As Gottheimer Hosts Raimondo Visit, Activists Gather In Glen Rock

GLEN ROCK, NJ — Congressman Josh Gottheimer was joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in Glen Rock on Monday to tour a number of local businesses, and to hold a press conference in support of the current infrastructure bill.

While that was happening around town, local organizers again gathered in front of the congressman's office in support of the budget package.

Gottheimer and Raimondo toured a number of small businesses in the community, at each touting the infrastructure package that Gottheimer has long been vocally supporting. But this support hasn't come without opposition, especially as the congressman has threatened to hinder the passage of the budget bill.

“The Secretary, Mayor, and I spent this morning touring small businesses in downtown Glen Rock, just a stone’s throw from the train station, where moms and dads commute to work every day,” said Gottheimer. “The message we heard was loud and clear: fixing our crumbling infrastructure — our roads, bridges, rails, and tunnels, and investing in broadband, and fighting climate change, like those recent floods, is key to their success, and to Jersey’s.”

Raimondo and Gottheimer hosted a press conference in Glen Rock. Here's a bit of what Raimondo had to say about the infrastructure bill there:

"When President Biden came into office, he said he wanted to reach across the aisle and get things done. He said, I want to find common ground and get things done for the American people, and that's exactly what we've been doing since we got into office. And as Congressman Gottheimer just said, we have an opportunity right now to do something historic, which is to pass a trillion dollar Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, and that will create millions of jobs. It will make sure that every single American has access to high quality, high-speed affordable broadband. It will make sure that communities like yours here in Bergen County and Glen Rock will have the money necessary for transit and resilience."

To hear the rest of the press conference, watch the video below:

Meanwhile, protesters were hosting themselves for a chance to share their thoughts on the two competing bills in Glen Rock.

They also sent a letter to the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, urging them to support both bills.

"Infrastructure means investment in human beings. People are hungry to see what government can do - after the Trump era, after COVID, working families across New Jersey are looking for leadership from our electeds. Supporting BOTH BILLS- and nothing less- is our only option," said Sue Altman, State Director of the NJ Working Families.

"Party leadership has finally listened to progressives and produced a true compromise that will substantially improve the lives of working people," said Joe Marchica, Chair of Our Revolution Trenton Mercer.

"So if a few selfish obstructionists like Josh Gottheimer want to stand in the way of the Democratic Party FINALLY getting good things done for working-class people, we need our representatives and party leadership to call their bluff."

Video of the demonstration can be seen below. To read the full letter, click here.

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