Let's all go to the lobby ...

Good morning!

Trenton lawmakers are stepping in to try to save another industry beset by troubles: movie theaters.

A bill advanced by an Assembly panel Thursday would OK a new type of liquor license for for-profit move theaters that may be more feasible for the struggling industry than if they bought a traditional one — it would cost $250,000, cheaper if they sell New Jersey-produced alcohol — in a bid to help companies like AMC and Regal attract more customers.

I’m not sure I think the movie theater experience would be improved by making the crowds drunker, though maybe the idea is most customers would probably get one or two drinks tops so they wouldn’t miss a minute of “The Sheep Detectives.”

The  New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association opposes the bill, saying movie theater liquor licenses would devalue those held now by bars and restaurants, some of which cost their owners hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. A theater lobbying firm in response to criticism said, basically, “HELP.”

“It is a means to keep the movie theaters in business because, as we all know, they have suffered from the pandemic and with streaming services,” said bill sponsor Assemblywoman Maureen Rowan (D-Atlantic). “This license is very limited. It will be another means to get people into the movie theater.”

Read more from Nikita Biryukov.

Trenton: The Assembly’s health committee yesterday passed the bill aimed at shielding transgender patients and their medical providers from prosecution, with all Republicans voting no as they did when the Senate’s health panel OK’d it Monday. Supporters say the measure is needed to protect the transgender community from Trump administration efforts to curtail access to certain services, especially for minors. Critics say the state is wading into unconstitutional territory.

An interesting tidbit: The bill has been amended in a way that strips the bill of its myriad mentions of the phrase “gender-affirming” care. The bill, which also attempts to shield abortion patients and providers with the same protections, now defines reproductive services to include treatments sought by the transgender community. The bill’s supporters say the bill as rewritten is stronger. It may also give cover to some Democrats who may have been on the fence about the bill before.

Courts: Seton Hall University is facing off with adversaries in court over an internal report its law firm prepared on how the school handled a priest’s sex abuse of seminarians. Lawyers representing plaintiffs suing the Archdiocese of Newark want the report and a Superior Court judge has said they should have it, but the school was before an appellate panel Thursday arguing that it should not be released.  “This would send a chilling message not only to entities and businesses in the state of New Jersey, but to lawyers, that they cannot freely speak with their clients and give them advice, give them guidance on what they may have done correct, what they may have done wrong and how to correct it,” a lawyer for the school argued.

Kean: Tracey Tully at the New York Times spoke to Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, about Kean’s continued absence from Congress. Asked why Kean has not been seen in two months, Scharfenberger said, “There’s no cameras where Tom is.” 🧐

Governor: The U.S. Naval Academy on Wednesday held its annual tradition of the school’s freshmen climbing a grease-covered, 21-foot monument — while getting sprayed with water continuously — to see who can get there first. And, wouldn’t ya know it, the winner this year was Jersey boy Lincoln Hedberg, aka Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s son.

Sherrill is herself a Naval Academy grad. "It's actually more exciting to watch your kids do it," she told CBS Baltimore. "I was so proud of him."

Transpo: Thursday’s NYC commute was a true disaster after a fire broke out in an East River tunnel, per Stephen Nessen and Ramsey Khalifeh at Gothamist. The fire started a bit before noon, wasn’t out until nearly 1 a.m., and it’s still making a mess today, with NJ Transit diverting midtown direct service to Hoboken. Imagine adding tens of thousands of World Cup fans on top of all this. Can’t wait!

Abortion: The U.S. Supreme Court ruledThursday that women should be able to obtain abortion drug mifepristone as a lawsuit over access to the drug winds its way through the courts (Justices Alito and Thomas dissented). Abortion rights activists cheered the ruling, which was obviously panned by abortion foes. Louisiana officials are fighting a federal rule allowing telehealth access to mifepristone, arguing it violates the state’s abortion ban.

The Boss: Looks like Bruce Springsteen snubbed former Gov. Chris Christie at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn last night, via Mike Ryan.