Declarations

N.J. exit

“I realize there are a lot of pressing issues in the state, but none more pressing than a hurricane bearing down upon us.”

New Jersey Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf, a Republican from Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean counties, saying the formation of a task force meant to make changes to shore-area evacuation routes for use in the event of a hurricane needs to be done quickly. On Jan. 30, the Assembly passed legislation establishing the New Jersey Coastal Evacuation Task Force, with members to be appointed within 60 days. However, a task force has yet to be formed,

Wasted aid

“Tell them we blew it.”

A U.S. State Department in a Washington Post story reporting that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, the U.S. government failed to take advantage of millions of dollars in foreign aid from allies.

Bumps and circles

“It’s worth any inconvenience. It’s a small price to pay for saving the life of a child riding a bike or someone walking down the street.”

Steve McKew, president of the Catonsville (Maryland) Recreation and Parks Council. He is among the Baltimore area residents, worried about speeding and other dangerous driving in their neighborhoods, who have started to demand so-called “traffic calming” programs such as speed bumps and traffic circles.

N.J. crash costs

“He’s been fortunate in life, and there’s no reason to have taxpayers foot the bill. We don’t know yet the total cost of his care right now, but we expect it will be hundreds of thousands of dollars. From the Medevac helicopter to the hospital stay to the cheeseburgers to the strawberry milkshakes, the governor intends to pay for all of it himself.”

Anthony Coley, spokesman for New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who was seriously injured in a car crash, explaining that Corzine will forgo his state health insurance and spend his own money to pay for his medical care. The accident left Corzine with a broken leg and other injuries, including 11 broken ribs and a cracked collarbone and sternum.

Unexpected in N.H.

“You don’t expect a 100-year flood again, 11 months and two days from last year. Once in a lifetime is more than enough. I don’t know if I can financially afford to stay.”

Goffstown, N.H. resident Nancy Congdon, speaking with WMUR-TV. She rebuilt her home to sit higher after it suffered flood damage last May. The work wasn’t even finished before the Piscataquog River had flooded her home again.

Topics New Jersey