Another Dumb Plan to Waste Tax Money

Today's Newark Star-Ledger has an article on the front page about a project planned by NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Evil Procrastination) to replace the "sculptural plaza," in front of their building in Trenton at a cost of "about $1,000,000." They are not using real money because it is being funded through a federal grant. (Must be one of those pork barrel type projects that Congress totally eliminated years ago ... really.)

The current sculptural plaza cost $417,000 to install in 1985, when the dollar was still real money. Now, according to the NJDEP spokesperson, "the plaza brickwork is difficult to maintain and is a safety hazard." I wonder if there are any records showing the number of trip and fall incidents have occurred in the past 10 years? A million dollars worth? You would think the million dollars would be better used to work towards permanently sealing a toxic landfill somewhere in NJ. Probably no grants available for that kind of frivolous project.

Spokesman again: "We will green up the space and send a message. We're practicing what we preach."

Couldn't they just send us their message by email or post it on their website? Time to write our federal senators, the governor and state legislators and tell them to deep six this boondoggle.