The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Voters in dark on key details of casino expansion referendum
When New Jerseyans decide in November whether to approve two new casinos in the northern part of the state, they’ll likely have only a vague notion of what they’re voting on. Wayne Parry, Associated Press Read more
N.J. Assembly committee advances resolution to give voters a say on North Jersey casino expansion
An Assembly committee on Monday approved a resolution that would allow voters statewide to decide in November whether to permit two new casino licenses to be issued in the northern half of the state. John Brennan, The Record Read more
JANUARY 8, 2016, 1:33 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016, 9:12 AM
BY JOHN BRENNAN AND JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
Governor Christie on Friday waded into an increasingly inflammatory battle over how to extend casino gambling to North Jersey, siding with state Senate President Steven Sweeney in his escalating war of words with Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.
Christie, who has been campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, blamed “infighting” between the two legislative leaders, both of whom are Democrats, for the fact that a push for a statewide referendum on the matter appears to have stalled in the waning days of the legislative session, which ends Tuesday.
The governor endorsed Sweeney’s proposal, which would restrict bidding for two North Jersey casino licenses to companies with a majority interest in an Atlantic City casino. Christie echoed the assertion that Sweeney made earlier in the day that Prieto’s competing plan, which would allow one of the licenses to be issued to a newcomer, does not have enough support to clear the Assembly before the new session starts.
TRENTON — Casinos in north Jersey? The odds are against it.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll of 913 New Jersey residents released Tuesday found 56 percent oppose allowing casinos outside of Atlantic City, while just 37 percent support it.
“The public is questioning the logic behind allowing the spread of casino gambling,” said Krista Jenkins, a political science professor of political science and director of PublicMind. “They don’t seem to be sold on the idea of saving the gaming industry in the state by allowing it to spread.”
And despite a major push in recent months by politicians and business people who want to expand casino gaming, public opinion has not moved significantly from the last time FDU asked the question in February.
“This degree of attentiveness isn’t turning many people on to the idea. or the premise that the money can and should be rightfully used in places other than where the casinos are ultimately built,” said Jenkins
The polls are important because allowing gaming outside of Atlantic City would require an amendment to the state constitution. That requires voter approval.
North Jersey lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), want to put the question on the ballot this year. South Jersey lawmakers have resisted that, even though some – including Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) – have been open to allowing casino gambling in northern New Jersey if hundreds of millions in proceeds go towards helping Atlantic City rebuild.
Supporters of expanding casino gaming have proposed dedicating $100 million a year in north Jersey casino proceeds to the struggling resort, which saw four casinos close in 2012.
Incoming Bergen County exec says he supports expanding gambling to Meadowlands
NOVEMBER 25, 2014, 6:47 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014, 6:27 AM
BY JOHN BRENNAN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
In a speech to a receptive business group, incoming Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco on Tuesday said he supports expanded gambling at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, as part of a remaking of the complex that includes a convention center and a hotel.
During his remarks to the Meadowlands Regional Chamber, Tedesco also said that he recently met with executives of Triple Five — the new developers of the long-stalled shopping and entertainment complex that is once again under construction at the Sports Complex. — and that they agreed to meet with the Bergen freeholder board “within the next three weeks.” Tedesco, a supporter of the company’s American Dream plan, said he wanted Triple Five to make a presentation to update the freeholders on the progress at the site.
During the campaign, in which he ousted incumbent Republican Kathleen Donovan, Tedesco had said he supported casino gambling at the Meadowlands.