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In reply to the discussion: Christie Crime Digest-Vol. I [View all]rocktivity
(44,546 posts)227. More self-exoneration
Cuomo-Christie Port reform group resolves to "consider" reform
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8548428/cuomo-christie-port-reform-group-resolves-consider-reform?top-featured-1
rocktivity
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8548428/cuomo-christie-port-reform-group-resolves-consider-reform?top-featured-1
On the Thursday afternoon before the long July 4 weekend, Governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie (have) released a letter from the Special Panel on the Future of the Port Authority...
(On May 6), after (New York) Senator Chuck Schumer publicly excoriated the governors' politicization of the agency, Christie and Cuomo announced the creation of the special panel...The governors requested a report within 60 days, and asked that (it) "include specific recommendations and proposed next steps."
Now, now, let's not be cynical -- early July IS sixty days after early May! It's not Christie or Cuomo's fault that the day happened to be one where the letter would get the LEAST amount of media attention!
(On May 6), after (New York) Senator Chuck Schumer publicly excoriated the governors' politicization of the agency, Christie and Cuomo announced the creation of the special panel...The governors requested a report within 60 days, and asked that (it) "include specific recommendations and proposed next steps."
They populated (the panel) with John Degnan, Christie's nominee for Port Authority chairman, Richard Bagger, a Christie-appointed Port Authority boardmember, Port Authority vice-chairman Scott Rechler, a Cuomo appointee, Christie counsel Christopher Porrino and Cuomo counsel Mylan Denerstein.
Seeing as Christie is the prime suspect and Cuomo has been implicated in Bridge(t)-Gate, the LEAST they could have done was have the same number of appointees from each state. And among them is Christie's pick for the next PA chairman? Why does Christie have more authority over Cuomo in this matter?
(The report) argu(es) that "todays Port Authority lacks an effective culture of compliance and accountability, one where employees are empowered and expected to raise their concerns directly to their superiors or, when necessary, to others in positions of authority..."
Well, that's fine. But if fear of bringing bad news to their superiors is the problem, maybe it's the culture of the SUPERIORS that has to be changed -- if not the superiors themselves. For instance, I wonder what would have happened if someone had pointed out that having an uneven number of panelists who favored the governor would not look good. Is this report simply another "product" of the PA's ineffective "culture"?
It says that the panel should evaluate existing ethics, transparency and conflicts-of-interest policies with the help of an "outside expert," one that it is currently in the process of retaining, and that it should also also examine existing by-laws and leadership structures...
I like that "outside expert" idea -- as long as he's not going to be "retained" by the governors themselves. That should be a federal level, federally-salaried job, since the PA is a federal agency by default. In fact, maybe such a person should BE the chairman, with the governors acting as vice chairmen. (No, I'm sorry, David Samson -- you don't qualify.) If there's too much infighting between the two states, or too much bullying of one of them, having to report to an independent referee might be the answer.
...The panel promises to look into the possibility of further reforms in the future...
The resulting report is aggressively unspecific.
"Considering, promising, and looking into" are one thing, actually doing is another. And we don't even HAVE the report, just its cover letter. More comphrensive reforms are promised by January -- and all by the people who CAUSED the problem? Here's hoping that some comprehensive indictments will appear by January, too!
The resulting report is aggressively unspecific.
rocktivity
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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