By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Nine hundred three homes in tiny Union Beach were substantially damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
Today Gov. Chris Christie returned here and brought with him the announcement of $202 million in flood resiliency money to protect the town against future storms.
“Projects will involve the construction of levees, flood walls, tidal gates, pump stations, all throughout Union Beach. In addition the beaches, dunes and jetties will be designed and rebuilt to slow the loss of sand from beaches and more than 25 acres of wetlands that had been degraded will be restored in order to better absorb flood waters in the future,” Christie said.
The Army Corps of Engineers designed the project more than a decade ago.
Along the beachfront, they’ll build a retaining wall to keep the water out of town at high tide.
“It’s supposed to be a retaining wall like they do have in Hazlet, Keansburg, Belford and the Middletown area. They just didn’t do it here yet, so between here and Keyport needs to be completed so those towns can be saved from the next storm,” said Bob Burlew.
The funding consists of about $132 million from the federal government, $53 million from the state and $17 million from Union Beach itself.
Congressman Frank Pallone and the governor thanked each other for working hard to get the original Sandy aid package through Congress.
“So today is another example of how that money is being used so wisely,” Pallone said.
The Union Beach project is part of a comprehensive coastal protection plan the governor and his DEP commissioner are working on.
“A few weeks ago I met with the governor to brief him on this plan. I had the maps, I had the charts, I had numbers, I had it all over his desk. All laid out walking it through. I’d gotten all the way through, but closer to the end he just stopped me. He said, Bob, just stop. Stop right there, we have to do this plan,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.
“I want all of you to know that the Army Corps is ready to move on all these projects. The funding, because of the Congress and the president, is there to move on all these projects,” Christie said.
When asked how welcome the news is, Burlew said, “This is great news today. This is the reality of things. This will change the whole town.”
Christie has not been taking questions from the New Jersey press corps for months. We managed to get one in as he was leaving here today, about the round two pension reform proposal he’s been pushing.
“I think, unfortunately Michael, you know, this kind of thing takes a long time to get accomplished,” said Christie. “So, it’s my job as governor, as you know, I’ve always seen it this way to cause the debate. To raise the ideas, to cause the debate and to force a conversation. And the town hall meetings are an effort, not only to inform the public, but also to, you know, push forward and try to force the debate. But, you know, you should talk to the Senate president, the speaker and the minority leaders and ask them what their view on all this is. But I’m going to continue. I’m out there, you know. As I said I would be last summer when I put the commission together. I said let them come up with a plan. If the plan makes sense, I’ll support it. It makes sense and I’m supporting it. So we’ll see what happens.”
So it’s all about having a conversation.