The Justice Department's Memorial Day weekend news dump

Politico

27-05-2025

Good Tuesday morning!
The Trump administration is not trying to hide its fight against sanctuary cities. So I don't know why it chose the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day to break news about it, first with an exclusive report by the friendly New York Post. There's few bigger news dump days than that one.
The lawsuit targets Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken and Paterson, alleging their policies that restrict using local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law violate the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. But even though The State of New Jersey has had a similar policy in place since the first Trump administration in the 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, it's not a defendant.
The complaint was written by Yaakov Roth, who before joining Trump's Justice Department represented Sen. Bob Menendez and George Norcross.
These fights belong in court. Threatening criminal charges against New Jersey's governor and attorney general over those policies is another thing altogether.
So far, sanctuary cities have made out well in federal court. I don't think anyone claims that the states are allowed to decide immigration law. A key defense is the 'anti-commandeering' doctrine that bars the federal government from, as late Justice Antonin Scalia put it, 'conscripting the States' officers directly.'
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WHERE'S MURPHY — At the 9/11 Memorial and Museum for an announcement at 2:30 p.m.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Kids were out of control … It's like the Jersey Shore show.'' — Seaside Heights bartender Sarah Frailey, on Memorial Day 'mayhem'
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Joe Pennacchio, Richard McGrath, Regina Appolon, Wayne Blanchard
WHAT TRENTON MADE
JOHN CURRIENG FAVOR — She says she wants to shake up New Jersey as governor — but running a traditional machine campaign, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Rep. Mikie Sherrill often promises to change the status quo in Trenton as she seeks to be the next New Jersey governor. Yet the front-runner for the Democratic nomination is running the most traditional machine campaign possible, all while presenting a continuation of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's agenda. Sherrill vaulted to prominence in 2018 on her resume as a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor who opposed Donald Trump's agenda in Washington. Now she's running the same playbook: highlight her background, curry favor with party bosses and hope backlash to the president will elevate her to one of the country's most powerful governorships. New Jersey's election is both a litmus test for Trump after his big gains last year and an opportunity to chart a new course after two terms of Murphy. But Sherrill is running just the type of campaign that made Murphy governor while embracing the Democratic establishment, opponents and close observers of Garden State politics say.
BLET'S GO — 'This NJ Transit union went on strike. Here's when it will vote on its new contract,' by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: 'June will see two critical elections on the same day, to pick Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, and for locomotive engineers to ratify a tentative contract that ended a strike. Ballots were emailed this week to the 450 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen that are due back by June 10, the same day as the state's primary election. Unlike the primary, results of the BLE&T ratification vote will be announced after 3 p.m., said Jamie Horwitz, a union spokesperson.'
HOOKED ON PHONES? TRY HOOKED ON PHONICS — 'NJ pushes phonics, other tweaks to boost K-3 reading skills,' by The Record's Mary Ann Koruth: 'New Jersey's youngest readers and their teachers should expect new tools and new rules in their classrooms this fall, as schools implement two laws designed to reboot reading instruction from kindergarten through the third grade. The state will establish a free professional development program for elementary teachers, library specialists and other faculty members on 'evidence-based foundational literacy instruction' — meaning a reliance on teaching methods that have been proven by scientific studies, rather than trends and personal preferences.'
— 'How lawmakers are targeting energy rate increases'
— 'NJ lawmakers pursue raft of affordability measures'
— 'Jack Ciattarelli: We must fix New Jersey. Here's my plan'
— 'Lawmakers mull measure to ban octopus farming in New Jersey'
TRUMP ERA
LAHABACA — 'New to Congress, she's in the cross hairs of Trump's Justice Department,' by The New York Times' Tracey Tully: "[Rep. LaMonica] McIver's unflinching stance in the face of charges that carry a potential penalty of 16 years in prison surprised no one who knows her well in Newark, New Jersey's largest city, where she was raised in a public housing high-rise and rose to become president of the city council. The oldest of four children, with a mother who struggled with addiction, Ms. McIver, 38, said she had no choice but to grow up fast and strong. 'I have had to be a leader for a very long time,' she said in an interview. Her mother, now sober for 15 years, has worked for her at City Hall and is among her closest aides. It was Ras Baraka — now the city's mayor and a Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor — who helped to steer Ms. McIver away from trouble and toward politics, the congresswoman said. Mr. Baraka began his career as a teacher and principal, and Ms. McIver was a student in his fifth-grade class … Congressional historians, when asked to identify any similar charges against a House member, had to reach back centuries, to 1799, when Representative Matthew Lyon of Vermont was imprisoned for violating the recently passed Sedition Act. Mr. Lyon had criticized President John Adams in print and in front of crowds and accused him of having 'an unbounded thirst for ridiculous pomp.''
