The Morning Briefing - February 5, 2015
TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie hasn’t given up on his efforts to puff up the international credentials – meeting at 11 a.m. today with Jim Prentice, the premier of Alberta in Canada. This should be an air-tight meeting, quietly tucked away in the governor’s office, with absolutely no opportunity for media to pose questions about measles policies in Canada.
MONTVILLE — The tremendous value of communications is apparent in Montville, after News 12 New Jersey reported the town was considering a ban on sledding, with fines for any kids who dared attempt to conquer a hill. Montville Mayor Scott Gallopo says the report was dead wrong, telling NJ.com “we're absolutely not considering doing anything with sledding. We haven't discussed it, it hasn't been on our meeting agenda, and nothing is planned for a vote.” How did News 12 New Jersey mess it up? Perhaps “Kane in your Corner” will investigate.
TRENTON – The Star-Ledger prominently reported that property taxes rose just 2.2 percent last year, a rare victory the newspaper is willing to grant Gov. Chris Christie. Now, the reality check. The newspaper is reporting the governor slashed billions of dollars from the rebate programs, adding NJSpotlight.com discovered the actual tax burden rose by 18.6 percent during Christie's first three years, compared to 6 percent in Gov. Jon Corzine's last three years.
EAST RUTHERFORD – While most people are indifferent to the closure of the Izod Center – and haven’t visited for years – there is an impact. The Record reports that 1,700 workers will be losing their jobs by the end of next month, including 618 stagehands, 263 security guards, 169 admissions workers, 116 trades workers, 66 box office employees, 339 food workers and 50 parking attendants. Most of the jobs are part-time. But it seems state officials had little choice, with the arena set to lose $8.5 million this year.
BELMAR – There were 2,000 local families displaced by Superstorm Sandy, and now there are just two families still out of their homes. CBS reports that Belmar is rallying to help those families, raising $200,000 to get them back home by summer. A big issue for these families, as well as many others, has been disputes with insurance companies. Great to see the community help break the logjam.
TRENTON – When you hear about Mothers Against Drunk Driving talking about penalties, you’d think the bigger, the better. But MADD is changing its stance, NJ.com reports, calling for some leniency for first-time offenders in New Jersey. Currently, those busted can lose their driver’s license for a year, get hit with huge insurance surcharges and maybe go to jail. MADD suggests offenders have a device installed in their car measuring their blood alcohol content before the car can start. The bill goes to the Senate today, as part of a national trend to shift the punishment into a lower gear.
IN THE CLASSROOM – Apparently, it is too easy to become a teacher in New Jersey. The state wants student teachers to get a year of classroom experience, rather than a semester, as well as teach in two different school settings, one of which involves special needs students, NJ.com says. New teachers also need a 3.0 GPA, rather than skirt by with a 2.75. Substitute teachers will need a bachelor’s degree, rather than an associate’s, as well as be restricted on how many consecutive days they can teach in the same classroom. Out-of-state teachers coming to New Jersey would also face stiffer regulations. All good; except some school districts – especially the urban ones – will have a much harder time filling the ranks.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
SEATTLE – It must have been one helluva headache for a local man, forced to hang upside down for 18 hours, trapped in a parked rail car in Seattle. KOMO-TV reports the man crawled into the car, designed to carry dry bulk materials. Locals heard someone yelling for help at 8 a.m. yesterday; rescuers saw the man with his feet sticking up, after spending the night stuck in the car, stiff and very cold.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1991 that Howard Stern literally kissed the butt of NY Giant Leonard Marshall on Madison Avenue, after the shock jock lost a bet, claiming the team would lose Super Bowl XXV. Stern also shined Marshall’s shoes.
Of course, there was plenty of build-up, with Stern asking the defensive end if he had herpes, had showered that morning, had gone to the bathroom that morning and if the rest of the Giants know Marshall went to a studio to have another man kiss his buttocks in front of hundreds of people.