TRUMP, CLINTON way up in NJ -- CHRISTIE pocket veto freezes hospitals -- PULASKI progress report Presented by Pre-K Our Way

By Matt Friedman ([email protected]; @mattfriedmannj)

Good Wednesday morning!

The governor is dipping his toe back into New Jersey, attending his second public event since dropping his presidential candidacy two weeks ago. This morning he’ll attend a ribbon cutting for Elliott Street Elementary School in Newark. No word yet on whether the governor will take questions.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I apologize to the people of Highlands for my comments on Saturday, for my clumsy apology yesterday and for the negative media coverage my comments generated ... I realize now that I made what I consider a negative social media situation worse. I apologize to those who were hurt or offended by my comments and I regret the negative light they shed on our wonderful town.” — Highlands Mayor Frank Nolan in his second apology for blasting “barren people in our town” http://on.app.com/1QwYNqH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Johnston Grier, my friend and most loyal reader despite having little interest in New Jersey politics; News 12’s Laura Lindsey Jones

POLLS — Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton leading big in New Jersey. Trump has 38 percent to Marco Rubio’s 11 percent, Ted Cruz’s 10 percent, John Kasich’s 8 percent and Ben Carson’s 5 percent. Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders 55 percent to 32 percent. http://bit.ly/1QDshtm

NEWS

NOT NEW JERSEY, AND PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING NJ GOP ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO HEAR — “Trump wins Nevada caucuses,” by POLITICO’s Shane Goldmacher: “Donald Trump trounced his rivals in the Nevada caucuses on Tuesday, notching his third consecutive victory and giving the Manhattan mogul even more momentum heading into Super Tuesday next week, when voters in a dozen states will cast their ballots. Trump’s decisive win, which the Associated Press announced immediately after polls closed, was propelled by an electorate even more enraged than the ones that had swept him to wins in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and a second-place showing in Iowa.” http://politi.co/1RmFZ0t

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT UNTIL 2018 — “Assembly Republicans want more discretion for prosecutors in gun cases,” by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: “Two top New Jersey Assembly Republicans gingerly stepped into the morass of gun politics Tuesday, suggesting a small change to the state’s gun laws in order to stop people from being sentenced to prison for what they called innocent mistakes. Spurred by the story of Carlo Bellario, an actor and comedian who spent four nights in jail after he was arrested filming a scene with a pellet gun without a permit, Assembly Republican leader Jon Bramnick and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon said it should be clear to prosecutors that they have discretion in such cases.” http://politi.co/1Qw0WDd

JUST FORGET THE PART WHERE THE DOT SAID THE BRIDGE REDECKING IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE THIS YEAR — “Pulaski Skyway roadway half done, state will revisit schedule in spring,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “State transportation officials say work to install a new bridge deck on the Pulaski Skyway is past the halfway point, although a planned swap of southbound traffic to new pavement on the northbound lanes is delayed. ‘The overall project is still on schedule and expected to be completed in 2020,’ said Stephen Schapiro, an NJDOT spokesman, in response to questions about an NBC News 4 report about delays pushing the project back. ‘The (bridge deck) project is more than halfway done, as the majority of the northbound side is completed and there has been a lot of work done underneath the southbound lanes.’” http://bit.ly/1p1AbjX

AND YET HE STILL MAKES A FRACTION OF THE FOOTBALL COACH’S SALARY — “Rutgers president gets hefty bonus — and a raise,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kelly Heyboer: “Rutgers President Robert Barchi's paycheck is getting a lot fatter. The state university president was awarded a $97,000 annual bonus earlier this month after a closed-door meeting in New Brunswick with members of the Rutgers Board of Governors, according to university documents. Barchi will also get a 2 percent pay raise, retroactive to July 1 of last year, along with other top Rutgers officials. That will boost the president's annual base salary by more than $13,000 to $676,260 a year … The new bonus covers Barchi's performance during the 2014-2015 fiscal year, which ended July 1, according to the letter. That pre-dates several recent Rutgers controversies, including the arrests of several football players and the suspension of football coach Kyle Flood in September for breaking campus rules by contacting a professor to try to help one of his players improve a grade.” http://bit.ly/1p1CyDw

