Letter to Robert A. Romano, Acting State Treasurer for New Jersey - NJ Transit Hurricane Sandy Aid

Letter

We write today regarding a recent integrity oversight monitoring report reviewing NJ Transit Superstorm Sandy recovery funding. We are concerned with the lack of detail in this integrity monitor report and request that more transparency be provided so the public can understand what mistakes have been made in the Sandy recovery process and how Sandy aid funds are being spent in New Jersey.

This integrity monitor report does not include any information regarding the work performed by NJ Transit with millions of dollars in recovery funds. The public has a right to know how NJ Transit is utilizing its recovery funds and whether this money is being spent properly. We fought hard in Congress to pass the Sandy aid package by assuring our colleagues that Sandy recovery funds were desperately needed and would be spent wisely.

As the agency responsible for supervising the reporting process it is incumbent upon you to ensure NJ Transit appropriately discloses information to the public. However, attempts by the public to access NJ Transit's policies and plans to address flooding risks to its infrastructure have been repeatedly denied. We believe that NJ Transit must publicly disclose its disaster preparedness plans, in addition to the contents of integrity oversight monitoring reports, so the public has confidence New Jersey's rail infrastructure will be protected should another storm hit.

We respectfully request that all Superstorm Sandy integrity oversight monitoring reports provide full transparency and details on how the recovery funds have been spent, including the "observations and recommendations [that] have been provided to NJ Transit Internal Audit Department" listed in the NJ Transit 2015 first quarter report. The public deserves to know whether taxpayer dollars are being spent properly. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

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