(JERSEY CITY) – Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley (D-Hudson) released the following statement Thursday on a Christie administration report that recommends eliminating New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zones:
“Well, most of us already knew that job creation and economic development were not the governor’s priorities, but after this report there can be no doubt that this administration has little interest in residents and businesses in working class neighborhoods.
“Any report that questions the success of New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zone program ignores reality.
“This program supports 133,000 full-time jobs and has attracted $31.6 billion in investment into struggling communities. Since the program started, 30,000 businesses have benefited from it, and sales tax revenues generated by UEZ businesses have led to 2,620 economic development projects.
“The report somehow criticizes UEZ programs for not spending every penny they take in on annual basis, as if government is supposed to just spend for the sake of doing so. UEZ programs that carry surpluses and plan sensibly should be held out as examples, not punished.
“No program is perfect, but the UEZ program has been, by any objective measure, a successful economic development program.”