By Dustin Racioppi

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Thursday morning!

Should public officials get to lead private lives — and deaths? 

Gov. Phil Murphy and the Oliver family seem to think so.

It’s been nearly three weeks since Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver died after a brief hospitalization while serving as acting governor. Murphy and his office have declined to release the cause of her death, saying her health was a private matter and giving deference to the family’s wishes.

When I reached Oliver’s niece Renee this week, she responded: “As we continue to mourn the sudden passing of our beloved daughter, sister, and aunt, the Oliver Family regards the cause of death as a personal family matter. We thank you for respecting our privacy during this difficult time.”

This is no doubt a difficult time for the Oliver family.

But with all due respect and condolences, that doesn’t meet the standards that the press and the public hold elected officials.

Sheila Oliver was, as Murphy and others have noted, a dedicated public servant for decades, including four years as Assembly speaker. She stepped in as acting governor on multiple occasions, including the earliest days of Covid-19, when Murphy himself underwent surgery for kidney cancer. As lieutenant governor, she ran one of the state’s largest agencies, the Department of Community Affairs. Taxpayers paid her salary.

Oliver was known in Statehouse circles to be in poor physical health recently. For what specifically, I don’t know.

And that reveals a larger issue in New Jersey. Many people will recall former Gov. Chris Christie’s secret lap-band surgery a decade ago. Multiple members of the Legislature have missed votes — in certain cases, a lot of them — because of poor health. Former state Sen. Gerald Cardinale was running for reelection when he died after a brief, undisclosed illness.

Elected officials are in office for one reason above all else: To serve the public. And answer to it. Murphy said recently that Oliver was “on top of her game” up until her death, but the public must take his word for it.

For all intents and purposes, Oliver was the state-level analogue to Vice President Kamala Harris. If Harris had been hospitalized and then died — especially while filling in for Joe Biden — the public would expect, and the press would demand, to know all the details.

Why should it be any different here?

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Matt’s back tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with us in his absence.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at [email protected].

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Democrats handing out money (checks notes), SIX days before Election Day? How BAD are their poll numbers?” — Former state GOP executive director Tom Szymanski after the Murphy administration announced ANCHOR rebate checks will now go out by Nov. 1, a week before all seats in the Legislature top the ballot.

WHERE'S MURPHY? — No public schedule.

A message from AARP New Jersey:

New Jersey’s affordability crisis has hit older residents particularly hard. Too many seniors have been forced to choose between paying for life-saving medications and meeting other critical needs, like paying rent and buying food. But help is on the way. AARP thanks state lawmakers for passing landmark legislation that will strengthen the health and financial security of older New Jersey residents and help them remain in their homes and communities—where they want to be.

STRONGER, FAIRER, FASTER  — ANCHOR property tax rebates are going out early. Try by election week, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: ANCHOR property tax rebates will start reaching New Jerseyans extra early this year — less than a week before Election Day. The new program was widely panned as an election-year ploy when it was introduced last year, with payments coming this spring. Now the next payments will get deposited into bank accounts by Nov. 1, the Treasury Department said. All 120 seats in the Legislature top the ballot on Nov. 7, and Democrats are trying to retain their majorities in both chambers after losing several seats in 2021.

99% DIDN’T KNOW WE HAD ONE  — Most New Jerseyans do not care about the race, gender of new lieutenant governor, poll finds, by POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy: The vast majority of New Jerseyans think race and gender should not be a factor when picking the next lieutenant governor, a Monmouth University poll found. The poll found that 83 percent of respondents said race should not be a factor in picking a successor to Sheila Oliver, who died earlier this month while in office. Additionally, 80 percent of respondents said that gender does not matter when picking the next lieutenant governor.

TO THE GILLS — “Battle is on for key N.J. Senate spot vacated by Codey,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson and Susan K. Livio: “A behind-the-scenes battle is brewing to succeed New Jersey’s longest serving lawmaker, pitting another veteran legislator against a longtime close adviser to Gov. Phil Murphy, sources told NJ Advance Media. State Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, unexpectedly announced Monday he will drop his re-election bid and retire following a 50-year career. State Assemblyman John McKeon, Codey’s longtime running mate, quickly emerged as the leading contender to replace him — more specifically to take over as the the Democratic nominee, and thus the overwhelming favorite, on November’s ballot to represent suburban Essex County and portions of Passaic County in the Senate. But Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, a powerful political figure in the state’s Democratic Party, is also pushing for the spot, according to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”

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OFF THE RAILS — NJ Transit and union to meet in court Thursday on strike vote, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey Transit is seeking to stop union strike threats that the agency says are illegally creating long-term uncertainty for thousands of commuters. In a previously unreported legal motion filed last week, NJ Transit is trying to get a temporary restraining order that could stop a strike vote and also prevent a strike by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, which represents the engineers necessary to run trains.

