Too quiet about Donald Payne’s condition

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Good Monday morning!

I and everyone else hopes U.S. Rep. Donald Payne recovers from his heart attack. But I don’t think you need medical expertise to gather that the prognosis can’t be great if he’s still unconscious and on a respirator nearly two weeks after the heart attack, as New Jersey Globe reported last week.

That is a far cry from how Payne’s office initially described the congressman’s condition when they disclosed he suffered a “cardiac episode” but had a “good prognosis.” “Currently, he is recovering in the hospital as doctors conduct routine exams to monitor and observe his improvement,” a statement from his office said two weeks ago.

Presumably in response to the report about the congressman’s health, his office issued a follow-up statement Wednesday saying the congressman was “in stable condition at a local hospital and continues to be under doctor’s care.” “While we hope for a full recovery, we ask everyone to keep him in your prayers,” it said.

“Stable condition” sounds reassuring, but it’s vague. And the statement didn’t contradict the earlier report, which frankly makes his condition sound grave.

Let’s hope the congressman’s office offers some more clarification soon. They haven’t since Wednesday. I understand family considerations may be at play, but when it comes to representatives’ health, it’s everyone’s business to some extent.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “A lot of his friends, including me, when we saw this case, thought, ‘This is not the Bob we know. Who is this woman, and how is this happening?’” — The View co-host Ana Navarro preparing to blame Nadine Menendez for the corruption charges against her husband Bob Menendez, who was indicted in a separate case and admonished by the Senate ethics committee before he met her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Lori Price Abrams, Walter Fields, Ryan Jones, Al LiCata. Missed yesterday: Curtis Bashaw

WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule

WHAT TRENTON MADE


PISSING THE FLIGHT AWAY — “Gov. Phil Murphy visits Hollywood to tubthump New Jersey production tax credits: ‘Our incentives are as competitive as any in the world’,” by Variety’s Cynthiia Littleton: “Murphy made a West Coast swing to talk artificial intelligence with firms in the Bay Area and to talk new business with studios in Hollywood. Murphy’s targeted courtship has helped spark a building boom across New Jersey for soundstages and production facilities. Here Murphy discusses the impact of the state’s production tax incentive program and why he sees Georgia as a bigger rival for luring productions than neighboring New York … What are your specific selling points for doing business in New Jersey versus New York? Do you make a purely economic argument about the cost of living in the Garden State versus Manhattan? ‘We do. Our plain-vanilla incentives are 35% plus a 2% to 4% percent kicker for diversity. And while we have a $500,000 per person [cap] above the line, all of that gets unlocked and supercharged if you either build a studio or you lease space from someone who has built studios in New Jersey.’”

NJ PLAYBOOK’S $6.7M REPORT: ‘STOP PAYING CONSULTANTS FOR EXPENSIVE REPORTS’ — “NJ Transit study targets $600M in budget cuts, expansion and reform,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “A $6.7 million NJ Transit feasibility study would examine making up to 20% in budget cuts, propose how to expand service and suggest some early “quick win” ideas with a goal to deliver a full report in under a year. Those are among the many aspects of the state’s public transit system that the North Highland Company will have to study and make recommendations about under a contract signed on April 10 with the Department of Transportation. The same company conducted the 2018 audit of NJ Transit ordered by Gov. Phil Murphy and delivered that October.”

—“Legislators press for answers on NJ Transit budget problems, Turnpike widening”

WELL, STACK DID BACK CHRISITE IN 2013 — “Stack puts Gottheimer in the spotlight at Hudson event,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Union City Mayor/State Sen. Brian P. Stack dropped a not-so-subtle signal about his preference for governor in next year’s Democratic primary, shining a spotlight on Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) at his fundraiser last night. Stack called Gottheimer up to speak at his Union City First event, which was attended by over 2,600 of his supporters. Another potential candidate, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), was in attendance earlier in the evening but was not scheduled to speak. She had left before the program began.”

R.I.P. — “Lee Laskin, GOP senator from Camden County, dies at 87”

CARTOON BREAK — “Just build the damn affordable housing already,” by Drew Sheneman

—“Matt Arco: Never a dull moment covering N.J. politics”

BIDEN TIME


WHAT ABOUT BOB? — Menendez corruption trial slightly delayed but still on track for May start, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial will begin on May 13 in federal court in Manhattan, a slight delay. The trial of the New Jersey Democrat and two-codefendants — both businesspeople accused of bribing the senator and his wife — was previously scheduled to begin on May 6. But there was wrangling this week over a potential conflict for an attorney who represents Menendez co-defendant Wael Hana in the current case and Menendez co-defendant Fred Daibes in a separate case that touches on this one. The wrangling threatened to become a major holdup but was avoided with a deal. An agreement, reached Thursday and approved by the judge on Friday morning during a meeting in court, prevents a possible mistrial if the attorney, Lawrence Lustberg, had been called as a witness to a conversation between Daibes and Menendez that prosecutors said is critical to their case against Menendez. In place of that testimony, Lustberg has agreed to an anonymized stipulation that is expected to be used during the trial.

