Latest news with #PaulSarlo
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
New Jersey Raises 'Mansion Tax'—Here's Who Is Impacted
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. An amendment to New Jersey's so-called "Mansion Tax" is only a few days from going into effect, promising to force sellers in the state to pay tens of thousands of dollars in new fees for sales of properties exceeding $2 million. What Is New Jersey's 'Mansion Tax'? Under the current legislation, adopted in 2004, all residential properties and some commercial ones selling for more than $1 million in New Jersey are subject to a "Mansion Tax" equal to 1 percent of the purchase price, paid by buyers. The $1 million threshold has remained unchanged for the past 20 years, despite the recent surge in home prices across the country and in New Jersey. Under the new requirements, contained in Assembly Bill 5804, the burden of the state's "Mansion Tax" moves from buyers to sellers, who will pay progressive rates for properties sold for more than $2 million. The fee on sales between $1 million and $2 million remains set at 1 percent. For a sale price over $2 million but below $2.5 million, sellers would face a 2 percent fee—which roughly translates to an additional $40,000 expense. Properties over $3.5 million would see sellers facing a fee hike of up to 3.5 percent. Ringwood Manor, a historic mansion in New Jersey. Ringwood Manor, a historic mansion in New Jersey. Getty Images These are the progressive rates that property sales over $2 million will be subject to: Properties costing over $1 million but not more than $2 million: 1.0 percent; Between $2 million and $2.5 million: 2.0 percent; Between $2.5 million and $3 million: 2.5 percent; Between $3 million and $3.5 million: 3.0 percent; Over $3.5 million: 3.5 percent. Transactions affected would include those for commercial real properties, residential properties, certain farm properties with residential structures, cooperative units, and non-deed transfers involving a controlling interest in entities owning real property. What Would Its Impact On The Market Be? The tax hike was backed by the state's Democratic-controlled Legislature, which believes it will generate crucial revenues to support New Jersey's $58.8 billion state budget and was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy on June 30. According to state Senator Paul Sarlo, chair of the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the "Mansion Tax" is expected to raise $282 million this fiscal year. After Murphy signed the amendment into law, his office said that this and other changes introduced by the Legislature this year "help ensure that revenues are more closely in line with expenditures." Even so, the state's structural deficit is projected at $1.5 billion for the next year, meaning that New Jersey still spends more than it collects in revenues. While buyers will no longer have to fear the additional fee on top of the property's price tag, sellers face higher closing costs that might force them to either cut their asking price (a home that would have sold for $1 million could now be priced at $999,999 to avoid the extra tax) or hold their listings. While price reductions would be welcomed by buyers, a reduction of the state's overall inventory would exacerbate New Jersey's shortage of homes. Real estate professionals have been critical of the tax hike, saying that it is likely to hurt the already-struggling New Jersey housing market while offering little relief to buyers. According to real estate industry group New Jersey Realtors, the tax hike would affect only the top 3 percent of property sales in the state. The new legislation will be applicable to transactions occurring on and after July 10.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tax hikes get lawmakers' OK in advance of full budget vote
Sen. Paul Sarlo, the state Senate's budget chair, said Thursday that when lawmakers eye certain tax hikes, it's "always a difficult ask and a difficult choice to make." (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Budget panels in both legislative chambers approved a series of tax increases on Thursday meant to keep New Jersey's books balanced in the fiscal year that begins July 1, but legislators stopped short of a vote on the full budget. Lawmakers advanced proposals that would raise fees on the sale of certain expensive buildings, hike cigarette and nicotine taxes, and push up tax rates on online gambling and sports betting in a bid to keep the state's budget above water. Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), the Senate budget chairman, said the tax hikes would help Gov. Phil Murphy keep his pledge to pass along a $6 billion surplus to the next governor. Murphy leaves office in January. 'Any time you have to tax an industry or ask someone to put more money in, it's always a difficult ask and a difficult choice to make,' Sarlo said. The full budget did not get a vote Thursday, with lawmakers saying the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services was still drafting the bill after negotiators reached an agreement on how much New Jersey would spend in the next fiscal year. Budget committees are expected to vote on the bill at 8 p.m. Friday, with votes before both full chambers planned for Monday, the last day they have to pass a budget without shutting down the state government. Republican members, who broadly opposed the tax bills advanced Thursday, expressed some frustration over the budget process, noting the timing of the committee's vote on the budget bill made it likely that few would see the vote. 'This overall process, none of us is happy with,' said Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth), the chamber's GOP budget officer. 'If you got something you want to release in the dark of night when no one's paying attention, everybody knows you put it after 4:30 on a Friday in the summer.' Among the tax hikes approved Thursday was a bill that would raise tax rates on online gambling and sports betting to 19.75%, from 15% and 13%, respectively. The proposal, earlier reported by the Press of Atlantic City, resembles a pitch the governor made in his budget address that called for the state to raise tax rates on online gambling to 25%. The governor's proposal was set to generate $402.4 million in additional revenue in the coming July-to-June fiscal year. The reduction from 25% to $19.75% would reduce those collections by about $85 million. 