Latest news with #Spiller
Politico
11-07-2025
- Business
- Politico
The NJEA's big pension push
Good Friday morning! The NJEA just spent $40 million on its president Sean Spiller's gubernatorial campaign, only to come in a distant fifth place in the Democratic primary. So what's next? Obviously undertaking an extraordinarily ambitious legislative push. The NJEA since December has been hoping to pass two bills that would do away with the pension tier system in which waves of public workers hired after 2007 were placed into less and less generous pension tiers, culminating in the big bill of 2011 that placed all new hires in tier 5. 'We're sitting on bipartisan support in the Assembly with a ton of cosponsors,' Spiller told me. 'We've got a number who signed on in the Senate. It's tremendous progress. So I'm pretty confident.' The union and its allies blame the tier system in part for difficulty in recruiting and retaining teachers. Spiller's campaign, funded indirectly and almost entirely by NJEA super PAC donations, didn't please a lot of Trenton insiders, and I'm told things are chilly between the NJEA and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill, or for that matter Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli, who yesterday accused the union of 'partisan lies.' So that means passing it in the lame duck legislative session, during the final days of union ally Gov. Phil Murphy's time in office. But the union pegs the price of this bill at $500 million. And Murphy zealously guards the credit rating upgrades that took place under his watch. Meanwhile, he's seeking $100 million in cuts to state workers' health benefits plans. So I wasn't surprised when an administration official was very skeptical of the idea when I asked about it. The union has had some recent legislative victories, even after the primary. On June 30, the Assembly gave final passage to a bill allowing teachers who have taken up to 10 years break in service to return to their previous pension tiers. They also nixed a hastily-introduced and withdrawn bill that would cut some retiree Medicare reimbursements. This wasn't the first time the NJEA spent a ton of money to apparent little effect. In 2017, it spent $5 million to help Republican Fran Grenier against then-Senate President Steve Sweeney. But Sweeney ended up winning in a landslide. Still, just two-and-a-half years later, Sweeney and the union agreed to a big deal on health care costs. 'He had to spend a ton of money on his end [of the campaign],' Spiller said. 'Is that an impetus to come together and say 'I don't want to keep doing this?' I think it is.' FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — On ABC7 at 10:15 a.m. to talk about the World Cup QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I don't even want New Jersey to be there, let alone rename the whole Delaware Bay after it.' — Delaware resident Becky Hart, on Sen. Mike Testa's proposal to rename Delaware Bay to the Bay of New Jersey. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Richie Sambora. Missed yesterday: Austin Edwards, Antoinette Miles, Dan Smith. Saturday for Erica Jedynak, Richard Simmons. Sunday for Steve Stirling, Josh Dawsey, Medinah Muhammad, Sarah E. Jones, Harrison Ford, Dave Strahan WHAT TRENTON MADE GOIN' DOWN TO SOUTH SEASIDE PARK, GONNA LEAVE BERKELEY BEHIND — 'Neighborhood can leave distant town to join neighbor, NJ Supreme Court rules,' by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: 'Berkeley Township improperly denied a secession request from a neighborhood detached from the rest of the township by a 30-minute drive, several other towns, and more than a mile of water, New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Justice Anne Patterson, writing for a unanimous court, said South Seaside Park's proposed deannexation from Berkeley Township 'would not cause a significant injury to the Township's well-being.' The high court's affirmation of lower court decisions is the latest shift in South Seaside Park's more than decade-long effort to join the neighboring Borough of Seaside Park and split from Berkeley, a municipality with which it shares no border.' THE PARENT ENTRAP — 'Assembly Democrats want to penalize parents for kids' mass brawls,' by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: 'New Jersey parents could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if their minor children participate in a brawl or 'riot' under a bill sponsored by Assembly Democrats and aimed at curtailing the mass gatherings of youth that have turned rowdy or violent. The measure (A-4651) passed the Assembly on July 1 with some bipartisan support but may not move in the Senate anytime soon — the Legislature is on a summer break and it's possible the Assembly may not meet again before the Nov. 4 general election. This bill and another that created the crime of inciting a brawl can give Assembly Democrats seeking reelection a way to tell voters they are tough on crime when Republicans have been contending crime is rampant and that the Democrats in power have not done enough to stop it.' — '5 projects, including one in the Hudson, on track for new NJ-NY Gateway rail tunnel' — 'Sherrill condemns Ciattarelli's support for Trump's budget priorities — including Prez's attack on solar energy' TRUMP ERA THE SHAH STATE REDEMPTION — Tina Shah, the latest candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 7th District, is facing questions (from me) on her residency. And not just because she currently resides outside the district's boundaries. The pulmonary-critical care physician's voting file shows her voting in New Jersey elections since she registered in November 2022 at the home her parents own in Franklin Township. But 13 donations from that time period list her address as an apartment building in lower Manhattan. At the same time, Shah's state-level donations around the same time list the New Jersey address. So where did Shah actually live? The Garden State, according to her campaign spokesperson Rachel Belowe Binder, who said Shah rented an apartment in New York while concurrently working at New Jersey hospitals and a New York health care tech company. The Manhattan apartment, she said, was a 'crash pad.' 'My understanding is she happened to be in the apartment that day vs. in New Jersey that day, and just put wherever she was physically contributing at that time, which was probably a mistake,' Berlowe Binder said. Given that the Democratic field is so crowded in the 7th District and Shah's resume as a medical doctor gives her some extra heft in an election that could center around Medicaid cuts, I won't be surprised if I see this flap surface in the race. WHOA NELLIE — Clifton councilmember launches bid to unseat Pou, by POLITICO's Madison Fernandez: Clifton City Councilmember Rosie Pino is vying for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou in New Jersey's battleground 9th District. In a Thursday announcement, Pino accused Pou of putting 'partisan politics over working across the aisle to get things done' and vowed to work with President Donald Trump, who made gains in the district and across the state in 2024. 'I never planned on running for Congress, but I've watched government grow more and more disconnected from the people it's supposed to serve,' Pino said in her announcement video … National Republicans are newly targeting the seat, which in the past was not part of the battleground map. Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, who represented the district for more than a decade until his death in 2024, won reelection by large margins. But recent Republican gains in the Paterson-based seat have Republicans bullish that they can flip it. — Megabill's impacts will fall on the next governor. Here's what they're saying — 'Trump administration doubles down on pledge to save 175-year-old NJ farm from condemnation' LOCAL RASING MONEY — 'Baraka will be a special guest at Jersey City fundraiser for Solomon & Gilmore,' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will be a special guest at a Jersey City fundraiser for Ward E Councilman James Solomon for mayor and the re-election of Ward F Councilman Frank 'Educational' Gilmore … Tickets to the event are going for between $10 and $1,000, making it a grassroots-style event. Solomon and Gilmore traded endorsements in early April, with the latter endorsing Baraka for governor three weeks later … While Baraka ended up being the runner-up in the June 10th gubernatorial primary, losing by about 13 points, he showed strength by winning in Union and Essex Counties, also showing a stronger than expected pulse in Jersey City. Posting strong tallies in Wards A, B, and F, Baraka gave Mayor Steven Fulop a run for his money on his home turf, losing by only around two points, according to data from the Hudson County Clerk's Office.' — 'Newark city phones and non-emergency public safety line down for three days' BLAME THE SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS — 'Middletown Board of Ed member brought guns to confront husband of alleged mistress: Cops,' by the Asbury Park Press' Kathleen Hopkins: 'A judge on July 9 released a Middletown Board of Education member from jail to face trial, despite concerns that the defendant filled his vehicle with guns to go confront the husband of a woman with whom he was alleged to be having an affair … The judge ordered [Joseph J.] Fitzgerald, a Marine veteran of Afghanistan, to stay away from his wife, identified in court by initials J.F., and also not to have any contact with the man he was alleged to be on his way to confront when he was arrested by Middletown police on June 30. An assistant prosecutor said Fitzgerald left his house that day, with weapons in his vehicle, to confront the husband of the man his wife accused him of having an affair with. That was after J.F. , the wife, confronted Fitzgerald about a phone call she received from the husband of the alleged mistress claiming he was being followed by someone … [Defense attorney Lisa] Maglone said the defendant's wife had been behaving erratically that day and, after Fitzgerald heard her opening a safe where the guns were kept, he took them out so she wouldn't use them to harm herself. J.F. had threatened to harm herself in the past, the defense attorney said. 'He never had the intention to take these weapons and use them against anybody,' Maglone said of her client.' HERE COMES THE BRIBE — 'Bergen County real estate influencer indicted in massive investment fraud scheme,' by The Record's Kaitlyn Kanzler: 'A Bergen County real estate influencer facing two dozen lawsuits was indicted by a federal grand jury this week in a multimillion-dollar investment scheme. Cesar Pina of Franklin Lakes, known as Flipping NJ on social media, is charged with running a multimillion-dollar Ponzi-like fraud, conspiring to launder drug proceeds, laundering money represented to be drug proceeds as part of a sting operation, and bribing a New Jersey politician, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said in a press release … The press release did not name the public official who allegedly was bribed, and the U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately return a call or email for comment.' — Let's play 'Who's That Public Official?': While the indictment doesn't name the Paterson official Pina allegedly bribed, it does claim that the bribes included campaign contributions and that the person is a Realtor. A search of Pina's campaign contributions on ELEC's website yields four, three of which are to Paterson officials. Only one of those officials, Councilmember Alex Mendez, is a Realtor. Caveat: It's possible Pina made contributions that were under the then-$300 reporting threshold. I called Mendez but didn't hear back. GREAT TIMING — 'Son of Paterson councilman is running for city school board seat,' by the Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'Alex Mendez Jr., the 24-year-old son of the man who has served almost nine years on the City Council, is running for a seat on the Paterson Board of Education. Mendez Jr. said he submitted his nominating petitions to election officials on July 8. Alex Mendez Sr. said the candidate collected voters' signatures without any help from his father. 'He really impressed me the way he went and got the signatures himself,' said the senior Mendez. 'He showed me he really wants it.'' PATERSON SHORTFALLS — 'State aid decision has Paterson — and mayor — facing a $3.3 million budget shortfall,' by the Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'Mayor Andre Sayegh has come up short in his efforts to get extra state aid to balance the $302 million budget for 2025, leaving the city with a $3.3 million shortfall. Now the Sayegh administration will have to scramble to find spending cuts, which some City Council members warn could require layoffs or service reductions. Most council members said they were not likely to approve a property tax increase larger than the 2% hike required as part of Paterson's state aid agreement. For the past three months, Sayegh expressed confidence that the state would approve his request for $33 million in transitional aid, which amounted to a $6 million increase over what the city got in 2024.' BUYER MUST PAY ENTIRETY IN $1 BILLS — 'Want to buy an abandoned Atlantic City strip club? Delilah's Den up for auction later this month,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'Sparkle, Kristen, Kate and Lala have moved on, but a tube of skin care cream and a few packets of hot sauce remain on the second floor of the former Delilah's Den strip club, not far from the private booths. The club, with its elevated stage, wall-to-wall mirrors and translucent staircases, is up for sale — again. The former adult nightclub on Pacific Avenue across from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is now owned by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which is making its second attempt to sell it at what will surely be a loss, to get it back on the tax rolls. The state agency approved the latest sale attempt in May. It bought the property in 2021 for $1.2 million with the intention of selling it. But the continued deterioration of the building keeps bringing the price tag down.' THERE IS NO MAFIA — 'Ex-public works officials says in lawsuit he was falsely accused of being in the mob,' by NJ Advance Media's Rebecca Heath: 'A former Maplewood Township official who was charged with bid-rigging and terminated from his position in 2023 has filed a lawsuit after the charges were dismissed. Cesare Riccardi, 50, of Hawthorne, who served as superintendent of public works, filed the lawsuit in March, claiming township officials discriminated against him and 'made false allegations of criminal activity' that led to his March 2023 arrest. The lawsuit claims he was wrongfully terminated following his arrest … The Essex County Prosecutor's Office dismissed the charges on July 17, 2024.' — Snowflack: 'The summer of Morristown's discontent' — 'Ex-Westfield school board member wins legal challenge over pro-Palestinian posts' — 'Lawsuits filed against [Belleville] school district allege harassment, hostile environment' — 'South River cops hailed as heroes for saving choking toddler' — 'Proposed self-storage facility in Bridgewater called 'monstrosity'' — 'Galloway Township Councilman Bassford to