SCOTSONJ — “State Supreme Court rules against parole for man in 1973 state trooper killing,” by The Record’s Salvador Rizzo: “Sundiata Acoli, now 79, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in killing Trooper Werner Foerster in a gunfight on the Turnpike. He has been seeking parole since 1993. Sundiata Acoli, who was known as Clark Edward Squire at the time of Trooper Foerster's killing. Trooper Werner Foerster Formerly known as Clark Edward Squire, Acoli was one of three members of the Black Liberation Army who faced off against Foerster and another trooper, James Harper, who was injured but not killed. One of Acoli’s accomplices was Joanne Chesimard, a fugitive who was placed on the FBI’s ‘most wanted terrorist’ list in 2013. She was also convicted but escaped from a Hunterdon County prison in 1979 and is now living in Cuba.” http://bit.ly/1p1AATp

SOON YOU CAN LOSE LOTS OF MONEY AT VIDEO GAMES, TOO — “New Jersey issues rules to allow skill-based gambling,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “New Jersey gambling regulators have issued regulations allowing companies to place skill-based gambling devices on the floor of the state's eight casinos. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement posted the rules by which manufacturers of skill-based games must operate … Some are developing real-money gambling versions of arcade games like pinball, and video game console products like ‘Guitar Hero.’ Others are developing casino versions of games like ‘Angry Birds’ and ‘Words with Friends.’” http://bit.ly/1p1Borv



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

ATLANTIC COUNTY — “Civil War brewing over jobs in Atlantic County,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti-Post: “There is a Civil War brewing in Atlantic County, but this one doesn’t pit the North against the South. It’s the East vs. the West, and the fight is over jobs. Community leaders in this westernmost town are seeing red over the decision by South Jersey Gas to move its headquarters and 167 workers from Folsom, just a few miles from downtown Hammonton, to the $203 million Atlantic City Gateway Project. That’s red for anger, and for the hit local shops and restaurants may take to their bottom lines, once so many well-paid workers are no longer in the area. The anger gets even stronger when they talk about the state giving the company more than $10 million in Grow New Jersey tax credits to make the move, rewarding the chaotic and struggling Atlantic City at the expense of their stable community and others nearby.” http://bit.ly/1Q9PsFW

—Assemblyman Tim Eutsace and Garden State Equality canceled its protest in front of PNC Bank branch in Hackensack because, it turned out, the threat of a protest was enough for the bank to promise to stop donating to Rep. Scott Garrett. Garrett has seen a big drop off in financial donors since he told colleagues he wouldn’t support the National Republican Congressional Committee because it backs gay candidates. Meanwhile, all-but-certain Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer rakes in cash. http://bit.ly/1p1CdRc

PRIVATIZATION WORKS — “Despite record Powerball, benefit to N.J. programs uncertain under revised lottery contract,” by The Record’s Dustin Racioppi: “Last month’s historic billion-dollar Powerball jackpot provided just the windfall state officials had hoped for after two years of “jackpot fatigue” kept the lottery’s private operator from meeting its financial obligations to the state budget to help pay for education, senior citizens and disabled veterans. But it isn’t clear how much of the $147 million in ticket sales will flow back to the state after the Christie Administration’s new deal with the operator, Northstar New Jersey, to lower its budget obligations for the rest of the contract by $1 billion.” http://bit.ly/1QwYpbJ

WHAT’S IN HIS POCKET? — “Legislators, hospitals await Christie’s response on tax exemption,” by POLITICO’s Katie Jennings: “As some municipalities begin a legal push challenging the tax exempt status of local nonprofit hospitals, legislators and hospitals say they’re waiting for guidance from Gov. Chris Christie. Christie pocket-vetoed a bipartisan bill last session that would have have let nonprofit hospitals that conduct some for-profit medical activities make annual community contributions and still maintain a tax-exempt status. The bill’s sponsors, as well as the New Jersey Hospital Association and New Jersey State League of Municipalities, say the governor has yet to explain his reasoning for the veto or what he would like to see included in revised legislation. NJHA supported the bill, while the League argued that there were potential constitutional issues with the legislation and that the proposed payments might not be high enough. In the meantime, at least seven municipalities have filed complaints regarding omitted tax assessments from area nonprofit hospitals for 2014 and 2015 with the Tax Court of New Jersey.” http://politi.co/1Rm7pUm

