(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) released the following statement Tuesday after the State Capitol Joint Management Commission voted 5-2 to bury the Petty’s Run archaeological site on the State House grounds that features sections of mills dating back to the 1730s:
“We already knew that Gov. Christie’s administration doesn’t respect education, arts and culture, and now we know it would literally rather bury our history than celebrate it. This is becoming a disturbing trend.
“Burying this archaeological dig at the State House is a blow to our heritage and efforts to recognize it and promote it as a tourist attraction and economic development tool.
“This is a compelling and unique site that could, if properly restored, be of great interest to school children and visitors to Trenton. Instead, it will be forsaken and buried for no logical reason.
“The is inexplicable on many levels, but I can’t help but feel that a site like this would have been touted and emphasized by the administration had it been found somewhere other than Trenton.
“This nonsensical decision is a painful blow to Trenton, our state and our shared heritage as New Jerseyans, but I guess none of that matters to this administration.”