| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by NJ Cannabis Trade Association | Good Tuesday morning! Just how right has Steve Sweeney's former district moved? We'll see. It was always a swing district on paper. Is it ready to support a senator for the long-term who proposed abortion restrictions that are even tighter than Mississippi's? Ed Durr became a star on the right after ousting the powerful former senate president in a huge November upset. Now he's proposed an abortion bill that's more restrictive than one that's long been sponsored by some of the most conservative lawmakers in the house. The latter bill would ban abortions after 20 weeks. Durr's proposal bumps that down to 12. (The Mississippi law, which is being used to challenge Roe v. Wade , is 15 weeks). It would also repeal the new law that codifies abortion rights. There is virtually no chance that this bill becomes law with a Democrat-led Legislature (it probably wouldn't even pass a Republican-led one). But it's an interesting contrast. Murphy's pandemic powers notwithstanding, Sweeney took pains not to be seen as too far left. Remember his initial abstention on gay marriage, when the issue hadn't yet become a largely uncontroversial one? Remember his refusal to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act as-is? His emphasis on shifting retirement benefits from pensions to 401k-style plan. Durr's not making moves to the center. Have the political attitudes in the district shifted that fast, or is he misreading his mandate? Read more about the bill here. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Josh, as a Jew, it's a shanda that you're blocking Build Back Better." — Russell Miller, recounting in a Times of Israel column what he said he told Josh Gottheimer during a September event. Gottheimer claimed that a progressive protester shouted "Jew!" at him. Miller, who's Jewish, says the above quote of his is what Gottheimer heard. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Sostento's Joe Agoada, Former Judiciary spox Winnie Comfort, realtor Dianne Pennacchio WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com
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YOU NEED 27 VOTES TO OVERRIDE A VETO O'Scanlon: Bill limiting governor's emergency powers has 'real shot' of passing Senate,by POLITICO's Daniel Han : Republican state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon said Monday legislation he is proposing that would limit Gov. Phil Murphy's emergency powers has the support of at least one Democrat. O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) tweeted that his bill, NJ S1200, which has been proposed for introduction, will include Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) as a co-sponsor. Gopal did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. "There is interest [in this bill] and there's a real shot at getting this to more than 21 [votes]," O'Scanlon said in a phone interview, though he declined to name other Democratic lawmakers who are considering signing on. O'Scanlon's bill would need 21 votes in the Democrat-controlled Legislature to pass. Democrats hold a 24-16 in the upper house.
AFFORDABILITY— Senators confirm former colleagues for paid gigs during brief first voting session,by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: In its first vote of the new two-year legislative session, the state Senate took about one minute Monday morning to confirm two of its former members to paid positions. The chamber voted, 32-0, to confirm Gov. Phil Murphy's nomination of former Sen. Dawn Addiego (D-Burlington) as superintendent of the Burlington County Board of Elections and of former Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset) to the board of directors of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Both former lawmakers were in office until just weeks ago.
ONE WORE BLUE TRACK SUITS AND ONE WORE GRAY TRACK SUITS — " It's North Jersey vs. South Jersey in a Democratic battle for political dominance," by The Record's Charles Stile: "Eleven years ago. Democrat Steve Sweeney bounced around the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, swatting down rumors that he was rigging the legislative redistricting process to retaliate against fellow Democrats who didn't back his rise to the Senate presidency. 'If I wanted to, I would have. I don't want to. I'm not trying,' Sweeney said at the time. Sweeney was at the pinnacle of his power then, loose and bantering with reporters in a tracksuit and a 'New Jersey State Troopers' T-shirt. But today, Sweeney is at the nadir of his power, rejected and bounced from his Senate seat by voters in November. And last week, the leaders of his own party expelled him from the state legislative redistricting panel." —" Sweeney schedules Senate campaign fundraiser for March ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Steve Sweeney's Senate campaign committee is holding a high-dollar fundraiser in March, an event that will only fuel speculation that the former Senate President might seek to regain the seat he lost last November to Republican Edward R. Durr. The event is set for March 10 at the Rittenhouse Grill in Philadelphia, with ticket prices ranging from $2,600 to $8,200. Sweeney