The Jaffe Briefing - November 19, 2019
TRENTON – The question, yet again: will lawmakers legalize marijuana in New Jersey? Apparently, that answer is up to us. State lawmakers can’t get a bill passed. Instead, they are punting the issue to a possible ballot question next November, asking voters if we wouldn’t mind legalizing pot for those age 21 and over so the state can reap some more sales tax revenue. This tired issue has been banging around since Gov. Phil Murphy took office and, frankly, many have lost interest. So, legalize it. Don’t legalize it. Pass the bong. Don’t pass the bong. Whatever.
STATEWIDE – Is there a more dismal time in New Jersey than February? It’s freezing, there’s no decent sports on TV and the trees are just swinging sticks on a frozen tundra. So perhaps it wasn’t the best time for Monmouth University to poll residents about their thoughts of New Jersey. Those poll results from February 2019 offered a positive rating of just 50%, an all-time low. A new poll is out, with the same question. It’s now right before the holidays, the NFL is in full swing and the trees still have some autumnal glow in the crisp fall air. The result? Now, 61% give the state a thumb’s up. Hmmm. Read more weather-related stuff at the bottom of today’s Jaffe Briefing.
TRENTON – The toxic algae that made last summer such a bust for folks who enjoy the great outdoors will likely return next year. And while Gov. Phil Murphy has pledged $13.5 million and “cutting-edge science” to stave off the slime, the problem is a bit too complex, NJ Spotlight reports. Algae blooms are caused by warmer temperatures, sewage overflow from who-knows-how-many compromised septic systems and nitrogen-rich runoff. Good intentions notwithstanding, Murphy can’t reverse climate change. Stormwater utilities could help clean up sewage, but that’s a multibillion-dollar, multi-year solution. Fertilizer is also a big culprit. It’s the source of most of the nitrogen dumped into storm sewers and streams, the same fertilizer that avid gardeners and gardening services rely on to keep our lawns so lush. So, will the $13.5 million be spent to crack down on our addiction to fertilizer? Doubtful. See ya at the sprinkler.
ELLIS ISLAND – Jersey City and Newark are among the top ten largest U.S. cities doing a great job welcoming immigrants. New American Economy, an immigrant advocacy and research organization, now ranks Jersey City at #3 and Newark at #8 among America’s 100 largest cities. Jersey City had an impressive rise in ranking (it placed 20th last year) because of more local government policies that boost inclusivity and livability, more job opportunities and solid legal support for immigrants. Newark got high marks, but the advocacy group says there’s always room for improvement in the Brick City, where the city could do a better job collaborating with local immigrant support groups to enhance community inclusion. Not complaining, but…
MONTCLAIR – Free isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Take that three-story, six-bedroom house on North Willow Street that Redeemer Montclair Church is just giving away. Here’s the hitch: Any taker must move this circa-1910 house somewhere else, and act quickly. Montcla
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
DES MOINES, IA – Heck, you can’t blame a guy for trying. A murderer with a life sentence in the Iowa State Penitentiary went to court to win his release — arguing he had already died. Benjamin Schreiber, 66, told the court he had to be resuscitated five times in 2015 when his heart stopped after he developed septic poisoning. Schreiber’s lawyers actually made this argument with a straight face: that his temporary death meant that he had served out his sentence, which he earned for beating a man to death with an ax handle in 1996. The Des Moines Register noted his sentence was life without parole, “not to life plus one day.” The Iowa Court of Appeals – after laughing uproariously in chambers – swiftly denied the motion. “Schreiber is either still alive, in which case he must remain in prison, or he is actually dead, in which case this appeal is moot,” one judge wrote.
WASHINGTON – America’s hearts are all aflutter once again for First Daughter Ivanka Trump, who somehow, single-handedly created 14 million jobs since 2017. That unquestionable fact is according to her father, who threw out that stat as part of a barrage of boasting in a recent speech, The Week reports. Economists and other job experts were equally impressed. That’s because there were only 6 million U.S. jobs created during that period, meaning Ivanka somehow, magically, deserves credit for a staggering 233% of all jobs created. Nice work. Believe me.
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