Sandy blew apart most of our boardwalk in Ocean Grove. Nov. 1, 2012. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
FROM THE NEW JERSEY COMMONS “LOCAL BEAT:”
Charlie Kratovil, editor of New Brunswick Today, writes, “Contrary to claims made by the Christie administration, a developer granted $4.8 million in Sandy recovery funds to accelerate the construction of luxury apartments in New Brunswick, has never before created affordable housing in the State of New Jersey.”
Kratovil posted the story on February 6, in which multiple sources relate that the developer in question requested and received affordable housing funds, but later decided against offering affordable units. The story followed on another from Friday, Jan. 31, identifying the fact that the luxury development was the recipient of $4.8 million in Sandy aid.
BLOGFINGER EDITOR’S NOTE:
This story contains information about two construction projects that were awarded Sandy relief aid upon the recommendation of the Christie administration. Other Sandy funds were used for a publicity campaign that featured the Christie family. And how about Seaside Heights and Seaside Park that received Sandy money twice? The second time was for a fire (not Sandy damage) and was used mostly to rebuild for-profit businesses on those boards.
These reports are especially worrisome in Ocean Grove where Blogfinger has been repeatedly reassured that the Governor’s office is working to get us Sandy relief to rebuild the boardwalk, but Christie has never come to visit our destroyed beachfront despite numerous visits to the area including Bradley Beach and Asbury Park. He even came to Ocean Grove for the annual police memorial, but he posed for one photo with the Together Fund group and then he simply got out of town . He is Mr. Sandy Relief, but why didn’t he take a stroll down the Pathway to our Sandy Strip?
Do you think he doesn’t want to be seen associating himself with our Sandy issues? Do you think that our problems do not fit his political narratives? Do you think he doesn’t want to go where some believe that anti-Christian attitudes or gay politics might be in play?
The Weekly Standard wrote two pieces about possible political influences that were causing Ocean Grove to be deprived of post-Sandy financial aid, and the Star Ledger raised similar questions. And now we are supposed to be reassured by FEMA’s announcement that we are eligible for help, but so far there is no check in the mail.
At this point, we in Ocean Grove have to sit up straight and pay close attention to these developments.
–Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Wisher: If you read the BF “Wassup” section, you will find that the same company which is doing the sand work at the beach will shortly begin the desilting of Wesley Lake (Neptune side) along with the wall repairs–under the supervision of Neptune Township.
The Asbury side of the lake is up to them.
It would be useful if some press outlet could list or show how the Christie Administration has distributed all of the Sandy funds throughout the state, and list all the funded projects so we can really see what is going on.
I am pretty steaming mad that we have a damaged watershed and flood mitigation opportunity — Wesley Lake — that sits crumbling, polluted and shallow, while real estate developers in inland towns like New Brunswick and Bellville are counting their millions for their private building projects.
We need a credible explanation. Maybe the conservative Weekly Standard will get right on that, helping us move from wild speculation to evidence.
Facts are the Facts. It’s been 15 months since Sandy and we have gotten nada. Everyone else got everything they needed.
Folks like Senator Beck, or Governor Christie, or whomever can claim that they are working to help us. Well the facts are the facts. Why did they help everyone BUT us? They have done NOTHING. It’s just not that hard. Write a check for $4 million out if the Sandy fund. You did it for everyone else. How long does it take to write a check?????
If the delay goes on any longer, we will not have our boardwalk this summer.
Sal: I know no one other than Wisher who has said that the FEMA denial of boardwalk funds has to do with party affiliation. The Star Ledger said that distinctions made by FEMA towards the CMA made no sense. The Weekly Standard suggested that the CMA was being punished by the Obama administration because of how gays were treated in the Grove and because of anti-Christian bias. Or course, that is a theory based on certain observations which you can read by viewing our articles about the Weekly Standard’s editorials.
As for Blogfinger’s “throwing local elected officials under the bus and dismissing them,” that is not possible because we have never endorsed any State or Federal candidates. The three NJ legislators were mentioned in Blogfinger when they came to town for candidate’s forums, and we simply quoted them. We owe them nothing.
As for Neptune Twp elected officials, we always try to recognize the Committee persons who help us with Blogfinger and with Ocean Grove’s issues. We will endorse them regardless of party affiliation. Right now they are all wonderful in my book for coming up with a plan to sell bonds and provide some funding to get the project going.
As for our Rep Chris Smith, I have never seen a direct quote from him about OG, nor have I ever seen him in town. I wouldn’t recognize him if he sat next to me at a Doo Wop concert. This guy needs to come to OG and talk to the people, and he needs to bring the Gov. with him. The only time we have mentioned him on BF was to quote the OGCMA which said that Rep. Smith was doing an outstanding job in advocating for the Grove in Washington.
