The Jaffe Briefing - October 25, 2017
OUR TAKE ON THE NEWS IN NEW JERSEY
MAHWAH - Of no surprise to anyone who has casually perused the U.S. Constitution in ninth grade, the state is suing Mahwah for its (alleged) efforts to keep Orthodox Jews from local parks. The state filed the lawsuit yesterday, likening the conduct of town officials to the "1950s-era white flight suburbanites" who sought to keep Blacks out, FOX reports. Not only does the state want the ordinance to be rescinded, it's also calling for the return of $3.4 million in "Green Acres" money for Mahwah's efforts to ban "out-of-state" residents from using the parks. The state's argument is obvious: land acquired with public money can not be restricted on the basis of religion or residency. Of greater concern: the state files lawsuits as a last resort, meaning that Mahwah officials have been digging in their heels to defend flagrant antisemitism. Frightening.
PRINCETON - Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who famously waved the U.S. Constitution on stage at the 2016 DNC as he lambasted Donald Trump, comes to New Jersey tomorrow as the latest Democratic celebrity to stump for Phil Murphy. Khan, a Pakistani-America infuriated by Trump's immigration policies, will likely emphasize the importance of our gubernatorial race as a first salvo in the 2018 midterms. Khan - universally recognized for his basic goodness - continues to be a thorn for Republicans, as he doesn't seem to be going away.
ON THE ROAD - Well, here's an inconvenient truth for stranded motorists: Carmakers are steadily eliminating spare tires from new cars. Huh? Why? Apparently, nearly one third of 2017 model year vehicles are without a spare tire to reduce weight and improve fuel economy, NJ 101.5 reports. Carmakers feel your pain, so some include tire-inflator kits. Gee, thanks. The only problem: Many people, stranded on the side of a dark, rain-soaked Turnpike, with cars whizzing by, struggle to suddenly learn how to use the kits. AAA strongly recommends that new car buyers check to see if a spare is included in the deal. If not, they need to go buy one. Next up: Airplanes with optional oxygen masks.
STATEWIDE - Ever wonder what your arm is worth? Or your leg? Or a foot? Likely not, but you likely don't work for an insurance company. NJ.comanswers the question, with a surprising wrinkle: If you live in New Jersey, your limbs could be worth more or less than if you live in other states. Say you mangle your hand. (Sorry about that.) In New Jersey, under workers' comp, you can get a maximum of $163,391. That same injury is worth up to $197,311 in New York and $318,585 in Pennsylvania. If you lose an eye, great news! You'll get $102,600, which is $5,900 higher that the national average. Bad news on that ear, though. In New Jersey, it is worth just $13,680 - a whopping $24,370 under the national average. Learn more about the value of your limbs here.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
NEW YORK CITY - You likely remember those grade school class tripsto the American Museum of Natural History. And so you are likely not surprised that the Morgan Hall of Gems and Minerals, the vaunted, purple-carpeted intermission on your trip, is soon to be relegated to a thing of the 1970s. The Village Voice reports that the Hall, seemingly designed to serve as an experiential pause for bored 11-year-olds, will finally close, making way for a sterile chamber that could serve as a backdrop to "2001: A Space Odyssey." Too bad for any kid seeking to stare mindlessly at a cube of malachite, as grownups grumble about getting everyone's bagged lunch in order. Remember, no nuts for Tommy!
IN THE MEDIA
IN PRINT - Finally! First it was the return of vinyl. And, then, corduroy. And now newspapers are hip again, or so says the growing voice of Millennials. Politico reports that young readers, conditioned by the instant gratification of Netflix, Hulu and Spotify, are also thirsting for real news. They are now subscribing to legacy news publications, like The New York Times, in record numbers. Could there light at the end of the tunnel in America's newsrooms?
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
WORD OF THE DAY
Deadwood - [DED-wood] - noun
Definition: Unnecessary words; expendable verbiage
Example: Should we devote the next 500 or so words to explaining the definition of deadwood, or would that be deadwood? Or is this deadwood? Or how about this? You still there? Hello?
WEATHER IN A WORD
Clearing