$4.8M in Sandy Relief Money Went to Fund Luxury Apartment Tower in New Brunswick

[RandySF]

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—NBC New York broke the story last night that embattled NJ Governor Chris Christie appropriated $4.8 million in Hurricane Sandy relief funds to help build a luxury highrise building in New Brunswick.

The revelation makes the 16-story project, currently under construction between Somerset and Condict Streets, the second such use of Sandy funding called into question this week.

The building, to be named Somerset Mews, has already received a city tax abatement and was approved by the city's Planning Board eight months before Sandy struck. In the planning stages for years, it is seemingly unrelated to the superstorm that devastated the Jersey Shore and coastal areas like Hoboken.

Its city-based developer, Boraie Development LLC, has strong political ties to the Governor and new US Senator Cory Booker. As we reported in April 2012, the Boraie family and its companies have been among New Brunswick's most generous political contributors over the past several decades.


http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/breaking-48m-sandy-relief-money-went-fund-luxury-apartment-tower-new-brunswick

[indepat]

1. Herr Christie: how quaint it is for you to sprinkle Federal disaster-relief funds among your

cronies for projects unrelated to the damage caused by Sandy. I'll be kind by referencing this as apparent misfeasance 'tho malfeasance would seem more descriptive. Faithfully,

[truedelphi]

2. This happened in New OrLeans, also.

Although it's fine with me to jab at Christie, corruption regarding these funds seems established as a way of life. Anywhere and everywhere in the USA.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. I want to say

Two summers ago there was a bit of a brouhaha about how MUCH of this new building was going to be blocked for affordable (subsidized). IE resentment that so many of "those" people "had the privilege" to live there.

From the article -

Anthony Marchetta, the head of NJ's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, told NBC that the building deserved the funds because 48 of the 238 apartments will be affordable and advertised to Sandy victims.

If the funds went there - so be it. But we have an affordable housing issue in NJ - and to punish the developer for playing dirty with Christie and possibly Booker - make all 238 subsidized and give first priority to the MANY families who still don't have homes on the shore.  

[Igel]

4. The "relief" had two parts.

One part was short-term for rebuilding and repairing, making people who'd sustained losses whole.

Another part was for investment. Upgrading infrastructure, not just fixing it. Various kinds of projects. The money'll take years to disburse, long after all the immediate destruction is long repaired.

More than a little avoided the entire debate that should have been held. Since there's not going to be a huge barrier erected to protect the Jersey shore or most of the 5 boroughs, is it really appropriate to invest billions in rebuilding something which, the next time there's a storm like this, will again be wiped out and again need a ton of public money to replace?

[JustAnotherGen]

7. No it is not and was not appropriate

But we can't tear the building town, it will take years to get the money back - so let me up my proposal - free rent for two years for anyone who is still homeless (there are lots) due to Sandy.

It just chaps my ass that Buono was addressing the "still not recovered" and asking why in her campaign and people would change the subject when we were out canvassing.

"Bridgegate" would still have happened this past September - but we would have someone who is NOT worthless for Governor.

I just hope the rest of left America can see why we rang those doorbells and made those calls even when they said we couldn't win . . ..

[Laxman]

8. This Was Most Decidedly Inappropriate....

perhaps legal, but not the intent of what the money was designed for. Although I have my doubts about legality.

The first chunk of money that came from the Federal government for Sandy relief required an "Action Plan" on how the money was going to be spent. Along with all the expensive shore mansions in places like Mantaloking, there were a lot of very affordable homes in places like Union Beach and Keansburg that were trashed as well as many rental units. Christie's first version of the action plan contained no provisions for rebuilding affordable units. This was contrary to HUD policy. NJ's own current affordable housing laws have been in limbo since Christie took office.

Christie was forced, after a law suit was immediately filed by affordable housing advocates in the state, to re-work his action plan and put in some rhetoric about building affordable units. Rather than actually build new units, he has re-purposed Sandy money to currently planned developments, like this one and one in Belleville. It did nothing to foster Sandy recovery and nothing to replace the affordable housing destroyed by Sandy. What it did do was reward his supporters by bringing money to stalled projects like these that he felt could marginally be linked to Sandy. This is bad on so many fronts. It is perversion of the Sandy money by not using for its intended purpose and pay-offs in the form of enabling pet projects to go forward.

[jsr]

5. Corporate welfare at its finest

[treestar]

6. Christie never knew the light was going to be shone onto him

Now's he's being exposed.

[Berlum]

9. Republicon corruption up the freaking Wazoo

Repubbies hate this because it reminds the rest of America how corrupt, mendacious, duplicitous and deceitful the whole freaking Republicon party has become.

Christie is merely the current poster boy for Republicon "Family Values" in action.