On the Xandau project in the Meadowlands, Christie said, 'There are two options, make it work or tear it down. I'm not prepared to endorse option two.'
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, right and Jon F. Hanson, left, chairman of the Governor's Advisory Commission on N.J. Gaming, Sports and Entertainment; during a press conference announcing the sweeping changes to the state's sports and gaming industries. EAST RUTHERFORD — Pledging to turn Atlantic City into "Las Vegas East," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie today said he is asking the state Legislature to approve this fall the takeover of the casino and entertainment district.
"Investors do not want to go a city they see as unclean and unsafe," Christie said at a press conference at the Meadowlands Stadium this morning to announce sweeping changes to New Jersey's gambling, horse racing and entertainment industries. "You have to be bold. We are in difficult times and we have to turn this state around."
Christie endorsed the proposals contained in a report issued by the New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission and said he plans to sign an executive order extending the term of the commission. The group would be responsible for negotiating the terms of the proposals, he said.
He defended the commission's proposals against charges that they favored one part of Jersey over another. Among the key proposals is the possible sale or closure of the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford.
"If people in North Jersey don't think double-digit unemployment in South Jersey affects New Jersey, they're wrong," he said. "We cannot have parochial geographic lines."
The governor said fixing Atlantic City is the first priority because South Jersey depends more on Atlantic City than North Jersey depends on the Meadowlands.
"The state can no longer sustain the subsidy we give to the standardbred industry and the racetrack here," Christie said, noting that adding slot machines or other gaming to racetracks would be harmful to the efforts to revive Atlantic City.
"We need to give Atlantic City and this plan time to work," Christie said. "Setting up competition inside the state is counterproductive to getting Atlantic City back on its feet."
At the same time, he promised he would revisit the issue if his plan fails.
They commission set July 2011 as a deadline to deliver a “master plan” for the Atlantic City gaming district takeover, according to a report released by the Governor’s Office.
The governor also addressed the future of the stalled Xanadu entertainment project at the Meadowlands.
"There are two options, make it work or tear it down,” he said. “I'm not prepared to endorse option two.”
He added that there are ongoing discussions between the state and developers to finish the project.
"There is already a $2 billion investment in that building and I'm not ready to give up on it," Christie said.
Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney criticized the proposals, calling them a bailout for casinos.
“My primary concern is Bergen County. We lost $120 million in state aid and now (Christie’s) suggesting putting that money in Atlantic City,” McNerney said. “All of a sudden we have to start bailing out casinos.”
“There are jobs here and if we want to shut down the racetrack we’re going to lose those jobs,” he said.
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