| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | Good Wednesday morning! It’s official, or it will be soon anyway: The State of New Jersey is off the Waterfront (Commission). The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 to side with New Jersey in its effort to leave the bistate commission. Read more about it from Ry Rivard here. The Waterfront Commission was created in the 1950s to combat the kind of crime made famous by the classic Marlin Brando movie and the celebrated investigative reporting that inspired it. But I’ve always been puzzled by New Jersey’s hurry to get out of this compact. The International Longshoremen’s Association and the Shipping Association of NY & NJ have said the commission outlived its usefulness and is now a burden. But decade-old Waterfront Commission reports that were allegedly hidden from view by the Christie administration and came to light later tell a story — one of persistent organized crime links, racism, sexism and no-show jobs, including 18 people with $450,000+ salaries whose jobs didn’t even require them to show up to work, according to NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman. One of those reports claimed a whopping 20 percent of the job applicants the ILA referred to the commission had ties to organized crime. Then again, the Commission had its own patronage scandal. It wasn’t the Supreme Court’s role wasn’t to consider whether the commission still served a purpose. It was whether New Jersey had the right to withdraw. And that, it seems, is anything but controversial. The ILA spread around New Jersey. As of 2015, it was $1.8 million. POLITICO reported in 2020 that the ILA from 2013 to 2017 gave $455,000 to three dark money political organizations run by Sean Caddle, the former political consultant for former state Sen. Ray Lesniak — a champion of the Waterfront Commission withdrawal. Caddle awaits sentencing for hiring men to murder his former associate. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “That's not the guy I want sitting across from President Xi ... or sitting across from Putin and trying to resolve what's happening in Ukraine, if you can't see around a corner Bob Iger created for you." — Chris Christie on Ron Desantis HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Phil Alongi, Michelle Gentek-Mayer, Kate Triggiano WHERE’S MURPHY? Michigan for National Governors Association events | | A message from Alibaba: New Jersey businesses, like local beauty brand Nuria, are among thousands of American companies that sell their products to one billion consumers in China on Alibaba. These sales added $1.2 billion to the state’s GDP and supported over 10,000 jobs and $694 million in wages for New Jersey residents. “We’re very excited about the results we’re seeing in China,” said Josh Ghaim, CEO of Nuria. Learn more about Alibaba’s impact on the U.S. economy. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
AT LEAST HE’LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO ELEC… OH WAIT — “NJ Senate President Scutari failed to disclose details of about $600K in campaign expenses,” by The Record’s Ashley Balcerzak: “The item was a routine entry in state Sen. Nicholas Scutari’s campaign finance report: On Oct. 3, 2014, his campaign wrote a $4,982 check to cover the various costs of attending a ‘2013 NJ Bar Conference’ in Rome, Italy. Head of the powerful Judiciary Committee at the time, Scutari was a panelist at the lawyers’ event, held at the luxury hotel Westin Excelsior Rome. But some key pieces of information were missing from that Rome entry on his report: namely, the specific expenses that Scutari had while on the trip that resulted in the single check back to himself for nearly $5,000. It has long been a trademark of reports submitted by Scutari, now the Senate president. Scutari’s campaign failed to properly disclose basic details of close to $600,000 in campaign spending — out of a total $1.8 million over the past 15 years. For nearly 1,000 entries, Scutari recorded expenses as ‘reimbursements’ to himself or staff, failing to disclose the vendors or businesses the campaign had compensated.”SCARLET STRIKES
HIGHER ED — With Rutgers deal, Phil Murphy averts political costs, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: [U]nless contract talks collapse and a strike resumes, Murphy seems to have navigated out of a tense situation that had the potential to damage his reputation as the most pro-union New Jersey governor in recent history, if not ever. And by many accounts, Murphy comes out looking like a problem solver. “What the governor did was heroic,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in an interview before the strike was suspended … At this point, Murphy also seems to have his close relationships with both sides intact. In public statements, Rutgers and the unions thanked him for bringing them to the table for what turned out to be long, intense days at the Statehouse. UNION FIGHT — “Operating Engineers drop out of building trades group, questions whether Mullen should be replaced,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, one of the state’s most politically powerful labor unions, has withdrawn from the New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council after the group’s president, Bill