resign' EVERYTHING ELSE CHANGING THE LAW IN NJ WILL TAKE WAY MO MONEY — 'Waymo robotaxis are driving around these N.J. cities. Why you can't use them yet,' by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: 'Atlanta, Austin, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco and now, Jersey City? The sight of a Waymo autonomous ride share vehicle seen in downtown Jersey City and shared on Reddit had hopes soaring. Could New Jersey's second largest city be next in line for the self-driving vehicles for hire? Miami and Washington, D.C. are on the list for Waymo's next roll outs, but Jersey City will have to wait, company officials said. . What's the roadblock? It's not lack of interest, but state laws that don't allow commercial self-driving cars on public streets.' CALIFORNIA OF THE EAST — 'New Jersey has Netflix's Next Big Base — And it's courting many more movies and shows,' by The Hollywood Reporter's Tony Maglio: 'On May 13, as Netflix broke ground to redevelop 292 acres in Central New Jersey for a massive $848 million new film and TV production facility with 12 soundstages, Fort Monmouth County commissioner director Thomas Arnone made an offer to co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who was on hand. 'We will make this easy for you,' Arnone said. That may well be the state's promise to Hollywood producers. Even as California Gov. Gavin Newsom managed to get his legislature to double its cap on incentives from $330 million to $750 million annually, he conceded on July 2 at a press conference that the state had taken its eye off the ball for years. 'We put our feet up, we took things for granted,' Newsom said. The Garden State has been a big beneficiary of infrastructure projects, which once may have defaulted to Burbank, heading far outside of Hollywood's 30-mile zone. 'New Jersey offers the best of both worlds: proximity to New York without the complexity, and a state government that's deeply invested in growing the industry the right way,' Gannon Murphy, co-founder and president of the state's film-industry advocacy group Screen Alliance New Jersey (SANJ), told The Hollywood Reporter.' — 'Yes, Texas ignored flooding risks. But so do New Jersey, New York and more. Why? | Opinion' CORRECTION — My life as a journalist is a constant battle between my brain and my fingers. Too often, the fingers win. Yesterday, I wrote that SJTA Commissioner Christopher Milam, charged with holding up payments to a contractor who got on the bad side of George Norcross, faulted the attorney general's office for the delay in his case. I meant to write that he didn't fault it, as I had in the paywalled story on the case. Mea culpa.
Politico
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
A $40 million flameout in New Jersey's race for governor puts scrutiny on teachers union
TRENTON, New Jersey — New Jersey's most politically influential union funneled more than $40 million into this year's race for governor — only to land with a fifth-place finish. Now, its political instincts are in question. The New Jersey Education Association made its largest investment in a campaign to support its president, Sean Spiller, in his longshot bid for the governor's mansion. No other special interest group has ever spent as much in state history to promote a single candidate, a sign of an increase of big money in state races following the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. Spiller struggled to raise his own funds — so much so that he didn't qualify for debates in the Democratic primary. He largely offloaded his campaign infrastructure to a super PAC backing his candidacy, Working New Jersey, which was funded indirectly by the union. The super PAC's spending is among the most an independent expenditure group has dropped in a gubernatorial election nationwide. Publicly, many lawmakers and union members are hesitant to speak out against the NJEA, which remains in a class of its own when it comes to political influence and has about 200,000 members across the state. But in the aftermath of a multimillion-dollar debacle, some in Trenton are starting to question the union's political prowess. Democratic state Sen. Vin Gopal, chair of the Senate Education Committee, called the spending 'concerning' and said that he's 'talked to a lot of the teachers here in Monmouth [County] and they're pretty frustrated.' 'I think the strength of the NJEA will be questioned after these election results,' Gopal said. 'How does it not?' The bet was that if union turnout was high, Spiller would be able to eke out a win. Spiller ended up earning 10 percent of the vote, a distant fifth behind Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), who won the nomination with 34 percent. But he earned close to 30,000 more votes than former state Senate President Steve Sweeney — a foe of the NJEA in a previous campaign. It's not the first time the union has lost a pricey gamble. In 2017, the union spent around $5 million to oust Sweeney — which at the time was considered the most expensive state legislative race in American history. The effort was unsuccessful and Sweeney won by 17 points against his Republican opponent. One former high-level NJEA official, granted anonymity to talk freely about their former employer, said that the millions spent 'didn't seem like a good investment' and could impact its ability to advocate for teachers in Trenton. 'The NJEA leadership's credibility I believe has been diminished as it relates to going into the Statehouse and fighting for issues for the association,' the person said, adding that local education associations' 'power remains the same.' A more complete picture of the union's spending will not be available until June 30, when the latest campaign finance reports covering the final two weeks of the primary are due. But as of May 27, Working New Jersey received $40 million from Garden State Forward, a separate group funded exclusively by the NJEA. Working New Jersey spent $37 million of that as of last month. Garden State Forward also sent $8 million to another pro-Spiller group, Protecting Our Democracy, that was boosting him last year. The NJEA's investment was the largest amount of spending by a single entity (excluding self-funded candidates and wealthy individuals) in a gubernatorial race from 2010 — when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Citizens United, which opened the floodgates for unlimited super PAC spending — through 2024, according to an analysis of state-level spending from American Promise, a nonprofit that advocates for a constitutional amendment to allow limits on political spending. It's been more than a decade since the Citizens United ruling. Though it applied to federal political spending, it has also virtually eliminated state efforts imposing restrictions on super PACs. 'New Jersey didn't choose to have a campaign system like this,' said Jeff Clements, CEO of American Promise. 'It was imposed by lawyers in the Supreme Court. It only gets worse until we fix the constitutional problem the court created.' Still, there are attempts to diminish super PACs' influence. New York City has increased its coordination rules, which cracks down on candidates' efforts to signal to these outside groups. Public financing systems are also intended to curb big campaign donors. But although New Jersey does have a public financing program for gubernatorial candidates, which was implemented prior to Citizens United, it still led to massive outside spending this year. 'After Citizens United, you saw sort of a gradual uptick in big money in federal elections, and the states have been sort of catching up,' said Ian Vandewalker, senior counsel and manager of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice. 