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Presented by AARP: Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP | Good Monday morning! Polls for early voting are closed, and in about 23 hours, Election Day polls open. So I’m not sure how much it will matter that Atlantic County Superior Court Judge on Friday ordered frozen the bank account of “Jersey Freedom”, the dark money group with ties to Democrats promoting “conservative” alleged fake candidates in South Jersey. Nevertheless, it’s a pretty important development, and maybe an early sign that there’s some appetite to rein in alleged abuses of New Jersey’s campaign finance system and candidate petitions. We’ll see how this progresses after the election, and how deep an investigation into this stuff actually goes. If authorities decide not to pursue this, it’s only likely to get worse. But let’s clarify what “dark money” means, because campaigns are using it as a pejorative in a way that threatens turn an actual underhanded political tactic into some kind of wishy-washy meaningless political term. In District 11, a Republican super PAC called Strengthen our State funded by GOP State Chair Bob Hugin is attempting to turn progressives against state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) by noting his cozying up to radio host Bill Spadea, who has spread far-right conspiracy theories, according to The Asbury Park Press. The mailer is based on my reporting. Gopal’s campaign in a statement to that publication called the super PAC a “dark money group.” But the group in its ELEC filings lists a $400,000 donation from Hugin. It’s not dark money if you can see its origins. I can see the argument that it’s disingenuous for a Republican-funded political group to pretend to care about progressive issues. That’s not a new tactic, and not very different from what Gopal is doing by cozying up to members of the Republican Party like Spadea who don’t like the Monmouth County GOP establishment and use a lot of far-right rhetoric. It can get ugly, especially if, as this Bob Hennelly column alleges, The important thing is that you’re able to see who’s funding it so the press and public can draw conclusions as to its motivation. The suggestion in this InsiderNJ column that the group is trying to depress Black turnout is a bit more insidious, but I would still dispute its characterization of the mailer as “phantom," since you can find out who's behind it. Democracy has always had its ugly side, and it would be naive to think that will go away. But we can do our best to ensure that there’s some accountability in who’s funding political attacks. And stripping major funders of their anonymity will likely discourage at least a few of them from paying for unethical campaign tactics like fake candidates. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I didn't even know about it honestly, till I read about it. We're asking the state party to reimburse us for that — period.” — Gov. Phil Murphy responding to a question about his Taylor Swift concert and sundry other Meadowlands expenses Friday at an unrelated presser GAME EJECTION OF THE DAY — George Norcross was removed from his box at an Eagles game for displaying a banner of the United States and Israel flags blended together. Videos were posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by David Wildstein and Julie Roginsky. Chris Christie was in the box with Norcross, according to Wildstein. Here is The Linc’s policy on banners: “Signs, banners or similar items that are obscene or indecent, not event-related, potentially offensive to other patrons, capable of blocking the views of other fans or otherwise deemed dangerous or inappropriate by the Eagles are prohibited. They may not contain commercial messages, logos or political endorsements and may not be hung on the stadium structure.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Nabila Baptiste, Jesse O. Kurtz, Axel Owen, Bill Thomson WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule
| | | | A message from AARP: New Jersey’s older residents deserve quality, affordable options for care services at home. But too many can’t afford to pay out of pocket, and they’re left waiting for Medicaid approval for services to start. While they wait, seniors who are likely to qualify for Medicaid are often forced out of their homes and into nursing homes which costs taxpayers more money. Tell Governor Murphy: Seniors can’t afford to wait. Support A4049/S3495. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
422.2 MASTROS — Gateway gets billions more from feds, who are agreeing to pick up more of the tab, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: The Biden administration is sending another $3.8 billion to build the new train tunnels between New York and New Jersey, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday. The money puts the Hudson River tunnel project on increasingly sure footing and, importantly, comes with word from Schumer that the federal government intends to pay for the vast majority of the $16 billion project, saving states billions. The tunnel project will connect New York and New Jersey and is a key part of a regional Gateway infrastructure program to improve passenger rail in the Northeast. Schumer’s office also said the federal government is now committed to paying for “around 70 percent” of the project, leaving the rest to be split by New York and New Jersey. Previously, the federal government was expected to pick up about half the project's cost.
