| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP New Jersey | Editor's note: Playbook is arriving in your inbox late today due to a production error. Apologies for the tardiness. Good Wednesday morning! There's nothing more private than health matters. Unfortunately, when it comes to governing, elected officials' personal health sometimes affects their ability to do their jobs. And it appears that's what we're confronted with in the 31st Legislative District. David Wildstein reports that state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson), who hasn't been at a voting session since the budget vote over the summer, has been in the hospital for nearly two months with cognitive decline issues, and a court-appointed lawyer is overseeing her affairs. With over a year left in her term, she's not expected to return to the Senate. This is very sad. And her constituents have been without a vote in the Senate. The problem is that while Cunningham's resignation is expected, according to the report, the legality of signing a resignation letter, given her condition, is in question. I wish Sen. Cunningham the best, and I hope her friends, doctors and state and local politicians are able to help her as best they can. I also hope that we get some on-the-record information on this. Because while it might be uncomfortable, it's in the public interest. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 297 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Hillside with Speaker Coughlin and others for a food security event at 11 a.m. Media: "Ask Governor Murphy" at 7 p.m. on your local NPR affiliate QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I know it may sound tired and just trite, but I truly thought I was following the directives of President Trump … Because of that, I truly understand the concept of herd mentality." — Marcos Panayiotou of Wrightstown, who got two weeks in jail for his role in the Capitol Riot, in a letter to a federal judge . HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Robert Hedden, Taylor Kenyon, Matt Rooney, Michael Venezia | | | | 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 | |
AMY DEGISE'S LAW — New Jersey proposal would require adults to wear helmets while riding bikes, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : New Jersey has long required kids to wear helmets while riding bicycles, skateboards and roller skates. Under a proposal sponsored by three Democratic lawmakers, that requirement could soon apply to adults as well, giving New Jersey the strictest helmet law in the country. The legislation, NJ A4894, was introduced last week by Assemblymembers Reginald Atkins (D-Union), William Spearman (D-Camden) and Annette Chaparro (D-Hudson). It would also apply the helmet law to scooters. "This is going to provide another layer of protection, not only for our children, but for everyone as a whole. And honestly, I think from a business perspective, I'm sure most businesses would want to keep their riders safe versus seeing increased legal cases," Atkins said in a phone interview.
THE GILLDED AGE — " 2023 Democratic primary confidential: Lines of intrigue, and of political battle ," by InsiderNJ: "Redistricting put Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake in line for the 34th District senate seat, as a replacement for veteran Senator Nia Gill (pictured, top). Timberlake of East Orange is the political protege of Democratic State Party Chair (and Essex Democratic Chairman) LeRoy Jones, once beaten by Gill in a Democratic Primary. The question at hand is whether Gill, lumped into a district with longtime incumbent Senator Dick Codey by a redistricting commission helmed by the state chairman, tries to unseat Codey, or, in an ultimate act of political defiance. moves to East Orange to take on Timberlake as part of a revenge scheme aimed at old foe Jones." AUDIT COMMITTEE GOES TO THE MATTRESSES — " NJ Transit reform 2022 report card, part two: Should board committees be more transparent? " by The Record's Colleen Wilson: " NJ Transit has dramatically improved how it governs behind the scenes and far from the minds of riders boarding trains and buses. But it still faces scrutiny that some business is being done in private … Three of NJ Transit's board committees (sustainability, administration and customer service) are conducted in public, via in person and teleconference, and give people the opportunity to speak. The agency also goes beyond the requirements of the law by making the recordings of these meetings available on the website. The other three (audit, capital planning and safety) are conducted in private with no minutes, recordings or agendas available for the public. The audit committee came under scrutiny last year as more details came out about the Academy scandal, the bus company accused by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office of defrauding NJ Transit out of more than $15 million over six years. A former NJ Transit internal auditor said the audit committee meetings were often 'rushed' and that committee members would 'struggle to stay awake,' during a five-year period he attended the meetings." | | | | POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP . | | | | |
STREET COP TRAINING WILL APPEAL TO STREET JUDGE PANEL — " Court sides with state comptroller in police training firm's fight against probe ," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: " A private police training company is losing its fight to stay out of an ongoing state investigation into police departments that used public money to send officers to an Atlantic City conference headlined by controversial Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren. Street Cop Training … Walsh's office asked Street Cop [Training] last May for a list of the 1,000 conference attendees, documents on police agencies' payments for the conference, unedited recordings of the entire seminar, copies of materials given to attendees, and information about instructors' qualifications. Street Cop refused to hand over the information and sued Walsh in early June … Last week, a three-judge appellate panel rejected Street Cop's bid to quash the subpoena, upholding a lower court's ruling affirming the authority of Walsh's office to compel compliance. 'Street Cop's arguments are meritless because … police departments have always been subject to investigations and audits in accordance with OSC's (Office of the State Comptroller's) enabling legislation,' the ruling notes."
