New White Knight achievement unlocked: Zaprudering that video to conclude that an entrenched politician wouldn't actually laugh at his citizens who are getting screwed over. NJ independent contractors would have already been steamrolled if it weren't for the efforts of Kim and others to expose this crap and fight back.
Hello Kim Kavin, I am a humorist writer who understands the difference between how laughter is created and the reaction to what is being listened to. In my years I have recognized and know that a nervous laugh, a real gut belly laugh, a giggle, and all kinds of responses to what is being said can be taken out of context. We need all of our Substack participants and those we post about to be worthy of subjective analysis without malice. You are doing great work, thank you for your persistence and continued reporting. Truly,
Respectfully, I believe what's important for context is that moments like that laughter--from a high-ranking elected official discussing the destruction of people's livelihoods--happen all too frequently in this policy area. It's far from the first time that New Jersey lawmakers have been caught laughing about what they are doing to the smallest of small-business owners, calling women in particular "hysterical" or "too angry" about fighting back when they threaten our livelihoods, even trying to smear independent contractors by comparing us to Russian disinformation agents in the press. (And that's just what we have endured here in New Jersey. Ask a Californian how things have been going out there in this policy area for years now, too...)
Thank you for sharing this. I actually didn't read his laugh the same way you do - it seemed to me like they were all complaining and agreeing about too much regulation in the state and it was a kind of nervous laugh - maybe something he does after a lot of sentences like a lot of people do.
I always respect your opinion, Grace, but facts are stubborn things. Senator Sarlo has been in the Legislature for many, many years. He has the power to make change if he believes there is a problem. When he wrote to the Labor Commissioner about the proposed independent-contractor rule, he did not stand up for all the women- and minority-owned businesses in its crosshairs. Democrats and Republicans alike took much stronger stances, trying to protect us all. He was, sadly, not among them. He chose to say nothing about the vast majority of us facing the threat of being regulated right out of business.
New White Knight achievement unlocked: Zaprudering that video to conclude that an entrenched politician wouldn't actually laugh at his citizens who are getting screwed over. NJ independent contractors would have already been steamrolled if it weren't for the efforts of Kim and others to expose this crap and fight back.
Indeed. And like I wrote, I continue to hope that our new governor will step in and put a stop to this madness...
Hello Kim Kavin, I am a humorist writer who understands the difference between how laughter is created and the reaction to what is being listened to. In my years I have recognized and know that a nervous laugh, a real gut belly laugh, a giggle, and all kinds of responses to what is being said can be taken out of context. We need all of our Substack participants and those we post about to be worthy of subjective analysis without malice. You are doing great work, thank you for your persistence and continued reporting. Truly,
Lisa Ann Lusardi
Respectfully, I believe what's important for context is that moments like that laughter--from a high-ranking elected official discussing the destruction of people's livelihoods--happen all too frequently in this policy area. It's far from the first time that New Jersey lawmakers have been caught laughing about what they are doing to the smallest of small-business owners, calling women in particular "hysterical" or "too angry" about fighting back when they threaten our livelihoods, even trying to smear independent contractors by comparing us to Russian disinformation agents in the press. (And that's just what we have endured here in New Jersey. Ask a Californian how things have been going out there in this policy area for years now, too...)
Thank you for sharing this. I actually didn't read his laugh the same way you do - it seemed to me like they were all complaining and agreeing about too much regulation in the state and it was a kind of nervous laugh - maybe something he does after a lot of sentences like a lot of people do.
I always respect your opinion, Grace, but facts are stubborn things. Senator Sarlo has been in the Legislature for many, many years. He has the power to make change if he believes there is a problem. When he wrote to the Labor Commissioner about the proposed independent-contractor rule, he did not stand up for all the women- and minority-owned businesses in its crosshairs. Democrats and Republicans alike took much stronger stances, trying to protect us all. He was, sadly, not among them. He chose to say nothing about the vast majority of us facing the threat of being regulated right out of business.