LD11 — National culture wars define New Jersey’s most competitive Statehouse race, by POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy: Sex-ed curriculum attacks. A clash over windmills off the coast. False claims of gas stoves being taken from homes. And two moderate candidates calling the other an extremist. The legislative race in New Jersey’s 11th District, a roughly 15-mile swath from the center of the state to the Jersey Shore, was always going to be competitive. But now it’s turned ugly, with national culture wars used as ammunition on both sides … “Do you cook on a gas stove? Drive a gas-powered car?,” one pamphlet for Dnistrian said. “FACT: Vin Gopal’s Democratic Party is banning both in New Jersey.” A separate ad says Gopal’s “extreme agenda” includes “biological males playing sports and sharing locker rooms with girls.” Democratic campaign ads call Dnistrian’s past work for offshore wind, first reported by POLITICO, his “dirty little secret” as he opposes the industry in this campaign. Another mailer says: “Criminalizing women seeking abortions. It’s happening in states across the country. How will it happen in New Jersey? By electing Steve Dnistrian.” —“11th District race: Republican PAC accuses Sen. Vin Gopal of not being liberal enough” —“Failed wind deal and abortion rights loom over tight races in New Jersey” —“All you need to know about N.J. elections Tuesday, including nasty fights for state Legislature”
| | | | 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. | | | | | DISINHERIT THE WIND — “The offshore wind debacle has Republicans cheering job losses,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “To Republicans like Rep. Jeff Van Drew, last week’s gut punch to New Jersey’s offshore wind industry is a grand triumph for the common folk. ‘Tonight, David defeated Goliath’ he wrote, calling offshore wind “an unmitigated disaster for South Jersey’s hard-working, middle-class families.’ Think about that: A private company cancelled plans to invest billions of dollars in New Jersey, for a giant project using American steel, creating loads of good union jobs in the poorest portion of the state. And Van Drew is celebrating. The union workers whose jobs are now in danger have a different take. ‘This is devastating news,’ says Don Heverly, lead organizer for the Iron Workers Union, who just met with about 100 workers at the wind port in Paulsboro in Gloucester County. ‘Everyone is scared to death about losing their jobs. That’s 100 families, and their children, who could be affected.’” VOTE BY FAIL — “Trump-addled GOP still wants to return vote by mail to sender,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “At just about every Republican event this campaign season, someone is bound to talk about voting by mail. The advice is simple: Send in your ballot … don’t wait until Election Day … let’s beat the Democrats at their own game. In fact, Jack Ciattarelli said much the same when he ran for governor two years ago. So, with this year’s election a few days away, how’s the GOP doing with what insiders like to call VBMs? Not very well. It remains clear that many Republicans just don’t want to do it. To that end, I saw a post on one of Sen. Ed Durr’s social media pages in which a voter wrote the following: ‘I don’t trust early voting. Democrats have been using this to keep the Republican votes down.’ … This is quite illogical thinking, but it’s hard to see anything changing anytime soon.” —“Corruption, unfair play is stalling N.J.’s legal cannabis market. Here are some fixes, insiders say” —Mulshine: “Murphy energy plan is gone with the wind”
| | | | A message from AARP:   | | | | | Biden's Beltway | | IN CENTRAL JERSEY THEY DON’T CALL IT ‘TAYLOR HAMAS’ — “Watson Coleman explains her vote against anti-Hamas resolution,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “In a statement released today, Watson Coleman said that while she strongly condemns all forms of anti-semitism and the recent surge of anti-semitic incidents at American colleges and universities in particular, the resolution that passed the House yesterday contained issues that she could not abide by. ‘Rising anti-semitism on college campuses is appalling,’ Watson Coleman said. ‘We must condemn it clearly and take a serious and measured approach to combating it. House Resolution 798 does not meet this standard.’ ‘It falsely implied that instances of antisemitism have gone unchallenged by university administrators, which is untrue for each specific incident listed,’ she continued.” | | | | A message from AARP: New Jersey’s long-term care system is broken.
Older residents deserve quality, affordable options for care services at home—where they want to be. But too many can’t afford to pay out of pocket for this care, and they’re left waiting for Medicaid approval for services to start. While they wait, seniors who are likely to qualify for Medicaid are often forced out of their homes and into nursing homes, which costs taxpayers more money.
AARP is fighting for legislation that allows residents who are likely to qualify for Medicaid to begin receiving services in their homes when they need them. It’s time to transform our long-term care system and make it easier for New Jerseyans to age in their homes and communities. Seniors who need care should not be forced from their homes because Medicaid approval takes too long. Tell Governor Murphy: Seniors can’t afford to wait. Support A4049/S3495. | | | | | LOCAL | |
DUNG GIOVANNI — “N.J. school custodian urinated, wiped feces on cafeteria food, utensils, cops say,” by Matt Gray for NJ.com: “An elementary school custodian in Cumberland County is facing multiple charges accusing him of urinating and spitting on school cafeteria cooking utensils, rubbing his genitals on food, spraying bleach on food items and performing sex acts with inanimate objects at the school, all while videoing himself to share online. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, is employed by the Upper Deerfield Township School District and worked at the Elizabeth F. Moore School, which serves students in grades 3 to 5, according to authorities. Authorities received multiple anonymous tips regarding ‘alarming posts’ Impellizzeri allegedly made in a group chat on the messaging app Telegram, according to court documents. … The videos allegedly show Impellizzeri spraying bleach in a large container of cucumbers, spitting on utensils, rubbing his genitals on utensils and food, and urinating in bowls, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges.”
