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 | | By Matt Friedman |
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Good Tuesday morning! Assemblymember Paul Kanitra
recently received a “free speech award” from the conservative Media Research Center, which commended him for a bill that would allow users to sue social media companies that “censor” them. “Diluting or concealing the truth helps no one except those with nefarious motives,” Kanitra said in the press release. So I thought it ironic that Kanitra
, a Republican from Ocean County, just introduced a bill that would allow the state to do the concealing. This bill would exempt police body camera footage from Open Public Records Act. The “End Crimes to Clicks Act” would not allow public disclosure of the video unless requested by a person who appears in it. Here’s the justification stated in the bill:
“Law enforcement officers and defendants have expressed concern over the commercialization of body worn cameras and recordings containing interactions with law enforcement.” The bill goes on to say that the recordings “may be edited to purposefully damage the reputation” of those on camera and that it's “corrosive and detrimental to the good of society and the citizens of this State for the government to assist a person or business in providing this kind of entertainment to the public.”
The legislation states it doesn’t hurt freedom of speech or the press because “it preserves the right of private individuals to record, publish and disseminate recordings of interactions with law enforcement utilizing the individual’s equipment.” Let’s take a step back and think for a second about how valuable body cameras have been in letting the public know exactly what’s happened in police interactions. Sometimes they
vindicate the cops. Sometimes they vindicate the person complaining about police conduct. Sometimes it’s not clear. But they provide an unvarnished, unbiased look at an event that can easily be compared to the involved parties’ statements. And think about how many politicians would love it if you were no longer able
to see footage of, say, their DUI tests. Or trying to pull rank with a cop. The possibilities are endless. And let’s not forget the Legislature and governor recently put some new restrictions on body camera footage in the controversial OPRA overhaul, which bars those who receive the videos from disclosing “any indecent or graphic images of the subject’s intimate parts.” “When the
body camera law passed in 2020 it was overwhelmingly supported, and if you read the signing statement announcements, you have all the police unions that were in favor of the bill because they think the body cameras protect them but also provide need and transparency,” said attorney C.J. Griffin. “I would hope this bill doesn’t stand a chance of going anywhere, because body cameras are so non-controversial.”
Between this push, the OPRA rollback — which Kanitra voted against — and the “Elections Transparency Act,” I think it’s safe to say that in our politically-polarized world, one thing politicians from both parties seem to agree on is reducing government transparency. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at
mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I would disagree with certain measures that have been taken to undermine some of those ways in which we provide that to people.” — Mikie Sherrill
on the OPRA overhaul and the “Elections Transparency Act” HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Hans Goff WHERE’S MURPHY
? In Charlottesville, Virginia, for a talk with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. Acting Gov. Tahesha Way has no public schedule
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 | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
EARTHQUAKES AND WILDFIRES: MURPHY SUCCEEDS IN MAKING NJ ‘THE CALIFORNIA OF THE EAST’ — Drought and wildfires are giving New Jersey and New York a taste of California life
, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard:
State leaders on the Eastern Seaboard are scrambling to deal with something western governors know all too well — drought and fire. Governors in New York and New Jersey have begun warning their residents to save water as an unusual drought grips the region. Even with some rain in the forecast this week, it likely won't be enough to bring relief. A bleak picture is only worsening. Both states' governors have alluded to long-term forecasts that suggest the winter ahead may be drier than normal too. It is nothing like California, where wildfires routinely destroy hundreds of thousands of acres a year. But raging fires — which prompted local evacuations this weekend and
smoke wafting into New York City — have given residents and political leaders alike another taste of West Coast life in a warming climate. —“N.J. reservoir that supplies drinking water to 1.3M drops below half empty”
—“Firefighters union forms super PAC to boost sherrill” IN THE NAVY — “
What Sherrill sees as her best strength in the governor’s race,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “The start of Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaign made quite clear what she thinks h
er greatest asset is: Her career in the U.S. Navy. In her Monday morning announcement, Sherrill spoke about graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and being a 'former Navy helicopter aircraft commander.' The two-minute or so announcement did not mention her current job – representing the 11th District in Congress, although her service in the House was mentioned in the press release accompanying the video. There is some logic here – it was Sherrill’s Navy background that clearly helped her win what had been a traditional Republican district back in 2018.”
