By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
The Jersey Shore GOP is waging a 3-cycle war at the moment, Save Jerseyans, precipitated by the distressed Atlantic City casino industry.
Our friend Michael Donohue, chairman of the Cape May GOP, took direct aim at one of Election 2017 likely top political targets, state Senator Jim Whelan (D-2) who, back in the summer months, publicly shared his belief that North Jersey casinos were inevitable (Why an incumbent in a swing district populated by casino workers thought THAT was a good idea is beyond me, but whether it’s foolishness or hubris at play here, Whelan seems predisposed to go along with the state Democrat consensus.
They want to make him pay for it. “For a State Senator who represents Atlantic City to say that North Jersey casinos are ‘inevitiable’ represents a defeatist attitude of surrender,” Chairman Donohue said in an e-mail blast to organization supporters. “That is not a trait typically associated with the people of South Jersey. Especially those in Atlantic and Cape May Counties whose livelihood depends on the Atlantic City casino industry. It is important to push back and to demonstrate to elected officials in Trenton that there are thousands of voters in South Jersey who are not going to let North Jersey casinos happen without a fight.”
That livelihood is slipping away; recent projections found the resort down 3,600 jobs in July 2014 over the prior year.
“I give credit where credit is due and I applaud our First District State Senator and Assemblymen for taking a hard line against this terrible proposal,” Donohue continued, offering rare praise to Jeff Van Drew, the Cape GOP’s electoral nemesis. “We need to let our voices be heard and this bumper sticker is an easy way to show those that want to board up Atlantic City that we are not going to stand for yet another painful policy directed at South Jersey!”
The battle is twice as intense further up the Garden State Parkway in A.C.’s immediate environs. Republican Atlantic County Freeholders John Risley and Alex Marino, along with Freeholder candidate John Carman, issued a press release demanding that their county ballot opposition take a stand with or against Whelan. “Two months ago, we asked our Democrat opponents to state their position on a North Jersey casino referendum,” said Freeholder Risley. “Since that time, they have said nothing. In the meantime, the ongoing discussions have had the effect of stifling new investment into Atlantic City.”
“Everyone knows that more gaming competition right now is counterproductive given the saturation of casinos in the mid-Atlantic states,” added Freeholder Alex Marino. “Regardless of party, we all need to stand together as a region against this devastating idea.”
Like I said… 2014 and 2017 started yesterday. Next up, however, is the GOP battle to retake John Amodeo’s stolen LD2 Assembly seat in 2015. I’m not sure if he’s got more sense (or just a great feeling of immanency?) than Whelan, but freshman Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo is taking a stand against the North Jersey gaming expansion push. The problem for A.C. area residents: will Mazzeo’s opposition amount to anything if his very pro-North Jersey Casino party remains in control of the legislature with its current majority? I wouldn’t want to risk it…
Casinos anywhere someone wants to build one. No government money goes into it though.
i support casinos wherever they want to build them…freedom and open competition…it’s the american way..and open up sports betting. AND allow machine gaming in all bars.
The problem for AC is that casinos in North a Jersey are going to a place in downtown Jersey City that has already experienced gentrification and would be an adjunct to a business environment and culture that exists already. That area won’t be dependent on success of casinos because there is enough going on culturally, with independent restaurants, bars, arts, and local events to thrive. Moreover, business groups from Wall st and downtown JC will save the trip to AC, as will many others. Planners need to figure out how to move forward with revitalizing AC. The damage has been done reconfiguring public space with oversized, inappropriate buildings.
If they will cut my property tax, put two in Roselle.
Six months after 29% property tax hike announced in Atlantic City, not one single politician–not Republican–not Democrat has even suggested cutting real estate taxes by cutting public employee salaries, positions, debt or any spending whatsoever–or adopting Sen. Doherty’s plan to equally distributed the NJ Property Tax Relief Fund of NJ State Income Tax. Like Liberty Prosperity
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KEEP ELECTING AND REELECTING DEMOCRATS.