The Morning Briefing - July 17, 2015
TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie is getting the attention of the International Business Times, amazed his Administration has set a $6 billion state record in subsidies to corporations. Now, as Christie embarks on his near-impossible journey to the White House, the media is looking at who got those generous state benefits, and who are now flag-waving “Christie for President” supporters. Of note was a $40 million package of public money given to real estate mogul Murray Kushner, who has handed $125,000 to Christie’s campaigns and to state Republicans since 2009. IBT reports this all makes glorious sense for why Christie wants to remain governor: He has the ability to hand out millions in tax benefits and contracts from New Jersey in exchange for Presidential donations. How is that allowed?
SHIP BOTTOM – No one – other than real estate developers and tax-hungry politicians – supports the flagrant use eminent domain. But it is tough to argue for the oceanfront property owners who flatly refuse to allow the state access to build protective dunes by their homes. As everyone saw from Superstorm Sandy, dunes were able to save entire communities from ruin. And where there were no dunes, there were billions in damage. Good to see the Christie Administration launch legal proceedings to obtain land, as part of the ongoing battle with 244 land owners who are more concerned with the glorious views from the bedroom than the welfare of the entire shore town. Sue them all.
EDISON—More than 1,000 members of the Central Jersey small business community are expected to descend upon the Pines Manor Tuesday for an annual Hispanic Business Expo, organized by the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event, now in its fifth year, will feature keynote speaker Eliana Murillo, head of multicultural marketing at Google, Inc. In addition to providing valuable insight on how to market one’s business, we look forward to her helping us finally understand Google+. To register, go to www.mcrcc.org.
MAYS LANDING – Two dads were shining examples of maturity and manhood, getting into a bloody fistfight after one of their kids got kicked off a travel softball team. The South Jersey men were arrested in Salisbury, Md. after their fight was caught on a cellphone and posted on YouTube. The fight ends with one guy on the ground, his face looking like Rocky after the Clubber Lang beating. Apparently, one of the guys challenged the other to a fight via text and drove to Salisbury for the smackdown. The pair is charged with second-degree assault. Here is the fight, about one minute in. No need for Pay-Per-View.
POINT PLEASANT – As we move into another glorious summer weekend at the Jersey shore, enjoy this great segment from Jimmy Fallon and Bill Hader, mocking the typical 1980s cop drama as part of the “Point Pleasant Police.” Just need some shots of Heather Locklear in full feathered hair. Watch it here.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Not too long ago, prison guards were worried if an inmate grabbed a second carton of milk. Now the concern is inmates making off with their usernames and passwords. Authorities are trying to figure how an inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution had obtained all the guards’ usernames and passwords, discovered during a random search. Alarmed authorities say there appeared to be no data breach, but are fretting at why he wanted the information and what he could have done with it.
ON THE ROAD – Is anyone surprised that a Google self-driving car got in an accident? Sure, we love Google – and have googled about 40 times to write this page. But no matter how advanced the technology, it is hard to fathom the self-driving car replacing the steady maneuvering of humans. On July 1, the Google SUV rear-ended another car, causing minor whiplash in three people. Interesting to see if this technology will ever be mass marketed. If people are so determined to not drive, why not just call Uber?
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was on this day in 1955 that the American family was introduced to the endless line to nowhere, as Disneyland opens in rural Orange County, CA.
WORD OF THE DAY
Milquetoast – noun
Definition: A timid, wishy-washy person. Kind of a schnook.
Example: “Mel is such a milquetoast; he gets pushed around by 4 year olds on tricycles.”