Chris Christie #bridgegate scandal: links for up-to-date coverage

New York Daily News cover page

Here we go again, yet another corruption scandal in New Jersey, and this one may take down a presidential hopeful and popular Republican governor. The scandal over the Washington Bridge closings are still unfolding as documents are made public and people who are held accountable take the stand but here, in short, is what we know:

Christie’s buddies, David Wildstein and Bill Baroni, in the Port Authority (an agency that is an epitome of corruption) took orders from a top Christie aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, who told them “its time for some traffic in Fort Lee.” Hence, an imaginary “traffic study” commenced and Fort Lee became a parking lot for several days as two lanes onto the world’s busiest bridge were closed.This unfolded in September, weeks before the gubernatorial election which Christie was leading by double digit figures, apparently as retaliation against Fort Lee’s democratic mayor, who endorsed Christie’s democratic opponent, Barbara Buono.

Now the details of what led up to this fiasco are slowly tricking out and if you’re a Christie junkie we’ll try to keep you posted on the latest by adding links below of the most recent updates, by the way, the New Jersey media is milking this one:

January 12, 2014

– NJ.com:

Giuliani says Christie’s career could be over if he’s not telling the truth about bridge scandal

– The Record:

On Sunday talk shows, most GOP leaders praise Christie’s handling of bridge issue

– The Washington Post:

Christie bridge controversy exposes a GOP rising star to new scrutiny

– The New York Times:

Christie’s Potential 2016 Rivals Tread Carefully

January 11, 2014

– The Star-Ledger:

GWB scandal: New round of subpoenas likely to go out next week

GWB scandal: New round of subpoenas likely to go out next week

Former Gov. Tom Kean questions Chris Christie’s presidential cred in wake of bridge scandal

N.J. mayors who did not endorse Chris Christie question whether they’ve also been targets

Haley Barbour defends Chris Christie in bridge scandal, lashes out at ‘liberal media’

– NJ.com:

Wisniewski raises possibility of Christie impeachment over bridge scandal

January 10, 2014

– The Star-Ledger:

Christie should resign if he knew about GWB lane shutdown, new poll shows

 Thousands of pages of Chris Christie bridge scandal documents released

– Time:

Lawsuit Filed in Christie Bridge Scandal

– New Jersey Newsroom:

20,000 Jerseyans Demand Gov. Christie’s Resignation; Petition Signatures Obtained in Just 1 Day

If elected, Cory Booker would be 7th African-American in history to hold seat in U.S. Senate

Newark Mayor Cory Booker with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Photo from foxnews.com.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has announced he is exploring a potential run for the U.S. Senate in lieu of the governorship currently held by Gov. Chris Christie. Booker — considered by pundits as the only Democrat in New Jersey with any chance of competing in an election against Gov. Christie —  said he wants to finish his term as mayor, adding that as Senator he would have more “leverage” at the federal level.

The seat Booker is seeking is currently held by 88-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenberg whose political future is uncertain as Lautenberg has not said he will be retiring.

However, if Lautenberg decides not to run for re-election, Booker is a shoe in for the available seat. The last time New Jersey voters elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate was in 1972.

This raises an interesting historical fact, if elected, Booker would be only the 7th African-American in U.S. history to hold a seat at the upper house of the U.S. Congress and the first from the Garden State.

Where do NJ’s gun laws rank in wake of the Connecticut school shooting

Sen. Frank Lautenberg pushing for tighter gun control legislation. Photo from NJ.com.

As the shock from the Connecticut school shooting subsides the national debate about gun control will fill the air-waves and the seats at the Sunday morning political roundtables. As it should; the massacre in Connecticut is a scene that could tragically play-out once again at Anytown, USA. The focus of the impending debate: gun laws and if they can prevent mass murder.

New Jersey, according to a 2010 Christian Science Monitor report, has the 9th strictest gun laws in the country and coupled with findings from The Daily Beast the Garden State has the lowest number of gun related deaths, ranking 46th in the nation. Arizona, considered to have the least restrictive gun laws ranks 2nd in gun related deaths.

