In Other Words: ‘The Dog Ate My Homework’
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg issued the following statement on Monday in response to the explanation offered by the Port Authority at today’s hearing on the lane closings to the George Washington Bridge:
“After two and one-half months of stonewalling this is the best story they could come up with!
“Their so-called explanation was sketchy and evasive, reminding me of the proverbial excuse ‘the dog ate my homework.’ They failed to give an adequate accounting and they failed to answer the key questions.
“If the original intention was really a traffic study I expect to get the documentation, as part of my Freedom of Information request to back up that claim, including the authorization and the role of Port Authority officials in the chain of command. I also expect to have the concerns expressed by the executive director of the authority addressed, including the suggestion that the closings were possibly illegal and potentially dangerous. And the authority can’t ‘lawyer up’ in order to refuse to turn over the findings of the supposed traffic study.
“And for the authority to try to excuse away as a lack of communication the complete failure to notify other PA officials, the local towns and the public about the lane closings is an understatement that falls far short of credibility.
“Unfortunately, today’s hearing doesn’t put this issue to rest. I will continue to press for answers and to push for a full accounting until the full story is learned.”