But when I say that I don’t know exactly what any of these State and Federal officials are actually doing for us, that is not “throwing them under the bus,” it is merely the truth and a valid criticism.
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Whenever I have mentioned on Blogfinger that Gov. Christie is helping us has been in quoting the OGCMA which has consistently credited Christie’s office with working on our behalf. There were two other occasions (including this one) where I heard second hand that he promised to help Ocean Grove.
State Senator Jennifer Beck has also been quoted on BF as saying that she is prodding the Governor’s office to help us and that he is. When he came to OG for the Police Memorial, it was said that he flew over in a helicopter to see the damage, and when he posed for a photo with the police photographer he supposedly told the Together Group that he would help the Grove. But I don’t know for sure what he personally has done other than to order his “office” to do something.
Unfortunately, we now know to be suspicious about how his “office” functions.
But this is not the first time that I have voiced skepticism about his help.
When Christie visited the Asbury Park boardwalk I made a point of shaking his hand just to plead with him to help us with the FEMA appeal. His response was “I’ve got a team working on it”. I guess there’s no way to know what’s true.
People are stretching it a bit to claim that FEMA’s denial of boardwalk funds for Ocean Grove are because Neptune leans “democratic”. Asbury Park is way more “democratic” and they got $$$. As for the governor being in the ads, why not have the leader of the state promote tourism? He had to be talked into it by both firms that replied to the RFP. Believe it or not, outside of NJ he has a lot of respect and it made sense.
I’m very disappointed that the local elected officials are now being tossed under the bus and dismissed by Blogfinger. There have been plenty of positive articles on this blog site over the past year about their efforts but I guess its in vogue to bash them now. For a “progressive” group of people I am often disappointed by neighbor’s understanding of government.
Caroline Casagrande is Assemblywoman
Mary Pat Angelini is Assemblywoman
Jennifer Beck is Senator
They all claim to be supportive of Ocean Grove, but I don’t know what they have been doing.
Isn’t redistricting really gerrymandering?
Thank you Paul for this information. However, I was talking about the state government of NJ. Who are our rep(s) there and what have they been doing?
Our 4th congressional Rep is Chris Smith. He supposedly has been working for OG to receive payment from FEMA, but I don’t think he has ever been in Ocean Grove. If any of you know differently, please correct this. His website is chrissmith.house.gov. He has been in the House since 1981, but redistricting named him as our rep recently, replacing Frank Pallone. Supposedly his interests include human rights in China, veterans benefits, Alzheimers, and human trafficking.
Well said by Wisher. Also to consider: our OG boardwalk is not a commercial enterprise like the boards in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park.
Neptune is a Democrat area. What political benefit is there for Christie to help Ocean Grove, when the money is better spent for political advantage elsewhere? We may be stronger than the storm, but political players are stronger than us.
Where are our New Jersey state representatives? They should be leading the charge for us to get money. Why are they MIA? Why are they not using stories such as this one, where relatively undeserving people get Sandy funds, but a town like ours that was directly affected because we are on the shore gets nothing?
I thought Christie promised that he would help restore the shore? Or is he only concerned about the parts of the shore he likes, such as Seaside that got funds TWICE?
Perhaps if someone knows who our state representatives are, they can post their emails so a number of us could ping them and ask them what they are doing for us. I think the answer is pretty obvious since its been 18 months and we have gotten nada, but at least we can agitate.
Sal: Federal monies were used for television commercials that amounted to campaign ads for the Governor. Congress did not give our tax monies to New Jersey for the purpose of “marketing” Chris Christie — and it is nothing short of unseemly that he used the monies for that purpose, particularly while peoples’ homes (as well as our boardwalk) lay in ruins.
Very good points. The Weekly Standard posited more than once — but wholly without evidence — that FEMA was being instructed by President Obama or others in the White House to deny Ocean Grove funds because the OGCMA had (previously and unsuccessfully) sought legal license to discriminate against LGBT couples.
Now it looks like the real culprit might be Governor Christie — who apparently has been disbursing (or failing to disburse) Sandy monies for political purposes (and/or to reward cronies). Ironic, given that the Governor has — like the OGCMA — been no advocate for gay marriage, and indeed fought it tooth and nail until he — like the OGMCA — lost in court.
This constant claim that money earmarked for Sandy victims was instead used to pay for the “Stronger” ad campaign needs to stop. It has been said many times that the funds were federally provided funds aimed at marketing, never to homeowners. Secondly, its been shown that the firm used had a better, more extensive plan than the runner up bid had. When the additional services are taken out the winning firm had a lower cost bid apples to apples. There are plenty of things to question with Sandy funds but once a smoking gun has been squelched it needs to be retired from accusations.