Assembly Human Services Chair Urges Administration to Retain Safety Net in North Jersey
Assembly Human Services Committee Chair Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) on Wednesday called the Christie administration’s decision to accelerate the closure of two state developmental centers in Totowa and Woodbridge extremely disturbing and urged the administration to retain at least one in North Jersey.
“I remain steadfast in my opposition to this administration’s determination to dismantle these critical safety nets for the severely disabled.
“It’s my hope that despite this latest development, the administration will see the error of its ways and retain a safety net in North Jersey. Otherwise, North Jersey families may see their loved ones relocated throughout the state, making visitation and care supervision extremely difficult.
“In both his State of the State and budget address this year, the Governor continuously underscored the need for ‘choices’ and yet he is eliminating the choice for people to remain in what has been their home for decades. In the end, North Jersey will be left without any developmental centers to care for the most profoundly developmentally disabled,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).
As Chair of the Human Services Committee, Vainieri Huttle has held a number of hearings on the administration’s decision to close developmental centers throughout the state and has also advocated for a moratorium on the closures until the issue can be studied carefully and detailed relocation plans can be devised.