— “State settles with Toms River Superfund site owner, and faces likely lawsuit”
— “More red flags raised over ‘structural deficit’ of NJ budget”
— “Murphy’s approval rating dips but he gets higher marks on property tax reform, poll shows”
— “Moriarty Calls For Direct Election Of Attorney General, State Treasurer And State Auditor”

A message from AARP New Jersey:

KINDA LIKE THE METS PULLING AHEAD OF THE NATIONALS — “Christie pulls ahead of DeSantis in New Hampshire GOP primary: poll,” by The Hill’s Julia Manchester: “Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has surpassed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in the critical early presidential primary state of New Hampshire, according to an Emerson College survey released Tuesday. Christie leapfrogged DeSantis for second place in the Granite State, garnering 9 percent support. DeSantis’s support, on the other hand, fell to 8 percent from 17 percent in March. Christie’s 1-point lead over DeSantis falls within the poll’s plus-or-minus 3.4 percent margin of error."

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Inflation has made the already high cost of living that much more of a struggle for New Jersey residents. Especially seniors living on a fixed income. But thanks to the leadership of New Jersey lawmakers, important financial relief is on the way to help make our state more affordable.

Thanks to our state lawmakers:

• Older New Jersey homeowners and renters will receive more property tax relief through the Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and the new StayNJ programs
• Life-saving medications like insulin, inhalers, and epi-pens will be more affordable
• A newly created Prescription Drug Affordability Council will help rein in skyrocketing prescription drug costs
• More residents will be eligible for help paying for their prescription drugs 
  

SONS OF THE CORPORATE REVOLUTION — “Monmouth County seeks to stop warehouse plan for Revolutionary War site,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Jon Hurdle: “Monmouth County wants to buy a Revolutionary War site in Upper Freehold now slated for warehouses and has asked the developer if he wants to sell it. The county’s move is the latest effort by officials to buy and preserve land where developers plan to build warehouses, plans that have outraged residents who warn about increased traffic and other environmental concerns.”  

HE’S GOT HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE PEOPLE — “Ex-Hoboken health director picks up petitions to run for 1st Ward council seat,” by Hudson County Views’ John Heinis: “Leo Pellegrini, the former director of Hoboken’s Health & Human Services Department, is the latest to pick up petitions to run for the 1st Ward council seat, according to the city clerk’s office. Pellegrini did not return calls or text messages seeking comment on if he would be running in the non-partisan November 7th contest. In the 1st Ward, Councilman Mike DeFusco is not seeking re-election and the contest instead currently pits Paul Presinzano against Rent Leveling Board Chair Rafi Cordova – who has the backing of Mayor Ravi Bhalla.”

— “Barclay has two weeks to decide if he’ll remain Camden race or drop out”
— “Paterson school board looks to expand in-house security staff”
— “Homelessness Counts Up In Ocean County: Study”
— “Grand Jury Indicts Suspect In Sayreville Councilwoman’s Murder”
— “Schools' gender identity policies drive crowd to Monmouth County Courthouse”
— “Ocean County Man Indicted in January Attack on Concert Crowd”
— “William T. McCargo Jr., Cherry Hill fire commissioner, former police officer, and civic advocate, has died at 77”

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MILKING THE SYSTEM — “NJ attorney general goes on family leave after wife gives birth,” by NJ 101.5: “New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin is the proud father of a baby girl. Platkin's wife, Sophia, gave birth to daughter Maya Wednesday morning at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. The Platkins also have a son named Robert. "I am also grateful that I will be taking several weeks to bond with my family during this amazing but critical time when we get to know Maya and care for her unique needs as a newborn," Platkin said in a statement.”

FIRE FRAUD — “Avoid these scams when donating to Maui wildfire relief funds, NJ officials say,” by NorthJersey.com’s Daniel Munoz: “New Jersey officials are warning against a litany of scams targeting people interested in giving money to those affected by the deadly wildfires that swept across the Hawaiian island of Maui. So far, at least 99 lives have been lost. According to the state Attorney General’s Office, natural disasters like the wildfires in Hawaii often bring out the best in people, but they can prove to be fertile ground for con artists. 'Donors need to be wary of potential scams that divert relief funds into the pockets of fraudsters,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin.”

— “Owner of Sayreville strip club embroiled in bribery case sues to reopen”

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