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Politico
4 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Baraka's turnout promise vs. Newark's track record
Presented by Good Friday morning! Three years ago, the state comptroller published a report about how 57 of the 60 of the New Jersey municipalities it checked were not complying with a state law that limits sick or vacation leave payouts to $15,000 at retirement. Union City was one of them. On Monday, state Sen. Brian Stack — the mayor of Union City — introduced legislation that would change the law for everyone but school employees. Public employees would be allowed to collect unused sick leave annually, for up to three weeks a year, with no cap at retirement. It wouldn't be limited to $15,000 over their careers. The two laws that established the cap date back to 2007 and 2010, and Stack backed at least the 2010 one. Comptroller Kevin Walsh says this would allow some high-level public officials to 'hit the jackpot.' 'It's a giveaway that makes zero sense and would lead to more waste of taxpayer money on payments that regular New Jerseyans don't get,' he said in a statement. 'I issued a report three years ago recommending that the Legislature tighten up rules on boat checks. It's terrible to see this legislation that would result in wasteful payouts.' But Stack said there's a legitimate reason to do this. Employees, he said in a statement, see their sick leave as 'earned' so they're sure to use it. That could lead to more expensive overtime costs. 'The main selling point of the bill is to create an incentive for staff to not use sick leave unless necessary,' he said. That's a practical explanation, but it hangs on the premise that people who aren't sick are using sick time. Which of course I know is true. Because I'm a person. It's interesting that school district employees are not included in the proposal. Despite the law, public employees hired before the caps took effect can still cash in big. The Jersey Journal reported that Stack's biggest political rival, former Democratic state Sen. Nicholas Sacco — the mayor of neighboring North Bergen — cashed in 601.5 sick days when he retired from his job as director of primary education for the North Bergen School District, earning him a lump sum of almost $270,000 on top of his $220,000 annual pension. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I knew he wasn't going to endorse me. How did I know that? Because four weeks earlier I was in Bedminster. And we spent about 40 minutes. And the conversation, to be very honest, didn't go well. He's mad at me for disagreeing with him during COVID … What he wanted was me to apologize and say 'OK, we'll move forward, whatever we need.' I didn't do that. I said 'actually, Mr. President, I don't apologize nor take back any of those disagreements. As sure as I'm standing here you should have fired Anthony Fauci.' — Bill Spadea, on Trump HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Sangeeta Doshi, Ray Heck. Saturday for Linda Greenstein, Joe Cafero. Sunday for Joey Fox, Tom Hester, Colleen Mahr. Missed yesterday: Alisa Cooper WHAT TRENTON MADE OPENING THE BOOKS — 'How a COVID vaccine startup with no track record landed $36.5 million from Jersey City,' by The Jersey Vindicator's Will Bredderman: 'Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is running for governor as a reformer, vowing to break the power of New Jersey's notorious political bosses. But amid the global COVID-19 crisis and a glut of federal money, the Democrat's administration pulled a classic backroom move — steering tens of millions of dollars in no-bid contracts for its vaccination program to a then-unknown company, Bespoke Health, whose owners later underwrote a portion of the mayor's travel to France and boosted his political allies. What's more, insiders told The Jersey Vindicator that Fulop's appointees urged officials in neighboring Bayonne to assign even more D.C.-subsidized work to the firm, enriching its founders, who proceeded to acquire millions of dollars in property and launch additional business ventures, including a Jersey City-approved cannabis firm. Meanwhile, numbers The Jersey Vindicator obtained via Open Public Records Act requests show that Fulop's $36.5 million Bespoke-run program spent more than 11 times the amount per shot that Hudson County's Regional Health Commission paid through its $2.2 million in-house initiative.' POWER PLAY — Murphy rolls out $430M in power bill rate relief, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Gov. Phil Murphy's administration is providing customers with $430 million in electric bill rate relief, a sum that the Democrat and his allies in the Legislature acknowledge is only a short-term solution for rising energy costs. The relief package includes $100 for all 3.9 million residential ratepayers in the state and another $150 for low- and moderate-income ratepayers. The money is meant to help offset skyrocketing power rates that will increase the average monthly power bill by $25 starting this month. Murphy called his plan 'immediate and direct economic relief to every household in New Jersey.' The governor announced the plan flanked by legislative leaders from across the state just days ahead of a primary election in New Jersey … Thursday's direct payment plan is different from pending plans from utilities to spread out the cost of high summer bills throughout the rest of the year. PSE&G has also announced it will not shut off power to low-income customers during the summer … Republicans have blamed Murphy for betting big on offshore wind. The state has approved five offshore wind farms — every project is now dead or delayed. At the same time, the administration was hostile to gas-fired power. Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco called the governor's rate relief plans a 'cover up.' EDUCATION — 'Young kids with and without disabilities can learn side by side. One state has instead kept them apart for years,' by The Hechinger Report's Meredith Kolodner and Marina Villeneuve: 'Under federal law, students with disabilities … have a right to learn alongside peers without disabilities 'to the maximum extent' possible. That includes the right to get accommodations and help, like aides, to allow them to stay in the general education classroom. Schools must report crucial benchmarks, including how many students with disabilities are learning in the general education classroom over 80 percent of the time. More than anywhere else in the country, New Jersey students with disabilities fail to reach this threshold, according to federal data. Instead, they spend significant portions of the school day in separate classrooms where parents say they have little to no access to the general curriculum — a practice that can violate their civil rights under federal law. Just 49 percent of 6- and 7-year-olds with disabilities in the state spend the vast majority of their day in a general education classroom, compared with nearly three-quarters nationally. In some New Jersey districts, it was as low as 10 percent for young learners. Only 45 percent of students with disabilities of all ages are predominantly in a general education classroom, compared to 68 percent nationwide.' — 'Lawsuits cost New Jersey $178M in 2024, as abuse claims rise' — 'Gary Schaer endorses Gottheimer for governor' — 'National progressive group backs Fulop, Baraka' — 'Ciattarelli votes early in the Republican primary for governor' — 'My daughter died after a medication error at a NJ group home. Honor her memory | Opinion' POLITICO PRO SPACE: Need an insider's guide to the politics behind the new space race? From battles over sending astronauts to Mars to the ways space companies are vying to influence regulators, this weekly newsletter decodes the personalities, policy and power shaping the final frontier. Try it for free for a limited time starting today. Find out more. TRUMP ERA BIG BEAUTIFUL BACTERIA — 'Trump's Bedminster golf club hit with 18 health code violations, lowest score in county,' by The Daily News' Brian Niemietz: 'President Trump's private golf club in Bedminster, N.J. was hit with a remarkable 18 health code violations, nine of them considered 'critical,' according to a recent report by the Somerset County Department of Health. The health department's grade of 32 out of 100 points made Trump National Golf Course the most poorly rated establishment in Somerset County last month. Out of the roughly 115 retail food establishments inspected, all but two scored 60 or higher, with most in the 80s and 90s. Inspectors said Trump's club was out of compliance with many rules regarding food be protected from contamination. Expired milk was found in refrigerators and raw meat wasn't properly stored … Online records show six of 52 specific 'violation observations' were corrected while inspectors remained on the property. Issues that weren't addressed onsite were ordered to be fixed within two weeks, with a reinspection set for an unspecified date.' — 'Republican tax bill will raise electricity prices, analysts say' — 'NJ asks FDA to drop restrictions on abortion pill mifepristone' LOCAL WHERE DEM REPORTS? — I hesitate to write this, as I would never impugn the integrity of Atlantic City's pristine political process, but neither candidate in Tuesday's Democratic primary for mayor has filed any recent campaign finance reports. Mayor Marty Small's last report was filed in April, but that was for the third quarter of 2024. Everything since then is missing, including the 11-day report due May 27. His Democratic challenger, Bob McDevitt, hasn't filed anything since an amended organizational form in March. And I see absolutely nothing for the Republican in the race, Naeem Khan. Small told me he was unaware of the missing reports, but that he called his treasurer, who told him they'll be 'fully caught up by Election Day.' 