Why Has New Jersey Been Forsaken?
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Gov. Christie and President Obama reviewing the damage in NJ.
Photo Credit: YY
Is there anyone who can tell us what the heck is going on? We in New Jersey have no power, no heat, no lights, in some places little food, and no gas. Yes, I know these are mere inconveniences compared to those who have suffered the unspeakable tragedy of losing family members. At least 50 are dead from Sandy, and those lives are irreplaceable. We mourn their loss. But nothing should excuse New York and New Jersey looking like Armageddon.
Aren’t we the nation that rebuilt Iraq and have done tons of nation-building in Afghanistan? Can’t we put the lights and heat back on New Jersey? Is it asking too much to bring a bunch of fuel tankers here and end the 100 vehicle long lines that are growing larger by the day? Just getting from point A to point B has been like navigating an labyrinth since the gas lines have cut off so many of the streets. President Obama declared this area to be a Federal Disaster Area. But where is FEMA? Where are the troops? Where are the gas tankers?
On the news we see cities that are still underwater. Half of Manhattan has no electricity. Staten Islanders are desperate for food and shelter. Tens of thousands of residents on the Jersey Shore lost everything. But President Obama is back on the campaign trail in Ohio. Because I don’t want to politicize this, I’ll make the same point about Governor Romney. True, he’s the challenger, not the incumbent. But both the President and the Governor need to understand the extent of the catastrophe all around us and do something besides argue about mobs overseas. This is more immediate. President Obama is campaigning with the all the advantages of incumbency. But that entails all the responsibilities as well. And coming for a photo-op with Governor Christie then running back to Ohio ten times is wholly inadequate.
The people of this area deserve better. We’re taxed up the wazoo with the highest state and property taxes in the nation. For all that, we normally get crumbling infrastructure, potholes, and rusty bridges that cost $12 just to cross. To add a dismal and slow response to such a huge natural catastrophe is too much.
In the City of Englewood where I live nearly all the residents have no power. Trees are down everywhere. It would be nice to see the occasional electric crew repairing the wires or the occasional city crew chopping up the trees. It would be nice to hear more from Mayor Frank Huttle, who is running unopposed this Tuesday (yes, that’s what passes for democracy in our city), about when the power and heat will be back on.
Since Tuesday I have driven all over the Ninth District where I’m running for Congress. The police are out in strength, stopping you from going here, preventing you from going there. They’re trying to protect us and I thank them. But where are the relief crews?
Last year at almost precisely this time we had Tropical Storm Irene that became a freak snow storm that downed endless trees and caused huge flooding. We went without power for a week, unfortunately for us, the very week before my daughter’s wedding. Family and friends came from around the world. They sat and shivered for a week, thinking they had entered a third world country. They couldn’t wait to leave.
So it’s not as if we couldn’t see this coming. They promised us last year that it would not happen again. The next time they would be ready. Granted, the devastation this time is far worse. But the response seems far worse as well.
Three of my kids drive every morning from New Jersey to Brooklyn for Chabad yeshiva and seminary. Today, they waited three hours to get on the George Washington Bridge and eventually gave up. They joined with me instead as we drove around the district meeting people and hearing their tales of woe.
Not that we have much of a campaign left. My staff and I have been reduced to charging our phones and laptops on the floors of shopping malls, crowded Starbucks where there is no place to sit, and, especially in the cars. My run for Congress has become completely mobile. In the car we have heat, light, and the occasion cord for a laptop. And truth be told, it’s been great getting out at all out hours just to meet people, so there’s your blessing in disguise.
We did a Teletownhall tonight with a few thousand participants. We’ve done a bunch during the campaign. On previous occasions I asked the callers what their number one issue was. Every time it was jobs and the economy. But not tonight where gas shortages, power outages, freezing homes sparked huge outrage.
My opponent Bill Pascrell spent the day savaging Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa who apparently said he wants aid for hurricane victims but with strings attached. No Gucci bags or massages as, he claimed, happened with Hurricane Katrina.