LACK OF ACCCTION — Blue states form united front after EV mandate reversal, despite some cold feet, by POLITICO's Camille Von Kaenel: A group of blue states that signed on to California's self-imposed electric vehicle mandate are banding together in the wake of Congress' vote to strip California of the ability to set its own vehicle emissions standards. The governors of Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington announced they were joining California to form an 'Affordable Clean Cars Coalition' on Friday. In the announcement, the governors blamed the federal government for 'creating needless chaos,' but notably avoided any policy commitments, belying the cold feet several of the states developed this spring over the mandate.
MEDICUTS — 'How the GOP bill would hit Medicaid users in New Jersey,' by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo H. Stainton: 'As now written, state officials said the bill would reduce federal funding for New Jersey's Medicaid program by $3.6 billion — nearly one-quarter of the $14.9 billion the state expected to get from Washington, D.C. — for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Gov. Phil Murphy's $58.3 billion proposed budget, which state lawmakers must pass before the end of June, allocates a total of $24.3 billion to Medicaid programs, which includes that $14.9 billion.'
— 'Kean: I led the fight to restore N.J.'s property tax deduction'
— 'The feds want to demolish this Jersey Shore landmark. Locals are trying to save it'
— 'Rep. Menendez, Solomon, & O'Dea tee off on Trump over sanctuary cities lawsuit'
LOCAL
ONE MUST APPRECIATE THE TASTEFUL MIXTURE OF HANDWRITING AND TYPING — 'Washington Township councilman accused of sending harassing letters to school board members,' by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Melanie Burney: 'A Washington Township councilman has been accused of sending unsigned harassing letters to two school board members using the board president's return address, authorities said Friday. Board members Patricia Blome and Connie Baker and board president Julie Kozempel filed civilian criminal complaints against council member Richard Bennett alleging harassment, impersonation, falsification, and hindering apprehension … The allegations come amid turmoil for the Washington Township School District, with the school board divided over controversy surrounding the budget for next school year and the suspension of Superintendent Eric Hibbs … Both letters, obtained by The Inquirer, use similar insults, calling the recipients evil, stupid, and dishonest, and accusing them of 'playing games with superintendent job.' The letters also call for Blome and Baker to step down from the board. 'You are a disgrace!' was handwritten at the bottom, followed by a typed message that 'God is watching your action!!!' The letters were unsigned.'
MINOR THREAT — Jersey Shore towns report fewer issues with rowdy teens this Memorial Day weekend, by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'Year after year, there have been disruptive crowds over Memorial Day weekend, but officials in Jersey Shore communities report calm and quiet this year, at least relatively. '(Wildwood Police Chief Joe Murphy) and I are cautiously optimistic about the current state of affairs,' said Wildwood Commissioner Steve Mikulski, whose responsibilities include public safety, on Sunday morning … Wildwood police have emphasized a 10 p.m. curfew for juveniles, and reported heading off more than one attempt to organize underage events through social media. At 10, Mikulski said police sweep the Boardwalk and beach to clear out any minors.'
— More NJ teen TikTok chaos ruins Woodbridge carnival and mall'
JUST SAYING NO — 'Clifton says no to cannabis businesses, in spite of budget woes,' by The Record's Matt Fagan: 'For the third time, the city has opposed allowing any type of cannabis business within its borders. Faced with a budget gap, three of the city's seven council members have pressed for a partial lift of the ban on the regulated cannabis businesses, such as allowing growing or manufacturing cannabis products or warehousing them. The three council members argued that the city has a revenue problem, and rather than relying only on property tax increases or cutting back expenses, the city should permit portions of the cannabis industry that do not involve retail sales … [Councilmember Bill] Gibson said he doesn't like the whole industry. He said he does not want that kind of business, whether it's manufacturing or cultivating. 'Somewhere along the line, it is going to filter down to where I don't think it should be,' Gibson said.'
