Good Wednesday morning!

The drivers behind the bus go ‘s**t’ f**k’’ damn’, ‘s**t f**k’ damn’, ‘s**t, f**k damn’

Over the years I’ve learned that New Jerseyans are obsessed with left lane hogs, even as they ignore pretty much every other traffic law. Yeah, , I know. The left lane is for passing. But anyone who’s ever used it to overtake while doing a mere 10 miles per hour above the speed limit can tell you that New Jersey drivers just get angry if the person ahead of them in that lane isn’t driving at their preferred speed.

Despite being panned as “stupid” by the trucking industry, a bill to bar trucks from the left lane sped through the Assembly Transportation Committee in March, though it hasn’t gotten full floor votes . And now, there’s yet another left lane-related bill, this time targeting children. Well, sort of.

Assemblymember Chris DePhillips (R-Bergen) at the last session introduced a bill, A5714, that would bar school buses from the left lane except when necessary to turn or in emergencies. For DePhillips, it’s at least as much about kids’ safety as drivers’ annoyance.

“A constituent approached me and shared lots of evidence of school buses in the left lane in highways, just traveling as if that’s the place to be as if it’s in the ordinary course of traveling, with kids,” DePhillips said. “There has to be a legitimate safety reason for being in the left lane. School bus drivers should not be speeding.”

Yes, Tuesday was a slow news day.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: ““I just want to say I’ve made enough money in my life that I can live anywhere in the state: In Millburn, Summit and Westfield. But I choose to live in the hood because I think I make a difference. And I’ve always lived in the hood.” — CRC Commissioner Sam Delgado, who lives in Perth Amboy with his wife, Assemblymember Yvonne Lopez.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Antwan McClellan, Barry Bendar, Tom O’Neil, Jim Castelize

WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule

TROOPERS — State Police union pushes back on racial disparities report, plans its own analysis, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey’s State Troopers union is pushing back against a study that shows racial disparities in traffic stops have increased since 2009, urging Attorney General Matthew Platkin to hold off on any actions in response to it. “All the Troopers are upset,” State Troopers Fraternal Association President Wayne Blanchard said in a phone interview Monday. “We believe we’re the best law enforcement in the nation. We’ve been under tremendous scrutiny for years, some of it deserved. …. We’re shocked and appalled that all of a sudden this academic says we’re the worst people ever in this area.” The study, released last week by the Office of the Attorney General, touched a nerve across the state — in part because of the State Police’s fraught history with racial profiling

FOR THAT PRICE THEY COULD BUILD AN ACTUAL UNIVERSITY — University Hospital is ‘functionally obsolete,’ state study says, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: University Hospital is “functionally obsolete” and the state would need to pick up the tab for much of the hospital’s proposed $1.8 billion renovation, according to a report commissioned by the Economic Development Authority. The report said that “most” clinical departments at the Newark hospital are undersized for their purposes and the facility would need to be 30 percent larger than it is just to “right size.” Some areas — like operating rooms — are too small, “making it difficult (or impossible)” to use modern technology or complete newer forms of care, the report said. While some of UH’s operating rooms are 365 net square feet, newer operating rooms are over 600, the report said … University Hospital’s proposed makeover has backing from influential constituencies, key among them Democratic leaders such as Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. and state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz and labor group Health Professionals and Allied Employees

LEGISLATION DERAILED — “Hazards on trains: Why a push to improve NJ rail safety is meeting pushback,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “Freight trains, some stretching 100 cars long, carrying ethanol, crude oil and other hazardous materials travel within feet of thousands of homes, businesses and schools in Bergen County. Local officials and emergency responders say more needs to be done to improve rail safety, particularly after the derailment of a train in East Palestine, Ohio, in February spilled more than 100,000 gallons of toxic chemicals and forced the evacuation of nearby residents. Two bills pending in the state Legislature seeking to address rail safety concerns were not passed before lawmakers broke for recess last month. “There’s such an urgency now, I don’t want to lose the momentum,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Park, D-Bergen, the sponsor of one of the bills. … The bill was held up because of disagreement over what information about the materials carried by rail is shared and how, Park said.”