BEARS AUTHORIZE HUMAN HUNT TO COMBAT PORRIDGE THEFT — " Animal rights group sue to stop NJ bear hunt, less than a week before scheduled start ," by The New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "A group of animal rights organizations has gone to court in an effort to stop the black bear hunt in New Jersey, which is scheduled to start just before sunrise on Monday. 'The Fish and Game Council unlawfully used emergency powers to ram through an unpopular and unnecessary hunt while denying New Jersey citizens their due process rights under state law,' said Kate Hendrix, staff attorney for the Humane Society of the United States, in the news release announcing the lawsuit, which was filed in state court on Tuesday." THE ARP OF HISTORY BENDS TOWARDS EXPENSIVE — Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin highlighted $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds going towards New Jersey's Revolutionary War historic sites on Tuesday, in preparation for the country's Semiquincentennial anniversary in 2026. The anniversary will mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the nation's 250th year of independence. According to a statement from the front office, the $25 million will be allocated to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury and distributed to Revolution NJ, in partnership with the New Jersey Historical Commission and Crossroads of the American Revolution, to help restore 10 Revolutionary War sites in the state: Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton's Old Barracks, Battle Monument in Trenton, Princeton Battlefield State Park, Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, The Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield, Wallace House in Somerville, Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth and Rockingham in Kingston. —Carly Sitrin —" Delayed student test scores hamper efforts to recover from learning loss, advocates say " —" Murphy vows review of how he handled COVID crisis will be 'completely independent' " —" Some riders want 'mask only' cars on NJ Transit " —" State moves inmates out of minimum security prison, as census drops statewide " —" Hugin, BCRO, GOP allies from around NJ, set sights on 2023 opportunities " —Mulshine: " Marijuana reform: Don't pass more laws, just pass the bong " —Snowflack: " 'The most conservative group of legislators in the state' " —Steinberg: " After Trump's dinner with Nick Fuentes, would Bob Hugin still use the words 'Great President" to describe him? " | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
DOOMSDAY PREMPEH — " Huge turnout disparities helped cause Pascrell's smaller-than-expected win ," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "With the election now certified, Pascrell's margin against Republican Billy Prempeh, an Air Force veteran who previously ran in 2020, stands at 55%-44%, or just over 11 percentage points. That's no one's idea of a close race, but given that Joe Biden won the plurality-Hispanic district by 19 points two years ago – and given that Pascrell is a longtime, popular incumbent – the result still raised eyebrows … Pascrell's hometown of Paterson, which has more than 80,000 registered voters, saw 16,663 people vote in the congressional election; that's just 35% of the turnout seen in the 2020 presidential election. It was the same story in the city of Passaic, where 6,524 voters turned out – again only 35% of 2020 turnout. The whiter suburbs of Passaic and Bergen Counties didn't see nearly as steep of a decline, however. In North Haledon and Franklin Lakes, the two most Republican-leaning towns in the district, turnout was greater than 60% of 2020's total."
