| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Thursday morning! Gov. Phil Murphy will be back from vacation soon, and disgraced Sen. Bob Menendez’s political grave is dug, so speculation as to which lucky New Jerseyan gets to jump into his seat and serve the last few months of his term will almost certainly pick up. Already, we’ve seen a report that former Chief of Staff George Helmy is under consideration. But state Sen. Troy Singleton surprised me when he came out with his recommendation Wednesday: Patricia Campos-Medina, the former labor leader who finished a distant second in the Senate Democratic primary. “I wanted to lend my voice to those who have championed the candidacy of @DrCamposMedina for the interim appointment. I have seen firsthand her commitment to the ideal of equity of opportunity for all people,” Singleton, who’s from Democratic Senate nominee Andy Kim’s home county of Burlington, tweeted. Is there any truth to the widely held belief that Murphy won’t appoint Kim to the seat because of personal animus over Kim’s domination of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s aborted Senate candidacy? I don’t know. But if there is, I don’t see him appointing Campos-Medina, who also went hard after Tammy Murphy and whose unsuccessful attempt to enter the Camden County Democratic Committee meeting that only the First Lady was invited to gave us probably the most publicized image of the campaign. This also shows how much distance Singleton, who came up in New Jersey politics as the protege of former Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden), has both distanced himself from his South Jersey Democratic machine roots while becoming the de facto Democratic leader of Burlington County. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don’t give a fu— how long you’ve worked here. You understand me? … I could give a sh— less. You’re lucky you got a job here. You’re lucky. You are a subpar employee (and) I fought to keep you here. And how dare you! How dare you challenge one of my directors or any decision that’s made in this organization. You’re fired! Go pack your bags, you’re outta here! You got it? Go!” — — Monmouth County Commissioner Ross Licitra to an employee at local SPCA, where he's executive director. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Emy Quispe, Sal Rizzo, Julio Marenco WHERE’S MURPHY? — Italy. Acting Gov. Way is in Glassboro at 10 a.m. for the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship's Intern Summit
| | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: New Jersey can be a place where access to health is no longer a privilege for some, but a right for everyone. To reach that goal, we must acknowledge structural racism is a root cause of health disparities. Inequitable policies and practices were created by people. They can also be replaced by people, in favor of fairer systems that enable everyone to thrive. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has a roadmap for change. Find out more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
WALSH TO CONTINUE ‘ACTING’ — Comptroller sues Hudson County over jail contract, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh is suing Hudson County, ordering officials not to proceed with the extension of a $13.5 million health care contract at the county jail that he says violated public bidding laws. The lawsuit is the latest escalation in the fight between the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, a government watchdog agency, and elected officials who have been chafing at Walsh’s investigations. In the lawsuit, filed Monday in Hudson County Superior Court, Walsh charges that the county government is refusing to comply with his written directives not to proceed with the contract and is engaging in an “unprecedented disregard for the rule of law.” “Here, Hudson County has not cooperated with the Comptroller — indeed, it has plainly disregarded all directions and orders from the Comptroller,” Walsh’s brief states.
THE PORK HONOR ROLL — “And just like that, the sponsors of NJ budget add-ons are released,” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “The names of the legislators who asked for nearly 500 last-minute changes to Gov. Phil Murphy’s final draft of the latest state budget are now public more than a month after that budget was signed into law. Individual ‘budget resolutions’ documenting each of the legislative additions to the fiscal year 2025 spending plan, including the respective sponsors, have been posted on a dedicated page on the Legislature’s website … Earlier this week, NJ Spotlight News reported the written budget resolutions submitted for the 2025 fiscal year spending bill had yet to be made public more than a month after the July 1 start of the fiscal year. And while the sponsors of each added line item are now known, Republicans said their Democratic counterparts have still not made public other key information required by the legislative rules, including an explanation or justification for each added line item.” MURPHY: ‘NJ WILL BE THE VENICE OF THE WEST’ — “Half of a city flooded, kayaking in the street. Parts of N.J. under water in 1st of 2 storms,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nicolas Fernandes: “The alert from Hackensack’s fire department shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday was clear — stay off the roads. Even sheltering in a Jersey diner is better than getting stuck in serious flash flooding, which had overtaken about half of the city and roadways across the state during Tuesday night. ‘Nearly half the city of Hackensack is flooded,’ the fire department posted on X. “‘Please avoid Hackensack if possible. If you’re out on the road find a diner somewhere to eat or a dry spot and just wait till the water recedes.’ It was one of many dire warnings up and down the Garden State, as the first of two expected storm systems this week lashed the state, leaving in its wake thousands of power outages, downed trees and power lines, and streets that looked more like canals.” —“Can we expect more flooding as Tropical Storm Debby approaches North Jersey?”
