New Jersey Town Releases Dispatch Tapes From Traffic Jams

FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) — Around 9 a.m. on Sept. 9, someone in Fort Lee, N.J., called for an ambulance.

A dispatch call went out. But the town, and the George Washington Bridge into New York City, was completely gridlocked because of a traffic jam engineered by loyalists to Gov. Chris Christie. And dispatchers soon became traffic officers.

“The George Washington Bridge is totally gridlocked,” a dispatcher said, giving alternate directions to a driver to help circumvent the traffic.

Fort Lee released hours of dispatch tapes Friday from the week in September when traffic jams ostensibly orchestrated for political purposes clogged streets and trapped motorists in their cars for hours.

The traffic jams occurred from Sept. 9 to 13, and have led to dozens of people being subpoenaed. Those summoned include many in Christie’s inner circle, his re-election commission and the state Republican party. At least four people have lost their jobs because of the traffic jams, which were believed to be aimed at Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich. Sokolich did not endorse Christie for re-election.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/02/28/new-jersey-town-releases-dispatch-tapes-from-traffic-jams/