By Matt Friedman

Presented by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Good Thursday morning!

It happened again. Another state’s voters soundly rejected an abortion-related ballot question, siding with abortion rights. In this case it was Ohio, where a question that would make it harder to amend the state Constitution — an attempt by that state’s Republicans to doom a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights — failed, with 57 percent voting against it. That follows defeats of anti-abortion measure in even redder sates, like Kansas and Kentucky.

Some New Jersey Democrats I talked to Wednesday wish they had an abortion-related question on the ballot this year. They almost did. You may recall that in November, Democrats were moving quickly to put a question on this year’s ballot that would write abortion rights into the state Constitution. But the effort faltered, largely because abortion rights groups didn’t want it.

Now, Democrats appear to be are running scared on other issues. Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin have both put out defensive statements pushing back on Murphy administration-led efforts on gender neutral language in education and offshore wind. Would an abortion ballot question have put the wind at New Jersey Democrats’ backs? (No pun intended.)

Still, expect abortion to be a big Democratic issue in this election, even if we haven’t seen much of it yet. Democrats helped Sen. Ed Durr achieve the biggest upset in political memory in 2021 by never running a campaign against him, which this year will inevitably include screenshots of a 2020 Facebook post in which he said: “A woman does have a choice! Keep her legs closed.” And state Sen. Andrew Zwicker is already hitting his Republican challenger, Mike Pappas, for the abortion stance he laid out as a candidate for Congress in 1996, when the anti-abortion Pappas was quoted saying: “A very small percentage of abortions are because of rape and incest. One act of violence does not justify another.”

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I’m taking a week off. My colleagues Mia McCarthy, Dustin Racioppi and Ry Rivard will try their hands at bad puns until next Friday’s edition, which I will once again author.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at [email protected]

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If you are on my side of it, and you are engaged in this labyrinth and this maze of pay-to-play legislation throughout the state, it is virtually impossible to navigate in a fair and legal process without tremendous resources.” — Jersey City Mayor/gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop on the Elections Transparency Act, which eliminated local pay-to-play laws, including the Jersey City one Fulop pushed for.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY —  Tai Cooper, Edward Correa, Michael Linhorst, Maya Rao, John Samerjan

WHERE’S MURPHY? — Attending a private visitation hour for the late Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver in the morning. She will lie in state in the Statehouse rotunda from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

A message from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital:

We at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital are deeply disappointed with United Steel Workers 4-200's extreme action to strike. No one benefits from the strike, least of all our nurses. We maintain good-faith negotiation efforts with the union representing nurses. Multiple attempts to prevent the strike were rejected, including accepting the union's demands and offering arbitration. RWJUH is already among the highest-staffed hospitals in the state, and our nurses are currently the highest-paid in New Jersey.

IF THE TRAINS DON’T ROLL, IT WILL JUST BE FOR THE USUAL REASONS — “NJ Transit says trains will still roll despite threat of a strike,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “‘We want to reassure riders there is a federal Court order against a strike and there is a long (mediation) process that goes well into 2024,’ said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit president and CEO in an interview with NJ Advance Media. Officials of that union fired back that the agency is spreading “confusing disinformation” by saying a federal court order prohibits them from striking. On Monday, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced its 500 members will receive mail from the union’s national office with a ballot and voting instructions over the next few days, union officials said. Completed ballots must be returned by noon on Aug. 31.”

—“Culture wars arrive in NJ ahead of fall elections, focusing on gender in education” 

—“Residents want more state aid to keep NJ Transit trains and buses running, Rutgers poll shows” 

—“[New Hanover Township] was right to deny inmate a marriage certificate, court rules” 

— “Are bleachers safe at this NJ school? Couple on crusade after boy's 'terrifying' fall”

—“Controversial N.J. bear hunt on track to return this fall and for 4 more years” 

—“Platkin names career prosecutor as director of criminal justice” 

—“Casino Control Commission delays ruling on Playboy chip fund”

—“New law provides limited help on teacher shortage” 

A message from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital:

CHRISTIE TIME — A FDU poll released this morning shows Chris Christie is making some headway, at 5 percent of likely Republican primary voters nationally He’s also the leading candidate among the small minority (17 percent) of Republican voters who feel the Donald Trump indictments are legitimate, with 25 percent of their support. Overall, Trump leads with 58 percent support, followed by Ron DeSantis with with 15 percent. Christie is tied with Mike Pence for third place with 5 percent. Among voters who exhibit the most knowledge of current politics by correctly identifying officeholders, Christie’s support is 12 percent — again, third place behind Trump and DeSantis, but by a smaller margin. Read the full poll on FDU’s website.

