The Jaffe Briefing - September 8, 2017
OUR TAKE ON THE NEWS IN NEW JERSEY
ON THE RAILS - If you believe what you hear in a meeting with Donald Trump, it looks like there will be federal funds for the $30 billion Gateway rail project, featuring a new cross-Hudson rail tunnel, considered the most important, desperately-needed infrastructure project in the United States. This is one of those moments when its great to have a self-consumed, New York-based real estate investor in charge, ensuring there are plenty of mass transit opportunities for generations of people to reach Trump Tower and his other glorious, second-to-none midtown properties. Bi-partisan leaders in both New York and New Jersey met with Trump yesterday at the White House. Everyone left smiling, it was reported.
BAYONNE - In what is probably the biggest economic news to hit the region, a container ship passed under a bridge yesterday. Wait. That may need some more explanation. The ship was the Theodore Roosevelt, the largest container ship to dock at ports along the East Coast, which is now able to pass under the Bayonne Bridge to Port Elizabeth. It took years and $4 billion to raise the bridge and dredge the waterway, creating a navigational channel that is a spectacular 50 feet deep. That means plenty more commerce for New Jersey ports - an incredible, long-sought win for the state.
LAKEHURST - Godspeed to Florida for New Jersey's "Task Force 1." With this awesome, kick-butt name, 80 members of the National Guard departed Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst last night, en route to Florida's western panhandle. This impressive convoy features three tractor trailers, two box trucks, five sprinter vans, two command vehicles, and a tow truck. The National Guard has also dispatched six boats, a water support trailer, and a fleet service truck. Some of these guys just returned from Texas relief efforts before being dispatched again. Let's hope this response is overkill.
STATEWIDE - At this point, we might as well just post our Social Security numbers and bank account numbers on a billboard over the Holland Tunnel. That's because there's yet another massive security breach. This time, credit monitoring company Equifax has been hit with a high-tech heist, exposing the personal information of about 143 million Americans - or, like, nearly half the country's population. We're talking names, birth dates, addresses and even driver's license numbers. "On a scale of one to 10, this is a 10 in terms of potential identity theft," says one security expert quoted everywhere. Equifax discovered the hack July 29, but waited until yesterday to make the grim announcement. But it's not like it matters anymore.
ATLANTIC CITY - To further prove the Miss America pageant is on the bleeding-edge of breaking news and is no way an outdated, outmoded relic from the 1950s, judges have asked Miss New Jersey her thoughts on Gov. Chris Christie sitting on the beach over the Fourth of July. Hold onto your hats folks, here comes the response: "I didn't feel it was appropriate for him to shut down the government and the beach and then go ahead and enjoy his own beach day," said Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel. There ya go. Now, together, we can all move on.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
CRESTON, Iowa - It's barely Back to School, and one Iowa school is already in full crisis mode. That's because a bunch of dumb-ass football players at Creston Community High School posted some photos on Snapchat, showing them in KKK hoods, waving a Confederate flag and burning a cross, WHOtv.com reports. The photo was taken in a cornfield (where else in Iowa?) and is now being viewed across the world. School officials aren't commenting on specifics, but proclaim "action" has been taken, noting the photo doesn't represent the high school. Fine, but it sure represents this community.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2014 that Apple unveiled the "Apple Watch," proclaiming it will change the way you live. How was it changed your life?
WORD OF THE DAY
Extemporaneous - [eks-tem-puh-RAYN-ee-us] - adjective
Definition: Composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment; impromptu
Example: We wish the very best to families and friends in Florida this weekend. (This is not some extemporaneous comment.)
WEATHER IN A WORD
Fall?