NJ Advocate Forcibly Removed From Tax Incentives Hearing

TRENTON, NJ — A vocal critic of South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross was forcibly removed from a State Senate hearing on New Jersey’s Tax Incentive Program on Monday.

New Jersey Working Families Alliance Executive Director Sue Altman was removed after spectators in the hearing room began applauding testimony from State NAACP Director Richard Smith, according to nj.com.

Sen. Bob Smith (D-17) ordered the removal of the group. Altman was also removed, fighting the troopers as they dragged her by the arms. Video of the incident can be seen below. Afterward, Altman said she was cited for disorderly conduct. The video shows Norcross sitting unfazed as troopers drag Altman away in front of him.

“Today, George Norcross and his political allies resorted to thuggery and violence to silence the voices of Camden residents and advocates seeking to make their voices heard on the ongoing incentives scandal,” Altman said in a statement. “While Norcross allies were cheering, a group of advocates booed in response to public testimony from a Norcross ally. I was then specifically targeted for removal from the hearing room. State troopers grabbed me by the arm and when I fell, they dragged me from the committee room. They then issued me a citation for disorderly conduct.”

The hearings center around a report that claims tax incentives given to five companies connected to Norcross in which the EDA rewarded too much money in tax incentives to companies that mislead them in their applications. In some cases, the task force claims those companies should've been denied incentives outright. Read more here: Report Says Program Provided Big Benefits To NJ Political Boss

The task force was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy, who condemned Altman’s removal Monday afternoon.

“The forceful removal of Sue Altman from today’s tax incentives hearing is completely outrageous and unacceptable. Every senator on that committee owes her a direct apology,” Murphy said on social media. “Dissent will always be part of our American fabric.”

“Violence against political opponents is the last refuge of despots who have lost the debate over ideas,” Altman said. “What happened to me today unmasks the dirty underbelly of a machine that will subvert democracy in its ruthless goal to accumulate and maintain power.”

Norcross spoke at the hearing, saying he was there “to defend Camden and correct the many misstatements, mischaracterizations, and outright mistruths that are having a serious negative impact on the revitalization of the city,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Read more here: Troubles Surrounding NJ's 'Most Poweful Unelected' Man?

Camden County Republican Party Chairman Rich Ambrosino was critical of both sides in what he calls the Democrats’ “stupid war.”

“The progressives went to the hearing to be unruly and stir things up and did exactly that,” Ambrosino said. “The establishment went with a plan to portray themselves as do-gooders who care about Camden with their same old tired lines of crime being down and more people working, when we all know the truth is crimes are being reported differently within the county police department and any new jobs are a direct result of President Trump’s domestic agenda.

“As I’ve been saying since the start of this war between the establishment and progressive Democrats, the only people to blame for the tax incentive controversy are Democrats, be they establishment or progressive because for the past 28 years both sides have come together every November to vote the Democratic Party line. Progressives helped give the establishment the power; now they’re having buyers’ remorse. They’re little protests and acts of civil disobedience are too little, too late.”

Read more here: Powerful NJ Family Muscled Nonprofit Out Of Valuable Land