The drumbeats in the media are getting louder for the resignation of Port Authority Chairman David Samson. Last week it was the Newark Star Ledger http://www.nj.com/... and today the New York Daily News has echoed their sentiment with this blunt editorial:
Sack Samson. Port Authority chairman has to hit the road.
Ok, New York Daily News Editorial Board, tell us how you really feel.
"The shambles of vengeful politicking and ethical corner-cutting that goes by the name of the Port Authority is chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s close associate David Samson.
As the saying goes, the fish rots from the head.
Samson’s three years leading the board of the bi-state agency have produced a list of disasters longer than the George Washington Bridge backups engineered by his underlings.
The shockwaves touched off by Bridgegate have made clear that Samson perverted the PA into a toll-financed dispensary of favors and punishments for Christie allies and enemies — as well as a benefactor of clients of Samson’s law firm."
http://www.nydailynews.com/...
Ouch.
Port Authority Chairman David Samson unfit for role: Gov. Cuomo appointee
Furthermore, the NYDN interviewed Patrick Foye, the Cuomo appointee who blew the whistle on the Bridgegate bumblers with a scathing email and through his testimony to the NJ legislature dismantled the "traffic study" lie. NYDN questions Mr. Foye:
“Does David Samson have the moral authority to run the Port Authority?”
“No,” Foye answered bluntly.
Asked to explain, he continued, “I am not going to elaborate, but that is my view.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/...
Ouch, again.
Recently, the NJ legislature is reviewing documents that they received from David Samson indicating that he is very involved in the day to day activities and is in constant communication with Trenton. This report from the Star-Ledger gives more details:
Bridge scandal records reveal hands-on David Samson at Port Authority
"Records turned over to the state legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closings show the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, David Samson, has been "intimately involved" with day-to-day operations.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), a co-chair of the panel, said the documents provided by Samson include many communications between him and the Christie administration, though none yet show direct contact with Gov. Chris Christie himself."
http://www.nj.com/...
Tick tock, it's just a matter of time that David Samson, aka "The General", as Christie cloyingly refers to him, (referencing Samson's time as NJ Attorney General.) When he resigns is anyone's guess, but I feel quite sure that David Samson's days are number.
Here's a poll to freep:
Poll: Should David Samson resign as chair of the Port Authority?
http://www.nj.com/...
Btw, I keep close track of all things Christie and will diary when something warrants it (if many of the other vigilant Christie Chroniclers here at DKos haven't already diaried it.) Meanwhile, you can view my mostly Christie-related tweets at @njedwina for daily updates.