A coalition of mayors, commuters, labor leaders, and community activists rallied outside Newark Penn Station this morning to call on state lawmakers to tax profitable corporations to fund NJ Transit. At the event, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla presented an open letter from over 50 mayors, city council members, and county commissioners urging the New Jersey Senate President, Assembly Speaker, and Legislature to pass the Corporate Transit Fee for NJ Transit funding and reinstate the full Corporate Business Tax surcharge for other public services.
“NJ Transit is a lifeline for our communities,” said Mayor Bhalla. “We cannot allow service cuts and fare hikes to devastate our residents. It’s time for wealthy corporations to contribute to the public services that keep our state running.”
Speakers emphasized the urgent need for stable funding as NJ Transit faces a nearly $1 billion deficit once federal pandemic assistance ends. Without additional state funding, equivalent to about one-third of the agency’s budget, drastic service cuts and fare hikes are expected.
“Without a fully funded NJ Transit, workers can’t get to their jobs or anywhere else they need to go,” said Stephenie Martinez of Hudson County Complete Streets. “Working class communities are what makes the world go round. We have to prioritize community needs over corporate greed.”
The letter was signed by more than 50 officials representing millions of residents, including Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. The Essex County and Union County Boards of County Commissioners also supported the proposal.
“It takes all of us to make sure that each of us has access to jobs and opportunities,” said Denise Wilkerson, Roselle Councilwoman-at-Large. “Tax the rich, not the riders!”
While local officials rallied in Newark, hundreds of activists from For The Many NJ and Fund NJ Transit coalitions lobbied at the New Jersey State House.
“From Newark to Trenton, we’re mobilizing for fair and sustainable transit funding,” said Eric Benson of For The Many NJ.
Ken McNamara of CWA Local 1037 added: “We know that as workers our ability to fully participate in the economy generates enormous profits for big corporations. We are not asking for a free ride but an end to a free ride for big corporations.”
Humberto from Passaic expressed concerns about fare increases: “I won’t be able to take the bus due to fare increases... Corporations must pay their fair share.”
Erik Cruz Morales from New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice highlighted immigrant reliance on transit: “We need funds from corporations that build their wealth off immigrant workers.”
Linden Mayor Derek Armstead stated: “Wealthy corporations benefit greatly from infrastructure provided by NJ Transit... It’s only fair they contribute their share.”
Zoe Baldwin from Regional Plan Association stressed: “The Venn diagram of equity and mobility is a full circle... We need a robust transit system.”
Peter Chen from New Jersey Policy Perspective concluded: “We have to fund public transit by taxing profitable corporations... This is an absolute must.”
Read the open letter [here]. Watch a recording [here]. Download photos [here].
