Prieto Fought to Protect Civil & Collective Bargaining Rights
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement on Tuesday after the Christie administration rejected Atlantic City’s fiscal recovery plan. Prieto fought to prevent the state from taking over the city and trampling civil and collective bargaining rights:
“This decision is disappointing and prompts many concerns for both state and city taxpayers.
“The Assembly Judiciary Committee found the city’s plan to be sound and responsible. Moody’s called it ‘robust and detailed.’ Unfortunately, the administration seemed intent upon rejecting it. This plan should have been approved. I doubt the state can do better.
“Taxpayers better now beware.
“State takeovers of school districts have been disastrous. The administration needs to immediately detail whether a takeover would cost taxpayer money and how much. It must also detail whether it will push a property tax hike upon Atlantic City residents that the city’s plan showed was unnecessary.
“All decisions made going forward must be completely transparent. Fair labor practices and civil and collective bargaining rights must be respected. Any asset sales must be done publicly and through open bidding. Anything other than full transparency will be cause for great concern.”