N.J. Lawmakers Ask Congress To Probe GWB Lane Closure Scandal
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey lawmakers have complained they have not had much luck getting answers from the Port Authority about the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal, so Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) said it is time to turn to Congress for help.
As 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported, Weinberg reasoned that Congress created the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and thus, maybe it can create some accountability "and see whether there needs to be changes in the federal law that will make it not so difficult to require transparency."
Lawmakers Ask Congress To Probe GWB Lane Closure Scandal
Former Port Authority director of interstate capital projects David Wildstein allegedly ordered access lanes from Fort Lee on the George Washington Bridge to be closed four days in September, claiming a traffic study was being done. The closures resulted in major gridlock.
Some Democrats believe Wildstein was sending a message
to the Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Gov. Chris Christie in his re-election bid. Christie has denied the claims.
Wildstein announced Dec. 6 that he would step down at the end of the year. He is a childhood friend of the governor, who had appointed him to the post.
Port Authority executive deputy director Bill Baroni also resigned amid the scandal.
In an unrelated development, emergency repair work on the outbound lanes of the George Washington Bridge were expected to continue until Tuesday morning. The work caused delays of two hours or more Monday evening.
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