This is going to be an update on New Jersey. What has happened to shape our local world and those things outside of this state that are causing us problems here are the items I am going to talk about
Let me start this off by saying that it seems that while Donald Trump has won the Presidency, he has not won the hearts and minds of the people of this state. This does put Chris Christie at a huge disadvantage, his star has fallen. The Governor is no longer the head of Trump’s transition team and may or may not play a significant role in the new President’s administration.
Of course you have noticed the largest increase in the gas tax in a very long time, unless you are driving an electric vehicle or are someone who does not drive. And what about the way our Democratic lawmakers are now saying that Christie will not be further investigated on Bridgegate. Per an article in nj.com- “Speaking at a panel about lawmakers’ goals for the next year at the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney said it’s more important to focus now on the big issues facing New Jersey taxpayers, such as school funding and public worker pensions.”We need to move forward in the state,” Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said. “We have a lot of issues.”” So I think that the lawmakers are now looking towards the future gubernatorial election next year and do not want to muddy up the political waters any further, except for Senator Loretta Weinberg who in my opinion is just a sore loser.
Or have you noticed all the people that are going crazy since the election of Trump as President; i.e. the demonstrations by students and others. Some of them have been quite violent in other states, but thankfully here in New Jersey things have been much more peaceful. And I hope that it stays that way. I am fine with them demonstrating as long as it is peaceful and lawful.
You might have noticed very recently that the price of gas at your local non-brand name gas station is more than at the brand name ones. Well that is because of a pipeline mishap down South. The Colonial gasoline pipeline in Alabama exploded back on October 31st of this year disrupting the flow of gasoline from the Gulf Coast Refineries to the North Coast. And the first ones that get hit with a problem are the non-brand name gas stations. You might even find that some of them do not have any gasoline to sell you right now.
From a Forbes article – “Colonial is the largest petroleum product pipeline system in the country. It runs continuously at or near full capacity, delivering about 2.6 million barrels per day via a 5,500-mile system that connects 29 refineries and 267 distribution terminals, moving petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and heating oil from receipt points as far west as Houston, Texas to numerous delivery points between Louisiana and northern New Jersey.” So you can see with this pipeline having problems getting up and running normally it will mean that gas will be in short supply at some gas stations; mostly the non-brand name ones.
I could go on, but I think I will just wind up with this- We have voted and now have a new President Elect. Some like him and others revile him. This is unfortunate and everyone should at the least show respect for the office of the President. Also, let us hope that the gasoline supply gets better before the Thanksgiving holiday. As for Christie, he made his choices and we will have to live with them for now.
That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike
