The Morning Briefing - January 21, 2015
TRENTON – Not as if it really matters anymore to our two-term governor, but he now has the lowest overall poll score in almost four years. Gov. Chris Christie – clearly eying the next step – sits with a 48 percent disapproval rating, says a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning. Christie hasn’t enjoyed a bounce-back in the polls after Bridgegate became international news a year ago. Here is some raw meat for GOP primary candidates: More than half of New Jerseyans, according to this poll, think the governor doesn’t care about their problems.
NEW BRUNSWICK – Meanwhile, unannounced Democratic candidate for governor – Phil Murphy – wants us all to know that he cares about our problems. Today, he is at Rutgers University to float six or so ideas designed to make life better for typical middle-class residents in the state (as if they exist anymore). Murphy will be talking about increasing the minimum wage for wait staff, tax credits for parents and other goodies designed to get people excited about a Murphy campaign for 2017. For those unaware, Murphy hosted Jon Bon Jovi for a policy discussion at the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City, which certainly generated some buzz for the newcomer.
TRENTON – Some more unsettling news for city parents: the school district has announced an estimated $19 million shortfall heading toward the 2015-16 school year (give or take a few million). The Trenton Times reports the school district will have its hat in hand to state lawmakers, while it tells a story of how charter school payments are bankrupting the district. School officials want to use millions in surplus to cover some of the gap, while some unpleasant discussions with the local labor unions are planned, with planned cuts to be announced in March.
ATLANTIC CITY – While United Airlines pulled out of the Atlantic City International Airport in December, the Press of AC reports that Air Canada is considering a commercial route from Toronto. No, this is not a story about clueless, beer-swilling Canadians unaware that four casinos shuttered last year. Rather, this is about shrewd, beer-swilling Canadians taking advantage of an annual $705,000 subsidy from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to create the route. Eh?
STATEWIDE – It is a long time coming, but pleased and relieved the state Department of Transportation is conducting immediate inspections of about 300 of the worst bridges in the state. NJ.com reports about 600 of the state’s 6,600 spans are considered “structurally deficient,” unsettling to anyone. Of that number, there are 300 of these rotting masses the state directly maintains. Scary to see what the state will learn, as the DOT already notes some of the bridges may be shut down immediately for long-overdue repairs. How will this all be paid for? Compared to the costs of lawsuits, perhaps it doesn’t matter.
FLORHAM PARK – Are we aging? Apparently so – especially as we watch Snooki become yet another suburban mom. The brainless party girl from “Jersey Shore” is now buying a second home in Morris County with her growing family. Weird to see Snooki trading in body shots for body cream, and late-night parties for early-morning yoga. But happy to see that last bottle of Bud Light go down the drain. Welcome, Snooki, to the other side. It’s not so bad here.
PRINCETON – Applying to Princeton University for this fall? Yeah, well, good luck. The Trenton Times reports the Ivy League school has already accepted 767 students for the class of 2019 and there are only 1,300 slots. Meanwhile, the university has set a record for the number of applicants – 27,259. So… how’s your jump shot?
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
PHILADELPHIA – Countless people have run up the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, shadowboxing and doing their best imitation of “Rocky.” But a trio of tourists was almost knocked out when they made the climb on Saturday, finding Sylvester Stallone at the top. “He said to us, 'Man, you guys are fast. You're making me look bad!'”one tourist told the AP. Then, they did what everyone else does in 2015: pose for a selfie, with Stallone making a fist.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day one year ago that Venezuelans were enraged, as President Nicolas Maduro announced plans to raise the price of federally subsidized gas – from six cents to 17 cents a gallon. Outrageous.