NJPIRG is trying to lend some sanity to the debate over the governor’s “monetization” plan by circulating a petition asking that the governor abide by six basic principles to prevent the kind of bad deals agreed to elsewhere. The group, on its Web site, offers this explanation:
We need to ensure that New Jersey citizens retain control of our Turnpike and Parkway for all future planning, management and development. We need to make sure that if a deal occurs, New Jerseyans get fair value for our roads instead of our budget crisis leading New Jersey to sell at a discount. The process of making a deal must be transparent and accountable. And above all, the people of New Jersey should have the final say in the Turnpike’s future safety standards. If a monetization deal can’t meet these conditions, embodied in our six principles, a deal must not be done.
I remain skeptical that a monetization plan can work, but if the state ultimately does move ahead, the PIRG petition offers a useful outline of the kinds of safeguards needed to keep New Jersey residents and drivers from being fleeced.
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Hank Kalet 