'So I think we're seeing the kind of the new heights of big money in the states, and that's not going to go away.' The NJEA's spending in the primary has even exceeded outside spending in congressional races, which are typically more expensive than state-level elections. The most spent by a single committee in independent expenditures for a primary was $19 million by Honor Pennsylvania, a super PAC that boosted now-Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) in the 2022 Senate primary, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. Despite that heavy spending, McCormick lost in that primary. 'I think it was a very poorly calculated and piss-poor decision by the NJEA to blow that kind of money and the results prove that,' said John Napolitani, a local mayor and head of Asbury Park schools teachers' union. 'I don't even think the membership realized how much of their dollars were spent on this race, basically for a loss.' The union has previously pushed back on criticism about its political spending — particularly from the Sunlight Policy Center, an organization devoted to researching and countering the NJEA — as 'anti-union propaganda.' NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson in a statement to POLITICO condemned 'politicians who have gladly accepted significant financial support from NJEA members many times for their own campaigns' who have come out against the spending for Spiller. 'They never question why our members choose to support them,' Robertson said. 'They do often ask why we don't give more, so they aren't concerned about NJEA members investing in electoral advocacy. The concern only seems to arise when that investment goes to someone outside of the established political power structure. We know the usual naysayers, and they can continue with the same tired attacks, but we know our power and we own it.' At the Statehouse, some people see the investment in Spiller as business as usual. Democratic state Sen. Shirley Turner said that the union has long put its thumb on the scale in elections. 'You know, they do it all the time, it seems,' Turner, vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee, said in an interview. 'I don't know if this is any different than previously, they pick candidates, and they decide to support them in all ways, you know, including funding.' The union famously fought with Republican former Gov. Chris Christie — who likened the group to the mafia — during his eight years in office. That feud between the union and the right in New Jersey may carry on — Republican Jack Ciattarelli, his party's nominee for governor, accused Sherrill of rushing to 'suck up to the NJEA and embrace the guy who just lit $40 million of [teachers'] dues money on fire these past few months' in a recent social media post. 'What an insult to New Jersey's hard-working educators,' Ciattarelli added. Sherrill's campaign declined to comment when asked her thoughts on the NJEA's spending in the primary. It's common for teachers unions around the country to engage in political spending, though rarely to the extent of the NJEA. Notably in 2023, the Chicago Teachers Union spent more than $2 million to get its member and organizer Brandon Johnson into the mayorship. On the federal level, from 2023-2024, the National Education Association dropped $32 million on political spending (primarily to liberal groups), making it the top spender among teachers unions, according to OpenSecrets. The NJEA blew past that total in a state-level race in just a couple of months. The NJEA had a Herculean task in uplifting Spiller, who struggled to solidify his lane in the six-person primary and faced controversy during his time as mayor of Montclair. Despite Spiller's second-to-last finish, election results suggest his message — and the union's big spending — resonated in pockets of the state. He unexpectedly won Camden — a major city in South Jersey — and won Cumberland County, a rural area that has been trending quickly towards Republicans. But in Montclair, he finished in fifth. Bob Russo, a former mayor and member of the town council, said Spiller's tenure as mayor did not make him beloved by the town's rank-and-file Democrats. 'He's really not embraced by his hometown. That's your base,' he said. 'It's a shame he couldn't get more support, but it's because of [his] policies and the conduct as mayor.' Spiller's tenure as president is up this August. He'll be succeeded by Steve Beatty, the union's current vice president. After Spiller's loss, Beatty and Robertson in a statement touted the 'unprecedented grassroots effort powered by thousands of member volunteers' and congratulated Sherrill. Beatty acknowledged that 'in a six-way race with five other well-known and well-funded candidates … there were always going to be five candidates who came up short.' He also said that endorsing Spiller ensured that issues important to the union 'were part of the conversation in the primary.' 'We are proud that Sean was right there in the race alongside those candidates with deeper ties to New Jersey's political and financial elites,' he continued. 'It says a lot about how hard our members fought to change the narrative around who is qualified to step up and lead.' Unions from different sectors also spent in the race in support of other candidates, though not as much as the NJEA. And while other Democrats did outraise Spiller, no other independent expenditure groups boosting his opponents had as many resources as Working New Jersey. As of the end of May, two groups supporting Rep. Josh Gottheimer spent more than $11 million, as did two groups backing Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, and super PACs backing Sherrill and Sweeney spent around $4 million each. Other union leaders stand by the multimillion-dollar decision. 'I do think it was worth it,' said Melissa Tomlinson, vice-president of the Atlantic County Council of Education Associations and a member of NJEA's state executive committee. 'We need our voices heard in decision-making spaces. It's not enough for us to just be lobbying.' The NJEA counts around 200,000 members, and it's evident that not even half of them voted for their union president, who received less than 90,000 votes. 'If you were to ask [teachers] 'Is this how you want your monies used' — for a sitting president to spend millions of dollars to run for governor — they would say no,' the former high-level NJEA official said. 'And how do I think they would say no? The numbers that did not vote for him on Election Day is proof.' The union has not yet determined how it will engage in the general election. Beatty said that 'NJEA members will consider who to support in November in all the races,' and both Ciattarelli and Sherrill will be invited to partake in the endorsement screening process. In past elections, the NJEA has been a prominent spender post-primary. The union has consistently endorsed Democrats for governor, and it doesn't appear that will change anytime soon. Ciattarelli supports policies like school vouchers, which are a non-starter for the union. When asked at a recent event if she would seek the NJEA's support, Sherrill told reporters that her 'door is open to everyone.' Throughout the primary, Spiller pushed back on criticisms about the union's spending, asserting that he was not in charge of how that money was spent. He also often argued that the union represents working-class people, as opposed to big-dollar donors. 'It's never about me,' Spiller said during the primary. 'This is about, how do we change systems? How do we fight for somebody who's gonna fight for working class folks? And that never stops.'
