| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Good Tuesday morning! Would you like fries with your vote? Over the last several years, New Jersey has enacted a lot of new laws that make it easier to vote, from expanding mail-in voting to early in-person voting. Now, state Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex) has proposed drive-up voting. Under this new bill, the idea of which came from progressive voting-rights activist Winn Khuong, each New Jersey county would have to offer at least one drive-up ballot drop box. (The box would count as one of the drop boxes counties are already required to offer). Zwicker said the point isn't just to make voting easier, but even more accessible for disabled people. "This is about making it even more convenient to drop your ballot off," he told me. "This is about voter convenience and about ensuring that no one is disenfranchised." Khuong said New Jersey would not be the first state to offer drive-up voting — that it's done in Washington, Colorado and Arizona. But if the bill becomes law, New Jersey would be the first state with a law requiring it, she said. "In talking with county election officials here in New Jersey, it was a compromise where they said 'ok, we love this idea, it's great for people with mobility issues,'" Khuong said. " And not just physical. There's people with social issues." Perhaps this would boost Beth Hamburger's campaign should she choose to run for office again in Hudson County. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 240 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Ret. Adm. Mike Mullen, former Jersey City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis WHERE'S MURPHY? In Branchburg for a 2 p.m. building groundbreaking at Roche QUOTE OF THE DAY: "People are complaining. They are being told the library has pornography. But if you ask what the book is, they can't give you a title." — Teaneck librarian Jacqueline Quinn INSULT OF THE DAY: "Assemblyman Dimwitz" — State Sen. Declan O'Scanlon's nickname for New York Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz , who's sponsoring legislation to charge New Jersey drivers a $50 fee in response to an O'Scanlon-sponsored New Jersey bill that would block the MVC from sharing drivers' info with other states for issuing speed and red light camera violations. (See Dinowitz's response here) | | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Efforts to make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable state took a major step forward with Acenda Integrated Health receiving funding from RWJF to serve as the "incubator" organization to launch the state's first public health institute. The institute will promote health equity in New Jersey, where public health infrastructure and systems are strained by a lack of funding and capacity. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
LEMME GUESS: ON THE BALLOT IN 2023? — Scutari mulls constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Senate President Nick Scutari is considering an amendment to the state constitution to protect abortion rights in New Jersey, a move he framed as a long-term fix to guarantee access to the procedure. In an interview with "Update New Jersey" over the weekend, Scutari said that "more than ever, the social issue of a woman's right to choose" had been top of mind for his constituents.
"That's probably something that we're looking at doing next year in terms of codifying that — putting that in constitutional language, perhaps," Scutari said. "[Abortion rights are] statutorily prescribed law that we put into place, but nothing makes it permanent like an amendment to the constitution," he continued. "If the parties change, that may go by the wayside. So that's something that I've been personally thinking about for next year." Scutari hinted at taking further steps to protect abortion rights in the state last week but did not mention the prospect of a constitutional amendment. R.I.P. — 'The greatest statesman': N.J. remembers former Gov. Jim Florio, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: New Jersey's political class remembered late Gov. Jim Florio Monday as a workaholic statesman who eschewed political concerns to make lasting policy changes on the environment, gun control and education funding. About 250 people showed up at Camden County College to honor Florio, a Democrat who died last week at age 85. The audience included every living former New jersey governor and the current one, Phil Murphy. "For Jim, governing wasn't about doing what was popular. It was about doing what was right," Murphy said. "And moreover, it wasn't about doing what was right for the sake of politics, but about doing what was right for the entire state and importantly for future generations to come. HOW ABOUT PRIVATE PLANES FOR EVERYONE? — " How a plan for buses could be compromise for controversial Turnpike-widening plan," by The Record's Colleen Wilson: "In a debate over the wisdom of adding even more lanes heading into the narrow tube of the Holland Tunnel from North Jersey, two arguments have dominated. The one against the plan concerns the environment. The case for it focuses on safety. Now, there's a third idea up for debate — making the expansion and safety upgrades at the Holland Tunnel, but using the widened highway for a dedicated bus lane. Robert Menendez Jr., who may soon represent the 8th Congressional District in the Holland Tunnel area, has floated a plan to include buses because the $4.7 billion highway-widening project had become 'polarizing.'" MURPHY'S TEAM — "Former Sky Blue coach