Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Corzine Just Not In NJ So Much
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 29, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 29, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
When NJ Governor Jon Corzine was critically injured in a car accident two weeks ago, a commenter wrote, "Obviously, God wants Codey to be governor," referring to Richard Codey, the NJ Senate majority leader (pictured) who has served as acting governor under the three past NJ governors. And, apparently, so does Corzine himself: The NY Times has an article about how Corzine was often not in NJ before being injured.:
In the 450 days between his inauguration and his accident, Mr. Corzine notified Mr. Codey that he would be away for all or part of 111 days, and would sleep out of state on 77 nights...
And many of Mr. Corzine’s overnight visits to Manhattan, where his companion, Sharon Elghanayan, lives, are not included in the tally, because of a memo in April 2006 from Zulima V. Farber, who was then the attorney general.
“We do not believe that, in the circumstances you describe, an occasional, overnight stay in New York City following a workday in New Jersey and a return to this state in the morning constitutes an absence of the governor that would trigger the devolution of gubernatorial power,” Ms. Farber wrote in response to an inquiry from Mr. Corzine’s legal counsel.
Interesting! Imagine seeing Corzine reverse commuting on weekday mornings.
There are a few schools of thought: Some criticize the fact that Corzine is too often away from his state, while others, including former Governor Christie Todd Whitman, say it's good for the governor to promote NJ on a national level and to get some perspective. Of course, a couple of Corzine's trips have been to Telluride (after the budget meltdown) and the Hamptons (Easter weekend), so we're not sure how much Garden State boosterism is going on.
At any rate, Corzine won't be able to travel too much any time soon - he'll have many months of rehab at the Governor's mansion ahead of him. And lately, certain rich politicians have the means to travel away, including Mayor Michael "I won't tell the press my whereabouts on the weekend" Bloomberg and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Photograph of Richard Codey after visiting Corzine in the hospital by Colin Archer/AP
Tagged
Arnold Schwarzenegger
attorney general
bloomberg
car accident
Christie Todd Whitman
city
garden state
governor
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor Jon Corzine
hospital
inauguration
jon corzine
manhattan
mayor
Mayor Michael
new jersey
new york
new york city
News: NYC
nj
nj governor
NJ Governor Jon Corzine
ny times
rehab
schools
Schwarzenegger
The NY
the ny times
travel
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .