The Christie Administration’s “Veil of Silence”

“Today, a new era of accountability and transparency is here.” ~~~ Gov. Chris Christie, Inaugural speech, Jan. 19, 2010

As a core mission of PEER is government sunshine and accountability, I got a kick out of just reading this Star Ledger story today on a situation in a private treatment center for children:

‘VEIL OF SILENCE’

Advocates for children’s rights are asking why the Department of Children and Families did not tell the public what it had found until the newspaper inquired eight months after inspectors visited.

“I don’t understand what the big veil of silence is, and I don’t think there’s any excuse for it,” said Peg Kinsell, policy director at the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network. “Public money should not be going to abuse our kids.”

Kinsell said lawmakers should require that the department proactively make problems at these treatment centers public.

“They all need way more sunshine,” she said.

Problems with lack of transparency and accountability are not limited to the Department of Children and Families.

From Gov. Christie’s Rebuild Czar to his Red Tape Czar, to his DEP “customer friendly” negotiations, the Christie Administration is the least open, participatory, and transparent administration I can recall in my near 30 year experience with NJ state government.

The Administration has refused to appear before legislative oversight Committees, refused to meet with the Star Ledger editorial board, refused to make Lt. Gov. available to press, and they are serial abusers of the Open Public Records Act.

Most recently, I heard from multiple sources that there was a state government wide gag on public appearances in the run-up to the election.

So, I fired off this email to the Ledger reporter, Chris Baxter, in hopes of followup:

Hi Chris – Good story. I suggest you do followup on the “veil of silence’.

I have many examples and have been told by reliable sources that an edict was issued from the top, some recent high profile examples:

1) Dept. of Health and Senior Services not allowed to present findings of a health survey in Pompton Lakes regarding toxic pollution impacts on public health from Dupont site;

2) DEP and DHSS failed to meet with local government and residents in Roxbury regarding Fenimore landfill problems, including health risks;

3) Pinelands Commission scientists not able to testify on impacts of controversial $100 million gas pipeline;

4) DEP scientists gagged in responding to health risks from toxic train derailment in Pauslboro, as a result, incorrect and misleading info given to the public and emergency responders;

5) DEP scientists and NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute prohibited from even meeting, since September 2010

There are many, many more examples – this is egregiously wrong yet no news coverage at all!