'I thought that we were in compliance, but we'll handle it,' he said. And McDevitt told Daniel Han that 'I think we have one filing due, but we didn't do any expenditures until this last quarter.' (That would be the 11-day preelection report, which was due Friday.) I couldn't reach Khan. A CANDIDATE RUSH, BUT NO RUSH OF CANDIDATES — 'Cape May County Democrats have primary for governor, Assembly, and that's it,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'With a tight race for the Democratic nomination for governor at the top of the ticket and three candidates for two seats in the state Assembly, 1st District Democrats face choices in the June 10 primary election. But beyond the Assembly seats, Democrats in Cape May County won't have anything further to do, unless they want to write someone in. There are no Democratic candidates for county commissioner, county clerk or in any of the municipal races this year. 'It's a disappointment,' said Carolyn Rush, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Assembly.' PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST — 'Latest Lakewood school battle with state monitor may cost taxpayers $400,000 in legal fees,' by the Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'An internal fight over the high-priced school board attorney here could cost taxpayers more than $400,000 in legal fees. The Lakewood Board of Education and its state monitor are in a pitched battle over whether to keep Michael Inzelbuch — who has earned millions as board attorney, often without disclosing details or invoices — for another year after the monitor blocked his contract renewal … On May 28, the board sought approval for up to $200,000 in legal fees for lawyers to help them fight the Inzelbuch denial before the judge. The board also approved another $142,000 to pay lawyers who have already provided legal representation in the Inzelbuch matter, among others.' THE FISCAL CLIFTON — 'Clifton and four of its council members being sued by former city manager. See why,' by The Record's Matt Fagan: 'With its municipal government in disarray, a budget with a revenue shortfall of several million dollars and the city's $1 million deductible for liability lawsuits, the last thing the city needs is another lawsuit, officials said. Nevertheless, city officials learned on May 30 that former city Manager Nick Villano had filed a suit against the city and four of its seven council members, who the lawsuit says had harassed him and created a hostile work environment that forced him into premature retirement.' — 'Hoboken council votes down $15k legal contract to begin lawsuit against FAA' — 'Camden city school finances sapped by charter, renaissance schools' — 'Camden schools are laying off 117 employees to close a budget deficit. Here are three of their stories' — 'Nine candidates seek council seats in crowded Toms River GOP primary' — 'Somerset County commissioner resigns to become Superior Court judge' — 'Defense rests with no witnesses in trial of Sayreville councilwoman's accused killer' — 'Pride flag vandalized at [Sayreville] borough hall, but they raised another one right back up' — 'Police chief in tiny [Englishtown] resigns. His scandals led to criminal charges' EVERYTHING ELSE HEARTBREAKING AND ENTERING — 'Atlantic City Police make arrest in Heart theft, but no closer in finding instruments. The 1970s classic rock band hopes the public can help,' by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Ximena Conde: 'The summer was supposed to mark 1970s classic-rock band Heart's big return. The Seattle band known for classics like 'Alone' and 'Barracuda' had spent time away from the stage following an internal family rift, a cancer diagnosis, and then a broken elbow. But just as the band got ready to kick off 'An Evening with Heart' at the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, authorities say a 57-year-old man from Pleasantville walked into the venue and swiped what the band described as a 'custom build, one-of-a-kind purple sparkle baritone Telecaster' guitar with a hand painted headstock and a 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin.' — 'Fast & Furious: A con man's luxury car scam was ruining lives, she said. Then she took him down' — 'Sailor reunited with dog who was given away while he was on combat mission' — 'Kushner Companies' nearly $1B Jersey City tower project hit with stop work orders'
Politico
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Few candidates for governor want to get on Norcross' bad side
Presented by Good Friday morning! It's been two days since a judge dismissed the state's corruption case against George Norcross, and this much is clear: Only a few gubernatorial candidates have anything substantive to say about it. First, the Democrats. Steve Sweeney, Norcross' childhood friend, had what I consider one of the most clear positions. He called Norcross and his co-defendants 'innocent' and the prosecution 'political.' On the opposite side of the Democrats was Steve Fulop, who complained that Norcross got off on 'technical legal reasons vs what is actually right/wrong.' Sean Spiller was also a bit more critical of Norcross, saying the dismissal 'leaves many unanswered questions that will only build distrust.' Josh Gottheimer did some political jujitsu, turning the judge's decision into criticism of Trump rather than express how he felt about the case itself: 'Today's decision speaks to how the justice system is