'Any time there's anything that could negatively impact our casinos in Atlantic City, we want to just raise our concerns because Atlantic City is kind of the powerhouse of South Jersey, and we don't want to do anything to impact their competitiveness with other states,' said Hilary Chebra, director of government affairs for the Chamber of Commerce of South Jersey. 'We do appreciate that it is less than what the governor proposed.' Some lawmakers have pushed to raise the state's tax rates on casinos' online gambling winnings, noting that New Jersey's existing rates are far out of step with its neighbors. New York levies a 51% tax on casinos' winnings from online sports betting, while Pennsylvania's online sports betting rate is 36%. Sen. John McKeon (D-Essex), the bill's prime sponsor, initially pitched raising New Jersey's rates to 30%. Legislators made broader changes to a separate Murphy proposal that would have doubled the 1% fee on property sales valued above $1 million and imposed an overall 3% fee on those worth more than $2 million. Under the Legislature's version, the fee would remain at 1% for homes worth between $1 million and $2 million but rise for more expensive homes, climbing to 2% for homes worth between $2 million and $2.5 million and rising by an additional half percentage point for every $500,000 in value, to a cap of 3.5% on property worth more than $3.5 million. 'This is one thing I wish didn't have to be included, but I also fully understand the need to balance a budget, provide necessary revenue, to continue to work down our structural deficit, to provide a healthy surplus,' Sarlo said. Lawmakers made another significant change: Their version of the tax would be paid by sellers rather than by buyers, as is the case under current law. The change would reduce owners' profits from the sale of property but reduce upfront costs for home buyers. Murphy's proposal was expected to generate $317 million in additional state revenue in the next fiscal year, though revenue relying on home sales can be highly volatile. Sarlo said legislators' version would raise about $282 million and impact between 2% and 3% of home sales. The bill calls for the state to refund the difference in fees for a property that was sold before July 10 and whose deeds were recorded no later than Nov. 15, 2025. The committee's vote on the so-called mansion tax measure was delayed by hours. When it first came up for a vote, the panel's Republican members had not seen the current version. When it was brought up a second time hours later, the measure had been amended again to allow additional time for homes to be sold and face the lower fee. Lawmakers also approved a bill that would raise the state's cigarette tax to $3 per pack, from $2.70, and triple tax rates on electronic cigarette cartridges to 30 cents per milliliter or 30% of the retail price for bottled fluid.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Critics accuse New Jersey legislators of ‘stealing' opioid settlement funds
Harm reduction advocates staged a die-in at the Trenton Statehouse on Monday, June 30, 2025, after legislators — fearing federal Medicaid cuts would hurt hospitals — decided to divert $45 million in national opioid settlement funds to four of the state's largest hospitals. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) New Jersey legislators diverted $45 million from national opioid settlement funds to four hospitals in the $58.8 billion state budget they approved Monday — a last-minute surprise that drove harm-reduction advocates to protest in the Statehouse and the state attorney general to object in unusual public criticism of state lawmakers. Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), who chairs the Senate's budget committee, said the diversion is meant to make up for losses the hospitals are expected to experience from federal Medicaid cuts. 'The thought process here is … to get some of the monies to some of the larger hospital systems for their harm reduction community-based programs, because they're going to take a hit,' Sarlo said. 'These hospitals are going to be on the front line of these Medicaid cuts.' But Attorney General Matt Platkin said the hospitals will receive the money for uses not yet identified, despite a new five-year strategic plan a state advisory council released two weeks ago that requires beneficiaries to spend settlement funds on evidence-based solutions that help people recover from addiction. The new appropriation, which he said he learned of Sunday night, 'ignores' that plan, he added. 'These settlement funds are not general revenues for the State. They are the result of some of the most significant lawsuits ever filed by Attorneys General across this country to force companies to pay back the blood money that they stole in fueling the opioid epidemic,' Platkin said in a statement. 'Spending this money in this way is a slap in the face to every family who lost a loved one in this devastating crisis, which continues to claim the lives of thousands of New Jerseyans each year.' He warned lawmakers about 'repeating the mistakes made with the state's tobacco settlement funds, which should have been used exclusively to address damage caused by cigarettes.' Harm reduction advocates echoed his concerns, accusing lawmakers of a 'blatant misuse' of settlement funds in weekend deals brokered in secrecy. Dozens lined a Statehouse hallway to implore passing legislators to vote against the allocation, as they waved tombstone-shaped signs with slogans including 'Stealing sux! Fund harm redux!' and 'Here lie legislators' consciences.' They staged a die-in, partially blocking passers-by until state troopers intervened to move them along, and later, several were kicked out of the building after they unfurled a sign and began shouting during the Senate's session. Jenna Mellor, who heads the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (pictured on ground), leads a die-in at the Trenton Statehouse on Monday, June 30, 2025. Petra Gaskins, the chief of staff (pictured in blue suit) for Sen. Joe Cryan, stops to hear her concerns. Harm reduction advocates were protesting a plan by legislators to divert $45 million in national opioid settlement funds to four of the state's largest hospitals, in response to anticipate federal Medicaid cuts. