Ciattarelli slams Murphy as NJ Transit strike and airport delays paralyze travel across state
TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli took a swipe at Gov. Phil Murphy this week as transit and airport disruptions mounted across New Jersey, joking that Murphy has finally stopped the state’s population exodus — by halting the trains and planes that would carry them out.
New Jersey, under Phil Murphy has led the nation in the number of people moving out of the state, due in part to high taxes and the governor’s failed progressive agenda.
“Phil Murphy and the Trenton Democrats finally found a way to stop all the outmigration: no one can get a plane or a train out of New Jersey,” Ciattarelli wrote on social media. “Seriously, the lives of New Jerseyans should not — CANNOT — be disrupted any more than they already are. The two sides need to come to an agreement.”
The comment comes as a statewide NJ Transit rail strike enters another day, freezing most commuter rail service and stranding thousands. The strike began over stalled contract negotiations between transit management and unionized rail workers who say they haven’t received raises in several years. With no resolution in sight, there is still no timeline for resuming regular service.
Major air traffic delays compound transit chaos
Compounding the transportation crisis, Newark Liberty International Airport has experienced staffing issues in air traffic control, resulting in extensive delays and flight disruptions this week. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged operational challenges at the airport, one of the busiest in the nation, further frustrating travelers already grappling with limited rail access.
Together, the disruptions have impacted business commutes, leisure travel, and regional mobility across one of the most densely populated corridors in the country.
Ciattarelli calls for immediate resolution
Ciattarelli, a Republican and frequent critic of Murphy, pointed to the broader consequences of the ongoing transit breakdown. Though offered in jest, his comments echoed growing concerns among commuters and business leaders over the state’s infrastructure reliability and labor relations management.