built to work — a judge, making decisions by the book without fear or favor. It's the opposite of what President Trump is now doing with the Department of Justice — actively undermining the rule of law,' he said. Mikie Sherrill said less: 'As a former prosecutor, I have been monitoring this case and will continue to do so should the AG appeal.' Ras Baraka said nothing at all, which is puzzling considering his usual outspokenness and appeal to progressives, though he is endorsed by Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen. On the Republican side, the two top candidates, Jack Ciatarelli and Bill Spadea, also chose not to comment, perhaps showing Norcross' influence isn't limited to the Democratic Party. Jon Bramnick told the Inquirer that 'rough and tumble politics is not a crime.' Only Ed Durr said something critical of Norcross, telling me that while he was not intimately familiar with the case itself, that 'just like [with] Bob Menendez, there's always been a lot of smoke. So is there fire with George? I can't say, because I don't have all the evidence sitting in front of me.' Gottheimer's avoidance of Norcross criticism strikes me. Sweeney has most South Jersey Democratic machine support in the race, but Gottheimer — who had Hudson County Democrats lined up for his campaign but lost them, and who unsuccessfully courted Middlesex County early on — looks like he's positioning himself as the Norcross machine's backup choice should Sweeney drop out. Note his attendance with Sweeney, Gov. Murphy and four former governors at the January Cooper groundbreaking/Norcross fealty fest. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Alexandra Acosta, Brenda Kelly. Saturday for Jay Webber, Virginia Long, David Bailey Jr. Sunday for Christian Hetrick. WHERE'S MURPHY? Out of state. Acting Gov. Way has no public schedule. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Did we subsidize the 8-track cassette industry when it was going out of style? No, we didn't. Did we subsidize the pager industry? No, we didn't. Did we subsidize the mimeograph industry when copiers (came)? We did not.' — Assemblymember Jay Webber, on legislation that gained final passage yesterday to further delay a resolution on newspaper legal notice publication requirements. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@ WHAT TRENTON MADE THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT CRAPS — 'Platkin rolled dice on Norcross and came up empty. Can NJ politics ever change?' by The Record's Charles Stile: 'On paper, Platkin's bombshell indictment named [George] Norcross, and five other codefendants, including his brother, Philip. In reality, the 39-year-old Platkin was putting on trial the New Jersey political system that allowed Norcross and other party bosses to convert hardball power into profit for decades. But on Wednesday, state Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw Jr. tossed out the entire indictment. It was a slam-dunk rejection to Platkin's sweeping case, which Democratic Party activists and progressives had hoped would serve as the long-sought breakthrough, a building block for lasting reform … Now the unsettling question for the progressive activists who challenged the Democratic machine in Camden, Norcross's base of political and community operations, and for the neighborhood residents who fought for redress and recognition in the shadow of office buildings rising along the Delaware River, is this: Will New Jersey's corroded system ever change?' — Assembly Republicans move to impeach Platkin, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Assembly Republicans moved to impeach Attorney General Matt Platkin on Thursday, just one day after the biggest case of his three years in office collapsed. The five-page impeachment resolution, introduced after a Superior Court judge tossed the state's case against Democratic power broker George Norcross, alleges Platkin has used his office for political ends. It cites numerous botched cases overseen by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, some of which began before his tenure, and Platkin's oversight of the State Police. 'Platkin has undermined people's trust in our police and the office of the Attorney General. We're starting the impeachment process to balance the scales of justice,' Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio said in a statement. 'He is not above the law.' In a statement, Platkin said: 'I am not going to respond to partisan political attacks. I am focused on the same priorities I have had since day one: driving gun violence down to historically low levels, holding social media corporations accountable for the harms they're inflicting on our children, and protecting our residents — including by standing up to threats from Washington and fighting corruption, no matter who it offends.' — 'Kim stands with Platkin amid Norcross indictment backlash' THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT GO ROUND AND ROUND VERY SLOWLY — 'NJ school bus system problems mount. New safety chief hired but state mum on details,' by The Record's Colleen Wilson and Mike Davis: 'In January 2022 … Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law to create an Office of School Bus Safety that would employ a team of people to increase oversight and accountability of private school bus contractors seeking lucrative contracts to transport children. But it took the state Department of Education about two years to hire anyone to staff the new office and begin that accountability work. The office became 'operational' in December 2023, said Michael Yaple, a DOE spokesman … While that process stalled, private bus companies continued to operate without the extra oversight. And the consequences can sometimes be harrowing.' — Ballot redesign bill clears state Legislature — 'Portal bridge on track for mid-2026 opening' — 'The $1 billion in tax hikes that Murphy wants' — 'Is Murphy's proposal to increase NJ's 'mansion tax' a good thing? Experts have concerns' — 'Bid to make NJ police more accountable in use-of-force incidents' — 'Officers union objects to governor's proposal to close East Jersey State Prison' — 'NJ Transit launches plan to improve commuter experience' — 'Governor's new budget plan proposes school funding tweaks' TRUMP ERA IMMIGRATION — Trump administration reopening immigrant detention facility in Newark, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: The Trump administration will reopen a Newark immigrant detention facility, creating a new hub in the Northeast as federal officials continue their mass deportation efforts. The Delaney Hall facility, which is owned by private prison contractor the GEO Group and has 1,000 beds, won a 15-year contract to detain immigrants, the company announced Thursday. The contract is estimated to bring in $60 million during its first full year and will be worth approximately $1 billion over its entire duration, according to company officials. The decision is already causing pushback among Democrats in the state, with Gov. Phil Murphy saying he was 'disappointed' in the move and a local Congress member calling it a 'step in the wrong direction.' … Murphy signed a bill into law in 2021 that prohibited state and local governments and private detention facilities from holding immigrant detention agreements with ICE. A federal judge, however, allowed the Elizabeth immigrant detention center to operate — paving the way for other private facilities to open in the Garden State. BRIDGE AND TROUBLE — Trump wants congestion pricing dead by March 21. New York won't budge,' by The New York Times' Stefanos Chen and Winnie Hu: 'In the furor and confusion over the Trump administration's move to kill congestion pricing in New York City, a major question remained unanswered: If the president had his way, when would the tolling program end? Federal officials, it turned out, had a date in mind: March 21. The battle over congestion pricing, which the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority is counting on to fund billions of dollars in mass transit repairs, is expected to play out in federal court in Manhattan. While many legal experts say that the March deadline is not binding, some question whether President Trump might resort to other tactics, including withholding federal funding for other state projects, to apply pressure. In a letter last week to New York transportation leaders, Gloria M. Shepherd, the executive director of the Federal Highway Administration, said they 'must cease the collection of tolls' by that date.' JEFF VAN DOGE'S DISTRICT — 'Musk's SpaceX antennas installed at South Jersey FAA building where DOGE spurred federal worker firings,' by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Alfred Lubrano: 'Following recommendations from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump administration has fired 15 or more workers at the Federal Aviation Administration facility in Egg Harbor Township. At the same time, Musk, the world's richest man who helped lead a Trump Cabinet meeting this week, is poised to take over $2 billion contract currently held by Verizon to run the FAA's communications system for all of U.S. air traffic, according to reports from the Associated Press and other outlets. Workers at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, 10 miles west of Atlantic City, said they saw two Starlink antennas from Musk's SpaceX company being erected on one of the center's buildings last Saturday. On Monday, the FAA confirmed on Musk's X social media platform that it's testing a Starlink terminal at Hughes.' — ''Pray for us, pray for us,' pleads South Jersey restaurant owner who was arrested by ICE with his wife' LOCAL I THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA DIDN'T EXIST WHEN I WAS A TEEN — 'Paterson's newest councilman called out by colleague over racist joke from 2010,' by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'Councilman Michael Jackson is calling for the removal of his newest colleague on Paterson's governing body, Ibrahim Omar, over a racist joke that Omar posted on his Facebook page in 2010 ... Jackson said it shouldn't matter that Omar was a 15-year-old in high school when he posted the off-color joke about Black people committing robberies … 'It's hard to even properly express how very sorry and embarrassed I am for these cringeworthy posts and I would like to sincerely apologize to anyone I may have offended,' Omar said … Mayor Andre Sayegh, who pushed hard for Omar's council appointment, said the 'inappropriate joke' should be denounced. But the mayor also defended his political mentee … Sayegh recalled Jackson's public comments during a televised City Council meeting in 2019, when he said a property owner was trying to 'Jew us down' on the price of a proposed deal … Paterson Press on Wednesday asked Jackson about the 2019 comment, seen by many as an antisemitic slur, in the context of his call for Omar's removal. 