However, the same report ranked Connecticut 47th, safer than New Jersey. The data mixed in with the legislation paints a paradox of a picture. Do gun laws work? Can our gun toting culture adjust? Maybe a national stop-and-frisk policy similar to New York City will do the deed?

 

 

How much does Chris Christie weigh?

New York Post cover page from August 2012. Image from mediabistro.com.

In a released ABC clip of a Barbara Walters interview with the popular New Jersey governor the discussion turned toward the heavyset 50-year-old’s weight. During the interview, scheduled to air tonight at 9:30 p.m. for Walters’s annual “10 Most Fascinating People of 2012”, the two debate whether Christie’s weight problem could jeopardize his political future:

“There are people who say you couldn’t be president because you’re so heavy.”

“That’s ridiculous. I mean, that’s ridiculous. I don’t know what the basis for that it is.”

“I think think they’re worried about your health.”

“Well I’ve done this job pretty well. I think people watched me for the last number of weeks during Hurricane Sandy doing 18-hour days and getting back up the next day and still being just as effective in the job so i don’t think that will be a problem.”

But the question is how much does the Governor weigh? Since the interview clip was released the mainstream media and the blogosphere has jumped into the discussion with such headlines as: “Chris Christie Should Definitely Not Hire a Personal Trainer“, “Chris Christie: I’m Not Too Fat to Be President“, and “NJ Gov. Christie says weight is no bar to presidency, cites storm response as proof of stamina.”

However, no where in these articles and blog posts does anyone report the Republican governor’s actual weight. No one even raised the question of why such a fact is missing in these reports. Does the governor refuse to release such information? There’s nothing wrong with that; politicians in the past have suppressed personal information for reasons of their own, Christie has the same right. But the does the public have a right to know?

NOTE: Christie didn’t brush-off his weight concerns during a January interview with Oprah Winfrey when he said, “I would love to show these people who say that because I’m overweight that means I’m not disciplined. They think you can get to where I am by being undisciplined? Let me show them,” he said. “But more the guilt that I feel is in regard to my children that I wish that I could get better control of it just for my own health and my own future with them.”

 

President Christie Rumors Continue

image from sodahead.com

According to mediaite.com, Governor Christie is taking a break from Hurricane Irene relief work by spending his time at the Jersey shore. Gov. Christie was encouraging people to come and spend money at New Jersey beaches. During a press conference Gov. Christie said “People ask me all the time about running for President of the United States. You know what I tell them? Why the hell would I ever leave Jersey, are you kidding?”

The Governor continues to say he has no interest in running for the oval office in 2012, however rumors and speculations paint a different picture. Amanda Carey of the dailycaller.com reported in late August that former presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty’s campaign staff and endorsers are in discussion with Governor Christie about running. Governor Christie’s advisor Michael DuHaime admitted that Tim Pawlenty did have a conversation with Governor Christie.

Additionally, John Avlon of The Daily Beast reported that on July 19th Governor Christie attended an event at the New York City Racquet and Tennis Club along with business leaders and potential campaign donors. According to The Daily Beast, Governor Christie was encouraged to run by such people as Charles Schwab, Henry Kissinger, and the libertarian billionaire David Koch.  Stubbornly, the Governor said he was 100% sure he is not running for president.

Its hard to believe that Governor Christie, a charismatic man who can handle the media and like all politicians lives for attention, is not tempted for the presidency. Considered a leader by conservatives and positive press by the media has portrayed Governor Christie as a republican icon at a time when the party needs a figure head.

If he isn’t running why is the media continuing to pressure him? Take a look at this opinion piece by The Washington Post’s George Will.

Riding Irene

High crashing waves, powerful winds, heavy rain, and a government evacuation of shore residents is a dream for surfers. A Hurricane Irene Surf Report posted on YouTube is encouraging surfers to make there way to Jersey beaches. The video gives a glimpse to the conditions of the waves and empty beaches. Reports of surfers in Long Beach NY have appeared on the web and many residents in the tri-state are ignoring warns.

