file photo by Boyd Loving
Reader says Time for Beneficiaries of Squandered NJ Transportation Funds to Return Them
When a Ponzi scheme goes broke prosecutors appoint a trustee and use a “clawback” cause to force those who received beneficial $$$ to return it, and it’s distributed to investors/victims.
The same needs to be applied to the municipalities/homeowners who received the “benefit” of the sounds walls from money that was dedicated to road repairs, NOT to improve privat property of those who chose a poor location to live.
Until those funds that were pissed away on sound barriers are returned from the beneficiary homeowners and municipalities, no increase in taxes.
That is pure fantasy. Even if that were tried, the legal fight would eat up, and more, any amounts that were initially identified as having been misspent.
What about the unionized contractors who charge 8X the national average in NJ for road & infrastructure repairs? Raising gasoline taxes only benefits union thugs who are overcharging for road, bridge and tunnel repairs. It’s effectively sanctioned taxpayer fraud. One up the contracts for competitive bids and give NJ taxpayers a fair labor rate for this work, not the inflated union rate.
Fantasy is correct,but i do like the idea of competitive bidding.
Declan , BILLIONs were spent on sound walls at the request of connected local officials.
Money was for roads, not aesthetics.
Sue the towns. For return of the funds, plus legal fees.
They were never entitled to these funds and should also pay interest on the mine, which should be used to pay the states bill on the money borrowed to improve private property.
The Village of Ridgewood just ripped off the Federal transportation fund for the bogus “bicycle lane” through Garber Square.
That is taxpayer money, our money.
What a joke.
Government is completely out of control.