—
New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign for governor takes flight GOTAPROBLEMWITHTHATHEIMER? — “MTA approves updated NYC congestion pricing plan
,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Briana Vannozzi: “
New York City’s congestion pricing tolls are one major step closer to taking effect, after the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday approved an updated version of the plan. Beginning on Jan. 5, 2025, most drivers heading into Manhattan south of 60th Street will pay a $9 toll, at least through 2027. The toll will increase to $12 from 2028 to 2030, and then reach $15 — the amount originally called for — in 2031. The revised plan still needs approval from the Federal Highway Administration before it can take effect.”
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THE TRUMP CARD — “Trump has been a reliable target for NJ Democrats. That could change,” by The Record’s Charles Stile:
“For certain, Trump, the bombastic and authoritarian figure, will remain an easy target for the Democrats, especially if he carries out his promise to deport millions of undocumented migrants or continues nominating divisive figures like Matt Gaetz to positions of Cabinet-level power. But, as he did nationally, Trump also made inroads into New Jersey voting blocs that had been reliable Democratic constituencies — working-class Latino and African Americans, particularly — with his superficial but blunt, easy-to-grasp economic populism. His promises to lower inflation and restore the economy to a pre-pandemic normalcy struck a chord with working-class voters who
feel that they are going nowhere fast on a treadmill of survival. The future of democracy, reproductive rights — issues central to Vice President Kamala Harris' turn-the-page candidacy — fell on deaf ears. As a result, Trump now has complicated the challenge for the Democrats as their party seeks to hold on to the governor’s office after eight years of Gov. Phil Murphy's leadership.” NURSING HOMES — “
No hot water, no working stove, barely enough food at troubled N.J. nursing home, state says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio and Ted Sherman:
“Residents at a South Jersey nursing home were not able take a shower for months because the facility’s boiler was not working and there was no hot water. They weren’t fed enough food because of unpaid grocery bills and the stove was not working. And the person in charge had not been seen there for months, investigators charged. The New Jersey Health Department, in a major enforcement action, has suspended all admissions to the Medford Care Center in Burlington County, citing a long list of violations that will require the owners to immediately hire a consultant to run the facility and a dietary consultant to monitor weekly the weight of the 93 residents living
there, according to letters from the health department.” —“Human trafficking and tax evasion: What's going on at your local massage parlor?”
— “
Hard pass to online lottery sales”
—“These 17 N.J. towns need to build the most affordable housing, new guidelines say”
—“Will a $9 Congestion-Pricing Toll Yield Enough Money to Fix the Subway?”
—“
New Jersey internet gambling sets another revenue record at $213 million”
—“NJ will require businesses to include salary range in job postings”
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| BIDEN TIME | |
GAZA — “George Helmy, lone Arab American senator, says suffering in Gaza ‘should shock our conscience to the very core’,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox:
“For his entire brief tenure in the Congress, interim New Jersey Sen. George Helmy has been the lone Arab American serving in the U.S. Senate. That’s given him a unique vantage point on the ongoing war in Gaza – and he took to the Senate floor today to plead for more to be done to help Palestinians and reduce the scale of human suffering. ‘This war has already claimed an estimated 44,000 lives across Gaza and the West Bank. Almost half of those killed by the bombshells and bullets of this war have been women and children – teens, toddlers, infants,’ Helmy said. ‘It should not matter what one’s politics are, what one’s religion
is, what one’s nationality is, or one’s ethnicity. These facts should shock our conscience to the very core.’ Helmy, a Coptic Christian and the son of Egyptian immigrants, visited Jordan recently to view the aid efforts currently underway and discover what life is like for Palestinian civilians. What he found, he said, is that Israel has established a “de facto blockade” at the Kerem Shalom crossing that has drastically reduced the amount of critical aid that’s been able to reach Gaza and the West Bank.”
