The Jaffe Briefing - March 27, 2018

ELIZABETH - Hmm. A Port Elizabeth dockworker was able to earn $493,029 a year - clearly a hard-working guy. But then investigators with the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor started doing the math. And, wow. To earn so much, the 66-year-old worker needed to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, with his regular salary, overtime and extra pay for holidays and weekends, NJ.com reports. Boy, he must have been tired! But then investigators also noted the dockworker couldn't always been found at work. And, wait a minute, he was spotted on his boat in Atlantic Highlands. Then he was at the movies, hanging around his house and enjoying some relaxation in Aruba. Hmmm. How could that be? A federal judge also noticed something amiss, sentencing the guy to 24 months in prison. And, after working 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, we bet he will appreciate the time off.

FREEHOLD - For a former municipal court judge, his rulings made plenty of sense. More than 4,000 times over five years, he quietly converted fines for motor vehicle citations into "contempt of court." The big difference? Contempt of court revenue goes to the host town, while motor vehicle fines are split with the county. So, this judge was certainly a chummy friend of the nine towns that employed him. Yet Monmouth County lost out on $500,000 or so. The judge, who would make the quick switch after citizens left the courtroom, has been lightly hit with "pre-trial intervention" to pay for his crimes, meaning the charges will be removed if he complies with guidelines.

JERSEY CITY - Mayor Steve Fulop does not want his city to become "New York City's drug dealer," which is why the City Council is considering a measure that would ban the universal growing and selling of recreational marijuana, the Jersey Journal reports.  It is all stemming from the debate in Trenton to allow recreational pot smoking in New Jersey. Fulop, who supports the legalization, said there is a second phase to his grand plan, in which Jersey City would then carefully limit where it would allow people to grow and sell weed. Consider it a "restaurant row" of sorts, or perhaps strategically located next to a restaurant row for those with the munchies.

HIGHLAND PARK - In the latest attempt to thwart yet another generation from being hooked on nicotine, Rep. Frank Pallone is slamming the effects of "juuling," the latest e-cigarette fad. Taking his stand in the borough's downtown, where the Council three years ago passed an ordinance that slapped a $1,200 licensing fee on all vape retailers to fund enforcement, Pallone ripped apart a lack of FDA oversight on this emerging trend, according to the Home News Tribune, saying it would lead to more kids getting addicted. There should be alarm bells, with JUUL flavors like "crème brulee," "fruit medley" and "cool cucumber." Even Joe Camel is amazed this direct marketing to teens (and younger) is somehow legal.