Mullen, played a role in bolstering the number of Democrats who automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots in South Jersey. The gripe with Mullen is over the 8th district State Senate race, where Local 825 business agent Latham Tiver is the Republican candidate. A non-profit run by Mullen is financing a grassroots campaign to help registered Democrats in the 8th automatically receive VBM ballots, something that would help Tiver’s opponent, Heather Cooper, pick up Democratic voters unlikely to vote in a low-turnout election year like 2023. Now, Greg Lalevee, the Local 825 business manager, is questioning whether Mullen should be replaced.” MEDIA TIPPED OFF BY RUG RAT — “Murphy defends spending $500K on Statehouse office furnishings. ‘I’m not walking out with the rugs,’” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: ”In terse comments Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy defended his decision to spend nearly $500,000 for furniture and furnishings for his office and one used by First Lady Tammy Murphy in the renovated New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, saying the items will be used by future governors for as long as a century. ‘I’m not walking out of the Statehouse in January of ‘26 with the rugs. They’re there for the next 50 to 100 years,’ Murphy said on his regular call-in TV show on News 12 New Jersey. ‘We want to do this with some amount of majesty,’ Murphy said Monday. ‘This is New Jersey, for Christ’s sake. This is the second-oldest in-use Statehouse in America. And you want this thing to reek of pride. We said, ‘Let’s do all of this in a first-class way.’” NJ COULD BUY 9,570 REALLY NICE RUGS WITH THAT MONEY — “Without a fare increase or more state aid, NJ Transit faces a $957M funding shortfall by 2027,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “NJ Transit could face a $119.4 million fiscal shortfall as soon as the last federal pandemic relief funds are spent in fiscal year 2025, an amount predicted to snowball to $957 million in two years, according to the agency’s four year budget forecast. A ‘funding need’ of $119.4 million is predicted in fiscal year 2025, that starts on July 1, 2024, and ends on June 30, 2025. That’s when the agency expects to spend the last of its federal COVID relief funds that maintained service levels and fares even though ridership hasn’t returned to 100% of pre-pandemic levels.” EDUCATION — “N.J. senator scolds Department of Ed over loss of $3.6M in federal COVID aid,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz grilled the head of the state Education Department at Tuesday’s budget hearings, despairing that the state returned $3.6 million in unspent federal COVID aid, calling state test scores ‘deplorable,’ and repeatedly voicing frustration at the department’s lack of urgency in the wake of the pandemic. In her testimony before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, acting commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan outlined the department’s recent efforts and did not speak of the need for any funds beyond what is in Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed budget, which sets aside $20 billion for public education, up $1 billion from last year … The state did not spend all of its federal CARES COVID relief aid, returning $3.6 million unspent, most in entitlements that the state’s 665 districts should have received. (In January, national figures ranked New Jersey near the bottom nationally in distributing its aid.) The commissioner did not explain why this had happened, and the department’s press office did not immediately respond to that question either. ‘It’s shameful for any of us to send back a quarter to the feds,’ Ruiz said.” —New Jersey won’t discipline clinicians using abortion pill while waiting for a legal ruling —New Jersey’s judicial vacancy crisis is causing ‘real harm,’ courts director says —“ELEC issues advisory opinion regulating spending by candidates who run for governor, other offices simultaneously”
—Golden: “Murphy’s defense of Elections Transparency Act, so forgettable”
—"Jackie Yustein wins State Assembly seat in 28th district"
—“New Jersey halts EV rebates for now — demand is too high” —“N.J. no longer calls for masks at all health care facilities to fight COVID-19, Murphy says” —“Protest: Trans inmates in NJ women’s prison getting married, siring children behind bars” —“Rutgers health care workers march, still await contract resolution” —“Gateway to put bids out this year to start early tunnel work in 2024” | | | | 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. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
SAME THING I ASK WHEN MY CHEESECAKE GOES MISSING — “‘Where is Junior?’ Protesters descend on Kean country,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “One sign said simply, ‘Where is Junior?’ Other signs – and speakers – made similar cracks about Thomas H. Kean Jr., the newly-elected congressman from CD-7 in central and western Jersey … About 100 people attended. A number of speakers called on Kean to hold a ‘town hall’ and in general, lambasted conservative policies, especially in regard to women’s rights and gun control. ‘He is hiding from us,” said Sue Altman, the executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance.’”
