It’s Norcross arraignment day

Good Tuesday morning!

In a few hours, something most of us thought would never happen will happen: George Norcross, the single most powerful political boss in New Jersey, will appear before a judge to answer corruption charges. So will his five co-defendants.

I’ve heard plenty of opinions about how strong the case against Norcross is. I’m not an attorney, so I won’t try to predict the outcome, other than to write the obligatory line about how hard it is nowadays to prove corruption, and even harder when the defendant isn’t an elected official.

That’s going to be one of the challenges: Proving that Norcross, who we all know pulls so many strings, pulled the specific strings he’s alleged to have in what Attorney General Matt Platkin alleges is a massive “criminal enterprise.” It’s one of those times when titles don’t reflect reality. Norcross has no official position that makes him ultra-powerful. But anyone who’s seen his priorities quietly slipped into legislation knows the reality of his power.

Norcross displayed some theatrics at his indictment press conference, when he sat in the front row and stared at Platkin. I don’t know if he will today. Arraignments are usually brief, formal affairs. But I will predict this much: Norcross will plead not guilty. Just call me Quasimodo.

It’s probably going to be a very long time before this case gets to trial, if it ever does. Most Democrats will surely remain silent on it. But not Sue Altman, the congressional candidate who made her name in New Jersey as the chief Norcross annoyer. That history has caused a problem for her campaign. But it’s also given her a big anti-corruption talking point.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Flavio Komuves, Ken Bank, Melanie Willoughby, Christian Sforza, Scott Garrett

QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: “I’m still proud to have been the first NJ member of Congress to endorse Joe Biden in 2020. He’s been a uniquely successful president. Today, he can go down in history as the man who saved America from Trump twice - first by running four years ago, then by passing the torch.” — Hunterdon County Democratic Chair Tom Malinowski

QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: “Growing up in Atlantic County, I learned that we don’t abandon our own. As a family, we stick together and tough it out. That’s why I’m reaffirming my support for President Biden."” — Atlantic County Democratic Chair Michael Suleiman

WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule

MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL


‘BRIBE MAN’ HAPPENS TO BE NJ’S FAVORITE SUPERHERO — Menendez was a ‘bribed man, ’ prosecutor says in closing statement, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Sen. Bob Menendez was a “bribed man” who repeatedly sprang into action for cash and gold, federal prosecutors said Monday in the first hours of their closing arguments. “It wasn’t enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington,” federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni said. … Prosecutors are expected to take about three more hours to sum up their case before jurors begin their deliberations later this week. ... Menendez and his two co-defendants have pleaded not guilty and are expected to give several hours of their closing arguments beginning Tuesday. “The government is intoxicated with their own rhetoric,” Menendez said as he left the courthouse on Monday. Monteleoni said the senator engaged in a “clear pattern” of corruption when he accepted bribes and took actions to help those who were bribing him. His closing argument sought to preempt defense arguments that the senator was kept in the dark about the bribes by his wife or that the bribes were gifts to the couple from long-time friends — arguments that the senator and his co-defendants are likely to lean heavily on. Monteleoni tried to put Menendez in the center of the conspiracy and called his wife, Nadine, a “go-between.”

WHAT TRENTON MADE


CAN YOU DIG IT? — “Biggest federal grant in U.S. history signed for Gateway rail tunnel,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “A history-making $6.8 billion federal grant completing $11 billion in federal funding to build the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York was officially secured at a Monday morning ceremony in Manhattan, yards from where the first tunnel machine will start gnawing its way under the Hudson River.’ … Officials from New Jersey and New York took verbal victory laps and recounted how the project was almost killed by the Trump administration after a more decade long effort to keep the project alive and ultimately they secured a total $11 billion in federal funding. With some jokes that it should be named the Chuck Schumer tunnel for the U.S. Senate majority leader’s efforts to keep the project from being killed and to win finding, New York’s senior Democratic senator brandished a bag of cherries at the outdoor ceremony. The cherries, he said, were symbolically for the governors of New York and New Jersey, representing the larger federal share for the project than the originally planned 50/50 split between the states, saving money for taxpayers. ‘It’s a cherry on top, in fact it’s a lot of cherries,’ Schumer said.”

—“Gateway rail tunnel reaches ‘point of no return’ with $6.9 billion check”

—“Fixes coming for Northeast Corridor wires that caused brutal commuter delays, [Pallone] says”

TROUBLE: THE PROBLEMATIC BUBBLE — “‘We’re in a lot of trouble’: Former Gov. Tom Kean weighs in on the health of democracy in N.J. and the nation,” by The Jersey Vindicator’s Krystal Knapp: “‘In general, I think the state of transparency is getting worse as the years go on, because I think public officials are finding different ways in order to be less transparent,’ he said. ‘And there’s a whole bunch of reasons for that.” Kean then proceeded to break it all down in detail how New Jersey, and America for that matter, has lost its way in a post-press world of unbending partisan hostility fed by huge sums of dark money and misinformation. All of this has made him “worry about democracy in the future.’ At one point, he was asked point-blank, ‘How much trouble are we in as a democracy?’ Without pausing, he replied: ‘We’re in a lot of trouble.’”

