Cuomo, Christie Plan The End To Overnight PATH Service, Look To Privatize The Entire PATH System

Here's a doozy in the Port Authority "reforms" Governors in Crime Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo have suggested rather than signing a PA reform bill that had been passed by four legislative houses in two states, 612-0:

As lawmakers and authority officials sparred over ethics reforms, one of the governors’ other recommendations, eliminating overnight service on PATH trains, came under fire from the mayors of Hoboken and Jersey City, whose rapid growth has depended on trains to Manhattan.

 

Mayor Steven M. Fulop of Jersey City said the veto’s timing suggested the governors’ move was nothing more than a “power grab.”

 

“The panel started as a way to root out corruption, not to limit mass transportation,” he said.

Christie is an enemy of both the Hoboken and Jersey City mayors.

I'm sure you wouldn't be shocked when I suggest that he's going to push for the end of overnight PATH service as a way to punish the Hoboken mayor, Dawn Zimmer, for taking him on over Bridgegate, or JC mayor Steven Fulop, who is thought to be a potential NJ governor candidate next time around and suing the PA.

But it's worse than that - it's also another neo-liberal scheme to privatize a public entity and make some money for themselves and their cronies:

A report by the Port Authority that’s supported by the governors of New York and New Jersey floats the idea of eliminating overnight PATH service and turning over the system's operation to an outside organization — public or private.

Those ideas, along with others in the 99-page report that was released Saturday night, were slammed today by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who said curtailing service on one of the region’s most vital transportation links would hurt not just his city's economy, but the state as a whole.

“I think that all too often politicians assume the public is stupid, and this is an example of that,” said Fulop, a Port Authority critic whose administration in May filed a $400 million lawsuit against it alleging owed back taxes. “The fact that you’re releasing a report in between Christmas and New Year's, the fact that there are components of it that are nothing more than a mere power grab.”

Hoboken's mayor had some fighting words for the Cuomo/Christie plan as well:

 "This irresponsible proposal is a classic example of being penny wise and dollar foolish," Zimmer said in a statement. "Shutting down overnight PATH service will cost the State of New Jersey many times the supposed savings in lost economic activity, sales tax and business tax revenues. Cities like Hoboken, Jersey City and Newark are growing because residents and businesses want good access to transportation options like the PATH. It is incomprehensible that any New Jersey official would be willing to even consider this proposal that would only hurt the State's economy."

The PATH loses a lot of money of year, but what you never hear when Christie, Cuomo or their PA cronies trot out that argument is that much of that money goes to the WTC PATH station boondoggle, which is billions over budget.

Or that there was the sweetheart deal Christie's cronies got at the Harrison train station, and of course the shenanigans Christie's cronies were playing in Hoboken.

Let's not forget Christie stole $1.8 billion of PA funds to fix the Pulaski Skyway even thought it's nowhere near any PA facility.

Oh, and the PA just put through a plan to spend $1.5 billion on extending PATH service from Newark to the Newark airport.

A commenter at NJ.com sums up the corruption and cronyism these governors are engaging in even as they threaten to cut PATH service:

They want to cut PATH but wont cut salaries, overtime, waste, corruption. How about the deal that Samson made to charge NJ Transit a $1.00 for a park and ride lot that should have been charged much more. They throw out money by spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a Harrison PATH station and billions on that thing at the WTC PATH station. After they waste billions of dollars then they say they are broke! What arrogance!! They spit in our faces and we need to protest. Remember this. We must march and protest. Call your representatives.

A direct "F--- You!" to Fulop and Zimmer from Christie and his cronies at the PA, with Cuomo helping him give the bird.

These scum are stealing billions for their own pet projects, allowing their cronies to enrich themselves off the PA kitty, then screwing the citizens of NY and NJ who rely on PATH or the PA.

Mayor Fulop Continues To Screw Up Snow Removal In Jersey City

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is so busy giving lectures at Rutgers and announcing an endorsement in the Newark mayor's race that he just can't seem to do his job as mayor of Jersey City.