LET’S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF — “Swastika or Buddhist peace sign: Apartment dispute divides Rutgers roommates,” by Spencer Kent for NJ.com: “A Jewish student is outraged by the way Rutgers University handled an investigation into a swastika found taped to the ceiling near her apartment dorm room. In mid-January, Rutgers senior Sara Rosen returned to her room at the Livingston Apartments after finishing a workout at the Livingston Campus gym. She walked in and saw a "huge swastika" taped to the ceiling right outside her bedroom. According to a police report, the incident occurred on Jan. 15. That night, officers spoke with the student responsible for taping the swastika to the ceiling. That student claimed it wasn't meant to represent the Nazi's swastika (or the Nazi Hakenkreuz), which faces right, but rather the Buddhist ‘sauwastika’ associated with peace.” http://bit.ly/1p1Dis6

THE ATM STATE — “Christie top recipient of N.J. donations in Jan., but rivals took their cut,” by The Record’s Herb Jackson: “Governor Christie raised the most New Jersey money of all the Republican presidential candidates in January, but an analysis of disclosures filed to the Federal Election Commission over the weekend shows his rivals also made inroads in his home state. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, for example, had almost 50 percent more contributors than Christie, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich had a slightly higher average contribution. ... Christie had the support of all the county chairmen and chairwomen in the state Republican Party, and those leaders are waiting to see if he wants them to back one of the remaining candidates, according to Burlington County Chairman Bill Layton.” http://bit.ly/1Rmbqbo

BOGGIANO TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM WALKING ON HIS LAWN — “No honking, yelping or squawking: Jersey City councilman wants cap on noise,” by The Jersey Journal’S Terrence T. McDonald: “A Jersey City councilman wants you to cut out that racket! Rich Boggiano, who represents Ward C on the City Council, has proposed a new law that he hopes will bring more peace and quiet to city neighborhoods. The measure, up for final adoption at tomorrow's council meeting, would implement decibel caps on noise coming from residential and commercial properties. The measure (Ord. 16.027) would also ban certain activities during evening and overnight hours. Use of power tools, for example, would be prohibited between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and unnecessary car honking would be a no-no.” http://bit.ly/1p1DF5Z

OCEAN COUNTY — “Toms River among towns restricting door-to-door solicitation amid Hasidic influx,” by The AP’s Bruce Shipkowski: “James Jackson wasn't interested in selling his home but thanked the black-suited man for his interest anyway. That's when the man put his hand on Jackson's shoulder and told him he might want to reconsider. Many of his neighbors in the New Jersey shore town of Toms River, the man said, already planned to sell to Jewish buyers like those he represented. ‘He asked me why I would want to live in a Hasidic neighborhood if I wasn't Hasidic,’ Jackson recalled. ‘He asked if I would really be happy, if it would be in my family's best interests.’ A housing crunch in Lakewood, home to one of the nation's largest populations of Hasidic Jews, has triggered what residents of neighboring communities say are overly aggressive, all-hours solicitations from agents looking to find homes for the rapidly growing Jewish community. The complaints have prompted towns, including Toms River, to update their ‘no-knock’ rules and related laws, adding real estate inquiries to measures that already limit when soliciting can occur and allow residents to bar solicitations.” http://bit.ly/1p1DYhg

DOWNTOWN, WHERE ALL THE STUDENTS ARE — “Despite past safety concerns, Paterson high schools adapt to new downtown location,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Irahem Mustafa, a freshman at Paterson’s HARP Academy, said he didn’t feel safe climbing down a fire escape during a recent emergency evacuation drill at his school at Colt Street. “It was shaking,” Mustafa said of the fire escape. “It wasn’t shaking,” insisted his classmate, Reha Yilmaz. “I’m terrified of heights,” responded Mustafa. Almost two months after Paterson’s HARP and YES academies relocated to a converted downtown office building, students and staff members are still adapting to the new location. Students are frustrated by the lack of lockers, which forces them to carry their books all day. They also say the classrooms should be larger. Teachers, meanwhile, have complained that the faculty lounge is too small.” http://bit.ly/1QwYcFw

