Attempt to oppose North Jersey casinos backfires
Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian has been credited by many for injecting a new sense of optimism for the future of the beleaguered gaming resort, and encouraging new investment in an industry that has seen four resorts close and thousands of jobs lost.
However, Guardian’s comments last week at a forum in Jersey City on the coming vote to legalize casinos in North Jersey have ignited a firestorm of protest from within the gaming industry—particularly with the American Gaming Association.
In comments intended to dissuade North Jersey voters from legalizing casinos in North Jersey under a constitutional referendum on this November’s election ballot, Guardian warned, ““If you don’t think prostitution and drugs and other minor crimes won’t come along with it, you’re foolish.” The comment was part of a speech to attendees of a forum at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, one of two commonly predicted new casino locations along with the Meadowlands racing complex.
AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman reacted quickly.
“Whether or not Northern New Jersey should have casinos is worthy of a healthy debate,” Freeman said in a press statement. “But that debate should be based in fact, not driven by asinine comments like those made by Mayor Don Guardian.
“In every location in which we operate, gaming is a strong and valued community partner. Local leaders—mayors, law enforcement, nonprofit executives, small business owners and others—routinely tout the positive social impacts of gaming in cities and towns from coast to coast. It’s disappointing and disingenuous for Mayor Guardian to recycle tired myths about an industry that serves as the lifeblood of his city.”
After the speech, Guardian also commented to Bergen County’s Record that North Jersey casinos are likely to gridlock an already strained transportation infrastructure. “You may want the money, but you don’t want the extra commuting time” Guardian said.
The Record also quoted Resorts Casino Hotel CEO Mark Giannantonio, who says there is undue haste in the process of changing the constitution to allow casinos outside of Atlantic City. “Legislators are asking the residents of this state to change the constitution without even first calling for an economic impact study,” he said.
The amendment on November’s ballot would repeal the provision of the state constitution that restricts casino gaming to Atlantic City, a key provision of the 1976 law that created Atlantic City’s casino industry.