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Teachers of New Jersey teachers, REVOLT!
Public-school teachers across New Jersey just got utterly robbed by their union, the New Jersey Education Association, to the tune of $40 million. That's how much the NJEA-funded super PAC Garden State Forward dumped into into Working New Jersey, the independent expenditure group supporting Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller . . . whose other main job is running the NJEA. Spiller's own campaign raised an anemic $438,000; he finished fifth in the six-person Democratic primary. Advertisement By the way, Garden State Forward also gave another 'independent' outfit, Protecting Our Democracy, $5 million over 2022-'23 promoting Spiller in advance of his gov run. That's $45 million that the union boss spent on promoting himself. And Spiller still had the chutzpah to claim that his loser had the backing of 'working folks.' Advertisement But it wasn't the voluntary backing, was it Sean? The NJEA's own writeup of the results talked of a 'strong showing' from Spiller, 'a nontraditional candidate' whose 'people-powered' campaign the pundits dismissed. Of course the pundits were right — and the teachers were robbed. Advertisement Whether or not NJEA teachers oust their boss in the next union vote, the new governor and Legislature should look to prevent any repeat of this outrage. 'Everything's legal in New Jersey,' goes the 'Hamilton' joke, but Spiller's outrageous self-dealing still sets a new low in Garden State political stench.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas bill would force local deputies to cooperate with ICE
(NewsNation) — Sheriff's departments throughout Texas could be forced to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement if Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill into law that was recently approved by the state legislature. The bill mandates that departments in 238 of the state's 254 counties enter into at least one form of a 287(g) agreement or a similar federal program, which gives deputies the authority to carry out immigration enforcement duties once they are trained. Seventy-three Texas counties have existing agreements with ICE. However, the proposed law would require full participation, and the Texas Attorney General could sue non-compliant departments. Walmart reportedly fires workers over immigration ruling Trump recently wrote on Truth Social that he is monitoring the bill, adding, 'It is important to Texas, and to our country.' Lawmakers who helped propel the bill to Abbott's desk claim it makes communities safer. Texas Rep. David Spiller, a Republican, told NewsNation that he believes if passed, the bill also offers a national blueprint on how to build cooperation between local and federal immigration agencies. 'We're identifying bad actors and people who have warrants for removal,' Spiller said. And if they committed acts that justify removal from the United States, those folks, they certainly don't need to be here.' However, some sheriffs are concerned about what they call unfunded mandates to participate in federal operations. Democrats also fear it could lead to racial profiling. Three 287(g) models exist, and under the proposed law, departments have the choice of how many options they employ. Jail Enforcement Model – This allows officers to interrogate incarcerated individuals to determine their immigration status, input their information into a Homeland Security database, take statements, and initiate the deportation process through an immigration detainer and notice to appear. Warrant Service Officer Model – Officers identify people as non-citizens during the booking process, referring those people to ICE for evaluation and possible deportation. Officers also serve ICE administrative warrants on people in custody. Task Force Model – This method allows local officers to enforce immigration laws during their routine duties in the community. Of the Texas 73 counties with agreements, 18 have officers trained in the task force model, while 70 participate use one of the jail-related agreements, The Texas Observer reported. Others have applications to become part of the 287 (g) program in place. The proposed bill provides grants to offset costs, ranging from $80,000 per year to $140,000, with the largest amounts reserved for counties with more than 1 million residents. Spiller said lawmakers are encouraging departments to follow the Warrant Service Officer model, which allows ICE to pick up an inmate within 48 hours once they are identified in the ICE database. He added that the bill is about identifying bad actors who have previously been ordered to leave the country, and not about deputies being required to enforce federal immigration law. DoorDasher drives onto tarmac at O'Hare Airport, exposing security flaw But he said full participation is needed. '(Some larger counties) know that some of these folks that they've arrested may have outstanding federal warrants, and they knowingly and willingly turn a blind eye and choose not to look,' Spiller said. 'We can't have these people turned back onto the street because they're a public safety concern.' Abbott has already 'made it clear' Texas cities and counties must fully cooperate with the federal government's efforts to arrest, jail, and deport illegal immigrants, the governor's spokesman told NewsNation. He did not specify when Abbott could sign the bill into law. Some sheriffs with existing 287 (g) agreements praise the mandatory participation, which allows flexibility without forcing deputies to 'go out and play Border Patrol or ICE', Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland said. The Republican sheriff understands why some in his position may choose not to go that far, but calls having the ability to get inmates into federal custody faster a 'no-brainer.' 'You're being given the tools (under the bill) to make this country safer,' said Cleveland, who uses the two jail-related programs and has applied for the task force model training. 'I don't see what people wouldn't want to participate.' Just east of Houston, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne announced this spring that not all Sheriff's Association of Texas members support the bill's required participation, Houston Public Media reported. Hawthorne, a Republican who has had a 287 (g) agreement in place for the past four years, said many departments were concerned about unfunded mandates, despite the availability of grant money. Some fear that the largest grants may not cover the costs of what departments are being asked to do. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced in 2017 that the department maintains law and order in the state's largest county, which includes the city of Houston. The county ended its 287(g) agreement, and Gonzalez announced he was allocating the $675,000 he spent on the deal toward improving case clearance rates and other department priorities. While not every department will face that large of a financial burden to carry out respective 287 (g) agreements, Hawthorne, the legislative chairman of the state sheriffs' association, told NewsNation that forcing every department has raised concerns among some Democratic sheriffs who are worried about the political overtones of the issue that may be alarming and bothersome to some residents in more left-leaning counties. ICE agents, South Carolina cops arrest 80 in raid at illegal club Sheriffs have expressed their displeasure about the statewide mandate to Hawthorne, but all those already allow ICE into their jail facilities, as incarcerated inmates are transferred into federal custody. Ultimately, Hawthorne believes the flexibility built into the bill makes it more palatable for local departments, which are all tasked with protecting their communities. 'Remember, the sheriff works for the people, and I've never seen a sheriff who didn't believe in the rule of law,' Hawthorne said. 'But as you and I both know, sometimes, the rule of law has a whole lot of differing opinions and ideas.' State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat representing San Antonio, raised other potential red flags. 'Are you not afraid of the potentiality for racial profiling by police if they see what presumably looks like Mexican or Hispanic people in a truck, that they will not be pulled over simply because of the color of their skin?' Gutierrez asked the bill's senate sponsor, Republican Charles Schwertner, during the senate debate, according to the Texas Tribune. Sarah Cruz, the policy and advocacy strategist for border and immigrant rights with the Texas ACLU, voiced similar concerns after the bill passed the Texas legislature. '(The bill) will not make communities safer, but it will force sheriffs to do the work of ICE in support of the federal government's shameless mass deportation efforts,' Cruz said. Spiller, like Schwertner, maintains that the bill has nothing to do with race or nationality, but instead is more about helping ICE take those already in their base into custody and out of the jurisdiction of local sheriff's offices. Kristin Etter, the director of policy and legal services for the Texas Immigration Law Council, calls the measure a 'real slap in the face' to local law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting their communities. Etter told NewsNation that if Abbott signs the bill and it withstands legal challenges that similarly arose involving a 2017 law that abolished sanctuary cities in Texas, departments may find themselves in a precarious position. She also fears Texas could become the federal inspiration for forcing states to help drive Trump's immigration mission. '(The bill) is really placing Texas law enforcement agents under the service of the federal government,' Etter said. 'So, there's really no longer going to be any local control of how they protect their communities and keep their communities safe.' Spiller, however, disagrees and says the bill, while required, offers departments flexibility while also ensuring everyone is on the same page to better protect local counties and Texas as a whole. 'We're trying to make communities safer and the streets safer,' Spiller said, 'and this is the best way we have to do it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
05-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
Spiller super PAC spent $8.3M just on canvassing
Presented by Good Thursday morning! The super PAC that's unofficially running NJEA President Sean Spiller's campaign for governor has spent as much just on canvassing as his rival candidates' actual campaigns are allowed to spend, period. Yesterday, NJEA critic Mike Lilley's group pointed out an odd-seeming $8.3 million in expenditures on the financial disclosure of the super PAC, Working New Jersey, which is funded with $40 million entirely by the union. All that money went to AP Consulting Firm in Newark, which as far as I can tell is a tiny company run by former Newark Board of Education member Ariagna Perello that specializes in tax prep. That's actually payment for Working New Jersey's field operation, according to the super PAC's spokesperson Eddie Vale. He said it's run by James Souder, who was briefly Newark's director of neighborhood and recreational services but stepped down amid an alleged nude photo incident and general dissatisfaction with his job performance, and later served as a legislative director for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, according to his LinkedIn page. Perello, he said, is administering it. Vale told me the canvassing operation is in all 21 counties. 'Working New Jersey's field program remains active in all of these counties as part of what is certainly the biggest GOTV operation, independent or otherwise, in the Democratic primary, especially now during early vote and the final six days of the campaign,' he said. 'Biggest GOTV operation' seems like an understatement. All five of Spiller's Democratic rivals are taking matching funds from the state, which basically limits them to spending $8.7 million. And while there are super PACs doing field work for some of Spiller's rivals, none of them approach $8.3 million. And that figure was with two weeks to go before the primary, so it will almost certainly be larger. By contrast, Ras Baraka's campaign has spent about $685,000 on canvassing through his brother Middy's consulting firm, and it broke down the expenses to include every person receiving the walking-around money. Or to make an even more stark comparison, Working New Jersey's field operation alone costs more than 24 times the roughly $342,058.84 Sean Spiller's campaign reported spending since he launched his campaign a year ago. Have I ever mentioned that our campaign finance system is absurd? FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — In Hoboken at 11 a.m. for a Unilever headquarters opening. In Newark at 1:15 p.m. for a 'ratepayer relief' announcement. And in Oceanport at 6:30 p.m. for a New Jersey Theatre Alliance gala. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'The whole thing is looking like the three-way standoff in the movie Reservoir Dogs. And that shoot-out turned out poorly for everyone involved.' — Princeton's Sam Wang and FairVote's David Daley on the Democratic primary in a Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed advocating for ranked choice voting. