Good Friday morning!

The state Supreme Court shot down a Republican lawsuit seeking to overturn the new congressional map without any dissent. They didn’t say the Republicans got a fair shake at it. They didn’t say Justice Wallace did a great job.

In essence, the decision was this: Redistricting is a political process. The Republicans didn’t argue that the resulting map was unconstitutional. And so they don’t have a case. Chief Justice Rabner might as well have quoted They Might be Giants in the "Malcolm in the Middle" theme song: “Life is unfair.”

But Rabner’s opinion made it clear that if you think this is a problem, there is a remedy: Change the Constitution.

“The Commission fixes the boundaries for our State’s congressional districts, which remain in place for a decade. It is vital that the public have confidence in the Commission’s important work” Rabner wrote. “Questions of partisanship or the appearance of partisanship can affect the public’s confidence, yet our current system is designed to be overseen by twelve partisan members and a thirteenth member whom the party delegations propose … But there are other ways to conduct the redistricting process.”

Rabner noted that California, Arizona, Michigan and Colorado have all created redistricting commissions intended to limit partisanship.

“To change the system and distance it from partisan politics would require a proposed constitutional amendment and voter approval,” Rabner wrote. “Those decisions can begin with grassroots efforts … or the political branches of government. In the end, the choice is left to the people of our State.”

It’s not an endorsement of the idea. But Rabner put it out there. Read more about it here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Don’t give me any B.S." — State Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex) to new Senate Education Committee Committee Chair Vin Gopal after Thompson made a motion to hold a school services bill that caused some confusion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Murphy adviser Eric Brophy, Hospital Alliance's Brian Shott. Saturday for Murphy speechwriter Derek Roseman, firefighter/political operative Jason Carty, former Bergen County Freeholder Jim Carroll, Carlstadt Director of Public Works Joe Crifasi. Sunday for Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Codey staffer Erin Rice, former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Humane Society State Director Brian Hackett, Biden aide Chris Slevin

WHERE’S MURPHY? Media: WCBS 880 at 9 a.m., 1010 WINS at 9:30 and News 12 at 9:45 to talk ice storm response.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at [email protected]

NEWSLETTER WRITER WHO WISHES TO REMAIN NAMELESS IRKED BY YOUNGER PEOPLE IN POWERFUL POSITIONS — Murphy nominates former chief counsel Matt Platkin as New Jersey attorney general, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Matt Platkin, for years one of Gov. Phil Murphy’s closest aides, is Murphy’s choice to be New Jersey's top prosecutor. Murphy announced his nomination of Platkin for attorney general at an event in Trenton on Thursday. Platkin will take over in an acting capacity on Feb. 14, replacing acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck, Murphy spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna said. “To say that this nomination is the honor of my life is an understatement,” said Platkin, who has never worked as a prosecutor and whose nomination will need Senate confirmation. Platkin, 35, has been a close confidant of Murphy's since before he became governor, working for a think tank Murphy set up in 2015 to lay the groundwork for the 2017 gubernatorial campaign.

—There are lots of statements of support out there for Platkin. But the ones that really matter are from the four senators who can exercise courtesy over his nomination. And here’s what one of them says.

PUTTING A NICK INTO MURPHY’S POWERS —Scutari considering legislation to alter governor’s emergency powers, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Senate President Nick Scutari said Thursday he’s considering legislation that would tweak the governor’s emergency powers, but stopped short of saying what he would change. Scutari’s comments come as Republicans and state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) are proposing legislation, NJ S1200 (22R), to require legislative buy-in to extend public health emergencies and states of emergencies after a 60-day period. What he said: “I don't know if I would support that exact verbiage in the bill,” Scutari said when asked about the current bill sponsored by Gopal and state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “But we're having ongoing discussions about maybe some changes to the powers that were granted back in 2005.”

—Gopal: Emergency powers bill would ‘make sure’ Legislature is co-equal branch of government

—Gopal, in first hearing as education chair, tackles some of New Jersey's toughest school issues

IS THIS WHAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF 501cC4 DONATIONS BUYS YOU? — “Students taking N.J. graduation exam need a higher score to pass — and teachers aren’t happy,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rob Jennings: “High school juniors taking New Jersey’s new graduation exam will need a higher score than originally planned, drawing pushback from the statewide teachers’ union. In a 7-3 vote Wednesday, the state Board of Education overruled a recommendation from the New Jersey Department of Education and established a minimum passing score of 750 for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment. The state education department had endorsed 725 as the threshold for the exam, which includes English and math and will be administered to high school juniors for the first time this spring. The Class of 2023 ... will be the first taking the new test. Steven Baker, spokesperson for the New Jersey Education Association, slammed the outcome when contacted Wednesday night. ‘This is a reckless and harmful decision that failed to account for either the needs of students or common sense. It is estimated that the new math cut score alone could result in failure rates of 50% or more, showing how absurd it is as a measure of readiness for graduation,’ Baker said in an email to NJ Advance Media. No such estimate was presented at the 10 a.m. state Board of Education meeting, which took place online.”

