The Jaffe Briefing - May 7, 2021
TRENTON – Rather than the Garden State, New Jersey is becoming the Warehouse State. If you are anywhere near a major highway with an exit, you can bet a mega-warehouse is nearby. And with all of our highways and exits, state lawmakers are now wondering if all this vast and growing sprawl finally needs some regulation. NJ 101.5 reports there is a proposed bill in the Senate Budget Committee – fueled by the full power of Senate President Steve Sweeney – that would require adjoining municipalities to be notified of big warehouse plans and given a report of the regional effect. So, basically, a town can’t easily stick a warehouse on its border, reap the tax benefits and build up truck traffic on residential streets in a neighboring town, which – of course – is the Jersey way.
DEAL – Town officials want you to know there are beautiful beaches in Monmouth County. Feel free to explore Long Branch, or Asbury Park or, heck, anywhere else. Just don’t come here, where there’s an ongoing battle over public parking to limit the number of out-of-towners (spit with disgust, here) who believe they are entitled to enjoy the public beach, too. News 12 reports that Deal is trying to restrict parking on five streets, making them one-side, permit-only. “It seems like every year, it seems like clockwork, Deal tries to restrict parking only on this ocean block near the beach,” says John Weber, with the Surfrider Foundation. The proposed parking restrictions are conveniently timed, taking effect Fridays through Sundays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend during daylight hours. Deal officials say the ordinance responds to residents worried about tight street parking near their homes – the same people with glorious, beachfront mansions with winding driveways beyond the gated entries and manicured lawns.
LAKEWOOD – Every year, the school district’s budget is a mess – as school officials beg the state for millions in aid. This year, of course, is no different. The school board approved a $217 million budget this week, hinging on its request to the state for a $70 million loan. If the state goes along with this lofty ask, the Asbury Park Press reports, this one Ocean County school district would be looking at nearly $200 million in its mounting state debt. And, with debt akin to a third-world country, what are the chances Lakewood could ever pay anyone back? The district’s business administrator understands the quandary, saying “We’re not the federal government; we can’t keep cranking out money on a printing press.” Transportation of non-public school students continues to be a massive drain, with 1,500 more kids expecting rides this upcoming school year. Meanwhile, the upcoming school budget includes $750,000 for lawyers – the majority of this bounty going to the board attorney.
BRIEFING BREATHER
The first Nerf ball package vowed the toy "can't hurt babies or old people."
TRENTON – The age of state commissions comprised of nine, middle-aged, suit-wearing white guys appears to be over, as a proposed bill would require the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker to appoint more women and minorities to public boards and commissions. It is all about finally eliminating gender imbalance in state government, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez tells NJ.com, adding the proposed law would mandate that women, minorities and LGBTQ people make up at least 50% of boards, commissions and task forces.
OFF THE RAILS – Commuters who didn’t travel into New York last year are claiming they shouldn’t have to pay taxes to the Empire State. Of course, New York tax officials see things differently, the Wall Street Journal reports, as they argue New York employees must pay New York taxes, regardless of where on the planet the work is performed. NY tax lawyers are now eagerly auditing 2020 returns for people who traditionally paid taxes to New York, but remained hidden at home in New Jersey through most of last year. New Jersey – and other states with plenty of commuters – are fighting back in court, claiming New York can’t tax nonresidents who didn’t use public services in New York. The stakes are high here, especially for NY coffers. In 2018, for example, around 434,000 New Jersey residents paid $3.7 billion in New York income taxes. Meanwhile, New Jersey tax auditors are now wondering where that cash went for 2020 and perhaps – just perhaps – a nice chunk could end up in our state’s treasury.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
HONOLULU – A Utah woman told authorities she “just didn’t know” she was pregnant, when she went into labor on a flight to Hawaii last week. She added “this guy just came out of nowhere,” referring to her baby boy, arriving after just 29 weeks in the womb. While that just seems bizarre, at least the new mom had the help of a family medicine doctor, as well as three neonatal intensive care unit nurses from North Kansas City Hospital — all of whom also happened to be travelling to Honolulu and were happy to pitch in. Apparently, plenty of unexpected surprises in this story.
LAW TALK
Attorney: What is your date of birth?
Witness: July 18th
Attorney: What year?
Witness: Every year.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1994 that in-house curmudgeon Andy Rooney had his 500th commentary on “60 Minutes” – likely annoyed about flimsy coffee filters, crooked restaurant tables or other key matters.
WORD OF THE DAY
Archipelago – [ahr-kuh-PEL-uh-goh] – noun
Definition: An expanse of water with many scattered islands
Example: I wouldn’t mind disappearing for a few weeks among an archipelago of dozens of islands.
WIT OF THE DAY
“If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: President Can’t Swim.”
-Lyndon B. Johnson
BIDEN BLURB
“I can die a happy man never having been president of the United States of America.”
-Joe Biden
WEATHER IN A WORD
Springy