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John Matheussen
Gov. Christie made DRPA chief John Matheussen his man on reforms at the agency that operates four bridges and PATCO light rail and spends toll money like it was growing on trees. The governor said Matheussen could be a holdover but he didn't want a new contract until issues at the bistate agency were resolved. Now, Christie is getting his reward. The DRPA board voted to keep Matheussen in the $219,474 job. The vote was 11-2 with the two being delegates from Pennsylvania. Matheussen was a Republican state senator but took the job so the Boss George Norcross Democratic Machine could spend $4 million to get a Democrat elected to the post that pays $49,000. Long-time public trough-swiller and Norcross lackey, Vice Chairman Jeff Nash, who also is a
Camden County freeholder (Notice how a few people have all the jobs under Boss Norcross?) supported Matheussen after the vote. "John Matheussen has done an excellent job as chief executive officer of this authority," said Nash. To further give Christie the finger, the board postponed action on Christie's proposals to:
-- Prohibit political contributions by companies that do business with the DRPA.
-- Prevent DRPA employees from going to work for companies that do business with the agency for two years after they leave the DRPA.
Christie had 10 days to veto the minutes and make the board action void. But he didn't need 9 of them. He eliminated actions by the board that would:
-- Reinstate the right of DRPA and PATCO employees to commute to and from work without paying tolls or fares on DRPA or PATCO facilities.
-- Reinstate the 100 free E-Z pass trips on DRPA facilities to the extent that this benefit appears in union contracts.
-- Reinstate the right of DRPA and PATCO employees to commute to and from work without paying tolls or fares on DRPA or PATCO facilities and to permit DRPA and PATCO employees to make multiple free trips on DRPA or PATCO facilities in one day if in the course of their work.
(The governor also moved to eliminate the use of E-Z Pass perks at tollpayer expense by directing other authorities to abolish the practice of providing free E-Z Pass trips and other forms of free passage that are not available to the general public.)
That leaves Matheussen in place and those reforms postponed. Enough already. Christie should tell the board Matheussen needs to go. He should ask for Nash's resignation too. Jon Corzine, ever doing the work of the party bosses, reappointed Nash on his way out. Just because Nash has a term doesn't mean Christie can't ask for his resignation and should. Let Boss Norcross run Nash for Cherry Hill mayor or county dog catcher or something.
