Reviews

January 12th, 2014

1/12/2014

Christie’s Bridge: There’s More Going on Down Below

Until very recently, I knew only a few things about Fort Lee, New Jersey:

1. One of my sisters lived there briefly. Somebody down the block broke into the house and stole stuff for drug money. They caught the thief.

2. I once blew a tire in a Christie-size pothole, coming back from the Meadowlands. The Port Authority truck guys changed my tire, free of charge. Months later, the PA’s insurance paid for a new tire.

3. I associate the George Washington Bridge with some of the most unpleasant hours in my working career – hours stuck in traffic coming back from mind-numbing Sunday football games, fans drunk and aggressive.

4. How frustrated I felt, going nowhere, watching the last exit ramp, tantalizingly empty, headed toward the mysterious bottomlands of Fort Lee. What was down there?

Now we know so much more about the GWB – beyond the big man making jokes about manning the cones himself.

Now we know that political types were playing with the lives of thousands of people for some vicious purpose. But what was it?

The other day, the journalist Laura Vecsey – who once nicknamed Alex Rodriguez Pay-Rod when he was fleeing Seattle and she was a sports columnist there – delved into the real-estate angle to the lane closings. In a piece for Zillow.com, Vecsey wrote about the development down below by another Sokolich.

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2014-01-10/fort-lee-nj/

On Sunday, Steve Kornacki, who knows where all the bodies are buried in New Jersey (that’s a figure of speech, a joke), delved into the real-estate angle on MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.com/up/watch/what-comes-next-in-bridgegate-investigation-114675779908

Later, Laura Vecsey got back to the subject:

http://www.lauravecsey.com/2/post/2014/01/fort-lee-hudson-lights-development-key-to-bridge-gate.html

Who knew? That dark space in the New Jersey night is the center of the universe. It’s time to descend into the lower depths of Fort Lee to explore the sulfurous source of Bridgegate.

These Guys Were Always Meeting Under a Bridge

Alan Rubin link

1/13/2014 10:42:30 am

In today’s world of super high speed communication, truth eventually arrives, even at a snail’s pace. It is often assisted by political enemies and the arrogance of an ill-conceived cover-up.

I am never surprised, and always amazed, at the arrogance of people in power, whether in politics, sports, the world of finance, to name a few. In addition to believing that they are above it all, they never fail to be surprised when their actions are exposed.

The insensitive actions of Governor Christi’s staff and political appointees to the Port Authority’s NJ board were little different than those of the financial industry when they were selling toxic instruments and mortgages to unsuspecting clients and emailing their glee to coworkers. Banks are no better when they acknowledge that excessive consumer fees are the backbone of their profits.

Politicians are partner to this rape of our pocketbooks as they try to defeat any legislation that helps the average consumer.

Why should the borrower understand the conditions of a loan or mortgage they are asked to sign?

Why should a credit card user know the true cost of the monthly fees and penalties?

Why should the consumer have to agree to binding arbitration that favors the financial institution?

Why has no one been prosecuted for the fraud that was instrumental to the financial collapse that cost people, and the economy, dearly?

When will the public insist upon fair treatment and cry out—enough??

Thor A. Larsen

1/13/2014 12:23:35 pm

Alan,
Thanks for another fine blog! One reason the system is so corrupt is that the election system is based on the biggest donations, hence the Democrats and the Reoublicans are all obliged to pay homage to their donors. As you know, the Supreme Court agreed to unliminted election funding etc. I think that is why no one of the big bank leaders, (gangsters) were criminally proscecuted after that financial collapse. These corporate leaders were all big donors to both parties. Similar abuses in many other arenas. Until big money is removed from the election process, not much can change. There is one new voice in the wildernes that is drawing some attention to the incompetents in congress and that is none other than Pope Francis! One focus in the Capitol now seems to have arrived is some very mimimal attention to wage disparity and care for the poor,Pope Francis hot buttons. As far as New Jersey's Governor's abuses, I think he will morph into Humpty Dumpty and will have a mighty big fall!

Brian Savin

1/13/2014 12:20:46 pm

OK, Christie is not a saint. In fact, he's gross. But what on earth makes him unique in today's cesspool of politics? Why should he be a unique distraction when her majesty, H. Clinton, plays politics with soldiers' lives on the campaign trail, as documented by Sec. Gates? Why not criticize our President given the pretty damn clear Academy award winning documentary, Inside Job, and the Pulitzer Prize winning author's wonderful book, Confidence Men, that details far more important stuff than fatso's playing NJ boss? I believe in perspective, and I believe we are misleading ourselves to even consider that this is a problem of one political party. I'll give this group four words to consider: Rahm Emanuel, Larry Summers. Our economy is likely to go to hell in a hand basket this year, and those four words are in my opinion key as to why.
Good night, Mrs. Calabash, your neighbor Mrs. Callahan, and the NSA and Governor, wherever you all are!

Alan Rubin link

1/13/2014 03:01:54 pm

It seems that more dots are falling into place!!

An investigative reporter following the story discussed the twin building project being developed by Mayor Mark Sokolich and his that will be completed and ready for occupancy later in the year.

The reporter (sorry, I did not remember his name) indicted the financing that was already in place was put on hold right after the “traffic study” that caused the massive four day traffic jams went into effect. The funding was restored the day after the traffic cones were removed.

The reporter also indicated that there was email communication between Governor Christie and David Samson, his appointed chairman of the Port Authority, about a week prior to the traffic cones going up.

However, it was the diagram (shown on TV) of the two high rise buildings and the access from them to the bridge that caught my attention. A very short access road goes directly from the northern building into the extreme right of the toll plaza. A major selling point of the project is that there would be rapid access to the GWB regardless of the other NY bound traffic.

This is absolutely true. I commuted from Suffern, NY into Manhattan for 24 years, mostly down the Palisade Interstate Parkway. If I heard that the traffic was backing up on the PIP, I would get off early and take 9W, which allowed me to go under the GWB and pick up this same short feeder road. Once under the bridge, I’d be into the toll booth in about five to ten minutes. Nothing like the thrill of inside knowledge!!

It was also pointed out that some of Governor Christie’s comments at the latter part of his long, I’m a victim speech, commented as to whether those short access lanes were necessary and if it was even fair to other towns.

It is much too early to neatly tie things up, but too many coincidences just cannot be overlooked.

Anyone care to speculate on motives?

Stay tuned, Governor Christie’s problems are far from over as the snail is still moving.

George Vecsey

1/13/2014 03:26:13 pm

guys, check out the links from L. Vecsey and Steve Kornacki.
It appears that real estate is a part of this.
I'm not ready for the everybody-does-it rationale right now.
GV

Thor A. Larsen

1/14/2014 12:17:22 am

George,

My apologies for moving 'off the target' !

Reviewing all the attributes of Fort Lee as a place to live, I will be suggesting to my daughter and son-in-law to seriously consider Fort Lee when they decide to move from Brooklyn Heights to a more suburban place to raise their children.

George Vecsey

1/14/2014 12:52:48 am

Thor, better see if this governor, or whoever replaces him, will permit people from Fort Lee to have access to the bridge.
From the real-estate angle, it sounds like access is negotiable, depending on the big guy being happy with the community.
GV

Alan Rubin link

1/14/2014 08:29:14 am

Steve Kornachi was the reporter I had referred to. He and Laura are on target in that there are many layers to this.

Alan Chartock in today's Berkshire Eagle. He is the CEO of WAMC in Albany and an astute political observer.
"Christie Mess Will Have Legs"--January 14, 2014

The single sin that can knock a politician right out of the game is arrogance. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had it made in the shade. He had a very good chance of becoming the president of the United States. His voters loved him. He showed humility. Like so many of the rest of us, he was battling obesity. Against the backdrop of Hurricane Sandy, he gave the American people what they wanted -- a politician who put the people first and politics way behind.

He was sharply criticized by fellow Republicans for daring to hug Barack Obama, an act of political perfidy. But if the Republicans were to win the presidency, they would have to find a candidate who could appeal to the center and Christie was the man who could do it. The middle range (purple) voters loved the big man and Democrats deserted their party in huge numbers to vote for him. Yes, he would have had to run against Hillary Clinton but the polls seemed to have them neck and neck in the race. The same polls showed that the other Republican right wing candidates couldn't win.

Now arrogance has reared its ugly head and Team Christie got stupid, very stupid. They decided to punish Mark Sokolich, the mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and his constituents by tying up traffic for up to four hours at a time, supposedly to get even with the mayor for his lack of political compliance.

Apparently his sin was that the Democratic mayor wouldn't endorse Christie. Even that seems nuts in retrospect since it is unclear that the Fort Lee guy was even approached about the endorsements.

