| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Tuesday morning! Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small has officially joined the long list of city mayors to have been criminally charged. But this time, it’s not corruption or stealing from a non-profit. It’s child abuse. Normally, we can cynically laugh about the amount of corruption, but this case is just disturbing and sad. The mayor and his wife La’Quetta, the city schools superintendent, are accused of abusing their teenage daughter. In one of the instances, the mayor is accused of repeatedly hitting her in the head with a broom, knocking her out. You can read more from The Press of Atlantic City here, the prosecutor’s press release here and lots more coverage here. Atlantic City’s politics have always been messy, even by Jersey standards. It doesn’t appear to have gotten any better. Just a month ago, former councilmember Hossain Morshed pleaded guilty to submitting false voter registration forms, and, a month before that, political operative/former Council President Craig Callway has been charged with voter fraud. These new disturbing allegations may not be directly linked to politics, but they’re sure to further unsettle a messy city government. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Atlantic City Couple Charged with Endangering the Welfare of Their Teenage Daughter.” — The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s headline of its press release announcing charges against the mayor and his wife HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Lisa Swain, Patricia Sebold, Anita Bonita. Missed yesterday: Chrissy Buteas. Missed last Friday: Tony Bucco, Joe Kyrillos WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule
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ELIAN-NAH… — The chair of the Assembly Budget Committee is concerned that Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to fix NJ Transit by raising business taxes won’t work — the strongest public sign yet that it’s running into problems in the chamber. It’s been suspected since Murphy pitched the idea of funding transit with a tax increase on the state’s largest businesses that the Assembly is tepid on the notion. But during a hearing with state transportation agencies on Monday, Budget Chair Eliana Pintor Marin made it clear.
She called Murphy’s proposed Corporate Business Tax a “very volatile tax” and said it’s “good” but “we have some issues” during a hearing for the Department of Transportation, NJ Transit and the state Motor Vehicle Commission. “My concern is that it’s not going to reach the level we all think it might reach and then you’re going to still have a problem,” Pintor Marin said, referring to the roughly $800 million budget gap that needs to be closed at NJ Transit starting in summer 2025. “Then you’re going to have a problem year-to-year for the next couple of years.” She is the highest profile lawmaker to say publicly that Murphy’s idea is running into trouble. The Murphy administration has said since it proposed the idea in the February budget speech that it’s staying flexible on how to fix NJ Transit’s woes. But the governor went out on a limb to walk back repeated vows not to increase business taxes. — Ry Rivard THE RESORT’S LAST RESORT — “Dems call for release of Polistina bill to restructure Atlantic City government,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “State Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, said Monday he needs to discuss his proposed legislation to overhaul Atlantic City's government with local officials before releasing the full text of the bill to the public. Atlantic County Democratic Chair Michael Suleiman called on Polistina to share the bill publicly after hearing Polistina discuss it on the Don Williams radio show on WOND Thursday. ‘For nearly a year, rumors have circulated about a clandestine bill poised to dismantle key aspects of Atlantic City's governance,’ Suleiman said … The bill would keep an elected mayor and reduce the number of elected council people from the current nine to five, Polistina said. Four more council members would be appointed. They would be the presidents of AtlantiCare, Stockton University and the Casino Association of New Jersey, as well as the head of the largest non-gaming business in the city, Polistina said. ‘The state takeover has been since 2016 and will end at the end of 2025, so it's important for all of us ... to talk about what we do with expiration of the takeover,’ Polistina said on Williams' show. … The constitutionality of such a bill might be tested in court, Polistina said via text Monday. … Democrats, especially Camden County political boss George Norcross, have misrepresented the bill, which was never introduced, Polistina said. “ —“CarePoint sends letter to Murphy asking for $129M in American Rescue Plan funds” —“MVC fees may be going up in the future to cover budget hole” —Golden: “Assessing the impact of the county line injunction”
