The Jaffe Briefing - September 21, 2021
OFF THE RAILS – There’s plenty of excitement about the new Hudson River tunnel, but who pays for New Jersey’s share of this massive, $10 billion infrastructure project? The short answer: drivers. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is on the hook for the state’s share, now estimated at $1.6 billion, to be fueled by tolls on the Turnpike and Parkway. NJ Spotlight reports the authority already has some exciting new toll increases in the works, on top of the tunnel plan, as it must subsidize NJ Transit and greatly overhaul its road infrastructure. Another $2.2 billion is needed to rehabilitate the existing tunnel used by both NJ Transit and Amtrak, and you can certainly expect Jersey to be on the hook for some of that, too. There’s no question the new tunnel is desperately needed; New Jersey has been pleading for this project since Super Storm Sandy. The lingering, awkward question: how much can a motorist expect to pay for a new train tunnel?
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – If Jack Ciattarelli is elected governor, he vows things are going to change, big time. The state budget would be cut, cut, cut, from $46.4 billion back to where it was before the pandemic, around nearly $37 billion, the Record reports. Still, even with all the slashing and the burning, the GOP contender says he could still afford a full contribution of about $6 billion to the often-raided public employee pension fund. And, with all of this revenue cutting, Ciattarelli would still somehow be able to slash the corporate business tax — one of the state’s largest sources of revenue – in half, make the first $50,000 of income for small businesses tax free, eliminate the capital gains tax and freeze property tax rates for homeowners when they reach age 65. This all sounds great; something for everyone. But doable?
STATEWIDE – They describe themselves as “Nones,” and you may be one of them. The Record reports on a steady departure from organized religion, with now one-quarter of Americans describing themselves as “nones.” That means they have no religion, whatsoever. This lack of faith is considered a big deal, especially for a country founded by people willing to risk their lives to cross the Atlantic and be able to freely practice their religion, be it Puritans, or Quakers or Mormons or Jews. So, now with one out of every four Americans considering themselves “Nones” (pronounced as “nun”), what does it mean for the nation’s religion, culture and politics? Moreover, where are we now finding our inspiration for living? Some, the Record reports, are turning to yoga, nature or political activism. However you do you, the hope is to find some spirituality, somewhere.
BRIEFING BREATHER
On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.
OFF THE RAILS – NJ Transit is often blamed for its callousness to commuters, as that darn train just never, ever seems to arrive. But, according to Forbes, the rail agency has been really spectacular with its employees, ranked 24th in a list of New Jersey employers. NJ Transit was more than pleased to participate in this press release, even featuring a quote from Gov. Phil Murphy, saying the rail agency is “investing in its talented and experienced workforce.” Of the 1,330 employers that made the final list in 2021, only 90 New Jersey organizations were included. So, let’s take a moment to watch NJ Transit do some high-fives. OK…there ya go. Now let’s get back to getting the gum off the train seats.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
NEW YORK — Hundreds of songbirds migrating through the Big Apple were in a New York State of Mind, until they went splat into some of the city’s glass towers in recent days. Their tune quickly turned, as they fell to their demise, as downtown streets were littered with bird carcasses. The recent avian death toll was particularly high, but bird strikes on Manhattan skyscrapers are a persistent problem that NYC Audubon has been complaining about for years. The big storms somehow generated more city birds, flying lower than ever in the pelting rain and thick clouds, leading to are larger number of bird-window collisions. There’s a solution: Treating the glass of these skyscrapers so they are more visible. But, of course, that costs money.
ALL OVER – It seems a bit arrogant to try, but a private research lab is now trying to recreate the wooly mammoth. The Canadian company claims its efforts would somehow be used to reverse climate change and be a huge step forward for genetic engineering, the Washington Post reports. But, if the company is successful, where does it stop? Will we then welcome back the dodo bird, dinosaurs and other beasts that once roamed the barren lands before Walmart? Will we create a real Jurassic Park for our own amusement, or make even loftier claims of conquering nature? This company already has $15 million in investments in its effort to recreate the wooly mammoth, as it now feverishly tinkers with DNA in its labs. Sure, de-extinction is interesting as all heck. But do we really need to reunite with behemoths who last roamed the Earth 10,000 or so years ago? Rather, why not recreate Abe Lincoln? Would love to hear his take on things.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1980 that a Jets quarterback completed 42 passes in one game, as opposed to one season. (Thank you, Richard Todd.)
WORD OF THE DAY
Collude – [kuh-LOOD] – verb
Definition: To conspire or plot
Example: Just a reminder, and to be clear, there was no collusion.
WIT OF THE DAY
“Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.”
-David Letterman
BIDEN BLURB
“Without adequate commitments from every nation in this room, the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees slips through our hands. And that's a disaster.”
-Joe Biden
WEATHER IN A WORD
Same