The Jaffe Briefing - May 6, 2022

MONTCLAIR – Gov. Phil Murphy was perusing a local comic book store yesterday, showing the people of New Jersey that he cares about its economic backbone: small business. And he was eager to highlight how his proposed budget includes $50 million in aid to help mom-and-pops stay afloat as they transition out of the pandemic, Politico reports. Of course, this is good news. But the real elephant in the room is the tax increases planned for business owners, as the unemployment insurance fund needs to be replenished. Federal pandemic aid should be used here. But the governor tells Politico that there’s “no news to make on that,” adding “we want to make sure whatever money we put into small businesses as we have here, we get the biggest bang for the buck.” Translation to small business: Have some financial aid today, which we will take back tomorrow.

STATEWIDE – There's now 142 fewer licensed child care centers in New Jersey since the pandemic walloped the industry, reducing the number of child care slots by 4,700, NJ.com reports. Child care providers are quick to respond that the state can help shore up the industry by quickly distributing CARES Act money earmarked for child care. One provider who also operates in Pennsylvania noted his centers in that state averaged $330,000 in federal relief money, compared to just $120,000 in New Jersey. Why are the numbers so different? And, providers also wonder, why has New Jersey been so slow in releasing federal aid as their child care centers struggle to stay afloat?

STATEWIDE - They’re (just about) baaack! Those invasive spotted lanternflies are set to once again emerge from their nests any day now, ready to chomp away on New Jersey’s native plant species. And although the mere thought of these creepy bugs has you pricing flamethrowers on eBay, take heart that help is on the way. TAPinto New Brunswickreports Rutgers is forming the “Spotted Lanternfly Eradication Unit.” That might conjure thoughts of a statewide bug-squishing militia, but in reality, RU is focused on educating the state’s K-12 teachers and students about the best ways to trap and kill these spawns of hell through a series of statewide seminars. Doesn’t sound like improvised explosive device workshops will be part of the series, but it’s still early in the season.

BRIEFING BREATHER

The chicken and the ostrich are relatives of the Tyrannosaurus rex.

IN THE MEDIA

TRENTON – When a guy can have the same newspaper beat stretching back to 1965, that’s news. And it is also news that Joe Albright, who covered the Statehouse for the Jersey Journal since that time, has died at 93, his last weekly column appearing yesterday. Albright, one of those colorful old characters that made press row in Trenton so interesting for so many years, covered more than a dozen governors over a nearly 60-year career as a freelance correspondent. He was known for his commitment to Hudson County readers, as well as all the squirrels, pigeons and stray cats he cared for around the government buildings. Here is Albright’s last piece.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

PORTLAND, Maine – State officials have officially lost their humor when it comes to salty license plates, dashing off a bunch of new directives to clean up the road. So, say goodbye to any colorful references to genitalia, sex acts and profanities that proliferated after the state eased language restrictions on its vanity plates seven years ago. That prompted some, er, creativity, described by the Secretary of State as “incitement to violence, profanity, ethnic, racial, religious, or other slurs, or reference to illegal or criminal activity.” There’s now hundreds of plates on the road that don’t fit with the state’s vision of good taste, and it will likely take years for them to fade away.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Falsetto screams of delight were heard on this day in 1997, when both Michael Jackson and the BeeGees are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

WORD OF THE DAY

Mollify – [MAH-luh-fye] – verb

Definition: To soothe in temper or disposition

Example: Flowers are always a great way to mollify on Mother’s Day.

WIT OF THE DAY

“Here you are, you're a liberal, you probably define peace as the absence of conflict. I define peace as the ability to defend yourself and blow your enemies into smithereens.”

-Sean Hannity

BIDEN BLURB

“Fox News, I'm really sorry your preferred candidate lost the last election. To make it up to you, I'm happy to give my chief of staff to you all so he can tell Sean Hannity what to say every day.”

-Joe Biden

WEATHER IN A WORD

Damp