Pension Fat Cats
A bill that would “give some elected officials bigger pensions” moved briskly through a senate panel yesterday, with zero debate and “in roughly one minute” of elapsed time, Christian Hetrick reports. The “pension padding” bill comes “at a time when public workers who are not politically connected have seen cutbacks.” Camden Mayor Dana Redd is singled out as a beneficiary of this happy legislation.
Elsewhere in Fat Cats
NJ.com’s Erin Banco compiled a useful list of the ten largest business subsidies in New Jersey history. Those are when public monies are given to multi-millionaires so politicians can say they support “small businesses.”
At least three of the top ten are deep in the Land of the Norcs (by my count) while the other deals involve JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan Chase (again), Goldman Sachs and Prudential Financial. Revel Entertainment, right here in Atlantic City, is number two!
Are business subsidies even worth it? Famed millennial-understander Richard Florida says, “the broad consensus among economists who study the subject is that such business incentives do little to alter the location decisions of companies.” His own opinion is they’re “a useless waste of taxpayer dollars.”
The story’s apropos of the $7 billion incentive submitted to Amazon to lure its headquarters to New Jersey.
Waiter Nation + the Fight for $15
What impact would minimum-wage legislation have on industries where tips make up a huge part of people’s pay? The question is especially important in Atlantic County, where so many jobs are in the service industry. We sat down with Chef Michael Brennan (Cardinal Bistro), Michael Fagan (Waiter Nation) and Chrstian Correa (Renaissance man about town) to discuss the shape of things to come. (Podcast)
Beach Flub
Stellar Mel Taylor reports that some residents of the Ocean Club condos are displeased about a development plan before city council for the beach between Morris and Montpelier Avenues. “Is somebody trying to push thru a substantial beach project without proper public notice?”
Only Propertied Gentlemen Should Have the Vote
“The first civil rights legislation to reach Phil Murphy’s desk once he becomes governor may be a bill that will give convicted felons the right to vote, whether they are on parole, probation, or in prison,” the Spotlight reports.
31%
That’s the percentage of New Jersey households prescribed opioids in the last year.
HealthWatch
The lede of the day goes to Susan Livio. “Too many New Jerseyans are sleep-deprived couch potatoes — and their government doesn’t spend enough on keeping them healthy.”
Elsewhere in Public Health
Fewer New Jersey teens are smoking marijuana, according to a study. This story notes states with legal cannabis tend to have more teens who have smoked pot (compared to the national average), but teen marijuana use has declined in Colorado since legalization.
In Wawa news:
Arguably the fanciest Wawa of all time opened and it has seating and beer. (Spoiler: it’s not in New Jersey)
For the rest of the news that’s fit to print, see below:
Christie could sign two more anti-addiction bills before his term ends–Chris Christie’s final act as governor to cement his image as an anti-addiction crusader could be his signing a pair of bills that would close loopholes in the state’s prescription drug monitoring database and standardize the testing and reporting of drug overdose deaths by medical examiners, among several other changes. www.northjersey.com
GOVERNOR LANDS COMMUTERS WITH $2B IN FARE HIKES TO HELP PAY FOR GATEWAY PROJECT–New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday added new details to an earlier agreement to fund the long-planned Gateway infrastructure project, which calls for the construction of a new trans-Hudson tunnel to replace the one in service now that is more than a century old. www.njspotlight.com
Pinelands Regional Superintendent Resigns Amid Construction Scandal–Dr. Maryann Banks, who has served as the interim superintendent of the Pinelands Regional School District for one and a half years, resigned last week. pinebarrenstribune.com
From the Canary Islands to Antigua, Sabrina’s Cafe Backs Rowing Team in Ocean Race–There’s 3,000 miles of open ocean between the Canary Islands in West Africa and the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda. www.njpen.com
Margate superintendent announces retirement effective July 1–Superintendent of Schools John DiNicola announced his retirement effective July 1, 2018. The Board of Education approved his letter of retirement without comment at its meeting Thursday, Dec. 13. www.shorenewstoday.com
LETTING FIRST RESPONDERS USE HIGHER DOSES OF NARCAN TO FIGHT OPIATE OVERDOSES–New Jersey is considering updates to a law designed to protect emergency responders who administer life-saving opioid antidotes in order to address a growing and painful truth: preventing overdoses with today’s more powerful drugs requires increasingly robust strategies. www.njspotlight.com