NEXT STEP: MAKE ‘EXCESSIVE’ OPRA REQUESTS A FORM OF CYBER HARASSMENT — NJ public officials would have same cyber harassment protection as children under new bill, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Public officials and their families may soon get the same protection from cyber harassment as children being who are bullied online by adults under a bill recently introduced by an influential lawmaker. State Sen. Brian Stack, a Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee, proposed upgrading the crime of cyber harassment to a third-degree crime, which would significantly increase penalties. Currently, cyber harassment is a fourth-degree crime unless the victim is a minor and the alleged perpetrator is an adult pretending to be a minor. The bill, NJ S3470 (24R), would add public servants and their family members as the only other class against whom harassment would carry increased penalties. The bill would also create an Office of Cyber-Harassment Support within the Department of Law and Public Safety.

DAFTKINGS — “New Jersey fines DraftKings $100K for reporting inaccurate sports betting data to the state,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “In one of the most sternly worded rebukes they have ever issued, New Jersey gambling regulators have fined DraftKings $100,000 for reporting inaccurate sports betting data to the state, which it called “unacceptable conduct” that demonstrated weaknesses in the company’s business abilities. The errors resulted in regulators having to post corrected financial data for several months, something that had not happened in 13 years. The mistakes involved overstating the amount of money wagered on multi-tiered bets, or parlays, and understating other categories of wagers. ‘These types of gross errors and failures cannot be tolerated in the New Jersey gaming regulatory system,’ Mary Jo Flaherty, acting director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, wrote in a letter to DraftKings.”

EVERYBODY HURTS — “N.J. colleges could be forced to cap tuition hikes. Here’s the plan,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “Students at New Jersey’s public colleges and universities would be protected from dramatic tuition increases under a bill in the state Legislature that would limit annual hikes to 2%. The legislation, which was introduced last month, would apply only to the state’s public two- and four-year colleges and universities, not private universities. ‘The cost of higher education continues to rise for families in the state of New Jersey,’ said Assemblyman Cody Miller, D-Gloucester, one of the bill’s sponsors. ‘It’s not just low- and moderate-income people, everyone’s hurting.’ The proposed law does not contain any additional state funding for public colleges and universities. Miller said he believes increased direct support to higher education is needed.”

—“Rutgers is hiking tuition again. Here’s what it will cost you”

— “Possible August session for Senate would force Gov. Murphy to act on some bills”

—“N.J. must revamp how it passes those record state budgets, [Sweeney] says”

—“NJ seniors still on track for more relief from property taxes”

—“Black and Hispanic students were disproportionately suspended, N.J. report shows”

—“NJ’s domestic workers now must get minimum wage — but someone has to tell them”

—“We tried out NJ Transit’s new fare payment system, and here’s what we found”

BIDEN TIME


CHASING IT — “Don’t like Biden or Trump? Libertarian nominee campaigning in NJ brings ‘fresh ideas’,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “Libertarian Chase Oliver, 38, was in North Jersey on Friday for campaign stops at a gun range, a 9/11 memorial and, of course, a Jersey diner. After shooting some rounds in Woodland Park, the Atlanta resident visited the Morris County 9/11 Memorial, where he spoke to a small group of supporters on a hot and sticky afternoon. ‘As we enter the election season I want us to be bold, to be brave, to fight on behalf of liberty and not act out of fear,’ Oliver said. ‘That’s the kind of campaign I’m running. To let voters know they don’t have to be afraid anymore. They can vote for something, not just against something.’ A native of Georgia with a GED diploma, some college credits and a resume that goes from dishwasher to restaurant consultant, Oliver describes himself as a ‘pro-gun, pro-police reform, pro-choice Libertarian’ who is ‘armed and gay.’”

—“Attorney General says Kennedy challenge should go to Administrative Law Judge, not Superior Court”

—“Jones to Democrats: ‘Work harder, worry less’”

—Biden slams Dem critics as ‘elites’ during surprise ‘Morning Joe’ interview

—Opinion: “Will the voters of NJ-11 send a Jan. 6 rioter to Congress? Or an American patriot?”


LOCAL


GIVING LIBRARY FUNDING TO SPORT WITH OBSCENE NAME — “Why did Pequannock librarian resign? Fights over budget, politics shake up a library board,” by The Record’s Nicole Flanagan: “The Pequannock public library is supposed to be a center for learning and reading. More recently, it’s become known for something else − a divisive fight over the library’s budget and the alleged politics of a new majority on the library board of trustees. That majority, appointed by the township mayor and council, has taken heat for suggesting the library return an as-yet-unspecified portion of its $800,000 annual budget to the municipal government, money that critics say is needed by the library program. In June, township librarian Debbie Maynard resigned after 10 years on the job to protest the board of trustees’ actions. Former trustee Joyce Forde-Muller, meanwhile, has started an online petition to rally opposition to the board. … Maynard and Forde-Muller also raised concerns about the trustees’ alleged ties to Moms For Liberty… Forde-Muller, in her online petition drive, wrote: ‘We are also seeing the Library Trustee Board stacked with new members appointed for partisan political reasons, rather than as responsible stewards and advocates of the library’s mission. Instead, they are there to rubber-stamp Town Council demands for library money to fund pet projects.’ Those projects include a new township pickleball court, she said.”

RAO ROW —“Motion Filed to Stop Investigation of Firefighters and Montclair CFO,” by Montclair Local’s Sherry Fernandes: “Attorney Roosevelt Nesmith filed a motion for a protective order Thursday demanding that Montclair terminate investigations of two Montclair firefighters—Battalion Chief and Capt. Steven Marshalleck and Capt. Makkari Sampson. The filing also demands that Montclair terminate its investigations on Chief Financial Officer Padmaja Rao. … The nature of the complaints and the identities of those who filed them remain unclear. In October 2022, Rao filed her bombshell lawsuit. In May, the Township settled for $1,250,000. … Speaking to the Local, Nesmith said, ‘In our view, this is the Montclair administration continuing its war against its employees. It was supposed to settle the Rao case. A few weeks after settling it, they’re now launching what we believe are absolutely bogus investigations. Rao has no recollection or understanding of what this investigation could involve.’”

R.I.P. — “N.J. fire chief dies at 110. This was his touching final wish,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rob Jennings: “Vincent Dransfield was so famously resilient that when he passed away at home in Passaic County, three months after celebrating his 110th birthday, it came as a surprise. ‘It was very unexpected,’ said his granddaughter, Erica Lista. Even among world’s few hundred supercentenarians, the term for those 110 or older, Dransfield stood out as an anomaly. He lived alone at a house in Little Falls, his home for 79 years, remained on the roster of the fire company where he served as fire chief from 1958 to 1965 and continued to drive his Hyundai sedan on local errands, his granddaughter said. He died June 26 at home. … Dransfield’s admirers from Singac Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3 … fulfilled his final wish, transporting his casket via an antique fire truck from the funeral home in Little Falls to the cemetery in Totowa. … Dransfield was buried wearing his favorite cap, one which proclaimed him the ‘oldest active fireman in the U.S.A.,’ Lista said.”

R.I.P. — “Millie Sheppard, 100, served as Ocean Gate councilwoman until last year,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Mildred Sheppard, who was elected to the Ocean Gate Borough Council in 2020 at age 96 and served one three-year term, died on July 1, three days after celebrating her 100th birthday. She spent decades in Kearny’s local politics before retiring to the Jersey Shore in 1976. She served as executive director of the North Hudson Girl Scout Council in the 1950s.”

—“Video shows fireworks device detonated at [Manville] block party, shrapnel sent flying"

—“Get private investors out and families into Jersey City homes, councilmen say as federal lawmakers eye ban”

—“Open house Tuesday for Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension project; Jersey City protest planned”

—“6 months behind, Newark council gives first ok to $914.5m budget”

—“What’s the trouble? Cumberland nixes new contract for authority director”

—“Lease signed for new seven-acre warehouse in Sayreville”

EVERYTHING ELSE


NOT HAVING A NICE DAY — “Bon Jovi hits new low as latest album plunges off chart,” by NJ Advance Media’s Saleah Blancaflor: “Bon Jovi’s new album ‘Forever’ debuted last month, but has showed little staying power on the charts. While ‘Forever’ debuted at No. 5 in its first week of release, the album plunged out of the Billboard 200 album sales chart the following week, Forbes reported. While there’s a possibility that it could still return in the future, ‘Forever’ marks the first Bon Jovi studio album to only last one week in the Top 200 in its first two weeks of charting eligibility.”

BAD MEDICINE — “NJ company rescinded job offer to medical marijuana patient over use, state says,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “A cable installer’s job offer was rescinded over their use of medical marijuana, according to a complaint released last week by the state attorney general’s office. … According to the July 2 complaint, the worker — whose name state authorities have redacted — had a job offer on the table in October 2020 from Prince Telecom as a cable installation tech pending the results of a drug test. In this case, the worker notified the drug testing center that he had a medical marijuana card, which he said was used to treat a disability, the complaint states. Subsequently, the worker tested positive for cannabis. … The state’s Division of Civil Rights said it found ‘sufficient evidence’ that the worker’s rights were violated, specifically regarding disability accommodations.”

—“Naomi Elkins, accused of killing her kids, faces psychiatric exam before detention hearing”

—“Lakewood murder suspect’s ‘religious motive’ claim sparks concern in Orthodox community”

—“Dunkin’ hot coffee spill left Jersey Shore man with second degree burns, lawsuit says”