The line is collapsing

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Good Monday morning!

Support for the line has been collapsing among politicians and public officials, and in perhaps the biggest blow yet, Attorney General Matt Platkin won’t defend it and views it as unconstitutional.

The news comes in a letter Platkin wrote to U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi, who today holds a hearing on Andy Kim’s lawsuit against “the line” — New Jersey’s unique ballot structure that advantages the party-backed candidates. To the governor’s chagrin, by thew ay.

But events from the last couple days have me wondering whether some of New Jersey’s boss-run Democratic organizations are so confident in victory that they don’t care how they look in the way they wield the line. Or maybe they’re just really bad at managing appearances.

The establishment seems to be split between people like Democratic State and Essex County Chair LeRoy Jones, trying to walk the line on the issue calling for a standard ballot design across New Jersey without totally ditching the county line. (Essex, it should be noted, awarded its line to Tammy Murphy without any real competition.)

But look what happened Saturday. Camden County Democrats, probably the worst offending organization when it comes to manipulating ballots to help their favored candidates, not only endorsed Tammy Murphy for Senate, but barred entry to their meeting to rivals Andy Kim and Patricia Campos-Medina. (We called and emailed Camden County Democrats, who — hold in your shock — did not respond. And Tammy Murphy, asked if she thought the decision to block access to the other candidates was justified, referred us to… Camden County Democrats.) Up North, Hudson County Democratic Chair Anthony Vainieri issued a press release “officially announcing” his organization’s backing of Murphy.

It looks like some Democratic organizations are showing the state bird to their party’s anti-line progressives,and I’m not talking about the American Goldfinch.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It is well-established that Attorneys General have a general obligation to defend the constitutionality of statutes, regardless of their own personal views. The Governor believes that a legal defense of the statute permitting bracketing would have been appropriate and consistent with the actions of prior Attorneys General.” — Murphy spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna

WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule

WHAT TRENTON MADE


SOMEONE WATCHED ‘THE WIRE’ — “N.J. allowed danger to persist at psychiatric hospital, whistleblower claims,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “Dangerous conditions at a state psychiatric hospital persisted as a senior official at the state Public Defender’s Office delayed filing a lawsuit and reaching a settlement on behalf of patients, an explosive lawsuit against the state alleges. As the case dragged on, two patients died in what was described as ‘preventable deaths,’ and many others were assaulted at the understaffed and violent Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, the lawsuit said. Nora Locke, who was a Deputy Public Defender with the Division of Mental Health Advocacy, accused her former boss, Director Carl Herman, of discouraging her from bringing a lawsuit … stalling settlement negotiations and ordering her not to enforce the terms of the settlement reached two years later …

Prior to the Greystone case, Locke’s lawsuit said, Herman encouraged the team to investigate abuse and neglect and pursue legal action … ‘However, in this case, Defendant’s Herman actions were anything but routine or prompt,’ the lawsuit states. ‘(He) first stated to Plaintiff he would report this matter to (Public Defender Joseph) Krakora and await further instructions, as the hospital was operated by the State of New Jersey rather than a private entity, and ‘politics are complicated, and we if decide to shoot the king, we better not miss.’”

CARRY ON, CARRY ON, AS IF NOTHING REALLY MATTERS — “Gun carry permit requests soared in New Jersey after U.S. Supreme Court upended firearm laws,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto Munoz: “Applications for permits to carry a handgun in New Jersey skyrocketed after a U.S. Supreme Court decision upending the state’s strict firearm laws made it easier to secure those permits, according to a new database released by the Attorney General’s Office. In the 20 months after the court’s landmark decision known as Bruen, about 33,000 people applied for a carry permit in New Jersey, according to the database launched Thursday. Police departments received an average of about 1,500 applications a month from people seeking the permit — a nearly 3,000% jump from the average of 50 applications received monthly prior to the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision. Newark saw more permit applications than any other New Jersey town since Bruen was handed down, and the overwhelming majority of all applicants were white and male.”

LIBERTY STATE PARK — “DEP puts price tag on initial phases of Liberty State Park at $450 million as more details are revealed,” by The Jersey Journal’s Mark Koosau: “The first two phases of the Liberty State Park revitalization plan will cost at least $450 million, and work is continuing to determine what the final phase of the proposal for the Hudson River waterfront state park will encompass. The price tag for roughly half of the project was revealed during the park’s Design Task Force meeting earlier this month, where the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), who’s overseeing it, also discussed potential revisions for sports amenities on the park’s northern end and a rough draft plan for the park’s southern end. … DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the interior phase will cost at least $100 million, all funded by polluter lawsuits, and that the northern phase would cost ‘upwards of $350 million.’”

