Grewal tries to get ‘Aid in Dying’ law out of limbo Presented by Pre-K Our Way

Good Tuesday morning!

New Jersey’s “Aid in Dying” law is on hold, but for how long?

We learned yesterday that the Attorney General’s office has asked the state Supreme Court to overturn a Superior Court judge’s temporary restraining order on the law, which was supposed to start this month. The restraining order was first reported by NJ Advance Media last week.

The judge last week was persuaded, at least enough to issue the order, by the argument that a series of state agencies were required to — but had not yet — issued regulations.

It’s up to the Court to see whether the restraining order holds. If it allows it to stand, doctors won’t be able to prescribe life-ending drugs to patients until at least October, when a hearing is scheduled.

But what are the chances that this lawsuit succeeds on the merits? New Jersey is not the first state to have a law like this, and challenges to similar laws have been unsuccessful so far everywhere else. E. David Smith, the lawyer for plaintiff Dr. Yosef Glassman, thinks he has a good chance in light of some remarks about euthanasia in the Court’s 1976 Quinlan decision .

I have a question for my lawyer readers. The Aid in Dying law is voluntary for doctors. But Glassman says he shouldn’t have to abide by the law’s requirement that doctors who refuse to participate turn over the patient files to another doctor who would prescribe the drugs. But does a doctor ever have a right to refuse to turn over a patient’s files to another doctor if the patient has requested the transfer?

WHERE’S MURPHY? —No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I wish him nothing but the very best, I hope I am one of his speakers at some point." — Gov. Phil Murphy on The Christie Institute of Public Policy

DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW OFF SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 231





WHAT TRENTON MADE

AT THE END OF SUMMER OF HELL III — NJ Transit to release more data on train cancellations, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order today directing NJ Transit to release monthly data on train cancellations as part of an overhaul to improve the beleaguered rail agency. Beginning in October, NJ Transit will be required to publish information on cancellations. In addition, the agency must include a month-to-month look-back on cancellations, starting from 2017. "This will be a complete and accurate count of cancellations," Murphy said before signing the executive order at the Bay Street station in Montclair. "New Jersey commuters deserve a world class mass transit agency and that's what we demand to deliver.”

GROWTH STUNTED — “Norcross-tied dark money group closed in February,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The General Growth Fund, a 501 (c)4 non-profit with ties to Democratic powerbroker George Norcross was dissolved earlier this year, the New Jersey Globe has learned. A certificate of dissolution was filed with the District of Columbia, effective February 2, 2019. A similar group tied to Gov. Phil Murphy, New Direction New Jersey, has faced considerable criticism for their decision not to release their donors after initially promising to do so … In January, POLITICO reported that PSEG attempted to contribute $55,000 to the super PAC after South Jersey Democrats helped them get a nuclear energy subsidy from the state, but that the money was intended to go to the non-profit.”

CAN IT BE A CRIME FOR LEGISLATORS TO LIE? — “Top Dem says some witnesses lied to the legislature. Now he wants to make that a crime,” by NJ Advance Media’s Samantha Marcus and S.P. Sullivan: “New Jersey’s most powerful state lawmaker thinks some witnesses who appeared before the state Legislature lied, and now he wants to crack down on those who would attempt to deceive again. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he plans to introduce a bill instructing prosecutors to charge accused perjurers and making it a crime to refuse to appear before lawmakers or to answer their questions. his legislation has emerged amid the latest clash between Sweeney and Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration over a $235 million spending freeze, in which Sweeney has invited the treasurer to testify under oath about how her office chose what spending to impound. It also comes just months after the Legislature wrapped up its investigation into how members of Murphy’s inner circle responded to an allegation of rape made against a top staffer. ‘The Katie Brennan hearing was a spectacle,’ Sweeney said, referring to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency aide who accused another official of raping her during Phil Murphy’s campaign for governor.”

