Another article from the Bergen Record about Gov. Christie's comments on the response of NJ Transit to Superstorm Sandy.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/Christie_says_NJ_Transit_chief_wasnt_to_blame_for_loss_of_rail_equipment_during_Superstorm_Sandy.html?page=all
Of interest is the Governor's remarks about Civil Service rules protecting the guilty, and the Record's noting that NJ Transit is not Civil Service.
Another article in the Bergen Record about the NJ Transit failures during Superstorm Sandy, this time going into great detail comparing Governor Christie's statements to actual facts.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/NJ_TRANSIT.html
It is pretty amazing that Governor Christie should make such blunders in his interview with The Record:
--He said the decision to store trains in Kearney and Hoboken was made by a low level manager who never told anyone else. But the e mails show that is false.
--He said that the person who made the decision could not be effectively disciplined because Civil Service rules prevent it. But that statement is also false. New Jersey Transit is not governed by Civil Service rules.
I can just imagine the gist of a lot of those e-mails...
Whadda ya mean I moved the trains? I thought YOU moved the trains!"
"Well I didn't move 'em, I don't know where to move 'em to! I thought YOU moved 'em!"
"Not my job to move 'em, it's YOUR job!"
"Not my job neither!"
I suppose if an NJT official perished in the storm they'd be playing the "blame the dead guy" game by now. At any rate I find it hard to believe a mid-level or low-level manager has this kind of responsibility. Somehow I suspect they're looking for a "fall guy".
And Chris Christie? I suspect the daily operations of NJT are something he's paid very little attention to. Possibly James Weinstein didn't even pay attention to the everyday "nuts and bolts" operations. OK if everything goes right, but when things start to go wrong...
The military has a hard and fast rule that goes like this: The commanding officer is responsible for everything his unit does, or fails to do. All successful CO's know this rule and live by it. The civilian world could profit by the example.
Today's (Sunday) lead editorial in the Bergen Record:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/226631971_The_Record__Weinstein_s_friend.html
Basically, it repeats the issues in the previous days news, and hammers NJ Transit's Executive Director, James Weinstein.
It appears that the Record has not tired of this issue, and will keep pressing the Christie Administration for answers.
As I've said before, "The Record" is a Democratic newspaper, has been for decades, and has never passed up a chance to hammer a Republican office holder, so in this case Christie's going to get the hammering.
That being said, they SHOULD press for answers on this fiasco, someone has to be held accountable for this tremendous waste of the taxpayers money, Republican, Democrat, or otherwise.
Can't argue with 'em on this one.
PBS running a story about Sandy at 2100 ( 9:00 PM ) tonight.
blue streak 1 PBS running a story about Sandy at 2100 ( 9:00 PM ) tonight.
It showed something of a contrast between the utility companies which were now hardening their facilities with concrete and water proof vaults, and the subway which was building a plywood wall and inflatable barriers.
MidlandMike It showed something of a contrast between the utility companies which were now hardening their facilities with concrete and water proof vaults, and the subway which was building a plywood wall and inflatable barriers.
blue streak 1 MidlandMike It showed something of a contrast between the utility companies which were now hardening their facilities with concrete and water proof vaults, and the subway which was building a plywood wall and inflatable barriers. The electric Utility has far fewer locations to harden. all the subway vents to the surface number what ? ( 2 - 6 per bock for each line? ) Henry help ? ?
I was comparing the utilities use of concrete & steel to the subways plywood & plastic. Also, the electric utility has vaults, manholes, tunnels and cable to every building in Manhattan. The subway is just one of their millions of customers.
Here is This Sunday's NY Times magazine article on "Sandy" Preparations for the NYC subway.. Appears to be 2 or 3 pages long ? Those who get the tomorrow's Sunday times can fill us in. Essentially MTA started weeks before with some preliminary planning but critics thought these preparations were unnecessary even up till 2 days before Sandy hit NYC.