JERSEY BLEEDOM — I noted Friday that March 15 was Judge Michael Blee’s self-imposed deadline to rule in the “Jersey Freedom” case. I got tired of waiting Friday afternoon and called Blee’s chambers. I was told to expect the decision today instead.

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BIDEN TIME


ADEEL OR NO ADEEL — “Democratic senators have privately warned White House that votes aren’t there to confirm Biden’s Muslim judicial nominee,” by CNN’s MJ Lee: “Multiple Democratic senators and their staff have privately warned the White House in recent days that there does not appear to be enough votes in the Senate to confirm Adeel Mangi, President Joe Biden’s Muslim-American judicial nominee, sources familiar with the conversations tell CNN – appearing to suggest that the confirmation of one of Biden’s top-priority judicial picks is in peril. … Mangi confronted contentious questions from lawmakers at his confirmation hearing in the Judiciary Committee in December. He was grilled by some Republican lawmakers about, among other things, his views of the Israel-Hamas war, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and connection to a group that some have described as anti-Semitic. … Ted Cruz highlighted Mangi’s connection to the Center for Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers University – a group that Cruz said embraces ‘extremism and myopia’ and has expressed anti-Semitic views.”

‘TO THOSE WHO WERE DIGGING MY POLITICAL GRAVE... I’VE ALREADY DUG IT’ — “Menendez leaves re-election plans murky, but dormant campaign gives hints,” by The New York Times’ Tracey Tully and Nicholas Fandos: “Mr. Menendez has until June 4 to file to run as an independent in November. But even that seems somewhat far-fetched to New Jersey political observers and Democrats involved in national campaign strategy in Washington. A prominent New Jersey labor leader said that six years ago, as the senator was running for re-election after an unrelated bribery trial ended with a hung jury in 2017, he got a call from the senator’s camp, asking for donations. This year, he said, no one connected to Mr. Menendez has called at all. LeRoy J. Jones Jr., the chairman of New Jersey’s Democratic State Committee, also said he had heard no whispers that Mr. Menendez was seriously mulling a run. ‘Yeah, I would hear’” he said, adding that if Mr. Menendez did run it would most likely result in a rout. ‘I just don’t see where he would get any kind of traction,’ said Mr. Jones, who called on Mr. Menendez to resign soon after he was indicted in September. ‘Look at the polls. The majority of the people think he’s guilty.’”

ANDLANTY COUNTY — “Andy Kim trounces Tammy Murphy at Atlantic County convention,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) defeated First Lady Tammy Murphy at today’s Atlantic County Democratic convention, giving him yet another open convention win in the race for indicted Senator Bob Menendez’s Senate seat. Kim received 156 votes to Murphy’s 54, a margin of 74%-26%. No other candidates participated in the convention in Egg Harbor City. The result is something of a rebuke to South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross, who endorsed Murphy months ago and has been pushing for her candidacy since. Norcross and his operation have significant sway across most of South Jersey, including in Atlantic County, but Atlantic Democrats are a fairly independent-minded group, and Kim was able to exploit that today.”

—“Tammy Murphy’s sprawling finances on display in new disclosure”

LOCAL


STACCO — “Stack backs Guy for HCDO chair as feud with North Bergen intensifies, again,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “State Senator/Union City Mayor Brian Stack is backing Hudson County Executive Craig Guy as chair of the county Democratic party as his feud with his counterparts in North Bergen intensifies yet again. ‘I think Anthony Vainieri is an embarrassment. I think he’s done nothing to build the party, contrary, I think he’s ripped the party apart. Craig is a guy who will unite the party and bring the party together, particularly in Jersey City,’ Stack said over the phone. … Vainieri, the current Hudson County Democratic Organization chair, responded in kind ‘...What happens after the primary, we’ll see. It’s unfortunate that Brian Stack is backing a candidate from a town he doesn’t represent instead of a candidate from a town he does represent,’ he stated. ‘“The voters won’t forget that. I’ve done everything I can to keep the party together and he’s been the spoiler and everybody knows it.’ … Additionally, aside from the next HCDO chair, Stack insists that North Bergen leadership is more intent on pushing distractions like YouTuber Leonard Filipowski instead of the HCDO working together to win crucial elections.”

