The Jaffe Briefing - April 8, 2022

LAKEWOOD – Domestic workers are often a silent bunch, quietly behind the scenes doing all the chores that no one else wants to handle. But they are organizing in Lakewood and now have a voice. The Asbury Park Press reports about 60 workers and supporters were recently protesting at the Town Square, claiming wage theft, crappy pay, sexual harassment, never-ending work shifts and zero personal time. Imagine this: living and working in someone’s house, stuck on the job for 72 hours a week, with hourly wages equivalent to $6. Or others coming to the house each day, for $13-$18 an hour, with the inability to afford rising rents and other expenses. Protesters told of not having vacation time for years, chanting “We are women, not machines.” This is a big story, as 21st-century indentured servitude needs an obvious overhaul. Embarrassed we haven’t written about this before.

STATEWIDE – New Jersey voters remain a fickle bunch. Pollsters say that New Jersey’s support for President Joe Biden is seriously waning. Even after Biden won the state by an impressive 16 points in 2020, Monmouth University now says the president has an approval rating here of just 45%, with 50% disapproval. Yet, despite what appears to be a Democratic backlash, the majority of New Jersey voters still prefer Democrats to be in control of Congress. Oh, the poll shows voters want the presidential primary held much earlier in New Jersey, so the state can be just as relevant as New Hampshire and Iowa. Yeah, lots to digest here, as political consultants try to devise on-the-mark strategies that try to capture the mood and then, for the right price, advise accordingly.

TRENTON – It seems New Jersey is finally taking control of its state pension obligations, with Gov. Phil Murphy investing heavily in a fund that his predecessors consistently raided to balance the state budget, year after year, for a quarter-century. But now that the ship is finally being righted, some state lawmakers are calling for pensioners to get “cost of living” raises. It’s been a decade since local retirees got raises, and two decades since state workers got a boost. NJ 101.5 says it would cost $3.6 billion to give these raises. But remember the state pension is still not fully funded; it will take many more decades to accomplish that feat. So, sorry, no to raises. Pensioners should blame the politicians – many now retired and enjoying their own pensions – who put the state in such a deep hole. State lawmakers should also remember the typical New Jerseyan is not blessed with a pension; it’s difficult to build sympathy among millennials unfamiliar with the term.

BRIEFING BREATHER

The can opener was invented 48 years after the invention of canned food.

CINNAMINSON – Do you know who I am? Really, do you know who I am?? That was the message from a Congressional candidate, while being arrested for charges of drunken driving on March 27. Ian Smith, the infamous South Jersey gym owner and convicted felon for vehicular homicide in 2007, told cops he only had one margarita at a local taco joint before he got behind the wheel, NJ.com reports. And then this classic line for cops: “You know I’m a congressional candidate for this district, right?,” he said, while being handcuffed and hauled away. A spokesman for the Third Congressional District candidate told media: “He wasn’t drunk for obvious reasons.” Obviously.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

ALL OVER – Forgot to get you a card. But we hope you are still enjoying “Dog Farting Awareness Day,” held annually on April 8.  The, er, holiday started on social media in 2014, with animal rescue groups eager to highlight ways in which a canine's gas-passing habits can offer insight into the animal's health. To mark the big day, feel free to share these tips about canine digestive health. Dog farting is most commonly caused by canines swallowing air while eating, but excessive anal blasting accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea can be a sign of serious health issues. Now, if you don’t give a hoot about any of this, there are other big holidays on April 8 for you to celebrate: “Draw a Picture of a Bird Day,” “National Empanada Day” and “Zoo Lovers Day.” Enjoy!

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 2015 that the world’s oldest person, Gertrude Weaver, died at 116, relieved she declined the extended car warranty.

WORD OF THE DAY

Mettlesome – [MET-ul-sum] – adjective

Definition: Full of vigor and strength of spirit or temperament

Example: And I would have succeeded, if it hadn't been for you mettlesome kids. (Zoinks!)

WIT OF THE DAY

“You can’t always expect to be the smartest person in the room, but you can promise to be the hardest working.”

-Ketanji Brown Jackson

BIDEN BLURB

“Congratulations, Ketanji Brown Jackson.”

-Joe Biden

WEATHER IN A WORD

Drying