POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Where there's still smoke there's a casino

Presented by AARP New Jersey: Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day

Nov 02, 2022 View in browser   By Matt Friedman Presented by AARP New Jersey Good Wednesday morning!  For better or worse — my guess is usually worse — politics and policy are inherently intertwined. And so could that explain why a bill to ban smoking in casinos has stalled despite having a majority of the Legislature signed on as sponsors or co-sponsors? NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson reports a story relayed by Lamont White, a casino dealer and advocate for the ban, about an interaction he had with Senate President Nicholas Scutari. "I followed him and said to him, 'Thank you for any amount of attention you could give our bill. We really appreciate anything you could do for us,'" White said. "He turned and looked at me and said, 'That depends on who wins down there.' … White said he asked Scutari what that meant. He said Scutari replied, 'The election.'" What White and his allies took that to mean is that the Senate president doesn't want to give a big local win to state Sen. Vince Polistina (R-2nd Dist.) and his Republican district-mates, who represents Atlantic City and its environs in a perennially-competitive district. Scutari denies it, says he was "flippantly talking about stuff" with his staff and doesn't "remember anything" — "it might have been one of my guys." Regardless, if you have covered or been involved in Statehouse politics for a while, the story does not sound far-fetched. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY  WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 269 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com WHERE'S MURPHY? — Media: Bloomberg's "Balance of Power" at noon QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It's traumatic. In this day and age you never know when something like this is going to happen." — Assemblymember Ralph Caputo on two Newark cops who were shot by a man on a rooftop Tuesday afternoon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Crystal Pruitt BEST HALLOWEEN DISPLAY OF THE YEAR: This   A message from AARP New Jersey: Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist older loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. That's a huge burden. But NJ lawmakers can give family caregivers the relief they need by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021).   WHAT TRENTON MADE NEEDED: REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHOSE FAMILIAL WEALTH GOES BACK MORE THAN JUST ONE OR TWO GENERATIONS — " Murphy longs for the days of N.J. Republicans Tom Kean Sr. and Christie Whitman. 'We need sanity' ," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "Evoking the names of former New Jersey governors Tom Kean and Christie Whitman, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday called for the more moderate branch of the Republican Party to 'reassert itself' because 'we need sanity.' The current Democratic New Jersey governor made the comments during a television interview on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' one week before the Nov. 8 midterm elections, in which Republicans are seeking to retake control of Congress from Democrats two years into President Joe Biden's term … "'In Massachusetts, you had the likes of Bill Weld and Mitt Romney as governor. In New Jersey, you had Christie Todd Whitman and Tom Kean Sr. Really great Americans, all of them. I beg for that brand, that wing of the Republican Party to reassert itself.' 'Frankly, I'm saying this as a Democrat, so it's perhaps hard to believe,' the governor added. 'But it's far more than about their party. This is about the future of America. We need sanity. We need respect for our institutions. We need folks to abide by the truth and tell the truth, to not make fun of some horrible violent act that happens on the other side of the aisle.'" MAYBE NJ SHOULD ACTUALLY BE A GARDEN STATE —" Maybe NJ should let residents grow their own pot, Gov. Murphy suggests ," by WNYC's Nancy Solomon : "Gov. Phil Murphy has signaled he would be open to letting New Jersey residents allowed to grow their own marijuana. The remarks came in an answer to a caller on the monthly 'Ask Governor Murphy' call-in show on Monday. Some New Jersey residents have been frustrated by the new state law that allows the sale and use of recreational marijuana, but does not allow any amount to be legally grown at home. 'I'm of the opinion that we should revisit that question at some point, and I'm not sure when the right time is to revisit it,' Murphy responded. 'I think we need to get the industry probably either more on its feet or completely on its feet.'" ROE — " Abortions rose in N.J. after Roe v. Wade fell, new study shows ," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: "Legal abortions have risen 7% in New Jersey since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, even as they dropped 6% nationally, according to a new study undertaken to quantify how the landmark decision impacted abortion trends." —" Lawmakers move to combat rise in sexual extortion "   NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don't miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS  – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID .     BIDEN TIME NOT COOKED YET — " Cook political report downgrades Kim's chances In NJ-3 ," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "The Cook Political Report, one of the country's preeminent election forecasters, shifted New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from Likely Democratic to Lean Democratic this morning, indicating that Republican Bob Healey has a fighting chance of beating Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown)." —" Three possibilities for this year's 3rd congressional district election "  —" Can Republicans grab multiple N.J. congressional seats on Election Day? Here's where it may happen " LAND OF OZ —" As activists 'trick or treat' near Mehmet Oz's New Jersey home, neighbors recall experiences with GOP Senate candidate ," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Rodrigo Torrejon: "Residents of Cliffside Park, the North Jersey town where Mehmet Oz lived for more than 20 years, have different appraisals of what it's like living next to the celebrity. A few said Oz, who's now the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, was a good neighbor who largely kept to himself. Others said that on Halloweens past, he'd take his grandkids trick-or-treating, and once showed up in a Superman costume and another time as a ghost. Others, like Melissa Gentile, are a bit more blunt. 'I don't like him,' she said. 'Nobody likes him.' In Cliffside Park …most residents who spoke to The Inquirer couldn't pinpoint the last time they saw Oz. But they each had stories of his time as a neighbor … Gentile, who has lived near Oz for 15 years, said Oz was a 'garbage' neighbor who wasn't very considerate and whose tree maintenance left much to be desired." 1.7 MASTROS — " New Jersey House races see $15 million in outside spending ," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: "Outside spending has poured more than $15 million into New Jersey congressional races with a week remaining until Election Day, and Democratic and Republican groups are splitting roughly equal parts of the bill. Nearly half of the outside spending in the state has been poured into the 7th Congressional District, seen as the GOP's best chance of flipping one of the state's ten Democratic-held seats. Rep. Tom Malinowski is facing a repeat challenge in the 7th from former state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. Most of the outside spending has aided Kean. PACs, social welfare nonprofits, and other groups have reported spending nearly $7.2 million in the 7th District. Of that, roughly $5.7 million has been spent in Kean's benefit." —" Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallotta to have U.S. House rematch next week. Here's what to know "  —" Can Republicans grab multiple N.J. congressional seats on Election Day? Here's where it may happen "  —Snowflack: " Drilling down into the closing collision of Sherrill v. DeGroot "  —" National Dems putting $600k behind Malinowski "  —" Midterm's closing argument rests on economic fears "  —" NJ Gov. Murphy: I don't know if Menendez is guilty of anything, but he's a 'valuable and important partner' "   A message from AARP New Jersey:   LOCAL COPS SHOT — " 2 Newark police officers shot by gunman firing from roof of building, officials say ," by NJ Advance Media's Noah Cohen and Ted Sherman: "Two Newark police officers were shot and wounded by an unknown gunman Tuesday afternoon, leading to a massive response by heavily armed officers on the streets of the state's largest city. The assailant still remained at large hours after the first shots, which were reported before 2 p.m., as officers went door-to-door through the residential neighborhood, searching roofs and buildings. "Both of the injured officers were hospitalized. One was shot in the neck and was in surgery. The other was hit twice in the leg, according to a source close to the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly about the shooting. The head of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police said the two men were in stable condition at University Hospital in Newark. Initial reports from the scene said it appeared that a man on a roof of a building in South Newark had fired at the officers in a standoff, according to state and federal officials. But a spokeswoman for the Newark Police Department could not offer any immediate confirmation or details." JUST LOOKED UP WHAT 'JOCOSE' MEANS — " Second harassment lawsuit filed against Montclair and town manager Stafford ," by The Record's Julia Martin: "Juliet Lee, Montclair's former deputy town clerk, has filed a lawsuit against Montclair and Township Manager Tim Stafford alleging verbal abuse, humiliation and harassment, just two weeks after township CFO Padjama Rao filed a similar suit against the town. Stafford's abuse was 'so outrageous and coercive' it forced Lee to retire early from her position, according to the complaint, and calls for punitive and compensatory damages and legal fees … None of the Montclair officials present intervened to challenge Stafford's verbal abuse and humiliation of Lee and, the complaint reads … Stafford's attorney issued a statement that reads, 'Same law firm, similar ill-considered allegations and similar jocose claims as in the first. Just another example of a disgruntled former employee jumping on the proverbial litigation bandwagon, looking for a quick payout at the expense of Montclair residents.'" NO OLIVE BRANCH — " Suspended Mount Olive superintendent sues school board, saying his ouster was illegal ," by The Record's Kyle Morel: "Mount Olive's suspended superintendent has filed a lawsuit against the district board of education, alleging that the action against him earlier this month violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act … The suit seeks to nullify the board's decision and reinstate Zywicki to his 'full active status.' Neither Zywicki nor the board has said publicly why he was placed on paid leave after four years at the helm of the district. Friday's complaint, filed in state Superior Court in Morristown, sheds no light on that question. But it does add more detail to two tort claim notices Zywicki filed last month stating his intention to sue school board members Antoine Gayles and William Robinson for $5.13 million apiece. The suit accuses the two of 'defamation ... based on their public discussion of Zywicki's supposedly secret suspension.'" — " 'Vote Bottoms Up': Partisan politics take hold of local school board races " —" Are Asbury Park PD internal investigations really being conducted? A lawsuit seeks answers "  —" Suit seeks damages after fatal crash involving an Atlantic City police officer "  —" Jackson election pits mayor against council members " —" Plans to consider, but no quorum on Atlantic City Planning Board again "  —" Why are Wayne taxpayers footing bill to dredge private lake? A 1975 lawsuit is behind it "  —" Harrison mayoral contest heats up as incumbent Fife takes on old foe Milan in rematch "  —" Bird flu kills 30 swans at Jersey Shore lake, mayor says "    DON'T MISS POLITICO'S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, "At a Crossroads: America's Defense Strategy" on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America's national security. REGISTER HERE .     EVERYTHING ELSE MY GUESS IS SEX — " What's driving NJ surge in sexually transmitted diseases? " by The Asbury Park Press' Amanda Oglesby: "Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have become more prevalent among adults and teens over the past decade, according to data from the New Jersey Health Department. Incidences of the three infections rose 40% between 2012 and 2019, according to state data. While it caused a small drop off in disease rates, the COVID-19 pandemic failed to significantly slow down the spread of sexually transmitted infections across the state, said Dr. Edward Liu, the infectious disease section chief at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. 'Even during the pandemic … their behaviors didn't change that much, he said. 'Or maybe they were so cooped up that they had to have some type of outlet.' While rates of infection for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis did drop during 2020, the rate still exceeded the rate for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015." — " Hidden in plain sight: How human trafficking affects NJ communities ," by The Record's Matt Fagan: "The complicated issue of human trafficking is the focus of an investigation by NorthJersey.com and The Record to shine light on the problem. The series focuses on explaining the matter, how a group in New Jersey fights it, a local victim's story of survival and how certain groups of people can become ensnared. New Jersey, said Montclair State's Daniela Peterka-Benton, academic director of the Global Center on Human Trafficking, makes for prime trafficking conditions, given its density and diversity of people and its proximity to New York City, Philadelphia and Atlantic City. The Garden State sits squarely on the I-95 corridor, which has a ton of traffic and marginalized people moving about … Mandy Bristol-Leverett of CAN said the group found it 'prevalent in every community.' All of New Jersey's 565 municipalities have had businesses that employ forced labor, domestic servitude, commercial sex trafficking or predators on the prowl for the young and vulnerable, researchers say." AGNEW START — " Nelson joining top litigation firm now known as Spiro, Harrison & Nelson ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Brian M. Nelson , a top New Jersey lawyer with political juice, is leaving Archer & Greiner to become a named partner at Spiro Harrison, which will now be known as Spiro, Harrison & Nelson. 'Nelson is one of the state's preeminent redevelopment attorneys representing both public and private clients on many complex projects,' said Jason Spiro, founding partner of Spiro Harrison & Nelson." —" N.J. hospital built one of the largest medical construction projects in the U.S. It cost $714M "  —" The shipping industry as we know it started in Port Newark. Here's how "  CORRECTION: Yesterday's Playbook misidentified the author of the "Mischief Night" item. It was written by the Jersey Journal's Ron Zeitlinger.   A message from AARP New Jersey: Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. Many take on debt or tap into savings to make sure their loved ones get the care they need. That's a huge burden. And their sacrifices save the state and taxpayers money by keeping their loved ones out of costly nursing home facilities. New Jersey family caregivers provide more than $13 billion a year in unpaid care. It's past time to give them some financial relief. NJ lawmakers can take action by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). This bill would provide a modest tax credit for family caregivers who pay for expensive care out of their own pockets. Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021).     Follow us on Twitter Matt Friedman @mattfriedmannj   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

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://www.politico.com/_login?base=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings This email was sent to rouf@idiot.cloudns.cc by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe.