In a bold new campaign ad that has left New Jerseyans chuckling into their Taylor Ham (pork roll) sandwiches, Rep. Josh Gottheimer is making a claim as trustworthy as a ‘Jersey Shore’ cast member’s tax return.
Gottheimer falsely alleged that property taxes on Park Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey, are higher than those on Manhattan’s ultra-swanky Upper East Side.
The only problem? The numbers are about as accurate and believable as a traffic-free Friday on the Turnpike.
The ad, titled “Park Avenue,” opens with sweeping shots of Manhattan’s glittering Park Avenue, where billionaires sip champagne in penthouses and doormen earn more than most congressional staffers.
Then it pivots to… West Orange’s Park Avenue, a charming suburban street where the most dramatic property dispute is whether Mr. Johnson’s recycling bin is two inches into the Smiths’ lawn.
Gottheimer gravely intones, “Property taxes are lower on this Park Avenue than Park Avenue in Jersey.”
But here’s the rub: the 2024 property tax bill for 20 Park Avenue in Manhattan — a 25-story luxury tower with a doorman, marble lobbies, and residents who probably own yachts named Tax Haven — was $685,818.50.
Meanwhile, 20 Park Drive North in West Orange — a cozy single-family home where the biggest extravagance is a heated birdbath — paid $9,414.84.
Gottheimer’s campaign did not clarify whether the congressman confused “Park Avenue” with “parking spot,” or if he’s simply banking on voters not owning calculators.
While West Orange property taxes are almost 50 percent more than the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment at 20 Park in Manhattan, the candidate is not being honest.
The Manhattan skyscraper combines the charisma of old New York with new, modern, full-service luxury living. Conveniently located on Park Avenue in the heart of Murray Hill, this luxury building boasts a brand-new fitness center, full-time doorman, and spacious studio to three-bedroom homes.
“From the stunning pre-war details to the private outdoor space, 20 Park offers its residents an oasis from city living in vibrant Murray Hill,” according to a promotional website from the property manager.
The West Orange property is a single-family residence built in 1928 on a 3,049-square-foot lot.
When pressed, a spokesperson doubled down, insisting, “The ad highlights a symbolic injustice. Why should hardworking New Jerseyans pay any taxes when Manhattan oligarchs exist?”
Political analysts, however, were less charitable.
“Comparing a Park Avenue penthouse to a West Orange split-level is like saying a Lamborghini costs more than a used Razor scooter,” said a Rutgers professor who suggested the assertion belongs in the next edition of Politicians Say the Darndest Things. “It’s not a tax problem — it’s a basic grasp of reality problem.”
The ad’s claim is part of Gottheimer’s broader trickle-down pledge to cut property taxes by 15%, a promise that has resonated in a state where “property tax griping” is considered both a sport and a constitutional right.
Yet critics argue the congressman’s fuzzy math undermines his credibility.
“If he can’t tell a high-rise from a ranch house, how’s he gonna fix NJ Transit?” quipped one Newark voter, who requested anonymity to avoid “being yelled at by my landlord.”
The ad also touts Gottheimer’s record of “taking on Trump,” a curious flex for a Democrat who voted with the former president more than any other House Democrat. (“Take on Trump… to brunch?” snarked a local blogger.)
As the gubernatorial race heats up, rivals have pounced.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have proposed far more realistic plans for making property taxes fair, while Gottheimer and Sherrill have championed more relief for high-income homeowners who itemize their federal tax returns.
For now, West Orange residents are basking in their unlikely moment in the spotlight.
“Honestly, I’m flattered,” said a woman whose tax bill funds “excellent public schools and pothole repairs that take only six months.”
“But if Josh wants to fight for me, maybe start by getting my recycling picked up on time?,” asked the West Orange resident.
Gottheimer’s campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment, though sources confirm they’re busy editing a follow-up ad comparing the cost of Central Park to a Paramus parking lot.
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