As I posted on Sunday, citizens of Jersey City have been irate over the city's poor snow removal program, bombarding the city's Facebook page with complaints like this one from yesterday:

My street is so bad couldn't get out of my spot to take my daughter to daycare and go to work. I was stuck half in the street and half in a spot. A tow truck happened to come by and wasn't able to pass so he dragged me out. I went around the corner to Patterson St and it was a sheet of ice. ALLL ROADS SHOULD HAVE SNOW REMOVAL. No fire truck would be able to turn down streets like Pierce Avenue.

Or this one from yesterday as well:

This is a joke. My street wasn't plowed on Friday and it hasn't been plowed today. It's a solid 4 inch sheet of ice. I don't care if you're out of salt. You can at least plow. And we wouldn't be in this mess if Fulop would just hire workers to shovel the drains clear since so much did melt on Friday but had nowhere to go so it just re-froze. Iv'e been trying to call the stupid Resident Response line for days now and it always takes me to the voicemail no matter when I call. He's a terrible mayor.

Fulop declared a snow emergency on Sunday and requested residents refrain from driving in the city because he couldn't get the ice and snow removed from the city's streets, further angering residents of Jersey City who had to get around the city.

He finally announced a full snow removal plan that was to commence on Tuesday February 17:

Snow Removal Operations to Begin Tomorrow on Main Thoroughfares; Residents Reminded to Not Park in Front of Hydrants or Within 25 Feet of an Intersection

Mayor Steven M. Fulop in coordination with the Office of Emergency Management announced today that City will begin implementing a snow removal plan for the main thoroughfares and commercial districts that will have the snow hauled to vacant City, County and State property.

Commercial and main streets are being targeted, as these areas provide access to the daily needs of residents such as supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and other small businesses and services. Clearing these areas will also improve conditions for emergency responders to move throughout the City.

"We thank residents for their patience during what has been one of the harshest winters on record," said Mayor Fulop. "With everyone's cooperation, this can be a seamless process that will help improve the mobility of both pedestrians and motorists as well as ease parking conditions."

According to the NJ.com, here's how that snow removal program is going:

For days, Jersey City residents clamored for the city to remove the mountains of snow from last week’s nor’easter – and the storm before that, and the storm before that. The snow piles have effectively turned parts of Bergen Avenue into a one-way street in either direction, and they are making it impossible for some residents to find parking spots.

But now that crews are finally at work using snowplows and dumpsters to pick up and remove the snow, motorists are griping that the daytime operation is clogging city streets. Traffic backed up on Montgomery Street about half a mile yesterday as crews removed snow near Summit Avenue, and Journal Square was bumper to bumper yesterday afternoon and this morning as crews disposed of snow in that section of the city.

Alexandria Jerez, 32, of Fairmount Avenue, is among the motorists fuming over traffic snarls caused by snow removal. She said Bergen Avenue was a nightmare yesterday and Summit Avenue was “pretty bad” today.

"It was ridiculous," she said. "It was so ill-planned."

Ward C City Councilman Rich Boggiano said his phone was ringing all day from residents complaining about the traffic problems in Journal Square. Snow removal, Boggiano said, should have happened in the late morning and early evening, not during rush hour.

“It’s a disgrace,” said Boggiano, who has been generally critical of the city’s snow response.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the city opted to carry out snow removal during the day instead of at night because the noise would be a "huge quality of life issue."

“While we understand that traffic has resulted from the snow removal, we are working as fast and as smartly as we can to remove the snow without further disrupting everyone's lives,” Morrill said.

Fulop has been busy announcing an endorsement of Ras Baraka in the Newark mayor's race and giving a lecture at Rutgers that many see as publicity for a future run for governor.

Meanwhile back in Jersey City, the mayor oversees a snow removal program that is, in the words of Ward C City Councilman Rich Boggiano, "a disgrace."

