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| By Matt Friedman |
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Good Thursday morning! The plan for Camden 76ers has been 86’d. Probably. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced Wednesday afternoon that the city had struck a “historic agreement” for the team to build a Center City arena. There’s still a lot that needs to happen before the arena is built. As the Sixers statement says, they “look forward to advancing to the next steps with city council." And it remains deeply controversial. But unless it falls through the deal would ends the hopes of relocating the team to Camden — where it already has a practice facility and offices — despite the state offering hundreds of millions of tax credits. George Norcross addressed the Camden arena proposal in a speech Tuesday to the faculty of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, saying he “advanced the notion” — not specifying to whom — that the proposed Camden arena should not be at the former prison by the Delaware River, but at the location of the Camden County Courthouse, next to the PATCO stop. Norcross is under indictment on state corruption charges involving Camden waterfront development, but it sounds like someone is still soliciting his opinion on those matters. And in a bit of prescience — while saying “who knows what’s going to happen?” – Norcross said he had seen similar proposals four times before and that “you sort of feel like the bride that gets left.” (Nancy Solomon published an article about this, which I'm linking to here, but I wrote this before I saw it.). I’ll be curious to learn whether New Jersey’s proposal strengthened the Sixers’ negotiating hand with Philadelphia. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Erin Howard, Victoria St. Martin, Chris Russell, Kyle Turk, Maggie Moran, George Williams, Edgardo Cardinali QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We will achieve world domination” — Norcross during his speech. (He was talking about Cooper Health, which he chairs, but it’s more fun to take it out of context.) WHERE’S MURPHY? Leaving the state tonight and returning next Thursday.
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 | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
GROUP HOMES — “Fed-up families say N.J. ignores abuse in group homes. But that may change soon,” by NJ Advance Medai’s Susan K. Livio: “Jennifer readily admits her 24-year-old son, incontinent and diagnosed with autism and psychiatric disorders, is “not easy.” But she says it’s outrageous that he was assaulted and neglected in each of three group homes in which he has lived. One day last year, he took off his clothes, slipped out a first-story window and fled from the group home in Burlington County without staff noticing, according to a police report of the incident. … Jennifer represents a growing chorus of parents in New Jersey who are disgusted with what they see as the lack of accountability from group home operators, as well as the state regulators that oversees them. This week, a pair
of longtime disability advocates released their own blueprint for how the state should make group homes safer. It lands at the same time a prominent lawmaker and officials from Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration officials confirm they are close to introducing proposals to improve scrutiny of the group home industry.”
RANDY MASTRO JUST BECAME AVAILABLE. COINCIDENCE? — “NJ Transit nears hiring new customer advocate, a position vacant since 2020,” by The New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “NJ Transit is close to hiring a customer advocate to fill an oversight post that has been vacant for nearly four years, one of the agency’s board members said Wednesday. The post, created by a 2018 law meant to reform the transportation agency, has remained vacant since Stewart Mader resigned from it in October 2020 amid criticism that he acted more as a spokesperson for the agency than an advocate for its riders. ‘I just want to say in response to the several people who raised the issue of the customer advocate that the hiring of a public advocate is in its final stages, and that’s all the information I can give at this time,’ NJ Transit board member Shanti
Narra said near the end of the board’s monthly meeting, which included a public call for her resignation over the hiring delays.” IN THE YEAR 2025 — “Hudson County Confidential: the sharp elbowed road to 2025,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Sources say [Steve] Fulop is looking hard at Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez to sign on the dotted line for their cause off the line. At the same time, the HCDO is said to be mulling Katie Brennan as a potential candidate for the assembly. Assemblyman John Allen does not intend to seek reelection. Presumably, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer will have Stack’s and Guy’s support and, at the very least, the HCDO slogan. if not some version of the line.” —“Same-day registration would allow more young people to vote. Shouldn’t N.J. want that? | Opinion” —“NJ Transit announces plan to replace cloudy train windows that commuters have complained about” —“Nursing home operators in conflict with state over short-staffing sanctions”
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind:   | | | |
| BIDEN TIME | |
KEAN AGREES TO DO UNSCREENED TOWN HALL ON TWITTER SPACES KNOWING IT WILL CRASH — “Elon Musk spending money in NJ-7 to aid Tom Kean Jr,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Billionaire Elon Musk’s America PAC has begun spending in House districts around the country to aid Republicans and slam Democrats – and one of the districts he’s targeting is New Jersey’s own 7th congressional district. According to paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission, America PAC is spending $124,059 on ‘canvassing and field operations’ to boost Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) and attack his Democratic opponent, Sue Altman, who is running a well-funded campaign to unseat Kean in the competitive 7th district. The PAC’s spending, which totals more than $2.1 million across 14 congressional districts, was first reported
earlier today by Business Insider. A doorhanger put on NJ-7 voters’ doors by Elon Musk’s PAC. Altman said that the involvement of Musk … shows the need for taking money out of politics.”
