Residents urge Bergen County to back 'Climate Superfund' legislation to make polluters pay

Paula Rogovin of Teaneck and other speakers urged the Bergen County Board of Commissioners to support the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act during the meeting's public-comment period, asking the county to adopt a resolution in the bill's favor ahead of a planned rally and legislative lobbying day in Trenton. "Last time, several of us spoke out about the Climate Superfund Act, which would make the polluters pay," Paula Rogovin said, asking commissioners whether the county could be identified publicly as supporting sponsorship for the bill during upcoming advocacy events. Rogovin told commissioners she had discussed the request with Commissioner Tonelli and that organizers wanted to list commissioners as supporting groups; she acknowledged staff could only promise to consider the matter and not commit to a date. Chris Noel, a Fort Lee resident, repeated the request later in the public-comments period and framed it as a fiscal priority for Bergen County. Noel urged the board to pass a supporting resolution, saying Bergen County residents will need New Jersey to raise revenue for climate adaptation, resiliency and mitigation and arguing taxpayers should not bear all costs alone. "Once again, I urge you to pass a resolution in support of the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act in the state legislature right now," Noel said. The transcript records these statements as public comments; it does not show the Board taking formal action or voting on a county resolution at this meeting. The comments also touched on related topics including environmental justice and the group's plans to lobby the Statehouse; no county staff presentation or formal committee referral was recorded in the transcript.