Star-Ledger editorial: Christie plan for new round of Sandy aid repeats past mistakes

[highplainsdem]

http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2014/02/christie_plan_for_new_round_of.html

We're hearing the same complaints all over again: Housing advocates say this new plan again distributes money inequitably, short-changing the lowest-income renters. Climate change experts say it fails to take sea level rise into account in much of our rebuilding, which could mean hundreds of millions in future damage.

And incredibly, despite the scores of homeowners still waiting for grants to rebuild and an ongoing federal investigation into the governor's tourism ads, it seeks a waiver of federal law to spend yet another $5 million on the "Stronger Than the Storm" campaign.

-snip-

- Who, if anyone, is handling the state's major housing recovery programs?

The administration plans to direct $390 million more to its largest rebuilding program, but wants to play "I've got a secret" about who's running it. Ferzan will say only that the previous contractor was cut loose because its services are no longer needed. This was done without a word to the public, and with a more than $10 million payout in a settlement to litigation we know nothing about. Ferzan is referring all questions to the state Department of Community Affairs, which won't answer them either. Isn't he the guy in charge here?

- Why does this plan do away with a requirement that Sandy funds be targeted to the areas most impacted by the storm?

This opens up the door to exactly the kind of shenanigans we saw in Belleville, where Christie personally steered funds to a pet project that had nothing to do with Sandy relief. Ferzan said it's "unfathomable" that disaster aid could be used for political gain. After seeing what happened in Belleville, where the Democratic mayor endorsed Christie's re-election, we can fathom it.

-snip-

[Walk away]

1. What about the money for Hoboken?

Do the citizens of the mile square city still have to make due with $300,000 in Sandy money to save a city that was 80% under water for weeks?

Isn't anyone going to make this asshole help that city?