The Morning Briefing - January 8, 2015
MONTVALE – It seems no surprise that Mercedes-Benz has decided to relocate to Georgia. The Record reports it’s increasingly more difficult for New Jersey to compete for business against the quickly growing southern states. It used to be the South was disregarded as home to backwater hicks who couldn’t handle the work required by these international companies. But now Bo and Luke have just as much education as us in New Jersey, and the difference in the cost of living is startling. Median tax bills in Fulton County, Georgia, were $2,500 in 2013, compared to $9,600 in Bergen County. Meanwhile, the price of real estate is about half. Plus, it’s likely not nine degrees this morning in Georgia. So where are all the smart people living now?
JERSEY CITY – Why did Gov. Chris Christie cancel meetings with Mayor Steve Fulop? That's what federal prosecutors want to know, says the Wall Street Journal, reporting the U.S. attorney has subpoenaed the governor’s re-election campaign, seeking a reason. The newspaper suggests Christie cancelled the meetings after Fulop declined to endorse him for re-election – yet more allegations of Christie blackballing those who don't support him. No comment from the Christie camp.
VINELAND – Perhaps one motorist did not have the best explanation for why he was weaving, blowing through a stop sign and nearly hitting a police cruiser on New Year’s Eve, before informing cops “everyone drives drunk” that night. The Daily Journal reports the Vineland man was slurring his words, struggling through field sobriety tests and refusing a Breathalyzer, yet claimed he had not a drop to drink on New Year’s Eve.
BAYONNE – Perhaps a big fan of stain guard, a 35-year-old Hoboken man will soon be explaining to a judge why he needed to steal 66 deodorant sticks from the local Stop and Shop. The Jersey Journal says store security spotted the scented heist on Saturday afternoon, likely noting the distinct odor of “forest rain.” The guard called the cops and referred to exhibits 1-66.
BOSTON – For the first time since the likes of Mitt Romney, a Republican governor will be running things in Massachusetts. And such news can’t be ignored by Gov. Chris Christie, heading to Boston today to attend the swearing-in of Charlie Baker and shake every hand at the inaugural gala. Interesting to see how media will somehow connect all this to the Cowboys-Packers game this Sunday.
YOUR LUNCH – Plastic foam food containers were miraculously able to outlive the Bloomberg Administration. But Mayor Bill de Blasio will be announcing a plan today to ban these containers at eateries across the city. The ban on these environmental nightmares will go into effect on July 1. The Daily News reports the City Council gave these foam container manufacturers a year to prove this stuff can be recycled, but apparently that’s impossible. Let’s assume the Soup Nazi is not pleased.
IN THE MEDIA
WASHINGTON - Frederick County Councilman Kirby Delauter has become the butt of every journalism joke after threatening to sue the Frederick News-Post if the newspaper dares use his name without permission. The public official posted on Facebook: “Use my name again unauthorized and you'll be paying for an attorney. Your rights stop where mine start.”
The newspaper, easily citing its First Amendment rights, responded with the perfect editorial on Tuesday, titled “Kirby Delauter, Kirby Delauter, Kirby Delauter," in which the writer uses the councilman’s name “unauthorized” 25 times. As an added bonus, the first letter of each paragraph spelled out Delauter's name."I just couldn't believe that an elected official would say something so stupid," said Terry Headlee, the managing editor of the 30,000-circulation newspaper. Meanwhile, hashtag #kirbydelauteris trending on Twitter.
Enjoy the editorial here.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
SOMEWHERE ELSE – President Obama has been in office for six years and has released his birth certificate, yet 19 percent of Americans believe it is “definitely” or “probably” true that he is not legally a citizen of the United States, reports an FDU poll. Of course, the belief is most prevalent among Republicans, with 34 percent of the respondents questioning why some guy from Kenya or elsewhere is still living in the White House.
YOUR FEET – Happy National Argyle Day.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1998 that Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski asks to act as his own lawyer. Because a guy like this would appear so credible to a jury.