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Harm reduction advocates protested at the Trenton Statehouse on Monday, June 30, 2025, after legislators decided to divert $45 million in national opioid settlement funds to four of the state's largest hospitals, in response to anticipated federal Medicaid cuts. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) smiles as he passes harm reduction advocates protesting a controversial budget allocation on Monday, June 30, 2025, in a Statehouse corridor. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Harm reduction advocates staged a die-in at the Trenton Statehouse on Monday, June 30, 2025, after legislators — fearing federal Medicaid cuts would hurt hospitals — decided to divert $45 million in national opioid settlement funds to four of the state's largest hospitals. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Harm reduction advocates protested by unfurling a banner during a Senate session at the Trenton Statehouse on Monday, June 30, 2025, after legislators decided to divert $45 million in national opioid settlement funds to four of the state's largest hospitals, in response to anticipated federal Medicaid cuts. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Jenna Mellor heads the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition and was a member of the advisory council, which spent 15 months hearing testimony from hundreds of people to devise its strategic plan. 'This was not in our recommendations,' Mellor said. 'We gave very intentional recommendations for five areas that will save lives — harm reduction expansion, medicine for opioid use disorder, housing, wraparound services, and legal services. We will not be able to fund those things, if the hospitals keep getting this money.' New Jersey will receive $1.1 billion in settlement funds through 2038, with half going to the state and the other half directly to county and local governments. The $45 million going to hospitals in the coming budget year represents 10% of the state's total share, as well as the single-biggest settlement fund expenditure in the fiscal year that begins Tuesday, advocates said. Racquel Romans-Henry, policy director of Salvation and Social Justice, joined advocates' protest at the Statehouse. 'Historically in this state, hospitals have, for better or worse, been the source of a lot of the racial disparities that exist around health care,' Romans-Henry said. 'Giving them this kind of money — when they neither need it and when so many grassroots organizations are reeling from federal cuts and are doing the work on the ground — is really a misalignment of the funds and the intent of the funds.' Platkin urged legislators to reject the appropriation, but also vowed: 'If they do not, my office will be carefully scrutinizing these hospital systems to make sure every single dollar is spent within the terms of the settlements we fought for years to obtain.' Spending this money in this way is a slap in the face to every family who lost a loved one in this devastating crisis. – Attorney General Matt Platkin Four hospitals will receive the funds, advocates said. RWJBarnabas Health and Cooper University Hospital will get $15 million each, Hackensack University Medical Center will get $10 million, and Atlantic Health System will receive $5 million. Spokespeople for Gov. Phil Murphy did not respond to a request for comment, but Sarlo said Murphy had signed off on the allocation. Murphy's former chief of staff, George Helmy, is an executive vice president at RWJ Barnabas and chief of its external affairs and policy office, while Cooper University Health Care is run by South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross, another Murphy ally. Bre Azanedo said grassroots organizations like Black Lives Matter-Paterson, where she serves as a program manager, are more trusted, effective harm reduction providers than hospitals. She also raised concerns about accountability. 'If they're going to add 'no deliverables, no strings attached,' then that should also apply to us, as organizations,' Azanedo said. 'They make us jump through hoops of fire for $20.' Tonia Ahern, community coordinator for the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery, warned that 'funding enormous health systems' won't solve the overdose crisis. 'We hear horror stories all the time about people being mistreated and discriminated against at the hospital with no accountability,' Ahern said. 'And what happens to people once they leave with no support, or access to medications and individualized care? It's going to fall on harm reduction and recovery organizations to pick up the pieces, and now with less funding.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Politico
27-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
Friday night at the Statehouse: Where everyone wants to be
