The Morning Briefing - August 17, 2016
NOT IN NEW JERSEY - Gov. Chris Christie will be attached to Donald Trump's hip today, as the federal government willingly gives the billionaire blabbermouth his very first classified briefing at the FBI's New York field office. (Insert shudder here.) Staffers from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the nation's top intelligence office, will be outlining confidential major threats and emerging concerns around the world, ABC News reports. Giving such classified information to someone who defines Europe and Asia as bands from the 1980s is a scary move. But at least our governor will be there to prevent what could become the final countdown. Um, right?
NEWARK - It has been nearly two weeks since a Roselle man fled the cops by diving into the Passaic River and fleeing through the city's sewer system. No one has seen him, NJ.com reports, and cops think he somehow got away. That's because, they say, there is absolutely no way a man can survive in such putrid surroundings, home to a steady flow of human waste, bacteria, deadly gases and probably the largest rats this side of the Bowery. Harrison cops, leading the manhunt, figure he is gone. Or perhaps he will resurface as Marvel® Comics' next swamp villain.
EAST RUTHERFORD - No way. That's basically what officials in this small borough decided last night, washing their hands of anything to do with financing completion of the long-delayed American Dream Meadowlands mega-mall. Developer Triple Five won approval from two state agencies last week for $800 million in redevelopment bonds, part of $1.15 billion in state aid it's getting. But, the borough will now ask the state Local Finance Board to scratch East Rutherford as middleman for the bonds, worried about what happens if (or when) American Dream turns out to be a nightmare. One way or the other, the borough still stands to gain $23 million up front from Triple Five, plus $2.5 million in annual payments that rise to $7 million over time. That is, if the place ever opens.
SEASIDE HEIGHTS - Tree-huggers probably like to whirl around on vintage carousels as much as anyone. They're just leery of a deal to give a 1.36-acre swath of borough-owned beach so owners of Casino Pier can expand. In return, pier owners agree not to scuttle the boardwalk's popular 1910 merry-go-round. The borough hopes to reopen the historic $2.5 million carousel as the featured attraction in its new boardwalk museum. But, the N.J. Conservation Foundation and the American Littoral Society say stop the calliope music, filing a lawsuit claiming the Green Acres protection program doesn't allow trades like this, Shorebeat reports. As this story goes round and round; it'll be up to a judge to stop the music.
TEANECK - Surprising we don't see more hyper-local efforts to bring together police and the people they serve to speak openly. But, it's terrific for Councilman Jason Castle to take it upon himself to host a "Black, White and Blue Town Hall Conversation" tomorrow evening so people from his ethnically and religiously diverse town can meet with cops and town officials. Motivated by tension and violence in Milwaukee, Baton Rouge and Dallas, Castle tells the Record: "The way to move forward is to have an open and constructive dialogue ... leading toward resolutions, healing, and a future that is safer for everyone." Well said.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL - Democrats and Republicans don't give a hoot about young voters. That's seems to be how many 18- to 30-year-olds feel about both major parties and their presidential nominees too, a new GenForward poll says. Most younger people think boastful billionaire Donald Trump would be a nincompoop president and they see Hillary Clinton as their least-repugnant choice, the Washington Post reports. While Hillary gets extra points for experience as a senator and secretary of state, younger voters think she's got integrity problems and image issues. Perhaps she should ditch all those Crayola-colored pantsuits?
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
WARSAW - Looks like Steven Spielberg finally has a decent plot for "Indiana Jones 5" as amateur archeologists in Poland began digging yesterday for a legendary Nazi train said to be laden with gold, gems, priceless artwork and armaments. There have been decades of fruitless searches and scientists think these searchers are all wacko. But, the locals believe the legend of this Nazi "gold train," which allegedly disappeared in a mountain tunnel as the Germans escaped the advancing Soviet army at the end of World War II. Yup, this can only be a job for whip-cracking Indy, and anyone who wants to accompany the 77-year-old "action" hero on the silver screen in 2019.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2013 that the Indian rupee falls to 65.85 rupees to the U.S. dollar, a record low, ensuring that any kid in New Jersey can find someone on the Internet to build a new online game for $5.
WORD OF THE DAY
Filial [FIL-ee-ul] - adjective
Definition: Of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter
Example: Donald Trump has a filial mandate from his father, Fred: Rule the world.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Sunglasses.