—“[Menendez] urges executive actions from Biden on immigration” | | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
SAY-EGH PLEASE — “Paterson, citing near $19 million budget gap, seeks more state aid,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration is asking the state for a 40 percent increase in its transitional aid for 2023 as city officials try to close an $18.6 million budget gap. Paterson in 2022 received $17.8 million in state transitional aid — a program designed to help cities with chronic deficits balance their budgets — and now is asking for $25 million this year. In addition to the extra state aid, the Sayegh administration is considering a 4% property tax hike, an option that even the mayor’s allies on the City Council said they would not support. Sayegh cited a $10 million jump in employee health insurance costs, a $5 million increase in garbage collection fees, and a $1 million rise in pension payments as the main factors creating the budget deficit.”
—“Paterson offering payments to parents looking to avoid accused bus company” BUT FOR HOME RULE N.J. WOULDN’T SEE DEBATES ABOUT SUCH IMPORTANT THINGS — “Will banner's wording derail Oakland's Bush Plaza Park renovation?” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “The latest proposal to renovate the borough's former train station site, known as Bush Plaza, appears ready to launch this fall if the parties can agree on the wording of a banner announcing its arrival … To announce the upcoming start of the project, [ad hoc committee chair Kevin] Heffernan said, he designed a banner to be posted on the property: ‘Mayor Schwager and Council Announce Bush Plaza Park!’ the design states, with the names of the five committee members. ‘Coming Soon!’ Heffernan estimated the sign would cost $500 and would be paid for by the borough … Heffernan said the design ‘strangely seems to have become very political’ but that ‘the banner is not political, as no one has yet to publicly announce their intent to run for mayor in November.’ He said Schwager had no part in the formatting of the sign.” THIS IS FINE — “Former Union City police chief is latest to receive ‘boat check’ after leaving job,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: ‘Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer Training Director Nichelle Luster may have retired as Union City police chief last year, but the city taxpayers are footing the bill to pay her more than $100,000 a year through 2024. Hudson County’s first woman police chief is being paid $330,000 over three years for unused sick, vacation and compensation time accrued over her 28 years in the department, according to city records acquired by The Jersey Journal through an Open Public Records Act request … The payout comes in addition to the $148,000 pension she is receiving annually, and the nearly $119,000 annual salary she is earning for the newly created position in the sheriff’s office that she started in March” JERSEY REMAINS THE POMPADOUR CENTER — “Centre Pompidou x Jersey City opening is delayed again, until 2026, mayor says,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “When the much-heralded Centre Pompidou x Jersey City finally opens, Steve Fulop won’t be around to see it – at least not as Jersey City mayor … The mayor this week admitted that the satellite location of the iconic French museum will not open until at least early 2026, a far cry from the initial estimate of 2024. By 2026, a new mayor will be seated … Fulop could be attending the event as governor, or perhaps as just an honored guest. In a brief interview Tuesday, Fulop blamed the coronavirus pandemic and contract issues for delays in the project that is seen as a key in the transformation of Journal Square into an entertainment and arts mecca.” —“Atlantic City mayor announces 5.23-cent tax rate decrease in budget” —“Saddle River reintroduces ordinances to buy home for affordable housing use. Here's why” —“Nabisco implosion postponed for more asbestos cleanup, Hawthorne mayor says” | | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
BAMBOOZLED COLUMN: CUSTOMERS BAMBOOZLED BY BAMBOOZLE — “Bamboozle, N.J.’s most famous music festival, plagued by fan uproar, refund demands,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karin Price Mueller: “It was supposed to be a celebrated, glorious comeback for New Jersey’s most famous homegrown music festival. But dozens of ticket holders for the three-day Bamboozle Festival, scheduled for May 5, 6 and 7 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, say the event’s promoter hasn’t kept his promises. They accuse him of posting misleading advertisements, failing to deliver promised refunds and offering musical acts that don’t align with expectations raised by the organizer on social media.
| | A message from Alibaba: Alibaba helps American businesses succeed globally. In 2022, $66 billion worth of U.S. products were sold on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms, a nearly 10% increase over 2021. From household names to emerging small businesses, thousands of American companies sell products to over one billion consumers in China on Alibaba.
Read how American businesses are succeeding with Alibaba. | | |
—“A South Jersey nurse practitioner is suing Planned Parenthood alleging race discrimination. Her case is one of many against the reproductive health giant”
—“'NJ's biggest boxing ring is the food court': What teens think of new mall chaperone rule” —“Anatomy of a wildfire: ‘This definitely had high potential to be extremely catastrophic’” —“N.J. Hall of Fame nominates Anthony Bourdain, George Clinton, Jill Biden, Paul Rudd”
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