The Morning Briefing - September 16, 2016
TRENTON – While most in the school community is eagerly awaiting Gov. Chris Christie to go elsewhere, he is convinced that he is the savior of the public school funding formula. And so he went to the State Supreme Court yesterday, seeking to strip millions of dollars each year from the 31 poorest school districts in the state. Although these struggling cities have gotten nearly $100 billion in state aid since 1985, the governor complains that urban students still lag behind all those suburban districts, fueled with engaged parents, private tutors and endless resources. So, the governor’s solution to the urban education crisis? Grab money from the cities and hand it to the suburbs where students are already thriving. Yup.
FAR HILLS – Our state's chardonnay-swilling elite can now place bets with impunity at the 96th annual steeplechase on Oct 15. Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation Wednesday giving special permission to allow pari-mutuel betting at the Far Hills Race Meeting for the first time. Sure, this event, known as “The Hunt,” has raised more than $18 million for hospitals and medical research. But, Jersey being Jersey, it has also raised eyebrows in the horse racing world. The UK-based Daily Mail describes it as “an alcohol-soaked hedonistic event where … a 'who's who' of New Jersey's moneyed flocked to Far Hills (for) a high-end, alcohol-fueled, no-holds-barred tailgate party.” And now, to keep things interesting, there's gambling. Hit an ATM, grab a martini and head on over.
MONTCLAIR – Plenty of accolades today for super astronaut Buzz Aldrin. He will descend on the Mt. Hebron Middle School today, as school officials officially rename it the Buzz Aldrin Middle School. He will also be presented a flag that flew over Omaha Beach during World War II. Aldrin, as we all know, was the second man on the moon in 1969, following Neil Armstrong down that famous ladder. Aldrin has credited his experience in the Montclair schools as the spark for his interest in science and math. The 86-year-old Rocket Man will also swing by his birthplace, Hackensack UMC Mountainside Hospital, where he will tour the OB/GYN. Not a bad day for Buzz.
LAKEWOOD – A school bus driver – let’s assume he has already been fired – is making national news this morning, as a concerned commuter videoed him swerving the bus into oncoming traffic to get around a slow-moving FedEx truck. The reckless driving was tracked at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday by the commuter, who was concerned that kids were on the bus. The bus was quickly linked back to Jay’s Bus Service, a private company that contracts with various school districts, the Asbury Park Press reports. No clue what the rush was all about, but let’s assume this driver is better suited to work the go-karts at a Funplex.
JERSEY CITY – Money to pay city cops for off-duty work kept vanishing. Now, we know how. A 22-year police veteran pleaded guilty in federal court this week to siphoning $230,000 in payments that were supposed to reimburse the city for cops working off-duty security and traffic control jobs at businesses, events and construction sites. The former officer, 54, was in charge of assigning cops to that work, and private employers were to pay the city for their time. But, federal prosecutors say this cop made side deals to cut out Jersey City. Now, the East Hanover resident faces eight years in federal prison after admitting to fraud conspiracy, accepting corrupt payments and filing a false tax return.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
NEW YORK – While any trip down to the subway quickly reveals that New Yorkers will pee anywhere, you may have the chance for some urination with a splash of class. The Guggenheim Museum is offering visitors the chance to sit on a golden throne – cast in 18k gold. An Italian artist replaced the toilet in the museum's fourth-floor restroom with a fully-functional replica, with visitors invited to give it a whirl. The museum says the solid gold toilet “evokes the American dream of opportunity for all."
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
You may be too old to coach football if you were born before the game was even invented. And that’s perhaps why Jersey native Amos Alonzo Stagg, 96, announced on this day in 1960 that he was retiring as coach at Stockton College in California.
WORD OF THE DAY
Pari–mutuel [para-MYOO-choo-al] – noun
Definition: A form of betting on horse races in which the total amount bet is divided among winners in proportion to their initial wagers, minus a percentage for the bookie.
Example: With all this drunken debauchery, no one is sure they’ll remember to pick up their winnings from the pari-mutuel bets.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Sun-kissed