CHEESEQUAKING WITH ANGER — “What’s in a name? News 12’s Brian Donohue takes issue with new Parkway rest stop names,” by News 12’s Brian Donohue: “Donohue says that he does not have a real issue with Bon Jovi himself. While Donohue may not like Bon Jovi’s brand of music, he admits that the musician has done a lot for the Garden State, and has not forgotten his Jersey roots.”

—“Senate Republicans debut ‘Give It Back’ initiative aimed at Murphy” 

— “Cost correction draws more criticism for Murphy’s electrification plan”

—“'Doing a lot of harm': Group of doctors, scientists pushes for NJ schools to return to normal” 

—“New Jersey in line for $641 million from opioids settlement, a lifeline for treatment” 

—“ELEC: National money lifted county parties during gubernatorial election year” 

IS HE ANTIFA? I THOUGHT IT WAS ANTIFA — “N.J. man who gave TV interview outside U.S. Capitol after Jan. 6 attack pleads guilty,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kevin Shea: “Thomas Baranyi, the Mercer County man who gave a TV interview after storming the U.S. Capitol last year and showed blood on his hand from a rioter who’d been shot, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Washington, D.C. Baranyi, 30, who’d been charged with four crimes for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, pleaded guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building. He’ll be sentenced in May, and faces up to six months in prison. Born and raised in Hamilton, and now living in Ewing, Baranyi was candid in the local TV news interview, which made headlines nationwide and went viral online … ‘We tore through the scaffolding, through flash bangs and tear gas and blitzed our way in through all the chambers just trying to get into Congress or whoever we could get into and tell them that we need some kind of investigation into this,’ Baranyi said to the news reporter. ‘And what ends up happening is someone might have ended up dead, and that’s not the kind of government we can have. People have to do something about it.’”

—“A Q&A with Malinowski, back from Ukraine: Will this be ‘the biggest land war in Europe since World War II’?” 

—@Malinowski: “I want to let everyone know that I tested positive today, but am feeling fine. This means I have a virus that killed 3,622 Americans yesterday, yet am only experiencing the most mild symptoms, thanks to the vaccine + booster. Please get boosted everyone!”

—“2022 and the Ian Smith factor” 

—@IAnSmithFitness (As highlighted by the Bob Healey campaign): “Failure of air defense system Jet Fuel. Building 7. Stocks shorted 9/10/01. Bombers arrested on GWB. Massive intl $ movement. CIA-OSAMA link AWOL Chain-of-Command. USD paper trail. $2T missing in Pentagon audit. Question everything.”

THEY FAILED THE ‘RECORD YOURSELF SLAPPING THE MAN IN THE HOSPITAL BED’ TEST — “Long standing racial disparity in Paterson police department continues, data shows," by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Justin Rucker took the test to become a Paterson police officer two years ago because as a Black resident he said he wanted to help improve the relationship between the city’s African American community and its cops. Rucker, 34, scored well enough on the test to put himself in line for a job, and he said he got a call a couple of months ago offering him a spot in Paterson’s next police officer training class. But Rucker said he declined and asked the department to keep him on the list for next time. He attributed his decision to recent cases in which Paterson cops have been charged with crimes against city residents. As a result, there are four African American recruits among the 23 trainees that Paterson is sending to the police academy this winter, or 17% of the group. That training class reflects a long-standing disparity between the demographic makeup of the city’s population and the racial composition of its police department. A report that municipal officials recently provided to Paterson Press showed that 12% of the city’s cops are Black, while the census says 26% of the Silk City’s residents are African Americans.”

CAGNEY & PASTY — “White Mount Laurel , N.J. man who went viral for racist rant indicted on multiple charges,” by WHYY’s P. Kenneth Burns: “The white Mount Laurel man, whose racist rant against Black neighbors was captured on video that went viral last summer, has been formally indicted by a grand jury. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced the 15-count indictment against Edward Cagney Mathews on Tuesday. The charges include multiple weapons counts, as well as stalking, criminal mischief, and four counts of bias intimidation.”

—“Photos: Paterson Mayor announces the recruitment efforts to improve Police Dept." 

MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE STEVE SWEENEY A NICE TIP, KIDS — “Students can get DoorDash deliveries. Just follow the security rules, N.J. school says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Katie Kausch: “What’s a hungry high schooler to do when they’ve forgotten their lunch and sad-looking cafeteria chicken nuggets aren’t cutting it? For West Deptford students, the answer is ordering DoorDash delivery. Students at the Gloucester County high school have ordered delivery via apps enough times in the past month — and broken some school rules in the process — that school officials had to remind students of how to do it safely. West Deptford Superintendent Greg Cappello said it hasn’t been a huge issue– just seventeen times in January— but it was happening enough that the school needed to clarify the rules.”

HUDSON COUNTY: WHERE A MAN WHO ADMITTED TAKING A BRIBE GETS THIS JOB — “Jersey City public safety director’s aide and another man charged in 2020 assault,” by The Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “An aide to Jersey City Public Safety Director Jim Shea and another man have been charged with breaking a man’s jaw in 2020 after accusing him of breaking into one of their vehicles. Michael Manzo, 65, a former city arson investigator and unsuccessful city council candidate who was caught up in the infamous 2009 Bid Rig corruption sting, was charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in an incident on Sip Avenue near Bryant Avenue on Sept. 22, 2020, according to the criminal complaint. Kevin Fernandez, 27, who has been identified in reports as Manzo’s son-in-law, was also charged ... Jersey City officials and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and Jersey City officials did not disclose the arrests until a request to the prosecutor’s office for criminal complaints was made … In 2009 Manzo ran for a city council seat and was arrested in a corruption sting orchestrated by future Gov. Chris Christie. Manzo pleaded guilty to accepting $5,000 in exchange for a promise to [expedite] a future development project. The charge was later dismissed when a judge ruled that only those in office who accepted the bribes could be charged under the federal corruption statute.”

YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO CHANNEL IT THROUGH A DELAWARE SHELL COMPANY — “Preparing for 2025, Jersey City Mayor Fulop puts $400k from ELEC account into super PAC,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Preparing for 2025, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop put $400,000 from his New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission account into a super PAC linked to him at the end of last year, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission. The 4th quarter 2021 FEC filing from the super PAC Coalition for Progress shows that Fulop’s personal ELEC account contributed $400,000 on December 16th and reported $3,766,001.10 cash on hand. His prior ELEC cash on hand was $661,681.51.”

JERSEY CITY ALREADY HAS AN ANTHEM — Testa: “If Jersey City had an anthem, what would it be?”

—“State Supreme Court declines to hear appeal in case that could cost Jersey City millions”  

—“Sonya Wilkins nominated to fill Trenton at-large seat vacated by Blakeley”

—“Jackson woman settles police excessive force lawsuit for $437,500” 

—“Burning of pride flag at Sparta, NJ church probed as hate crime” 

—“Michael Citta named Toms River Regional superintendent, promises to fix COVID leaning loss” 

—“Lawsuits claiming Toms River tried to keep out Orthodox moving through court” 

—“Former Sewell man sues over alleged assault by corrections officers” 

CAMDEN CHURCH BILLS RISING — “Camden diocese offers $90M for victims of clergy sex abuse,” by The Courier-Post’s Jim Walsh: “The Diocese of Camden has announced a plan to distribute $90 million to survivors of clergy sex abuse, well above its original offer of $10 million as part of a bankruptcy action. But the proposal was promptly rebuffed by a lawyer for a committee representing sex-abuse survivors. ‘The committee opposes this proposal,’ said Jeffrey Prol, a Roseland, Essex County, attorney. The two sides have clashed repeatedly over the amount of funds to be provided to sex-abuse survivors, with the committee alleging the diocese has undervalued its assets to reduce its exposure.”

MALLS: THE FUTURE OF RETAIL — “American Dream nearly depletes reserves to make $9.3M bond payments,” by NJ Advance Media’s Allison Pries: “There’s a good chance you have more money in your savings account than American Dream does. The mega mall’s account has fallen to a less than $1,000 balance. For the second consecutive time, American Dream paid its scheduled, bi-annual bond payment from its dwindling reserves account. In August, the developer of the retail and entertainment complex, drew $9,285,625 from its debt service reserve, leaving a balance of $9,286,082.87. This week, the developer had another installment due and it withdrew all but $820.23 to cover the debt. But the developer insists it isn’t going anywhere."
 
—“Injured executive won't return to American Water” 

—“Rutgers Jewish center answers 'Maus' ban with free lessons on Holocaust novel for teachers”