BY ERIC MODEL
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
JOURNEYS INTO NEW JERSEY
Border skirmishes between New Jersey and New York are nothing new.
Jurisdiction of islands in the New York Harbor has long a source of tension between the two states. More than a few football fans and supporters of New Jersey are not all that pleased that millions of dollars have been invested for a football palace in the Meadowlands for teams that eschew a New Jersey designation.
But perhaps the most notorious chapter in the inter-state rivalry occurred on a plane with a verbal outburst by New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who served from 1934-1945.
During the 1930's, LaGuardia had long wanted to build a major airport in the city. At the time New York City did not have a large airport of its own. Passengers had to fly into New Jersey and then travel across the Hudson into New York. LaGuardia reasoned that more visitors would come to New York if transportation were more convenient. He thought North Beach, an old swimming and amusement area along Bowery Bay would be a perfect place for it, and went a back trying to turn his dream into reality.
