New Jersey Governor Chris Christie strongly suggests that you go before taking to the New Jersey non-toll roads. As another example of how states are selling or reducing basic services in this economic crisis, Christie will close the last two restrooms to save $270,000.
You can still use a bathroom on the tollroads like the New Jersey turnpike. However, on the non-toll roads it is back to the state of nature in New Jersey. This may why Christie tried not to laugh when he is on the road and his reaction to attempts at humor, here.
I will add my usual complaint that we have spent hundreds of billions in these two wars while we cannibalize on our resources at home with states selling off public land and ending basic public programs, here.
For the full story, click here
Byron,
I like my public property used for the public good, rather than for a private citizen’s profit. Call me crazy.
Gyges:
those rest areas could be leased to private companies like Starbucks or Burger King. The state could actually make some money and part of the equation could be they need to provide free facilities. The private corps pick up the maintenance and the state makes some needed revenue.
And as far as highways go, the New Jersey Toll Rd. could sell advertisement on sections to private corps like Fedex. That would generate some revenue as well.
So my point is that you use imaginative ways to develop a private/public sector relationship where both win. Seems like a pretty good position to me. It isn’t optimal but it is a step in the right direction.
Puzzling and Byron,
Other than some sort of Pavlovian salivating at the chance to preach how Business could “do it better” (by the way, it’s against federal law for businesses to operate in most rest areas) and that “government spending is bad” I honestly don’t see why you two are so worked up about this. It’s somewhere around .002% of the $11 billion that the state is short, and it’s BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, you know the stuff that state governments SHOULD be spending money on. Do you want to close all the bathrooms at capital buildings to save on cleaning supplies?
Pick your battles, you’re advocating letting basic infrastructure go by the wayside because it saves a few cents in the short term. That’s not a great position.
Puzzling:
as Dame Margret said, I guess she was right after all. Christie is trying to pry the crack out of the addicts hands.
Understanding individual rights is hard, look how long it took to get to our founding and look how quickly it degraded 1787 – 1913, 126 years.
Gyges, you said that … to me providing an option other than “pay for it” or “the side of the road” is worth the small percentage of a state budget that this represents (the NJ budget for 2010 is 29.3 Billion)
The budget is $29 billion, as you said.
State tax revenues are $18 billion, and they already have the highest tax burden in the nation.
Do the math! They must cut everything they can get their hands on. The party is over. Says the governor:
Gyges,
One would think a state in one of the richest nations in the world could afford such facilities. Too bad NJ can’t get funds from the federal government to help pay for roadside restrooms. But I guess taxpayers’ money must help to support other things–like a whopping salary and a severance package for former Blackwater executive Gary Jackson who is now facing felony charges.
From Jeremy Scahill’s blog Rebel Reports
Ex-Blackwater Prez Made $1.5 Mil a Year, 90% From US Taxpayers
(4/22/2010)
http://rebelreports.com/post/541336924/ex-blackwater-prez-made-1-5-mil-a-year-90-from-us
Gyges:
a hundred thousand here, a hundred thousand there and pretty soon you are talking serious money. The state doesn’t have a responsibility to provide rest stops or rest rooms.
It is the principle, when and where does the spending end? It has to at some point, people need to live and make a living. How much tax do people have to pay? We certainly need to pay some (although there is a case to be made for volunteerism) but over 50%? At that rate we are slaves and to what? Someones need to take a piss in a lighted, well ventilated rest room.
November cant come soon enough, I only hope the people who are elected understand liberty and free markets. It is eminently evident that the current congress does not.
Puzzling,
You wanted to know why a government should build bathrooms on public property. The obvious answer is to keep people from going to the bathroom places where it’s undesirable. Now we can discuss if it’s worth the cost of the facilities. To me providing an option other than “pay for it” or “the side of the road” is worth the small percentage of a state budget that this represents (the NJ budget for 2010 is 29.3 Billion)
puzzling,
“Except for toll roads, you generally have to get off for gas too.”
I say just open the windows and air out your vehicle if you have a gas problem. 🙂
Puzzling:
don’t you love it when the state actually comes right out and uses force without any illusions. Good honest brutality like a mugger on a dark street. No statements about taking your money for the greater good. just good honest thuggery, open and above board.
Gyges:
you can piss in a bottle while driving or a can in the back seat.
You dont even need to stop 🙂
Gyges,
There’s just not that many highway restrooms out there. If you need the bathroom, nine times out of ten you’re getting off the highway, not waiting for some rest area 70 miles ahead.
Except for toll roads, you generally have to get off for gas too. I just don’t see the problem here.
Puzzling,
So people don’t have to piss beside the road?
Maybe New Jersey should close the budget gap by using revenue officers with tasers and guns, just like Virginia did earlier this year:
Virginia landed a total of 6996 traffic tickets this weekend. The blitz, dubbed “Operation Air, Land & Speed” coincided with frantic efforts by state officials to close a $2.2 billion budget deficit.
Officers had no trouble delivering the requested number of speeding tickets with a total of 3536 ordinary speeding citations written. In addition, another 717 “reckless driving” tickets were filed, although these most often are simple speeding tickets that happen to carry a fine of up to $2500. Driving as little as 10 to 15 MPH over the limit can qualify for this enhanced punishment.
State officials explained that they would pay officers overtime — at least one-and-a-half times their normal salary — to participate.
The New Jersey budget gap is $11 billion. Better step on it.
Why should the state build and maintain facilities for people so they don’t have to get off the highway to use the restroom in a McDonalds or Starbucks? Those private facilities are generally better maintained and safer than anything the state provides.
I agree with Byron. This land should be sold to commercial developers who can lease space to gas stations and stores if there is demand for it.
New Jersey is completely broke. State government is far too large, and public sector salaries and benefits will crush the state for years to come unless something is changed. Taxes are so high in the state that tens of billions in wealth has fled, reducing the tax base even further. Unlike the federal government the states cannot simply print more money to operate. Government must be cut sharply, quickly, and permanently.
Oh lord, there goes the meeting room.
However, on the non-toll roads it is back to the state of nature in New Jersey.
Wow, remember when Jerry Lewis go in trouble for say that “while he was flying over some state he has pissed on it?
My next question is will you be arrested for indecent exposure?
This would be a better idea if they rented these facilities to private companies that could set up sandwich shops and the state could actually make money from rent.
Virginia tried to do the same thing with their rest stops but were unable because the federal government paid for them. So some rest stops are idle and not making anyone any money at all or doing anything for anyone.
This stuff isn’t very hard if you inject a little entrepreneurial capitalism into state and federal governments.
I wonder if the Governor has a dry pocket.
It’s New Jersey.
Just use the State House steps.
No one will notice your mess amongst all the politicians.