Who gets to park at the New Jersey Capitol? Proposal would exclude public from State House parking garage

State officials are considering closing the gates on visitors who want to use a taxpayer-funded parking garage at the New Jersey State House, which would effectively force members of the public and press to park elsewhere and walk Trenton’s dangerous streets.

Lobbyists, building managers, State House tour-goers, reporters, and citizens going to legislative hearings have, since 1994, parked for free in the State Street garage, perched just west of the Capitol building near the banks of the Delaware River.

The garage, built with taxpayer money, was controversial when it was built due to the expense and cost overruns. The ban, which officials said on Tuesday could take effect sometime in the next two months, would instead hand parking privileges only to full- and part-time State House employees, security guards, interns, and the drivers who ferry around bigwig lawmakers.

It’s not clear what sparked the newly proposed restrictions on the 140-spot visitors’ deck, or if a specific threat to the Garden State’s legislative heart necessitated it. Officials contradict each other when explaining the push to close the garage to the public.

Eric Brophy, chair of the State Capitol Joint Management Commission, blamed the New Jersey State Police and said the ban is part of the agency’s security plans.

“They’re the law enforcement and security experts; we’re not,” Brophy told reporters after the group’s Tuesday meeting. “So we’re following the lead of the experts.

“They explained to us what the security plan is and why they’re doing it … This has been their plan for a long time.”

Visitors, the commission members said, could park at paid lots and garages throughout the city. It’s not clear if lobbyists would still be allowed to use the garage.

But when asked repeatedly for evidence of security concerns — or why officials would make members of the press and public walk through one of the state’s most dangerous cities — Brophy raised his voice and said no one is “taking anybody’s access away.”

“What’s newsworthy here? Your parking situation?” Brophy asked reporters. “That’s newsworthy? Your parking situation? Is this about your convenience in parking? Have you discussed this with the Trenton police?”

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Reporters who park regularly at the State House complex must apply to do so. They are vetted after providing copies of their driver’s licenses, the news organizations they work for, clips of their stories, and press credentials.

Brophy also claimed “unknown people” can park in the garage, which “creates a dangerous condition.”

But Trenton — a city of 90,000 that’s known for its mean streets — can be hazardous all on its own. The State House, for instance, stands on the same road where two deadly April shootings wounded one and killed three, including a mother and daughter shot to death in their own home just a block away.

State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said in a written statement on Wednesday evening that no decision has been made on closing the garage to the public. He said the recommendation was made by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and the State Capitol Joint Management Commission is the body that decides the matter.

“The recommendation was made as a result of the OHSP threat assessment and the inability for us to screen every vehicle entering the garage due to the resource strain,” Callahan said.

A public parking lot with a security footprint was also proposed if closing the garage to the public becomes necessary, Callahan said, adding that the location hasn’t been determined. One suggestion is to locate the parking lot next to the proposed public park behind the State House.

“The decision does not rest on the NJSP, we only weigh in on security measures — the JMC makes the final decision.  Lastly, the next JMC meeting is likely not to occur until after the summer, so no decision is imminent.”

As part of the State House renovations, press row, where news outlets had their offices directly across from the Governor’s press offices, was eliminated.  The entire floor was reconfigured for more executive branch offices. Press row was replaced with a single room, a floor above, with 10 desks for reporters to share. On busy legislative days, reporters must jostle for a seat.

Jeff Tittel, a Trenton activist and the past president of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said the proposal to eliminate public parking is just another step in state officials’ slow march to cutting public access and oversight.

“The State House used to be one of the most open governmental bodies in the country,” Tittel told The Jersey Vindicator. “It was a very friendly place for the public to interact, go to hearings or meet with elected officials — it was very transparent.”

“Now, it’s been turned into a bunker,” Tittel continued. “And by moving the parking out of the building, it further erodes the ability of the public to come in and address their government. It’s part of that pattern — it has nothing to do with safety.”

“When you’re not doing the public’s business, you don’t want the public around to see you doing mischief.”

Reporter Elise Young contributed to this story.