The Morning Briefing - February 3, 2015
LONDON - The trip across the pond was designed for all to witness one brave American conquer England on its own soil, but Gov. Chris Christie somehow got himself entangled in the whole measles outbreak. He said - now famously - that parents should "weigh their options" when deciding if the kiddies should be vaccinated. Christie's PR folks were then frantically jamming the toothpaste back in the tube, tweeting a clarification of what the Governor really meant, saying "there is no question kids should get vaccinated." Of course, this became the story of the day, with the other GOP Presidential hopefuls sitting back with popcorn, smiling and enjoying the show.
Read CNN's coverage of the mess, featuring comments from our own Jonathan Jaffe.
RIDGEWOOD - CEOs everywhere will be on the receiving end of populist ire today for being part of the 1 percent. The "Bringing it Home" protest tour, coming today to leafy, wealthy enclaves across New Jersey, is intended to raise awareness of rampant income inequality and to protest six- and seven-figure bonuses. However, the likely effect will be that the targeted CEOs, perched in their cherry-paneled offices high above Wall Street, will simply complain about all these people in the local park, and the $20 loafers that are destroying the landscaping.
ATLANTIC CITY - Any event in a freezing February that can get people to Atlantic City is worth plenty of kudos, although not everything on the schedule may warrant media coverage. We appreciate the zeal of those organizing the Atlantic City Boat Show, but inviting reporters to the convention center today to witness the delivery of exhibits and boats may be a stretch. Hey, we could be wrong; so head to the delivery bays by 6 p.m. tonight to see it all. Think summer.
ATLANTIC CITY - It was a great idea for Assembly Republicans, and hundreds of their card-carrying supporters, to get together yesterday and plot out strategy to win back the Assembly, which they haven't controlled since 2002. But what was concerning was the banner that read: "Don't Move. Lower Taxes Are On The Way." Great slogan, heck yes! But whoever posted such a sign has apparently just returned to New Jersey after a 10-year Grateful Dead tour. All we've been hearing is how the state can't afford to contribute to state pensions, can't afford to fix roads and bridges, can't keep Atlantic City afloat and barely balances the budget each year, after some last-minute magic tricks. And yet the Assembly Republicans are promising "lower taxes" if they take control of the lower house? Really?
ATLANTIC CITY - It was a good move for the Republicans to book the Borgata, which has the money to pay its utility bills. But down the road, the $2.4 billion former Revel is about to lose electricity, heat and water service because its sole utility supplier hasn't been paid in awhile, Philly.com reports. A bankruptcy judge is set to hear arguments from both sides. Frightening to see the damage to this vacant building if it is forced to sustain sub-zero ocean winds with no heat.
BAYONNE - A freshly-fired employee at an auto business in Hillside needed to remove his boat from his employer's property, the Jersey Journal reports. The employer - figuring he had little choice - let the former worker borrow his pick-up truck and trailer to tow the boat. So, the former employee hitched up his boat, and the former employer and a mechanic followed him in a separate car to 16th Street Park in Bayonne. Then, things went bad. The former employee drove the pick-up truck through a locked gate, plunging the truck into the frigid Newark Bay. He then got out, yelled profanities at his old boss and mooned him. The truck also was destroyed, the boat impounded, the former employee arrested.
JEFFERSON - A school custodian thinks he was fired because of age discrimination, after reaching the ripe old age of 61. An appellate court has rightfully sided with the Jefferson Board of Education, dismissing the suit. NJ.com reports the Jefferson schools proved with photos that he did some lousy work as a janitor; perhaps there was crusty Jell-O repeatedly discovered on the cafeteria floor. The janitor could not prove age was a factor. Plus, when did 61 because a plausible age for a custodian to argue age discrimination? Some school janitors at that age are called "The Rookie."
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
DETROIT - You think you had it tough walking all the way to the school bus stop? The Detroit Free Press reports a city man walked 21 miles a day to get back and forth to work. The newspaper reports that James Robertson, 56, rode buses part of the way to and from his factory job in suburban Rochester Hills, but because they don't cover the whole route, he ended up walking about 8 miles before his shift started at 2 p.m. and 13 more when it's was over at 10 p.m. Miraculously, he had perfect attendance for 12 years. Since the newspaper told his story over the weekend, people have raised more than $90,000 to buy him a car and insurance, or to get him rides to work. This story shines on the glaring need for a 24/7 bus system in Detroit. (Among the many other needs.)
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1931 the Arkansas State Legislature passes a motion to pray for the soul of professional cynic H.L. Mencken, who described Arkansas as the "apex of moronia."