The Morning Briefing - November 4, 2016
TRENTON – Unless NJ Transit skips out again, state lawmakers will finally get to question them today about the Sept. 29 crash in Hoboken. You may remember top agency officials were supposed to appear at an oversight meeting last month, but didn’t show up, citing lame reasons. Subpoenas were threatened and it now seems confirmed, apparently, for the moment, potentially, that the new executive director, Steve Santoro, and others will show up today to respond to questions about safety, finances, and the high breakdown rate of trains.
PATERSON – It seems like a well-timed Poconos retreat for Mayor Joey Torres, as the FBI raided City Hall offices all day yesterday and hauled out a bunch of important-looking documents. As a makeshift sign read, “Close (sic) to the Public and Absolutely No Press,” FBI agents executed a search warrant for documents related to the use of federal funds for a prison re-entry program. As the mayor enjoyed the autumnal turn of the leaves in the clean, mountain air, perhaps enjoying a latte with seasonal spice, his office issued a statement to the Paterson Press, saying “As always, the city will cooperate with any requests for information.”
NEW BRUNSWICK – A congressional debate happened last night … eventually. TapInto New Brunswick reports that Rep. Frank Pallone had a big problem because his long-shot opponent, Brent Sonnek-Schmeltz, wanted to film the proceedings. So rather than typical campaign stuff, the camps clashed for an hour over filming, as the audience waited, and waited. Pallone argued it gave his opponent an unfair advantage; Sonnek-Schmeltz threatened to walk out. Finally, after some sort of written agreement, filming was allowed and the debate commenced. Read here about what happened next.
EVESHAM – It looks like the 1940s are back again in Evesham, where the Republicans are slamming two Democratic council candidates because one is retired after a 40-year career and the other is a stay-at-home dad. Both are being blasted for being “unemployed,” which perhaps may have been a good talking point for an unforgiving, overly-ambitious Richard Nixon when he first ran for Congress in 1945. Moreover, one Evesham candidate is a “so-called blogger,” the other a “self-described loner.” Oooh. Dangerous.
BERNARDS TWP. – Woodworkers must be salivating, eager to get their hands on what remains of this town’s historic oak tree, believed to be North America’s oldest. The tree has stood beside the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church here since 1717 and for 300 years before that. Symptoms began this Spring and the tree swiftly went on life support. Pastor Dennis Jones tells The Bernardsville News: “We went above and beyond the call of duty to bring it back to life and vitality (but) the tree’s dead.” Its gangling branches were recently pruned. If the Historical Society can raise $40,000, the tree comes down next year to be “re-purposed,” maybe as lustrous oak desks or handmade dressers. On Sunday, the church is hosting a two-hour tree tribute with a worship service and hymns. But, no yellow ribbons.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
GULFPORT, Miss. - Just because you happen to be a lawyer doesn’t give you the right to sue anyone for the heck of it. Luckily, a Mississippi attorney finally got that message, dropping a moronic lawsuit against Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen after he choked on a piece of chicken. He blames the kid at the drive-thru, who failed to give the grown man a knife. The attorney tells The Sun Herald that he is also the victim of bad PR, as "extreme comments" have been hurled at him and his family for his ridiculously stupid lawsuit. He still contends the chicken joint is negligent by only giving him a “spork,” forcing him to tear the chicken with his bare hands, apparently causing him to choke.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1939 that some dad first yelled into the backseat, “Roll up the window! The AC is on!” It was first a feature on the Packard, sold that year for an additional $274.
WORD OF THE DAY
Dicker [DIK-er] – verb
Definition: to bargain
Example: I don’t mean to dicker with you, but $274 seems a lot of money for air conditioning. Is your manager here?
WEATHER IN A WORD
Breezy