THIS GUY LAMENTS VITRIOLIC POLITICAL RHETORIC — “School board races a battleground for political groups, and it’s getting worse,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “Parental rights are front and center in this year’s school board elections scattered across New Jersey, as clashes over education could bring more voters to the polls for races that usually don’t generate much attention. The right-leaning New Jersey Project is endorsing more than 480 school board candidates, about twice last year’s number. On the opposing side, new and existing groups are backing similar numbers of their own candidates in contested races. And the added heat over these issues could also boost turnout in the battle for the state Legislature, where all 120 seats in the Assembly and Senate are up for grabs Tuesday. ‘This year is very vitriolic on both sides, and I’m not saying one more than the other,’ said Josh Aikens, president of Arise NJ, a conservative-leaning nonprofit that tracked 547 candidates in 2022. ‘People are attacking people at a more extreme level.’” —“A climate change success story? Look at Hoboken” —“Zimmer: Fulop is holding Hoboken’s Rebuild by Design ‘hostage’ with Bhalla complicit” —“As NJ school issues become more politicized, NJEA is among top spenders this election”
| | | | PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | DRIVING THE NEWS — “Judge rejects attempt by Jersey City to dismiss lawsuit over Councilwoman Amy DeGise’s hit-and-run,” by The Jersey Journal’s Mark Koosau: “A Hudson County judge rejected a request by the city of Jersey City to dismiss a lawsuit over Councilwoman Amy DeGise’s infamous hit-and-run last year, ruling that the two sides must move forward onto the discovery phase to determine if DeGise and the city are liable for damages to the victim. …The city argued in its motion to dismiss that DeGise was not acting in capacity as an elected official during the 8 a.m. incident and that ‘neither the city, council nor mayor should be held liable.’ Karounos argued that it’s too early to dismiss the case ‘because we don’t know what we don’t know.’” THIS IS SPARTA!! — “Sparta teachers union vote of no-confidence in five board members sets up election tussle,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “The resignation of a popular high school mental health counselor and a no-confidence vote by the teachers' union against five members of the school board have raised the stakes in an already polarizing school board election in Sparta Township. ‘I felt that I can’t keep looking the other way. … there’s a climate problem here,’ said Lauren Monaco, student assistance coordinator at Sparta High School, about her recent resignation. Monaco, who is gay, won a Governor's Educational Services Professional award for 2022-23. The board’s signaling earlier this year to remove a policy that guides schools on how to treat transgender students was the last straw for her, Monaco said." UNDER THE BOARDWALK, WE'LL BE HAVIN' SOME FUNDS — “Money spent replenishing Jersey Shore’s disappearing beaches to hit a record $3B,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “Sand dollars of a different variety keep washing in and out of the surf at the Jersey Shore. This fall and winter, work is taking place on about $52 million in beach replenishment across five towns along New Jersey’s coastline. Between work done at the start of the year and some recently completed this summer, New Jersey has reached $2.98 billion spent on sand replenishment since some of the state’s earliest projects began in 1936. With the latest round of projects, that puts the state on track to hit more than $3 billion in spending. … State and federal officials emphasize that no tactic has been more effective at affordably combating beach erosion, preventing strong waves from damaging shore property and ensuring beaches — instead of homes — take the brunt of major storms like Hurricane Sandy.” —“A field of familiar faces, and a couple newcomers, expected to run for Jersey City Council in 2025” —“This is why Paterson's biggest developer is condemning the city's police force” —“[Moorestown] mall’s future to be decided by voters” —“Jackson middle school teacher released from Ocean County Jail with restrictions” —“Neptune mayor seeks re-election as Republican tries to break Democratic monopoly” —“'It's a delusion': Advocates clash over how to help people hidden in Toms River woods” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THE ELECTRIC STRIKE (BOOGIE WOOGIE WOOGIE) — “Hundreds of workers at AC Electric go on strike amid contract negotiations,” by 6abc: “The union representing hundreds of workers for AC Electric in New Jersey says they have been unable to reach a contract agreement with the company and are now on strike. The strike officially began at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday. Officials from AC Electric say the most recent contract expired on Thursday and at that time, they presented what they described as their 'best and final offer.' But officials with the union, IBEW Local 210, say that offer is unacceptable. … Meanwhile, AC Electric says they have a contingency plan ready and say service will not be impacted.”
EXPLOITING THE HISTORICAL REENACTMENT LOOPHOLE IN NJ’S CHILD MARRIAGE BAN — “Marking her 250th wedding anniversary, Betsy Ross gets hitched with a hitch in Camden County,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alfred Lubrano: “It was one of those “Wait, did that just happen?” moments. On Saturday, two 17-year-olds from Gloucester City High School had just reenacted Betsy Ross’s wedding ceremony in Proprietor’s Park on the former site of Hugg’s Tavern, where the nuptials took place 250 years ago. A local man who was playing James Bowman, the justice of the peace from 1773, officiated as bride and groom exchanged vows and rings in the park gazebo above the Delaware River in an event sponsored by Gloucester City’s 2023 Committee. Out of nowhere, wedding emcee Tom Matthews, former on-air personality for Philadelphia’s WOGL-FM, suddenly intoned, ‘You know, those two kids are now actually married. So, surprise!’” —“New Jersey’s forgotten towns, from Mount Misery to Caviar” R.I.P. — “Frank L. Monzo Jr., entrepreneur and longtime political leader, has died at 73”
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