When you understand that parts of the infrastructure are 100 years old there needs to be training of the young bucks to operate & repair these ancient systems. One very important example was the use of compressed air sump pumps to keep water out of some tunnels. They saved the day since all electric pumps could not work for lack of electricity. Once again just proves that putting all your eggs in one basket will haunt you down the road !!! .
Wonder if some NJT management persons had listened to the experienced workers ?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/magazine/could-new-york-city-subways-survive-another-hurricane.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0
A ver good article and very worth reading
In a similar vein - Heavy Weather is cancelling some services in Great Britian.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24699748
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The latest article in the Bergen Record keeping the pressure on NJTransit.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/Plan_to_protect_NJ_Transit_cars_from_floods_not_ready_yet.html?page=all
It will be interesting to see if Gov. Christie maintains his stubborn defense of NJTransit management now that he's been re-elected, or if heads will finally roll.
For crying out loud, how long does it take to put a plan together? Take some top-level experienced employees who have a good working knowledge of the railroad and it's geography, put them in a room together and tell them to get on with it, and they have one week.
Jeez! I don't know. I don't even know why I care about this, I don't even live in New Jersey anymore. Must be railfan rage kicking in.
Without looking back thru 500+ posts, I recall that the NJT storm plan draft was looking at some facilities beyond what they own (IIRC Conrail Linden?). They would have to negotiate acquisition and perhaps have to rehang catenary.
We must wonder if someone in the Governor's office told NJ Transit that they did not need to spend the extra money to move equipment to higher ground? The GW bridge mess certainly must lead one to wonder ?
If I were Christie this would be an ideal time to dack someone or pile onto the 2 already in hot water.
EDIT: Now 3 persons sacked over bridge
I doubt that anyone from the Governor's office specifically told NJ Transit not to move equipment prior to Superstorm Sandy to save money; they didn't have to. NJ Transit management and the Board of Directors had this $$ message repeatedly drummed into them since Christie took office. I don't think that the Board, on it's own initiative, cancelled free rides for non-union employees and retirees.
Friends working at NJ Transit told me well before Sandy that the pressure to minimize overtime was intense, far worse than in the Penn Central days.
Christie won't do anything with NJ Transit now. It would look like yet another of his management groups "went rogue" on him.
Finally, possibly some action.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/Governor_Christie_may_shake_up_NJ_Transit_leadership.html
I wonder if we'll ever find out what really happened, or if getting rid of the Executive Director will end the conversation?
Note that the article suggests that Weinstein may have a soft landing already waiting for him.
What really happened? Probably no one was willing or able to make a decision. No more, no less.
A friend stated a interesting comment.
There is a bully in higher up NJ government that will not allow any variation ? (wonder if that was in reference to overtime to move trains ? )
Another Editorial in the Bergen Record about the poor performance of NJ Transit. While not directly related to the Superstorm Sandy fiasco, the editorial again calls for the departure of the agency's executive director, James Weinstein.
The editorial also mentions the issue that was discussed several times in this thread; that NJ Transit exists to provide service to it's customers. This fact has been lost/ignored by NJT management.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/241773811_The_Record__NJ_Transit_struggles.html
If NJT fails in any way during super bowl then we can probably expect a change at the top and who ever comes in will house clean ?
I still can't figure out how New Jersey got the Super Bowl to begin with. Proximity to New York City nothwithstanding East Rutherford's not exactly what you'd call a "party town", not like, for example New Orleans, Atlanta, Houston, Las Vegas, you get the picture. The high rollers and big money that comes in for that game usually want some big attractions to go with the game.
Well the beat goes on. There appears that a broom is going thru the upper management of NJT.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/03/clean_sweep_of_nj_transits_upper_management_continues.html#incart_river_default>
As the old saying goes, "A new broom sweeps clean."
Either that, or Ronnie Hakim wants her own people running things.
Firelock76 As the old saying goes, "A new broom sweeps clean." Either that, or Ronnie Hakim wants her own people running things.
I would lean to the latter explanation. It's not uncommon for a new CEO or agency head to put their own people in place in various positions.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.