Good Friday morning! Once again, New Jersey is running right up to the budget deadline. The Senate and Assembly budget committees met yesterday and approved dozens of bills. But the budget was not among them. The plan is for the committees to tackle the budget today at 8 p.m. — the p.m. is not a typo — and have floor votes Monday. Even as budget drama stirred in the Statehouse — especially with union members protesting the agreement between Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders to find $100 million in savings in the State Health Benefits Plan — legislative leaders said a deal remained firmly in place. They cited the complicated process of drafting it by the Office of Legislative Services as the reason for the delay. I could give many reasons why the rushed budget process is bad for New Jersey. Like the fact that you don't get to actually see the final budget until a couple days before it passes, enabling legislators to bury controversial items, including pork projects, until they're cemented into law. Republican state Sen. Michael Testa provided an example of how nothing's really known until it's done by outlining three things he assumed would be in the budget that he considered unconstitutional because of the 'Single Object Clause' against rolling multiple pieces of legislation into one: allowing some school districts to raise property tax rates well beyond the 2 percent cap, Murphy's plan for the health benefits and enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. 'This budget is unconstitutionally jamming through these major policy changes that can never be done without a standalone vote,' Testa said. Democratic Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo shot back that the budget doesn't permit kids to vote but rather provides money to encourage districts to allow it, and that he wasn't sure about allowing school districts. But he stressed 'we haven't seen the language yet on the health care negotiations.' 'We would love to have seen the budget, but no one's seen it,' shot back Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O'Scanlon. 'It will lay over all weekend for the entire state to see it,' Sarlo said. Enjoy your weekend reading the budget, New Jersey! FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — In New York for a street naming ceremony at noon QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'We haven't seen the language yet on the health care system, so you're assuming I'm assuming, or you go by what you read in the press?' — Paul Sarlo, to Mike Testa on the budget POLL OF THE DAY: Sixty-five percent of New Jerseyans think the state's beaches should be free to residents, according to a Stockton poll HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Gail Gordon, Scarlett Rajski Martin, Nathan Rudy, Jim Schulz. Saturday for Teresa Ruiz, Alana Burman, Joe Doria, John Wisniewski, Reginald Bledsoe, Colleen McCann, Adya Beasley. Sunday for Claire Swift, Mike Rispoli. WHAT TRENTON MADE WHO YOU TALKIN' TO, WILLIS? — 'A bizarre N.J. corruption case ends with a plea over kickbacks, fraud and plagiarism,' by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: 'Five years after former state Assemblyman Willis Edwards III was indicted in a wide-ranging corruption scheme in 2020, the one-time business administrator of the city of Orange abruptly entered into a plea deal this week to admit guilt to five of the 31 counts against him. Edwards acknowledged approving a fake 'management oversight' contract with a company he helped set up and receiving thousands in kickbacks from the deal, according to court filings. He also pleaded guilty to charges of mortgage and tax fraud. And, strangely enough, he admitted using public funds to pay a consultant to write his dissertation for a graduate program at Seton Hall University. The other 26 counts of the indictment against him, including charges that thousands in federal funds intended for a children's literacy program were instead funneled into a company he controlled, and separate allegations that he steered a no-bid computer consulting contract to an associate, were dismissed as part of the agreement. His plea came as court records showed a trial date had finally been scheduled for August, following continual deferrals of the matter over years and years, during which time Edwards, 54, remained free on bail … The plea agreement filed with the court, meanwhile, made no specific mention of whether Edwards had been cooperating, or why the matter had been deferred for so long.' ELDERCARE — Legislation inspired by Spadea's fundraising practices advances, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Candidates and leaders of PACs that sign up unwitting contributors for recurring donations would face criminal charges and big fines under legislation that began advancing Thursday in Trenton. The mainly Republican-sponsored 'Political Donations Transparency Act,' inspired by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea's fundraising practices, on Thursday won the unanimous approval of the Assembly Budget Committee without debate. POLITICO reported in February that fundraising solicitations from the Spadea campaign and super PAC included pre-checked boxes to make the donations recurring. Most of the donors POLITICO spoke to were not aware that they were making continual donations to Spadea's campaign or one of his super PACs, Elect Common Sense, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars … The bill was introduced during the Republican primary by supporters of its eventual winner, Jack Ciattarelli. Spadea was Ciattarelli's main opponent. TESTA CROSSES DELAWARE — State Sen. Michael Testa wants to pull a Trump and rename Delaware Bay, which borders his home county of Cumberland, The Bay of New Jersey. Testa introduced a bill to change the name Thursday, as well as one to enter into a 'New Jersey-Delaware Territorial Boundary Adjustment Compact.' The former bill is self-explanatory. As for the latter, it's not yet available online, and Testa was in the budget committee yesterday so I didn't manage to get him on the phone. But it almost certainly has to do with revisiting an ancient dispute between the states over that tiny little piece of Delaware attached to the New Jersey mainland called Finns Point or The Baja. THE BILL COMES DUE — Bill to end newspaper legal notice requirement nears passage, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: New Jersey is on the cusp of stripping government legal notices from news publications following the end of the print edition of the state's largest newspaper. The Senate and Assembly budget committees on Thursday approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari that would require governments to post legal notices on their own websites, removing a decades-old lifeline for a struggling news industry that's earned it tens of millions a year in revenue. The Assembly Budget Committee