Assembly State Government Committee Chair Linda Stender released the following statement on Thursday on reports that the Christie administration has denied an open public records request by the Fair Share Housing Center for copies of reports from the integrity monitors hired to oversee the disbursement of federal Sandy relief funds.
“It is unconscionable that the Christie administration is willfully violating state law and refusing to shine light on questions about where and how federal Sandy aid has been spent, especially in light of the problems that have been reported with contractors hired to help administer the funds.
“The public deserves answers as to who received these contracts. Instead the governor is turning his back and answering with silence.
“It’s even more outrageous that the administration dragged their feet for almost a year in implementing the transparency law. It begs the question: What are they hiding? When we’re met with silence it only serves to confirm suspicions.
“Before we spend another billion-plus dollars that is expected in federal aid, it’s important that we know where the first almost $2 billion went,” said Stender (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union).