| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Landergan | Presented by Anbaric Development Partners | Good Thursday morning! Phil Rizzo, the former pastor who made a bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, is now running in the 7th Congressional District. You may recall that Rizzo had planned to run for the GOP nomination in the 11th District. But on Wednesday he amended his paperwork. Why did he do this? The new map approved last month altered the 11th District, represented by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, making it more Democratic-friendly. Meanwhile, the 7th District, represented by Rep. Tom Malinowski, shed Democratic areas and now leans more Republican. "It's no surprise to patriots across New Jersey that the redistricting process was controlled by insiders determined to maintain their grip on power," Rizzo said in a statement. "The scales were tipped in favor of protecting the progressive Democrats' hold on our state." Even so, Rizzo will need to face off against a heavyweight: former Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. There are also two other primary challengers, Assemblymember Erik Peterson and John Isemann. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Election results are a function of a number of things. Candidates matter. Issues matter. Messaging matters. Fundraising matters. There's no denying, however, that, for Republicans to win statewide office in New Jersey, moderates need to trust and like the Republican brand and turnout in non-presidential years needs to improve amongst fiscally conservative voters." — Jack Ciattarelli in some post-election analysis TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at klandergan@politico.com | | | | A message from Anbaric Development Partners: It's a New Year and the need for swift action to address climate change is clearer now than ever. Anbaric believes in New Jersey's clean energy goals and stands ready to work together to accelerate the growth of the state's offshore wind industry. That's why we were thrilled to submit a robust bid package to deliver an efficient, cost-effective transmission system that protects the environment and the ratepayer. Learn more. | | |
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | OFFSHORE WIND — Biden unveils new wind power push as Congress stalls on his clean energy agenda, by POLITICO's Kelsey Tamborrino: The Biden administration announced on Wednesday it will hold its first auction for offshore wind power leases in the shallow waters off New York and New Jersey next month and is launching a new initiative to speed the construction of new electricity transmission lines to enable new renewable energy projects. The moves are part of the White House's effort to transition the nation's power grid away from fossil fuels and toward carbon-free sources of electricity. They come as Democrats' climate change and social spending package has stalled in the Senate after Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said last month he could not vote for the legislation in its current form. TRANSPARENCY IN TRENTON — "Pet projects, public cash: Transparency is an issue," by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: "New Jersey legislators can add money to the state budget for their employer. They can direct state funds to an organization where they might be a board member. They can add money for groups where a family member draws a paycheck or might have some other financial relationship. The only requirement: Legislators must disclose those relationships by checking a box on a form. After several scandals, including two that sent lawmakers to prison, individual legislators are required to disclose when they seek to add money to the state budget for a specific project or organization. That form requires them to say if they or a family member receives compensation from the recipient of the funding. That checked box is the only easy way for the public to know about potential conflicts of interests for lawmakers in New Jersey, where being a legislator is a part-time job. NJ Spotlight News reviewed several hundred of those requests from some 90 current and former legislators, including some requests that were not ultimately funded. In all those requests, only one lawmaker checked that box, and she probably didn't need to, NJ Spotlight News found." — NJ Spotlight News: " Pet projects, public cash: Critics and defenders." HOUSING HELP — "Why has relief program for NJ homeowners hit financially during pandemic yet to launch?" by The Record's Ashley Balcerzak: "David Alston's… biggest concern was falling thousands of dollars behind in property tax payments for the house where he lives, which his family bought fifty years ago in Iselin, a community of three square miles in Woodbridge Township. 'I'll die first before I lose my parents' home,' said Alston, 62. To help homeowners across the country such as Alston survive the financial upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government set aside close to $10 billion in a 'Homeowner Assistance Fund' tucked within the massive American Rescue Plan stimulus. But nearly ten months later, few states have launched application portals for the program, let alone passed out any checks designed to help low-income families cover mortgage and interest payments, homeowner's insurance, utility payments and property taxes." OH NO, NOT THE INAUGURAL BALL! — "Gov. Murphy's upcoming inauguration will look much different than 4 years ago," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco: "No inaugural ball, no thundering cannon salute, and everybody in the audience will be wearing masks. Gov. Phil Murphy's second inauguration on Tuesday, when he's sworn into his second, four-year term, will look plenty different than four years ago. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the state Supreme Court will swear Murphy in with a scaled-down number of people in the audience at the Trenton War Memorial because of the coronavirus pandemic. And unlike four years ago when Murphy celebrated afterward with a massive inaugural gala at MetLife Stadium, this year's party is postponed to an unspecified date. The governor plans to attend religious services earlier in the day in Newark. But otherwise, he has no public plans to celebrate the occasion as the state is in the middle of another wave of the pandemic." OMICRON — "N.J. reports 103 COVID deaths, 19,454 cases. Omicron surge shows early signs of slowing," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "New Jersey on Wednesday reported another 103 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 19,454 confirmed positive tests, a day after Gov. Phil Murphy declared a new public-health emergency to battle the latest surge in the pandemic driven by the highly transmissible omicron variant. That means the statewide mask mandate in schools will remain, in addition to preserving a number of other, less visible powers Murphy's administration has utilized during the crisis. The governor, however, insisted it will not mean any new statewide restrictions, mask mandates, vaccine passports, or gathering limits. Local governments are allowed to implement their own restrictions." NEW ASSIGNMENTS — The state Senate on Wednesday quietly posted their new committee assignments to the legislative website with some notable changes. Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union) will be the new chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee while Republican Mike Testa (R-Cumberland) lost his seat on that panel. New Sen. Ed Durr (R-Gloucester), who ousted Senate President Steve Sweeney, scored seats on both the Energy and Environment Committee as well as the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) is the new Education Committee chair but former-chair-turned-Majority Leader Sen. Teresa Ruiz has seemingly left the committee, as has Sen. James Beach (D-Camden), who will instead serve as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee. —Carly Sitrin — New Jersey Globe: "Senate Judiciary Committee gets four new members." — New Jersey Globe: "Supreme Court orders congressional redistricting briefs to be filed by January 21. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | |
| | BIDEN TIME | | TESTING — Biden administration rolls out new school testing effort, by POLITICO's Juan Perez Jr.: The White House on Wednesday unveiled a new school Covid-19 testing expansion that promised to make 10 million additional tests available to campuses each month. This strategy would more than double the volume of testing that took place in schools in November 2021, according to the White House. The effort begins as administrators confront short supplies, logistical challenges and workforce problems that have tripped up the country's efforts to screen schoolchildren for the virus as they return to class. JOB MOVES — Sen. Bob Menendez on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rudy Rodas as his New Jersey state director. Rodas, a native of Union City, has been serving as an associate counsel and policy adviser to Gov. Phil Murphy's office. "Rudy brings to the team a deep knowledge of New Jersey and the issues that impact communities across the state," Menendez said in a statement. "He has a sharp mind and is passionate about his work and finding solutions. Whether advocating on behalf of the immigrant community or advising on policies related to transportation, housing or economic opportunity, he brings an unrivaled work ethic and commitment that will help guide our operation in the state. I look forward to the perspective he will bring to the team." | | | | A message from Anbaric Development Partners:   | | |
| | LOCAL | | WHAT — "Indoor waterpark in Atlantic City will feature ziplines, retractable ceiling when it opens in 2023," by NJ Advance Media's Tim Hawk: "Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein's vision is that next summer people will be frolicking in 85 degree temperatures inside his new $100 million Atlantic City waterpark at the same location guests gathered in freezing temperatures Wednesday morning to celebrate the city's new upcoming non-casino attraction. It was quite a show under a white tent alongside Showboat as political leaders and community members mingled with mimosas in hand, passing three brave souls playing in a small above ground pool while others, dressed more for July temps, showed off their skills on a mechanical surfboard." THE CONSUMER VALUE STORE — "CVS shutters N.J. store, and more closings could be coming," by NJ Advance Media's Christopher Burch: "CVS Health recently shuttered one of its New Jersey stores as part of a plan to close hundreds of locations by 2024. The company's only store in Metuchen, located at 45 Pearl St., closed last month. Last year, CVS Health announced it would close hundreds of U.S. stores by 2024 as part of an initiative to shift focus to digital. The popular drugstore chain plans to shutter about 300 stores per year over the next three years — about 10% of its brick-and-mortar footprint. Exact locations were not announced." | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | I LOVE WINTER! — "NJ weather forecast predicts temperature could plunge to zero Friday," by the Asbury Park Press' Ken Serrano: "After a brief respite from the bitter cold of the last few days, temperatures in New Jersey will plunge even lower, approaching zero in the northern part of the state Friday night, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. A storm could hit New Jersey late Sunday, but right now it's looking like rain if it does. It might miss us entirely if it swings out to sea, but the probability of that is dropping. It will get so cold in the northern part of the state that the weather service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Sussex and Hunterdon counties. The reason for that, said Meteorologist Amanda Lee, is the potential for dangerous wind chill." EDUCATION — "Here's the list of 516 N.J. schools that are virtual this week," by NJ Advance Media's Rob Jennings: "Just over one-fifth of New Jersey's public schools have switched to virtual learning due to COVID-19 as this week, according to state education officials. A total of 516 schools, out of 2,679 schools, were conducting remote learning this week, according to a list of closures provided by the state Department of Education. The list noted 205 districts that were closed the previous week but scheduled to reopen on Monday." ENERGY — New Jersey sewer agency prepares to build controversial gas-fired power plant, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: A New Jersey agency that oversees one of the country's largest wastewater treatment plants is planning to begin construction on a $180 million power plant in Newark even though it does not yet have all the necessary permits. The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission wants to get going on a much talked about natural gas-fired power plant it's been trying to build since Hurricane Sandy to provide backup energy when the electric grid fails. The commission's sewage treatment plant in Newark receives waste from about 25 percent of New Jersey's population and 15 percent of New York City's. Sandy knocked out power to the treatment plant for two days in late October 2012, forcing the commission to dump over 800 million gallons of raw sewage into the Passaic River and Newark Bay. | | | | A message from Anbaric Development Partners: Anbaric is proud to be a leading developer of electric transmission projects and the primary advocate for a transmission-first approach to offshore wind – in New Jersey and across the east coast. Anbaric has the experience needed to deliver offshore wind energy across New Jersey with an efficient, cost-effective transmission system.
That's why Anbaric was thrilled to submit a robust portfolio of projects to achieve New Jersey's clean energy goals in response to New Jersey's first-in-the-nation solicitation for offshore wind transmission. Anbaric's proposal will efficiently deliver wind power to shore, protect the environment, coastal communities, and the ratepayer, and can be developed to accompany the growth of the offshore industry. Anbaric is proud to be working with incredible partners, including Ferreira Construction, a seasoned New Jersey utility and civil contractor, to make this vision a reality.
Read more about what Anbaric's bid package means for the future of clean energy. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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