approved the measure 14-1, while the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced it unanimously. OPIA — 'OPIA destroyed cell phones of investigators in corruption sting operation,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'The embattled Office of Public Integrity and Accountability has destroyed the cell phones of detectives who investigated a nearly six-year-old bantam public corruption case against former Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell (D-Bayonne), even though investigators used those phones to send text messages to each other — and prosecutors — about the case. O'Donnell's attorney, Leo Hurley, alleged that the OPIA dumped the phones two years after his 2020 discovery demand. He stated that text messages relevant to the case had previously been discussed in court and that there are no reports or documentation explaining the destruction and preservation process … According to Deputy Attorney General Frank Valdinoto, work-issued cell phones for three investigators — Michael Fallon, Ho Chul Shin, and Brian Powers — were destroyed. A fourth phone issued to Detective Miguel Rodriguez has not been replaced, but he is currently on active military duty, and the attorney general's office does not have possession of it.' — 'From Bergen to Cape May, Ciattarelli dominated in GOP gubernatorial primary' — 'New Jersey legislators give preliminary OK to higher sports betting, internet gambling taxes' — 'NJ Transit explains why trains were canceled during the scorching heatwave' — 'Gov. Phil Murphy makes a change on the Gateway Development Commission. Who's in?' — 'N.J. man avoided prison for child sexual abuse images — then a higher court stepped in' TRUMP ERA MEGA ANXIETY — Megabill threatens to languish as challenges pile up, by POLITICO's Jordain Carney, Lisa Kashinsky and Robert King: Republicans aren't panicking about their fraying domestic policy bill. But they aren't exactly sure about how it's all going to come together, either. Senate Republicans emerged from a closed-door lunch meeting Thursday putting on a brave face about the megabill's progress. Yet this time last week, members were expecting revised text of the sprawling bill Monday with votes starting a couple of days later. In other words, they thought they'd be close to done by now. Instead, Majority Leader John Thune refrained from giving his members a specific timeline during a closed-door lunch Thursday, according to three attendees granted anonymity to describe the private meeting. Senators are preparing to stay in town and vote through the weekend, but internal policy disputes and procedural roadblocks thrown up by the chamber's parliamentarian are keeping firmer plans in flux. — Senate GOP dealt major blow on Medicaid cuts in megabill LOCAL EXIT SANDMEN? — 'Can beach projects save New Jersey shorelines indefinitely?' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'Shore towns tried a variety of methods to keep sand on the beaches, including building structures at a right angle to the shore, hoping to lock in the sand. The shoreline soon bristled with the wooden or stone structures, called jetties or groins. But the sand kept on one beach did not reach another, leading to a scoop-like pattern along the shore. And the sand washed away anyway. There had been sporadic attempts to put sand back on beaches, by truck or dredged from inlets or back bays. The efforts were expensive and only briefly successful. If the beaches were to remain, it was time to consider another option. That started in Cape May at the dawn of the 1990s, with a 50-year commitment from the federal government to rebuild the beaches. Now, 35 years later, almost every occupied barrier island in New Jersey has a similar long-term commitment, and the total costs are over $2 billion and climbing. Do the projects still make sense? And if so, for how long?' ACTION PORK — 'Most Lakewood School monitors fail at key aspect of their job as two more are hired,' by the Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'Most of the state education monitors who have been hired at a cost of nearly $2 million to watch over Lakewood Schools' finances and propose solutions have failed to develop mandatory action plans as required by law, an Asbury Park Press investigation shows. The revelation of the failure of most of the monitors comes as yet another two new state monitors are hired by the district for a possible cost of more than $400,000. The practice of hiring state monitors for Lakewood has been criticized by one expert as 'a big waste of money.' A Press review of past state monitor activities finds that two of the eight people to hold the post since 2014 have submitted the required plans to fix district operations.' PLEADINGS FROM ASBURY PARK — 'Asbury Park residents sue, say city mismanagement killed their affordable housing,' by the Asbury Park Press' Charles Daye: 'Six residents have filed a lawsuit claiming that the city violated their constitutional and civil rights after it mismanaged funds intended for affordable housing. The city gave landlords money for home repairs with the understanding the homes would remain affordable for the tenants. However, the city didn't monitor landlords who received funds to make sure they kept the homes affordable, leaving the most vulnerable residents to deal with rent increases and evictions, according to the suit. That lack of monitoring and administration from city officials hurt a decades-old rehabilitation program in Asbury Park intended to preserve and revive housing already owned or rented by low-income residents across the city, the suit says.' THE AGONY OF DEHEAT — 'Paterson schools chief says she had no Plan B amid heat fiasco at graduation,' by Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'With extreme heat forecast days in advance, Paterson school officials didn't have a bad weather contingency plan for the June 23 outdoor graduations at Hinchliffe Stadium that ended up being halted mid-ceremony after scores of people were overcome by oppressive temperatures. Paterson Schools Superintendent Laurie Newell made that revelation during her five-minute speech about the district's heat problems at the city Board of Education meeting on June 25. 