Cunningham's DWI case dismissed

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May 12, 2022 View in browser   By Jonathan Custodio State Sen. Sandra Cunningham has had her driving while intoxicated charge dismissed, her office confirmed to POLITICO's Carly Sitrin. Cunningham (D-Hudson) was hit with the charge on March 4, 2021 after police said she sideswiped two parked cars at 9:30 a.m. on Culver Avenue in Jersey City. She told police she thought she hit a snowbank and the lawmaker appeared to be disoriented and struggling to maintain her balance, according to police body camera footage. Prosecutors told Superior Court Judge Anthony Gallina in Bergen County, where the case was moved to avoid conflict, that the state did not have enough evidence to prove their case and the DWI charge was dropped, NJ Advance Media reported. The 14-year incumbent pleaded not guilty and former Gov. Jim McGreevey, a friend of hers who picked her up after her arrest, blamed the crash on a reaction to medication rather than alcohol impairment. A toxicology report validated his contention that alcohol did not play a role. It did show non-narcotic prescription drugs in her system. The incident appeared to dash any hopes Cunningham had of contending for the role of Senate majority leader once it became public. NJ Advance Media reported that Cunningham pleaded guilty to careless driving and had to pay a small fine. HAPPY THURSDAY AFTERNOON — Hi there, I'm Jonathan Custodio, your Playbook PM author. This week we're shifting from eastern goldfinches. You can send photos of your favorite New Jersey parks to jcustodio@politico.com. I'll park myself on a bench while browsing them. 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 PROPERTY TAXES — Gov. Phil Murphy used his bully pulpit in Somerville to highlight the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters Property Tax Relief Program. Folded into his current budget proposal, the initiative would distribute $900 million in property tax relief to 1.8 million residents and make average rebates of nearly $700 eligible to homeowners making up to $250,000. Property taxes are a top issue in New Jersey, with an April poll from the AARP showing a high percentage of older voters willing to leave the state because of high property taxes. "Through the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program, more New Jersey taxpayers will receive the support they need to offset the costs of property taxes, making our state stronger, fairer, and more affordable for all," Murphy said in a press release. COVID NUMBERS — Positive cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in New Jersey as it tallied its highest single-day case count since late January when the country was in the midst of an Omicron surge. New Jersey reported 4,551 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 12 deaths from the virus, and the seven-day average is up 33 percent from a week ago and 124 percent from a month ago. ON THE BEATS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS — Murphy told reporters today that he'd like extra tax revenues to go towards debt reduction or putting more money into the state's rainy day fund in order to prepare for a future recession. "Again, this is subject to final negotiations with the Legislature, which are going quite well I have to say," Murphy said after a press conference in Somerville to promote his property tax plan. The state treasurer will give a revenue update on Monday to the Senate Budget committee. Republicans are predicting a surge in tax revenues. Around New Jersey "Bill would require in-person motor vehicle services for senior citizens, people with disabilities," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Muñoz: "All Motor Vehicle Commission locations would be required to provide in-person services to senior citizens and people with disabilities under a new bill set for introduction this week. Sen. Tony Bucco (R-Morris), who said he plans to introduce the measure Thursday, said the requirement would end the 'confusing, inconvenient policies that have plagued New Jersey motorists.' After COVID-19 cases began to skyrocket in March 2020, the agency shuttered for months, creating a huge backlog. When locations reopened, people arrived in the middle of the night or slept outside the agency's centers to snag appointments, while routine matters led to hourslong waits." "Environmental groups file official protests to block $4.7B Turnpike extension widening," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "A coalition of eight environmental groups filed a formal rule making petition, challenging the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's $4.7B proposal to widen the Hudson County extension to and from the Holland Tunnel while it is in the permitting process. The petition, filed with the state Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, contends both haven't complied with two of Gov. Phil Murphy's Executive Orders, to reduce greenhouse gases by 50% by 2030 and that state agencies consider environmental justice for overburdened and minority communities in all their decision making." "NJ's most veteran GOP congressman faces dual challenge from the right," by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: "The Republican primary in New Jersey's 4th Congressional District showcases virtually all sides of today's GOP political discourse, including pro-Trump rhetoric, conspiracies about COVID-19 and complaints about critical race theory. Rep. Chris Smith has been in office since Jan. 3, 1981, in the last days of Jimmy Carter's presidency. That he has spent 41 years in Congress is reason enough for voters to replace him, argue opponents Mike Crispi and Steve Gray. Both challengers also espouse positions that put them much further to the right than Smith. While the incumbent is still considered a conservative, given the party's overall shift, he's now ranked as among the most moderate Republicans in the House by govtrack, an independent Congressional monitoring website." Odds and ends — Recent storms have uncovered old, unused railroad tracks in Cape May. — Poll workers will make more than $20 an hour to staff the state's upcoming primaries. — A 66-year-old Garfield man will get his college degree after shutting down his longtime cleaning business because of Covid-19. — Ocean Gate Mayor Paul Kennedy will be removed from office on corruption charges.   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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