Surfing while a hurricane approaches is dangerous and stupid, but everything that involves a thrill rush is probably dangerous and stupid. Is there a logical explanation to jumping out of a plane at over 12,000 ft. ? Jersey has a surfing culture that doesn’t get much recognition. Paul Mulshine of The Star Ledger wrote an article detailing surfing in Jersey and about the misconception people have of surfing in rough waters.

For surfing in Jersey info check out njsurfingclub.com and surfline.com.

Surfers in Jersey enjoying hurricane Earl, if I find videos of surfers riding Irene I’ll post it.

Colonial Times in the Garden State

The internet is flooding the world with new forms of creative entertainment media. Do a little digging and you’ll find material on anything you find of interest. If you look up Jersey, you won’t be disappointed. CollegeHumor.com has a few good comedic clips, but this one documenting colonial times in New Jersey is most rewarding. It was created before the now infamous Jersey Shore of MTV.

235,881 Lost Homes in New Jersey

Foreclosures in New Jersey are expected to increase rapidly in the near future. According to northjersey.com, a court ruling has allowed lenders to proceed with foreclosures that have stalled since the winter due to irregular foreclosing practices by banks.

In 2010, the total number of foreclosures was 58,445. Since the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision to take a look at the banks’ foreclosure procedures, only 6,090 foreclosures have been filed since January. That number is now expected to increase dramatically, further damaging the state’s economy.

According to The Center for Responsible Lending, from 2009 to 2012 an estimated 235,881 foreclosures are expected in New Jersey. Its expected to lower property value state wide by as much as $66.3 billion. Each home in New Jersey will lose $20, 490 in value because of local foreclosures.

Urban neighborhoods are expected to suffer most. Banks lower prices of urban property drastically in order to sell the property as fast as possible. The longer the property is vacant the more likely it is going to be vandalized.

image from foreclosure.awo.com

The Jersey Shore Erosion

According to the NJDEP Office of Science Environmental Trends Report, the future of New Jersey beaches is bleak. The report states that beach erosion will worsen as storms become more powerful and ocean waters rise.

The report estimates that $700 million dollars was spend on beach replenishment from 1998 through 2007.  The money was spend to move 50 million cubic yards of sand to fill New Jersey beaches. Between 1988 to 1997 the total costs of beach replenishment was roughly over $200 million, during this time span an estimate of 40 million cubic yards of sand was used. The complete report can be seen here.

Funding for beach replenishment in New Jersey varies. The federal government covers much of the costs, about 65%, with the rest of the money coming from the state treasury and local municipalities. However, according to the NJDEP the federal government hasn’t allocated sufficient funding in 2009 forcing the state and municipal governments to cover the costs. The breakdown of the beach replenishment funding can be found on the NJDEP Coastal Engineering website.

Rising costs of beach replenishment and predictions of worsening conditions along the coast due to climate change foretell tough times for the Jersey shore. The situation becomes more challenging as the federal and state government cuts spending in order to get their debt under control.

The Real Mob Family of New Jersey

According to the FBI, seven mob families operate in New Jersey:  Genovese, Bruno, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno, DeCavalcante, and Columbo.

The DeCavalcante mob family has the strongest roots in New Jersey. Sam “the plumber” DeCavalcante, the crime family boss, was possibly the inspiration behind Don Corleone. DeCavalcante mob family has made its influence on the script of The Sopranos.

Today the crime family that plagued New Jersey still lurks in the state’s criminal underground, NJ.com lists related mob crime stories that are fairly recent.  This past January the FBI arrested 110 mobsters for various charges in an investigation that in some cases stretched for decades. According to the FBI press release, 36 “made-men” were among the arrested.

CNBC did a documentary on the family’s criminal business, which can be seen HERE.

The entertainment media has fed off of New Jersey’s criminal drama. Most people’s relationship with the Jersey mob consists of nothing more than a couch, a tv set and a HBO subscription.  However, the mob’s shenanigans aren’t fading into crime history, they’re still making headlines.