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Newark, NJ — Today, Essex County elected officials, residents, labor leaders and environmental justice advocates rallied to call for the passage of the Polluters Pay to Make NJ More Affordable Act. The event in Military Park in Newark highlighted Essex County’s vulnerability to flooding and extreme heat and the mounting financial toll of climate disasters on local families, businesses, and taxpayers. Attendees called for the immediate passage of the Polluters Pay Act this fall — legislation that would require major fossil fuel extractors to pay for their role in driving the climate crisis and fund infrastructure upgrades to protect New Jersey communities.

The Polluters Pay Act has strong support across Essex County. Every legislator representing the county is a co-sponsor of the bill, and the Essex County Commissioners and Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Maplewood, and South Orange have passed resolutions calling for the bill to be passed. In June, the bill cleared every committee and now awaits floor votes. Advocates are calling for the bill to be passed this fall.

“The extreme heat and major flooding this summer make clear, The Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act is must-pass legislation, Newark’s economic viability and growth—and the entire state’s—depend on it.”  said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “It would be one of the largest job-creating bills ever passed in New Jersey, putting more than 18,000 health care workers, electrical workers, and members of the construction trades to work in good-paying jobs right here in our city and state. Let’s get this bill passed this fall!”

The Polluters Pay Act would raise 50 billion dollars over 20 years by imposing a targeted “fair share” assessment on some of the world’s largest fossil fuel extractors who do business in NJ. This would help shift the growing cost burden off of taxpayers while making NJ safer and more affordable. The bill would also create an estimated 18,000 well-paying jobs in the process.

Recent research from Rebuild By Design found that approximately $20.6 billion in property value and $426.3 million in annual property taxes are at risk in Essex County by 2050. Statewide, another study showed that extreme heat reduced New Jersey’s GDP by $108 billion between 1991 and 2022.

“Over 60 water rescues from Newark and Jersey City flooding last week. 29 deaths likely caused by extreme heat across the state this July 4th weekend. NJ Health Department advising folks to stay inside due to cross-continental wildfire smoke in between. Victims and taxpayers paid for it. But now the polluters who profited will pay to protect us from the problems they caused,” said prime Senate Sponsor John McKeon, who represents NJ’s 27th legislative district. “Economic experts have documented tens of thousands of jobs will be created for 20 years without consumers or taxpayers paying a dime. Isn’t it time to pass the Polluters Pay Act?”

“Millions of New Jerseyans are struggling to make ends meet while extreme climate costs continue driving up energy bills, property taxes, and soaring insurance premiums,” said prime Assembly sponsor of the Make Polluters Pay to Make NJ More Affordable Act,  Alixon Collazos-Gill,representing NJ’s 27th district. “It’s only fair that the corporations most responsible for the climate crisis pay a share of these rising costs. My legislation is the only proposal on the table that can bring in $50 billion in new revenue and create tens of thousands of jobs building a more resilient New Jersey, while shifting these growing costs off working families and onto the world’s most profitable corporate polluters.”

“Our communities have carried the burden of unhealthy environmental conditions for far too long, and we have to continue making sure the companies that contributed to those conditions are held accountable,” said Senator Renee C. Burgess, representing NJ’s 28th legislative district. “This is about protecting our families, our neighborhoods, and our future. The cost of making our communities safer and more resilient should not continue to fall only on the residents who are already feeling the greatest impact.”

“Newark has every reason to lead the fight to Make Polluters Pay. Our residents have lived next to pollution for generations and have dealt with the impacts of extreme heat, flooding, and dirty air. We pay for it with our health, through our property values, and with our hard-earned money,” said Assemblyman Chigozie Onyema who represents NJ’s 28th legislative district. “It’s time billionaire polluters pay their fare share. It’s time to make our entire state safer and more resilient than the storms ahead.”

“The flooding we have seen across Essex County makes clear that waiting is not an option. Our communities need serious investment in the infrastructure that keeps people safe, and working families should not be left paying the entire bill,” said Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas. “It is time for the biggest polluters to contribute their fair share.”

“The fossil fuel companies have an ethical and moral obligation to pay for the damages done to marginalized communities who have been disproportionately impacted by the pollution generated by these companies,” said Reverend Louise Scott-Rountree, Council Member-At-Large.

“I am proud to represent the East Ward on Newark’s City Council. My ward is composed of resilient, thriving, working-class and immigrant families. I support this bill because it would ensure that my community–which is exposed to toxic facilities and especially vulnerable to the climate crisis–is also climate resilient,” said Michael J. Silva, East Ward Councilman for the City of Newark. “NJ must pass Make Polluters Pay now so that the East Ward and all vulnerable communities like mine have the necessary funding to protect themselves from further climate disasters.”

“We are sending a clear message to those companies that will pollute our communities without significant repercussions and consequences.  For too long, families and communities have been left to bear the health, environmental and economic costs of pollution while the companies responsible continue to profit,” said Newark Councilman At-Large C. Lawrence Crump. “The Polluters Pay Act is about accountability, environmental justice and protecting the people of Newark and communities across New Jersey.  Those who profit from pollution must pay to help clean it up and invest in healthier communities for generations to come.”

Local advocates are calling for the bill to be passed to make Newark and Essex County communities safer, more resilient, and more affordable. 

​​”Because at least 51% of the funds are guaranteed for environmental justice (EJ) communities, the Make Polluters Pay Act guarantees that the people of Ironbound, who have long faced pollution and climate risks, finally see real investments in our homes, our streets, and our health,” stated Hazel Applewhite, Chief Executive Officer, Ironbound Community Corporation.

“This legislation is a necessary step toward affordability, accountability, and prevention. Patients cannot postpone asthma, heart disease, or exposure to the next flood, said Banita Herndon, RN, President of HPAE Local 5089 at University Hospital in Newark. “Make the polluters pay their fair share—and give New Jersey families a healthier, safer future.”

“This is about affordability and justice. Newark residents are paying every day for the pollution the oil and gas industry has profited from for decades. Today is the day for the largest corporate polluters to pay for some of the damage to our lungs and property instead of sticking it to taxpayers, ratepayers and consumers,” said Kim Gaddy, Executive Director of Newark’s South Ward Environmental Alliance. “The Legislature needs to pass the Polluters Pay  Act today before more extreme weather and bad air arrives this fall.”

“The Make Polluters Pay Coalition is over 135 organizations and hundreds of local officials strong. We have majority sponsorship in both the NJ Senate and Assembly,” said Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action & Coalition Steering Committee Member. “It’s time for legislative leadership to put it up for a vote – Yes to communities, families and making Big Oil pay for our future resiliency while creating 18,000+ new union jobs in the Garden State.”

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