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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With N.J. Governor James McGreevey

Aired December 06, 2003 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: All right, updating the top story. The first major snowstorm of the season has slammed parts of the east coast and northeast two weeks and two days before the official start of winter. Things aren't over yet, as far as this current storm is going; among the states getting slammed is New Jersey. New Jersey governor James McGreevey joins us on the phone from Princeton, New Jersey. Governor, thanks for being with us.
JAMES MCGREEVEY, N.J. GOVERNOR (via telephone): Renay, thanks so much.

MIGUEL: How is New Jersey holding up right now?

MCGREEVEY: Renay, we got about approximately 2,000 pieces of equipment out, all throughout the state of New Jersey on our roadways and thoroughfares. By the end of the storm we'll put down between 6,000 to 10,000 tons of salt. In the southern parts of the state, about six, seven inches. In the northern part of the state, nine, ten, 11 inches and increasing.

Unfortunately, we had 40 accidents on the turnpike, where the speed limit is now 35 miles per hour. We're about to lower that even further. We've had 2 fatalities when an SUV swerved into a tractor- trailer, and about 35 accidents on the parkway.

We haven't declared yet a state of emergency. All roads are open, but we're asking people to stay off the major county roads, off the state roads. Stay at home with your family and your children, or stay downtown, but, please, clear off the state highways so that the men who are working literally around the clock in shifts can be able to cut a pass, pass through in the snow.

The problem Renay is as you cut a pass through and a half hour, 45 minutes later, a virtue of winds and increased accumulation, it looks as if there hasn't been any snow trucks.

MIGUEL: I'm sure. Actually I used to live in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and I spent three years up there. And what always got to the me was the level of cooperation that was needed not just with your agencies but also with the Port Authority and with the State of New York as well, because of all the cross-traffic that goes on.

MCGREEVEY: Exactly, we've got a great working relationship with Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Actually, the coastal areas are pretty good.

Originally, we were concerned about floodwater warnings. That hasn't happened by virtue ever it's slightly warmer along the coastal regions of the state. But In the northern regions of the state, we're getting hammered.

We were able to get out in front of the snow by virtue of putting so much salt down on the roads. But we're asking people to be smart, be thoughtful, and stay at home with your children.

MIGUEL: And as you're well aware, there's a long history of major storms in the winter in your part of the country. What are your weather service officials telling you and everybody else that you have working for you about how this may rate in terms of top storms?

MCGREEVEY: Well, this is -- this isn't going to be one of the top storms, but we are expecting substantial accumulations in the latter part of the evening. Right now we think it is manageable. We want to get through this. I have my daughter's second birthday tomorrow, and Elmo had better show up.

MIGUEL: On that note, we will say thank you to the Governor James McGreevey, joining us on the phone.

MCGREEVEY: Thanks Renay.

MIGUEL: Thank you and good luck with the storm.

MCGREEVEY: Take care, be well.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 6, 2003 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: All right, updating the top story. The first major snowstorm of the season has slammed parts of the east coast and northeast two weeks and two days before the official start of winter. Things aren't over yet, as far as this current storm is going; among the states getting slammed is New Jersey. New Jersey governor James McGreevey joins us on the phone from Princeton, New Jersey. Governor, thanks for being with us.
JAMES MCGREEVEY, N.J. GOVERNOR (via telephone): Renay, thanks so much.

MIGUEL: How is New Jersey holding up right now?

MCGREEVEY: Renay, we got about approximately 2,000 pieces of equipment out, all throughout the state of New Jersey on our roadways and thoroughfares. By the end of the storm we'll put down between 6,000 to 10,000 tons of salt. In the southern parts of the state, about six, seven inches. In the northern part of the state, nine, ten, 11 inches and increasing.

Unfortunately, we had 40 accidents on the turnpike, where the speed limit is now 35 miles per hour. We're about to lower that even further. We've had 2 fatalities when an SUV swerved into a tractor- trailer, and about 35 accidents on the parkway.

We haven't declared yet a state of emergency. All roads are open, but we're asking people to stay off the major county roads, off the state roads. Stay at home with your family and your children, or stay downtown, but, please, clear off the state highways so that the men who are working literally around the clock in shifts can be able to cut a pass, pass through in the snow.

The problem Renay is as you cut a pass through and a half hour, 45 minutes later, a virtue of winds and increased accumulation, it looks as if there hasn't been any snow trucks.

MIGUEL: I'm sure. Actually I used to live in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and I spent three years up there. And what always got to the me was the level of cooperation that was needed not just with your agencies but also with the Port Authority and with the State of New York as well, because of all the cross-traffic that goes on.

MCGREEVEY: Exactly, we've got a great working relationship with Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Actually, the coastal areas are pretty good.

Originally, we were concerned about floodwater warnings. That hasn't happened by virtue ever it's slightly warmer along the coastal regions of the state. But In the northern regions of the state, we're getting hammered.

We were able to get out in front of the snow by virtue of putting so much salt down on the roads. But we're asking people to be smart, be thoughtful, and stay at home with your children.

MIGUEL: And as you're well aware, there's a long history of major storms in the winter in your part of the country. What are your weather service officials telling you and everybody else that you have working for you about how this may rate in terms of top storms?

MCGREEVEY: Well, this is -- this isn't going to be one of the top storms, but we are expecting substantial accumulations in the latter part of the evening. Right now we think it is manageable. We want to get through this. I have my daughter's second birthday tomorrow, and Elmo had better show up.

MIGUEL: On that note, we will say thank you to the Governor James McGreevey, joining us on the phone.

MCGREEVEY: Thanks Renay.

MIGUEL: Thank you and good luck with the storm.

MCGREEVEY: Take care, be well.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com