“Frankly, Tea Party extremists like Steve King who want to pass judgment, spread their false assumptions and kick people when they are at their lowest are the worst that we have to offer…” Harsh words. The worst we have to offer. These are words that Pascrell never used when it came to Chester Grabowski, his friend after whom, this past September, he tried to name a park, even though Grabowksi was a notorious Jew-hater, racist, and holocaust denier who ran for Congress in David Duke’s party. Less so did I hear him use this phrase in discussing Imam Qatanani, the unrepentant Hamas Imam whom Pascrell has pledged to do “everything in my power to keep you here” in the United States against INS, DHS, and FBI attempts to deport him for lying on his Green Card application about an earlier arrest and for membership in a terrorist organization. No, it turns out that a fellow Congressman, however misguided in his words about conditions for aid here in New Jersey, is “the worst we have to offer.”
But rather than Pascrell wasting his time politicizing this tragedy and responding to every person weighing in from halfway across the nation about this crisis, however wrong they may be, it would behoove him, as a the elected representative in this area, to get federal troops on the street, large gas tankers to the stations, electrical workers restoring lines, and the army corps of engineers to get rid of the flooding. And while this may be happening to some extent, it’s simply nowhere near enough. Their presence on the streets has got to be felt.
This is no time for politics. Everyone needs to pitch in, everyone needs to do something. But more than anyone else, the people we elected to fix our problems have got to start fixing this huge problem.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, “America’s Rabbi” whom the Washington Post calls “the most famous Rabbi in America,” is the international best-selling author of 29 books, including The Fed-up Man of Faith: Challenging God in the Face of Tragedy and Suffering. Follow him on Twitter @RabbiShmuley.
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I filled up today at the Vince Lombardi Service Area, with less than a 15 minute wait. The gas lines I saw in NJ are much shorter than in NYC.
The reason I was on the NJ Turnpike was that I was taking a carload of food and water from my synagogue in the Bronx to Staten Island, where they are badly needed. I dropped them off at the district office of State Sen. Andrew Lanza, 3845 Richmond Ave. Do not take clothing — they have more clothing than they can handle. They will be there at least until 5pm today and until things are more back to normal. They need volunteers, too. Much of Staten Island looked totally normal, but the devastation along the shore was horrific.
Charlie, Kol HaKavod. One good deeds deserves another; so, I am giving you a warning for your own good. Some time ago you mentioned that you are married to an Arab. You should be careful for your own safety to not mention on a national forum that you support Jewish synagogues because your wife’s Imam might force her to do something against you. You need to keep a low profile.
” Some time ago you mentioned that you are married to an Arab.”
I don’t know where you heard that; my wife is a Jew, just like me.
who turned away the NON Union utility crews? talk to your gov.
This was up for much debate ..I saw many arguments on this yesterday..Gov.Christie did a press conference and answered the question here is an article and answer he gave..pretty much it is he said she said..http://www.theblaze.com/stories/who-is-telling-the-truth-nj-utility-says-it-didnt-block-non-union-help-alabama-utility-contradicts-their-statement/
Well, I also saw a video where Christie blasted Obama after the two met when Obama stopped by in NJ…maybe a repercussion from that is why the people don’t have the help they need?? Don’t get me wrong….the people need help and neither politician should be playing games with peoples lives if that is the reason. I hope the people get what they deserve, help!
The non-union crew were turned away by a combination of Christie’s ineptitude and the IBEW demands.
who turned away the NON Union utility crews? talk to your gov.
This was up for much debate ..I saw many arguments on this yesterday..Gov.Christie did a press conference and answered the question here is an article and answer he gave..pretty much it is he said she said..http://www.theblaze.com/stories/who-is-telling-the-truth-nj-utility-says-it-didnt-block-non-union-help-alabama-utility-contradicts-their-statement/
Well, I also saw a video where Christie blasted Obama after the two met when Obama stopped by in NJ…maybe a repercussion from that is why the people don’t have the help they need?? Don’t get me wrong….the people need help and neither politician should be playing games with peoples lives if that is the reason. I hope the people get what they deserve, help!
The non-union crew were turned away by a combination of Christie’s ineptitude and the IBEW demands.
