Skip to main content

The Morning Briefing - January 13, 2015

TRENTON – Expect plenty of cheering Iowa pig farmers in the balcony today, as Gov. Chris Christie delivers his fifth-annual “State of the State” address to highlight all his hard work for the people of New Jersey over the past year. Besides the farmers, the crowd may include all those Republican governors who Christie criss-crossed the country to elect, members of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad and the super-rich Manhattan lawyers he hired to “investigate” Bridgegate. Not in attendance will be: state workers resigned to never receiving their pensions, commuters who couldn’t afford the Turnpike toll and taxpayers working their second job at the Quick Chek coffee bar.

TRENTON – With the annual speech here, expect a newly released poll to put it all in perspective. FDU has it, reporting this morning that Christie’s numbers haven’t really changed since October. The poll has 39 percent liking the work he is doing (in New Jersey), while 47 percent disapprove. The poll says he is struggling for support from women and many believe his Presidential aspirations are impacting his ability to perform as governor. (Ya think?) The pollster said many former supporters, who found the governor to be a special guy, are no longer drinking the Christie Kool-Aid, such as public employees, some Democrats and independents.

TRENTON – Expect Democrats and other Christie opponents to not give an inch. Critics will be on the Statehouse steps today to hold what they are calling a "State of OUR State" address in advance of the Governor’s performance. Organizers with the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, helping to coordinate this media-friendly event, say they want to offer their own perspective to the governor's "regular annual spin." And, immediately after the speech, Democrats will hold their own event in Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald's conference room to offer some special perspective. Free Kool-Aid.

ATLANTIC CITY – Amazing that the Atlantic City Race Course was never permitted to feature slot machines, as it seemed the perfect way to keep gamblers busy until post time. Not so surprising is the announcement the 69-year-old course will have its last race on Friday. It is the story of another beautiful turf course – attracting the likes of Princess Grace – falling on hard times. Taking the family to the track, well, just doesn’t sound all that glamorous anymore. But it seems the perfect place to hang with Uncle Mel and his cigar-chomping pals, none of whom have talked to a girl since chest hair was considered alluring.

HAMILTON – In the highly competitive supermarket industry – where upstarts need to compete against such trendy names as “Whole Foods” and “Trader Joe’s” – running a chain called “Bottom Dollar Food” seemed destine for failure. And failure officially arrived at 2 p.m. yesterday, when the discount grocer closed its 13 stores in New Jersey and donated the food to pantries, NJ.com reports. Sure, most people don’t want to pay a lot of money for their groceries, but no one is proud to connect with a store that screams “CHEAP STUFF HERE.”

ROSELLE – Mayor Jamel Holley – the youngest mayor in the history of the borough – is now poised to become the youngest African-American in the state Legislature and the first African-American to serve in the 20th legislative seat. Union County Democrats will be meeting January 21 to appoint a successor to Assemblyman Joe Cryan. Holley is the leading contender, already announcing he is running to fill the seat in the next general election.

WALL TOWNSHIP – In the National Hockey League, getting kicked in the back is an occupational hazard as common as a paper cut. But if you are a former Devil accused of kicking a teenager, well, that is a different story. News 12 New Jersey reports former Devil Jim Dowd, coach of the Manasquan/Point Pleasant Beach varsity hockey team, is expected to appear today in Wall municipal court to answer to assault charges following the alleged kicking during a game last Wednesday.

IN THE MEDIA

TRENTON - CBS reports Gov. Chris Christie has not taken any questions from New Jersey reporters since November. How, if at all, will that affect coverage today?

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

ZURICH – The Swiss love ordering pizzas with extra schnitzel and wurst, and that doesn’t sit well with customs officials who are now banning pizza delivery from neighboring Germany, Reuters reports. Apparently, German pizza (ick) is a lot cheaper than Swiss pizza (yuck), prompting all these international orders with delivery guys zipping back and forth on the border. Now, the Swiss require German pizza to go through customs, making the “30 minutes or less” guarantee a bit more challenging. Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Pizzaman.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 2010 that German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz announced the number of cars sold in China rose 77 percent in 2009. Must have been all those free German pizzas with extra schnitzel and wurst.