ended his bid for a seventh term in the State Senate with $575,114 in the bank and 2,200 less votes than he needed to beat Durr, a truck driver who beat the most powerful legislative leader in state history on a shoestring budget." ON THIS ISSUE SALMON'S SWIMMING UPSTREAM — " Wildly outdated' election laws in N.J. need revamp ," by Scott Salmon for New Jersey Monitor: "Title 19's framework is still based around the premise that voting takes place by paper ballots stuffed into a box and then read aloud when polls close. This is a completely outdated concept, as most voting today is done by machine and vote-by-mail ballots. But the legal framework is not built in a way that reflects how we actually vote, so we have unnecessarily complicated administration and oversight of our elections. Instead of reworking our laws to accurately reflect how we vote by structuring our system around voting machines and vote-by-mail ballots, we have instead added additional laws on top of an already existing system, resulting in a messy pile of confusing and inconsistent laws that can add to a general distrust of the system when they have to be reconciled on the fly." R.I.P.(P.E.D.) MARIJUANA — " N.J. legal weed growers brace for layoffs, 'destroying product' if consumer market doesn't open soon ," by NJ Advance Media's Suzette Parmley: "Like many of New Jersey's residents who voted to legalize weed for adult consumers, the state's largest growers say they've been eager for the market to open. In fact, they say they're bursting at the seams with marijuana — and now, they're worried they'll have to take drastic measures if things don't speed up. 'I hate to say this, but we may have to start destroying product, and we may have to start potentially letting people go because part of the anticipation is you ramp up your staffing, as well,' said James Leventis, an executive for Verano New Jersey … Just like any other organic material, cannabis starts to decompose after time. Even after it's properly stored, after six months weed can get stale, loose its aroma and potency. In worst-case scenarios, the pot can get moldy." — "In cop killer's case, top court weighs recidivism fears against redemption"
—" Testa joins lawmakers backing bill to end casino smoking"
—" Former N.J. Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia joins top law firm"
—" With new lawmakers taking office, attorneys still overrepresented in Legislature"
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| | BIDEN TIME | | MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE A DELAWARE WATER RAP — "Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area a national park? Efforts on to make it happen," by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "A longtime effort to change the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area into a national park is stepping out of the shadows again and has picked up its first endorsement by a public body. The Warren County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution last week endorsing the idea of Congress re-designating the nearly 70,000 acres of the recreation area as a national park and preserve. As a 'national recreation area,' known by its National Park Service designation 'DEWA,' would remain under the jurisdiction of the park service, but move into the category of 'National Park.' The National Park Service includes 423 individual units with several in New Jersey."
—Sweeney & Chiaravalloti — " An insidious assault on democracy is underway "
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| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | ASBURY PARK — " Asbury Park Convention Hall owner pushed to make repairs. Can iconic building be saved?" by The Asbury Park Press' Michael L. Diamond: "While the pandemic halted concerts all around the Shore, the Asbury Park landmark has an extra obstacle. The Paramount's ceiling has a tarp suspended from it to collect water from what city officials said was a leaking roof that makes the theater too dangerous to occupy. Madison Marquette, the Washington, D.C.-based retail developer that owns the building, said it is ready to work with the city to find a way to make repairs. City officials say the building's safety is the company's responsibility. The repairs, however, could cost millions of dollars, experts say, with no guarantee that Madison Marquette can recoup the investment. The stalemate has some observers wondering if the private sector has the wherewithal to continue operating the Paramount and Convention Hall. 'The Paramount Theatre is the signature building that defines Asbury Park's brand as a destination as well as a civic venue,' said Helen-Chantel Pike, an author who has written extensively about the city. 