Citizens Union * New York Public Interest Group * Reinvent Albany * Tri-State Transportation Campaign * New Jersey Foundation for Open Government
For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014
Today, we applaud the New Jersey Assembly for voting in favor of two reform bills that would significantly improve public disclosure and accountability at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey: S2181/A3417 and S2183/A3350. Both bills have now cleared the New Jersey Legislature, as well as both houses of the New York State Legislature. There is just one last act to occur: Governor Cuomo and Governor Christie need to act quickly to sign these important bills into law.
The Port Authority owns and manages some of the most significant infrastructure assets in our region—bridges, bus facilities, tunnels, the PATH, ports, airports, and the World Trade Center site. With billions of dollars at stake, the Port Authority impacts the daily commute and pocketbook of millions of New York and New Jersey residents and businesses.
After months of controversy, the public deserves a more open and accountable entity that will reform the way it does business. The Port Authority was created in the spirit of bi-state cooperation, and the voters of New Jersey and New York deserve the final approval of these important pieces of legislation. It is only through increased transparency, sound governance, and professional management that public confidence and trust can be restored.
We thank Assemblymember Valerie Huttle and Senator Robert Gordon for their leadership in New Jersey, as well as Assemblymember James Brennan, Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Senator Andrew Lanza, and Senator Michael Ranzenhofer for their stewardship of the legislation in New York.
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Also see: https://njfog.org/2014/09/19/new-port-authority-bill-needs-enforcement-mechanism/