A New Jersey Democratic congressman announcing a bid Friday to become the Garden State’s next governor blasted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul as “insane” Thursday for reviving the reviled congestion toll to enter Midtown Manhattan.
“It’s utterly absurd at a time of inflation. The added costs for Jersey motorists went from zero to $2,500,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer said.
“It’s insane. I will work with any Democrat or Republican to fight this congestion tax.”
Gottheimer, a moderate first elected to Congress in 2016 representing communities that border the Jersey side of the Hudson River around the George Washington Bridge, said the first-in-the-nation toll has caused a major rift between New York and New Jersey’s elected officials.
The leaders of the two states jointly control the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which run the Hudson toll-crossings such as the GW Bridge and Lincoln and Holland tunnels as well as the regional airports.