'But for city taxpayers — or private investors — it needs to pay its way.'" IN NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO PARAMUS MADE NEW JERSEY'S LAWS BLUE — " Paramus to mark its 100th year with big turkeys, a drive-in movie and maybe a world record," by The Record's Stephanie Noda: "The Paramus Centennial Committee wanted to do something unique to launch months of activities marking the 100th anniversary of the borough's founding in 1922. Its solution? A video parodying the opening of the 1960s sitcom 'Green Acres' that showcases different areas around town and how they've changed. It stars Mayor Richard LaBarbiera riding a tractor, leading a toast at the Orange Lantern bar and belting out lyrics like 'Malls! Spreading out so far and wide! Greg Nalenik, a retired teacher from Eastbrook Middle School, came up with the lyrics … Paramus was officially incorporated as a borough on March 2, 1922, ratified in a referendum on April 4, 1922." LITTLE BENCH ON THE PATCO — "Michael Landon fans bringing memorial bench to Collingswood," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "You might expect a park bench to offer a view of a leafy landscape, a placid stream, and maybe some ducks. But one coming here will be positioned to look away from Newton Lake Park — and toward a house across the street. That way, fans can gaze at the childhood home of the late Michael Landon, a TV star who grew up in Collingswood as Eugene 'Ugy' Orowitz. 'Michael Landon was an amazing person who overcame great adversity to become the man we know,' said Marla Fair, an Ohio woman who helped raise funds for the memorial from the performer's fans." I THOUGHT TONY SOPRANO SOLD THAT EGG FARM TO JAMBA JUICE — " Toms River OKs mediation on lawsuit claiming egg farm purchase was to keep Orthodox out," by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: "The township has moved closer to resolving a long-running religious land-use lawsuit, agreeing to enter mediation on litigation involving an old egg farm on Route 9. Mediation between township officials and representatives from developer 1940 Route 9 LLC is scheduled to begin in April, according to court documents. The company sued Toms River in 2018, accusing the township of using eminent domain to acquire the egg farm property in order to block Orthodox Jews from moving to town. In 2016, the Township Council approved a $10.3 million bond issue to purchase about 50 acres of land off Route 9 between Riverwood Drive and Cox Cro Road. The largest piece of land — about 35 acres — was owned by the Guttman family, who had operated an egg farm there." HE'S JUST AN INDICTMENT AWAY FROM BEING A MAYORAL SHOO-IN — " Paterson official now facing termination in sexual harassment case," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "The city's community improvements director, David Gilmore, had a termination hearing last Friday and will find out in about six weeks whether he will lose his $78,000 job over allegations of sexual harassment. Gilmore, who is considering running for mayor in May, was suspended without pay on Dec. 16. Initially, officials said the suspension would last for five days, but the penalty has remained in effect pending the outcome of the charges against him. City officials have not made public details of the allegations against Gilmore." — " How one South Jersey school district [Millville] is coping with its teacher shortage: A month of early dismissals"
—" Driver records himself plowing snow onto Orthodox Jews in Lakewood, NJ"
—"Judge's ruling throws former Eagle for a loss"
—" Man sues [North Arlington] school district for $10M, claims chemistry teacher sexually abused him in '80s" —" Secrecy envelopes Trenton council's pick for Jerell Blakeley's successor"
—" Action Network petition has over 10k people asking for Jersey City's ward maps to be redrawn"
—" From public housing to public office, Stephanie Marshall shows the way in A.C."
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| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | WEALTH REPLENISHMENT — " New federal funding for beach replenishment reignites old debate," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo : "Bulldozers on the beach and distant barges dredging sand up from the ocean floor are as much of a Jersey Shore staple as sea gulls, Snooki, and Kohr's custard cones. They're around most winters to replenish the sand that storms wash out to sea every year. To John Weber, a local leader of the national environmental group the Surfrider Foundation, this is a waste of time and taxpayers' money. 'It's welfare for wealthy people who have oceanfront homes,'said Weber. But to Margot Walsh, an advocate with the coastal protection group Jersey Shore Partnership, this annual work is critical to the coastline's — and even the state's — survival. 'Without beach replenishment, the Jersey coastline would disappear' … it's a debate that has picked up steam in recent years, as climate change causes more frequent and more turbulent storms that erode Jersey Shore beaches, which draw millions of visitors a year. This month, federal officials announced $30.2 million in federal funding from the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be used to replenish beaches between the Manasquan and Barnegat inlets." — Rutgers to pay $5M in COVID-19 tuition refund lawsuit —" The boy upstairs: A N.J. teen slaughtered his parents, sister and 'Grandma.' Did he know what he was doing?" —"NJ COVID hospitalizations drop to half of what they were 3 weeks ago" —"As omicron wanes in NJ, here's where experts think the COVID pandemic is headed next " —" Family of construction worker killed at American Dream files wrongful death lawsuit"
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