Emily Parker

Open Letter to the NJ Legislature on Public Transit

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Originally published by Environment New Jersey

Photo by Adam E. Moreira

NJ Transportation Legislative Organizational Letter, Spring 2024

May 6, 2024

Dear Senate President Scutari, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, and Members of the NJ Legislature:

The undersigned 34 labor, social justice, transportation, environmental and community organizations write to urge you to: 1) halt the 15% NJ Transit (NJT) fare hike; 2) repurpose funds designated for the unneeded and unwanted expansion of the NJ Turnpike to replace the revenue that would be generated by the fare increase; 3) support and expand Gov. Murphy’s FY25 budget proposal for a corporate transit fee (CTF) to provide $800 million in dedicated funding for mass transit to avoid NJT’s upcoming fiscal cliff, which should include a full restoration of the Corporate Business Tax surcharge; and 4) end the raids on NJT’s capital budget and dedicate the Clean Energy Fund transfer to bus electrification to ensure that NJT can make desperately needed operational and infrastructure improvements.

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Statehouse Environment and Energy News

by Emily Parker 1 Comment
By Michael Skelly, Environmental Justice Task Force member
Following hours of impassioned testimony on Monday, March 11, New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Chairman Bob Smith suddenly called a Thursday meeting of the Environment and Energy Committee. Advocates and the media were taken by surprise by the swift action.
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Three bills had made it onto the agenda as the result of a lengthy and arduous process of public meetings, study, and modifications that had stretched through the last two years and into 2024. At stake was whether the bills would be approved and released for further consideration to possibly become law or be defeated in committee.
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Activists and Union Members from NJIT Rally for Full Corporate Surcharge Outside State Budget Hearing

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From For The Many NJ

Community leaders point to budget cuts and drastic fare hikes as proof that New Jersey needs to tax corporations more, not less.

March 19, 2024

NEWARK – Outside the State Senate’s public budget hearing at the NJIT campus in Newark, union workers, students, activists, and community leaders from the For The Many NJ coalition rallied in support of bringing back the full Corporation Business Tax surcharge on corporations with over $1 million in profits.

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Advocates Celebrate Partial Restoration of New Jersey’s Corporate Surcharge to Benefit NJ Transit

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Workers and Advocates from For The Many NJ Urge Lawmakers Not to Leave Needed Revenue on the Table

Trenton, NJ: In response to Governor Murphy proposing a partial restoration of the corporate surcharge to fund NJ Transit in next year’s budget, For The Many NJ released the following statement from Eric Benson, Campaign Director:

“This is a big win for the countless advocates, workers, and transit riders from across the state who have spent the last year calling on corporations to pay their fair share in taxes.

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Coalition of Workers and Advocates Call on Lawmakers to Bring Back the Corporate Millionaires’ Tax in Next State Budget

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From For The Many NJ

Speakers call on Governor Murphy and legislative leaders to pass a budget for the many, not a chosen few

TRENTON – In advance of Governor Murphy’s annual budget address, faith, community, labor, and advocacy leaders from For The Many NJ gathered outside the State House to call on Governor Murphy and state legislators to bring back the corporate surcharge instead of balancing the budget on the backs of New Jersey’s working families.

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“Justice For All” Gala a Success!

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On Saturday, February 10th, UU FaithAction NJ supporters and partners gathered in fellowship and celebration at the UU Congregation of Princeton for the Justice For All Gala!

Our “Justice For All” Gala honored the work and leadership that advances immigrant justice and equity.  We were joined by Immigration Justice Task Force partners: New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Princeton IRRC, American Friends Service Committee, First Friends NJ NY, Interfaith-RISE, New Labor, Faith in NJ, and ACLU of New Jersey.  Louise Sandburg, a local organizer for refugee resettlement, spoke to the work of The Jewish Center’s Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee in Princeton.  Amy Torres, Executive Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, delivered an impactful keynote address.

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