VACANCY FILLED — New Jersey picks replacement for late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Former Newark Council President LaMonica McIver, a Democrat, will represent the 10th District in Congress after winning a special election Wednesday. The 38-year-old defeated Republican Carmen Bucco, the Associated Press projects. ... McIver will fill the remainder of the term following the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who had represented the district for over 11 years until his death in April, weeks after he suffered a heart attack. Payne Jr. succeeded his father, Rep. Donald Payne, who was first elected to the seat in 1988. —“Democratic congressional candidate Salerno says filibuster should stay” —“Feds should beef up freight train safety or risk derailments, report warns”
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While a misinformation campaign is trying to muddy the waters, the reality is simple.
Atlantic Shores is led by a team of purpose-driven professionals with deep roots in environmental science who believe how the work is done is as important as the work itself. The team knows that progress toward New Jersey's energy future is made by following the data and placing the environment first.
The truth is that offshore wind is being developed responsibly, in a way that supports fishing and fisheries and protects marine life and their habitats. To ensure harmony with the environment, science drives every decision.
The current project is the first phase of a long-term commitment to New Jersey that will help set the standard for the offshore wind industry across the country. Learn more. | | | |
| LOCAL | |
ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City mayor and wife indicted for alleged child abuse, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife — who is the city’s superintendent of schools — face criminal charges for allegedly abusing their teenage daughter, local prosecutors announced Wednesday. According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Small Sr. and La’Quetta Small physically assaulted their daughter, who was 15 to 16 years old during the time of the alleged abuse … In one instance in January 2024, according to prosecutors, Small Sr. beat his daughter in the head with a broom multiple times until she lost consciousness. In another instance, prosecutors said Small Sr. threatened to “earth slam” her down the stairs. A
release from local prosecutors said Small Sr. “smack[ed] the weave out of her head.” … Natalie Hamilton, a spokesperson for Gov. Phil Murphy, said that while Small is entitled to due process, "Governor Murphy believes that Mayor Small should consider whether he can continue effectively serving the people of Atlantic City as Mayor.”
SMALL CONTROVERSY— Atlantic City mayor no longer officially affiliated with Fulop campaign, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Indicted Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small stepped aside from Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s 2025 gubernatorial campaign “months ago,” according to a campaign spokesperson. … In response to questions from POLITICO on Wednesday, Fulop's campaign said that Small had cut ties with the campaign months ago. “Mayor Small stepped down from his role with the campaign months ago when this matter first came to light in order to focus on his family situation without creating an unnecessary distraction,” Fulop spokesperson Ashley Manz said in a statement. “Even though this concerns a family matter and has nothing to do with his service as Mayor, it is clear
that the allegations contained in the indictment are obviously serious. Similarly to the rest of the public, we will wait from here to see how the case unfolds.” … Small attended an event with Fulop and other mayors in August, after the charges were announced. FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST HOSPITAL — “After Jersey City rep for CarePoint Health board resigns, Fulop appoints himself,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “With the Jersey City representative for the volunteer CarePoint Health board stepping down, Mayor Steven Fulop is appointing himself, he confirmed this morning. Jason Thomas indicated in an email to CarePoint leadership this morning that he would be leaving the board for personal reasons, effective immediately, and it didn’t take much time to find a successor. ‘Jason has been great and I’m thankful. He is a lawyer and has expertise in this space for sure, but the reality is I’m the one accountable to the residents on issues like this,’ Fulop stated. ... The 12-member board last week voted on exploring financial restructuring which may include
bankruptcy, as HCV first reported, with Fulop at the time expressing concerns over Christ Hospital and/or the Hoboken University Medical Center closing permanently.” EDUCATION — “Majority of special school election ballot questions fail,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “It was a tough night for New Jersey school districts after voters rejected most of the ballot initiatives in Tuesday’s special school referendum elections. Voters in fourteen school districts and seventeen municipalities went to the polls to approve school construction and improvement projects, school district mergers, and additional spending authorizations. Voter approval is required for local school boards to qualify for debt service aid of up to 40% annually.” ULYSSES S. GRANT STILL MAKING CORRUPTION HEADLINES 139 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH — “Corruption, lack of resources make it harder for N.J. city to solve its lead dangers,” by NJ Advance Medai’s Steven Rodas: “New Jersey’s capital city still needs to make progress on addressing pervasive lead issues — a series of problems made worse by a lack of resources, ongoing hardships to get more people tested and newly-reported federal charges against local government employees. Lead contamination was initially confirmed on the property of Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School in January, prompting a cleanup and health screenings. Similar lead findings were made at three city parks … Gusciora acknowledged that trust can be harder to build when two senior health officials were charged with allegedly abusing overtime pay when, in part, working on lead abatement.”
