Report Disputes Christie?s Basis for Halting Tunnel

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey exaggerated when he declared that unforeseen costs to the state were forcing him to cancel the new train tunnel planned to relieve congested routes across the Hudson River, according to a long-awaited report by independent Congressional investigators.

The report by the Government Accountability Office, to be released this week, found that while Mr. Christie said that state transportation officials had revised cost estimates for the tunnel to at least $11 billion and potentially more than $14 billion, the range of estimates had in fact remained unchanged in the two years before he announced in 2010 that he was shutting down the project. And state transportation officials, the report says, had said the cost would be no more than $10 billion.

Mr. Christie also misstated New Jersey?s share of the costs: he said the state would pay 70 percent of the project; the report found that New Jersey was paying 14.4 percent. And while the governor said that an agreement with the federal government would require the state to pay all cost overruns, the report found that there was no final agreement, and that the federal government had made several offers to share those costs.

Canceling the tunnel, then the largest public works project in the nation, helped shape Mr. Christie?s profile as a rising Republican star, an enforcer of fiscal discipline in a country drunk on debt. But the report is likely to revive criticism that his decision, which he said was about ?hard choices? in tough economic times, was more about avoiding the need to raise the state?s gasoline tax, which would have violated a campaign promise. The governor subsequently steered $4 billion earmarked for the tunnel to the state?s near-bankrupt transportation trust fund, traditionally financed by the gasoline tax.

FakeGreenDress wrote:
The limited networks are a problem, but they're not a new issue. I had a similar thing happen to me several years ago, but the other way round: my NY-based coverage (offered through work, major national company) dropped all of NJ from its network -- and told me so by sending me a "Congratulations! We're expanding your coverage throughout NY State" letter that hid the "By the way you can't see any of your doctors again" in small type at the bottom.

Bronze Plan?

MDM wrote:


You could just get the highest deductible plan available for your age / sex, using the insurance basically as a catastrophic care plan only.

Although Citi Bike has been popular with commuters, the system has been plagued with problems, such as software glitches, maintenance woes and battery issues at the stations.

jmiz wrote:
Quote:

Bogart wrote:
Does the program envision an effort to redistribute where the bikes are left?

If you redistribute throughout the day, those who need to ride home will not have a bike at the PATH to do so.

Monroe wrote:
Quote:

Bogart wrote:
After criticizing Corzine for "gambling" with public funds, Christie appoints his high school buddy, a hedge fund manager, in charge of state investments. They move one third of public pension assets into hedge funds, including funds managed by major contributors to Christie's political campaigns. The investment return in below average in part due to the high fees paid to the campaign contributors. I'd say that's a story.

There doesn't seem to be any aspect of public affairs that Christie does not view as a profit opportunity for his cronies.

Today, the New York Times reports that Christie mentor and Port Authority Chairman David Samson is under federal criminal investigation for awarding huge construction contracts to his own clients.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/nyr ... -bridge-contracts.html?hp

How do you feel about Mayor Fulop handing out no-bid contracts to the law firm co-owned by his political Democratic ally Ray Lesniak, with JC taxpayers footing the bill? While campaigning, Fulop promised to put everything out for bids. He has now given two no bid contracts to Lesniak.

Are you equally outraged over this, lol? Or do you save your fauxrage for Christie and any Republican?

alexj7 wrote:
I read once they used to have moving walkways way back in the day. Maybe someone who lived here a long time ago can confirm.

OneSkirt wrote:


I mention the job creation concern because the Mayor has promised to be a job creator, and this is a key area he's promised to work on. This RFP doesn't promote that ideal (at least in terms of the management/operations side of the RFP).

OneSkirt wrote:
While the lure of a professional entertainment conglomerate and their big money is one direction to go, why is the administration not also considering creating a full operations team of qualified professionals via the Loews Board to manage the venue as a non-profit entity along the lines of a the sort of business model employed by other local arts venues like NJPAC, The State Theatre in New Brunswick, or BAM? Why does this venue need to be turned over to an entertainment conglomerate when you have many qualified professionals right here in Jersey City, who can handle all facets of running a performing arts complex (fundraising, marketing, programming, theatre operations, etc.)? We have fundraising and sponsorship professionals right here qualified to start this work while renovations are underway (which I imagine will take at least a year). I can name several local residents who fit the bill for such roles, with the resumes to back that up. Let's not get blinded by dollar signs of big conglomerates until all the options are carefully examined.

You are conflating 2 functions that are by no means always linked. A theater managing non-profit is different from what is commonly called a "theater company". The latter produces and typically does not own a theater, most theaters host productions by outside companies. When the Rolling Stones play Giants Stadium, the stadium does not produce the show.

What doesn't follow is that it needs to be a for profit rather than the FOTL filled out with a board as I described, a budget, and professionals on staff. There are countless examples of well run non-profit theaters with pro management teams and great schedules. What makes this so different?

If the FOL could accomplish what they have on a volunteer basis, they could really do wonders with this place as an active part of a for-profit management team.