DOES MURPHY’S PLAYBOOK MAKE DUMB JOKES AND CONVERT DOLLARS INTO MASTROS? — “Murphy’s youth mental health ‘playbook’ draws praise, questions,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Bobby Brier: ‘New Jersey school officials say Gov. Phil Murphy’s latest plan to address the youth mental-health crisis across the country contains “excellent ideas,” but they remain concerned over funding and the execution of the plan across the state. ‘At the end of the day, yes, all these are great ideas. They’re research based. But how do we pay for it,’ said Dr. Norma Fernandez, the superintendent of Jersey City public schools. Murphy released the 40-page ‘playbook’ last week at the National Governors Association annual meeting in Atlantic City, which capped his year as chair of the group.”

—“Op-Ed: Murphy needs to conditionally veto a financial transparency bill”

—“NJ Transit’s new office lease will cost $440M. Lawmakers ask state Senate to examine the deal”

—“Murphy says troubled women’s prison will close before he leaves office”

—Snowflack: “In Kratovil case, Daniel’s Law protects public official from scrutiny”

—“Sparks fly at N.J. cannabis board meeting over how to lift those hurt in drug war after nearly 50 businesses win permits”

—“New Jersey panel wants clarity on mandatory minimums directive”

PROSECUTION TO BE NIMBLE, QUICK — Trump says he’s received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 investigators, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney: Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects to be indicted by special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 grand jury, citing a “target letter” he received from investigators on Sunday. Such a letter “almost always means an arrest and indictment,” Trump, who has already been criminally indicted twice in recent months, wrote on Truth Social … The letter is the clearest sign yet that Smith is close to seeking an indictment for Trump’s role in the effort to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021. While the specific crimes that Trump may be charged with are not clear, Smith’s team has been eyeing potential obstruction charges related to Trump’s actions in the days leading up to Jan. 6 and on that day itself — including pressuring his vice president, Mike Pence, to unilaterally block the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

—“Watson Coleman blasts bill that would gut Amtrak funding”

DEGISE FORCED TO TAKE BUS DOWN ROAD TO REDEMPTION BECAUSE HER LICENSE IS SUSPENDED — “One year after infamous hit-and-run crash, DeGise ever so slowly forges a path to redemption,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “Though Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise’s hit-and-run collision with a cyclist is becoming a speck in her rearview mirror, how she navigates the road to redemption may go a long way in determining her political future. … Though Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGIn a written statement released through a spokesman, DeGise said the past year has been a time of ‘soul searching’ as she’s been on a personal journey ‘to make amends with the public and to forgive myself.’ … ‘This unfortunate incident in my opinion should be behind her and she should look forward,’ [Robert] Knapp said. ‘I would certainly support and assist her in any endeavor whether it be for reelection as councilwoman at large or any other public office.’”

—“Amy DeGise hit-and-run crash one year later: A timeline of events”

COCK-A-DOODLE-DO AC — “No roosters, please! Atlantic City mulls allowing chickens, banning other livestock,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “Is it sexual discrimination? Maybe so. City residents could have up to five chickens per property — but no roosters — if an ordinance set for introduction Wednesday ultimately passes. The ordinance also outlaws any other type of livestock or poultry, so parents should not go pony shopping. The city realized it needed to have a law on the books about animals after people started complaining about a pig that was living in Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz’s 3rd Ward. An ordinance banning all livestock and poultry was up for introduction a couple of months ago, but several council members pushed back and asked it be rewritten to allow chickens. … Other forms of poultry that would not be welcome under the ordinance include turkeys, ducks, geese, peafowl, ostriches and emus.”

LESS IS MO — “Atlantic City to pause cannabis approvals,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “The city has plans to become a cannabis capital along the East Coast, hoping the new industry can join the beaches and gaming as a draw for visitors and a source of jobs, revenue and economic development. But at a recent meeting of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, at which multiple cannabis-related applications were up for approval, some members began to ask when enough would be enough. At the Tuesday board meeting, CRDA President Modia Butler said the city has agreed to ease up in the short term, at least long enough for some of the already-proposed businesses to open up. ‘The city’s going to put a pause to assess where they are,’ Butler said.”

LATE NIGHTS AT THE SENIOR CENTER — “Fair Lawn meeting on Nabisco building leaves redevelopment questions unanswered,” by The Record’s Caitlin Brannigan: “Monday’s planning board meeting about the redevelopment of the Nabisco building left many significant questions unanswered as the meeting ended before residents were allowed to speak. Some Fair Lawn and Glen Rock residents called the meeting “deceptive” and said it did not focus enough on public health concerns. Although the meeting was intended to allow residents to ask questions and comment on the plan, this did not happen, causing an uproar among attendees. Greek Development’s presentations and questioning by the planning board ran long, occupying the allotted three hours for the meeting. The venue, the Fair Lawn Senior Center, did not allow the meeting to run past 10 p.m.”

HOWES TO START ACCOUNTING FIRM — “Somerset County Republican chairman censured for legal ethics violations,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: The chairman of the Somerset County Republican Party has received a censure from the state Supreme Court for violating a rule of professional conduct for ‘wholly deficient recordkeeping.’ It is the third admonition for ethics violations given by the state Disciplinary Review Board to Tim Howes. … This latest ethics violation dates to Feb. 17, 2021, when the state Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE) received a notice from PNC Bank of an overdraft in Howes’ attorney trust account. … Howes was not charged with an ethics violation because of the overdraft, but because of his responses to the OAE which began reviewing his financial records. Court papers say Howes failed to meet an initial deadline to provide the OAE with the records of his trust and business accounts from January 2020 to May 31, 2021. Howes told the OAE that he had tried to send the records by email, but the email did not go through. The OAE set another deadline for submitting the records, but Howes did not meet that deadline either. Court papers say he then failed to submit the missing records after the OAE sent three more letters asking for them. … But based on an audit and the incomplete records, the OAE ‘identified numerous recordkeeping deficiencies’ in Howes’ account.”

—“Voting-rights seminar planned in [Mendham] where mail-in ballots sparked court battle”

—“His [Bloomfield] temple was targeted by arsonist. Now, a rabbi reflects on how to define antisemitism”

—“Lucky’: From Kearny mayor to history-making state Superior Court judge | Quigley”

—“Atlantic City-Pleasantville joint court up for vote Wednesday”

SHE BECAME A 101.5 PERSONALITY? — “She gave up her government job to become a clown,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Selena Vazquez: “At Boogie Nights on the weekend, Tina Notaro is a glitzy, gleaming, intergalactic space oddity named Sparkle who pumps up the crowd with a bubble gun in one hand and an oversized silver pinwheel in the other. … The 30-year-old Atlantic City resident is a professionally licensed clown, special events coordinator for the Chelsea Economic Development Corp. and a communications liaison for small businesses, organizations and local artists that need help promoting events. … In addition to being a professionally licensed clown, Notaro is an ordained wedding officiant and has worked on two local political campaigns, one for Pamela Thomas-Fields’ run against Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small. … Notaro quit her job as a communications manager for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in April 2022 to focus on doing what she loves. Although it was a good experience for a 2019 Stockton University alumna with a fresh bachelor’s degree in environmental science, she knew she didn’t want to continue working for the state, or government.”

—“[Johnson & Johnson] abusing bankruptcy system to resolve cancer claims, attorneys say”

—“Jersey Devil statue theft results in donations from Lucille’s Luncheonette customers”

—“Want to be a social media whiz? Fairleigh Dickinson has a new program for you”