There was talk of demanding more air traffic controllers — and fewer flights into Newark.
There was talk of dedicated funding to be spent on NJ Transit — without a firm commitment from where it would come from.
There was talk about implementing congestion pricing in New Jersey, but only for New York residents — and whether that was a good idea or even legally allowable.
The only thing missing from the transportation segment of Sunday night’s lengthy Democratic debate was a pledge to fix New Jersey’s transportation problems unless the situation killed them first.
The candidates praised the end of the NJ Transit strike, then explained how they would fix the issues the ongoing issues at NJ Transit and Newark Liberty Airport.
Were their substantive answers? Not really, it was a debate after all. But there was a lot of talk.
The event, at the Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology in Newark, was sponsored and organized by New Jersey Globe in partnership with On New Jersey and Rider University.
It offered the candidates — mayors Ras Baraka (Newark) and Steve Fulop (Jersey City), Representatives Josh Gottheimer (5th District) and Mikie Sherrill (11th District) and former State Senate President Steve Sweeney — ample time to offer their thoughts on transportation. (Sean Spiller did not qualify for the debate.)
When it came to NJ Transit, all of the candidates talked of having dedicated funding for the system. Where that money will come from, wasn’t as clear.
Fulop, who pitched the idea of a tax on corporations before the current Corporate Transit Fee was introduced, was all on that idea for the long term. Gottheimer wouldn’t commit past the next few years. Sherrill suggested it should come from revenue created by transit-oriented development. Sweeney said he was most concerned with Southern New Jersey getting more access to transit — if it’s going to be asked to pay for it.
Baraka reminded folks that NJ Transit is about more than just trains.
“I would lean into buses,” he said, suggesting NJ Transit needs to be an agency that does more than take people to New York and Philadelphia by train — but one that “moves people around the state of New Jersey.”
No candidate suggested the idea of taxing business should be allowed to sunset — a not-so-surprising reality for the business world, which seemingly has realized from the start that the fee on state’s largest companies is not going to be temporary.
As for the issues at Newark Airport, the candidates all offered the logical talking points: Newark needs more air traffic controllers and upgraded technology — and safety comes first.
No one on either side is against any of that.
Credit to the format, which allowed the candidates to speak at length. And while there were the standard interruptions and calls for a chance to respond, the debate ran more smoothly than the previous effort.
The Republican candidates will get their chance later this week — though it appeared the perceived front-runner, Jack Ciattarelli, was on the stage with them. He certainly was mentioned frequently.
Sherrill, who many believe to be the Democratic front-runner, notably went after Ciattarelli in her opening statement.
“We know Jack Ciattarelli has promised to Doge New Jersey,” she said.
Sherrill said Ciattarelli will not stand up to Trump on any issue.
“That’s why we need a different kind of leader,” she said.
Fulop also spoke of Ciattarelli — suggesting his detailed policy plans are the best way to prevent the Republicans from winning.
“I think that people in New Jersey need a clear vision on how we are going to move forward, because Jack Ciattarelli will be tough to beat in November — and absent a clear vision with specifics, not platitudes, we will lose in November,” he said.
Ciattarelli came up so much in the opening moments that Baraka suggested the candidates make a pledge to not bring him up. It brought a few laughs from the live audience of approximately 700.
The debate was mostly filled with a lot of stump speeches and rehearsed lines.
Gottheimer reiterated his pledge to cut taxes by 15% as part of a plan to make New Jersey more affordable.
Baraka stressed the support he has from progressive groups and his commitment to DEI.
Sweeney suggested his more than a decade in the State Senate gives him the experience the other candidates don’t have, meaning he will not have a learning curve when he gets to Trenton as so many governors do.
Will it matter on June 10, the day of the primary? That remains to be seen.
The only certainty is this: The trains will start running again on Tuesday.
