The Jaffe Briefing - February 9, 2018

LEONIA - You can't make everyone happy. That's the message for Leonia officials, who solved one issue, and are now dealing with another. First, they appeased residents by blocking George Washington Bridge traffic from heading down 60 local streets. But now, as the Record reports, local businesses are breathing fire because, well, the traffic over the past three weeks is being diverted. Local restaurants, nail salons and liquor stores are reporting losses, as the very public message is that the roads are closed. The mayor and council offered one solution: sending out a letter to residents on Wednesday, reminding them the businesses are open. They blame the media, of course, for reporting on a new ordinance that affects thousands of commuters every day. The key we all need to know: Non-residents driving to and from Leonia businesses can use any street. And, local businesses note, they can do so as often as they wish. And please hurry.

 

NOT IN CONGRESS - It's certainly rare for a former member of Congress to take on a staff role in federal bureaucracy. But, hey, a job is a job for former Rep. Scott Garrett, who carried the ultra-conservative flag for New Jersey in the House for 14 years. Garrett, who famously railed against government overreaching on Wall Street, will now be working on, well, government overreaching on Wall Street, as a staffer in the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may recall Garrett was supposed to lead the U.S. Export-Import Bank for Trump, but U.S. senators scrapped the nomination. The Wall Street Journal notes the new gig is unique in D.C., as former federal lawmakers usually go for the gold with the K Street consulting firms, not take working-stiff staff jobs.

HIGHLAND PARK - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's eight-hour speech Wednesday on the House floor protesting Congress's inaction to address the plight of so-called dreamers, included the story of a New Jerseyan facing deportation. Pelosi told the story of Rutgers Newark student and Highland Park resident Esder Chong, brought to the U.S. at age 6 from South Korea, who may be booted back if the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is revoked. Chong is a member of Rutgers' track and field team, studies finance and philosophy, and has plans of becoming a lawyer, TAPInto New Brunswickreports. Yeah, seems like a real danger to society.