MARRIAGE — Senate passes same-sex marriage protections , by POLITICO's Marianne Levine: The Senate passed legislation Tuesday to enshrine same-sex marriage protections in federal law, bringing the bill a critical step closer to President Joe Biden's desk. Senators spent months negotiating adding language to the bill related to religious liberty, a bid to attract the necessary 10 GOP votes to break a filibuster. The legislation still needs to clear the House, a likely easy lift since a previous version was approved by nearly 50 House Republicans and all Democrats. A total of 12 Republicans voted with all Democrats in support of the bill. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer indicated Tuesday that the House would take up the Senate version as soon as next week. —" In rare air: Hoboken earns top grade on fighting climate change " —Opinion: " Mr. President, please don't trip up Garden State innovation " —Video: " Rep. Tom Malinowski says he's undecided whether to run for Congress in 2024 " | | | | GO INSIDE THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO is featuring a special edition of our "Future Pulse" newsletter at the 2022 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit from Dec. 6 to 8. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of health industry leaders and innovators solving the biggest global health issues to ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE . | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
PATERSON FAILS — " 'We are living in hell.' N.J. city's toxic cop culture ignites residents' fury ," by NJ Advance Media's Delon Johnson: "In Paterson, most of the 400 police officers sworn to serve and protect the "Silk City" are Black or brown, like its nearly 150,000 residents. Still, fear and distrust of the police run deep. And residents and community activists say that gap is widening in a city where at least 12 cops have been criminally charged for misconduct in four years, and officials have paid $2 million to settle 16 civil rights lawsuits filed against police in the last three. 'It's this way because [Paterson officers] are criminals themselves,' said resident Bonnie Gonzalez, 27, as she shopped recently in a local beauty store. 'How can you focus on fixing the problem when you are the issue?' Criminal justice experts have long urged departments to hire officers who mirror the communities they serve, saying they can better relate to residents, understand cultural norms and bring an essential perspective to policing. But Paterson residents say officers' race and ethnicity mean little. 'We are living in hell,' said Monique James-Lowery, 42, whose nephew, Jameek Lowery, died two days after seeking help from Paterson police in 2019. 'The officers here only worry themselves about the color blue.'"
ANYONE WHO SUES TO OVERTURN THIS LAW WILL HAVE STANDING — " NJ town would make it illegal to stand near driveways with cars ," by NJ 101.5's Patrick Lavery: "Officials in this Monmouth County municipality are proposing a law that would fine or imprison someone who tries to open, unlock, or even stand near a vehicle that is not theirs. The proposed ordinance, scheduled for a final vote by the Township Committee on Dec. 13, comes amid reports of car theft rates increasing by around 20% a year in New Jersey since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Holmdel ordinance, introduced on Nov. 22, would make it illegal for anyone who does not own or have permission to access a certain vehicle 'to enter or remain on any driveway, paved surface, or location within 20 feet' of that car when parked." RED BANK — " Would restricting Red Bank short-term rentals preserve housing, hurt current owners? " by The Asbury Park Press' Olivia Liu : "Some residents say a proposal by the borough council to regulate short-term rentals like Airbnbs is essential to preserving the borough's neighborhoods, but others worry it could hurt existing short-term rental owners. Councilman Michael Ballard has led the initiative which is designed to protect 'the public health, safety and general welfare of individuals and the community at large,' create a process for short-term rentals to operate, mitigate the impact short-term renters have on neighborhoods, preserve the borough's long-term housing market and ensure that the short-term rentals satisfy basic fire safety standards. 'We don't have a relationship with Airbnb," Ballard said. 'Our only relationship is with the homeowners who are in Red Bank.' The current proposal would limit short-term rentals to areas zoned for commercial use." SLAY BELLS: AC COMBINES HIGH CRIME WITH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT — " Atlantic City named one of the 25 best Christmas towns in America ," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "Atlantic City was voted one of 2022's '25 Best Christmas Towns in the USA' by Travel + Leisure magazine, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is debuting the Atlantic City Tinseltown Holiday Experience to highlight its Christmas spirit. The resort was 23 out of 25 top destinations, the magazine said, along with towns like like Aspen (#1) and Vail (#3) in Colorado; more southern places like Orlando, Florida (#5) and Beaufort, South Carolina (#8); and nearby Cape May (#21)."
—" Atlantic County prosecutor, Atlantic City police chief devoted to slowing crimes rates "
—" Josh Gottheimer to order investigation of mail fraud, stolen checks at Teaneck post office "
—" Newark renters become homeowners converting Section 8 vouchers into mortgage subsidies " —" 'Unenforceable': Saddle River responds to developer's affordable housing lawsuit " —" Egg Harbor Township introduces change to marijuana-business licenses " —" Jersey City promotes 4 new deputy fire chiefs, including the first woman to hold the title " | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
—" A new, unknown company gets key role at 38 Pa. nursing homes and 7 in N.J. "
—" As unrest spirals in China over 'zero-COVID' policies, these Chinese Americans in NJ worry " —" Cooper's credit rating improves to A-, highest mark ever " | | | | 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 | | | | 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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