'Some Jews may feel complimented by that and their ability to negotiate,' Jackson said.' JERSEY CITY — 'State's star witness tied Fulop to pay-to-play scheme, AG's office declined to pursue case,' by HudPost's Michael Shurin: 'Back in December 2019, under the leadership of then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, the AG's Office announced criminal charges against five public officials and political candidates … Court documents obtained by HudPost reveal that the state's cooperating witness, attorney Matt O'Donnell, confessed to multiple schemes and identified numerous co-conspirators that were never prosecuted …. On February 16, 2018, in a proffer session with the NJOAG, O'Donnell told investigators that straw contributions … to Fulop's first mayoral campaign were part of a pay-to-play scheme that resulted in him becoming Jersey City's tax appeal attorney after Fulop took office in 2013, according to Det. Kristin Maier's report. The Jersey Journal reported that the 'lucrative gig' made $260,720 for O'Donnell's law firm in 2015 alone. O'Donnell said he was initially approached by 'campaign manager' Ray Ferraioli of H&P Consulting in 2011 about giving money towards Fulop's first mayoral campaign, per Maier's report … In response to questions from HudPost, the mayor's press secretary stated Fulop was unaware of O'Donnell's admission to investigators, claimed 'at no point did [Fulop] ever have a conversation with Matt O'Donnell or Ray Farioli [sic],' and said contracts in Jersey City are awarded via a fair and open process, which 'undermines' O'Donnell's claim.' WARREN COUNTY — ''Startlingly high' levels of PFAS pollution found in Warren County hot spot,' by NJ Spotlight News' Michael Sol Warren: 'A private well at the heart of a pollution hot spot in Warren County has levels of toxic 'forever chemicals' that appear to be the highest recorded in New Jersey and among the highest ever seen in the nation. Records from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection show that a drinking water sample from a private well at a self-storage facility in the area of South Lincoln Avenue in Washington Township had a total concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — PFAS — of 18,997 parts per trillion. The sample was pulled from the well on June 13, 2023.' ANTS MARCHING IN PROTEST — 'Toms River fires 20-year veteran animal control officer in cost-saving move,' by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: 'The township's last animal control officer has been let go in what Mayor Daniel Rodrick described as a cost-saving move. Dave Matthews, who had worked for the township for nearly 20 years, was laid off last week. He was the only animal control officer left working directly for Toms River after Rodrick's administration privatized most animal control services last year.' — 'Teaneck's 'protest' ordinance failed to pass, heads for constitutional attorney review' — 'Former teacher sues Burlington Township schools on asbestos exposure claim' — 'O'Dea calls for separating Jersey City police & fire depts., de-escalation center' — 'Newark school board members disputing ethics complaint will not get attorneys fees paid, state says' EVERYTHING ELSE PASTA TRANSGRESSIONS — 'Neighboring Middletown eateries in saucy food fight over rights to serve Italian cuisine,' by The Asbury Park Press' Kathleen Hopkins and Sarah Griesemer: 'When breakfast and lunch restaurant Tatum's Table was preparing to open in the Lincroft Plaza strip mall last September, the veteran restaurateurs who operate neighboring Luigi's Famous Pizza welcomed the new business with open arms. 'We would send over pizzas while they were trying to get ready to open,' said Kelly Emerson, who owns Luigi's with husband Jason … But a social media post in recent weeks announcing [Tatum] Menake's intentions to open Tatum's Table for dinner shattered the relationship. The problem, according to the Emersons, is that Tatum's Table's proposed dinner menu contained some Italian dishes that Luigi's claims to have exclusive rights to sell, under the terms of its lease.' — 'South Jersey in an 'extreme' drought, monitor says' — 'Significant new 'void' opens up under I-80 eastbound lanes in N.J.' — 'New measles cases linked to NJ patient who may have spread virus at 3 health facilities' — 'Man hid submerged in freezing brook after shoplifting from N.J. Target, police say'
