Murphy defends hiring disgraced official

By Matt Friedman
Politico
September 19, 2018

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-jersey-playbook/2018/09/19/murphy-defends-hiring-disgraced-official-308130

Good Wednesday morning!

Gov. Phil Murphy is sticking by his administration’s hiring of Marcellus Jackson — who pleaded guilty to bribery — for a $70,000 special assistant position in the Department of Education.

“I hope we see a lot more of this, that somebody made a mistake, they admitted it, they repented it, they paid their price,” Murphy said at an unrelated press conference. “We have to get these folks back on their feet in society in this state. We have one of the harshest states in the nation in terms of allowing what I just said to happen. Marcellus has done all of the above, and I think we should all accept that that should be the new norm going forward.”

But as Sal Rizzo points out on Twitter, giving people second chances isn’t what’s controversial. It’s giving a person who violated the public trust a second chance working in the government that’s controversial.

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen) yesterday announced plans to introduce a bill to bar public officials convicted of corruption from all government work. Let’s see if it goes anywhere.

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Checkmate Stratgeies’ Chris Russell, Kivvit’s Maggie Moran (h/t Jesse Shapiro), former Star-Ledger reporter Victoria St. Marin

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Whereas, The blueberry muffin is incredibly versatile, able to serve as part of a healthy breakfast or as a sweet and decadent dessert” — Bill NJ A4426 (18R) designating blueberry muffin as State Muffin.

DO YOU REMEMBER? THEY SAID IT’D BE DONE IN SEPTEMBER. SWEENEY WOULD CHANGE THE PRETENDERS — Marijuana bill caps tax rate at 10 percent, among lowest in the U.S., by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: New Jersey lawmakers will cap the tax rate on recreational marijuana at just 10 percent, according to a draft of the legislation, eschewing earlier proposals to raise the rate over time and dismissing calls by the Murphy administration to impose a tax of as high as 25 percent. The draft legislation also includes several elements that have yet to be publicly disclosed, including language that would exempt cannabis obtained through the state's medical marijuana program from the 10 percent tax rate. The draft bill, dated Sept. 12 and obtained by POLITICO on Tuesday, would also allow dispensaries to establish separate areas where customers could use products purchased at the facility, potentially opening the door to marijuana-themed lounges or clubs. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), has not been formally introduced. Lawmakers are also working on a separate bill to further expand the state's medical cannabis program. Read the report

—“Here are the details of N.J.'s new legal weed bill, including delivery and smoking lounges” Read the report

CURRIE POWDER KEG — “N.J. Democrats' bad blood from budget fight still boiling. Here's the latest tiff,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco and Brent Johnson: “The bad blood lingering from the nasty state budget battle that divided New Jersey's Democrats this summer has spilled over into the party's state convention this week. Democratic leaders from across the Garden State -- including Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez -- will gather in Atlantic City on Thursday and Friday for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's annual convention. But some of New Jersey's top state lawmakers are skipping the event, NJ Advance Media has learned. The leaders of both houses of the state Legislature -- state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Midddlesex -- said they won't be there. Sweeney stopped short of calling his absence a boycott. But, he added, a ‘lot of people are dissatisfied’ that state party chairman John Currie stepped ‘into a disagreement to take sides’ with Murphy as the governor quarreled with his fellow Democrats who control the Legislature over the budget.” Read the report

FINE EQUIVALENT TO A FRACTION OF ONE STUDENT’S TUITION — “N.J. colleges may soon face serious fines for bungling sexual assault cases,” by NJ Advance Media’s Adam Clark: “Reported sexual assaults at New Jersey colleges have been steadily rising in recent years. Now, New Jersey is considering hitting colleges where it hurts the most if they mishandle those allegations. A new plan that would allow the state to fine colleges $10,000 for bungling reported sexual assaults was approved earlier this week by the Senate Higher Education Committee.” Read the report

SERENATY NOW! — Ethics committee punts on DiMaso robocall allegation, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: A state legislative panel punted Tuesday on an accusation by two Democratic lawmakers that one of their Republican colleagues violated the Legislature’s ethics code by recording a robocall against them that “spoofed” their office phone number. Instead, the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards voted unanimously to write to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the Federal Communications Commission to see if either of them is investigating the call. “I do find this a potentially serious violation. It’s high on the list of campaign dirty tricks,” said committee member Joan Quigley, a former Democratic assemblywoman from Hudson County. The committee plans to consider the robocall further after hearing back from the two agencies it contacted. Read the report

INCRDABLE — ”Atlantic City casino reinvestment board defends performance after report criticizes spending,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s David Danzis: The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority briefly addressed a critical state audit during its first public board meeting since the report was released last week. The discussion lasted roughly two minutes and revealed little new. The meeting, the first since auditors criticized CRDA for failing to track millions of dollars spent on Miss America, beach concerts and The Walk outlets, also drew little interest from the public, some of whom were more concerned about noise on the Boardwalk and empty storefronts near Boardwalk Hall. No one on the board, other than Chairman Robert Mulcahy, addressed the issue Tuesday.“‘I want to make sure that the public understands that the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is audited annually by one of the top independent accounting firms in the nation,’ said Mulcahy, reading from a prepared statement.” Read the report

