The Jaffe Briefing - June 3, 2022
LOGAN – With hundreds of thousands of workers in its fast-paced, 24-hour warehouse operations, Amazon talks big about workplace safety. But the mega-company, with a huge presence in New Jersey, is still continually slammed for what many consider to be dangerous conditions, as a team of Amazonians breathlessly race to fulfill our order for a $1.99 toothbrush. Now its Rep. Donald Norcross standing in the shadows of a hulking Amazon warehouse in Logan, calling for a federal investigation into workplace accident rates at the 53 Amazon sites in New Jersey. Amazon, unlike all the other mega online retailers, appears to have a big target on its back, as the congressman says its injury rates are “astronomically out of whack” with other warehouse operators. "Why are you 88 percent more likely to get hurt seriously at a warehouse job at Amazon than its equivalent?" Norcross tells Gannett. "One out of two serious injuries, in the whole state of New Jersey, is Amazon." Amazon has plenty of talking points about its workplace safety, etc., all available online. But no one appears to be listening anymore in New Jersey.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Can you be anointed a congressman? It appears so, as Robert Menendez, Jr. is easily sliding into the family business. With Rep. Albio Sires announcing his retirement in December, one would assume there would be many, many candidates eager for a shot to run for Congress. Menendez, the son of our senior senator, quickly emerged from a hemming-and-hawing pack, raised a cool $1 million and has generated full-throated support from political royalty like Gov. Phil Murphy and Sen. Cory Booker. NJ.com reports the junior Menendez is a “shoo-in” to get the Democratic nod in the 8th Congressional District and then breeze through the general election, as Sires never reaped less than 70% of the vote in the heavy Democratic district. Many voters there remain unfamiliar with Menendez, Jr. But they will likely get to know him over his next two, four, six, eight or 10 years of service in Congress.
ON THE ROAD – Gas prices are only going to get higher, CBS News reports, as demand is expected to peak by mid-summer. The Jaffe Briefing launched a special investigation into the issue, reporting that it cost $50.47 to fill up a Honda Pilot last June, credit card receipts reveal. The current cost for 87 octane in that same, exact vehicle: $78.87. GasBuddy is telling CBS that gas will be selling for more than $5 a gallon in New Jersey, as the war in Ukraine, the demand for summer driving and unpredictable weather will all be reasons as to why gas prices won’t settle down until the fall. Meanwhile, the price of Exxon stock has increased 59.64% since this time last year, now near its 52-week high. A big “Hmm….”
BRIEFING BREATHER
An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – You may have just voted in the May elections. And now with early voting, it is time to vote in the June elections. Yes, the polls are open once again, as part of the primary season that culminates on Tuesday, June 7, as we vote for who we plan to vote for in the November general elections. NJ.com says all this voting is certainly a head-scratcher; is it possible that voters can have so many opinions about things in such a short amount of time? A law signed last spring allows voters to visit “megasite” polling places to cast ballots before Election Day, on top of the opportunities to vote by mail and to actually show up at the polls on Election Day. There’s now even weekend voting for early voting, for even more convenience, if that’s possible, with the megasites open this weekend 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Primary elections typically have low voter turnout. But if you plan to vote, there’s no excuse.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
OXON HILL, Md. – There was plenty of drama at the national spelling bee finals. One speller, who was bounced out for misspelling “leucovorin” was able to successfully appeal his case, arguing he was denied key, relevant information about the root information of the word. The 13-year-old teen from Utah was booted during the semifinals, but after his vociferous appeal, the judges convened behind closed doors for two hours, as the world breathlessly waited. Upon resurfacing, the judges agreed that the boy could be reinstated, admitting there was more directly relevant information available in the dictionary. So, the boy headed to Round 7 with a fresh, new word. (And then lost.)
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
One speech = $500,000. That was the pay day for President Bill Clinton on this day in 2013 to give a speech honoring the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
WORD OF THE DAY
Whelp – [/hjwelp] – noun
Definition: A puppy
Example: Why say you own a whelp? Just say you have a puppy. Jeez.
WIT OF THE DAY
“Prayers won’t end this. Voting might. So when you vote, ask yourself this question: Who running for office has publicly stated that they’re willing do anything and everything in their power to prevent your children from the criminally insane number of guns in America?”
-Stephen Colbert
BIDEN BLURB
“Over the last two decades, more school-age children have died from guns than on-duty police officers and active duty military combined. Think about that.”
-Joe Biden
WEATHER IN A WORD
Clearing