'We committed to Hinchliffe Stadium and did not plan for an alternative location,' Newell said. 'For this, as superintendent of schools, I take full responsibility.'' — 'Newark councilwoman's former aide, county employee charged with dealing cocaine' — 'Longtime Camden educator to be named interim superintendent' — 'Has Avalon become too exclusive for the people who live there?' — 'Wildwood eyes committee for non-resident homeowners' — ''Sinking ship' or transition time? What's behind mass flight of Wayne school leaders?' — '[Rockaway] Clerk admits error that cost election winner his seat' EVERYTHING ELSE THE RISK OF IMPALEMENT BY A MAI TAI UMBRELLA — Easiest lifeguard job at the Jersey Shore? It might be watching this two-foot Bar A pool,' by the Asbury Park Press' Michael L. Diamond: 'The grotto at Bar Anticipation was open on a sweltering Sunday afternoon, with water cascading into the shallow pool, and lifeguard Bella Maikranz was on high-ish alert. It's true, not much has happened the past two summers she has been on patrol. But that's not the point. The point is, something could happen … Maikranz is a lifeguard at the Bar A grotto, spending her weekends overlooking the shallow pool and waterfall from the umbrella-shaded stand nearby. She stands guard over an estimated zero to five swimmers — or waders — a day ... Without Maikranz, though, Bar A would have to forgo an inviting water feature. New Jersey requires public pools to have a lifeguard on duty, no matter how deep the water. 'I don't know if there's ever been a (legal) case that addresses a swimming pool that is two-feet deep,' said Richard Lomurro, an attorney based in Freehold. 'It doesn't seem to me something the Legislature would have contemplated when writing the statute.'' IN 1988 A NEPTUNE MAN FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS TWIN FROM AUSTRIA — 'Twins everywhere! N.J. high schools report record numbers of multiples graduating,' by NJ Advance Media's Nyah Marshall: 'At last week's ceremony, the Ocean County high school's Class of 2025 included what officials believe to be a record six sets of twins. They made up nearly 5% of 245 graduates … Seven sets of twins graduated together from Mahwah High School's 207-member senior class … In recent years, more schools around the country have seen an uptick in twins — and even triplets — graduating together, reflecting a broader trend that began in the early 2000s ... A surge in multiple births was largely driven by fertility treatments … But that trend has shifted. Since 2014, the rate of multiple births in the U.S. has steadily declined, in part due to advancements in reproductive technology, the CDC reported. Still, New Jersey schools continue to see large groups of multiples in their graduating classes.' — 'N.J. restaurant told customers to 'f--- off' on TikTok. It didn't go well' — 'Inside look at how New Jersey Air National Guard pilots defend restricted airspace as violations spike'
Politico
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Another push for North Jersey casinos?
Good Thursday morning! Nine years ago, New Jersey voters didn't just reject a proposal to allow casino gambling outside Atlantic City. They crushed it, stomped it and lit it on fire. They did things to it that I can't describe in a family newsletter. Seventy-seven percent voted against it. You don't often see landslides like that. But now, state Sens. Vin Gopal and Paul Sarlo have proposed bringing a different version of it back. They proposed a constitutional amendment Monday to allow the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park horse racing tracks to host casinos. A lot has changed since 2016, when voters rejected the casino ballot question. New Jersey overturned the federal sports betting ban. Horse racing tracks were allowed to open sports books. And now everyone has access to casinos in their pockets. But why try again for North and Central Jersey casinos? It has a lot to do with New York considering bidders for three downstate casinos, and several of the proposals would be in Manhattan. 'This plants a flag to send a message to New York State that if they open a casino in Manhattan, that New Jersey is ready to respond to the competition,' Sarlo said in a statement. 'New Jersey isn't going to let gambling dollars in northern New Jersey leave our state for a casino in Manhattan.' FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY? In Jersey City at 4:30 p.m. for a 'fireside chat' at a real estate development summit. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring.' — Bruce Springsteen during a UK concert HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Rebecca Perkin, Frank X. Balles, Sarah Kan, Brian Levine, Karlito Almeda WHAT TRENTON MADE STRIKE UPDATE — NJ Transit engineers could strike at 12:01 a.m. on Friday morning if a deal isn't reached today. At a Wednesday night NJ Transit board meeting, the leader of the engineers union said a deal remained 'out of our reach.' But the CEO of NJ Transit said the two sides had 'very constructive' talks in Washington earlier this week and hours of negotiations since, including six and a half hours of negotiations on Wednesday and another day of talks planned today. — Ry Rivard —'NJ Transit engineers could walk off the job Friday, leaving some 350,000 commuters in the lurch' REVENEWS — New Jersey revenues stable but still uncertain, by POLITICO's Dustin Racioppi: New Jersey's revenues are stable but remain vulnerable to broader economic turbulence and federal policy developments in Washington. In a revenue update to the Assembly Budget Committee on Wednesday, the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services said it's projecting $55.4 billion in total collections for the current fiscal year and nearly $57.1 billion for the one that begins July 1, a slight upward adjustment from last month. The Treasury Department had a similar outlook, projecting $55.3 billion in revenue this fiscal year and $57.1 billion in the next. However, 'the uncertainty that existed in April remains largely