Regional Briefs – April 17, 2015

Christie’s Wife Unsure About Job if He Runs for President

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie’s wife is not sure if she’ll take a leave of absence from her cushy Wall Street job if he runs for president, she told NBC on Thursday. Mary Pat Christie’s husband has said her $550,000 career is important to her.

Christie Wishes He Had Weight-Loss Surgery Sooner

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie says he’s healthy more than two years after the weight-loss surgery he called the best thing he’s ever done for his health and wished he had done it sooner, he told NBC on Thursday. Christie did not say how much weight he has lost but said his cardiologist has contributed to his PAC.

Mayor Seeks $51K Raise After Cutting Predecessor’s Salary

RAHWAY, N.J. – Rahway Councilman Samson Steinman had voted to cut the mayor’s salary to $21,000. Now that he himself was elected mayor, he wants to boost it to $72,000, the Home News Tribune reported. Steinman says his predecessor did not work full time, but he would do so.

Agency Guarantees Loan for Battleship New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. – The Delaware River Port Authority is guaranteeing a loan to help keep Battleship New Jersey afloat as a tourist attraction on the Camden waterfront, The Associated Press reported. The agency on Wednesday renewed the guarantees for three years for the fifth time.

NYC Council Bans Job Applicant Credit Checks

NEW YORK – The New York City Council on Thursday overwhelmingly passed legislation that bans employers — with the exception of law enforcement — from performing credit checks on job seekers, since they “unfairly locked” people out of jobs. Business groups worried employees with significant debt could gain access to an employer’s money.

Pulaski Skyway Repairs to Take Longer, Cost More

JERSEY CITY – Damage to the Pulaski Skyway is worse than thought, meaning it will take longer and cost more to fix the 83-year-old span that links Jersey City and Newark, The Record reported. Workers discovered many steel beams had rusted away, adding $14 million to the $1.8 billion project.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the April 17th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.