Christie Outlines Goals for 2013, 2014
A packed house of about 800 people attended the Governor's 100th town hall meeting
Help is on the way, but it is going to be at least another year before New Jersey's beaches are back to what people remember from summer of 2012.
That was the message from Governor Chris Christie at the 100th town hall meeting, held today at St Mary's Parish Center in Stafford.
Christie fielded questions from residents and business owners located all over southern Ocean County today, many of whom voiced frustration over lack of payouts from insurance companies and FEMA.
Although Christie said that he is confident Senate officials will approve the Sandy relief package totaling $50.7 billion in coming days, and the measure will be signed by the President shortly thereafter, he said there is bookkeeping to be done, which could hold up checks to individuals for a few more weeks.
After the President signs the bill, "don't expect to see me on your doorstep the next day after it is signed," Christie said, to some chuckles from attendees. However, he said, his office is committed to disseminating the funds in a quick fashion to those in need.
He said the funds will go toward several areas, specifically: dune replenishment and block grants to help business owners rebuild.
That was good news for business owners like Tom Paxton, owner of Great Bay Marina in Little Egg Harbor, who said he has recieved little to no help from his insurance or government agencies after Sandy leveled his docks.
"We need to rebuild," he said in a comment to Christie.
Christie told residents that summer 2014 is the target date by which residents would see the beach they left in summer 2012. The goal for this summer, he said, is to make the waterways navigable again, and make the beaches comfortable enough for people to get back into their homes, and this summer, for people to visit, swim, and have fun.
"I don't want there to be unrealistic expectations," Christie said. "We want to rebuild the right way." He said this will mean taking a hard look at the revised advisory FEMA flood maps, and for residents, rebuilding to the specifications requested.
Stafford Mayor John Spodofora, who was in attendance at the town hall today. said during a recent meeting that 2013 will be a rough one for the township.
The current tax base is certain to drop with an estimated 4500 homes and business having their current assessments adjusted due to the damage they suffered, said Spodofora.
A reduction in revenue is not an option at this point as the township suffered severe infrastructure damage to roads, bayfront areas, the Beach Haven West Community Center and the water and sewer system among other areas, said the mayor.
A Beach Haven West resident expressed concerns about having to walk away from her home, because she and her neighbors are facing rising taxes, and, if they don't comply with revised FEMA maps, higher flood insurance premiums.
"Choices will need to be made here ... some are unpleasant choices," Christie answered, but, he added, he is hopeful that the aid will ease at least some of those choices.
Frank & Barbara Riker
9:35 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
The dead line for the file appeals with the tax assessor should be extended. Did not know the dearline was Jan. 10th. I know everyone is in the same boat as the saying goes but we just found out about this this morning. Could you send out a letter to all the tax payers about this appeal maybe. That would help everyone in this same area.
Dee Dee
8:38 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I too missed the deadline. I have a home in BHW, and did not find out about a tax assessor until this past weekend. Since this is not my primary home, and unable to attend town meetings, I keep hearing bits and pieces from neighbors. A website is needed to keep all community members informed of what is going on...Good Luck!
Steve Fesslerski
10:47 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
If your house flooded but your Nieghors did not because they built at a higher level does that mean if you get your taxes lowered because your house is worth less due to the hieght that your Neighbors house is now worth alot more because it is already elevated and ready to sell? If so how much will the tax increase be for the elevated houses along the water ways in the town.
ProudPappa
7:00 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
He certainly is BIG enough to hold the meeting...in his jacket pocket..stay in Trenton,,after you leave here nothing is going to change..Dog & Pony Show is coming on Wed..woo hoo
Pat Suriani
7:00 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
How about a town hall meeting for Ortley Beach..."Ground Zero"
Bionic Bill
8:01 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Talk to those awesome "community organizations" that opted out of the beach restoration projects that left the protective dunes 10 feet to low for your protection! If you need a refererance to this info check out Asbury Park Press, Sunday Jan, 13 paper! Get a lawyer and bang those idiots! That's why Bayhead, Mantoloking, Ortley and most of those areas got slammed. Your friends that cried they would loose property values if they can't see the ocean from their house! How does it work out when everyone else's house is washed out into the Bay? Sorry I'm realistic,lived in this area my whole life, not a Bennie and would NEVER buy a primary residence near "tidal waters".. And how in the world would you be able to sleep at night not having flood insurance?? I live near a cedar stream and the feds say I didn't require insurance, I laughed and buy flood insurance annually!! I had more flooding (stream over banks) during a thunderstorm in the summer than I had when Sandy hit!
ProudPappa
5:29 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
While they are on the rebuild subject..All these stories in the APP about the SECOND home of these people being destroyed.. and What are they gonna do this summer"".. boo hoo... GIVE ME A FREAKIN BREAK. how about all the people who had their only home damaged or destroyed and are still in shelters..or renting...or staying with other...Lets get them the money 1st..then worry about the "POOR PEOPLE" who wont know where spend 6 weeks out of the year and charge $5000. per week to the toursit...
Jon Q. Public
8:38 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
You kind of answered your own question. The person with the secondary "beach rental home" will become a priority over a year round owner simply because that rental home will house TOURISTS. Rebuilding is all about TOURISM not Joe and Jane Doe that are living in shelters. As long as the tourists don't see you no one will ever care. Rebuilding the Shore has NOTHING to do with individuals but with tourism.
Carl Damm
10:06 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
No one is saying people that are homeless shouldn't get help first. What we are saying is that most of us in back bay areas with 2nd homes are not rich, and we need help to. Just don't forget about us. I got 1 foot of water in my house. I am repairing and rebuilding with my 2 hands and whatever money I can scrape together. However, I would love to lift my home another 4 foot so this doesn't happen again, which my little house would cost 30K. I can't afford that. Primary residences can get FEMA help to do this. It would hellp thousands of people and prevent millions in damage if they extended this assistance to everyone.
