After Trump Sticks a Fork in Gateway, Sherrill Drills Ciattarelli
SECAUCUS - Mikie Sherrill this morning excoriated her Republican rival, Jack Ciattarelli, for refusing to stand with workers, commuters, and New Jersey residents impacted by President Donald Trump's declared termination last night of the Gateway Tunnel project.
Speaking to reporters in the Rotunda of the Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station, Secaucus Junction Station, the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey said, "We see someone pulling away from public transit. I am in favor of public transit, especially in a state where we need it for so many different reasons."
The congresswoman said as governor, if the Trump Administration fails to deliver on allocated funds for the project, New Jersey would sue.
"I'm very proud of that moniker the tunnel-obsessed congresswoman," said Sherrill, as she took the microphone on that introduction. "This is something I've fought for from day one and we remember the battle days when he [Trump] did not fund this project. To get this federal share [with former President Joe Biden] was such an accomplishment.
She cited the need to immediately address the public hazards of relying on two 100-year-old tunnels, damaged further in Superstorm Sandy, in the most heavily trafficked rail in the United States.
"This is critical," said Sherrill. And "it's critical to the economy of the United States and to the men and women who commute every day. It's a quality-of-life issue, day after day. This tunnel project can be responsible for almost 100k jobs. That's what's at stake. It costs $1 million a day [if it's halted]. That's why we're here to push back against the President's illegal effort to freeze it."
And Ciattarelli?
"I'm fighting for the people of New Jersey, he's fighting to please Trump," Sherrill said.
MORE BELOW ON WHAT TO MAKE OF TRUMP'S COMMENTS
State Senator Raj Mukherji (D-32) joined Sherrill at the transit hub.
The senator from Hudson County criticized what he called the President's illegal decision to terminate the Gateway Project, pulling the plug on $20 billion in economic activity "out of spite."
It's part of a pattern with Trump.
"Weaponizing the justice department, carrying out a vendetta against a free press, and weaponizing DOT projects - it undermines the rule of law, and undermines homeland security," said Mukherji.
Mike Hellstrom, LIUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager, and an early backer with his union of Sherrill, had choice words for Ciattarelli:
"He voted against the project when it was the ARC Tunnel [and Ciattarelli served in the Assembly], now
the project's operational, employing thousands of hard-working men and women, the President whom he never disagrees with terminates the project, and he tells us that he supports workers," Hellstrom groused.
Others in attendance in support of Sherrill and the Gateway Project included Assemblyman Gabe Rodriguez (D-33), Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli, Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett, Sue Altman, state director for U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell, and Bloomfield resident and commuter Jaime Morrison.
Also present - Hudson County Executive (and Chair of the Hudson County Democratic Committee) Criag Guy - who addressed the decision last week of North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, to support Ciattarelli.
He also discussed the impact of the loss of Gateway on the statewide Nov. 4th election:
Ciattarelli on Twitter appeared to prioritize head down message discipline amid the mayhem caused by
Trump's announcement of the Gateway termination: "When voters across New Jersey — from union leaders to small business owners — weighed in, the message was clear: Jack Ciattarelli had the edge. 'He’s got a good plan, and it’s more detailed.' 'He’s shown South Jersey real attention.' 'Jack knows how the process works — and that’s a strength.' Our momentum’s only building. See what they said nytimes.com/interactive/20
According to Politico, an anonymous Trump Administration official at DOT attempted to walk back the President's public remarks yesterday.
A source confirmed to InsiderNJ that the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has received no formal communication from the DOT of the Gateway Project's termination. It is difficult, the source said, to imagine the feds would ice the largest and most urgent transportation project in the country because the President doesn't think it's important.
But everyone treaded calmly around the mercurial and politically flappable Trump, recognizing his politically punishing mood swings within the atmosphere of the ongoing government shutdown.
Enough money remains in the pipeline to keep Gateway afloat for the next few months. Work continues as an insider harrumphed at the idea that the GOP could somehow spin Trump's rhetoric as smart, hardnosed politics. "It really just highlights the pettiness and retributive nature of [Trump]."
“Too often trains are cancelled and I’m left stranded while trying to get to work, see friends, or even just trying to get to a game or concert," said Morrison. "NJ TRANSIT has become too unreliable. Thankfully we have a solution to fix it — or at least we did. From her first race, Mikie’s made clear she won’t let anyone stand in the way of getting the Gateway Tunnel project done. Meanwhile, Jack refuses to even call our Trump and is all too happy to sit on his hands while our state loses billions. That’s why this November, I am supporting Mikie Sherrill for governor."
Fox News kept a camera on the press conference HERE:
Closer at hand, against the backdrop of the shutdown, the tunnel termination, and time ticking down to Nov. 4th, InsiderNJ overheard - verbatim - the following commuter conversation in the train station Dunkin Donuts as TV reporters broke down their equipment after Sherrill's press conference:
"There's something happening out there. The Governor's talking." "No, it's not the governor."
"Who's the governor?"
"I'll think of it in a minute."
A minute lapsed.
Hands fidgeted with a phone.
"Murphy."
The response:
"Charlie Murphy?"
No answer amid donut-munching mouths.
Apparently, the gubernatorial contest - or the future of the country - wasn't exciting in all parts - even here.
