Save Our Turnpike News

Trenton—By releasing “core principles” for asset monetization, Governor Corzine is seemingly responding to NJPIRG’s longstanding call that he make specific commitments to the public.  However, comparing the Governor’s principles to the ones NJPIRG has put in our pledge—available at www.njpirg.org –reveals that the Governor’s principles are baby steps, not strides, in the right direction.

 “While the Governor’s principles are good as far as they go, they don’t go far enough,” said Abigail Caplovitz Field, Advocate for NJPIRG.  “The public needs more specifics, more substance.  It’s impossible to evaluate what the Governor is planning based on these principles.”

 For example, one of NJPIRG’s principles is Public Control, meaning that the public will have both substantive input into transportation policy and a way to hold decision makers accountable.  Although the Governor’s principles took privatization off the table and emphasized public ownership, that doesn’t equate to public control. 

“Rejecting privatization is great, and it shows the Governor is listening to the public’s concerns,”  noted Field.  “Nonetheless public ownership doesn’t mean the public gets control. The public ‘owned’ the Schools Construction Corporation—it was a public company through and through—and yet the public had no control over policy or the decision makers.”

Similarly, NJPIRG’s principles call for Transparency and Accountability, including the disclosure of the deal’s details at least six months in advance, and an up or down vote on the final deal by the Legislature.  In contrast, the Governor simply commits to a “substantial, open and public discussion” with meetings in each county.  It’s not clear how many details the public will have the opportunity to discuss, or whether the Legislature will have to take a stand on a final deal.

“Public meetings are a great idea,” said Field, “but without full disclosure in advance, and without a final vote after all is said and done, it’s hard to know what impact those meetings can have on the process.”

NJPIRG renews its call on the Governor to take NJPIRG’s pledge, to commit to our more specific, more substantive principles.