| | | | Join POLITICO on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET for networking over cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres. Don't miss your chance to meet POLITICO's New York editorial team and learn more about their coverage of current affairs in Albany. RSVP here. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | HOLDING THE LINE — State judge denies request to scrap county lines in this year’s GOP primary, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A state judge on Monday denied a preliminary injunction request to eliminate so-called county lines in this year’s GOP primary. The decision by state Superior Court Judge John Harrington comes as a federal appeals panel is considering whether to uphold a preliminary injunction granted in March stemming from a separate federal lawsuit that eliminated the county line for this year’s June Democratic primary. Sitting from the bench in Burlington County, Harrington said there was not enough time for county clerks to change the ballot designs. There are multiple election deadlines looming within the next several days, although he said he was not concerned with one often-mentioned upcoming one to mail out overseas ballots. “It's just too late," Harrington said. "And it's too comprehensive a change for this court to do this now.” WHAT ABOUT BOB? — Judge denies another delay in Sen. Bob Menendez trial, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: A federal judge is steadfast on trying Sen. Bob Menendez on corruption charges next month, rejecting a request by prosecutors to push his trial back to July over what they claim is an “impasse” over a defense attorney acting as a witness. Judge Sidney Stein on Monday afternoon rebuffed prosecutors, urging them and the defense attorneys for Menendez and two of his co-defendants to continue negotiating and indicating he has no plans to separate Menendez’s trial from co-defendants Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. “The parties are directed to continue to attempt to negotiate a stipulation of simply the necessary facts. The Court sees no reason why an appropriate stipulation cannot be reached,” Stein wrote in an order Monday afternoon. “The court has no current intention of severing additional defendants from the May 6 trial.” TONIGHT WE GRAND OLD PARTY LIKE IT’S 1864 — “Curtis Bashaw — and all NJ Republicans — face a Trump-laden obstacle course,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “On abortion, an issue that looms as the Democrats' key to victory and is surely a defining issue of the fall contest, Bashaw says he opposes a national ban on abortion. He also espouses a Libertarian view on abortion, saying, ‘I don't think people want government telling them what to do in their homes and with their families and in these key personal decisions.’ He also says he agrees with the Dobbs … decision in 2022. … Bashaw’s remarks, however, came hours before another ruling spawned by the Dobbs decision — the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a 160-year-old law that bans all abortions except when the mother’s life is in danger. Asked to square that ruling with his own belief that government should stay out of personal decisions, he said through a statement: 'I always believe that government closest to the people is the most representative of the people. … The people of Arizona will ultimately have the power to decide the outcome on a ballot initiative this fall.’” BASHAW’S BACKYARD — “Trump to return to Wildwood in May,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “Former President Donald J. Trump may be coming back to Wildwood for a beachfront rally next month. The Board of Commissioners on Monday approved an agreement with the Trump campaign for a May 11 campaign rally. Rumors have swirled around Wildwood that the former president would be back this year. At a special board meeting, Mayor Ernie Troiano declined to say whether Trump would be in town in person, or even say what organization planned the event, but the unanimously approved resolution cites Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc. The vote came after a closed-door meeting of close to an hour, without public discussion. … The meeting came the same day Trump made history as the first American president in a criminal trial.” Andy Kim leads GOP candidates in new NJ Senate poll, by POLITICO's Katherine Dailey: Democratic Rep. Andy Kim has a clear lead for the Senate in the November election — but could see that erode if indicted Sen. Bob Menendez runs as an independent, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released Monday. “Right now, this race isn’t close enough for Menendez to serve as a spoiler,” said Dan Cassino, the director of the poll and a professor of government and politics, in the press release. “But if he’s on the ballot, the race gets a lot more interesting.” SENATE FUNDRAISING — Monday was the deadline for filing federal campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2024. Democratic candidate Andy Kim, by far the favorite in the primary and the general, reported raising $3 million on top of more than $4 million he had already raised, with $4.2 million on hand. One of his two primary rivals, Patricia Campos-Medina, raised just over $300,000, including a $200,000 self-loan. The other, Lawrence Hamm, took in just over $13,000. Republican Curtis Bashaw, a wealthy hotelier, reported raising $1.1 million that included a $600,000 self-loan. He had pledged to raise $2 million in the first quarter. Bashaw's chief rival, Christine Serrano-Glassner, raised just of $37,000 in contributions and wrote herself a $100,000 loan, on top of the $200,000 she had previously self-funded. —“Kean raises $578k as NJ-7 hurtles towards barnburner general election” —Opinion: “Attacks on a Muslim judicial appointee are based on false information — and unwarranted” | | LOCAL | |
