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Chris Christie on Environment
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New Jersey is being short-changed on Hurricane Sandy relief
Just three months ago, Sandy hit. Sandy was the worst storm to strike New Jersey in 100 years. 346,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Nearly 7 million people and 1,000 schools had their power knocked out. 116,000 New Jerseyans were evacuated or
displaced from their homes. 41,000 families are still displaced from their homes. Sandy may have damaged our homes and our infrastructure, but it did not destroy our spirit. Make no mistake. We will be back, stronger than ever. We now look forward to
what we hope will be quick Congressional action on a full, clean Sandy aid bill--now, next week--and to enactment by the President. We have waited 72 days, seven times longer than victims of Hurricane Katrina waited. One thing I hope everyone now clearly
understands--NJ will never stand silent when our citizens are being short changed. The people of NJ are in need, not from their own actions but from an act of God that delivered a natural, human, and financial disaster.
Source: N.J. 2013 State of the State Address
, Jan 8, 2013
Canceled work on new Hudson River rail tunnel NYC to NJ
Canceled work on new Hudson River rail tunnel NYC to NJ
One of Corzine's highly touted projects had been in development for years but was being speeded up as a job-creating stimulus for construction trades. It also afforded the chance to get photos of Corzine with other
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.143-144
, Jun 5, 2012
Rejected $9B transit project as "tunnel to Macy's basement"
Christie had a run-in over what was called the nation's largest mass transportation project by supporters and "the tunnel to Macy's basement" by critics. For years there had been plans to build a new rail tunnel from Jersey to Manhattan. It was a dumb
idea. The NY end of the $9 billion tunnel did not terminate at Penn Station, but about 180 feet under Macy's department store. It wouldn't connect to Grand Central Station or any of the rail lines on Manhattan's east side.NY refused to pay its share.
It would have been paid for by NJ, Washington, and the Port Authority of NY and NJ, so in effect, Jersey paid twice. But NJ alone was responsible for any cost overruns, which were estimated to be $2 billion to $5 billion, but given the history of such
projects, that was a very conservative guess.
Christie killed it, saying NJ taxpayers would still be on the hook for overruns: "I cannot place upon the citizens of NJ an open letter of credit. Proponents are asking me to hand over a blank check."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.232-234
, Jun 5, 2012
Jersey shore for tourism instead of offshore drilling
Stressing the importance of shore protection to the vitality of the state's $35 billion tourism industry, its coastal communities and overall quality of life, Governor Chris Christie said, "New Jersey's beach resources and shore towns are what make the
Jersey shore the unique destination it is, and are the reason thousands of visitors return year after year. As stewards of the environment, it is incumbent that we take all necessary measures to protect these treasures and to sustain our coastal
communities and the diverse economies they support."Governor Christie has expressed his strong opposition to off-shore drilling in New Jersey, as well as drilling off the coast of other nearby states that could negatively impact the state's
130 miles of coastline and multi-billion dollar tourism industry. He has also opposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities off of the New Jersey coast and has also restored beach replenishment funding to its full level.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Shore Protection"
, Aug 11, 2011
$157 million for Green Acres open-space acquisition
Gov. Christie today signed a series of bills that protects Green Acres open-space acquisition and recreational development throughout the state. The legislation also makes available $157 million for projects in all of New Jersey's 21 counties including
preservation projects in the Highlands, the Barnegat Bay watershed, and urban waterfronts.Through the three bills, S-2857 provides $84.5 million for grants and loans to municipal and county governments for land acquisitions and park developments;
S-2858 makes available $14.8 million to assist nonprofit groups for acquisitions and park development; and S-2859 designates $57 million for state Green Acres acquisitions to expand and develop state parks, forests and wildlife management areas, as well
as purchase properties in flood-prone areas through Blue Acres acquisitions.
The DEP has earmarked money across the state to buy lands to add lands to the state's inventory of parks, forests, wildlife management areas, and other conservation areas.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Protect Open Space"
, Aug 3, 2011
Page last updated: Jan 19, 2015