Mayor Steven Fulop should spend a little less time playing politics and a little more time tending to his city management.

Life In Steven Fulop's Snow-Ridden Jersey City

Mayor Steven Fulop's Jersey City government has issued a warning to Jersey City residents today Sunday, February 16th, 2014:

The City is working to remove snow from corners and has implemented a snow removal plan to haul snow to vacant lots owned by the City, State and County. Today, with the snow from last night and the freezing temperatures, icy road conditions persist. Because of the regional salt shortage, Jersey City has implemented additional measures to supplement including the use of liquid brine and sand but is asking residents to please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and to seek alternative means of transportation.

One alternative mode of public transportation - the PATH train that runs from Newark to World Trade Center - is unavailable to Jersey City residents looking to get the hell out of Fulop's snow and ice-clogged Jersey City because the Port Authority has shut it down every weekend for the rest of the year:

Much to the chagrin of residents, PATH weekend closure of the World Trade Center (WTC) and Exchange Place stations is set to begin tonight, Friday Feb. 14 and weekend closures for these stations will continue most weekends (Friday nights through early Monday mornings) throughout 2014 with the exception of major holidays.

Impacts to World Trade Center to Newark (WTC-NWK) and NWK-WTC service:

• The last departure from WTC is 11:55 pm, arriving at NWK at 12:17 am.
• The last departure from NWK is 11:20 pm, arriving at WTC at 11:42 pm.
• There are no impacts to WTC-Hoboken (HOB) and HOB-WTC service.
•  The last departure from WTC is 10:56 pm., arriving at HOB at 11:06 pm.
• The last departure from HOB is 11:11 pm., arriving at WTC at 11:21 pm.
• The World Trade Center and Exchange Place stations will be reopened each Monday at approximately 4:45 am.
• The first departure out of the WTC will be the 5:10 am train to NWK.
• The West Concourse at WTC, providing underground connection to Brookfield Place, will remain open and accessible during these weekend outages.

Mayor Steven Fulop ran for office last year on a reformer campaign platform to rid Jersey City of the corruption and cronyism of the former mayor, Jerramiah Healy (who just narrowly missed indictment when a whole bunch of politicians were arrested for corruption in 2009 - including the Hoboken mayor and the deputy mayor of Jersey City.)

Alas, Jersey City's issuing desperate pleas for residents to "stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary" a day after a few inches of snow fell and to "seek alternative means of transportation" when at least one of those alternative means - the PATH train from Newark to World Trade Center - is shut down makes me think Steven Fulop is in over his head as mayor of this city.

Some of the commenters on the Jersey City Facebook page echo that sentiment:

The roads are TERRIBLE out there, especially Summit ave through the heights. Be careful, everyone.

Drivers traveling on Westside Avenue and turning onto Woodlawn Avenue please slow down. Icy conditions on corners. We have seen several cars skid off the road.

How about clearing side streets!

All side streets in Harsimus Cove area are treacherous!! Please come up with a plan...there is more snow coming tomorrow overnight. There is little to no parking in an already congested area, and people can't get around.

Yes side streets are horrible the busses are getting stuck on McAdoo and it was horrible to get to work

Downtown needs salt, whatever, at all intersection BAD BAD ICE 3 crashes in less an hour.

6 Storms Later Wowwwwwwww really on the Job here in Jersey City N.J

Alternative means of transportation? Like the PATH train? Oh, right...it's not running to WTC over the weekend.

We need side street snow removal! No parking causing people to park crazy! Ice every where let's find away to hire some people give them shovels and let them remove side street snow something like clean up project men and women will work! Quick grant or something this will help a lot 

Horrible conditions in Jersey City. The crosswalks are impassible!

The whole city is bad not just downtown the heights, every area of the City of Jersey City is bad. Cars, trucks n buses are getting stuck n accidents are everywhere. If they say stay off the roads, that dont mean drive. Be careful n please listen Stay Off The Roads.

