Pascrell Gives Murphy a Lesson in Jersey Etiquette

FORT LEE – Phil Murphy came across as a reluctant warrior, but a warrior just the same.

Appearing Friday morning a few blocks north of the George Washington Bridge, the governor said New Jersey is going to court over planned “congestion pricing” in Manhattan.

Murphy said the step gives him “zero joy” and noted his usual good relations with the Biden Administration and Kathy Hochul, his New York counterpart.

Specifically, the state is suing the U.S. Transportation Department and the Federal Highway Administration to force the feds to do a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement on the plan. Clearly, Murphy thinks such a study will doom the proposal, which is ticketed to start next spring.

As discussed for years, congestion pricing would charge motorists driving into Manhattan south of 60th Street as much as $23 a trip. Details on possible discounts still need to be worked out, but the threat of a $23 cost – on top of bridge and tunnel tolls – for New Jersey residents visiting the city has state politicians riled up.

The reason for this is to eliminate traffic congestion in Manhattan and raise money for public transit.

Murphy’s take was that New York state gets the benefits while New Jersey residents get the burden.

And in a swipe at Chris Christie, the governor said he may feel differently about the plan if new rail tunnels under the Hudson were in operation, thereby giving commuters a good alternative to driving. Christie killed that plan when he was governor, although it was recently revitalized.

The governor likes talking about an “all star lineup” of officials on hand for such events and today was no exception. All stars or not, those on hand at the borough’s youth center included Sen. Bob Menendez, House members Bill Pascrell Jr., and Josh Gottheimer, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin plus a number of other state, county and local officials.

In a testament to the bipartisan nature of the morning, Republican Sen. Jon Bramnick also attended, but was not called on to speak.

There was, of course, no disagreement among those who did.

Each took turns espousing their own rhetorical flourishes.

Menendez called what New York is doing a “brazen money grab.” He also noted that many Manhattan office buildings have not recovered from the pandemic, so why make it more costly for potential workers to drive to them?

Pascrell said this is a case of the good folks across the river telling New Jersey to “drop dead.”

Gottheimer had a warning to those pushing congestion pricing.

“If you screw with New Jersey, buckle up,” he said.

Fierce verbiage has its place, but has no bearing in court.

How the litigation will develop is unknown. The governor was asked if the state would seek an injunction to halt the plan pending legal review. That’s not yet known.

The state’s main beef appears to be the cost to drivers and the fact New Jersey won’t receive any of the projected revenue, so maybe there is some negotiating room.

Notwithstanding today’s unanimity inside the youth center, opposing voices were heard too.

About 20 people demonstrated outside against fossil fuel and in favor of congestion pricing to reduce pollution.

The New York League of Conservation Voters also weighed in, calling New Jersey’s litigation a “desperate route,” adding that a plan to curtail traffic in Manhattan would have long-term health benefits.

And the group ridiculed Murphy’s status as an “environmental champion.”

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10 responses to “Pascrell Gives Murphy a Lesson in Jersey Etiquette”

  1. Well, Murphy really don’t care for you or your politics. Or what you’re doing to the State of New Jersey, an S4 congestion pricing for New York City. Well, they can do it. You can sue them. But I guess the free marketplace will let New York do what they want. Cause anybody with any sense. Would not pay all that money to go into a filthy corrupt city like New York..

  2. Murphy is another Biden clown. Why doesn’t he worry
    more about screwing the people of NJ over with his stupid windfarm money grab that will cost ALL of NJ taxpayers bigtime than a small majority of people working in NY. He’s an idiot. There are plenty of US firms that could provide this unwanted money grab than going overseas with our hard earned tax dollars. Idiot…

  3. The chicken comes home to roast. Temperatures–costs to ride a car–insurance rates—Just the space in Manhattan…Where?
    Support Mass Transit and leave the pleasure of driving behind….

  4. So maybe New Jersey should put a toll on the New Jersey side for non New Jersey license plates to offset the congestion pricing.

  5. NYC should be fined for polluting our beaches .
    For years NYers have overbuilt our bays and cluttered out waterfront ruining quaint small beach towns.
    Manhattan is sinking and the public transit system is a disaster.
    Why should NJ pay the price?

    .

  6. Yes exactly that’s what you need to do, New York wants to charge new jerseyans more that’s fine guess what charge New Yorkers more for coming into New Jersey and crowding up our beaches and our towns especially in the summer where New Jerseyans can’t even go to the beach and enjoy themselves because there’s so many people from New York so yes go ahead and charge them more….or at least use as a bargaining chip for negotiation.

  7. The commuters and taxpayers are always paying the price but not the politicians because they travel for free on the taxpayers dollar. They don’t know how this will affect everyone it’s just another money grab this stuff has to stop can’t keep raising prices when everyone else’s salaries stay the same. The transportation system is broken for not taking their own money and putting it back in the system for upgrades and repairs. That falls on them in the politicians they’ve raised plenty of money for these things but they are greedy and have deep pockets. We as the taxpayers and commuters have to fight. Between New Jersey Governor and New York are all bleeding us dry it has to stop.

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