By David Cruz
Correspondent
Demonstrators met passengers as they prepared to board the annual Chamber Train to Washington. the trip is intended to facilitate communication from all sides so nurses and NJ Transit workers were having their say.
“The Walk to Washington is the premiere networking event. What other even is there through the course of the year where politicians and business leaders, folks from nonprofits, regional chamber of commerce, everybody just networking on the train?” Michael Egenton from the NJ Chamber of Commerce said.
It’s not all that serious either — at least in tone — as we found with these two guys who are usually on opposite sides of the aisle, literally.
“Are these Bramnick pins? Bramnick for governor pins?” joked Assemblyman John Wisniewski.
“I’m sitting right next to the Wiz, so when you get an opportunity, normally it’s all press conferences against each other, but you spend some time and you know that’s the key to getting stuff done,” Assemblyman Jon Bramnick said.
“I was actually — unbeknownst to everybody — I was in overalls and I had a hat. I put the cones out myself,” Wisniewski said.
“It’s really an opportunity for us to get to know each other a lot better and get an opportunity to share some very funny moments or just some very serious conversation. You’d be surprised — there’s some pretty serious conversations sometimes that actually go on,” Sen. Nellie Pou said.
When asked if there will be an answer to the Transportation Trust Fund and pension problems by the time they get to Washington, Assemblyman Scott Rumana said, “Well the one thing that’s great about this trip is we’re forced to have discussions on this train ride and I certainly am hopeful that we can solve all these problems in this short travel from Newark to Washington, D.C.”
Spoiler alert. There are gubernatorial candidates on the train. That’s what all the tchotchkes are about.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg said, “We already have a collection of these at my office,” referring to the traffic cones Wisniewski was handing out.
It’s never too early to get the word out and to try and make the walk work for them.
“We like saving money. We don’t like spending money on tchotchkes. That’s not why we’re here, but it’s clever some of the stuff they hand out,” said Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.
When asked if he’s any closer to becoming a candidate for governor, Phil Murphy said, “Listen, I don’t know about that. That’s a decision we can make down the road, but I love this state. We can do better as a state. I know we can get back to where we use to be and should be, a top three state measured by any of the ways that you or I would measure, and I’m excited to be a part of the team that helps get us back on our feet.”
One person not expected this year is Gov. Chris Christie who probably still expected to be running for president. But even with that effort over with he still appears to have better things to do.