LEGAL ACTION JACKSON — “[Jackson] rejects plan to build huge Orthodox Jewish school complex for 2,500 students,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brianna Kudisch: “An attorney says a developer plans to sue a local planning board in Ocean County after an application to build four private schools for Orthodox Jewish students was rejected over a dispute about how a road was labeled. Attorney Donna Jennings represents 394 Chandler Holdings, a Lakewood-based developer planning to build four religious schools at 390 and 394 Chandler Road in Jackson. She said the schools would hold 2,500 students.” IN THE KNOLL — “Township approved $1.3 million for country club against purchasing rules, comptroller finds,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “A Morris County township skirted procurement laws by awarding nearly $1.3 million in emergency contracts that do not require public bidding to repair a municipally owned country club where no emergency existed, the Office of the State Comptroller announced Tuesday. Parsippany-Troy Hills in late March 2020 awarded contracts to remediate mold and water damage under an exception to the Local Public Contracts Law that allows no-bid contracts to address pressing health and safety risks, but because the Knoll Country Club was shuttered by pandemic restrictions when the initial contract was awarded, no emergency existed, the comptroller said in a new report released Tuesday.”
—“NJPAC breaks ground on $336M Newark project with housing, shops” —“A sneak peek at the grand, modern, $350 million Hudson County courthouse set to open in 2025” —“Paterson council says no to doubling public's speaking time” —“Paterson will name late congressman's street 'Bill Pascrell Way'” —“Paterson police officer's loaded gun stolen from his Haledon home” | |
EVERYTHING ELSE | |
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW’S COUSIN’S FORMER ROOMMATE’S DAUGHTER SAW J.D. VANCE EAT IT — “Invasive Joro spider creeping closer to NJ with verified sighting in Bucks County, PA,” by The Record’s Amanda Wallace: The large, yellow, invasive Joro spider is creeping really close to the Garden State with its first verified sighting in Pennsylvania earlier this month, just across the New Jersey border. In November, Dr. David Coyle, entomologist at Clemson University, told NorthJersey.com that these creepy crawlers could make their way into New Jersey "by next year for all we know." At that point, the closest Joro spider sighting to New Jersey was in Maryland. Now, they are even closer. On Sept. 5, the Joro spider was observed in a yard or garden in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, less than 25 miles outside of Trenton …. While they may be creepy, Joro spiders aren't dangerous to people or pets”
THE PORT ANARCHY — “As NJ port union strike looms that could disrupt holiday shopping, no new contract talks,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “Black Friday — the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — is about two months away. And that’s if you don’t count all the holiday shopping that gets done between Halloween and Thanksgiving weekend. So the timing couldn’t be worse for a potential strike by the International Longshoremen's Association, the union that represents dock workers, which has threatened to walk off the job if a new contract with the East Coast port terminal and shipping companies is not ironed out by the time the old contract expires on Sept. 30. The ILA cut off negotiations in June, and in an update Tuesday, the Lyndhurst-based U.S. Maritime Alliance, or USMX —
which represents the terminal operators and shipping lines — said there was no progress on negotiations for a master contract.” —“Dad indicted after going into [Gibbstown] classroom to order boy to ‘apologize to my daughter” —“These lists graded all major airports. Why 2 that serve N.J. ranked dead last”
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