Good Friday morning!

George Norcross went to a central Jersey Starbucks last monthto meet with Mercer CountyCommissioner John Cimino and Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin, along with lobbyist Kevin Drennan, who has close ties to all three and arranged the meeting.

Norcross, who’s allied with 20-year incumbent executive Brian Hughes, had a request for the two elected officials:Stay out of the Mercer County executive Democratic primary fight, in which Assemblymember Benson (D-Mercer) is challenging Hughes. Within days, both men’s names turned up on a Benson endorsement list.

As we can see from the involvement of Norcross — who’s from Camden County but now officially resides in Florida — this contest has spilled beyond the normally-quiet Mercer County Democratic Party and threatens to become a statewide conflagration.

Norcross’ insurance company, in turn, pulled out as health insurance broker for the major engineering firm T&M Associates, where Cimino is an executive. “Three of us told the truth on where we stood,” Norcross said in a statement. “One person, John Cimino, proved to be a bald-faced liar. One day after our meeting where he pledged he would be neutral he reversed his position and made an endorsement.””

Cimino didn’t comment. And last night, Benson’s campaign sent me a statement that said “one can draw their own conclusions from the meeting” and that that “the incompetence, the waste, and the lack of oversight will come to an end in Mercer County this November.”

The Benson endorsements were a rebuke to Norcross, whose vaunted political machine has suffered setbacks in the last couple years. Still, based on Cimino’s lack of response to Norcross’ statement and the tone of the Benson statement, it looks like people are still walking gingerly around him.

Read more about it here.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 356

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Please, vote no on this, and let’s not waste our body’s time trying to make days named after food ever again.” — Assemblymember Brian Bergen (R-Morris) on a resolution to designate Nov. 22 as “Kimchi Day.” It passed 74-2.

IRONIC QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This is what happens in authoritarian regimes.” — U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who voted to overturn a free election the day after a violent coup attempt, on DirectTV dropping NewsMax.

WHERE’S MURPHY? California. Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver has nothing public.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Alexandra Altman, Karen Kessler, Ryan Goodwin, Mitch Zupk. Saturday for Chuck Haytaian, Terrence Dopp, Tim White, Amy Handlin, Maria Comella. Sunday for Karin Elkis, Lauren Dezenski, Glen Gilmore 

MEANWHILE LONG ISLANDERS JUST GOT MORE ACCESS TO THE REGION’S CORE — “Is Gateway construction starting? Who works there? Here's what to expect in 2023,” by The Record’s Colleen Wilson: “Now, after a change in the Oval Office and subsequently at U.S. DOT, federal transportation officials are on the phone constantly with those leading the $16.1 billion first phase of what’s become known as the Gateway program. That’s according to Kris Kolluri, who was approved in July to lead the Gateway Development Commission, a bistate agency in its infancy … and prepare reams of documents necessary to solidify a $6.5 billion federal grant to support the largest infrastructure project in the country. ‘I have not seen, in my career, this level of technical assistance on any project — that shows the heightened nature of this project from a Washington perspective,’ said Kolluri … For Kolluri, the main focus is getting to a full funding grant agreement, what he called “the holy grail of this entire project.” That agreement lays out the terms of the federal grant, how much federal funding will go toward the project, sets deadlines and establishes how the program will be managed.”

THE ONLY STATE SENATOR WHO CAN BREATHE UNDER WATER: State Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) unequivocally announced her intent to seek reelection to the state Senate in a fundraising email obtained by POLITICO, citing her support for abortion rights, voting rights, gun control and health care measures. “With your support, I will continue to be an independent voice in Trenton and fight for our communities as the Senator for the 27th Legislative District,” the fundraising email sent last week says.