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Kevin Peng, Shereef Elnahal, Dan Harris, Charles Rosen. WHAT TRENTON MADE HE'S LITERALLY PHONING IT IN — 'Even Offstage, Trump Is Everywhere in New Jersey's Governor's Race,' by The New York Times' Tracey Tully: 'President Trump has played a starring role throughout the race for governor of New Jersey, thanks to his stronger-than-expected showing last November in the Democrat-led state. But his influence on the Republican and Democratic primaries, set for Tuesday, was impossible to miss this week. On Monday night, just hours before the start of early voting, Trump held a dial-in telephone rally for the candidate he endorsed last month, a Republican former assemblyman named Jack Ciattarelli, who is making his third run for governor. Ciattarelli was at the front of a five-candidate G.O.P. pack long before he earned Trump's backing. Still, if Ciattarelli wins Tuesday's primary and beats the Democratic nominee in November, the president will rightly be able to claim some credit. Only New Jersey and Virginia are holding races for governor this year, and the contests will offer an early gauge of voter attitudes toward Trump, five months into his second term as president. He seemed to allude to that looming scorecard on the call, reminding listeners that the race was 'being watched, actually, all over the world.'' — 'New Jersey primary sets up the first major fight for the Democratic Party's future' EVERYBODY'S GONE SURVEYING. SURVEYUSA — It doesn't really tell us anything about the primary, but a new poll conducted by SurveyUSA for the advocacy group Education Reform Now has some numbers worth looking at considering the dearth of polling. The poll of 576 likely voters shows Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer with the highest net favorability ratings of seven candidates for governor: All six Democrats and Republican Jack Ciattarelli (it did not ask about Bill Spadea). Sherrill is at +12 and Gottheimer at +13. Ciattarelli is at +4, Ras Baraka +3 and Sean Spiller +3. The two Steves, Sweeney and Fulop, are just barely in the negative, at -2 and -1, respectively. The poll also asked voters' attitudes towards President Trump. He's 44 percent approve to 53 percent disapprove, a -9 net favorability rating. It's not apples to apples, but that's worse than the 47-47 approval rating split in a recent Emerson poll, but significantly better than the -21 approval rating he had in a May 2017 Quinnipiac poll. See the poll questions and results here. The poll's credibility interval is +/- 6.1 percentage points. POWER — 'Utilities plan to delay (but not decrease) electric rate hikes for New Jersey customers,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'New Jersey's main utility companies plan to delay steep increases in the price of electricity until the fall, but customers will still pay every penny of the higher rates, just spread out over time. Three utility companies say they have requested permission from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to defer the significantly higher rates brought on by the most recent supplier auction held by PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator … The steps proposed by the power companies, in response to a request by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, will be but a reprieve for customers; unless they qualify for financial assistance, they will still pay the full amount of the increases, but the cost could be spread out over as many as six months.' SKINT TAG — 'Murphy plans to axe summer tuition aid for college students,' by NJ Spotlight News' Hannah Gross: 'For a growing number of low-income college students, summer does not necessarily mean time off from school. The expansion of the Tuition Aid Grant program to include summer classes has allowed students to continue toward their degree at a lower cost — but this could be the last summer the financial aid is available. Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed budget does not include funding for Summer TAG, which has helped around 24,000 students in its first two years. At budget hearings, college presidents called for the Legislature to add $30 million for summer tuition aid to the budget for next year so the program can continue in summer 2026. This is one of several requests from higher education leaders, who are raising alarm about potential cuts at the state and federal levels. 'It's a perfect storm of disinvestment,' said Eric Friedman, president of Bergen Community College.' GOTTHEIMER — 'Former Gaza hostage Edan Alexander and his family support Democrat in tight N.J. governor race,' by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: 'Edan Alexander, the New Jersey native who was recently released after being held hostage for 19 months in Gaza, and his family wrote a letter supporting U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer as he runs in the state's tight Democratic primary for governor, now in its closing days, NJ Advance Media has learned. Alexander, a soldier for the Israeli army, on May 11 became the last living American hostage set free by Hamas. … The family wrote the letter a week after Alexander's release ... They said they were in Israel, 'embracing every moment of Edan's return to our lives.'' — 'Eleven towns that tell the story of New Jersey's Democratic brawl for governor' — Kean Sr.: 'We all lose without local news' — 'Goal of NJ school segregation suit is not to revoke home rule law, attorney says' — 'In school segregation case, New Jersey opposes appeal as think tank urges court to consider remedy' — 'New Jersey teachers bankroll the $40 million man' — 'New Jersey has given $37.5M in matching funds to governor hopefuls' — Pizarro: 'Critical Context on 'the Establishment' Candidacy of Mikie Sherrill' TRUMP ERA AN ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO FREE SPEECH — 'Surveilled, detained: Feds pursue Paterson woman a year after Gaza protest,' by The Record's Hannan Adely: 'Leqaa Kordia of Paterson said she soon found that the Department of Homeland Security was investigating nearly every aspect of her life. They interrogated her mother, uncle, a clothing store owner and tenants of an apartment that she briefly rented. … The scrutiny, described in a federal lawsuit, came nearly a year after her participation at a demonstration on April 30, 2024, outside the gates of Columbia University. New York City police arrested 119 protesters on and off campus that day, including Kordia, a Palestinian who had been in the United States since 2016. Although charges were dropped, the arrest put her on federal authorities' radar, the lawsuit shows. In March, the Department of Homeland Security announced Kordia had been arrested for overstaying her student visa. Kordia's mother had filed a family-based petition for her to become a permanent resident that she mistakenly thought gave her temporary legal status, her attorneys said. Today, she remains in Texas at the Prairieland Detention Facility, 1,500 miles away from her family, held in what her attorneys describe as 'inhumane conditions.'' — Testa: 'Don't let NJ Democrats distract you with their epic failures. Medicaid is safe' — 'CBO: Nearly 11 million people will be uninsured if GOP megabill becomes law' LOCAL FROM RENAISSANCE SCHOOLS TO A DARK AGE — 'Camden students bring concerns about budget cuts to New Jersey Department of Education,' by WHYY's P. Kenneth Burns: 'At least two dozen Camden students traveled Wednesday to Trenton to protest looming budget cuts being made to the state-run school district, voicing frustration and fear over what the reductions could mean for their education. And they didn't come alone. Community members and representatives from the Camden Education Association, New Jersey Education Association, NAACP New Jersey State Conference Youth and College Division and New Jersey Working Families Party also showed up to support the student-led rally outside of the New Jersey Department of Education building. … Several students spoke of their hurt that more than 100 people, including teachers and a cast of support staff, will be laid off to cover a $91 million budget deficit. The deficit was announced by state District Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs on April 30, along with a series of moves to balance the budget, including the layoffs. 