(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Hudson) released the following statement Wednesday as the Assembly Budget Committee heard testimony on Gov. Chris Christie’s budget from the Department of Community Affairs:
“Gov. Christie is threatening economic development and job creation in some of New Jersey’s poorest neighborhoods during the most difficult economy most of us have ever seen. It defies logic.
“The Jersey City Urban Enterprise Zone program is one of the largest and most productive, with nearly 600 active businesses. Sales tax revenues generated by the zone are reinvested in building and revitalizing neighborhoods and helping businesses improve their sales and residents rebuild their lives through job- and career-training.
“Gov. Christie’s plan to end this effective revenue-sharing and seize this money is jeopardizing many programs and projects, including some already in progress. As a matter of fact, one-third of Jersey City is included in the UEZ, so the ramifications could be severe, just as they would be in the zones in Bayonne, Union City, North Bergen, Kearny, Guttenberg and West New York.
“We all know these are difficult economic times and spending cuts are once again necessary, but devastating already-struggling communities and destroying job creation is the wrong direction.”
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