unresolved, continuing to add unusual complexity to our revenue outlook for the upcoming fiscal year,' OLS policy analyst Oscar Mendez said. OLS projects a 1 percent growth rate, which is consistent with the last few years, said Thomas Koenig, the agency's budget and finance officer. He said OLS does not see revenues matching the level of proposed spending in the governor's $58 billion budget. —'N.J. may rip up $58B budget due to Trump, Dems say. Republicans aren't buying it' CONGESTION CAMPAIGNING — Trump's chaotic economy is causing headaches for Democrats in New Jersey's governor race, by POLITICO's Madison Fernandez and Ry Rivard: A promise to cut property taxes 15 percent. A blueprint to build 200,000 affordable homes. Support for a universal basic income. Democrats vying to be New Jersey's next governor are desperate to prove they care about driving down costs and winning back voters who may have been swayed by President Donald Trump's populist economic message. 'Jersey is just way too expensive,' Rep. Josh Gottheimer, one of the six Democrats vying for the post who has based his campaign on being the 'lower taxes' candidate, said during a debate this week … Trump's 2024 victory — and the seismic changes he's unleashed during his first months in office — has left Democrats struggling to figure out the path forward. POLL POSITION — An InsiderNJ-sponsored poll by Patrick Murray's new outfit, Stimsight Research, shows Mikie Sherrill with a substantial lead over the Democratic field, with 31 percent support to Ras Baraka's 21 percent, Steve Fulop's 19 percent, Josh Gottheimer's 10 percent and Sean Spiller and Steve Sweeney's 9 percent, including leaners. The poll of 409 likely voters was conducted from May 7 to 10, so it missed much of the publicity from Baraka's arrest at Delaney Hall. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. More here. Full poll here. KUNG FU AMERICAN HUSTLE — The video of Josh Gottheimer boxing Trump was AI, but in this definitely-not-edited video of Monday's Democratic debate posted by NJ Spotlight News' David Cruz, you can see just how violent things got between two of the candidates. Not sure how I missed that. PHOTO FINISH — 'Trump card He feuded with Donald Trump, then won him over. How a photo could determine N.J.'s next governor,' by NJ Advance Media's Spencer Kent and Brent Johnson: 'The operation to land a sit-down and photo with the president — and resolve a long-running feud — looms even larger now that Ciattarelli earned Trump's endorsement Monday, less than a month before New Jersey's June 10 primary. The meeting was more than an exercise in intraparty diplomacy. Just like the social media images they posed for were more than a staged photo op. They were a message, and coupled with Trump's public blessing, will almost certainly be a knockout blow in the GOP primary as Republicans look to win a gubernatorial election for the first time since 2013. … The day after Ciattarelli's Trump meeting, Spadea made his own trip to Bedminster for a sit-down with the president. … A photo of the meeting, however, was never shared on social media. In fact, multiple Republican sources told NJ Advance Media that Spadea also took a photo with Trump — but was told not to post it. It seems a message had been sent.' MURPHY TELLS REGULATORS TO MOUNT UP — Murphy pushes utilities, regulators to act on energy prices, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called on utility companies and regulators to take a series of actions to help cushion the blow of skyrocketing power costs. The governor's office said Murphy, a Democrat, is urging power companies to stop shutting off people's power during summer months if they can't pay their bills and asking the state Board of Public Utilities to begin studying ways to 'swiftly bring more generation online.' The governor is asking for the BPU to start a formal proceeding about 'resource adequacy,' the term for making sure there is enough energy to meet demand. Right now, there is a regional supply-demand crunch due in part to a backlog of projects at PJM, the regional grid operator, and in part due to market conditions. Murphy also asked the BPU to 'evaluate all available funding and programming to stabilize utility bills' and continue providing incentives to solar developers. NJ CLIMATE SUIT TOSSED – Mercer County Superior Court Judge Doug Hurd tossed New Jersey's lawsuit against oil companies alleging they deceived the public about climate change and should pay up. The Wednesday decision, citing both state and federal reasons the lawsuit's claims don't work, is the latest setback for blue states and cities that have sued oil companies over climate change. The case was filed in fall 2022 by the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Consumer Affairs. Judges have dismissed similar lawsuits in the past month from New York City and Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Md. A few lawsuits are proceeding in Delaware and Hawaii. New Jersey is planning an appeal. In its suit, New Jersey rehashed evidence that fossil fuel companies obfuscated the role of their products in a changing climate. The lawsuit also alleged that the state suffers unique damages and relies upon research showing how 'climate crisis-caused environmental changes' contributed to the destruction brought by recent hurricanes and tropical storms and continues to imperil New Jersey's people and their property. The lawsuit named Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other major oil companies, as well as the American Petroleum Institute, the industry trade group. – Ry Rivard MOUNTAIN DON'T — Top Democratic Senator backs soda prohibition on SNAP, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: One of the state Legislature's top Democrats is backing a Trump administration initiative to ban soft drinks from being purchased through the government-run anti-hunger program. Democratic Sen. Paul Sarlo is a top sponsor of a bill, NJ S4348 (24R), that would require state officials to submit a federal waiver to restrict soft drinks from being purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The top sponsor