| | | | Breaking News Briefing: Where Tim Walz Stands on the Issues — The Democratic ticket is set now that Vice President Kamala Harris has named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Join POLITICO Pro on Friday Aug. 9 for a detailed discussion with specialist reporters on what Walz's track record says about the policies he and Harris will embrace in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential campaign. Register for the Briefing | | | | | WHEN YOUR OFFICE BUILDING SHARES A NAME WITH AN ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATE — “Sid Brown, a trucking magnate and codefendant in George Norcross’ racketeering case, pleads not guilty,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Seidman: “For almost 40 years Sidney R. Brown has served as chief executive of a family business that started as a one-dump-truck gravel hauler in Vineland during the Great Depression and has since grown into one of the largest trucking and freight services companies in the U.S. Brown’s company, NFI Industries Inc. … started a new chapter in its long history in 2017 when it announced it was relocating its corporate headquarters to Camden, taking part in a waterfront redevelopment plan by George E. Norcross III, the South Jersey Democratic power broker and insurance executive. Now Brown, 67, has been indicted alongside Norcross and four others on state racketeering charges that accuse them of abusing their political power to squeeze out rival developers and obtain valuable real estate. Brown, making his first court appearance since the charges were announced in June, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of racketeering conspiracy, extortion, and related counts during his arraignment in Mercer County Superior Court … Norcross’ firm, Conner Strong & Buckelew, partnered with NFI and residential developer the Michaels Organization on an 18-story office tower, Triad1828 Centre, backed by $245 million in state tax credits made available under a 2013 law that prosecutors say Norcross manipulated for his own benefit.” —“It took almost 3 hours to rescue passengers on stranded NJ Transit train. What went wrong?” —“NJ proposes rules that raise building heights along Jersey Shore, expand flood zones” —“Flooding closes part of Route 17, marking just latest mess after North Jersey storm” —“Mudslides, flooding shut down sections of Palisades Interstate Park” —McKnight: “The Fort Lee tragedy is another reminder: Expand ARRIVE Together now”
| | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
HOSPITAL BILL — New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell discharged from hospital after nearly a month, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, the second-oldest member of the House of Representatives, has been discharged from the hospital after a nearly four-week stay. “Today, Congressman Pascrell was discharged from St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center,” Pascrell chief of staff Ben Rich said in a statement. “He is grateful to the doctors and nurses who have provided him outstanding care and he will continue with rehab as part of his recovery.” Pascrell checked himself into the hospital on July 14 after with a fever. While his staff initially said the 87-year-old congressmember was in good spirits — and “actively looking for a beer” — his condition had a “setback,” and Pascrell needed “breathing assistance," his staff said in statements to the media.
SHAMALOT — RFK Jr. to stay on New Jersey's presidential ballot after attempt to kick him off, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can stay on New Jersey's November ballot after a Democratic attorney sought to remove him, Secretary of State Tahesha Way said Wednesday. Way, the state’s top election official, issued a decision rejecting arguments that Kennedy triggered the state’s Sore Loser Law, which bars candidates from running as an independent after seeking a major party’s nomination. Democratic attorney Scott Salmon filed legal challenges arguing that because Kennedy first ran as a Democrat for president and then switched to an independent in October 2023, he shouldn’t appear on the state’s general election ballot. —“'My son was tortured and didn’t get help': Manalapan Navy SEAL death hearing to start”
| | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: New Jersey can be a place where access to health is no longer a privilege for some, but instead a right for everyone. To reach that goal, we must acknowledge that structural racism is a root cause of health disparities.
Did you know that Black babies in New Jersey are three times more likely to die before their first birthday than White babies? Or that the state ranks 31st in public health funding per capita?
Inequitable policies and practices were created by people. They can also be replaced by people, in favor of fairer systems that enable everyone to thrive.
