The Morning Briefing - July 7, 2015
PATERSON – The Paterson Press is calling a local cop the city’s “$2 Million Man,” after he spent the past eight years on paid leave following accusations of sexual assault. Now, the cop is demanding compensation for “vacation time” during his time sitting at home or doing whatever, as he collected his city paycheck. Here are the city’s expenses, to date: $800,000 in salary over eight years, $710,000 for a civil lawsuit settlement, $300,000 in legal bills and now the tally of leave time, including vacation time, when he mercifully “retires” from protecting and servicing the people of Paterson.
JACKSON – Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno hits the road again this morning, heading to Six Flags Great Adventure to capture a special limited opportunity to ride the park's "Batman: The Ride" roller coaster facing backward. How fun. But if our acting governor is traveling, how about going somewhere relevant? Like Jersey City, where JP Morgan is announcing $1 million in workforce development? Or Newark, cutting the ribbon today on the Harrison Park Square housing development? Or The College of New Jersey, breaking ground on a $75 million STEM building? Or perhaps that is just one fantastic roller coaster.
TRENTON – Amazing it took this long for some Democrats to call for the resignation of Gov. Chris Christie, who has shown up in New Jersey for only about half of 2015, and for just a third of his second term in office. Now, as an announced candidate for President in a crowded field, Democrats doubt they will see him anytime soon. State Sens. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) are expected to co-sponsor a bill requiring any New Jersey governor to resign if he or she runs for President, NJ.com reports. Expect Christie to send an email voicing opposition.
NEWARK – Before Chris Cerf has even set foot in Newark, education critics are already demanding that he be removed as the new schools superintendent. Cerf, who has been nominated to replace the beleaguered Cami Anderson, will be the topic of a protest at 4 p.m. today, beginning at City Hall on Broad Street and intentionally jamming up the rush hour traffic. It seems whenever someone organizes a protest in Newark, the big losers are suburban office workers who have no interest in city politics, yet are always late getting home to watch “Entertainment Tonight.”
JERSEY CITY – Gov. Chris Christie sees plenty of green at Liberty State Park, signing a bill that allows the state to review and finance private development, the Record reports. Environmentalists are howling, saying the governor is turning the historic island into a commercial strip, akin to the President allowing a Panera Bread to open on the National Mall in Washington. Everyone has a good point, but how long can you fend off developers from a park with 5 million annual visitors and glorious views of Manhattan? Hopefully, the state can make a mint off this.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
TAMPA – “Sex on the Beach” is a vodka drink that will cost you $8 at the bar. If you want real Sex on the Beach, that will cost you 30 months in jail – at least in the case of a local man arrested for intercourse with a woman on Bradenton Beach in the middle of the afternoon. A 4-year-old kid saw the romp, Reuters notes, and likely had many questions for mommy, who asked the man to stop, which he refused. It was all shot on video, which was sure fascinating for jurors. Meanwhile, the couple must now register as sex offenders and visit Priceline for competitive motel rates.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2012 that Serena Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the Women's Singles final at the Wimbledon Championships. Media are relieved, as writers don’t need to memorize the spelling of “Agnieszka.”
WORD OF THE DAY
Inculcated – verb
Definition: To teach by frequent repetition. To nag.
Example: “Mom inculcated in me the need to call her every Sunday night, plus every other alternative Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as any days that begin with a “T.”