at center of scathing report on abuse against women's soccer players," by The Record's Meanie Anzidei: "Though Christy Holly's time with Sky Blue was brief, the former head coach's tenure on New Jersey's professional women's soccer team was plagued with complaints of verbal abuse, mistreatment and allegations of a toxic team environment, according to new details in a scathing report outlining systemic sexual and verbal abuse of players by coaches in the National Women's Soccer League. Holly was asked to leave the team — since renamed Gotham FC — abruptly midseason in 2017 because of his 'verbal abuse' and 'relationship with a player.' At the time, however, the club had said Holly and the team agreed to part ways mutually. They thanked him, according to the report. The former coach went on to work for the U.S. Soccer Federation, allegedly unchecked, before being signed as head coach of Racing Louisville of the NWSL, where his patterns of abuse persisted, according to the report. Then, a more serious complaint: Holly sexually coerced a Louisville player, the report says." CRYAN ABOUT IT — "Is Newark really a New York City airport? Insults fly between rival hubs ," by The Wall Street Journal's Andrew Tangel and Alison Sider: "New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia once refused to get off a plane at the Newark airport in 1934, complaining that his TWA ticket from Chicago listed New York as the destination, not New Jersey. He demanded the plane be flown to a New York City airfield. The slights New Jerseyites endure at the hands of New Yorkers are unending … Two new grievances have surfaced. The Newark, N.J., airport is losing its New York City designation by the International Air Transport Association. And the Justice Department snubbed Newark in an antitrust case related to the New York City air-travel market. "They are small slights but carry a lot of baggage. 'Of course it's a New York City airport. It's a regional economy,' said Joe Cryan, a Democratic state senator. Excluding Newark from the ranks of New York City airports, he said, is 'either arrogant or dumb.' Look at the New York Giants and New York Jets, Mr. Cryan said, the two NFL teams that share a home stadium—in New Jersey." — Legislature sends Murphy bill to fix child tax credit date —"Will New Jersey desegregate its schools? Ruling in 2018 lawsuit expected" —" N.J. Senior Freeze property tax relief checks could soon become tax credits" —" Bill to deny pensions to public employees who abuse offices advances in Legislature" —"Bill requiring DMV to finally have a call center passes N.J. Assembly" | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
TOM MORAN'S FAULT — "GOP Candidate Kean in NJ 7th District offers a confusing answer on abortion," by Gothamist's Nancy Solomon: "Kean was asked whether he believes women should have a right to abortion, given the U.S. Supreme Court's dismantling of Roe v. Wade. 'I support a woman's right to choose. I have a 20-year career in the state legislature to support that,' Kean replied. 'Like most New Jerseyans, I support reasonable restrictions — those include life and physical health and mental health of the mother and the baby, rape and incest, for example, with reasonable length of time to make a decision.' A murmur went through the in-person audience. About 50 people attended the event, and another 200 were watching online. Then one man called out: 'So I gotta follow up with that. Do you support a woman's right to choose or not?' And Kean responded, 'I just said I did.'
"The confusion stems from Kean's use of terms , and he looked just as surprised as the audience. The language Kean used – in one instance he referenced an exception for rape, incest or health of the mother, and in another he cited 'reasonable restrictions' – is typically offered by people who oppose abortion rights but are willing to make exceptions for those situations. But a pro-choice position doesn't require an exception, because to be pro-choice means support for a woman's right to make the decision herself, without restriction." —" Immigration cases should be handled remotely, not be forced to go back to into court, attorneys say" —" 'Crisis of antisemitism' is focus of House committee hearing held in NJ" | | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:   | | | | | LOCAL | | NOT SURE HE CAN COUNT ON A PARDON FROM BIDEN — "Bertoli will plead guilty on tax charge ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Thomas Bertoli, once a top Hudson County political insider and political consultant, is expected to plead guilty to a single count of a tax-related charge when he appears before a U.S. District Court judge on Wednesday, the New Jersey Globe has learned. Bertoli was charged with tax evasion, corrupt interference with administration of IRS laws, and failure to file a tax return in June 2020. He was accused of not paying taxes between 2009 and 2012 and evading the assessment of taxes for 2014. The plea will allow Bertoli to avoid a trial but does not include any agreement to cooperate on other matters. A jury trial had been set to begin on May 5 but was adjourned late last year." THANKS FOR THE PARDON — "Ocean County GOP: Gilmore names former Trump aide to manage fall campaign," by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: "Bill Stepien, former President Donald Trump's campaign manager, will supervise the Republican reelection bids of the Ocean County sheriff and Board of Commissioners this fall, county GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore said. Stepien's political consulting firm, National Public