'I am devastated,' said Kevin Duncan, a Camden High School student. 'There is no emotions and words that can describe this feeling that I'm feeling today.'' PATERSON — 'Paterson shootings down from 31 in 2024 to 20 this year,' by the Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'As summer approaches, Paterson has seen a significant decrease in gun violence in 2025, according to data released by the city police department on June 3. The city had 20 shooting incidents during the first five months of this year, compared to 31 over the same time period in 2024, a 35.5% reduction, the police department said. Meanwhile, the number of shooting victims in Paterson from January through May dropped by about 50% compared to the first five months of last year, when 41 people were killed or injured by gunfire in the city, officials said. The 2025 drop in gun violence has been unmatched over the past decade … Paterson PBA President Angel Jimenez attributed the drop in shootings to the violent crime suppression initiative, which uses overtime to assign extra officers to notorious trouble spots … As part of the state takeover, Gov. Phil Murphy's administration has allocated an extra $20 million for Paterson police operations, including millions spent on overtime to increase police presence on the streets.' 500-PERSON TOWN HAS ITS OWN POLICE FORCE, SCHOOL BOARD — 'West Wildwood could look to supplement cops, not disband,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'The Board of Commissioners will consider contracting with an outside police department to cover overnight shifts for its understaffed and overstressed police … On Monday, a report from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police on West Wildwood became public, outlining multiple problems with the department. They included serious staffing woes, along with raising concerns about procedure for handling evidence, training officers for leadership and responsibilities for investigation … But the conclusion of the report was that the department should be disbanded, contracting with Wildwood for police service. A group of West Wildwood residents does not want to see that happen. More than 200, out of a year-round population of about 540, are part of a Facebook group called 'Save the West Wildwood Police Department.'' MR. GUYBACHEV, PUT UP THIS WALL BETWEEN UNION CITY AND NORTH BERGEN — 'Hudson County officials celebrate a piece of the Berlin Wall coming to Secaucus park,' by Hudson County View's Daniel Ulloa: 'Hudson County officials celebrated a piece of the Berlin Wall that separated West Berlin from East Germany during the Cold War was installed in Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus yesterday. 'It's a powerful symbol of a world once divided: It marked the triumph of the human spirit, that moment changed the world,' Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Affairs Director Gina Hulings said at the ceremony. ... Hudson County Executive Craig Guy also expressed enthusiasm about the unveiling. 'This is an historic event, right? We have a piece of the Berlin Wall that comes all the way across the pond, all the way to Hudson County … It finds itself in one of the best parks,' he stated.' MANALAPOLOGY — 'Mayor's wife wrote apology letter after stealing $5K at housekeeping job, police say,' by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino: 'The wife of a mayor in Monmouth County wrote a letter of apology to a friend she worked for as a housekeeper after the friend allegedly caught her on a security camera stealing cash, according to police. Jennifer Nelson, 52, of Manalapan, was charged with third-degree theft on May 22 for an incident that allegedly occurred a week earlier at a home in Freehold, according to police. The victim is identified in court records as Nelson's friend, and someone whose home Nelson cleaned for eight years.' — 'New Jersey primary 2025: Here's what to know about Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen's reelection bid and City Council races' — 'Turnout so far: 9% for Demcorats, 5% for GOP' — 'Ex-[Mount Arlington] councilman who took an envelope of cash from a secret hotel meeting will avoid jail' — 'Democrat running for Wayne mayor: My primary opponent is a 'lifelong Republican'' — 'Jersey Shore firefighter wins court battle over growing beard on religious grounds' — '[Salem City] man says he's fighting for justice after beloved bulldog dies in animal control custody' — 'N.J. suspends license of [Penns Grove] department's top cop over licensing dispute involving other cops' — 'Jersey City Police Officer Freeman is 6th candidate to formally declare for mayor' EVERYTHING ELSE THE CRUCIFIX IS IN — Lawmakers threaten Seton Hall funding amid new scandal, by POLITICO's Dustin Racioppi: Seton Hall University could lose $1 million in state funding over its handling of sexual abuse scandals. Two influential state senators said in a statement that they are 'no longer confident that Seton Hall deserves funding from NJ taxpayers,' following new allegations of sexual abuse and hazing in the school's baseball program. Those claims, detailed in a new lawsuit, follow POLITICO's reporting that the university hired its new president despite recommendations he not hold leadership positions because he didn't properly report sexual abuse allegations as a seminary leader. And even though the Catholic university's church leader ordered an investigation into how the new president was hired, Seton Hall has blocked a key witness from testifying, setting up a power clash at the country's oldest diocesan university. State Sens. Joseph Vitale and Andrew Zwicker said they are 'particularly disturbed' by that decision and are now 'confronted with allegations that go to the heart of the university's culture and failure of leadership.' — 'Sailor returned from combat to find his beloved dog was given away; he wants Archie back' — 'Decorative helicopter mishap cost American Dream over $20M, developer says' — 'Cliffside Cube? A new style duplex is rising in northern NJ. And it's everywhere'
