Little support for a return to mask mandates

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Apr 14, 2022 View in browser   By Jonathan Custodio New Jerseyans no longer support mask mandates, according to a Monmouth poll released today. Concerns about the pandemic and support for social distancing guidelines are wavering in the state, according to the survey of 802 residents, as Covid-19 infection rates continue to climb since the Omicron subvariant was detected. Sixty-four percent of those polled said they opposed the reinstitution of mask mandates and social distancing guidelines, while 34 percent expressed support for the measures. Fifty-two percent opposed mandating vaccines for work settings or public places. Concern about a serious illness infecting themselves or a family member via Covid-19 was split almost evenly. On another issue related to the pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy received positive marks. According to the poll, 67 percent approve of the governor's leadership on the virus — up 5 percent from September, and 53 percent agree that the state has managed the pandemic better the most others. "There's a combination of factors at play here. The delta variant was not as bad as predicted while the omicron surge made it seem as if infection was inescapable," Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement that accompanied the poll results. HAPPY THURSDAY AFTERNOON — Hi there, I'm Jonathan Custodio, new Playbook PM author for the next few months. I've covered the 2021 race for mayor and comptroller in New York City, world and national security issues, and energy policy at POLITICO. I'm excited to helm this newsletter. You can send eastern goldfinch photos to jcustodio@politico.com. We're here with the latest from Trenton and elsewhere as New Jersey moves ahead in the budget process and the Legislature conducts hearings on Gov. Phil Murphy's spending plan. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY OUT IN PUBLIC — The top lawyer at the state Office of the Public Defender is being sued by three public defenders who allege they were forced out due to spurious charges of misconduct, reports The Star-Ledger's Kevin Shea. Heather Timmons, Kathleen Redpath-Perez and David Nufrio have all filed individual lawsuits against Joseph Krakora since January, 2019. Timmons says she was targeted by Krakora and his top assistant, Kevin Walker, after being assigned to the Middlesex County office. She alleged Walker used racial language towards her before ultimately being terminated. Redpath-Perez alleges she was bullied, harassed, and received unwanted sexual advances from various staffers in the Mercer County office, while Nufrio, who was based in Sussex County, says he was forced out by trumped-up internal disciplinary charges to make way for a lesser-experience attorney. MAKE IT AFFORDABLE — Panelists at the state Chamber of Commerce's ReNew Jersey Summit in Atlantic City on Wednesday said they believe the Legislature is not doing enoughto make the state more affordable, reports The Record's Daniel Munoz. The state's top business leaders complained about Murphy's reticence in using federal dollars to lower local tax burdens while exuding confidence in New Jersey's economy. "Our economy coming out from under the pandemic is gathering more strength than our economy had pre-pandemic," Murphy said in the conference's keynote address. COVID NUMBERS — Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have doubled since a month ago, up 106 percent, as the state reported 2,289 cases Thursday and seven deaths. Cases are also up 33 percent from a week ago. ON THE BEATS ECONOMY— New Jersey employers added 17,800 jobs in March as the state's unemployment rate dropped to 4.2 percent, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly all of the job gains were in the private sector. According to the labor bureau, New Jersey has now recovered 679,400 jobs, or 93 percent of the number lost at the start of the pandemic in March and April 2020, when government-imposed restrictions were enacted. The state's unemployment rate declined by 0.4 percent, to 4.2 percent, the labor bureau reported today, but it still remains higher than the national rate of 3.6 percent. — Katherine Landergan Around New Jersey "Why do people buy illegal guns in N.J.? Researchers hope the answer will help improve public safety," by NJ Advance Media's Joe Atmonavage: "Researchers at Rutgers are teaming up with a Newark violence reduction organization to study illicit gun ownership, an issue they say could be crucial to improving public safety. Why are people buying illegal firearms? Where do they get them? How much do they cost? Who else can access them? These are some questions researchers will ask Newark residents who own an illegal firearm as Rutgers' New Jersey Gun Violence Center and the Newark Community Street Team (NCST) partner on a research project on illicit firearms ownership in the state's largest city." "Pinkin cancels Middlesex ballot draw," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "One hour after her return from an ill-timed junket to Ireland, Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin has bizarrely cancelled a ballot draw scheduled for 3 PM this afternoon. 'All certifications for candidates nominated to the primary election have been submitted to the Office of the County Clerk, and as a result of said certifications, there will be no ballot drawing for the 2022 Primary Election,' said Kimberly Burnett, a spokesperson for Middlesex County. It's not clear why Pinkin isn't holding the statutorily-required draw for ballot positions in the June 7 primary election." "Borough second look at cannabis business licenses, revenue tempts policy change," by Cherry Hill Courier-Post's Joseph P. Smith: "The idea of cannabis businesses operating here is getting a second look from local officials, who are looking for new revenues and not seeing many opportunities. Whatever the discussion outcome, it will not have an impact on this year's municipal budget. A preliminary 2022 budget is in its final form with introduction expected at the April 25 Borough Council meeting. The good news for property owners is the budget is not built around the need for a tax rate increase. There are six different types of cannabis businesses that New Jersey allows, each with its own licensing process. Local governments can command sizeable fees just to review a license application, let alone grant one. Pitman decided in July 2021 not to issue licenses, while not ruling out a change in policy in time." "Center for Biological Diversity backs Ocampo Grajales for Congress," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "The action fund of the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting endangered species, announced today that it is endorsing David Ocampo Grajales in the Democratic primary for the 8th congressional district. … Ocampo Grajales is one of three Democrats running in the Hudson County-based district to succeed Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York), who is retiring after 16 years in Congress. The primary's clear frontrunner is Port Authority Commissioner Rob Menendez, the son of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who has the county line in all three of the district's counties." Odds and ends — NJ Transit will build a new rail yard on the border of New Brunswick and North Brunswick to better protect parked trains and locomotives from floods. — College enrollment in New Jersey has declined, leading observers to wonder if it is the beginning of a trend. — A Hudson County corrections officer has been charged with submitting falsified medical records.  — City Council members in Hoboken continue to oppose a cannabis dispensary, even though it has conditional approval from the city's planning board.  — The return of international students should mean no labor shortage at Jersey Shore resort towns this year.    Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  California Playbook PM  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  New York Playbook PM View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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