The Jaffe Briefing - February 1, 2019
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL - It's official! Sen. Cory Booker is running for President. Not a stunning surprise. Heck, the signs were all there: Booker's many trips to early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. And his conspicuous effort to get a host of other Democrats elected during the midterms. And, this week, courting members of the influential Congressional Black Caucus. TAPinto Newark says the city's former mayor waited until today, the first day of Black History Month, to enter the jam-packed Democratic field with a message of unity, saying: "I believe we can build a country where no one is forgotten, where no one is left behind... where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame." Media-savvy Booker, 49, has got a busy day ahead with national radio show interviews, an appearance on ABC's "The View" with his mother, then holding a news conference outside his home in Newark's Central Ward.
MILLTOWN - As Groundhog Day dawns tomorrow, the place to be is American Legion Post 25 in Milltown. That's where "Milltown Mel" promises to make, yet again, his fairly accurate forecast about winter's glorious end. It's expected that Mel's 11th-annual sunrise prediction, set for 7:20 a.m., will draw huge crowds (it always does) to find out if there's going to be six more weeks of winter in New Jersey. Come on by to find out and of course, enjoy the free coffee and donuts. Thanks to Mel's dutiful handlers, Jerry and Cathy Guthlein, this furry prognosticator is a home-spun Middlesex County celebrity with his own children's book and Facebook page. So, to heck with Punxsutawney!
TRENTON - It seems a cold day in hell for Gov. Phil Murphy to sign a law yesterday that, in essence, would be a blank check. But Senate President Steve Sweeney, who sponsored the popular, bipartisan legislation, called the governor's veto "a cold act on the coldest day of the year." OK, so who is right? Sweeney's bill offered 18 months of "emergency assistance" payments for low-income people, many chronically ill and/or disabled. Obviously, that's great. Yet - counters Murphy - the state simply can't afford it. Sweeney called the veto "a reminder that there are homeless veterans suffering from PTSD, abused mothers with young children, recovering drug addicts and alcoholics who find themselves out on the street." Lob back to Murphy, who said the program could cost many millions to cover "possibly tens of thousands of households." The win goes to Murphy, the guy currently with the veto pen.
TRENTON - PSE&G Nuclear and Exelon Generation say they need $300 million in ratepayer subsidies or they'll have to shut down three nuclear power plants in South Jersey. Along comes Stefanie Brand, who represents the public in these cases as Rate Counsel. NJ Spotlight reports that Brand filed a document with the state Board of Public Utilities, stating some concerns. Her filing is redacted so its hard to know all the particulars. But she wrote: "The only way the applicant could justify their request is to over-count their costs and under-count their revenues.'' The nuclear companies are sticking to their guns. The Rate Counsel's document also suggests this is "a classic example of 'heads I win, tails you lose,'" for ratepayers (that's you and me). NJ Spotlight is there for the coin-toss.
STATEWIDE - If there's one thing this frigid weather has taught the average New Jerseyan, it's this: be prepared for anything. Enter Costco: our favorite bulk-food wholesaler at a jughandle near you. If you're lucky, your local warehouse has not yet sold out of the 27-pound "storage bucket" of macaroni and cheese, featuring a shelf life of a not-to-shabby 20 years. An added bonus: the cheese and pasta is packaged in separate bulk Metalite™ pouches with oxygen absorbers, protecting all that amazing quality for the years ahead. All this gooey goodness sells for just $89.95, with shipping and handling included for online orders. If this math is somewhat correct, that's just 50 cents a serving to dine like a king. (Note, for online orders, these buckets are backordered to Feb. 12 because of immense demand.) Reserve yours here.
STATEWIDE - And, if you really want to impress the ladies, forgo the bucket of macaroni and cheese. Word has it that the women really, really like the limited-edition, gravy-scented candles, courtesy of KFC. Yup, the purveyor of fast fried chicken is selling these candles just in time for Valentine's Day. It is being marketed as a - get this - "artisanal" candle that replicates the "familiar and evocative" aroma of KFC gravy. The overpaid marketing folks at KFC wax poetic, describing the item as "staggeringly nose-stimulating." Disclaimer: No, it is not edible. It's a candle.
MILWAUKEE - We know healthcare has gotten expensive, but this is ridiculous. William Gallagher, 60, apparently heard great things about those cushy Wisconsin jails while serving 20 years in New Jersey for attempted homicide. (We can only assume prison in Wisconsin includes a wheel of cheddar jack.) So, he hopped a train to Milwaukee, strolled into the Chase Bank on East Wisconsin Avenue, and demanded cash in the form of $100 bills, saying he had a bomb, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, all with the express intention of getting caught. "I've never heard anyone rob a bank so they can get to prison so they could get health care," says the assistant DA. Unclear if he will enjoy the prison physical for all the newbies.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
SEATTLE - Chuckle, chuckle, snort, snort. Washington transportation officials are done replacing the the oft-pilfered milepost marker "69," - which, if we really need to explain - also refers to a sex position. (Sheesh, get a life.) The latest sign now reads "68.9," in the hopes that it can remain in the ground for awhile, saving taxpayers $1,000 or so on yet another replacement. State transportation officials said they have had to replace 608 signs since 2012; many of which read "69," the Seattle Times reported. State officials also noted that stealing these signs is punishable with up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, yet some "juvenile" residents still find the reward is very much worth the risk, police say.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2017 that Gov. Chris Christie's poll numbers plummeted to 17 percent, according to Quinnipiac University, which noted "It's interesting, in an unfriendly way, to wonder how low Gov. Christopher Christie's job-approval numbers might drop." If Christie actually spoke with the Jersey press corps at the time, he may have mentioned the beloved Gov. Brendan Byrne once scored that low, after passing a state income tax, yet still won re-election.
WORD OF THE DAY
Raddled - [RAD-əld] - adjective
Definition: In a state of confusion due to fatigue or wear; lacking composure
Example: I looked like a raddled kid, desperately trying to find money for a gravy-infused candle.
WIT OF THE DAY
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"I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly."
- Sir Winston Churchill
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WEATHER IN A WORD
Warming?
THE NEW 60
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by Andy Landorf & John Colquhoun