By Matt Friedman

Presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Good Tuesday morning!

Friday’s Superior Court decision to block three Monmouth County school districts from enforcing parental notification policies for trans students was met with approval by Attorney General Matt Platkin, but likely not from state legislative leaders, who are clearly uncomfortable with this issue in an election year.

Republicans are embracing what they see as the political repercussions. Jack Ciattarelli on Saturday tweeted out a plane banner at the shore urging beachgoers to “identify as a Republican in November” over the gender identification issue, while some Republican legislators are calling for a special legislative session on “parental rights.”

Let me preface this by saying it’s wrong to talk about “identity politics” like it’s just practiced on the left. Appealing to voters’ identities — whether it be people who identify as a certain class, race, gender or innumerable other examples — is just the nature of politics. Nevertheless, the term “identity politics” has come to be associated with racial, ethnic and sexual minorities. .

Republicans have a unifying message here against expanding accommodations for trans students while Democrats are conflicted. The State Board of Education, which, granted, is made up mostly of Christie appointees, is getting rid of gender-specific pronouns while the Democratic Senate president and Assembly Speaker, clearly spooked politically, are pushing back against it in public statements. And then there’s the mixed messages Democrats are sending to their base through their own internal processes.

Take, for instance, how Democrats have historically talked up electing representatives that better reflect the community. But they helped design a redistricting map that put state Sen. Dick Codey (D-Essex), a white man, into the same District as state Sen. Nia Gill, a Black woman— a district that favored Codey. After Codey defeated Gill in the primary, he dropped out, only to be replaced by another white man, Assemblymember John McKeon. And then a woman of color on the ticket, former Democratic Assembly nominee Alixon Collazos-Gill, dropped out to be replaced by her white husband, Brendan Gill.

Or take the 17th District, where again an incumbent — Assemblyman Joe Egan (D-Middlesex) — dropped out after the primary. Democrats have picked his son Kevin as the nominee to fill in for him, all but assuring the district next year will once again be represented by three older white men. I’m sure most voters aren’t paying attention to these internal party machinations, but I think these things can eventually add up and push through into public notice.

It seems like the Republican base is riled up. Are Democrats risking dispiriting theirs?

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Now let me share with you a little bit about Satan’s rainbow. Satan’s rainbow has six colors. Interestingly enough, the color that is left out of this rainbow is indigo. And indigo is often associated with wisdom. You think that’s a coincidence, that wisdom is left out of Satan’s rainbow?”— Hamilton Board of Education candidate/pastor Marc Crabtree’s sermon at the start of Pride Month.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY —  Sean Kennedy, Steve Kornacki,, Donald Sico, Drew Tompkins

WHERE’S MURPHY? —  No public schedule.

A message from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey:

Horizon has been building healthy communities across New Jersey for 90 years. Last year, we partnered with 255 community organizations across the state to tackle food insecurity, address opioid abuse, and expand mental health access to NJ residents who need it most. New Jersey isn’t just our home, it’s who we are and all we do. Horizon is here for you.

JUDGE NOT — “New Jersey judge shortage freezes couples in messy divorce cases,” by Bloomberg Law’s Alex Ebert: “Despite a kidnapping threat, a mother can’t get a court order to secure her child’s passport. Parents are unable to enroll children in school due to custody battles. A woman is forced to live with a partner who cuts off the electricity in her home and blocks her access to any bank accounts. These are some of the victims of the protracted judge shortage in New Jersey, which has a backlog of nearly 4,000 divorce proceedings and another roughly 4,700 other family law cases. Some counties are entirely blocked from holding any divorce trials because there aren’t enough judges to manage civil dockets. While uncontested splits move apace, the delays for fighting couples are measured in years, sometimes for more than a decade, lawyers say. The state court system says these cases are supposed to be resolved within 12 months of filing. … Law professors and litigators cite several factors contributing to the dearth of judges, but most place the harshest criticism on the 'courtesy' appointment system that places great power in the hands of state senators.”

0.53 MASTROS — “N.J. has spent $478K on probe of alleged discrimination at State Police, records show,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “The state Attorney General’s Office has spent nearly $500,000 on a three-year investigation into allegations of racial discrimination within the state’s largest police agency, according to public records obtained by the New Jersey Monitor. It’s not clear yet what prompted the probe, though the New Jersey State Police has been targeted in numerous lawsuits by troopers who allege racial discrimination. Last month, activists and some lawyers representing the troopers demanded the Attorney General’s Office release the findings of the investigation. Gregg Zeff, a lawyer representing troopers who have sued the agency, scoffed at the notion that the probe should take this long to complete. ‘It seems pretty crazy to me that an analysis takes three years, and then you still don’t have a result,’ Zeff said in an interview.”

SPELLING-CHALLENGED REPORTERS ARE ROOTING FOR WAY — “Way, Gutierrez-Scaccetti serious contenders for lt. governor,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “While several candidates remain under consideration, Gov. Phil Murphy is increasingly focusing on two members of his cabinet to succeed Sheila Oliver as New Jersey’s next lieutenant governor. Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Commissioner of Transportation Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti head a short list of candidates for a selection Murphy must make by September 15, three well-placed sources familiar with the process told the New Jersey Globe. But the list is still evolving, with new names still being considered.”

HEALTH CARE — “Thousands of NJ families frustrated by long wait for disability services,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Lilo H. Stainton: “While each case is unique, thousands of New Jersey families … are stuck in a kind of limbo as they try to get adequate services for loved ones who have disabilities and have complex medical challenges. Some are waiting for a safe group-home option when such housing capacity is already stretched thin. Others need help providing care at home, something that can be hard to find given a growing national nursing shortage. And many are frustrated by government regulations and budget limitations that they say restrict their options for accessing care. …. While much of the care is covered through Medicaid, the state and federally funded public health insurance plan, and some families have supplemental private insurance policies, parents describe a long list of sacrifices, including lost time with other family members and friends, lack of career advancement and limited options for self-care.”

IT’S WHAT MAKES JERSEY TOMATOES SO SPECIAL — “Human composting — turning dead bodies into soil — could become legal in N.J.,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “Imagine a funeral where your loved one is placed on a bed of wood chips and straw inside a steel cylinder vessel. Following a ceremony, the remains are locked in the steel vessel, heated over a period of five to seven weeks, and emerge as soil that can be spread in a forest or your yard. It’s not a science-fiction scenario. It’s human composting — a new funeral method that advocates say is better for the environment. The practice could be coming to New Jersey under legislation introduced by state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex) in February. The proposed law (S3610) would update cemetery and crematorium regulations to ‘incorporate the creation and regulation of natural organic reduction facilities and the oversight of the organic reduction process.’”

—Steinberg: “Will election night 2023 catapult Mike Testa?” 

—Sweeney campaign donated $200K to pro-Sweeney dark money group

A message from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey:

LIKE THE SOPRANOS IF A.J. BECAME BOSS — “Looks like The Sopranos were better at evading RICO than The Donald,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “As you plow through the sprawling document detailing the scheme, stretching from Arizona to Washington to Atlanta, there are some striking similarities between the Soprano crew leader's actions and the alleged real-life operation led by the ex-president who just also happens to be the runaway favorite for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. Both operations relied on the tactics of witness tampering, intimidation, theft and even impersonating public officers. Both were consumed with maintaining power regardless of the collateral damage to those around them. … But in this comparison between the real world and television make-believe — a realm where Trump thrived before running for president — there are some stark differences. Tony ran a crew of seasoned thugs and managed the competing factions with Machiavellian shrewdness. Trump ran a crew of white-collar goons and crackpots who — metaphorically speaking, of course — couldn't shoot straight. They made moves that would have been laughed right out of Satriale’s Pork Store — even if most of Tony’s crew would probably have been reliable MAGA voters. For one thing, Tony or his lieutenants would never be so stupid as to shake down a person of significance over the phone, as Trump is accused of doing.”

—“Classically combative Pascrell extends an abortion olive branch“

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PILE ON — “‘I did the wrong thing.’ Plainfield official accused of making offensive comments about displaced residents apologizes,” by News 12: “A Plainfield Planning Board member is being accused of making offensive comments toward those who were recently forced out of their homes – now a petition is calling for the city employee to step down. As protesters confronted Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp at the Queen City Street Fair, Plainfield Planning Board member Carmencita Pile streamed the event live on her Facebook page. Pile could be heard on her Facebook Live making what sounded like derogatory statements toward those protesting the loss of their homes after their building was recently condemned. In the video, Pile can be heard saying ‘All you need is an ICE truck, and they'll be running.’ News 12 New Jersey spoke with Pile, and she confirmed those were her comments on the Facebook live stream during Saturday's Queen City Street Fair. She says her comments were taken out of context. Pile also offered an apology to anyone she offended. … There is a petition with more than 350 signatures to remove Pile from her positions on the HOPES CAP Board, Plainfield Planning Board, and the Plainfield Democratic City Committee.”

