Turnpike for Sale? Privatization Expert, Wisniewski, Corzine Officials to Debate Leveraging Public Assets

Jan. 24, 2007

EDITORS NOTE: ATTENTION ASSIGNMENT, POLITICAL, TRANSPORTATION WRITERS

TURNPIKE FOR SALE? PRIVATIZATION EXPERT, WISNIEWSKI,

CORZINE OFFICIALS TO DEBATE LEVERAGING PUBLIC ASSETS

-->

WHO:	Northeastern University Professor and author Joseph M. Giglio State Treasurer Bradley Abelow (new) Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri State Economic Growth Committee Chair Raymond Lesniak (new) Assembly Transportation Committee Chair John Wisniewski
WHAT:	Turnpike for Sale? Privatization and the Public Interest
WHEN:	1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31
WHERE:	Special Events Forum, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Civic Square, 33 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick

BACKGROUND: Some form of privatization involving the assets of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is among the proposals being explored by the Corzine administration as it works with the Legislature to craft a new state budget. Professor Giglio, a national expert on the issue of privatizing public assets, will offer remarks on the merits and drawbacks of privatization concepts, including a critique of transactions involving the Indiana Toll Road and Chicago Skyway. Following his remarks, VTC Senior Fellow Martin E. Robins will moderate a panel discussion with Assemblyman Wisniewski, Senator Lesniak, State Treasurer Abelow, and Commissioner Kolluri.

A senior academic specialist and executive professor at Northeastern, Giglio has served as executive vice president at Smith Barney; president of Chase Municipal Securities; and senior managing director at Bear, Stearns & Co. He chaired President Reagans National Council on Public Works Improvement and the U.S. Senate Budget Commission on Innovative Financing of Infrastructure. He is also the vice chair of the Hudson Institute, a leading public policy organization in Washington, D.C. He sits on the board of a number of private corporations and has written extensively on finance and transportation public policy.

Contact: Rick Remington

732-932-6812, Ext. 552

E-mail: remingr@rci.rutgers.edu

Contact: Steve Manas

732-932-7084, Ext. 612

E-mail: smanas@ur.rutgers.edu

VTC-TpkePvt.ed

070124-2

-->