OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BERGEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE JIM TEDESCO

HACKENSACK, NJ – County Executive Jim Tedesco issues the following statement in response to MTA Chairman Janno Lieber claiming congestion pricing will reduce traffic and improve air quality:

In light of recent remarks by Chairman Lieber, I want to reaffirm my administration’s unwavering stance against congestion pricing. Bergen County will not be bullied by the MTA; we will fight back, and I believe at the end of the day, we will win this fight in court and stop this blatant money grab.

Chairman Lieber is awfully cavalier when he speaks about congestion pricing reducing traffic and improving air quality. He knows all too well that congestion pricing isn’t a solution, but a cleverly concocted scheme to redirect these environmental conditions a mere few miles away to New Jersey and the greater New York metropolitan area.

His blatant disregard for New York City’s neighboring communities has never been more apparent. Contrary to his claim that the federal government is endorsing this scheme, the reality is the MTA’s skirted federal requirements and is moving quickly because they don’t want to get caught.

I call on Chairman Lieber to IMMEDIATELY produce all findings in the MTA’s environmental and financial assessments that justifies placing this significant burden on the residents of Bergen County for public scrutiny.

The reality is congestion pricing will cause serious harm to Bergen County’s air quality and the health of those who live here. Shame on you Chairman Lieber. The MTA must delay implementation of congestion pricing until a final ruling is issued in the lawsuit brought by the State of New Jersey and the County of Bergen.