July 26, 2010
DiCICCO CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF DELAWARE RIVER PORT AUTHORITY
DiCICCO JOINS WITH PENNSYLVANIAN LEGISLATOR TO REQUEST INVESTIGATION OF CONTROVERSIAL AGENCY
Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco, R-Gloucester and Camden, joined with Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, today to request a federal investigation of the Delaware River Port Authority, or DRPA, from New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and Pennsylvania's Eastern District U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger.
The DRPA has been embroiled in controversy - most recently because its Public Safety Director received a small fine last week for giving his daughter a publicly-funded E-ZPass transponder for personal use. The agency has also been the subject of media reports alleging cronyism and pension padding.
The following is an excerpt of the letter sent to the U.S. Attorneys, which was also sent to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Attorney General Paula Dow and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Attorney General Tom Corbett. A complete version is attached:
The public is entitled to know whether this episode warrants criminal charges and if the authority is engaged in any other practice that law enforcement should be concerned with. Separate media reports have suggested instances of cronyism and pension padding. All matters should be fully investigated.
This $300-million-a-year bi-state agency is funded by the $4 tolls of hard-working New Jersey and Pennsylvania families who cross the Delaware River for work and recreation. They deserve assurance that their toll money is not abused by supposed public servants.
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Dear U.S. Attorneys Memeger and Fishman:
We were quite dismayed to read recent media reports about the misuse of a publicly-funded E-ZPass transponder by the Delaware River Port Authority, or DRPA, Public Safety Director Michael Joyce.
Mr. Joyce improperly gave an E-ZPass transponder that allows DRPA employees to cross authority bridges without paying tolls to his daughter who attends school in Philadelphia. For this misuse, if not theft, of public funds, Mr. Joyce was fined three days’ pay, plus the maximum amount of tolls his daughter could have used. The total fine and restitution for this egregious act was roughly $2,600.
We think that the cavalier response to this violation of the public trust, which included DRPA chief executive John Matheussen calling it “a judgment error,” is a strong signal that this authority needs to be fully investigated by federal United States Attorneys representing Pennsylvnia’s Eastern District and New Jersey.
The public is entitled to know whether this episode warrants criminal charges and if the authority is engaged in any other practice that law enforcement should be concerned with. Separate media reports have suggested instances of cronyism and pension padding. All matters should be fully investigated.
This $300-million-a-year bi-state agency is funded by the $4 tolls of hard-working New Jersey and Pennsylvania families who cross the Delaware River for work and recreation. They deserve assurance that their toll money is not abused by supposed public servants.
The actions of the DRPA has drawn criticism from the media and elected officials, and more importantly, from the public it is supposed to serve. We know you will share our concern and we hope you will launch a thorough and cooperative effort to make sure DRPA officials are held accountable for any improper actions and that the agency is working honestly and efficiently for the people of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
We look forward to your responses.
Sincerely,
Domenick C. DiCicco, Jr. and Mike Vereb
Cc: Governor Chris Christie, Governor Ed Rendell, NJ Attorney General Paula Dow, PA Attorney General Tom Corbett
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