The Morning Briefing - January 27, 2016
TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie was particularly gubernatorial yesterday, holding a rare Statehouse press conference to promote his solution for the beleaguered Atlantic City, teetering on financial ruin. The governor wants to take over the city, giving the state the power to restructure debt, terminate municipal contracts, change or terminate collective bargaining agreements and do many of the other things that municipal government does. It’s all about keeping Atlantic City out of bankruptcy for the next five years and hopefully beyond. What are the odds?
PRINCETON – Most times when a small living thing is found in a kid’s food, there are shrieks, howls and perhaps lawsuits. But the tony town of Princeton is embracing the little lizard found in kindergarteners’ bundle of chilled salad greens, Reuters reports. The lizard is now a class pet at Riverside Elementary School, while the organic food store that sold the Asian greens believes the lizard hitchhiked from a grower in Florida. Note to little kids who don’t dine on specialty lettuce: You never have to worry about a lizard living in your chicken fingers.
EAST RUTHERFORD – Expect the $11 beers at Jets games to cost $13 next season, as the team needs to pay $324,000 to settle a lawsuit with their cheerleaders, The Flight Crew. Apparently, its cheerleaders were paid less than minimum wage to strut their stuff, when the girls take into account all the unreimbursed expenses, such as travel, prep time, hair care, etc., the Record reports. The lawsuit was filed by “Krystal” in 2014, and includes a total of 52 cheerleaders who were less than enthusiastic with management. Be Aggressive, B-E Aggressive!
WOODLAND PARK – In 2001, someone started a basic website called abevigoda.com, designed to inform people if Abe Vigoda was alive or dead. On Tuesday, the website was finally updated to announce the passing of the actor, known best for his performance in The Godfather. Since 1982, the running joke is that Vigoda was dead, ever since “People” magazine mistakenly referred to him as the “late” actor, after he didn’t show up at a Barney Miller cast party. Vigoda died – finally – of natural causes at age 94 at his daughter’s home in Woodland Park.
JERSEY CITY — Whoever has the heftiest Super PAC wins. At least that's how Hudson County powerhouse attorney Donald Scarinci seems to see it. A steadfast supporter of Mayor Steve Fulop, Scarinci recently posted on Facebook that the “Democratic primary for governor is over before it begins.” Why? Because a Super PAC, called “Coalition for Progress,” which Scarinci helped create last August, already raised $3.2 million; has commitments for $6 million more; and the Hudson County View says it would pump that cash into Fulop's campaign – if hizzonor ever admits he's a contender. Still, it's rather doubtful Steve Sweeney, Phil Murphy, Ray Lesniak or any other undeclared hopefuls are ready to concede just yet.
HAMILTON – In what must have been a sight to behold, a garbage truck exploded yesterday afternoon in Hamilton – damaging four homes. Local officials tell media the truck – fueled by natural gas – shot out “like a missile,” blasting a hole through one house, with debris tearing a hole into another house. Windows were smashed, siding melted. Residents now know what will happen when they refuse to recycle. NJ.com has the video.
HAMILTON — Lingering piles of curbside snow probably won't prevent higher property assessments from hitting mailboxes for 33,000 property owners before Friday. Until last year's town-wide revaluation, Hamilton's total properties were worth $5.2 billion, half of what officials said they should be since the last reval in 1999, the Trenton Times says. More joy: Property owners are also getting big new estimated tax bills in the same envelope. Once taxpayers are done swooning from sticker shock, they have until May 1st to appeal.
EAST BRUNSWICK — It's nearly down to the wire for local Democrats who have until Friday to give the Township Council up to three choices for interim mayor. Media reports say Councilman Michael Spadafino, a chiropractic sports physician, and Dr. Brad Cohen, the current school board president, are the Democrats’ top picks. The mayor's term, which ends Dec. 31, opened up when Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-judge David Stahl resigned this month to don the black robe of justice. Once it gets the names, the GOP-controlled Council has 30 days to pick one as interim mayor. Politics being what it is, Republicans may just try to run out that clock – as they have no choice but to pick a Dem.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
America first heard all about the “vast right wing conspiracy” from First Lady Hillary Clinton on this day in 1998, as she appeared on the Today show to defend her husband from Whitewater, Filegate, Travelgate and, of course, that lovely White House intern.
WORD OF THE DAY
Hoarfrost (HOR-frost) — noun
Definition: A frozen dew that forms a white coating on a surface.
Example: Mel was going to go for an early-morning run, but was worried about all the hoarfrost.