WTAS: YOUR Turn NJ

New York Developers Describe Referendum As “Very Unlikely To Pass” While Supporters Vow To “Continue To Fight Any & All Efforts”

Our Turn NJ’s Paul Fireman & Jeff Gural: “This Measure Is Very Unlikely To Pass.” “A footwear magnate and a racetrack operator who want to build two new casinos worth billions of dollars in the northern part of the state have concluded that voters will reject the plan in a November referendum, and they’re ending their expensive lobbying push for it.  Former Reebok chairman Paul Fireman and Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural said in a joint statement Thursday they are abandoning the Our Turn NJ campaign in support of the referendum, citing internal polling that shows ‘this measure is very unlikely to pass.’” (Wayne Parry, “Campaign Pushing To Expand Gambling In New Jersey Suspended,” The Associated Press, 9/22/16)

  •  “The data, however, speaks for itself … The current political climate in New Jersey and voters’ concerns about the lack of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming.” (Brent Johnson, “North Jersey Casino Effort Doomed? Group Backing It Suspends Ad Campaign,” The Star-Ledger, 9/22/16)

 

New York Developer Jeff Gural: “There’s Just Nothing We Can Do … The Pollsters Told Us That We Couldn’t Win, No Matter What Argument We Made.” (Kate King, “N.J. Casino Measure’s Wealthy Backers Expect It To Lose”, The Wall Street Journal, 9/23/16)

  •  “It was a throw-the-bums-out attitude … You’re seeing that all over.  That’s Trump’s message.  That was Bernie Sanders’ message.  The mood of the country is this anti-government message.  It was something we weren’t expecting.” (Brent Johnson, “Fight To Allow North Jersey Casino Gambling Isn’t Over Yet, Developer Says,” The Star-Ledger, 9/24/16)

 

Meadowlands Regional Chamber President Jim Kirkos: Assemblyman Caputo’s Resolution “Landed With A Thud.” “The message here is that New Jerseyan’s who have voted in their representatives no longer have trust in their public policy decisions.  We are saddened to accept this fact, as there are many shining examples in the legislature of high-performing public servants … One who has been a stalwart in the gaming dialogue is Ralph Caputo, who recently attempted to single-handedly jump-start the YES campaign by introducing a bill committing the legislature to its intent on a variety of issues collateral to passing the Referendum … Unfortunately, even this courageous and insightful introduction landed with a thud in Trenton.  With all of the recent bungling of serious issues, in particular the Transportation Trust Fund debacle, the voters simply do not have the emotional bandwidth to accommodate the legislature with their attention or their support.” (John Brennan, “Backers Of Meadowlands, Jersey City Casinos Suspend Campaign,” The Record, 9/22/16)

  •  “Jim Kirkos, president of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, said his group is ‘extremely disturbed to hear the news’ of Our Turn NJ’s decision.  ‘While we recognize that the polling numbers were an uphill climb and in this toxic climate left a difficult path to success, we do not think the voters ever had a clear understanding of the positive impacts New Jersey stands to gain if the referendum passes,’ Kirkos said.” (Brent Johnson, “North Jersey Casino Effort Doomed? Group Backing It Suspends Ad Campaign,” The Star-Ledger, 9/22/16)

 

Assemblyman Chris Brown: “We Are Going To Remain Vigilant.” “Opposition groups said they would continue to push their message until Election Day.  ‘We have to remember that the question is still on the ballot and we are going to remain vigilant in educating voters and making sure they turn out to vote ‘no,’ said Assemblyman Chris Brown, a Republican who represents Atlantic County.” (Kate King, “N.J. Casino Measure’s Wealthy Backers Expect It To Lose,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/23/16)

  •  “I am glad after two years of fighting we’ve proven it was pure folly for anyone to claim North Jersey casinos were inevitable and that building them in an oversaturated market while cannibalizing Atlantic City would somehow help the state of New Jersey let alone the families of Atlantic County, and shows the question should have never gotten on the ballot in the first place.” (Nicholas Huba, “North Jersey Casino Group Suspends Media Campaign,” Press Of Atlantic City, 9/23/16)

 

Senator Jim Whelan: “This Is Very Good News For Atlantic City.” “’This is good news for Atlantic City,’ said state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who was Atlantic City’s mayor from 1990 to 2001.  ‘I think that a lack of specifics related to the plan became an issue to some.’” (Nicholas Huba, “North Jersey Casino Group Suspends Media Campaign,” Press Of Atlantic City, 9/23/16)

 

No North Jersey Casinos Chairwoman Debra DiLorenzo: “We Will Continue To Fight Any And All Efforts.” “Although Our Turn NJ signaled they will suspend their media campaign, we will continue to fight any and all efforts to siphon dollars and jobs out of South Jersey.” (Nicholas Huba, “North Jersey Casino Group Suspends Media Campaign,” Press Of Atlantic City, 9/23/16)

 

Patrick Murray, Director Of The Monmouth University Polling Institute: “The Mood Of The Public Would Have To Change Dramatically.” “Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said poll respondents routinely express distrust of Trenton politicians, regardless of the issue being discussed, and the opposition to gambling expansion more likely stems from Atlantic City’s well-chronicled financial troubles.  For casino expansion to pass, ‘the mood of the public would have to change dramatically and that would require a change in the fortunes of Atlantic City,’ Mr. Murray said.” (Kate King, “N.J. Casino Measure’s Wealthy Backers Expect It To Lose,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/23/16)

 

Rummy Pandit, Director Of The Lloyd D. Levenson Institute Of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism At Stockton University: “I Believe Atlantic City Will Innovate And Grow.” “Rummy Pandit, director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality, and Tourism at Stockton University … predicted that Atlantic City will find new ways to reinvent itself as an entertainment destination – focused not just on gaming, but hotels, food, concerts, and more. Pandit said Atlantic City’s revenue now is almost 70 percent gaming and 30 percent non-gaming.  The model, he said, is Las Vegas, which is 35 percent gaming and 65 non-gaming. ‘I believe Atlantic City will innovate and grow,’ Pandit said.” (Brent Johnson, “Fight To Allow North Jersey Casino Gambling Isn’t Over Yet, Developer Says,” The Star-Ledger, 9/24/16)

 

Roger Gros, Publisher Of Global Gaming Business Magazine: “I’m Skeptical That Anything Can Get Passed Now At Any Point.” (Kate King, “N.J. Casino Measure’s Wealthy Backers Expect It To Lose,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/23/16)

 

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