Christie admitted at his press conference that he had not sought Mayor Sokolich's endorsement. Getting revenge on Fort Lee for a non-endorsement was a fantasy. That never was a factor.
Let's get clear: this was about money. This was about intimidating cities and towns to quiet their School Boards.
To be specific, Governor Chris Christie's deals with The Alliance of Private Special Education Schools of New Jersey have been going very bad. Expensively bad. Horrendously bad. Beating up on Fort Lee was consistent with bringing pressure to keep quiet about the new bills going out for Special Ed.
Shutting down the George Washington Bridge for the first day of the school year -- perfect !!
Over the last four years Governor Christie has used his political capital to move these students to privatized facilities. Only problem, his "Capitalism is Efficient" mantra did not work out. Christie's privatized schools are costing the School Boards upwards of $90,000 a year per student.
Two years ago the cost for running public schools for Special Needs students was running at $43,000 a year per pupil. That sounded like a lot of money. But these are wheelchair kids who need a personal aide along with a classroom teacher. Turns out that $43,000 a year per pupil for public Special Ed was a very, very good price.
This works like hospitals. Public facilities were efficient like the Veterans Administration. The older public schools also did better jobs for the kids. Experience mattered.
$43,000 versus $90,000. Plus, what happens to the state property at these public schools? Who gets to build offices or condos on that land?
Christie has been doing all he could to shut up NJ's public education advocates. Shutting down the George Washington Bridge to hammer Fort Lee was typical for his heavy handed management.
Follow the Money. Below the orange muffin for more: