As a number of competing proposals for locating casinos outside of Atlantic City have emerged in New Jersey, a former governor feels it’s actually those opposed to the move that are orchestrating the proposals.
State Senator and former Governor Richard Codey said he feels that the competition between possible casino sites in Newark, Jersey City and the Meadowlands only helps politicians from southern New Jersey who want to see Atlantic City maintain its monopoly on casinos in the state.
“A lot of this is inspired by South Jersey. It’s contrived,” Codey told politickerNJ.com. “They want to make the case that there shouldn’t be a referendum this November.”
The state Legislature would have to approve an amendment to the New Jersey constitution to allow casinos to be built outside of Atlantic City by August 3 to have a referendum before voters by this November’s ballot.
With several competing proposals, it seems unlikely a consensus can be reached in time.
“If every town wants a casino, and every county wants a casino, and we’re not on the same page as to where, how can you do a referendum? South Jersey doesn’t want it on the map,” Codey said. “It gives South Jersey a reason to postpone a referendum. The competition hurts the chances for a casino in North Jersey already. The voters will say that this is way over the top. It’s ridiculous. But I still don’t know if North Jersey is fighting amongst themselves necessarily. It’s South Jersey, and others, hoping that they will fight amongst themselves.”
State Senate President Steven Sweeney has not said whether he will push for a referendum this year, but has already said the state may be better off waiting until 2016 when the presidential election will result in a higher voter turnout.
In addition, Sweeney and several other South Jersey politicians are up for re-election in 2015. If any area of the state were to reject casinos in North Jersey, it will be the voters of South Jersey, even though it might win statewide, where voters in North Jersey vastly outnumber voters in South Jersey. But South Jersey politicians may be vulnerable if they support casinos outside Atlantic City, so Sweeney is likely to want to delay a vote until after he and his South Jersey colleagues are safely re-elected.
