The Jaffe Briefing - February 5, 2019
TRENTON - State lawmakers are likely exhausted this morning, following all the victory laps yesterday to celebrate the passage of the $15 minimum wage bill. It was certainly a tremendous victory for Democrats and labor unions, who have been beating the drum for years, reminding everyone that New Jerseyans simply can't live on $8.85 an hour. Or $10 an hour, or $12.50 an hour. And, so, an estimated 1 million New Jerseyans will steadily reach the magic $15 number by 2024. How this all affects hiring numbers, employee benefits and consumer pricing is still left to be seen. But all hope, quite magically, that the wage hikes will be a win-win.
STATEWIDE - How much do you love arts and culture? Enough to pay more in property taxes to support local programming in your town? NJ Spotlight reports that the state Assembly is supporting a measure to allow municipalities to put a ballot question before voters allowing for such a levy. But get ready for opponents to rail about the finest art in New Jersey, which - many agree - is the ability of politicians to apply taxes and levies the way Picasso applied paint... liberally. Go to NJ Spotlight and unleash your inner art (or tax) critic.
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - If you see a Shake Shack, usually there is a linein front of it and around the corner. And perhaps that is why the township has rejected an application for the super-trendy burger joint to open on Route 9 north on the site of a shuttered Getty gas station. That's likely because the Shake Shack requires 15 variances from the local zoning law. The Asbury Park Press says the property owner is now suing the township, using such fancy lawyer words as "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable." Expect local teens to be paying close attention.
PRINCETON - Some old religious scribblings may be Greek to many, but Princeton University still might need to hand them over. The university is hit with a federal lawsuit from the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox church. Lawyers for "His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople," (cool title, huh?) claim Princeton is holding four Byzantine-era religious manuscripts stolen in 1917 from a Bulgarian monastery and then auctioned off in 1921. A university trustee bought one and a wealthy collector snapped up the others, donating them years later to Princeton. A university spokesman tells the Antique Digest there's "no evidence" the four manuscripts got "looted during World War I." A judge may need to provide some divine intervention. (Editor's Note: Do we get special kudos for finding a relevant news item in Antique Digest?)
IN MEMORIAM
EDISON - When the Jaffe Briefing published its first morning newslettereight years ago, the very first reader comment was from Babs Siperstein. As the state's most prominent LGBTQ activist, the Edison resident wanted to ensure our writers understood her community. Certain language we used - as well as certain attempts at humor - were not exactly welcome. We are proud to say she steadily turned from a critic into a fan. And we learned a lot from her in the process. Babs died Sunday night, two days after a law went into effect that she advocated, requiring the state to amend birth certificates to transgender people. Babs, 76, made a tremendous difference, the first transgender member of the DNC. Thank you for always keeping us in line.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
AT HOME - Hard to believe we have to say this, but, please - refrain from kissing or snuggling with the hedgehogs you find in your backyard (or keep as your adoring pets). There appears to be a rash of people who are getting waaaay to close to hedgehogs these days, contracting a rare form of salmonella from who knows what. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is confirming that, "Yes," this is really a problem and "No," they are not joking. Disease officials point to 10 victims, to date, and counting. Be worried. Be afraid.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2016 that a northern Idaho lawmaker pushed for a specialized license plate depicting a hotly disputed Idaho high school mascot known as the Orofino "Maniac." Of course, mental health groups called it crazy. But that was not deterring Rep. Paul Shepherd of Riggins from pushing legislation. Meanwhile, Orofino Councilwoman Jill Woolsey calls the maniac "a symbol of unbridled enthusiasm and a symbol of overcoming odds," adding "it's about a positive image to win and keep fighting." Maniacs.
WORD OF THE DAY
Senescence - [sə-NESS-əns] - noun
Definition: The state or process of aging or becoming elderly
Example: There are still forces out there that, one day, will not bend to Tom Brady, like senescence and, ultimately, death.
WIT OF THE DAY
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"A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized."
- Fred Allen
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WEATHER IN A WORD
Balmy
THE NEW 60
A Jaffe Briefing exclusive
by Andy Landorf & John Colquhoun