New Jersey
Reverse congestion pricing? New Jersey Republican wants to toll New Yorkers to fund NJ Transit
As the 2025 campaign season starts to heat up, a Republican in the New Jersey governor’s race says he could take the fight against New York City congestion pricing to another level.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli, the former assemblyman who narrowly lost the 2021 race to Gov. Phil Murphy, says New Yorkers should pay to enter the Garden State while congestion pricing is in effect.
“Why should New Jerseyans pay for the MTA?”
“If President Trump is not successful in getting rid of congestion pricing, I’m sorry but every New York plate that comes through the tunnels or over the bridges in the morning to New Jersey, we’re going to hit them with a congestion pricing fee,” he said. “Why should New Jerseyans pay for the MTA? I’ll get New Yorkers to pay for New Jersey Transit.”
Ciattarelli, appearing Sunday on CBS News New York’s “The Point with Marcia Kramer,” said another one of his priorities would be overhauling the state’s transportation agencies.
“I do want to form the Garden State Transportation Authority. Put every one of our mass transit systems under one roof, with one overseeing board,” he said. “That means the Turnpike, the Parkway, New Jersey Transit, the Atlantic City Expressway, gas tax revenues. Let’s put it all under one roof. Let’s get a new management structure there and let’s see what we can do.”
Click here to watch Ciattarelli’s full interview.
Mamdani running for NYC mayor
Democratic New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, from Queens, surged into second place in some New York City mayor’s race polls before former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams entered the race.
Mamdani told CBS News New York he does not believe Cuomo’s entry was a major shake-up on the Democratic side.
“I think Andrew Cuomo’s arrival has long been rumored and I’m frankly happy that he’s in the race, because it’s an opportunity to say that New Yorkers already have one person in power who has cut Medicaid and stolen money from the MTA, who has hounded women that have credibly accused them of sexual harassment, who has claimed to be fighting for working class New Yorkers, while showering rich donors with tax breaks. And that’s Donald Trump. But Andrew Cuomo has the same record as the disgraced former governor of this state, and him being in the race means he has to finally answer as to why that’s his record and why we should believe anything would be different this time around,” Mamdani said.
Other candidates include Curtis Sliwa, City Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer and, presumably, Mayor Eric Adams.
Click here to watch Mamdani’s full interview.
2-minute read
NJ fines Sen. Wimberly $24K after using donations on hotels, airfare
Wimberly has been fined about $24,000 by New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission, partly for spending campaign funds on his own personal use.
PATERSON — In a three-month span at the end of 2022, state Sen. Benjie Wimberly, then an assemblyman, spent more than $7,200 in political donations on hotel bills, airfare and other travel expenses.
Now, Wimberly has been fined about $24,000 by New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission, partly for spending campaign funds on his own personal use.
The ELEC complaint against Wimberly had been pending since December 2024, and a settlement between the state and the senator was reached at the end of May 2026. ELEC made details of the deal public on July 1.
“Senator Wimberly chose to settle the matter with ELEC because his priority is addressing the immediate and important needs of his district,” said his attorney, Angelo Genova, a prominent and well-connected lawyer in New Jersey political circles.
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“As expressly stated in the Consent Order and Final Decision, Senator Wimberly and his treasurer neither admit nor deny the violations, and they maintain their good-faith belief that the disputed expenditures were permissible under the law,” Genova added.
Wimberly’s campaign treasurer, David Cozart, works as an assistant superintendent for Paterson Public Schools, with a $213,000 salary. Wimberly also works for the city school district as director of recreation, with a $194,000 salary.
The commission determined that 19 of Wimberly’s expenditures at the end of 2022, when he was still an Assembly member, were for impermissible uses. The order said $10,861 of the fine stemmed from Wimberly’s improper use of political funds. The rest of the penalty was for late filing of a finance report that covered October through December of 2022.
Among the expenditures highlighted by ELEC were:
- $645 to the Hilton Garden Inn Lodge Colonial on Oct. 11, 2022.
- $751 to the Embassy Suites Hampton on Oct. 25, 2022.
- $497 to the Landing at Hampton on Nov. 8, 2022.
- $322 to the Hilton Garden Inn on Dec. 6, 2022.
- $378 to the Omni Hotels on Dec. 14, 2022.
The ELEC complaint did not provide specific locations of those businesses.
Partial payment of $4,000 in April
The order said Wimberly and Cozart made a partial payment of $4,000 in April 2026. The election commission also reduced the penalty, lowering it to $15,335.
Going forward, Cozart and Wimberly would make four payments of $3,833.99 through April 2027, the order said.
Wimberly supporters noted that the original complaint filed against him came at the end of 2024, when he was still an Assembly member making a bid for the vacant New Jersey 35th District Senate seat left vacant when Nellie Pou went to Congress.
Wimberly sought the Senate seat even though several Passaic County Democratic party leaders were backing then-Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter for the Senate. After the initial tally ended in a tie, Wimberly won the internal party election by one vote over Sumter.
Governor Mikie Sherrill at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township after collapse
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill meets with first responders before a press conference at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township.
Last week wasn’t a great one when it comes to weather at the Jersey Shore.
This one will be much better, at least if you like heat.
A heat wave will hit New Jersey this week with hot weather moving into the area on Tuesday. The warm temperatures will stick around for most of the week before we get a little relief by the end of the weekend.
The National Weather Service forecasts the heat wave to start July 14 with a sunny day with highs around 92 degrees. Wednesday is even hotter with temperatures expected to flirt with 100 degrees. Thursday stays hot with a high of 92 degrees forecasted, with Friday and Saturday also expected to see highs in the low 80s.
According to the NOAA, Wednesday the Jersey Shore area will be under an extreme heat watch.
Tuesday through Friday are expected to be sunny, with some clouds. Saturday is when showers roll in.
Sunday the heatwave is expected to break. Showers are also expected to stick around with a high of 84 degrees expected.
2-minute read
Paper Plane Coffee adding a new Maplewood NJ location
Paper Plane Coffee, the popular Montclair spot, will open a Maplewood location.
The Record, NorthJersey.com, the Daily Record and the New Jersey Herald want to keep you up to date on all the newest shops, restaurants and service providers moving into your towns. Below is a roundup of businesses that recently opened or are coming soon.
Are you opening a business in North Jersey? Get the word out to your neighbors as soon as possible. Send us your information and photos and we will try to add them to our next new-business roundup.
We’re also interested in reporting business closings. Have a tip? Contact Business Reporter Daniel Munoz at munozd@northjersey.com, or 201-270-9870, and Stephanie Noda at noda@northjersey.com, or 973-558-0950.
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Cre8sArt School, Westwood
Arts education classes for students of all ages and levels, including year-round classes, camps, workshops and portfolio development programs.
WHERE: 24 Booker St., Westwood
WHEN: Grand opening was June 14. Hours are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 888-371-9904 or visit https://cre8sart.com/
Point 5 Jersey, Morristown
Liquor store dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks, from mixers to specialty beverages.
WHERE: 48 Washington St., Morristown
WHEN: Grand opening was June 17.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 862-286-0555, email point5jersey@gmail.com or visit www.point5jersey.com
Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.
Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100, Facebook and Instagram
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