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Gov. Chris Christie angers union by opening state offices after Hurricane Irene
Even in a hurricane, Gov. Chris Christie and the state’s largest public employee union can find something to disagree about.
After encouraging private employees to stay home today, he called on all state workers, except those who found it impossible to get to work, to show up.
For many, it was a formidable challenge. Route 18 in Middlesex County was still partly submerged under the Raritan River, and on Interstate 287 in Morris County, a chunk of the shoulder gave way.
In Trenton, where most of the state offices are situated, Route 29 — adjacent to the rain-swollen Delaware River — was deluged, and the parking garage at the Statehouse was closed.
Christie had little sympathy for his fellow public employees who had to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours trying to navigate around closed roads. And when one of their union leaders complained, Christie jumped like a batter waiting for a fastball. (Gibson, The Star-Ledger)
