Up With Steve Kornacki: New Jersey/Port Authority/Christie discussion thread

[Laxman]

33. This Is A Problem Inherent In The Process

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4405119

When Hurricane Sandy Hit, the conservative republicans were reticent to allocate large sums of money to recovery efforts. Unfortunately, every story like this makes their miserly and callous response seem prudent. Sandy money, allocated through Community Development Block Grants, were designed to be spent in a number of ways to address the myriad of Sandy's effects. It was a once in a generation investment to recover and at the same time reduce vulnerability for the future. It was not to be doled out for any project that could even marginally be linked to Sandy. Belleville suffered some flooding in a largely industrial and commercial area along the tidal Passaic River. This project was nowhere near the flooding. This project has no connection with the flooding or its effects. This is an example of how Christie has utilized this pot of money for personal political effect, not well considered recovery measures.

Using the block grant process was a requirement created by the republican congress to keep the federal government out of the hair of the states (most disasters tend to occur in very republican environs).