Helping Atlantic City cuts off funding for pet projects
From the Camden Aquarium to the Yogi Berra Museum, projects all over New Jersey depended on money from casino tax dollars.
As part of the effort to bolster Atlantic City’s casinos, the money from casino taxes will be concentrated in the oceanfront resort. In the past, towns all over New Jersey got casino money for local projects.
The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority or the C.R.D.A. has funded everything from a supermarket in Burlington County to the expansion of the Aquarium in Camden to senior housing in Cherry Hill to the Yogi Berra Museum in Passaic County
State Senate President Steve Sweeney says Atlantic City can’t afford to have C.R.D.A. money spread around anymore.
“The numbers are down year after year, we need to prop this industry up, otherwise the goose that laid the golden egg isn’t going to lay anymore. The money needs to go into Atlantic City to revitalize Atlantic City.”
Sweeney says Democrats plan a summit next month to explore options beyond the governor’s plan, which includes sports betting. Casinos employ around 40,000 people in New Jersey.
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