The Jaffe Briefing - April 22, 2021

STATEWIDE – You didn’t know it. We didn’t know it. But Tuesday was another election day in New Jersey. Apparently, there were a small number of school board races, which New Jersey Globe reports as “abysmal.” Gov. Phil Murphy agreed, calling it an “unacceptable level of turnout, no matter which side of which candidate you’re on.” A great example is Newark, with 76 of the city’s 93 districts reporting results. There were just 2,506 votes cast for a ballot question approving a tax to fund Newark schools. That equated to a woeful voter turnout of about 4.4%, The solution here is painfully obvious. End the April school board races – and all the costs involved with them – and include those races in the elections that occur in May, June or November.

STATEWIDE – While on our big, fat stump here, it is important to remind voters that school districts seek permission to spend millions of dollars for capital improvements during these sleepy April elections. In fact, the trickle of voters approved bond referenda in five of six school districts on Tuesday. The big one: Clifton voters approved a whopping $168.2 million ballot question, with just 2,861 “yes” votes in a city of 85,000 people. Voters also approved big projects in Waldwick, River Vale, East Amwell and Buena Regional, while rejecting a plan in Fairfield. There’s lots of money flying all over the place in the form of long-term debt, which is why these April elections need to mercifully be moved to a time of the year when people are actually paying attention.

STATEWIDE – Nothing ticks off proud parents (and voters) like cancelling graduations. And that may be a very good reason as to why 22 mayors are calling for Gov. Phil Murphy to waive his outdoor gathering limits so that these signature life moments can take place this spring. In response, the governor says “we’re gonna give a pretty significant amount of guidance by early or mid-next week.” The 22-mayor alliance – which calls itself “Mayors for Main Street” – argues that the limitations on graduations should be lifted, noting the weddings, funerals, religious activities and political events are all exempt. So, what gives?  Graduations should occur, too – just as long as all safety requirements are enacted and followed, with tearful graduates behind those masks.

BRIEFING BREATHER

One man set a world record by putting on 260 T-shirts at once.

STATEWIDE – Real estate analysts are having plenty of fun trying to figure out how the pandemic has thoroughly reversed housing trends in the state. No one could possibly have guessed that the biggest jumps in real estate would be in the sticks of the state, as the housing trend had been for a “New Urbanism” reinvigorating our cities with dense housing. Yet, as NJ.com reports, the biggest increases occurred in Sussex County (23%), followed by Cape May (22%) and Hunterdon (20%). Meanwhile, sale prices actually dropped in Hudson County (minus 2%), which has more inventory now than pre-pandemic. The thinking: If you are going to flee NYC, why just cross the river into crowded Hudson County? Why not go for the backyard, the clear air, the extra space, the quaint country store, etc.? And, suddenly, you and all the other urbanites are fighting over a two-acre lot about 90 minutes away from Manhattan. Lovely for the moment; for this fleeting moment. Good luck finding Thai.

IN THE MEDIA

WASHINGTON – In our world, we spend a lot of time counseling young writers about “burying the lede.” That means inadvertently hiding the main point of the story somewhere down below. And we use this well-reported article, written on April 14, 1865 by AP Correspondent Lawrence Gobright, as the glorious example of completely missing the main point:

“WASHINGTON, APRIL 14, 1865 — President Lincoln and wife visited Ford’s Theatre this evening for the purpose of witnessing the performance of ‘The American Cousin.’ It was announced in the papers that Gen. Grant would also be present, but that gentleman took the late train of cars for New Jersey.”

(Ok….and then he gets to some bigger news)

“The theatre was densely crowded, and everybody seemed delighted with the scene before them. During the third act and while there was a temporary pause for one of the actors to enter, a sharp report of a pistol was heard, which merely attracted attention, but suggested nothing serious until a man rushed to the front of the President’s box, waving a long dagger in his right hand, exclaiming, ‘Sic semper tyrannis,’ and immediately leaped from the box, which was in the second tier, to the stage beneath, and ran across to the opposite side, made his escape amid the bewilderment of the audience from the rear of the theatre, and mounted a horse and fled.”

(And then, Mr. Gobright gets to the meat of things)

“The groans of Mrs. Lincoln first disclosed the fact that the President had been shot, when all present rose to their feet rushing towards the stage, many exclaiming, ‘Hang him, hang him!’ The excitement was of the wildest possible description... There was a rush towards the President’s box, when cries were heard — ‘Stand back and give him air!’ ‘Has anyone stimulants?"

(Any questions about “burying the lede?)

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. – A couple was so proud to invite all their family and friends to their wedding – the backdrop being a dream home and massive estate for a ceremony on Saturday and a lovely brunch on Sunday. Just one small problem: the couple didn’t own the 16,300-square-foot mansion and the owner never gave them permission to use it. In fact, when the groom showed up Saturday morning to begin setting up, the surprised owner called the police, the Sun Sentinel reports. His words, according to the 911 dispatch: “I have people trespassing on my property. And they keep harassing me, calling me. They say they’re having a wedding here and it’s God’s message. I don’t know what’s going on. All I want is (for) it to stop. And they’re sitting at my property right at the front gate right now.” Cops arrived and booted out the groom, who, they figure, thought the house was abandoned and no one would have noticed the big bash. When reached by the newspaper, the groom’s response: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Because there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, and no Clean Water Act. So, on this day in 1970, the first Earth Day was created to force environment preservation onto the national agenda. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended festivities that day, through the urging of Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. 

WORD OF THE DAY

Ebullient – [ih-BULL-yunt] – adjective

Definition: Having or showing liveliness and enthusiasm

Example: I’m ebullient that the New York Knicks are finally playing like a professional basketball team, after many long years.

WIT OF THE DAY

“He occasionally stumbled over the truth, but hastily picked himself up and hurried on as if nothing had happened.” 

-Winston Churchill

BIDEN BLURB

“When the federal budget is saving people's lives, (Republicans) don't think (spending is) such a good idea.”

-Joe Biden

WEATHER IN A WORD

Cooler

To prepare for the remainder of this week, please remember your:

• Umbrella
• Flip flops
• Mittens
• Suntan lotion
• Winter coat
• Sunglasses
• Thermals
• Iced tea
• Hot chocolate