Hackensack Riverkeeper

1000 River Road / T090C

Teaneck, New Jersey 07666

201-692-8440

201-692-8449 (FAX)

www.HackensackRiverkeeper.org

 

February 15, 2002

 

Contact: Captain Bill Sheehan

 

Hackensack Riverkeeper Blasts Governor’s Meadowlands Appointments

 

McGreevey names pro-megamall politicians to NJ Meadowlands Commission

 

Teaneck, NJ – “There he goes again!” Those words were spoken by Hackensack Riverkeeper Capt. Bill Sheehan upon hearing word of the new governor’s latest anti-environmental gaffe.  “Almost one year ago today Governor DiFrancesco declared that a ‘new day’ was dawning in the Meadowlands,” said Capt. Sheehan, “Unfortunately it appears that our new Governor is returning to the old days when New Jersey’s wetlands were traded for political favors.”

 

Appointed on February 13 to the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (formerly the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission) and subject to State Senate approval are:

 

·       North Arlington Mayor Leonard Kaiser, a Republican career politician who serves as Assistant to Bergen County Executive William “Pat” Schuber.

·       South Hackensack Township Committeeman James Anzevino, a Democrat with ties to organized labor and Bergen County-based construction companies.

 

Both men have a long and vocal history of supporting the proposed “Meadowlands Mills” mega-mall which, if approved, would destroy or permanently alter nearly six hundred acres of wetlands in the Meadowlands in Carlstadt.   “The prospect of having these two as Commissioners making ‘pave or save’ decisions should scare everyone who cares about the future of the Meadowlands,” said Capt. Sheehan who has vowed to lead the opposition to their appointment.

 

Mr. Kaiser’s influence with Mr. Schuber is widely believed to have been the reason why the County Executive came out publicly last year in favor of the Mills project, a position diametrically opposed to that of many other Republican officials.

 

Political patronage appears to be the reason why Mr. Anzevino was selected. According to a Democratic Party insider, “Jimmy delivered the labor votes; that’s why he got the job.” Mr. Anzevino is also known for his personal attacks on opponents of the Virginia-based developer’s plan. 

 

“During the campaign, the Governor said he was opposed to allowing Mills to build on wetlands but by appointing Kaiser and Anzevino, that promise rings hollow, said Capt. Sheehan, “The people of Bergen County, the Meadowlands region and New Jersey have repeatedly shown that they oppose Mills, oppose further destruction of the Meadowlands and oppose politicians that refuse to understand that the old days are done.”