| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind | Good Friday morning! When we talk about guns in schools, it’s usually about the all-too-common mass shootings and what to do about them. Metal detectors? Armed security? Arming teachers? More broad-based gun control measures? State Sen. Ed Durr, who’s perhaps coincidentally running in a primary against former running mate Beth Sawyer, has an idea: Gun safety classes in schools, along with the establishment of student clubs to promote “responsible gun ownership.” Call it “Shooters Ed.” Durr last week introduced a bill to establish a $1 million Department of Education grant to help establish such programs. Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald isn’t a fan of the idea, noting that Durr joined just about every other Republican in the Legislature in opposing a bill, now law, that required those applying for firearm purchase permits to show they’ve undergone a training course within the past four years. Why, he asked, should we pass that expense to all taxpayers? But what’s kind of notable to me about this is that I reached out to some groups that advocate for stricter firearms measures and didn’t hear back. My guess is that’s in part because they don’t want to oppose bills that call for firearms safety training, even if they wouldn’t be keen on promoting firearm ownership. Like most bills Durr has introduced, this one has very little chance of passing. But it’s worth noting that many schools around the country do have shooting clubs. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Mr. Baroni’s legal team achieved the same defense result for him for a lower total cost, at only $4 million.” — Michael A. Levy, attorney for Bill Baroni, seeking to get his Bridgegate legal bills paid by the Port Authority HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Chris Aikin, Ken Deitz, John Traier, Damon Tyner, Judy Ward. Saturday for John McKeon, Terence Grado. Sunday for Jim Manion, Rick Thigpen, Thom Ammirato. HAPPY RETIREMENT — Donna Anepete, secretary to Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, who this week retired after working in the Judiciary for nearly 50 years. WHERE’S MURPHY? — Nothing public | | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: At Atlantic Shores, we’re more than a renewable energy company. We’re a team of purpose-driven professionals who are committed to providing a cleaner and healthier future for generations to come. Our organization is guided by four core values that our team lives and breathes each day: to be safe, a good neighbor, a good steward of the environment and to lead with science. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
GOVERNOR, LAWMAKERS ONCE AGAIN URGED NOT TO RUIN MATT FRIEDMAN’S JULY 4 HOLIDAY — Scutari introduces his own 'StayNJ' bill, furthering chance of budget tensions, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi and Daniel Han: Senate President Nick Scutari on Thursday introduced the companion bill to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin’s senior property tax relief program, which would cut most senior property taxes in half. The alliance of the state's two top Democrats in the Legislature is another indicator of potential friction with Gov. Phil Murphy as the two sides negotiate a budget. Murphy said last week he opposes the Coughlin bill as written and, aides said, his office was preparing plans for a government shutdown as a contingency. The administration has only hardened its opposition to the plan, called "StayNJ." Murphy's office said Thursday it estimates the annual cost could reach $1.6 billion, with the largest share going to high-income earners — including Murphy. Scutari, however, called the legislation "a game changer" for seniors.
—“Property-tax breaks for seniors still in budget mix” “BENEFITS”? — Insurance consultant recommends more fees for state workers, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Daniel Han: A new consultant’s report for Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration recommends increasing health insurance fees for public employees because they are “over-utilizing” health care “due to a lack of financial responsibility.” The report prepared by Aon for the state Treasury department argues that the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program are, in effect, too generous to employees and that causes workers to seek care that is not cost effective to the state. The report was released by Republicans, who are already making it a talking point SUSSEX OFFENSE — “Five Republicans focus on guns, taxes, sex-ed in heated race for 24th District Assembly,” by The New Jersey Herald’s Kyle Morel: “It's been a particularly venomous campaign season on the Republican side. In the lead-up to the primary, anonymous blog posts referencing [Dawn] Fantasia's ex-husband, a convicted sex offender. Fantasia has alleged that the blogger is working for [Josh] Aikens and [Jason] Sarnoski. Fantasia called the posts, one of which wondered whether she supports giving sex offenders custody of their children, ‘beyond abhorrent’ in an interview with the New Jersey Herald. ‘That was a hit to hurt me, and that was a hit to hurt my family,’ she said. ‘For (Aikens and Sarnoski) to use that situation as a political tool is absolutely unbelievable.’ The Aikens and Sarnoski team did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.” —Snowflack: “Public education the focal point of LD-24 Assembly debate” —“Insider NJ’s Primary Elections Special Edition” THEY CALL EACH OTHER JOE PINOCCHIO AND TOM MASS STRANGLER — “GOP Senate, Assembly races get nasty in NJ's 26th district as primary approaches,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “In the district's state Senate primary, Montville residents Tom Mastrangelo and Joe Pennacchio are embroiled in a fierce campaign featuring two well-known conservative firebrands ... Through TV and social media advertising, each has tried to establish himself as the more conservative choice. Mastrangelo has attempted to tar Pennacchio for voting in favor of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's state budget, saying it raised taxes and provided ‘funding for illegal immigrants.’ But Pennaccchio noted that was the 2019-2020 budget, which several Republicans approved. Pennnacchio added that vote came after he and other Senate Republicans negotiated with Murphy to eliminate $600 million from the draft budget.’In 20 years I've been in Trenton, I've never voted for a tax increase,’ Pennacchio responded. ‘He knows it. He's basically a liar’ … ‘Pennacchio has been running a dirty campaign,’ Mastrangelo said. ‘He's been lying and everybody knows it.’” ‘IT IS THE BEST AT TIMES, IT IS THE WORST AT TIMES’ — “New report outlines how NJ is failing its residents with disabilities,” by The Record’s Gene Myers: “The annual report by the ombudsman called the state programs for people with disabilities ‘a tale of two systems.’ On one hand, dedicated people achieved a number of recent wins, such as securing additional education and therapy for disabled students thrown off course by the pandemic. They also managed to get a bill passed that did away with age and income limits placed on people with disabilities in the workforce that were tied to Medicaid benefits. But while an increased interest in disability issues in the governor's office has led to advancements in some areas, like an additional $1 billion in funding going to community and care programs, a lot of work still needs to be done, said Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn. The report is chock-full of examples of the toll an inflexible system plagued with ineffective policies can have on people's lives. ‘For many people, the system remains too complex, too rigid, and too inaccessible. Daily, our office is contacted by people falling through the cracks. People going without much needed care. People in crisis,’ Aronsohn says in the report.” STAFF MOVE — Republican State Committee Executive Director Tom Szymanski is leaving that job this month and moving to Washington in the coming months, I’m told. No word yet on who his successor will be, but RSC Chair Bob Hugin has been interviewing candidates and I’m sure we’ll find out soon. My take: Szymanski and I have had some nasty Twitter fights, but we’ve met in person and got along just fine, because Twitter is not the real world and I considered him to be a fierce advocate for his candidates. Speaking of Twitter, you may have read something to the contrary on it, but my understanding is it’s a voluntary departure on good terms. —Horizon sends $600 million to the state —May saw big boost in independent spending on primaries —“This could be the year NJ Transit finally finds a new customer advocate” —“Dead humpback whale floating in Raritan Bay. Another reported off N.Y.” —“Poll finds broad support for most new liquor license rules” —“NJ charter schools fighting for facilities funding” —“Some auto insurance companies are asking for double-digit rate hikes. Here’s the list” —“Di Paolo named New Jersey Policy Perspective v.p.” | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | THE AMERICONE PRESIDENCY — “Chris Christie wants to aim his NJ bravado at Donald Trump. Can it work?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Christie, who tiptoed around Trump, his ‘longtime friend,’ eight years ago and then went on to empower Trump’s rise after dropping out of the race, is vowing to stomp all over him with the kind of fury and zeal that once fueled his chase of a heckler down the Seaside Heights boardwalk clutching an ice cream cone … Christie promises to be, as veteran Republican strategist Michael Murphy called him recently, ‘the popcorn candidate.’ … Usually, a presidential candidate begins the race with some enthusiasm within the base — or with a plan to garner at least a split verdict in the early primaries. But Patrick Murray, the Monmouth pollster, noted that Christie’s unpopularity emerged in almost every subset of Republican voters — conservatives, moderates and Republican-leaning independents … Yet, in the new, unpredictable 21st-century period of post-Trump politics, where all long-established rules and traditions have been unreliable indicators, Christie is a proven political performer for the YouTube era. His bombast, ranging from colorful to crude, can galvanize an audience. It has the potential to trend.” WOLF GETS SENTENCE FIT FOR SHEEP — “10 days in jail, home confinement for N.J. mom who interfered with police at Jan. 6 riot,” by Kevin Shea for NJ.com: “A Medford woman who pushed and cheered as rioters surged over police officers at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 will serve 10 days behind bars and three months of home confinement. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. also sentenced Stephanie Hazelton on Thursday to two years of supervised release and $2,000 restitution, officials said. The 51-year-old pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder and aiding and abetting, a felony, in October 2022. Authorities originally charged her with six offenses.” —Van Drew is New Jersey's only 'no' vote on bill to raise debt limit | | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET — “In Rutherford, claims of racism stall a tribute to William Carlos Williams' muse,” by The Record’s Ricardo Kaulessar: “On the surface, it seemed like a simple proposal for the borough of Rutherford. Elm Street would be renamed "Marshall Place" for Thaddeus Marshall, a Black man who raised his family on the block in the early 1900s and who inspired one of the more famous poems of fellow Rutherford resident and acclaimed poet William Carlos Williams … Yet months later, the renaming has gone nowhere, said the former borough historian, Rod Leith, who first proposed the idea … Leith said the hold on the proposal happened after another lifelong resident, Bill Galloway, objected to the renaming at Rutherford Historic Preservation Committee meetings in September and October. Leith, a former reporter at The Record, said Galloway referred to Williams as a ‘racist’ at the October meeting … [Galloway] denied Leith’s accusation that he had objected because of Williams, although he admitted that he had issues with the poet. When asked about his comments about Williams being ‘racist,’ Galloway said it was because he heard such talk growing up. He did not offer evidence to back up the contention.”
