The Columbine massacre was 19 years ago this April. I remember thinking how surreal and horrible that felt–fifteen school kids murdered (two the murderers themselves). Yesterday it was 17 and our failure to do anything meaningful to halt this epidemic is an index of how broken our civic and political culture is. I think so anyway. Our grandkids will measure us by it, if we’re lucky enough to have them.
As it happens, Phil Murphy was in Cherry Hill yesterday to talk about guns, and the Observer reported on it. “The parents contended the slaughter of 20 children and six adults might have been reduced if the gunman had been required to stop to reload his assault rifle,” is an actual sentence you get to read in 2018.
Elsewhere in national news, local boy made good Don McGahn was still working in the White House on an interim security clearance as of November 2017, NBC News reports, citing internal White House documents. Fortunately 130+ other White House staffers were too, which I gather is a little weird at this stage of a presidency but what do I know.
McGahn went to Holy Spirit and played football, reportedly. I wonder what years. I started on the sidelines as a waterboy in ’86 when the Spartans were 6-3 and beat Atlantic High 9-6 on Thanksgiving Day, so who knows, maybe I threw some Gatorade bottles at him. If I knew he’d go on to be chief White House Counsel I’d have done some networking. Hydration is important, people!
Hipsters Love Beer Gardens
In local news, the Boardwalk Biergarten is set to open “soon” between the Ritz and the Bungalow, Mel Taylor at AC Primetime reports. Hipsters love those things.
“Unmatched beer selection. Extensive menu,” Mel reports.
Admirably concise, Mel.
Narcan Stats
The state police released some statistics on the use of Narcan–the opioid overdose antidote–and I’m not sure what they cover exactly, but the number of Narcan shots they tracked nearly tripled statewide between 2014 and 2017 according to these numbers, the Asbury Park Press reports with the caveat that “the numbers captured by the New Jersey State Police’s Drug Monitoring Initiative do not reflect emergency room administrations of naloxone or those by the general public.”
There’s some other weird findings: Narcan shots in Ocean County fell by more than a third between 2016 and 2017. And overdose deaths in Ocean County fell by more nearly 25% between 2016 and 2017. Narcan shots spiked in Camden County though.
The Ocean County Prosecutor has been diverting people into treatment through something called the Blue Hart program.
Ed’s note: The Asbury Park Press is a good paper and you should subscribe.
Elsewhere across your region:
Couples re-do “I do”-s at Abescon Lighthouse–For eight years, the Absecon Lighthouse has helped couples kick off a romantic Valentine's Day evening in the resort town. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Rice, Singer to introduce bipartisan marijuana decriminalization bill–Democratic state Sen. Ronald Rice and Republican Sen. Robert Singer plan to introduce a bipartisan bill on Thursday to decriminalize recreational marijuana, a move that could complicate Gov. Phil Murphy's campaign promise to legalize recreational pot. www.politico.com
CALL FOR ACTION TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN NEW JERSEY FROM LEAD POISONING–How can New Jersey protect children, especially those in low-income communities, from the dangers caused by exposure to lead and lead poisoning? www.njspotlight.com
PIPELINE CONFLICT HEATS UP: LANDOWNERS VOW TO FIGHT PENNEAST ON EMINENT DOMAIN–Tim Seggerman wanted to retire to a custom-built house in the woods of Hunterdon County where he could enjoy the rural peace and look out on an adjoining farm. www.njspotlight.com
Nationwide concealed carry bill for gun owners is worrisome, cops say–A bill before Congress that would let people carry concealed handguns across state lines into the Garden State has some New Jersey law enforcement officials worried. www.nj.com
City of Camden, after missing out on Amazon, made unsolicited bid for Apple HQ–Municipal representatives across the state said preparing a bid for Amazon’s HQ2 project was a worthy exercise — even if they did not make the 20 finalists — since it would enable them to produce better bids for other companies. www.roi-nj.com