OK, they're now officially calling the position "Smart Growth Ombudsman." From the Star Ledger...
The one-sentence April 15, 2008 press release from the Governor's Office announces that Jong Sook Nee of Montclair in Essex County will serve as "Smart Growth Ombudsman."According to the Governor's Press Office, the Czar will be a key part of the Governor's Policy Team. This Smart Growth Ombudsman position, otherwise known as the Fast Track Czar, was created by a controversial law enacted during the McGreevey Administration in 2004. Under that law, the Czar reports directly to the Governor and has extraordinary powers, including what amount to veto power over DEP environmental regulations.
In 2005, former Acting Governor Codey imposed a moratorium to block the implementation of the Fast Track law, in response to a public outcry in opposition to rolling back environmental protections to promote more sprawl development.
Corzine's actions stand in sharp contrast to one of his key pledges during the 2005 gubernatorial campaign to achieve a "Greener New Jersey."
Even as recently as a dozen days ago, in a speech to the New Jersey Environmental Federation, Governor Corzine was quoted as saying "There will be no Fast Tracking."
.gif)