Pete Saltpeter
9:22 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
come on man
the republicons who control the house were busy
Mitt said fema is immoral
john doe
5:29 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
@bio your comparing a privately owned beach to public... ive never heard of toms river offering to build the dunes 10 feet higher in ortley beach prior to sandy; having it rejected in ortley due to view obstruction. if so can you link it?
i just reread today's paper because you never learned how to in toms river regional schools.
I have spoken
2:42 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
john doe
It's private property. They do not want to grant easements, but the want the federal $ to pay for the dunes. Hey I want new trees on my land since the storm blew them all down, but I know it's not fair to others for me to get new trees on my private property. This is my cost and my responsibility to replant my new trees.
So it's a no-brainer here. Ortley needs to sign the easements or install pontoons under their homes.
Bionic Bill
6:59 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
@ mr doe ?? Goto APP.com?? I had the paper sitting on my kitchen table. Was a whole section bashing idiots who were against beach and dune repenishment in private communities and property along the beach! They refused the easement agreement for the Army Corps of engineers... Sorry, I didn't go to T.R schools try again with another insult... LOLs!! Being an aircraft mechanic my reading comprehension is pretty high!
Alexander Contento
2:57 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Why did't fema tell me about the Jan 10th deadline and recomend a tax appeal is it not their job to educate us and steer us in the right direction? i demand an answer please.
Mr. ?
9:06 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Governments job to educate you? Your kidding right? Government wants to keep you in the dark. It costs them less and costs you more. Last year the tax appeal issue was headlines in the news because of property taxes, home valuations and municipal re- evaluations and the plight of NJ home owners and NJ State and national fiscal despair . But now the despair is the consequences of Sandy which I agree with you should be the finances of those who need help.
Mike
9:06 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
It seems that the recovery of NJ is going to be much slower than the recovery of New Orleans after Katrina. Why is there no outrage in the press, why don't the people of NJ complain about this intolerable situation?
Because there isnt a Repubilcan named George Bush in the white house. What hypocracy.
ff
6:59 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
People need to realize that they are on their own. Christie is not going to be able to do anything for them. Sure he says he will check in to it. Doesn't mean he could change anything for them. He says don't give up yet. Listen either way, it will never be the same. People can't afford to build up and pay hefty insurance too. That is exactly what is going to happen. Even if you build up to higher standards I can bet you that the insurance companies are still going to make everyone pay a lot higher insurance premiums. Insurance companies are brutal, you can pay for years and they will give you very little back. Everyone is better off putting their own money in their own investment account earmarked for their own needs. You would be better off and the head of the game. Insurance companies are brutal. I have had a bad experience with them long ago. They turned down a $10,000 life insurance policy on a loved one because of advise that was given by agent that no longer worked for the insurance company. Needless to say I had to take a loan out to bury my loved one. They have no mercy and everything has become a scam if you ask me.
Skitch
6:59 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
All I know is that i carried flood insurance, have not seen a dime of a settlement. My house is essentially a total loss and my contents totally destroyed. I am required to go up on pilings, I can't get any permits to do any repairs because of the substantially damaged issue in which the damage to my house is 115% of my assessed value. my house can't go up on pilings because it is older, on a slab, may collapse when they try to lift it and the property is not big enough to move a house on. I am being strong armed into demoing my house and rebuilding at a cost of 160k out of pocket. Even though my house is essentially a total, flood insurance will not pay the costs to rebuild the house with the same like, kind and quality that i originally had. Flood insurance is a joke. I don't know how they can get away with this and sleep at night. No one really cares and the mentality of everyone is "It's all about me" "me first, you last" Well ok I have been waiting patiently, I am really starting to get ticked off. This whole thing is one big scam. Even if I do what the township wants me to do and rebuild up it's just so they can tax me more in the long run because my house now becomes more valuable all the while not a dime has been paid out by anyone but me. I am an average working middle class person who is by no means "rich" getting it stuck to them big time all around.
Bionic Bill
7:48 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I'm hearing more and more of this.. Insurance companies have no problem taking your money and after 20 to 30 years you have a claim then they throw all these stipulations at you how they can't pay you your money.. Big time scam!! A ponzi scheme! I hear some people are taking insurance money and walking away from their properties. I know alady in Beach Haven West that ust found out she has to raise her house before she sells it or the town will not issue a C.O., Insurance will not pay anything to raise the house.. House is 40 years old and never flooded since it was built, probably never will again...
Joe Semiraro
11:25 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I have listened and read that the bay will be restored to pre-Sandy conditions. That is ridiculous. When Katrina hit the South and ruined the levees protecting New Orleans, the Army Corp of Engineers rebuilt the levees to a condition better than they were to try and prevent a future occurrence. Over the last 25-30 years as this area developed, sand and other debris have washed into the bays and lagoons inhibiting the water's ability to flow out to the ocean. Bringing the waterways back to pre-Sandy conditions will only insure a stronger possibility of a recurrence. Dredging the waterways to the depths that existed when they were built would more likely prevent a repeat of much of the flooding damage caused by Sandy for a very long time.
Mr. ?
9:48 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I believe she can still sell here home. That becomes the buyers problem. She must, as to the knowledge of the situation, declare the problem in the disclosure agreement
rusty
9:48 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
All insurance companies stink...You can pay out of your nose for home, health, auto and life. They can and will give you the least that they can get away with. I have seen a lot of individuals get screwed over in my lifetime. You all better off putting the money you pay insurance companies each year and invest in your own account. The insurance companies hire a bunch of salesmen who will sell you anything and tell you nothing. Even if you ask them, they only tell you what they want you to know. Insurance is a scam like everything else in the world. They are a bunch of low lives.