Constituent to Christie at Town Hall: Destroy Your Springsteen Collection

A constituent told Gov. Chris Christie at his first town hall since the George Washington Bridge scandal that he should destroy all of his CDs by Bruce Springsteen, who poked fun at the governor with a song about the political scheme.

"He's not a friend of yours, governor," said the constituent.

Last month, Springsteen appeared with Jimmy Fallon and sang a new version of "Born to Run," with lyrics about getting stuck on the George Washington Bridge. It had just been revealed that lane closures were apparently ordered by aides to Christie as political payback to a local mayor.

At the town hall meeting Thursday, Christie, a longtime Springsteen fan, did not address the scandal but said he still held out hope that he and the Boss would see eye to eye.

"I live in hope of that because when I think we get attached to certain people as youngsters, which I did, it's hard to kind of let that go," Christie said. "So you are probably giving me wise, sage counsel that I should accept, but my heart keeps telling me not to."

There was no other mention of the scheme to block traffic on the bridge last September, which threatens the Republican governor's future as a possible 2016 presidential candidate. He has denied any involvement in the scheme, which is the subject of several investigations.

Otherwise, the state's recovery from Sandy dominated the question-and-answer session.

Christie, who stopped doing town hall meetings during his re-election campaign last year, said at the start of the meeting Thursday: "I'm glad to get back out here and start doing this stuff again."

He went on to speak about recovery from Sandy to the audience in Monmouth County, many of whom lost their homes in the October 2012 storm.

His first question was from a Sandy victim whose home in Brick has been damaged and who is still waiting for funding relief. His administration has been criticized for the slow pace and confusing way the first $1.8 billion in federal storm aid is being distributed.

"I just want to go home," she said.

New Jersey officials have asked the federal government to waive requirements that people applying for the state's largest Sandy housing recovery initiative stop work on their homes while they apply. Work done after the application date is not eligible for reimbursement.

"I understand that's a thankless decision to have to make, and I feel for you," Christie told the homeowner.

The mandatory cessation of repair work until plans can be evaluated and approved has been one of the biggest complaints voiced by Sandy victims in the 15 months since the storm. It resurfaced repeatedly at the first of three public hearings on how the state plans to spend the next batch of storm recovery aid. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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