Recently I wrote about the problems of overspending and corruption within the New Jersey Schools Construction Corp. The state has to cough up billions to cover the mistakes, errors in planning, and just outright incompetence in building new schools. The committee formed by new governor Jon Corzine to study solutions to the problem is expected to present its report on Wednesday, March 15.
Peter Maricondo will retire April 7. He joined the SCC as chief financial officer, and added the job of chief executive officer six months ago when CEO Jack Spencer resigned from that job. Governor Corzine has named Scott Weiner as the transitional CEO. http://www.njscc.com
Several members of the NJ State have introduced a bill to require the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the SCC. Clearly if there has been criminal activity it needs to be prosecuted. Theft and graft involving public money is a crime. When it involves public money that is supposed to benefit the poorest children in the state, it is a crime with far too many victims.
The agency was supposed to streamline the process of funding school construction in New Jersey’s neediness districts. The question facing Governor Corzine is whether or not to scrap the agency, divert funding to local administration, or rehabilitate the agency. Whether construction of public schools is administered locally or by the state, one thing is clear: the governor will need to assure continuing accountability and timeliness of the projects, and pay particular attention to the awarding of contracts and jobs.
Influence peddling, pay to play lobbying schemes, and general corruption are nothing new to New Jersey state and local politics. School construction, like government, needs to happen in the sunshine! It will be interesting to see what solutions are proposed next week.