Hefty amount helps only a few

Regular price $739,000, special price for 5 select public workers $253,500.

The Star-Ledger has reported on a controversial housing offer.  It is based on one’s occupation.  “Only people who work for the City of Hoboken, the Hoboken Board of Education, the Hoboken Housing Authority, or a Hoboken charter school are eligible to apply.”  The rational behind the idea is that Hoboken requires certain workers to live in town and they need ‘affordable’ housing.

Again, reported by the Star-Ledger, “Hoboken municipal workers making between $61,000 and $92,000 for a family of four qualify, Bado said, and families of four will be given preference.”

This is a nice $485,500 windfall for select public workers who make comfortable incomes.  These are discounted purchases, where rentals would have sufficed.   In the converse, the private sector and other public workers are disallowed from participating in the ‘lottery’.  Perks like this swing the pendulum of private vs. public total compensation (salary plus benefits and perks) even more askew.

How did the owner of the building make up for the over $2.427 million discounted on these five units?  This is a hefty amount to help only a few.

What do we get for $1?

Governor Corzine was sworn in on January 17, 2006 as New Jersey’s 54^th Governor. Corzine is only taking a token salary of $1. There is a very interesting timeline of Corzine’s tenure written in the Asbury Park Press in January. This article illustrates many occurrences of questionable handling of money, and poor choices, for himself and we the taxpayers. He continues his bad patterns that are not in the best interests of our state.

Corzine’s ambitions often take him out of New Jersey, to national and international events. In Oct.’07 he attended a forum on climate change in Portugal. He has been supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton as the Democratic candidate for president. This campaign has thus far taken him to Iowa in Dec.’07, Nevada in Jan., and both Wisconsin and Ohio in Feb. In January Corzine was the only state official to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. When he is in New Jersey his favorite pastime is to promote his own pet projects.

Corzine took his magic monetization show (Financial restructuring and debt reduction) on tour to a number of counties and is yet to finish his promise to visit the others. He has promoted, and given $500 thousand to a group that supports his plan and didn’t hesitate to display their big banner, even though there had been a no signs allowed inside policy.

Corzine continues to grow his steering committee, which is now up to 59 members ranging from special interest groups, unions, and, big business.

Recently, much of his in state time is spent at conventions, and speaking engagements. Corzine makes statements that are beyond his scope. About two years ago he told the Communications Workers of America (CWA), “We’re gonna fight for a fair contract”. On Mar. 6 Corzine pledged pension protection for police, including new hires, when he spoke in front of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA).

This is the same day that the League of Municipalities hosted a seminar for the towns with less than 10,000 people who will be hit the hardest by state aid cuts. The remarks sent from the governor can be viewed here.

Meanwhile, here in the real world New Jersey we have a budget and an economy that needs a governor who will give total devotion. Foreclosures and unemployment are increasing, jobs and home sales are decreasing. Our state is sinking into the abyss from years of mismanagement, as shown in this City Journal article. NJ attained the dubious distinction of a C; third state from the bottom, as conducted by the Pew Center “Grading the States” report. I can have no respect, trust, or confidence in a governor that does not keep his focus on our state and our citizens.

The code of conduct for the governor is available from Rutgers.

“The position of Governor exists to serve the public in a manner that fosters the respect, trust, and confidence of the public…The Governor shall not knowingly act in any way that might reasonable be expected to create an impression or suspicion among the public having knowledge of his official duties that he may be engaged in conduct inconsistent with this Code.”

That $1 payment per year to Corzine has given us a budget that has increased by over $5 billion.