StreetPAC NJ is supporting Mussab Ali for Congress in the 8th District, exclaiming that he has consistently championed a “transit-first” philosophy.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Mussab Ali doesn’t just view transportation as a line item; he views it as a lifeline. We cannot afford a representative who supports pouring billions into wider highways while our rail and bus systems beg for scraps,” StreetsPAC NJ Executive Director Kevin Bing said in a statement.
“We need a leader who understands that the era of endless highway building is over. Mussab Ali is that leader.”
While he didn’t say it outright, Bing said the organization could not support U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) for supporting the multi-billion dollar New Jersey Turnpike widening project that will impact Jersey City, Bayonne, and Newark.
In March, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) advocated for a revised Newark Bay Bridge plan that would have one bridge instead of two, which Menendez, along with other local electeds like Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour, supported.
In addition to Ali opposing the project altogether, Bing cited four points from his platform that stood out.
Those include fighting for stable, long-term investment in NJ Transit and the Gateway Tunnel project and expanding federal grants to ensure student safety via protected crossings and traffic calming.
Further, Ali has pledged to champion dedicated bus lanes and signal priority to turn the bus system into a high-speed, reliable network, as well as having a focused strategy to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled through robust transit-oriented development.
StreetsPAC NJ has also endorsed two candidates for Hudson County commissioner in the June 2nd primary: Ron Bautista in the 5th District, who is running unopposed, and Alex Valdez in the 9th District, who is in a three-way race for an open seat.