A message from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey:

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has been New Jersey’s health insurer for 90 years offering quality, affordable health plans. We make health care simple by having every hospital in the state in our network. And, we have a long history of helping address the most pressing health issues our members - and our state - face daily.

We partner with local organizations to help them make a difference in the health of our communities. Last year, we supported 255 community-based organizations to address the physical, mental, and social needs of our members - such as food insecurity, mental health, safe housing, and scholarships to support the next generation of doctors and dentists who come from historically underserved communities.

At Horizon, we’re working to create a healthier New Jersey for everyone. We are Horizon. We are New Jersey.

NEW BUCKSWICK — “New Brunswick City Council wants to give the mayor a 125% raise,” by MyCentralJersey’s Suzanne Russell:   “After 32 years in office, Mayor Jim Cahill may be getting a $50,000 raise. New Brunswick City Council members introduced an ordinance Wednesday to review the city’s $40,000 mayoral salary, which has not been increased since 1991, Cahill's first year in office. Cahill, an attorney who was elected to another four-year term last year, serves as a partner in a New Brunswick law firm. The ordinance proposes an increase to $90,000 annually. The city’s current salary ordinance provides a salary range for the mayor with a minimum of $90,000. Over the years, Cahill has waived increases to the minimum amount.”

EDGEWATER-BASED COMPANY AWARDED EXCLUSIVE SOUVLAKI CONTRACT — “US Senator Menendez to be made honorary citizen of Paphos ahead of Cyprus world diaspora conference,” by CyprusMail’s Nikolaos Prakas: “US Senator Robert Menendez will be named honorary citizen of Paphos when he visits on Friday, the municipality announced on Monday, ahead of his visit set to coincide with the World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora taking place here. Menendez is expected to also visit the American University of Beirut campus under construction in the city.”

“Curfews have helped control mobs of rowdy teens at the Jersey Shore, cops say,” NJ Advance Media’s Brianna Kudisch: “Multiple Jersey Shore communities either established or re-instituted curfews for minors this summer in an effort to curb large gatherings of drunken teens and other disruptive incidents. Two months later, township officials and police departments say the curfews have largely been successful, working as a deterrent to teens gathering in large rowdy groups. They’ve led to fewer ‘curbside warnings,’ some officials said, which are face-to-face warnings issued to juveniles for minor offenses, including underage drinking.”

—“Paterson ends teacher signing bonuses despite 166 vacancies in schools” 

—“Bridgewater pumps the breaks on Airbnb crackdown ordinance. Here's why” 

—“Union officials decry conditions at Mullica Township police headquarters” 

—“Stockton forms group to examine growth in Atlantic City” 

—Calavia-Robertson: “When a police shooting really is ‘justified,’ what do we do with our pain then?” 

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HOMELESSNESS — “When pals of a Bergen artist heard he was homeless, they rushed to help. Then time ran out,” by The Record’s Ashley Balcerzak: “Matthew Keenan’s friends and family finally felt hopeful. Keenan was about to sign a lease for a rooming house in Hackensack — a momentous step after the local cartoon artist experienced homelessness off and on for more than six years. … The rooming house was the closest that Keenan had been to landing under a protective roof in years. In the past, Keenan missed doctor’s visits or crucial appointments that his social workers had scheduled for him to secure the documents he needed to receive public housing help. … But in the end, Keenan never got to enjoy a permanent roof over his head … He died … at Hackensack University Medical Center. The recorded causes of death were ‘complications of alcoholism’ and ‘seizure disorder.’ … After Glover, a childhood friend, learned in December that Keenan was experiencing homelessness, he tried to intervene on Keenan's behalf. But Glover was unfamiliar with the housing assistance process, which seemed to move sluggishly, frustrating him. It felt like they kept hitting walls — a housing voucher taken back, a required form failing to come through. Keenan’s well-meaning support crew felt exasperated. ‘Why was it so hard?’ Glover wondered.”

—“The right to an emotional support dog: Hackensack woman fights for her service animals” 

—“Why the Jersey Shore is gaining more jobs than its neighbors” 

—“Fencing in the Northeast Corridor can help stop people from being hit by trains, expert says” 

—“Rutgers basketball player charged in Iowa gambling investigation” 

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