NORTH JERSEY — Today, March 27, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement on the latest Congestion Tax announcements from the MTA:

“Today’s vote was just a rubber stamp on the MTA’s unprecedented cash grab. It just proves what we knew all along — the MTA doesn’t care about less traffic, helping the environment, or supporting families. They will do anything to cover their historic mismanagement — and the billions of dollars they bleed out every year.  Today, they ignored the voices of tens of thousands of families who begged them to do the right thing.

From the NAACP to nurses to teachers to law enforcement to small businesses, families from across the Tri-state area have spoken in unison: please don’t raise our taxes. Please don’t pollute our children.  Please don’t force through the Congestion Tax. MTA CEO Janno Lieber and the MTA had one response: go fly a kite. Well, Janno, we’re not backing down. Buckle up for the lawsuits and the public outrage, because no one messes with Jersey.”

Whether it’s losing $700 million to fare skippers or spending a whopping $1 billion unnecessarily for a poorly designed subway station, the MTA clearly has no regard for the taxpayer dollars it’s been entrusted to use wisely. Instead, the MTA decided to raise money on the backs of hard-working commuters and families.

Instead of whacking Jersey families with the Congestion Tax, they should first clean up their black box of endless spending & mismanagement.”

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