Newark New Jersey’s municipal council has passed several amendments to the city’s redevelopment plan to allow for a casino to be built in the city.
Newark is one of several towns in northern New Jersey hoping to attract a casino if the state goes through with a plan to allow casinos outside of Atlantic City. Such a plan would require voter’s approval to change the state constitution and would probably need to specify where new casinos would be built before a referendum could be held.
According to NJ.com, city officials including Mayor Ras Baraka and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo back a casino to anchor a downtown district that would include entertainment, convention and retail.
The city has started development talks with casino operators for a potential casino development plan.
“Newark needs this more than any other city in the state,” Baraka told NJ.com “We are talking millions of dollars of revenue lost that we can recapture here in the state of New Jersey.”
Other sites vying for a casino include the Meadowlands, Jersey City, several northern New Jersey counties and Monmouth Park Racetrack.
