The Morning Briefing - May 4, 2016
NEWARK – Was there any question all this lead contamination in the Newark Public Schools wouldn’t trigger a federal lawsuit? The widely-anticipated complaint was filed yesterday, with four students and their parents as plaintiffs, NJ.com reports. Giddy attorneys expect more parents to pile on a big, fat class action. There are some great defendants listed, like Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Schools Superintendent Chris Cerf, as well as members of the state Board of Education. With most schools having lead concentrations higher than the federal limit, and school officials concealing it for years before telling anyone, attorneys say this scandal affected “thousands” of potentially poisoned students. Someone, they say, must pay dearly.
PATERSON – Word that this school district is laying off about 115 secretaries as this year’s budget drama unfolds is actually good news somehow. No, not for the secretaries and their families. But, thankfully, it appears no teachers are getting pink slips. You may recall the district was forced last year to lay off 350 employees, including 170 teachers, as well as eliminating 150 vacant teaching jobs. So, in a weird way, it looks like there is finally something to celebrate in the Paterson schools. Um, yay!
ON THE GURNEY - Worried a hospital stay might make you sicker? Gasp, sputter or ask your next ambulance driver to see if you are near one New Jersey's five hospitals that routinely get straight A's for medical care. Englewood Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center and Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville all earned top marks according to N.J. Advance Media. Each has a low incidence of preventable mistakes like blood clots, infections, bed sores and falls. Good to know.
WYCKOFF – The Chief of Police is getting an extended paid vacation, as authorities try to figure what to do about the infamous email he wrote to his officers, supporting racial profiling. Chief Benjamin Fox, now earning $175,000 to sit at home and read stuff like this, wrote an email in December 2014 that said profiling, “racial or otherwise,” has a place in law enforcement if used “fairly.” He added: “black gang members from Teaneck commit burglaries in Wyckoff. That’s why we check out suspicious black people in white neighborhoods.” Fox has spent 40 years as a cop; really amazed he would write that.
HACKENSACK – Bergen County walked away with a cool $10 million after unloading a former six-acre public works property on Zabriskie Street at auction yesterday. Winning bidder Scott Loventhal, of Garden Homes Development, told The Record his firm hopes to turn the site into transit-oriented, multifamily luxury residences. It's near a NJ Transit station in River Edge and close to Routes 4 and 17 with bus access into Manhattan. But, first, it needs to be cleaned up. The county figures there is $2.5 million in on-site environmental work. Bergen County freeholders must seal the deal on May 18.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – First, the speculation was that former Presidential candidate Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer. Now, the word is that his father was somehow involved in murdering JFK. On “Fox & Friends,” Donald Trump criticized Rafael Cruz for campaigning on behalf of his son, cited allegations from a supermarket tabloid and asked, “What was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death?” Cruz, back on the defensive, responded: “I guess I should go ahead and admit, yes, my dad killed JFK, he is secretly Elvis, and Jimmy Hoffa’s buried in his backyard.” Good, glad to see the Zodiac Killer finally start confessing.
PHILADELPHIA – A familiar city eccentric, known as “Philly Jesus,” ended up in handcuffs after a ruckus at an Apple Store. Police said the manager repeatedly asked Philly Jesus to leave on Monday for causing a disturbance, blocking an aisle with the large wooden cross he drags around town. Charged under his real name with disorderly conduct and defiant trespass, Michael Grant is known for dressing in character, preaching on sidewalks, posing for tourist photos and performing impromptu baptisms in city fountains, the Inquirer says. Due in court May 17, Philly Jesus is praying the judge will wash his hands of the case.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
If you are going to start an environmental movement and demand change, perhaps don’t name yourselves the “Don’t Make a Wave Committee.” Greenpeace apparently agreed, officially changing its name on this day in 1972.
WORD OF THE DAY
Frippery (FRIP-i-ree) — noun
Definition: Pretentious or showy thing.
Example: A Presidential candidate with a plane larger than Air Force One? Now, that’s frippery.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Overcast.