Affairs, includes Thomas Bonfonti as an associate director. Bonfonti is a close adviser to Gilmore and served as the county GOP's executive director in the late 2010s, when Gilmore was the organization's chairman. Stepien himself has close ties to Gilmore. The former White House political director and Trump's 2020 campaign manager was the key figure in convincing the former president to include Gilmore on a list of 143 people who were given clemency in the final hours of the Trump administration on Jan. 20, 2021 … Stepien will receive a monthly retainer for his services — the amount of which Gilmore declined to disclose — and is to be reimbursed for expenses related to the operation of the campaigns, Gilmore said. MORRIS COUNTY — " Muslim police chief intends to sue N.J. town over racially charged comments, lawyer says," by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino : "A Muslim police chief in Morris County intends to sue the township where he works, claiming elected officials and municipal employees allegedly made insensitive jokes about his race and religion, creating a hostile work environment. Ahmed Naga, the first Muslim chief of the Long Hill Township Police Department, says he's endured ongoing and repeated acts of harassment, discrimination, heightened scrutiny and a hostile work environment, according to a notice of tort claim his attorney filed with the township. The tort notice states Deputy Mayor Guy Piserchia – who was mayor at the time – asked Naga at a Sept. 11, 2021, memorial service if he was 'a member of the Taliban.' On Dec. 7, 2021, Councilman Victor Verlezza allegedly made a crude and racist remark about Muslims during a phone call with Naga, the tort notice states. In an April 27, 2021, meeting in the chief's office with two members of the committee and an assistant, another racist comment was allegedly made by Piserchia, the notice alleges. 'Piserchia (said) if he had known I was Muslim he wouldn't have promoted me,' Naga said in an email Friday that was forwarded to NJ Advance Media by his attorney." STACY'S MOM FORBIDS DAUGHTER FROM LEARNING WHAT'S GOING ON — " More than 400 Wayne students have already opted out of new sex ed lessons," by The Record's Philip DeVcencentis: "Hundreds of local students in five grades will not receive certain lessons in sex education after their parents decided to excuse them from that instruction, school officials said … Schools Superintendent Mark Toback said this week that 417 students were excused from the new lessons, which will be taught in first, second, fourth, fifth and eighth grades. That figure is 14.8% of the total enrollment of students — 2,853 — in those grades, Toback said." —" Prospect Park GOP mayor candidate says she was not allowed in borough parade" — "N.J. school district offering $92K salaries to lure retired teachers back to the classroom" —"More than $1 million in taxpayer dollars spent on legal fees so far to reclaim two district school buildings" —" Former jail guard claims Bergen Sheriff's Office ignored years of harassment" —" Marcal site update: Prep work starting on $100M warehouse to replace burned factory" —"[Newark] cop found guilty of killing estranged wife" | | | | 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 | |
HOBROKEN — "How climate change could sink NJ's tax base — and not just at the Shore," by NJ Spotlight News' Michael Sol Warren and John Upton: "The glittering high rises and apartments of the Hudson riverfront can feel worlds away from the idyllic tourist towns dotting the Jersey Shore. In Hoboken, a compact city where property values and taxes are high, its chief resilience officer, Caleb Stratton, is confronting a threat that the city shares with the Shore: climate change in a coastal environment. As flooding associated with rising seas and intensifying rainfall gets worse, a hidden danger lurks, one that threatens to crimp the ability of New Jersey's coastal towns to fund their essential operations. As warming caused by pollution forces tides to rise, coastal land and buildings on it increasingly fall beneath a state legal threshold for high tide that separates private property from public waters."
—"Hindu nationalism may be on the rise in New Jersey. Here's whychecks could soon become tax credits" —"Tower falls as green new world grows around it" —" Nor'easter causes problems at Shore with more flooding and erosion expected through Wednesday" —"Social media runs rampant with claims of active shooter at Jersey City mall but it was only a popcorn machine" | | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Efforts to make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable state took a major step forward with Acenda Integrated Health receiving funding from RWJF to serve as the "incubator" organization to launch the state's first public health institute.
The institute will promote collaboration and build capacity in New Jersey, where public health infrastructure and systems are stretched thin. It will play a key role in a reimagined public health system in the state. Today, 33 states are served by a public health institute; New Jersey's would be the first to have health equity as a founding priority.
"Dedicated advocates, community members, and partners in state government have worked hard for this moment to arrive," said RWJF's Maisha Simmons. "Everyone in New Jersey should be able to live the healthiest life possible – and a establishing a public health institute is a critical step on that path." | | | | | | | 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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