The Montclair Democrat's reelection bid puts her in a direct primary fight with state Sen. Dick Codey (D-Essex), who was also put in the same district as Gill due to the state’s redistricting process and is expected to seek reelection. Both lawmakers have been longtime fixtures in Trenton — Gill served in the legislature since 1994 and moved up to the Senate in 2002. Codey — who temporarily served as Governor — joined the Assembly in 1974 and joined the Senate in 1982. Gill previously told Montclair Local that she plans to run on or off the county line which gives an advantageous position on primary ballots, although there had been speculation whether she would decide to not seek re-election. — Daniel Han

ENERGY — Regulators approve JP Morgan takeover of 2 New Jersey gas companies, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey utility regulators on Wednesday approved plans by a private equity fund take control of South Jersey Industries’ two utilities that serve 350,000 gas customers across large swaths of the state. The deal, a complex merger, makes a JP Morgan-managed fund, known as IIF US Holding 2 LP, the new owner of Elizabethtown Gas and South Jersey Gas. There are some near-term benefits meant to appease concerns the financial giant would look to raise rates, including a two-year freeze on rates. The JP Morgan fund also agreed to forgive $15 million worth of back bills racked up because of the pandemic.

—“Cameras and money are rolling in N.J. as state sets new record for movie, TV productions” 

—“Testa slams use of Covid relief funds to buy new vehicles for use by Murphy, others” 

—“Pension payment on track as state faces economic uncertainty”

—Temporary increase in SNAP benefits for New Jersey families could soon be permanent

—“Time to end police transparency theater: A Q&A with CJ Griffin” 

—“Senate president aims to speed up drivers’ record checks for attorneys, other professionals” 

—Snowflack: “Ciattarelli moves and grooves at Bucco bash” 

—Mulshine: “Super Bowl bettors: I bet you couldn’t bet on it if not for Ray Lesniak” 

—“Bramnick wants telemarketers to have 30 seconds to explain why they’re calling” 

SENATORS: 42 IS NOT THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING — “Menendez and Booker ‘appalled’ by Biden’s attempt to pacify the right,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Bothered that President Joe Biden would try to placate the right by hurting immigrants, Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) this morning highlighted their letter urging the administration to reverse their expansion of Title 42 and to drop their proposed transit ban. Seventy-seven members of the Senate and House signed the letter. Earlier this month, the President announced two policies that create new restrictions on asylum seekers at the United States border, circumventing domestic and international law, Menendez said … Appearing with their colleagues outside the United States Capitol Building, Menendez said, “We are appalled that President Biden would replicate President Trump’s immigration strategy. Expanding Title 42 not a solution. It is part of the problem.”

TERRORISM — “NYC bike path killer convicted in terror attack that killed Darren Drake, 7 others,” by The AP’s LarryNeumeister and Bobby Caina Calvan: “An Islamic extremist who killed eight people with a speeding truck in a 2017 rampage on a popular New York City bike path was convicted Thursday of 28 federal crimes and could face the death penalty. Sayfullo Saipov, who was living in Paterson at the time of the arrest, bowed his head as he heard the verdict in the trial for a Halloween attack that prosecutors said was inspired by his reverence for the Islamic State militant group. Saipov was tried in a Manhattan courtroom just a few blocks from where the attack ended. Darren Drake, 32 of New Milford, was among those killed. . The Darren Drake Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in December, is a bipartisan law aimed at stopping lone-wolf terrorism.”

—“A new push to restore property tax breaks made by N.J. members of Congress” 

—“Among New Hampshire Republicans, Christie Is at zero” 

—“Is going to be prison time or house arrest for this South Jersey Capitol rioter?”

RESIDENTS OF RICK JAMES RIVER MORE RECEPTIVE TO SUPER FREAK SITE PLANS —  Toms River holds its own forum to criticize state settlement with Superfund site owner, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: When the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced plans to settle claims against the owners of one of the state’s most notorious Superfund sites, the deal came as a surprise to residents here. In December, the DEP said it would drop any legal claims against BASF Corporation for damages to New Jersey natural resources at the old Ciba-Geigy chemical plant in Toms River — a plant that produced decades of pollution that is tied to a cluster of childhood cancer cases — in exchange for what amounts to a new park in the town. The DEP is accepting written comments but didn't plan to hold any public hearings. So residents of Toms River decided to hold their own public hearing. And the hearing, held Wednesday night at Toms River High School North, was not kind to the deal or the DEP officials who crafted it.

