The Morning Briefing - January 20, 2015

ON THE RAILS – With the ridership into Manhattan growing at least 2.5 percent a year, Amtrak is eager to demolish an entire block to build a new rail station for New Jersey commuters across 31st Street. But, as the Record reports, a bloody sock and mitten stand in the way. There are holy relics inside St. John the Baptist Church, worn by Padre Pio, a Catholic saint. And they must be moved before any jackhammers are brought in. Perhaps when Pope Francis visits New York in September he can give Amtrak a special blessing to relocate the relics.

ON THE RAILS – Even if issues regarding a bloody sock and mitten get holy intervention, it is just one headache in a lifetime of migraines for Amtrak, which would need to ensure a litany of permitting, environmental studies and historical reviews get resolved. Even with the green light, how do you do all this work, while also serving 500,000 commuters during construction, now squeezing through two, 104-year-old tunnels? Oh, and you need to convince Congress to spend $1 billion just to buy the land at 31st Street.

LAKEWOOD – Sometimes, it’s tough to act like a saint – especially when you have to deal with real-life people. Township cops nabbed a guy who went to St. Mary’s of the Lake Church on Sunday morning to get some help, after an alleged fire in his house. But as church elders focused on the Mass, promising to help him after the service, the suspect made off with the collection plate, an estimated $1,500. Cops found him nearby, with a bagful of church cash, NJ.com reports. His bail is $10,000 cash; let’s assume he won’t be posting anytime soon.

CAMDEN – If you heard there was a plan to demolish 600 buildings in your town, you’d think King Kong was about to attack. But this is Camden; normal thinking does not apply. State officials will be in the city today to celebrate the demolition of 62 buildings in the Cramer Hill and Whitman Park neighborhoods as the first step in a city-wide effort to level about 600 abandoned, unsafe buildings that have existed for a few decades too long.

LITTLE FALLS – With the price of gas plummeting by the day, it is the ideal time for state lawmakers to push through a proposed 25-cent gas tax, in what appears to be the only sensible way to raise $1.25 billion a year for the perennially-broke Transportation Trust Fund, designed to fund much-needed road, rail and bridge repairs. Of course, there is opposition. A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll shows nearly 68 percent of the those surveyed oppose raising the gas tax. And this morning, Americans for Prosperity is holding an event at a Delta gas station in Little Falls to list their many concerns and perhaps buy some god-awful coffee. Fine. But how do they suggest the state fix its crumbling infrastructure?

STATEWIDE – Most of you disagree with us. Even with gas being sold at less than 2 bucks a gallon, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind says 68 percent of those polled are against the proposed gas tax, which some think would cost the average motorist $300 a year. Among the opposition is 31 percent, rightfully skeptical that the money would be used as intended, while 45 percent say we already pay too many taxes and are disgusted at the thought of paying any more. A tricky issue for lawmakers: opposition is bi-partisan.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Tony Verna, a television producer who invented instant replay for live sports 51 years ago, has died. To repeat, Tony Verna, a television producer who invented instant replay for live sports 51 years ago, has died.

LONDON – We’ve all thought about it: Sending a bill to some callous parent who RSVPs for his kid to come to the birthday party, but doesn’t show up. A London man was surprised to find that bill in his 5-year-old's school bag, demanding a "no-show fee" for another child's birthday party. NBC reports the other parent wants $24 because his son ditched an event at a local ski center. The birthday boy's mother told BBC that her contact details were on the party invitation and the idiot parent could have easily called. She is ready to take this to small claims court. Likely, expect the guy and his son not to show up.

IN THE MEDIA

NEW YORK – CBS News is reporting this morning that Baby Boomers continue to die and their numbers are steadily thinning. As opposed to what?

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was a good day for Ronald Reagan on this day in 1989 – the first U.S. President elected in a “0” year, since 1840, to make it out of the job still alive.

ON THE RAILS – With the ridership into Manhattan growing at least 2.5 percent a year, Amtrak is eager to demolish an entire block to build a new rail station for New Jersey commuters across 31st Street. But, as the Record reports, a bloody sock and mitten stand in the way. There are holy relics inside St. John the Baptist Church, worn by Padre Pio, a Catholic saint. And they must be moved before any jackhammers are brought in. Perhaps when Pope Francis visits New York in September he can give Amtrak a special blessing to relocate the relics.

ON THE RAILS – Even if issues regarding a bloody sock and mitten get holy intervention, it is just one headache in a lifetime of migraines for Amtrak, which would need to ensure a litany of permitting, environmental studies and historical reviews get resolved. Even with the green light, how do you do all this work, while also serving 500,000 commuters during construction, now squeezing through two, 104-year-old tunnels? Oh, and you need to convince Congress to spend $1 billion just to buy the land at 31st Street.

LAKEWOOD – Sometimes, it’s tough to act like a saint – especially when you have to deal with real-life people. Township cops nabbed a guy who went to St. Mary’s of the Lake Church on Sunday morning to get some help, after an alleged fire in his house. But as church elders focused on the Mass, promising to help him after the service, the suspect made off with the collection plate, an estimated $1,500. Cops found him nearby, with a bagful of church cash, NJ.com reports. His bail is $10,000 cash; let’s assume he won’t be posting anytime soon.

CAMDEN – If you heard there was a plan to demolish 600 buildings in your town, you’d think King Kong was about to attack. But this is Camden; normal thinking does not apply. State officials will be in the city today to celebrate the demolition of 62 buildings in the Cramer Hill and Whitman Park neighborhoods as the first step in a city-wide effort to level about 600 abandoned, unsafe buildings that have existed for a few decades too long.

LITTLE FALLS – With the price of gas plummeting by the day, it is the ideal time for state lawmakers to push through a proposed 25-cent gas tax, in what appears to be the only sensible way to raise $1.25 billion a year for the perennially-broke Transportation Trust Fund, designed to fund much-needed road, rail and bridge repairs. Of course, there is opposition. A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll shows nearly 68 percent of the those surveyed oppose raising the gas tax. And this morning, Americans for Prosperity is holding an event at a Delta gas station in Little Falls to list their many concerns and perhaps buy some god-awful coffee. Fine. But how do they suggest the state fix its crumbling infrastructure?

STATEWIDE – Most of you disagree with us. Even with gas being sold at less than 2 bucks a gallon, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind says 68 percent of those polled are against the proposed gas tax, which some think would cost the average motorist $300 a year. Among the opposition is 31 percent, rightfully skeptical that the money would be used as intended, while 45 percent say we already pay too many taxes and are disgusted at the thought of paying any more. A tricky issue for lawmakers: opposition is bi-partisan.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Tony Verna, a television producer who invented instant replay for live sports 51 years ago, has died. To repeat, Tony Verna, a television producer who invented instant replay for live sports 51 years ago, has died.

LONDON – We’ve all thought about it: Sending a bill to some callous parent who RSVPs for his kid to come to the birthday party, but doesn’t show up. A London man was surprised to find that bill in his 5-year-old's school bag, demanding a "no-show fee" for another child's birthday party. NBC reports the other parent wants $24 because his son ditched an event at a local ski center. The birthday boy's mother told BBC that her contact details were on the party invitation and the idiot parent could have easily called. She is ready to take this to small claims court. Likely, expect the guy and his son not to show up.

IN THE MEDIA

NEW YORK – CBS News is reporting this morning that Baby Boomers continue to die and their numbers are steadily thinning. As opposed to what?

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was a good day for Ronald Reagan on this day in 1989 – the first U.S. President elected in a “0” year, since 1840, to make it out of the job still alive.