# Did Christie (or his staff) intentionally cause the Fort Lee traffic jam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 9, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351 "2014-01-09T13:34:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 32
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/621 "2014-02-18T21:56:49Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > …So, the Fort Lee people did not wait four days. > > I’m sure you are well aware that the Port Authority has NJ and NY people. Why would the mayor not try to contact the NJ people for this NJ problem. The mayor did not have the advantage of being able to see the communications between these slimeballs, so there was no reason for him to know about how futile his protests were. Remember also that Wildstein was angry that Foye was getting involved. (shortened for clarity) It was four days before the non-study study was called off by Foye. It still took Sokolich’s office 4 days to figure out who to call in order to get results. (_Oh my. I called Baroni’s office several times and he won’t call me back. What am I, the mayor a NJ city, supposed to do next_?) I would think that with the interagency and intergovernmental exercises conduct since 9-11, that a mayor, or mayor’s office, would know who to call in order to get things done quickly. If this were a major calamity, instead of a traffic jam, the voters would be calling for Sokolich’s head. They still might. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/622 "2014-02-18T22:04:58Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > …So, some questions for you? > Is Christie such an incompetent manager that his staff runs riot without him knowing it? > Did Christie establish such a toxic environment in the governor’s office that his staff thought this crap was just fine? > The start signal implied that the jam was discussed previously. Was Christie involved? Directly or with a wink? I have no idea. I have no idea. Someone thought they could get away with this. The Great Lane Reassignment scam would have to have been discussed/planned prior to it’s implementation. There has been no evidence presented, so far, that Christie was involved. Rumors? Yes. Speculation? Yes. Evidence? No. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/623 "2014-02-18T22:08:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > It still took Sokolich’s office 4 days to figure out who to call in order to get results. Thank you for calling! Press 1 for Spanish. Press 2 if you are the victim of a state conspiracy and there is a fake traffic study that is impacting the traffic in your city. The number is on page 7 of the mayoral post-911 handbook. It’s a post-911 world, so you have to know who to call to stop fake traffic studies in your city. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/624 "2014-02-18T22:09:29Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (shortened for clarity) > > It was four days before the non-study study was called off by Foye. > > It still took Sokolich’s office 4 days to figure out who to call in order to get results. > > (_Oh my. I called Baroni’s office several times and he won’t call me back. What am I, the mayor a NJ city, supposed to do next_?) I would think that with the interagency and intergovernmental exercises conduct since 9-11, that a mayor, or mayor’s office, would know who to call in order to get things done quickly. If this were a major calamity, instead of a traffic jam, the voters would be calling for Sokolich’s head. They still might. What the mayor should have done was call a news conference and blast the Port Authority and the Governor’s office on Day One. Not sure what it takes to get you outraged- the Port Authority was told NOT to inform anyone in advance and the Port Authority and the Governor’s office were refusing to take the mayor’s calls- remember the “radio silence” email? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/625 "2014-02-18T22:20:52Z")
[GWB scandal: Port Authority chief wants investigation into PA cops’ roles.](http://www.northjersey.com/fortlee/Port_Authority_chief_wants_investigation_into_cops_roles.html) > [@](#): > > On Sunday The Record, citing motorists and Fort Lee officials, reported that Port Authority police officers at the bridge told frustrated drivers to contact the Fort Lee mayor or borough officials to complain. One motorist recalled that an officer approached his vehicle without prompting, told the driver to roll down his window and delivered that message. > > “Are you frustrated?” Robert Michel said the officer asked. > > “What’s going on?” Michel replied. > > “Call the mayor’s office to complain,” Michel said the officer responded. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/626 "2014-02-18T22:32:31Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What the mayor should have done was call a news conference and blast the Port Authority and the Governor’s office on Day One. > > Not sure what it takes to get you outraged- the Port Authority was told NOT to inform anyone in advance and the Port Authority and the Governor’s office were refusing to take the mayor’s calls- remember the “radio silence” email? Yes. Now that’s thinking like a leader. I’d vote for you. Well, except for your “other” policies, of course. 😉 Why should I be outraged? This isn’t a national security issue. I didn’t even know where Ft Lee was until this became a 24/7 media item. _There’s a hold up in the Bronx, Brooklyn’s broken out in fights. There’s a traffic jam in Harlem That’s backed up to Jackson Heights. There’s a scout troup short a child, Kruschev’s due at Idlewild Car 54, Where Are You?_ (My apologies to NYPD officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/627 "2014-02-18T22:32:44Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > There has been no evidence presented, so far, that Christie was involved. Direct? Close, but no. Circumstantial? Hell yes, and it’s piling on too, and who knows what the criminal investigation(s) will come up with, or have already but can’t announce. That’s about the last ditch available to defend in discussing a politician’s career future, followed only by “It’s only an indictment, not a conviction” and “The whole thing is politically motivated”. Oh, wait, there’s also “The media is unfair”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/628 "2014-02-18T22:36:07Z")