Alan Rubin link

1/14/2014 09:28:02 am

Thor

It is a difficult and often tricky choice to decide between city and suburban living. Some cities feel like a small town and some suburban towns have a cramped feel to them.

Convenience of commuting and school systems are major factors in any decision.

My son's family has lived in Park Slope,Brooklyn for well over twenty years. They considered moving to Westchester when their daughter was little, but decided that their close knit neighborhood, and ease of commuting by subway, more than offset a suburban school system. Their 14 year has an hour commute each way to Beacon HS near Lincoln Center. She gets up at six in the morning and can't wait to get there.

On the other hand, my daughter's family lives in Madison, WI's Isthmus,which is between two lakes. It feels like a small town and their two kids either walk or bike to school. Both parents bike to work.

Mu wife and I rented an apartment in Brooklyn Heights for two years prior to retiring in the Berkshires. We were two blocks from the Promenade overlooking the East River. It was a cozy friendly neighborhood and my favorite place to live in NYC.

Fort Lee is a commuter's dream as you can get into NYC quickly by either car or bus. The views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline from the tall buildings are just fantastic. Our friend used to live on the 33rd floor of one of them. The restaurants are varied and good. But it is is a small, congested community where residents often go to other nearby towns for their needs.

I'm not sure that I would want to live there when raising children, but it is a fantastic bedroom community.

Luckily for your son, I have no say in the matter. Gook luck on whatever he decides. All options are good.

Thor A. Larsen

1/15/2014 01:28:10 am

Thank you Alan for your input on my comments in regards to Fort Lee. I was initially attracted to Fort Lee based on the article provided by Laura Vecsey. The closeness to downtown Manhattan, good schools and house prices that seemed lower (and lower taxes) versus Westchester were some of the attractions. In addition, Fort Lee being close to many parks and easy access to Upstate New York via the Thruway were other attributes.
This article http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/realestate/fort-lee-nj-living-in-close-to-new-york-city-but-with-a-life-of-its-own.html provides an interesting perspective on living in Fort Lee and commuting to NY City etc. The somewhat long commute to lower Manhattan would reduce my enthusiasm for Fort Lee as a candidate for my daughter and family.

George Vecsey

1/15/2014 02:54:09 am

I suspect it has a great view -- when you're there.
But what if the Bridge Trolls won't let you cross?

Then again, we hacked our way from nearby Long Island to the West Side yesterday to see the show at the Hayden and have a great meal at Mughlai on Columbus --- whether one takes the train or drives, it is a schlep. But I can console myself that we are not governed by that miserable lot that shut down the bridge -- for what?
GV

Gene Palumbo

1/15/2014 03:57:41 am

Just saw this link in a comment on Commonweal’s blog. As the comment’s author put it, “Another NJ voice heard from: Bruce Springsteen serenades his governor.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHV0LLvhXM

George Vecsey

1/15/2014 05:44:16 am

well, the big man wanted to be noticed by The Boss.
He found a way

thor a. larsen

1/15/2014 04:09:39 am

George,
We were also in the Big Apple yesterday, using Metro North as usual, which is generally very safe, on time and quicker than driving to Mid-Town and below, especially on a rainy day. A big shortcoming as far as commuting from Ft. Lee is the public transportation is via buses, not via trains...

Ed Martin

1/15/2014 07:42:50 am

My Brooklyn-based son and my Colorado-based number two son, had a commute to enjoy Bahn Mi, Pho, grilled pork chop with Opa egg, homemade Spring and egg rolls for lunch. We had to cross the E. Venice Ave bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway (about 100 yards), ending a tiring five minute trip. Tell Tom Freidman that the world economy has reached small city Venice, FL. PS.-- the bridge is toll-free.

George Vecsey

1/15/2014 08:03:18 am

Ed, stop it.
We have to drive 20 minutes to Bayside for bahn.
Mekong East, Bell Blvd.

My town has lots of nail shops and mostly wretched Asian food at high prices (I blame the landlords)
Make sure the bridge is down -- that the vile governor of Florida is not playing dirty tricks on anybody
GV

Gene Palumbo

1/15/2014 05:33:02 pm

From "Christie and Springsteen: A Tale of Devotion, and a Very Public Snub:"

This is a love story.

And in many great love stories, some will be punished and some will be pardoned. In this tale of woe, though, the punishment was meted out on national television: Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey was scorned, in his hour of need, by the man whose embrace he had so fervently sought and only recently secured.

For the rest of the story: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/nyregion/christie-and-springsteen-a-ta...

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January 12th, 2014

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