State Senator: Competition For North Jersey Casino 'Inspired' By South Jersey

As officials vie for the right to have a casino built in one of three counties some state representatives are theorizing that such competition originates from South Jersey, and that it isn’t a good thing.

“A lot of this is inspired by South Jersey. It’s contrived,” said state Senator Richard Codey (D-27) told Politickernj.com. Codey is a longtime ally of South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross III. “They want to make the case that there shouldn’t be a referendum this November.”

State Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) is co-sponsoring a resolution with Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), and Raj Mukkerji (D-Hudson) to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment to allow casinos into the three counties they represent. The bill needs to be adopted by the state Legislature and statewide voters.

“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 have a referendum?” Codey asked. South Jersey doesn’t want it on the map.”

The alleged competition hurts the chances of the bill advancing and going to the voters, Codey said.

“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,” Codey told Politicker.

Hard Rock International and Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment have said a casino at the Meadowlands, one of the casino’s three possible landing spots, could bring in as much as $400 million in state tax revenue and create up to 10,000 jobs.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco recently said he strongly supports bringing a casino to the Meadowlands.

“This makes sense for Bergen County and North Jersey. It is needed economic development, not just for our county but for the entire state,” Tedesco said last week at the Bergen Busines Expo at the Meadowlands. “In addition to bringing additional full and part-time jobs to the Meadowlands, the casino will create additional construction jobs during the building stage.”

Governor Christie said he supports a casino being built in North Jersey, but only if tax revenues are shared with the eight remaining South Jersey casinos.