—“Stalled by budget mix-up, state funding now in offing to help local media” Read the report

—"Momentum for state to buy foreclosed homes, turn into affordable housing" Read the report

—Labor department publishes proposed rules for new paid sick leave lawRead the report

—Murphy: Repeal of 2011 health benefit reforms not part of deal with unions Read the report

—“New Jersey boosts preschool funding for 31 districts” Read the report

—“GOP senator wants more transparency at NJ Transit, other agencies” Read the report

—Ed groups open to school merger studies, but caution against mandates Read the report

—“Father of Paramus bus crash victim advocates for stricter background checks on drivers” Read the report

—“Christie Critic Seeks To Revive GWB Scandal Complaint” Read the report

2018 — “How Brett Kavanaugh's sex assault allegation is trouble for Republican in NJ Senate race,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “The firestorm over embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh brings into sharp relief the strategic challenges facing Bob Hugin, the Republican running for the U.S. Senate in a state that is largely hostile to President Trump … That makes Kavanaugh and the sexual assault claim another episode in the increasing Trump world of scandals, putting pressure on Hugin trying to keep an arms distance from Trump as he makes his first bid for public office. If Hugin, a former pharmaceutical company executive, is to have has any chance of beating incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez, he needs a strong turnout from New Jersey's shrinking GOP base. Hugin cannot afford to alienate those voters. Yet, there are simply not enough of them to carry Hugin to victory … That resistance base include millennials, union members, environmentalists, and perhaps, most significantly, women inspired by the #MeToo movement and infuriated by a sense that Trump was never held accountable for his own history of sexual misconduct.” Read the column

— “Cory Booker's New York magazine profile raises some 2020 questions. Here's wh” Read the report

—“Fajardo shows up at the Cuban Club for Menendez” Read the report

—“State employee who called boss the c-word gets job back” Read the report

PRESS RELEASE OF THE DAY — “Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Winner of Supreme Court Case to Overturn Sports Betting Ban, to Keynote Winter Meeting of Legislators from Gaming States January 4-6 in New Orleans” More here

VOTE BY FAIL — “Judge: No fraud in Dover's 4th Ward primary election; Valencia wins,” by The Daily Record’s Peggy Wright: “It's official, challenger Carlos Valencia beat incumbent Alderman Ronald Camacho, ruled a Superior Court judge as he rejected claims of voter fraud and illegal votes in Dover's 4th Ward June primary election. Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz Tuesday afternoon ended a four-day trial by ruling that Alan Zakin, did not prove the results of the June 5 Democrat board of alderman primary election should be overturned in favor of his client Camacho. ‘There has been no indication throughout the entirety of this trial that any voter was forced to vote or compelled to vote for any particular candidate,’ Minkowitz said. Valencia initially beat Camacho by six votes. A recount of vote-by-mail ballots widened Valencia's lead by 12 votes or a tally of 131 to 119. Backed by town Mayor James Dodd, Camacho hired Zakin to file a lawsuit alleging voter fraud, electioneering at the polls and undisclosed assistance to some voters who filled out vote-by-mail ballots.” Read the report

WHO STOLE THE MONEY FROM THE WATERSHED? YES, YOU — “Political consultant had 'hand in the cookie jar,' gets 4 years in Watershed scheme,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karen Yi: “A former political consultant in Essex County was sentenced to four years in federal prison Tuesday for her role in defrauding the now-defunct nonprofit in charge of treating water for parts of northern New Jersey. Dianthe Martinez-Brooks, 48, of West Orange, previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting she submitted bloated invoices to the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. for work that was never performed, and gave the money as kickbacks to top officials at the agency.” Read the report

THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT — “Outrage over public sex acts at a Hoboken bar is overblown,” by The Trentonian’s Jeff Edelstein: “So I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I approve of public sex, because really, that’s a bridge too far, but I will say this: The outrage over what happened at a bar in Hoboken is way more than it should be … I obviously can’t link to the video in question, but it’s out there for enquiring minds. I watched it, you know, for journalistic purposes, and I will say this: The woman was a willing participant in the goings on. That much was clear. Was alcohol a contributing factor? Yeah, probably, but for real: No one can watch the video and say she was being taken advantage of. She was all-in. And so yes. This is bad. People can’t be having sex, on bars, in public. I get that. Not cool. Unsanitary, at the very least. But an “affront to human decency?” as Bhalla called it? Or a “death knell for humanity,” as Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno put it? Well, maybe. I mean, I get it. It’s beyond the pale. But maybe we’re thinking about wrong, programmed to think about it wrong. After all, it’s just sex.” Read the report

MAHONEYVINCENZO — “County sold police academy to plug a budget hole. Now it's taking it back,” by NJ Advance Media’s Karen Yi: “Essex County officials plan to take back control of the public safety academy -- currently run by the county college -- more than two decades after the building was sold off to plug a budget hole. ‘We're going to totally take it over,’ Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. told NJ Advance Media on Monday. "It was never the right thing for the college to do. Now, we're straightening it out." Essex County College's Board of Trustees will vote Tuesday to discontinue operations at the Cedar Grove academy by January 2019 and lay off its director, Rocco Miscia.” Read the report

