David Samson has "resigned" from his position at the Port Authority, which was being used by Christie's cronies to enrich his friends and supporters and to punish those who were deemed enemies or simply unworthy.
We know of the traffic jams. We know of the parking lot where the money was being given away to Samson's client, after that client paid Samson's firm a large sum of money.
So Samson's departure is a welcome step. But will the abuse stop? Can any of Christie's cronies be trusted? Many of them have departed in disgrace (some landing at the PA). My recommendation is that Patrick Foye be appointed as the new chairman if that is possible.
Patrick Foye is the only one who had the guts to say that the traffic jam was wrong. Not only that: Foye is the one who stopped the abuse. His memo is over the orange curls.
To: Fulton, Cedrick; Durando, Robert; Baroni,Bill; Dunne,Joseph P.; Koumoutsos, Louis; Zipf, Peter; Samson, David; Rechler, Scott; Buchbinder, Darrell
Subject: Fort Lee eastbound access to GWB
After reading last night's media pendings, I made inquiries and received calls on this matter which is very troubling. Here is what I learned: reversing over 25 years of PA GWB operations, the three lanes in Fort Lee eastbound to the GWB were reduced to one lane on Monday of this week without notifying Fort Lee, the commuting public we serve, the ED [executive director] or Media. A decision of this magnitude should be made only after careful deliberation and upon sign off by the ED. Reports are that Fort Lee has experienced severe traffic delays engulfing the entire Fort Lee area since Monday. I am appalled by the lack of process, failure to inform our customers and Fort Lee and most of all by the dangers created to the public interest, so I am reversing this decision now effective as soon as TBT [the authority's Tunnels, Bridges & Terminals division and PAPD [Port Authority police] tell me it is safe to do so today.
I am making this decision for the following reasons:
1. This hasty and ill-advised decision has resulted in delays to emergency vehicles. I pray that no life has been lost or trip of a hospital- or hospice-bound patient delayed.
2. This hasty and ill-advised decision has undoubtedly had an adverse effect on economic activity in both states. That is contrary to the directive we have from our Governors to do everything possible to create jobs in both States.
3. I will not allow this hasty and ill-advised decision to delay the travels of those observing Yom Kippur tonight or the holidays to follow.
4. I believe this hasty and ill-advised decision violates Federal Law and the laws of both States.
To be clear, I will get to the bottom of this abusive decision which violates everything this agency stands for; I intend to learn how PA process was wrongfully subverted and the public interest damaged to say nothing of the credibility of this agency.
Finally, I am open to considering changes to each of our facilities if there is a case to be made that change will benefit the public interest. In the case of the Fort Lee eastbound access lanes, approval of this action will require:
1. Written sign off by TBT, Traffic Engineering and PAPD. That sign off was not sought or obtained here.
2. Prior discussion with the local government and a communication plan and plenty of advance notice to the commuting public. That did not occur here.
3. Consideration of the effects on emergency vehicles and sign off by PAPD. That did not occur here.
4. Consideration of the financial impact on the PA in terms of O/T. That too did not occur here.
Cedric and Bob -- please let this group know when access to three lanes in Fort Lee can be restored as soon as possible today. This is a matter of public safety and time is of the essence.
Pat
(Note: I have put the memo in full because it is shown in several places and so I don't think its publication here violates fair use.)
Patrick Foye shows that he is aware of procedure and of the law and is putting the public first. He is not afraid to stand up to people, either at the PA or in public.
If it can't be Foye, then he should be consulted with respect to the appointment. If he can't be persuaded to give his stamp of approval on the appointment, then the appointment should be reconsidered.
If I lived anywhere near anything run by the PA, I would be out there with a sign. If I commuted across one of the bridges, I'd be demanding a refund.
Of course I don't want to imply that every person working there is corrupt. But the place needs a good cleaning.
*
Tired of politics? Need to escape? Try one of my Greek-mythology based novels, either the story of Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus or a trilogy about Niobe, or one of the first examples of civil disobedience, Antigone and Creon. Or, if you like mysteries and/or Jane Austen, treat yourself to The Highbury Murders: A Mystery Set in the Village of Jane Austen’s Emma very positively reviewed at the Daily Kos Monday Murder Mystery blog.