LIKE BIRTHRIGHT FOR OLDER PEOPLE — “16 N.J. lawmakers traveling to Israel this week PEOPLE,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “Sixteen state lawmakers will arrive in Israel Friday for a week-long trip to meet with business owners, government officials, security experts and to see what kinds of ideas they could bring back to New Jersey, trip organizers said. The 12 Assembly members and four Senators are paying their own way for the trip estimated to cost about $4,000 in airfare and lodging, said Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), who is among the travelers. The New Jersey Association for Jewish Federations invited all 120 members of the legislature to the participate in the N.J. Legislators Study Mission to Israel, said Jacob Toporek, the federation's executive director.” http://bit.ly/1QwZ3WG

#TELLINGITLIKEITIS — “Governor lauds charter schools but funding doesn't match rhetoric," by NJ Spotlight's John Mooney: “At the very least, he said, funding for charter schools would remain level this year. ‘For fiscal year 2017, funding will be provided to support charter school aid to ensure per student funding for charter schools remains steady,’ he said. But the budget itself actually reduces direct aid to charter schools by $2.8 million while federal aid remains flat, according to the administration’s budget summary. There is only so much to be read into that, admittedly, as direct state aid and federal aid cover a small fraction of the overall costs of charter schools. Still, the administration has been silent on the topic of aid to charter schools, and charter leaders have not responded to requests for their reaction.” http://bit.ly/1RmFKCR

IMMIGRATION — “N.J. undocumented immigrants pay $590M in taxes, report finds,” by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: “Undocumented immigrants contribute more than $590 million in state and local taxes in New Jersey, according to a study released Wednesday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The report, which was also released by the think-tank New Jersey Policy Perspective, found New Jersey has the fifth-highest state and local tax payments from undocumented immigrants. In total, undocumented immigrants contribute more than $11.6 billion in taxes each year in the U.S. Erika Nava, a policy analyst at NJPP, said that New Jerseyans should know that these immigrants are paying their fair share of taxes...The report also said that New Jersey would gain $24 million in revenue if the Obama administration’s recent executive actions on immigration were implemented.” http://politi.co/1TEG7vO

CAN YOU SCREW ME NOW? — "Verizon refuses to pay portion of tax bill to rural communities," by NJ Spotlight's Tom Johnson: “Scores of towns in South Jersey are losing much-needed revenue because of an tax court decision that has led Verizon New Jersey to stop paying a portion of its tax bill. The telecom company’s reading of the three-year-old ruling is that it no longer needs to pay the business personal-property tax to municipalities where Verizon no longer provides traditional landline phone service to a majority of local phone customers. At its peak, the tax on equipment, utility poles, and cables provided about $120 million in revenue to towns, but since Verizon informed towns it would no longer pay where it does not serve 51 percent of residents, the total is now in the $40 million to $50 million range, according to a company executive.” http://bit.ly/1RmFljB

—“Rural N.J. may get support from Trenton in Verizon clash” http://bit.ly/1RmGesG

SUSSEX COUNTY — “County administrator retiring April 1,” by The New Jersey Herald’s Rob Jennings: “Sussex County's chief executive, Administrator Stephen Gruchacz, is retiring April 1, nine months into his three-year contract. Gruchacz disclosed his impending exit Monday in a letter to the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, upon returning from a week-long absence that has not been publicly explained. While Gruchacz was away, Freeholder Director George Graham bypassed a 2008 chain of command policy and asked the fourth in line, Department of Central and Shared Services Administrator Ron Tappan, to fulfill his duties. In response, Freeholder Richard Vohden blasted the move and alluded to rumors -- denied by Graham -- that the freeholder director was angling to replace Gruchacz with Tappan.” http://bit.ly/1QwYDQh

