributes.’” CALLAWAY CALLEDAWAY — “Callaway a no-show at court hearing on fraudulent voting allegations,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “Political organizer Craig Callaway was a no-show at a hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Blee on Wednesday, where Atlantic County Democrats were asking for an injunction to keep him from assisting any more voters in this election. The Atlantic County Democratic Committee filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that Callaway, of Atlantic City, is engaged in an ‘ongoing election fraud scheme,’ going into the voting booth to ‘assist’ voters who are capable of voting on their own, and voting for them. The next hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Blee said.” PATERSON FALLS — “Paterson's decline in shootings and gun deaths is an outlier in NJ. This may be why,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Paterson had a 26.3% decrease in fatal shooting victims from Jan. 1 through Oct. 22, compared with the same time for 2022, the data showed. The city also had a 19.4% drop in nonfatal gunshot victims during that time. In contrast, three cities — Elizabeth, Jersey City and Trenton — endured increases in the number of people killed by gunfire through Oct. 22, according to the state police statistics. Meanwhile, Camden had the same number of shooting fatalities during that time as it did last year, and Newark saw a 7.7% decrease. Statewide, gunshot fatalities went down by 9.9%, the data showed. … Paterson Policemen's Benevolent Association President Angel Jimenez said the increased overtime provided under state control has had a ‘huge impact’ on the drop in gun violence in the city. ‘If you saturate the streets with cops, crime will go down,’ Jimenez said. ‘It’s a no-brainer. As soon as that overtime stops and the cops are off the street, you’ll see what happens.’” MCGREEVEY’S REENTRY — “McGreevey will join Jersey City mayoral race on November 9,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Former Gov. James E. McGreevey will announce his bid for mayor of Jersey City next Thursday, two days after the general election …’It is a day when we will begin to bring the change we need to Jersey City: to work for greater accountability, reliable services, clean and safe streets, and control property taxes for working families,’ McGreevey said in an email invitation, which did not mention local politics … The event is set for 9 AM at El Sabor Del Cafe Restaurant in Jersey City.” — “Is Toms River overdeveloped? Two fighting to be next mayor battle over controlling growth —“'We all need to speak up': Activists seek action after monitor named for Asbury Park cop” —“Parental rights issue likely to spur voters in contentious NJ school board races”
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GAZA — “N.J. Muslims call for a cease fire as Gaza death toll hits home,” by NJ Advance Media’s Richard Cowen: “Sami Shaban’s father called on his birthday to tell him that nine of their family members died after a bomb was dropped on their house in the Gaza Strip. ‘In that one bomb, four generations were lost,’ said Shaban, a Board of Education member in Franklin Township in Somerset County. ‘The only survivor was my uncle, who was burned from head to toe.’ ’Shaban recounted the devastation to his family Wednesday at a press conference in Newark held by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to call for a cease fire to allow for delivery of humanitarian aid.”
DOLLARS GROW ON FLOORS — “NJ woman gets $1.75 million after slip and fall at Dollar Tree,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “A Bound Brook woman has settled her lawsuit against Dollar Tree for $1.75 million after she slipped on an egg and fell in the Route 18 store in East Brunswick. Peggy Brown, 69, settled the case in September before it went to trial in Middlesex County Superior Court, according to her attorney Michael T. Heck of Epstein Ostrove in Edison.” —“This vet from NJ served when the military shunned LGBTQ people. Now his story is enshrined”
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