The Jaffe Briefing - March 15, 2022

STATEWIDE – There’s a lot of talk about how the state is providing $662 million more in aid to K-12 schools in the coming year, but the real stories are within school districts facing mega-cuts. Now, before everyone starts crying about how these districts are getting short-changed, the fact is they were receiving more aid than they should for years, as part of a formula that cuts state money from districts with declining enrollment and strengthening tax bases. So, that’s why gentrified Jersey City is losing $68.5 million, while trendy Asbury Park is getting an $8.6 million whack and why Neptune will see a $5.4 million shortfall. Interesting to see how these districts make up for the lost cash. Let’s just assume a substantial hike in school taxes from all those robust ratables.

NEWARK – Unclear what city would want to move backwards by say, 30 years or so, but former Mayor Sharpe James still contends he is the future of Newark. And that is why the 86-year-old, with criminal convictions and a jail term on his resume, is sucking up a lot of air, trying to get on the ballot for city council in Newark’s May 10 election, TAPInto Newark reports. Despite the fact he is banned from serving in public office, James is still trying to postpone tomorrow’s drawing for ballot positions until everyone deals with him first. The city clerk says that delaying the election process would lead to “chaos.” Yet James still dropped off a nominating petition. Meanwhile, there’s still the order from Judge Linda Feinberg, stating, unequivocally, that the five-term former mayor is “forever disqualified from holding any office or position of honor.” Here’s James’ ridiculous argument: The ruling bars him from “holding” office, not running for it. Sigh.

MANSFIELD – There seems to be a change of thinking when it comes to towns attracting those mega-warehouses to offset the residential tax burden. At one point, they were the perfect solution: Creating heaps of jobs on empty land and serving like big, fat ATMs for a host town’s budget. But now, NJ Spotlight reports, Mansfield is saying “enough,” banning any more warehouses beyond what has already been approved or under construction. There are now complaints of all this local truck traffic, air pollution and the destruction of any rural character. Sure, the tax revenue is great. But is it worth industrializing a sleepy town fortunate enough to be off a major highway? Mansfield, for one, is done with it.

BRIEFING BREATHER

PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint.

WILDWOOD – Getting a shrewd jump on the very limited number of available workers to woo this summer, Morey’s Piers is already sweetening the pot: offering $16.50 an hour. And – if you act now – free rides, free water slides and great discounts for friends and family! Besides all the fun and frolic between pay days, there’s even some attractive canned language from the company spokesperson: “In addition to working at the beach and meeting new friends, teens and young adults will have the opportunity to learn many valuable lessons like time management skills, communication and customer service skills, working within a team environment, and more.” Wow; could a summer job as a carny get any better?

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

AT THE STORE – What gift to give someone with everything? How about potassium iodide in either a liquid or pill form? With all these fun global threats of nuclear war, courtesy of our favorite crazy Russian oligarch, potassium iodide is flying off the shelves, CNN reports, as it can quickly saturate the thyroid gland and prevent it from absorbing radioactivity. Market supplies have dried, price gouging has set in. On eBay, a listing for a box of IOSAT 130 mg pills was selling for $89.95 each this morning. Some shocking perspective: that same box has typically sold for $13.99 on the manufacturer's website – before all this mess.

FROM THE MAILBAG

Dear Editor:

I enjoy reading the daily Jaffe Briefing. It is short and sweet, giving a quick view of the New Jersey state news.

As everyone is experiencing high gas prices, New Jersey should consider stop charging the high state tax on gas. I read this was being considered. If yes, why not just implement it and help the state residents? When there is $4+ billions budget surplus, it is more than reasonable to provide relief to New Jersey residents with reduced gas prices.

Arvind Kumar

Bridgewater

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

An interesting sign of the times: on this day in 1987, Bill Cosby is honored with a People’s Choice Award.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cryptography – [krip-TAH-gruh-fee] – noun

Definition: Enciphering and deciphering messages in secret code or cipher. 

Example: My secret strategy is to use cryptography to figure out what teams make the Final Four.

WIT OF THE DAY

“Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.” 

-Theodore Roosevelt

BIDEN BLURB

“I’m not asking for castles in the sky; I’m asking for practical things the American people have been asking for a long time — a long time.  And I think we can get it done.”

-Joe Biden

WEATHER IN A WORD

Mild