The Morning Briefing - July 6, 2016
ATLANTIC CITY – Hillary Clinton will DO AC at lunchtime today. Imagine the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee sneaking a few peeks through dark, smudgy windows of the empty, rotting, hulking mess known as Trump Plaza. Or maybe, she will lead Trump Taj Mahal’s striking workers in a rousing chorus of “Dump Trump the Chump,” before she heads to Boardwalk Hall to renew her assault on her Republican rival's slippery business practices. And what better venue? The city where four Trump casinos went belly up is the ideal backdrop for the key Clinton message: Electing the mouthy mogul would be as silly as splitting a pair of fours.
UNION TOWNSHIP – With all this sudden interest in the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, Kean University is jumping on the craze at 1 p.m. today – revealing what organizers vow is “never-seen-before documents” at Liberty Hall Museum. Kean University is dangling some tasty morsels for history buffs and Broadway enthusiasts – promising a “major story about Hamilton, embraced by most Hamilton authors as fact, will be completely refuted.” Hmm, someone, somewhere, may soon have to rewrite a rap.
FORT LEE - Like Soviet Russia, the legal plight of David Samson, the Bridgegate-stained former Port Authority chairman ends with a poof instead of a bang. And for Gov. Christie, it ends with a sigh of relief as the New York Observer reports that Samson will not cooperate with the government as he accepts a one-count felony plea related to his exclusive "Chairman's Flight," the maligned Newark to Columbia, SC flight created specifically for Samson. So, Samson falls lightly on his sword without ratting out co-conspirators, Christie continues to stump for Trump, and the public rests assured that justice has been served.
BAYONNE – Perhaps tonight's belated fireworks show at DiDomenico Park is to celebrate that fateful day when politicians first began to loath the news media. That was July 6, 1776. You see, our Founding Fathers awoke from a two-day, celebratory drink-fest to find the Pennsylvania Evening Post actually printed their entire 1,458-word declaration, including all that crazy talk about flipping the bird to King George. Well, actually, Bayonne's fireworks are two days late because the city is … um, thrifty. It didn't want to pay premium rates for July 4th fireworks, opting for a $3,000 discount, a city spokesman told the Jersey Journal. Besides, the city's summer concert series also starts tonight. And “Bobby and his Banjo” only costs $10.
BARNEGAT – Next time there's an escaped convict, local cops may look the other way. That’s because the state Corrections Department refuses to repay $30,000 for police overtime during May's mad five-day search for an escaped prisoner. Barnegat sent 28 cops to help with the search, secure schools and escort school buses. State corrections officials chalk that all up to “mutual aid,” so, sorry, no reimbursement. Mayor John Novak told the Asbury Park Press the State Police should have sent help to Barnegat at the time: “They put more Troopers at the Meadowlands for a football game than they did to protect the schoolchildren of Barnegat when a convicted child killer was on the loose.”
STATEWIDE – RegentAtlantic is out with its latest report – a must-read for anyone who thinks they have the chops to be governor of this state. Following interviews with more than 100 business owners, the firm says nearly half of them wouldn’t open businesses in the state, if they had a chance to do it all again. Moreover, if they choose to expand or open another business, most would do it elsewhere because of all the regulation and taxes that plague New Jersey. And, to top it off, 65 percent of the business owners are eagerly looking toward retirement, when they can finally flee the high cost of living and estate taxes. Remember, gubernatorial candidates, these people are the job creators for New Jersey. How are you going to change their opinions? Read the report here.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
BOULDER, CO – In a city where marijuana is legally sold on virtually every street, apparently it is too unhealthy to eat ice cream. Boulder officials are no longer allowing vendors to sell ice cream cones, bars and sandwiches in all parks and recreation facilities, concerned about the girth of the local populace. City-run facilities can now only sell treats that satisfy a series of nutritional standards, says The Daily Camera. Meanwhile, for god’s sake, pass the bong.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Lightening met thunder on this day in 1957, when a 16-year-old struck up a conversation a 15-year-old at a church dinner. It was John Lennon, a musician performing that night with “The Quarrymen” and a young bloke, Paul McCartney.
WORD OF THE DAY
Nadir (NAY-deer) – noun
Definition: The lowest point
Example: I reached my nadir when I asked for extra chocolate chips, ice cream and bacon on my French toast.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Steamy.