Warped priorities – obscene use of scarce public funds
flooding in Lambertville, NJ caused by Hurricane Irene (August 2011)
For several years now, various reports have warned about NJ’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure deficits, yet somehow, the Christie administration has refused to seriously acknowledge the magnitude of the problem, develop plans to address the problems, or support much needed new revenue sources (with the exception of the recent Transportation Trust deal).
As a result, our children are drinking unsafe water; schools, libraries, and local and State Parks facilities continue to crumble; highways, railroads, and bridges are obsolete or unsafe; trains and public transportation services deteriorate; and risks of disasters like dam failures, floods, droughts, water and sewer line breaks, power outages, Bhopal chemical disasters, bomb trains, ecological collapse, toxic algae blooms, ocean dead zones, urban heat islands and deadly heat waves, extreme weather, and climate catastrophe grow exponentially.
So, with this degree of negligence and these kinds of stakes involved, I was appalled to read a celebratory press release from the Christie DEP bragging about spending scarce public money to subside luxury shore boating:
DEP PREPARING PLANS TO DREDGE BOAT CHANNEL FOR LITTLE EGG INLET
PROJECT WILL ADDRESS SERIOUS SHOALING THAT JEOPARDIZES SAFE BOATING(17/P15) TRENTON – The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Coastal Engineering is expediting a project that will clear dangerous shoals from Little Egg Inlet, a major thoroughfare for boat traffic between southern Long Beach Island and Brigantine to the south. The sand will be used to replenish beaches on portions of southern Long Beach Island lost to storms over the past several months.
At the direction of Commissioner Bob Martin, the Division of Coastal Engineering is developing permit applications, design plans and contract specifications with the expectation of going out to bid for the multimillion-dollar project next month. …
“This situation has become critical so we are moving forward, using state money, to dredge the channel and make it safe again for everyone who needs this vital access for fishing and recreation,” Commissioner Martin said. “We need to take action to get this channel dredged for the safety and enjoyment of the public this summer season.”
What the hell is wrong with these people?
How could they have such warped priorities?
NJ Legislators need to conduct oversight and find out exactly what “state money”, i.e. what legislatively appropriated source of public funds are being used by the NJ DEP on this project – and then PULL THE PLUG ON IT!.
A photo from Monmouth County of the affected pipe (source: Star Ledger)
End Note: Here is my letter to Chairs of Budget, appropriations and environmental committees (see this for contact info)
Dear Legislators:
I write to you as the leadership of Budget and Appropriations and Environmental committees regarding NJ DEP’s proposed use of scarce state funds to subsidize recreational boating.
The DEP announced this expenditure of “millions” of “state funds” in a press release issued yesterday, see:
DEP PREPARING PLANS TO DREDGE BOAT CHANNEL FOR LITTLE EGG INLET
PROJECT WILL ADDRESS SERIOUS SHOALING THAT JEOPARDIZES SAFE BOATINGhttp://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2017/17_0015.htm
Surely, given our crumbling public infrastructure and competing risks and needs, this is a misallocation of scarce state funds.
I ask that you hold oversight to determine the legislatively appropriated source of state funds that DEP Commissioner Martin plans to use for this project and pull the plug on it.
For a more expansive analysis, see:
No Money for Crumbling Infrastructure or Climate Adaptation, But Christie DEP Using State Funds To Subsidize Luxury Boats
I appreciate your timely, considered and favorable response.