COUP D’BLAH — “Jersey City school budget to skip ed board review; heading straight to county superintendent,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “An attempted coup of the Jersey City school board leadership has robbed board members first say on the district’s preliminary budget for the 2024-25 school year. Instead the billion-dollar budget plan will go directly to the county superintendent, a move that has infuriated some board members. Contested board President DeJon Morris and trustees Chris Tisdale and Afaf Muhammad were surprised to learn they won’t get a chance to speak on the budget Monday after the scheduled meeting was cancelled because of a dispute over who are the rightful leaders of the board. … ‘Who authorized that?’ Tisdale said in a phone call. ‘Why would the people not have the right to see where their money is being spent? It doesn’t make any sense.’”

RIPA TO RETIRE TO CLIFTON, BECOME DEEP-FRIED HOT DOG — “Lampitt slated to succeed Ripa as Camden County clerk,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Camden County Clerk Joseph Ripa is retiring, and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt has received party support to replace him. The announcement was made today at a meeting of the Camden County Democratic organization. Lampitt is serving her ninth term in the State Assembly. If she wins, the Democratic county committee in the 6th legislative district will meet in January to select her replacement. It’s not immediately clear who will succeed Lampitt in the Assembly. Since State Sen. James Beach and Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald are from Voorhees, it’s likely that Lampitt’s replacement will be a woman from Cherry Hill. Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane, a Gold Star mother, is a possible candidate. … [Ripa’s] daughter is television personality Kelly Ripa.”

FRANK’S REDHOT SUPPORTERS — “Supporters rally for N.J principal accused of assaulting student,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “Supporters of an Essex County principal arrested and charged with assaulting a student raised concerns at a school board meeting Thursday night that the veteran school administrator was wrongly charged. Attendees packed the South Orange-Maplewood school board meeting, with some holding hand-drawn ‘Free Frank’ signs and many wearing red in a show of solidarity for Frank Sanchez, principal of Columbia High School in Maplewood. … A GoFundMe started earlier this week for Sanchez’s legal defense raised more than $36,000 by Wednesday morning before it was reported to the website and taken down, the group said. The company’s terms of service prohibits raising money for the legal defense of alleged violent crimes. A new fundraiser was launched Thursday on the platform Go Get Funding. About 390 supporters had donated nearly $38,000 as of Friday afternoon.”

—“Camden sheriff won’t seek re-election”

—“Mendez and Jackson, still charged with election fraud, seek new terms on Paterson council”

EVERYTHING ELSE


SERFS UP — “Union campaign at Medieval Times ends,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Brianna Vannozzi: “The union campaign is over at the Medieval Times dinner-theater chain. The American Guild of Variety Artists says it will no longer represent workers at the company’s locations in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, and one in Southern California, where workers organized. Two years after voting to unionize, neither group was able to secure a collective bargaining agreement. They had sought higher wages and improved safety for the actors, crowds and the horses used in Medieval Times’ shows. The Medieval Times company hired a consultant to resist workers’ organizing efforts and allegedly engaged in a number of union-busting practices like giving raises at locations where workers did not pursue unionization.”

THE SMOKING BAN DROVE GAMBLERS AWAY. OH, WAIT — “Internet gambling revenue continues to soar in New Jersey. In-person revenue? Not so much,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Atlantic City’s casinos and their online partners won $182 million in internet bets in February. Figures released Friday by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show that sports betting also did well in a month that included the Super Bowl. Those two more recent forms of gambling helped the casinos, racetracks that accept sports bets and their online partners take in over $461 million in February, an increase of 12% from February 2023. But the news was not all good: Atlantic City’s nine casinos won $211.5 million from in-person gamblers, down 1.6% from a year earlier.”

IT BETTER NOT HAVE BEEN DOMINO’S — “Activist held in Nigeria since 2019 welcomed home to N.J. with cheers — and a slice of pizza,” by NJ Advance Media’s Richard Cowen: “It’s been a different sort of homecoming for Omoyele Sowore and the Borough of Haworth. The Nigerian-born journalist and activist is finally free after more than four years in captivity for the ‘crime’ of speaking out against the government in his homeland. Sowore, the publisher the pro-democracy website Sahara Reporters, received a hero’s welcome – and a slice of pizza – at borough hall on March 9, where he was reunited with his family and the community that has been working for his release ever since August of 2019, when Nigerian police arrested him for organizing a demonstration against the government led by Muhammadu Buhari, who was president at the time. … ‘Here, we brought you a pie,’ [Rep. Josh] Gottheimer said, handing Sowore the pizza that the journalist said he craved while he was locked up. Sowore accepted what Gottheimer called a ‘taste of Jersey’ – and vowed to continue the fight for, and write about, democracy in his native Nigeria.”

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—“Legal complaints escalate over Israeli real estate events”

—“New Jersey is giving out thousands of ‘bleeding control kits’ to houses of worship”

—“Rutgers student sues over ‘selfish and illegal’ faculty strike”