AGAIN — “Highlands mayor apologizes again over Facebook rants,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “Maybe the third time will be the charm for Highlands mayor Frank Nolan. After lashing out at critics in Facebook posts on Saturday and Monday, Nolan returned to social media Tuesday and offered an unconditional apology. ‘I apologize to the people of Highlands for my comments on Saturday, for my clumsy apology yesterday and for the negative media coverage my comments generated,’ Nolan wrote. ‘I realize now that I made what I consider a negative social media situation worse. I apologize to those who were hurt or offended by my comments and I regret the negative light they shed on our wonderful town.’” http://on.app.com/1QwYNqH

ORANGE — “Judge Orders Edwards to Repay the City of Orange $268,750,” by PolitickerNJ’s Max Pizarro: “In an election year decision laying bare the underbelly of Orange politics, Superior Court Judge Christine Farrington ordered former Orange Deputy Business Administrator Willis Edwards III to pay back to the city $268,750 for the three years that he worked in city hall without the consent of the city council. The judge’s decision, rendered on February 18th, comes as the Essex County post-industrial city sizes up the reelection prospects of Edwards’s ally, Mayor Dwayne Warren, whom Edwards on the stand cited as the man responsible for giving him the job in question. … Farrington cited the council’s directive to the mayor to order Edwards to not appear before the governing body as deputy business administrator, which Edward apparently tried to skirt by presenting himself as the mayor’s chief of staff.” http://bit.ly/1SSiHmG

NOBODY IS SAFE — “N.J. homeowner cries fowl after wild turkey break-in attempt,” by NJ Advance Media’s Spencer Kent: “What is going on with turkeys in New Jersey these days? First, it was turkeys attacking a mail carrier in a town in Bergen County, and now a resident in East Brunswick reports that a flock of turkeys ‘tried to crash through’ his back door.” http://bit.ly/1QwYWKF

—NJ Weedman Ed Forchion made up a bunch of “Just say no to Christie” t-shirts, but now that Christie’s not running for president anymore he’s got a glut of them. So now if you go to Weedman’s Trenton restaurant and order the Christie burger (two chicken patties and mac and cheese on a glazed donut bun, with a twinkie on the side), you get one for free. Assuming you survive the burger. http://on.fb.me/1Q9ObyE

MORE NEWS

—“Tedesco signals that 2016 tax increase is possible in state of Bergen County address” http://bit.ly/1QwYzjv

—“Feds approve South Jersey disaster declaration for Jonas storm loans” http://bit.ly/1QwYRXv

—“Swapping Tax Credits for Needed Capital Helps Small Firms Pursue Big Goals” http://bit.ly/1RmGjfO

—“AC school district gets new state monitor” http://bit.ly/1QwYY5f

—“Jersey City BOE member turns to state in superintendent contract dispute” http://politi.co/1p1EsDS

—“Decision to open halfway house without input 'bad form:' [Readington] mayor” http://bit.ly/1RmG9oK

—“Fight over Six Flags solar farm trudges on” http://bit.ly/1QwZ0dp

—“Second former cop headed to prison for false police reports” http://bit.ly/1RmEZJX

—“(Trenton) Efforts underway to recoup millions lost in payroll embezzling scheme” http://bit.ly/1QwYGvh

—“Cumberland approves fee to fund trust for homeless” http://bit.ly/1RmF9AX

—“Retired union worker with ALS struggling with loss of vital insurance benefit” http://fxn.ws/1QwYuw2

—“Nearly vacant Wayne mall would be replaced with new retail complex” http://bit.ly/1p1AnzO

—“Camden's Whittier school to reopen under KIPP” http://bit.ly/1RmF5kE

—“Principal's out-of-district relative attended her school without paying, report says” http://bit.ly/1p1BEGZ

—“New Turnpike website to play catch up with smartphones” http://bit.ly/1p1CS4X

—“From turtles to jobs: 4 things you can expect in Essex County this year” http://bit.ly/1p1EifY

—“N.J. contractor sentenced for bribing fire official” http://bit.ly/1QwYOuN

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