February 12, 2008 - 11:43am
Does this mean there won't be any roads named after Bob Singer?
By Wally Edge
Tags: Harold Hoffman, Harrison Williams, Robert Martin, Robert Roe, Robert Singer, Route 23, Robert Clifford, Bob Roe, DWI, Governor Crook
New Jersey has a medium-sized controversy brewing: the naming of Route 23 after Robert Roe, who represented New Jersey in Congress from 1969 to 1993 and served as Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. The Legislature almost unanimously (only Ellen Karcher voted no) approved the bill last year, and Governor Jon Corzine signed it – but now people are paying attention because of a complaint levied by a Morris County man whose wife and daughter were seriously injured in a 1993 car accident involving Roe, who was driving drunk at the time (a breathalyzer showed him at .17, well beyond the .10 legal limit). Roe entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors to avoid serious charges, and paid the family a settlement of more than $500,000.
So here’s the big picture question: does a DWI prevent a longtime public official from receiving a legacy like having a road bearing their name? New Jersey Transit took Harrison Williams’ name off Metropark after his criminal conviction, but Supreme Court Justice Robert Clifford and State Senator Robert Martin remained in office after their drunk driving convictions. South Amboy still has Governor Harold Hoffman Plaza, even though Hoffman – in letters revealed only after his death – admitted to being a thief.
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Way to do some research
I love it when legislators vote on a bill, find out later that they made a mistake, and then we have to live with their decision. Morons. Its the law now, we have to deal with the fact no one bothered to pay attention or do any research on a particular bill. I just hope they read all the bills otherwise Corzine will slip his "Asset Monetization Act" into some BS bill (James E McGreevey Memorial Rest Stop Act) that will pass the state legislature.
make that 2 no votes
Republican Assemblywoman Amy Handlin said no to Roe as well. Handlin is a true advocate of ethics reform and she found it disgusting that the State should honor a Lobbyist ever, living or dead, drunk or sober. As far as National airports and monuments to former presidents -- an often unnoticed detail of the FDR monument is the disregarded US Constitution under the left wheel of Roosevelt's chair.
Handlin had history with Roe
Monmouth county was soaked by Roe for lobbying fees for years. Handlin should work on keeping fellow Monmouth Republicans sober.