Corzine targets South Jersey support with marine terminal groundbreaking

PAULSBORO - Mantua Creek hugs the northern border of this blue collar river town where in years past, the locals say, you either worked for Essex Chemical, DuPont, Mobile or BP, companies that once had a toehold on this 190-acre sandy stretch - vacant now on the Delaware side with the dockworks rusting as the tankers drift by with the seagulls, and the Mantua empties.

"I worked here as an electrician," said Donald Norcross, gazing at the dunes as top-to-bottom dignitaries, labor leaders, workers, and politicians tottered down steps, disgorged mini buses and crowded the area around a makeshift stage where shovels stood at attention in a packed mound of sand with the river and the distant outline of Philadelphia in the background.

Tired of watching the tankers pass on their way to Philly, South Jersey wants to bring this place back as a working port, which will economically impact this area long-term - a projected 2,500 jobs onsite, 20,000 jobs in the region; and short-term, gin up 3rd District votes - 46,845 Democrats against 27,372 Republicans with 59,000 undeclareds, for a polls-harried Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who's losing a dogfight with Republican challenger Chris Christie, according to the latest numbers from Quinnipiac University.

"This project spans eight years," said Paulsboro Mayor/Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro), who took the lead position locally as an elected official advocate for the port, and praised the governor as "ahead of the curve" with his support. "When you're running for office, everything is your responsibility; everything inures to you. This is a project that has transcended partisanship, the largest economic development project on the western side.

"If you're going to get beat up all the time," Burzichelli added in a nod to the governor, "you might as well take credit for something when the fruits of your labor are at hand."

Corzine sat on a crowded stage between Freeholder Director/Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) and Burzichelli, welcoming the heaped praise as a troubled incumbent with six weeks until Election Day. Former Gov. Jim Florio was there, so was U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights).

"Gloucester County has made a major commitment toward making sure this port gets built," said Sweeney. "We see it as the gateway to the future for jobs and the economy not just Paulsboro but for the region. The Delaware River is the highway to the global economy and as this Port of Paulsboro is built and succeeds, it positions Gloucester County as a leader in the global marketplace." 

Sweeney turned to Corzine early and often in the program.

"Governor Corzine - make no bones about it - without the governor's support - this project doesn't happen," said the Senate Majority Leader. "Thank you for giving South Jersey the opportunity to grow its economy. John (Burzichelli) and I looked at Gov. Corzine in 2005 and heard him talk about port development and port extension and said to ourselves, 'Thank God we've found a guy who understands what a port will do for this region."

A $247 million public works investment, the Paulsboro Marine Terminal on this land occupied most recently by BP, will feature three 40-ft. deep berths and a 20 ft.-deep barge berth, warehouse space and access overpass, and is expected to generate $20 million per year, according to the governors office.