A Far Greater Health Problem
Joe Bayona’s article about COVID-19 Testing was well received. His research exactly supports my experience and my opinion. A far greater health problem than the virus is the sick, disabled mentality which has been created in the public by the mass media and “the powers that be”.
John Stern
Blazing Saddles 1974
Well folks, there you have it! You wanted it – you got it! Our new CEO for America: Mr. Joe Biden. Yes, four years of “Blazing Saddles”. You’ll have front row seats! Bring popcorn and soda and enjoy the show. Now, don’t complain if you don’t like the show – just wear the mask, stay home and shut up. Let’s hope those protesters or radicals from the far left or far right don’t destroy America. As for “Censorship” on Facebook or YouTube to prevent the truth from being exposed, it’s already happening. And you know the “Puppet Control” news media will hide the truth. Don’t be surprised if someone said: I told you so!” As for Mr. Trump it will be “Blue Trails of Sorrow”.
Orlando “Wildman” Perez
Securing Funds for
South Amboy
On January 19, 2021, the Federal Transit Administration published Federal Notice of Available Funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2021. Under Table 15 Prior Year Unobligated 5739(b) Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Allocation, is listed FY 2020 NJJD2020-PFGP-010 City of South Amboy – Radford Ferry project – $5,300,000.
Why has the City of South Amboy been unsuccessful in securing these funds under an approved obligated FTA grant? Did the City of South Amboy enter a formal grant in FTA’s Transit Award Management System (known as “TrAMS”) used to award and manage federal grants? If so, are there still any outstanding FTA’s concerns and issues that need to be resolved as part of any ongoing grant review? Without a formal grant obligation, these funds will eventually lapse and be lost.
NJ Transit and the Port Authority of NJ & NJ are in intense competition against transit agencies from other cities and states around the nation. It hurts both NJ Transit and Port Authority when the City of South Amboy leaves these discretionary dollars on the table year after year. The NJ Congressional delegation loses credibility when lobbying for more transit dollars.
There is no incentive for Washington to approve additional discretionary transit dollars. As each year goes by, the project cost also tends to increase. The dollar value of the earmark does not. In the end, taxpayers, commuters and transit employees are the losers. NJ Transit and Port Authority both face short and long term multi billion dollar capital and operating funding shortfalls. Every dollar counts. When will the City of South Amboy make this a priority and secure these funds under an approved FTA grant?
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the development, review and approval of billions in grants to NJ Transit and NY MTA which funded capital bus, subway and commuter rail improvement projects and programs along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ.)
