Christie Gets Bipartisan Backing in Effort to Curb Cuba Flights

From AP:

The head of the agency that runs New Jersey's main airport has joined with the state's governor in seeking to stop United Airlines from launching flights from there to Cuba until a woman convicted of killing a state trooper is returned to the United States.

A day after Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called on Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman John Degnan to reject service to Cuba, Degnan sent a letter to acting United CEO Brett Hart on Thursday urging United to reconsider.

Christie said in a letter to Degnan that flight service to Cuba is "unacceptable" until fugitive Joanne Chesimard is extradited, and Degnan agreed.

"As a former attorney general of New Jersey, who was appalled at the Cuban government's provision of sanctuary to Joanne Chesimard, I shared his sentiments," Degnan wrote.

From CBS New York:

[Democratic] New Jersey State Senator Brian Stack has come out in favor of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s stance to reject any efforts to launch flight services between Newark and Cuba until a fugitive accused of killing a state trooper is returned to the United States.

“A thousand percent against any normalization of relationships with Cuba as long as the Castro brother’s are in charge,” Stack said.

Stack, who also serves as mayor of Union City — where the population is largely Cuban-American — understands why flight service is desired, but said he “doesn’t see normalization” with Cuba’s current regime, who he said “murdered Cubans over the years, just for speaking out,” WCBS 880’s Levon Putney reported.