MORTIFIANT — “Westwood schools chief lashes out at ‘campaign of harassment’ – by her own school board,” by The Record’s Stephanie Noda: “Months after the Westwood school district began searching for a new superintendent, it appears the district's current top administrator has no plans of leaving. An attorney for Superintendent Jill Mortimer, in fact, appeared at a meeting last week to accuse the school board of a ‘campaign of harassment and unlawful discrimination' in an attempt to push her out. That pressure campaign has stretched over the last two years and included an ‘involuntary medical leave,’ Mortimer's attorney, Armen McOmber, said in a statement during a tense special board meeting held on Tuesday. The superintendent was also required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before she could resume work but was ultimately cleared to return, said McOmber, who called the board's treatment of his client ‘bizarre and outrageous.’" PATERSON (CEILING) FALLS — “After ceiling collapse, Paterson council moves meetings to a broadcast studio,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Technological problems and a recent ceiling collapse have combined to force the City Council to move its public meetings to a new location — the municipal broadcast studio at 77 Ellison Street. City Council President Alex Mendez said he is looking to start conducting meetings at that location on April 16. He said the governing body would continue to use the new venue until repairs are made to the ceiling at the council chambers in City Hall. Exactly how long that will take remains unclear, officials said. After the March 25 ceiling collapse, the council switched to a virtual format.” PIPPIN LONGRAPSHEETS —“Former Flemington councilman indicted on Democratic organization theft charges,” by MyCentralJersey’s Susan Loyer: “A former Flemington councilman, already indicted on drug charges, has now been indicted on charges of stealing $1,000 from the Flemington Democratic Club. Malik D. Johnston, also known as Pippin J. Folk, 47, was indicted Thursday by a Hunterdon County grand jury on a third-degree charge of theft by unlawful taking, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said. On June 2, 2023, Johnston allegedly withdrew $1,000 in cash from the Flemington Democratic Club’s bank account at a bank branch in Bridgewater. At the time of the transaction, Johnston was a former officer of the club who did not have permission to make the cash withdrawal and keep the funds, authorities said.” —“Police officer shot, injured inside [Montclair] home, officials say” —“Lakewood Republican Club power struggle lands in court, with plenty of details” — “Jersey Shore homes are at risk on shrinking beach after new setback, [Brigantime] mayor says” —“Black firefighter faced racism, retaliation at [Hamilton] fire department, lawsuit says” —“[Monroe] school district asking voters to save courtesy busing” —“O’Dea: Mental health court and diversionary unit needed in Hudson County” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
MISS CONDUCT AGAIN WINS POLICE PAGEANT — “Botched Essex County bust shows need for better police misconduct disclosure, advocates say,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “Five plainclothes Newark cops were hunting for illegal guns in November 2022 when they spotted a man outside his East Orange home with a bag they deemed suspicious. They sprang into action, kicking in his door, chasing him into his mother’s bedroom, and warning him to ‘stop moving, I’m going to f— you up’ as they handcuffed him. ... But an internal affairs investigator later determined the cops broke so many rules — including that they had no legal justification to stop the man, enter and search his home, or confiscate a gun he was legally permitted to own — that each officer got a 30-day suspension, records confirm.
"Under a pair of U.S. Supreme Court rulings decided more than a half-century ago known as Brady and Giglio, prosecutors must disclose to defense attorneys exculpatory evidence and any information that could taint the credibility of a witness. … But prosecutors haven’t disclosed the disciplinary histories of officers involved in the East Orange incident, even though defense attorneys say the five have made subsequent arrests both in their roles as Newark cops and in a violent crime initiative run by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Such secrecy isn’t unusual, defense attorneys say.” JON BON VOYAGE — “Jon Bon Jovi contemplates retirement if 'the singing is not great',” by The Asbury Park Press’ Chris Jordan: “Jon Bon Jovi is at a crossroads. If he can't sing in concert like he used to, he's finished as a frontman, the Sayreville-born rocker told the (British) Sunday Times Magazine in a story published April 13. “This is the first time I’m saying this,” Bon Jovi said. “If the singing is not great, if I can’t be the guy I once was … then I’m done.” Bon Jovi said he's had surgery on his vocal cords to correct problems that go back a decade.” —“Where are electric vehicles more popular in N.J.? A county-by-county breakdown” —“Feds approved $1.3 billion Provident-Lakeland 'super-community bank' merger” —“Tulip sightseers cause ‘extreme’ traffic jam, leaving N.J. motorists trapped for hours”
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