Gov. kills Trans Hudson tunnel
According to the Associated Press, Gov. Christopher Christie has announced he cancelled plans for the Access to the Regions Core (ARC) tunnel, one of the largest and most expensive infrastructure projects in U.S. history, in the making for two decades, out of concern for the eventual cost of the project.
Last month, through NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein, Christie imposed a 30-day suspension on work to reevaluate the tunnel’s construction budget.
The $8.7 billion NJ Transit project, also known as the Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel, broke ground in June 2009. The two-tracks were supposed to nearly double the number of trains traveling between New Jersey and New York from the current 23 per hour to 48 and provide 44,000 permanent jobs. The cancellation of the tunnel could cost as many as 6,000 local construction jobs, according to reports.
North Bergen Mayor and Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) commented on his extreme disappointment of Gov. Christopher Christie’s decision to end construction on the ARC Tunnel project.
“We need to grow New Jersey’s economy and create jobs, and infrastructure improvements like the ARC Tunnel project are a significant part of those efforts,” he said. “Instead, the Governor is throwing this project and the largest federal grant ever received by any state away. This is a short-sighted decision and it will cost us both the federal funds and the urgently needed transportation investments that are a vital part of our state’s future.”
The Federal Transportation Authority had pledged $3 billion and the Port Authority has promised an additional $3 billion, leaving New Jersey with a $2.7 billion bill.
In the wake of the freeze, which had allowed North Hudson work to continue, U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez (both D-Hudson), said that if the project were to be halted New Jersey stood to lose the largest amount of federal funding ever awarded to a transportation project. Lautenberg amplified those remarks yesterday in press interviews, saying the cancellation could mean New jersey would owe the federal government as much as $300 million.
Tapes contradict Guttenberg’s Tabbachino
According to published reports, tapes played in the federal corruption trial of Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez and former Guttenberg councilman Vincent Tabbachino have shown contradictions in the latter’s statements.
Tabbachino said that he returned $10,000 to government informant Solomon Dwek, who was at the center of last year’s “Operation Bid Rig” that ensnared 44 New Jersey and New York politicians and members of the Syrian Jewish Community, according to those reports.
But government video tapes played yesterday in court showed no evidence that Tabbachino, who was seen accepting a FedEx and stating that it contained $10,000 in it, returned the funds, according to those reports.
According to a Department of Justice press release, Tabbachino allegedly accepted $10,000 from government informant Solomon Dwek, which was allegedly deposited into a lawsuit fund for Suarez. The cash was allegedly a bribe in exchange for Suarez’s preferential treatment for Dwek, who said he planned to develop real estate in Ridgefield.
In the video Dwek states that there are “all hundreds” and Tabbachino responds that they are now “in business,” said reports.
According to reports, his attorney Anthony Kress said that he accepted the funds as a “consultant,” which was totally legal.
Tabbachino also allegedly accepted three checks totaling $100,000 from Dwek to launder for Dwek’s knock-off handbag business, which the government says was actually a front.
Cross-examination of Tabbachino was slated to continue last week.
North Bergen promoting annual ‘Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day’
On Oct. 10, the North Bergen Police Department, along with New Jersey law enforcement agencies throughout the nation, will join together in a day-long effort designed to increase awareness and safe driving called “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day.”
The national effort is designed to have zero driving fatalities in the country for one full day by encouraging motorists to obey all traffic laws, including buckling up, driving the speed limit, avoiding distractions, and staying sober behind the wheel.
Last year, 583 New Jersey motorists lost their lives behind the wheel, while in 2008, there were 590.
Police will be out enforcing laws, and will be asked afterward to report their crash data to the state on that day.
Last year, 789 crashes, including two fatalities, occurred in New Jersey.
Additional information is available at www.braskesonfatalities.org.
Rummage sale at church
On Oct. 13 and 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Grove Reformed Church’s Women’s Guild will host its fall rummage sale at the church, located at 1132 46th St. Assorted clothing, household items, and collectibles will be for sale.
October dates for NHCAC mobile van announced
The North Hudson Community Action Corporation mobile health van will make the following stops during the month of October, providing information and health screenings (including high pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol) to residents. Referrals can also be made to NHCAC’s various health center sites from the van:
• Oct. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Save Latin America, 138-39th St. in Union City
• Oct. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 430 62nd St. in West New York
• Oct. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 6121 Grand Ave. in North Bergen.
• Oct. 25 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 6115 Grant Ave. in North Bergen.
• Oct. 31 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Anthony’s, 615 8th St. in Union City and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in West New York
For more information, call (201) 866-2388 or visit www.nhcac.org.