of the bill is GOP Sen. Michael Testa, although Sarlo's co-sponsorship gives it a political boost. —'N.J. law protecting abortion rights withstands legal challenge in appeals court' —'Brennan discusses sexual assault advocacy in LD-32 ad: 'I turned pain into power'' TRUMP ERA 'STORMING THE GATE' — 'ICE agents let N.J. mayor through facility gates. He says he wasn't trespassing,' by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky: 'Following his arrest on trespassing charges Friday, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka released four video clips on Wednesday showing him being allowed to walk through the gate at the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center, then walking out of the gate, before ICE officers went outside the gate after him. One clip shows an ICE officer pointing a weapon at a crowd of supporters who had encircled the mayor in an attempt to shield him from arrest.' —'Uber driver stuck in controversial N.J. ICE center reveals what it's really like inside' —'Action will be taken': Republicans threaten NJ Dems involved in ICE skirmish —'NJ Democrats who confronted ICE should be censured, Noem says' MEDICAID — 'Dead wrong': Murphy swipes at Kean for supporting Medicaid overhaul, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: 'The Congressman has a reputation for avoiding his constituents,' Murphy said. 'Perhaps if he took time from his busy schedule in Washington to meet with the people he represents, he would understand the drastic and far-reaching consequences of these cuts to Medicaid. Their fears and concerns cannot be ignored. … In a statement, Kean pushed back and said state government is a 'disaster' under Murphy's leadership. 'We stopped illegal aliens from stealing Medicaid while protecting children, the disabled, seniors, and the vulnerable population who relies on it,' Kean said. —Duffy defends moving wife's flight from Newark to another airport —'GOP bill to cut Medicaid spending under review, so is Kean's vote' —Not much more room left for SALT, says GOP tax chief —'How will FAA fix chaos at Newark airport? It will start by cutting flights through June' —'House passes bill to rename parts of Paterson Great Falls after late Bill Pascrell, Jr.' —'Criminal Justice Professor Beth Adubato Plans To Join Dem Field For NJ-7' LOCAL DO YOU BREATHALYZE? YOU HAVE THE MOST UNSTEADY GAIT — ''Liar!' NJ councilman denies allegations of drunk driving at fiery city meeting,' by NBC 4's Ida Siegal, Jonathan Dienst and Courtney Copenhagen: '[Luis] Velez denied drinking the night of the accident. He says he was out celebrating Mother's Day with his wife and alleges Washington hit him. He claims if he appeared out of it, it's because the airbag hit his face and he felt dizzy. He told officers as much when he got out of his vehicle at the scene, warning them he might be off, he said. According to Velez, officers didn't give him a breathalyzer test because 'there was no need.' Regina Washington, the mother of the other driver involved in the accident, called Velez a 'damn liar. … Regina Washington points to surveillance video that she says shows the councilman blow a red light and hit her daughter -- not the other way around. Other video allegedly shows Velez urinating in the street after cops arrive. Velez said he had no comment on that. 'I suffer diabetes and there was no bathroom,' Velez says.' —'Still unclear whether Paterson police gave councilman sobriety check after crash' MALEY MELEE — 'Big upset in Collingswood, with 36-year incumbent re-elected but no longer mayor,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'In a stunning upset, two insurgents appear to have won two of three borough commissioner seats in Collingswood, with Mayor James Maley, Jr., who has held local office since 1989, winning re-election but likely to lose the mayor's post he's occupied since 1997. Maley, 67, was the top vote getter with 1,695 votes, followed by two members of the Collingswood Forward slate, Amy Henderson Riley (1,682) and Daniela Solano-Ward (1,668) … Collingswood – the Montclair of the South – was one of just a few New Jersey towns that voted for Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary.' —'From $13 french fries to a $350K plan. [Loch Arbour's] snack shack fight is in limbo' —'Hector Lora elected for a third time as Passaic's mayor' —'N.J. teacher groomed student for years, beginning when she was 11, family claims' —'Edison mayor skips budget presentation that calls for slight tax increase' —'Washington Township school board refuses to reinstate its suspended superintendent' EVERYTHING ELSE SOUTH JERSEY HORROR — 'Gloucester Township girl was confined to dog crate as part of years long abuse at her mother's home,' by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Nate File and Ximena Conde: 'A Gloucester Township man and woman have been charged with confining and abusing a teenage girl inside of their home for years, including forcing her to live inside of a dog crate and a bare, padlocked room. Brenda Spencer, 38, and Branndon Mosley, 41, were charged with kidnapping, assault, neglect and abuse of Spencer's daughter on Sunday, according to the Camden County District Attorney's Office. Mosley, who worked for SEPTA as a rail engineer, was also charged with sexual assault. The victim, who is now 18 and was not otherwise identified, escaped from the home last week with the help of a neighbor. … The girl was first forced to live inside of a dog crate for about a year with her hands bound behind her back, and was only allowed to leave periodically, prosecutors said.' IT ABSOLUTELY HAPPENED, AND THE BIGFOOT WAS IRANIAN — 'Bigfoot craze gripped New Jersey 50 years ago. What was going on?' by The Record's David M. Zimmer: 'In the mid-1970s, stories of mysterious sightings in New Jersey's swamps and woods surged across the state's more far flung communities. The alleged apparition: Bigfoot. Most wrote off Bigfoot as folklore, but the sightings in New Jersey took a serious tone as seemingly reputable sources said the legendary Sasquatch of the Pacific Northwest was bicoastal and had taken to the woods of the Northeast.'
