Bashaw’s Favortism
Outgoing Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) executive director, Curtis Bashaw, gets his projects approved far more quickly than everyone else. The Asbury Park Press (APP) reports today that Bashaw’s projects have flown through Cape May’s planning boards while everyone else’s projects take their time.
Bashaw’s Driftwood condominium project was completed in a mere nine months.
“He did it in nine months,” Johnston said. “That is unheard of. For most people in Cape May, it takes three years to get past the planning board.”
The APP correctly highlights the millions of dollars Cape May has received during Bashaw’s 19-month tenure at CRDA.
the state agency has approved millions of dollars for CRDA-funded projects in the city of Cape May.
The APP is running a second Bashaw story today. In addition to the favortism Bashaw receives from the Cape May planning board, Bashaw has some interesting partners in his Sandpiper project. The Sandpiper is a hotel in Cape May that Bashaw’s investment group is rennovating into condominiums. Jamie Fox, former chief of staff to governor McGreevey, who was deposited in a patronage job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is one of Bashaw’s partners.
As is Sandy Keziah. Keziah’s firm was hired by the CRDA to conduct a survey about converting hotels to condominiums for $270,000. Keziah was already an investor in the project by the time the survey was done. How objective is that?
And while Bashaw is resigning from CRDA at the end of the month, he will remain chairman of the Jersey Shore Tourism Corporation. This CRDA-funded group has no government oversight. Will Bashaw continue to be able to funnel cash to those who control his projects?
Where is Mr. Corzine? The would-be governor has promised to rid New Jersey of this type of patronage. It would sure be nice of him to swat this arrangement down.
Then there is eCache’s favorite Republican chairman, David Von Savage. If you are not familiar with my troubles with Mr. Von Savage, have a read through this post from last year. eCache has previously outlined the problems Bashaw’s reign has had. It appears that he has truly cashed in his influence for personal gain. This is yet another McGreevey-appointee whose work is mired in corruption.
Also blogged on this date . . .
- More NJ Corruption - 2006
- Time for a Non-High Quality Cache to Go Away - 2005
- No ped x-ing - 2005
- Beaver Hunt - 2005
- Animal Lovers: "It's All Happening At… - 2005
- Dissed Again - 2005
Tags: corruption, CRDA, Curtis-Bashaw, ethics, Pay-to-Play, Von-Savage