The Morning Briefing - February 10, 2015
NEWARK – The city has created plenty of buzz about plans to sell unwanted, weed-choked lots for $1,000 as part of a “Valentine’s Land Sale Day.” All of these parcels have been ignored for years and sit in some of the sketchiest neighborhoods. But while the campaign is effective, the message from an official municipal press release is a bit off: “Newark to Sell Same-Sex & Straight Couples Properties on Valentine's Day.” It’s odd to see a city single out sexual orientation – sort of like “Newark to Provide Street Cleaning for Same-Sex & Straight Couples.”
BEDMINSTER – Score one for New Jersey. The 8.8 million residents are relieved to learn this morning that Donald Trump will likely be buried elsewhere. The Courier News reports that Trump is eying Florida as the state that will be graced with his remains, as opposed to a private plot at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. Perhaps more acreage is needed to display “The Wig” in its full glory.
WEST WINDSOR – We need to bring in a professional joke writer for this one. So, a guy walks into the Sam’s Club in West Windsor on Friday, stuffs a $105 pork loin down the front of his pants and makes a break for the front door, the Trenton Times reports. Before escaping, he throws a second pork loin at the feet of a perplexed greeter as the front door, perhaps as a decoy. Or maybe he didn’t want to be a pig.
ATLANTIC CITY – Jeez, does anyone want to buy the Revel? Anyone at all? Hello? It looks like the deal is quickly unraveling with the Florida developer who could muck up a deal to buy the bankrupt casino for just pennies on the dollar. The Revel owners want to walk away from the guy, who keeps demanding more and more concessions to take over the $2.4 billion palace for just $95.4 million. If the deal is terminated, there is a silver lining: a non-refundable $10 million deposit – proving, yes, someone can make a buck off the Revel.
TRENTON – Companies fleeing New Jersey for lower taxes, cheaper labor and less regulation may now be asked to fill out a survey detailing why they are leaving. NJ.com reports legislation is moving through the Senate that would require state labor officials to distribute written surveys to corporate honchos heading for greener pastures. Lawmakers want to know the “actual root cause of job loss,” which, all assume, is lower taxes, cheaper labor and less regulation.
IN THE MEDIA
MIDDLETOWN – Turn to the Morning Briefing for solutions! There’s Mater Dei High School in Middletown on life support, trying to raise $1 million or so to keep the doors open beyond this school year. And we have NBC’s Brian Williams, an alumnus of the high school who earns $10 million a year (says Wikipedia). The school is desperate for money; Williams is desperate to score some points in the court of public opinion. A 10 percent tithing solves all. You’re welcome.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
WASHINGTON – Today there will be “50 Shades of the Library of Congress,” as the library is partnering with the Harlequin to sponsor a two-day conference on romance fiction. Expect steamy windows throughout the stately building, as bespectacled, wide-eyed librarians get to watch a documentary called "Love Between the Covers," as they, and other blushing academics explore the changing dynamics of the genre, as well as the “digital technologies” reshaping the future (Translation: Internet porn.) The conference will climax with some “break-out sessions.”
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was one year ago today that Congress hit a milestone: for the first time in history, more than half of its members disclosed a net worth of more than $1 million.