ICE ICE MAYBE — “Private prison company eyes Newark site for new ICE jail,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “A private prison company wants a federal judge to declare again that New Jersey’s law barring immigrant detention centers is unconstitutional so it can open a new immigration detention jail in Newark, court records show. The GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the nation, wants to contract with U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement to house up to 600 immigrant detainees at a detention center it owns in Newark, next to Essex County’s jail. But the state law — deemed partially unconstitutional by a federal judge in 2023 — may prevent ICE from entering into the contract, the company’s lawyers say in a new federal lawsuit targeting Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin. The law “unlawfully discriminates against GEO in its capacity as a contractor for the federal government because it targets privately contracted immigration detention services, an area under federal control, while New Jersey law allows other forms of privately contracted detention services for non-federal purposes,” says the complaint, filed April 15.”

LOCAL

A PLIGHT AT THE ROXBURY — “Making transgender friends feel safe in Roxbury,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “About 50 students walked out of the township high school last Monday to support protection for transgender students. Many followed up and pressed the issue at that night’s board of education meeting. All that was to no avail, as the board rescinded a state-driven transgender student protection policy known by its numerical designation – 5756. One may have thought student sentiments on something like this would carry weight. The policy, after all, impacts students much more than it does anyone else. But this was about politics, or rather, political symbolism. And that trumped student sentiment.”

—Calavia-Robertson: “Her bullied son took his life 3 years ago. Now, she’s advocating for trans youth”

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE — “Fight over flying Pride flag ends with strict new rules in [Bonnton],” by NJ Advance Media’s Brianna Kudisch: “Boonton’s town council passed the new ordinance Monday in a 6-3 vote. It narrowly limits what flags can fly. The previous ordinance — which allowed flags to fly over municipal property if they were tied to proclamations made by the U.S. president — passed in December. It could have allowed groups to apply to fly Pride flags over town property when President Joe Biden declares June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month each year. The new rules say “town-owned flag poles are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public and are for official purposes.” The ordinance limits the flags that can fly over municipal property to the American flag, state and county flags, and military flags or Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action flags.”

PAKHTERSON — “Paterson’s 3rd Ward council race plays out under lingering cloud of election fraud charges,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The city’s upcoming 3rd Ward council race sometimes seems like a backyard brawl. Two longtime bitter rivals — incumbent Alex Mendez and former 20-year Councilman William McKoy — are slugging it out as election opponents for the fifth time in 12 years. … Meanwhile, the third man in the ring is Assad Akhter, who says voters deserve a better option than voting for either Mendez or McKoy. … Akhter is Gov. Phil Murphy’s senior director of government affairs … Akhter said he has never seen government meetings run so chaotically as the weekly Paterson council sessions at City Hall. ‘People tell me I’m nuts for running,’ he said. … McKoy questioned whether the governor’s staff member would be loyal to his boss or to the people of Paterson. Mendez said Akhter is proposing change but has ‘no real ideas, no real platform.’”

PLEASANTVILLE INDEED — “Wrong address leads to drug charges for Pleasantville business owner,” by Breaking AC’s Lynda Cohen: “A wrong address led to criminal charges for a Pleasantville business owner. Fed Ex delivered a package to City Hall at 18 N. First St. that had four large bags of marijuana. The intended recipient on the package was Pleasantville Accessories, determined to be Pleasantville Tobacco and Accessories at 18 N. Main St., a block away, Capt. Stacey Schlachter said.”

POO FLIGHTERS — “AC condo owners warned about hurling dog poop at workers,” by WPG’s Joe Kelly: “In a letter apparently sent to Ocean Club ‘Members’, the Ocean County Board of Trustees are warning residents to stop throwing food and dog feces at personnel working on repairing balconies in the 1,000 unit complex. … The letter sent to those in the complex states that the project’s engineer is threatening to walk off the job. The condo board has asked Atlantic City Police to look into the matter. The letter says those harassing workers while they are so high off the ground could result in some big-time criminal charges.”

