In a move that reeks of political opportunism, Tammy Murphy, the wife of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, has suddenly found her voice in opposition to a gas-fired power plant proposed for Newark, a project her husband has supported.
While her newfound environmental concern may seem commendable on the surface, it raises serious questions about her sincerity and the depth of her commitment to the cause.
The proposed power plant, intended to provide backup power to the state-run Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, has been met with fierce opposition from environmentalists and community activists who have spent years fighting against plans to build a fourth natural gas-powered plant in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood.
The neighborhood where the plant is planned is already burdened by pollution, and residents fear further harm to public health and exacerbation of climate change.
Tammy Murphy’s belated opposition to the project comes conveniently as she seeks to replace Democratic Senator Bob Menendez.
“Tammy, Andy & Bob are exactly the kind of ‘politics as usual’ politicians who work to serve the oligarchs that have ruined American democracy,” said Lisa McCormick, who also referred to Congressman Andy Kim, who was Menendez’s running mate in 2018. “Her sudden activism on this issue, coupled with her silence on it until now, smacks of political calculation rather than genuine concern for the environment or the well-being of Newark residents.”
Despite her claims of being an advocate for environmental causes, Tammy Murphy has failed to use her influence to address the issue directly with her husband, who holds significant sway over the fate of the project.
“I am not speaking for the governor,” said Tammy Murphy, when pressed about whether she ever discussed the matter with her husband. “I’m talking to other people about this. I’m not here to stand up and speak for the administration. That’s not my role here today. With all due respect, that’s the end of the conversation.”
Instead, she has chosen to grandstand publicly, distancing herself from the administration while conveniently sidestepping any responsibility for influencing its decisions at the same time as sycophantic political bosses, government contractors and municipal leaders dependent upon the state administration rally behind her unqualified candidacy.
Moreover, her assertion that advances in technology could provide green alternatives to the proposed power plant is misleading and lacks substance. Regulators have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of renewables in this context, highlighting the need for reliable backup power during severe storms.
Tammy Murphy’s opposition to the power plant is a calculated political maneuver aimed at garnering support from environmentalists and communities affected by the project. Her actions betray a cynical disregard for the very principles she claims to champion and raise serious doubts about her integrity as a candidate for public office.
“A new gas power plant will not create jobs, not keep energy prices low, not keep the lights on, and not reduce emissions. A new gas power plant will make matters worse than they are already, just like a coal or oil-burning plant,” said McCormick in a social media post on May 30, 2021. “A new gas power plant will help kill the planet.”
“Tammy Murphy’s pollsters might have told her to oppose the Newark power plant, but I never heard her express an opinion about the North Bergen Liberty power plant, the Willow project, Alaska LNG, or the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases,” said McCormick, who earned 159,998 votes when she challenged Menendez in the 2018 Democratic primary.
While some may laud her newfound activism, others see it for what it truly is: a thinly veiled attempt to exploit a contentious issue for personal gain. In the end, Tammy Murphy’s contrived opposition only serves to underscore the pervasive influence of politics-as-usual and the need for genuine leadership untainted by self-interest.