BLAZT OFF — Jason Blazakis, a former State Department official who grew up in New Jersey, is joining the Democratic House race in the 7th District — the third candidate so far seeking to take on freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in 2024. "This week, we’re focused on honoring the Lieutenant Governor and the incredible legacy she has left in New Jersey," Solomon Dubner, a campaign finance assistant for Blazakis, said in a statement. "Jason has spent his life serving New Jerseyans as a national security expert and is exploring a run for Congress in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. We’ll have more information in the coming weeks."(Despite the word "exploring" in that statement, Blazakis’ ActBlue fundraising page, which features a campaign logo, just went live). Blazakis follows progressive activist Sue Altman and Roselle Mayor Joe Signorello III, in that order. Blazakis,48, a counter-terrorism expert and professor at Middlebury College, grew up in Harmony Township. He just moved back to New Jersey from Washington. Blazakis’ background is reminiscent of former 7th District U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, who just lost reelection to a third term in November, and current U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3rd District).

TILTING AT WINDMILLS — “The shifting winds of Jeff Van Drew,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “From his perch in Congress, Van Drew has become one of the movement’s top attack dogs, charging that the new wind turbines currently under development are wasteful, destructive, and unwise … But that wasn’t always Van Drew’s tune on offshore wind. During his 17 years in the New Jersey Legislature – and before his famous defection to the Republican Party in 2019 – Van Drew was generally a supporter of wind energy, voting for a number of tax incentive bills for wind development and even authoring a few of his own … ‘[My party switch] has nothing to do with it,’ Van Drew said. ‘I was never, ever for something like this. … There are ways of going about this. This is not the way.’ Van Drew specifically pointed to Fishermen’s Energy, a proposed pilot program that was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie in 2016, as the type of wind development he did support …

But Van Drew’s voting record in the legislature went significantly beyond just supporting Fishermen’s Energy. During his early days in the State Senate, Van Drew sponsored multiple bills enabling wind development, including one that would have required the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to offer the same financial incentives for wind energy as it did for solar energy. In 2010, he voted in support of the landmark Offshore Wind Development Act, a tax incentive bill that marked the true beginning of offshore wind in New Jersey. And in 2018, Van Drew was a sponsor of a sprawling clean energy bill that, among other things, provided additional tax credits for offshore wind development. Those tax credits are what allowed project’s like Ørsted’s to get underway; a year later, the BPU approved Ørsted’s Ocean Wind One.”

LIVING ON THE EDGEWATER — “Future of massive North Jersey towers uncertain amid toxic cleanup, Menendez investigation,” by The Record’s Scott Fallon and Kristie Cattafi: “Among the massive condominiums that have risen in the last 25 years along New Jersey's Hudson River waterfront, few could rival the plan to build four high-rise towers on a fetid and fallow piece of land in Edgewater at the center of a costly toxic cleanup and a federal investigation. At 720 feet high, the four-tower structure on the Quanta Resources Superfund site and an adjacent property would be the fourth-tallest building in New Jersey. Plans also call for 2,000 residential units, a parking garage, a plaza structure and a clubhouse, according to a permit approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. But the immediate future of the site — which is owned by developer Fred Daibes and has been linked to an ongoing federal probe of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez — remains uncertain. ... Federal prosecutors investigating Menendez are now looking into a lucrative real estate deal involving the Quanta site, The Wall Street Journal has reported. In December, Daibes sold a 23.7% stake in the Quanta site and adjoining properties for $45 million to Heritage Advisors, a London-based investment firm led by a member of the Qatari royal family.”

A message from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital:

We at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital are deeply disappointed with United Steel Workers 4-200's extreme action to strike. No one benefits from the strike, least of all our nurses. We maintain good-faith negotiation efforts with the union representing nurses. Multiple attempts to prevent the strike were rejected, including accepting the union's demands and offering arbitration. RWJUH is already among the highest-staffed hospitals in the state, and our nurses are currently the highest-paid in New Jersey. Our top priority is our patients. We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering the highest-quality care in the safest environment. We want to reassure our patients, their families, and our community that we continue to care without interruption. We remain fully open and continue to deliver the high-quality care they deserve.

MILLVILLE — “N.J. city facing claims of court discrimination says it’s the state’s problem,” by Matt Gray for NJ.com: “Millville’s municipal court discriminated against Latino defendants by denying them the opportunity to appear virtually for court hearings, the state Attorney General’s Office alleged in a civil rights complaint filed Tuesday. … The city appoints the judge and other staff in municipal court, but the state judiciary is responsible for overseeing court operations, Millville City Attorney Brock Russell said in a statement issued Wednesday in response to the civil rights complaint. Russell noted that the state Supreme Court adopted a statewide Language Access Plan in 2017 to ensure all court participants have equal access to translation services. … Adherence to that plan is supervised by the state judiciary and not local government, Russell said, noting that municipal court personnel answer to a judiciary chain of command that ends with the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts.”

