Christie Says He’ll Vote to Expand Casinos to Northern New Jersey
New Jersey governor Chris Christie said he plans to cast his ballot in favor of expanding casinos outside of Atlantic City and into parts of northern New Jersey.
The Associated Press reports that Christie made the comments at a statehouse news conference, where he said he would campaign for the ballot question. The idea of expanding casinos has drawn criticism from those who believe the move would further damage Atlantic City’s economy.
Assemblyman Chris Brown told the Press of Atlantic City that the move could “cannibalize a gaming market in Atlantic City, resulting in less revenue, jobs and economic opportunity for our working middle class families and retirees.”
Christie said earlier this year that if his approved plan to bail out Atlantic City didn’t pass, he would not support the casino expansion. It passed in May.
Voters will decide in a referendum this November whether or not to support the proposed casinos, which would be expanded to two northern locations in the state. CBS reports that proposals call for a $4 billion casino and hotel project in Jersey City and a casino and rock and roll museum at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford.
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