Didn't do a Gd job yall suck it's so sad that a lot of people sipping n falling because yall not doing yall job or doing a half job if yall don't want ur job give it to someone that really need it.

If this is the best that we get from our local government. .then we are in big trouble.
PS some of us have no choice..we have to work because of our profession...

 I just had no choice and drive someone to dialysis.. If you don' t need to go out don't the roads are solid ice. There was just a four car accident on Marin Blvd and Grand Street.

 We need something done! People work so we take public transportation But that is slow, and they can't even get around correctly Plus cars are parked in the way of real snow removal Soo again hire people pay volunteers whatever you have to do so we can get around the City.

I agree with many of the above posters. ALL of Jersey City is bad with all the snow and ice. To top it off, people are not shoveling (for whatever reason). My husband works nights, he isn't driving the car because the roads are terrible. Waiting for the bus has become a joke because they are WAY behind schedule due to the road conditions...
IMO, despite there being a salt shortage, I believe that there was not enough salt purchased to begin with. In all my years of living here (my entire life), I don't recall JC ever having a salt shortage of this magnitude. Also, I've seen previous administrations work out plans to have the enormous piles of snow hauled away sections at a time. Nothing done so far with the 20 plus inches of snow. It looks at though JC is located somewhere in the Arctic somewhere. Can we please have some real answers about what is going on???

 The crackheads in jsq run this city better

Jersey Journal columnist Augustin Torres has more on the Fulop response (or perhaps I should say, lack of it):

It snowed this week and not everyone is happy with the cleanup. Elected leaders receive report cards from their constituents based on residents' perception of what role their leaders' took on their behalf. Fair or not, in Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop's case, it's starting to look like he needs remedial work.

Remember when Superstorm Sandy hit, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer made sure she was on TV talking to members of the National Guard, consoling residents or she was on social media telling everyone what she was doing and how they could get help. It didn't hurt to have Gov. Chris Christie visiting.

Despite a TV news shot of Fulop removing his jacket and picking up a shovelful of snow "like a Marine," I received about a half-dozen calls from folks who want to publish angry letters about Jersey City's snow job. Everyone tells me what they plan to write and I have to remind some that this is considered a family newspaper.

Most people are aware that the city ran out of road salt. The salt situation was so problematic that during this week's nor'™easter, when one Jersey City Improvement Authority official asked the county government to borrow some salt, he was rebuffed like he'™d asked for something not on the dinner table, say county sources. No one has road salt, in fact, and the county approved an emergency appropriation of $204,000, if they can find some, having already spent about $300,000 on rock salt. There's a sneaking suspicion in my mind that the rock salt suppliers are taking a page out of the OPEC nations' playbook.

City residents' main and justifiable whine is about post-storm snow removal.

Essentially, they say there are mountains of snow and ice on curbsides making it difficult to move about in the neighborhood without falling or getting wet. Every block has its own frozen parallel mountain ranges with their own small lakes at intersections. Nothing is going down the catch basins, several people pointed out. "Years ago, the city would pay people about $10 each, per catch basin, to clear them of snow and debris," said one Greenville old-timer.

Snow removal is an expensive proposition. It could cost about $250,000 a day to have a private vendor help with the work, and it could take a day just for clearing out a block or two. With this much snow, there are not many places that can handle the snow load. City Councilman Richard Boggiano suggests just dumping it in the Hudson River, despite legal bans, because of the extraordinary amounts. I'm sure New York City doesn't do it

I tried calling and texting the mayor to get a response but to no avail. The snow mountains must be blocking my signal.

One of the commenters at the JC Facebook page says Fulop is on vacation on the Vail ski slopes and can't be reached for comment.

I cannot confirm or deny whether Fulop is in town this weekend.

But I can say that if he is on the Vail ski slopes, he could have saved money on the air flight and ski lift fees and spent the weekend skiing down Grand Street right here in Jersey City.