SUE AC — “Whistleblower lawsuit targets Atlantic City Housing Authority board, attorneys,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “The former interim executive director of the Atlantic City Housing Authority has sued her former employer, alleging her attempts to stop fraudulent activity there were thwarted by the board and its attorneys. Denise Gordy … alleges she was demoted from interim executive director to finance director as a result of her whistleblower activities. … and was subject to such a hostile work environment that she resigned in May."

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PAY-TO-PLAYERVILLE — “Sayreville hiring special counsel to investigate former Democratic leader's dealings,” by MyCentralJersey’s Susan Loyer: “The borough, prompted by corruption charges filed against former Sayreville Democratic Chairman Thomas Pollando, will be hiring a forensic accountant and special counsel for an investigation of the Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Agency (SERA) and other municipal boards where Pollando may have been involved. … The mayor said the investigation may also extend to other municipal boards where Pollando had dealings, including recreation, where he served as president of the Sayreville Athletic Association.”

THE COMPANY THAT SMELT IT DEALT IT —“Metals company to pay $103M settlement for contaminating properties in N.J. town,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino: “A metals refinery company that operated in Middlesex County for decades has agreed to a $103 million settlement for the wrongful emission of toxic wastes from smelting operations, according to court documents. United States Metals Refinery Co., of Delaware, owned a smelter from the early 1900s to 1991 on Middlesex Avenue in Carteret that discharged a by-product known to cause cancer and other health issues affecting adults and children, according to lawsuits filed in state and federal courts. … The total settlement of $103 million will be broken down into two categories – $61 million for cleanup, remediation, community outreach and additional sampling and analysis. The other $42 million will be paid to about 1,200 affected property owners in the ‘zone of contamination.’”

— “'Forever chemicals' in water supply prompts lawsuit by [Flornce] township,”

PREVAILING OUTRAGE — “Somerville's new police, fire complex has become 'outrageously more expensive'. Here's why,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “The cost of the new building … has jumped from $31 million to $42 million. … The reason for the increase is an unanticipated ruling by the state Department of Labor that the contractor, under the state law for public works projects, must pay the prevailing wage. For example, according to state guidelines, for a public works project in Somerset County, the prevailing wage for a foreman carpenter is $62.72 per hour in wages plus $37.56 per hour in benefits for a total outlay by the employer of $100.28 per hour. ‘It's become outrageously more expensive,’ said Councilman Granville Brady. Brady added that the Department of Labor's decision is ‘an attempt from the state to enrich the special interests of unions at the expense of Somerville's taxpayers.’”

ANONYMOUS RESIDENT OF EXTREMELY RICH, MOSTLY WHITE TOWN KNOWS THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM ISN’T A THING — “The curious case of Mountain Lakes,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “A federal suit accusing Mountain Lakes High School of discriminating against white students has been dismissed after the plaintiff declined a court order to identify himself. While this was a rather odd ending to a case involving one of Morris County’s toniest enclaves, the larger battle over what gets taught in public schools shows no sign of ebbing. As the plaintiff in the Mountain Lakes case said through his lawyer after a judge dismissed the matter on Tuesday, ‘We appreciate the widespread interest in this case. Many parents across the country are asking valid questions about educational programming in their schools – specifically content that addresses political issues outside of approved curriculum.’ … It goes back to the May, 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In the immediate aftermath of that incident, the K-12 district launched a program that, broadly speaking, aimed to teach students about racism and white privilege. Mountain Lakes is a mostly white community. The plaintiff objected to the suggestion racism was systemic and said he tried to discuss the matter with school officials – unsuccessfully, as it turned out.”

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—“Fourth Hackensack officer files lawsuit against city, police director”

—“Plenty Of hurdles stand between Atlantic City and the phrase ‘family resort’”

—“'Serious lack in judgment': Judge rules against former South Plainfield BOE member” 

—“As the market heats up, Newark tries to keep rents under control” 

—“Eatontown could give tax break to Kushner Cos. for Monmouth Mall changes”

—“Commander of Point Pleasant detective bureau draws more shoplifting charges”

THE TRUE REASON FOR NEW JERSEY OUTMIGRATION— “Hold the guac, New Jersey excluded from Taco Bell's free taco giveaway,” by News 12’s Lanette Espy:  “New Jersey is being left out of a ‘Taco Tuesday’ giveaway from Taco Bell. Taco Bell is having a free-for-all Tuesday, Sept. 12. The fast-food restaurant chain will foot the bill for Door Dash orders from local Mexican restaurants in celebration of the trademark of ‘Taco Tuesday’ being over. However, the "Taco Tuesday" dispute is not over in New Jersey. It’s still owned by Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar in Somers Point. So, no free Door Dash tacos for anyone in the Garden State.”

—“Former Teaneck chef arrested at JFK Airport - one day after sexual assault charges dropped” 

—“Officials investigate possible outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Passaic, Bergen” 

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