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In reply to the discussion: Christie Crime Digest-Vol. I [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)4. Here's a good one:
Embattled Port Authority Still Fighting Toll Hike Lawsuit
Mark J. Magyar
While political attention remains riveted on the Bridge-gate scandal that forced the resignation of Gov. Christies top two lieutenants at the Port Authority, the bistate agency remains embroiled in a lawsuit challenging the legality of its massive multiyear toll hike. At the heart of the suit is the allegation that toll revenue is being illegally diverted from transportation projects to pay for billions of dollars in cost overruns on the World Trade Center project...the Port Authority has been battling to block the release of documents showing its internal deliberations leading up to its controversial September 2011 decision -- jammed through after just one day of hearings -- to raise tolls on the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels; George Washington, Bayonne and Goethals bridges; and the Outerbridge Crossing from $8 then to $13 today and $15 by 2015.
<...>
The Port Authority cited the $11 billion cost of rebuilding the World Trade Center as a major fiscal liability in its 2011 press release announcing its decision to seek a toll increase from $8 to $15 on its six bridges and tunnels. Based on that statement, Genovese said, the AAA expected to win a summary judgment on its lawsuit contending that the Port Authority was illegally diverting toll revenues to non-transportation purposes.
But the Port Authority backed off that tack in its response to the AAA lawsuit, insisting that no toll money would be going to the World Trade Center project. The authority asserted that its interstate transportation network, which includes the money-losing Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail line, operates at an overall deficit, even with all toll revenue from the six bridges and tunnels included, and therefore no toll money is being diverted to the World Trade Center...that was before Port Authority officials acknowledged that the cost of the World Trade Center project had ballooned from $11 billion to $15 billion -- a massive increase considering that Christie cancelled the Access to the Regions Core (ARC) rail passenger tunnel project in 2010 because he feared that cost overruns could hit $3 billion.
<...>
Christie diverted $1.8 billion of the $3 billion the Port Authority originally set aside for the ARC Tunnel to provide some of the matching funds he needed to underwrite a five-year $8 billion Transportation Trust Fund plan without raising gas taxes in 2011.
- more -
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/01/06/embattled-port-authority-still-fighting-toll-hike-lawsuit
Mark J. Magyar
While political attention remains riveted on the Bridge-gate scandal that forced the resignation of Gov. Christies top two lieutenants at the Port Authority, the bistate agency remains embroiled in a lawsuit challenging the legality of its massive multiyear toll hike. At the heart of the suit is the allegation that toll revenue is being illegally diverted from transportation projects to pay for billions of dollars in cost overruns on the World Trade Center project...the Port Authority has been battling to block the release of documents showing its internal deliberations leading up to its controversial September 2011 decision -- jammed through after just one day of hearings -- to raise tolls on the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels; George Washington, Bayonne and Goethals bridges; and the Outerbridge Crossing from $8 then to $13 today and $15 by 2015.
<...>
The Port Authority cited the $11 billion cost of rebuilding the World Trade Center as a major fiscal liability in its 2011 press release announcing its decision to seek a toll increase from $8 to $15 on its six bridges and tunnels. Based on that statement, Genovese said, the AAA expected to win a summary judgment on its lawsuit contending that the Port Authority was illegally diverting toll revenues to non-transportation purposes.
But the Port Authority backed off that tack in its response to the AAA lawsuit, insisting that no toll money would be going to the World Trade Center project. The authority asserted that its interstate transportation network, which includes the money-losing Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail line, operates at an overall deficit, even with all toll revenue from the six bridges and tunnels included, and therefore no toll money is being diverted to the World Trade Center...that was before Port Authority officials acknowledged that the cost of the World Trade Center project had ballooned from $11 billion to $15 billion -- a massive increase considering that Christie cancelled the Access to the Regions Core (ARC) rail passenger tunnel project in 2010 because he feared that cost overruns could hit $3 billion.
<...>
Christie diverted $1.8 billion of the $3 billion the Port Authority originally set aside for the ARC Tunnel to provide some of the matching funds he needed to underwrite a five-year $8 billion Transportation Trust Fund plan without raising gas taxes in 2011.
- more -
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/01/06/embattled-port-authority-still-fighting-toll-hike-lawsuit
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Let us not forget the DMV in Elizabeth. I'm still "sauced" over that one..LOL...n/t
monmouth3
Jan 2014
#7
Is it your prediction that Christie will be charged with a crime or crimes?
Exciting Trip
Jan 2014
#48
Since I believe that it's DOING something criminal that makes you a criminal
rocktivity
Jan 2014
#50
For the record, I think he should be charged and am cautiously optimistic that he will be
rocktivity
Jan 2014
#54
The New Brunswick apartment tower that got $4.8 million in Sandy relief funds
LiberalEsto
Jan 2014
#65
Next time you write a post like this, put it in its own OP, please , so more people can see it.
pnwmom
Feb 2014
#89
Christie begins an "internal investigation" though he's his own prime suspect
rocktivity
Feb 2014
#94
Christie's problem being, of course, is that Samson reports to him directly
rocktivity
Mar 2014
#130
Christie administration broke law in ignoring greenhouse gas rules, court says
rocktivity
Mar 2014
#162
New York Prosecutors Open Another Front of Scrutiny for Port Authority!
yortsed snacilbuper
Apr 2014
#203
"kicked $10,000 of it right back to the Republican Governor's Association?"
yortsed snacilbuper
Apr 2014
#213
GWB inquiry expands scope, subpoenas files from Christie political strategist!
yortsed snacilbuper
May 2014
#223
Christie and Wrestler "The Rock" Star in Online Pension Reform Video (For Seven Hours)
rocktivity
Jul 2014
#235
U.S. Attorney Fishman: Reports about Bridgegate investigation 'Almost entirely incorrect'
rocktivity
Jul 2014
#238
Gov. Christie Shifted Pension Cash to Wall Street, Costing New Jersey Taxpayers $3.8 Billion
rocktivity
Aug 2014
#241
...After Illinois declared the first privately run U.S. state lottery a failure
rocktivity
Dec 2014
#298