EUNICE DWUMFOUR — “Man accused of killing Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour Googled church, guns: cops,” by MyCentralJersey’s Suzanne Russell: “The Virginia man charged in the killing of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour has a lengthy criminal record, mostly credit card fraud, and two weapons offenses, in 2019 in Maryland and in 2014 in Virginia. Public records show Rashid Ali Bynum, of Portsmouth, Virginia, who turned 29 on Wednesday, a day after he was charged with the Feb. 1 murder of Dwumfour, has been charged with 37 criminal offenses … [Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone] said records show Bynum searched for information about Champion Royal Assembly Church and Sayreville on the day of the killing, as well as information about what magazines were compatible with a specific handgun. CAN’TABIS — CRC revokes license for Hudson County's only recreational cannabis operator, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Hudson County’s only recreational cannabis dispensary is barred from growing and cultivating its own marijuana after state regulators on Thursday revoked its license for not paying fees. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission vacated a December decision that awarded the Harmony Foundation, based in Secaucus, licenses to cultivate and manufacture recreational cannabis … The Harmony Foundation did not pay $700,000 in required licensing fees, CRC Chair Dianna Houenou said during the commission’s monthly meeting. — “New Jersey American Water acquires Egg Harbor City water, sewer systems for $22 million” —“Plainfield OKs these three legal weed stores, cultivator to open in city” —“Rare all-female mayoral primary showdown taking place in tiny East Newark” —Bob Hurley, Sr.: “Setting the record straight about Liberty State Park” —“Pompton Lakes incumbents no longer running on the same side in the June primary” —“Shot down for being too close to a school, cannabis retailer sues [Woodbury Heights]” | | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
VACCINE MANDATES — “A NJ hospital mandated flu shots. Workers charged discrimination. The hospital will pay,” by Gannett’s Matthew Korfhage: “New Jersey’s Inspira Medical Centers, Inc., has agreed to pay $100,000 after six employees charged that a mandatory flu vaccination policy discriminated against their religious beliefs, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Wednesday. No lawsuit was filed by the federal agency. However, five employees covered by a conciliation agreement would receive compensatory damages, the EEOC announced …. Companies must provide ‘reasonable’ accommodations for religious beliefs, wrote the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission … The issue arose after a 2020 New Jersey law requiring hospitals in the state to vaccinate all employees against influenza by Dec. 31, 2020. The law required medical exemptions, but did not mention religious exemptions. Inspira then altered its previous vaccination policy to not include religious exemptions, in its attempt to comply with the New Jersey law, according to the EEOC announcement”
WITH A TASTE ON MY LIPS THAT’S HERBICIDE, IT’S TOXIC MY WEIGHT’S SLIPPING UNDER — “Retired N.J. doctor who touted toxic chemicals as weight loss drugs sentenced to prison,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeremy Roebuck: “A retired New Jersey physician who marketed an industrial-grade herbicide as a fast-track diet pill and later faked a cancer diagnosis in an attempt to avoid trial was sentenced Wednesday to nearly three years in federal prison. William Merlino, 85, of Mays Landing, sold the toxic chemical — 2,4-Dinitrophenol, better known by the name DNP — over the internet to hundreds of customers seeking to quickly shed pounds. Federal agents shut down his operation in 2019 after one of his clients in the United Kingdom overdosed on the drug and died … But despite expressing remorse Wednesday for the death his pills caused, Merlino stood by using DNP to lose weight and suggested the real reason for his prosecution was that it was taking money away from large pharmaceutical companies looking to cash in on other weight loss drugs.” —“Major South Jersey health systems' operating margins fell last year, latest audits show” —“Newark airport workers allege hazardous conditions” | | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: At Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, we’re more than a renewable energy company. We’re a team of purpose-driven professionals committed to providing a cleaner and healthier future for generations to come.
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· Lead with science — Data speaks the truth. Using science to inform our decisions makes us more environmentally and socially responsible.
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