By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Mayor Don Guardian says he could have closed the schools, he could have defaulted on city bonds. Instead he decided to shut down city government for 22 days for all non-essential employees starting April 8.
“I’m really lucky. They weren’t compelled. I met with police and fire and both of them agreed to work for the 22 days without pay,” Guardian said.
The city is broke. A $33 million rescue bill — known as the PILOT or payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill — is stuck in Trenton politics. The governor won’t move it until there is agreement on a state takeover bill.
Senate President Steve Sweeney sides with the governor. Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and the mayor want a softer takeover, something more cooperative.
This was Chris Christie last week: “If a letter is changed in either bill, it will not be signed,” he said.
“I say all of us have to pray for our governor and to ask God to deliver him to the wisdom and decision that God gave to Solomon as he tries to take care of the good people of Atlantic City,” Guardian said.
Christie today wasn’t budging.
“If both bills do not come to my desk in exactly their current form I will not sign them. If the legislature were just to say send me the PILOT bill I will not sign it. If what that means is Atlantic City goes bankrupt then go to Vincent Prieto’s office and ask him why,” Christie said. “Mr. Prieto wants to play public sector union politics for his own future political aspirations and the aspirations of the Hudson County political boss, Steve Fulop. Well, ok, they want to play those political games they can play them, but I’m not going to use the taxpayer money of the state of New Jersey to fund their political aspirations.”
And the Assembly speaker wasn’t budging, either.
“This is on the governor,” he told NJTV News. “He’s the one that didn’t sign the PILOT bill after we agreed with his version of it. To paint me as the obstructionist is preposterous, as is the idea that I’m coordinating with Steve Fulop.”
Mayor Guardian was at a forum on gaming expansion last night, held at Saint Peter’s University. Also on the panel was the resident and CEO of Resorts Casino, Mark Giannantonio. We asked him about the mayor’s decision to furlough city workers.
“I’d certainly hate to see the city shut down. It’s certainly a negative thing. I’m hoping that all sides can come together and resolve this. My position as a gaming operator is, we want to see this resolved. It’s been far too long. We think there’s a series of bills out there that make sense,” said Giannantonio.
The president of the NAACP Atlantic City branch, also on the panel, is still smarting from Sen. Sweeney’s comment that the Legislature is suffering from Atlantic City fatigue.
“They had the crust and unmitigated gall to say they’re fatigued about giving money to Atlantic City. How dare they when they have sucked us dry,” said Betty Lewis.
Atlantic City has about 950 public employees. Many of them will be furloughed in two and a half weeks, including Lewis, who works in the Planning Department.
“It means I’m not going to be able to pay my bills. I’m already struggling,” Lewis said.