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With a Hurricane Moving Up The Coast, Media Gives Gov. a Pass on Sea Level Rise & Climate Denial

Unlike 9/11, It Looks Like Sandy Changed Absolutely Nothing

Yay! We’re spending more of your money building things in dangerous locations and promoting our political careers! Assemblywoman Casagrande (R – clapping) and Senator Beck (R – Hot) literally cheerlead for Gov. Christie (Source: Bergen Record, Marko Georgiev/Staff photographer)

[Update: 7/6/14 – No, despite the apt title, this Record editorial is not an attempt at redemption for the  egregious journalistic malpractice I criticize below – but worth reading anyway, see: Christie Grandstands – end update.]

It’s been widely reported that Gov. Christie rejects consideration of the risks of sea level rise and climate change in his post Sandy shore recovery and redevelopment policies.

It also has been widely reported that scientists – including those right here at Rutgers – say that climate change is happening and impacting us right now and project that sea level rise, storm surge, and more frequent and intense coastal storms pose serious threats to the NJ shore – and that NJ is poorly prepared for adapting to climate change and managing those risks.

Severe criticism of the Gov.’s coastal development policies – from scientists, legislators, flood hazard experts, former DEP Commissioners, editorial boards at major newspapers, and environmentalists –  also has been reported widely.

Finally, the Gov. has been admonished – by everyone from federal officials and editorial boards to shore residents –  for his blatant self promotion and politicization of the use of State and federal tourism dollars.

This scathing criticism even forced the Gov. to abandon another round of his “Stronger than the Storm” promotion.

So, given all this – and the fact that a hurricane was moving up the Atlantic Coast at the time – how does the NJ media respond to the fact that Gov. Christie did another ribbon cutting event, for another project, in another location that is highly vulnerable to sea level rise and climate change driven more intense coastal storms?

They gave him a pass on another self promotional, climate denying ,photo op and instead wrote about his 2016 Presidential aspirations!

Don’t believe that something so stupid and irresponsible is possible?

Well, just read the Bergen Record story, which just prompted me to fire off this nastygram to reporter Melissa Hayes:

Melissa – How hard would it be to ask the Gov. a question like this:

“Gov., how do you respond to critics who say you are being irresponsible by promoting development in hazardous locations at the shore, while ignoring sea level rise and climate change?” or

“Gov., I notice you have a Rutgers shirt on – are you aware that Rutgers’ sea level rise projections show this boardwalk is highly vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge. How do you respond to that science?” 

You just gave the Gov. another photo op – THE DAY BEFORE A HURRICANE WAS MOVING UP THE COAST. 

This is totally irresponsible journalism.

 

Wolfe