Why are all the REPUBLICANS in New Jersey , who Elected a Republican Governor, Who are So Much for INDIVIDUALISM and STATE’s RIGHTS looking to The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT For HELP? ROMNEY wanted to KILL FEMA Before “SANDY”, and was Still Saying AFTER “SANDY” that LOCAL PROVIDERS are Best SUITED to Handle the DISASTER. Make Up Your Mind. Do you Want COMMUNITY or INDIVIDUALISM? Scratch a DEMOCRAT and you will Find a Former Republican that faced a Disaster and REALIZED HOW MUCH THEY NEEDED A STRONG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Why are all the REPUBLICANS in New Jersey , who Elected a Republican Governor, Who are So Much for INDIVIDUALISM and STATE’s RIGHTS looking to The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT For HELP? ROMNEY wanted to KILL FEMA Before “SANDY”, and was Still Saying AFTER “SANDY” that LOCAL PROVIDERS are Best SUITED to Handle the DISASTER. Make Up Your Mind. Do you Want COMMUNITY or INDIVIDUALISM? Scratch a DEMOCRAT and you will Find a Former Republican that faced a Disaster and REALIZED HOW MUCH THEY NEEDED A STRONG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Rabbi Shmuley, it is all your fault! The big boss is very unhappy that you are running for congress and not telling people the truth!
You cannot be real when you say it’s 4 days and FEMA is not yet there!
First that’s not true! Water is getting thru, generators are being flown in, Heavy machineray is there and tons more are on the way.
If you really cared, you would call up all your good friends like eric cantor and have him send money and help. HE WILL NOT SEND A SINGLE PENNY AND IS ALREADY TRYING TO BLOCK MONEY GOING TO FEMA FOR NEW JERSEY!
Call you good freind donald trump and ask him to open his hotels and let the people whose homes were flooded out so they have a place to say. Call your good friend shelly adelson and ask him to open his hotels and give shelter to the people flooded out. Call your good freinds the koch brothers and ask them to send heavy equipment to help. They own tons and tons of heavey equipment. Also call your good friend willard and ask him to send help. Ask him to make a donation and watch him say “I already give millions to charity” he would be correct, but he only gives money to mormon charities (check out his tax returns and see that 99.9% of what he donates goes to the mormon churh!)
I see you trung to blame the government for failure to help but I do not see a single repub or tea party person helping (except chris chistey).
That is why g-d is not happy with you and I think you are to blame for all the things you are playing politics with instead of trying to help!
Hey Eddie – I AM curious. How pissed off are you that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kink, Jr was a Republican? Must really send you into a tither!
Rabbi Shmuley, it is all your fault! The big boss is very unhappy that you are running for congress and not telling people the truth!
You cannot be real when you say it’s 4 days and FEMA is not yet there!
First that’s not true! Water is getting thru, generators are being flown in, Heavy machineray is there and tons more are on the way.
If you really cared, you would call up all your good friends like eric cantor and have him send money and help. HE WILL NOT SEND A SINGLE PENNY AND IS ALREADY TRYING TO BLOCK MONEY GOING TO FEMA FOR NEW JERSEY!
Call you good freind donald trump and ask him to open his hotels and let the people whose homes were flooded out so they have a place to say. Call your good friend shelly adelson and ask him to open his hotels and give shelter to the people flooded out. Call your good freinds the koch brothers and ask them to send heavy equipment to help. They own tons and tons of heavey equipment. Also call your good friend willard and ask him to send help. Ask him to make a donation and watch him say “I already give millions to charity” he would be correct, but he only gives money to mormon charities (check out his tax returns and see that 99.9% of what he donates goes to the mormon churh!)
I see you trung to blame the government for failure to help but I do not see a single repub or tea party person helping (except chris chistey).
That is why g-d is not happy with you and I think you are to blame for all the things you are playing politics with instead of trying to help!
Hey Eddie – I AM curious. How pissed off are you that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kink, Jr was a Republican? Must really send you into a tither!
Shmuley…it is irresponsible to make claims that are falsehoods. Try the truth.
Sid, he has learned from willard and lyin ryan that lying works!
Shmuley…it is irresponsible to make claims that are falsehoods. Try the truth.
Today, obama ordered ONE HUNDRED military personnel and TWO helicopters in to aid ravaged Staten Island. And it only took him him one week to do so. Well, he did have his priorities – like getting a Jay-Z lap dance in Vegas and partying with Stevie Wonder (a whole 200 people attended that one). So you can understand why it took this long – a President like obama must adhere to priorities. Isn’t that why four Americans in Benghazi are now dead?
Today, obama ordered ONE HUNDRED military personnel and TWO helicopters in to aid ravaged Staten Island. And it only took him him one week to do so. Well, he did have his priorities – like getting a Jay-Z lap dance in Vegas and partying with Stevie Wonder (a whole 200 people attended that one). So you can understand why it took this long – a President like obama must adhere to priorities. Isn’t that why four Americans in Benghazi are now dead?