While one lawsuit seeking to force the start of New York’s $15 congestion fee to enter lower Manhattan is moving forward, an attorney in New Jersey’s separate case to stop the fee has nudged a judge for a ruling.

Attorney Randy Mastro wrote U.S. District Court Senior Judge Leo M. Gordon on Friday informing him that a potential decision in a New York Superior Court case challenging New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s indefinite pause of the June 30 congestion pricing plan would mean the tolling plan could start.

And that affects New Jersey’s suit, filed in July 2023, that was the subject of oral arguments in Newark in April. New Jersey’s suit seeks to overturn federal approvals that allowed congestion pricing to proceed. At the end of those hearings, Gordon said he planned to render a decision before the June 30 start date, but Hochul’s unexpected announcement bought some time.

NUTLEY, N.J. — Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw clashed over abortion and immigration Sunday in their first debate for New Jersey’s Senate seat, open this year after Bob Menendez’s conviction on bribery charges and resignation.

Kim, a three-term representative from the 3rd District, hammered Bashaw for his support of former President Donald Trump and expressed skepticism about Bashaw’s position as an abortion rights supporter. Bashaw, a hotel developer from southern New Jersey and first-time candidate, sought to cast himself as a moderate and Kim as a Washington insider.

The debate was briefly derailed at the start when Bashaw stopped speaking mid-sentence and stared ahead, nonresponsive. He was helped from the stage and left the room for roughly 10 minutes.

“I got so worked up about this affordability issue that I realized I hadn’t eaten so much food today,” Bashaw said when he returned. “So I appreciate your indulgence.”

Among the most pointed exchanges was over abortion. Both candidates support abortion rights, but Bashaw has said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that ended Roe v. Wade. New Jersey has enshrined abortion protections in state law.

“I just fundamentally have a problem with using the term ‘pro-choice’ to describe yourself when you have talked about the important of the Dobbs decision being correctly decided,” Kim said.

He also hammered Bashaw for his support of Trump, who has twice lost New Jersey’s electoral votes.

“The one endorsement that he has made is for Donald Trump to be president of the United States,” Kim said. “And I guess we get a sense of his judgment from that.”

Bashaw, who defeated a Trump-endorsed rival in the primary, didn’t defend the former president explicitly.

“Elections are binary choices, and we all have to make a decision,” he said.

He touted his own candidacy based on his credentials as a businessperson and resisted being typecast as a traditional Republican, pointing out that he backs abortion rights and is a married gay man.

“I am pro-choice, congressman. I am for freedom in the home,” Bashaw said. “I don’t think government should tell me who I can marry. I don’t think it should tell a woman what she can do with her reproductive health choices.”

Bashaw hammered on immigration repeatedly throughout, saying it’s “a crisis in New Jersey” and is costing the state.

In a reflection of how Democratic-leaning New Jersey has been in Senate races, which Republicans haven’t won in more than five decades, Bashaw addressed his closing statements to women and moms of New Jersey.

“I am a moderate, common-sense person that will work to be a voice for New Jersey,” he said.

Kim declared his candidacy a day after Menendez’s indictment last year, saying it was time for the state to turn the page on the longtime legislator. It looked as if the Democratic primary in a must-win state for the party would be contentious when first lady Tammy Murphy entered the race, winning support from influential party leaders.

But Kim challenged the state’s unique ballot-drawing system widely viewed as favoring the candidates backed by party leaders. A federal judge sided with Kim in his legal challenge, putting the system on hold for this election. Murphy dropped out of the race, saying she wanted to avoid a divisive primary, leaving a clear path to Kim’s nomination.

Kim first won office to the House in 2018, defeating Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur. He got national attention after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection when he was photographed picking up trash in the building.

Bashaw won a contested primary in June, defeating a Trump-backed opponent. The hotel developer from Cape May is running for office for the first time.

Menendez was convicted this summer on federal charges of accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businesspeople and acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. He has vowed to appeal the conviction.

He resigned in August, capping a career in politics that spanned roughly five decades. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy appointed George Helmy as interim senator. Helmy said he’ll resign after the election is certified so Murphy can appoint whoever wins the election to the seat for the remainder of Menendez’s term, which expires in January.

I am very dismayed and disappointed to learn of the National Park Service’s approval of the Middlesex County government’s plan to transform county-owned Thomas A. Edison Park into a major sports complex destination.

Despite hundreds of public comments opposing this project sent to the National Park Service, it has the appearance of a done deal on the part of the county commissioners, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th Dist., and even Gov. Phil Murphy. This is before many in the community even learned about the plan, reacted to it and commented on its environmental impact.

This project in Edison Township would eliminate a free neighborhood park with established trees in favor of a fee-based venue that would bring traffic, air pollution, noise and lighting, to an already high-traffic area. It would be in addition to a new baseball stadium and other construction on the campus of nearby Middlesex College.

