Category: Political Leaders
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Former Lackawanna Coalition Chair Albert L. Papp often refers to the river that physically divides New Jersey and New York as the “Hudson Ocean.” The ongoing dispute over New York’s congestion pricing plan to impose tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan’s Central Business District (CBD), defined as south of 60th Street, seems to affirm Papp’s moniker…
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We were disappointed, but not surprised, to read this article. (No word on whether the Assembly version has made a similar change): https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/nj-transit-reform-bill-drops-key-provision/ TRENTON, N.J. — A bill proposing reforms for management of NJ Transit has removed one of its key proposals, changing the way the agency’s board chair is selected. NorthJersey.com reports state Sen.…
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A week after NJ Transit Executive Director Jim Weinstein retired and was replaced by Veronique Hakim, rumors circulated about a “clean sweep” that would further shake up the agency’s top management. According to reporting by Mike Frassinelli in the Star-Ledger (March 5), the directors of NJT’s rail and bus operations are also about to be…
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An extensive report on radio station WNYC (January 17) by Andrea Bernstein explores a number of events involving Port Authority budgets instigated by the New Jersey appointees on the Port Authority, notably Bill Baroni and David Wildstein. The report says that the decision by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to kill the ARC trans-Hudson rail tunnel several years…
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Once again, it appears that Congress has no trouble subsidizing people who drive to work, but transit users? That’s another matter. The disparity is sharply in focus these days, as the program that allows transit riders a tax benefit was slashed at the turn of the year, while benefits for drivers increased. The disparity amounts…
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As New York City counts down the hours to this year’s mayoral election (Nov. 5), transportation users wonder how the two leading candidates stand on transportation issues. Reporting in The New York Times (Oct. 30) gives some insights: Bill de Blasio (Democrat) would focus on increasing bus service, which he says is the system’s most…
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U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has called for bipartisanship rather than politics as Washington lawmakers struggle to come up with a compromise on a new transportation bill to fund highway and transit operations and improvements. According to reporting by Malia Rulon Herman in the Daily Record (May 9), Menendez is one of 47 lawmakers from…
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This article was published in the New York Times. It is quoted here as a matter of interest, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Lackawanna Coalition. 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…
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Star-Ledger journalist Tom Moran, in an interview on the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC on November 15, said that politics factored in to Gov. Christie’s decision to cancel the ARC trans-Hudson tunnel. Moran noted that opposition to rail projects, including high-speed rail as well as commuter rail projects, are popular with conservatives, “who are in…
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WNYC reported at noon Wednesday that N.J. Gov. Christie has reaffirmed his decision to cancel the ARC tunnel. This follows a 2-week period in which the Christie administration was reconsidering its earlier decision to cancel the project. WNYC reporter Matthew Scheuermann said on the station’s 12:00 p.m. newscast that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood had offered…
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