—“Rockaway Township reschedules Yom Kippur meeting after visit from rabbis” Read the report

—“Trenton council debates merits of opening medical marijuana dispensary” Read the report

—“Agreement ends 8-year ethics dispute involving Hoboken mayor,” Read the report

—“As homeless shelter shuts down, city looks for options for those hardest to house” Read the report

—“Pleasantville schools lay off 21 employees in face of $1.5M budget deficit” Read the report

—“Anti-Yaede Republican sues Hamilton Township, wins $4K OPRA settlement” Read the report

—“In Dennis Township, desire for public vote could sink marijuana plan” Read the report

—“Stockton to conduct study on Bader Field environmental center” Read the report

—“Bus driver fired after getting lost for at least an hour with 37 kids on board” Read the report

—“Sex offender hid past, got N.J. recreation department job, cops say” Read the report

THE CHURCH — “N.J. Catholic dioceses releases priest sex abuse victims from agreements, says victims are free to talk,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kelly Heyboer: “Victims of priest sexual abuse who signed confidentiality agreements with Catholic dioceses in New Jersey are free to ignore those deals and speak publicly about their experiences, church officials said in a statement Tuesday. The announcement means all victims who reached financial settlements with the Catholic Church in New Jersey can call a new hotline established by the state Attorney General's office earlier this month to speak to investigators gathering evidence of clergy sexual abuse in the church. ‘Cardinal Joseph Tobin and the other Catholic bishops of New Jersey have no issue if someone who had signed a settlement agreement prior to 2002 speaks publicly about his or her ordeal. In fact, we tell survivors who come forward that we will inform law enforcement of their allegations, and we encourage them to do the same,’ said Patrick Brannigan, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference.” Read the report

— "NJ hotline to report abuse in Catholic Church inundated with calls, attorney general says” Read the report

TRULY GREAT GRANDPARENTS — “‘Why not me?’ Great-grandmas in New Jersey are getting on board with medical marijuana,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jan Hefler: “Ida Ruggiero, an opinionated great-grandma, remembered the deep embarrassment that crept over her when she told each of her five adult children her news. Ruggiero, 81, was using weed, twice a day. With her doctor's permission, of course. Yes, the same substance that she had sternly warned them not to try when they were teens growing up in a middle-class home in South Jersey in the '60s. ‘I used to threaten that I would beat them,’ Ruggiero, a former school board member, said a few hours after she had popped a piece of a cannabis lozenge. None of her now-adult children objected to her decision to use it, she said. Ruggiero is among a small but growing group of people in their 80s and 90s who have decided to experiment with marijuana, still an illegal substance under federal law. A majority of states have legalized it to treat a wide array of ailments and its popularity is rising.” Read the report

GIVE BLINDLY. NOTHING COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS — “A stranger has raised thousands for the man mocked for shaving on N.J. train,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeremy Schneider: “Jordan Uhl saw the Twitter video of Anthony Torres shaving on a NJ Transit train that went viral last week, and found it to be in poor taste. Then he read the Associated Press report that Torres had just left a homeless shelter the morning of the video, which Uhl described as "a gut punch." But when he saw on Twitter that the person who shot the footage was looking to license it? That's when he felt he needed to do something. ‘He was literally trying to profit off of mocking a homeless guy,’ Uhl told NJ Advance Media in a phone interview Tuesday. ‘It just felt really disgusting and vile so I figured we needed to come together and help this guy.’ So Uhl, who lives in Washington, D.C. and works the public policy advocacy group "MoveOn," put his more than 100,000 Twitter followers to good use -- launching a GoFundMe for Torres on Monday night that has raised more than $10,000 in to help him get back on his feet.” Read the report

THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU MESS WITH GEORGE NORCROCODILE — “An alligator is on the loose in a South Jersey town, and police are warning small pet owners,” by NJ Advance Media’s Chris Sheldon: “Residents in one Atlantic County town are being warned about letting their small pets outside after an alligator was seen on the loose. The alligator, between 3- and 4-feet long, was spotted in Mullica Township and police were warning residents to stay away if they saw it. The gator was seen at 4:45 p.m. on Hamburg Avenue between Route 30 and Duerer Street, a post on the Mullica Township Police Facebook page stated.” Read the report

—“Commuter who shot NJ Transit train shaving video says he will donate proceeds to Anthony Torres” Read the report

— “Man accused of using Johnny Bobbitt’s GoFundMe money says what happened to it will become ‘crystal clear’” Read the report

— “Snooki is opening a boutique in N.J. Only some locals are outraged.” Read the report

—“Leather grown in lab at NJ's Modern Meadow; is lab meat next?” Read the report

CORRECTION: Near the top of yesterday’s Playbook, I referred to the 2007 sting operation that ensnared Marcellus Jackson and 10 other public officials as “Operation Broken Records.” The correct name was “Operation Broken Boards.” The name was correct in my story, which was linked to. But I think Operation Broken Records is a better name for a sting operation, so I do not regret the error.