IT WAS ALL A GAG — “Controversial ‘gag rule’ in state sexual harassment investigations could be scrapped,” by NJ Advance Media’s Sue Livio and Ted Sherman: “New Jersey state employees risk losing their job if they are caught discussing a sexual harassment complaint, whether they are the target of the accusation, a potential witness — or the accuser, under a controversial rule now the subject of a legal challenge. On Monday, the state Civil Service Commission announced it had redrafted the rule, out of concern the penalty “could have a chilling effect” on people who wish to file a sexual harassment complaint. Investigators would be obligated to explain the importance of “protecting the integrity of the investigation” and how maintaining privacy of the people involved is important, according to the commission’s summary of the rule change.”

—“Sex assault lawsuit targeting Phil Murphy election campaign want gag orders lifted”

HIGHER ED — Fewer students than projected attended community college tuition-free last semester by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: More than 5,400 community college students received grants as part of Gov. Phil Murphy's free tuition program last spring, far fewer than the number the administration projected. But officials are insisting more students will be eligible in the next round. According to data from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, 5,424 students received Community College Opportunity Grants in the spring of 2019 — the pilot semester of Murphy's free tuition program. The grants totaled $6.01 million, well below the $25 million appropriated in the state budget even after the program was expanded to all 19 county colleges after initially opening at only 13.

1/87TH OF HOLTEC’S TAX BREAK — “NJ awarded more than $3.8 million in financial aid to undocumented college students last year,” by The Record’s Monsy Alvarado: “More than 700 undocumented students received more than $3.8 million in college financial aid for the first year during which New Jersey made the aid available to those without legal status. The figures, provided by the state Higher Education Assistance Authority, show that 749 students in total received the aid during both the fall and spring semesters of the 2018-19 school year. Most of the aid, more than $3.5 million, was awarded under the New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant, or TAG program. Students at Rutgers University received the largest portion of the aid, with more than $1.3 million awarded to recipients attending that school.”

A message from Pre-K Our Way: The Governor and Legislature are working on a state budget – funding new pre-k spaces for New Jersey’s 3- and 4-year-olds and their working families! This is a difficult time in our state. Growing NJ’s pre-k is really important. Thanks! Let’s maintain momentum for pre-k expansion! Visit prekourway.org for more information

SUPERMARKET WEEP — “Camden supermarket disaster shows another abuse of power,” by Ronsha Dickerson and Joshua Sims: “The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 included a provision that would have benefited a supermarket along Admiral Wilson Boulevard — proposed by the Goldenberg Group and Ravitz Family Markets developers — and which cut out a competing supermarket proposal, Politico reported this month. A spokesperson for the office of New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney has denied the recent revelations, but contests none of the facts. Despite efforts to hide the controversy, this injustice will not be ignored. In the end, Camden didn’t get either proposed supermarket. For a city like ours that has major implications … Because of political gamesmanship, Camden residents are still suffering at the hands of bad decisions from people who never go without access to groceries. It is time to give Camden residents what they need — not what the powerful think that they need. Camden needs fair access to state subsidies so a supermarket, like one proposed years ago for the neighborhood near Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, can become a reality.”

LOTS OF GREEN —“How much will NJ really make from taxing legal weed?” by The Record’s Ashley Balcerzak: “In the first six months of the new marijuana tax, Nevada collected 40 percent more revenue than its budget officials predicted. But in California, the state took in only 45 percent of what it expected. An advisory committee found that the high taxes on the legal product didn't make consumers want to leave the black market, which could be a reason why revenue predictions were so far off. Colorado, on the other hand, got really close, estimating $67 million from excise taxes in the first year. The actual number? $66.1 million. Estimating revenue for a formerly illegal product that is still illegal under federal law is tough. Because only a handful of states have legal recreational marijuana markets, which were created so recently, there's a shortage of data budget analysts can use. And then there's predicting exactly who will buy the drug.”

