Rally Held On Hoboken Pier To Make New Jersey Polluters Pay: Photos

HOBOKEN, NJ — New Jersey students, unions, and environmental activists rallied Thursday morning on Pier A in Hoboken to urge state legislators to support the Climate Superfund Act.

The act makes fossil fuel corporations pay for pollution they cause, specifically when it leads to climate change and resulting damage.

They're asking New Jersey representatives to pass the law when they return from summer recess.

At the event, speakers called on holdouts to act quickly since the federal government may phase out FEMA, eliminate BRIC grants, deregulate the EPA, reverse its endangerment findings, and eliminate clean energy tax credits and incentives.

"Hoboken is proud to host CRAN’s [Climate Revolution Action Network] climate strike because we know the devastating impacts of climate change firsthand," said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. "Superstorm Sandy alone caused more than $110 million in private and public property damage, and taxpayers should not be left to shoulder the costs of this destruction."

He added, "Hoboken was one of the first municipalities in New Jersey to pass a resolution in support of the Climate Superfund Act and why the legislature must take action now, not after the next storm hits."

"Ask anyone in Jersey City or Hoboken and you’ll hear horror stories about flooded homes, flooded cars, and how much it costs to pick up the pieces,” said Katie Brennan, a Jersey City housing advocate and Democratic Assembly Nominee on a ticket with Bhalla.

Local Assemblyman John Allen (D-32nd) co-sponsored the legislation with State Sen. John McKeon (D-27th). Forty-five New Jersey towns alsohave supported the legislation.

“New Jersey residents continue to be threatened by larger and more frequent storms due to climate change," said McKeon. "The devastating flooding we have seen in recent weeks is unfortunately just the beginning if the status quo. We know that the fossil fuel companies that have polluted our communities for decades should be the ones responsible for footing the bill to clean it up.”

Last month, two women died in their car during a flash flood and three other people died when trees fell on them during storms in New Jersey. Scientists say that storms are becoming more extreme as pollutants alter the earth's atmosphere.

Modeled After Superfund Cleanup Act

The act is modeled after similar legislation passed by other Northeastern states, as well as the original Superfund Act, which required polluters to pay to clean up contaminated sites.

Proponents say, "Extreme climate events cost the U.S. $150 billion each year – an estimate that doesn't account for loss of life, healthcare-related costs, and damage to our environment."

Among the key organizers of the event was a nonprofit founded in 2024 called the Climate Revolution Action Network, which says it has 10,000 Gen-Z members statewide.

Read the act here.