The salt shortage persists in New Jersey. Officials have failed to get permission for a barge with 40 tons of salt to set sail for the tristate region.
N.J. officials were hoping a barge with 40 tons of salt would arrive from Maine. But the vessel wasn't flying the American flag and officials couldn't get clearance from Homeland Security to come to the Port of Newark.
The problem is because of the 1920 federal Maritime Act. It prevents foreign vessels from moving cargo from one U.S. port to another. It was designed to protect the U.S. shipping industry from foreign competition.
The barge sailed empty, leaving the salt in Maine.
Now municipalities are counting on smaller shipments from suppliers. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop says he's been waiting for salt for two weeks.A presidential executive order could make a one-time exception. This is quite incredible. I guess this is the way the president shows his "thanks" to a governor who supports him.
The salt can be trucked from Maine to Jersey City. This is not rocket science. They can salt the roads on the way down.
[Later, a reader noted:
If Homeland Security is involved with something as simple as shipping two semi-trucks of road salt form Maine to New Jersey, what else and how deep is Homeland Security stuck in every fabric of US life?
The activist environmentalists should be livid: think of the carbon footprint that barge left, all for naught. How much is Homeland Security impeding commerce and the hiring of people. I suppose the EPA and Homeland Security working in concert could shut down the entire US just "doing their business."]
40 tons? 2 trucks! 1/10th of 1 storm!
ReplyDeleteYes, incredible isn't it, how petty politics can get.
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