The Morning Briefing - October 14, 2015
BRIDGEWATER – It is always easy to shake our heads in disgust as another major company leaves New Jersey. So, on behalf of 8.938 million New Jerseyans, let’s roll out the red carpet for Nestle, opening a research and development facility in Bridgewater, the Courier News reports. Sure, we don’t know the details of what it took to recruit this Swiss-based “Center of Excellence” to central New Jersey, like tax breaks, etc., but let’s just enjoy the moment, ok?
RINGWOOD – What? An aggressive bear in the forest? No way. As bears get a bit more aggressive in foraging for food, planning for hibernation, hikers at Ramapo State Forest are complaining that one bear is acting particularly aggressive. The DEP set up a trap and captured a bear on Oct. 5, killing it, the Record reports. But it is unclear if that was the one stirring up all the trouble. Tough balance here. People need to be safe, but we can’t expect nature to behave like all the animals at Disney’s Jungle Cruise.
NEW BRUNSWICK – A big honor today for former Gov. Jim Florio, as Rutgers University will announce the establishment of the school’s "Gov. James J. Florio Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Public Policy" and the naming of the school's "Gov. James J. Florio Special Events Forum." A gaggle of former governors and other prominent leaders will be on hand this afternoon to celebrate, while all quietly wondering what Rutgers should name after them.
NEWARK – A former Star-Ledger reporter caught up with former Newark Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson, asking what she thought of The Prize, a detailed book by Dale Russakoff about the dysfunction of the Newark Public Schools. Anderson tells Naomi Nix the book, “trivialized or ignored critical pieces of the puzzle. Her book glosses over our constant work to find new ways to foster dialogue when traditional paths were blocked. My team and I spent the vast majority of our time talking to and listening to people - not just in schools or big public meetings, but at the grocery store, in small roundtables, and at local hang-outs. In these intimate discussions, we heard and felt support and enthusiasm for change. Also, while some of the changes we made will take years to bear fruit, the impressive progress we made is undeniable. For her to suggest that the jury is still out on our impact is troubling.”
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Gov. Chris Christie is still hovering around 1 percent in the latest Presidential poll. (Insert tired sigh here) At least he is in good company, stuck in the mud with Govs. John Kasich of Ohio and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Gov. George Pataki of New York for ninth place. Meanwhile, things are getting interesting at the top, reports FOX News, with Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson in a statistical dead heat. Political scientists are banging their heads, as the Republican electorate continues to support novice candidates, last in the U.S. Capitol for a class trip in 1960.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – A local woman is likely known as the worst aunt in the history of time, as she sued her euphoric nephew for jumping into her arms at his 8th birthday party. "I remember him shouting, 'Auntie Jen I love you,' and there he was flying at me," she testified, reports the Connecticut Post. Auntie Jen is demanding $127,000 from the kid for her pain and suffering. Luckily, a Connecticut jury decided yesterday the boy is not liable. Moreover, he should not be required to send a “thank-you note” to Aunt Jennie for her crappy gift. Who still plays “Simon” anyway?
ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND — As reality sunk in for disappointed Mets fans that the Amazins were not going to clinch the National League Division Series at home, viewers slowly navigated toward CNN’s decidedly less thrilling Democratic presidential candidates debate. There, they saw Hillary Clinton as Matt Harvey, the perceived ace who doesn’t always jibe with the fan base, and Bernie Sanders, the fan favorite who’ll likely soon be traded for a player to be named later. They also saw a bunch of other utility players who will be memorialized in the the box of old scorecards in the attic.
IN THE MEDIA
NEWARK – NJSpotlight.com is hosting an event called “NJ Spotlight on Cities,” a day-long look at how New Jersey’s urban centers are energizing for the future. On Friday, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, learn how cities are developing economies, transforming schools, and improving resident quality of life. John Mooney, editor of the news site, calls it “a day of ideas, insight and inspiration.” Buy tickets here. To get absolutely no discount whatsoever, say you saw this blurb in the Jaffe Morning Briefing.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1912 that Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest while campaigning in Milwaukee, WI. But, unlike all our current namby-pampy Presidents, Roosevelt ignored the wound and delivered a passionate 90-minute speech.
WORD OF THE DAY
Discombobulate – noun or adjective
Definition: to confuse
Example: If you saw the first Democratic primary debate last night, it seems the candidates were trying to discombobulate (verb) Bernie Sanders. Or maybe he was just discombobulated (adjective), wondering the names of all these unknown candidates who showed up.