Importantly, creating 14 plastic turf fields, some converted from natural grass, and a 1,300-space asphalt parking lot is environmentally wrong. This will create heat islands, utilize surfaces that will make sports injuries more likely. and possibly contaminate ground water when the plastic and rubberized particles break down and leach out of the fields.

The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership wrote an excellent letter to the park service opposing this project based on science. Apparently, our political leaders are willing to bypass the input of the community they are supposed to serve, put the health of their constituents and the environment at risk, and negatively affect the quality of life in our area, in order to bring in the bucks.

Esther Barcun, Edison

Morris team best for environment

As a concerned resident and advocate for Morris County’s natural environment, I am writing to express my support for county board of commissioners candidates Justin Strickland, Jonathan Sackett and William “Bud” Ravitz, in their commitment to addressing one of the most pressing issues facing our community: overdevelopment.

Morris County, with rich history, scenic landscapes, and precious open spaces, is under increasing threat from unchecked development that endangers both our environment and our quality of life.

Democrats Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz understand that growth is inevitable, but it must be managed wisely.

They will work to steer development toward areas that can support it, such as already developed or underutilized sites. while protecting vulnerable habitats and green spaces. This will reduce sprawl and maintain the character of our communities.

Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz will push for thorough environmental reviews before any major development project is approved, to ensure that projects do not threaten our local ecosystems, water quality or public health. Their commitment to transparency means that these assessments would be made available to the public.

This trio will ensure that community stakeholders have a seat at the table when it comes to development decisions. Public hearings and consultations will be a key part of the process,

The Democratic candidates have pledged to prioritize open space preservation and work with local conservation groups to acquire and protect more land. They understand that parks, forests, and farmlands are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and providing recreational opportunities for future generations.

Morris County is at a crossroads. We can either allow short-term gains to dictate long-term consequences, or we can elect leaders who are willing to fight for a sustainable future. Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz will stand up for smart, responsible growth while safeguarding the natural beauty that makes the county special.

Irene Sergonis, Budd Lake

Note: Democrats Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz are running against incumbent Republicans Deborah Smith, John Krickus and Stephen Shaw, for three seats on a seven-member board that is currently all-Republican.

Time to send Gottheimer packing

Choosing between congressional candidates is a very personal matter. In the 5th District, should we continue in “La-lLa-Land,” as we have for the last several years with incumbent Democrat Josh Gottheimer, or shore up our britches and confront reality.

Gottheimer focuses on issues like pregnancy crisis centers that do not offer abortion as an option, while he ignores commenting on boys and girls that are being subjected to pre-K drag queen shows, public school libraries stocked with deviant pornographic reading materials, and school counselors ready to explore with children the gamut of sexual practices and gender preferences.

Whereas Gottheimer cautiously limits himself mostly to being an advocate of low taxes, his Nov. 5 opponent, Republican Mary Jo Guinchard, tackles all the aforementioned issues.

She also addresses that New Jersey is being overrun by an estimated 450,000 unauthorized immigrants. Gottheimer expresses little concern that non-citizens could be voting illegally in our elections. But Guinchard understands that a flood of non-citizens may not be bound by any respect for America’s laws and culture, something that may lead to serious problems for society.

Refusing to acknowledge serious societal issues is Gottheimer’s approach to winning an election, as long as the majority of the public also continues to ignore the consequences f But, if a majority of voters becomes more aware of the negative impact of these recent controversial events before Nov. 5, they can choose a true representative of their best interests by voting for candidate Guinchard.

Andrew Godfried, Park Ridge

Tell ‘em why your vote counts

Perhaps you’ve heard a younger person say this year, “I’m not voting.” Perhaps you asked, “Why?” And they said, “Why bother? What difference does it make?”

Why bother, indeed.

Remember the first time you voted? Why not share your story about that with a young person who states that their vote won’t matter?

As an 18-year old, I remember as the curtains of the voting booth closed behind me, feeling immense responsibility and privilege. In that space, I made a difference in our democratic process.

To younger people, I say, I vote because my maternal grandmother couldn’t vote until 1920, although her brothers could — since they were men. I tell those younger people, ”Talk to your older relatives and friends. Find out what those experiences of voting or being denied the vote felt like.”

If you don’t “like” a particular candidate, consider being a multi-issue voter. Consider all of the issues and not personal biases, because we live in a multifaceted country and world.

I vote because I believe in generations helping each other, older to younger; younger to older. This year, and every year, I cast my vote for our future.

Jane Egan, North Haledon

Supply chain goes bananas

Before the three-day-old dockworkers’ strike was ended by a partial contract settlement, panic buying and hoarding were back in full swing.

I shopped in a big-box store early last week and was surprised to see hordes of shoppers buying up products made in the United States. The same goes for the grocery stores. These items generally do not need to use port facilities.

However, shelves containing the bananas and other tropical fruit that must be imported, usually via international cargo ship, were piled high.

What am I missing?

Elizabeth Bride, Gillette

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.