POWERMEN 5000 — “When worlds collide: Coughlin and Sweeney in angioplasty political fracas,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “As it currently stands, a limited number of hospitals can diagnose and treat patients with angioplasty. Vitale’s bill would broaden the scope of permits, enabling patients to access closer-to-home treatment. It conceivably hurts big providers like the Camden-based Cooper Hospital, bread and butter for the South Jersey-centric Sweeney. Deliberate, cautious by nature and institutional in both style and substance, Coughlin was all ready to go with the angioplasty expansion bill (whose people’s house sponsors are battleground district paired Democratic incumbents Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker and Assemblyman Roy Frieman in LD16), but Sweeney, ever the surefooted transactional pol, wanted something in exchange for moving the bill in the senate. You want to do this, you gotta do that.”

— “Prez politics, and Booker’s immersion in it, creates – at the very least – the sense of NJ political elasticity amid static conditions”

—“Mandel stepping down from Eagleton, Farmer to succeed”

—Press release: “Lee Keough steps down as editor-in-chief of NJ Spotlight”

—“Murphy should do more to warn you about lead in school water, Democrat says”

—“DiVincenzo rips Caldwell Democratic councilman over Zoo criticism”

—“Passaic NAACP Leader Bashes Israel On Facebook"





TRUMP ERA

REPUBLICANS BRILLIANTLY SET UP THIS ELECTION YEAR SO THEY ONLY NEED TO DEFEND ONE SEAT — “Republicans plot comeback in New Jersey,” by The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda: “Republicans lost four New Jersey House seats in 2018 as voters angry with President Trump and former Gov. Chris Christie (R) punished their party. The GOP had already lost a seat in the state in 2016. In 2020, the GOP thinks it has a decent chance of winning back three of those seats — if things break the right way. But it won't be easy, and Democrats are optimistic that they’ll hold all of the seats … A GOP aide with knowledge of Republicans’ 2020 strategy said that the state’s 2nd, 3rd and 7th districts are good pickup opportunities.”

HYPOCRISY — “CNN journalist April Ryan’s bodyguard charged with assault for forcibly removing reporter from event,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amanda Hoover: “A CNN journalist’s bodyguard faces criminal charges after he allegedly forced a local reporter out of an event in New Brunswick, first taking the journalist’s camera and then twisting his arm behind his back. Charlie Kratovil, editor of New Brunswick Today, said a guard working for long-time White House correspondent April Ryan violently removed him from the August 3 event at The Heldrich Hotel … A criminal complaint dated August 19 charges 30-year-old Joel Morris of Country Club Hills, Illinois, with harassment, assault and theft. It alleges Morris took Kratovil’s arm and shoved it behind his back, injuring his forearm and shoulder. The harassment and theft charges stem from Morris taking the camera, according to the complaint … ‘Her silence is deafening at this point. It’s been more than two weeks,’ Kratovil said. ‘Anybody who’s a journalist should be condemning this.’”

—@Charlie4Change: “This was more than just an assault on me. This was an assault on freedom of the press, and @AprilDRyan should have immediately condemned the use of violence against a journalist.”





LOCAL

SHORENET — “Monmouth County Prosecutor says artificial intelligence can help stop gun violence in Asbury Park,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Erik Larsen and Agustin Bogues: “Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni is worried about Asbury Park. He spends a great deal of his time these days thinking about the violence there and how to stop it. In his office suite in Freehold Township, there are copies of maps on a conference room table pinpointing the location of every murder, every confirmed incident of shots fired, every found illegal firearm, every arrest made for unlawful possession of a weapon and every aggravated assault there since New Year’s Day. The number of computer-generated pins on his map keeps multiplying. There have been at least eight shootings since Jan. 1, including two murders resulting from the carnage and a growing list of mostly non-life-threatening injuries … In the short term, Gramiccioni wants to combat the violence with more technology. He’s been lobbying state and local officials to help him find the public funding necessary to acquire ShotSpotter … ShotSpotter looks like something out of a 1980s-era science fiction film set in the future. It’s essentially a network of surveillance cameras equipped with ears and artificial intelligence.”

