The Jaffe Briefing - December 13, 2019
DOWN THE SHORE – While it’s safe to assume that none of us will be around by the year 2100, a new environmental report is really hard to ignore. State environmental officials are projecting that climate change will cause the sea level to rise by more than six feet at the Jersey Shore. That equates to an enormous amount of storm surges, flooding, major coastal erosion and your overpriced beach house floating off to Europe. Sea level will steadily rise over the decades, as most of the world’s dimwitted leaders conveniently ignore the major decisions at hand. At least New Jersey is focused on the impending peril. The nagging question: Without a global strategy to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, what can we really do about it? Our kids are asking.
NEW BRUNSWICK – We carp and moan when the tuition bills arrive, as the cost of Junior’s college education rises ever-higher. We certainly wonder what exactly they’re teaching him because he can’t seem to master the washer-dryer. And, of course, there’s the question of whether his sophomore diet will ever progress beyond pizza and Pabst. But, at least the little emperor has as much food as he wants — unlike, it seems, many college students in New Jersey. Because the word from NJ Spotlight today is that “food insecurity” is a growing concern among college students That’s why food pantries have been cropping up on campuses, including Rutgers. By one estimate, as many as one-third of college students could be affected by “food insecurity.” We’ll be chewing on that the next time Junior lays waste to the freshly-stocked refrigerator.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – The bad news is that Cory Booker’s Presidential hopes, at least for 2020, are dim; he did not qualify to be on stage for the next Democratic debate because of sagging poll numbers. The good news is that New Jersey will soon get back its junior senator, focused full-time on serving the state, we hope. While its great to have our politicians aspire for the White House, what we learned from the vanished Chris Christie in 2016 is that this state needs and deserves elected officials who are serving us, committed only to us. Call us demanding. We’re used to it.
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BRIEFING BREATHER: According to Genesis 1: 20-22, the chicken came before the egg. |
TRENTON – If you are bleary-eyed, still trying to follow the state’s proposed marijuana legislation through all the haze, there’s an update. It looks like the state Legislature will be officially voting on Monday to …. Do nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. The members will be voting on Monday for a proposed constitutional amendment to be placed on the November ballot, asking for voters to decide if cannabis should be legal in the state. So, basically, they are punting to us to decide, if all goes as expected. So, it looks like our November ballot will include both Trump and marijuana, forcing us to we ponder which one makes us feel dumber.
MAPLE SHADE – Some generous ‘Secret Santas’ aren’t so secret anymore. Instead of giving each other Christmas gifts, a dozen employees at Holman Automotive pooled their hard-earned money to pay off layaway accounts for four struggling families at a Walmart in Mount Laurel. CBS News arranged for thankful family members to meet their not-so-secret Santas at the store this week. One grateful single mom says she was “in tears … I actually hugged the lady over the counter,” after being told she no longer had a $150 balance for her 9-year-old’s toys: “It doesn’t seem like a lot, but for me it was huge.”
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – Ever wonder what airports do with all those confiscated items at the security gate, like scissors, box cutters and lighters? We’re still unsure, but the airport in Vilnius has decided to use all the contraband to construct a holiday tree. Visitors to Lithuania are greeted by a massive tree bursting with hundreds of pairs of, knives, daggers, odd fluids and other stuff that is way to dangerous to be allowed in your carry-on. “So if you don't want your personal, yet prohibited, belongings to land on our next year's Christmas tree -- better check out the baggage requirements before you pack for your next flight,” Lithuanian Airports warns.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1975 that jittery producers at Saturday Night Live used a tape delay for the very first time. And for a very good reason, welcoming expletive-prone Richard Pryor as host.
WORD OF THE DAY
WIT OF THE DAY
TODAY'S TRUMPISM
WEATHER IN A WORD
Wet
THE NEW 60
A Jaffe Briefing Exclusive
by Andy Landorf & John Colquhoun