—“Jersey City Council to vote on urging N.J. legislature to abide by county line ruling”

—“Why NJ won’t let Paterson settle with 2 who served 24 years before tossed conviction”

—“NJ investigates death of man in police custody in Toms River after ‘medical episode’”

—“Paterson seeing surge in police applicants before deadline. Here’s why”

—“Small is fifth Atlantic City mayor to face charges since 1982”

—“Families are separated at [Cumberland County] homeless shelter. Expansion will allow them to stay together”

—“A ‘nuisance': West Milford wants to oust unlicensed cannabis retailers”

—“Holmdel park dedicated to local scientist who discovered proof of the Big Bang theory”

— “N.J. Rabbi Fred Neulander, convicted of a murder-for-hire plot to kill his wife, has died in prison”

EVERYTHING ELSE


PRESUMABLY RUTGERS WILL NOW HIRE BACK ALL THOSE WRITING LECTURERS — “Playing with the big boys Rutgers football could earn $100M in 2025. (No, really.) But does it ‘have a chance’ to compete?” by NJ Advance Media’s Keith Sargeant: “The operation is the size of a small army. Ten assistant coaches. Sixty-one support staff members. About 140 players. The cost? $49.5 million, just in 2024. Greg Schiano knows the annual allocation for his Rutgers football program could fund your average New Jersey town. In fact, the university spent twice as much on football last year as Schiano’s hometown of Wyckoff dedicated for its 2024 municipal budget. ‘There certainly are a lot more resources at our disposal,’ Schiano told NJ Advance Media. That’s because Rutgers is expected to receive at least $80 million this year from the Big Ten Conference. Add an additional $20 million in anticipated College Football Playoff revenue starting in 2025, and Schiano’s program is expected to gross roughly $100 million before fans buy a single ticket in the years ahead, practically ensuring profitability, an NJ Advance Media financial analysis found. But those income streams are only part of Rutgers’ larger plan for football, university officials say. The Scarlet Knights will need those resources as the level of competition in the Big Ten rises — and expectations on Schiano and the program climb along with them.”

YES WE CANNA — “NJ legal weed indies bringing new products, lower prices, to consumers,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Mike Davis: “In the last year, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has issued dozens of licenses to independently owned cannabis cultivators and manufacturers, businesses that are setting up shop from scratch without the resources that let larger, corporate cannabis companies jump into a new market headfirst. … Until last year, all of the legal cannabis in New Jersey was grown by a dozen companies – all but one of which were multi-state operators, billion-dollar cannabis corporations that dominated the state’s miniscule medical marijuana market. When New Jersey finalized legalized weed, it was those companies that had first dibs on growing cannabis for recreational customers. With limited supply and sky-high demand from a brand-new market, the result was obvious: Prices were out of control, with an eighth ounce of legal weed selling for $65 … Enter Brute’s Roots. The company, which operates a dispensary in Egg Harbor and a cultivation facility in Winslow, was the first independently owned and licensed to sell cannabis to recreational customers. Their first homemade cannabis products hit the shelves in October: “The Goodfather,” for $23 per eighth-ounce. It was the cheapest legal weed available in the state by more than 50%.”

THE WHOLE REGION SHOOK AND IT WAS LITERALLY NJ’S FAULT — — “NJ earthquake shook local geologists into action, sending them to precarious places,” by The Record’s James M. O’Neill: “The quake, one of the strongest ever recorded in New Jersey, rattled tables and shook windows. People felt it from Washington to Boston. Though it caused little damage, the quake, which occurred about 3 miles below the surface, provided a rare opportunity for scientists who study New Jersey’s geologic history to gather new data in real time as aftershocks reverberated through the Garden State’s bedrock. ‘This has caused a lot of excitement for geologists,’ said Kenneth Miller, a professor in the Earth and planetary sciences department at Rutgers University. So they sprang into action.”

COMING SOON: ‘JEW CLAW’ MANISCHEWITZ HARD SELTZER — “Iconic N.J. Jewish food company rebrands for Passover 2024. Here’s why,’ by NJ Advance Media’s Karim Shamsi-Basha: “With happy and humorous ‘Yiddishism’ printed on various products like the ‘Shlep’ tote bag, the ‘Man I Shivitz’ tank top, and the ‘Soup with Balls’ T-shirt, the iconic, New Jersey-based Jewish food brand Manischewitz is embarking on a fresh rebranding effort to transcend the kosher aisle. ‘We are trying to expand beyond our core kosher consumer and reach a younger audience, both Jewish and mainstream,’ Chief Marketing Officer Shani Seidman said, ‘We hope our new and fresh rebranding appeals to the culturally curious consumer from all walks of life – those who enjoy rich experiences.’ The new campaign features updated graphics, bold colors and inviting new look and feel to product offerings. Like tacos and pizza, the company hopes its new look will allow for a universal appeal.”

—“N.J. bridges were checked after the 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Here’s what inspectors found”