Good morning,
I’m thinking about a conversation I had several years ago with a former colleague, a dependably liberal Democrat, who had misgivings about abortion rights but considered himself one of the "good guys."
It's the smarmy look on his face I remember most, as he told me not to be histrionic about the threats to reproductive freedom. "Roe is the settled law of the land, so you're wasting your time worrying about that," he told me.
Do not let any man -- not even Gov. Murphy, who was quick to remind everyone that New Jersey law codifies Roe and its productive here -- tell you that reproductive rights are not at risk right now. If those folks currently screaming about critical race theory at the school board decide to turn their faux-righteous rage at abortion, things could change here fast.
It's already happening in states like Louisiana, where Republicans are advancing a bill that criminalizes not only abortion but contraceptive methods like IUDs. A wholesale ban on abortion services would mean women suffering ectopic pregnancies -- which will never result in a baby, only death for the mother -- would have no access to safe, routine medical procedures.
And it's not just women whose rights are at stake here -- ensuring equal access to medical care and equal protection under the law are fundamental to ensuring all of us are free.
Anti-choice people love to frame the conversation around the babies that could result from these pregnancies, rather than the pregnant person. Don't let them. Bodily autonomy, pregnancy and self-determination are not theoretical concepts, and the extremist Christian right wing is coming for them.
Right now, New Jersey is a haven for reproductive rights, medical freedom and self-determination. We must do everything necessary to make it remain so.
Also this week, a hot dog tragedy, party at the snack stand, REAL ID is coming, a mysterious liver illness in kids, and brunch spots for Mom.
HOT DOG SAGA: “I just opened up a week ago and boom, this happens,” is how Dave Martina described the heartbreaking turn of events at the hot dog stand he’d spent 18 months and $55,000 fixing up. The “boom” was a work van that slammed right through the front of the building.
ADULT SNACKS: Party at the snack bar! A Voorhees Township Dad has filed a lawsuit alleging that adults involved in a youth football program turned the field into a party place and accuses officials of misappropriating funds. Parents don’t deny some partying but say it happened after 12-hour shifts working the concession stand.
REAL ID READY: If you haven’t had to renew your New Jersey drivers’ license since before 2019, you should take care of that now. That’s when Jersey started issuing REAL ID licenses. Time’s running out before only licenses that are REAL ID compliant will be accepted for airline travel.
MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS: New Jersey hasn’t yet recorded any cases of a mysterious hepatitis striking children, but health officials here are on the lookout. Here’s what parents and caregivers should know.
BECAUSE SHE’S WORTH IT: If we’re being honest, my favorite Mother’s Day brunch is an eggs Benedict at the counter of my local diner with my son eating pancakes on the next stool. If your Mom likes her ‘do a bit fancier, check out this list of the best brunch spots in New Jersey.
Finally, if you’re a true-crime fan, a podcast enthusiast, or just like hearing a good story told well, I cannot recommend highly enough “Father Wants Us Dead,” NJ.com’s new podcast series. In it, reporters Rebecca Everett and Jessica Remo dissect the case of John List, who methodically murdered his family in their Westfield home in 1971. The crime is horrific enough, but the story of how he disappeared into a new life after the murders, and the lasting impact the killings had on the people involved and the town, are compelling. You’ll be hooked from the first episode.
Have a wonderful week, and to all the mothers, mothers-to-be, mothers-in-law, step-moms, bonus moms and aunties out there: You are loved!
P.S.: You folks had some great ideas for getting your reusable bag game on point with the plastic bag ban now in effect. My favorite: Putting “bags” on the top of your grocery list so you don’t forget to bring them to the store. Now, if I can just remember to bring the list ...