PATERSON — “How can a police department riddled with scandal earn back public trust? Paterson is working on it,” by The Record’s Joe Malinconico: “During the past 16 months, the FBI has arrested seven Paterson police officers on various corruption charges. Five have already pleaded guilty to their crimes … ‘Whether we like it or not, there’s mistrust between the community and us,’ said Paterson Police Officer Ibraaheem Yanes. ‘But I believe if I do my job and treat people the way I expect to be treated — with respect — then the trust will come back.’ Yanes, 24, was a new recruit going through police training academy when the news of the first arrests broke in April 2018. He said instructors at the academy made the recruits do extra calisthenics and spent additional time on 'integrity’ training.”

TAINTED PUPIE — “Hoboken developer convicted of vote-by-mail bribery files motion for acquittal or new trial,” by The Jersey Journal’s Corey W. McDonald: “Frank ‘Pupie’ Raia, the man convicted of orchestrating a citywide voter bribery scheme, is pushing for a new trial, contending that the jury’s guilty verdict went against the weight of the evidence. After being convicted in June of conspiracy to violate the federal Travel Act for using the mail for voter bribery, Raia, 67, has now filed an appeal of the federal verdict, arguing for a new trial ‘because the prosecution mischaracterized the evidence in a way that created a substantial possibility that the verdict was tainted,’ a legal brief reads.”

—“Tired of flood damage, South Jersey residents want the state to buy their homes”

—“Asbury Park summer shootings: Could they kill city's rebirth?”

L.A. Parker: — “Chambersburg and city need warning as Trenton full tilts toward blight”

—“West Milford council president told if he misses next meeting, he's out”

—“Vernon councilman to propose anti-hate resolution”

—“Protests planned for Toms River Regional meeting Wednesday”

—“Old Bridge approves affordable housing project with disabled veterans in mind”

—Mayor: “Ill-informed attack on Middletown's affordable housing record”

A message from Pre-K Our Way: Before Covid-19, the budget proposed by Governor Murphy included funding for NJ’s pre-k for nearly 180 school districts – with funding for new pre-k expansion in about 30 new ones. In June, the Governor and Legislature funded new spaces for 3- and 4-year-olds in school districts with pre-approved plans to expand existing state-funded pre-k through September 30. Now, Governor Murphy’s proposed budget would provide funding for these spaces through June 2021 – and for new expansion districts! NJ’s pre-k remains a priority and is in nearly 150 school districts. Remember: that’s up from 35 districts only a few years ago. Remember also: thousands of 3- and 4-year-olds are waiting across more than 125 additional, eligible school districts. For them – and their working families, let’s set a post-Covid-19 goal: fund pre-k expansion in more than 200 districts for the 2021-2022 school year. Let’s keep the momentum for pre-k expansion! Visit prekourway.org for more information.





EVERYTHING ELSE

SKY BLUE TO ANNOUNCE TOTALLY QUALIFIED NEW COACH: LIZETTE DELGADO-POLANCO — “Could Sky Blue, Red Bulls team up next season?” by The Morristown Daily Record’s Jane Havsy: “Before Sky Blue FC kicked off its match against Reign FC on Sunday, the fans raised a massive banner, or tifo, in one end of Red Bull Arena. In all caps, it read, 'Sky Blue will make history.' That certainly happened, as Sky Blue crushed its home attendance record. But was that truly a home match? If interim general manager Alyse LaHue gets her way, it could be — as soon as next season. Sky Blue FC is on the move, trying to find an alternative to Rutgers' Yurcak Field. The soccer stadium's best feature is its well-maintained, natural grass field. But it has only 5,000 seats all on one side, and no amenities — not even showers for the players.”

FINGERS CROSSED FOR A MAHWAH WAWA — “The Wawa creep into North Jersey continues: See all locations coming soon,” by The Record’s Rebecca King: “North Jersey is QuickChek country after all. But Wawa is giving QuickChek a run for its money lately, as more and more Wawas begin to open in our neck of the Turnpike. Currently, there are locations in Lodi, Garfield, Hackensack, Kearny, Parsippany and Maplewood … Two are set to open this year: one in Fairfield and one in North Plainfield. She projects seven to 10 new Wawas could open in 2020, though she said she can’t confirm any future Wawa locations until they are under construction ‘out of respect for those selling the land.’”

—“Why is it so hard to walk to most places in New Jersey?”



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