FASTER? THEY JUST CONNAUGHT DO IT — 'Groundwater polluted, Lambertville residents at risk, but help from State of New Jersey may be years away,' by The Jersey Vindicator's Jeff Pillets: 'Residents here will have to wait until next year — or longer — before the state can trace the source of groundwater contamination that's fouled scores of wells in the city and neighboring West Amwell Township. State environmental officials say it could take up to two years to investigate a pair of sites that are suspected sources of so-called forever chemicals, or PFAS, that have turned up in wells at levels more than 10 times the limit set under federal and state law. Both of the sites, an abandoned landfill and a former factory that used Teflon to make machine parts, are located in the Connaught Hill neighborhood … 'If the responsible party does not implement the remediation, the DEP may conduct the remediation using public funds,' according to a nine-page 'update' the agency released earlier this week to The Jersey Vindicator. The DEP release confirms what residents have long suspected, that the old municipal landfill on Connaught Hill was never properly closed, capped, or remediated in any way. There are no state records documenting what kind of waste was dumped at the property or how long it was in use. A public records request by The Jersey Vindicator for such records yielded nothing.'
A TREE GROWS IN LAKEWOOD — 'Lakewood school closing could mean the end of 200-year landmark,' by the Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'Ella G. Clarke became a Lakewood hero 80 years ago when she helped students escape a fire that destroyed a school but spared their lives due to her pioneering fire drills and evacuation practices. Now that a school bearing her name is to be closed and sold a movement is on to save one of its most treasured assets. A 200-year-old tree. The tall red oak that sits squarely in front of the elementary school on quiet Manetta Avenue, bounded by a wooden fence and decorative bushes, first gained attention in 2018 when students and staff launched a campaign to give it historic status.'
— 'Newark middle schoolers face overcrowded classrooms and space shortages, state report says'
— '[Fairview] firefighter stole thousands from his own department, authorities say'
— '[Sussex County Community College] boss told 68-year-old custodian he was 'too old' before firing him, lawsuit says'
— 'Rude [Harrison Township] cop violently arrested me after I tried to record him, N.J. woman says in lawsuit'
EVERYTHING ELSE
JUDGED JUDY — Nurse union at center of 2023 strike quietly commandeered by parent union, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: In late 2023, the union representing nurses at RWJBarnabas Health's flagship hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, engaged in a high-profile strike which drew attention from Trenton to Washington. The union's president, Judy Danella, was at the center of it all. She spoke at a hearing hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and the strike sparked discussions at the Statehouse around long-stagnated legislation to create nurse-to-patient ratios. But now Danella is inexplicably out of her union leadership post after the parent union quietly took control of United Steelworkers Local 4-200 last August, according to federal records. Danella and then-Vice President Renee Bacany have since been replaced, despite winning three-year terms in April 2024.
SUMMER OF 'EH'LL — 'The Canadians no longer visit down the shore — but why'd they come here in the first place?' by New Jersey Monitor's Jen A. Miller: 'If this winter's dip in Canadian snowbirds flying to Florida (and selling their Florida properties) is any indication, the Jersey Shore, particularly Cape May County, could see a similar drop. But in all the 'will they or won't they' coverage I've seen about the issue this year, I noticed one thing left out: why Canadians — in particular French Canadians — came here in the first place. Like the drive from Quebec to Wildwood, it's a long and sometimes winding journey … In the 1950s and 1960s, South Jersey Shore towns were in trouble. Where they were once the only place people could go to escape stifling summer heat, the advent of air conditioning and swimming pools meant that relief could be found close to home instead — no long train or car ride required. Atlantic City turned to gambling. Cape May County? French Canadians.'
BEAR MARKET — 'Bear spotted near N.J. mall, police say,' by NJ Advance Media's Daysi Calavia-Robertson: 'A black bear was spotted wandering near Mercer Mall in Lawrence on Monday morning, township police said. Lawrence police received a call early Monday about a bear sighting in the area of Quakerbridge Road in the Mercer County town, according to a police dispatcher.'
— 'Go Birds: 24 hours inside the World Series of Birding'