MCBETHA: MAKE CORY BOOKER EAT TAYLOR HAM AGAIN — Sen. Cory Booker sounds like RFK Jr. — or vice versa, by POLITICO’s Daniel Payne:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may need every vote he can get to win confirmation as President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of health and human services. No Senate Democrats have said they’d back Kennedy yet. But New Jersey’s Cory Booker shares RFK Jr.’s concerns about the U.S. food system, as he made clear in a post to X [Monday] morning, which said that the system prioritizes “corporations feeding us unhealthy products” while flooding us with “dangerous chemicals.” Kennedy took note, thanking Booker in a post “for your long history of leadership on this issue.” Last week, Booker, who tries to stay healthy by avoiding processed
sugar and animal products, acknowledged that he and Kennedy have had similar ideas on the connection between food and health — but said he didn’t trust the coming Trump administration. ‘I feel like he’s lifted paragraphs from my speech talking about this crisis,’ Booker said of Kennedy.” —“Menendez loses law license, temporarily
”
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| LOCAL | |
BENJIE GOT BUYBACK — “Paterson schools paid Assemblyman Wimberly double the limit for unused vacation days,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico:
“City education officials gave Benjie Wimberly, the school system’s recreation director and a high-ranking state Assembly member, two checks for unused vacation days this year, payments that were double the limit set by a district personnel policy. The district’s policy for non-union administrators like Wimberly says those employees can get paid for a maximum of 10 unused vacation days per year. But Wimberly’s pay stubs reveal that the district issued him two payments of $7,847, on July 15 and Sept. 13 — each of them for the buyback of 10 vacation days, or a total of 20 for the year. … The former high school football and baseball coach said he
rarely uses all his vacation days because of the demands of his job — one that puts him on the school district’s payroll while most of his duties involve overseeing the municipal government’s recreation programs, which take place on nights and weekends. ‘I don’t get compensated for much of the extra time I put in, nor do I want to,’ said Wimberly, whose school district salary is $188,328.” — “
Paterson settles two sexual harassment suits that described city court as 'toxic hive”
—“[Paterson] Catholic Diocese says it's searching for hundreds of missing donations”
OMA? OMG — “Pompidou architectural firm headed for $407K payday, on top of millions Jersey City has already awarded,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger:
“Jersey City has awarded more than $11.5 million for architectural work for its Pompidou modern art museum project since 2018 and Monday night the city was expected to authorize $407,500 more. The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA), the agency handling city spending for the building of the art/community/event space, has awarded the Netherlands-based firm OMA at least $11.6 million since a $400,000 contract was awarded in 2018, three years before the museum was announced." POLICE WILL NOT EVEN REVEAL M.M.’S COLOR — “
Englishtown mystery: What exactly is the police chief accused of having done?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Erik Larsen:
“Monmouth County investigators are withholding the name of a shoplifting suspect who was allegedly assisted by embattled Englishtown Police Chief Peter S. Cooke in the pursuit of the crime this past summer. In a seven page affidavit of probable cause that reveals little about the crime and led to formal charges against Cooke on Nov. 1, the reported accomplice is identified only as ‘M.M.’ … The chief’s relationship to M.M. and his specific role in the execution of the alleged crime is not disclosed in the affidavit.”
—“Camden officials will consider a transit plan that closes part of Broadway. What we know”
—“
Bergen man says hunters accused him of shooting at them. But it wasn't true, suit alleges”
—“Parsippany superintendent announces retirement as election shifts school board”
—“Van Drew seeks moratorium on Atlantic City Housing Authority evictions”
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EVERYTHING ELSE | |
FREEHOLD RACEWAY — “
A closer look at the demise of historic Freehold Raceway: 'It was expendable’,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Stephen Edelson:
“In the end, it was all about a casino. Always lingering in the background was the question: what was really behind the decision to end Freehold Raceway’s run as the oldest racetrack in the country? … Earlier this month, Penn Entertainment, which co-owns Freehold with Greenwood Racing, held a conference call to discuss the company’s third quarter earnings, and CEO Jay Snowden was asked specifically about Freehold. His answer makes clear an inability to land a casino was at the heart of the track’s demise. … It now looks like Freehold Raceway was a speculative venture when it was purchased for $46 million in 1999, with the 25-year wait for a
casino set to end. ‘It was expendable. That was pretty obvious the fact that they hadn’t invested a dime into the place in years,’ said Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane.”
ROWAN STAFF WERE SO PREOCCUPIED WITH WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD THAT THEY DIDN’T STOP TO THINK IF THEY SHOULD — “
South Jersey’s ‘Jurassic Park’-like fossil park delays opening a second time to 2025,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Henry Savage: “The opening of Rowan University’s dinosaur and ancient fossil park has been rescheduled for March. The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum was originally set to open this summer, but in July, the opening was pushed to this fall. Now, with winter just a month away, Rowan University and its stakeholders announced last week that they’re now planning for a spring opening.”
—“Rutgers agrees to changes at golf course to settle disability rights complaint”
—“
Ex-Catholic school teacher who took upskirt photos sentenced to 10 years in N.J. prison”
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