The Morning Briefing - January 26, 2016
DOWN THE SHORE – Sometimes, the New Jersey media is a little harsh on Gov. Chris Christie, repeatedly describing his Administration and his Presidential campaign as a bully in flip-flops. But, sometimes, the governor seems to be asking for it, such as blatantly ignoring the obvious flood damage at the shore so he can campaign undisturbed in New Hampshire. There, he tells a New Hampshire voter, “I don’t know what you want me to do; you want me to go down there with a mop?” Wow. Have at it, New Jersey media.
NEWARK – City residents take their shoveled walks very seriously. Just ask Mayor Ras Baraka. Now, cops are looking for a woman who had a guy shot in the butt just for using her shovel to clear an elderly neighbor’s driveway in the West Ward. NJ.com tells how this Good Samaritan saw a shovel laying on the ground and used it to help his neighbor on Sunday. A woman came along, saying the shovel was hers. Words were exchanged in that special, oh-so-colorful Newark way. She took back her shovel, but returned later with three people, one who pointed a gun at the victim’s head. At the woman’s command, the victim was shot in the rear. The victim struggled for the gun, but another woman punched him in the face before he ran off – wondering if doing a good deed was really such a pain in the rump. His assailants also fled – perhaps in search of hot chocolate with those itty-bitty marshmallows.
ATLANTIC CITY — Borgata cocktail waitresses were told “fat chance!” The state Supreme Court won't entertain their appeal, as they fight a casino mandate that dictates what they weigh. In 2008, 22 of the illustrious “Borgata Babes” sued for discrimination, after casino operators put them on a scale at random and suspended them for packing on the pounds, perhaps from all the 99-cent shrimp. The Borgata requires its Babes to maintain an hourglass figure; they can’t gain or lose more than 7 percent of their body fat. The Press of Atlantic City says an appellate court already ruled that the casino's policy doesn’t discriminate. The state's highest court doesn't feel the need to weigh in.
STATEWIDE – If you happened to drive by the Lukoil on Oak Tree Road in Edison this morning, like us, you’d see that gas is now selling for a bargain basement $1.47 a gallon. Meanwhile, federal officials say that 35 percent, or 2,334, of New Jersey’s 6,566 bridges are considered “structurally deficient.” When, if ever, will state lawmakers increase the gas tax to fix these bridges, or are we just waiting for inevitable disaster?
STATEWIDE – Here’s a little sweetener for wary taxpayers: A Bergen County lawmaker says the state should give EZ-Pass drivers a 10 percent discount in exchange for the passage of the proposed 14.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax to fill the perennially broke, often-raided Transportation Trust Fund. “If we keep increasing things, we should probably save people money somewhere,” the bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Tim Eustace, told Politico.
STATEWIDE — The hand that rocks the cradle may rule the world. But first she must get elected, at least in New Jersey. Women are still having difficulty on that score. Of the 50 largest cities and towns, with 40,000 people or more, only three have female mayors: Dana Redd in Camden, Kelly Yaede in Hamilton and Wilda Diaz in Perth Amboy. And 72 smaller towns – out of 565 statewide – have women mayors. A report in the Record shows that only 22 towns, or 4 percent of all municipalities, have a female majority on their governing bodies. In the Legislature, women hold 30 percent of 120 seats, slightly better than the national 24.5 percent average; and only one woman, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, represents New Jersey in either house of Congress. Perhaps the majority of women are just too darn smart to get into politics.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
WHITESBORO, N.Y. – This upstate New York village is dragging itself toward the 20th century, bowing to Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and its exposé on this town’s racist logo. Village officials say they will change the logo – which depicts a white man throttling an Indian. For maximum pandering, village officials will meet with members of the nearby Oneida Indian Nation to create a new logo – Together. See the segment here.
BROOKLYN – Why should plow drivers be the only ones to score a buck during a blizzard? A Brooklyn man created an igloo in the back of his home, which could comfortably sleep two. He then listed it on Airbnb, a house-rental service, as the city’s trendiest new boutique hotel, the NY Post reports. Patrick Horton described his intimate creation as “dripping with ingenuity and alt-lifetyle aura,” calling it “Snowpocalypse’s most desirable getaway.” We love it, especially when we check out the bathroom. There is a bathroom, right?
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1985 that the Dow Jones industrial average peaked at 1,292.62. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones has plummeted more than 1,292.62 in just this month.
WORD OF THE DAY
Tergiversate - (ter-JIV-er-sate) - verb
Definition: To change sides.
Example: After watching the Democratic debate last night from Iowa, Mel was thinking he may tergiversate – to the Libertarians.