OK, so it’s the mayor’s fault for not knowing that the corruption went all the way to the top and there was no hope of finding a non-corrupt person to talk to? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/629 "2014-02-18T22:37:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, so it’s the mayor’s fault for not knowing that the corruption went all the way to the top and there was no hope of finding a non-corrupt person to talk to? See, that’s part of the “Everyone Is Out To Get Me” chapter of the post-911 world memo. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/630 "2014-02-18T22:40:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, so it’s the mayor’s fault for not knowing that the corruption went all the way to the top and there was no hope of finding a non-corrupt person to talk to? “Top of what”? The Port Authority? Are you saying Foye was involved in the Great Lane Reassignment, also? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/631 "2014-02-18T22:47:46Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Direct? Close, but no. Circumstantial? Hell yes, and it’s piling on too, and who knows what the criminal investigation(s) will come up with, or have already but can’t announce. Under any scrutiny, the circumstantial evidence doesn’t seem very, well…, substantial. I’m sure that the 8 democrats and 4 republicans on the bipartisan investigating committee will find Christie guilty of something. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/632 "2014-02-18T23:00:06Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Under any scrutiny, the circumstantial evidence doesn’t seem very, well…, substantial. That’s why it isn’t called direct. > [@](#): > > I’m sure that the 8 democrats and 4 republicans on the bipartisan investigating committee will find Christie guilty of something. What makes you think the only investigation is political? The Attorney General has one going too, and there’s one about the Hoboken shakedown too. Forget the presidency, the guy’s looking at _prison time._ ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/633 "2014-02-19T00:53:08Z")
Why should a mayor of a New Jersey city have to call a New York representative to the Port Authority? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/634 "2014-02-19T01:05:18Z")
Are we gonna have to do the Benghazi thread all over again here? Mods, put this out of its misery. It’s become increasingly obvious that doorhinge has **zero** interest in any factual analysis and continues to spout ridiculous counter-theories. I live in Tallahassee, by his logic I should call the Mayor of Jacksonville as soon as I-10 backs up. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/635 "2014-02-19T01:10:06Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “Top of what”? The Port Authority? Are you saying Foye was involved in the Great Lane Reassignment, also? Your shamelessness is almost a thing of beauty. ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/636 "2014-02-19T01:18:57Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Under any scrutiny, the circumstantial evidence doesn’t seem very, well…, substantial. > > I’m sure that the 8 democrats and 4 republicans on the bipartisan investigating committee will find Christie guilty of something. This might surprise you, but not everybody is as crass, self serving, and corrupt as republicans. It’s obvious you are, as you’ve said you don’t care and don’t think anyone cares about a dying woman having emergency services delayed for the sadistic pleasure of corrupt republican politicians. But some people do care! Some people think that’s a really horrible thing to have happened! Some people are honest! Some people do have integrity! Just because Republicans would make shit up to try to convict a democrat, doesn’t mean the democrats would do the same to republicans. All you’re doing is showing off what kind of person you are with every post, further and further making people who would ever vote for or support Christie look bad. Because they are. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/637 "2014-02-19T01:49:03Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Why should a mayor of a New Jersey city have to call a New York representative to the Port Authority? As much as I’d love to hear a logical reason for this I don’t anticipate getting one since it can’t possibly exist. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/638 "2014-02-19T03:40:34Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Why should a mayor of a New Jersey city have to call a New York representative to the Port Authority? > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > As much as I’d love to hear a logical reason for this I don’t anticipate getting one since it can’t possibly exist. The official name of the Port Authority is - **The Port Athority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)** \*The Port Authority of NY & NJ builds, operates, and maintains critical transportation and trade assets. Its network of aviation, rail, surface transportation and seaport facilities annually moves millions of people and transports vital cargo throughout the New York/New Jersey region. \* > **[We Keep the Region Moving | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey](https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/index.html)** > > We are dedicated to getting people and goods where they need to go, be it by air, land, rail or sea, and to deliver the world class, 21st century infrastructure that our region needs to keep thriving. Why wouldn’t the mayor of Ft Lee, NJ call the organization, PANYNJ, that is responsible for the traffic, maintainence, and structure of the Ft Lee entrance to the tollbooths on the GW bridge if that’s where the traffic jam is originating from? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/639 "2014-02-19T03:43:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > That’s why it isn’t called direct. > > What makes you think the only investigation is political? The Attorney General has one going too, and there’s one about the Hoboken shakedown too. Forget the presidency, the guy’s looking at _prison time._ I never said that the only investigation is political. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351/640 "2014-02-19T13:57:58Z")
So if I need constituent services from a congress critter, I should be able to call and congressional office? After all, it is the **United States** congress. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christie-or-his-staff-intentionally-cause-the-fort-lee-traffic-jam/678351.md?page=33)