newjerseynewsroom.com

Bergen Democratic lawmakers to team with New York Republican

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

In light of reports of mismanagement and the hefty increase in bridge and tunnel tolls and PATH train fare hikes, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and New York Sen. Andrew J. Lanza (R-Richmond) on Wednesday will announce a bi-partisan, bi-state effort to create greater transparency and accountability at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The lawmakers are also expected to be joined by Senators Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Bob Gordon (D-Bergen) and Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) who will join in sponsoring New Jersey’s version of the legislation.

Huttle and Lanza have called for increased transparency and oversight of the Port Authority for some time. They believe the approval of the toll hikes with little public input that the Port Authority must hold the Port Authority accountable and make reform an urgent priority. Any laws governing the bi-state authority must be enacted in both New York and New Jersey.

The lawmakers plan to unveil their proposals at noon at the intersection of Center Avenue & Bridge Plaza South in Fort Lee.

Lanza is angry that Port Authority commissioners did not show for a public hearing on Staten Island on the then proposed toll and fare increases. The senator has introduced legislation that would require every voting member of the authority to attend a minimum of two public hearings in each county directly affected by any proposed toll or fare increases.

“I am outraged that the voting members of the Port Authority Board did not even have the decency to present themselves before the people of Staten Island at a public hearing concerning such exorbitant bridge toll hikes,” Lanza said. “It is clear that the Port Authority Board does not consider itself accountable or answerable to the public whom they serve. They are wrong, and should present themselves before the people any time they make decisions that affect us. The fact that the Board did not even show up is a slap in the face to the good people of Staten Island, and one which should never happen again.”

Lanza collected the signatures of 2,240 Staten Islanders to show the Port Authority the opposition to the toll and fare hikes.