THE STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN WILL SOON BRAND ITSELF AS A ‘BOTIQUE PLAN’ — “Newark latest N.J. city to dump state public worker health plan amid huge rate hikes,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “New Jersey’s largest city is the latest to drop the state health benefits plan for public workers and go with a private insurer as rates are expected to dramatically increase to levels that officials have warned could wreak havoc on local governments and taxpayers. Newark’s plan with its private insurer, Aetna, goes into effect at the beginning of February, according to Tiffany Stewart, the city’s personnel director. That means more than 8,000 Newark employees, dependents and retirees will exit from the state health benefits plan for public workers.”

HISTORY LESSONS ABOUT SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS IN ANCIENT SPARTA SHOULD BE… INTERESTING — “Former Sparta teacher said 'hostile' school board members pushed him out,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “A much-loved Sparta teacher blames a ‘hostile’ Board of Education for forcing him out of his job. Social Studies supervisor Scott Kercher said he resigned last August because the district's ‘hostile’ school board made it impossible for him to stay on the teaching staff. ‘My intention was never to leave Sparta,’ said Kercher, but the ‘continued overreach and pressure’ from two school board members left him no choice … Kercher was treated unfairly, said several township residents, during a wave of "anti-woke" sentiment that seized some New Jersey school districts after the state Department of Education handed down new sex education standards and K-12 diversity laws that address sexuality and unconscious bias … Two other teachers who also recently left the district, Saskia Brown and Kate Brennan, did not respond to requests for comment … All three teachers worked on student initiatives that advocated for race, sexuality and gender equality. Brennan advised a club called ‘Girl Up’ and Brown and Kercher worked on the school’s Diversity Council.”

WHITESVILLE — “Jackson zoning board OKs synagogue, seemingly avoids 'see you in court' threat,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Mike Davis: “Facing the likelihood of another lawsuit alleging antisemitic discrimination, the township zoning board reversed course and approved a proposed synagogue in the Whitesville neighborhood, a quick U-turn after an attorney promised she'd "see (them) in court." The zoning board on Wednesday approved a crucial variance for a Whitesville Road synagogue with accompanying mikvah, first proposed by resident Mordechai Hirsch in March.”

— “Convinced he and Blackman can unite, Correa says Dodd cannot return”

—“Paterson schools, teachers' union reach tentative agreement on new contract”

—“Hillsborough school employee admits paybacks-for-overtime scheme” 

—“Ocean County and Brick to spend $8.5M to scrap controversial development, preserve land” 

—“Hackensack reaches deal on iconic Sears tower and property. Here's what happens next” 

—“Jersey City council adopts Solomon ordinance for oversight of municipal budget process” 

—“Brick Police Chief James Riccio to retire after 36 years” 

BILL SPADEA, PHIL RIZZO COMPETE TO BE NEXT SHEIKH OF ABU DHABI — “North Bergen High School students disqualified from international competition for breaking gender norms,” by HudPost staff: “North Bergen High School students CJ King and Jazzlyn Vargas were on top of the world when they won the 2022 NYC Junk Kouture competition, earning a trip to Abu Dhabi to compete for the World Title. However, their dream trip quickly turned into a nightmare when they were disqualified from the competition just hours before they were set to take the stage. According to Junk Kouture’s statement, the dress designed by King and Vargas, named “The Nightingale,” was flagged by Abu Dhabi authorities as not being culturally appropriate, specifically because King, a boy, was wearing the dress. This led to a review of the overall event and an inspection to determine which designs were considered appropriate for the stage. The statement also revealed that the authorities informed them that rainbow colors were not permitted in any dress designs”

—“‘True’ killer in 1993 Paterson murder has been no-show in depositions for $48M lawsuits”