The Jaffe Briefing - February 16, 2022
ELIZABETH – Union County has a grand plan to build a $123.8 million government complex. But that plan is now halted because a state appeals court believes the county circumvented public bidding laws in deciding which builder would get a very fat contract. NJ.com reports that $9.3 million has already been spent on the project with demolition, architectural work, etc. The big question is not about which large contractor will be chosen; taxpayers really don’t give a hoot. It’s about how all of the legal wrangling will make an expensive complex in Elizabeth even more expensive, dragging out this long-planned project for a few more years. The court ruled the next phase of this project has to be publicly bid, hopefully quickly.
STATEWIDE – Is it Election Day or Groundhog Day? Because when we awake each day, it seems to be Election Day, yet again. New Jersey Globe has taken notice, saying there could be up to 15 Election Days this year in the state. Elections this year started on January 25 when nine school districts held bond referendums to upgrade and build new schools. That’s one of four special school board Election Days throughout the year, as well as fire district elections, do-over elections when there’s a tie, regular school board elections, non-partisan elections, election run-offs, primary elections and then – finally – the general election on Nov. 8, with any run-offs set for Dec. 6. So, remember, do your civic duty – again and again.
STATEWIDE – Decades-old racism in housing remains a big stain on New Jersey, as News 12 NJ reports on some unearthed documents that further show the pervasive and common discrimination. For example, in 1940, a former River Edge mayor was selling a 100-acre farm to developers with this clause: "No person of any race other than the Caucasian race shall use or occupy any building or lot." Except, of course, for the domestic servants. Another deed from Ramsey in 1948: “No person of the negro blood or race shall be permitted to own rent or occupy any part of said premises.” So, at a time when New Jersey real estate was still somewhat affordable, Black families were locked out of building what could be generational wealth. Today, the median net worth for Black families in New Jersey is just $6,000, compared to $300,000 for white families. This story – while old and well-told – continues to have a glaring impact.
BRIEFING BREATHER
A cockroach can live nine days without a head.
DOWN THE SHORE – More and more often, there’s a new report about climate change that projects life in a few decades. Sadly, the real, true decision makers will barely glance at the latest missive, showing that sea level will rise a foot within the next 30 years. According to the Washington Post, federal agencies are talking about even worse coastal flooding – even when there’s no rain. The message – yet again – is that New Jersey’s shore towns will consistently have water in the streets, while many of our glorious waterfront homes will be consistently flooded with 10-12 inches of sea level rise by 2050. The culprit remains the global dependence on burning fossil fuels. Will this latest alarming report – in a string of alarming reports – change behavior?
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
MIAMI BEACH – Let’s assume it was just an innocent mistake. But many are raising a skeptical eyebrow about an apparent typo in a flyer from the city’s police department, which just so happens to be sending motorists to a website that sells Trump ’24 merchandise. Miami Beach cops had been handing out the erroneous flyer since last week, urging residents to resolve any old traffic tickets through a certain website. Police tell the Miami Herald that they have now, officially, discovered the error, requiring the distribution of a second flyer, telling people to ignore the first flyer. Not only does the wrong website take motorists to an online merch site, to buy all your favorite Trump 2024 hats and flags, it also sells a DVD exploring the benefits of a “one-world centralized government.” Insert cold shiver here.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1985 the Devils scored their fastest hat trick, in just 42 seconds.
WORD OF THE DAY
Toady – [TOH-dee] – noun
Definition: One who flatters in the hopes of getting favors.
Example: Not to be a toady, but you are absolutely brilliant to be a reader of today’s briefing. Congrats!
WIT OF THE DAY
“Vietnam was a country where America was trying to make people stop being communists by dropping things on them from airplanes.”
-Kurt Vonnegut
BIDEN BLURB
“I didn't argue that the war in Vietnam was immoral; it was merely stupid and a horrendous waste of time, money, and lives based on a flawed premise.”
- Joe Biden
WEATHER IN A WORD
Warming