Fort Lee is Finally Famous

b3a83a1673a4de94f561f926f0228e2Fort Lee is finally on the map. We are officially famous, having been in the “national news” all week.     To loosely quote Alan Keller, upstanding local citizen, “prior to this episode, the only individual in Fort Lee who believed we were famous was Tom Meyers”.  Of course, we all understand that Tom receives a nice salary as Director of the Fort Lee Film Commission and is thus obligated to believe that Fort Lee is important. 

None of us every doubted that Chris Christie had an ego. So why should we be surprised at the behavior of the people with whom he has surrounded himself?

The only real questions left on the table is whether Chris Christie knew and was he involved.   Personally, I believe that the possibility exists that he was unaware of this “high school prank” perpetrated by his “trusted” aides.    But as Harry Truman often stated “The Buck Stops Here”.   Christie is ultimately responsible for this action for two reasons:

(1) He hired individuals obviously having no class or moral compasses. 

(2) When you breed a culture of arrogance a la Christie’s persona, what would you expect of your aides, but to have an aura of invincibility?   In an era of NSA surveillance scandals, they had the audacity to recklessly send texts and e-mails, broadcasting their misdeeds with no fear of any ramifications.      

Originally, Christie showed total disdain for this whole affair  with his statement that no one in his staff or campaign was involved in the lane closings”,and he had been total dismissive of the accusation of political retribution by joking “that he moved the traffic cones himself.  One would have to assume that he failed to read the August 13th e-mail from a Deputy on his Senior Staff, Bridget Anne Kelly  to one of Christie’s top Port Authority executives:  “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee”. 

On Meet the Press, Sunday, 1/12/2014, Mayor Sokolich responds to the entire incident.   Being extremely diplomatic, Mark states that he takes Gov. Christie at his word that this type of incident will never be repeated. However, Mayor Sokolich also concedes that he is reluctant to state that Gov. Christie’s does not resort to “bullying” tactics in the course of his “reign”as governor. 

On the same Meet the Press episode, a memo apparently from Pat Foy, the Port Authority Director, was sent to a top Christie aide, stating: “I will get to the bottom of this abusive decision which violates  everything this agency stands for”. It has Bill Baroni’s name on the memo. Bill Baroni, until recently, was the Executive Deputy Director of the Port Authority.  He has now resigned over this incident. It is somewhat difficult to conceive that Gov. Christie never saw that memo!

After watching a recent movie (“Knife Fight”) regarding spin doctors, perhaps Christie should have hired Rob Lowe to handle “Bridgegate”.  With his Korean-American sidekick, Jamie Chung (perfect for Fort Lee). Lowe could have convinced us that Christie could not possibly have known what was being perpetrated, i.e. totally innocent, based on the fact that he was negotiating a nuclear disarmament treaty with North Korea at the time of the incident and probably having dinner with Dennis Rodman. 

The ultimate display of incompetence clearly was when Port Authority Executive David Wildstein couldn’t even get an ethnic slur correct!   “A little Serb”!  Are there no maps in Trenton?  Do they not have google on their computers?  No way! Mayor Sokolich is 6’4”.  If you are going to slur him, at least address him properly as a “Giant Croat”.   To add insult to injury, upon receiving an e-mail stating “I feel bad about the kids”, (referring to kids on school buses stuck in traffic), Wildstein compassionately responded : “They are the children of Buono voters” — referring to Democrat Barbara Buono, whom Christie defeated easily in the November gubernatorial election.www.nypost.com1/09/2014

And what’s so terrible about being Croatian?! The world of sports has been graced by great Croatian athletes.  Janica Kostelić was an Alpine Ski champion and Olympic Gold medalist.  The world of Tennis has been graced by a deluge of great Croatian players over the years: Goran Ivanišević is a former Wimbledon champion;  Marin Čilić  a top tennis professional, once ranked in the top ten in the world; Ivan Ljubičić , retired but once ranked  #3 in the world; Iva Majoli , former French Open winner; and Mario Ančić who helped Croatia win the Davis Cup. 

And what about great Croatian coaches!  Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, and Brian Billick have been outstanding NFL coaches, with Patriots Coach Belichick getting votes as one of the greatest coaches of all time.  And finally Coach Mark Sokolich who coached an undefeated little league team and several championship soccer teams in Fort Lee.  Sokolich was revered for years as the coach with the most resounding voice in Fort Lee history.  When he was upset, you could hear him in Cliffside Park. 

Thirteen year old expert photographer, Michael Chien, was present at Borough Hall to watch Governor Christie exit from his “apology” meeting with Mayor Sokolich.  Michael, a student at the Fort Lee Lewis F. Cole Middle School, fought his way through the professional news photographers, TV reporters, and paparazzi to get photos of Christie kissing old ladies and babies.  It’s obviously never too soon to start that Presidential campaign!   

What time did this meeting take place? Rush hour of course, so Governor Christie could tie up some more Fort Lee GW Bridge traffic!   Would we expect anything less from our distinguished governor and whatever key staff members he has left after all the firings? 

Speaking for the citizens of Fort Lee, if Mayor Sokolich does not get a gig on Saturday Night Live, many of us will be very disappointed. 

As for Christie’s future, well it is safe.  If he doesn’t get the 2016 Presidential Nomination, HBO may consider resurrecting the Sopranos, with Chris Christie replacing James Gandolfino as the Don.