The Jaffe Briefing - June 6, 2022

STATEWIDE – So, recreational weed has been selling off the shelves for six weeks now. And there is still no way an employer can prove an employee is stoned on the job. Of course, in our kind of work, perhaps it can spark some creativity around the office. But it is a lot more serious of a matter for workers in emergency response, medical care, construction, airlines and other industries that have zero tolerance for any type of impairment. NJ.com reports the state still needs to create some sort of protocols about how to deal with workers who test positive or appear zoinked out of their minds while on the job. Both state lawmakers and employers are left in the dark without any direction – 15 months after the legal weed law took effect in New Jersey.

PALISADES PARK – No clue what’s going on in this town, where the mayor is suing his political opponent for $25 million for defamation. With the primary election tomorrow, Mayor Christopher Chung is suing Chong "Paul" Kim, a councilman who is running against him, as well as The Korea Daily newspaper. The mayor is also suing Borough Administrator David Lorenzo, who he tried to fire. Chung and his attorney did not respond to the Record seeking comment. And the lawsuit does not give specific examples of defamation, which would seem somewhat necessary for someone demanding $25 million. But with polls open for the primary election, this may all be last-minute nonsense. Whoever wins, the big losers appear to be Palisades Park residents, who just want these people to keep the taxes down and pick up the leaves.

TRENTON – New Jersey is spending plenty of time discussing all the billions in surplus this budget season, which ends June 30. But what about all the debt? NJ.com drops a big wet blanket on the party. Despite the rosiest state budget in anyone’s memory, the state’s bonded debt for fiscal ‘21 still climbed $3.8 billion to a record amount, $48.2 billion, audits show. The state has since knocked out about $2 billion in bonded debt, with all the current surplus. So, for all the bean counters out there, the state’s long-term debt is now hovering around $248.6 billion, when you factor in all the pension costs. Seems a lot. Who knows?

BRIEFING BREATHER

Flamingos can only eat with their heads upside down.

TRENTON – Unclear how often you are getting shuttled from one place to another via pedicab, but good news. You’ll soon be allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage as you head from here to there. Obviously, this bill is designed for places like Atlantic City, where those smiling bicycle rickshaw operators station themselves outside the casinos on the boardwalk, eager to push you somewhere else for a few bucks. As these are mom-and-pop businesses, state officials figure it is good business to ease some regulations and market to customers who prefer to booze and ride.

STATEWIDE – If you are in the rental business in New Jersey, those dark days of the pandemic may seem very far away right now. Rent.com is reporting that the average rent in the state has soared nearly 33%, with popular destinations like Jersey City seeing rents rising nearly 50%. Rent increases are considerably higher than the rest of the country, of course, as NJ.com notes the national average increase is hovering around 25%, as landlords eagerly await the end of the lease so they can “renegotiate” with all the bargaining power. And another concerning fact for renters: it often costs more to move than to just stay put.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

MADRID – A real person to talk with. That’s all anyone really wants when they call the bank, or the power company or whomever. Spanish leaders agree, proposing a law that would require companies to provide living, breathing individuals to offer customer service if a caller should request it. So, under the proposal, here’s what would happen: You call a customer service line. Someone answers the phone and tries to help you. Wow! Landmark stuff – if the Spanish Parliament votes the law through. The proposed bill gets even better: Companies offering basic services, like internet and phone, would need to answer all calls within three minutes and offer customer service personnel 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with fines beginning at $160 and growing to $106,000. Finally some justice for the customer.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1978 that Proposition 13 somehow slashed California property taxes 57 percent.

WORD OF THE DAY

Fidelity – [fuh-DELL-uh-tee] – noun

Definition: The quality or state of being faithful to someone, such as a spouse, or something, such as one's country.

Example: Too many have convinced us that fidelity to the United States equates to blind support of the Second Amendment.

WIT OF THE DAY

“There’s a reason when Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer came after our right to keep and bear arms, that I led the opposition. Along with millions of Americans, we defeated that gun control legislation.”

-Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

BIDEN BLURB

“In Texas, you can be 18-years-old and buy an assault weapon – even though you can’t buy a pistol until you’re 21.”

-Joe Biden

WEATHER IN A WORD

Beauty