More Chinatown: BPU’s Revolving Door Opens for South Jersey Gas

Cozy Relationships, Revolving Doors, and Deregulatory Abuses Abound

Christie BPU Kept Economics of Pines Pipeline Gas Deal Secret

We have described South Jersey Gas Co.’s Pinelands pipeline project as an example of NJ’s “Chinatown” (see:

• Gas Pipeline Through the Pines: It’s Chinatown
  

We’ve also written about how selfish, ambitious, and narrow interests in personal careers undermines the public interest (see:

• Careerism Kills

Today, those two themes – the personal and the institutional – combine.

The Bergen Record published an excellent followup analysis of superb investigative reporting. The Record’s analysis provides further in depth and specific examples of how the “Chinatown” world operates.

Yesterday, the Record took a close look at the revolving door abuses at the NJ State Board of Public Utilities  (see a great investigative story with the worst headline ever:

• NJ’s clean energy overhaul stalled by long dispute over bid fairness

Today, the Record did a followup analysis of that story see:

•  Analysis: Ethics rules don’t keep ex-BPU officials from related industries

Among many other things, the Record found that the BPU revolving door opens widely for the South Jersey Gas. Co.:

The path between the BPU’s offices and jobs in related industries is well-worn and provides a personalized look at many of the issues.

Former Executive Director Victor Fortkiewicz left in 2010 and roughly five months later took a seat on the board of directors at South Jersey Industries — the parent company of South Jersey Gas, which provides service to more than 313,000 residential commercial and industrial customers. His predecessor at the BPU moved on to become the director of regulatory affairs for South Jersey Gas.  ~~~  Analysis: Ethics rules don’t keep ex-BPU officials from related industries

Aha!

Perhaps that helps explain sweetheart corrupt deals like this:

• Why Did Christie BPU Keep Economics of Pines Pipeline Gas Deal Secret?

Like we said, it’s Chinatown!