A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey is a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that serves as a roadmap for ensuring that everyone has the chance to live their healthiest life, no matter who they are or how much money they have. See the plan. | | | | | LOCAL | |
WEAK — “A bigot lost her election and her brother lost his job. I’m not shedding any tears,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Terrence T. McDonald: “[Valentina] Gomez, whose quest to become Missouri’s new secretary of state centered around saying nasty things about Black and queer people, bombed at the polls Tuesday, coming in sixth in the state’s GOP primary and not cracking 8% of the vote … This Missouri bigot became a hot topic in New Jersey political circles because of her brother Jonathan, who was an aide to Steve Fulop, the Democratic mayor of Jersey City and a 2025 gubernatorial hopeful. Jonathan Gomez gave his sister’s campaign some dough, leading to outcry from the city’s queer community because he sat on Jersey City’s LGBTQ+ task force. That’s not generally a role you want someone to have if they’re simultaneously supporting a political candidate who proudly uses a common gay slur in campaign videos. I spoke to a Jersey City woman named Megan Ixim, who helped lead the campaign to get Jonathan Gomez off the task force. Ixim told me she generally believes that you can’t hold someone accountable for the actions of their family members, but she noted that Gomez’s donations to his sister’s campaign came as recently as July, well after Valentina Gomez posted a campaign video urging people not to be ‘weak and gay.’ ‘That, to me, is a clear representation that Jonathan is not only supportive of his sister but agrees with her ideology,’ Ixim told me.” —“While ‘bittersweet’, Fulop says he’s ‘certain’ firing Gomez Noriega was the right call” FIGHTERS OF THE STORM — “Bhalla and Guy spar over county contractor paving over Hoboken storm drains,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Hudson County Executive Craig Guy are sparring after a county contractor paved over certain Mile Square City storm drains shortly before [Tuesday’s] rain storm. ‘This is completely unacceptable on the part of Hudson County. To be clear – my office, along with multiple Councilmembers have raised the major drainage issues left behind by the County’s contractor on Park Ave for days and have been ignored,’ Bhalla wrote on X. … In a statement issued this morning, Guy asserted that any mistakes made by the contractor were addressed immediately and the notion that the county was being unresponsive to the city was untrue.”
| | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | LOCAL MAYORS BLAME MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION — “5 injured by golf cart during impaired-driving simulation at Jersey Shore event,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “Five people were injured on Tuesday evening after a golf cart, being used in an impaired-driving simulation as part of a National Night Out event, went off a specialized course and struck several people, authorities said. Wildwood Police said a juvenile was driving the low-speed golf cart with a city police officer during the simulation, but did not say how old the driver was. The golf cart left an enclosed course in Fox Park and hit several bystanders, police said.” —“Candidate slates show that changes could be in store on Lakewood School Board” —“A Paterson official filed a harassment suit. Now there's one accusing him of the same” —“Ortley Beach, other Ocean County towns badly need new beach sand. What's taking so long?” —“Atlantic Avenue 'road diet' agreement calls for repaving, keeping 4 vehicle travel lanes for now” —“Ramapo Indian Hills school board to make a third attempt to hire a superintendent” —“North Jersey school survey should not have asked about religion or income, feds say”
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AMERICAN HUSTLE — “American Dream says it's 87% occupied. But Meadowlands towns are still owed $13 million,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “Head over to American Dream in East Rutherford on a Saturday and you'll see a packed mall. Guests on indoor roller coasters or indoor waterslides, or zipping down the indoor ski slope. Or shopping or dining at one of the hundreds of offerings at the venue. Yet mall officials have argued that American Dream — a sprawling $5 billion entertainment and retail destination in the Meadowlands financed by about $1 billion in state and local subsidies — isn't fully opened. And because of that, they say they aren't on the hook for millions of dollars in negotiated payments to local towns, at least until the mall is 100% occupied. The mayors of some of those towns are saying it's a ploy by the mall's owners — Triple Five — to avoid over $13 million the towns say they are owed by the mall. As of July 1, the mall was 87% leased, according to a public filing released at the end of last month.”
MOMS FOR LIBERTINES — “This rockin' North Jersey pre-school program is fun for kids and their parents, too,” by The Record’s Jim Beckerman: “‘The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round’ is swell. So is ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider.; But to be honest, they'd be lucky to squeak by with a 40 on ‘American Bandstand.’ They don't have a good beat. And you can't dance to them. Unlike ‘Uptown Funk,’ ‘American Girl,’ ‘Twist and Shout,’ and a dozen other songs that are part of the curriculum of Songs for Seeds, a franchise for pre-schoolers that is opening up its first Jersey location in Ridgewood starting Sept. 4. They're adding rock and roll to the children's formula. … This singing and activities program for kids five and under — and their parents — is infused with a rock sensibility. Not just in the choice of cover tunes played by the guitarist-singer who leads the sessions, but in the original music created for the franchise. ‘It's all early education, based on this rock vibe,’ Karasin said.” HARVARD ON THE BOULEVARD — “Personal, financial data of NJCU students, staff leaked on dark web as $700K ransom goes unpaid,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “Nearly all of the personal and financial data of thousands of students and staff hijacked from New Jersey City University’s computer network has been released on the dark web for anyone to access, cyber experts say. Apparently, school officials did not pay the approximately $700,000 ransom, in the form of cryptocurrency Bitcoin, the ransomware hackers demanded in exchange for more than one million copied files.” —“Tropical Storm Debby downpours to drench N.J. Latest on timing, track, flood threat”
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