Caliguire For County Executive

CALIGUIRE BLASTS McNERNEY FOR FAILING
TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM ENCAP DEAL
McNerney Sitting On The Sidelines
While Donovan B
ows To Marcus’s Wishes

"The Democrat controlled County of Bergen has failed the people of North Arlington, Lyndhurst and Rutherford on the EnCap project� said Caliguire, who joined a North Arlington rally opposing the EnCap plan in March.

“It is disappointing that Kathe Donovan lacks the integrity to stand up to her boss, Alan Marcus and fight for the people of the meadowlands region,� added Caliguire.

NEWS RELEASE

CALIGUIRE FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE

CALIGUIRE BLASTS McNERNEY FOR FAILING
TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM ENCAP DEAL
McNerney Sitting On The Sidelines
While Donovan Bows To Marcus’s Wishes
May 18, 2006
HACKENSACK, NJ -- Republican Bergen County Executive Candidate Todd Caliguire called upon County Executive Dennis McNerney to “get off the sidelines� during one the county’s biggest, most controversial development projects – the massive EnCap development in North Arlington.

Caliguire said the EnCap project – which features 1,625 housing units and 50,000 square feet of retail space – “is crying out for a review by the county’s public advocate for land use.�

“What’s the point of having an attorney on the county payroll who is supposed to advise county residents on major redevelopments if you never use him?� asked Caliguire, a former county freeholder. “Was the appointment of a public advocate for show, or was it just an excuse to create another patronage job?� asked Caliguire.

Caliguire also pointed out the at the massive EnCap project has not gone before the County Planning Board for review, even though it is in close proximity to a county road, Schuyler Avenue, and will have a dramatic impact on traffic.

“The Democrat controlled County of Bergen has failed the people of North Arlington, Lyndhurst and Rutherford on the EnCap project. It has failed to protect the public’s interest by failing to properly investigate and curtail this massive development deal. And the reason that the county has failed is because the EnCap project is a politically wired inside job,� said Caliguire, who joined a North Arlington rally opposing the EnCap plan in March.

“This is one of the most obscene and hotly opposed projects in the state and yet the Democrat County Executive and the freeholder board have been silent on it,� said Caliguire. “They refuse to do the job they were hired to do and use the resources at their disposal to protect the homeowners in the meadowlands area.�

Caliguire noted that Democrats from throughout the state are involved in the EnCap deal, including Bergen County attorney Robert DeCotiis, whose firm drafted the redevelopment agreement in North Arlington. DeCotiis, a major player in former Gov. Jim Florio’s administration, also helped craft a financing scheme for the EnCap developer – Cherokee Investment Partners – that provides the company with $244 million in state financing for the project, including a $122 million zero interest loan. That loan will be funneled through the Bergen County Improvement Authority, a notorious patronage pit for Bergen Democrats.

“Not only will resident have to suffer the traffic and school overcrowding from this terrible development, they will suffer the indignity of having to subsidize it with their tax money so millionaire developers can make more money,� said Caliguire, who is running in the June 6 GOP Primary with Robert Yudin, Lauren Thomson and John Scalzo

Caliguire noted that his primary election opponents on the Donovan Team, have been “as bad as the Democrats� in failing to speak out against the EnCap project.

“It is very sad for Republicans that the Donovan Team has been silenced on the EnCap debacle because their leader, lobbyist Alan Marcus is a close friend of the Democrats like Bob DeCotiis, who stand to make millions from the project,� said Caliguire.

“It is disappointing that Kathe Donovan lacks the integrity to stand up to her boss, Alan Marcus and fight for the people of the meadowlands region,� added Caliguire.